THIS IS THE LONGEST CHAPTER I HAVE EVER WRITTEN! I hope you all enjoy it! I was sick from school today so I had time to write this. Please R&R and feel free to share your ideas!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE MORTAL INSTUMENTS, THE INFERNAL DEVICES, THE HOST, OR JAKE ABLE. Unfortunately my friend Shelby owns him. JK

Chapter 12
Clary POV
I was released from the hospital a few days later, after they took various tests. I didn't know where I could go. I didn't want to see Jace and some part of me didn't want to see Simon either. He came to visit me in the hospital but only with Izzy.

I didn't have to wonder much longer because a police officer caught up to me as I was walking out of the hospital.

"Clary Fray? Hello I'm Will Herondale, the detective that found you and put your brother behind bars."

This was the man who was sitting with Tessa in the art room. Didn't Jace mention his mom's maiden name was Herondale? I didn't know he had any siblings.

"Umm Hi," I hesitantly replied, unsure of what he wanted.

He seemed unfazed by my lack of conversation. '"Anyways I'm here to help you find a place to live. "

Oh. I guess that made sense. I didn't answer; I just stood there waiting for him to suggest someplace dreadful and scary.

He took my silence as a cue to keep talking.

"Well it seems like you have some good friends Clary. Maryse and Robert Lightwood are foster parents as you might know. It seems Izzy convinced them to take you in. "

The Lightwoods? I didn't even think to ask Izzy: it seemed like it had been forever since our sleepover. So much had changed.

I had changed.

"Are you sure? Did they mean now? What if they changed their minds what if...?" I was filled with paranoia. What if they didn't like me?

"Clary I wouldn't worry. The Lightwoods are great people and I'm sure they have no problem taking you in. "It wasn't the Lightwoods I was worried about.

I guess I wasn't really in a spot to be picky. It was either the Lightwoods or the orphanage. I sure as hell wasn't going to be an orphan. I still had my mom, but she wasn't exactly fit to take care of me anymore.

"Can I go by my apartment I grab some stuff first? How soon do I need to be over there?"

"Sure I'll drive you over there. We can take our time. I know it's hard to get used to this. Jace went through the same thing you know. He'll be there to help you. "

Oh he'll be there alright. But I don't want his help. Not yet.

*****The One and Only Fangirl *****

After going to the apartment and packing my few belongings and the clothes Izzy had bought me, I found myself standing in front of the Lightwoods mansion. I could see a woman who looked shockingly like Izzy standing with a man who had his hand on her shoulder. They both looked like strict people and I felt intimidated.

What if they decided they didn't like me?

"CLARY!" I heard Izzy scream then saw her jet black hair bolt from behind her parents towards me. She captured me in a bear hug and I had to struggle for breath.

"Still….Not….Healed…..Can't…Breath." I managed to wheeze out. Man was she strong.

"OH! Sorry Clary! I'm just so glad to see you! I was so worried about you! But now you get to live here and we can have a slumber party like, every night! I can do your hair and makeup every morning! Won't it be fun?" I found myself nodding but my attention was elsewhere.

Maryse and Robert were walking towards me and right behind them was Jace and Alec. My eyes were drawn to Jace. His eyes were closed off and I knew he was waiting until we were alone to talk to me.

"You must be Clary! I'm Maryse and this is Robert. We are so sorry to hear about what happened to you but we are more than happy to let you stay with us for however long you need to! We already set up a room for room. Well it was mostly Izzy. She took control. Here, Jace and Alec can get your bags. And I'll show you around the house." Her voice seemed kinder than her face portrayed. I looked back as she grabbed my elbow lightly and led me into the house. Jace grabbed my bag with a small smirk on his face.

Maryse showed me the kitchen, media room, living room, and dining room on the first floor. We moved up to the second floor where Izzy and her old brother used to live. Maryse led me into the room right next to Max's and across from Izzy's. She pointed up to the third floor.

"That's where Jace and Alec sleep. Robert and I are on the fourth floor if you ever need anything. Dinner will be ready in an hour so feel free to make yourself comfortable."

I walked into my new room and lay down on the bed, observing it.

It was almost the size of my old apartment. There was a large window on one wall that looked out to the pool and the gardens. My bed was pushed against the wall facing the desk and dresser. There was a walk-in closet and bathroom next to the dresser. The bed was covered in a black comforter with green designs. I looked around and saw that the walls were the opposite; Green with black designs. I wondered how long it had taken Izzy to do all this. It touched me to see someone care so much as to do all of this for me.

Just then my door creaked open and I was surprised to see Alec's head pop around the corner.

"Can I come in?" he asked earnestly.

"Sure. I was just taking all of this in. Seems too good to be true."

"Yeah it's a lot to take in but you get used to it." I nodded and waited for him to explain further. He stood with his back against the wall looking around, seeming very uncomfortable. Then with a sigh he pushed himself off the wall and came over to the bed.

"Mind if I sit?"

"No not at all." I scooted over to make room for him. I gave him time to explain whatever he came into here for.

"I'm not really good with words but I wanted you to know if you need someone to listen you can come to me. Izzy can be a little overbearing and well Jace is…Jace. I know it's hard to let people in but you can consider me as your older brother." He seemed to realize the how I would take the last sentence and quickly moved on. "You can come tell me anything and I'll listen. Help you out as much as I can. Even though it's not official you're part of our family now."

I was accepted. Wow. Alec was being so genuinely sweet. I wondered if he ever got teased because of his boyfriend. My heart went out to him and I knew we would be friends.

"Thanks Alec. It's nice to know someone is there for me." We sat there for a moment in a comfortable silence. With Alec I didn't feel like I had to make conversation because he was just as much of an introvert as I was. After a few moments he jumped up.

"I forgot to tell you! Dinner's ready." He flashed me a rare smile and we walked downstairs to the dining room. There was a huge table in the middle of the room and Maryse was just setting the last dish on the table. Robert and Izzy were already seated but Jace was nowhere to be found.

I sat down next to Izzy, across from Robert. Once everyone aside from Jace was seated we started to pass the food around and dig in. Maryse had made pot roast with gravy, rice, rolls, and fresh green beans. It was the best meal I had eaten since the last thanksgiving my family spent together.

"So Clary, do you like your room?" Maryse asked from the seat at the head of the table. I nodded enthusiastically.

"I love it. Thank you so much for doing all this. It means so much to me. I don't even know how to thank you." Her face lost some of the edge it had and she actually looked like a mother.

"Sweetheart you don't have to thank us. We want you to stay here and be as comfortable as possible. It's our pleasure to have you here." I heard a scoff and turned to see Jace almost done with his meal. When did he get here? And how did he eat so quickly? I looked back down at my plate and finished everything else.

Once everyone was done eating Izzy brought out a cake.

"Don't worry everyone! I bought this at the bakery." A sigh of relief went through the room. We stuffed ourselves on cake and once again I noticed Jace was missing. What was his deal?

When dessert was finished, I walked upstairs with Izzy. I promised her I would let her get me ready for school but that I was really sleepy and needed a full nights rest. She quickly hugged me goodnight and I went into my new bedroom.

Everything was happening so quickly. I had a new family, a new house. I needed something familiar. I pulled my phone out of my bag and called Simon.

We talked for an hour about nothing of consequence. It felt nice to talk to Simon again without worrying about Jonathan. It felt even better to realize I never had to see him again.

I fell asleep with the phone next to my head, listening to Simon talk about World of Warcraft. Something's will never change.

*****TheOneAndOnlyFangirl*****

The next day of school wasn't any different than before. I didn't really have enough friends for my absence to be noticed and my teachers felt so bad for me they didn't give me much make-up work.

Jace locked eyes with me multiple times during the day but I never talked to him. I didn't know what to say? That I was still crazy about him? How I thought about him all the time? How could I tell him that my heart was broken and continued breaking every time I saw him?

Ignoring him was better than confronting him at least. It gave me a sliver of hope that things could go back to before, when Jace didn't know my name.

Once I got home Izzy whisked me out of the house saying we were going to go see a movie. I told her I just wanted to rest but she wouldn't hear it. With a sly wink to Alec she dragged me out of the house, I was left completely confused.

"Isn't Jake Able such a hottie? That movie was A-mazing!" It was true that the movie she took me to was pretty good. It was about aliens invading Earth and this girl gets possessed. The alien in her body falls in love with a hot guy while the girl she is possessing was already in love with another hot guy. Needless to say it was an awesome movie.

"So why did you want to see this all of a sudden? Couldn't you have seen it with Simon?" I asked her while she was unlocking the door. She just smiled to herself. I could hear loud music coming from the house and saw flashing lights. Oh no. That sneaky bitch!

"No Izzy. Please don't tell me you are throwing a party!?" She looked at me sympathetically and pulled me into the house.

"It was Alec's Idea. He wanted to cheer everyone up. Now come on! Any party Magnus plans is a good party!" Izzy disappeared into the room, merging with the many sweating teens on the makeshift dance floor.

I walked over to the punch table and stood watching the crowd. I wasn't really a big party goer. Simon and I never got invited to them anyways. I stood there for a while until I felt someone come up next to me.

I looked over and saw Sebastian. Last time I saw him it was on the day Jace kissed Aline. Seb had asked me out. I thought about it for a second and saw Jace in my peripheral vision He was glaring at Sebastian and me. If he could kiss other girls surely I could have some fun as well.

I grinned at Sebastian. "Hey Seb! Enjoying the party?"

"It's ok," he replied," But it's better now that you're here." I gave a fake little giggle and bumped his shoulder with mine, casually moving closer to him. He suddenly reached out and took my hand. His grasp was tight and his hands were too cold but I didn't say anything.

"Clary, would you meet me on the dance floor in 5 minutes. Save the last dance for me?"

I agreed and he walked back into the crowd. What was that about? Is it really possible that he could like me? Maybe I wasn't as big of an outcast as I thought. I waited until 5 minutes had passed and walked over to find Seb. He was standing in a circle with a group of friends. I tapped his shoulder and he turned around, roaring with laughter.

"Did you really think I would dance with someone like you?" He shouted above the music, drawing everyone's attention. What was going on? Was this all some kind of joke?

"Oh Look!" Aline squealed, clutching to Sebastian's shirt, clearly drunk, "Its little orphan Annie! The Lightwood's only took you in because they felt bad for you. Who else would want you? A short, flat chested girl." She laughed with everyone else as if that was the funniest joke she had ever heard.

My cheeks were burning and I knew they were as red as my hair. I heard them laughing and I was turning away when someone reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Little red, we never got to dance. Come on. Dance for us," Sebastian wouldn't let go of my arm and his words were slurred. Was it really possible for him to have become this drunk since we were talking five minutes ago?

"Let go of me." I growled. They all couldn't seem to stop laughing. I noticed that the music had stopped and most people were looking at us.

"Or what? Gonna go get your brother to beat me up like he did to you?"

I reeled back as if someone had slapped me. How did he know? I was about to ask him to let go of me again but someone beat me to it.

"She said let go of her. I think you've worn out your welcome Verlac. Take your friends and leave." I would recognize that voice anywhere. I didn't even have to turn around. Sebastian let go of my arm but didn't move away.

"Jace," Sebastian said." Why are you defending her? Come on man you're one of us. You really are going to kick us out?" The two of them stood there, arms crossed. "Ok man." Sebastian waved an imaginary white flag." You win. We'll leave. Though I don't know why you are defending the little bitch,"

Before I could even blink Sebastian was flying back from Jace's punch and Jace was tackling him to the ground. The crowd surrounded them and I couldn't see what was going on. I heard muffled yells and then saw everyone clear. Alec had pulled the two apart and Magnus was leading everyone out.

Jace looked up and our eyes met. Before I could even think about it we both reached out for each other and held one another in a tight embrace.

Jace had defended me against his friends. He even fought them. How could I ever have been mad at him?

Everything was perfect. I was holding onto Jace and he was holding onto me.

I knew that I was never going to let go.

What did you think? Thanks for reading and please R&R!