Hey everyone! I know I've been gone forever and I have multiple stories that I have to write for you. If we are being honest, life caught up with me and I got a little lost. But I found my true love of writing again, so if you'll have me I'd love to be with you all again!

Thank you to all the people who stay so loyal to the fandom and I love you!

This is not beta'd so be nice to me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, I want to, but I do not. Well, the plot is mine but the characters are what makes it taste so sweet to the mind and those I sadly do not own.

Clarissa Morgenstern bent her head into her hands, her red curls moved around her like a curtain from the world. In the background, she could hear Paw Patrol being played on the television in the living room. Not for the first time, the 26-year-old felt like all the air was being ripped out of her chest.

She still couldn't wrap her head around it. Gone, just gone.

It felt like yesterday they had all sat around the large but homely dining room table laughing and telling stories. Clary had stuck her tongue out at her brother in retaliation for a comment he had made and he had retorted by calling her an "adult child". She could feel the tears threatening to fall but she couldn't let them pass her eyes. This wasn't about her anymore, she had responsibilities now.

As if sensing something wrong, she felt a tug on the bottom of her shirt. Clary took a minute to compose herself, taking her elbows off the counter where they were perched and put a fake smile on her lips. She glanced down with glossy eyes to the doe-eyed child staring at her. Asher looked so much like his father Clary felt the tears surge forward again.

"Aunt Clary," The 6-year old spoke with a little too much clarity for such a small child. "Are you okay?"

Taking a deep breath she bent down, "I'm okay," Clary said slowly, knowing she was lying. Even though Asher was only a child, she felt guilt over her deceit. "I could sure use a hug though." Ash smiled his face far too cute for his own good, his stark white hair and green eyes made him look like the spitting image of Jonathon. But he had Alicia's smile, warm and light as if sketched on his face by angels. The little boy put his stumpy, sticky arms around her neck as she pulled him toward her.

Behind his back, she let just a few tears fall before she sniffed and straightened herself up. She quickly wiped at the tears hoping he hadn't seen before she put her hands to her hips. "Okay, buddy." She turned toward the little boy completely. He stared up at her with nothing but trust, a little too aware and a little too wise. "Last episode of Paw Patrol and then homework." Ash made a face to pout but Clary put a hand up before he could speak. "And then after we'll get ice cream."

Asher's face lit up as he jumped in excitement, his little legs gave him a bigger bust off the ground than Clary expected. But then again Asher had always been a gifted kid. "Okay!" He yelled before rushing into the living room.

She knew she would have to remind him again anyway after the episode ended and another would start to begin. She turned back to the still running sink and finished cleaning up the dishes she had been working on. For as small as Asher was, he could definitely eat. Just like his father-

Clary had to stop the thought, it would only bring those tears back. Tears she saved for when she was in the guest bedroom. They had been living in her brother's deceased home for a year now and Clary couldn't stand it anymore. She wondered how Asher could, but he always said the smell comforted him. He was 6 so she really didn't think much of it.

She had been working as a secretary at a legal firm and a singer at a cigar club called "Johnnies" in the city and she had scraped enough together to buy a little place for herself and Ash. Nothing fancy like the home he lived in now but something nice and homey. Somewhere they could make a fresh start. Not in the home that reeked of death and fading memories.

"Aunt Clary? Can we invite Uncle Jace to get ice cream too?" Asher's voice rang from the living room as the sound of the credits chimed, she was going to yell at him to turn it off and ignore the question but the boy had already done so. Moving his little frame to the island in the middle of the, too big kitchen for just two people, and pulled his assignment out from his backpack. She rolled her eyes, of course, this would be the one time he actually listened and she would have no way to change the subject.

Clary felt her nails digging into the flesh of her palms, fearing they might break skin if she didn't unclench, she shoved her hands into her loose jean pockets. "Oh, I don't know buddy." She didn't want to look at him because then he would give her those puppy dog eyes and she would be reduced to mush. Plus, he had Jonathan's eyes, her eyes. It was hard to say no when she was staring at the last piece of her brother she had left. "I'm sure Jace is really busy."

"I talked to him earlier today and he said he would always be free for me."

"Of course he did," Clary muttered under her breath. "Asher I think-" She swiveled her body and made the fatal mistake of looking right at the boy at the counter. His eyes shined with disappointment and a hint of sadness and Clary's already broken heart all but shattered. How many times had she sat at that table and finger painted with Asher as Jon forced Alicia to dance with him in the living room? How many times had they all enjoyed lunch perched against that fine marble countertop? She sighed feeling herself already reaching for her phone, "I'll call him."

Asher leaped from his seat and charged her, catching her with more force than she expected and making her stumble. He had always been surprisingly strong for such a little kid. He had always been faster, more agile, more independent than other kids. She had expressed her concern to Jon once about his lack of interest in making friends at school but Jon had laughed her off.

"He has a ton of cousins he sees all the time, he just doesn't feel the need to make new friends."

What kind of kid doesn't feel the need to play with other kids?

She chuckled before putting a hand through his platinum white hair, she tousled it through paint-covered fingers. "I just said I would call," She scrolled her contacts until she found the one she dreaded. "It's not a guarantee."

"Still," Asher squeezed her leg again. "Thanks." He moved back to the table picking up a crayon and finishing up on his worksheet. Clary was going to have to remind herself to check it later.

She stared at the name for a few minutes too long before actually pressing the call button, the lump in her stomach felt like she had snacked on rocks as it rang in her ear. Glancing at Asher for a moment before moving herself into the living room and off to the far corner more toward the foyer of the house, she stood under the lavish chandelier mentally crossing her fingers that he wouldn't answer.

"Hello, Clarissa." She frowned immediately, he knew she hated being called by her full name.

"I told you, Clary." She didn't even try to let her voice disguise her disdain. Keeping her sentences short so that she could make the conversation go by faster.

"Right," There was a pause on the other end of the phone as they both waited in silence. "So, are you gonna tell me why you called, or are you just going to breath heavily into the phone all day?"

Clary already regretted telling Asher she would call, her hatred for Jace Herondale raged as her eyes flashed with mirth. "You are an asshole." Not waiting for his smart reply back she continued. "What are we keeping you from? Staring at yourself in the mirror and repeating your ten daily compliments for the day?" She rolled her eyes as Jace did nothing but let out a husky, deep-throated laugh.

She could practically see Jace smirking through the phone as he answered. "Why would I waste my time doing that when I can have beautiful, naked women doing it for me?" He let out another dark chuckle. "It's much more satisfying that way."

She already knew what he implied before the unnecessary deep-voiced emphasis.

"Look, Playboy," Clary said through gritted teeth, "I know you wolf your way through women but this isn't about that disgusting issue of yours." Jace laughed out loud and Clary felt her teeth grind.

"You have no idea." Jace said with an air of humor and mystery that made Clary that much more frustrated.

"Let's leave it that way then." Clary said, ending that conversation as she sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Asher wants me to invite you out for ice cream." She said the words reluctantly and she knew Jace could tell as he gave a dramatic pause through the other end of the phone.

"Aw, Gingerbread," Jace cooed in a way he knew would piss her off and it was working. She could just picture him leaning lazily against something, one long toned leg thrown in front of the other, not a care in the world. Not even mourning the death of his friend, her brother, or his own cousin. "As much as I would love to have a little fire bunny on the side, I have to say my schedule is pretty full of vying women at the moment and I'm going to have to decline your request to take me out on a date."

Clary clenched her hands into fists and almost threw her own phone in outrage, "That is not what I am trying to do-"

"No need to hide your burning desire for me. I'm used to it."

"I'm hanging up." She had only told Asher she would call anyway. From where she stood she watched as Ash's shoulders fell in disappointment, she was sure she was imagining it.

"I'll be there."

And then he hung up.

On her.

Clary had to take a deep breath through her nose and out her mouth just to have her mind reconsider the act of murder before she pulled her fakest smile and walked back into the kitchen.

Jace Herondale had been Jonathan's friend for over 8 years, having met him through Alicia. Apparently, her whole family had been really close, not that Clary had ever gotten the chance to meet them. She had heard stories, names of people, and descriptions. Isabelle, Alec, and Max Lightwood, the dark-haired siblings, and also Jace and Alicia's cousins. As well as brown, curly-haired Maia Roberts (Clary couldn't remember who she was related to) and her boyfriend Jordan Kyle, and the always glittering Magnus Bane who was Alec's boyfriend.

She just never understood why she couldn't have met them, why Jonathan felt the need to keep her in a separate box. She never told him that it hurt her, that it cut her to know he didn't want her to be a part of that family. Even when it was all just a mishmash of people.

The only person she ever got the chance to talk with was Jace and he was the last person she wanted to talk to.

As if sensing her irritation at just the thought of him, he appeared. And with him so did the eyes of everyone in the room. For the most part, Clary couldn't truly blame them. Jace Herondale, though she would never say it to his face or out loud for that manner, was absolutely beautiful.

She hated the fact that she had sketched him a time or two when she had an artistic block and needed inspiration but he was the perfect model, high cheekbones on a sharp jawline. The outlines of his face were that of a pure man, no softness or roundness, all sharp edges, and harsh lines. He had a very straight nose and a mouth that was perfectly shaped to match his face, his bottom lip just a bit plumper than the top which came to a perfect cupid's bow. His hair fell in tousled waves that even women would have been jealous of and each strand glowed gold in the sun. His body was toned and tough, he was strong and it showed. The black shirt stretched to accommodate him as his arms pulled the fabric material from their bulging shape. His jeans hugged him the way most women in the room wanted to and his boots just made him look like a complete badass.

She had never seen a more perfectly crafted human.

And his eyes, his eyes shouldn't have even been possible. His eyes were the color of gold doubloons, of her brightest honey-colored oil paint, a shimmering topaz she had yet to see on another individual for as long as she has lived. And to give him that edge, as well as all the rest, was like making the perfect apex predator, something prey would never be able to escape. It wasn't the least bit fair.

He walked toward her with powerful grace, a swiftness and sureness in his step that could only come from oozing confidence. She understood why men wanted to be him and women wanted to keep him.

And Clary wanted to get as far away from him as humanly possible.

His large hand pulled out the chair between them, Clary had made sure to push the chair closer to Asher's side of the table, and he sat with a flourish. His swole body almost swallowed the chair whole. He dropped a hand into the boy's white hair and gave it a tousle, as much as Clary hated it Jace did genuinely care for Ash. He was his sort of uncle after all. And furthermore, he was family, so Clary tried to put on a brave face and be as polite as she could.

"Hey, Little Man." Jace used the endearing nickname he and Jonathan had shared. Asher's eyes lit up in response. He had always looked up to his dad and Jace, and now with Jonathan gone, he needed Jace even more. Much to Clary's clear dismay. "How are you?"

"Much better now that we are all together!" The little boy yelled, pushing out of his seat and jumping in enthusiasm. Clary chuckled before putting a hand on his shoulder and nudging him toward his seat. "Inside voice, Ash."

The boy looked to Clary and obediently nodded before sitting down again and staring at Jace with worshipping eyes. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Kiddo." Jace's deep voice, just another thing that made him perfect, seemed to take up a lot of voice in the silent room. As Clary looked around she saw that they were pretty much alone except for a group of soccer moms in the corner, an elder couple on the other side, and a couple groups of teenagers. But everyone seemed to migrate away from their table, Jace's presence had made them nervous to even sit close.

The soccer mom's eyes flashed with lust as they leaned in to whisper more about him, she was sure. They looked at her periodically as well, as if confused someone so ordinary could be with such a Greek God. She almost wanted to jump up and scream that they were definitely not together.

Clary zoned back in to see Jace staring at her with a smirk as Asher was throwing his hands around telling a story about a dog that had seen on their walk a couple of days ago. "What kind of ice cream did you want, Little Man?" He flashed his eyes to Clary. "My treat."

Asher wasn't the least concerned that Jace had clearly cut him off as he excitedly yelled. "Double chocolate chip!" Clary felt a tinge in her heart. That had been Jonathan's favorite ice cream too. Asher mistook her sadness for upset as he quickly lowered his voice. " Double chocolate chip, please." He added that for good measure for her, she was sure.

Jace's smile softened, something he only did for Asher before those burning eyes turned to Clary. She felt them drip over her like honey. "Nothing for me." She said as she cleared her voice.

"What kind do you want, Clary?" He persisted and she narrowed her eyes with a twist of her mouth.

"Her favorite is toasted coconut." Ash said with innocence as Clary bit her lip to keep from scolding him. He looked up at her with huge eyes. "Right, Aunt Clary?"

And because she couldn't deny him anything, she reached across with a rustling of his hair and smiled at him. "You're right, you know me too well." The little boy sat higher in his seat at the remark, feeling obviously proud of himself as Jace stood without a word and headed to the counter. She watched from her seat as the soccer moms followed his every step with razor vision.

They glanced at her only frequently, their gazes spent most of their time undressing Jace with their eyes. Clary felt bad for them, Jace was as out of their reach as the top shelf candy was to Asher. But that didn't mean that that sly little boy didn't outsmart his way around the obstacle, Clary thought as one of the cougars stood from her seat. Her cheetah print dress hung on her body greedily and Clary had to admit she was an attractive woman. She had the best chance out of everyone in the group. She sauntered over in her platform heels, money dripped from her figure as she gilded with a grace Clary was a bit jealous of. Heels made her feel like a newborn calf taking its first steps.

Her talons scratched the back of Jace's neck but the redhead could tell he had sensed the lustrous woman's approach. Jace had that way about him, being able to hear and see everything. It was unbelievably irritating. It made her feel as if she was always one step behind him at all times.

He turned smoothly with that lopsided smile, something that made women swoon daily. His confidence exhumed off him as he gave the older woman a glance over, Clary was sure he was noticing all the things she had. A toned figure, minimal wrinkles, with thick glossy blonde hair. The older woman seemed to smile and let out a giggle, which didn't really match her vibe, at something Jace said before she looked up at him through saturated mascara lashes as she said something to him in a low tone. Not low enough for the cute teenage ice cream worker not to hear as his eyes grew wide and his acne covered face glowed red with embarrassment. His eyes were darting around the counter where he was trying to finish scooping ice cream at an alarming rate and trying to awkwardly not pay attention.

Jace leaned in then his lips close to her ear, vaguely Clary noticed Asher had gone back to talking about the dog they had seen on their walk a couple days ago, starting from when Jace had cut him off. The little boy chatted as he colored the paper-covered countertop, something you were allowed to do in the ice cream parlor which Clary had always thought was a great idea. She watched as Jace's gaze never unlocked from her own green ones as he spoke in the older woman's ear, his smirk only widening when Clary flushed, swallowed, before narrowing her eyes and quickly pulling away.

And then he was back, sliding into his vacated chair as Asher grabbed his cup too aggressively for Clary's taste as he muttered an apology, after noticing her stink eye, before diving in. She felt Jace's arm brush the side of her cheek as he placed hers down in front of her, a double scoop of toasted coconut. His breath fanned her neck and she had to fight the shiver she knew was coming, the goosebumps were impossible to shake however as they erupted across her skin like fire.

"I thought I'd get you a double and put some meat on those bones, Kitten." Jace purred in her ear with a chuckle as Clary swallowed again. She swore he could hear her heart beating out of her chest and the thought enraged her. Her eyes flashed but she promised herself to not give him the satisfaction of knowing he had upset her. Instead, she straightened her back and stared forward, not daring to meet his gaze so close to her face. His breath brushing her cheeks and the corner of her mouth. He was far too close.

"You really should be more considerate about people's personal space." She said through a surprisingly straight voice, not a quiver insight. If she were alone, she would have high fived herself for sure. "You have a tendency to invade."

Jace's laugh tickled her ears as he brushed red curls from her cheek and she flinched from the movement. She really wished he would take, at least, one step back. "I don't usually get any complaints." He spoke low, almost a growl. "In fact, most people like it when I don't leave any space at all."

"Yes, I can see that." Clary didn't mean to say it with such spite but that was how it came out. She meant it in a demeaning way, but it had only made her sound jealous. Which she definitely was not.

"Oh don't worry, Kitten." Jace said again in her ear as she stared at the table of women watching, the one in the dress having stumbled her way back after being starstruck by Jace's charm. "You're still at the top of my list."

A humorless laugh exited her mouth as she moved her chair closer to Asher and turned to him finally. The move had obviously surprised him because his eyebrows were set in a frown. Good, she didn't want him to get the wrong impression of her. The last thing she wanted was to be on any list composed by Jace Hernodale or any notches in a bedpost for that matter. "Well, this is me formally telling you," She moved in close to his face as she whispered. "To take me off of your list permanently."

Jace scowled and Clary knew she had struck a nerve, good she was sick of being the only one who got teased.

He sat with a huff in his seat as he ate his own ice cream, she noticed he had gotten the same one she had. They nodded cordially in silence as Asher chatted on, getting ice cream smeared all over his cute face. His green eyes were full of happiness and glee as he continued to eat and tell stories that Jace and Clary calmly nodded to, not saying another word to each other for the rest of the night.

And so we begin our new adventure! I can't wait to go on this journey with you!

Whisper