Hey guys! So, I know, I know, it's been way too long. I have this derpy little computer that is basically a tablet so I should be able to upload more often. Last semester was a pretty hardcore one in terms of studying considering I had two Senior level courses, but this semester should be a bit easier. I have no classes on Fridays so I'm going to try to upload to at least one of my stories every Friday. Thank you to everyone who has stuck by me and is enjoying my stories! As always, R&R. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and, as always, pm if you have any questions or just wanna have a conversation or whatever. Enjoy!

Clary:

I can feel everyone looking at me, expecting some kind of a reaction. I just nod in response. I've known about my father wanting to run for the city council for a while. It's the very reason that he kidnapped Alec. The Lightwood's have a lot of power in the city, so Father figured that he could use Alec to get Mr. Lightwood to comply. It's been working in his favor so far.

"We know," I say, watching as everyone's expressions morph," That's why he took Alec. He's blackmailing your father into investing in his campaign."

"Father knew?" Isabelle's eyes widen as her expression shifts to one of betrayal.

"He knew who had me, but he didn't know where we were," Alec says, in hopes of comforting Isabelle," He didn't really have a choice. What good would it have done if he had told you?"

"It's not fair! We didn't even know if you were alive! I cried myself to sleep every night, praying that you would come back someday, and he knew! He knew you were okay, and he didn't tell me! That's not fair!" I haven't seen Isabelle this upset in a very long time, and it's almost comforting in a way. It makes me glad to see how much she cares about him.

"What could he have said to you? You wouldn't have believed him. There are too many other things at play besides just your feelings," Alec says softly, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. I know that it hurts him to defend his father, but he needs to make Izzy understand the circumstances. Magnus strokes the back of one of Alec's hands before uncurling his fist and intertwining their fingers.

"What about Clary's family then? Her mother has been worried sick. She basically shut herself off from other people for months. He didn't do anything to comfort them!" Izzy's voice gets louder and louder as her anger continues to build.

"He didn't know. Your dad didn't know that I was there as well. He never saw me," I say, hoping my words will calm her down. She freezes, looking at me.

"He didn't know you were there?" Jace's voice from behind me catches me off guard. I resist the urge to flinch and turn toward him.

"No. It wasn't information that he needed to know," I say, glancing up to meet his eyes before quickly looking away.

"I think we should call Mom and Luke," Johnathan says, his eyes pleading. I want to see my mother more than anything in the world, and I would love to see Luke as well. I just don't know if I want them to see me like this, hurt and nothing like the girl I used to be.

"I don't think she would want to see me like this," I whisper, not trusting my voice to stay strong if I talk any louder.

"Clary, please. She needs to see you," Johnathan approaches me slowly, his eyes searching mine. My eyes flit away as a let out a sigh and nod at him. He pulls out his phone and steps out of the room to call mom. I look back to Jace as he watches me, his eyes worried.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asks quietly, his hands are gentle as he takes one of my hands and helps me sit in one of the many chairs in this room.

"He's right. I need to see her. I can't keep her in the dark about something like this. It'll hurt her more in the long run if I wait to tell her," I admit, looking down at my hands. They've started shaking again. Large, warm hands wrap around my small, cold ones.

I look up in shock to see Jace staring down at our hands as he rubs soft circles in the back of my hands with his thumbs. It feels comforting instead of frightening, like I was expecting. He looks up, his eyes searching mine for any sign that he should let me go. I offer him a small smile, squeezing his hands gently.

Jace talks to me quietly, his actual words are not reaching my ears but his voice is helping to soothe my frayed nerves. His hands keep me centered as time inches by. The front door opens for a third time, opened by my brother this time, to reveal my mother and Luke. My mother hugs Johnathan tightly, not even look at any of the others. My breathing stops and I wait for her to notice me.

She doesn't notice me first, she sees Alec. Her eyes widen when she see his face, unharmed and looking almost exactly like he did before he disappeared. She wildly searches the room until her eyes settle on me, instantly feeling with tears. Jace releases me, although a part of me wishes he wouldn't, and moves out of my mother's way as she sprints across the room toward me. I stand, suppressing a wince at my ankle being forced to hold my weight.

She hugs me tightly, her tears soaking my shoulder. I hug her tightly, pain the last thing on my mind as tears fill my own eyes. Luke wraps his arms tightly around both of his, tears of his own falling. My mother and Luke got married not long after she divorced my father. He's a very kind man and has been a part of my life since I was a child. Tears of my own choke me as Johnathan joins the hug. This is the one thing I never let myself dream about while I was in that hell. Well, that and one other thing but that's my own secret and I haven't shared it with anyone, not even Alec.