Chapter Song(s):

What Would I Do Without You- Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

If I Could Fly-One Direction

Wherever This Goes-The Fray

Holding On And Letting Go- Ross Copperman

Coming Down-Halsey

She Is The Sunlight-Trading Yesterday

Love In The Dark-Adele

Beam Me Up-P!nk

Devil Side-Foxes

Wildfire-Demi Lovato

Half Light-Banners

Deathbeds-Bring Me The Horizon

Pillow talk-Zayn

Clary kicked her legs back and forth, gripping the edges of the exam table. She didn't want to be here alone. She fiercely reminded herself of why she was. There was no need to tell anyone until she was sure. So what if 10 tests had turned out positive? Home tests were wrong all the time. Who was she kidding? That seemed stupid even to her. Her head jerked up as the doctor walked back in, holding the clipboard. The papers fluttered as a cold breeze drifted in from the hallway. Clary took a deep breath, telling herself she could handle whatever happened. The doctor smiled at her. "Congratulations." She said. "You're pregnant."

Clary gave her a fake smile, holding back a laugh that could very well turn hysterical. She laid back on the table, careful to keep her legs crossed as the doctor talked about vitamins or something. Clary tried to listen. Honestly, she did. But she found herself staring at the white popcorn ceiling, the same thing repeating in her head over and over again.

She was knocked up.

)*(

Clary took a sip of wine, only to spit it back in her glass a second later, cursing herself. It was Simon & Isabelle's engagement party, and Clary was standing by the rose bushes, hoping to be ignored. The minute she had walked into the party, she had felt smothered. A glass of wine had been shoved into her hand, an array of orderves attacking her from every angle. Every time she said no, the fancy food making her stomach clench with just one look. Clary looked across the crowd, hoping to talk to Simon & Isabelle. All she wanted to do was leave, but she wanted to see them & talk to them. It had been the entire reason she'd forced herself into this green dress and golden flats, the whole reason she was standing outside in this humid weather. One would think that the weather would cool down at night, but summer in New York was relentless. The party was being held on the roof of the Hotel Dumort, a hotel owned by Simon's friend, Raphael. The roof was set up like a garden. There were also canopies set up, ones with actual doors. It was admittedly a little bit weird, but also kind of clever. Clary poured her wine into a shrub that looked like it was dying anyways, walking inside one of the canopies to get a break from the crowd. She sat on one of the white couches, burying her face in her hands and heaving a deep sigh. She felt overwhelmed. She had heard once that life would never task her with more than she was capable of handling. Clary now wondered if that was so true, after all. A knock made her look up, her head swinging towards the open door. Jace stood there, his fist still poised against the door frame. He straightened, closing the door before walking towards her. "Hey." He said. She watched, her heart thundering inside her chest, as he walked towards her and sat beside her. She immediately stood up, turning her back on his confused look.

Why, of all places, did he have to walk in here, with her?

"You okay?" Jace asked, and Clary heard the concern in his voice. She laughed. Oh, if only he knew.

"That's a question with many answers. None I want to tell you."

No, I'm not okay. She thought in her head.

She crossed her arms, cupping her elbows. She felt antsy, not able to be still for even a moment. It was as if the secret was trying to force it's way out of her. She turned around, finding Jace looking at her with a confused and slightly hurt expression. She almost felt bad for him.

No. She tersely reminded herself. Don't feel bad for him. He's the reason you're in this situation.

But then again, it kind of did take two to tango.

"Um...okay. Look, I can leave if you want me—"

"I'm pregnant." Clary blurted, immediately covering her mouth. "Wow, that just came right out, didn't it?" She said shakily.

She looked at Jace, slowly lowering her hand. His face was rapidly draining of all color, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide. Clary chewed her thumbnail, afraid she'd broken him. She was suddenly glad he had closed the door behind him as he came in.

"W–what?" He choked out after a few minutes of thick silence.

"I'm pregnant." Clary repeated, more for his benefit or hers, she wasn't sure. She still hadn't quite grown used to the fact herself.

"Holy shit." He stood up, lacing his hands behind his head, turning his back to her. "This is not fucking happening."

That was my reaction. Clary thought as she watched him.

"How—we used a condom!"

"Yeah, I know." Clary said. "I mean the first time, but the second time, I don't think..."

"Oh my god." Jace said, running his hand down his face. "We didn't. We fucking didn't. But —weren't you on birth control?"

"Yeah, but...I hadn't taken it that morning, and I may have skipped a few days..."

"Damn it. God damn it." Jace said.

Clary's eyes stung. She didn't know how she expected him to react, but it wasn't like this.

"I can't—I can't do this." He said, heading for the door.

"Jace—" Clary said, reaching a hand out towards him. He stormed past her. He slammed the door behind him, making her flinch as if she'd been slapped. Clary brought her hand to her mouth, stifling the sound of her hiccuping sob. She backed into the sofa, falling onto it. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Another sob wracked her body, and she folded into herself, wishing she could just turn back time.

)*(

A knock awoke Clary later that night. She had gone back to her apartment, not bothering to wash her face free of her ruined makeup or change. She swung her legs over the side of her bed, walking towards the door. She opened it, surprise jerking through her.

Jace stood at her door, his suit jacket in his hand. His tie had been loosened, and now hung limply around his neck. He leaned against the doorframe, his tired eyes lifting to meet hers. A simmering anger ignited in her at the sight of him.

"Clary, I—"

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Clary said.

"I'm sorry, about earlier. I just freaked out—"

"You don't think I'm freaked out? That I'm not losing my freaking mind? God, I am terrified. Do you think I wanted to have a baby at 23? No! Of course I didn't! My career is just taking off. I'm finally establishing a life for myself. I didn't want this to happen. But I can't walk away. I can't just decide I can't do this and storm out. I don't get that option."

"I'm sorry. God, I'm so—"

"You know what? I really don't want to hear it."

"Is there anything I can...do for you?"

"You can fuck off."

She slammed the door in his face.

)*(

The next time there was a knock on her door, it was morning, and it was Jace. Again. "Jace..." Clary said, pinching the bridge of her nose. Even though she felt kind of bad about yelling at him, she really didn't want to see him. She had woken up this morning, attempting to fry herself some bacon. Normally, she was a huge bacon person. But the smell had sent her racing to the bathroom, barely reaching the toilet before everything in her stomach came up. She had just gotten it to calm down 10 minutes ago. She had tossed the bacon, holding her breath. The smell of if threatened to start the whole thing over again.

"Please, just let me come in. Okay?" Jace said, and she couldn't help it. She opened the door wider, stepping back to let him in. She sat on the coach after closing the door, looking up at him.

"How long have you—when did you find out?" He asked.

"I don't know, a few weeks ago."

"Have you, I don't know been to a doctor or something?"

Instead of answering every little question one by one, Clary just decided to give him the rundown of it all. "Yeah, I went to the doctor a week after I found out. Yesterday, actually. She said that everything's fine, and I'm like 7-8 weeks now—"

"Have you decided what you're going to do yet?" He said, cutting her off.

"I don't...no, not really." Clary said, pulling her knees up to her chest.

"I know, after how I acted last night that you won't believe me, but I'm going to support you no matter what you do." He still had a kind of panicked look to him. Clary patted the spot next to her on the couch. "Come and sit down. You look like you'll have a stroke if you don't."

He sat next to her, turning so that he was facing her. "What do...what do you want to do?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, I mean...it's your baby too." The words baby and too felt so odd coming off her tongue, as if even her mouth thought she was too young for a baby.

"I guess...hell, I don't know. I mean, the thought of a mini-me running around some day had it's appeal. And I mean, I'm 25. That's an okay age to have a kid, isn't it? If I had to choose, I guess I'd chose to keep it."

Clary nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I've always wanted a family. I never thought I would start one this young, and it's not really an ideal time, but...yeah. I'd like to keep it."

"Guess we're more like Ross & Rachel than we'd originally thought."

Clary laughed. "I guess we are, aren't we?"

They sat in silence a few moments, the only sound the distant honking of cars outside.

Jace blew out a breath. "Wow."

"Yeah."

"So...I guess we're having a baby."

Clary gave him a small smile. "Yeah, I guess we are."

)*(

Hope this fulfilled y'all's expectations. I'm trying to update as best I can. But keep in mind, I have exams coming up. I have two this week, and then the last week of May is just crazy for me. So I'll try my best, but my schedule is going to be hectic this month. Plus, if you guys don't already know, my updating schedule is basically based on: I get a chapter out when I can write one. If I have the inspiration, time, etc. thank you guys for all your support. It really just makes me so happy & pushes me to write. I love, love, love seeing the comment where you guys talk about how much you like my other stories, and my writing style, and tell me how great of a writer you guys think I am, it just makes me so ridiculously happy, I almost want to cry. I appreciate all your supportive comments, especially since I'm very sensitive about this story in particular. I'm 15, I've never had a baby. My brother was born when I was 3, so I really don't remember what that was like. I'm trying may very best to write this, and I'm always afraid I'm going to mess it up, because I do have a tendency to do that. I just want to thank you all for reading TPOF. I hope you keep doing so. -Megan