Wow, us uploading on time? Who would have thought...

You're Carrying Your Peanut

John took another bite of his eggs benedict and winked at Clary as they clinked their mimosa glasses together. "It's so nice to see you again. For a while I thought you were avoiding me."

Clary laughed nervously, "I'd never avoid you, John. I've just been so busy at my new job."

John nodded. "I'm glad you found a new place. I'm sure it's much better than the last, especially after that guy… uh…" he snorted into his mimosa, but didn't say more. "I still haven't heard much about your 5 months in Africa. You haven't shown me any pictures!"

Clary tried not to choke on her food. "Uh, I didn't take any. The Congo frowns on the use of technology, you know."

John squinted. "I thought you said you were in Kenya?"

Clary nodded slowly. "Yes. I went all over. There are lots of countries that were in need of teachers for their schools."

"I thought you were building the school."

"How can you build a school without teachers, John?"

John thought for a moment, then either decided to believe her or decided not to press her further. Clary was grateful, since she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up this lie. John didn't know that the time he thought she had spent in Africa helping build schools for the less fortunate, she was actually pregnant and living on the streets, and eventually in a crappy little apartment, working any odd job she could to feed herself and her baby.

"So anyway," John changed the subject. Clary tried not to sigh with relief. "I've started seeing someone."

Clary's smile brightened. "Really? Who? Tell me everything!"

John blushed and looked down at his food. "His name is J. He was one of my patients for a while but we decided he might work better with another psychiatrist, and we started going out."

"John, that's amazing!" Clary squealed. She grabbed his arm excitedly. "I can't wait to meet him."

"Calm down, things are just getting started. I have my first date with him tonight."

Clary squealed excitedly again, and they spent the rest of their brunch together discussing what he should wear, where he should bring J for dinner, whether or not he should bring him back to his apartment after.

When brunch was done, Clary tried to wrestle John for the bill, but he wasn't afraid to smack her in public, so she let him take it.

Clary promised to keep in contact with John more since she was now 'back from Africa.'

She tried not to let her guilt show as she headed back to the house for her shift with the baby.

She used her key to open the front door and started heading to the living room where she heard Alec and Jace yelling.

"I do not!" Jace yelled like a child.

"Oh please," came Magnus's voice down the hall. "We all see how you look at her. All starry eyed, like she's the sun and you're the moon."

Clary tiptoed down the hallway quietly, hoping to catch more of the conversation.

"I do not!" Jace whined. "I look at her the same way I look at anyone else."

"Oh yeah, uh-huh." Magnus pretended to agree. "If you looked at Alec like that, he might try to get you in bed with him."

Alec chuckled. "I mean ew, he's my brother, but also it's true. You look at her like she's a whole pig and you haven't eaten in days."

"Just admit it!" Magnus exclaimed. Clary heard a soft squeak, as though he was standing on the couch. "You're in love with Clary! You dream about her every night, you smile every time you see her, you think about her in the shower, you—" Magnus looked over at the door that had been left ajar, at Clary standing behind it, plainly eavesdropping. He let out a loud "HA!"

Jace and Alec whipped around, facing her as she slowly opened the door. Clary was surprised to see that Jace was almost the colour of her hair. Clary tried not to blush in return. "Hey guys… where's the baby?"

Magnus tossed Clary the baby monitor from where it was hooked on his belt and pointed upwards to indicate the baby's bedroom.

"You're all being awfully loud during nap time," she criticized.

Magnus smirked. "We had some very important things to discuss."

Clary rolled her eyes and turned to head upstairs, finally allowing the blush she felt to creep up her cheeks and down her neck.

Jace sighed just as he heard Clary scurrying up the stairs and followed after her. "Clary, wait!" he called as he followed her up.

Alec's phone rang suddenly, and he pulled it out, still laughing, and walked into the corner of the room. "Hello? Ah, yes, ok, thank you… Goodbye." He set his phone down and smiled a smile that was only slightly disturbing. "So, I have news," he said to Magnus through clenched teeth. "That was the phlebotomist."

"Oh don't tell me," Magnus sighed. "Our poor Jace has syphilis."

"What? No. Maybe. But that's not what this is about." Alec took a deep breath, then whispered as quietly as he could; "the test came back positive."

"THE PARENTAL TEST CAME BACK POSITIVE?" Magnus shrieked.

Alec pounced on Magnus and slapped his hands over his husband's mouth. "Yes," he whispered, hoping Magnus would follow as he slowly peeled his hands away. "Jace and Clary are James' biological parents."

Magnus exhaled slowly, then inhaled, then let out a very high, very long squeak. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?"

Alec slapped his hands back over Magnus' mouth. "Will you be quiet," he hissed. "They could hear us!"

"Sorry," Magnus said around Alec's fingers, then brushed his hands away. "I'm just so excited!" he whispered. "Let's go upstairs and tell them right now."

Alec grabbed Magnus by the back of his shirt just as he was walking away. "Are you crazy? Do you have any idea what this could do to their possible relationship? Do you have any idea what Jace could do to a child if left unsupervised?"

"You're right," Magnus nodded slowly. "We can't just tell them. We need something more theatrical. I'm thinking a murder mystery dinner, but instead of a murder, it's a birth! The birth of James! And you have to find the parents before the end of the night!"

"What?"

"You're right," Magnus agreed. "That's too much. Maybe we should go for a simple three act play? Or maybe a silent film?"

"Magnus!" Alec hissed, grabbing his husband by the shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself! We can't tell them at all!"

Magnus squinted at him. "What? Why not? They're James' parents. They deserve to know. Clary will be so happy to have a second chance with the baby she gave up! And Jace will be so happy to have a second chance with Clary!"

"But that's just it!" Alec shook Magnus again. "They've barely known each other for a few months. Jace obviously likes her, but we don't even know if Clary likes him back! We don't know if either of them are ready for a baby, or would be responsible parents at all! And we definitely don't know if they're ready to have a baby together!"

Magnus nodded slowly, then said; "I'm not going to let you keep this from them just because you want to keep the baby. I'm going to go tell them." Magnus scurried out of Alec's grip and bounced up the stairs, with Alec not far behind him.

Magnus sprinted into the nursery and shut the door, locking it. He swung around and smiled at Clary, who was bottle feeding James in the rocking chair. Jace sat on the floor near her feet playing with some building blocks. "Hey guys," Magnus smiled, completely out of breath. He ignored the loud thumping on the door as Alec threw his shoulder against it on the other side.

"Wow," Magnus said still huffing and puffing. "James' eyes are really starting to look green, aren't they? And his blond hair is just so…"

The door swung open with a bang as Alec knocked the lock out of the doorframe. He grabbed Magnus by the collar and pressed him against the wall.

"What's going on?" Jace asked, standing from the floor. "Don't hit Magnus, you'll ruin his eyeliner."

Magnus nodded furiously.

"I'M GOING TO HAVE SEX WITH MAGNUS RIGHT NOW SO YOU TWO BETTER LEAVE!" Alec yelled, not looking away from Magnus.

Clary gagged. "Alec, in the baby's room? Come on."

Alec whipped around to stare at Clary, his body still pressing Magnus against the wall. "Yes. Right now. Get out and close the door behind you."

Jace and Clary scurried out, closing the broken door as best as they could behind them.

Alec let Magnus down from the wall slowly, but gave him a death glare so scary Magnus didn't dare move or make a sound.

"You need to listen to me. I have a plan, but it'll take a little time. You cannot tell Jace and Clary about this yet. Do you understand?"

Magnus gave a small nod. Alec let go of his shirt and smoothed it out for him. "Good. Now let's go make dinner."

OoOoOoO

Jordan skipped out of the theater, dragging John behind him as he drank the rest of his soda. "That was awesome," he gushed. "I wish I could watch the third one right now!"

John laughed. "Come on, J , the second one just came out yesterday."

Jordan twirled to face him and slurped his pop again. "It's Jordan, actually."

John smiled. "Jordan. Okay."

The two walked back from the movies together, holding hands and talking about spiderman. When the couple reached John's apartment, they stood awkwardly for a moment, before separating their hands slowly.

"This was really nice," Jordan said.

John smiled at him. "Yeah. I'd love to see you again this weekend."

Jordan nodded. "I'd like that." He turned away then to head back to his place, but John caught his sleeve and pulled him back against him, pressing their lips together. "Want to come upstairs for some tea?" he offered when they pulled apart.

Jordan smiled, then shook his head. "Maybe some other time."

John nodded, then kissed him again. "So, this weekend?"

Jordan nodded. "This weekend."

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R&A