Hey there, awesome peoples! Thank you for all the reviews on Chapter 3. Here's your next chapter. Enjoy! Happy New Years!

You already know the disclaimer, so I'm just going to get on with it.

CHAPTER 4: BACK TO NEW YORK

Clary's POV.

"Are you ready, sweetie?" Avery asked from the doorway of my room. I sighed, spinning to face her. I nodded. I still couldn't believe that I was going back to New York City to devise a battle plan with the people I left because it hurt too much. Avery's face played many emotions, like guilt, and remorse. She crossed the gap between us in two strides, pulling me into a tight hug. I hesitantly hugged her back.

"Clary, honey, I'm so sorry. I didn't think for a second that you wouldn't want to go back. I thought you had liked it there. I feel so bad. You don't have to do this. I can tell the Clave that I'm sending Trent or Caden or someone else. Do you want someone to go with you?" Avery's words came spilling out, her arms wrapping tighter around me. I shrugged and replied, "It's okay. I can handle it. I do know them the best out of any of us, after all. It's not that I don't want to go back, it's just coming at me so fast. I thought I would have time to prepare." She pulled away from me, her eyes staring right into my emerald ones like she could see right through me. She grudgingly stepped away from me, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the hallway.

"All you have to do is go to the New York City Institute, talk to the residents, and try to negotiate with them. The Clave is having a bit of trouble getting them to agree. Then, whether you have succeeded or not, you conjure a portal and come straight back, understand? You come straight back to us. Please, don't get yourself killed," Avery explained, walking me to the living room, where a portal was glowing above the coffee table. As soon as they saw me, Carson and Kenz pulled me away from Avery, engulfing me in a giant hug. "You stay safe, red head. We'll miss you," Carson whispered. I nodded, when I heard Kenz mumble, to where only Carson and I could hear it, "Don't let those screwy New York City boys get to you. I can just tell there was someone there that hurt you by the way your face would twist when I mentioned the city." I chuckled, pulling away, giving everyone hugs (and an ESPECIALLY LONG hug to Caden) I stepped through the portal and into the city where my life began.

I landed on the sidewalk in front of the New York Institute. It looked the same, like I had never left. I took a deep breath, trying to settle my stomach that was now protesting my arrival, telling me to get my butt home to the Boston Institute, if I could call that place home. But, no. I was the new, Shadowhunter, serious, badass Clary, not the scared little girl Clary. My feet completely ignored my thoughts of 'Get away! Get away!', and took a step towards the front door of the Institute. Then another. Then another. And another, and so on until I was standing directly in front of it, pressing the door bell with my finger. I could hear the loud 'DING DONG' from outside, and I waited, wondering if I should run away.

I was just taking a step away from the door, about to make a break for it when it swung open, revealing a very disgruntled, and remarkably more mature looking Alec. "Okay, okay! I'm here! Now what do you want?" he yelled, looking around, until his eyes fell on me. I was about five feet away from him, turned to the side with my left foot stuck out in front of me, as if I was just in the middle of a jog. 'Now, Clary, you have to act badass. You are not giving in to the sappiness. Don't even think about it.' I thought to myself, and a smirk glided its way onto my face. "Hey there, Alec," I said, taking a few steps towards him. His blue eyes widened in shock. "Clary?" he yelled, none to quietly.

He grabbed my arm, and pulled me inside, slamming to door behind him. He tugged me into the elevator, shut the metal door, and punched the 'Up' button. The elevator creaked, and slowly started to climb.

"What the Hell, Clary? You left, and do you have any idea how much time we spent looking for you? How sad everyone was that you left? What you did to your mother? Luke? Isabelle? Me?" he yelled, adding the last part as a whisper, "Jace?" I cringed upon hearing his name, and Alec noticed. "It hurt all of you just as much as it hurt me. It seemed that if I left, you all would be happier. It may seem heartless, but it killed me inside. I missed you all so much, but I knew if I came back than I would be hurting everyone even more, and giving into myself," I said, running an agitated hand through my hair. Unexpectedly, Alec wrapped his arms around me in a brotherly gesture, murmuring, "Then why did you come back?" "I'm going to tell you when we're all together," I said, letting go of him.

The elevator finally reached our destination, squealing to a stop. Alec swung the metal door open, stepping out, me following behind him. Church came up and rubbed against our legs. Alec ignored him, but I stopped and squatted down, patting him on his back. "I missed you too, Church," I said, standing back up. Alec had disappeared. Luckily, I remembered my way around.

I went from room to room, trying to find the person I was looking for. She had to be here somewhere. Finally, I found her in the kitchen, attempting to scramble eggs in a frying pan. I laughed, thinking 'Same old Isabelle'. My laughter startled her, and she spun around, pan in hand. When she saw it was me, her eyes widened, and she dropped her pan, eggs scattering on the floor at her feet. The next thing I knew, I was being squished in a hug, her long black hair tickling my nose. I sneezed, blowing it away from me. Izzy didn't notice. She just held on to me without saying a word. "I missed you, Clary," she said finally, after us standing there desperately clinging to each other for five minutes. "I missed you too, Izzy," I whispered, letting her go.

She stepped away from me, looking deeply into my eyes for a minute, before she turned away to go and clean up her eggs. There was nothing to be said between us, we were just happy to have each other back.

I heard footsteps coming from the hallway behind me, and I felt the presences of two people standing behind me. I didn't dare turn around, because I was afraid one might be Jace. I just wasn't ready to face him yet. But, just my luck, huh?

"Clary?" a stunned voice asked, and I knew that voice anywhere. I froze, taking a deep breath. When I turned to face him, I saw the same golden eyes that I knew and loved, had dreamt about for the past two years, and had missed, but when I thought about them, it made my chest ache from all the heartbreak. He looked almost the same, but I knew his age was different, giving a different atmosphere about him.

"Jace," I said, trying not to burst into helpless tears.

Ooooh, what will happen next? What will Jace say? The next chapter is coming soon. Happy New Years, everyone. Review!