AN: Hey guys! Sorry for the very long wait but I kind of lost inspiration and didn't have any time to write or publish this story as I was busy with finals but now that I have finished that I will be able to upload more frequently, or at least I will try! I know this chapter is a bit short but it is important for future chapters. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Celia woke up well rested for once. The only thing that prevented her from being truly happy about it was the time at which she woke up, she groaned as she saw it was only 7 am. Sighing and deciding going back to sleep was useless, she got up and put on some training gear, sighing once more before leaving the safety and quiet of her room.

After wandering the hallways for a while, she finally found the training room. She slowly climbed the stairs and opened the door, surprised to find it was already occupied by none other then Jace. He turned around, sweat glistening on his face when he heard the door shut. "Oh sorry, I didn't think anyone would be here at this hour, I'll come back later." Cecelia apologised before turning around. She was about to leave when Jace spoke up "Don't leave, train with me." He asked with an almost desperate look in his eyes. Celia shrugged and nodded "Okay, what do you want to do?" she asked, putting down her water bottle and walking towards the centre where Jace was standing, panting slightly from his previous workout. "How about some knife throwing?" he asked smirking and twirling a blade in his left hand before throwing it at a target behind Celia's back. Normally Celia wasn't scared easily but a gleaming object coming toward her brought back memories of her uncle, once she didn't want to remember. She gasped and took a step back, the memories consuming her thoughts until she felt someone from far away calling her name. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked into Jace's golden ones. They where clouded with worry and maybe a bit of fear? She blinked a couple of times until her hearing and sight came back. "Sorry about that, bad memories." She apologised, cursing herself expecting Jace to get angry, she didn't know anything else then that she always infuriated others, especially men. That was after all the only thing she knew, what her uncle always told her. Even though he was gone, it is hard to forget about your past, especially if it is as recent as hers. "That's okay don't worry about it, happens to us all." Jace responded still holding her arms, thinking about his haunted past not knowing all of Celia's buts suspecting the worst. "You still up for training?" he asked while they sat down. Celia nodded "Definitely, only not knife throwing please." She responded smiling at him.

Jace laughed before helping her up and walking towards the fighting mat in the middle of the room. "Some one on one combat then?" he suggested smirking cheekily thinking there was no way in hell she could ever beat him "Bring it on." Cecelia said slowly while getting into a fighting stand smirking back at him while a mischievous glint took over the sad look in her eyes. They circled each other for a minute until Jace made the first move, he tried hitting her in her stomach but she dodged quickly jabbing him in his throat making him gasp for breath and stumble momentarily before regaining his stance. "Nice try." He jested before throwing a punch at Celia's side, succeeding this time. She stumbled but regained herself quickly. They continued like this for at least 10 minutes until she bend a little too low trying to take him down. Jace took advantage of her mistake lifting her up and throwing her down on the mat on her back. He leaned over her pinning her arms down and smirking evilly. "It seems I have defeated you Cecelia Herondale." Jace was stil smirking and his eyes shone with an emotion Celia hadn't seen before. She smiled and answered "It appears so, but enjoy it while it last, because you won't be so lucky next time." Jace laughed before getting up and extending a hand, she gratefully took it and got up. She walked over to the little bench where she left her water bottle and took a couple of sips. "So, what exactly happened earlier when I threw the knife at you? If you don't mind me asking." Jace cautiously asked sitting down next to her. Celia sighed and was silent for a while before responding "Let's just say I don't have the best experience with people throwing stuff at me, especially men." She chuckled darkly, looking at her hands, which were covered in scars, just as any other shadowhunter, only she had a couple dozen more then was the average. Jace followed her gaze and was taken aback by the amount of scars. Tenderly he took her hand in his and examined it more closely. "Did your uncle do all this?" he asked softly not wanting to disturb the silence hanging in the room. Celia only nodded not trusting her voice, she had already shown too much emotion towards him and she was now waiting for the yelling or beating, she would surely receive from him especially if he where to find out that not all scars where caused by her uncle but that some where self inflicted. She knew hurting herself was wrong but after her uncle had taken everything from her, even her physicall pain, it was the only way to feel normal again and in control of her own body. She mentally prepared herself for the pain, both physicall as mental soon to arrive. Or so she thought, Jace didn't hurt her; he only looked at her arms more intently, softening his grip when he felt her body tense.

Jace softly traced one of the bruises she still had from fighting of the demons. Not accustomed to this she tore her hands free from Jace's grip and slowly but surely backed away from him. Jace was hurt at first until he saw the fear evident in her eyes, slowly he made his way towards her, while whispering comforting words. "Shh, don't be afraid Celia, I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." He whispered. Cecelia had backed against a wall and was left standing there trembling like a leaf in the wind. "H...how can y...you say t...that?" she stuttered "All i...i h...have d...done i...is disappoint y...you." tears where gleaming in her eyes and she wasn't even trying to hide her anxiety anymore. She hated herself for being so weak, but she just couldn't help it. Being locked in a cellar and being abused and called names by someone you thought you could trust hurt her, more than she was willing to accept or even try to comprehend. Jace was just another man of her family who would try to hurt her. Try to gain her trust and then throw her in the dirt and leave her there, just like all the other men she had known in her short miserable life. She flinched as she felt Jace's hands on her arms but they somehow calmed her down a little. "Oh Celia, you haven't disappointed me at all. I think you are one of the strongest people I have ever met." He whispered staring in to her eyes forcing her to look at him. "Really? Don't lie to me Jace that's what everything always does. They lie, make me feel special and then leave me in the dirt. I'm sick of it, sick of it all. I just want all the pain to go away. Why can't it just disappear Jace?" Cecelia now longer seamed scared, now she just looked upset. "Shh, don't cry Celia, you're okay. Everything will be okay, I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you okay?" Jace said trying to calm her down. She nodded before sliding down the wall and silently sobbing into her arms. Jace sighed and sat down next to her. He wasn't really good at all this emotion stuff but Celia was his cousin and she deserved at least a shoulder to cry on. So he sat next to her and pulled her in to a sight hug. Vowing to make things right with Clary and to protect both of them for the rest of his life, they had all gone trough so much that they deserved some happiness for once in their lives, even if it was very short lived.

This is where Alec found them half an hour later, asleep on the floor of the training room. Celia with tear marks down her face looking younger then when she was awake and Jace with an angry and worried frown on his face, which made him look a lot older than usual.

Please Review, Follow & Favourite to let me know what you thought!

.