A/N: Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading. I can believe I am getting so close to the end of this story! It is crazy I have been working on it for over a year and it will definitely be missed.

Please enjoy!

Clary strode down the halls with Dot, Clary shared random things about her new life. They spoke a lot about her pregnancy, which wasn't surprising at all. Her baby belly was so prominent by now, which she loved and hated. She loved how active he was but at the same time, her ankles were twice the size than they used to be. She ached constantly, which was constantly annoying the crap out of her.

They walked by some stationed guards and Clary realized that the first phase of the coup had taken place. She knew that Jace had been looking into the guard rotations over the last few days, but he didn't mention that he was already putting their people into place. She would have to speak to him about that later tonight because she was very adamant on staying up to date about their actions.

"Are you listening?" Dot questioned, drawing her attention back to her.

"Yes, sorry." She shook her head, running her fingers through her locks.

"I asked you if have met with a mid-wife yet?" She asked, hooking their arms together.

"No, I was planning on meeting with one when we got back to the forest." Or after the uprising. She didn't want to get ahead of herself, but she had about 3 months before her son was born. She had talked to Magnus a few times, which was helpful, yet not as informative as she wanted. She needed to learn a lot more before the time came.

"You might want to consider talking to one here and try to stay here until the baby comes. It is so dangerous to travel through the desert while you are pregnant." She fussed, feeling concerned for Clary.

"It would be even more dangerous to travel with a baby through the desert." Clary pointed out with a faint smile. She loved that Dot missed her so much. She felt horrible for causing her handmaiden so much distress, but she appreciated the care that Dot gave her.

"Then maybe you should just stay here until the child is of age and then you'll never have to leave my side." She teased, smiling widely.

Clary realized that after the coup she would be staying here. She could be with Dot all the time, and she found herself getting filled with excitement. She wasn't going to have to go back to the desert where she constantly sweat, where she was covered in sand, and where she had a constant sun burn. She was going to stay in her safe feeling stone walls and bathtubs galore. She was thrilled that she was going to be clean whenever she felt like it.

"Is everything alright?" Dot laughed, seeing Clary's mood shift.

"I'm great." She beamed, sighing contently. She loved the forest, but she loved this place so much more. With her brother gone, she would feel free and safe, which would remove every apprehension that she had about staying in her childhood home. She was ready to teach her son how to walk across the same carpet where she learned to walk. She was forcing back a squeal of excitement, as she walked down the hall.

OoOoO

Clary felt stiff as her, Jace, and Jonathan had dinner together in the great dining hall. It was odd that it was only them, but she felt comforted by the fact that her husband was there. She felt a little more protected than normal, which was nice. Her brother looked bored as he ate, which didn't surprise her. It had been at least 20 minutes and he hadn't even tried to start a conversation with them.

She looked over at Jace, who was obviously very bothered by the silence. "We were wanting to request more medicine for when we return back to the forest. Our population has grown substantially over the past few years, and we don't have the supplies to make the sun sickness cure. We lost nearly 75 people to sun fever, and we receive a lot less resources compared to other territories." Jace requested cordially, poking at his plate.

"That cure is very expensive, and it is also used for a dozen different diseases that are in my city directly. Therefore, I cannot grant your request." Jonathan dismissed him immediately, looking even more bored than before.

Clary could see the vein popping out of her husband jaw, as he clenched it tightly. She slid her hand over his knee, squeezing it lightly. She didn't know why he even bothered with the request. They were going to kill her brother before the month was over. Maybe Jace was trying to keep her brother from thinking there was a rebellion brewing right in front of him. If they didn't ask for anything, he might get suspicious.

"I have been planning a ball for your return." Jonathan cleared his throat, turning his eyes to his sister.

"u .Really?" Clary raised her eyebrows in surprised, as she looked over at her husband.

"Your presences has been missed for a lot of people here, and I wanted to honor your return." He smiled faintly, like he forgot that her husband was in her room.

"Thank you." She knew that her voice sounded genuine, but she was more confused than anything. Her brother hated balls, why in the world would he want to throw one for her?

The rest of dinner fell back into an awkward silence. Clary got up when her food was finished, and Jace followed after her. She had a million things that she need to talk to him about, but she wanted to wait until they were in the privacy of their room. She opened their bedroom door, ushering him inside. Jace's gaze shifted around the room, leaning against the vanity.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were replacing the guards already?" She asked, sitting on their bed.

"I saw an opportunity this morning. I had to think fast." He kneeled in front of her, slipping her shoes off of her feet. She looked at him oddly, wondering what he was doing, but she groaned loudly when he started rubbing her feet. She fell back against the bed, feeling completely overwhelmed by the sensation of her husband's hands. She liked this more than when he touched her when they were having sex, which was saying something. She moaned loudly, trailing her fingers over her belly. Her body hurt too much to sit back up, but she didn't really care at this point.

"This is glorious." She closed her eyes, as he started massaging her ankles. "You have never done this, who gave you this idea." She murmured, taking a deep breath.

"Dot said your feet had been hurting." Jace explained, kissing her disgustingly swollen ankle.

"They have been murdered by the child in belly." She snickered, propping her arm behind her head. "Do you want to go to the ball? I know Jonathan hasn't expected you to come." She whimpered softly when Jace pressed his fingers in just the right spot.

"I can go." He shrugged his shoulders.

"You'll have to wear a shirt." She teased with a faint smile.

"I have worn a shirt before Clary." He snorted, releasing her feet.

"Really?" She snorted, looking up enough to see his face.

"Yes, I have." He purred, looming above her at the foot of her bed. She was slightly disappointed that he had stopped rubbing her feet, but she smiled widely when he started to pull at the laces on his pants.

OoOoO

She laid on her side, as Jace circled the base of his palms against her back. She got a pinched nerve when they were being intimate, and Jace insisted on taking care of it. Her entire back had been sore lately, so the sudden attention to her body was greatly appreciated. He really knew what it was doing when it came to massages. She couldn't believe that she hadn't had him do them more often.

"Lie on your stomach." She encouraged, wanting to return the favor.

"You really don't need to do that." He chuckled, following her commands.

"Yes, I do." She kissed him lightly, rolling her hands against his skin.

Clary paused when there was a faint knock on the door. She furrowed her brow, and Jace propped himself up slightly. He obviously did not appreciate the interruption. "I'll get it." She crawled very ungracefully out of bed before slipping on her evening gown. She opened the door, furrowing her brow when she saw her brother in the door way.

"Is everything alright?" She asked, glancing back at her husband who was already skulking towards the door.

"I had some things I want to discuss with you, but I-" Her brother's eyes widened, as Jace show up behind her. Clary sucked in her lips when she realized that he was standing at the door way completely naked. She put her hand out trying to shield his parts, but it didn't really help. Clary just hoped that some poor female servant didn't walk by. "I see you are occupied." He growled, eyeing her husband with a death glare.

"Well we did retire for the evening, so, of course, we are preoccupied." Jace looked Jonathan up and down, and Clary realized that he was quiet visibly flexing every one of his muscles, which made her want to laugh even harder.

"I will talk to you tomorrow." He snarled at her husband before striding down the hall.

"That was unnecessary." She laughed, shutting the door.

"Oh, it was so necessary." He chuckled, lifting her off the ground, as he planted his lips on hers.

OoOoO

Clary stood with Isabelle, as a seamstress worked on her first gown. Isabelle seemed so giddy, which made Clary smile widely. She deserved to feel like a princess. She had practically carried her through the last year in the desert, and Clary owed her everything. "What color should I get?" Isabelle asked her, running her hand over the corset and chemise.

"Red." She suggested, knowing that the color would make her look like a seductress.

"Ohhhh." She sighed in awe, as the crimson color was draped over her. "Wow." She gaped, shaking her head. "This is too much, Clary." Isabelle inhaled a deep breath, turning to face her.

"No, it isn't" Clary assured her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you." She breathed, looking back at herself in the mirror.

OoOoO

Clary walked next to her brother, as they took a turn around the garden. She needed to address what he wanted to speak about the night before. She still couldn't believe her husband had so wantonly flashed her brother, but Jonathan didn't mention anything about it, which she was thankful for. He also hadn't spoken since they started their walk, and she wondered if something was wrong.

"You wanted to speak to me?" Clary started to spark the conversation because she wanted to escape him as soon as she could.

"Yes, I wanted to apologize about lunch the other day. I shouldn't have been so ill tempered with you." His voiced seeped with sincerity, which heavily surprised her.

"You are sorry? You're never sorry." She scoffed, feeling uncomfortable from his declaration.

"I-" He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I am beginning to feel like what you have been saying is true. There is no sign of a rebellion, and I have pretty much banished the only person I care about." He stated, pausing in his steps. "I love you, and I never meant to send you away like that. It was such a rash decision." He shook his head, reaching out to cup her cheek. "I know that if I keep treating you the way that I have been, you will never come back here, and I don't know if I could live like that." He breathed, stepping closer to her. Her heart thumped in her chest by his closeness, causing her to gulp thickly, as he started to lean closer to her. His lips pressed to her forehead, lingering way longer than she was comfortable with.

"Jonathan…" she trailed off, taking a step back from him. Clary didn't know what to do. She had never seen this side of her brother before.

"I have to go." He released a breath. "But I am glad we were able to talk."

OoOoO

The week had gone by, and servants had been scurrying around the castle preparing for the ball. Clary had to get a bunch of clothes because a handful of their people were going to be attending the ball. She was excited for them, but none of them had ever worn a dress or a shirt before. She wasn't sure how the evening would go.

Clary stood in front of her husband, as she helped Jace to get his dark black dress coat on, fastening the golden buttons. "I know how to put on clothes." He snorted, gazing gown at her.

"I know." She murmured, smiling up at him. "Tonight is important, and I want to personally ensure that you look like a king." She pushed herself up on her toes, kissing him lightly.

"I don't already look like one." He teased, sliding his hands over her hips, so he could draw her closer.

"You are a king in nothing but the skin on your back, but that might startle some poor women." She snickered, drawing away from him, as she searched through her belongings. She had this special gift made for him earlier in the week. The jeweler didn't understand why she was commissioning it, but she didn't care. She pulled the large felt box out of the cupboard, setting it on her vanity. "I had this made for you." She lifted the lid, lifting out the golden object.

"That is worth more than our whole town. Why on earth would you have that made for me?" He asked, seeming overly confused.

"It is a crown, Jace, for my king of these lands." She gestured for him to dip his head, as she placed it on his head. "Because that is what you are." She stated with confidence.

"I've never thought about that." He murmured, gazing down at the woman he loved.

"You knew you were going to be king." She glanced at him oddly, as she trailing her hands up his arms.

"You were going to be queen. I was going to be your husband. If I wanted the throne, I would have taken it by force already." He explained, touching her cheek lightly. "I am not worthy of the weight." He breathed, adjusting awkwardly in his clothes. "I was not made for this, but I was made to be your husband and your warrior." He brushed their lips together lightly, as he wrapped his arms around her hips.

"There is nothing I have done to deserve your love, I don't know how to repay you for it." She found herself saying without thinking.

"You could love me back." He stroked her cheek lightly, pressing his lips firmly to hers. There was nothing passionate about the kiss, which was typically what his kisses felt like. Instead, it was a symbol of the intimacy between them. He drew away slowly, pausing just far enough away to gaze into her eyes.

They broke apart when there was a pounding at the door. He moved across the room, staring at himself in the mirror. She wondered what he was thinking, as he looked at his reflection. She wandered over to the door, cracking it open. She wasn't ready to leave their bubble, but she knew it had popped when she saw her brothers face.

"Yes?" She asked, making sure that Jace was out of her brother's sight.

"I came to escort you. I assume your brute of a husband wasn't going to attend." Jonathan offered and insulted, as he held out his arm.

"Actually, Jace is going, and I'm not dressed yet." She explained, looking down at the night gown she was wearing.

"Oh." She saw disappointment flash across her brother's face. He stepped away from her, striding down the hall. She closed the door, leaning back against it.

"I think I finally understand how you felt when you first arrived in the forest." Jace stated softly, turning to face her.

"It was hard, and I felt so alone." She breathed, slipping her night gown off, as she reached for her clothes.

"But I have you and our little man." He smiled, walking over to him. He placed his hands on her belly after she got her skirt and top on.

"Yes, you do." She smiled, moving in front of the mirror.

She had decided to do something very different and very unconventional. She mixed the style of her clothes from the forest and the gowns here. She wore a top to cover her breast, and a separate skirt with a large slit in the side. Jace brought his arms around her, nuzzling her neck with his nose.

"You look like an angel." He hummed against her skin, trailing his fingers over her belly.

"Thank you." She smiled, looking over the white material. "We should go." She ran her hand over his, enjoying their reflection in the mirror.

They made their way down the hall together, while Clary grasped her husband's arm. She had never been more attracted to him, seeing him in her element compared to his. He looked just like a prince in every dream she had growing up. Now that prince typically had dark hair, but she definitely preferred the gold. She knew he would never see himself as that or as king, but she enjoyed the clothes a lot.

They stepped through the double doors, hearing music filter throughout of the room. She felt her mind flash back to all the balls she had attended in the past, in comparison to those, this one felt so different. She was a completely different person now. Clary knew Jonathan would want her to sit in the queen's spot next to him, but he hadn't accommodated for her husband. It didn't surprise her at all.

"Sit on the smaller throne." She breathed into his ear, as they neared her brother. He nodded silently, leading them over to her brother.

Jonathan's face had already turned bright red with anger, while his eyes focused on the crown sitting on her husband's head. Jace sat down on the throne, grinning over at her brother. He looked even more furious, but that paled in comparison when she sat on Jace's lap.

"Clary, what are you wearing?" He snipped, widening his eyes at her.

"She is wearing a mixture of my culture and yours." Jace said before Clary even opened her mouth. "I greatly appreciate it." He turned his gaze to his wife, pushing a lock away from her forehead. She soothed her hand over her husband's knee, trying to calm him down. He was beginning to act harshly towards Jonathan, which would only end poorly.

"Can you bring me some food?" She asked softly, touching Jace's cheek. He nodded silently, as she got to her feet. He pushed himself out of the throne, striding across the room.

"Why is he wearing a crown?" Jonathan practically spat with rage.

"He is a duke now, Jonathan. He is part of the royal family. Why shouldn't he be allowed to wear one?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"He isn't royalty, and what in the world is he wearing. Did you dress him up like your play thing?" He scoffed, glaring at Jace from across the room.

"He is wearing normal clothes. He asked me to commission them for him." She explained, smiling faintly at him. "I think he looks rather handsome." She hummed.

"I think he looks like a fool." Her brother declared, leaning back in his chair.

Clary let her eyes drift over the crowd. Every guard in the room belonged to her husband, as well as a handful of guest. She was shocked that her brother could not see that they were overrunning his palace in the two weeks they had been here.

Her gaze landed on Isabelle, who leaned against the wall, talking up Simon. Simon's face was redder than her dress, which made her smile faintly. He was obviously flustered, making Clary smirk. Isabelle declared that she would pursue Simon, but she didn't see clear signs of that until now. They spoke often though.

Jace returned with a plate of food, and she smiled up at him. "Get up." He chuckled, seeing that she wasn't letting him sit.

"Right." She smiled, getting up.

"Is our son making you hungry?" He pulled her into his lap, kissing her cheek.

"Always." She snickered, plopping a grape into her mouth.

Jace and Clary had fallen into a lull of their own world, where they flattered, and snickered, and spoke just to one another. They had forgotten the ball around them, which wasn't the greatest idea, but Clary found herself not really caring. After she had finished her food, she dragged her husband to the dance floor.

"I don't know these dances." Jace chuckled, drawing her nearer to him.

"We can just sway." She hummed, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"We'll disrupt the others." He chuckled, as he held her waist like he had seen other men do.

"I don't care." She leaned against him, enjoying the movement between them.

OoOoO

Clary stood by her brother late into the night. Jace was speaking to his cousin across the room, giving her time to speak to her brother. She honestly didn't really want to spend time with him, but she knew that her brother would have expected some time for the two of them to converse.

"How far along are you?" Jonathan asked, breaking their stiff silence.

"6 and half months." She murmured, furrowing her brow at him. The only time he mentioned her pregnancy was when he was raving that he couldn't believe she was pregnant. Her brother nodded, playing with his wine glass, as his gaze rested on her over grown belly.

"Do you love it?" He looked at her oddly, raising his eyes to hers.

"I love him, yes." She nodded. "How could I not? He has been here with me for 6 whole months. I feel him move about my belly for hours on end. I feel like I already know him." She explained, sighing contently.

"Interesting." He murmured, kicking at the ground.

"I should turn in." She shifted awkwardly, walking towards her husband.

OoOoO

Clary rolled onto her side, looking over Jace, as she thought about her brother. "Jonathan seems different." She breathed, sliding her hand over his torso. "He apologized to me for how he treated me and he asked me about our baby. He has never done those things before." She explained, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Are you having second thoughts?" He stroked her cheek lightly, releasing an exhausted breath.

"Maybe." She whispered, feeling her stomach churn. "I know the forest's situation isn't ideal, but everything is fine. Do we have to do this now?"

"We had 75 people die this year from sun sickness and your brother still refuses to get us more medication. Your brother has always taken advantage of our people, and we gave him so many chances to reform our area. He hasn't done anything to help us, Clary. Things are already in motion. We can't stop." He drew her into his arms, sighing heavily. "I know you want to think that your brother has changed, but he is the same man. He is just trying to win your affections back."

"I know." She closed her eyes, wishing that it didn't have to be like this. She missed her brother. She missed the boy she grew up with, and she knew that by the end of the month, he might not be here anymore. He had to die. There was no way for her to claim the throne if her brother was still alive. She took a shaky breath, hugging her husband tightly.

A/N: There are two chapters left, and I am in progress of writing the epilogue. What has been your guys favorite part?

Shout out to my awesome beta, Scared of Scars.

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