It was almost remarkable how still Jace went beside her. Immobile. Clary was so close that she could make out that his jaw was clenching ever so slightly, his pupils wide and alert.

"I think you've done enough", Clary said. She tried to sound stern, threatening even. Willing the protectiveness of her maternal position to add poison to her words. But instead they came out as a harsh forbidden whisper in the loaded silence of the room.

"Is she-?" Jace started but didn't finish. He still was in the exact position as a few moments ago. So unlike Jace, Clary thought unhelpfully. He's usually constantly prowling like a cat, ready to dart or jump at a moments notice.

"Not in any way that matters."

Her words seemed to make him recoil back in shock, his eyes blanched in something close to pain. His usually golden skin appeared almost green and white.

"Mama who is this?" Ariana mock whispered. Her tiny fists were bawled in the material of Clary's top like knots.

"Nobody baby", Clary replied, eyeing Jace warningly.

Jace turned away, his shoulders down and his posture closed. When he turned back, his eyes were hard as glass.

"We need to talk", he said. He gave a quick glance to Isabella and Alec who were still staring at the scene unfolding between them. "Alone."

Clary opened her mouth to protest but Isabella was already there. She was flapping her hands, promising to let Clary look after her daughter for her.

"Do you like drawing? Netflix? Colouring? Building?"

"I like playing school", Ariana said, her eyes transfixed on Isabelle. She did look rather like a Disney Princess so Clary couldn't blame her.

"What about cooking? We could make cookies!" Isabella exclaimed excitedly.

"NO", both Jace and Clary said loudly. Clary looked at him in surprise, but quickly looked away when she felt his eyes staring into her own. Isabelle just shot them both a wistful yet amused expression.

"Nothing like my cooking to bring people together", Isabelle shrugged. She held out her hand to Ariana who looked back to check with Clary that this was all above board. Despite everything, Clary smiled and gave a nod of permission to her daughter.

"See you later", Isabella said as she and Alec walked cautiously to the door. She opened it, her dark hair swinging effortlessly over her shoulder as she turned towards them.

"And no killing each other. You used to be madly in love, remember?"

And before either of them could reply she was gone, shutting the door behind her.

()

"This is ridiculous."

Clary couldn't bear to look at him so she turned to the window instead.

"I agree. Isabella rarely attended her lessons on time so I doubt she will be any good at playing schools with our daughter."

His entire reply made something inside of her snap and crack. The weight of the past few weeks, years in fact doing everything alone. And here he was goading her like this?

"Do you ever take a day off? Will you ever take things seriously?"

"I see you didn't correct what I said then".

"Excuse me?"

"I said our daughter."

A beat passed.

"You didn't correct me. But why would you? She is ours after all."

Anger spawned and multiplied through her like static electricity.

"She is my daughter. Mine. I raised her. I cared for her. I-".

"You took that away from me" Jace seethed, his eyes almost black.

"You took that away from yourself", Clary spat, her teeth gritted to almost pain.

"How? What did I do? Why did you go? Where did-", questions tumbled out of his mouth over and over again. His hands were shaking and his face was so pale Clary was almost afraid he might collapse.

"That doesn't matter now. What matters is that I have a seven year old and a flat I need to get back to."

Jace's mouth widened and then snapped shut, his head moving from side to side in mock disbelief.

"You aren't leaving again. You can't Clary. You just can't go", he mumbled almost incoherently. His words were almost slurred and his whole body was trembling with a sort of tension Clary couldn't describe.

She stepped forward, instinct clouding her judgement.

"Jace sit down-", she whispered. He was still shaking his head, his hands pressed painfully into the corners of his eyes.

"You can't leave again, please, you can't-", he was saying her name over and over again like a chant. Her heart flipped against her will.

"Okay, I won't go tonight."

He looked at her now, his eyes questioning. Asking her to say what he needed to here.

"I promise."

The look shared between them brought her back to a different time, one which she guessed he was also thinking of.

()

"Jace! Stop!"

"Never. You asked for this."

"No I didn't! I asked to paint this room not turn it into a modern art piece."

They had been trying all day to get the room ready. She knew Isabelle would kill them if they hadn't finished it when she got back. It was the only job they had been given during the reinvention of the institute. And god knows the pair of them had still managed to make a pigs ear of it.

"You have to admit", Jace said, his eyes darkening, "it's one hell of a sexy modern art piece."

She laughed and pretended to roll her eyes, but he grabbed her again and this time she let him push her gently against the wall. Suddenly the laughter and games between them had turned to something else as his hands travelled up her tank top to rest on her shoulders and lower back.

"Jace", she pretended to warn. It was no use. Not when he was kissing her collarbone like that and making every inch of her itch for more.

"Hmm?" He hummed absentmindedly, his hand tracing lazy patterns on her lower back. She arched up to him, catching her mouth with his, determined to take back some control. This received a gratifying low groan from Jace who responded by pushing her a little harder against the wall.

"Painting, Jace", she reminded him as he nipped her neck making her lean further into him.

"I can think of better ways to spend our time", he murmured against the shell of her ear. She could feel his smile, feel his warmth radiating onto her. His chest was rising and falling fast as she leaned to kiss him, giving permission to continue. He was right. Painting could wait.

"I guess Picasso took time off here and there", she laughed. Jace grinned at her and scooped her up like she weighed nothing.

"Damn right he did Fray."

When they got to his bedroom door she stopped him, placing a hand over his.

"Do you promise to finish the painting later?"

He blinked, confused by the sudden seriousness of her voice.

"If you are worried we can finish it now-" he started but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"It's okay. Later", she grinned, "but I trust you and your promises and I know you stick to them."

At this, his face softened and he leaned in to kiss her.

"I promise. I will paint that wall even if I'm naked and it's two in the morning."

"Two? It's only three in the afternoon here now", she giggled in mock shock. He tugged her forward and kissed her again, soft and lingering.

"Picasso took a hell of a long time off."

()

"Who's that man mama is talking to?"

Isabella cursed her life choices and tried to focus on the movie in front of her. It was a good choice, she had to hand it to the mini Jace. Even Alec seemed enthralled in finding out Moana's destiny.

"Your mama will explain soon I'm sure", she replied quickly. She shot a nervous glance at Ariana, who seemed once again occupied with the film. Thank the angel, Isabelle thought as she prayed for bedtime.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Alec asked, his teeth slightly gritted. She knew it was hard for me knowing that Jace was alone with Clary. She knew that he hadn't had the chance to sit down with Clary like she had.

"I'm okay mister", Ariana replied. This made Isabelle burst into a fit of laughter. Even Alec smiled.

"Mister?"

"I am always meant to call people that at school!" Ariana explained which only made her laugh harder.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry", she said trying to calm down and wiping her eyes. Thankfully she was wearing water proof mascara.

"Alec is family. You don't have to do that", Isabelle explained gently. She watched as Ariana scrunched her nose up in confusion but then quickly relaxed.

"Oh I see! Same with Sebby."

Sebby? Isabella thought. She wanted to press on but was worried that the little girl had enough action for one day.

"Yes, like Sebby."

Now she just needed to work out who the hell Sebby was. And fast.

()

Thank you so much for all the reviews and follows! I've really enjoyed writing for this story again and I have got ideas on where to go with it!

Feedback is always appreciated!

Big love :)