JPOV

"I am thinking late May for the wedding. What do you think?" she droned on. It was times like these that Jace was sure hell existed, because quite frankly that is where he currently resided.

Ever since his engagement to Kaelie went public, the wedding was all she could talk about. What should be the color scheme? Indoor or outdoor? Formal or semi-formal? How many people to invite? He really could care less; this wedding was more for her than for him. He was just content to have her in his life.

He was sure he was just in shock about the speed of the wedding planning, he was hoping maybe they could have a long engagement, a couple of years. Its already the middle of September and she is suggesting a May wedding. He was glad that he was leaving for New York in a few days, it wasn't that he didn't love Kaelie, but all the wedding talk has become so overwhelming. At least he thought he loved her.

"Babe are you listening?" Oh, shit she asked him something. Jace had completely zoned out on the conversation. He wasn't sure if it was just the stress of the wedding, but he felt like Kaelie was slowly changing. She was reminding him of the Kaeli he knew in high school. It was like her personality was shifting in very subtle ways. She whined more, she was even more clingy, she demanded they make public appearances as a newly engaged couple. I mean they had only been engaged a little under a week. He was probably just reading too much into her wedding excitement.

"Umm yeah May sounds great." She clapped her hands squealing.

"We can look at venues in December when we go to New York for Christmas". Of course, they would wed in New York, this was where their family lived. Not to mention they would be moving back in December due to the Herondale Production Corporation being headquartered there. This was another thing he hoped to speak to his family about during dinner on Friday at Izzy's.

"Are you going to talk to them this weekend about accepting this wedding? Accepting me? You know family is important to me. I know Izzy really doesn't like me. I know I wasn't the nicest in high school but I changed" Oh yes, the other thing he needed to speak to his family about.

When he talked to his family on the phone, they seemed skeptical of the whole thing, but he hoped they would really make an effort to get to know Kaelie better. Sure, sometimes she could be a bitch. Afterall no one is perfect. Jace learned that the hard way.

"Yeah Kay, I'm going to talk to them on Friday night try to smooth things over. Afterall we will be moving back soon, so we will be seeing a lot more of them." Jace wasn't sure if he was excited about the move back.

Of course, he was excited to be around his family again. His only issue was that she still lived there. He would have to talk to her to avoided awkward run ins. She'd moved on a while ago, so he wasn't sure why he was nervous to talk to her. It didn't matter, Clary was going to be in Izzy's wedding, at a minimum he needed to be cordial with her. Especially if they were to be living in the same city again.

"Now, I have some other things I want to do before I go" he wiggled his eyebrows at Kaelie and rolled on top of her.

~xXx~

CPOV

She was wearing a simple black long sleeve lace dress. The hem stopped just below mid-thigh. Her red curly hair rested gently at the middle of her back. She even donned five inch heals for the occasion, typically heels were something she avoided like the plague. Twirling in the mirror, she knew she looked sexy.

Tonight, was her first date with Sebastian. She shouldn't have been nervous; she has known Sebastian for almost a decade. It was only recently that she had allowed their relationship to turn romantic. Sebastian had been trying to take her out on a date for the last several years, overtime she began to develop feelings for him. For so long she only considered him as a friend, but she like to spend time with him. She liked how her kids loved to spend time with him, he had always been there for them, from the very beginning. When he interacted with the kids, her heart melted.

She had always loved Seb, but this was different. She thought maybe if she gave him the opportunity, she could fall in love with him. It was then she heard the doorbell ring.

"Mama mama the door" she could hear her daughter approaching her room. "Oh mama you look weary pretty"

"Thank you Gi, you look pretty too." She smiled at her daughter and headed toward the door. She knew it was Izzy and Si at the door, they were to watch the kids while she was on her date.

Christopher was too enthralled in his tv show too look up as she passed by him in the living room. When she opened the door, Izzy moved past into her townhouse like she owned the place, to be honest she walked into all places like that. To say that Izzy had confidence would be an understatement. It was probably all the modeling that she did, not to mention she was drop dead gorgeous.

"You look like one hot mama!" Izzy slowly appraised her. "So is Seb going to get some tonight or what?"

"Izzy!" Simon scolded as he entered the townhome.

"What Si, have you seen her? If wasn't happily engaged I might jump on that." To this Simon just shook his head and laughed.

"Iz, I thought you didn't even like Seb" This was always a point of contention for Clary. Everyone always acted weird around Seb. Since he was around all the time, they were always acting weird. She wasn't sure why this was, but he had a permanent place in her life. Seb was there for her every day since he left. Seb never pressured her into anything, he only supported her.

"I don't dislike him, I'm indifferent" Izzy shrugged. She had really been trying to like Sebastian, he made her friend happy. Not as happy as when she was with Jace, but happy none the less. It was refreshing to once again see a glimmer of sparkle in her eyes, after so many years.

"To answer your question no, I don't want to rush things. Now come on the kids are in the living room watching tv. Seb will be here any minute. You know the rules." It was a statement not a question and Izzy knew it.

"Yeah yeah, no tv after 7pm. No junk food, in bed by 8pm blah blah blah. Honestly you don't have to remind me of the rules every time I watch them."

"Really?" Clary raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"Oh come on Clary that was one time, how was I supposed to know giving them candy and soda before bed would cause them to go wild."

"One that's why we have to rules. Two everyone knows about sugar highs. Three you know who their father is of course they would act wild on a sugar high."

Knock Knock

"Oh that must be Seb. Gigi, Chris be good for your aunt and uncle. I'll see you in the morning when you wake up"

"Bye mama" it was always cute to Clary when they spoke in unison.

"Oh and Clary don't forget about dress shopping on Friday morning" Izzy called as she closed the door to leave.

~xXx~

MPOV

Looking at Clary you would think she was being tortured. It was almost offensive to Magnus. He had never seen anyone so unenthusiastic about wearing a Bane original. Not many people got to grace their bodies with that magic of fabric manipulation that Magnus beheld only on the most exclusive of clientele.

"Izzy, Mags" Clary groaned "This is like the fifteenth dress you have me try on. Mags you said you only had like three dresses set aside for me to try. I can't even do these gowns justice" she complained pleadingly. Magnus sighed Clary's self-confidence could use some help. She was easily one of the most beautiful women he had ever encountered.

"Why can't I wear something I already have in my closet. You guys fill it and I never even get the chance to wear half the things you two bring me"

"Oh shush biscuit, this is a special occasion. None of those trinkets we gave you will work". In reality Magnus knew Clary had plenty of beautiful gowns she could wear that would fit this event. He and Izzy made sure of that. Clary was not exaggerating that they had filled her master walk in closet and a few other closets in her house to be honest, with only the finest clothing. Of course not ALL Bane originals. What the girl needed diversity.

He couldn't for the life of him understand why she so often chose to wear paint stained rags, in leu of her designer clothes. He had ulterior motives though. Magnus had talked to Izzy before Clary arrived, having left the kids with the nanny.

He didn't know Jace, never met the man before. The only knowledge of him that Magnus had was what he saw in interviews and from his two closest friends. One thing he did know was that his best friend was still hung up on that dick, even if she wouldn't admit it. He for the life of him couldn't understand why, maybe it was a first love thing. Magnus wouldn't know he had never truly been in love. Clary loved him none the less. He had heard parts of their story after many years of friendship.

Izzy had confided in Magnus that Jace was back in town for the engagement party and that she needed to talk to Clary about this. She was worried how Clary would react to the conversation that they had all put off for far too long. Of course, Jace would be at the party, Clary knew that, but Izzy just wanted to make sure everything at the party would run smoothly.

None the less Magnus needed Clary to look drop dead gorgeous so the prick could see that she was fine without him, so that he would drool before the goddess like the mere mortal he was. By the angel, with one glance at her, he was going to make that man hurt a fraction of the pain he sees in his best friends eyes every day.

"Come out, stop being a baby" Izzy scolded from her position on the couch next to Magnus.

Clary entered with room in her shimmering gold full length slip dress, with a dangerous slit coming up to almost her hip. Her hair was in a very messy bun on the top of her head and her attitude was less than to be desired. But in that dress she looked .georgous. Jace Herondale or Wayland or Lightwood or what ever the fuck he wanted to be known as could eat his heart out.

"That's the one" both Magnus and Izzy squealed.

"Are you sure there aren't twenty more dresses you want me to try on first" Clary retorted sarcastically. She looked in the floor length mirror at herself, Magnus could see her eyes glisten as she appreciated how she looked in the mirror.

"Are you two sure it isn't too much, I mean I am a mother now and this slit is a little much don't you think?"

~xXx~

CPOV

" Oh stop biscuit. You look marvelous. Georgous, Sexy, very Fuckable" Magnus said popping up from the couch. "But first we need to do some quick alterations, stand still."

Clary huffed and rolled her eyes as Magnus pinned and pulled the fabric against her body. She knew it would be better to just stand still and bare it. Especially remembering the time Magnus "Accidentally" stabbed her with a pin because she was fidgeting.

"Clary" Izzy chimed in getting the red head's attention. "I need to talk to you about something that is really important to me". For some reason Izzy looked nervous.

"Go ahead Izzy it isn't as if I can move. I might get "accidentally" stabbed again if I move" Clary stated rolling he eyes toward Magnus.

"You know I love you and my niece and nephew. And all three of you will be in my wedding. It's … it's just that it's starting to get awkward for me because he doesn't know. Especially since the wedding is coming up he is going to be around a little more. It's been so… so hard to keep this secret and when he meets them he IS going to ask. And since they are a part of my wedding WILL be meeting them. I know he hurt you, but you have to tell him. You have to, this could ruin the family's relationship with him… that none of us told him."

"Not for lack of trying" Clary mumbled to herself. There was a time when all she wanted was for him to pick up her phone calls, or respond to her texts, or for him to listen to his family that he need to talk to her, or for his manager not to have told her that his children would be nothing but a hindrance on his career.

It had been so long that she hadn't had to worry about him. That she hadn't had to open that wound. She zoned out playing with the chain around her neck, remembering how happy they used to be. Remembering the moment, he got on one knee and put the ring she know wears around her neck on her finger. Remembering all the love they used to share. Remembering how he said kids weren't in his five-year plan.

"Yeah Iz, I know I have to tell him. It's not fair to put everyone in that … that position anymore. I just need some time ya know. I need to tell the kids first, need to find a way to explain. I will tell him after the holidays I promise."

"You going to be okay to see him this weekend, right?"

"Yeah, ill be fine" at least she was pretty sure she would be fine.

"Enough about that brother, let's talk about the hot one … Alec" Magnus whined moving away from Clary. She was glad he was changing the subject she wasn't ready to think about Jace. Well not more than she usually did.

~xXx~

JPOV

"Hey Iz where is your restroom?" Jace called from the living room of her 32nd floor Manhattan apartment.

"Down the hall, first door on the left" she called back from the kitchen. Jace knew it was dangerous to leave Izzy in the kitchen alone. He was glad someone convinced her to hire a chef for the evening. He had no intention on spending his evening in the hospital like he did one time in high school.

Leaving the bathroom, he noticed a photo on one of the walls in the hallway. It was a photo of Izzy and Simon holding the hands of two children, a girl with golden wavy locks and a boy with strawberry blonde curls, walking along the beach toward the ocean. Jace couldn't see their faces but there was something familiar about them. It couldn't quite put a finger on why he felt a slight tightening in his chest, like he lost something important to him that he didn't know was missing.

It wasn't shocking that he had no idea who the kids were, he hadn't been the closest to Isabelle in while, not to mention he lived in LA and rarely got to see her with his busy schedule. But these children must have been important to her for to have their photo on the wall.

"Iz whose kids are those in that picture in the hallway, they look familiar? Have I met them before?" he asked as he headed toward that dining room.

"Oh, umm they are just a close friend's" she said eyes widening in the kitchen. She almost sounded evasive.

"Who, I thought I knew all your close friends?" he questioned further.

"God Jace, I have made plenty of new friends since you left New York. I hardly talk to you anymore. How would you even know who is and isn't my friend" she scowled.

"Come on Izzy, I thought we were playing nice. Stop being a bitch and put the claws away. It was an innocent question."

"You don't get to come back after …"

"Children please, the food is ready let's go sit and eat like a civilized family." chided Maryse.

Jace followed his mother into the dining room, sitting across from a scowling Izzy. The whole family sat in an awkward silence eating their meal until dessert. Jace sighed and dropped his fork on his plate, the hostility between him and Izzy had gone on too long.

"Look Izzy, I am really trying here. I want what he had before, I miss you. I miss not knowing what is going on in your life. You're my sister and I love you; I do not want any more of this awkwardness. I mean Alec is great to have around, but he never wants to get into any trouble with me" he whined.

Izzy's face softened and Simon squeezed her hand under the table. "I love you too Jace and I miss us. To be honest, between the two of us if Alec is a negative Nancy, then Simon is a wet blanket. I do miss our mischief." Alec scowled, rolling his eyes.

"Since we are all in a good place there is something Alec and I would like to announce" Jace looked around at everyone at the table before he let out a breath. "Umm we are moving back to New York in December. As you all know I am taking over my family company and the headquarters are here. Continuing to live in LA just won't work anymore. Plus, I miss my family. Not to mention Alec can do his job anywhere."

Maryse and Robert smiled lovingly at their two sons. Maryse knew that things were going to have to change within the family for this move to work. A lot of those things included Clary and her grandchildren.

Izzy jumped squealing and ran around the table to hug Jace. "What am I chopped liver" she thought she heard Alec mumble under his breath. She walked over to her brother and hugged him also.

"Come on Alec, I see you way more than Jace. I am just so happy to have the family back together." Though she was excited Jace could see there was something solemn in the way she celebrated the news. He could see the wheels turning in her head and he knew what she would ask before she asked. "This means that Kaelie is moving back too?" she said with a sigh returning to her seat next to Simon.

Ah, Jace was sure this is why she was also slightly somber about the news.

"Iz she is my fiancé of course she is moving back. Look I know how she was in high school, but she changed. She isn't the same person as she was over five years ago." Jace couldn't see Alec roll his eyes. "I am not asking for you be her best friend or anything, I just want you to accept she is going to be part of this family. Just give her a chance. Can you please just be nice, for me. I love her" he asked pleadingly.

Jace never begged for anything yet he was begging Izzy to give Kaelie another chance. If Izzy was going to give Kaelie a chance she was damn sure going to get something out of it. As she pondered the notion in her head she came to a conclusion, if Jace loved her then she would try to get past the past. It wasn't like she was going to get what she really wanted, Jace and Clary to get back together. They were both moving on and quite frankly she didn't want to see either of them hurt again. Well as much as she could help it.

"Fine, I'll give her a chance" she conceded rolling her eyes Jace beaming his million-dollar smile at her.

"But and I know you don't want to hear this, and I promised to not talk to you about her …" Jace had a feeling he knew where this discussion was going. "But Clary is going to be in my wedding, and she will be at my engagement party this weekend. She has been my friend for more than half my life. She is and will always be in my life, aside …. aside from your differences with her. If I am going to give your fiancé a chance after how she treated not only me but also one of my closest friends, who was you girlfriend I might add, I need you to cordial with Clary".

The whole table went silent waiting for Jace's response. He felt a slight twinge of betrayal that his family had remained close with the women that had destroyed him. The women who made it so he could probably never love someone with more than sixty percent of his heart. But he knew that if this move was to work, he would see her around and he did need to be cordial. Jace had already come this conclusion weeks ago when he decided to move back. Seeing Clary and being cordial was a small price to pay in order to regain the family he all but abandoned years ago.

"I can do that Iz, I can leave the past in the past. We have both moved on. Contrary to belief New York is big enough for the both of us" he chuckled.

Collectively everyone in the room let out the breath they were holding.

"Oo good Clary is sexy as hell. Thanks for being stupid enough to let her go. Now that you two are gonna be cordial and I am 17 I have got a shot." Jace could feel his blood pressure rise, as he clenched his fists under the table. " Plus it would be super awkward if ya'll weren't talking when she brought the tw …"

"MAX!" Maryse stopped her youngest son from going on. "Why don't you go see what is taking dessert so long?" she glared at him.

"Oh I'll go help" Izzy shot up rushing her little brother into the kitchen, whispering harsh words into his ears.

At this point Jace was confused. His whole family looked like there was a huge one-eyed elephant in the room.

"What was Max saying about Clary" he asked his interest peaked.

"Its nothing, I umm just commissioned Clary to do 12 paintings for the house and my office. She is a lovely painter you remember, don't you?". Jace knew they were hiding something from him, but it wasn't his place to care anymore about anything Clary did. He was just glad he got his sister to give Kaelie a chance, he wasn't going to push anymore issues tonight.

…

…

…

…

…

He was lying he cared.

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…

…

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More than he should.

Hey Guys,

So sorry. I started my PhD program in August and things have been hectic. In all honesty I have had half of this chapter written for like 3 months. I have originally having a hard time with some of the direction of some of the conversations that were supposed to happen in this chapter. The next two chapters definitely have a direction so they should be out soon, just need to put pen to paper to speak, or finger to MacBook pro.

Also I have another story you I am about to drop that you should look out for. I haven't written a summary yet, but I already have the first 2 chapter written. It like a modern princess sci-fi ish drama. Features of course all our favorite characters from TMI.

Tell me what you think about this chapter.