Jocelyn opened the door of Luke's house to find Clary and Jace at her doorsteps. "Clary!" she exclaimed happily, hugging her daughter. "Come in," she said, beckoning towards Jace.
Luke was sitting on the dining table and he stood up as they came in. "Well," he said, "this is certainly a pleasant surprise. They've saved us a visit to the Institute, haven't they Jocelyn?" he said looking up to see Jocelyn's flushed face.
"Luke? Mom? What's going on?" Clary asked, clearly as confused as Jace. Jace stepped forward so he was standing beside her and he gently gave her hands a squeeze. Clary gave a grateful squeeze back.
"Well," Jocelyn said, looking at Luke and blushing, "since you and Jace have come, why don't you two sit down and tell us what brings you here. The last I remembered, you were too busy to even answer my text messages Clary," Jocelyn said, sitting down on the table beside Luke. Clary felt a rush of happiness upon seeing Luke and Jocelyn together. she was so happy that they were finally together at last, with the person they loved. All these years they had stayed away from each other because she, Clary, didn't know about the Shadow World, but now, they could finally be together. Just as she and Jace were.
Clary glanced up at Jace, who gave her an encouraging nod, before she began speaking. "Mom, Luke," she said, taking a deep breath, "Jace and I are dating."
Luke seemed surprised that Clary was telling him outright. The last time he'd found out about her dating someone was from Simon, and that too accidentally, and that relationship wasn't even real. This one was. Jocelyn looked as if she had expected it all along and merely motioned for them both to be seated.
"Clary," Jocelyn said, "I knew from the moment I saw Jace and you together that you two were in love. And let me be frank with you, I am very happy. I'm glad you had the courage to tell me and I appreciate the fact that you respected Luke and I."
"Uh-oh…" Clary muttered to Jace. "This is the way she normally begins a big lecture. The whole, 'I appreciate the fact that you respected me'," she muttered darkly. Jace chuckled under his breath and Clary hoped her mother hadn't heard it.
"But, before I let you two begin your relationship," Jocelyn continued, "I want to discuss with you the importance of what you two are doing.." she said trialing off when Luke put a hand on her shoulder.
"Jocelyn," he said, "please, let them be. They're kids, I agree, but I think they know what's good for them."
"But Luke…" Jocelyn protested, clearly wishing to continue her little 'talk' with Clary and Jace.
"Jocelyn. No.." Luke said wisely. "Let them live their life they way they want to live it. Let me remind you that when you were Clary's age, you yourself were dating a young man, and I doubt you would've liked it very much if your mother had been lecturing you about the 'importance of being in a relationship' and I'm sure Clary and Jace don't like it very much either," he said, previously quoting what Jocelyn had said.
Jocelyn sighed. "I guess so," she said looking at Luke as if Clary and Jace weren't there. "But I'm a mother, and I tend to worry. After everything's that happened..." she said trailing off.
"Um…mom…Jace and I are still here..." Clary said impatiently. She hated it when her mom acted ad if she wasn't there.
"Of course!" Jocelyn said, "How could I've forgotten. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts. But I just want to say, that I am very happy for you Clary," she said, taking Clary's face between her hands and planting a kiss on her forehead. "I'm so happy you've found a great guy like Jace," she said, surprising them all by getting up to hug Jace.
"Thank you Ms. Fairchild," Jace said, startled by Jocelyn's sudden show of affection.
"That's where you're wrong Jace," Luke said, pulling Jocelyn towards him, his eyes twinkling. "What you're supposed to say is 'Thank you Mrs. Graymark' because that's Jocelyn's new name!" he exclaimed happily.
"Are you serious?" Clary said, getting up to hug her mother, "that's great! When's the wedding?" she asked curiously.
"We don't know yet, we have to see. Whatever day is good is free in the church," Jocelyn said, blushing with joy.
"Well," Jace said, pulling Clary close to him, "be sure to send a invitation for us all!" he said, his face flushed red with happiness upon seeing Clary's excitement and joy.
Just then, Jace's cell phone rang. It was a text message from Isabelle. Clary looked up to Jace, wondering what it could be that had made Isabelle phone them on her date with Meliorn. Jace's face was a mask of horror and shock.
"What happened Jace? What happened?" Clary asked worried, her former sense of joy vanishing.
"It's Isabelle," Jace said worried, "she's been kidnapped and is being carried hostage to the Seelie Court."