The stillness of the room made Clary want to scream.
To her right and left Alec and Isabella appeared to be staring at Jace, open mouthed and as pale as she had ever seen them. The only thing grounding Clary to the floor was Ariana's thumping heart against her rib cage, a dull beat which rose and fell as she slept soundly.
Isabelle stepped forward, her arm raised in an almost mock salute.
"Jace, I can ex-", she started, but he cut her off with a raised hand. His eyes were hard, glassy. His mouth was curved to the side, so familiar it made the pit in Clary's stomach sink impossibly lower.
"Clary", he said, so softly it was almost as if he was speaking to himself. He wasn't looking at anyone but her, his eyes transfixed like golden orbs. A lighthouse in the darkness of the room.
"Jace", Alec warned, his tone cutting through the room. He was staring at Clary like she was an imposter, someone who had no right to be staring at his parabati like that. She had seen that face before, the face he made whenever anything appeared to threatened Jace.
She remembered when he used to do that for her, when she was part of his family.
Jace stepped forward, his hair falling over his left eye as he moved. It was too long. Needed cutting. Clary wished she could push it back a little. She remembered what it was like back when she had a say over those types of matters.
She remembered what it was like to hold onto his hair as he…
"Who's that?"
Jace's question hung in the air around her like gas, penetrating her lungs and eyes until the stinging sensation started to burn her eyes. It's your daughter, she wanted to scream. Our daughter.
"Nobody, I've got to go", came out of her lips instead. She looked desperately towards Isabelle, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"This isn't the time-", Isabelle began but Jace stepped forward again.
"Who's that?"
Clary stared soundlessly at him. She had imagined this situation countless times. Played out millions of half formulated dreams in her head about this very moment. But nothing could prepare her for it.
"It doesn't matter right now", Alec snapped, his eyes now blazing brighter then Clary had ever seen before. He was so pale he looked almost green, and he was shifting his weight from foot to foot like a nervous cat.
Ariana started to move restlessly in Clary's arms, her tiny frame digging further into her body.
"Sleepy", she mumbled, her eyes squinting towards the light in the corner of the room.
"Yes it's okay go back to sleep", Clary murmured hurriedly.
Jace stared at her almost curiously, like he had never seen a child before.
"Is she yours?"
Clary felt her spine freeze. She dared not look at either Alec or Isabella as she replied.
"Yes".
Jace let out a deep breathe, his body suddenly prowling and alert. She had forgotten how quick he went from zero to one hundred.
"Where is he?"
A beat passed.
"Who?"
Jace stared at her, eyes hard.
"Your husband".
His eyes seemed to be searching her left hand. He's looking for a ring, she thought and almost laughed at the entire situation.
"Who knows, who cares", Alec drawled as he stepped between herself and Jace. "I think you've done enough tonight, don't you?" He said, looking at Clary as if she was a troublesome child.
"I don't have a husband", she replied plainly. She saw Isabelle look towards the heavens in dismay.
"Clary", Alec began but again Jace cut him off by side stepping past him.
"Her hair is….blonde?" Jace asked.
Clary nodded.
"So you have a type."
Clary stared at him, confused momentarily. Jace's lips were raised in a mock smile at her. His eyes had turned from cold to blazing and his hands were in tight fists by his side.
"Excuse me?"
"You have a type. Blonde hair."
Clary finally clicked. He thinks my new husband has blonde hair like him.
And suddenly she was laughing, doubled over with Ariana gripping firmly on.
"Is this amusing to you?" Alec hissed.
"No, no. Not at all", Clary wheezed. Ariana shifted irritably but stayed somewhat asleep.
"Clary you owe us at least to not mock us", Alec replied angrily. Clary turned to him, suddenly enraged.
"I don't owe you or anyone anything."
Isabella sighed and moved over to her.
"Clary, let's go."
At that, Jace looked towards Isabelle. Hurt flashed across his face before he quickly masked it.
"I'm sure your partner is looking for you", he said mockingly. Clary's control snapped.
"God, you're still a fucking prick? After everything?"
She pushed past him, but he caught her shoulder gently.
"Clary talk to me-"
"Get off me."
"I'm sorry-"
"Jace get away-".
At that precise moment Ariana decided to wake up, her face grumpy at being disturbed.
"Shush shush it's okay darling-", but she stopped speaking when she saw Jace's face staring down at her daughters eyes.
The very same golden eyes as his.
Wow it feels like it has been forever!! This was so much fun to write though. Genuinely I have missed these characters so much!!
Hope this was a fun little addition and I'll see if there is any love for this story still after so much time! I have so many ideas to continue though!
All the love :)