Chapter 14: New Futures

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another chapter. I hope you've all been safe. I'm sorry this chapter is a little bit shorter - I've been a bit short on time as I have a few university assignments due soon, but once I had those in I'll be right back into it! There's a question at the end of this chapter I would love for you to answer! Anyway, let's get into it!

It has been a few weeks since Clary had come home. Everything between Clary and Jace had become normal again, and the divide that had been created by Clary leaving slowly closed up. They had already made plans for the new office they bought, wanting to get it ready for use as soon as possible.

It had also been a few weeks since Clary had started to get band members. Emma and Julian had come home about a week after Clary had, and she'd met up with them a few times, but it had taken longer for Jem to be able to move over with Tessa. As promised, Clary had helped find them a home that would be close to where the new studio was setting up, and Magnus had been working hard to make sure the transition had been as smooth as possible. They'd come over about a week ago, and Clary had wanted to give them space while they set up their new home.

But the day had finally come to have the first official band meeting, and it was the first time that Jace was going to be able to meet them all. He'd been busy working with Izzy to see what he needed to start setting up to be able to produce a movie - it was a bigger task than he originally thought, but he was open to the challenge.

Clary had gone out and bought a big array of pastries and fruit for everyone when they came over that morning. Because the studio space wasn't' ready yet, they were going to start in Clary's house, and then transition over when it was ready.

"God I hope they like each other," Clary tells Jace as they wait for everyone to arrive. It had occurred to Clary that pairing people as young as Emma and Julian with someone older like Jem was perhaps not the best idea, but she thought if she got along with them all well, then they should get along with each other as well.

Jem and Tessa were the first to arrive, and Clary led them quickly out to the back conscious that Tessa was quite heavily pregnant.

"Thank you so much for coming," Clary tells them. "This is my husband, Jace. Jace, this is Jem and Tessa."

"It's lovely to meet you," Jace says, extending a hand for them to shake.

"You know, it's really quite embarrassing now that I didn't realise you where… you know…" Jem says, clearly not wanting to call her famous, "but now having dealt with your manager, and seeing where you live…"

"Oh honestly, it's fine. I really wasn't offended in the slightest," Clary says sitting across from Jem and next to Jace.

"It's a lovely home," Tessa says, looking a little past Jace and out towards the ocean. "I've only ever lived in New York and London, so knowing there are people they live at places where they just get to watch the ocean all day… I must admit, I'm a little jealous."

"Well you can see the ocean from your house now… I know you probably won't be there for too long, but it'll be nice for now," Clary says. She'd talked to both of them, and they'd come to the decision that they would only live in L.A. while they were writing an album. When Jem would come on tour, or they were between albums, they would move back to England.

"Very true!" Tessa says, "It still feels like we're on holiday."

Before anyone could respond, there was a knock on the door, and Clary jumped up to go let Emma and Julian inside. She led them out onto the back deck and introduced everyone again, and was glad to see that they all quickly took to each other.

After a little while of conversation, Emma and Jem realised that they had the same last names and after some googling, a few phone calls and a couple rough estimates at family trees they figured out that they were distant relatives.

After an hour or so of everyone getting to know each other, Jace volunteered to drive Tessa home so that everyone else could start getting down to business.

Clary quickly plays them the rough versions of what she's written so far, and then tells them the general direction she wants to take the rest of the album - she was happy to push the boundaries and mix genres. Really, she just wanted to make an album that she was proud of and would want to listen to.

They all quickly agreed, and even came up with a few ideas on how they could add to the songs she'd already written to really build up the music and background. Clary quickly leads them into her music room - which had all sorts of instruments and a basic recording studio to see what they could come up with.

After a few hours, they are happy with the progress they've made and agree to meet up everyday for a few hours to start writing new stuff. With everything organised, they all decide to go out for drinks to celebrate.

The next morning, Clary wakes up with a bunch of texts from Magnus with photos of all of them out having drinks, along with a few news articles. They seemed to recognise Jem, not by name of course, but rule him out as someone she was potentially having an affair with, seeing as she was out with both him and Jace. They throw a few theories around, but no one seems to land on the truth. Magnus tells her that she needs to try and take control of the message, and Clary tells him that she'll take care of it today.

When they come over that day, they write for a while, but Clary brings up the topic at lunch.

"So you may have seen that a photo got released of us all yesterday," Clary says.

"Yeah, I don't even know how they got that photo though," Jules says, "I didn't even see anyone around!"

"It's a bit weird in the beginning - my guess is that it was just someone having lunch," Clary tells them. "But I just wanted to ask who you've told so far? Magnus is just concerned about 'the message'."

"We've only told family," Emma says, looking over at Jules, who nods.

"And I've obviously told Tessa, and our parents know generally what's happening but none of the specifics," Jem says.

"Well I'm happy for you to tell people," Clary says, "but it would just be good to get a heads up - Mags can get a bit pedantic about it sometimes."

"I think we're good to keep it in the family for the moment - I'll tell my brothers and sisters not to tell anyone," Jules says.

"Well thank you. Oh! I totally forgot - I meant to tell you yesterday but there was a lot going on… Kit Rook - he was in my old band, has his opening show tonight at the Forum, I've got a private box with Simon and Alec and Magnus and a few other people, but you're all more than welcome to come. And you can bring anyone you like - Tessa, your brother or sisters. The more the merrier!"

They all agree to bring everyone along, thinking that it would be a good place to introduce everyone in a relaxed environment.

Luke was even flying in for the occasion, insisting that he couldn't miss Kit's first solo gig, so Clary and Jace pick him up on the way to the concert, and they fill him in on everything that's been going on on the rest of the drive.

Kit knew that they were all coming to the concert, but was obviously too busy, and probably nervous to meet up with any of them before the show, so they made plans for him to come to their box after the show.

They meet Jules and Emma, along with Jules' six brothers and sisters and some of their partners outside the room. Jem only brought Tessa along, but looks happy to be in the atmosphere of it all. And of course, Alec, Simon, Izzy and Magnus had all come out for the occasion.

They all pack into the box, excited to see what Kit was going to come out with. His album had been received really well, but it was the first concert any of them had done since breaking up, so they were hopeful that it would be really good.

Simon, Alec and Clary all stood right at the front of the box and were in full support of Kit the whole time, but one of Clary's favourite parts of the show was when Kit was singing 'On My Own', and sung the line "Your company is fine, but I get on better with mine" and pointed up at their box. Of course one of the best parts of a box was that people in the arena didn't know who was in them, but Clary still loved the gesture.

A little while after the show finished, Kit finally comes and meets them all. Clary, Alec and Simon quickly pounce on him to tell him what a great show it was and how proud they are of him.

Luke quickly greets him, and has a quiet little moment with him, which ends in a massive hug. Kit's dad didn't come out to the show, so she knew how much it meant to him that Luke did. Once all the private moments are over, Clary quickly begins introducing him to everyone in the room.

She takes special care in introducing him to both Ty and Livvy Blackthorn, not quite knowing who he'd like more, but knowing he'd really like them both. She winks suggestively before heading back to Jace, letting the three have a conversation. After a little more mingling, everyone but the core group heads home.

They all sit around the table in the middle of the room, and Clary is hit with a wave of deja vu. Towards the end of their last tour, when Jace, Izzy and Luke came to a few shows, they would all just hang out backstage, really trying to soak up what they thought would be their last moments like this, at least for a long time. But here they were now, proving that they didn't have to be in a band to feel like family.

"I would just like to say," Kit says, pulling Clary out of her thoughts, "a big thank you to all of you for coming out and supporting me tonight - it really does mean a lot. But I would like to say a massive thank you to Clary for confusing the f-" he quickly looks over at Luke and pauses for a moment, "the fudge out of me." Luke nods at him approvingly.

"What do you mean?" Clary asks, confused.

"You just had to go and introduce me to Ty and Livvy, didn't you!" Kit says, falling back into his chair dramatically.

"I thought you would like them! I mean I only got to talk to them for a little bit, but…" Clary says, hoping she didn't make some big mistake.

"I do! That's the problem. I like both of them and I don't know which one to choose… plus, I'm about to go on this massive tour!"

"Well, if I could say something on the topic," Jace says, resting his elbows on the table, "I don't think you should make timing a big factor in your decision - if Clary and I had, then there's a chance we wouldn't be married right now!"

"Well that's all well and good, but I don't even know which one I like more," Kits says, sighing very dramatically.

"Surely you like one of them a little more," Magnus says, looking sceptical.

"You would think," Kit says, rolling his eyes.

"Well, we can't tell you who to choose," Simon says.

"But if you had a crush on two people…" Kit asks, and then everyone quickly starts making fun of him; Kit, the self profound 'lone wolf', admitting to having a crush!

Song mention: On My Own by Niall Horan

I hope you liked that chapter! So my question for you is... Livvy or Ty? It's completely up to you! Let me know who you want Kit to be with, and whoever get's more votes is what will happen in the story! I hope you all have a great week and stay safe, see you next week :)