Even after escaping the looks of everyone in the restaurant, Clary couldn't believe she'd actually done that. The boldest romantic move she'd ever made in her life, and it had been in front of Jace's date! That must have been what Alec had been trying to tell her on the phone when she'd cut him off. Stupid stupid girl! Clary could have kicked herself.

All she wanted now was to curl up in bed and hide under the covers until the day ended! To that end she made her way home via bus.

Despite the embarrassment Clary did have a new appreciation for how hard it must have been for Jace to tell her how he felt all those years ago in the school cafeteria. She could only now understand how much she must have hurt him when she hadn't taken him seriously. At the time she'd been too busy worrying about Magnus. The thought made her laugh. Things sure had changed since then. Magnus was now in a strong and healthy marriage while she was still a mess. A total useless mess that she felt sure Jace didn't want anymore. The thought made her want her bed even more.

Getting off one bus, Clary waited at the station to transfer to another. She didn't often go downtown, as it was quite a ways away from Magnus's apartment where she was still staying. Clary knew that was the next task she had to tackle. She'd put herself out there emotionally, and now it was time to grow up. With school over, Clary needed to start thinking about career jobs. She needed to move out of her friend's place no matter how easy it was, and she needed to decide what to do next with her life. At least that would be something to focus on while she waited for Jace to reply to her little outburst. She knew there was a very good chance that nothing would come of it. Best to think of something else.

Getting off her second bus Clary started walking the last few blocks home. Since Paige had moved out Clary now had the guest room all to herself which was nice, but also kinda lonely. Even so, it wasn't as lonely as actually living alone, which Clary had never done before and wasn't looking forward to. How long was too long to crash at a friend's house after a long term break up? When did it become pathetic? Clary wasn't sure.

Either way it wasn't a problem she was going to tackle today. Walking in the front door Clary dropped her bags and ditched her coat before heading to her bedroom and collapsing onto the soft blankets. Rolling off the blankets, Clary managed to climb under them where she planned on spending the rest of the day.

It was lovely and warm under the covers. They felt protective somehow, like the consequences of the embarrassing things she'd done today couldn't reach her here.

Clary only realized she'd fallen asleep when she woke up to the sounds of voices. She could make out Alec's voice. He seemed to be greeting someone at the door. When Clary recognized the second voice her heart skipped a beat.

"Is Clary here?" Jace's voice asked.

"She might be," Alec's voice answered. "I didn't hear her come in, but that might have just been because I had my noise canceling headphones on."

"You mean the ones where you can't hear me calling your name when I stand right beside you?" Jace's voice replied with humor.

"Yeah those," Alec said. She heard Jace laugh.

Clary didn't hear any more voices after that, but she did hear footsteps. She guessed that Jace was now in the apartment.

Her hands tightened on the edge of the blanket covering her. Clary wanted even less to leave the safety of her bed now than she had previously. Why was he here? And so soon after her confession? Had he followed her from the restaurant, ditching his date in the process? What did that mean? Despite her best efforts Clary couldn't help but get her hopes up. His showing up so soon felt like a good sign. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up. She knew it would just hurt so much worse if she was wrong, but she couldn't help it. Seven months. It had been over seven months since Jace had broken up with her, and somehow those seven months felt like way longer than her almost year in Paris.

A sudden knock on her door made Clary jump.

"Clary," Jace's voice called through the door.

She decided to remain silent that way he'd assume she wasn't home yet.

"I know you are there," Jace continued. "I saw your purse and coat at the door."

Damn. That wasn't going to work. Why did he have to be beautiful and observant? It was too much!

"Can I come in?" Jace asked. "I just want to talk, and I'd rather talk to you than your bedroom door."

Taking a deep breath, Clary got out of bed and walked over to the door. She took another deep breath before opening it, trying to compose herself.

"Hi," she said pointlessly to the love of her life as he stood in her doorway.

"Hey back," Jace replied smiling. All Clary could do was stare at him. If he hadn't been right there she'd have had a hard time believing he'd actually followed her from the restaurant. "So are you gonna let me in or…" Jace added after what was likely an uncomfortably long silence of her gawking at him.

"Sorry," Clary said hurriedly as she moved aside to let him into her bedroom. Jace closed the door behind him which she suspected was to stop Alec from snooping on them like an old woman.

"So that was quite some speech," Jace began.

"Sorry," Clary mumbled again, looking down at her feet and silently pleading with her skin to not turn a violent shade of red like at the restaurant. "I didn't know you were on a date."

"Don't be sorry," Jace told her kindly. His tone was so warm it gave Clary the courage to look up. "I could hardly believe what I was hearing, but it was nice all the same."

Clary didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything. Instead she just stood there staring at him. The silence stretched on, but Clary was determined to make him speak first. She'd said her peace already.

"I guess what I came to say is thank you," Jace finally spoke. "And to tell you that I know exactly how you feel."

Once again Clary didn't speak. She hardly knew what to say to that. It seemed too good to be true; she sensed that he wasn't quite finished yet.

"If the only factor was who I loved I'd already have you in my arms," Jace said softly. "But it isn't as simple as that. I know you won't change your mind, but I realized something after you left that restaurant. Maybe I will. I think I need some time to figure that out."

"So," Clary began slowly once she was sure he was done talking. "What you're saying is not now, but maybe later?"

"I guess yeah," Jace replied. "And in the meantime. I'd really love to spend time together again, be friends again. I've missed you."

Really what had she been expecting? Maybe this was the best she could have hoped for if she'd even known what to hope for. Looking up into his face she saw only affection and kindness. Clary decided that would be enough for now.

"Okay," she said. "Just know that I will be here, whenever you figure out what you need to figure out."

"Thanks," Jace smiled at her. Then he reached forward and pulled her in for a hug. It had been so long since she'd been this physically close to him. Clary couldn't help but breathe in his scent. She'd missed him so much.

Their hug was interrupted by a sharp voice. "I'm confused," Alec called through the door. "Are you back together or not?"

"He's like one of those nosey neighbors," Jace whispered, but he was smiling. "You know the type with binoculars."

"Hey, he's your best friend," Clary reminded Jace.

"Yeah but your best friend married him," Jace shot back.

Clary couldn't help but laugh. They were both still talking in a whisper to deny said nosy friend the joy of overhearing them.

"What should we tell him?" Clary whispered after a moment. "You know he's gonna ask the moment we leave this room."

"You know what would really annoy him," Jace whispered back with a huge grin on his face. "If we tell him nothing."

And just like that Jace moved away from her towards the door. He opened it and there stood Alec. The way he was leaning forward gave them no doubt that he'd had his ear to the door the entire time. Alec straightened up and asked his question again.

"So am I throwing a Clace back together party?" he asked.

"Oh why did I come up with those strange names," Clary sighed.

"Don't say it like that," Alec whined. "Malec is really starting to grow on me. It's cute. And don't dodge the question."

"I don't know about you but I'm thinking movie," Jace said as he walked down the hallway towards the living room.

"Or board games," Clary pitched in.

"Yeah that could be fun," Jace replied. Clary followed him down the hallway, leaving a very annoyed Alec behind her.

"I still haven't finished that new season of The Witcher," Clary said.

"Perfect," Jace replied. "Love that show."

"I remember when the first season went up I had 'Toss a Coin to Your Witcher' stuck in my head for like a month!" Clary laughed.

"Oh come on guys!" Alec whined. He'd followed them down the hall and was now standing in front of the tv glaring at them. "You are doing this on purpose!"

"Of course we are," Jace laughed. "But you should see your face."

"You suck," Alec stated firmly.

"Yeah but you still love me," Jace chuckled. "Join us for the Witcher and after we'll put you out of your misery."

"And by that you mean tell me what's going on, not murder me in my sleep right?" Alec asked, cautiously.

"That was the plan," Jace replied. "Unless you'd prefer to be murdered."

Alec rolled his eyes and moved forward to sit on the couch with them. He made a point of sitting on Jace's other side so that he wasn't in between her and Jace. Clary felt it was very obvious that the answer Alec wanted to hear from them was they were back together.

Clary couldn't help but agree with him, but the ball was no longer in her court and she had more hope now than she had in seven months. Clary decided that was enough for today. She settled in on the couch, sitting beside Jace. It was so nice to be near him again. Just his physical presence was enough to keep her calm. She could remember like it was yesterday that night when she'd needed so much to feel safe and Jace had been there, sitting beside her bed all night while she slept. Even if he wasn't ready to get back together right now, Clary couldn't help but feel like her heart was safe in his hands.

Alec had Netflix up now, and hit play on the episode before putting the remote on the coffee table in front of them.

Though quickly wrapped up in the brilliant show, Clary couldn't help but be very aware of Jace sitting next to her. She was so comfortable there on the sofa. It was easy to forget the rest of the world existed, and get absorbed in the moment.

They hadn't been watching long when the front door opened and Magnus arrived home. At once Alec got off the couch to greet his husband. Like the kind friend he was, Jace leaned forward to pause the show once Alec left.

"It's like he wants to miss the good bits," Jace said as he put the remote back down. Clary just smiled. She couldn't get over how relaxing it was to be in Jace's presence again.

Alec must have filled Magnus in on what was going on because by the time Magnus joined them in the living room both men were looking at them with narrowed eyes.

"Back up has arrived," Alec said. "Time to spill."

Clary turned to look at Jace. She could tell by the look on his face that it was time to stop teasing Alec. Jace and Clary told him about their sorta holding pattern status and he threw his arms up in the air.

"All that fuss over let's be friends again!" Alec grumbled. "And here I thought you'd actually accomplished something."

"They have," Magnus told his husband, turning to look at Alec. "Don't you see. They've communicated which as we both know is the first step in basically every relationship."

"Patience is a virtue," Jace told Alec with a chuckle.

"Yeah one I was born without," Alec groaned. "Okay let's get back to the show. Jaskier was singing to mice in a jail cell."

"Okay that sounds funny," Magnus said as he moved to join them. Clary thought he'd sit beside his husband, but instead he decided to squish in beside Clary, making Malec the bread in a very tight Clace sandwich.

Clary was so close to Jace now that she didn't even need to turn to whisper in his ear. Jace chuckled when she pointed out how obvious Magnus and Alec were being playing matchmaker.

Still smiling, Clary turned her attention back to the tv, and watched as Jaskier lectured mice on their harmonies before getting rescued.

"Jaskier is right. Everything's changed for Geralt this season," Alec commented when the episode ended. "Last season it was all 'I don't want to get involved with people except maybe Yennefer and that bard's okay,' but now he's gone into full protective dad mode."

"That he has," Jace commented. "And he's damn good at it too. Those fight scenes were epic!"

"I've read some stuff online," Magnus added. "Looks like most of the Jennifer plot this season was show only. The book people aren't happy."

"When are the book people ever happy?" Alec scoffed as he reached forward for the remote to start the next episode faster than the autoplay. "I gotta see how this ends!"

So all you Clace lover's out there! Happy yet? ;) Or do you agree with Alec and demand more Clace cuteness? lol. It's progress at least though right?

My intention is to get this story as close to finished as I can before the end of March. We shall see if I manage it. If I don't this story might end up on hiatus for a while as my husband and I are expecting our first child to be born end of March 2022 and I very much doubt he will put his crying on hold to let me write. Just thought I'd give you guys a little warning. I don't want to rush the ending of this story after like 6 years of writing it but I also don't like the idea of going more than 2 months without an update which I've never done before. We shall just have to see how it goes. DFTBA

Guest Review:
I understand you have a life outside of R&S, I'm sorry for hateful comments you might have received, but I've liked this fanfic since a few days ago I started reading it, and I can't bear to think of an ending where Clace doesn't end up together again.

My Reply:
Aww thanks. So glad you are enjoying it. I've been very lucky with hateful comments - apart from that one more recent reviewer on R&S - and don't worry about Clace. ;) I have a plan. I'd never written a break up and get back together plot before and I wanted to try it in R&S. Originally it was going to be Malec but that didn't feel right so I used Clace instead.

Sneak Peek Chapter 195

Coming soon... probably a Maia chapter.