Time was not his friend. Everyday that went by brought him closer and closer to the day that would change everything. Jace didn't want to think about it. Didn't want to acknowledge its existence. If only time would just stop. Then he could be here on Alec's couch with Clary forever. He was pretty sure no one else would have a problem with this either. Magnus and Alec surely wouldn't object to an extended honeymoon in the Caribbean. Simon was overly happy with Izzy at the moment. Jordan had asked Paige to move in. Now was perfect, so why did the clock have to keep ticking?

But tick it did, and his strange summer flew by. Jace had decided not to try and get back his job at the docks, but rather opted for a summer's unemployment. There'd be plenty of time to work when Clary was gone, ten months in fact. Clary had wanted to get a job, but found it rather tricky to find an employer to hire her once she explained that she'd be leaving for ten months. Clary had therefore spent her summer in equal unemployment as Jace, just for different reasons. The three months since the wedding had been both the best and worse three months of Jace's life because he'd spent every moment of it with Clary, all the while knowing their time was short. Jace knew ten months wasn't forever, but still his mind had started putting everything in two categories: before and after Clary's plane took off.

Even trusting her, and believing they'd come out of this together, didn't change the fact that they'd might not be the same people this time next year. For surely the last year of university had a large part in shaping who you were and where your life was headed.

Rather than dwell, Jace was trying to focus on right now. He'd never lived with cats before, and after cat sitting for Malec, likely never would again. It seemed to Jace as if every piece of clothing he owned was covered from top to bottom in cat fuzz. He could have sworn the little creatures had a sixth sense about when clean items of clothing were left unattended. Then if you could looked past the fuzz, there was also the neediness to consider. Jace had come to appreciate a nights sleep that didn't involve having one's butt slept on by a warm ball of fur that was a lot heavier than it looked. When one of the little felines wasn't making his legs numb from their body weight, they were rubbing up against him, or walking across his laptop keyboard pressing random buttons. And of course, there were the times when the cats wanted literally nothing to do with them, and if petted, would hiss and lash out as if attacked. Jace just couldn't wrap his head around why someone would want to live with such creatures.

Apart from the feline squatters, house sitting for Malec had been a great escape. Jace loved living with only Clary. When it was just the two of them, no one cared when he walked shirtless into the kitchen, or Clary got out of the shower then spent the afternoon in nothing but a towel. Jace was very fond of the days Clary did this, as he could usually get her out of the towel with a deep kiss and soft caress.

"Clary stop," Jace sighed as he watch her.

"I'm almost done," Clary replied as she kept doing exacting what she was doing without any signs of stopping.

"You know you don't have to do this right?" Jace reminded her.

"But-" she argued.

"But nothing," Jace sighed, moving forward to wrap her in his arms, stopping her. She sighed and he added, "This is Alec and Magnus we're talking about."

"Doesn't matter who," Clary disagreed. "It's still rude to leave a house messer than you found it."

"Our best friends aren't going to break up with us over dust," Jace chuckled. Clary turned in his arms to glare at him that way she did where her forehead pulled together just enough to narrow her eyes.

"But we aren't talking about dust," Clary explained. "We are talking about overflowing garbages."

"Those are hardly overflowing," Jace said gesturing to the garbages in question. "Maybe almost full, but definitely not overflowing."

"They were empty when we got here," Clary reminded him.

"Almost four months ago," Jace argued. "If they expected us to stay here and not use the garbage can, they are both crazier than I thought they were."

Clary glared at him some more in that way that was both far too adorable to be fair, and only slightly terrifying. "I'll get the twist ties," Jace sighed in defeat, releasing her. Once Jace had taken the garbage out, he returned just in time to try and stop Clary from using packing tape on the pillows.

"Okay, now you really are going overboard," Jace laughed, as she stuck the packing tape to the upholstery, and then pulled it off over and over to remove the cat hair. "You know those kitties are just gonna sleep on them again anyway, right?"

"I don't want them to come home to-"

"To What? Cat fuzz, cause I hate to break it to you, but I think at this point there is cat fur in their brains." He was happy to see Clary finally crack as she laughed, and playfully hit on the shoulder before agreeing that maybe the place was clean enough.

It was mid August, and Magnus and Alec's plane was due to land in just a few hours. Jace and Clary had all their things packed and waiting by the door. Grabbing the handle of his suitcase as they left, Jace said goodbye to Malec's apartment and some of the best months of his life.

Getting home didn't feel very home like as Jace put his suitcase in the bedroom of the apartment he'd first got with Alec what felt like a lifetime ago, but had actually only been about two years.

Jace had asked to borrow Will's truck to pick the honeymooners up, and so once their stuff was stowed and they'd said 'hi' to Jordan and Paige, Jace and Clary started off. Side by side, Jace held her hand as they reached the bus stop. It was a short distance. Before long, they were walking up to Will's driveway

"I gotta get the keys," Jace said, thinking Clary was going to stay with the car. To his surprise, she followed him and was standing beside him when the door opened. Will appeared with a smile on his face.

"Still picking up those honeymooners, huh?" Will laughed as he handed the keys over. "After four months in paradise, I think I'd spring for a cab."

"I'm sure Magnus wants to see us more than he needs the ride," Clary smiled.

"Ace!" Came a loud giggly voice, and suddenly Lucie was running out from behind her father's legs towards Jace.

"Hello Lucie," Jace smiled, leaning down to accept her running hug.

"Stay," Lucie said firmly, her little face crunched up in concentration as if she could make him stay by sheer force of will.

"I have to go pick up uncle Magnus and Alec," Jace explained. He couldn't believe how much she'd grown in the last few months. Her hair looked so much like Tessa's, thick and brown. It was longer than the last time Jace had seen her.

"No," Lucie objected firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"How old is she now?" he heard Clary ask Will from above. Jace was the only one on a level with Lucie right now.

"Over a year and a half," Will answered. "About 20 months I think."

"I'll be back," Jace smiled at Lucie. "Promise."

"Da?" Lucie asked, turning to look up at her father. "Da-da home?"

"Da-da isn't home for a while yet," Will explained. Lucie didn't like this either. She scrunched up her face even more, and sat down on the ground looking sulky.

Laughing gently, Jace stood up and was about to bid them farewell when he saw Clary lean down to speak to the toddler.

"Cheer up," Clary smiled at Lucie. "It can't be that bad."

"All leave," Lucie grumbled. "No stay."

"Da is here," Clary reminded her. Lucie paused for a moment then looked up at Will.

"Da-da," Lucie said to Clary once again.

"You know," Clary continued. "You should really enjoy this being cute and adorable thing now while you have it. It's much harder to get away with such obvious favoritism when you grow up."

"Da-da, ma, da," Lucie giggle so loudly it was almost a screech. Then she got up and ran back into the house.

"I'm not sure if I helped or made it all worse," Clary laughed as she stood up. "Good luck with that one, Will."

"Thanks," Will sighed. "I'll need it."

With one last promise to return his truck and a farewell, Jace and Clary turned to leave. It was rare that Jace saw Clary interact with kids, especially since Lucie was the only kid he knew. In moments like these, he just couldn't help but wonder why someone who has such potential to be a wonderful mother was so against the idea. They were well on their way before Jace could bring himself to approach the topic.

"Well yeah, I like kids well enough," Clary shrugged in response.

"Then I have to ask," Jace replied. "Why don't you want them?"

"Other people's kids can be returned to their parents," Clary replied easily. "They can't resist your moments or opportunities. Being the fun aunt is so much better."

Jace didn't reply, but he did feel her hand reach out to hold his. He squeezed back and they continued on their way in silence, but for the music on the radio.

Reaching the airport, Jace had expected to be waiting for Malec's plane for at least twenty minutes, but it must have landed early because they both stood there in all their vacation glory. Jace had to do a double take when he saw the tan on Alec's skin. It was slight compared to Magnus's dark skin, but the two of them matched more than they ever had before. Both had huge smiles on their faces, and Jace quickly found himself attacked in hugs.

Then everyone was talking all at once. Jace tried to focus on one person at a time, and in doing so, was able to get a fair bit of information. It seemed that Alec had spent the entire time almost getting burned to a crisp before his husband forced him to wear sunblock. Magnus had turned into the most adventurous person Alec had ever met, even agreeing to try skydiving.

"It's like I don't even know who I married," Alec laughed as he recounted the story.

They'd swam with dolphins, seen landmarks, been on cruise ships, walked along oh so many beaches, and generally had such a good time Jace wasn't totally sure why they'd come back.

"We missed our friends," Magnus had replied when Jace joked about it.

"And our cats," Alec exclaimed, then added as an afterthought. "Plus, I have class next week."

The stories carried them well through waiting for luggage - to which they had lots - and all the way home. The moment Malec's front door opened, Jace heard the little kitties meow. The newlyweds were both so excited to see their fuzzy friends, and the feeling was definitely mutual. Without even bothering to bring all their bags into the apartment, the husbands each had a cat in their arms.

"Did you miss us?" Alec cooed to his kitty. Jace honestly couldn't tell which cat it was.

"Trust me, they did," Jace chuckled.

"Of course you did, my little angel," Magnus cooed to the cat in his arms.

Eventually the suitcases and bags did end up inside the apartment, and like Jace had known, both Magnus and Alec were far too busy just being home to notice if they hadn't left the place quite as clean as when they'd arrived.

The stories continued for the rest of the day and well into the night. Jace and Clary almost crashed on the spare bed they'd called theirs these last four months, but in the end they went home. Jace returned Will's truck the next morning.

Time. It wasn't on his side. Everyday that went by, brought him closer and closer to the day that would change everything, until inevitably that day came. Jace stood, numb to reality as he watched his girlfriend pack most everything she owned. Numb as he drove to the airport once again. Jace watched as Clary hugged Simon and Magnus each in turn, clearly fighting back tears. She even hugged Alec, Izzy, Jordan and Paige, though with less tears.

They stood now beside security, everyone else gone. Jace's hand was in hers and she was looking at him.

"I don't know how to say goodbye to you," Jace admitted.

"Good," Clary smiled at him. "Because we aren't saying goodbye."

"It feels like goodbye to me," Jace whined. He hadn't realized he'd looked down until he felt her fingers touch his chin and make him look up.

"I love you," Clary told him firmly. "I'll text you when I land. Video chat with you tomorrow."

Jace couldn't bring himself to speak. He only nodded. Then leaned forward and kissed her sweetly.

Then Jace watched Clary go through security. He stared out the window until he saw her plane take off. Then he watched the plane fly farther and farther away, becoming nothing but a speck. Even after it disappeared completely, Jace didn't move. He just stood there, staring unblinkingly into the sky. He wasn't really sure of anything in this moment. Was he standing? Sitting down? Had he even blinked in the last five minutes? Was this hunger, or had the world started spinning?

Clary is gone! How do you feel about this? And no I don't plan to write any Clary point of view chapters while she's in Pairs. Also isn't Lucie adorable? I have to keep calculating her ages to keep up with my crazy timeline. lol. Even managed to include some Malec in this one. I think I'm just missing Sizzy and Jordan.

Guest Review from Fire
I'm going to be binge reading until I get to 125. Right now its wonderful and I could defiantly tell where you've grown since the beginning

My Reply:
Wow… that's crazy. This story is the length of over 3 full novels now! Awws thanks! I like to think I've gotten better at this after so many chapters. :)

Guest Review:
Really great chapter, love that there was a little Sizzy in it.

My Reply:
Sizzy is in that adorably sickly sweet phase. ^_^ Glad you liked it.

Sneak Peek Chapter 125

"Do we have a house guest?" Magnus asked.

"Good morning to you do," Alec replied, kissing him briefly before accepting his coffee. "I have a best friend to torture. What are you up to today?"

"Not much," Magnus admitted.

"Have you called the museum since you've been back?" Alec asked.

"Yeah," Magnus said. "And I could do some more volunteer work there I suppose, but-" he shrugged.

"You're still gonna be bored aren't you?" Alec chuckled.

"Probably," Magnus sighed. "But maybe one more day of totally and completely slacking off, eh?"

"Sounds good to me," Alec smiled. With a quick peck goodbye, Alec left the kitchen on his way to commence his days work.