One Hundred and Forty One One Shot:

Patient No More:

Clary POV:

From the time I was 6 until I was nearly 16 I spent the majority of my time in a hospital. When I was 6 I found out that I had leukemia. It was the worst news that my family could have ever received. I was a bright and bubbly kid, I had the world in the palm of my hand, and all of the sudden I was that kid. I was the kid with cancer.

At first I didn't really understand it. I thought that I would get treated and that would be it. Little did I know, or even understand how brutal that disease could be. I spent almost 3 years getting chemo treatment after chemo treatment and when I was 9 I was in remission. It was like a weight was lifted off my family and we could finally live again.

That only last a couple years though. When I was 11, going on 12 I was rediagnosed. This time I understood what it meant, and I understood that there was a possibility that I would die from this. I was still a kid, but I understood the gravity of the situation. I immediately went back into treatment, but round after round wasn't working. My family had tried so hard to find a solution, but the only thing that would save my life, was a bone marrow transplant.

My mom, dad and brother automatically got tested, and we were all hopeful. Unfortunately being related doesn't guarantee you a match. We learned that the hard way when none of them positively matched me. We were devastated, and I truly thought I was going to die.

It took maybe three weeks before we got the call that they found me a perfect match. I think my mom cried for three days after we got that phone call. There was someone out there who was willing to donate to me, and save my life. A complete stranger. It was the miracle that my family needed, and to this day I am forever grateful for that stranger.

I got my transplant, and it worked. It took some time for me to be put in remission, but when I turned 16, on my actual birthday I got the call. My doctor said that I was in the clear and that the bone marrow transplant was still working and I no longer had leukemia. It was the best day of my life.

And here I am, 17 years old, finally going back to school, and just trying to be a teenager for the couple years I have left in my teens. After the whole incident, my parents decided to pack up and move us. My brother was going to college anyway, and everyone in our town knew about me, and I didn't want the pity as much as my parents didn't want the pity. We needed a fresh start, and that's what we got.

I was starting my senior year of high school tomorrow, at a brand new school, with no friends, and really no support besides my family, but I got to be Clary Morgenstern here. I was no longer the girl who had cancer, or the freak. I was me again, and I've missed being me.

Jace POV:

As I got ready for my first day of senior year, I couldn't get the smile off my face. Senior year of high school was going to be a piece of cake. My biggest concern this year was soccer, and making sure I did well so that I could potentially get a scholarship for college, but as for the grades and everything, I wasn't too worried about it.

I grabbed my things and headed downstairs. Alec and Izzy were both already sitting down and eating, but I wasn't much of a breakfast person, so I just grabbed a cup of coffee.

"You ready for this year?" Alec asked.

"Oh yea." I said. "What about you? Half way done college. How does that feel?" I asked.

"Pretty great. But you're forgetting about med school." He said and I laughed. "I'll be in school for a long time."

"Which is why I'll never be a doctor. Too much studying." Izzy said.

"Iz, you barely study now. You'd never be accepted." I joked and she threw an apple at me, but I ducked.

"Bit me Jonathan." She hissed.

"I'm so scared." I teased.

"Next it's my stiletto that goes into your eye socket." She said before standing up and walking away.

"You need to stop pushing her buttons dude." Alec said and I just laughed.

"It's so much fun though." I said as I put my cup in the sink.

"It won't be fun if she leaves without you." He said, and I grabbed my bag and ran outside. She was already in the car, so I opened the door and jumped in, since she started driving while I only had one leg in the car.

"Really Isabelle?" I asked once I closed the door.

"Don't piss me off Jonathan." She said before blaring the music and driving to school.

We got there and she parked where she always does. Next to her airheaded friends. Izzy wasn't a stupid girl. When she really invested herself in something, she was brilliant at it, but when she didn't care, she didn't care, and it showed. But Izzy surrounded herself with airheads for who knows what reason.

"Did you see the new girl?" Aline asked. "She looks like a freak."

"We have a new girl?" Izzy asked

"Yea. Short red hair. She's super thin, probably anorexic, and has absolutely no sense of style." Aline explained.

"You know nothing about her." I said as I closed the door.

"So?" They all said at the same time. Well, everyone but Izzy.

"So, I don't see how you can judge someone you don't even know." I pointed out. "I mean, you aren't what you appear to be."

"Oh really?" She asked seductively as she made her way closer to me. "And what to I appear to be?"

"You appear to be a nice girl, and you seem to have a good head on your shoulders." I said and she smiled.

"And when you get to know me you realize how incredibly hot I am, and how I could rock your world?" She bit her bottom lip, and I had to admit, it wasn't attractive at all.

"No. You turn out to be a complete and utter airhead, with not morals, no sense of loyalty, and a sexuality crisis." I said and he jaw hit the floor. "I have practice after school Iz, so I'll get a ride home with one of the guys."

"Sounds good." She said and I left. I caught a glimpse of the new girl. She was sitting under a tree reading a book. She looked younger than a high schooler, and she seemed to be a bit of a loner, but I couldn't blame her. I wouldn't want to be friends with anyone in this school either. Especially the girls.

Time Jump – Lunch

Clary POV:

I guess it doesn't matter what school you go to, there will always be that group of girls who pick on the new girl, and feel the need to make fun of me for one reason or another.

It was lunchtime, and I decide to make sure I got a table alone. Which wasn't apparently hard considering a lot of kids went off campus to eat. I was surprised this was allowed, but it was nice that the cafeteria wasn't as crowded as I assumed it would be.

"Hey." I heard and when I looked up form my book, there stood the golden boy of the school. I've been hearing people talk about him all day. He didn't peg me as the type of guy who interacted with those outside of the popular crowed, but I guess I can't judge a book by its cover. "Mind if I join?" He asked.

"Not at all." I said. He pulled out a chair, and I closed my book.

"What are you reading?" He asked.

"Sense and Sensibility." I answered.

"Jane Austen. Impressive." He said, and I was pretty impressed he knew the book.

"I'm more impressed you knew the book." I said and he laughed.

"I like literature." He said, and I smiled.

"Yea. I'm a big bookworm." I admitted.

"Me too." He said. "My favorite is A Tale of Two Cities."

"Charles Dickens." I said. "Impressive."

"Is Jane Austen your favorite author?" He asked.

"One of them." I said. "I'm a huge Charles Dickens fan as well, along with George Elliot, and William Faulkner." I said. "Just to name a few."

"What's your favorite by Faulkner?" He asked.

"As I Lay Dying." I said and he nodded. "And you?" I asked seeing as he seemed like a fan.

"The Sound and the Fury." He said and I nodded. "Any other hobbies besides reading?" He asked.

"I draw." I said. "If reading doesn't occupy my time, painting and sketching does."

"Who are your favorite artists?" He asked.

"Picasso, da Vinci, Monet, Pollock, Rembrandt." I rambled. "I could go on."

"Are you any good?" He laughed.

"I'm decent." I said. "I could be better." I admitted.

"Do you show your work?" He asked.

"Not normally." I said and he nodded.

"Maybe some other time than." He said and I nodded. "I'm Jace by the way."

"Clary." I said and he smiled.

"Why did you move here Clary?" He asked.

"Family reasons." I said not wanting to tell my life story.

"I understand that." He admitted. "How are you acclimating so far?"

"It's no different than I expected. Popular group of girls preys on the new girl." I said and he nodded.

"Well, if they are ever giving you a hard time, let me know." He said, and I was super confused as to why he was being so nice.

"Not that I mind you being nice to me." I said. "But why are you?"

"I was you." He said. "I was the new kid, and people suck." He blatantly said. "It's your senior year, and you had to move schools, you should be enjoying it, and Kaelie and Aline just need a new hobby. They've already had sex with every dude in this school, and nobody double dips, so they prey on the freshman, and new kids."

"Every dude?" I asked as I raised my eyebrow.

"Never me." He said with a disgusted tone in his voice. "My adoptive sister is friends with them, so according to girl code I was off limits anyway, but I wouldn't touch either of them with a ten foot pole."

"But you must be pretty popular among the female population. I've heard nonstop about you all day." I mentioned and he laughed.

"You know how people always say that guys like a challenge?" He asked and I nodded. "Well apparently girls do as well, and I'm about as challenging as they come." He said and I laughed. The bell rang and he stood up. "Same time tomorrow?" He asked and I nodded with smile on my face. "See you around Clary." He said and he walked away, and I couldn't believe it.

Did that just happen? Did he just become my friend? This was a weird turn in the day, and I wasn't exactly sure how to interpret it.

Time Jump – Tomorrow – Lunch

Clary POV:

I was sitting at lunch reading again, when I heard the chair pull out. I looked up and there stood Jace, but he wasn't alone.

"Hey, I brought a friend." He said as they both sat down.

"I'm Isabelle, but everyone calls me Izzy." The girls said with a kind smile.

"Clary." I said and she nodded.

"New book today?" Jace asked and I nodded. "What is it this time?"

"Lord of Flies." I said.

"Good book." He said with a smile.

"Oh god, another bookworm? I thought Jace was bad enough." Izzy laughs.

"She might be worse than me Iz." Jace teased.

"Until she reads almost every book in our library, you're still worse." Izzy said.

"You have a library?" I asked kinda stunned.

"We do." Jace said nonchalantly.

"It's under construction right now, but maybe when it's done you can come over and see it." Izzy offered.

"I'd love that." I said happily, and we fell into boring conversation. It was easy to talk to them, almost like I've known them my whole life. It was something that I longed for since I was first diagnosed. Normalcy. And I was finally getting that.

Time Jump – Two Months Later

Jace POV:

Today was one of Max's bad days, so Maryse asked if I would stay home with him. Of course I had no problem doing that for them. I hated seeing him in this kind of pain, and going through treatment after treatment. He was little, he didn't deserve this.

I was in my room reading, when I heard the front door open. I figured it was Izzy arriving home from school, but there was another voice, and I wondered who she brought with her.

My door was slightly cracked, so when they made their way upstairs, I caught a glimpse of red, and I knew it was Clary. I went back to reading my book when I saw Izzy pass by my door again. I figured this was my time, so I made my way to Izzy's room to see Clary, but when I got there, it was empty. Curiously, I decided to look around and see where she was. I was walking past Max's room, headed towards the library when I head the voices.

"You know, Izzy told me she had a little brother, but I didn't peg you to be this cute." Clary said and I heard Max laugh.

"Izzy doesn't normally introduce me to her friends." Max admitted.

"Izzy said you were resting, and that I shouldn't disturb you, but I had a gut feeling we'd be good friends." Clary explained to him.

"Why is that?" Max asked.

"Because I know what it feels like to be you." Clary said, and my jaw dropped.

"You were sick too?" Max asked surprised.

"Yes." Clary said. "I was first diagnosed when I was 6 years old."

"I was just diagnosed last year." Max said. "What did you have?"

"I had leukemia." Clary said, and I just couldn't believe it.

"I have leukemia." Max said. "It's not fun."

"No it isn't, but just remember, even on the hardest days, fighting is still important." Clary told him.

"When did you not have leukemia anymore?" Max asked curiously. He was so innocent, it made him being sick that much harder.

"On my 16th birthday I got that call that I no longer had leukemia." Clary said and I couldn't believe that just a year ago, she was sick.

"And you're okay now?" Max asked.

"I'm getting better everyday. My hair is still growing back, and I'm still trying to gain all the weight I lost, but I wake up every morning knowing that fighting got me here." Clary explained to him. A moment later, Max's timer started going off.

"It's time for my medicine." Max said. "Jace should be in here any moment." He said so I decided to knock on the door and walk in. "Called it." Max said and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, I'll let you two do your thing." Clary smiled. "It was great meeting you Max."

"Will you come visit soon?" Max asked her.

"Of course." She said before walking towards the door. Before she got there she stopped next to me. "How much did you hear?" She asked me in a whisper.

"Enough." I said and she nodded and left. I looked back at Max and smiled. "You ready for this buddy?" I asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." He said and I nodded.

Max was now extremely sleepy, so I figured that I would leave him to rest. I made my way to Izzy's room, but when I entered Clary wasn't there.

"She's in the library." Izzy said without looking up.

"How did you know it was me?" I asked.

"Mom and dad aren't home. Max is basically bedridden, and Alec is at school. Who else could it be?" She said so casually.

"Clary?" I pointed out.

"Nope. Lost her the minute she stepped foot into that library." Izzy said as she went back to reading her magazine.

"Well, I'll be back. Keep an ear on Max." I said and I walked out after I saw her nod. I made my way to the library, and when I walked in I just saw Clary looked around in awe. "Incredible isn't it?" I said and she looked at me.

"I've just never been in a home that has a library." She said and I made my way towards her.

"They didn't always have it." I mentioned. "After they adopted me they wanted to make sure I felt at home." I explained. "When they asked me what I like to do for fun, I said I liked to read, and play the piano. So they formed a small library out of a room they hardly used, and got me a piano." She nodded as she continued to look around. "It expanded over the years as you can see."

"It's amazing." She said. "And you've read all of these?" She asked.

"Mostly. I just ordered a shit ton of new books, hence why it needed to be expanded." I explained.

"It's incredible." She mentioned again.

"Pick anything you like. We have no library cards, or return dates. And no fees if you keep it for too long." I teased and she laughed.

"I might just take you up on that." Clary said as she walked towards a shelf. "So, you heard me talking to Max?" She asked as she browsed the shelf.

"Yea." I said. "Are you mad?" I asked.

"No." She said, but she didn't look at me. "But now you know."

"Was it a secret before?" I asked.

"From everyone here, yea." She said. "It's actually why we moved." She explained. "Everyone knew me as the girl with cancer, and I hated it. My parents got pity, my brother got pity. We were sick of it." She said. "So when I recovered, my brother was heading off to college, and my parents decided to give me a fresh start." She said as she looked at me. "It's not the kind of thing I want to be known for."

"I understand that." I said. "I was known as the orphan for a long time."

"I'm sorry." She said and I shrugged.

"I don't remember my parents at all." I said. "Well, very little. I remember my dad teaching me the piano, and my mother reading to me every night before bed, but it doesn't get any deeper than that."

"What happened to them?" She asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

"9/11." I said.

"Oh god." She said. "That must have sucked."

"It was confusing. One minute they were there, the next I'm being sent to a distant relative that I barely knew." I explained. "Turns out they couldn't afford a child so I was put in the system. I was there for maybe 3 years before I was introduced to the Lightwoods."

"Did they work in one of the towers?" She asked.

"They both worked in the North Tower." I said. "That's where they met actually. They weren't going to survive no matter what."

"Why do you say that?" She asked curiously.

"They worked on the 94th floor. That's where the plane hit." I explained.

"I'm so sorry Jace. I can't even fathom losing someone like that." She said.

"There are many things you can't control in life." I said. "I tried everything to try and rationalize why it had to be my parents. Why I was destined to be an orphan. It drives you crazy after a while." I explained. "I accepted what happened to them, and I moved on, because I feel like that's what they would have wanted."

"That's very brave." She said.

"No, what you went through, and what you fought through is brave." I said. "I can't imagine going through that."

"It isn't fun, but if you have a good support system it makes it easier." She explained.

"I hope Max fights until the end." I said.

"He seems like a fighter to me." She laughed.

"Oh he is." I smiled.

"If you don't mind though, I'd like to keep this between us." She asked.

"Your secret is safe with me." I said and she smiled. "I'll let you get back to browsing." I said as I stood up.

"Thank you." She said. "For keeping my secret, for sharing your past, and lending me your library."

"No problem." I said as I walked out. I had only known Clary for a couple months, but I already felt as though she was going to become a major part of this family, and I liked thinking about her being around a lot.

Time Jump – Christmas Break

Clary POV:

This is my first Christmas without leukemia, and I had to say, I was enjoying it a lot. There is a lot you miss out on when you're sick, and it sucks, but getting healthy is always top priority, but this Christmas, I was surrounded by my family, and we were laughing, and joking around, and doing everything normal families do during the holiday season. It was truly a gift, and it was one that I would never take for granted.

Everyone was cleaning up dinner, so I went into the living room to check my phone. Normally phones are off limits during holidays, but I had some down time, and I wanted to check if anyone contacted me, but I wouldn't be surprised if I had no messages. But when I saw that Izzy texted me almost 30 minutes ago, I automatically knew something was wrong.

From Izzy:

Clary, I don't know where else to go. Is it okay if I come over?

Before I even had a chance to respond, the doorbell rang. I put my phone down and made my way over to it, and when I opened my door, there stood Izzy, her face was puffy from tears, and she was shivering.

"I didn't know where else to go." She repeated her text.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I ushered her into the house.

"It's Max." She said and my heart broke. "They gave him 3 to 4 weeks."

"Izzy." I said but she just crumbled on the floor and started sobbing. I rushed to her side, and my family rushed in to see what was going on. I looked up, and just shook my head, and they knew what I was talking about. They left the room to give Izzy and I some privacy, but all I could do was hold my friend. All I could do was comfort her, because there was absolutely nothing I could say that would change how she's feeling.

Time Jump – One Week Later

Clary POV:

It's been a hard week for Jace and Izzy, and everyone around them can tell. When I saw them show up to school again, they just looked drained. After Izzy stayed at my house for the night, she went home to be with Max, and I didn't blame her. But I haven't really spoken to them since. I understood they needed time, and they needed to be with family, but that didn't mean I didn't want to help.

Izzy gave me a sad smile before she entered the school building, but Jace was taking his own time. I decided that I would go to him and see how he was doing, and to let him know that I was here if he ever needed to talk.

"Hey Jace." I said once I got close enough to him. "How are you?" I asked.

"How am I?" He spat back at me. "My brother is dying, and you're asking me how I am?"

"It was a simple question. You don't have to answer if you don't want too." I explained to him.

"Easy for you to say." He laughed humorlessly. "Leukemia didn't kill you, but it's killing my little brother." He said and I'm not going to lie, it hurt hearing him say that. Almost like he was blaming me for recovering.

"I just wanted to let you know if you need to talk, I'm here for you." I said. "I'm here for your whole family."

"We don't need a survivors therapy session." He said. "We need Max to live, but that's not going to happen, and talking about it isn't going to miraculously cure him."

"Jace." I stepped forward but he stepped back.

"Just." He stopped. "Just leave me alone." He said before walking into the school. I had no idea what he was going through. I was the one with cancer, not losing someone because of it. I don't know what it felt like to be on the other end of the disease, but from the looks of Izzy and Jace, when Max dies, it's going to destroy them.

Time Jump – Near the End of the Day

Clary POV:

I had a study hall this period, but I wasn't in the mood to study. In fact, I was really antsy, so I asked my teacher if I could go take a lap around the building, and he doesn't care, so that's what I'm currently doing.

I could hear the low murmur of teachers in other classrooms teaching away as I continued my walk to clean my head around the school. But when I got to the arts section of the school, everything was quiet. Any type of art class, whether it be musical, theatrical, or regular art was normally done in the beginning of the day. But when I heard soft whimpers coming from one of the classrooms, my curiosity got the better of me. I went over to the music room where I saw Jace hunched over the piano crying. I made my way over to him and took a seat on the bench next to him. He didn't bother looking up, and I didn't mind. I placed my hand on his side, and a few moments later, his hand covered mine. He didn't look up, he didn't speak, and neither did I. But I sat there, and he cried, and it didn't matter what he said to me earlier, because I was going to be there for him, just like I was there for Izzy last time.

About 20 minutes later he finally calmed down as lifted his head. He looked at me, and his eye's were bloodshot from crying, and his nose was running. I gripped the end of my shirt, and used it to wipe the snot away, and that caused him to laugh.

"That's embarrassing." He said.

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about." I told him. "Grief hits you out of nowhere sometimes. You should never be embarrassed or ashamed for expressing emotions."

"That's where you're wrong." He told me. "I do have something to be embarrassed about." He looked at me. "The way I treated you this morning was out of line."

"Jace." I said but he wasn't done.

"You were trying to be there for me, and I snapped. I know you have good intentions, it's just I don't want to hear the same sob speech everyone has been trying to give us." He said honestly.

"Do I really look like the type of person to give that sob speech? I had cancer Jace. I went through everything Max is going through. I almost died from it." I said and he looked at me.

"You did?" He asked curiously.

"Yes." I admitted. "It was when I relapsed. It was out of nowhere. I thought I was in remission. I mean, it had been nearly 2 years. I thought I was finally going to be able to live." I said as I remembered that feeling. "The doctors told me it spread, and that I was going to have to undergo a more intense chemo treatment than I had been under before. I was scared to death. It was in that moment that I truly understood that this could kill me."

"What happened?" He asked.

"I accepted the fact that I was either going to live or die. And if I was going to die, I was going to put up one hell of a fight before cancer took me." I told him. "I gave it my all, and the doctor told me the only way I was going to survive was a bone marrow transplant."

"How long did it take you to get it?" Jace asked.

"It took three weeks to find a match, and let me tell you, I think I had already rung deaths doorbell, but I was waiting for him to answer when I finally got the transplant." I said.

"But look at you now." He said.

"I didn't get this way easily." I told him. "Cancer fucking sucks Jace. It tears families apart, and it kills people, and it doesn't care how young, old, loved, or rich you are." I explained. "It takes people, and Max fought hard. He gave it everything he had, and it wasn't enough." I explained, because the truth is always better than a comforting lie. "But he isn't going to want you to be angry like this."

"How do you know?" He asked. "How do you know Max isn't going to resent us for not trying everything we could have?" He said somberly.

"Because Izzy told me the last conversation she had with Max." I said. "He knew he wasn't going to make it. He felt the end coming and he told Izzy that he wanted all of you to live as much as possible. For him."

"I've lost so many people." He said. "I don't think I can lose anymore."

"Life isn't guaranteed to anyone." I told him honestly. "Freak accidents happen, disease happens, natural disasters, and fucking crazy people happen Jace." I said. "But life does go on, because those people might not be around anymore, but that doesn't mean you have to stop living for them."

"Thank you." He said after a few moments. "For not hating me after this morning."

"I could never hate you Jace." I said and he nodded. "But I really should get back to class." I said and he laughed.

"Me too." He said and we both stood up when we realized we were both still holding hands. We looked down and let go immediately, but soon I missed his hand. "See you around?" He asked.

"You know where to find me." I said. We walked out of the music room and headed in different directions, but Jace was with me every step of the way, since I couldn't get him out of my head no matter how much I tried.

Time Jump – Two Weeks Later

Jace POV:

It had been six days since Max died, and I don't think I have fully comprehended that he was never going to laugh again, or cry, or make us sit through a ridiculous TV show ever again. It hit Izzy and Alec immediately, but I couldn't cry like them. I couldn't get angry like Maryse and Robert. Hell, I couldn't even feel anything. Max was gone, and that was the only thing I could process.

It was the day of the funeral. The church was filled. Izzy and Maryse clung to each other, while Alec and Robert sat there stoic. The pastor was speaking but I couldn't hear a single word he said. Everything was just like white noise. Even when Izzy and Alec got up to speak, I heard nothing.

But now as it's my turn, the walk to the podium seemed like I was walking off the plank. My heart was racing and I felt like I was about to explode. My hands were slightly shaking, and when I looked out into the crowd, I saw puffy eyes, and sympathy riddled across everyone's face. But I guess when a child dies, there aren't too many other reactions. I put my speech on the podium, opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out, and that's when I felt the stinging in my eyes. Everything stopped, and I couldn't move. But than I felt something grab my hands, and that's when I saw Clary.

"Don't worry, I got this." She whispered in my ear, than she kissed my cheek, before standing at the podium. She took my hand in hers, and squeezed it tightly. I barely remember what I wrote in my speech, but I knew I didn't want anyone else reading it besides Clary. "I only knew Max for a short while, but I connected more to him than most people I've met in my life." Clary started out. "And I can't even fathom what the Lightwood's are going through, but I do know one thing, and that's how incredibly humble Max was, and self-sacrificing he was." She explained. "Now, I'm going to try and get through this amazing speech Jace wrote without crying." She said, and I could hear the slight smile in her voice:

"Max was only a month old when the Lightwood's took me in. I'd never been around a baby before, and I found him fascinating." Clary read, and I could just picture the day like it was yesterday. "Watching him grow up, and being there for all his milestones was something I looked forward too. And when the news came in that he had cancer, everything in me stopped. I had lost so many things in my life already, and I couldn't believe it was happening to me all over again. His life was too short, but it was lived. He was the most care free and happy kid I've ever seen, and there won't be a day that goes by where I won't think of him, won't miss him, and won't cry thinking of all of our amazing family memoires and how I wish that we could continue making them." Clary said and I heard her sniffle. "But Max was the kind of kid who always wanted us to be happy, and as heart broken as I am that I lost the best little brother I could have ever hoped for, each and every day I'm going to smile and live because I know that's what Max would have wanted us to do." She finished the speech and with our hands still connected we made our way back down, but I didn't want to let her go, so I didn't. She took a seat next to me, and I felt like I could do this. I could get through this, but I knew I needed Clary, and I knew that whatever this was, whatever I was feeling, wasn't going away.

Time Jump – Later That Day

Jace POV:

Close friends and family all gathered at our house for whatever you call an after funeral gathering. I was sitting on the couch as everyone mingled and ate. It wasn't until I felt the couch dip next to me that I looked up and saw Izzy sitting there.

"I don't even remember the last time I saw half of these people." She said as she looked around the room.

"Weddings and funerals are the two most popular reasons for friends and family to pop back into your life." I said without hesitation.

"Yea well, they should be more involved or just get the fuck out." Izzy said venomously.

"I agree." I simply said.

"You should talk to her." Izzy said and I looked up at her.

"Who?" I asked.

"Clary, duh." Izzy said. "Come on, it is blatantly obvious that you have feelings for her."

"I don't think this is the right moment." I said.

"Jace, Max is gone." Izzy said. "And the one thing he wanted us to do is live. So go and tell Clary how you feel. Don't use Max as a scapegoat."

"I don't even know where she is." I said.

"Where do you think she is?" Izzy said and I looked at her. "She left for the library about five minutes ago." She explained and I nodded. Before I left, she grabbed my hand. "And don't do your usual douchy thing. Do right to Clary."

"I don't think I could ever hurt her." I admitted. "She's too great of a person."

"Good." Izzy beamed. "Go get her tiger." She said and I laughed and made my way to the library. Izzy was right, I needed to let Clary know how I felt, and it was now or never.

When I got to the library, Clary was sitting in the chair she normally did when she came over and searched for a book. I made my way over to her, and she was clutching the book she read Max every single time she was over. Max loved hearing it, and Clary was his favorite storyteller.

"You know, you were his favorite when it came to stories." I said as I took a seat and Clary looked up at me.

"Really?" She asked.

"Really. He loved when you came over because you always read to him." I admitted. "I mean, he loved when anyone would read him stories, but you were his favorite."

"I'm honored." Clary smiled.

"You should be." I smiled. "Not many people got to meet Max."

"I understand why." Clary said. "The pity gets out of hand. My parents could barely go to the grocery store when I was sick, and it was worse for Jon at school."

"Max never wanted to be treated differently." I said.

"I understand that." Clary agreed.

"I wanted to thank you for what you did today." I said. "I wouldn't have been able to read that speech without you."

"It was my pleasure. It was very sweet." Clary said.

"Listen, I know this might be horrible timing, but if I don't do it now, I'll chicken out honestly." I admitted.

"Do what?" Clary asked honestly.

"I like you." I blurted out. "A lot. And today just proved it even more, so I'd like to know if you'd go out with me." I rushed out.

"Like on a date?" Clary asked, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Of course on a date." I said.

"When?" She asked.

"Whenever you want." I said. "Due to the events that just took place, maybe sometime next week?" I offered.

"Next week sounds perfect." Clary agreed.

"Great. We can do whatever you want. Or if you want me to plan it, I can totally do that." I said.

"How about I surprise you?" She offered.

"Deal, but I'm still paying." I said and she smiled.

"Deal." She said and we both stood up and I pulled her into a hug, and just having her there made everything feel better.

"Thank you Clary." I whispered in her ear, because I just couldn't say it enough.

"Anything for you Jace." Clary said and I rested my head on the top of her head and inhaled her strawberry scented shampoo. Today was an awful day, but one good thing came out of it, and that made it a little less sucky.

Time Jump – Two Months Later

Clary POV:

"I really can't decide on what to wear." Izzy said as we were dress shopping.

"You look amazing in everything Iz." I said honestly.

"Yea, but I just want to look my absolute best." She continued.

"And you will." I reassured her.

"It feels weird not to have a date." Izzy said. "I mean, I always have a date, but it feels good to know I can wear whatever dress, in whatever color and not have to worry about a guys opinion." She laughed.

"Good for you." I laughed and she walked out. "You look stunning."

"I do don't I?" She admired herself in the mirror and I just laughed. She was wearing a stunning burgundy dress, with a plunging neckline, and lace detail up and down the bodice and arms.

"Truly perfection." I stated, and she smiled.

"Now, what about you?" Izzy asked me.

"Jace is wearing all black, so I can wear whatever color I want." I admitted, and she got this wicked grin on her face.

"Let's get to work." She said before pulling me up and basically throwing me in the dressing room, and proceeded to throw dozens of dresses at me for hours, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Time Jump – Prom

Jace POV:

Getting details about prom from Izzy was as easy as pulling teeth. That girl was a locked vault, that she wouldn't open for anyone. Every Clary wouldn't tell me anything, so I had to get the most generic corsage that I could find, in hopes that it matched the color of her dress. Although I had to admit, the all white flowers in the corsage, looked stunning.

"Ready?" I heard from the top of the stairs, and I recognized Izzy voiced immediately.

"We're all ready sweetie!" Maryse yelled up to her. We were all in the foyer, waiting for the girls. I heard the clicking, and Izzy appeared and I couldn't help but be proud of her. Izzy has always been a very independent person, and especially in the months that proceeded Max's death, she has never once used a guy to distract her, and I think she's still grieving, but seeing her tonight, I was proud of everything she's overcome. "You look stunning sweetheart."

"Thanks mom." Izzy said as she gave Maryse a hug.

"My little girl is growing up." Robert said and Izzy smiled as she gave him a hug.

"You clean up nice Iz." I said and she playfully pushed me.

"I could say the same thing about you." She smiled. "You can come down now Clary." She called up and my heart started to race. I heard the clicking and everything in me stopped when she appeared.

Clary was wearing a beautiful white dress, fitted perfectly to every curve her body had and her hair was curled to perfection, with daisy's placed strategically. Now I understood why Izzy 'suggested' that I go with daisy's as a flower because she had every detail planned.

"You look gorgeous." I said once she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Thank you." She said sheepishly.

"Oh honey." Her mom said and Clary looked over at her family. "You look stunning."

"Thanks mom." Clary said.

"You know, I never thought we'd have this moment." Her mom said and I could hear the emotion in her voice.

"But we're here, and that's what matters." Clary said and her mom just nodded before pulling her into a hug.

"Okay, picture time!" Maryse cheered, and we all made our way out to the backyard. I took Clary's hand in mind and she smiled up at me.

"I'm really glad I met you Clary Morgenstern." I said to her and her smile got ten times bigger.

"I'm really glad I got to meet you too Jace Herondale." She said and just like that, everything seemed to be put in place. We took pictures together, and Izzy owned her dateless prom, and I couldn't be happier with where I am in life at this point.

Time Jump – Middle of Prom

Clary POV:

We were all standing around waiting for them to announce prom King and Queen. Naturally Jace and Izzy were nominated, and I wasn't, but I didn't mind. Just because I was now dating Jace, doesn't mean I expected to be nominated. I was the new kid at the beginning of the year that nobody knew, so being in the crowd wasn't unusual to me.

"The your Prom King is….Jace Herondale!" Mr. Starkweather announced, and I couldn't help but laugh. Of course he was the King. Everyone loved him, or was in love with him. Starkweather put the crown on his head, and the place erupted with claps and screams. "Alright, settle down." He eventually said. "And your Prom Queen is….." I had to admit, I didn't want it to be Kaelie, because I didn't want him to dance with her. "…..Isabelle Lightwood." He announced and I was super happy that she won. She deserved it. He crowned her and the pair made their way down to the dance floor and proceeded to have a nice dance together. Watching them, I couldn't get the smile off my face. Everything they've been through, they deserved this.

"May I have this dance?" I heard and I was pulled out of my head to see Jace standing in front of me.

"Of course you may." I said as I took his hand. He pulled me into the middle of the dance floor. I rested my head on his chest and let the moment surround us.

"I love you Clary." I heard Jace whisper and I looked up into those golden eyes of his.

"I love you too Jace." I said and he pressed his lips to mine. The music, and the atmosphere around us couldn't have been more amazing, and I couldn't be more thrilled that I was here in the arms of this amazing guy who loved me no matter what. Moving here, to get a fresh start, was one of the best things that's ever happened to me, and I couldn't even begin to explain how happy I am to be a patient no more.

Authors Note:

I thought of this one myself, and I know what you're thinking - TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY - HOLY HELL! Trust me, I'm thinking the same thing, but you have all suffered with my absence, and I owed it to you. I have a free day, and I'm gonna try my best to do so much with it. Let me know what you think and leave a review!