Ninety Ninth One Shot:

Millionaire Mayhem

Clary POV:

Being a struggling artist is not fun. I had to take up two other part time jobs to just stay afloat. It was horrible, but that's what I get for picking a career that wasn't practical, and why my parents refuse to help me out. Which is why I'm working at Starbucks at 27 years old. It was the farthest thing from what I wanted to do, but here I was, making lattes, and Frappuccino's, and serving with a smile, and I hated it, but it paid so I sucked it up.

It was a rather slow Thursday and I was just cleaning the counters when the bell rang. I looked up and there stood the most beautiful man I've ever seen. He was golden from head to toe, and he was wearing a suit that hugged his body in all the right places. He walked up to the counter and I snapped out of my daze.

"Welcome to Starbucks. What can I get for you?" I asked with my signature smile.

"Can I get a venti white chocolate mocha with two shots of espresso." He said and I grabbed a cut.

"Of course. What's your name?" I asked.

"Isabelle." He said and I looked up at him. "It's for my sister." He said and I nodded. He gave me a 20 and than walked away. I started making his drink. The radio was playing in the back and I was casually singing along. It was an old song, Obsessed by Mariah Carey. When I finished the drink and turned around he was standing there smirking at me.

"Have a good day." I said as I handed it to him.

"You too…." He said as he looked at my nametag. "Clary." He said and the way that my name just rolled off his tongue perfectly. He walked out the door and once he was gone I practically swooned. It didn't last long, since more people walked in and I tried to forget about the gorgeous man who was no longer in the store, but for some reason he was there, in the back of my mind, for the rest of the day.

Once I clocked out, I ran to my car and headed to my second job. By day, a barista, by night, a bartender. Bartending was a lot more entertaining than being a barista, so I didn't mind it as much, but I still wish I could pursue my dream. I changed quickly in the parking lot and ran towards the club. I walked past the bouncer, Bat, and got behind the bar and prepared for the crazy night ahead of me.

Thankfully I wasn't on the floor tonight, because I wasn't in the mood to be struggling to get through the crowd. I was behind the bar, getting drinks, and waiting for my shift to end. I nearly dropped the drink I was making when the golden man walked up to the bar. I've never seen this man before today, and now I've seen him twice in the same day, and I've served him. I walked over after finishing the drink to see what he needed.

"How can I help you?" I asked and he looked at me and smirked.

"What are the chances you'd make my coffee, and my long island iced tea?" He said and I laughed.

"Very slime considering I've never seen you a day in my life before." I said as I grabbed the necessary things to make a long island iced tea.

"I just moved back after living on the West Coast for many years." He said and I nodded.

"How did you like the West Coast?" I asked.

"It was alright." He said. "I missed New York though, and I'm glad to be back with my family." He said and I nodded.

"How did your sister like her coffee this morning?" I asked and he laughed.

"She said it was the best one she's ever had, so I'll be in there way more now." He said and I laughed.

"Well, I work five days a week. From open until about 4 most days." I said and he nodded.

"Than I guess I'll be a regular from now on." He said and I laughed.

"Here you go, one long island iced tea." I said and he took it from me. "Have a great time…." I said but I realized I didn't know his name.

"I'm Jace." He said as he reached his hand over the bar.

"Have a good night Jace." I said and he nodded before disappearing into the crowd. He seemed like he would be such a cocky guy, but from the couple interactions I felt like there was so much more to him and I was excited to see him more often.

Time Jump – Two Months Later

Clary POV:

I was board out of my mind at work. It was storming out so people generally didn't go out much when the weather was this bad. I didn't blame them, I wouldn't be out if I didn't have to work. I just wish I wasn't board.

I was cleaning the counters to pass time when I heard the bell ring. I looked up and Jace was standing there, drenched, and he looked really freaked out. I put my rag down and walked out from behind the counter to see if he was alright.

"Jace, are you alright?" I asked and he looked at me.

"I'll give you 10,000 dollars to use your car." He said and my jaw dropped.

"Why can you just use your own car?" I asked.

"Because I can't." He hissed. "15,000 dollars." He said.

"Tell me why, and you can have it." I said and he sighed.

"I can't." He said.

"Jace, what happened?" I asked as I stepped closer. He opened his mouth to say something when I heard a lot of sirens. And he freaked out.

"Come with me." He said and before I could even comprehend what was happening, he was pulling my arm to the back of the store. He reached over the counter and grabbed my bag and we walked out of the back. "Where is your car?" He asked and I pointed. We walked over to it, and opened the passenger side and I got in. He got in the drivers side and he drove away. That's when I got a good look at his hands.

"Is that blood?" I asked and he looked at his hands.

"I'll explain when we're in a private location." He said and I just stopped talking. Something bad happened, and I'm not going to lie, I was kinda freaking out.

We were in the car for hours before he finally pulled over to a motel that looked abandoned. We parked the car and turned towards me.

"Here is 200 dollars." He said as he handed it to me. "Go in there and book a room for 2 nights. Don't use your real name, and don't say you're with a guest." He said and I simply nodded and got out of the car and went into the motel. A girl was working at the counter, and she looked so uninterested.

"Hi, I'd like a room for two nights please." I said and she looked up at me.

"Name?" She asked.

"Pamela Stevens." I said and she nodded. I handed her the cash and she didn't ask anymore questions. She handed me the keys and I walked out. Jace was leaning against the side of the motel. "We're in room 8." I said and he nodded. He took the keys from me and started walking. I followed him because I clearly had no other options. We walked into the room and he sat on the edge of the bed and I stood by the door. "Can you tell me what's going on now?" I finally asked.

"Something bad happened, and people think I was responsible." He said.

"Does it have something to do with the blood?" I asked and he nodded. "What happened?" I asked.

"My adopted father was murdered, and they think I did it." He said and my jaw hit the ground.

"Jace, you're a fugitive, and you roped me into it!" I nearly yelled but than I remembered where I was.

"I didn't do it Clary." He said. "I would never do that."

"So why run? Why not tell them that?" I asked.

"Because I had a motive, and I was the last person to talk or see him." He said.

"What was your motive?" I asked hesitantly.

"He owed me some money, and he wasn't paying it back." He said. "But I was okay with that. He was my adopted father, I knew he was good for his word, but people always assume millionaires are stingy with their money, but not when it comes to family." He said and my jaw dropped.

"Did you just say millionaire?" I asked and he looked at me.

"Yea." He said. "My name is Jonathan Herondale. I'm the CEO of Herondale Industries, and the only living relative left of some very old money and powerful people."

"Holy shit." I said as I took a seat next to him.

"I'm sorry I dragged you along, but I needed to leave. I didn't kill Robert, but whoever did clearly wants something from me." He said.

"Why do you say that?" I asked. He handed me a note.

Dear Robert,

We've given you enough time. We want our money. If you don't have our money by Monday, you're dead meat. Tell anyone about this, and your precious little daughter will be your payment, and I can't tell you how long it's been since we've had such a fine piece of ass around here.

You know who we are.

I finished reading the note and than looked at Jace. He looked distraught. I reached my hand over to his and didn't even care that there was blood on them.

"Why didn't you tell the police Jace?" I asked.

"Izzy would be in danger." He said. "I have to protect her."

"Jace, she probably thinks you murdered her father." I said.

"I'm going to find whoever killed Robert. But I need to be away from them right now. Away from everyone right now." He said.

"Well, I'm going to go shower." I said as I stood up. "I'm freezing."

"I'll drop you off at a bus station tomorrow morning, and just pretend you never saw me and your car was stolen." He said.

"No." I simply said and he looked at me.

"What do you mean no?" He asked.

"I mean, you kidnapped me, and stole my car." I said. "But now I'm invested, and I want to help you."

"Why would you want to do that?" He asked.

"Excuse my bluntness, and I don't expect you to say anything back, but I like you." I admitted and his eyes widened. "I've enjoyed your visits every single day for the past couple months. And you don't deserve to go through this, and maybe I could be helpful."

"Clary." He said and I held my hand up.

"Once this is all taken care of, we'll go back to daily coffee visits, and the occasionally club visits, but I want to help." I said and he simply nodded. I walked into the bathroom and started the shower. This was going to be a mess, but I was prepared. At least I hope that I was.

Jace POV:

Clary closed the bathroom door and I took a deep breath. I kidnapped her. I really fucking kidnapped her. She didn't seem too torn up about it, but I still committed a crime, and that wasn't sitting well with me, but I was also focusing on the fact that she just admitted to liking me. I mean, Izzy only asks me for coffee like 2 times a week, but I went in there everyday getting her coffee because I wanted to see Clary. I wanted to talk to her, and see her smile, and hear her laugh, and just start my morning off right, and Clary was the only way I knew how to do that these last couple months. I was pulled out of my thoughts when the bathroom door opened and Clary stood there in a towel.

"I don't have any clothes, and mine are soaked." She said and I laughed.

"Since I'm still dressed, I'll go out and buy us something to wear. You wait here." I said as I got up.

"Jace." She said and I turned around. "You might want to wash your hands." She said and I looked down and saw the blood on my hands.

"Right." I said. "Good idea." I said and I walked into the bathroom. Her clothes were sitting the counter and I caught sight of her black lace panties and I had to look away. Impure thoughts clouded my mind. When I was done washing my hands I went back into the room and she was sitting on the bed. "I'll be back." I said and I rushed out of there. Clary in nothing but a towel was tempting, and if I was going to get anything accomplished right now, I couldn't just stare at her.

Clary POV:

After Jace left, I figured I'd just turn on the TV and watch something. I realized that if I didn't show up to work tomorrow, I was going to be reported missing, and Jace didn't need that. I picked up my phone and texted both of my bosses. I told them that I got a big break in Europe and that I was leaving tonight. They both replied and said that they hope that everything works out. After that, I turned my phone off, and took the battery out so nobody could track me, and by the time they realized I was here, Jace and I would be gone.

About an hour or so later, Jace walked back into the room. He had bags with him and he set them down at the bottom of the bed and looked at me but didn't say a word. He walked into the bathroom and closed the door, and the water started.

I got off the bed and looked in the bag. I grabbed a pair of yoga pants, underwear, and a t-shirt. I got dressed and I felt better, but I was still cold so I climbed back into the bed and pulled the comforter over me and waited for Jace to get out of the shower. Once I heard the water turn off, the nerves hit me. I told this guy that I liked him, and now I was going to have to face the consequences.

"We need to talk." He said and I nodded and he joined me on the bed, and he looked nervous.

"If this has something to do with what I said earlier, we can just forget it." I said and he shook his head.

"I do want to talk about it, but I don't want to forget about it." He said and I simply nodded. "I'm sorry that I kinda just dismissed it earlier when you told me. I was surprised, and didn't really know what to say. My head clearly isn't in the right head space to be thinking rationally." He said and I laughed. "But I calmed down a lot in the last hour or so, and I think we should have an adult conversation about it."

"Okay." I said and he nodded.

"I'd like to start off by saying that I like you as well." He said and my jaw dropped, which caused him to laugh. "My sister only asked me to get her coffee twice a week, but I wanted to see you every day, so I got her coffee everyday." He said and I simply nodded. "I also want to apologize for dragging you into my mess." He said. "I was frantic, and not thinking clearly, and my car is easily recognizable, and I needed something that wouldn't be connected to me." He explained.

"I get it." I said. "I'm sorry this is happening to you, and I promise I'll try my best to help in any way that I can." I explained and he nodded.

"Thank you." He said.

"I should warn you, I texted my bosses. I told them that I got an opportunity to pursue art is Europe and that I was moving there to take it." I said. "I turned my phone off and removed the battery, but I thought they were the only ones who would report me missing, and I didn't want that so I took the risk."

"It's okay." He said. "That was probably the best move you could have made." He said. "Did you call your parents as well?' He asked and I let out a dry laugh.

"I haven't spoken to my parents since I was 22." I said.

"Why not?" He asked.

"They didn't agree with my career choice." I said. "My father wanted me to be a business major, and work for him, but I want to be an artist. I don't want to be stuck in a cubicle all day doing something I hate. So my family cut me off."

"I'm so sorry." He said and I shrugged.

"It's been 5 years." I said. "I'm kinda over it."

"So you're 27?" He asked and I laughed.

"Yup." I said and he nodded. "What about you?" I asked.

"I'm 30." He said and I nodded. It was quiet for a moment before I decided to just take a plunge.

"It's kinda late, and it's pretty cold in here." I said. "Want to watch some movies, and just try and forget why we're here?" I asked and he smiled.

"I think that sounds perfect." He said. I moved over on the bed and he joined me and got under the covers.

"I was searching the channels earlier, and we don't have much, but I saw an Iron Man movie on one of the channels, if that's okay with you." I said and he laughed.

"My little brother is really into all those types of movies." He said and I nodded. I turned the channel and the movie filled the room. Being in his presence like this seemed natural, and despite why we were in this situation, I couldn't help but smile when Jace and I causally started moving closer and closer to each other.

Jace POV:

I woke up and there was pressure on my chest. I opened my eyes to see what it was, and when I looked down, there was a sea of red, and it hit me. Clary. She was laying on my chest, our legs were tangled together, and my hand was resting on her lower back. Waking up with her like this, cuddled into my side, was something I could definitely get used too.

I closed my eyes and just let myself drink in this moment. Things were going to start getting tough after this. I knew that I was going to be searched for. I had taken my stash of emergency cash before I ran and it was more than enough to keep Clary and I settled for as long as I took us to get the answers that we need to prove my innocence. I felt Clary stir and I opened my eyes.

"Good morning." I said and she rubbed her eyes.

"Morning." She said as she yawned, which I found incredibly cute.

"How did you sleep?" I asked.

"Better than I have in a long time." She said and I smiled.

"Me too." I said and she looked around.

"So, what's the plan today?" She asked and I sighed.

"I haven't figured it out yet." I said honestly. "I was just trying to enjoy the moment we were having this morning." I said and she blushed and turned around. I put my finger under her chin and turned her head back towards me. "Don't hide your blush. I like it." I said and that just caused her to blush even more.

"I think the first thing we need is food." She said and I realized how hungry I was.

"Food sounds like a good start." I said and she smiled.

"Are we going to stay here for the two nights you paid for?" She asked.

"I don't think we should." I said. "I have a house, a house that nobody knows about, considering it's not in any of my families names, up in the mountains. I was thinking we use that as a base while we try and figure this whole thing out." I said and she nodded.

"Okay. You pack our things, I'll go return the key." She said. "Meet me at the car, and we'll head out." She said and I nodded. We got out of bed and she turned around to walk out of the room when I decided to just take a chance. I grabbed her hand and pulled her into me. "What's wrong?" She asked but I didn't answer. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers, and damn, was this something I'd never get tired of. After the initial shock wore off, she kissed me back. When we broke apart, she had a small smile on her face.

"Nothing is wrong." I said. "Far from it actually." I said and she blushed.

"Well, why don't we get food, and to that house of yours, and than maybe we can do that again." She said and I smirked.

"Deal." I said and she walked out of the room. I packed our things, which didn't take long, and headed towards her car. She was already standing there with the trunk opened. I put all of our things in there and Clary handed me the keys. We got into her car and headed towards the house.

Time Jump – Hours Later

Clary POV:

We pulled up to a house, and it was basically like a little cottage. I thought it was going to be some big mansion, but it wasn't. It was actually really cute, and I couldn't wait to see the inside. I got out of the car and Jace grabbed our things and we headed towards the front door. He grabbed a key from the flowerpot and unlocked it.

"How original." I said and he laughed.

"Do you see any neighbors?" He asked and I shook my head. "Plus, nobody even knows this place exists, unless you know about it."

"Who lived here before?" I asked and he looked at me.

"My god father." He said. "But the name on the property isn't his real name. They wanted it to be kept secretive so that nobody could find you if you needed some time away from everything."

"I guess that's something only millionaires can do." I said and he laughed.

"He wasn't a millionaire." He said. "He just wanted a quiet space where he could relax." He said and I nodded.

"I'm going to go get some groceries." I said and Jace nodded and took out his wallet. He handed me a stack of money.

"Go crazy." He said.

"I've never held this much money before." I said and he laughed. He took out more money and handed it to me.

"Guess how much you're holding." He said and I looked at him.

"10 thousand?" I asked and he smiled.

"50 thousand." He said and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. "But I think you're only going to need 300 for groceries." He said as he took the stack back.

"That's still a lot." I said.

"I'd rather get enough so we don't have to go out as often." He said and I nodded.

"Anything in particular you want?" I asked.

"Mangos." He said and I smiled.

"Mangos it is." I said. "I'll be back in like an hour or two." I said and he nodded. He walked over to me and pressed his lips to mine sweetly.

"Be safe." He said and I nodded. I walked out and got into my car and took a deep breath. Kissing him would never get old, I knew that.

Time Jump – Two Hours Later

Jace POV:

I had decided to do some laundry while Clary was gone since no one's been here for some time, and our clothes were still cold from the other day. I didn't know how I was going to prove that it wasn't me who killed Robert, but I had to do everything in my power to prove that it wasn't me. I already lost my family once, I wasn't going to do it again.

I heard the door open, and I made my way to it to see Clary carrying in a lot of groceries. I've known this girl for two months, and seeing her grocery shop for us, and spending the night together made everything seem so domestic, and despite the fact that I did kidnap her, and we were on the run now, I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face.

"You gonna stand there and stare, or help me with the groceries?" I heard Clary say and I laughed.

"I'd love to stand and stare, but I'll help." I said and she laughed. I went out to the car and got more stuff. It took us about 20 minutes to get everything organized and stuff, but once it was done, I felt at home, and that was something I didn't think I'd ever truly find with someone else.

"So, have you figured out how to start looking for who killed Robert?" She asked and I shook my head.

"I'm not a police officer." I said. "I don't really even know where to begin."

"Well, I may have gotten my degree in art, but there were some elective courses that I took that had to do with criminal justice." She said.

"Really?" I asked and she nodded her head. "Why?"

"I thought it would be interesting. I'd rather take an interesting class than a boring one." She said and I nodded.

"So, where do we start detective?" I asked and she laughed.

"Well, we're going to be at a slight disadvantage considering we don't have all the resources police do, but I guess the first thing to do would be for you to think about who Robert could have possibly owed money too." She said. "He borrowed money from you, do you know why?" She asked and I started thinking about it.

"When I asked he gave me a really shady answer. Like he didn't want to me to know, but like he didn't want to lie to me." I said. "It was so long ago though." I admitted.

"That's okay. Take your time." She said. "When did he first ask for money?" She asked.

"I was 24." I said as I tried my best to remember. "Robert called me and he sounded a little frantic." I recalled. "When I asked what he needed the money for he said he needed to buy something and it was just way too expensive." I said. "Not really thinking anything of it, I gave him the money. He's my adoptive father, I wasn't going to deny him if he really needed it." I said.

"How much did you lend him?" She asked.

"It was somewhere between 6 and 8 grand." I said. "But that wasn't the first time I loaned him money."

"When did he ask for more?" She asked.

"He asked for more about 2 years later." I said. "It was less that time. Maybe closer to 3 grand."

"Well, I only know a couple reasons why people need that much cash." She said. "Gambling is a huge reason. Maybe he was involved in a gang, or an organized crime ring. I don't know what Robert did for work, but he could have embezzled money, and needed to pay it back." She said. "I don't know him, so I can't really judge his character."

"Organized crime? You really think that could be a thing?" I asked.

"It's an option." She said. "They are huge in New York. I mean, you ever hear about La Famiglia?"

"La what?" I asked.

"La Famiglia, is an organized crime ring in New York. You don't know about the five crime families in New York?" She asked.

"No. I've never heard of them." I admitted.

"It's not important who they are, but it's not a good thing if you get involved with them. Especially if you can't pay your debt." She explained.

"But how do we prove that?" I asked.

"That's what I don't know." She said. "I don't know how to figure it out without talking to Robert, and that's tough since he's dead."

"I wish I stayed in contact more." I said. "Maybe I would have picked up on the signs." I said as I took a seat on the couch. She came over and sat next to me and rested her hand on my leg.

"Why don't you tell me about him?" She asked and I looked up at her.

"He wasn't the friendliest man." I said. "He was a very strict guy who wanted things a certain way." I said. "My brother, Alec, came out to his family when we were seniors in high school, and Robert shunned him for almost 2 years."

"That's horrible." She said, and I nodded in agreement.

"It was tough, but Alec got through it." I said. I leaned back against the couch and I pulled her closer to me. "Him and Maryse, my adoptive mom, had a rocky relationship but stayed together because of Max, who is only 15 now."

"Wow. He's young." She said and I nodded.

"And not planned by a long shot." I said with a laugh. "But he's a great addition to the family. I couldn't picture life without him."

"He sounds great." She said and I smiled.

"Once we get this whole thing cleared up, I'd really like you to meet them." I said and I saw her jaw drop slightly. "If that's okay with you."

"Of course it is. It just caught me off guard." She said.

"Why is that?" I asked curiously.

"Because we didn't even label or talk about what we are, or want to be." She said and I nodded.

"Well, I'll have you know I don't just go around kissing people randomly." I said and she laughed. "I like you Clary. I really do, and as much as I wish I could take you out on a proper date, I'm just going to have to settle for cooking you dinner." I said and she smiled

"You can cook?" She asked and I smiled.

"Quite well actually." I said. "I could afford a chef, but there is just something so rewarding about making your own food."

"I'll take your word for it." She said. "I'm not that great of a cook." She said and I laughed.

"I'll teach you." I said and she simply nodded. "Speaking of dinner, what would you like to eat?" I asked.

"How about you surprise me." She said and I smiled and nodded.

"Deal." I said as I started to get off the couch.

"Is there a computer here that we can use?" She asked.

"There is a study. It's upstairs. It's the 4th door on the right." I said and she nodded.

"I'm going to start looking into anything I can find, or try and see if the police have done any more investigating on Robert's murder." She said and I nodded. She got off the couch, pressed herself up on her tippy toes and kissed me. "We're going to figure this out Jace."

"I'm just worried." I admitted. "I'm worried about my family, and I'm worried about my future. They are probably hurting so much right now, and they probably think I did it, and I can't even call them and tell them the truth otherwise that puts them in danger." I said and she cupped my face.

"After we clear your name, you can explain everything to them." She said and I nodded.

"Thank you." I said. "For being so understanding throughout everything. The kidnapping, the running, the uncertainty of the future." I said and she smiled.

"I was due for a little adventure in my life." She said with a smile. "And this is certainly adventurous." I laughed and she turned around and headed upstairs, and I went into the kitchen to start dinner. I needed to clear my name and get back to my family. I wanted to be there for them, but I wasn't going home until I knew the truth.

Clary POV:

I got to the study and went straight to the internet and started looking at anything that related to Robert Lightwood's murder. There were a few articles about it, and most of them were pointing fingers at Jace, and since he ran away, he is looking more and more guilty, but I didn't pay much attention to them since I knew the truth. Although, and article did stick out to me, and it was one where Isabelle gave a statement.

Interviewer:

~Do you believe your adoptive brother, Jonathan Herondale, is responsible for your fathers murder?~

Isabelle:

~Absolutely not. These allegations against him are completely falsified, and the minute we find out who actually killed my father, you'll all know that Jace would never do that to our family.~

Interviewer:

~Than where is he?~

Isabelle:

~I don't know. But I do know that Jace wouldn't kill my father. He isn't that kind of person.~

Interviewer:

~My sources tell me that your father owed a great deal of money to Mr. Herondale. Can you explain that?~

Isabelle:

~I had no idea my brother was lending my father money. But it wasn't any of my business. What Jace decides to do with his money is his business. And if my dad needed some, Jace was more than willing to help him out. That's the kind of person Jace is.~

Interviewer:

~But it's the perfect motive.~

Isabelle:

~Jace is a multimillionaire, do you really think that the money my father borrowed left a dent in his wallet? I can tell you right now, it probably didn't. And even if Jace did want that money back, he would never resort to violence in order to get it. My dad was his family, and in our world, you help out family no matter what. If my dad took some time paying Jace back, than Jace was okay with that.~

Interviewer:

~But Robert Lightwood isn't his father, or your family.~

Isabelle:

~Yes he is. We may have adopted Jace when he was 14 years old, but he has and always will be apart of our family. It didn't matter that he wasn't blood, we love him and he loves us. That's what makes him part of our family. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be with my family.~

The interview was finished and I felt a little lighter after reading that she didn't think that Jace was responsible at all. I knew he was worried about his family, but as long as they all had the same mindset as Isabelle, I think that when this investigation comes to a close, they will open their arms back to him without a shred of a doubt.

I continued to look for anything else relating to Robert Lightwood when I heard the door open. I looked back and Jace was standing in the doorway with a smile on his face, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Dinner is ready." He said and I nodded. I got up and made my way over to him. "Find anything?" He asked as we made our way to the kitchen.

"Isabelle wholeheartedly believes you're innocent." I said.

"She does?" He asked.

"Very much so." I continued. "She doesn't think you'd ever murder Robert because of money that he owed you, and that once the real killer was found, everyone would know that you were innocent all along."

"I can't tell you how much of a relief that is." He said as we took our seats for dinner.

"There wasn't much else that I could find. Just that you're a suspect at large, and that if anyone has any information on you to contact the police immediately." I said and he nodded. "I was thinking, maybe if we trolled through his email we might find something."

"Isn't that illegal?" He asked and I laughed.

"You're currently a fugitive." I reminded him. "And technically you kidnapped me, and committed grand theft auto. I think peaking into his emails is the least of your worries." I said and his face fell a little. "Don't worry, I don't plan on reporting you at all, just trying to make you see the big picture."

"I know, but I still feel bad about snatching you away from work." He said and I reached my hand over the table.

"It was one of the best things that's ever happened." I said and he smiled.

"I think I might know his email and password, but I don't know if he's changed it recently or not." He said.

"It's worth a shot." I said and he nodded. We were going to figure this out. We had too.

Time Jump – Two Months Later

Clary POV:

Jace and I have been trying to crack this case as much as we could. I've been trolling the news, and Jace was still a suspect but they were now looking into other leads. Of course I was worried about what happened after they caught the real killers. Could Jace go to jail for running from the law? It was a real concern of mine, and I was scared of going back to reality and facing that fear.

We barely left the house unless absolutely necessary, and if it was necessary, I was always the one leaving. I wasn't wanted, as far as anyone knew, I was in Europe chasing my dreams of being an artist. Nobody was looking for me, so I was always the one getting groceries, or take out.

It was a very rainy Saturday, and I was spending the majority of my day looking into leads, and trying my best to figure out something the police didn't know. I didn't doubt the police officers skills in solving this case, but I felt as if they had tunnel vision. They were pretty sure Jace killed Robert, and I knew that wasn't the case, and I wanted to prove them wrong.

I was causally looking through other murders that had happened in the area in the last couple years. If it was gang or mafia affiliated, maybe he wasn't the only victim they've taken care of, and maybe his case was similar to another case and the police were just overlooking it.

I was starting to get discouraged when I came across a string of murders that happened nearly 6 years ago. Two guys were seen associating with a crime family in New York. One day, they were both found dead. Each was in their home when their families were gone, and there was a note left at each crime scene. I could help but think about the similarities to Robert's case.

"Jace! Get in here, I think I found something!" I called, and a moment later the door flung opened.

"What's up?" He asked as he made his way over to me.

"So I was getting nowhere with new information on Robert's murder, so I decided to look at other homicides that happened in the last couple years. Nothing was popping out to me until this came across my search." I said as I pointed to the article. "These two men were seen affiliating with a crime family, and one day, when both theirs families were out, they were killed. A note was left behind at each scene." I said. "Sound familiar?" I asked.

"Holy shit." He said and I looked at him. "How come the cops didn't put this together?" He asked.

"You took the note." I reminded him. "They didn't have that signature for them to connect it to these two cases."

"Oh my god." He said and he hung his head. "I'm an idiot."

"No you aren't." I told him as I lifted his head up so our eyes locked. "You were protecting your sister. Thanks to you, she isn't a target of theirs. She's safe."

"I can't believe you found something." He said and I smiled.

"You doubting my detective work?" I asked and he smiled.

"Not at all. You could put those skills to work when we get out of this predicament." He said.

"How so?" I asked curiously. Working for the police never crossed my mind.

"You could be their sketch artist. You're insanely talented Clary. And you also have a knack for crime solving. I mean, you literally figured out something huge without any resources but the news and your brain. Don't let that go to waist." He said and I couldn't help but agree with his points.

"I'll think about it." I said. "Right now my focus is on proving your innocence and getting the real killers." I said and he nodded.

"I agree, but you deserve a break." He said.

"I didn't do that much work." I said and he laughed.

"Clary, its nearly 6. You've been in here for almost 7 hours." He said and I looked at the clock.

"Well damn." I said and he laughed.

"I was just about to make dinner. Why don't you come down and help me?" He asked and I smiled.

"I'd love too." I said. He reached his hand out and I took it and we walked to the kitchen together. I took a seat at the counter as Jace began to cook. He placed a cutting bored and knife in front of me with a bell pepper.

"Can you cut those up for me?" He asked and I smiled.

"How would you like them?" I asked as I grabbed the knife.

"I was thinking tiny squares." He said.

"As you wish chef." I said as I saluted him and he laughed. Jace and I have become very domestic in the couple months we've been here. And I know this can't last forever, but I was enjoying it in the moment.

Time Jump - One Month Later

Jace POV:

"I don't like this Clary." I said as she packed a bag.

"Jace, I'm not going to give any details about you." She said. "I'm just going to go and tell them I was interested in the case, and that I may have found a lead and they could use."

"But you're still going to the police." I said.

"We have proof Jace." She said. "You are innocent, and I'm not going to rest until its proven."

"Just be careful." I said and she walked over to me and snaked her arms around my neck.

"Always." She said and I leaned down and pressed my lips to her.

"When do you think you'll be back?" I asked.

"Probably tomorrow." She said. "It's a long drive back."

"I would say text me when you get there, but that's not possible, so just be careful, and come home to me." I said and I felt her shiver.

"Of course." She said and I kissed her once more.

Clary walked out of the house and I took a deep breath. I still didn't have a good feeling about this, but I was just going to trust Clary, and hopefully that would clear my name and we could finally start living the life that I so desperately wanted with Clary. I was scared, but when this was finally over, Clary and I could start living and I couldn't wait for that day.

Clary POV:

I got to the precinct and I was a nervous wreck. I wasn't going to disclose my relationship with Jace, but that didn't calm my nerves at all. I walked in and went over to the nearest officer and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hi, I'd like to talk to the officer in charge of the Lightwood murder." I said.

"That would be me. My name if Detective Verlac. How can I help you?" He said.

"It's kind of a long story." I said. "I don't know the Lightwood's at all, but I have been following the case and I think I found something." I said.

"Why don't we take a seat at my desk." He said and I nodded. We got to his desk and took a seat. "What do you think you found?" He asked.

"Well, I've been following the news, and trying to figure it out myself." I laughed. "I'm a sucker for a good old fashioned crime story, and this one just seemed so upsetting."

"I know. It's hard when the adopted son kills the man who gave you a shot at a life you didn't have before." He said and I tried not to react.

"I saw that, but I don't think Jonathan is responsible." I said, and it felt weird calling him that.

"Is that right?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Being a curious person my nature, I looked into other murders in the past couple years to see if there were any similarities. And I think I found a connections." I said as I set the articles down. "Nearly 6 years ago two men were murdered in the same way Robert Lightwood was. They were seen affiliating with crime families and they ended up dead." I said. "I don't really know what to do next, but I thought it was something that you should explore."

"Well Miss…..?" He asked and I smiled.

"Fray." I said.

"Well Miss. Fray, I will take this into consideration and see where it leads, but I'm not going to promise anything. We have a pretty solid case against the adopted son." He said and I just smiled and sweet, innocent, but effective smile.

"It would mean the world to me if you looked into this." I said.

"I will." He said and I stood up.

"Thank you Detective Verlac." I said.

"Please, call me Sebastian." He said and I smiled and walked out of the station. I got into my car and headed towards the motel I was going to stay in that night. I hope that whatever I gave them was something that would clear Jace's name.

Time Jump – Next Day

Jace POV:

I was doing everything I could think of trying to distract myself until Clary got back. It felt like she had been gone forever, when it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. I was in the kitchen cooking dinner when I heard the front door open. I stopped cooking, and walked out into the living room where Clary was standing. I walked right over to her and scooped her up into my arms.

"God I missed you." I said and I felt her laugh.

"I wasn't even gone a full day." She said as I put her down.

"We've been together non-stop for months." I said. "It's weird when you're not here."

"Well, I'm back now, and I smell food, and I'm starving." She said and I laughed. I grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen. I got her a plate and she sat at the table.

"How did it go?" I asked as I took a seat.

"I gave them the article, and asked them to look into it." She simply said.

"Just like that?" I asked.

"Well, I may have had to give the detective in charge a nice flirtatious smile." She said and I instantly got jealous.

"Oh." I said.

"Oh babe, don't worry." She said. "It was just to get him to consider the evidence." She said and I nodded. "It's cute that you're jealous though." She smiled.

"I've never been jealous before." I admitted and she laughed.

"Really?" She asked and I nodded.

"I've never cared enough to get jealous. If a girl I was seeing was flirting with another guy, I simply cut her loose." I explained.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me." She said. "I've never been a hit with guys, and I doubt that's changed."

"You must be kidding." I said. "Look at you." I said and she blushed. "You're gorgeous, and intelligent. There isn't a better combination in my opinion."

"I think you give me too much credit." She said.

"And you're modest." I added. "That's a rare thing for women these days. They all assume they are the cream of the crop, and the minute someone tells them other wise, they start complaining." I said and she laughed.

"I grew up knowing that I had to earn my place." She said. "I had to earn my grades, my spot on a team, the respect of other, the attention of other, but always to do it in a kind way." She explained. "Nobody likes someone who has their head so far up their ass they can't see when they are fucking up." She said and I laughed.

"And yet you like me." I said and she smiled.

"You've been nothing but sweet and respectful of me." She said. "What's not to like?"

"I just know I've been told for more than half my life that I can be a little too much to handle." I admitted. "In high school I was a cocky bastard, and that's putting it lightly." I said and she laughed. "I had a terrible reputation and never had a real steady girlfriend because I just thought everyone was below me." I said and she nodded. "But I've learned a lot since those days, and hope that I've mellowed out a little."

"I think you're the perfect gentleman." She said. "And I can't imagine you any other way."

"Well, you never have to because there isn't anything in this world I wouldn't do for you." I said and she smiled.

We continued eating dinner and talking about random stuff. The best thing about Clary was how comfortable we were with each other. It was like we've known each other for years, not just months. She was easy to talk to and she had the most infectious smile. I knew that I would do anything for this girl no matter what.

Time Jump – Three Weeks Later

Clary POV:

I was sitting on the couch one night flipping through the channels. Jace had gone to bed an hour ago, but for some reason I couldn't sleep. I was snuggled under a blanket when I saw something about Robert Lightwoods case pop up and I immediately put the remote down so that I could hear what was being said.

"After a lengthy investigation, today the murders of Robert Lightwood have been apprehended." The news anchor said and I weight was lifted off my shoulders. "Sources tell me that a lead was given to the police about possible organized crime involvement, and today, three members of the Blackthorn family were arrested when the shell casing that was left on scene was matched to their guns. The man hunt for one Jonathan Herondale has been called off, and the family hopes that he comes home soon so they can finally lay their father to rest with the whole family." I got right off the couch and ran upstairs and jumped on the bed.

"Jace, wake up!" I shook him and he rolled over.

"What's wrong?" He asked in a super groggy sexy voice.

"They caught the guys who killed Robert." I said and she shot up. "I just heard it on the news."

"Holy shit." He said and I couldn't help but smile.

"He said the man hunt for you was called off, and that your family really wants you home to lay to rest Robert." I said.

"I can go home?" He asked and I nodded enthusiastically. "We can go home Clary." He said as he pulled me into a hug. "Thank you." He said. "I don't think I would have been able to do any of this without you."

"You would have proven your innocence once way or another." I said. "But it's always nice not having to do it alone."

"We'll head home tomorrow." He said and I nodded. "You finally coming to bed?" He asked and I laughed.

"Yea." I said and he pulled me into his side. I rested my head on his chest and I couldn't get the smile off my face. This was everything I ever wanted in life, and it only took being kidnapped by a suspected murderer to get it, but hey, sometimes life worked in mysterious ways.

Time Jump – Two Days Later

Jace POV:

Clary and I got back to the city last night, and the minute I walked into my penthouse, cops swarmed. I knew that I was going to be in trouble somehow, but what I wasn't expecting was having to leave Clary for 6 months. Although I was innocent of the crime, running from the law is still a crime, and I had to pay the consequences of my actions.

They gave me a few days so that I could get my things, and attend Robert's funeral. It was a beautiful service, and I was thankful that the murderers were behind bars. As for my punishment, I was going to be held in a private institution where I was pretty much going to be by myself and a guard for the next 6 months. It was going to suck, but it was being kept under wraps, and it wouldn't be released to the public. But today was the day that I was leaving, and it was going to suck.

I walked out of the bedroom and Clary was standing in the living room. I put my bag down and walked over to her and scooped her up into a hug. She sighed into my neck and I tightened my grip on her. This was going to be suck, and I wasn't looking forward to it.

"I'm going to miss you." She said and I sighed.

"I'm going to miss you too." I said. "But we both knew that I couldn't just come back without some type of consequence." I said and she nodded.

"Doesn't mean it isn't going to suck." She said and I laughed.

"I'll be back before you know it." I said and she nodded. I handed her a key to the penthouse and she looked up at me. "I can't wait to come home to you Clary."

"Is this your way of asking me to move in?" She asked and I laughed.

"If you'll have me." I said. "I'd be honored to live with you."

"Nothing would make me happier." She said and I pressed my lips to hers.

"Come on Romeo." The officer said. "We have to leave." I nodded and turned back to Clary.

"I love you." I said to her, for the first time.

"I love you too Jace." She said and I kissed her once more. I grabbed my back and followed the officer out, leaving Clary behind.

Time Jump – Three Months Later

Clary POV:

Where do I even begin? After Jace left, I was pretty depressed. I was barely getting out of bed, and I couldn't go 20 minutes without crying. I wasn't allowed to have any contact while he was away, and that was the hardest part.

Apparently he told his sister to come check on me, and we've actually gotten really close. She was the polar opposite of me, but we got along so well and complimented each other so much. It was nice having a friend in the same type of situation. She knew what I was going through on some level, and that was a huge help.

Although, about a month ago I got the biggest news of my life. Izzy and I were out to lunch, and the minute I put the first fork full of food in my mouth, I threw it all up. I had no idea why, and I got back to the house and just decided to get some sleep, and try and sleep the sickness away. When it was a month later, and I still felt like shit, I asked Izzy to accompany me to the doctor, and that's when I found out I was pregnant. To say I was shocked would be an understatement, but here I am, almost 4 months pregnant, with twins nonetheless, and just waiting for Jace to be released so that I could tell him. I mean, we had sex the night before he left, but I had no idea I'd get pregnant, but honestly, I couldn't wait to meet them both and start raising them.

"Hello!?" I heard and I knew that it was Izzy.

"Upstairs!" I shouted back and than I head the clicking of the heels before the door opened.

"Hey, you ready to go?" She asked and I nodded. I got up from the rocking chair in the nursery and walked out behind her. "You nervous?" She asked.

"A little." I said. "I mean, what if he reacts badly?" I asked.

"Although I've never heard Jace ever talking about settling down, I saw you two together." She said. "He's more serious about you than he's ever been about anything in his whole life. Once he finds out, he is going to be thrilled."

"I hope so." I said.

We made it to the studio where I was getting ready to get pictures taken for the surprise of Jace's life. The nursery was nearly done, but I feel like a lot of people do that as a pregnancy announcement, and I wanted to do something different. Izzy suggested that I get a sexy maternity photo shoot down to show Jace my bump. This is the third photo shoot I've done, and I plane on getting three more done before he gets home. I'm going to set up the hallway and living room like a mini gallery for when he comes home, and he's going to see them before he sees me. I was really excited about it, but also super nervous. I just hope he takes the news well.

Time Jump – Three Months Later

Jace POV:

I was finally going home today, and I couldn't tell you how relieved I am. Being away from Clary for 6 months was hard. Especially because we were going together for 4 months before I had to leave. But I knew deep in my heart that she was the one for me, and I couldn't wait to finally start living our lives together. I still didn't have a phone so I couldn't tell her when I was coming home, but she was given a general time.

When I walked up to the door of my penthouse I took a deep breath. It had been a long 6 months, and I couldn't wait to sleep in my own bed, and with the love of my life. I opened the front door, and was surprised that there was a huge picture of Clary, barely clothed facing me. Not that I was complaining, but it was shocking. I put my stuff down and realized that there were more pictures. I was looking at them, and I couldn't deny, Clary was sexy as hell and the fact that she did this for me, made me smile.

I continued to look at the pictures when I noticed something change. I went back to look at the one picture and than I looked back at the others. Clary looked bigger, but I didn't know why. I continued to look through the pictures until I saw the one. My eyes popped out of my head, and my jaw dropped. Clary was bigger, but that's because she was pregnant. Like really pregnant. I started walking a little faster through the penthouse when I got to the final picture. She was huge.

"Clary!" I called through the house.

"Yes?" She said and I whipped around to see Clary standing there, her belly was huge, and she looked terrified.

"You're pregnant." I said and she laughed.

"I'm pregnant." She said again.

"Holy shit." I said and she laughed.

"With twins." She said and now my jaw fully dropped to the ground.

"Oh my god." I said and she smiled.

"Are you mad?" She asked.

"Mad? Why would I be mad?" I asked.

"Because we've only been together for like 4 months before this happened." She said as she gestured to her belly.

"But we've been together for 10 months officially." I reminded her.

"And in three months we'll be parents." She said.

"Oh my god." I said again and she laughed. "I love you Clary, and maybe this all happened unconventionally, and quick, but I know you're it for me. I knew that after a week we spent in that cottage." I said and she smiled.

"You ready for this?" She asked.

"Probably not." I said honestly. And she laughed. "But we've overcome worse." I said and she laughed.

"You are so right." She said and I walked over and put my hands on her tummy.

"I love you." I said. "And these 6 months apart have been torture." I said and she laughed.

"I love you too." She said and I kissed her. Being back with Clary was like coming home, and now I was going to be a father. I never though about it before, but it was something I wanted with Clary, and it might be scary as all hell, but I was totally ready.

Time Jump – One Year Later

Clary POV:

The twins were 9 months old day, and man were they a lot of work. Jace and I talked about a lot of different things before the babies were born, and we agreed that I would be a stay at home mom, and raise them, and if I wanted to get a job when they were older, I could, but Jace was fully capable of supporting us no matter what.

I was skeptical at first. I've never not had to work, but after staying home with these two, I never wanted to go back to work. I wanted to be there for every event, and every milestone, and just bond with them as much as I could. I didn't want to miss a single thing, and Jace was totally on bored with it.

Hailey and Morgan were the two happiest babies you'll ever meet in your life. They were so personable, and giggly, and really just grabbed your attention and brought a smile to your face. They were my pride and joy, and I couldn't picture life without them.

I was sitting on the couch while Hailey and Morgan were sitting in their little playpen. They were getting ready to take their nap, but weren't fully there yet. I heard the front door open, and I was confused considering that Jace was supposed to be at work. I looked up and he walked in and smiled at me.

"What are you doing home?" I asked as I got off the couch.

"There wasn't much for me to do, and I missed you three." He said and I laughed.

"You became a softy with those two." I said and he laughed.

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for my girls." He said and I gave him a kiss.

"They're currently almost napping, so your timing is a little poor." I said and he laughed.

"Not really. That gives me more time with my other girl." He said as he pulled me into him. "I love you." He said and I couldn't help but smile.

"I love you too." I said and he kissed my forehead.

"Thank you for giving me this life." He said and I smiled.

"It was my pleasure." I said and he laughed.

"Clarissa." He said and I looked into those golden eyes that I loved so much.

"Yes?" I asked in a quiet voice.

"Marry me." He said and my breath hitched. "Marry me and make me the happiest man in the world." He further said and I started to cry.

"Yes." I managed to get out and before I could even comprehend it, he slipped something onto my hand. I looked at it, and than back up at Jace. Yup, getting basically kidnapped was definitely the best thing that ever happened to me.

Authors Note:

This was requested by fangirl101, and the moment I read it, i knew that I wanted to do it! I hope that it lived up to your expectations, and that you love it, because I took a couple days on this story trying to make it right!

Now, I have no idea what the jail time for a fugitive running for the law is, so I just made up my own punishment. Also, the 'La Famiglia' means 'The Family' in Italian, and I thought it was appropriate considering the crimes families in New York, are Italian. Anyway, let me know what you think and leave a review!

ONE more one shot until I reach 100, and I can't tell you how thankful I am that you've all been so receptive to these stories. It really means a lot to me, and it inspires me to keep going! Also, I am finishing a lot of my stories, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to update this one more frequently. School is winding down, so I might not have as much time, but I'll try my best! :)