STARS AND DATES

Isabelle watched as Simon got them both something to eat. Simon had announced that he would be parabatai with Clary, and Isabelle was happy about it. She recalled Simon denying her as his parabatai because you couldn't love your parabatai. Isabelle was happy Simon was in her life, but she still missed her little brother, Max. She wished she could take revenge, but Sebastian was already dead. She looked up at the shining night sky and she wondered if Jace and Clary were doing the same. She looked down and saw Simon who was either staring at her or admiring her, she couldn't tell.

"What's up? Literally." Simon placed the two glasses on the table and sat down, grinning.

"Nothing, you tell me," Isabelle said. He was looking at her with questioning eyes.

"Listen, about the parabatai thing-"

"No, Simon, it's okay, you don't have to explain yourself," Isabelle interrupted. "Let's just have our food and then we can go to that special place you've always wanted to take me to."

Isabelle wanted to avoid the topic of anything that would ruin her good time with Simon which was the reason why she didn't want to talk about anything that might lead to the topic of Max.

"Simon?"

"Yeah?"

"You're staring."

"Well, I'm staring, yes, because I know you're trying to avoid the topic of Max." Simon smiled thoughtfully.

It was like he had read her mind.

"What makes you say that?" Isabelle inquired nervously.

"Izzy, c'mon, you're always thinking about Max. Also, you were looking at the stars, and it's normal for everyone to look up at the stars when they think of someone they love." he explained.

"To be honest, I was thinking of him but I was also thinking of Clary and Jace."

"Why were you thinking of them?" Simon looked confused.

"Can't I think of them?" She asked.

"Uh, yes you can, of course you can, I mean Jace is your brother after all," he said hastily.

Simon looked embarrassed and was smiling awkwardly at Isabelle. Isabelle rolled her eyes and shook her head, then got up.

"I'm sorry, Izzy. Please don't leave." Simon pleaded.

"C'mon, drama queen! We've got places to go and you're the one leading us there, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Right! Follow me!" Simon commanded.

Just as Simon got up to walk, Izzy stuck her foot out, laughing hard as Simon tripped and fell. He looked up at her and forced a smile.

"Very funny, Izzy." He got up with no help offered from Isabelle. "After you, madam." Simon said, then let Izzy pass him.

"That sounds a lot better." Isabelle giggled and pulled Simon, who almost fell again in shock.

Jace and Clary had been walking for quite along time now and Clary hadn't said a word to Jace. Jace had flashed a bright smile at Clary but Clary didn't look at him even once like she normally did. Jace wanted to say something but for the first time he had nothing to say or do.

"Jace, if we're just going to keep walking, can we please walk back home? I still haven't showered thanks to you and I'm tired." Clary said.

Jace was happy she finally spoke, but it wasn't what he was expecting. "Clary-I-uh-", Jace started.

"Save it, I know you're trying to sweet talk me but it won't work." Clary said.

"Are you sure? 'Cause I never fail." Jace said

"Really? I'm sure the 'I-uh' is definitely you winning. Listen, Jace, if you've got somewhere to go, can we please go?" Clary was getting impatient. Jace didn't know what to do. So he just sighed and said "C'mon, there's one place that might make you happy… I think."

Clary didn't get what Jace was trying to do. She also didn't know why Jace was trying so hard when what he had to do was so simple. Clary's eyes narrowed in suspicion as she saw their destination come into view. She didn't get why Jace was leading her to Luke's.

"Err, Jace?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are we at Luke's?" she asked.

"Well, I said I wanted to make you happy, so I thought, since you haven't seen Luke and Jocelyn for quite a while because we were in Idris, we could come visit." He explained.

Clary thought it was really sweet of him to think so much about her but she wasn't letting him off the hook so easily.

"So, first you don't let me shower. Then, you drag me out of the house for your so-called 'date', and now you're taking me to go visit my parents when I literally stink like a pig!" She said, raising an eyebrow at him.

She held back a smile, looking at Jace, who looked disappointed.

"Ugh! C'mon, let's just go in." And she marched to the front door, Jace following her.

Luke was pleased to see Clary and Jace at the front door but was not so pleased when he saw the looks on their faces. Clary had smiled at him, then threw her arms around him but had almost stamped her way upstairs to meet Jocelyn. Jace had sighed and then found himself a place on the couch.

Luke knew how much they loved each other but he never understood how they could fight so easily on such petty issues. At least, he hoped it was a petty issue they were fighting on this time.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Clary's in a mood." Jace said

"No, really? I hadn't noticed." He considered Jace his own son. He always had those fatherly conversations with Jace, hands folded and leaning slightly against the wall looking at him with that matured-adult look.

"She's having mood problems," he repeating himself.

"Jace, seriously, you have to be more specific. Clary's not pregnant." Jace half chuckled and half smiled and then sighed again. Luke was happy he got him to smile.

"Alright kid! Start talking." He ordered.

"First off, don't call me 'kid'!"

"That sounded like something a kid would say."

Jace grinned and explained everything that happened.

"Simon said what?!" Luke said shocked.

"I'm not repeating myself."

"Well, good luck to him and Clary with that. Oh, and you're an idiot," he said.

"Why am I an idiot?" he asked confused.

"Jace, you are one of the smartest shadow hunter kids in this world and it amazes me how stupid you can be."

"Quit calling me dumb! What do you mean?" Jace asked, color returning to his face.

"All you have to say is one simple word a child could tell you."

"Well, you said it yourself, I'm just a kid, so tell me."

Luke rolled his eyes and leaned in closer. "Here's what you have to say..."

Jace looked very excited. "Yeah?"

Luke took a very dramatic deep breath. "It's… SORRY!"

"Sorry?" Jace looked like he had just come to life.

"Yes, kiddo, sorry." Luke reached out ruffled his hair and went upstairs and he heard Jace say 'sorry' to himself, confused and then he also heard Jace say 'ohhh'. Luke shook his head and closed his study door.

Clary had bid goodbye to both Luke and Jocelyn and she was smiling thinking of herself and her mom laughing at Jace. She felt bad but she wanted to see if Jace had got some common sense while waiting for her to come down.

"Clary?"

"Yes?" Clary asked testily.

"I'm sorry." he said. Clary sighed in relief.

"Took you long enough."

"So am I forgiven?" he asked.

She stopped to look at him and then smiled. "Yeah. Now let's go, and please stay away from the bathroom."

"With pleasure, my lady."

He put his hand in hers and they continued their walk back. Clary knew Luke had had something to do with this but she just enjoyed the last few moments of the 'date'.

I really don't know what this is about but this is probably like a 'take a break' kind of chapter. The next part will be a proper jump into action. Hope you enjoyed this and please pop in any suggestions or anything you really want me to add to this story so that you can enjoy to the fullest extent.