"Why now?" Clary asked suddenly. now

On seeing Jace's confused look, she clarified "Why did you tell me the truth now? You didn't bother to tell me for six months, so why now?"

"I was coming to tell you, that very day. But..." Jace refused to meet her eyes.

"But..?" She finally prompted.

"But I saw you and Simon on the stairs. I think you had just discovered he was a daylighter. And you two looked so happy together. I couldn't bear to swoop in and ruin the moment. Make you choose. Won't have been fair on you." He told her.

She was silent for a long time after that. "Oh..Jace. The thing with Simon was a mistake. We aren't meant to be in a romantic relationship. We are better off as friends, best friends. But please, next time don't do that. Don't torture yourself just to protect me from pain. Okay?"

Jace just nodded. What else could he do?

"I owe you another apology, Clary. I know only the gist of what Alec said to you, but that was enough. That too was my fault. I had made him promise not to tell you, and I had put pressure on our parabatai bond. He was just tense." Jace said.

Clary just smiled "I know. I shouldn't have pushed him. And on the topic of apologies, I am sorry too. I shouldn't have flaunted the thing with Simon so openly. I guess I hoped that if you saw me happy with someone else, you could move on and be happy too. We are so fucked up. Damn it. We should really talk more."

Jace just nodded and hugged Clary tighter. Now that he had her back in her arms he was never letting go.

They spend the rest of the day tangled up together on the couch, ocassionally kissing but mostly just enjoying each other's company.

"Come back home. To the Institute. Whatever we do, a war is coming and you will be at the center of it. You should train." Jace said as he finally got up to go.

"I would. But Alec said I wasn't allowed at the Institute again, without permission from some 'high ranking offical' so.." Clary said looking downcast.

Jace couldn't even be angry at his brother. He was just trying to protect Jace from being hurt again. Jace was the one who ran away, leaving Alec to deal with not only pissed off downworlders but also an Institute which was scared and dealing with major losses. And this was on top of Izzy's addiction and his still very new relationship. No wonder he lashed out at Clary. Jace couldn't deny it was wrong, but for Alec she was the one who was the catalyst that started all this. Jace made a promise that he will talk to Alec about his mental health as soon as possible. And also give his parabatai a tight hug.

"Hey, I am a high ranking official. Even Aldertree agrees to it now. Being the Inquisitor's grandson has its perks." Jace said with a grin, trying to cheer her up.

"Okay. When can I move in?" Clary said with barely concealed excitement "I mean I love Luke, but he's hardly ever here. It gets lonely. I miss the Institute, I miss Izzy and Magnus, I even miss Alec! The Institute..its home."

Jace felt a rush of love for the petite redhead in front of him. "Yeah, it is. Come on by tomorrow morning, okay? Should I pick you up or..?"

"No. I will manage. See you tomorrow."

"Oh, one more thing. From now on I am incharge of your training. And I am worse than Izzy and Alec if you can imagine. So, don't say you weren't warned afterwards." and after sneaking one last kiss, Jace was gone.

The next morning Jace woke up feeling rested and well. He had slept in for the first time in a long time, and he felt refreshed. He got dressed and went in search of breakfast. Returning from the kitchen, he heard voices coming from training room.

"No. That is not how you do it." That was Alec, sounding uncharacteristically exasperated. He was the most patient person Jace knew.

This was followed by peals of laughter. If Jace had to guess, he would say it was Izzy and maybe Simon.

"Oh come on, cut me some slack. I am new to this." This was definitely Clary. Now Jace was intrigued.

He stood leaning against the doorframe in the training room, just looking at the scene in front of him. Alec was apparently trying to teach Clary archery. But from the look of it, he was not succeeding at all. Clary's arrows had a tendency to hit everything except the target. Izzy and Simon were sitting on the floor watching the other two and making fun of both, Clary's inability to learn and Alec's lousy teaching.

"Oh thank God. Jace she is useless. You teach her. I am done." Alec said, finally spotting Jace, and dramatically throwing his arms up.

Clary just glared at him but this time there was no real heat behind it. "Maybe its that you are a bad teacher."

Alec gave Jace a look that said Are you kidding me? and went over to sit by his sister muttering something under his breath all the way.

"Oh, maybe Jace can teach Clary to shoot." Simon said thoughtfully.

"I dare you, do it." Alec challenged him.

Jace stalked towards Clary. "I don't know what you are doing. But stop it." Jace whispered in her ear. Jace knew perfectly well that Clary was an ace shooter.

Clary just grinned up at him "He deserved it. But its a one time thing I promise."

Jace laughed. "Okay. Now shoot straight."

So Clary did just that. She hit the target perfectly. This caused Izzy and Simon to burst into giggles as she realised what had happened. And Alec atleast had the decency to blush. But he none the less got up and left.

"Did I hurt him?" Clary asked worried.

Jace having already spied Magnus at the doorway and knowing that Alec had gone to join hi boyfriend, just shook her head.

"So, Izzy, Simon out. Its training time for our newest recruit." Jace said.

As he got ready for training, he realised one thing. He was happy. Sure, he knew one day, quite soon Jonathan will come for them. But for now all his friends were safe, protected and loved. He was too. He knew that now. He also knew one more thing : no matter what happened they will all face it as they have always done, together.