The Perilshore girl spent the whole day outside and flitting through the house, a lavender polaroid in hand. Alec watched her now at the window that outlooked the back of the Institute, shaking her latest creation. A small smile quirked at her lips and she tucked it into a pouch that was strapped to her belt. When she had started, the sack had been limp, but it now bulged with the abundance of photos. Alec wanted so desperately to see what she had taken, but knew better than to ask. I will give her time thought Alec.
"Dinner's ready hon." Said his mother behind him.
"Coming." He mumbled. It was times like these that he prized, ordinary family moments.
Alex made his way to the dining table, already seeing Jace sitting next to Clary, Izzy at the head of the table closest to Jace and his mother seated opposite Jace. Alec slumped into a seat, thinking, as always, of Magnus. Jose fumbled in then, hair ruffled by the wind.
"I didn't miss it, did I"
"No, why would you miss dinner?" Laughed Izzy.
Jose shrugged. "Dad used to feed my food to the dog if I stayed out too long taking pictures."
She unstrapped her pouch and sat down in between Clary and Alec, at the other head of the table.
"Finally, someone else who cooked dinner."
"You used to cook you own meals?" Asked Maryse.
"Yep. Dad couldn't cook for his life. He once set the stove on fire! Anyway, I developed domestic goddess skills at age eight… well, at least the cooking side of it. "
"Hmm." Says Jace, swinging to look at Izzy. "I wonder who that sounds like."
Izzy then proceeded to hit him with her spoon.
"Enough you two." Boomed Maryse in her no-nonsense voice. "Seriously. It's like raising animals sometimes."
"I don't know, I think I'm to sexual to be an animal." Jace concludes, voice muffled by a mouthful of pasta.
"Sometimes, when people want to be polite, they finish their food before they talk. And, by the way, you are an animal." Spoke Izzy in a very adult-like voice. Jace only rolled his eyes.
"Hey Jose?" Piped Clary.
"Mmm-hmm?"
"May I see your photos?"
"Of course." Jose only hesitated for a moment before pulling out a quarter of her picture, at least thirty, handing them over without a word.
Clary trifled through them, Jace looking over her shoulder.
"They're actually amazing." Said Clary after she had finished.
"Really?" Jose asked with a childlike hopefulness.
"Yeppers. I mean, they're better than the ones Clary took of me." Spoke Jace with a smug look.
"What photos?"
"You know, the nudes."
"Jace!" Clary yelled, whacking him over then head.
"Jace, we have ladies present." Groaned Alec.
"Right. Sorry Maryse, sorry Clary." Jace said and then went right back to eating.
"You forgot someone." Izzy said indignantly.
Jace frowned. "Oh right, of course. I am most terribly sorry Josey."
"JACE LIGHTWOOD!" Izzy screeched slapping him wherever she could.
"Is hitting Jace a dinnertime tradition?" Questioned Jose when Izzy had settled down. Clary nearly spat out her food laughing.
"You have no idea." Said Alec, a small smile playing on his lips.