Authors Note:
I am so sorry it took me so long to update! I really didn't know where I wanted to take this story. I was away for a couple weeks, and when I got back I totally lost all the momentum that I had going with this story! I finally got an idea after someone left a review about me doing wither Jocelyn or Valentine's point of view and I actually love where it went! I hope you all like where I took the characters and I hope it adds even more to the story! Any way, I promise that I will update the rest of my stories once I get a kickass idea, just like when this one hit me! Hope you all enjoy this next chapter! :)
Disclaimer- I do not own the movies, and I also made up all those facts about Clary, cause who really knows all of those things! Great movies by the way if you've never seen them, I highly recommend them! Alright, let's get to the story!
Chapter Thirteen
Jocelyn POV:
After Clary rushed up the stairs, and Jonathan went into the kitchen I looked at Valentine and couldn't help but think that maybe Jonathan was right, were we terrible parents? Were we neglectful towards Clary? Did we allow her to be sexually abused by her uncle? I couldn't shut my brain off until Valentine interrupted my train of thoughts.
"I can't believe she got engaged without my permission. I can't believe she wants to marry that boy." He said and for the first time in many many year, I disagree with him.
"Valentine, I can't blame her for doing those things." I say and his head snaps in my direction.
"What do you mean Jocelyn? She's going to taint the Morgenstern name!"
"I don't think she will. I don't think she ever has."
"What do you mean?" He said in a softer voice. He was a very sweet man, but politics got into his blood and it turned him cold, and I guess in response I turned cold too, and I couldn't help but hate that now.
"How much do we even know about Clary? What's her favorite color? Her favorite movie? Her favorite animal? What is she even studying at school? We don't know our own daughter, and it's all our fault." I said and he sat down next to me and out his arm around me. "We were so caught up in our own work that we completely forgot about her. How do we forget about a child?"
"Jocelyn."
"No Valentine, we have been awful. She tried to kill herself Val, and do you know what we did?" He shook his head. "We told her to never disgrace this family again. We didn't even ask her why she did it, or if she was okay. I mean, I don't even think I've told her I love her. Have you?"
"No. I don't think I have."
"God, we are awful." I said as I buried my head in my hands. "And I've never seen her as happy as she is when she is with that boy. She loves him, she truly truly loves him, and here we are yelling at her for falling in love." We sat in silence for a little before a smile broke out across my face. "Do you remember us falling in love?"
"I do. I knew the instant we went on our first date?"
"Really? It was like the worst first date ever."
"It wasn't that bad."
"Val, we got caught in a horrible blizzard. We never even made it to the restaurant. Your car stalled in the middle of the road and the snow was up to the window. We spent two days in that car!" He laughed, and it was the most genuine laugh I've heard in years.
"But do you remember what we did?" I couldn't help but laugh.
"We cuddled in the back seat for warmth, ate your secret stash of peanut M&M's and played childish games until a police officer finally dug the car out."
"It was the best first date I was ever on, and look at us today. We made something of ourselves."
"Yea, and ruined our kids in the process."
"It's never too late to apologize, and try to start fresh."
"You think they would go for that? I mean, Jonathan is only where he's at today because he wanted to avoid us and Clary tried to kill herself."
"I think they have both wanted a loving family for so long that if we give them a chance to have that, they'll do their best to forgive us."
"You know, Jonathan was wrong." I said and he looked at me with a confused expression. "I do love you. It was never for show."
"I love you too Joce. I always have." He leaned in and kissed me, and for the first time, I felt like we were two poor college kids, just having fun, and enjoying each others company and it felt amazing. "Why don't we have the kids join us and we talk to them."
"Right now?"
"It's now or never." I nodded. "Kids! Family meeting! Right now!" He yelled and I heard the footsteps. Clary and Jonathan sat down in the two chairs in font of the sofa and they looked nervous. It was tense, until Clary broke the silence.
"Look, if this is about Jace and my engagement, I really don't want to hear it. I love him, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. There is nothing you two can say that'll make me change my mind." Clary said and I couldn't help but notice the protectiveness and the love in her voice.
"That's not why we called this family meeting." Valentine said and Clary looked down at her hand and started playing with her ring. "Clary, if you called Jace, do you think he could come over right now?"
"Uh, possibly. Can I know why?"
"I would like to know the boy that my daughter will be marrying." He said and I saw hope flicker in her eye. She nodded, stepped out of the room and returned a minute later.
"He'll be here in 5 minutes." She said and Valentine nodded. Five minutes later Jace was there and Clary led him into the room. He looked nervous.
"Look sir, if this is about not asking your permission, I did ask Jonathan, I wouldn't have asked Clary if I wasn't sure how at least her brother felt about it."
"That's not why you're here."
"It's not? But Clary said you wanted to get to know me…" He said but Valentine cut him off.
"Are you Stephan and Celine's son?" He asked and I could see the question caught him off guard.
"Yes." He said and I could tell he held Clary's hand a little tighter. Clearly this was a sensitive topic.
"Do you mind if I ask what happened?" Jace shook his head.
"My mother died during childbirth, and my father was murdered. How did you know them?"
"Your father and I went to school together. We were actually great friends. When we met Celine and Jocelyn, our paths seemed to stop crossing. But we would keep in touch for a while until maybe a year after Jonathan was born. I had no idea they were dead. I'm so sorry."
"Thank you." Jace said and I could see him relax.
"But we do want to get to know you." I said and Jace, Clary, and Jonathan all looked at me. "We were talking before we called this meeting and we completely agree with Jonathan, on many points. We have been absolutely horrible too you. Both of you. For so long our jobs were who we are, and having a family was always something we wanted, and it helped your fathers career, and after Jonathan was born, it really helped Valentines career, and when we decided that we would have another one I guess I was so caught up in having the perfect family, that I forgot that you were just kids. You wanted to run around in grass stained clothes instead of wearing a dress that you could barely move in. We essentially became robots, and it worked. Clary was difficult but I always thought it was you, not me. I was selfish and I was horrible to you. I can't believe you even gave me the time of day most of the time."
"I wanted you to love me." Clary said and I felt my eyes start to water. "I just wanted to be accepted by my parents. I was always the problem, I was always the disappointment, I was always the outlet of all your stress. I gave up on having parents when I was 13, and I got a small part in the school play. I was so excited because I really wanted to be apart of it, and when I told you about it you both promised to come, but opening night you didn't show. I realized then that I wasn't worth your attention or your time."
"Clary." I started but she cut me off.
"If you're both looking for forgiveness, it might take me years to get to that point. You hurt me. So much, but I think that maybe in time, I can forgive you."
"That's all I ask for Clary." I said with tears in my eyes and I looked at Valentine, and he put his arm around my shoulder and I could tell this confused Clary and Jonathan. I don't think they've ever seen us on relax mode. "The real reason we wanted Jace to come over was because we want to know how well you know our daughter. You are clearly going to marry her, and since you didn't ask us for permission, which I understand, we want to give you a little quiz, and if you pass, we will happily welcome you into our family." I said and I could see how confused but also relieved Clary was.
"Ask away. I think I know Clary pretty well." He said and Valentine and I smiled.
"Alright, we'll start off easy." Valentine started. "What's her favorite color?"
"Green." He said and Clary smiled.
"Do you know why?"
"It makes her think of spring, and spring is her favorite season." He said and we looked at Clary and she nodded.
"What's her favorite animal?" Valentine asks.
"That's a tough one, she always changes it. But for the past couple months it's been bunnies. Every single time we see one she gets really excited and looks at it for about 5 minutes." He says and Clary laughs.
"Oh come on, they are so adorable. How can't they be the cutest thing you've ever seen?" Clary said and Jace just kissed her cheek. They really were a very loving and adorable couple.
"What's her favorite movie?"
"Another tricky one. She has two. The first one is A League of Their Own, and the second one is Air Force One. We watch them at least once a month."
"Why those two Clary?" I ask.
"Well, A League of Their Own has like every emotion you could possibly feel all rolled into one movie. It's just so inspirational, and Air Force One is such a badass movie." She says, and it might be the first time I've seen Clary being herself, and I absolutely love it.
"Next question." Valentine says. "Favorite food?"
"Peanut butter. I know it isn't a food food, but she will literally eat it out of the jar." We all laughed.
"When is her birthday?" Valentine asks.
"August 15th."
"What's her favorite past time?"
"Reading."
"Did she have any pets growing up?"
"No."
"Has she ever broken a bone?"
"No."
"Ever have any surgery?"
"Wisdom teeth."
"What's her biggest fear?"
"Water."
"Really?"
"Yea. She hates the ocean." Valentine simply nods, and continues.
"What's she studying at school?"
"Psychology."
"What's she want to do with it?"
"She's wants to counsel children who have been through traumatic experiences." He says and I can't help but feel like the reason she wants to do that is so that kids don't have to grow up the way she did.
"Okay. Are you in love with my daughter?"
"Absolutely."
"Are you going to hurt her?"
"Never."
"Okay, last one. Do you plan on starting a family after you get married?"
"Dad!" Clary shouts.
"What? I just want to know what his plan is. I mean, are you two sleeping together?"
"Oh my god. We aren't having this conversation right now."
"It's a simple yes or no Clary."
"Dad."
"I'm not letting you leave this room until you answer it, and I just want the truth."
"Yes." She says. "We are, now can we please leave. Jace has to get home." I look out the window and realize that the snow has really picked up.
"I don't think so." I say and everyone looks at me.
"Why not?"
"It's snowing really bad out there. No way are you driving home in that." I get up and open the curtains and Clary groans. "You'll have to spend the night."
"Alright, we're done here." Valentine says. "You seem like a good kid Jace, and I can see the similarities to your father. You remind me so much of him. I assume he won't be sleeping in one of the guest bedrooms, so please, I would appreciate if you keep the noise level down."
"DAD!" Clary shouts and turns beat red, while Jace looks horrified, and Jonathan tries to hid his laughter.
"I'm just kidding. Well, kinda." He says and I can't help but love the fact that the old Valentine was coming back. "We have one last thing we'd like to say before we head to bed."
"This ought to be good." Jonathan mumbles.
"We love you both." Valentines says and they both snap their attention to us.
"What?" They both say in unison.
"Jonathan said something at Thanksgiving about us not loving you, and that wasn't true at all. We do love you. So much. We're sorry we never expressed it towards you both. And I know it'll take awhile for you to forgive us, but I wanted you two to know that we do love you." I said. I looked at Valentine and he grabbed my hand. "And we also love each other Jonathan, we always have, and we always will." Jonathan gave me a smile and a nod before Valentine and I left the room, and I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. I felt lighter and I was glad that our family was going to start growing in a positive direction. I just hope that this lasts.
