AN: I had planned to have this up a week after the last chapter, but I had to have a 21st birthday, and all that that entails. I got a stele! And I spend many hours drawing runes onto my hands. I only wish we made a big deal out of Halloween where I live, I would have had a killer costume. Anyway, the chapter is up now, hope you enjoy it :)

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." – Oscar Wilde

Chapter 23

"Clary, please," Isabelle whined. "I finally have a friend who is a girl, and she doesn't want to play dress-up with me. Come on, think how Jace will look at you once I'm done with you."

"Of course I remember the last time," Clary said dryly. "Jace practically drooled and my mother thought I looked like a cheap hooker."

Clary and Isabelle were in Clary's room at the Fairchild Manor. Isabelle had ridden over with the express purpose of dressing Clary for the ball the next evening. The minute her father had told them that he and Jia set a date for the ball to celebrate the end of summer, and subsequently, the defeat of the faeries, Isabelle knew nothing would stop her from making sure Clary looked, and hopefully felt, beautiful.

"Yes, well, I never planned for your mom to see that," Isabelle said airily. "This is different, we're going for a much classier look – it's the ball for the end of summer, even if it is a little delayed."

"Downworlder wars do seem to take precedence over the annual ball," Clary said sardonically. "Fine, you can help me choose something to wear. We can go and look through some of Mom's things from when she was younger."

"The ball should have large numbers this year, what with a lot of people still being in Alicante and Idris from last week," Isabelle mused as she followed Clary out of her room. "Not everyone comes back at the end of summer just for the ball. Where are we going?"

"Mom's room," Clary answered. "She has a large walk-in closet, and the clothes she kept from when she was younger are packed away in the back of it."

"Do we need to check with her first?" Isabelle asked, not wanting to make an enemy of Jocelyn.

"Trust me, she'll be thrilled I'm taking an interest in the clothes, or at least that I'm letting you," Clary said with a smile. "Did Magnus bring news of Simon? I know he was meeting with your dad."

"You mean other than that Simon is being a pest and Magnus still wants to wipe his memory? Or turn him into some form of a rodent," Isabelle said with a laugh. "Simon isn't exactly Magnus's favourite person, so he wasn't really forthcoming with details."

"I wish he could have brought Simon with him, or at least a letter or something," Clary persisted. "I guess they won't let Simon back here for a while."

"Maybe we'll get to go to New York again soon, that could be fun," Isabelle suggested brightly. "I'm sure Magnus would be more than happy to ensure our safety while we're there, in case anyone is at all worried about the thought of us roaming free. I'm pretty sure he's got his eye on Alec."

Clary grinned and said, "Well it's no secret Magnus thinks Alec's cute. It's just so hard to tell with a guy like that, and a warlock that's been alive for however long, how serious his comments are. I mean, is he just entertaining himself? Maybe he thinks Alec is cute, and that's all. It's not like pursuing Alec romantically would be a very practical option, even if Alec let him that is."

Clary and Isabelle started to go to work, looking through all of Jocelyn's old clothes, fine gowns and shoes, and some more casual clothing.

"I've been thinking," Isabelle said slowly, and uncharacteristically seriously. "Do you think they'll ever allow Ascension again? I think one of my relatives, a few generations back was a mundane with The Sight who Ascended."

"That's a strange question, Iz," Clary replied. "But I won't pretend I don't know what you're getting at. I've thought about it too, the possibility of Simon becoming one of us. He knows about our world, he accepts it, and actually thinks it's cool. It seems complicated though, like he has family. What would he tell them? And that's assuming he wanted to and the Clave allowed it."

"Still, it's worth thinking over. Maybe we can look into why they stopped allowing Ascensions? I mean, of course when The Cup was lost they couldn't anymore, and I remember hearing Ascension was quite a tricky process, you know, the candidate had to fit a lot of criteria, but surely Simon would make a good Shadowhunter," Isabelle persisted.

"Okay, I guess we can look into it. The Academy will start up again on Monday I guess, so we can do some research there. Plus, Luke is on the Council, and your dad is the Inquisitor. I'm sure we can start by talking to them about the possibility of Ascension," Clary decided.

"Sounds good," Isabelle agreed brightly. The topic finalised, she now turned her attention wholeheartedly to the task at hand. "Clary, your mom had some beautiful dresses, and they're so well preserved. With your colouring being so similar, everything here should suit you amazingly. Plus, it looks like she was about the same size as you back then."

"Yeah, maybe there's hope for me and I won't be a midget forever," Clary said wryly.

Since the Faerie War, and Madeleine's death, Clary's joking had become darker. What once had been said with lightly with a laugh was becoming more frequently sarcastic or cynical.

"What about this one?" Isabelle suggested, holding up a fiery orange dress.

"I don't know, I think it's too bold for me," Clary mused.

"Oh, try it on anyway," Isabelle commanded.

Clary agreed and held out her hand to take the dress. "I'll change in here, you wait in the bedroom."

"Have you been to see Brocelind Plain now that Magnus has reversed your crater?" Isabelle asked.

"No, I might go on the way back from the Academy some time next week," Clary answered, fastening a delicate zipper on side of the dress. "Luke told me that you'd never know what had happened, except for the mini crater the Council decided to have left. The Iron Sisters are going to make a plaque to go by it in remembrance."

"Yeah, it's pretty amazing, it took Magnus and Ragnor Fell and Catarina Loss to do it, and it took the better part of two days," Isabelle told her. "I bet they're glad to be done here for a while, even though they are well compensated. Magnus has been back and forth a lot over the last couple of weeks, what with Simon, and the war, and the repercussions of war. Are you done yet?"

"They're probably not done, I'm guessing Magnus at least will be back again next week for the Council meeting while they deliberate how to punish the faeries and I guess that could take a while. I'd like to be there when they're given the sentence," Clary said thoughtfully, emerging in the evening gown.

"Twirl," Isabelle commanded, looking critically at Clary. "You're right, it's a bit too bold. Back to the drawing board."

"Told you," Clary told her. "Don't worry, it looks like there are half a dozen other gowns you can make me try on."

Isabelle grinned and said, "Oh trust me, I know."

"What are Jace and Alec doing today?" Clary asked as they returned to the wardrobe for Isabelle to select the next dress to try.

"They're on Max duty. Mom and Dad are in Alicante, and somebody needed to spend some quality time with Max. He so wants to be old enough to go to the Academy, so Jace and Alec are spending some time teaching him some beginner stuff today," Isabelle answered.

"Alec turns 18 next week, doesn't he?" Clary asked. "I guess that means he won't be returning to the Academy with the rest of us."

"He can keep coming, even though he will be an adult, and will technically be a member of the Clave once he swears allegiance to them," Isabelle told her. "It's something to do with his parabatai still being young enough to be at the Academy. I guess he'll train with Jace, and maybe help train some of the younger Shadowhunters."

"Makes sense," Clary replied. "I guess I'd never thought about it, neither Jon nor I have parabatai to consider when it comes to our training."

"Please don't tell me you're fishing around for an invitation," Isabelle teased.

"What, for me?" Clary scoffed. "You should know me better than that! No, I was sounding you out for Jon, I know he'd love to spend more time with you, even if it was only training."

"Very funny," Isabelle said dryly. "Actually, not a bad idea. If we were parabatai we wouldn't be able to date, and he'd have to get over me!"

They both shared a laugh and then Isabelle said, "But seriously, maybe that's how I should let him down. Jace and Alex think I should set him straight? What do you think?"

"I don't think you need to go through the trouble of it," Clary said honestly. "Jon knows nothing will happen between the two of you, at least by now he does. Just let him flirt with you, he should get over it before too long."

"See, I'm fine with that. Meaningless flirting it practically my default," Isabelle said fiendishly. "And nothing less than seven inches is my motto."

"Please, please don't ask me whether Jonathan would pass that test," Clary pleaded.

"And I don't suppose you'd know about Simon," Isabelle added thoughtfully, her eyes glinting roguishly.

"No I would not," Clary said firmly. "Having not known him for very long, and only as a friend, that's something I could not know."

Isabelle huffed and held out a dress to Clary and said, "Here, go try this one on now. I've only got so long before I need to head home in time for dinner."

Clary laughed and said, "You could stay here, but I know you want to get home and hear whatever gossip you can while your parents talk shop."

"Well, there's a lot to hear these days," Isabelle said in defence. "Next week will be even better, what with the trial starting."

Clary just shook her head and headed off to try on the dream dress Isabelle had handed her.

Late the next afternoon Clary was dressed and ready for the ball, looking critically at herself. She felt too grown up and unnatural, but Isabelle had insisted she looked stunning, and that she would beat her up if she didn't wear the dress. Still, Clary had never worn a floor length dress to the end of summer ball in Alicante before, only shorter ones, suited for a younger girl, so she was nervous. She'd never had someone, specifically Jace, to impress either.

"Clary!" Luke called. "The carriage is ready and we're all waiting. Come on!"

Clary sighed and grabbed the light wrap that matched the dress in case the evening became cooler. Clary put her stele in her purse, along with the dagger Jace had given her for her birthday. A Shadowhunter always had to be prepared for danger, and the Faerie War was a fresh reminder of that.

Clary descended the stairs and found Luke waiting at the bottom.

"If you mother, Jonathan and Valentina weren't in the carriage already I'd make you change," Luke joked. "I don't think I like being reminded that my little girl is growing up. You look beautiful Clary, if not too beautiful."

Clary flushed and gave him a hesitant smile. "Thanks."

She and Luke left the house, locking the door behind them, and Luke helped her into the carriage. Bill was at the reins and would be driving them in to Alicante for the special occasion.

In Alicante Bill pulled the carriage up as close to Angel Square as he could and the family alighted, leaving him to take care of the horses and carriage for the evening.

"Don't be nervous," Jocelyn said softly to her daughter. "You look lovely in that dress. You'll have a wonderful evening."

"I hope I'll be as beautiful as you one day," Clary said wistfully, looking at her tall, willowy mother, who was wearing an elegant emerald green dress.

"Darling, you are beautiful. You shouldn't hope to look like me, you're already beautiful, and in your own way," Jocelyn reassured her.

"Thanks," Clary replied, believing her.

"Clary," Jonathan beckoned. "Let's go and find the Lightwoods."

Jonathan was dressed in formal slacks and a button down shirt. The end of summer ball was typically not overly formal, and the younger males tended to take advantage of this, wearing smart casual wear. There were other balls that had stricter dress codes. Older girls and women tended to wear a floor length dress to the end of summer festivities though, enjoying the change to dress daintily, instead of in Gear.

Clary joined her brother, lightweight filmy material swishing around her ankles, her feet clicking over the pebbles in elegant sandals.

"Do you see them?" Clary asked, hoping her brother's height would give him an advantage.

"I think I see Aline, over there in that bright red dress," Jon answered. "Ugh, that awful cousin of hers is with her. Why hasn't he gone back to France yet?"

"Because nearly everyone has stuck around for this," Clary answered tiredly. "I'm sure Aline is just as annoyed by him as we are, and I think he knows well enough to leave us alone by now."

"If not, I'm sure Jace or I will take great pleasure in reminding him," Jonathan said, cracking his knuckles.

This show of bravado, however sincere, caused Clary to chuckle, easing some of the tension she was feeling.

"Oh my fearless defenders," she said sarcastically. "Look, there's Alec, with Magnus Bane. Jace and Izzy must be nearby. Now, please try to avoid drooling over Isabelle, because I can assure you you'll want to. Just stick to looking, and mild flirting. That is all that is allowed to those who have been placed in the friend zone."

"Ouch," Jon said comically. "Noted though. Look, there's your knight in shining Gear."

"His Gear does not shine. His hair does though," Clary added as an afterthought, her heart beating faster that the sight of Jace. She excused herself from her brother and walked through the square, weaving through the crowds towards Jace. The natural light from the sun was almost gone, and the square was now largely lit by witchlight as it filled with Shadowhunters, congregating before their eventual move into the Accords Hall. Jace was moving towards her as well.

"Wow," Jace said, as they met. "This doesn't look like something Isabelle would pick, and that's a good thing. You're lovely."

Clary was wearing a lovely silver dress, with a satin lining and chiffon overlay. It fell softly around her small stature, all the way to the ground, with a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and tiny sleeves that sat just off her shoulders, her red hair flowing about her white, exposed skin.

"Well, she did pick it, but not from her wardrobe," Clary replied, blushing. "It's another old dress of my mom's. I wasn't sure about it, but Mom and Isabelle were adamant."

"Remind me to that Isabelle later," Jace said fervently, stepping towards her and kissing her. "Probably not your mom though, I don't think that would go down well."

Clary giggled and nodded. "Nothing gets past you. Where's Iz?"

"Talking to Simon," Jace said, a touch of irritation colouring his voice.

"Simon!" Clary squealed. "You're not serious are you? You must be, you know better than to make a joke like that!"

"Yes, yes, he's here, Magnus suggested it for some absurd reason and Robert and the Consul agreed, for some even more absurd reason," Jace answered. "I'm guessing it was for your sake, although Isabelle seems quite happy about it."

Jace wasn't sure if Clary had caught these last words, as her eyes had been scanning the crowd, and as soon as she caught sight of Simon, and Isabelle, she was moving towards them as fast as her skirts and heels would allow.

When she reached them she paused long enough to take in the gold, figure hugging satin gown Isabelle was wearing, before giving Simon a huge hug.

"How are you here?" Clary asked delightedly. "When did you get here? How long can you stay?"

Simon laughed and Isabelle answered, "Apparently Magnus turned up on his doorstep about an hour ago before coming here, which is why Simon is dressed in only a t-shirt and jeans."

"Hey, I look fine," Simon protested.

"Of course you do," Clary agreed firmly, as Jace came and slipped an arm round her waist.

"Simon," Jace said in acknowledgement.

"Hey, he knows my name!" Simon exclaimed comically.

"I can go back to calling you mundane if you like," Jace threatened teasingly.

"It's better than Jew Boy," Simon mused. "But I still think I prefer Simon."

"How long can you stay?" Clary pressed.

"As long as Magnus does, I guess. He's kind of my supernatural guardian," Simon answered. "Also, it would be best if I didn't miss too many days of school, they kind of frown on that, and I'd like to get out of high school as soon as possible, which involves not repeating any grades."

"Look, everyone is moving into the hall, and I can hear music playing," Isabelle said excitedly. "I know Sebastian will try to have the first dance with me. Save me, Simon?"

"I can't dance," Simon said awkwardly. "Or at least not the way you all will."

"Oh don't worry," Jace said blithely. "Just lead her around and Iz will make you look good."

Simon let Isabelle lead him away and Jace and Clary followed at a sedate pace.

As they walked into the Accords Hall Jace said, "So, would to like to dance?"

"Yes," Clary acquiesced simply, accepting the hand he extended.

He pulled her into his arms and started to lead her about the floor, weaving in and out of other dancing couples.

"This has been a good day," Clary said softly. "It seems like the right way to see off the last couple of weeks."

"You don't want to forget everything from those weeks though," Jace reminded her.

"Of course not," Clary replied. "This is just a nice reminder of all the good things, and that even though we lose people, the world keeps going, and we keep living. Soon we'll be back at the Academy, and it looks like seeing Simon mightn't be as difficult as I'd thought. I feel good."

"Yes you do," Jace agreed impishly, rubbing small circles with his thumb on her smooth skin.

Clary shivered under his touch and then moved closer into his embrace as they danced. She could see the way forward, and things were looking good, very good.

AN: Thanks for reading! This chapter might sound kind of final, and it is in a way rounding off the first half of this story. From here we move into a different phase, with Sizzy, Malec, The Academy, and established Clace, as well as other characters and visits to other places.

Please review!

PS, has anyone heard about the plan to make The Mortal Instruments into a TV series? Thoughts? I'm excited!