Clary sat on her bed in the Lightwood mansion. She'd been sitting there for over an hour, not doing much more than blinking and breathing. She was pretty sure that if those weren't automatic body functions, she would have stopped doing that as well. What her mother had said was starting to settle in, coursing it's way through her blood like poison. Valentine had done unspeakable things to her mother and now Clary yearned for nothing but his death. She was almost certain that she could even live with his blood on her hands.
At that moment, a knock came at the door.
"come in," she called expecting to see Jace or Izzy. Surprise penetrated throughout her body as the youngest Lightwood son, Max came in through the door.
" Hi Max." She said softly.
" Hi Clary." He answered not quite meeting her eyes. " Jace said you were feeling sad. Is that true?"
" Yeah. It's true." She answered.
Max came over to her and sat down next to her on the bed his legs dangling off the edge.
" When I'm sad," He said "Izzy tells me to cry. Then we watch movies or read books together. Have you cried yet?"
Clary smiled despite herself, partly because of what Max had said about Izzy, and partly because of how nice and calm Max was compared to the other Lightwoods. Although Alec wasn't as loud and flamboyant as Izzy or Magnus or even Jace for that matter, he was still a very stern looking guy. Max wasn't like that. Something about him was just so wonderfully child like, that you couldn't get mad at him even if you wanted to.
" Yeah. I've cried." Clary finally said.
" Then let's read a book." Clary then noticed that Max was holding a small book in his hands. He held it up for Clary to see, and she saw that it was a manga novel. Clary loved manga. She loved the art in it, and she loved how detailed the story could get with nothing but a few words per page.
" Dengeki Daisy" Clary read.
Max blushed, " I think it's meant more for girls, but I figured since your the one who's sad, I'll read it with you anyways."
Clary smiled. Max was such a nice kid, she felt like crying again. Together they lay down on the bed on their stomachs and propped the book up against the pillow. They read the pages together, laughing and blushing and enjoying the book from cover to cover.
Just as they were discussing their favourite parts of the book, Jace stepped into the room.
" Why hello there Jace." Clary said sitting up from her comfortable position on the bed next to Max, feeling almost cheerful.
" Well I guess someone's in a better mood," Jace said with a smile, walking over to her and kissing her on the forehead.
" Much." She said. " Max and me were just reading some manga." She looked over at the young Lightwood and laughed seeing his face a light shade of pink.
" Max can cheer anybody up" Jace said with something that sounded like pride in his voice. " I believe, it's time for him to go to bed though."
Max groaned. " But it's still early," He protested,
" Afraid not buddy," Jace pulled his phone from his pocket. " It is eleven o'clock at night."
Max sighed before getting up off the bed, and surprising Clary by wrapping his arms around her waste and hugging her. Maybe it was the just one of those 'time and place' things, but Clary could have sworn it was the best big she'd ever received.
" Good night Clary," he said before walking out the door.
" He's a good kid," Jace said after a few moments. " He has a certain talent for always being able to say the right thing."
Clary nodded in agreement.
The next week was easier on Clary. Maryse insisted that Clary and her mother stay at the Lightwood mansion for at least until her mother recovered. They'd moved Clary's bedroom up to the fourth floor with her mother, so they'd have the whole floor to themselves. There was a kitchen, a livingroom, three bathrooms and two bedrooms. It was one of the smaller floors of the mansion.
" I can't believe I get to live in the same house as my girlfriend but two fricking floors down. It's like some sort of punishment from greek mythology."
Clary laughed. " We can have sleep overs…" She trailed off, ignoring the shocked expression on Jace's face. She was never the one making suggestions.
They were walking together in central park with steaming starbucks cups.
" Who are you and what have to done to Clarissa Fray?" Jace said jokingly. Clary lightly shoved him, but couldn't hide her smile. She loved Jace so much it was unreal.
" Are you ready for tomorrow?" Jace asked.
Tomorrow, was Valentine's court date. Clary didn't understand why he even got a trial, but somehow, just like seventeen years ago, he'd managed to convince whoever it was that people convinced for these things, that he deserved a chance to speak.
" of course I'm not ready. I was hoping I'd never have to see him again, and now after hearing everything he did to my mom…"
Jace wrapped his arm around Clary. " It's okay, your mom and you will be okay."
" Jace?" Calry asked so quietly he had to strain to hear her words. " Am I a terrible person for wanting him dead?"
Jace squeezed Clary to himself before finally replying, " I hope not. If that makes you a terrible person then what does it make me for wanting to be the one who would kill him for you."
Clary looked into Jace's eyes and smiled. " A peace-loving killer."
They laughed, then they kissed then they laughed again, and in that moment, Clary wanted nothing more than for all of this to be over. She wanted nothing more than to be free to love Jace for the rest of her life, spending eternity just laughing and kissing, and being with him.