Bonus Chapter

Not very long, but I thought you guys would appreciate knowing what happened during Thanksgiving since things just kind of fast forward through November.

Monday before Thanksgiving (JACE)

"Jace."

Jace looks over his shoulder, away from the fridge where he had been scrounging around for a snack to tide him over before dinner, at Maryse.

"Do you know what Clary's doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Why?" Jace asks, confused.

Maryse give Jace a soft smile. "I was just wondering if she wanted to come over for the holiday if her parents weren't doing anything big that evening."

Jace stiffened a little; Maryse got his change in stance before he could correct it and frowned.

"Clary's father is working Thanksgiving." Jace gave way of answer, glancing back at the fridge.

"What about her mother?"

Jace swallowed. He was suddenly glad that he and Clary had had a conversation about just this. At the time it had seemed ridiculous, but one of the time Clary came over she had given Jace the okay to tell his parents about her mother and brother if it ever came up. She had also given Magnus the okay to tell Alec the basics and Simon to tell Isabelle, neither of the Lightwood siblings had, thankfully, ever brought it up in conversation.

"Clary's mother died in a car crash."

Jace wasn't looking at his adoptive mother, so he couldn't see her face, but it didn't mean he couldn't hear the sympathy in her voice.

"Oh. What about any siblings?"

"Clary's brother died in the crash with their mother."

It was silent for a few minutes and Jace pretended like he was still interested in what the fridge had to offer even though his appetite had completely disappeared.

"Invite her over, will you. She can stay as long as she likes." Maryse said lightly before leaving the room.

The next day Jace told Clary she was invited to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Clary accepted.

Thanksgiving (CLARY)

Initially, Clary had been nervous and a little hesitant about going to the Lightwoods for Thanksgiving, but as the evening ensued she was glad she had. As always, her father was working Thanksgiving and Clary had arrived at the Lightwoods a little after noon. Magnus had been invited as well by Maryse. Clary was pretty sure this was Mayrse's way of getting to know her son's boyfriend, but his presence did help her nerves.

The early afternoon had been spent by helping Maryse in the kitchen, Isabelle was strictly prohibited from entering. It had taken Clary to offer to help a few times before Maryse relented, and even then Clary was pretty sure it was only because Jace had told his mother that Clary wouldn't stop offering to help so she might as well let Clary do something. This had been quickly followed up by Magnus offering to help as well. Jace had started helping, but couldn't keep from sneaking bits and pieces of food, so Maryse kicked him out and had him keep Isabelle company with Robert. They were watching one of the earlier games.

Clary had been tentative at first, a little afraid to do something wrong, but the easy attitude of everyone quickly allowed her to relax. It had been nearly four years since Clary had had a proper Thanksgiving and she had forgotten what it was like to have fun while a group of people cooked. Before, when her mother and brother were still alive, when they were a happy family, all four of them had spent the day in the kitchen cooking. Jocelyn had had to swipe at both Jon and Valentine several times throughout the day to keep them from snitching food here and there. Clary remembered the last one in particular she didn't know if it was because it was the most recent or because it had been the best one. They had had mostly everything done, just the pie needed to go into the oven and the mashed potatoes finished, the rest was done, and somehow Jon had flicked flower that was left from making crust at Clary, who had precipitated by tossing a few carrot peels at him. Somehow it turned into a full out food fight and both them and the kitchen were a mess when there parents came back in from changing into different clothes. The siblings had frozen, glancing at each other before looking at their parents.

"You two look ridiculous." Valentine stated, trying his best to keep a smirk from his face but failing.

"It was Jon who started it." Clary said on instinct, not fully realizing her parents weren't put off.

"Clary went along with it." Jon added, hiding hunk of butter that was slowly melting in his hands behind his back. Clary had seen him cut a slice off the stick before her parents had entered.

"You do know you two will be cleaning up this mess on your own." Jocelyn stated trying to sound stern even though her eyes had a hint of amusement in them.

Clary and Jon looked at each other and smiles grew on their faces. They had always been able to communicate without really needing to say a word, just knowing what the other was thinking by expressions and head movements. They looked back at their parents and made their way to them, Jon with his butter and Clary with her fingers gooey from batter that she managed to scrape out of the bowl that they had made corn bread in.

Jocelyn's eyes widened and she started shaking her head as she back tracked. Valentine's eye brows raised a little before he started to walk out of the kitchen as well. This quickly followed with Jon and Clary chasing their parents around the house some before Jon got their mother. Clary was snatched up my Valentine before she could do anything. After that they had cleaned up the kitchen, Jon and Clary had changed, and they had Thanksgiving.

"Pass the butter, would you, Clary?"

Clary jumped a little at the sound of her name, being brought out of her day dream.

"What?" She asked dumbly as she looked over to her right where Magnus stood.

Magnus gave Clary an understanding smile. "I need the butter." Was all he said, but Clary could hear the underlying question of him wondering if she was alright.

Clary smiled a bit as she handed Magnus the butter. "Stop worrying."

Magnus's shoulders relaxed and he nodded before he bumped her in the shoulder before going to grab the next ingredient.

When dinner came around Clary was sat between Magnus and Max with Jace directly across from her. Max talked to her exuberantly about some of the newer mangas he had started reading and Clary discussed the ones she knew with him and gave him suggestions for others. Whenever she would look up she would look across the table she could see Jace watching her and smiled when their eyes met on of the times she caught him. The smile he sent back at her made her feel warm inside and as she looked around the table she was engulfed with such a relaxing sense of peace that she wished she could just stay there. There was a slight tightening in her chest at the fact that she couldn't freeze time no matter how much she wished for it, but she quickly pushed it back, not wanting to dwell on things that she couldn't change and instead choosing to enjoy the day to its fullest.

Later that night, after almost everyone had turned in for the night and only Magnus, Jace and Clary were left awake in the living room finishing a movie, Clary looked over at Jace and nudged him with her sock clad foot.

"Thanks," Clary said softly as Jace looked at her with a puzzled look on his face. "Today was really nice."

Clary could have sworn that even in the dark she could see Jace's cheeks redden ever so slightly.

Jace shrugged, "don't thank me, it was all my mother."

"Thank you," Clary said again. Yes, she did mean for Thanksgiving, but also for everything else. Jace had had several chances and reasons to just give up on Clary, but he had stuck it out instead. No one besides Magnus and Simon had ever really been there for her like that, not for years anyways. Sure, Maia and Jordan were good friends, but Clary didn't share the same bound with them that she did her other two friends.

Jace didn't say anything, just nodded. Clary was grateful for that.

"Well, I think we should head in for the night too." Jace said, standing up and offering his hand to Clary.

Clary took it and let Jace pull her up from her spot on the floor. Looking around the room Clary saw that Magnus had left already, she hadn't even noticed.

When they were a couple of steps away from Isabelle's door Jace stopped and stood in front of Clary.

"You know, Clary, I'm glad we're friends now and I'm glad you were over for Thanksgiving."

"Me too." Clary said, looking up at Jace. There were stray blond strands of hair in his eyes and Clary had to fight back the sudden urge to move them back. She noticed that Jace was leaning towards her, more than normal and for some reason her heart started to pick up a little. Clary didn't know why, but there was something about Jace that just excited Clary. He was warm and safe, strong and fierce, loyal and kind, and for some reason Clary had started to find even his annoying qualities endearing.

"I guess . . . I'll see you in the morning." Jace said hesitantly, and Clary could see his golden eyes moving as he took in features of her face, pausing at her lips before meeting her eyes again.

Clary nodded. "Good night, Jace."

"Good night." Jace said quietly as he moved so that Clary could slip inside Isabelle's room.

That night Clary's dreams were full of gold. Golden hair, eyes, and skin were everywhere she looked. She felt safe and content and happy, feelings she hadn't had all at once, even in her dream, for a while. And when she woke up, the feelings were still there, along with something new.