Plan for this chapter:

1) Sibling bonding :D

2) Jace is finally… You'll see.


Hope you like it!


"Can you like, not?" Once Clary was out of earshot and Alec left the training room, Izzy started to whack her adoptive brother in the chest.

"Woah, what did I do?" Jace held the flat side of the blade against his palm and tilted his head to the side to see his sister in an ultimate bashful flush.

"You're too much of a dickhead to be attractive!" Izzy continuously strikes at the male's lower body, not daring to damage his prized possession in case Clary ever got that far.

"Are you developing some sort of brother complex or something? Sorry but I'm not up for incest." That only made her angrier.

"It's not me you asshole! It's that girl who could have taken you down in seconds but went easy so she wouldn't hurt you! You're too much of a manwhore to realize that!"

Jace was taken aback. Never had Izzy acted so rashly or wholeheartedly towards him. She always saw him as a joke, someone she could seriously spar with but never take seriously otherwise. He didn't know what to think. Did Izzy really just mean what she said? Jace had gone through enough dramas to understand that if it wasn't his sister developing feelings, it was the redhead that rejected him.

"Did you just call me a manwhore? I'll have you know, I treat my women respectfully."

"You're supposed to only look at one. And that one is fucking Clarissa Adele Morgenstern!"

Izzy stopped. Her body, her mind, every thought about Jace just vanished. What have I done?

"Clary?" Jace stepped back against the mats for a bit, still being in the training room. Izzy dropped her sword, eyes wide and tears swelling. What if Clary's going to hate me for telling him about her feelings? NO! I'm supposed to get them together. How am I supposed to do that if Jace doesn't even know about her feelings. Oh hell, what's going to happen if he doesn't return them back?

"I'm sorry, forget what I said. Put that sword back for me like a good brother would will ya? Thanks." Izzy gloomily walked away, still processing her recklessness, wobbling from side to side as she went.

"I'm never a good brother. Tell me what the hell is going on with Clary right now before I take advantage of this state you're in." That's right. I'm vulnerable and scared and practically on my knees, begging for him to forget everything I've bursted out saying. He could do anything he wanted with me right now. I'm too stupid. But… NO! NO! NO! HE NEEDS TO KNOW CLARY'S GOD DAMN FEELINGS OR HE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW HIS ABENT PLAYBOY ACT AROUND HER IS INFLUENCING THOSE FEELINGS. YEAH! HELL YEAH, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW.

Gradually, Izzy turned around, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear and gave a deep huff.

"Clary was attracted to your face in Year 10 and once you two started to talk, she gave in and developed a crush on you. If you dare break her heart or upset her in any way, I will personally kill you and let her join in." The death glare in Jace's sister's eyes was unwavering. She wouldn't be hesitant to turn him into a girl if Jace ever managed to harm Clary.

"Clary, redhead, Shadowhunter in hiding, descendent of the Shadow world's most finally dead and hunted criminal, Clarissa Adele Morgenstern, has a crush… on me." Jace stepped back, further and further away until he fell hard on his bum against the blue mats. His legs fell and he crossed them together, his hands flat on the mats behind him to keep his sitting posture.

"What? Do you find it hard to believe that a girl smaller and younger than you can knock you down? Or ashamed that she didn't go all out during that 'deal settling' battle and still had trouble fighting her."

"It's not that… Neither of those two options…" Jace stuttered out multiple words, unable to compose a complete English sentence. His elbows now rested on his knees, head in hands and frustrated.

"Then what?" Izzy sat in front of him, trying to find her brother's face that was buried within those wonderfully tanned hands.

"I've always thought she was cute…"

"Well, everyone does. She's got that round face that makes her look like an 8 year old and-"

"No." Jace wanted to clarify. "That scene I caused in school, none of it was a lie. I've always thought she was cute."

"Why'd you repeat-" Oh. "Then why in the name of all holy fuck did you get it on with other girls?"

"They helped me forget!" Jace exploded, his face red from chin to forehead and eyes glowing so bright they shone. "Everything…" What my parents fought about, what Dad did and who with. It wasn't Mum.

"Jace…" Izzy's vicious resolve faded and she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't look at me like I'm some kicked puppy," Jace growled. "Clary doesn't know much, but she knows more than you do. If I want someone to talk to about this, it's her."

Izzy was shocked. Her brother rarely became submissive to others, asking for their help. He preferred independence but now he was talking about Clary? She felt the air around them change. Jace wasn't scared or worried, he was serious and deep in thought. It was uncommon to see him act so mature and Izzy couldn't bare to ruin this moment.

"Go win her heart while you're at it, will ya? Not that you haven't already. Maybe she'll win yours." Izzy winked and flounced her way out of the training area, leaving her sword for Jace to pick up. He needed time to gather his thoughts and now would be the time to do it. He didn't have much time after all. Dinner was going to be ready in 2 hours.


Dum, dum, dum, dum.

There wasn't even a knock on the door, just padding footsteps through the hallways.

"Hey, Clary?" Izzy interrupted Clary for a second. "I'm going into the bathroom for a sec. Keep talking or changing or whatever it is you're doing, I'll listen." Clary gave a hum in response and continued rambling on about how odd it was for Izzy trying to set them up since Jace is her brother.

In truth, Izzy was opening the bedroom door that was close enough to her bathroom so Clary wouldn't notice the change of sound. She opened the door to find Jace listening in on the conversation. He had taken a shower and freshened up in regular jeans a plain tee, walking barefoot around the house. His hands were shaking and the way his eyes popped out of his head meant he was listening for quite some time.

"If you wanted to hear her talk about you, you could have just said so," Izzy whispered, opening the door slightly. Jace poked his body into the room, his back flat against the walls. Izzy put a finger up to her mouth in sign to say he should be stealthy and quiet. She stood by Jace's side and let him get a good view of her best friend staring up at the ceiling on her bed while talking.

"I was afraid you'd hate me for talking so much about your brother. It feels odd, doesn't it?" Izzy quietly made a 'No, it's fine' comment and forced her to continue. "If you ever get bored of this, tell me because I can go on for a while."

"Sure, sure, go get into your PJ's while you're at it. I left them on the bedside table to your right." Jace's eyes went wide and he nervously looked back and fort her between his sister and the redhead.

As Clary stood up, she started slipping off her pants revealing black lace underwear. Slowly, she slipped off her top as well and gave the sight Jace was dying to see. More black lace… There was red lace on parts of the set white turned Jace on even more.

"You're aren't looking at this part," Izzy mumbled while covering her brother's eye-raping eyes. He kept moving about so he could get the full picture but Izzy kept blocking his view. It was impossible to tell if he ever got to see anything or if he saw everything.

The clasps were coming undone and drool started seeping through his lips. With her back turned to reach for the sets of clothes, she bent over and Jace could just see how large her size was. Perfect.

"Could you get that for me?" Clary randomly threw her bra away and to Jace's pure luck, right in front of him. His tongue slid against his lips and arms began reaching out but Izzy snapped them away.

"What do you really see in Jace anyway?" Izzy spoke loudly.

"You're making me talk again, but since you asked…" Clary's face turned red and she pulled on the bandeau and tank top. "He's strong. With what happened before you Lightwoods took him in, I think he's probably one of the most strongest people I've ever met. Not everyone has the guts to do what he did. And he's an amazing Shadowhunter too."

"What happened back then anyway?" Izzy pushed, testing Clary's loyalty towards Jace. He was looking forward to this answer as well, wondering what the midget saw in him too, how much she loved him, as Izzy might have exaggerated.

"Secret," Clary smirked, flopping back down on the bed. "Let's just say that the walls he's put up aren't coming down any time soon. Mine aren't either."

Jace was momentarily confused. What did that mean?

"His past is probably worse than mine. Or at a similar level anyway. I'm hoping I can talk to the respectful side of Jace again. He's always so… I don't really know how to say this nicely but… He's a bitch and could probably never love someone after all the girls he's been with. Or maybe he's still searching. I don't really know what he's doing with all those girls or why he lets them do what they want but it pisses me off knowing that he isn't doing anything to stop them. I fell for the side of Jace that I can talk to without worrying of what people think. His reputation as a player might be crashing because of me but I really shouldn't get my hopes up for someone who could have a future career as a prostitute when he's older. What was I talking about again?"

Izzy laughed a bit and shoved Jace out the door. He's seen and heard enough to figure out what Clary has in mind of him.

"You know what, it doesn't matter. He'll do what he wants and I'll do what I want. And right now, I want to make dinner. My treat."

"I can help!" Izzy offered. Clary hastily said no, forcing her to back off and watch from the breakfast bar.


Jace sat up in his room for a bit, wondering deeply about what Clary had said about him. Strong? Psh, I'm the opposite of that, he thought. I wonder what Clary would look like in an apron. Or maybe even those traditional maid costumes! HEY! NO! YOU ARE JACE HERONDALE. FLIRTATIOUS AND HOT JACE. YOU WILL NOT BE SWEPT AWAY BY SOME MIDGET GIRL WHO HAS A CRIMINAL FATHER AND HAS NO CLUE WHAT HER INFLUENCE IS ON ME. WHY IS THIS GOING BACK TO ME?!

Irritated and flushed, Jace ran down the stairs, wanting to eat as a distraction. He could only hope that Clary was finished cooking. Now that he thought about it, Clary rarely slept over, and if she did, she'd come after dinner. This was probably the first time she had ever cooked a meal voluntarily in someone else's home. More like abandoned church, actually.

A rich smelling scent flowed out from the kitchen and Jace couldn't wait to see who helped Clary make something so extravagant. When he stepped into the kitchen though, it was just Clary and Izzy, his sister behind the breakfast bar. Set out along the large dining table were plates for Maryse, Robert, and the Lightwood kids. Also, an extra place for Clary to eat at. On each plate was an expertly made italian fettucini with white sauce and decorative basil on top of it. A glass jug with ice water and a lemon stood in the middle with the pepper and salts and by one plate was Alec who was chowing down on the first edible meal made in the Institute.

"You should learn from Clary, Izzy," mumbled Alec through the food.

"Haha, I'm one of the greatest cooks out there," Izzy scoffs, praising herself.

"No, seriously, eat." Jace sat down on his chair obediently and twirled his fork against his spoon. He began humming at the meal and finished it all within 5 mintues. Clary stared in awe. The way he ate was so mannered, no sounds, straight posture… Daddy would have approved.

Clary was left staring and her face became as red as the peppers on her plate. She was the only one left who hadn't sat down at the table and was cleaning up so she wouldn't have to do all the dishes at once and get her hands wrinkly.

"Oi," Izzy nudged her elbow and woke her up from her daze. "You're staring."

Awkwardly, Clary waved her off and finished up the meal she made for herself. Little did she know, Alec was saying the exact same things as his sister to Jace.


As Clary finished up the last dishes, Izzy spoke up,

"So, how is the deal going to be settled now? You declared a draw though it was clear you won." Sending a wink in Clary's direction, she smirked and eyed Jace.

"I think we should leave it alone. There wasn't really a point to it anyway." Clary took off the apron and hung it up on a hook. "What do you usually do around here after dinner?"

"Hunting."

"Training."

"Having fun being a decoy."

That's because you get to choose which hot demon to make out with, Iz, thought Clary.

"Well, where I come from, we do what regular teenagers do and stay in bedrooms with computers and phones. So, if you'll excuse me."

As Clary went up the stairs towards Izzy's bedroom, a small part of her hoped Jace would run after her and force her to go demon hunting with them. She knew this would have happened from the start so she brought her homework and computer to hang out with instead.

"Come with us," the voice finally said. "You'll be alone if you don't." Jace's eyes were hopeful but Clary refused. If she spent any time longing to see the brightest side of Jace, she'd fall for him more and would lose a new friend. Jace was hard to push through and if she managed to do something that would upset him again… It'd be over. That was the kind of person Jace was. He would never fight so hard for something he cared about and gave up once something was gone.

"I'm use to it so, its fine. You guys have fun." I was alone until I moved to this continent. There's no going back about it and I've gotten use to my own company.

"Clary-"

"It's fine." Jace didn't push any further, noting the tone in Clary's voice. It was demanding, yet shaking. She's never hunted demons, Jace thought. And he was right.

"Okay! I'm gonna get ready. Clary's going to help me so be at the door in 30 minutes." Izzy flounced up the stairs with her friend in tow, tripping over the ends of her pyjama pants. Jace just had to stare at that ass with each step until they were out of sight.

"You've finally settled down to one girl. Don't blow it." Alec glared momentarily at his brother. So, he was with Magnus now and everyone knew. Clary didn't, but it didn't matter. Once he gained her trust, he'd be fine if she managed to grab hold of that information. She had trained him well, but needed to know more about her before he could treat her like any normal person would. Clary was getting there though, and Alec couldn't wait to see the day she made Jace become a regular human being.


Sorry if that was short. We hope it satisfied everyone to some point. It's been a while since the last chapter and we hope it was worth the wait, though it's a big doubt that it was. There will be FFFFLLLUUUFFF in the next chapter so…

You have been warned!