The Wonders of Resolutions

"Cooking?" Clary raised her eyebrow as she watched Isabelle take out flower and sugar. Isabelle grinned at her.

"Yep, my New Year's resolution is to learn something new which is to cook…which means you have to help me."

Ring in the New Year with helping someone fulfill one of their resolutions.

"So when exactly did you think of this?"

"Well…I wanted to do it last year but I put it off-"

"Until about fourteen hours before the new year." Clary finished. She groaned. She had tasted Isabelle's cooking before and needless to say…she could put down a moose with her food. Which of course, Clary would never try…moose were endangered. "So…how exactly are you going to learn?"

Isabelle smiled at her as she flicked on the television. "Food Network."

-Half an Hour Later-

"Wait! Put the apples in the what?" But the smiling Rachael Ray had already moved on. Clary was watching Isabelle's frustration with a mix of fear and bemusement as she stirred the honey. Who knew apple scented fondue was so hard? With a growl, Isabelle chucked the apple paste at the television screen, creating a thick, syrupy layer that slid slowly off of Rachael Ray's face. "I bet you don't even eat the freaking thing! Why does it have to be 'apple scented'? Why can't it just be apple fondue? Is mixing apples in just too simple for you Rachael, do you always just have to complicate things?"

Clary put a spoonful of the honey in her mouth as Isabelle slammed her door to her bedroom. They weren't going to use the honey anyway. She sighed as she went to the telephone and, with her mouth still full of honey, she called in the expert.

"Get up! Get up!" Magnus sang as he arrived. Isabelle warily climbed out of her bedroom.

"Who's this?" She asked as she stared at Magnus's tight and glittery outfit.

"Reinforcements." Clary answered as she got out another bag of flour. Isabelle snorted as she leaned on the kitchen countertop.

"I don't need reinforcements."

"Dear, I heard you just yelled at an inanimate object, ruined a completely good mixture of apples and allowed you friend here to polish off the rest of your ingredients." He gestured towards Clary who suddenly noticed the uneven tiles on the floor. "So yes, I say you need more than reinforcements…you need an army." Isabelle huffed but ignored the snipe as she watched Magnus perform his magic.

"Now cooking is like a relationship." Clary snorted quietly, not a good analogy. Isabelle had never been good with relationships. "You need everyone to cooperate-"

"Everyone? There are more than two people?" Magnus shot her a sly look.

"Not that you would know darling but yes that is possible." He winked at her as he moved on. "Anyway, everyone needs to cooperate, and you need to be patient." He chopped the apples into small chunks and swiped them into a bowl. "The apples are the most important, they bring that sweet taste, that flavor that everyone can connect to, can relate to…the best part of food." After a few more slicing and dicing, he stirs the concoction slowly. "It's like making love; you have to go slow and steady."

Isabelle rolled her eyes, "what if you're the fast and passionate kind of girl?"

"Then hopefully you're partners will survive the experience." Clary snorted in her drink as Magnus poured the concoction into the pan and shoved it in the oven. "And in about two hours, you will have an all American apple pie ready."

"With a partially, glittered center." Isabelle said as she cleaned the last spoon. "But I want to cook something." Magnus grinned at her.

"I know something you can make…the best snack known to man kind."

-11:50-

It was chilly on the balcony as they sat out there; the rest of the party was watching the ball drop in Times Square.

"I'm sorry this didn't turn out like you wanted…I'm sure you expected something…more." Isabelle shrugged as she smiled softly through the sliding doors.

"It doesn't really matter anyway…people are eating and…they're having fun. That's the best part of food." Clary nodded in agreement as she took a bite of out Isabelle's peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"If it's any consolation, you bring me back to my fourth grade days." Isabelle punched Clary lightly in the arm.

"Shut up!" They both laughed. Isabelle glanced up and got off the edge. "Well, I better go, Simon is looking pretty good tonight." She winked as she slid the door open.

-11:55-

"You're a polar bear." He said as he slid his coat over Clary's freezing arms. She turned around, feeling his back as he stood behind her.

"I like the view." She said.

-11:57-

"Did you like the sandwiches?"

"Are you kidding me? Isabelle tried to shove one in my mouth the minute I walked through the door."

-11:58-

"So any New Year resolutions? Because as of today, I'm obligated to help anyone with theirs."

-11:59-

"Just one." His gaze flickered to my lips and suddenly, my breath felt like it was knocked out of me. Suddenly everyone in the apartment stood up. "5…!" They cheered.

He was getting closer, his arms on either side of my body, pressing me against the railing.

"4….!"

He tilted his head slightly to the side. I could smell his scent. It was intoxicating.

"3…!"

"What's that?" I asked breathlessly.

"2….!"

He grinned.

"1! Happy New Year!" They screamed.

He quickly pressed his lips to mine and I closed my eyes, letting the sound of party poppers fade away into the rhythm of Jace's breathing. He leaned his forehead against mine.

"You…you're my resolution."

Clary smiled; yep…this was going to be a pretty good year.

A/N: I know, I'm sorry this is so short but I thought there should be one chapter dedicated to the New Year. But I promise there will be longer chapters to come. I hope you guys are enjoying it! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for reading!