7

Clary hated Jace. Well, not exactly hate, more like, despise. All he had to do was ask and Clary would jump in front of a bus, and it scared her, as it should. No one had ever held that effect on her before, so it was a new emotional force And, of course, by no surprise whatsoever, it had been started in this surreal city of London, England.

But, nonetheless, it was all worth it. As Aline was trolling some government sites in the other room searching for Clary's mom and Alec and Magnus were hacking Canadian sites looking for more information on Clary's family, Jace had his arm slung around Clary's shoulder while he happily napped, and that was what Clary really needed. She wasn't quite sure what had prompted him to hold her, nor what she did to deserve it, but she found herself staring up at his adorable sleeping face.

Around an hour before, Magnus had practically thrown Isabelle and Maia out, so Clary was the only one left who really wasn't of any use. Clary was just taking a sip of the tea she had made for herself when Aline stormed in, a victorious look on her face.

"Yes, yes, yes! I deserve a bloody raise." Aline declared, and everyone in the room averted their attention to her, Jace startling awake from his nap. "Clary, I know where your mum is." Aline rushed, dashing over to Clary to sit beside her and Jace on the couch, shoving her laptop in Clary's face, Jace exerting a large yawn.

"Aline, a few breaths, please." Magnus said from his spot at the desk with Alec, who was currently grinning while one of his hands was intertwined with Magnus'. Clary had decided not to ask, though it made her very pleased to see Alec's normally solemn face lit up with happiness from Magnus. Aline nodded at Magnus, gulping down some air before pointing to the screen.

"She's in Victoria, Clary. With Sebastian." Aline said, and Clary let out a giggle, throwing her hands over her mouth, but giggling once more. Jace turned his head towards her, giving her a look, and Clary threw her arms around Aline.

"You, you you you you!" Clary said to Aline, her giggle fit subsiding. Jace moved his arm to rub Clary's back, and Clary leaned into his touch, almost naturally.

"Well," Jace said, his eyes wide with excitement, "looks like we are going to need to board the closest flight to one Victoria, Canada."

Of course, as Clary approached her dorm with Jace at her side who insisted upon not leaving her alone, Clary hadn't thought about her crazy roommate.

So, when she opened the door and heard her roommate on the other side of the sheet hung up, Clary cringed and turned to Jace who arched a single eyebrow. "Wait here." She said quickly, before scampering inside and grabbing her schoolbag, emptying it on the ground. She shoved a few different sets of clothing inside, some makeup, a hairbrush and a toothbrush before hurrying back out to where Jace was waiting and closed the door behind her.

"Should I question?" Jace asked, and Clary shook her head, offering a dramatic eyeroll. She headed down the hall back towards the ground floor, Jace pulling out his phone. She almost wanted to laugh. Her shitty roommate who was always preoccupied with someone else had felt like such a bigger deal before she ended up on the wanted list of a criminal.

Abruptly, Jace gave a whoop and grinned, making Clary jump and then glower at him.

"Sorry," He winced, still smiling, and Clary swatted his arm before he looked back at his phone. "Seven tickets to Vancouver, Canada, tomorrow morning!" Jace exclaimed, and Clary shook her head giggling, a smile forming on her face. "I know. I sound bollocks given the situation, but this is going to be so unreal for me." He exclaimed, and Clary giggled again.

"No, it's wonderful." Clary said, reaching up and patting his shoulder. He grabbed her hand and kissed it lightly, before dropping it and draping his own around her shoulders. Shock ran through her hand and up her arm, her breath catching at the smooth way he seemed to charm her without even noticing.

"Let's go to fucking Canada." Jace professed, beaming at Clary, who nodded in agreement with his declaration.

Of course, there was absolutely no argument needed to convince Isabelle and Maia to come. They had both been almost ecstatic to come, and Maia had even privately mentioned to Clary how much Isabelle needed this.

As bad as Clary had originally felt for tearing her friends away from their lives to track her mother, Clary really felt as if she needed them for moral support and both Aline and Magnus had agreed with that. Plus, Clary didn't think there was a chance she could leave London without her friends stopping her to go with.

So, there they all stood, waiting in the security line to get onto the plane that would lead them to a criminal and Clary's mother.

After they had made it through the obnoxious security line to their gate, Clary's phone beeped for the third time. She pulled it out, irritated, only to have her suspicion affirmed when she read the message.

Looks like I'll see you very soon baby-sister.

Jace looked over Clary's shoulder at her phone and immediately pulled Clary next to him, keeping his arm happily tucked around her the entire way through the airport. Of course, this choice made by Jace had been received with some very weird and seducing gazes from Isabelle and Maia plus some almost glare-like looks from Aline, which confused Clary.

Clary sighed, deleting the message and pocketing her phone. "Can't be bothered by him now." She said to Jace, who gave a clever smile in agreement.

Nonetheless, even with Jace never leaving her side, Clary felt lots of fear leaving London. It had been her home for a while, and going back to Canada felt like entering a reality that confirmed her few months in London were just a dream. A very vivid and realistic dream.

Clary found herself pacing the floor waiting to get on the airplane, and Jace had given up trying to calm her down, sitting himself in a chair and watching her pace. Isabelle and Maia were leaned towards each other, laughing about whatever they were watching on Maia's computer, while Magnus and Alec were having a quiet conversation, with Aline glancing from her computer to Jace and Clary and then back again.

Finally, Clary heard the announcement that allowed people to get in line to board the plane, prompting her to grab her bag and jump into the line, forgetting all about the others until realizing she had left her passport and boarding pass somewhere.

Jace came up next to her in line, passing her the passport of hers that she needed to get back into Canada, causing her cheeks to redden in embarrassment.

"Alright Jace." Clary breathed in, Jace turning his head to look at her with a brow raised. "Let's head back to my dear old homeland."