Heya guys :)

I'm loving this story. I really can't get enough of it, that's why I've updated super fast!

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews I received from the last chapter! I was so surprised you all liked it, so this chapter is for you all :)

To greygirl2358, thanks for you review and sorry for such the long wait for the update but I've been super busy! I'm glad you liked it, and only one masked guy escaped :/ Ex oh ex

I hope you enjoy :)

Clary's pov

I lay on my back staring at my white painted ceiling that was now masked with the night's shadow, waiting for any sign that Jace's arrival. I started to think about how my life had gone from sky high to a massive downfall in such a little amount of time. I felt hurt and angry… angry at the guy that thought it was ok to rip the light that my mom says I used to hold within me. During my assault, that light vanished leaving behind a blurry, emotionless light... I don't know who I am anymore, my thoughts and feelings seem to have been twisted and turned until the happiness and love was drenched out leaving behind pure fear and sadness. I needed to get my old self back, not only for my family but for myself too because I don't know how long my body and mind could stay curled up in this helpless, scared ball.

Soon enough my thoughts were thrown aside when a faint tap sounded on the glass of my window. Slowly getting out of my blankets, I trotted silently over to the window to find an exhausted looking Jace. Opening the window, I moved aside as Jace silently slid through the window, softly closing it after him. Turning to face me, I could see him more clearly as the moonlight shone on him. His raffled up golden locks seemed to shimmer in the light of the moon, but that wasn't what my eyes widened to. His once golden eyes were dull and lifeless, his exhaustion marking his lower eyelids. This must be what I look like…the life was ripped out from both of us. "Hi," he whispered, keeping his voice low.

"Hi," I whispered standing exactly where I was, not moving an inch not knowing what to do next.

Glancing down at his feet, the uneasiness was there with him too. Looking up through his locks, his eyes caught mine. "Do you want to talk?" he whispered.

Ripping my gaze from his, I trotted slowly over to my bed, sitting down with one of my feet placed under me. "We'll have to be quiet or else mom and Luke will hear us or my grandma and trust me when I say you don't want her waking up," I whispered, glaring down at my small hands.

Nodding, he placed himself on the wall, and slid down it. Pulling one leg up, he hugged it to himself like I had done earlier that evening. "I hate this," he whispered, placing his chin on his knee. "As much as I want to cope with this all, I can't…and while doing so, I'm pushing my family away from me."

"I know how you feel…" I whispered, lowering my head. "I can't even bare my own mother touching me."

"Then we're sort of in the same boat, aren't we?" he whispered. I could feel his gaze hover over me. "I feel like you're the only person that truly feels what I feel…what I think."

I shook my head. "We aren't. We might of both witness the same thing, but we haven't suffered in the same way," I whispered, raising my gaze to look at him.

Lifting an eyebrow, he asked, "Sure, I didn't suffer what you did, but I did suffer in a way no one can understand, but I was hoping you could…" he paused for a moment before carrying on. "Can you understand why I feel so much…anger and hurt at what I let happen…what I made happen?"

I shook my head. "You can't still believe what happened was your fault!" I said, sliding off the bed and inching closer to him. "It's not your fault. If I know that, of all people, then it's right."

Shaking his head, a small chuckle left his mouth. "You look worth than the last time I saw you," he stated, changing the subject.

Scoffing, I rolled my eyes. "Thanks," I said sarcastically. "So do you."

Running his hands through his hair, he chuckled once again. "I know, everyone's been telling me how shit I look," he crooned.

"You just look really exhausted," I added, as I moved beside him with my back against the wall.

"So do you," he smiled at me as he turned his head to look at me and pausing. "Not to sound cheesy or anything because I'm really not trying to be, but whenever I'm around you, I feel at ease. I feel like no eyes are upon me that look at me as if I'm weak and helpless…"

"You aren't weak or helpless," I whispered, before adding a moment later, "I feel at ease too."

Shaking his head, he stood up and strolled around my room, picking up certain objects and examining them. "You paint?" he asked, staring at one of my paintings.

"Use to," I whispered, standing up and walked over to the window and stared out it, watching the trees move in the slight breeze.

"Why'd you stop?" he asked, I heard the painting being placed back down.

"Because my inspiration is gone, it's just…vanished," I whispered, leaning my head against the window frame. "Most of my old self has vanished."

"You'll get it back," he said calmly, as he walked over to me and rested his head on the other side of the window frame while crossing his arms across his chest. "Don't let what that guy did to you stop you from doing something you love…"

"It's not because of him," I snapped, retracing my steps over to my bed. I placed myself on it lamely, and watched for his next move.

"Then why don't you paint? What about right now?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he walked across to my art supplies and grabbing some before walking over and throwing them down beside me. "Paint."

"Don't be crazy," I sneered, "it's early in the morning."

Bending down so his face was inches from mine, he whispered, "you're letting what happened to you ruin your life."

I don't know where the sudden strength of courage came from, but before I could stop myself, my hands were placed upon his chest and pushed him away from me. Thinking I was in the clear, his hands caught my wrists in a soft, careful hold and pulled me off the bed into him. Catching my breath; I glared up into his dull eyes. "Please let me go," I whispered.

Shaking his head, he whispered, "you said you'd let me in…at the hospital. You said I can help you. What has changed?"

"Reality," I said much too louder than I wanted. Thud. My breath then caught. Someone had heard. "Hide," I whispered urgently to Jace as I pushed him away. He looked carefully around for a hiding place, deciding on the closet before quickly hopping in before my bedroom door opening hastily.

Mom stood there in her night gown, panic shadowing her tired expression. "What happening? I heard you yelling," she said worriedly, glaring around the room.

"I-I had a nightmare," I quickly said, not entirely a lie because I did have a nightmare before Jace had arrived and all.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked with an innocent smile plastered on her face.

I shook my head. "I just want to go back to sleep," I said, giving her a small smile back.

"Ok, honey," she smiled, blowing a kiss at me. "Goodnight." With that, she closed my door gently behind her.

A chuckle soon sounded in the closet as Jace stepped from within it. "How come you can lie so easily?" he asked, sitting on the end of my bed.

"That was not a lie…well not entirely," I said, placing myself next to him. "I had a nightmare tonight, that's why I texted you."

"What about?" he asked, picking up a paint brush and twirling it around in his hands.

"The guy that attacked me," I said softly. "I have the same dream most nights. I barely get a peaceful sleep these days."

"Same," he whispered beside me, dropping the paintbrush beside him. "My dreams are like a projector stuck on replay. The images of Mr Kerr falling to the ground into his own pool of blood seem to play with my dreams, turning them sour and twisted." He looked at me with innocence evident in his eyes. "It's like I can never get a break from the fact that if I didn't do what I did, if I had tried to prevent it he wouldn't be dead right now."

Glaring down at his fisted hands in his lap, I bought a shaky hand down and linked one of my fingers with his. "It wasn't your fault. None of it was," I whispered, assuring him.

Lying down, he kept his finger locked with mine softly brushing the others. "I wish I was that confident about it as you are," he said softly, with a chuckle.

Lying down next to him, I laughed softly. "We're really missed up, aren't we?"

Chuckling slightly, he turned to face me. "Yeah, we are," he said. We stayed like that for ages talking about what had happened and how we felt; and by the end of it we had opened up more to each other than we had to everyone else. The last thing I could remember was his soft breathing and his soft fingers as they skimmed across mine.

"A-hem," a voice growled. Groaning, I threw a pillow over my head, blocking the sunlight that shone freely through my window. The sleep that had come across me was refreshing and peaceful. The nightmare that forever seems to haunt my sleep had vanished leaving behind a much needed dreamless sleep… "Ahh, Clary?" I heard Jace's musical voice ask, something was in his voice as he said it, nervousness? Fear?

I lifted my pillow off my head slightly and glared over to him. He was half sitting up staring wide eyed at the doorway. I felt his hand against mine and noticed how our hands were tangled together still. Pushing the pillow off my head, I slowly sat up but froze mid-way. Standing at the door, hands on hips was mom, looking like stream would soon escape her ears.

"Mom, I can explain," I said, untangling my hand with Jaces and standing up, with him following neatly behind.

"As if I haven't heard that one before," she growled, "what do you think you're doing with a boy in your room? You know Luke would have had a fit if he had walked in."

"I'm sorry ma'am," Jace spoke up, his voice strong. "It's my fault; you see I wanted to talk to Clary about what had happened…"

"Oh, I remember now. You were one of the ones that were in the bus incident as well," mom said, shaking her head. "But that's no excuse for this."

"I understand ma'am," Jace said, nodding his head as he did.

"Mom, please. We did nothing wrong, we only talked," I assured her.

Softening her frame, she shook her head. "You touched him," she said as softly as an innocent child.

Stepping from foot to foot, I glanced at her through my red locks. "He was there for me when it all happened," I whispered knowing the pain that would be rushing through her.

Coughing slightly, she smiled at me. "I know," she said, before turning to the door. "Come down for breakfast both of you and then you need to get home…"

"Jace ma'am," he spoke up.

"Jace. Oh and call me Jocelyn," she smiled before rushing off.

Exhaling the breath I seemed to be holding in, I turned to Jace. "I'm so sorry," I apologised, frowning.

Chuckling slightly, he gave me a sweet smile showing his chipped tooth. "Don't worry about it, it was rather entertaining," he chuckled, before adding. "No more nightmares?"

I shook my head, a smile playing against my lips. "Nope, it was completely dreamless. You?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I think you're my dream catcher," he smiled.

"As you are mine," I said poking my tongue at him slightly.

Chuckling, he said, "I should probably get home. Mom will go nuts if she notices I'm not there."

Laughing, I nodded. "Well thank you for…the talk," I smiled.

Reaching out, he grabbed my hands and tangled our fingers together. For a moment the silence between us twirled around us bringing only bliss as we smiled. Walking back, he gently let go of my hand. "I'll text you," he said.

Nodding, I watched as his figure vanished into the hallway leaving behind the once forgotten smile that had been lost.

So how was it?

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Ex oh ex