Chapter 4:

CristineClary: about Jace, you were right. he shouldn't exactly scream…

"ISABELLE" Jace screamed

Well actually, he didn't scream, speaking just loud enough for Isabelle to hear him as she talked to Mac.

" I'll be right back" muttered Isabelle apologetically, and Mac shrugged surveying the rest of the Institute through gazed eyes. She walked over to him looking miffed, the way she strutted across the linoleum floor told Jace she was pissed

" Jace, what in the hell could you want?" she muttered glaring him in the face.

" Not here" muttered Jace, eyeing Clary as she spoke with Aaron.

He dragged his adoptive sister into the kitchen, her heals making a scraping sound as she resisted.

" What did you tell Clary?" he asked, and Isabelle paused. This obviously hadn't been what she was expecting.

" What do you mean?"

" Clary said she agreed about what ever you told her."

" Ah, about not having you as the center of her life? It's true Jace. Clary is a human being, a shadow hunter, not a pet. She can live her own life Jace, she doesn't need your help, and you don't seem to need hers" the attitude made it's way back into Isabelle's voice. It was the bossy sisterly voice he had lived to know and respect.

" What do you mean I don't need her? Of course I need her Izzy" his voice was growing louder by the minute, Isabelle drug him farther into the kitchen.

" What about Valeria?" she asked and Jace palled.

" Alec" he swore under his breath and Isabelle glared.

" Before you go throw my brother from a cliff, listen to me. It was you. That was the one thing you said when you were coming off your drugs from Pandemonium. Clary was waiting for you to wake up, and the first thing you said was Valeria."

" You really don't know me Izzy. For one, if really wanted to get back at Alec, I would have done something more creative than ' throwing him off a cliff", that's so straightforward. Second, I didn't do anything with her, and she was the one who drugged Me, me and Alec."

" Alright Jace" she glanced back over at Mac, who had decided to join Aaron and Clary. " I now understand that, but Clary only remembers what you said and what Alec clued her in with. Alec just said she was a shadowhunter and that she was friends with Aline. Oh and Jace, just bringing Aline into the picture makes Clary hate you further. She remembers how you and Aline were when you thought she was out of the picture. She remembers, Jace."

" Thanks for the pep talk Izzy, but I have to go teach that guy how far he's allowed to be from my girlfriend"

" That's another thing, Jace. Don't just assume Clary is your girlfriend after everything. After everything she just might want to take a step back." Isabelle watched as Jace's face fell. The thought that Clary might not feel for him, hit him hard. Isabelle watched as he walked straight by Clary, and up the stairs without talking to anyone.

Clary watched as Jace walked passed her, careful to not brush her, his shoulder uncharacteristically taunt. Is he alright? Should I go say something?

These questions rushed out of her head as Isabelle joined them, slightly guiding the group to the circular table.

" So, Angel Island?" asked Isabelle, her voice ringing with curiosity.

" Yeah it's a rough equivalent to Long Island New York." , replied Mac, his voice wickedly animated and musical. He smiled, and nodded towards his brother to continue.

" Yeah, Mac's basically right. Angel Island served as a port during the first shadowhunter immigration. As much as it was the rough equivalent as Mac said, it's also the rough opposite. Angel Island is exactly across from Long Island, and while Long Island let in Downworlders and shadowhunters together, Angel island only catered to shadowhunters.

"That's amazing" Clary heard herself muttering, finding Aaron's knowledge of shadowhunter history astounding. Jace never minded to teach her anything like history, it was always physical everything when she was around him. Minutes went by, and Clary had already confirmed that Isabelle had called Mac, the way her eyes drifted into his, made it as obvious as though she'd put a sign on her chest. Mac though, didn't seem as completely oblivious to the rest of the world. He constantly tried to bring Aaron and Clary into the conversation, he definitely wasn't putting a sign on his chest tonight...

" Where are we staying tonight?" asked Aaron and Clary shrugged. Those small things hadn't occurred to her and she glanced over a Magnus who smiled.

" The husband and wife may take Maryse and Robert's room, Aaron and Mac can take the young boy's old room. I've decided Alec and Jace can keep their rooms to themselves, because personally I don't wish to the person to tell Jace he has to share his with anyone. Clary and Isabelle, you can either room together, or Laura can move in with one of you

" Clary, you can move in with me" said Isabelle smiling at the little girl, " So Laura can have a room of her own." Clary nodded and got up.

" I'll show you if you want, Laura" she offered the girl and after her mother nodded, the girl followed her up the stairs.