*All the characters from The Mortal Instruments belong to Cassandra Clare and her incredible mind. Nothing will ever be owned by the author of this story. ;)*

Musical Preference:

High and Dry- Radiohead

According to Plan- I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness

Strawberry Swing- Coldplay

THIS CHAPTER, OH, THIS CHAPTER! :}

Chapter Ten

She could see the dark red in her eyelids, telling her the sun was out. Her eyes didn't open, not yet.

Clary sighed as she felt him curling her body closer to his. She would have loved to say she was rested, but the truth was that her eyes felt raw, even when she hadn't even opened them. All the crying was quickly catching up to her. She snuggled deeper into Jace's side, not wanting to leave at all.

Her cheek vibrated with a soft chuckle from Jace and he smoothed down her hair. Clary wanted to die at the feel of his fingers untangling her hair. They were magical, weaving through all her problems and fixing them as they passed b—

"Clary? I know you're awake," he grumbled, still half asleep. She giggled.

"I'm sleeping. Shush." She sighed contently into his warm body and tried to go back to the land of dreams. His fingers, though, interrupted her as they began looking for spots to tickle.

Clary's eyes snapped open as she grabbed his hand. Her glare was met by his amused gaze. "Don't you dare tickle me, Jace," she whispered.

He smirked. "What happens if I do?" he asked coyly while kissing her neck softly. Clary shuttered.

"Uh, well, I'll get, uh, angry?" she ended up asking. Jace grinned down at her.

"It's late and, baby? You need to wake up," he whispered in her ear. She turned to look at him with a smile. "I can't think of another way to wake you up."

"If I'm correct, it's Saturday and I don't work. Besides," she said, "there are plenty of ways to wake me up." She smirked up at his stunned eyes. "You just want to use the way that annoys me."

Jace grinned and his hands went to her waist. The tips of his fingers explored her ribcage over her shirt. "I do love annoying you," he whispered against her ear before lightly scratching her ribs. The squeals he acquired were incredibly high-pitched but he was hearing music compared to her sobs from the night before.

"Jace—" she gasped out before laughing and squirming under his grasp. "Jace, stop—stop!"

"Hmm," murmured Jace. "Nah." Clary's hands were trying desperately to push him away, but her force couldn't compare to that of Jace's. Soon, the comforter was on the floor and Clary was pinned down on the bed by Jace. He had both of her hands trapped over her head. He was smiling down at her with such glee and adoration that Clary couldn't help but grin up at him.

The smile fell from his face as he bent down and kissed her softly, savoring her. Clary hated that her hands were trapped when all she wanted was to hold him to her and run her hands through his abs and tattoos and—

She was interrupted from her heated internal conflict by Jace's breath on her face. "What are you thinking?" he asked her before taking her mouth once again.

"I want to touch you," she panted against his mouth. Jace chuckled and let go of her hands. Clary sighed relieved and kissed him again, her hands traveling the expanse of his naked torso. She flipped them over so she was on top of him. His hands traveled all of her back, fingers dancing. They made her shutter every time they passed a sensitive nerve.

She left his lips as hers traveled down his jaw, nipping and kissing open-mouthed. She sat up and looked down at his tattoo, the black and white jellyfish covering his left side.

"Do you know how many times I've fantasized about running my fingers through each tentacle—or whatever they're called?" she asked him, looking at his lust-filled eyes.

"No," he grumbled, his fingers dancing around her waist.

"Yeah? Well, me neither," she responded as her fingers danced and scratched at it. Her eyes glanced lower and she frowned. "Where's the other one?"

He frowned. "Other one?"

"Yeah," she whispered, running her hands through his six-pack. "You have another tattoo. Words. I just don't remember where it is . . ."

He smiled a bit melancholic. "It's in my lower back. And it's Latin. Ego vixit vivit." He sighed. "It means 'I lived alive.'"

Clary smiled softly. "I like it," she whispered, bending down to kiss Jace.

"You do?" he asked surprise after breaking away from her. "You don't think it's cheesy? Corny?" Clary laughed against his lips.

"No. It's sincere and deep." She smiled. "I like it," she repeated.

Jace smiled and stroked her cheek. "That was my grandfather's mantra. He said it right before dying." Clary noticed his eyes and his smile looked sad. She saw that his grandfather was very special to him. With a pang, she realized he knew a lot of her family and she knew nothing of his. She decided it wasn't a good time to bring this issue up.

She bent down to kiss him again, lingering on his lips before pulling herself up. "He was a wise old man," she whispered. He smiled and changed positions with her, pinning her to the bed once again.

"You're wonderful," he said to her and Clary could feel the sincerity of his words. It made her almost ache and it was obvious what was happening.

She was falling for him.

She was falling in love with Jace very, very hard.

Clary didn't know when it began or how, but she knew that she had never felt so strongly about someone before. Looking into Jace's gold eyes, she could see what she had always wanted a man's eyes to have when looking at her. It was exactly how Valentine looked at Jocelyn, how Simon looked at Isabelle.

They looked at them as if they were the best thing they had ever found in the world.

Tears prickled on the back of her eyes and she tried to hold them back so she wouldn't scare Jace. He frowned though and bent down to cup her cheek.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked her quietly.

She looked up at him with a smile and shook her head. "I'm just so happy you're with me."

More like overjoyed, enthused, so-fucking-content-like-oh-my-god . . .

He smiled at her and Clary could have sworn it looked kind of sad, but she could have been imagining it. "I'll be here as long as you still want me," he whispered. Clary giggled.

"I don't think I could ever not want you," she said. He shook his head and kissed her cheek.

"Always keep that in mind, yeah?" he asked her against her ear.

She grabbed his face and made him look at her. Smiling, she said, "I'll try. But, no promises," she teased.

He got a strange glint in his eye before smiling at her again. "What are you doing today?"

Clary frowned playfully. "Well, it's Saturday, and I have to go apartment shopping every Saturday."

He sat up and looked at her with an eyebrow cocked. "Apartment shopping? Is that a new garment that I've never heard of?" Clary rolled her eyes.

"No, I go out to shop for stuff that would look good in my apartment. It's a lot of fun. My friend Alec is coming, I believe," she told him with a smile.

Clary ran her hands through his hair while he looked pensive. She was shaking her head at how ridiculously attractive he looked by doing something so mundane when he spoke.

"Well, let's get ready. We don't want to be late for apartment shopping. I need to take you to your place so you can change and then make it in time." He sighed and got off from on top of her looking for a shirt to put on. Clary watched him curiously.

"You want to go shopping with me," she stated.

Sebastian had always made some stupid excuse to not go with her.

He frowned. "Yeah." Clary sat up in bed with a small smile.

"Why?"she asked softly.

Jace regarded her carefully as he pulled on a pair of jeans. "I don't feel like letting you go just yet. Will that be a problem?"

"Not at all," she said with a grin as she slipped off the bed. He was standing in front his dresser looking at himself as he slipped on his watch. Clary stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his torso, resting her chin on his shoulder. He looked at her with a smile through the mirror and she couldn't help but reciprocate it. "Thank you."

He turned around and held her against him. "Anytime." Smiling, she reached up and brought her lips to his. She felt him smiling against her lips and ended up questioning herself about the last time she had felt so happy. "I mean it, Clary," he said after they broke apart.

"I'm holding you to that," she said with a giggle.

w.^.w

"She's lovely, boss," he said with a grin.

"Camille?" asked Jace looking over at her. "Come on, don't say stuff like that in front of her. It gets to her head." He pointed at his head as Camille hit his hand playfully.

Magnus rolled his eyes. "I meant Clary. She's lovely. We're onto something with her. Well," Magnus added with a wink, "you are."

"When did you ever meet her?" Jace asked with a frown.

"Last week. Oh, I'm jealous of her hair! Do you know if it's natural?" Magnus sat quite flamboyantly onto one of Camille's couches.

Jace gave Magnus a calculative gaze. "I've met her mother. Same color, so, yes. Natural. How'd you meet her?"

"She and her friends were having coffee at Perkin's and Shawn's. One of her friends was beyond gorgeous. Well, I went to ask him out and he introduced the redhead as Clary." Magnus had a dreamy look on his face and Jace almost laughed at him.

"So?" asked Camille. "There is more than just one Clary in all of New York." She got up and went to the adjoining kitchen for a glass of water.

Magnus laughed loudly. "Oh, but I'm not done! One of them, a gorgeous black-haired girl said they'd gone to my last party, the one you were at, boss. Then she proceeded to tell me the sweet ginger got a, I quote, 'Golden God,' in bed." He chuckled while shaking his head. They could hear Camille's laughter, probably at the nickname.

Jace rolled his eyes as Camille came back in the room with the glasses of water. They each got one as Jace looked at Magnus.

"You won't tell her anything if you see her, will you?" he asked, leaving no choice of disagreement.

Magnus regarded him quietly, just staring at Jace. It was uncomfortable for him, but he didn't look away from Magnus's green eyes. Finally, he spoke, "I don't lie to nice people. I won't tell her, but if she asks, I won't lie."

Jace made up his mind to not let Clary think he could be, in any way, cheating.

"Fair enough," he told Magnus and his eyes widened. He looked at Camille before looking back at Jace.

"Boss, she likes you. A whole lot. When you were mentioned, her face lit up and transformed her. She looked as if she had just had sweet, slow, gentle, fulfilling sex. And I know, for a fact, that you haven't fucked her."

Jace excused himself then to use the restroom. As much as he loved talking about Clary, he hated to think of "fucking" her. He knew she didn't want that and, hell, he was ready to please her in every single way. More than he had ever wanted to please Kaelie or Aline. In all truth, he had never, ever, wanted to please them. It was usually the other way around, and he was perfectly fine with that.

But now he wanted the satisfaction of giving to someone he cared about.

And Lord only knew how much he fucking cared about Clary.

Jace knew he was in deep shit in the Feelings department. He was feeling things he shouldn't be feeling in the first place. It was bad, perfect, unethical, good . . . His brain was having such a hard time understanding them even though there was no point whatsoever in it. He was supposed to let go and feel. Feel what his heart and mind wanted him to feel.

But if he let that happen, he would fall in love with Clary.

Part of him knew that it was too late to try and bottle those emotions. He knew they were out in the open. But the other, stubborn part of him told him that it wasn't possible. He already loved someone else and that was that.

Yeah, right, he thought to himself as he left the bathroom and walked back to the living room. He stopped before reaching, trying to see if he could eavesdrop on anything interesting.

"—that John is so protective of her. He is just great," Jace heard Camille telling Magnus.

"What is he trying to protect her from? She's not six anymore, you know," Magnus told Camille.

There was a long silence where Jace figured Camille was putting her thoughts together. "Jonathan doesn't want Clary to be hurt again."

"Again, you say?" asked Magnus sadly.

"Yes. And, god, I had to lie to him and tell him Jace is a nice guy and would never hurt her. But . . . it's far more possible she'll end up bad after they actually find out how they feel about each other."

Jace closed his eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course he knew this. He just didn't understand what Camille meant by "how they feel about each other". Was he that easy to read? And she couldn't feel so strongly about him, could she?

"Camille . . ." Jace heard Magnus sigh. "She loves him. I know it. I saw it on her face. She may not know it herself, but it's far too obvious."

Fuck . . .

Camille laughed quietly. "Have you even seen Jace? He's smothered by her. If he doesn't love her yet, he's on his way. I believe he does but hasn't realized it yet, though. He can be pretty dense."

Magnus chuckled. "I bet both are. She seemed pretty stubborn herself."

"Oh, yeah. She definitely is," Camille said. Jace couldn't listen to anymore so he came out with his best poker face. There was a quiet rustle as they both sat up on their own seats. Jace wanted to roll his eyes at them, but he had to appear unknowledgeable to their conversation.

"I'm leaving guys. I need to meet with someone right now," he said motioning towards the door.

Camille and Magnus stood up. "Okay, sure. I'll walk you out."

"See you tomorrow, boss," said Magnus with a soldier salute. Jace rolled his eyes and nodded at him with a small smile. Camille pushed him out of the living room and into the foyer. Looking back at Camille, he opened the door.

"Bye, Golden God." Camille smirked. "I'll catch up with you tomorrow."

Jace chuckled. "Sure." He walked past the threshold and almost started walking down the hallway when he felt a hand on his arm holding him back. When he looked back, he saw Camille's green eyes with full determination.

"I know you heard," she whispered quickly, "and I'm not going to take it back. It's true. Think about that before you go and fuck things up, okay?" she asked him. Jace stood there bewildered.

"I suppose," he said, stunned at her fierce reaction. Her hand tightened its hold on his arm before letting go.

"I'm not kidding, Jace. Fix this shit before it blows up on your face." She slammed the door on his face then and Jace was left staring at it. He couldn't get Camille's green eyes out of his mind. They just looked completely concentrated on a goal. It almost seemed as if she was about to start making all of his decisions from then on.

The thought was quite creepy.

With one more look at the door, Jace stepped away and began making his way towards his car. If it was possible, he was more confused about everything because of Camille and Magnus. Once inside his car, he realized there was only one person that could help him put his mind in order.

"Jace?"she responded in the first ring. He almost wanted to laugh at the incredulous tone of her voice.

"Yeah, it's me. Uhm, are you busy?" he asked, feeling like such a little kid.

"For you? Never. Are you on your way?" she asked softly and Jace could almost see the smile on her face.

"Yeah. I'll be there in ten," he told her, already feeling much, much better.

"I'll be here," she said and hung up on him. Jace speeded wanting to talk to her already.

Around eight minutes later, he rounded the corner and came upon the rundown apartments where she lived. Jace hated the place so much, but she would just not let him buy her a new place.

After parking, he got out of his car and almost jogged up the stairs leading him to her. Once he got there, he knocked once and the door swung open.

Dorothea engulfed Jace into one of her life-sucking hugs and pulled him into her home. "Oh, my boy! I haven't seen you in so long!" she exclaimed happily. Jace felt guilty for not coming to visit her more often.

"Hey, momma," he told her while taking in her tie-dye dress, clanging bracelets and earrings, and dark hair peppered with gray hairs. Her warm smile was inviting and Jace felt himself smiling down at her.

"Well, come! Sit down! I'll make you some tea and then we'll talk about what's troubling you."

Of course she would know something was wrong, he thought.

She grabbed his arm and led him to her old couches. Grinning, he sank down onto the plush cushions.

Dorothea went to her small kitchen, humming to some old song. Jace closed his eyes and just breathed in the smell of musty woods and eucalyptus leaves. It smelled just like home.

"How are your mom and dad, sweetheart?" she asked from the kitchen. Jace opened his eyes and frowned at his hands.

"I don't know. I haven't seen them in a while. Have you?" he asked half-heartedly. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about his biological parents. As far as he knew, Dorothea was his mother for all intents and purposes. She may have been just his caretaker when he was a kid, but she was way more than his mother ever tried to be.

"Last month, I did," she said, coming back with two cups of tea. "They're okay, if you were wondering." Not really . . . "You'd think that, with you running the family business, you'd see them more often."

Jace rolled his eyes and took a sip of his tea. As if . . .

"Father just gave me the keys to the palace and fled. It was almost as if he never wanted to see the company again," Jace said bitterly. Dorothea patted his arm affectionately.

"They'll come around," she said.

Sure, Jace thought, the first time you said that I was five.

"Anywho, I know you are not here to talk about your parents. What's going on, sweetie?" She sipped her coffee and looked at Jace with loving eyes.

"I don't know what to do, momma," he told her softly.

She frowned and stood up to sit next to Jace in the couch. "About what?"

Suddenly, Jace didn't want to talk to her about anything. "I—momma, I'm afraid to disappoint you," he finished.

Dorothea shook her head with a small smile. "Sweetheart, you will never disappoint me. Maybe anger me, but never will I ever be disappointed in you." She patted his cheek lovingly. "You are my boy. You'll always be my boy."

Jace sighed and smiled at Dorothea. She nodded at him to begin. "Well, you know I'm married."

Dorothea wrinkled her nose. "Yes, with Aline."

Jace nodded. "Yes, well, things have not been so great with her and me." Her eyebrow rose.

"Jace Wayland. I hope you are not referring to sex."

Jace choke on his own spit and began coughing uncontrollably.

"Never, ever, talk about sex with me, mom," he said after he recovered. Dorothea laughed.

"Oh, sweetie. So it's not that. What happened then?"

"I—" he paused and looked at Dorothea quickly before continuing, "I met someone, momma."

She stared at him hard. Jace didn't know how long they stood there, looking at each other. There was nothing in her face that betrayed what she was thinking.

"And," she finally said breaking the silence, "this person is not Aline, I conclude."

"Your conclusion is right," he said softly. He hated feeling like this. So out in the open and vulnerable.

"And it's not a man," she stated. Jace's lips turned up slightly.

"No, mom. She's not a man."

"Just covering all bases, sweetheart." She took a sip of her tea. "And this mystery woman is threatening your relationship with Aline."

Jace grimaced. "I wouldn't put it that way."

Dorothea studied Jace's face intently. Her lip twitched. "How is this mystery girl?" Jace smiled.

"She's great! She's funny, outgoing. She doesn't think my shit is meaningless or boring. I truly enjoy my time with her. Sometimes, I don't even want to leave her alone. I always want to be with her, mom."

"Did you ever feel like this of Aline and Kaelie?" she asked with a small frown.

"That's what's got me so confused. I've never felt so much with someone before. Neither of them. It's so frustrating! I haven't even seen Clary for a long time to say I learned to love her through the months. It's been less than a month and—and—what?" he asked Dorothea since he saw a big grin spreading across her face.

"You love her now," she said, almost gleefully. Jace's eyes widened.

"What?"

"You said, 'learned to love her'. You're in love with this Clary girl." She sighed and there was a twinkle in her dark eyes. "I've never seen you quite so excited before. She's good for you."

Wow, I love her?

Dorothea laughed. "Of course you do, sweetie! You love her! It's all over that handsome face of yours!"

"I said that out loud?" he asked her with a frown.

She shook her head. "No, you just looked doubtful. I figured that's what you were thinking. Now," she said, getting a somber tone, "I'm not happy about this situation. As a husband, you should be faithful and in your relationship."

"Mom," he said with a frown. "I can't even be with Aline because I just think of Clary. All the time."

Dorothea smiled. "I'm not done. I've never seen you talk about someone quite like you talk about this Clary." She stopped and took a deep breath, her brow furrowed as she was in deep thought. "Spring Break is coming up. Why don't you escape for a little and then come back with a clearer head. You'll know what to do then."

Jace stared at her with wonder. "Alone?" Dorothea shrugged with a smile.

"I'm not about to tell you to cheat. What type of mother would I be?" She grinned and patted his arm. "No, no. I don't know anything of who you're taking on this trip."

Jace grinned and stood up. "Thanks, momma." Dorothea laughed.

"Oh, sweetheart. Please come whenever you need. I'll gladly listen to you."

"I've got to go," he said, his mind was already thinking of ideas and places. "I love you, mom. I'll keep you updated." She grinned as he kissed her cheek affectionately.

"That's all I want."

w.^.w

"What are you doing this Spring Break?" he asked once he heard her voice.

There were a few seconds of silence in which, Jace thought, she was thinking.

"What do you have in mind?" Clary asked from the other side of the phone.

Jace grinned.

WHOO! BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED! HELL YES! I'M ON A ROLL! ;) I feel great.
We'll see when I update next. School starts and I have to get everything done if I plan on going to THG midnight premiere! :DD WHOO!
I want to thank all of you guys that review. It seriously means so freaking much to me. I wish all you anons had a FFn account so I could reply! :D You are all great. Truly. :D
This goes to BlondeHairBlueEyes14, SportyNo1, camibandlover, and 07XReflectional because GOD! They are just my world! :D I LOVE YOU BABES WITH ALL MY HEART!
OHMYGOD SO, LIKE, HAPPY NIALL DAY! (Otherwise known as St. Patrick's Day.)
SO THIS IS CAMIBANDLOVER RAIDING MAXWAYLANDGREY'S FFN ACCOUNT.
Hi. And Happy Niall Day! :D
So, Maxym forgot to add some details into this...
Like how sexy Niall is. And how amazing I am. It's Niall Appreciation Day. And Camille-Is-Motherfreaking-Awesome day. Yep.
Okay, bye now. ;) (Also, Harry Styles is my boyfriend and we are VERY HAPPY TOGETHER.)

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