A promise made is a promise kept, so here it is, chapter 12!

I don't own the Mortal Instruments Series and characters they belong to Cassandra Clare. I'll just say it one last time because it applies to every chapter and I don't see the point in repeating it over and over.

Tabitha (and the story) is mine however. ^^I thought I haven't said it in a while so now I have.

And sorry for the late update but my health kind of turned its back on me during the afternoon, leaving me with stomach cramps and worse, so this will be a little shorter than usual but as complete don't worry.

Let's get to the story, shall we?

Love, Lilly

Chapter Twelve: Catching Fire

"Are you ready?" Clary asked, her hands covering Tabitha's eyes. The little girl was jumping up and down.

"Yes yes yes! Please Clary! Let me see let me see!"

"Okay baby," Clary accepted and slowly lowered her hands. Tabitha's eyes widened with surprise.

Everyone she had ever known was standing in front of her, holding a scented candle. Her entire family –Jocelyn, Luke, Jace, Alec, Magnus, Izzy and Simon even her aunt Amatis had made the trip from France– her friends from school and their parents.

"Happy birthday!" They all screamed together.

She screamed and jumped in her father's arm with the most beautiful ear-to-ear smile Clary had ever seen. Luke caught her and kissed her cheek. The guests applauded and watched as Tabitha was discovering Magnus' decoration. As promised, the seven dwarves were there, waiting for her in the cottage, resting on their pickaxe next to the chocolate fountain.

Clary saw her vanish inside and adults started to split into groups. She felt Jace's arms slid around her waist and kissed her cheek. She rested her head on his shoulder, looking up at the starry moonless sky. The terrace had been beautiful during the day, embellishing with each visit from the florist, the caterer, and the landscape artist. But it was even comparable to the beauty the night brought to it. There were candles, small twinkling tinsels tangled in the tree's branches on the tree sides. The laugh of children made it more real. Jocelyn was beautiful. Her dark red hair fell on her shoulders, her bright eyes reflecting the lights around. Her Jasmine outfit suited her perfectly.

"I change my mind," Jace said.

Clary frowned. "About what?" He looked painfully beautiful in the dim light and his golden eyes shone on their own and not for the first time she wondered what he saw when he looked at her.

"About kids," he said. "We don't have to wait, if you want them now, I'm in." Clary turned around, her lips parted in astonishment.

"You're not messing with me, are you?" Clary asked.

"Of course not," Jace said. "That would be cruel."

"Yay!" She squealed and jumped in his arms. They kissed for what seemed a long moment before Jocelyn and Luke came up to them.

"What got you two so happy?" Luke asked.

Clary looked up at Jace who nodded, taking her hand in his. "We've decided to have a baby."

"I'm going to be a grandmother!" Jocelyn exclaimed in disbelief and hugged Clary tight against.

Luke patted Jace's shoulder, a wide smile plastered on his face. "Congratulations son."

"Thank you Luke."

Luke hugged his daughter.

"What's going on here?" Isabelle asked, casting a suspicious look on the small group. Simon rolled his eyes and greeted everyone.

Magnus and Alec followed and Jace shook his head at Magnus' outfit. He looked at Alec and frowned.

"You have a little bit of glitter here." He touched his cheek and Alec automatically rubbed it quickly with the hem of his dark shirt.

Magnus and Simon burst out laughing.

"Why is no one answering me?" Isabelle whined, throwing her hands in the air dramatically

xXx

Jonathan followed the address on Clary's text all the way to the Upper West Side on the roof of a building. It was crowded with people chatting and people running and he wished he had never come. But his father was on his way to meet and he

He spotted Jace sitting at one of the picnic tables with Clary and Alec. He didn't the other people nor did he care. As if feeling that he was watched, Jace turned his head. When their eyes met Jonathan could sense the shift in the air. His whole face darkened while Jonathan grinned. He had waited for this moment for so long. Clary frowned at Jace and followed his gaze. She smiled at Jonathan and waved. Jace looked at her as if she were insane, shock painted all over him. She stood up and walked to him, Jace on her heels.

"Jonathan you made it!" she exclaimed. "I wasn't sure."

Jonathan smiled. "This is my husband Jace," she added.

"What are you doing here Morgenstern?" Jace spat and Clary's eyes widened.

"Did I miss something?"

"Your wife invited me Wayland– oh sorry I forgot this isn't your name, is it Herondale?" Jonathan answered. It was satisfying to see confusion as he looked back and forth from him to Clary.

"Not his name, what are you talking about Jonathan?" Clary asked.

"Why don't you ask Jace?"

"Do you know each other?" Clary asked, tugging on Jace's sleeve trying to get his attention.

"Jace and I go a way back," Jonathan said. "Don't we Jace?"

"How do you know that guy Clary?" Jace demanded, his voice cold and hard.

"We met at the gallery, he left before you arrived," Clary muttered. "What's going on?"

"Could you please leave us for a minute honey?" Jace asked. "It won't be long."

"No, he's my friend too!" Clary exclaimed, and Jace shot her a murderous glare.

"Friend?" he repeated through clenched teeth. "He's not your friend. Neither is he mine."

"But he is," Clary insisted.

"Thanks Clary," Jonathan said and as he extended a hand to put on Clary's shoulder, Jace caught him. Jonathan winced slightly. He had forgotten how fast and strong Jace could be.

"Jace stop," Clary ordered.

He didn't move. "Jace!"

Jonathan laughed. "Finding you was a lot easier than I thought," he said. "And he was all thanks to chance."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Clary exclaimed.

"I thought the Agency cared about you enough to protect you," Jonathan continued, "But apparently I was wrong."

"What Agency? Somebody answer me!"

"She doesn't know, does she?" Jonathan smiled and for the first time Clary stepped back. A chill ran down her spine.

"You like to keep secrets it seems. That's good because so does she."

Jace, who had kept his grip on Jonathan's arm laughed. "Do you really believe I could turn on my own wife? You're an even bigger moron that I thought."

Jonathan yanked his arm free. "Did you notice how she clutches your hair when she kisses you? How even after she her lips aren't yours anymore you can still feel they are?"

Clary gasped. "That was you? At the masquerade ball! Oh my god!"

Jace's hand was already in a fist, in face calm but his eyes full of rage.

"Jonathan." His father voice stopped.

"Valentine," Jace said, his hand dropping to his sides.

"Hello Jace."

xXx

Jace watched with a well concealed horror as Valentine laughed. Alec was by his side in a flash and they had stepped before Clary, shielding her.

"That's what you want Jonathan?" Valentine asked. "The short one? Your taste in women have considerably changed Jonathan. She looked like a teenager."

"Touch her and I'll kill you right here, I don't care who watches," Jace said.

"I would believe that if I were you," Alec said. "He doesn't take threats on Clary lightly."

"She'll be much better with me," Jonathan said with a cruel smile, "I can ass–"

The first bullet hit the wall just behind Valentine, and a blast of gun fire followed, tiny sparks of light exploding everywhere. Jace ducked, taking Clary down with him. He crawled and almost dragged her near the bark of a tree. After he joined Alec and came back with Magnus, Izzy, and Simon.

"My parents!" Clary gasped and tried to stand up but Simon pinned her down.

"I'll get them," Jace told her and Clary's eyes widened as he took a gun from his pants. "Don't move!" he ordered her, but she was too confused and scared to do anything but nod.

The grass was tainted with blood now, and the screams only intensified as people tried to escape all at the same time through the door that would lead them one story below, to safety.

"Do you think it's Valentine?" Alec asked grabbing a shuddering Tabitha who had the reflex to hide in the cottage behind a wall.

"No he doesn't have that kind of man power," Jace answered. He was about to call Luke when he saw a silhouette creep up from behind him. Time seemed to slow down as he lifted his gun, aimed and shot. The man fell next to Luke who nodded in thanks. He took Jocelyn and ducking between the trees manages to reach the door. He reappeared seconds later, but Alec was already at the door, giving him Tabitha.

"Are you parents ok?" Jace cried above the noise.

Alec nodded and Jace signaled him that they had to go back to Clary and their friends. Jace caught a sight of a familiar face before he reached Clary. She had a back against the wall and her knees against her chest, rocking back and forth, her hands covering her ears.

"It's Pangborn!" Jace shouted to Alec. "We need to get them to the safe house."

Alec nodded.

"Clary," Jace whispered, putting his hands on hers and lowering them. "Your parents and Tab are safe." She nodded slightly. "Can you walk?"

Clary shook her head. She shut her eyes as Jace slipped a hand behind her knees and held on to him tightly.

She didn't open until she felt the fresh breeze and that the gun fire sounds were over.

"What's going on?" Isabelle screamed.

Clary opened her eyes and took a deep breath. Her voice was caught in her throat but she forced it out anyway. "What's happening? Jace why do you have a gun?"

Jace seemed to struggle with an inner dilemma. He met her green eyes, wide with fear and took in turn a deep breath.

"Because I don't work for the Alicante Bank. Clary, I work for the CIA."

Haaaaah

by that time I really expect you to hate me :D

Review if you do (or even if you don't lol)

Lilly