"So how long do I leave the rice on for?" Jace asked.

"Twenty minutes," Celine voice replied through his cell phone.

"Okay, and as long as the chicken isn't pink it's okay, and I haven't totally failed?" Jace continued. He was standing in front of the stove, his head tilted to keep his phone near his ear, while he used to hands to try and combat the simmering pots and pans before him.

"I am sure Clary will love it," Celine told him. "Just relax. You sound like you are steaming at the ears."

"Shit, that's the vegetables!" Jace called as the pot boiled over. Putting the phone down, Jace quickly went to the aid of his dinner making attempt. He was calling it an attempt since he'd has his mother on the phone for half of it.

Exams were over now and Christmas was almost upon them. In fact, Jace and Clary were due to get on a plane and go home to her parents tomorrow morning. Jace couldn't believe how nervous he was, which might have something to do with why his dinner experiment had turned out so horribly. Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad. Sure, the chicken was a little dry, and the rice at the bottom of the pan had stuck, but it was edible, and that was what mattered.

"Okay veggies have been saved," Jace returned to his phone now that the crisis has been solved.

"Good now hang up on your mother and have a wonderful dinner with your charming girlfriend," Celine ordered.

"Thanks mom," Jace laughed before doing as he was told. Jace had just finished setting the table when he heard the door open.

"What's all this?" Clary asked as she walked in. It had been a long time since she'd knocked when entering his apartment.

"Dinner?" Jace said tentatively. His mother's cooking always smelled better than this.

"You don't sound too sure about that," Clary replied with a chuckle as she dropped her school bag and moved closer.

"If it's gross we are ordering take out," Jace stated, firmly.

"I am sure it will be great," Clary giggled leaning up to greet him with a kiss. Jace welcomed the kiss, holding the back of her neck gently.

"I love you," Jace whispered in her ear as they broke apart. Since realizing the level to which he sucked at being a boyfriend, Jace had been trying to make up for it. His first plan had been to google 'how to be a good boyfriend' but the results hadn't been too helpful. Next, Jace had asked his mother and Alec for advice. His mother's advice had been the only useful one however, as Alec's great wisdom was: just don't offer to buy your partner's summer vacation.

"I know," Clary replied with a smile. "You don't have to tell me every time I see you."

"Yes, I do," Jace disagreed as he turned back to try and plate their merely edible dinner.

"You aren't as bad at this as you think you are," Clary said as she sat down at the place he'd prepared for her.

"Recently," Jace corrected.

"At all," Clary continued. Jace mumbled something about how he didn't agree as he placed a plate of rice, steamed vegetables and dry lemon chicken in front of her. "I mean it Jace. I shouldn't have let my own insecurities cloud my judgement."

"But I shouldn't have created a situation where you could feel insecure," Jace argued not letting himself off the hook. "I should have noticed."

"I should have told you," Clary countered.

"Eat your chicken," Jace mumbled as he sat down across from her at the table. Looking down at his lap rather than getting started eating his dinner, Jace suddenly felt her hand under his chin.

"Let's just agree that we are both fools and call it a day," Clary whispered, making him look at her with the gentle pressure of her fingers on his face. "I love you too." Jace closed his eyes, holding those words close to his heart for one perfect moment.

"Now I expect you to be your normal self with my parents," Clary told him. "None of this feeling guilty crap okay?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jace replied grinning. They both started eating, but now, Jace was still feeling nervous just for different reasons.

"What do your parents know about me?" Jace asked. "I mean, what have you told them?"

"Not much," Clary replied.

"Do they know what I was like before?" Jace inquired, hoping she'd know he meant his old player ways.

"A little," Clary answered. "I mean, I wasn't going to lie to them, but it's not like I gave them details." Jace took a long nervous gulp of the champagne he'd paired with dinner; Clary giggle at him.

"It isn't funny," Jace whined. "I've never done the whole 'meet the parents' thing before."

"I've never done the meet the parents thing before either," Clary replied. "Well apart from when I met your mom."

"Didn't you bring Simon home?" Jace asked.

"Yeah, but mom and dad met Simon when we were both in footy pajamas," Clary sniggered. Jace decided not to mention that he'd know Sebastian just as long. It was a strange thought though, that those two people had even one thing in common. Then Jace realized his comparison made no sense since it was just as significant as both their names beginning with the letter S.

After dinner they watched a movie, then packed their bags and all too soon, Jace found himself on a plane headed to meet his girlfriend's family for Christmas. He had a feeling that if Celine hadn't met Clary over the summer, she would have tried to guilt Jace into coming home for Christmas, with lots of 'I miss you's' and similar only child guilting tactics. But as it was, Celine had been very enthusiastic about the idea when Jace had brought it up a few weeks ago. Jace had never spent a Christmas away from his mother before, but then again, he'd never spent a Christmas out of Sebastian's company either. This Christmas was a first for him in oh so many ways.

Clary's firm grip on his hand steadied Jace's anxiety as they got off the plane. Together they walked out with everyone else until they came into view of three people all staring at Clary affectionately. One was clearly Clary's mother as she had the same bright red hair. The man standing next to her was tall, with brown hair and eyes. From what Clary had told him, Jace figured this was Luke. The other boy with them, Jace knew to be Clary's older brother. He had green eyes like her, but otherwise they looked nothing alike. Jon had dirty blonde hair and a goofy grin. Jace knew from Clary that Jon dropping out of school had been quite the dramafest in her family last Christmas, but somehow he felt like his life presences would make this Christmas even more awkward and dramatic than the last, or maybe he was just being paranoid.

"Welcome home," Clary's mother said, her arms held wide to hug her daughter. Jace, of course, knew her name, but it felt strange to use it without an actual introduction, then again, maybe he was overthinking this as well. When Luke joined the pile up, Jace found himself standing feet away staring at Clary's family trying to suffocate her.

"Get off guys geez," Clary mumbled as she forced her way free. Then she took a step back and included Jace before saying, "I'd like you all to meet Jace." Until this moment, not a single one of these people had spared him a glance, but now, all eyes were on him. Jace gulped, wishing Clary would just let her hand fall, and everyone went back to ignoring him.

"I've heard alot about you," Luke said holding out his hand. Jace shook it, then Jocelyn's, nodding his head as he did so, too nervous to speak. Jon was looking him up and down, and Jace really had no clue why until he spoke.

"You look like you play a sport," Jon observed. "Soccer? Or maybe football."

"Wrestling," Jace said the first words he spoke since the plane landed.

"Cool," Jon continued. "I played soccer in University. Being on the wrestling team looked brutal. I could always spot at least one of them with bruises."

"Yeah, it not exactly a non-contact sport," Jace laughed. He was getting more comfortable, talking about things he understood, things in his comfort zone. "But when you get a scholarship, you don't complain."

"For sure," Jon replied. Then the groups started moving toward the baggage claim, and they some how split into two conversations, Clary talking with her parents, and Jon and Jace tagging along behind. The conversation remained casual as they watched the suitcases go by, remaining on topics like University and sports. While they talked, it was all eyes on deck watching for their luggage. Jace noticed only a few truly worthy of attention, while the rest were nondescript shades of brown, navy, or beige, and easily forgotten.

"Who ever covered their luggage in bright pink duck tape is secretly a genius," Jon was saying as Jace grabbed the last of their luggage off the sliding conveyor belt. "You couldn't lose that in a crowd if you tired."

"True," Jocelyn replied. "Maybe we should decorate your suitcase, Clary."

"Sure, mom," Clary said. "Could be fun, though not hot pink okay?" Jocelyn laughed, but didn't reply. Jon was pulling his sister's suitcase while Jace had his own in tow, and together they all walked out the automatic doors toward the the car. Jace took note of the very practical van Jocelyn drove as they all piled in, Luke and Jocelyn in the front, Clary and Jon in the middle row and Jace at the back.

During the drive home, Jace sat quietly in the back and listen to the family catch up with Clary. They practically interrogated her about how her life was going. How did she like her classes? How'd she like living with Magnus? Had she heard from Simon? What was she thinking in terms of specific majors? The only topic they didn't ask her about was in relation to Jace, and he couldn't tell if that was just them being polite since he was technically in the car listening, or if they were actively avoiding it for some other reason. Again Jace wondered if he was reading more into this than there actually was, but he couldn't help it.

The car stopped in the driveway of a lovely little house with a simple garden and white shutters. The siding was a sorta greeny blue, and though it looked well cared for, it was clearly an older home. By the time they were all walking into Clary's house, the topic had turned to Jon's recent trip to France.

"Cassie and I took that underwater train to England for a weekend," Jon was saying to his sister. Jace was quite sure Luke and Jocelyn had already heard this story, and Jon was retelling it purely for Clary's benefit. "And it was unreal. Just knowing how much water was above you."

"I bet!" Clary exclaimed, clearly enjoying the story. During the last hour, Jace had managed to deduce that Cassie was Jon's girlfriend who he'd spent the last year backpacking through Europe with after dropping out of University.

The topic remained on Jon's adventures in Europe for some time, mostly because Clary kept asking Jon questions. Everyone was gathered in the living room now drinking tea or coffee. At some point, someone must of ordered pizza for dinner because there was a knock at the door and Luke returned moments later with two large flat boxes. Jace was included in the conversation, but he was still surprised that the topic never fell on him. He wasn't sure if this was comforting or worrisome. Then suddenly the conversation shifted.

"Hope you're being good to my little sister," Jon said addressing Jace who just blinked, too startled into silence. "Cause if you aren't…" He left the threat hang there while Jace stood frozen.

"Cut it out freak," Clary laughed at her brother, hitting him playfully in the shoulder. Jace had no idea what it was like to have a sibling - Sebastian being the closest he'd ever come - but somehow when Clary called her brother a freak, there was something endearing about it.

"What, I can't check up on my sister's new squeeze?" Jon counted. "Make sure he isn't bad news."

"Your sister is a grown up!" Clary grumbled as she threw a pillow at him, ruining the effect of her words rather perfectly. "She doesn't need you to stick your nose in her business."

"Now children," Luke sighed in that parent way Jace usually only saw on tv. "Settle down."

"Besides, isn't that a parent's job," Jocelyn argued with her son.

"Big brother's count," Jon disagreed, but before Jace could do more than shrink a little farther into the couch, the topic was changed again. Jace felt even more confused.

The sun set, and the pizza boxes were empty by the time the evening ended. Jon wanted to call Cassie before he went to bed, and then there were four. When Luke and Clary left to throw out the pizza boxes and tidy away glasses, Jace found himself alone with Clary's mother. Though he'd kinda been expecting Luke to be the one to corner him, he had a feeling the moment he'd been anticipating since their arrival was finally upon him.

"I know Clary is an adult despite the pillow fights, and it technically isn't any of my business, but I have to ask," Jocelyn said calmly. "What are your intentions with my daughter?"

"What do you mean?" Jace asked. It seemed a rather odd question. Surely, it was obvious that Jace intended to date her. After all, he was dating her, and he'd come here for Christmas to meet her family. Jace knew what it was to have what he now understood to be 'bad intentions' with a girl - though he'd never called them such before - and he knew such intentions never involved meeting her parents.

"Do you love her?" Jocelyn asked.

"More than anything," Jace replied easily, still not sure what this question had to do with the previous one. "Clary taught me what love is." Jocelyn studied him for a moment, moving just a fraction closer to get a better look. Jace couldn't remember the last time he'd been so uncomfortable. Then Jocelyn leaned back, smiling.

"Alright then," she said standing up. "Well, I'm off to bed. Good night, Jace."

"Night," Jace said holding his hand up in a half hearted wave, still all kinds of confused. A few moments later, Clary returned alone and grabbed his hand dragging him down the hall. Jace was a surprised when he realized she was taking him to her room. Even more so when she said he was to sleep here. Somehow he'd expected meeting the family to be far more judgey than it had actually turned out to be.

"And your parents are just going to let me sleep in your room?" Jace asked as they were getting ready for bed.

"Yeah course," Clary replied easily.

"I mean I could sleep on the couch," Jace said.

"That couch is lumpy and horrible," Clary countered. "And I have a double bed so this makes more sense." Jace must of still looked dubious, because Clary added. "Mom knows we are serious and at school together unsupervised. It's not like they are blind. When Cass sleeps over, she stays in Jon's room." Clary shrugged. This somehow did not make Jace feel less awkward.

They washed up, and then Jace found himself lying in his girlfriend's childhood bed with her beside him. Clary was sleeping in a nighty, but even so with her parents one bedroom over, Jace had never been less likely to make a move before in his life. Instead they snuggled, falling asleep beside each other.


So for once I don't really have alot to say here... I mean I don't think I have guest reviews to answer since usually I have those already written long before I update and there is nothing there. Its so nice to literally update a chapter the moments its finished again. :D Though the next chapter is also done and I am going to wait a little while to update that so...


Sneak Peek Chapter 68:

"What's the matter Angel," Will cooed. "What could possibly be so bad in your world to be worth making such a noise as that, hmm?" He rocked her back and forth as he continued. "Really, you have it made little one. People waiting on you all day, coming to your aid the moment you swauk."

"My daughter does not swauk," Tessa grumbled. "Here, give her to me. She's probably hungry. I swear this kid has a built in clock. Every two hours on the dot."

"Not fair," Will whined handing her over. "I just got home and you'd had her all day."

"Grow some boobs then you can feed her, and I'll get to sleep for more than two hours in a row," Tessa said, grumpy as she scooped her daughter back out of Will's arms.

"Come on, I doubt you'd like me with boobs," Will replied rather too matter of factly for the topic at hand. "I'd probably never get lucky again."