Chapter Eight: Dinner Engagement

So our immediate family all know about the engagement now, which is a relief because I am so not great at keeping secrets. And it's a big help to have them in on it because they've sort of taken over the planning of our engagement party so that we don't have to lift a finger, all we have to do is show up when the time comes.

"Hey Clary, what do you guys want for the wine selections at the party? I was thinking we'd offer a white, a red and a rosé, so that there will be something for everyone." Alec asks.

"Good question Alec! There are so many wonderful French wines; maybe some of the more unique ones would be best. Château-Grillet is an excellent white wine that we tried while we were there, although it can be a little hard to come by. For a red, I'm going to recommend Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Rouge Génération XIX for this occasion, especially because when I translated their website to English on our trip while looking up wines it said something about the mineral blending the fruit and wine, in a polygamous marriage. Which I know is just a metaphor but I still say it's a fitting one considering the occasion, right? And lastly for a rosé perhaps Domaine de Terrebrune? I can write them down if you'd like. We had a lot of wine in France; those were just some of my favorites." I smile.

"Yes, if you could write them down, that would help immensely, thank you." He says and darts across the room to ask Isabelle a question. I write down the wines and take him the list. As I turn to walk away, I feel a hand close over my eyes and another arm lift me up in the air. I easily break the hold, because well, I am the best after all, only to find that it's Uncle Lucian!

"Uncle!" I exclaim. "It's good to see you! I'm so glad you could make it for our little party!" I say, smiling. "Did the rest of your family come?"

"Clarissa, it's great to see you as well! Yes, Amatis is taking the kids to the training room as we speak so they can burn off a bit of steam before dinner tonight. We wouldn't have missed it for the world! Your father was very vague about what we will be celebrating but I gather it must be something of a monumental nature based on his insistence that we all be here."

"Oh it is. But don't worry, its good news, at least I think so." I laugh.

"Well great! We're going to go get ourselves settled in meanwhile and meet back here before the party starts. We'll see you soon!" He pats me on the shoulder and heads off to go find Amatis.

A while later, Maia shows up, without Simon, who has decided to come as a projection, rather than hang out in the sanctuary away from everyone else, so we'll be setting that up for him closer to the start of the party. We've promised them that we'll also make time for a Foosball game again before we leave for Idris.

Soon after that, the Penhallows arrive, with Aline bringing her new girlfriend along, who we haven't met before. We soon learn that it was after hearing about Alec and Magnus and later Izzy and I and the boys that she got up the courage to come out to her parents and to ask out Helen Blackthorn. As such, she's super grateful and it appears we've made a friend for life.

Some more Shadowhunter friends continue to pile in gradually. We even invited a few of Jon's and Jace's old friends from Ithaca and we cast glamours so that they think the party is in a warehouse and that the attendees are all mundanes. Pretty soon the place is completely packed and we're ready to 'get this party started' so to speak. The planning committee, which consisted primarily of Jocelyn, Maryse, Alec and Magnus, have gone all out! The music is hoppin, the dinner is wonderful, Alec even came through with my suggested wines somehow, and everyone has a blast.

During the latter part of the dinner segment, when everyone is pretty much finished eating, I take the liberty of being the one to make the announcement, which is how we planned it because it's always been my style to speak up.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, my family and I would like to thank you for attending this little get together. By this point, I can imagine you're all chomping at the bit to know why we've gathered everyone together tonight. It is because Jace, Jonathan, Isabelle and I have a personal announcement we would like to make. I'm sure most, if not all of you know by now, that we just returned from a trip to Paris. Well, while Isabelle and I left New York thinking we were going to Paris strictly to see the sights and celebrate my birthday, it turned out, that our boys had other intentions.

"So, at the top of the Eiffel Tower, under the beautiful city lights of Paris, we found ourselves presented with two little boxes. Containing hand tied, macramé rings with handcrafted clay beads. These special rings, engraved with the initials J.F. squared, for Jace and Jonathan Fairchild (which are the names that Jocelyn raised them with), are a symbol of their love for us. And the fact that those very rings are on our fingers today, and that all of you are here, should tell you, that the four of us are indeed, getting married!"

I am very nervous as I finish speaking because, given the many social taboos surrounding our union, I think a large part of me expected them to throw tomatoes or something. Instead, what I hear stuns my ears, because it's actually applause! They aren't looking at us with disgust or judgement in their eyes. They're looking at us with pride and with admiration, for doing what most people wouldn't have even attempted. For being ourselves, despite what others may think. For bravely choosing love, even if ours is highly unconventional. We are extremely blessed, because somehow, these people, love and support us unconditionally. It's a little bittersweet to be honest, when I think of all the people who aren't so lucky.

So many people around the world have to hide, every day. Some have to hide their feelings because their relationships are 'inappropriate'. Some are forced to hide their religion because revealing their beliefs could mean death for them. There are even whole villages whose children have to hide from gang recruiters or the sex trade, etc. And here we are, four people committing to one another in one of the most shocking, unconventional, bizarre, relationships possible. And we're just, accepted? Our friends and family just love us anyway? It almost doesn't seem right.

Maybe it's because we're New Yorkers, and in a big city like this, people just expect weird things to happen. Or maybe it's because Jace is the last Herondale, which is a little like being the last unicorn, so everyone is in awe of him and he can do no wrong in their eyes. Or maybe it's because they know that we're the best of the best Shadowhunters and so they accept us because they need us. Or maybe, they just love us to pieces but whatever the reason, we are being accepted, and it's a beautiful thing.

"Congratulations to the four of you!" Uncle Lucian exclaims as they stop by our table to wish us well.

"Thank you, Uncle Lucian, Aunt Amatis. We owe you both more than you can possibly know. You sort of paved the way for us within the Shadowhunter community as well as with our family. If the two of you hadn't been so open about your own relationship, we wouldn't have ever had a leg to stand on, you know." I say, hugging them both.

"You'd be surprised how often we hear things like that. In fact, when Alec started dating Magnus, I believe his exact words to Maryse and Valentine were 'Hey, at least I'm not dating my sister.' Which I'm sure he meant in the most loving way possible." Uncle laughs.

I laugh too. "Poor Alec, if he thinks you two are weird, what must he think of us?" I don't notice right away that Alec and Magnus have just walked up.

"He thinks; that two beautiful girls, who have been in love with one another since they were old enough to know what that means, met two handsome princes (who just so happened, to be in love themselves, as well, and also just so happened to be their brothers) and they fell in love with the princes too and they all lived happily ever after." Alec says in a sappy fairytale voice and smiles.

"Okay, so, before Isabelle has time to go off on her tangent about how she isn't biologically related to any one of us like she does whenever anyone plays the incest card now, I'd like to point out that before we get to the official happily ever after, we have to survive the move to Idris, then the wedding and then whatever else life decides to throw at us. So I think you're skipping ahead a few chapters, Alec. Not that I think it will be anything but awesome, it's just that we have a lot to deal with before we get there." I sigh exasperatedly. "I'm sorry, Alec, it's just that with the move coming up, I'm a little stressed right now." I lament.

"Don't be sorry, I'm sure between your homecoming from Paris, the engagement party, and soon your farewell party, you're probably all pretty pooped." He nods, allowing me my cranky mood.

"Thanks Alec, I'm glad you realize I'm not trying to be a raging bitch, I'm just not in a fairytale mood right now." I grin.

"Yeah, I'm thinking once these guests clear out, we need to get this one to bed." Jace says, as I lean on him for support.

"Maybe yeah, though, I may take time for a bubble-bath first, to relax a bit." I laugh, sleepily.

"Just so long as you don't fall asleep and drown in it, okay?" Jon says.

"Ooh, I call keeping Clary awake in the bath!" Izzy exclaims a tad too loudly. Thankfully the only people standing nearby by now are Alec and Magnus, and they just laugh.

We say goodnight to all of our guests as they gradually disperse over the next hour. Those who've come from Idris make plans to get together with us once we get settled in over there and those who live here assure us they'll see us at our farewell party if not before then. It's turned out to be a pretty great night. We thank the family for all their help in getting the party together and then we retire, totally exhausted and ready for sleep!