Thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoy. xD

Chapter two.

Sun shone through the blinds. Jace snored lightly, as soft as a cat's purr, beside her. Clary attempted to kick him awake, but for some reason he wouldn't budge and all that she succeeded in doing was making him move across the bed, pushing her further away. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was nearly 6AM and they had a ferry to catch.

"JACE!" she shouted in his ear. He jolted and Clary burst out laughing at his reaction. He ran a hand through his messed up hair and shot her an accusing stare. She smiled innocently and leaned in for a morning kiss which lasted a good minute or more. He appeared more awake after that. "Morning."

"What time is it?" he grunted, pulling Clary in for a surprisingly eager cuddle. She giggled against his kisses that trailed her jaw and then ended on her mouth. When she finally got time to answer she said, "Time to get up?"

Jace didn't seem enthusiastic. He nibbled her ear and whispered, "We could always not go." She closed her eyes and smiled at the fuzzy feeling he gave her; a feeling that started in her heart and worked its way down until all she wanted was him. All of him.

"Don't encourage me," she said huskily. She ran her fingers over his jaw and bit lip before opening her mouth for him. His tongue met hers and they explored each other and not before long his hands were roaming her thighs and hitching one over his body. She rolled onto him in one sweeping fashion and straddled his lap. Her hair dangled over one shoulder, a curtain between them and the world, while she raked fingernails over his chest. He gave her one of his earth shattering grins full desire and she barely managed to move off him before she lost herself all together.

Jace sighed. "So it's Jace to the rescue once again,"

Clary threw a shoe of his over to him. "Go get dressed," she said, holding back laughter. On his way to the shower she heard him chuckling. "And don't use up all the hot water!" she yelled when she heard the water start up. There was no doubt he'd pretend she didn't hear, even though he had way better hearing than she did.

Twenty minutes later, Jace came out of the bathroom with a small towel barely covering his goods. She rolled her eyes at the picture. Jace grinned; he knew what he did to her. Clary cleared her throat and grabbed her things, heading to the bathroom. Maybe she'd need a cold shower.

"Hey, don't I get breakfast in bed?" he said, ducking when she turned quickly, contemplating throwing something at him. But all she had was clothes.

"You're lucky Isabelle isn't here. She'd show you who's boss."

"Oh but I want you to show me," he said in a sultry tone. Clary choked on laughter and stepped into the steaming room, groaning when she couldn't see her own reflection. Jace had written her a message and she spent the next few minutes wiping the mirror, telling herself she'd get her own back later.

"Have you seen my cell?" she asked Jace half an hour later. They were running late; the ferry was due to leave at seven-thirty and it was already seven.

"You threw it at the wall last night, remember?" he gloated. She glared at the air and went to the living room to find her phone back cover in one corner and the main part under the table.

"What the hell?" she muttered under her breath. Jace came out of the bedroom with two suitcases, both containing more stuff than either of them needed for three days. Clary watched him settle them down near the front door and then went over to him. He was surprised when she gave him a kiss and then ran her hand down the back of his jeans. Only to then find his cell phone in his back pocket and she began dialing.

He narrowed his eyes with contempt at her using it. "Mine's broken," she said in answer to his unasked question. She showed him her battered cell.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have thrown it," he mumbled when she turned her back. Clary rolled her eyes and waited for Simon to pick up.

The call answered after five rings and then a voice grumbled, "What time is it?"

"Time for you to get your ass out of bed," she snapped, still pissed at him for interrupting last nights plans. "We're leaving for New York in half hour and you better be at the dock when we arrive." She hung up, not letting him argue his way out of it.

They made it to the ferry with five minutes to spare and found a seat inside where the wind wasn't howling. The sun was gradually getting higher in the sky and it looked like it was going to be another beautiful day. Clary wished they didn't have to leave and she was really angry that her birthday had ultimately been ruined by something so tedious. So what if Magnus and Alec had gone somewhere? Maybe they had fixed things up after their initial split last year? She really didn't care that much.

"What are you thinking?" asked Jace, wrapping an arm around her so to keep her warm. Surprising, since she was born and raised in such a cold city during the winter. You'd think she was used to it by now.

"Don't you ever wish you could just...stop it all," she said. Jace frowned. "The whole shadowhunter business,"
"Clary, it's not a business. It's a lifestyle. I might not have chosen this life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything,"
She cocked a grin and kissed his cheek. "Not even for a more...relaxing lifestyle?"

Jace didn't give in. "Not even for that." His hands came up and twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers. There was a distant look on his face, one she didn't see often. "But that doesn't mean I don't get time off."

Their lips met and she sunk into his kisses once again until there was a long horn, announcing their arrival in Manhattan. "That's our cue," said Clary with a half hearted smile. They grabbed their luggage and went through security until solid ground was beneath their feet. Clary eyed the crowd of people waiting for passengers and she found Simon, standing at the far end with a bemused looking expression.

"Doesn't he look adorable? So excited to see us, he must be,"
"Give him a break," she said, taking Jace's hand in hers and walking away from the hoard of family gatherers. Despite her words of wisdom, when she reached her best friend she let go of Jace and slapped him across the chest. "What the hell have you done now?" she chastised.

xx

Clary was furious. Against the suns rays that made it difficult to see anything clearly even with vampire vision, Simon didn't have to be a genius to know he had screwed up. Or that he truly deserved the smack she'd just given him. He hadn't felt a thing, of course, but that didn't stop the emotional effect.

They set off for his van; he stuffed his fists into his jean pockets and stalked off ahead, leaving Jace and Clary to romanticise or whatever it is they were doing. He couldn't bear to watch it. Isabelle had been avoiding him ever since he'd found out Alec had left a note explaining he needed time away. She seemed to think he was to blame; despite the fact he wasn't anyone's babysitter and that Alec was perfectly capable of looking after himself. Simon thought it was just typical that he get accused of something that was completely not his fault.

Recently Simon had been staying at Magnus's apartment. It didn't matter that him and Isabelle weren't talking, she still wouldn't let him leave. He was wrapped around her little finger. Or whip. Whichever.

In the van, he drove off at full pelt like he was a cab driver late for a Cheers marathon. Instead of taking them back to the Institute, he went to Luke's apartment.

"Why are we going here?" asked Jace, confused. "Take us to Magnus's! Isn't that why you called, to tell us they were missing?"
Simon heaved a dramatic sigh; force of habit, he supposed and turned in his seat. "I thought you might want to let your mom know you're back," he said to Clary.

"I do, it's just..." She paused, staring out the window.

"Scared she might interrogate you?" he replied with a wry grin. "Been up to anything naughty?"
The look Jace shot him was deadly. "No." he snapped. "You interrupted that session." Simon gulped and looked away, feeling not only embarrassed but incredibly awkward. This was his best friend they were talking about. Clary, he mentally corrected. Not Jace.
"Sorry, again. About that."

Clary glanced up and shrugged. "I'm sure we'll get another try soon enough,"
If Simon was human, he'd probably have hurled right then. "Okay, then." he muttered under his breath. He hopped out and was around to open their side in a flash. The door to Luke's home was wide open before any of them had got further than the curb. Jocelyn came rushing down the steps and into Clary's arms, crying out how glad she was to see her daughter safe. Simon nodded to Luke, who nodded back. It was some kind of acknowledgement that didn't need words.

Inside, Simon walked with Jace to the kitchen while Clary talked with her mom.

They stood awkwardly, both leaning against the counter. Simon waited to see if Jace would speak first, but he just pulled out his stele from his pocket and started polishing it with his sleeve.
Simon cleared his throat, trying to think of something to say. "So, did you have fun?"

"No thanks to you," Jace said with cool precision.
"I said I was sorry,"

"Sorry only gets you so far in this life," Jace met his eyes, full of cold dislike. "And since you're not actually alive..." The dig did not go unnoticed. Rather than comment back, however, Simon brushed it off as best he could and went to studying the floor patterns.
"So I guess we're good to go," Clary said a few minutes later, coming into the kitchen. She must have felt the tension because she next frowned and said, "You two look like you're having a stand off,"

Jace moved away from the counter and grabbed her hands. "Can we please go? This place is giving me a headache."
"You don't get headaches," she jested. "You are the headache."
Simon couldn't help laughing which got him a glare from Jace. He went back to staring at the floor. Luke appeared and handed Clary some money. "Here, you might need this."

"Ah, thanks," she said.
Jocelyn popped her head around the door. "Hey, Simon," Her eyes wavered around the room. "Jace."

"Hi, Mrs Garroway,"
"Did you two enjoy yourselves?"
Clary blushed. "Mom!"
Her mom smiled innocently. "I was just asking if he had fun, Clary. No need to get stroppy."

"Ugh, come on," she said, taking Jace's hand and leading him down the hall to the living room. "Mom, we're going to see Isabelle,"
Simon trundled behind the two of them like a dog and rather than take the van, he waved goodbye and moved at his own pace to where his on off girlfriend would be waiting for him. He hoped he could talk some sense into her this time. Now that they had the rescue team altogether.