Chapter Three: Meeting Mickey Mouse… in Paris?
A few days later, I wake up in the morning to find that the bed is empty. I look around the room and there is no sign of anyone. So I shower and get dressed etc. and head out to the main living area of the suite. They're all gathered there talking and as soon as they see me, they all disperse and discontinue whatever conversation they'd been having.
I am worried for a moment before I remember that my birthday is one of the reasons we're in Paris and the conversation I interrupted doubtless has something to do with that. So, I head to the kitchen to grab myself some breakfast since it looks like they've all already eaten. Jace follows me into the kitchen.
"So, Clary, we've all talked and it's been agreed that we each want one day to ourselves with you for your birthday, since we have three days between now and your big day. Then we will all spend your official birthday together. Does that sound alright to you? And if so, would you like to spend today with me?" He smiles brilliantly at me. It's so easy to get lost in those golden eyes, how could I say no?
"Mr. Herondale, I would be honored to spend today with you, my love. What did you have in mind?" I know that because it's Jace it will be something fun and exciting for sure.
"Do you really want to know, or be surprised?" He laughs.
"Oh, no, I really want to know, Jace please?" I giggle, knowing he may decide to keep me in suspense just to be difficult.
"We're going to Disneyland!" He states as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Umm, Jace, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I thought that was in California?" If I'd grown up in Idris, I probably wouldn't know anything about mundane society but living in New York, I'll admit I know a little and I'm pretty sure Disneyland is in the States.
"Not that one Clary! Disneyland Paris, believe it or not, Paris has had its own Disneyland since 1992. I rented us a car though because it's a 45 minute drive from here. So, are you in? They have all kinds of cool attractions, if you can believe there website. I thought it might be nifty." Well he's got me there, seeing Disneyland in Paris might actually be pretty nifty I'm thinking.
"You bet! When do we leave?"
"The car's already here, so we'll head out after you have your breakfast, so get munchin' already!" He spanks my bum on his way out of the kitchen.
We park the car in the in the massive parking lot and then walk for what feels like hours before we are finally in the park itself but it's totally worth it! This place has everything from princess castles to pirate ships. We have tons of fun getting lost in Alice's Curious Labyrinth and Big Thunder Mountain is so cool! I think my favorite thing is La Cabane des Robinson though because I loved the book and the movie. It's modeled after the tree house from the movie and it's almost identical. I can't even believe my eyes as we go along all the walkways and it almost feels like we're stranded on their island with them. It's totally trippy, as Jace says.
"Jacey Baby, I want to thank you for today." I gush while we are sitting at an outside table having our lunch. "This is such a far out thing we've been able to do today! It's like its own mini holiday within the holiday. I appreciate it a lot."
"I had to do something special for my girl. You only turn eighteen once." He smiles, pleased by my praise.
"Yeah, I just, wonder how we'll ever top this for Izzy's eighteenth." I sigh.
"Well, don't forget, this trip is for our engagement too. It's a celebration of two important things. I suppose we can always combine Izzy's birthday with the honeymoon though." He winks.
"That's in eight months! How are we supposed to plan a wedding and honeymoon in eight months?" I panic.
"You do realize Izzy could have everything planned in only one month if we asked her to and it would still be spectacular right?" He reassures me, resting his hands on my shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess you're right about that. I probably don't have to worry. If there's one thing our girl is amazing at its planning a party." I laugh.
"Don't forget shopping, she's the best little shopper I know!" Jace nods and sighs wistfully. "You know, if someone had told Jon and I a couple of years ago that we'd end up with two such wonderful women in our lives and be so completely in love like this, I think we couldn't have believed it."
"Well it's the same with us. If I'd had someone tell me I'd finally be with Isabelle, or fall in love with two men who are so incredible and are, weirdly enough, also my mother's sons, I would have thought they were crazy!" I smile.
"Does that part bother you? That Jocelyn raised us?" He asks.
"No, not really, it bothers me that I missed out on so many years with my mother, but I think things were meant to happen the way they have for a reason. If I hadn't lived the life I have, we wouldn't even be sitting here, in Disneyland, having this conversation. And that would be a damned tragedy." I say.
"Yeah, I guess. I just sometimes worry that Jonathan and I have sort of come along and complicated your life and Izzy's. I know you don't see it that way of course, but I just can't help feeling somewhat guilty that you girls will never have a normal life because of us." He looks somewhat downtrodden considering this is supposed to be a celebration.
"Jace, Izzy and I would never have been normal. Even if we hadn't found the two of you, she and I would have inevitably started dating eventually and honestly, it would be even harder for us it you hadn't come along. See, look around right now. To all of these people, you and I are just a boy and a girl on a date. They don't see that we are only half of a foursome or that you are my adopted brother. If it were only ever Izzy and I, we wouldn't have moments like this, of being inconspicuous.
"And let me tell you something else, one day, this family will be able to have children. That definitely isn't something Izzy and I could have done on our own. So you see, in some ways, you boys have given us a normal life. More so that we ever would have had without you, understand?" I ask, pleading with my eyes for him to cheer up. I hate seeing him so upset when he gets all broody and tortured like this. Jace has two settings, having a blast or hating himself for no good reason. I far prefer the former.
"You're right, Clary, I'm sorry. I just wanted to get your take on it and I'm glad to know you feel we bring value to your life. I love you, my fiery little redhead!" He laughs and scrunches my hair up in his hands. I am relieved to see his mood improving. I suggest we take in one of the shows, so we pay our tab and head over to one that's starting reasonably soon. We get tickets and find seats and sit chatting until they dim the lights. I thank Jace again for bringing me here knowing the rest of the day will be just as fun!
"Well, I am exhausted! But it was worth all the walking we did. That place is amazing! And to think, all those attractions are based on Disney movies! I've hardly seen any of them, have you?" We are driving home to the Penthouse at the end of the day and talking about our favorite parts of the park.
"No, hardly any. We didn't do very many sedentary activities like that growing up on the commune. We did have some friends in town that we used to go into Ithaca to visit and they'd put on movies and things like that but that was about it. It's funny that as far as Jocelyn went to keep us out of the Shadowhunter lifestyle there are a surprising number of parallels." He laughed.
"Yeah, I noticed that on the commune. Some aspects of it even reminded me of Idris is some ways. Not much technology, hardly any media, the only major difference being that the Shadowhunters are more militant and the hippies are more pacifistic. Other than that, they're quite similar." I ponder aloud.
"Maybe that's why we fit in so quickly when we came to the Institute. Do you think that that will be the case when we are living in Idris too?" He asked hopefully.
"I'd say it will probably even be more so because the commune was rural and it will be rural where we'll be living in Idris, so I think in some ways you'll do better than us because we grew up in the city."
"Now that is going to be fun. I can't wait to see all of the hilarious kinds of antics you city girls will get into!" He laughs.
"Hey now, I can't wait to see what kind of trouble you mundane boys get into in Alicante!" I retaliate, in good spirits.
"Oh no, you didn't just call us mundanes did you? Oh that does it!" Thankfully we've just pulled up in front of the hotel because he is now tickling me furiously and I'm very glad he isn't still trying to drive us home at the same time, or I could have been spending my birthday in the hospital! Although the valet who has now come out to park us seems a little concerned about the squealing girl who is being tickled to death in the blue Mercedes that just pulled up. Oh well, as they say in Paris, c'est la vie!