I finally got Chapter 15 finished and posted. It's taking me a lot longer to put these chapters up because I've been having a writer's block for the past week or so. It sucks, but hopefully it will pass soon. I just want to let anyone reading this know that I'm doing the best I can. Please enjoy and review!

Clary is learning that there is more to her problem than paper. To learn the whole truth she needs to go to the only source who knows the answers to her questions. Demons. How will Jace react when Clary asks him to take her to a Greater Demon? What will Clary do when her golden boyfriend is picked on by the others? Read on to find out...

Chapter 15

After making out for a while, Jace and I decided to get something to eat. We head down to Taki's. I really like the food there. I seriously don't know how I didn't know that it existed. I know now and that's all that matters.

Jace and I sit in a booth, across from each other, and way for the waitress to come over to us. I lean against the table and look out the table. "I can't remember the last time things were peaceful. Truly peaceful."

"It depends what your definition of peace is," Jace arches an eyebrow.

I sigh and turn back to Jace. "Well, peace is feeling safe and having the people who I care about near me. I want Luke back and I want Jocelyn back in my life."

"Why do you call your parents by their first names?" Jace asks.

I shrug. "I don't know. I guess that's how they raised me."

Jace hums, but before he can say anything else the waitress comes by. Kaelie looks over at me with disdain. "What can I get you?"

"Coffee and pancakes," I respond.

"Same here," Jace mumbles.

Once Kaelie is gone Jace leans forward and grins. "So, when we get home do we really have to get to work or can we finally give into this sexual tension between us? I like the latter a lot better."

I reach over and smack Jace on the side of the head. "Can you think of anything other than perverted thoughts. Honestly, maybe I should just go back to the institute and leave you there. I want to finish getting all the stuff Luke has stuffed into the basement before we make any other moves."

Jace reaches over and grabs my hands. "You should try loosing up a little. I know finding Luke is your top priority, but you shouldn't let it get too much into your head. You need rest too. Luke would want that."

I smile softly. Kaelie comes back with our food. I start with a sip of my coffee. Jace lifts his mug and looks up at me through golden lashes. I make a face. "What?"

"Nothing," Jace smirks.

Great. Now I'm going to be thinking about it until Jace finally tells me. I sigh and give Jace a hard look. "You better tell me what you're thinking or I'm going to beat it out of you."

Jace's smirk turns into a full blown grin. "Are you sure? It's kind of dirty?"

My cheeks turn red and I scowl at Jace. "What the hell is the matter with you?"

Jace just sits back and chuckles. "A lot, actually. There's nothing wrong with a little fantasizing about my girlfriend. You're just a prude. You need to stop being so serious all the time. Try not to think about it too much. I will though."

Of course my cheeks refuse to stop burning. "Why can't you be more inconspicuous?"

"Because I like making you blush," Jace sips his coffee.

I roll my eyes then go for my pancakes. I mutter under my breath. One of these days I'm going to get Jace back for embarrassing me so much. I just need to think of something good. For some reason a chill goes through me and a vision of darkness enters my mind. I shake it away and I go back to my food.

Jace taps the end of his fork on the table. "Have you ever considered wearing see-through underwear?"

I nearly choke on my food. I take a sip of coffee to clear my throat. "Seriously, Jace. You need top doing that. One of these days you're going to regret this."

"Are you going to punish me?" Jace wiggles his eyebrows.

I sigh and sit back. "Forget it. I'll take my revenge out on you later."

Jace keeps his smirk, but doesn't say anything else while we eat. I don't know what it's going to take Jace to stop messing around with my emotions like this. It's not like I hate it, but I don't like it when he does it when we're in public.

After eating Jace places some money on the table then stands. I wipe my mouth quickly then stand up to follow after Jace. Jace grabs my hand and interlaces his fingers with mine. I blush slightly as we walk out the door.

On our way to the train station a bunch of girls turn to stare at Jace and glare at me. I groan and roll your eyes. "Why can't you be just a little bit ugly?"

Jace smirks. "I would really love it if you would get jealous over me too."

I look up while giving Jace a look. "I'm sure you would love it."

Jace puts his arm around my waist and pulls me in close. "It makes me feel like you really want me. I'm just saying, if you want to get possessive about me, I'm not going to stop you."

There's a genuine emotion behind Jace's words. I smirk then lean into his touch. "Jace, for being so confident you're really insecure."

Jace sighs and looks down at me with an arched eyebrow. "I'm really enjoying the time we're spending together. Even if most of the time you're so focused on working. I like spending time with my girlfriend."

A surge of guilt hits me. I'm his girlfriend. I decided on being in this relationship with Jace. I should take an interest in it. Even if it means losing some time on reading. I sigh and move in front of Jace. "Hey, why don't we watch a movie when we get back to my house. It's been a long day and I'm really tired."

Jace beams. "Of course."

I can't believe a little gesture like that could make Jace so happy. I smile and put my arms around Jace. I like the feeling of protection he gives me. Jace just seems to care. Luke cares too, but not in the way Jace does. I wonder when Jace started to be so interested in me. I know I've never really interacted with him before this whole shadow hunter business started.

When we get back to my house I go change into some pajamas and grab a blanket. Jace is sitting on the couch when I come back. He smiles as I snuggle into him. I turn on the television and find a movie to watch. Neither of us likes mushy movies so I'm go with something in between because I want this to be romantic.

As the movie goes on Jace holds me close and draws small circles on my shoulder. I look up. "Jace?"

Jace looks down. "Yes?"

I frown slightly then blurt it out. "When did you start to like me so much?"

Jace smiles as he remembers then he strokes my cheek. "Well, it was the first time I saw you with Luke. I remember you were walking sitting in the park by yourself. You were drawing something. For some reason I couldn't bring myself to walk up to you."

"You? Nervous?" I look in disbelief.

Jace chuckles. "Hard to believe, right?"

I bite the inside of my cheek. "But what was it that you liked so much about me. Most of my life was spend in the background or as the butt of the joke. I don't understand how someone like you could want someone like me. I really don't get it."

Jace leans down to kiss me. "I loved how you just didn't give a damn. Sure people picked on you, but you never cared. It made you even more beautiful."

"Beautiful?" I blush.

"Yeah," Jace lowers his voice.

I look down while trying to hide the heat in my face. "People have called me pretty, but never beautiful. I'm pretty sure there are better looking people that me. Why else would no one want to be with me?"

Jace grabs my face between his hands and makes me look at him. "There is a reason why girls are jealous of you when we're together in public. You're more than beautiful enough."

"Are you sure you're not talking about yourself?" I make a face.

Jace laughs and wraps his arms around me. "Sure I'm great looking, but it's not the same as your beauty. That fiery red hair can't be missed and your shamrock green eyes are unmistakable. You told me that you had to seduce your targets to get close to you. If you weren't beautiful do you think that would have worked?"

Now that I think about it… I lean my head on Jace's shoulder. "Why do you always know what to say?"

"Because I'm amazing," Jace responds.

I roll my eyes. "Yes, Jace. You're amazingly conceited."

Jace just holds me even closer. I can't help, but feel at home in his arms. The words 'I love you' pop into my head. I bite down on my lip so I don't speak them out loud. My face gets really red. I keep my face down and toward the television so Jace doesn't see.

Is that really how I feel about Jace? I stare into the screen trying to focus on the movie, but I just can't get into it. My mind is still focused on the three words that just drifted into my mind.

The only person I've ever said those words to were Luke, but as his daughter. I've never said it to someone I was in a relationship with. My hand clenches involuntarily. Jace notices how tense I am. "What's the matter, baby?"

I look up and suddenly my ability to talk is gone. I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. My grip becomes even stronger. I know my face is about as red as my face and I'm shaking slightly. Jace frowns slightly at how I'm acting. I look away quickly.

Jace makes me look up at him. I feel my eyes glistening with my emotion. Jace cups my face and smiles gently. "You don't have to say anything, Clary. I just want you to know I feel the same way."

I release my grip on Jace's shirt and move my hands up to cup his face. I still can't manage to say anything, but I can move. I lean forward so I lightly touch my lips to his. Jace closes his eyes and places his forehead against mine.

My body relaxes at the sound of Jace's words. I sigh and close my eyes. "I'm sorry. I guess I just sort of freaked out."

Jace strokes my hair and smiles. "It's okay. You're still getting used to this relationship."

I lean up and kiss Jace lightly. "Thank you for understanding."

We sit together watching the movie then go on to another one. After a few hours we decide to go to the institute to check up on things there. I go change quickly then meet Jace at the door. I kiss him quickly before we leave the house.

As we walk toward the institute Jace insists on glaring at any guy who turns to watch me walk by. Jace is very intimidating. Dangerous and good looking. Now where have I heard that before?

When we finally get to the institute we hear people yelling. Isabelle is yelling at her brother over why he won't eat her food. His smart response is that he doesn't want to go to the hospital again for food poisoning. The emphasis was on again.

I look up at Jace. "It sounds lively in there."

"Well, I wouldn't want to eat Izzy's cooking either," Jace makes a face and grabs his stomach.

I smile. "Bad memories?"

"Sort of," Jace cringes then leads me inside.

We walk to the kitchen where all the yelling is coming from. I push the door open to find Isabelle holding up a wooden spoon with suspicious grey sludge dripping from it. Isabelle is holding it up like a weapon to Alec. "Come on, Alec! Stop being such a wimp and try my soup."

"That's soup?" I call out. "I thought it was sound sort of goop."

Isabelle turns to us and grins. "So the love-birds finally made an appearance. Did anything interesting happen last night?"

"Nope," I sit at the table with an annoyed looking Simon.

Magnus is sitting across from me giving me the look. "Tell me the truth. Nothing happened between the two of you? You spent all night, alone, together in an empty house and didn't do anything naughty?"

"Exactly," I sit back.

Jace stands behind my chair and begins massaging my shoulders. "Why can't you say we did and let them think you're no longer a virgin? It would have been fun to see their reactions."

"They wouldn't have shut up about it and it would have gotten on my nerves," I cross my arms over my chest.

Isabelle places a bowl of gray goop in front of me. I make a face at it. Jace pushes it away from me quickly. "Don't even try it, Clary. Not unless you want to end up in the hospital. I would rather you not."

I look up at Isabelle's pout. "Believe it or not this is definitely not the worst thing I've ever seen. Right, Jace?"

Jace makes a face a nods. "I would probably resort to that if I needed to."

Isabelle pushes the bowl toward me again. "If that's the case then you wouldn't mind having a taste."

I give the bowl a disgusted look then push away from me. "This may not be the worst thing I've ever eaten, but that doesn't mean I'm going to. The worst thing I ate put me in the hospital for a long time. There's no way I'm going back. Hospitals suck."

Jace lifts me from my chair, sits, then pulls me onto his lap. "So, did you guys find out anything from the Downworlders?"

Magnus sighs and taps the table. "It seems like plenty of shadow hunters are disappearing and so are a good number of Downworlders."

"There is also less demonic activity everywhere," Simon puts in.

I sigh and lean back against Jace. "Man, this is really starting to get serious. We need to figure out where everyone is disappearing too. This means that all shadow hunters are under the threat of disappearing and there really isn't anything we an do. Obviously the demons are recognizing this. Either they're in on it or they're worried they'll get dragged in."

"But the way they've been acting toward us makes it seem like they're apart of it," Alec sits back and crosses his arms.

"Well, we won't know for sure until we go out there and start asking them ourselves," I sigh.

Jace rubs his hand over my thigh. "A Greater Demon would know more, but going to one of them is dangerous."

"What's a Greater Demon?" I ask.

Jace kisses my neck. "A Great Demon is like a boss. They control legions of demons. They're not easy to talk to."

I make a face. "I'm good at making people listen to me."

Magnus arches an eyebrow to me. "Are you sure about that?"

I roll my neck and look over my shoulder at Jace. "So, where can we find a Great Demon?"

Jace smirks and gets a mischievous look on his face. I regret it every time he makes that face after something I say. It tells me that Jace is thinking of doing something bad. Usually it involves making me blush or something like that.

Alec taps a spoon on the table. "You're not actually going to let her go near a Greater Demon without training, are you?"

Jace shrugs and kisses my neck again. "Well, it's not like I'll be able to stop her if I wanted. Clary gets what Clary wants."

I smile and turn around to kiss Jace deeply. Then I hear someone say 'whipped' behind me. I turn to see everyone with a grin on their faces. I narrow my eyes. "What the hell are you grinning about?"

Simon shrugs. "Nothing. I was just thinking how quickly you got Jace to be so obedient."

Jace's arms tighten around me in annoyance. I place my hand over Jace's and turn back to Simon. "Oh, really? Let me guess something. You're the one who drooled over Izzy the first time you saw her and she was the one who had to make the first move."

The pink tint in Simon's cheeks confirm my statement. Simon clears his throat. "That's not relevant."

I tilt my head. "Are you sure? At least Jace had to confidence to come up to me and make the first move. What about you, Alec? I know you did not make the first move. You were probably scared out of your mind that someone might figure out your sexuality."

At that Alec turns a bright shade of red. Jace presses his face against my neck. "You're amazing."

Isabelle and Magnus try to comfort their significant others. I stand and grab Jace's hand. "Come on. The others can join us if they want, but we're going to look for this Great Demon you were talking about."

Jace grins happily and walks with me to the weapon room. "Do you know how great it is having a girlfriend who's as blunt and badass as you?"

"No, but I'm guessing it's great," I walk into the weapon room.

I grab a stele and stick it in my belt with my other blade and gun. I need to go get new magazines for that. I used mine up while fighting those assassins that came after me. I sigh. I grab my hair back into a ponytail. Jace turns to me with a certain look on his face.

Jace walks over to me and brushes the skin on my neck. "Is there anything you need to do before we go to the Greater Demon?"

"Well, I need to get new magazines for my gun," I pull my gun out.

Jace smirks as he sees the gun. "I love that you have one of those. So, are you going to show me how to use one or not?"

"You don't know how to use a gun?" I mock surprise.

Jace arches an eyebrow. "Surprising, I know, but not everyone knows everything. Even if it is me. I heard somewhere that imperfection makes a person perfect."

"You would use that excuse," I give Jace a look.

I pull out the magazine and take the bullet out of the chamber. "This might be a little too much for you to handle. It takes time and practice to completely be comfortable with a gun. It's not just pulling the trigger. It's the kickback, the residual powder, the bullets, the weight. Everything comes into play."

Jace puts his arms around me. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

I roll my eyes and put down my gun. "Will you just shut up? Don't you want me to teach you how to use a gun?"

"Only if I get to stand behind you," Jace kisses me gently.

"Are you the one who's going to be taught?" I look into Jace's golden eyes.

Jace leans down to kiss my neck, then sucks so a mark will be left over before responding. "It doesn't mean I'm not going to learn. It just means I'll be learning from a different, more appealing, position."

After I remove Jace's arms from around me I check on the seraph blade in my boot. It's safe and sound. I close my eyes for a second. A spark goes through my body as I feel my angel blood awaking for just a second. I pull my hand away from the seraph blade quickly then open my eyes.

It's a good thing Jace was looking in a different direction when that happened or it could have gotten weird. I don't want to go into explanation over things I don't understand myself.

When we're all ready the others come into the weapon room. Alec and Simon don't meet my eyes because they're still a little upset. Isabelle walks over to me and grins. "I've never seen someone shut up a couple of guys that quickly."

"Dealing with so many men all the time gives you the experience to do that," I smirk.

Magnus walks over and crosses his arms. "Alec is so upset he won't even kiss me. You better fix this, Clary, or yourself going to regret coming over today."

I roll my eyes and walk over to Simon and Alec who are still fuming. I lean against the table Alec is picking his weapons from. "Hey."

Alec's frown deepens. I narrow my arms then grin evilly. I lean in and whisper something in his ear. Alec's face turns bright red then turns to me. "What do you want?"

I smile happily then sit up on the table to swing my feet. "You know I was only defending Jace, right? I didn't mean it. It's sort of my automatic defense. It happens whenever I feel threatened or someone I care about feels threatened."

Alec looks up with a look shock in his eyes. "You really care about Jace that much?"

I shrug. "Why wouldn't I? Even if he is a little obnoxious and his ego is huge, he's my first real boyfriend."

Simon grunts. "Just don't do that again. I have enough time feeling dominant around Isabelle."

I smile at Simon then decide to throw him a bone. "Listen, Simon, Izzy seems like the kind of person who is used to being in control, but don't let her be. Try starting something by yourself and see where it takes you. You never know. She might like it more than being in total control."

Simon thinks it over then smiles. "That's actually a great idea. How'd you think of it?"

"Because I'm just like her," I beam then turn to Alec. "And Alec, don't take your anger out on Magnus. He's taking it out on me and it's not fun being threatened by a warlock. I have a question though."

Alec looks at me uncertainly. "What is it?"

"Why do you blush so much?" I smirk.

Alec blushes severely. "I don't think that's the problem here. If I'm not mistaken, you blush a lot too."

I frown slightly. "That's just with Jace and that's only because he's such a perverted idiot."

Simon crosses his arms. "I still can't believe you got him whipped so quickly."

When I throw Simon a look he holds up his hands in surrender. We three look at each other for a second then burst out laughing. I pat Alec's shoulder then walk back over to the others who are watching me with curious looks. I give a small smile. "What?"

Jace crosses his arms. "What did they say?"

I make a thinking face. "Well, Magnus doesn't have to worry about Alec not kissing him anymore and Izzy is in for a nice surprise."

Both mentioned look at me quizzically. I turn to Jace. I smile then go onto my toes to kiss him. Jace arches an eyebrow. "Now what was that for?"

"Don't you like random kisses?" I pout.

Jace wraps his arms around me. "Sure I do. I like random make-out sessions a lot better though."

Before Jace can Alec and Simon walk over to their partners. Alec gives Magnus a big kiss while Simon whispers something in Isabelle's ear that makes her blush. She nods quickly. Simon looks at me and grins. I smile in return. They stand there together in silence.

I sigh and rub my cheek. "I need to go to an old source to get my new magazines. It'll take a couple of hours though."

"I'll go with you to keep you company," Jace kisses my neck.

I shake my head. "No. I need to go alone. If someone figures out I have a real relationship with someone they wouldn't hesitate to use it against me. Especially me."

"You must have done something really bad to a lot of people," Magnus puts in.

"Oh, you have no idea," I smirk.

After that we all decide on what we're going to do. I already know what I have to do. Jace is going to go out to find the Greater Demon. Magnus and Alec are going to go out to find out as much information as they can on what's been going on with the Downworlders and demons. Simon and Isabelle decide to stay behind in the institute to check out more of the secret room.

I have a feeling they're really not going to be getting that much work done. That's my fault, but I guess it's good for Simon's self-esteem. It might only take a couple of hours.