Heeey peoplez! Here's another chapter! I almost had those 20 reviews that I wanted and I gotta thank you all and say sorry for not updating...it was only like, 4 short.

I know, you hate my update schedule, and I'm sorry. You know how life is...Now enjoy-hopefully!

Previously...

"OK Jace, you can come. But I gotta go some places after-wards, OK?"

He nods. "OK. I'm ready when you are."

I made a portal and we left.

On the other side of the portal, I took a deep breath and sighed happily. Fresh, clean mountain air. I closed my eyes and tilted my face up towards the sun. So what if this is where a lot of my troubles had started. I loved the sun and the clean air.

I hear Jace's footsteps as he gets out of the portal, but I didn't open my eyes yet. Just a bit longer...I don't want to give up this sun shine.

"Clary? Where exactly are we?"

It was great while it lasted...

"We're at the Institute. I want to get some things."

His eyes went wide, as if he hadn't heard me right. "This is where Sebastian attacked you and the kids! Why in the world would you want to return here?"

I glared at him. Yes, this was one of the times that I just wanted to punch him in the face.

"Because this is still me home. I want some of my things. After-wards, I'm going to buy the kids their gifts. The only reason you're here is because I know that with my luck, the moment I came here alone something would happen to me."

All true. Recently, my luck hasn't been too...good. Well, anyone could see that if they'd just take a glance at the past month or so of my life. Who would've thought that one little phone call would change every single thing I had came to know and love.

Instead of waiting for him to respond, I began my walk threw the little pathway to the Institute. If Jace wanted to argue, he could do it alone or with someone else because I didn't want to hear it.

Finally, as I neared the end of the path, I began to see my once home. This Institute was different from any other in one way. Not only had it once been a church. It had also been a training camp for Shadow hunters hundreds of years ago.

Wickedly cool, right? It was just perfect for me...Well, it was after I had had my kids, Adreona had Lilly, and everything had cooled down. Little did anyone outside of my family know that the training grounds were the reason I worked off all that baby fat.

Also, it made me stronger than almost all the guys. But that's another story.

Inside, I walked around slowly, taking in all that was damaged by the fire. In all truth, though, it wasn't too bad. All the rooms were just a little damaged from the smoke. Especially the hallway. It had burn marks everywhere.

Tears began to form in my eyes as I saw the ruined pictures on the walls. They were the only things I had to my name other than my kids. Calm down Clary. You cannot cry! You have more pictures, remember? You made tons of copies and put them in the albums, remember?

The albums!

I got up and ran to my room. As soon as I passed the door, I gasped and almost fell to my knees in total and utter shock. Deep down, I knew it would be bad...but I still wasn't prepared for this.

The walls were ruined beyond repair. My dressers were scorched. No longer were they a soft pink-white, but a dark, smoke color. The dark blue carpet was black and chard in places. My comforter on my bed was gone. Hell! There was no bed left!

As quick as I could, I ran to my closet and moved the ashed that had been my clothes away from the spot on the floor where my secret mark hid. I patted down my pockets, looking for my stele. My purse! As soon as it came out, I drew the matching rune that only worked for me onto the chard metal.

It glowed softly before the rune turned the same color as the kids' eyes and a secret handle appeared.

This was my secret hole that no one knew about. Sure, it was already here before I even had the room, but I had made the rune that I had used. Not another soul had any idea about the rune, or what was in my hole. And trust me, there was more in here then just my albums.

When my eyes saw all my little items safe and unharmed, I let out a weak laugh. He can destroy my room, my home...But he can't destroy my family. My memories. Someone coughed behind me and my head snapped back to see who was-Oh. Jace. I had forgotten that he was here.

He looked around the room. When our eyes met, he came over to me and got on one knee. Tentatively, he touched my cheek and said gently, "You OK Clary?" I should've moved away from his touch. I should've told him to mind his own business.

But I didn't.

In fact, I did something that I hadn't done in years.

I let him hold me and comfort me as I cried. I breathed in his scent and in that moment, that one life changing moment, I wanted to be with him again.

This man was my destruction and my salvation. The man I love from that first day onto my last. And even after that. He's hurt me so much though...Why can't I tell him to go away! Why can't I tell him to leave my life! There's no reason why I can't!

Other than the fact that I love him just as much as I hate him.

As he holds me, I cry into the crook of his neck. He rocks us gently back and forth, kissing my hair and telling me that everything's OK. And just for a second, I believe that they will be.

When I calm down, his callused hands wipe away my tears as he stares in my eyes and says, "Clary, what happened? I'm sorry that this place is burnt, but it can be fixed! All the paint and furniture can be redone. Please don't cry Clary."

My tears did stop, and I did eventually lean away from his touch. "Jace, i-it's fine. Everything just came back to be and I wasn't ready for it. Look, I wanna...Thanks for holding me. I just-" "Clary, it's OK. I get it. Plus, it was my pleasure." He gives me his signature cocky-ass smile.

I sigh and stand up. "What ever. We should get going now." He stands up too, and then we leave.

At the store, I wouldn't let Jace know what I bought, and he did the same with me. This isn't how I had saw the Trip's 2nd birthday going at all. But, as long as the kids are happy and safe, I don't care. I'll put my problems behind me and make sure that they have the best birthday in all of history.

Because really, what could go wrong at a party for 2 year old's when we have 2 families of Shadow-Hunters, the High Wizard of Brooklyn, and a mother who has angel wings?

Oh! What could happen? Is anything going to? Haha! Only I know! :P

How was it? Short, I know, but I think it was pretty good.

15 reviews=update soon

25 reviews=update either this or next Friday ;-)

~~Jess