Chapter 20

Happy 4 months, Clary. :) the text read.

Clary smiled and closed her phone. Jocelyn looked at her knowingly. "From Jace?"

"Yeah. He remembered our four-month anniversary," Clary replied.

"That's sweet."

"Yes, it is." Clary tried to change the subject, slightly uncomfortable with discussing her boyfriend with her mother. "I'm glad school's over. Finals weren't so bad."

Jocelyn smiled at Clary, her smile as always portraying the love that she felt for her only daughter. Clary always felt special under that gaze, and loved her mother for letting Clary feel loved.

Jocelyn unhooked her purse from the chair and headed to the door. "Have a great day, honey. I'll be back by 8, hopefully. Enjoy your first day of break!"

"Alright, Mom. Oh, can I go to Izzy's today?"

"Sure. I have to go now, honey. Be safe."

"I will. Love you, Mom."

As the door closed, Clary felt a little guilty for only mentioning Isabelle when she actually planned to see Jace. She told herself it wasn't lying. Besides, Jocelyn probably knew what Clary planned already, being a very insightful parent.

Finishing freshman year had felt amazing. The freedom that awaited her exhilarated Clary, especially a summer with Jace. But once the stress of finals had lifted, other worries had floated to the forefront of her mind.

Clary and Jace hadn't really talked about what had happened on Valentine's Day. Clary hadn't wanted to ruin their rapport with an argument, and had spent the spring just having fun with him as he got his driver's license, took her to see Isabelle in the play, flirted with her during Art. Her favorite part had been watching him play baseball. Isabelle had gushed about the baseball team all spring, completely infatuated with all the players except Sebastian, Magnus, and of course her brother Alec. She admired Jace from afar, telling Clary that she would respect Jace and Clary's relationship but that he looked damn hot in that uniform.

Clary couldn't help but agree.

But although Jace and Clary's relationship looked perfect and felt perfect on most days, Clary knew that they had only had a quick fix. Clary didn't know anything about Jace. She didn't know if he had siblings, or who his parents were. She didn't know what he liked or could do-other than baseball. She was beginning to feel as if she had been attracted to him based on appearance alone. Though she was wary of upsetting their tranquility and happiness, she didn't want resentment or a misunderstanding to come up later and disrupt it more.

They needed to talk.

It wasn't as easy as it seemed. Clary agonized for two hours before picking up the phone to call Jace, and only then because she convinced herself that she could back out if necessary. Hearing his voice calmed her slightly, but she hoped her courage wouldn't fail her at the critical moment.

When she opened the door for him, Jace was standing straight, hands behind his back, looking a little stiff.

"Don't worry, my mom's not here."

"Oh, good," Jace said, relaxing.

Clary smirked. "Trying to impress her, are we?"

"She already loves me."

Clary laughed and shook her head. "Are you going to come in or not?"

Jace grinned and stepped in, closing the door behind him. He linked his fingers with hers and brought their hands up to her eye level.

Clary mustered the strength to continue. "I need to talk to you."

Jace's expression became more solemn. "Oh."

"Come over here." Clary led Jace, hands loosely joined, into the living room. "Sit."

Jace sat, but pulled Clary down next to him on the couch. His face was angled towards hers, concerned. Clary blinked to clear her head, but she was distracted by his proximity and the urge to touch him, kiss him-

Jace apparently felt the same, because his eyes darkened and he whispered, "Talk later."

Clary didn't have time to respond before he was kissing her. It seemed to Clary that he was putting more effort into it than usual, not that she was complaining. But his touch was passionate, destroying all thought of what she should be doing, instead causing her hands to slide into his hair and pull him closer. His hands were at her waist, then lifting her closer, and suddenly she was on his lap. Clary gasped, stopping, but Jace continued to run his nose down the curve of her cheek, kissing her neck.

Clary pushed him away. "Jace, stop it."

Jace buried his face in the curve of her neck.

"Jace, why haven't I met your parents?"

"What?" Jace's voice came, muffled, from against her skin. She began to slide off of him, but he grabbed her waist and held her still.

"It's been four months. I don't know anything about them, or if you have siblings-"

Jace's expression edged on horror. "You want to meet my family? Why?"

"Is that such a bad thing?" There was no reply from Jace, who seemed frozen.

Clary took the opportunity to get to her feet and cross her arms at him. "This is why we need to talk. Jace, I want this, but I don't want it with all this hurting it. There's still so many things I don't understand."

"Like what?" Jace asked, his tone revealing confusion and a touch of nervousness.

"Like why you spent the first two weeks of us together distant, why I don't know anything about you when you've met my mom and been inside my house, why you said those things to Alec-"

"Are you still worrying about that? I already told you why, and you seemed fine with it at the time," Jace retorted defensively.

"At the time, because I was being stupid in not making you explain better. Your explanation was complete BS, Jace."

"It was the truth!"

"Not the whole truth, I think."

"You don't know anything, Clary," Jace said, his voice strained.

"Exactly! And you won't let me."

"I can't tell you."

"Get over it, Jace. There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to know. I am your girlfriend, after all."

"That doesn't change anything."

"Oh, really? You know, that's another thing. You say all those sweet things, do everything right, but not once have you told me you loved me. How do I know you're not just acting? That I'm devoting my time and feelings to someone who doesn't reciprocate them?"

"Why would I try trick you?" Jace asked softly.

"I don't know. Maybe you're just sick like that."

"Clary, stop. I'm not acting-I never have been."

"How can I take your word for it?"

"You're just going to have to trust me. I promise you, Clary, I'm not trying to hurt you."

"Are you going to tell me the truth?"

Jace hesitated. "Not yet."

"Fine, Jace. Can you get out now?"

"No! Wait, Clary-I'm sorry." Jace was standing now, hands out and palms up.

"Prove it. Tell your family about me if you haven't yet, and let me meet them. Or I'm not going to do this anymore," Clary threatened, though she felt insanely guilty even saying it.

"Don't do this, Clary. That isn't a good idea," Jace pleaded.

"I mean it, Jace."

"Fine. You can meet my family. I'll pick you up tomorrow." Jace had closed off, his aloof manner reminiscent of those months where he had ignored her.

Clary's heart sank. Jace retreating into himself was not the object she had in mind. "This wasn't supposed to happen," she said to herself under her breath.

Jace looked at her, a question in his eyes. To her embarrassment, Clary could feel the well of tears behind her eyes as her frustration boiled over.

In one quick stride, Jace was holding Clary. "Clary?"

"I'm fine. It's just- I didn't plan on yelling at you when I wanted to talk to you, and I can't stand the thought of you leaving," Clary said into his chest.

She could feel his sigh rise and fall against her cheek. "Clary, I'm not going to leave you. I'm right here."

"I didn't mean it like that," Clary said, hoping he understood.

Jace pulled away slightly to look at her. "I know what you meant. I'll see you tomorrow, Clary."

"Okay."

"Oh, and Clary?"

Clary stared up at Jace, scrutinizing his slightly fearful face. He seemed to compose himself, then he smiled.

"I love you, and don't ever think otherwise."

Jace's conviction seemed to have dissipated when he returned the next day to pick Clary up. He smiled at Clary when she came out and opened the door for her, but he was visibly nervous.

"Jace, it can't be that bad, can it?"

She thought she heard him mutter, "Yes, it can," but other than that he didn't respond.

They had only been driving for three minutes when Jace pulled up and parked. Clary looked incredulously at him.

"You live this close to me, and you drove me here?"

"Yeah," Jace said without looking at her.

"Don't you care about the environment at all?" Clary asked, half-jokingly.

"Not as much as you do, apparently," Jace replied. Clary frowned.

"Let's just get this over with," Jace said while pulling Clary up the driveway. She was nearly dragged up the slope as he marched towards the door.

Jace's home was a typical suburban home, neat front lawn next to a concrete driveway. A van and a pickup truck were parked on the driveway, while more cars, including Jace's, lined the sidewalk. Clary wondered why they would have so many cars as she passed them. The house itself was a two-story affair, painted pale blue and white with a porch raised above the ground. Jace's feet creaked on the step as he ascended, Clary following.

Clary held onto Jace's hand as he pulled out his keys and slid them into the lock. He opened the door carefully and stepped inside.

The house was lit cheerfully, which put Clary at ease as she stepped in after Jace. Jace turned to her and said, "Don't say anything unless I say it's okay."

Clary nodded, holding back the desire to ask why.

Jace led her around a corner into the kitchen, where a woman was washing dishes. Clary heard the squeal of a small child in the distance, and wondered if Jace had a little brother or sister.

"Mom," Jace said in an even tone.

The woman turned, pushing pale blond hair back from her face. "Jace! Back so soon? And who is this?"

Clary shrank back under the piercing blue eyes of the woman. The woman looked like the stereotypical American housewife, except for the eyes, which sliced through Clary as if she could see right into her.

"Mom, this is Clary. Uh-my girlfriend," Jace said, and Clary thought he sounded slightly abashed.

So he didn't tell them. Clary didn't know whether to be angry or worried.

She smiled at the woman, who was regarding her with a changed expression-appraising, more welcoming, but also a little worried.

"Oh, hello. Clary, is it?"

Clary shot Jace a look that said, Can I talk now? Jace nodded, rolling his eyes slightly.

"Yes, hi. You must be Jace's mom."

"Yes, I am." She was about to continue, but Jace cut her off.

"Is Michael home?" Jace asked.

"Yes, he's in the living room," the woman said. "I'm sure he'd like to meet Clary."

"Mom, what about Chris?" Jace asked softly.

The blond head of the woman nodded slightly, and Jace tensed.

"We'll just meet Michael and then leave, alright?" Jace told his mother.

"Jace, come back afterwards, alright?"

"I always do, Mom," Jace muttered, eager to leave.

Clary watched the exchange in confusion, but had no time to comment as Jace led her into another room, this one furnished with chairs, a couch, and a television, which was on and displaying a football game.

The tall form of a man lay sprawled on the couch, shoulders relaxed and eyes fixed on the television. Jace cleared his throat.

The man sat straight and turned. "Jace, did you forget something?"

"No, I'm back with what I left for. This is Clary, my girlfriend." Jace said the words this time softly, seriously.

The man's eyes widened. "You were picking up a girlfriend? I didn't know that."

"I didn't tell you," Jace said impatiently. The man turned to Clary with a smile.

"I'm Michael."

"Hi," Clary said nervously. This man was tall, formidable, though the smile softened his face slightly. He looked nothing like Jace. Now that she thought of it, the blond woman had nothing in common with Jace either.

"Clary, this is my f-uh, father." Jace stumbled over the word. Clary noted this with further confusion.

"We have to go now, Michael. Sorry, I'll be back as soon as I drop her off," Jace said quickly, backing out of the room with a grip on Clary's hand.

"Oh, stay a bit, will you? She'll be fine," Michael said.

"No-"

"Jace, what's wrong?" Clary asked finally.

"Michael, Chris is home," Jace said quietly, ignoring Clary.

"At least let Anna and Damien see her. They'll be so excited," Michael told Jace.

"Next time. After he leaves."

Michael's face twisted, but he relented. "I understand. Go, go. It was nice seeing you, Clary."

"Nice to meet you too" was all Clary could get out before Jace dragged her back to the front door. Clary glimpsed pictures on the mantel above a fireplace of a small girl and a slightly older boy, then another golden haired youth who looked like Jace. One other picture was of a dark eyed, pale haired boy holding a football and grinning with all his teeth. The woman in the kitchen was pictured in a bridal gown, leaning against Michael in a suit.

Jace's hand was on the knob when Clary heard Michael's voice: "No, wait-"

Both Jace and Clary turned as Michael and another boy, larger than Michael, appeared from the hall. Jace's knuckles turned white as he gripped the knob harder.

"Jace!" the pale haired boy said in a booming voice. Clary recognized his hard dark eyes from the picture on the mantel.

"Chris," Jace replied tightly.

"Where are you going? You haven't introduced this young lady to me," Chris said with a smile that did not make Clary feel at ease at all.

"I was trying to avoid that, actually," Jace retorted. Though Clary usually thought of Jace as tall, he looked so small compared to the hulking build of the older boy that Clary felt a thread of trepidation.

"Why on earth would you be doing that?" Chris asked, a glitter of malice and challenge in his eyes.

"You know why."

Michael stepped forward. "Chris, now is not the time. Let Jace and Clary go."

"Clary, huh? Pretty name. Don't worry, Clary, I'll see you soon."

Jace let go of the knob and Clary's hand, curling his hands into fists. "No, you won't."

"Jace, just leave," Michael said, his voice almost pleading.

"Fine, I will." Jace crossed to the door and wrenched it open, pulling Clary through.

"Bye, Jace," Chris called as the two of them stepped outside.

Jace didn't respond, just clutched Clary's hand almost painfully. He opened the passenger side door with a thump and urged her inside. Clary sat and closed the door as Jace sat in the driver's seat and turned on the engine.

"Jace-"

"Wait a moment, will you? Let's go." The car sped off down the street, back to Clary's house.

A minute of silence ensued.

"Jace, what was that?"

"Do you see, now, why I didn't want to do this?" Jace asked.

"No, not really."

"How can you not-after Chris-if I had known, I would never have agreed to this."

"Why not? What's wrong, Jace?"

Jace sighed audibly. Eyes on the road, he said, "Clary, Michael and Sarah aren't my real parents. They're my foster parents."

"Is that why you call Michael by his first name? But why do you call Sarah Mom, then?"

"That's a long story. But my point is, none of my siblings are my real siblings. They're all foster kids. And they come and go, just like I did."

"Okay. What does this have to do with why you wouldn't have brought me there?"

"You know that foster kids have bad pasts sometimes. Damien and Anna were both from the homes of drug addicts. I'm from-somewhere else. And Chris-well, he's been moving homes since he was thirteen, and he has a bad record."

"I'm not afraid of him, Jace."

"I know you aren't. Which is the bad part. Because you should be afraid."

"Why? What has he done that's so bad?"

"He's killed, Clary. And-well, the last boy who was here left because of something that Chris did to his girlfriend."

Realization came over Clary. "And you think that he might do something to me."

Jace stopped in front of her house. "Clary, I understand if you don't want anything to do with me anymore. I don't want to put you in danger-that's the last thing I want to do. This is why I haven't taken you home to see my family. This is why I said those things to Alec-because if you fell in love with me, I couldn't have you without you being in danger."

"Then why are you here with me, if you thought those things?"

"I gave in. I couldn't stay away from you any longer. I thought I could keep you away from him-Chris hasn't been home recently, and I never thought you would ask to meet my family." Jace paused. "I'm sorry, Clary."

Clary sighed. "Jace, it'll be fine."

"No! He threatened you. I can't let you be in danger, Clary. I should never have taken you to meet them. If I hadn't, he would never have known about you."

Irritation washed over Clary. "And the rest of your family wouldn't have, either. I don't want to be your secret, Jace. I'm glad you brought me to meet them, and it'll be fine. Don't worry."

Jace scowled. "Don't try to make me feel better. It's not going to work."

"Fine, Jace. Just keep hiding from everything that could happen. I'm going in now."

"I'll walk you up to the door," Jace said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"No, don't bother. I'm not going to get hurt from a minute walking alone," Clary snapped, opening the door and slamming it shut. She stalked up the lawn and slipped inside.

From inside the house, she heard Jace's car start up and speed away.

A/N: Part two begins!

Thank you for reading and please review!

~Sami