Just in case anyone was confused... I posted this story to the Shadowhunter section. It was not plagiarism. I wanted to put it up in both section before realizing the people who read Shadowhunters are probably reading TMI as well.
I do appreciate the people who were concerned enough to comment that someone was copying the story. Luckily it was just me. Thank you so so much!
Clary's POV
I'm just about finished with the dishes when my laptop starts ringing. So far, Jace has kept his promise of calling every single night. Sometimes he calls early because he has show, but when he doesn't he calls right before Gray's bedtime.
"Hi" I answer the call and sit down at the counter.
"Hi beautiful!" He smiles when the image appears. I have to admit it's weird seeing him on tour again, "where's everyone?"
"Gray's getting ready for bed, and the girls are playing in their room before I can get them ready for bed" I explain grabbing the laptop and heading up the stairs.
"How's everything been?" He asks.
"It's okay" I shrug, "Bree decided she wanted to take every single toy out of the playroom today. I tried putting them all away, but I'm sure there are still some lying around. The terrible twos might be coming a little sooner than expected". I go into Gray's room and find him putting on his pajamas. "Look who called".
"Daddy!" He pulls his shirt on and jumps on his bed as I put the laptop down infront of him.
"Hey little man" Jace smiles from ear to ear, "how was your day?"
"Raf and I started soccer today, and he told one of the girls that she's cute but she didn't think he was. We also went to get ice cream with uncle Magnus after practice..." he starts telling Jace everything and I go get the girls.
It's getting harder and harder each day, but I carry both of them and head back to Gray's room. Sooner or later I won't be able to do this anymore. Luckily, they're starting to walk. I sit on Grays bed so Jace can see the girls and Mia starts bouncing as soon as she spots him.
"There are my princesses" he changes his focus to the girls. "Oh, you guys are getting so big. Are they walking?"
"Only a couple of steps until they go back to crawling" I answer for them running a hand throw Mia's red curls.
Bree raises her hand to the computer screen and says "Dada" softly.
"Did you hear that?" My eyes grow with shock
"Did she just say...?" Jace sound even more shocked than I do
Bree squirms in my arms and yells out "dada" again.
"She did!" I smile and Jace's eyes tear up.
"Omg" he brings his hands to his face, "has Mia said anything?"
"She's said no a few times and she's still saying oter when she wants water, but nothing else" I can't believe Bree's first word is dada.
"I miss you guys so much" he confesses and it makes me tear up a little.
"We're coming to see you this week!" Gray throws his hands in the air. We'll be going to New York with Magnus and the boys for a few days. They're missing a couple of weeks of school, so a tutor is coming to help them with their homeschooling. The school told us that for now all his work can be done on paper, but eventually he'll need a laptop just for school.
"And I am supper excited to see you!" Jace answers before trying to hide a yawn
"It's pretty late in Florida isn't it?" I remember there's some time difference.
"It's fine" he shakes his head.
"You should be getting to bed" I point out before looking at the time and then at Gray, "and so should you. "go brush you're teeth" Gray throws his head back annoyed but obeys.
"I used to perform shows and then stay up partying for god knows how long" he chuckles to himself, "now I have to be in bed by midnight".
"You didn't have kids back then" I laugh, but realize it was my fault that he didn't know he had a son. "Do you miss it?"
"Well..." He winces slightly, "a little. But I would much rather go to bed early knowing that I have my son, and my daughters, and of course my beautiful wife". Gray comes back and throws himself on the bed clearly ready for bed.
"I think it's time to call it a day" I look down at my son and then back at Jace. "See you soon okay"
"Good night Gray Gray"
"Goodnight daddy" Gray yawns closing his eyes.
"I love you buddy" he says quickly before Gray falls asleep
"I love you too"
"Have a good show tomorrow" I encourage, "I love you".
"And I love you" he manages to say before I close the computer and put it on Gray's desk.
Then I get the twins to bed before taking a shower and getting into my big lonely bed. I haven't been sleeping well without Jace. There's just something being alone in this room that doesn't feel right. I'm sure I've been staring at the ceiling for at least an hour when the door slowly creeps open and Gray appears dragging his blanket. He's had that blanket since he was born. He hadn't been using it lately, but since Jace left he can't sleep without it.
"What's wrong buddy?" I lift myself up to look at him standing on the doorway.
"I..." He stops for a second, "I just miss daddy".
"I know" I hold my arms out so he climbs onto the bed and snuggles close to me, "we'll be together very soon".
"I still miss him" he pouts and I wrap my arms around his small body.
"I miss him too" I admit kissing the top of his head before we both fall asleep peacefully.
"Come on momma" Gray urges trying to push one of the suitcases towards the door, "let's go".
"We still have to wait for uncle Magnus and Ms. Lyla to get her before we leave" I tell him as I finish packing the girls' diaper bag and Bree starts crying. He sits on the floor leaning against the suitcase to wait. I pick up Bree from her high chair leaving Mia there who's deeply enjoying some seedless grapes.
"What's wrong?" I coo as her cries soften into whimpers. She sinks her head into the crook of my neck and calms down.
The door suddenly opens and Raf runs in with 18 month old Max waddling behind him. Gray immediately stands up, a smile back on his face, and they run off to the backyard leaving Max standing there alone.
"We're leaving in a few minutes" I yell after them as Magnus steps into the house, "don't get dirty".
"Ah, Clary" Magnus greets me with a kiss on the cheek, "I'd like you to meet Lyla. She'll be the boy's tutor". A young girl, around my age, comes into the house.
"Nice to meet you" I hold my hand out and she takes it professionally.
"Likewise" she smiles, her chocolate eyes gleaming. "And who's this little girl?" She says to Bree who giggles before hiding into my chest.
"Where's the other princess?" Magnus asks.
"In the kitchen having a snack" I respond and Bree starts squirming so I let her down. "We should get the luggage in the car".
"The car service is waiting outside" Magnus grabs both suitcases and carries them out to the car.
"Grayson! Rafael!" I yell out the kitchen window and they run back into the house. I pick up Mia and clean the high chair before heading back to the foyer.
"This is Ms. Lyla boys" I explain to Gray and Raf, "she's going to be your teacher when you're away from school".
"It's nice to meet you" Gray greets her like a gentleman to my surprise, and then I leave them to get to know each other. I put Mia down where Bree and Max are playing and go grab Gray's backpack and my stuff. When I come back, I find Magnus holding up Bree looking confused.
"What?" I ask when he keeps staring at her.
"There's something wrong" he frowns
"What!?" My voice comes out a little worried this time.
"This outfit has no glitter" he laughs knowing he actually got me worried.
"Shut up" I roll my eyes and we all head out to the car and then to the airport.
Flying with three babies isn't easy, but we make it work. The boys sit with Lyla on one row so they could start their work since they are missing school today, and Magnus and I sit with the younger kids.
When we arrive in New York, we are greeted by none other that the paparazzi. By now, it's normal for me, but I had never had all the kids with me. I just have to do what I always do, walk fast and ignore them. I do have the girls' stroller, but I don't use it. It only takes a few minutes before pictures of us at the airport are already online.
Once in the hotel, Magnus goes to Alec's suite and I go into Jace's. The guys aren't here because they had press stuff, but they should be here soon. The girls really needed a nap, so I take advantage of the quite time and take a nap as well while Gray's still in Magnus' room finishing his school day. When Gray is done with school, Magnus calls and I am forced to wake up even though I was having a really good nap.
"How was school?" I ask Gray as he comes back into the suite.
"Fine" he shrugs and reaches for his IPad where I lose his attention completely.
Mia wakes up first, and I put down a blanket for her to sit and play with some toys. I go check on Bree, but she's still fast asleep. When I go back, Mia is standing holding on to the coffee table and and Gray has put his IPad down to play with his sister.
The door opens and before Jace can even walk in, gray is already running towards him. Jace picks him up in one swift move and throws him over his shoulder as they both burst out laughing.
"I've missed you buddy" Jace puts him back down and kneels to his level. I want to go kiss him, but I let them have their little father son moment.
"I missed you too" gray wraps his arms around his neck and Jace picks him up again.
"And you..." He comes towards me and presses his lips to mine softly for a second. I let out a breath and let my body sink into his.
Suddenly, Mia let's out an excited shriek flailing her arms before slowly waddling her way to Jace's leg leaving us all astounded.
"Omg!" I say leaning down to pick her up, "I can't believe that just happened. She just walked".
"What can I say?" Jace shrugs putting Gray back down and grabbing Mia, "they're daddy's girls". I can't help but roll my eyes, but I can't deny it. They really are daddy's girls.
"Where's Bree?" He asks and as if on cue she starts crying from the bedroom where the two cots are. "I'll get her" he smiles and hands Mia back to me.
I smile congratulations her for her first steps as I set her back down on the blanket so she can keep playing.
"Clary!" Jace calls for me and I go into the room, "I don't think she's feeling very well". Bree whimpers with a slight cough, her eyes red and a her sheets are flushed. I press my hand to her forehead, and it immediately feels too warm.
"She has a fever" I reach instinctively to take her from him, and he doesn't argue. "It's probably just a cold. She wasn't acting like herself before we left the house this morning. I should have known...".
"Is there anything she needs?" He asks concerned.
"We just have to get her to drink lots of water" I say and Bree coughs again, "and we might need a thermometer and some cold medicine".
"I'll go get that" he nods and starts walking out.
"Can I come?" gray stares at me and Jace joins him waiting for my approval.
"Sure" I agree, "but keep a close eye on him". He smiles and they leave to get everything.
That night, Magnus and Lyla take the boys and Mia to Rogue Kingdom's concert so I can stay with Bree. She has been miserable all day, but after a steam bath and a lot of water, her fever finally goes down and she starts acting like herself again.
After keeping a close eye on her, I decide there's no reason not to go to the concert since her temperatures back to normal and her smiles back. She still has a little cough, but it's not too bad.
When I get there, I join the rest of them in the sides of the stage, including Emma who's supporting Gage, and Bree starts dancing to the music. I don't even think Jace notices I'm here since he is well hypnotized by the performance.
I put Bree down for a second to hand the boys some snacks, and when I turn around she's already halfway down the stage walking towards Jace. The crowd bursts out in cheers when they spot her. I am obviously mortified, but Magnus just finds it hilarious. Jace finally notices when Alec points it out to him. he stops singing and picks her up before continuing to sing again. The song was almost over.
"This is my daughter Bree" Jace says into the microphone, "and believe it or not, those were her first steps". The crowd cheers again and Jace gives her a quick kiss before handing her back to me on the sidelines.
"That kid was made to be in the spotlight" Magnus shakes his head and I chuckle.
