Chapter 2: New Beginnings

Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Cassandra Clare. The plot is my own.

IZZYPOV

"God my brother is such a fucking idiot" she grumbled as she watched Clary and Sebastian holding hands walking along the beach. Sebastian is a direct opposite in looks to her brother. Don't get her wrong, Sebastian was very attractive. He is 6'1", black hair, black eyes and had a body any girl would drool over, abs you could wash your clothes on. On his face presided high cheekbones and a strong jaw. The clothes he wore came from all the major fashion houses; his suites always fit with pristine accuracy. There was no mistaking the way he has looked at Clary since freshman year of high school, he wanted her badly. Whether it was love or lust Izzy wasn't sure, but Clary never saw it. Clary always only looked at him as a best friend. Now as she walks with him hand in hand on the beach, her emerald orbs shine with hope and possibility.

"No, your brother is a jackass who doesn't know a good thing when it's right in front of his face" Simon had never grown to like her adoptive brother, he and Jace never got along. That relationship only got worse after what happened with Clary. She just knew her fucking brother was a god damn idiot, and to fall straight in the arms of that bitch Kaeli. That was just classic. Now he is going to marry her after a year, he never even asked Clary to marry him.

"He is going to regret this" she proclaimed sadly, she felt defeated. She tried to get him to see reason.

*Flashback*

3 months after Jace left New York

"Jace you need to talk to her; I can't believe you sold the apartment without even talking to her"

"Iz it reminded me of her, there was no way I could keep it. Every perfect memory I had with her there was tainted"

"You haven't even talked to her"

"Iz I told you, if you or anyone else in the family wants to be near me, you can't mention anything about her to me. I made up my mind I am not going back." Izzy sat on the couch in Jace's new LA house. This home was much like him modern, immaculate and cold. It had no personality, no style, that was always Clary's department. The girl knew how to make a house a home. The back wall that was all glass, gave him a perfect view of the Hollywood hills. It wasn't grand but it was Jace, two floors, five bedrooms seven bathrooms and every amenity the luxury building could offer. Everything had a place and not a thing was outside that place.

Izzy looked her adoptive brother and could tell he was not doing well, even though he told everyone he was. He had dark circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept in weeks, he lost weight though he was still muscular. His golden eyes seemed dull and lifeless. He simply looked awful. He was always angry or melancholy, rude to people on set. In the three months he had been in LA he already developed this heartthrob bad boy asshole persona. Not to say he wasn't actually all those things to begin with, but this was different he was being malicious in his intent. It didn't help his idea of getting over Clary was to drown in alcohol and sleeping with any random girl he could find, sometimes two at a time. Whoever said pussy could solve the world's problems has yet to meet my brother, because trust me he has seen many. At least he has Alec here to watch out for him, right? He will come to his senses eventually.

"So, what you would rather fuck your way to closure, with every whore you meet on the street. Jace, you need to hear her out!"

"Isabelle! I need to do no such thing. Stop trying to force her on me. Read the room. She and I are over. Damaged beyond repair. This is the last time I will ever discuss this with you or anyone else for that matter."

Izzy sighed "You're going to regret this, and I hope the day that you do that it's not already too late. Your too stubborn for your own good. Your trapped in your mind, convinced of something that is a misunderstanding."

"MISUNDERSTANDING! MY GIRLFRIEND PRACTICALLY NAKED IN BED WITH ANOTHER MAN SHE CLAIMS IS JUST A FRIENDS, WITH EMPTY CONDOM WRAPPERS ON THE FLOOR AND THE SOUND OF HER MOANING. YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT HER PLEASURE MOAN SOUNDS LIKE!" he roared at the top of his lungs.

He took a moment to calm himself, this was not how her visit was supposed to be going. He was tired of everyone telling him what he should do, he already talked to Sebastian. He didn't need to hear more. "Iz just stop I don't want to talk about this, I don't want to think about her, I don't want to know anything about her life, and I don't what her to know anything about mine. You all promised me that, just give me that" he was tired he couldn't do this anymore.

"Iz this isn't what you came here for" Alec gave her a pointed look.

Defeated Izzy put an almost sincere smile and said "Ok big brother shows me around your town then"

*End Flashback*

Even though their relationship was strained she loved her brother. She just wanted to see him happy, and she hadn't seen him truly happy in years. Not since Clary. With Keali he is happy to an exent, still he isn't the same guy he was five years ago. It is as if a part of him is missing or hollow. He was merely a distorted image of the man he once was. Izzy still remember vividly the day she found out what actually happened at the party.

*Flashback*

Morning after the party

Izzy stormed into Sebastian's house, bellowing "Clary I know you're here. Get the fuck downstairs NOW!". She had just gotten off the phone with her brother, he finally answered his phone after she called him all night. He told her what he walked in on and the conversation that he overheard. How could she. She was his world, his rock, his everything. He would never recover from a betrayal like this. If she knew anything about Jace Herondale, she knew that he gave his heart to no one. When he finally decided to give his heart to this bitch, what did she do she turn around and cheated on him. She couldn't believe it.

"Clary, by the Angel if you don't get down here right now, I will drag you by your hair out of whatever fucking room you're in"

"Sheesh is calm down, she just fell asleep" she heard the distinct voice of the bastard in question as he chuckled. Right behind her.

"Sebastian" she glowered in a voice that could rival the devil. If he was looking for a fight, he found the right bitch. She turned around and lunged at him, her freshly manicured claws raked across his face. You could hear the thunder crack of the slap throughout the entire house. "How dare you speak to me" she spat with as much venom as a black mamba.

He chuckled darkly, "Now Iz you've always been one for the dramatics, but I will only allow that one slap. If you are to remain in my house for any continued duration of time you must keep your hands to yourself, otherwise I will take pleasure in sending you out on your ass." As he said this he cracked his knuckles, one at a time.

"Is that a threat" Izzy was beginning to see red.

"No it's a promise"

Before she even knew what was happening, she lunged again, toppling over Sebastian straddling his hips.

"Now Iz if you wanted a ride all you had to do was ask, no need to violence" he smirked "That is unless you like it rough" he whispers was throaty. She pulled her hand back, balled her fist and began its descent toward his face, when she felt someone grab on her arm holding her back.

"Izzy what are you doing, get off of him". Clary's voice was hoarse as if she had been crying all night. The bitch should be crying after what she had done.

"Oh, don't worry, I have some of this for you too", she got off of Sebastian and ripped her arm out of Clary's hand. She turned around and glared at her best friend, the term if looks could kill was never more appropriate. Clary stood before her, looking lifeless. Eyes puffy, rimmed in red. Her skin dull and her hair looked like the Tasmanian devil had a go at it. She wore oversized t-shirt and sweatpants that Izzy could only assume belonged to Sebastian.

Resigned Izzy spoke" How could you do this to him? He loves you, you're the only person he let in fully since his parents died. And you cheat on him, I thought I knew you." Izzy simply shook her head in disgust and turned away.

"I didn't cheat on him" was all Clary could muster in a quiet voice. Izzy wheeled around to look Clary in the eyes, but the red head would not look at her.

"Clary look at me, explain" Clary lifter her heard head so that Izzy,s eyes could meet her emerald orbs. She saw was guilt, regret, pain and quietest sadness past through them. As if no one could hate her more than she hated herself.

Pain was evident in Clary's voice as she spoke.

"You remember last night at the party you saw me in the kitchen at the bar"

"Yeah I remember, and I also saw you leave with Sebastian upstairs"

"Iz I left because I was feeling nauseous, I couldn't keep anything down. Seb said I could rest in his room, so that I was near a bathroom."

"Oh don't give me that shit I was with you, you didn't drink a lick of alcohol. Don't pretend you did it because you were drunk"

"I never said I drank anything. Iz I was not feeling well, and Jace was supposed to still be in LA"

"So, you decided this was your time to make the moves on your "best friend"?"

"God Izzy just listen" Sebastian's voice exclaimed from behind her." I don't know why you are even friends with her Clary"

"Quiet Seb you aren't helping," He just raised his hands in surrender. "So Seb lead me upstairs to his room and I laid in his bed. Of course, I was in that death trap you called a dress, I am sure Jace would not have appreciated that you put me in that thing with him not around. I could barely move in it the thing was so tight. Anyway I was laying in his bed when I got this twist in my stomach and I ran to bathroom to throw up. Well on my way in I also ran into Seb, lets just say the contents of my stomach did not make it to the toilet. It ended up on me and Seb"

"It was so disgusting" Seb chimed in.

"I couldn't very well keep the dress that had vomit all over on and I had stuff in my hair. Seb suggested we needed to shower"

"And I would suggest it again"

"I took a shower, washed my hair Seb gave me a shirt and sweats to put on. I laid down on his bed hoping that the nausea and back pain would go away. Seb took a shower after me a dawned a pair of sweatpants also. When he came back to his room, I rolled on my kicking off the sweat pants, I felt too hot. I didn't even think about the fact that I was just in my panties. All I could think about was not throwing up again. Seb and I were talking about how I was going to tell Jace something. Iz I am/was so scared to tell him. When I buried my face in the pillow Seb started whispering in my ear that everything would be ok. When I complained that my back hurt, he stuck his hand on my lower back and rubbed out the tightness, it felt so good. That's when Jace opened the door and Seb tried to shoo him out, I really wasn't feeling well"

"Iz I had no idea it was him, I thought it was some drunk random looking to hookup in my room. When I told him to leave, I never even looked up. It was until he said Clary's name that either of us turned around. By then it was too late"

"I know what it looked like Iz, I tried to chase after him to explain. But he just looked at me from his car as if I didn't exist, like I was a ghost haunting him from his past."

"What about the condom wrappers he found on the ground and the moaning"

"You would have to ask him about the condom wrappers, no way I would have been able to have sex with how sick I felt. Plus, Seb is just my best friend, I don't think of him like that"

Izzy raised an eyebrow and mumbled to herself "Yeah but does he feel the same way"

"I moaned because he was rubbing the tension out of my back"

"Jace said you look guilty, he saw it in your eyes"

"I'm pregnant Izzy, I didn't know how to tell him. I knew he wasn't ready he was trying to start his career and I am still at NYU; I was freaking out. It was my fault, I forgot antibiotics cancelled out the effects of my birth control. By the angel I was so dumb" Clary hung her head in exasperation. Wait did she just say I'm pregnant. Surely she heard wrong.

"Did you just say your pregnant?"

Clary simply nodded tear streaking down her cheeks. "I thought this was going to ruin his life, we had plans and now he is mad at me for something I didn't do. He won't even let me explain Iz, I've called him like 100 times. I know I have been distant with him over the last month, but I was trying to figure out how to tell him about this" she put her hands on her belly.

"How far along?"

"Three months"

"Your just now telling me. Why?"

"I only found out a month ago. The only reason Seb knows is because he was with me at the hospital when I found out. Jace was away in LA. I made him swear not to tell anyone. That's why Seb brought me up to his room because he knew no one would bother me there, after all you wouldn't let me leave the party" she claimed with a small smile.

"I think you owe me an apology for hitting me" Sebastian said smuggle.

Izzy ignored him. Oh, crap Jace is leaving for LA permanently she needed to stop.

"Izzy please don't tell him about the baby, I want to tell him" with that Izzy promised to keep what she knew to herself.

"Let me go talk him, then I'll call you. He just needs time"

"Thanks, Iz"

"Take care of my niece or nephew. This is going to be so much fun! "she said as she giddily left the house. But first she needed to see her brother and sort things out.

*End Flashback*

She felt her heart break for the both of them, but how could she get him to listen.

She couldn't, instead he delved into work and fucking every whore he could get his hands on, never coming up for breath. Then he decided he was going to marry one of them, how could she be happy for him when she knew he was making the biggest mistake of his life. She knew that Clary hoped and waited for him for years, YEARS. She said that wasn't what she was doing, but she knew Clary all too well, she still loves him. But now she was trying to finally move on. Now more than likely her idiot brother would never be able to have a relationship with his children, not that he even cared to know about them.

"I don't know Iz, look her she seems happy" Izzy looked, and she saw Clary laughing at some story Sebastian was whispering in her ear. She did look happy, lighter even. Her best friend deserved happiness. Her niece and nephew deserved a man in their life that wasn't such an asshole. Sure, Seb was an asshole but he always been there for Clary and the kids. Uncle Sebby they called him.

With a sigh of defeat, she turned to her fiancé and said, "I know Si, she does look happy". Izzy never admitted out loud that something just didn't feel right about Clary and Seb's relationship. She had this weird feeling ever since the night of the party. She never disliked Seb, not the way Jace did, but she never particularly liked him either. He always seemed so aloof. Maybe she was just being paranoid. She looked up as Clary and Seb drew near.

~xXx~

JPOV

Alec was diligently working on his laptop, observing Jace pace around the hair and makeup room. Jace new his pacing was distracting to his brother, anxiety radiated out of him. He knew the longer he waited to make this call, the worse his anxiety would become. There was too much on his mind. How was he supposed to convince his family that he wanted this engagement when he himself wasn't sure if this is what he wanted? Sure, from the outside looking in, he seemed excited to be engaged to Kaeli, but he was an actor, so it wasn't hard to feign excitement about his engagement. His mind drifted, as always to that red head. This was supposed to be the happiest time in his life. He signed to himself. He couldn't help but think marrying Kaeli felt wrong, that he was supposed to be marrying Clary. No one had known that he and Clary were engaged, they wanted to keep that secret to themselves before they were consumed the incessant wedding talk. Everyone always knew that he and Clary would be the first of their group to marry, but boy were they wrong.

"Just call mom already, your pacing is driving me crazy. I cannot work like this! If you really want to marry Kaeli you shouldn't be this anxious" Alec exclaimed frustratedly. Jace was deep in thought, forgetting that is brother was even in the room. Alec owned an up and coming luxury hotel chain, The Alicante, which allowed him the flexibility to work where he wanted. Most of the time that meant working near set with Jace. Jace was grateful that five years ago Alec decided to follow him to LA, he had needed his brother, his best friend. He was the one person Jace felt he could share almost everything with. Alec never judged him.

Alec was right, he shouldn't be this anxious, he loved Kaeli and they would just have to accept that. At least he loved her as much as he was capable, in his current state.

Sitting down on the couch next to Alec, he listened to the phone ringing on the other line. Part of him hoped she wouldn't answer. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. "Hello" the women spoke.

"Hey Maryse, is anyone else with you?" he asked as his leg bounced up in down. Alec simply looked at him rolling his eyes.

"Just your dad and Izzy. Is something wrong?"

"No no, I just needed to tell you all something, could you please get them." He was glad they were all there, that way he could tell them about his engagement all at once. Not that they probably didn't already know, damn Aline. He still wondered who told her.

A few minutes later Maryse spoke again "Ok what is it you need to tell us?" She sounded nervous.

"I asked Kaeli to marry me and she said yes". He closed his eyes and held his breath. There was a long pause, no one spoke. It was probably a few seconds but for him it felt like 30 minutes.

"I can't believe you are going to marry that slut, don't you remember how she treated Clary in high school" Izzy screeched.

"We saw the interview. Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Maryse retorted at the same time. Once again he thought damn Aline.

Jace chose to ignore Izzy and answer his mother. "Well you guys don't exactly like Kaeli and I was not intending the news to come out so soon."

"Yeah because she is an evil whore, can you blame us?" Izzy accused.

"Izzy don't talk about her like that, she is going to be my wife. Your future sister in-law" he growled. Jace's leg no longer bounced in anxiety. Now he was angry, he was white knuckled and red faced. He could not believe she couldn't be happy for him after everything he had been through. He had always been there for her. Why couldn't she just reciprocate?

"Her being your wife will never change that I hate her. I am not going to sit by quietly as you make the biggest mistake of your life." That was the one thing he loved about Izzy, she was always passionate and opinionated. Today though, he appreciated neither her passion nor her opinion.

Lowering his voice, he asked in disbelief "Izzy can't you just be happy for me? I am happy for you and Simon." He was tired of fighting her, he had been fighting with her since he and Clary broke up. Sometimes it felt like Izzy took Clary's side. He knew though deep down he would never force his sister or anybody to choose between him and Clary. That situation was never their problem. It was a shame that his breakup had caused such a strain in his relationship with his sister.

"With her no, plus your not really happy, we can all see that." Perhaps he wasn't as good an actor as he thought. He was happy though, wasn't he? At this point he wasn't sure; he just knew he was happy enough.

Casting that thought aside he exclaimed "I don't want to talk about this anymore, maybe it is a bad idea for me to come to the engagement party."

"Maybe you shouldn't, I don't want to be around your idiocy!" she spat.

"Izzy stop, leave your brother alone. Jace if you say you're happy, then fine we are happy for you. Just be sure that this is the right choice for you. Marriage is a big step and you have only been together for year; don't you feel like you are moving a little fast?"

"Mom I know this is sudden, but I do love her, and I am happy" he whispered. His head hung in his hands, fingers pulling at his shaggy hair.

"Then we are happy for you, and we will try to give Kaeli and chance" his dad finally spoke. He was shocked, Robert was usually very resigned man. Jace was just glad someone was finally willing to give Kaeli a chance.

"No the fuck I won't. Mom and dad may give her a chance but will never like that bitch." With that last proclamation he could hear Izzy storm out of the room screaming profanities.

"Just give her time Jace she will come around. Also, you will be attending your sister engagement party, no if ands or buts about it." When his mom got this tone there was no questioning her, he would be attending the party.

"Ok mom"

"So, when will I get to meet this fiancé of yours?" she asked inquisitively.

"I think I'll bring her for Christmas in a few months. We will be spending thanksgiving with her family here." He was beginning to feel hopeful, maybe things would work out after all.

"Oh well I think we already had plans, but you know what we can move them around".

"That's ok mom don't change your plans, we will just join you"

"Oh no, I just realized I actually don't have any plans Christmas, you and Kaeli are welcome to come stay here." Well that was weird, Jace didn't understand why she sounded do anxious. She never usually had an issue with him coming for Christmas, maybe it was the addition of Kaeli that unnerved her.

"Ok, I guess I'll see you Friday at Izzy's then. Bye mom" with that he hung up the phone. That conversation took a turn he had not expected, leaving him with many questions.

He wondered what kind of Christmas plans she had that he could not be a part of.

"Alec, do you know anything about mom's Christmas plans"

"Nope" Alec replied not even looking up, popping the 'p'. Jace looked at Alec suspiciously, there was definitely something they were not telling him. He was about to press Alec more when he was called to set.

~xXx~

CPOV

"So tell me everything, how was your weekend. Did Sebastian finally remove you from the arduous life of celibacy?" Magnus's asked as he shuffled through her new textile inventory. Stopping to look at a deep purple fabric that had silhouettes of naked women outline in black.

"It went really good actually, not like naked in bed good, but like I had a lot of fun good" Clary smiled to herself, her cheeks flush.

"Come on biscuit you have to give me more than that" Magnus was insistent on hearing all the juicy details, but there were no juicy details. A piece of Italian lace embroidered with the New York city skyline now captured his attention.

"We spent most of Friday hanging out with Izzy and Si at the beach. On Sunday morning before we left, Seb took my hand and we walked around the beach. It was just nice and comforting. We joked talking about everything and nothing, being with Seb feeks so natural" she signed. "Then Seb asked me out on an official date"

"Oh really? What did you say?" Magnus looked up from the two pieces of textile he had been looking at. There a mischievous sparkle in his eye, or maybe it was just all the glitter he wore.

"I told him I would go." Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"So, when is your date? Oh, I have the perfect dress for you" Magnus clapped his hands. Oh no she could see the wheels turning in his head.

"Umm Wednesday" Quickly In a bid to distract him she reminded him about Izzy's engagement party this weekend and how they needed to finalize Clary's dress. Magnus has created several options for Clary. Izzy had insisted that Clary try them all on for her Friday morning, so she could make sure Clary "matched" the event. Whatever that meant.

In an attempt to play match maker Izzy had invited Magnus to the party. There was a certain black hair, blue eyed Lightwood that she thought would be perfect for the man.

"Oh yeah, tell me about Mr. Lightwood. I want to know everything" For the next 30 minutes Clary was forced to go over every minute detail of Alec's appearance. She didn't mind though because that meant she didn't have to talk about her dating life. While she was excited about her date with Seb, she couldn't help but think this meant she was finally giving up on certain golden-haired man. She was not sure if she was ready for that, she pulled on her chain and once again looked at her ring. By the Angel she really needed to move on, he already had. He probably didn't even think about her anymore.

A/N

Ok what did you all think so far?

This is only the beginning.

-A