Authors Note:
I said it would be done, and here it is! Hope you all enjoy, because I really think this chapter is precious! :)
Chapter Thirty Nine
Time Jump – Two Days Later
Clary POV:
Everyone was finally in the States, and I was excited for what was coming in the next couple days. Tucker was totally on board with the whole small wedding, but he would do anything to make Jacqueline happy, and I was appreciative of that. Alec, Magnus and Izzy all landed today and Simon offered to go pick them up. My mothers house was big enough for everyone to sleep in, so nobody had to get a hotel, and I have never seen this house so incredibly crowded.
We were waiting for everyone to get here before springing this all on my mom. She was awake, and she could respond but I could tell that she was tired, and almost giving up. It was hard to see, but being surrounded by my family was really getting me through this, and I couldn't be happier to have them with me through this. The front door opened and in walked Alec and Magnus, and Izzy and Simon were a little ways behind them. I smiled at them and than heard Izzy giggle.
"They've been doing that the whole way here." Alec growled and I couldn't help but laugh. Izzy and Simon had met once, at that was at Jace and I's wedding, but they didn't mingle much, which id what made this so odd.
"Alexander, they are merely flirting. No need to get angry." Magnus said as he placed his hand on Alec's shoulder and he relaxed.
"It's weird." Alec said and I laughed.
"I agree with Alec on the weird part, but hey, Simon is a great guy." I said and Alec just shrugged. I looked behind him and Simon picked up Izzy's bags and started walking towards the stairs. "She's staying in my old room Simon!" I yelled and they both looked back and Izzy blushed. They rushed upstairs and I looked back at Alec. "You might be seeing a lot more of Simon now." I said and he groaned.
I made my way into the kitchen where Jace and Karina were making lunch. We figured today we would introduce Tucker and PJ to my mom, and than introduce her to the rest of them over the next two days before telling her about the wedding. I wanted her to be comfortable and springing all this information, plus all these new people wouldn't be good for her.
"Everyone finally arrive?" Jace asked and I nodded. "Good, lunch is ready."
"You're amazing." I said and I pressed my lips to him. "And so is your little sous-chef." I said as I kissed Karina's head.
"I love cooking with daddy." Karina said and I couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe you just found your calling." I winked at her and she giggled.
We spent the next hour eating lunch and talking. I couldn't take my eyes off Izzy and Simon though. I had never seen her so incredibly shy around anyone before, and I've never seen Simon so nervous. I had no idea what was going to happen, but if Izzy and Simon got together, I would see my best friend more, and Izzy would finally be happy.
"Alright, go get cleaned up, we're going to the hospital." I said as I stood from the table. The kids immediately got up and left the table as I started to collect plates.
"Don't worry about that Clary. We'll clean up for you." Izzy said.
"That's not necessary Iz." I said and she smiled.
"You're letting us stay here for free, the least we can do is clean up." She said as she took the plates from my hands.
"Thanks Iz." I said and she smiled before heading towards the kitchen. Jace and I went to stand by the front door and wait for the kids to get downstairs. Patrick was the last one down and we were able to leave.
We got to the hospital and started making our way to my mom's room. I stopped before we entered, and turned around to everyone.
"I'm going to go in first and talk to her, and than you can come in." I said and they nodded. I walked in and my mom was sitting in her bed watching something on TV. "Hi mom." I said and she turned her attention towards me.
"Hi Clary." She said. I took a seat in the chair next to her bed and smiled.
"I have some people for you to meet." I said and she looked confused. I turned back towards the door and saw Jace. "Jace, can you bring in Jacqueline and Tucker?" I asked and he nodded. A second later Jacqueline and Tucker walked in.
"Hi grandma." Jacqueline said as she walked over and kissed her on the cheek. "This is my fiancé, Tucker. Tucker this is my grandma."
"It's a pleasure to meet you…." Tucker said unsure of what to call her and my mom laughed.
"Just call me grandma." She said and Tucker smiled.
"Nice to meet you grandma. Jace told me Clary looked like you, but man he wasn't kidding." Tucker said and everyone laughed.
"Someone had to give her her good looks." My mom said and I rolled my eyes as she winked at me.
"And now I see how she's able to keep up with how sarcastic Jace can be." Tucker said and I smiled.
"You're going to take care of my grandbaby right? I won't be around to kick your ass, but you bet I'll haunt you if need be." My mom said and I laughed but Jacqueline paled a little.
"Don't worry grandma, I promise to love and cherish her everyday for the rest of my life." Tucker said as he pulled Jacqueline towards him.
"That's what I like to hear." My mom said and I smiled.
"He's a lot like dad gran. Treats me like an absolutely queen." Jacqueline said.
"Yea, well I didn't always like your father." My mom confessed and Jacqueline looked confused.
"Yea, I might have been her least favorite person on the planet at one point." Jace said as he walked into the room a little more.
"Why is that?" Jacqueline asked.
"He took away my baby." My mom said as she took my hand. I smiled and grabbed her hand in return. "But I'll admit, he's treated her exactly like I've always wanted my daughters husband to treat her, so I have no complaints."
"I always win them over." Jace said and I smacked his stomach and everyone laughed. We stayed and talked for a couple more minutes before Jacqueline and Tucker left.
"He's lovely." My mom smiled and said.
"Yea he is." I said and I laughed. "We have a few more people for you to meet." I said and she nodded. I looked up at Jace and he nodded and walked out into the hallway. A moment later Patrick walked in holding PJ's hand.
"Hi grandma." He said as he made his way over to her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and my mom smiled.
"Hi Patrick, and who do we have here?" She said as she gestured towards PJ.
"This is PJ gran, my son. PJ this is Nanna's mom." Patrick said and PJ gave her a little wave. "This is all very new to him." Patrick said and my mom nodded. "And this is my girlfriend Sammi."
"You're not married?" My mom said and I knew that might be a little problematic for her.
"No gran, not yet." Patrick said.
"But you have a son together?" She asked and Patrick nodded. "What's PJ short for?"
"Patrick Alexander Herondale Jr." Sammi replied and my mom smiled.
"A good strong name. I like it." My mom said with a smile. "It's nice to meet you PJ."
"You too…." PJ started but he didn't know what to call her.
"You can call her grandma." Patrick said and he nodded.
"Nice to meet you too grandma." PJ said and my mom smiled.
"You have very good manners." My mom smiled and PJ came out from behind Patrick.
"Thank you. My mommy tells me to be nice to everyone because it's the right thing to do." PJ said and my mom smiled.
"That's very good advice." My mom said and Sammi took a seat and PJ climbed on her lap. "Do you ice skate like your father PJ?" My mom asked after a moment.
"Sometimes. He's teaching me, and mommy is teaching me how to snowboard." PJ answered and my mom nodded. "Daddy tells me that Nanna taught him, and Nanna told me you taught her."
"That I did." My mom said and PJ smiled.
"Cool." PJ said and we all laughed.
We sat there and talked for a little before Jace invited the whole family in. Karina took a seat on Jace's lap, while the rest of them stood. It felt good to have the whole family in the same room, and I was glad that we wanted to do this, and give her one last thing to be happy about before departing this life. Looking around and seeing the joy in my moms eyes for the first time in a long time made me so incredibly happy, and it made this visit a little less depressing.
Time Jump – Two Days Later
Clary POV:
"Clary, I'm tired, why do we have to go to the green room today?" My mom said as I wheeled her through the hospital.
"Trust me mom, you're going to enjoy today." I said and she groaned and probably rolled her eyes at me. We got to the green room and everyone was already there. I wheeled her up next to Simon and he smiled and gave my mom a hug.
"What's going on here?" She asked and I just grinned. I gave the thumbs up and the music started to play. Karina walked down the aisle looking like a princess, followed by Sammi. Patrick and PJ were already standing up next to Tucker. I looked at my mom and her eyes were wide. Finally the music changed and in walked Jace and Jacqueline, and I started to tear up. My baby was getting married today. I heard a gasp and I looked back towards my mom and she was crying. Jace walked her up to the front and the music stopped.
"Who gives this girl to this boy?" Magnus said. When we decided to have this little ceremony, Magnus decided that he was going to become an ordained minister so that he could perform the ceremony, and we were all on board.
"I do." Jace said and he handed Jacqueline's hand over to Tucker. He kissed her forehead and made his way over to me.
"You may all be seated." Magnus said and we all sat.
"I get to witness her marriage?" My mom said when I sat next to her. I looked over and smiled.
"Yea you do mom." I said and she started crying more.
"Thank you." My mom said and I took her hand in mine. It was times like this when I hated that I was going to lose her, but I also knew that I was making her last couple weeks enjoyable and that made all the difference.
"We are gathered here today to join the union of Jacqueline Isabelle Herondale and Tucker Miles Lawson." Magnus started. "The couple has decided to write their own vows. Tucker." Magnus said and Tucker smiled.
"I had my vows written, but I felt like I should just speak from the heart now." Tucker said and Jacqueline smiled. "I have known you since I was 7 years old, and I have never been more grateful for how truly stubborn I was when it came to attend your parents facility. For the longest time we were just competitors. You'd kick my as..butt in competitions, and I put you in a headlock and mess up your hair." He said and everyone laughed. "I didn't think it was possible to think of you any differently until one day, something flipped. Suddenly I was nervous to be around you, and I was looking forward to being with you again, and I was jealous. I didn't know exactly how to interpret my feelings for you, but the minute we kissed I knew I was a goner." He said and I saw Jacqueline tear up. "You have made me the happiest man on this planet Jack, and there isn't anyone else I'd rather have by my side than you, and I can't wait to start our lives together, and make all the memories in the world together. You mean everything to me, and I'll love you until my very last breath." Tucker finished and I had tears streaming down my face.
"Jacqueline." Magnus said and she smiled.
"I'm not going to lie, the first time we met, I wasn't happy with you. You had made fun of me because I was one of the first girls that wanted to be a snowboarder at the facility, and you told me I couldn't do it." Jacqueline said and Tucker laughed. "It wasn't until we got older that we started this silent competition between us, and I knew that no matter what I had to beat you. And I did. Every single time." She said and we all laughed. "I don't think I really knew I had feelings for you until you kissed me, and I was shocked. My mom always told me a kiss can determine everything, and I didn't know how serious she was until us. You had always been there for me, and you've always encouraged me to do my absolute best, and I couldn't imagine my life without you. There isn't anything I want to celebrate or grieve without you by my side. I love you more than I ever thought was possible, but here we are, and I couldn't picture a better person to have standing in front of me." She finished and I just couldn't believe she was getting married.
"In the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Magnus said and Tucker grabbed her face and bent down and kissed her. I could see Jacqueline smile in the middle of it and I couldn't be prouder of her. When they broke apart they turned and faced us. "Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker Lawson." Magnus said and we all cheered.
"I am so proud of you." I said when I walked up to Jacqueline and gave her a hug.
"Thanks mom." She said and I smiled. Jacqueline looked at my mom and smiled. "I'm glad you got to witness this gran."
"Me too sweetheart." My mom said and she bent down and gave her a kiss.
We all made our way back to my mom's room for a mini reception. Since she was in hospice, the room she was given was a private single room, so it was bigger than most hospital rooms and we were all able to fit. Just seeing how happy my mom was, truly made me incredibly happy. Jace and I stood towards the back and his arm was around me and I leaned into him.
"We did good." Jace said and I smiled and looked up at him.
"Yea we did." I said and he kissed my forehead. I knew that by the end of this month, my mom wouldn't be around, but right now, in this moment, I couldn't be happier that we were in this moment.