Chapter Nine:
Clary sat on Jace's lap while the whole family sat around the living room talking about their favorite memories of Max. Seeing the family laughing and smiling was something that made Clary extremely happy because seeing how broken they had been for the past couple days truly broke her heart.
"Although I only knew Max for a couple years there is one memory that I will never be able to forget about that kid." Jace said and Clary started rubbing his back to show that she was there for him. "A couple months after I came here I was siting in the music room just staring at the piano. I didn't want to play because everything was just so new, and fresh but at the same time I wanted to play so badly, but I couldn't." Jace explained and Clary started playing with his fingers. "At some point Max came in and sat down next to me and asked what I was doing. I told him that I wanted to play the piano but couldn't. He asked me if I even knew how and I said I did, and he wanted me to teach him twinkle twinkle little star." Jace laughed at the memory. "That was the first time I played the piano after my parents died." Clary smiled and gave Jace a kiss on the cheek and he smiled at her.
"There is one memory that I don't think I could even forget if I tried." Izzy started. "He was about 5. I don't know how he ended up in my room, but he did and when I found him he was wearing one of my bras on his head and had a pair of my heels on." Izzy said and the whole family couldn't stop laughing. "He was running around my room with the biggest smile on his face." Izzy said while laughing. "When I asked him what he was doing he said that he wanted to be me for the day." She finished and Simon pulled her into his side but she had a smile on her face and Clary was glad for that.
"It was the week before I left for school in the summer." Alec started after the laughter died down. "He asked me to hang out before I left because he was going to miss me." Magnus out his arm around Alec and Alec gave him a small smile. "I took him to the park and we tossed a football around. He asked me if we could get ice cream after we were done, and I said sure. It was a hot day and we had been outside for a while." Alec continued and Clary could tell that he was remembering this really carefully. "We were sitting on a bench eating ice cream and he told me that he would really miss me when I left because despite the hero worship he gave Jace, I was always going to be his favorite brother." Clary noticed Magnus pulled him closer to him.
"I told you that it would come back to you at some point." Magnus said to Alec and he simply nodded.
It was getting late and Clary needed to head home. Jace walked her towards the door and they stopped and Clary looked up at him. She knew that today was a roller coaster of emotions for him but she was really happy to see him laugh and smile with his family.
"Thank you for coming today Clary." Jace said and Clary smiled and gave him a quick kiss.
"Of course. You know I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." She said and Jace smiled.
"Izzy and I are coming back to school on Monday." Jace said and Clary nodded.
"That's good, but you can still take some time to process everything that happened." Clary said and Jace nodded and looked into her eyes.
"We've missed a lot of school already, and despite how much it sucks, life goes on." Jace said and Clary knew what he meant. After a few moments of silence Jace spoke again. "I've been trying to think of a way to say thank you to you for the past couple days."
"You don't have to thank me Jace." Clary said but Jace grabbed her hands and pulled her closer to him.
"Yes I do. I don't think I would have been able to handle these last couple days without you." He said and Clary smiled.
"I would never miss out on this. You know I am always here for you." Clary said and Jace smiled and kissed her. "I love you Jace. So much, and I absolutely hate that your family had to go through this, but you can always count on me to be here through the good and the bad times."
"I love you too Clary." He said and Clary leaned up and kissed him and than smiled. Clary and Jace both knew that this pain wouldn't go away over night. It might take Jace years to completely grieve the lose of Max, but he also knew that having Clary by his side would most definitely help.
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Izzy and Simon were cuddled together on the couch while everyone was up and moving around after their family walk down memory lane. Izzy couldn't stop thinking about what happened during the day. It felt weird to her that she had attended her little brothers funeral. She was glad that Simon was there with her. She didn't know how she would do it without him. He kept her grounded and she needed that.
Simon couldn't believe that he had Isabelle Lightwood cuddled into his side right now. Ever since she told him she liked him, and they kissed it had been almost like a dream. He never in a million years thought that he had a chance in hell with her, but here they were, curled up on her couch together. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Izzy looked up at him and smiled.
"Thank you for coming Simon." She said and he smiled at her.
"You know I wouldn't have missed it for the world." He said and she leaned up and kissed her cheek. She placed her head back on his chest and he pulled her closer to him. Simon didn't want to leave, and Izzy didn't want him to leave but when it started getting really late his mom and both Rebecca texted him saying that he needed to be home. Izzy walked him to the door and they both lingered.
"Thank you so much Simon." Izzy said and again and Simon smiled.
"You don't need to keep thanking me Iz. You know I'd do anything for you." He said and Izzy smiled.
"I'll be back in school on Monday." Izzy said, and Simon grabbed her hands.
"Are you sure?" Simon asked and Izzy shrugged.
"I'm not sure, but Jace and I have missed so much school already, and we can't get that far behind. Plus I am already falling behind, and having all that make up work will probably kill me." She said and she let out a laugh.
"I'd be more than happy to help you." Simon said and Izzy smiled.
"A boyfriend, and a nerd all in one, I think I might have hit the jackpot." Izzy said and Simon laughed and pulled her into him.
"I never thought I'd hear the day that Isabelle Lightwood was proud to be dating a nerd." He said and she smiled.
"I didn't know what I was missing out on before." She said and she pressed her lips to his. Izzy couldn't tell what it was about Simon, but she absolutely loved the feeling of his lips on hers. When they broke apart she couldn't help but smile. "I'll see you Monday?"
"I'll meet you in the parking lot." Simon said and Izzy smiled and nodded. "Goodnight Iz."
"Goodnight Simon." Izzy said and she watched him walk to his car. She leaned against the door frame and smiled to herself. She got lucky with him. She was completely selfish before and when Simon entered her life it was like something switched and she finally found something worth her time and attention and she didn't deserve him, but she was thankful for him.
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Alec and Magnus made it back to Magnus's apartment and when they got back they just sat on the couch for a couple minutes to let everything sink in. Alec had no idea how to process what happened today. He hasn't expected his parents to be so supportive of him and it shocked him.
"What are you thinking about?" Magnus asked and Alec looked at him.
"Today was a weird day." Alec said and Magnus let out a little laugh.
"That it was." Magnus said as he held Alec's hand.
"I didn't expect them to be so open about our relationship." Alec said and Magnus smiled.
"You didn't give them enough credit Alexander." Magnus said and Alec sighed.
"I don't think they would have been so opened about it before." Alec confessed and Magnus put his arm around Alec.
"I can't speak for your parents Alec, but your family just went through a traumatic event, and they realize that life is short, and it shouldn't be spent dwelling on things they can't change."
"I guess." Alec said and Magnus put his fingers under Alec's chin and forced eye contact.
"You're out now Alec, and they accepted it. Just remember that. Don't think about what could have happened, or what you think should have happened cloud your mind." Magnus said and he pressed his lips to Alec's.
"Can I stay here for a few more days?" Alec asked and Magnus smiled.
"Absolutely Alexander." Magnus said and he stood up. He reached his hand out and Alec took it. Magnus lead Alec to his room and they both retired for the night. Magnus was right, Alec couldn't keep thinking about what could have happened. His parents knew, and he was with Magnus. Despite everything that happened recently in his life, he was happy in his relationship and that one positive that Alec could smile about.