A/N: Ok, so fanfiction is doing weird things, so I decided to post a second chapter today. It did not send out an email for chapter 15, but it says that it exist. I don't know what is happening.
Tomorrow is also my birthday so I thought I would give you a little gift. If you have not read 15, please go back and read it I am sorry for the weird internet mistake.
Again there is a fair amount of time skips over the next few chapters be attentive.
Clary had never been happier in her life. She never imaged feeling this much joy before and now that she was experiencing it she never wanted it to end. She had close friends and a loving husband. She had things to put her mind to everyday, as well as a new family to support her.
The last month was the longest month of her life. She trained, did chores, and made sweet passionate love to her husband. They were nearing the invasion of the castle, which the more it approached the more anxious she got. At this point in her life, she just wanted everything to stay beautiful and calm, but she knew that would end eventually. In four months, they were going back to her home, back into the lion's den, where she would have to play the doting princess. She did not want to pretend to be her brother's plaything, but she knew it was their best chance of defeating him.
Jace was going to be out late tonight with a few of his men, but Clary sat on the bed, waiting for Jace to come in from the feast. She couldn't believe she hadn't realized it sooner. She wanted to tell him the first time she saw him, but there had been so many people around. She wanted it to be private moment between the two of them. The longer she waited the more nervous she got. It seemed like he was taking forever, or maybe it was just the nerves.
Jace pushed himself into the tent, tossing his vest aside. "You waited up for me." He grinned faintly, as she got to her feet. "Were you so needing of your husband to properly put you to bed, or is something wrong?" He asked, taking a step closer to her. He ran his hands over her hips, kissing her forehead lightly.
"Nothing's wrong." She shook her head, smiling ever so slightly.
"Then why did you wait for me?" He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before running his thumb over her cheek. "You never wait for me to come back." His smile ghosting his lips. She always fell fast asleep when Jace decided to stay out later, but he would always come in and stir her away. With a sleepy smile, she would plant her lips against his, while he dragged her body over to his.
"I'm pregnant." She bit her lip, seeing his eyes light up almost instantly.
"Really?" He picked her up, as she giggled softly.
"Yes." She snickered, as his lips connected softly with hers. She whimpered in surprise, feeling their innocent kiss turn into something more. He held her body stiffly against his, leading her to the lump of furs. She squeaked in surprise when they toppled onto their bed. He pushed her leather skirts above her hips, too excited to get her clothes all the way off. She stuffed her hands into her hair, kissing him fiercely. She moaned quietly, bringing her legs around his hips.
OoOoO
Clary panted heavily, resting her eyes on her husband. He was lying between her legs, talking to her stomach in their aftermath. She liked the intimacy of this moment. She felt like he was so far away some times, and she just wanted to be close to him always. He smiled against the skin on her stomach, blowing warm breath across her belly.
"I doubt the baby can hear you talking. "She snickered, playing with the locks of his hair.
"You don't know that." He chuckled, kissing her belly button.
"No, I don't." She laughed, trailing her finger over his ear. He shuddered at the touch, grinning deviously at her.
"You know if you wanted my attention…" He bit his lip, crawling up her body. "All you had to do was ask." His mouth trailed across the nape of her neck, making her groan with want.
"Oh, that's all." She snickered, holding onto his shoulders.
"Yes," He pushed a stray lock from her face, gazing down at her with soft eyes. "Have you spoken to Magnus? Do you know how far you are?" He asked, wanting to know everything.
"I think around 2 months. That's when we started really trying." She ruffled her fingers into his hair, smiling up at him. "I've also missed two cycles." She explained quietly, as Jace rested his forehead against hers.
OoOoO
Clary was pretty much holed up their tent for the next week. Isabelle and a few other women were spoiling her to no end, which was beginning to drive her crazy. They took pregnancy very seriously, but that didn't surprise her. Their entire community was about traditions and family. She was surprised at the amount of pampering they were giving her. At home, if a woman was pregnant, she went about her daily life with a few changes in her daily labor. Clary hadn't been allowed to lift her finger.
The first time she was allowed to leave her tent, she was shocked at the festival that had been set up in the town center. Jace showed up at her side, placing his hand on her lower back. "What is this?" She smiled, looking up at him.
"We are celebrating our future son and his mother." He grinned broadly at her, drawing her a little closer to him.
"Really?" she smirked faintly, feeling more honored then she probably should. They probably do this for all of their nobles. She wouldn't put it past them because they were all about tradition.
"Why would I lie? Come sit with me." He slipped his hand into hers, leading her to their usual table. People were eating, playing games, and dancing. She couldn't help but smile at all of their excitement. It seemed different then their normal feast. There was an air about it that screamed exhilaration. She smiled, sitting next to her husband.
He gave her some food, sliding it over to her. "I had them make something special for you." Jace said softly.
"What is it?" She smiled, bringing it to her mouth. She hummed quietly, tasting the spices on her tongue. Their food wasn't overly bland, but it never tasted like this.
"Does it matter?" He teased, digging into his own food.
"No." She stuffing more of whatever she was eating into her mouth. They ate in a comfortable silence, enjoying the festivities. "Is there anything else happening at the party tonight?" She asked, leaning against her palm.
"No, but there are a few traditions we do to ensure that our first born is a boy." Jace tucked her hair behind her ear, beginning to explain another way of life.
"There are?" She furrowed her brow faintly, wondering what they were.
"Yes, the first one is a dance under the full moon in traditional garb, which is followed by drinking a mixture of herbs and spices. Then, I am to take you to the underwater spring, and we are to be joined as one until the sun rises over the horizon. It is said that the angel granted the moon the power to create a son. I don't know if I believe that, but it will be very entertaining." He stroked her cheek lightly, and she leaned into his touch.
She leaned against him, turning her eyes back to the dancers. Jace stood up, holding his hand out. She took it, letting him pull her to her feet. He hopped on his back, making him chuckle. He held onto her legs, hoisting her up to a comfortable position on his back. She held onto his shoulder tightly, as they approached a game. Kids were running around kicking a leather ball around, cheering with laughter.
"Do you boys need two more players?" Jace offered, setting his wife back down on the ground. They looked up at them completely stunned, nodding eagerly at them.
"I don't know how to play." Clary exclaimed, putting her hands dramatically on her cheek.
"You'll figure it out." A boy assured her, pulling her to his side of the court.
Clary snickered, fooling around with the children, as she attempted to play their game. She had no idea what she was doing, but she followed her group around, doing what they told her to do. She kicked the ball, clapping when she did what she was supposed to do. Jace lifted one up, running around the group. Clary snorted at him, liking the way her husband acted with the children. She honestly never saw him with anyone other than his warriors, so she kept watching him.
He ruffled children's hair, encouraging them when they made a mistake. He ran around with the boys, holding back to let the children score. It was quite amusing to watch.
They hadn't really spent any time with the children beforehand. She was surprised to see the joy in his face, as he played with them. "We won! We won!" A boy on her team chanted, and she bounced with joy. The boys circled around her, and they giggled with glee, sticking their tongues out at the other team. Her eyes locked on Jace, who shrugged faintly. He made his way to his wife, somehow getting her onto his shoulder. She held onto his head, struggling to keep her balance. Laughter escaped her lips, as she let her head fall back.
When they approached their tent, he pull her off of his shoulders, making her fall into his arms. She gasped loudly, grasping onto him. He kissed her lightly, as he led her into their room. He laid her onto the bed of furs, and she stretched her arms above her head.
"What would the winner like for her prize?" He pressed his lips to her ankle, beginning to crawl up the bed to kiss her inner knee.
"I don't know." She hummed, spreading her legs more to give him some space. "How about a cake?" She teased, biting her lip.
"What's cake?" He chuckled, rubbing her nose against her stomach.
"It's something sweet and fluffy." She played with his locks, enjoying the softness of his hair.
"We have never made anything sweet or fluffy." He inhaled a deep breath, cracking a smile. "But I'm sweet." He tangled their mouths together. "No promises about the fluffy." He laughed, running a hand down her thigh.
OoOoO
Clary stood in front of a mirror, as Isabelle tailored the traditional skirt she was to wear for the ceremony. She took a shaky breath, holding her breast in her arms. Jace didn't tell her that the clothes she would have to wear didn't include a top. She was incredibly nervous about doing anything without a top on. It was still a few weeks away though. The full moon would not be in the sky until the next month, which was a relief to her.
Jace was the only one that had ever seen her breasts. Even though he had always appreciated them, she knew that they were the smallest in their clan. They were all very busty women, and Clary just wasn't. Her torso was going to be painted white with spiraling black traditional symbols, but that didn't mean she was comfortable doing it.
"There is nothing we can do about this? I really don't think I can be in front of so many people naked." Clary shook her head, feeling her face flush.
"It's tradition. There would be an uproar if you tried to change it." Isabelle tautened the skirt to fit her, as she began to sew it together. Clary groaned loudly, holding her chest tighter. "That drink you have to take will get you rather stoned, so I doubt you'll care." Isabelle assured her.
"I'm going to get high?" She moaned in annoyance, noticing how much of her leg was exposed. "You should start flying back down to earth when you go to the underground spring." Isabelle snickered at her concern, but it didn't make her feel any better.
The more she learned about this ceremony, the more she didn't like it. She was going to be naked and high in front of dozens of people, and then Jace would take her to this mystical stream. Everyone would know they were having sex. She was surprised that the ceremony didn't involve her mounting Jace in front of everyone.
"Clary," Isabelle got to her feet, really seeing her friends distress for the first time today. "Everything will be fine. What is causing you so much trouble?" She held out Clary's robe, so she could cover herself up.
"I understand that you don't have issues with modesty, but I do. Before I came here, the only person who saw anything other than my face and hands was my handmaiden, Dot. I struggled so much just wearing these clothes, and now I am going to be on display for everyone to see. It's different with just Jace." She looked down, picking at her hands. "I didn't even like Jace seeing me naked until recently, and I just- I don't want to do it." She whispered, tying her robe tighter.
Isabelle sighed softly, sitting on the edge of Clary's bed. Clary expected her friend to say something, but she remained silent. "I don't know how to make this better." Isabelle shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head. "Do you want me to get Simon? Maybe he could help?" she offered, releasing a heavy breath.
"Do what you want." Clary sat on the bed, putting her face in her hands.
Isabelle left the tent, and Clary laid back against her bed. She didn't understand why it had to be like this. They couldn't just change tradition a little bit?
"Hey there," Simon's comforting voice entered the tent.
"Hi," she murmured, starring up at the ceiling.
"Isabelle says your upset." Simon sat next to her, lying back.
"I don't think I should talk about it with you." She grumbled, shaking her head. "I want to. I do, but I don't think Jace-"
"Whatever it is, you are an amazing woman, and you can face any challenge." He encouraged her, exhaling a large breath.
"Thanks Simon." She whispered, grinning faintly. Clary felt oddly soothed by Simon's words. She loved him the way she should love her brother, and he had been there her whole life. She knew that those words wouldn't comfort her for long, but they worked for now. That insecurity was going to clutch at her again when no one was around to fix it. She knew that she could speak to Jace about it, but she knew how it would go. Jace would give her praise, showing her exactly which parts of her he enjoyed. It was different compared to when she was in front of strangers.
OoOoO
Jace carefully brushed the hair away from her face. He was smiling at her, while his fingers splayed across her stomach. She couldn't get over how happy he was about her getting pregnant. His hand was always on her belly with large grins, gazing down at her.
She ran her fingers over his, tangling them together. "I love how excited you are." She whispered, putting her forehead to his. She brushed their lips together lightly before bumping her nose against his.
"What do you mean?" He questioned softly, circling his thumb across her skin.
"I just- I thought you wanted a baby because you needed an heir, but you really just want a child to love." She whispered, as his hand slid across her hip, pulling her closer to him. He drew her leg over his hip, leaning in to tangle their mouths together.
"If I didn't want to have a baby, I wouldn't have had one." He breathed, running his fingers cross her thigh. "I wouldn't have gotten married if I didn't want to." He deepened their kiss, making her moan lightly, as his tongue slid across the roof of her mouth. "I love you." He spoke against her lips, sounding surprised by his own words.
"Jace," she breathed, sliding her hand into his hair.
"I do, love you." He cupped her neck lightly, locking their lips together again. He didn't give her the chance to say anything back, as his mouth devoured her own. She didn't even know what she would say back, so maybe it was a good thing that Jace kept her body occupied. She held onto him tightly, cherishing the words that he had spoken to her.
He made love to her that night, worshiping her body. He repeated those words so many times in her ear, making her close her eyes, as his hips ground against her own. She moaned audibly, as her head unceremoniously dropped against their pillow.
OoOoO
Clary watched over him, as he slept. His head was resting on her bosom, while his arm was wrapped around her waist. She stroked his hair, ruffling it at the roots. She could feel him purr when she scratched carefully at his scalp. She enjoyed him lying in this position. It made her feel like he was dependent of her.
"Go to sleep." He muttered, nuzzling against her.
"I like… I love watching you." She whispered, playing with his locks.
"You didn't say it back." He whispered, remaining in his place.
"You didn't really give me a chance to say anything." She kissed his brow, not knowing what she would have said.
"Hmmm." He hummed, keeping his eyes closed. Less than a second later, his breathing became steady, as he fell back asleep.
She didn't know how she felt about Jace. She knew she had deep affection for him, and she cared for him more than she cared for anyone. But what was love? She didn't know what it felt like, and she didn't want to say it if she didn't mean it. She adjusted her blanket, closing her eyes. She never thought she would get to this point in her life, a point where she would have to truly discover her feelings for someone.
OoOoO
She stirred awake when she heard a soft grunting sound. She rubbed at her eyes, seeing Jace sitting up next to her. She felt something damp on her chest, which she realized was drool. She rubbed it off her herself, as she propped herself up. She felt like she needed to speak, but no words would come. He ran his hand through his hair, looking back at his wife, as she starred back at him.
"I-" she muttered, stopping in her tracks. He sighed heavily, shaking his head faintly.
"You don't need to say anything." He lied back down on his side, moving the strands of hair from her face.
"It's not that I don't love you." She whispered, sliding her hand over his.
"I know." He nodded in understanding, mingling their fingers together.
"I just don't know if I am in love with you." Her eyes softened at him, seeing the slight pang that radiated from his chest. "I never thought I would feel like this. I don't know what it is, and I don't want to define it before I know for sure." She breathed.
"I understand. I know I shouldn't have expected to hear the words back, but I hoped." He inhaled, scanning his eyes along her face.
"You are my everything. I promise you that." She curled her lips upwards ever so slightly. He kissed her knuckled before drawing away from her. She lied back down on her back, knowing that she should get more rest. Pregnancy made her beyond sleepy, but she didn't like how their situation was being cut off.
OoOoO
The second time she had woken up that morning she was incredibly sick. She knew that it was a symptom of pregnancy, but she had hoped that it passed her by. Isabelle had been hurried into the room soon after to look after her, which she definitely needed.
She felt truly awful the whole morning, so she kept to her tent. By the time, she was feeling better, the sun had gone down. Isabelle brought her food, keeping her from straining herself any further. She probably could have joined everyone, but she wanted to build up some of her strength. She had plans to make up with her husband. She knew that he wasn't angry, but she suddenly realized how selfish she had been with him. Their love making these past few months had always been about her.
Jace slipped into the tent, shucking off his pants upon entry before he crawled into the bed next to her. "How are you doing?" He questioned softly, running her fingers over her belly.
"Much better." She smiled up at him, tangling their mouths together for a quick second. "I'm sorry about this morning. I feel so horrible that I don't say those words back to you." She exclaimed, sitting up.
"I also told you that I understand. Don't feel bad." He hummed, trailing his fingers over her thigh.
"I just- you do so much for me. I want to do something for you." She grinned at him, biting her lip.
"You do plenty for me." He breathed, cupping her cheek lightly.
"Lie on your stomach." She encouraged, adjusting her position. He gave her a hesitant look before he rolled on followed her command.
She pressed her palm against his muscles. He dragged her hands against his skin, making him groan contently. Her lips quirked upwards, as she massaged his back. She listened to his body, seeing which movements enacted the most comfort and pleasure. He moaned once again, and she smiled to herself. She was quite proud that he was enjoying this so much.
She noticed a fair amount of his muscles were tightly coiled. She took extra care of those areas, trying to release all the tension under the skin. She wondered why he was so tense. She knew it had to do with the plans for the coup, but they still hadn't graced her with that information, even though it had been a little over two months since they discovered her.
She was just glad her husband's affections didn't take that long to return to her.
She squeaked with giggled when Jace had rolled around, pulling her over his hips. "I think you have done plenty for me in that area, why don't both do something for each other." He purred, trailing his fingers over his ribs.
"You are such a flirt." She mocked, letting her hair curtain around them.
"That I am." He chuckled with a dopey smile on his face. Her smile faltered because she truly wanted to make him feel good. She wanted him to enjoy himself, not necessarily her. "You are thinking way too much right now." He teased, holding her cheek gently in his hand.
"I want to bring you pleasure. You do it for me very often, and it isn't fair for you." She whispered, sliding her hands across his chest.
"If I wasn't enjoying myself, you would not be pregnant." He smirked up at her, stroking her cheek gently.
"I know, but I-"
"I know what you mean and I would like that very much, but not right now." He sat up, bringing their chest together. "I love being with you exactly like we have been. Let's enjoy each other now, and experiment later." He suggested, kissing her gently.
"Alright." She breathed, biting her lip.
A/N: So, she is preggo. A lot of people were asking, and I didn't want to ruin the surprise. They are starting to get along better, and I want to say again time skips. This chapter starts a month after the last one.
Shout out to my beta Scared of Scars!
Please Review!