Clary couldn't help but be nervous. Everyone else had arrived, though she supposed not Jordan, but Jace still wasn't here. Was he avoiding her? It wasn't like she could have not attended a party being held where she lived, but that didn't mean she wanted to stop Jace from being where he wanted to be. Alec was his best friend after all and Jace should be able to attend any party his best friend threw without worrying about her being there.

At least classes had started again. Clary had welcomed the distraction. Only one semester and she was done, free. Paige, Izzy and Jordan all still had another year. She'd found out this evening while in a conversation with Magnus and Tessa, that Tessa was back in classes again though only twice a week. Still Clary was glad she'd decided to finish her education.

Where could Jace be?

Just then her phone rang and for one wild moment Clary thought it would be Jace.

"Hello," she said.

"Yes. Hello, is this Clarrisa?"

"Speaking," Clary confirmed, though a bit thrown by hearing her full name.

"This is Susan from Alicante Attire," the woman said.

"Oh yes, hello," Clary replied, surprised to hear from them as it had been weeks since her interview.

"I realize it's been a while but if you are still interested in that job we have an opening," Susan said.

"Yes I am," Clary replied, slightly stunned by her good luck.

"Great," Susan said. "Come by Monday morning around 9am. We can do all your paperwork at the same time. Oh and you'll be training with our other new hire."

"Thanks," Clary said. "See you then."

"Yes see you then," Susan said in a professional voice. "Goodbye."

Clary put away her phone and stood stunned for just a moment before two and two clicked in her head. 'Other new hire.' She was getting trained on the same morning as Izzy.

Clary was just about to find Izzy to tell her when all Clary's attention became instantly fixed on the front door. There stood Jace Herondale who she hadn't seen since the day he'd broken up with her right as she'd realized he was worth fighting for. Suddenly she was frozen in place.

She just stood there staring, hardly remembering to blink as he moved closer.

"Hey Clary," Jace said slowly. "I hope it's alright that I came."

"Of course," Clary said.

"I know Jordan chickened out and sent his girlfriend in to check the waters." Jace laughed a little nervously, "but you were the one who said it would be okay if we talked so I thought-"

"Yes of course it's fine," Clary smiled at him.

"Great," Jace replied, also smiling.

And now it was time for Clary to say what she knew she would one day have to say since the moment she'd learned of it. The problem was she really didn't want to.

"How have you been?" Jace asked after a moment's silence.

"Good," Clary said. "Got a job actually. Just got the call before you walked in."

"Are you done at the University now, or did that Paris trip change your grad date?" Jace asked. "I can't quite remember if you ever told me."

"It slowed it down yeah," Clary said. "I have a few local credits to finish up here before I can graduate."

"Ah, so how are your classes going?" Jace asked.

"Good," Clary replied. "But enough about me. How are you?"

Jace shrugged. "Still working the same old job. Haven't managed to find a better, post-graduate, grown-up job yet."

"Well I'm sure you will," Clary said. She took a deep breath and decided it was now or never. "I heard you have a girlfriend now. I hope she makes you happy."

"I don't have a girlfriend," Jace corrected her, and Clary was taken aback. "You probably mean Annika."

"I don't know her name but we have a lot of friends in common and I know you are seeing someone even if you aren't calling her your girlfriend yet," Clary said, still caught off guard by his response.

Jace got very still for a moment before speaking calmly. "Do you really think I could get over you so quickly?" he asked with genuine surprise.

"I-" Clary began. "I- I- just, I- heard-"

"Annika and I are just friends," Jace explained. "This isn't the first time I've had a less than traditional definition of the word friend. Do you remember Trinity?"

"I remember finding you with your tongue down her throat," Clary remarked. Jace chuckled. "So you two aren't romantic?"

Jace shook his head. "She is a super fun person though," Jace continued. "Relaxing." He paused and Clary didn't know what to say. Finally he spoke softly. "A broken heart can't love again unless it heals, Clary."

"Paige seems to be doing okay," Clary whispered, her breath quite taken away by his words.

Jace laughed and said. "Yeah, but she healed. She is all about self-care while I don't quite have the skills or, at the very least, the speed she does." He smiled and added, "I've actually been amazed at the change in Jon since you set him up. He's so happy."

"Yeah I know what you mean," Clary smiled. "I don't remember ever seeing my brother this happy."

"As a whole I think society undervalues happiness," Jace observed. "And those two should hold onto it with everything they have."

"Yeah though sometimes I worry," Clary said.

"About?"

"What if they want different things out of life?" Clary asked.

"Ah yes," Jace smiled. "That can happen. It is tricky though because what people want in life can change so much during one's life."

"True," Clary said. "Though not all the time."

"Yes not all the time," Jace agreed. He spotted Alec across the room and added, "I'm gonna go mingle, but I'm glad I came tonight."

"Me too," Clary smiled back.

Once she had her composure back again, Clary thought about maybe finding Izzy to tell her the news. She wasn't quite ready to really process everything Jace had said. She found Isabelle hanging off of Simon's arm near the drinks table.

"Izzy," Clary said as she approached. "You start that new job Monday, right?"

"Yeah," Izzy said. "The start day was delayed because of someone else's giving more than two weeks notice. Why?"

"Well I think someone else quit without notice because they just called me and I start on Monday the same as you!"

"Oh my god. Really?!" Izzy squeaked, jumping up and down.

"Yes!" Clary said and then found herself engulfed in a hug.

Though parts of her life were sad, Clary was trying to be excited for the future. She didn't want to wallow in her losses, but rather focus on the good parts. Even if her new job sucked at least she'd have a friend there with her, and her classes this semester were quite interesting. Overall life wasn't so bad, even if Jace wasn't hers anymore. A part of her couldn't help but hope - in a way she hadn't dared let herself hope since she'd found out about Annika - after what Jace had said tonight. In time all things were possible and maybe, just maybe, if she didn't do anything stupid, Jace could be hers once more.

The evening felt lighter after that. Getting that first post-break up conversation with Jace behind her, along with the surprise job offer, helped a lot to ease her mind.

Towards the end of the evening, long after Tessa and her family had gone home to put a very tired toddler to sleep, Clary found herself sitting alone just gazing out at the room.

Simon had broken off from Izzy now and was hanging out with Jace and Jordan who had arrived very very late after his closing shift at Tim Hortans. Maia was sitting with Paige of all people, and the two of them seemed to be engaged in some casual conversation. Sometimes Clary thought her friend, Paige, had the patience of a saint, but maybe she was just a less insecure person than Clary. Izzy was moving around the room a little though she often stopped near Magnus or Simon to engage in conversation. Alec had been playing host all night, making sure no one's glass was ever empty and everyone had enough entertainment. Twice he'd tried to turn the music up, and encouraged people to dance which had lasted a while before everyone retreated to conversation once more. Now though, the married couple was in conversation together with each other though well out of anyone's eatshot.

The one person she couldn't spot from this angle was her brother, that is, until she heard his voice from behind her.

"What ya staring at sis?"

"Just people watching," Clary replied.

"Mind if I join you?" Jon asked. Clary gestured to the seat beside her, and he took that as a sure and sat down.

"So you and Paige," Clary began.

"Yeah," Jon said, dubiously like he knew his sister was up to something.

"Getting kinda serious, huh?" Clary asked.

"Yeah," Jon said with a smile.

"I'm honestly surprised you guys got along so well," Clary added, turning to see his face. "I mean I set you up, but I never thought it would lead to that dopy look on your face."

Jon just shrugged.

"I know it's only been three months and it isn't my place," Clary began again. "But I know my friend and Paige is a picket fence kinda girl."

"I know that," Jon replied easily.

Clary took a deep breath and then spoke. "It's just that there was a time when I was sure you 'weren't a picket fence kinda guy.' You wanted adventure, not roots." She paused for just a moment making sure she said it right. "You're my brother and she's my friend and I don't want either of you to get hurt, especially since I know you've both been hurt before. I just want you to be sure."

"I am sure," Jon said with great conviction. So much so that he quite surprised her. "Yes, there was a time when I thought I wanted to see the world, and some people in my life worked to encourage that influence, but when I got what I thought I wanted I realized with perfect clarity exactly what I was missing. What I actually need out of life to be happy isn't backpacking around Europe, it's coming home every day to the woman I love. The family we'll make together, that's my adventure."

"And you think Paige might be the one you'll have that adventure with?" Clary inquired.

He didn't speak for a moment, but rather looked out into the room, his eyes roaming till he found his girlfriend sitting on one of Magnus's puffy loveseats talking to Maia. "I know it hasn't been that long," he said, "But somehow I know it's her."

"Mom will be so happy," Clary couldn't help but chuckle.

"I know," Jon laughed. "Mom hasn't even met Paige and she's already a huge fan."

"Because she got you back in school," Clary reminded him. "Anyone who did that would have instantly been in mom's good books."

"Pretty much," Jon laughed.

"Hmm well if you guys are gonna get serious," Clary continued. "Then I'm gonna have to come up with a ship name for you."

"Really sis," Jon whined. "Everyone doesn't need their names merged together to be happy."

"Paige and Jon," Clary mused, enjoying the fact that this annoyed him. "Well the first thing that comes to mind is Pon though maybe not. Jaige probably isn't gonna work. Jige sounds like fun." She paused to look at him. "Do you have a preference?"

Her brother just groaned as if she were trying to make him attend class at 8am on a Sunday morning.

The comedic moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud yell. It took Clary a moment to recognize the voice since she'd so rarely heard Magnus yell before now.

"You did what?!" Magnus's voice echoed across the whole apartment.

Clary was too far away to hear the reply.

Hehe cliffhanger! It's been a while.

Also anyone got thoughts on which Jon and Paige ship name they prefer?

And last but not least editing and uploading this is what I decided to do instead of study for my exam tomorrow. ^_^ Hope you all appreciate it. lol

UPDATE: Back edited by Connie Brown

Sneak Peek Chapter 173

And with that Magnus stormed off. He just couldn't be in this fight anymore. Moving with all the surplus energy his emotions had given him, Magnus stomped off to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

And to his great surprise Magnus found himself crying.

(I VERY short sneak peek today since I couldn't find a spoiler free section of the chapter to put here.)