Tried to Escape 14 Times

Clary was wearing another corset. Another goddamn corset. If she had known when she took this job that she would be treated like a medieval barbie, she would have let herself starve in her shit hole apartment. Clary tried her best not to fall backwards as Isabelle yanked the laces of her corset so tight Clary thought she would cough up her stomach. "Is this…" grunt… "really necessary?" Clary demanded, holding on to the dresser so hard she thought she might break the wood.

Isabelle scoffed, tying the corset strings tightly at the bottom. "Yes, you can't come to my Victorian party if you're not dressed properly. Now put the dress on top."

Clary sighed and tried her best to lift her arms and pull on the lavender dress over all of these godforsaken layers. She was very grateful that she lived in the time of sweatpants and snuggies. She couldn't imagine having to do this every day.

Once the dress was over her head and straightened out, Isabelle helped her button up the back as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had to admit, the dress was pretty. The lavender colour brought out her eyes and made her hair look even brighter.

Isabelle finished fastening the buttons and pulled Clary's hair into a quick twisted bun. "I would have liked to do a better updo, like mine, but the party is about to start. A bun will have to do."

Clary was relieved. She thought for sure Isabelle would try to give her some kind of horrible powdered wig.

Isabelle scooped up James and handed him to Clary. The baby was dressed in a blue coat, a fancy period-accurate hat, and what could only be described as a frilly chest napkin shirt. The soother in his mouth made it look like he had a twirly moustache.

Clary walked upstairs, much more easily this time since apparently she had too much practice walking in a corset. At the top of the stairs, Jace, Alec and Magnus were all waiting. Magnus and Alec were dressed similarly to James, though their coats were a dark blue instead of the soft baby blue of James' coat.

Jace stood out from the group in his Party City Jack Sparrow costume. Isabelle was obviously not happy about Jace's outfit but she ignored him as she walked out towards the back yard.

"Come on everyone," she said, not turning around. "The garden party is about to start!"

Clary sighed (as best as she could with her breathing being restricted) and handed the baby to Magnus, just as he followed Isabelle out the back door.

Once Magnus was gone, Clary rolled her eyes. "Why do you keep letting Isabelle have these stupid themed parties? I want to die."

Alec shook his head. "I have no control. It's all Magnus. He loves these stupid things."

"Divorce him," Jace suggested. He was swinging around his pirate sword made of plastic, and Clary wondered why this millionaire bothered buying a ten dollar costume for this party when Isabelle could have easily made him one like she did for the rest of them.

Then she tried to take a deep breath and she remembered why. With Jace's luck, Isabelle would have tried to put him in a corset too.

They all followed Magnus out to the backyard and tried to mingle with all the people in shabbily put together 1800s outfits. Jordan was wearing the same Jack Sparrow costume as Jace. Maia was wearing a fully accurate Elizabeth Swann costume that probably cost a few thousand dollars.

The back garden was decorated with ornate tables, all covered in various types of finger sandwiches. Clary hated finger sandwiches. She would much prefer a whole footlong. Small sandwiches are stupid.

After a few minutes of mingling around, there was a soft ting ting ting sound. Everyone turned to Maia, who was tapping a spoon against her teacup.

"Hello everyone," she said, as if this was her party or something. "I have an announcement to make." She put down her teacup and lifted her left hand, knuckles towards them. "Jordan Kyle has asked me to marry him!"

Several other women squealed and flocked around her. No one but Clary seemed to notice the very confused look on Jordan's face, or heard him mutter "I did what?"

"It's so romantic," Maia continued, as several women admired the diamond on her finger. "He gave me his mother's ring and proposed to me on her grave. It was the most romantic thing I've ever experienced."

"You're so amazing Maia," Maryse said, stroking her hair. "You really deserve this."

"You're a blessing on this earth," Isabelle sighed.

Jace leaned in to Clary and whispered, "is it just me or does this feel like a hostage situation?"

Clary nodded. "Agreed. Jordan still looks confused, like he didn't even know this was happening."

Magnus passed by Clary to shove James into her arms, then went over to congratulate Jordan. Clary hugged the baby and kissed him on the forehead.

Jace leaned in and started tickling James' nose. "Aww, cute little baby," he cooed.

"Aww," Isabelle interjected. They both jumped. No one noticed her separate from the group of women still fawning over Maia's ring. "You two are so cute with him." She squinted. "You know, he even kind of looks like you two. With the green eyes and blond hair… if I didn't know any better, I'd think you two were really his parents."

Jace chuckled, still booping the baby's nose.

Clary tried her best to laugh, but she had trouble finding humour in the comment.

Alec, who she didn't realize was standing behind her, tapped on Clary's shoulder and pulled her aside. Jace seemed sad that he couldn't play with the baby, so Clary handed James to him.

Alec walked her over to one of the snack tables, obviously trying to look casual as he nibbled on a weird finger sandwich. "Soooooo, I was thinking about the story you told me… about your baby."

Clary winced, but didn't say anything.

"You did say the baby was a girl, right?"

Clary looked around, hoping that no one was listening in on the conversation. "Uh, I'm actually not sure. I never asked for the gender of the baby. I just thought it would make it more painful to know… but I always imagined it was a girl."

Alec coughed into his sandwich. "Oh. Ok. Sorry for bringing this up again. I have to… uh… go….. And talk to Magnus… ok bye."

Alec scurried off towards his husband and Clary, confused, walked back towards Jace and the baby.

OoOoOoO

Jordan sat down on the couch, and he had barely even settled before he started talking.

"Maia told everyone that we're engaged today. I don't know how to tell everyone that I never proposed to her, or that my mother was buried with the engagement ring she apparently dug up. I don't know how much longer I can do this. I'm going crazy!"

Doctor Fairchild nodded slightly as he scribbled in his notebook. "Have you considered leaving the relationship? Staying with your friends or loved ones?"

Jordan shook his head. "I can't leave. She has my dog. She said if I ever try to leave her i'll never see Zuko again."

Doctor Fairchild chuckled. "You named your dog Zuko?"

Jordan nodded. "He has black over one eye. It's adorable. Don't judge me."

The doctor chuckled again. "Not judging. It's a perfect choice, I'm sure."

Jordan smiled, just a bit. It was the first time he had smiled in a while. "Thanks."

"Anyway, J," the doctor continued. "Tell me more about Maia."

Hope you enjoyed that chapter. Please leave a review!

xoxo

-R&A