Exam week was not Jace's favourite time of the year, but he got through it with only one extra trip to the gym for stress relief. Now he was facing Malec's engagement party. Oh shit, when had he started calling them that too? It's totally Clary's fault. That was his story and he was sticking to it. His girlfriend's last exam ended just before the party was set to start, so Jace had told Alec he'd arrive early to help set up. This was how Jace came find himself at Malec's place at 4pm on a Friday.

As soon as he walked into the room, Jace did a double take. It looked so different, as to almost be unrecognizable. It was as if 'wedding' had thrown up all over the place. There were streamers and decorations on every wall. New tables had gone up, moving all the regular furniture to the side. These tables were covered in empty food trays that Jace was sure would be full of their delicious catered dinner within the hour. There was a big sign on the far wall that read 'Happy Engagement Malec.' Jace just stared at the sign for a moment. Then he decided to forever let himself off the hook for merging Magnus and Alec's names together. Really! If they were going to do it themselves anyway, he wasn't going to worry about it.

"What do you think?" It was Alec's voice. Jace turned to see his former roommate standing behind him, grinning like a kid at Christmas.

"It's a lot," Jace replied. "You don't really know how to do anything low-key do you?"

"Hey, I'm only getting married once!" Alec replied, defensively.

"But this is just an engagement party," Jace reminded him. "Not a wedding."

"I know," Alec shrugged. "I am only going to get engaged once too you know. I want to make the most of it."

"This coming from the man who hates shopping," Jace sighed with a shake of his head.

"This is different," Alec disagreed. "Because this is about Magnus."

"If I know anything about that man, I know he'd probably be happy marrying you in a car park."

"Never!" Alec said, inhaling sharply and placing a hand to his chest in shock. It was the most stereotypically gay gesture Jace had ever seen Alec make, and it made him chuckle.

"So where is this fiance of yours anyway?" Jace laughed.

"Hiding," Alec grinned. "In our bedroom." Putting great emphasis on the word our.

"You love that 'our' part don't you?" Jace smiled. "It's like you're glowing."

"Oh shut up," Alec grumbled, playfully hitting Jace on the arm.

"Ouch," Jace complained. "Maybe I should go warn your future husband?" He turned, pretending to call down the hall. "Run now while you still have feeling in both arms."

"Totally and completely shut up!" Alec said, and the next thing Jace knew, there was a pillow in his face. Pulling the offending object away, Jace just saw Alec throw the second one at him. In the slight window between blows, Jace saw the huge grin on Alec's face.

A moment later, Alec's name was called and he darted off mumbling about the caterers needing something. Chuckling slightly, Jace went to say hi to Magnus. It was strange that Jace knew so much about the man, while he didn't know Magnus that well at all. Magnus was his girlfriends best friend, and his best friend's fiance. Two years ago now they'd all arrived at this school knowing next to nothing about each other, and yet, it was as if every year they got closer and closer. If Jace wasn't very much mistaken, he now had a 'friend group', which was quite remarkable. Maybe they should throw parties more often.

"Hey," Jace said smiling, and he knocked on Magnus's bedroom door. "I'm here early to help set up. That fiance of yours is busy bossing around the caterers." There was a long slow exhale of breath before the door opened.

"Hi Jace," Magnus said. He looked a little bit stressed out, but he was clearly trying not to be.

"You okay?" Jace asked.

"I am activating trying not to think about it," Magnus replied with a calming breath.

"About what?" Jace asked, worried about how devastated Alec would be if Magnus got cold feet and backed out of the engagement.

"How much money Alec is spending on a party that isn't even a wedding!" Magnus explained, and Jace couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Smart man," Jace chuckled, clapping Magnus on the shoulder as he tried to catch his breath, grinning.

"What do you think the chances are that Alec would agree to elope?" Magnus asked hopefully.

"Slim to none," Jace chuckled.

"As I suspected," Magnus said, wistfully.

Alec soon called them over, and for the next hour, Jace set up chairs, stacked plates, and tried to generally make himself helpful. He listened to Magnus talk about how being useful was better than being ornamental, and felt like he was missing the importance of the reference.

As they were finishing setting up, people started to slowly arrive. Clary was the first on the scene, having come straight here after her exam. By the time he spotted her, she was chatting very animatedly with Magnus. From the expression on her face, Jace knew she was talking about the exam she'd just finished, and sure enough when Jace went over and greeted them...

"I didn't quite get time to read over and edit the whole essay," Clary was saying. "Sometimes I really hate art history. I mean, I want to do the art, not learn about people who painted shit hundreds of years ago." Jace was nodding along without really giving input, which wasn't uncommon when Clary started talking about art since Jace knew nothing on the subject, except that his girlfriend was the best at it.

"See, I can't really empathize with you there," Magnus replied. "History is the part of art I like."

"Yes well," Clary sighed. "I need to get a paint brush into your hands one of these days."

"Good luck with that," Magnus laughed. "I paint about as well as I sing."

"You sing beautifully," Alec's voice called from a meter away. Jace hadn't realized he'd been listening into the conversation.

"You're bias!" Magnus yelled back at his fiance. They could all hear Alec laugh from across the room. A moment later, he appeared beside them to announce that dinner was ready. Everyone was just starting to line up for dinner when Izzy arrived with her roommate Maia. There was a general flurry of waves and greetings before everyone went back to helping themselves to food. Conversation slowed down as everyone got started eating. Alec had planned this evening as a casual drop in kind of event, so people could show up throughout the evening. It had seemed to the plan to accommodate so many people's different schedules.

As Jace was dishing out his dinner, Alec suddenly appeared beside him. He leaned in close pretending to get a better look at one of the sides, though clearly he just didn't want to be overheard.

"Does Izzy seem okay to you?" he asked in a whisper.

"You're asking the wrong guy," Jace replied. "I don't know her very well."

"She was a little off before, but she's seems fine now so maybe it's nothing," Alec said as if trying to convince himself. Then without waiting for a reply, Alec straightened up and got back to serving himself from the buffet.

People were all sitting down eating when the doorbell rang next. What little conversation going on was interrupted by Alec jumping up to get the door. He reappeared seconds later with Simon, and someone Jace hadn't met. He was taller than Simon, with dark skin and hair, and a lean built.

"Everyone this is Jordan," Alec said as the three of them entered the living room. "Simon invited him."

"I hope that's okay," Simon said, clearly worried he'd messed up.

"Oh yes, it's fine," Alec replied smiling. "We have more than enough food. Dig in." Simon and Jordan made their way to the buffet after that, while Alec went to sit beside his fiance.

"Oh, but I can hear them meowing," Magnus was pleading with Alec sitting two people over on Jace's right. "Can't we let them out." Once Jace knew to listen for it, he could indeed hear cats crying off in the distance.

"With so many people here, and the front door opening and closing so much, they are safer in our room," Alec reminded him fiance. "You know how great Chairmen is at getting underfoot, especially when there is cheese involved."

"But they're crying," Magnus argued. "Poor lonely little fluffs." Then Magnus was standing up, leaving his plate on the table. "I'll just be two seconds," he said as he made a dash for his bedroom. With a sigh, Alec followed.

Looking around, Jace noticed that Simon's friend was eating, but Simon wasn't. Malec had run off to comfort cats, and Clary was sitting beside Jace. Turning to check the other side of the room, Jace noticed the back of Simon's head. He was standing, facing away, and talking to someone Jace couldn't see. Turning back to the group, Jace did a head count. The new guy, and the woman Izzy had shown up with were sitting eating, which meant the only person unaccounted for was Izzy.

Too curious for his own good, Jace shifted his chair so he could see her. Both of them were smiling, but standing rather farther apart than you'd expect for casual conversation. After a moment, Izzy walked off. Well he'd gone this far. Giving in to his curiosity, Jace put down his almost empty plate, and went to talk to Simon.

"Hey man," Jace said. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Simon replied. "I just had to apologize for being rude last week. It's been bugging me."

"Yeah," Jace replied firmly. "You are gonna have to elaborate on that, buddy." That answer had done nothing to relieve his interest.

"She showed up and tried- well to go back to how we were before- but I'd already said I can't anymore so-" Simon said, repeatedly interrupting himself. "Either way, doesn't matter. She said no worries so..."

"Casual sex didn't work for you huh?" Jace replied, putting two and two together, and slapping his friend on the back.

"No, not really," Simon said slowly, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Sorry," Jace mumbled, pulling his hand back.

"Honestly, I tried, but I just don't get it," Simon sighed. Thankfully, he didn't look upset at Jace's casual touch. "I barely know Izzy, and yet being so close to her, I couldn't help but get attached. I have no clue how you two do it."

"Did it," Jace said. "Past tense for me, but believe me, it's a good thing you don't get it. Looking back on it, I was pretty miserable back then."

"Yeah, I guess," Simon sighed. Jace wasn't sure exactly what to say next, but he was inwardly glad that Simon seemed more comfortable talking with him than ever before.

"Is it just me, or is this-" he gestured to the both of them. "-more comfortable than it used to be?" Jace asked.

"It's not just you," Simon replied. "I think realizing I could even like someone else helped alot with getting over Clary. And it's way easier to hang out with you if I'm not pinning after your girlfriend."

"Fair enough," Jace smiled. "I'm glad. You're a cool person, Simon. And I count you among my friends. I have for a long time."

"Thanks," Simon said, smiling.

"Let's food," Jace said, turning food into a verb because he could. Simon laughed as they swerved toward the food tables. Someone else was there collecting seconds as well.

"Jace, this is Jordan," Simon said, gesturing to them both. "Jordan, Jace."

"Hey," Jace replied, smiling politely. He knew Alec had mentioned the guy's name before, but Jace hadn't remembered it, so this was good.

"He and I dormed together this year," Simon explained. "And we are gonna rent a place over the summer."

"Near the school I hope," Jace replied. "I think everyone is more or less sticking around this summer. Clary and I are for sure."

"She isn't being dragged home to stay with her family?" Simon asked.

"Nah," Jace replied. "Though some of them have threatened to visit. Her brother in particular."

"Jon's a good time," Simon said smiling. "He dropped out of school if I recall correctly, but then he went backpacking across Europe." With a groan, Simon added, "If I don't pick a major soon, I might take a leaf out of his book."

"You and Alec both," Jace sighed, shaking his head.

"I heard my name!" Alec called, appearing beside them with Magnus on his right. They'd clearly just returned from their cat comforting venture.

"We were just talking about how if I don't choose a major soon, I'll have to give up on school," Simon said.

Alec made a very frustrated sound and groaned, "Don't even get me started on major selection!" Jace saw Magnus pat Alec consolingly on the shoulder.

"I took a bunch of those silly tests," Simon said. "And they told me to go into Human Resources. I mean, what even is that?"

"No idea," Alec replied. "I did some of those too, but mine said please try again later, or join the military." Jace reached out a hand, and patted his best friend on the shoulder with his condolences.

"Can I major in getting married?" Alec asked a little too seriously. Jace saw Magnus roll his eyes.

"Ah, no," Simon said very slowly.

"Figures," Alec grunted, then ran off to get the door as it seemed yet another guest had arrived.

When Jace, Simon, and Jordan returned to the living room with full plates they, encountered three - technically four if you included the infant - new faces. Tessa and her family had arrived. The first thing Jace noticed was how much Will looked like Alec. He only knew this to be Will from people describing them, but now he could see the two men in the same room, he couldn't help but notice the similarities.

"You sure you two aren't related?" Jace whispered to Alec.

"He's a Herondale," Alec whispered back. "He's related to you."

"What? How?" Jace asked.

"Your dad is his uncle," Alec explained.

"Small world," Jace replied. Jace didn't know much about his father's family except that his father had left before Jace was old enough to remember what he looked like. Celine didn't keep pictures in the house, but Jace knew he looked like his dad, simply because he didn't look like his mother. Jace wondered if maybe he should get to know Will. Maybe go out for coffee, and see if they had anything in common. What type of family was 'your dad is his uncle' anyway? Did that make Will his cousin?

Before Jace could do more than note the presence of the two other people with William, who he knew to be Tessa and Jem, Jace was momentarily distracted by Clary's bursting out into laughter beside him.

"What's so funny?" Jace asked.

"Oh nothing," Clary smiled. "Just texting a friend."

"Which friend?" Jace asked. He was having quite the nosy evening it seemed.

"Brett," Clary replied. "You know the classmate I was studying with yesterday."

"Oh I thought you meant Britt," Jace said.

"No Brett," Clary corrected. "With an e."

"Isn't that a guy's name?" Jace asked.

"Yep," Clary replied. When Jace didn't answer she looked up. "Are you jealous?" she said, grinning.

"A little," Jace answered, squirming. "So it was this Brett you were hanging out with all afternoon in the library?"

"Studying with yes," Clary replied.

"You know I offered to study with you," Jace grumbled.

"Yes, but it's way easier to study with someone who knows the material," Clary said. "And you wanted to hang out with Alec remember?"

"Yeah okay," Jace sighed. Alec was in the process of moving out, and Jace wanted to make sure they were both proactive about keeping in touch. Up till now their entire friendship has been while they were living together and Jace was a little worried time would get away from them, and his friendship with Alec would suffer.

"You're cute when you're jealous," Clary giggled at him, seeing through him instantly.

"Just tell me he's ugly," Jace said. He trusted Clary, but even so, Jace really wanted to picture the guy overweight, with horrible acne, and scrawny arms.

"Ummm," Clary said turning her head thoughtfully while Jace ground his teeth. "I didn't really notice either way. He's a nice person though. We walk home together after class sometimes."

"Are you sure he just wants to be your friend?" Jace asked. "Do friends walk you home like that?"

"Magnus and I walked home together in high school," Clary explained.

"I still want to hear that he's ugly," Jace repeated. Clary just laughed, kissed him lightly on the cheek, and went to get herself another nanaimo bar from the dessert tray.

If you like Klaine from Glee I've started uploading that Klaine AU I promised I'd publish after I finished my last Klaine fanfic. It's called "Must I Imagine You There." (Update: This story is complete)

Guest Review for Chapter 70
..."As long as you are happy" is the best answer a parent could give, really a good Luke, caring but not imposing.
Good and sweet chapter, I like more a Valentine dead on duty like an hero, than some sort of delinquent, and Jon seems a good guy too.
You almost made me not hate Christmas, with the familiar and cozy atmosphere you created.
So good thank you so much!

My Reply:
Yep I was going for best parent answer so that's great! And thanks. I am glad you liked the non-evil Valentine. I usually separate Jon and Sebastian in fanfic and make them two people. In this story Jon is Clary's brother and Sebastian is Jace's friend. They are two totally different people and are in no way related.

Sneak Peek chapter 91

A few moments later, Tessa returned to swap out with Jem so he could go investigate the buffet. Placing her daughter on her lap, Tessa used her other hand to eat her own dinner. Before Jem returned with his meal, they were joined by Jace. Tessa recognized him by his bright blonde hair, which Clary had described for her at least a few times by now. Jace awkwardly greeted them, then went to sit down beside William. Tessa wasn't really sure what to make of it, but this didn't stop her from eavesdropping on them however.

"So Alec tells me we're cousins," Jace said bluntly. "Even if I'd have pegged you for Alec's older brother."

"I know what you mean," Will chuckled. "When Magnus first met me, he mistook me for Alec."

"I didn't know that," Jace replied. "Must of been awkward."

"It was before he even knew Alec's name, I think," Will answered. "Magnus just asked me if I went to the first years orientation party."

"Yeah, seem to recall Alec telling me once that Magnus first saw him there," Jace replied. Both of them seemed be interested in talking, but unsure of what to talk about. Tessa could sense the awkwardness in the air. She had a feeling Jace had a similar estrangement from his family as Will did.

The moment was interrupted by Lucie's sudden discontentment. She began crying in that way infants do when they are more screaming than crying. Tessa set aside her food to try and comfort her daughter, but Will was faster. He was moving over to scoop Lucie into his arms in a matter of seconds.