Alec and Magnus were walking slowly, to allow Isabelle and Simon room and because Alec was still in a haze, half-asleep and walking slower than humanly possible. Magnus saw the thoughts behind Clary's eyes and her gazes towards Jace, he could only suspect so much of her intentions. His guess was confirmed with a splash from the lake behind them and he chuckled to himself. After a second splash sounded, With a snap of his fingers, a blanket and towels sat next to their abandoned blanket.
"What did you just do?" Alec said from Magnus' side. His tone was still quiet and gentle, only typical to the drowsy, distracted version of Alec.
"I don't know what you mean." Magnus didn't want to admit that he was helping Clary and Jace for a second, because he wanted to.
"I saw the blue spark and you were laughing to yourself. What did you do?" Alec was curious, not upset or skeptical, it was almost as if he were amused.
"I interrupted something between Clary and Jace earlier and was just paying them back for the disservice. Nothing more."
"They'll appreciated it. I appreciate it." Alec leaned against Magnus, eliminating any space between them as they walked back to the farmhouse. Magnus was debating whether or not to create a portal back to Brooklyn for the two of them tonight or just wait until morning. But the realization that a portal for the entire wedding party had to be created tomorrow to allow Jocelyn and Luke somewhat of a honeymoon. Magnus exhaled heavily with the discontent at leaving tomorrow, when Alec and him could go back to Brooklyn now and enjoy each other's company without any probability of being interrupted...
"How do you think she's doing?" Magnus asked, nodding his head ahead of them where Isabelle and Simon were walking.
"Isabelle? I don't know. She's never been one to disclose her feelings. She never used to talk to anyone about emotional stuff. Until Simon anyway." Alec moved his gaze from his sister, strong, independent and brave, to the ground. "I'm worried for her. The first time she really opens up to someone, a greater demon has all his memories of her wiped. I can't even imagine going through something like that."
"If anyone can handle that situation with grace and determination, it's Isabelle. I think this will be good for the future relationship. Give them a strong foundation to build off of."
"Yeah, you're right. You've helped a lot with her these past couple of weeks. Researching how to give someone their memories back and about Ascending. I haven't really thanked you enough yet."
"That can wait until tomorrow, Shadowhunter. You look exhausted. From what, I'm not entirely sure though."
"Don't play dumb with me, you know exactly why and it's all your fault." Teasing Alec was always so easy for Magnus; Alec was always so tense and took most things to seriously. I guess that's why Magnus was perfect for him. Magnus sometimes, didn't take situations as seriously as they need to be handled. Their two extremes balanced each other. Creating the ideal personality all by being around two people.
Jace woke up as the sun was slowly ascending towards the sky, touching each leaf on every tree with its morning glow. The way the sun lit up the beautiful mess of curly red hair that sprawled across his bare chest amazed him. He'd seen the way the moonlight softened the vibrancy of her hair and the way her hair looked as she was mid battle, both of which were alluding in their own way. But he'd never seen the way Clary looked as the sun first touched the Earth each morning. It made her skin shimmer and her hair look as if gold was weaved into the red mess.
Jace moved his free arm behind his head to prop it up so he could see her more easily, careful not to wake her. Clary was sound asleep and Jace felt each slow and steady exhale of breath she took while her eyes fluttered behind her eyelids. Jace wrapped his arm around her tighter, making it impossible for her to leave his side. The movement of his arm hadn't woken her and Jace smiled to himself, happy that he could memorize her a little longer.
His back ached slightly from a night spent on the floor— a night spent the way they chose to spend it, he expected it to hurt a little more. The blanket under them saved the two of them from any punctures from rocks or twigs and eliminated the worry of getting dirty after their swim. A second blanket was draped over the two of them, mostly around Clary, fighting off the chill of the early morning. A gift from Magnus, surely so he didn't feel guilty for interrupted their moment yesterday. Jace smiled: two years ago, Jace never would've thought he'd be thanking a warlock for something so menial and personal. He had Clary to thank for that.
He felt Clary's nose turn towards Jace's chest, and soon her eyes tired and content opened up to his. "Good morning," Jace said with a smile as she looked up at him. He kissed the top of her head.
"Mmm, good morning." Clary's eyes were still fluttering, adjusting to the glow of the early morning sun. She looked tired and so beautiful. He loved looking at Clary right when she woke up. She hated the way she looked because she felt raw, unmade, grotty. But that was why Jace loved it. Right now, she is so raw and powerful and real, it confirmed his hope that it wasn't still a dream—Clary trusted him enough to let him see this flawed version of herself.
"You're going to have to fill me in on any spontaneous moments like last night so I can be better prepared," Jace leaned in and whispered in her ear, kissing the soft, sensitive skin behind her ear that always made Clary shiver.
"But that would take all the fun out of surprising you. It's so hard to surprise you when you're trained to always be on alert. I have to take what I can get," She tilted her head up to look him in the eyes and then she pushed her lips against his.
"It's too bad Magnus has to make a portal this morning so we can all go back to the city. I'd rather just stay here with you all day." Jace said.
"I could always make a portal," Clary said eagerly. Jace knew she was going to suggest it, he had hoped she would, but he knew deep down that it was a bad idea.
"So we could stay at the farmhouse with your Mom and Luke on their honeymoon? I think I'll pass on that."
Clary's face scrunched up in disgust and Jace laughed, "You're right we should go with Magnus. If it's any consolation, the apartment will be empty as long as the farmhouse is occupied." That mischievous look was growing in Clary's eyes, the same look she wore last night before she jumped into the lake.
Jace couldn't help but tease her when she was like this: "Sounds lovely, but I'll have to be training my stubborn girlfriend constantly these next couple of weeks. She thinks she can bend the rules because she's the 'girl who stopped a big war' and has these weird rune powers, among other things."
"Watch what you say, those 'weird run powers' saved your life countless times." Clary leaned in to kiss Jace, but pulled back abruptly and sat up, pulling the blanket with her.
"Where are you going?"
"We all know Magnus wakes up at the crack of dawn. If we want to be able to use that portal we better get back to the farmhouse." Jace nodded and sat up. He grabbed his boxers from the night before and pulled them on before handing Clary her underwear and bra. Clary could pull her dress on and Jace laid his jacket from the wedding on her shoulders. "Jace I don't need the jacket, I'm not cold."
"I like it when you to wear my clothes. It's like I'm marking my territory."
"You need to mark your territory even though the entire Shadowhunter world is already looking forward to our wedding?"
"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to decline your proposal for now, I'm simply too young to make such a serious commitment." Clary rolled her eyes, but Jace could see a smile growing on her face. He stood up and pulled his pants on his body and slipped the dress shirt over his broad arms, not even bothering to button it. He casually slid his feet into his shoes. He grabbed the Codex, Clary's shoes, and the assortment of towels and blankets Magnus had gifted them. He looked to Clary and said: "Ready?"
"At least let me carry something." Jace handed her the Codex and held his empty hand out to her, she grabbed it and he pulled her up to her feet. "Thanks."
The two of them comfortably walked back to the farmhouse in silence. No words were needed because all they really needed was each other's company right now. Words would distract them from the heat the other gave off or the early morning forest. Those things were meant to be taken in with silent admiration.
Simon woke to the back of Isabelle's head with her long, delicate hair in his mouth. His arm was draped around her waist and she held his hand in her sleep. He remember falling asleep with her in his arms, but once she was peacefully dreaming, he gently moved her on her side, away from Simon. I wasn't because Simon didn't like sleeping with Isabelle in such an intimate and innocent way; it was because he was confused. His body reacted to Isabelle in every way that he had dreamed about reacting to a girl, but his mind was hazy. He didn't even know how to feel about Isabelle. He remembered every time where he was in love with her, but his emotions didn't. It was a strange sort of feeling.
Simon had fallen asleep confused and irritated at himself. He must've reached out towards Isabelle in his sleep, his body reaching for what it already knew and wanted, when his conscious didn't have to scold him about his actions. Waking up this morning, so comfortably molded around Isabelle's warrior body, he didn't feel as confused. He realized that he would grow to love her again. Maybe even stronger and deeper than he had when he was a vampire.
Vampire. He internally shuddered at that word. It brought up strange memories. Memories of an eerie hotel with shadows thrown on every angle of every room. And blood. So much blood. But blood held a positive connotation in his memory. It was like it took the place of his favorite cappuccino from that coffee shop he has always favored.
His thoughts were happily interrupted by a tightening grip on his hand as Isabelle pulled him closer against his back. "You breath heavier when you're in deep thought, by the way." Was how she greeted him this morning. Not your average girl and Simon laughed to himself that of all the girls in the world, he'd fall in love with the most frightening and independent girl of them all. But in a good way.
"When you're in the same position as I am, I won't make fun of you for how you deal with so many weird memories." Simon spoke softly to her ear and didn't realize how that would affect her. He was trying to be more mindful of his actions toward Isabelle, trying to make them as minimally provocative as possible. He couldn't help sometimes how he acted without thinking it through. His breath against her hair and neck gave her a shiver and she exhaled heavily. "Sorry, I don't mean to make this hard for you. My body seems to remember you even though my emotions don't."
"It's okay. We just need a little time to get back on familiar terms."
"If it means anything, I know, without a doubt in my mind, I'm going to love you again." Why did he just say that? He didn't filter that sentence before it came out and Simon didn't want to get Isabelle's hopes up, especially if he was going to be the one to crush them all over again.
Isabelle didn't say anything, I mean what could you say to that? So she moved out of his embrace and stood up from the bed. She twisted her long black hair into a knot on top of her head and moved toward the door. "You up for some breakfast?"
"I'd love that." He could vaguely remember a time where Jace and Alec joked over Isabelle's not so edible cooking, but couldn't quite tell if they were real or not. The two of them walked out to find Jace and Clary walking in the door that lead to the forest. The two of them had a sultry gaze in their eyes and weren't paying attention to who else may be in the same room.
Simon hear Isabelle chuckling to herself and felt his own smile curve on his face. Jace made a slow movement towards Clary's face, but before Jace could caress the side of Clary's cheek, Isabelle— not so subtly—cleared her throat. "Have a nice night?" She asked and Clary's cheeks reddened faster than Simon thought was humanly possible.
Jace was the epitome of ease, as he casually smiled and Simon and Isabelle. "The setting was a little rugged for my taste, but still quite enjoyable." Jace's smile seemed to grow as he anticipated his next line, and Simon was slightly worried. "Did you enjoy your night, Izzy?"
Isabelle surprised Simon with her response. instead of tensing up and lashing out at Jace, she shrugged her shoulder and said, "It's not really your business, is it?"
Magnus and Alec strolled out, already showered and dressed for the new day— it seemed the four of them were wearing last night's clothes, Jace and Clary looked a little messy from sleeping outside, and none of them were nearly as put together as Magnus and Alec. "Already bickering? What a lovely start to the day." Magnus said.
"Are we ready to portal? We can get breakfast at Taki's before Isabelle starts to cook." Alec looked smugly towards Jace and then his gaze settled on Isabelle where he smiled amusingly. "We all know it's a disaster when Izzy cooks."
"At least I have more skill than you have in the kitchen." Isabelle shot back with a rebuttal.
"And I will openly admit that," Alec replied.
"You slackers better pack up or we'll be having lunch instead of breakfast." Magnus ended the bickering quickly and Jace and Clary were already moving towards their separate rooms where their clothes were (Jocelyn would've had a fit if she allowed Jace and Clary to sleep in the same room). Isabelle followed Clary into their shared room and Simon followed Isabelle. Not really sure what to do since he had showed up without the intention to stay so long and didn't bring much with him.