Clary didn't want Simon to totally vanish from her life. She valued his friendship too much to ever want to say goodbye forever. Unfortunately the only idea she had was for Simon be make more friends her school. The easiest place to start was for Simon to become friends with some of Clary's friends, but her attempts to pull Simon into her circle of friends hadn't gone so well.

"Don't glare at Simon next time," Clary had told Jace after their awkward lunch with her ex-boyfriend. "Please. I am sure it's bad enough for him as it is!"

"Yeah and I'm pretty sure you trying to include him only made it worse," Jace had replied.

"Jace, I have one ex," Clary exclaimed. "ONE! And he was my friend first. Please, can you put some effort into not glaring at him?"

Jace had sighed and looked at her in that way he did that always made her smile. "Alright, Clary," Jace had whispered. "If it matters so much to you." Jace had kissed her softly after that and the subject was changed.

Clary sighed and pushed back from her desk. She wasn't quite feeling like herself. She'd been feeling a little off when they'd had lunch with Simon at the cafeteria the other day and today she'd woken up feeling dizzy. She'd had to lay back down in bed for ten minutes before summoning the will to go to class. Between Malec drama, class, homework, Jace and the need to sleep, she didn't have time to get sick. The first time Clary had teasingly called Magnus and Alec, Malec, she'd only done it to annoy Magnus, but somehow the name had stuck. Clary now thought it a rather great nickname for those crazy boys. She was, however, concerned what the boys would start calling her if she didn't stop teasing them.

Clary heard the door open and turned to see Helen enter the dorm.

"Hey," Helen greeted her with a smile. The fact that Clary had started dating Jace was old news, but when they'd first gotten together, Helen and Clary had stayed up all night talking about their love lives more than once. Sometimes they even added doing their nails or face masks for the full girl's slumber party feel. It was so great to have a female friend. Aside from Jace, Helen was the only one Clary was comfortable talking to about her sex life.

"Where's Aline?" Clary asked. "I hardly ever see you two apart these days." She smiled. Clary had long ago decided that her roommate and Alec's cousin were adorable.

"My girlfriend's in class," Helen said grinning.

"You love saying that don't you," Clary laughed. They'd been officially dating for a while now, but Helen still seemed to enjoy using the word.

"Yeah," Helen laughed. "I forgot how much I hate being single."

"It's so overrated," Clary replied, but her head was feeling fuzzy and she was sure she swayed for a moment.

"You alright?" Helen asked.

"Not sure," Clary mumbled. "Been feeling kinda off."

"Maybe you should lay down," Helen suggested, but Clary shook her head.

"I only have one more class to get through, then it's the weekend," Clary said firmly. "I can totally do this."

"I don't know," Helen replied. "You look kinda green."

"I am not sick," Clary stated with as much conviction as she could muster as if saying the words would make them true.

"If you're not sick, you're pregnant," Helen laughed.

"We use condoms," Clary argued.

"Which was only 97% effective," Helen replied. "I like my form of birth control." She laughed then added, "Being gay is 100% effective."

"You're bi," Clary reminded her friend.

"But I'm dating a girl," Helen said. "So, I stand by my birth control method thank you." Clary groaned. She felt like crap.

"I gotta get to class," Clary said sulkily.

"I still say you should sleep instead," Helen repeated. Clary got up, swayed on the spot then sat down in her desk chair again.

"Maybe you're right," Clary mumbled as she swayed her way from her chair to her bed and collapsed. She must have fallen asleep, because the next thing Clary remembered was waking up to the sound of her phone going off.

'I'm ordering Chinese,' Magnus's text read. 'You wanna come over for dinner?'

Clary sat up. The nap had actually helped a little and she'd already skipped class and lunch today. Maybe some time with her best friend would do her some good. Clary was hungry, but she suspected Magnus's offer of dinner was really an excuse to be able to talk to her some more. Ever since Valentine's day, Magnus had been on edge over Alec, but Clary had heard it all a half dozen times already. The problem was that Magnus didn't seem to actually want advice so much as he just wanted to rant.

Clary took her time getting organized and slowly made her way to Magnus's. Winter was finally saying it's goodbyes now that they were halfway through March. Given the circumstances, Clary decided it was worth getting out her warm jacket and gloves to walk the short distance to Magnus's place. She had to pass the cafeteria to leave the building and the smell of food as she passed made her feel slightly sick. She was fighting the slight dizziness as she walked down the sidewalk. Clary was determined not to be sick! Mind over matter. She just had to keep walking. She wasn't sick. Magnus's apartment came into view and Clary relaxed. She was almost there.

When she entered the warm welcoming room, Magnus hugged her and took her coat.

"How was class, Biscuit?" Magnus asked.

"Slept through the last one," Clary replied.

"You okay?" Magnus asked.

"My brain just isn't working today. That's all." Clary went to sit on the couch, since it helped with the dizziness. She could tell Magnus was bursting to ask the same questions he'd asked a hundred times.

"Go ahead," Clary sighed.

"But if you're not feeling well," Magnus mumbled.

"It's not like I don't have your unique brand of crazy memorized already," Clary sighed. "Honestly, if you don't talk to Alec soon I could do it for you!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Magnus glared at her.

"Wouldn't I?" Clary countered, but Magnus had already moved on.

"Do you think that's what he meant Clary?" Magnus asked not for the first time. "Saying love isn't about money doesn't necessarily mean he loves me, does it?

"Didn't Alec follow that up with, you don't have to say it back," Clary reminded him. "Which implies he said it first." She was sure she'd said this before, but she couldn't remember when. Also, had the world always been foggy? Or was that just her eyes closing?

"I guess," Magnus said. "But why didn't he want me to say it back?"

"Well it is kinda soon," Clary said. "Maybe he just doesn't want to pressure you. Would you have said it back?"

"I don't know," Magnus exclaimed. "And rich, Clary! Like richer than I can comprehend. I don't know- I mean-"

"Magnus," Clary tried to console him, but she was suddenly sure the earth was spinning under her. "Why is this upsetting you so much!" She was too dizzy and nauseous to cater to her friend at the moment despite what she'd said a moment ago. It was time for some tough love.

"I don't know," Magnus whined.

"Well figured it out," Clary replied firmly. "Alec is turning Jace into his own personal shrink and we are racking up some serious couch time too. All you two idiots need to do is actually talk to each other!"

"Wow," Magnus replied slightly stunned. "What's gotten into you?" Clary couldn't fight the nausea anymore. Getting up as quickly as she could, Clary ran to the bathroom, just in time.

"You alright, Biscuit?" Magnus's voice came through the door. Clary was about to reply but the contents of her stomach made an appearance, interrupting her. At least she hadn't had lunch.

"I think I'm sick," Clary whined, unable to deny the obvious anymore. She was suddenly glad she was here and not in the communal dorm bathrooms. She didn't need half her floor hearing her throwing up. Clary stood up and turned to see Magnus. He moved to put his hand on her forehead but she pulled back. "I don't want to get you sick!"

"Biscuit," Magnus sighed. "Someone has to take care of you."

"It's probably just a flu," Clary replied. "I am sure I can puke all on my own, thanks." Magnus gave her a disapproving look. "Don't look at me like that. Do you want to get sick?"

"I almost never get sick," Magnus grinned. A wave of nausea came over her and Clary covered her mouth with her hand and bolted back into the bathroom.

"I'm just gonna hide in here for a while," Clary called to Magnus as she closed the bathroom door with her foot. "Don't call Jace!"

Despite her request, less than twenty minutes later, there was a knock at her door and Jace's voice spoke her name.

"Clary," Jace said. "Magnus texted me. You okay?" Well technically Magnus hadn't called Jace, but he'd totally known what she'd meant, the little sneak!

"Go away!" Clary called to him.

"Never," Jace replied. Clary couldn't help but smile at her boyfriend's response. Despite Jace's compassion, she was still glad that she'd locked the door when she heard Jace attempt to turn the knob. "Please let me in Clary."

"I don't want to get you sick," Clary called through the door before she started gagging again, trying to empty her already totally empty stomach.

"I don't care if I get sick," Jace replied, but Clary had more than one reason she didn't want Jace here. Right now, she felt like the least sexy person alive. She didn't want Jace around when her mouth tasted like puke and her skin was all clammy. Clary couldn't imagine Jace ever calling her beautiful again if he saw such a thing!

"I do," Clary replied. "It's fine."

"I will break down the door," Jace said and Clary could hear the smirk in his voice.

"You'd break Magnus's door!" Clary called. "Rude!"

"Magnus would understand," Jace said.

"Doubtful," Clary replied.

"Let me in Clary," Jace begged. "Please." His soft 'please' crippled her will. Clary got up and unlocked the door, then quickly returned to leaning over the toilet. A moment later she felt Jace's cool fingers on her neck as he held her hair back.

"You're burning up," Jace told her as he pressed his cold hand to her forehead.

"Hmmmm," Clary said. "That feels nice." Then she remembered how awful she must look and she automatically pulled away a little.

"What's wrong?" Jace asked softly.

"I'm gross," Clary grumbled.

"You're beautiful," Jace told her, his fingers gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Puky," Clary corrected him.

"Fine," Jace chuckled. "You're puky beautiful." He was beaming at her the same way he always did and suddenly Clary didn't feel so ugly.

"My mom always takes care of me when I'm sick," Jace told her softly. "Please let me take care of you."

"Alright," Clary sighed. He placed a cool hand against her cheek and Clary leaned into it. The world was still spinning, but somehow now her world was spinning around Jace. Clary laid her head against his chest, allowing herself to be comforted.

Jace started taking care of her and he was surprisingly good at it. She didn't want to be tucked into bed though, so Jace put a pillow and blanket down on the bathroom floor and let her stay there while he brought her things. Soon she had a pillow under her head and a blanket over her. When she also had saltine crackers and a glass of water beside her, Jace sat with her there on the floor.

"Thank you," Clary whispered. She was starting to get sleepy, having thrown up all she had twice over.

"Sleep, my Clary," Jace told her. "You sure you don't want to lay on the couch?"

"Nah," Clary replied. "Floor good." She didn't want to be too far from the toilet in case she had to throw up again and more importantly she didn't want to move. Jace had tucked her in quite comfortably despite this being the floor and getting up at the moment just seemed like the worst thing ever.

Clary must have fallen asleep there on the floor, though she couldn't claim she'd slept well. Her hazy mind went in and out of focus and her dreams were just distorted images. When she opened her eyes, Jace was still there. He had his phone out, but turned to look at her when she stirred.

"How are you feeling?" Jace asked.

"Better-ish, I think," Clary said sitting up, rubbing her shoulders with one hand. She was so stiff. "How long was I sleeping?"

"A few hours," Jace said. "Do you want to move to the couch now?" Clary nodded. She didn't feel as nauseous anymore and she was sore from the hard bathroom floor. Jace pressed his cold hand to her forehead again. "You still have a fever."

Then Jace leaned forward as if to kiss her but Clary pulled back. "You crazy?" Clary snapped.

"Can't I kiss you when you're sick?" he asked. Clary shook her head vigorously. "Why not?"

"My mouth tastes like death," Clary said. "And you will definitely get sick if you kiss me."

Jace leaned in anyway and lightly touched his lips to hers. "Worth it," he whispered. If she hadn't been so feverish, Clary would have blushed. Instead, she made to get off the floor, though not with much energy. Jace moved closer and put his hands on her shoulders. He started massaging the muscles there and Clary lost all will to move.

"Is that better?" Jace asked as he pulled his hands away a few moments later.

"Yeah," Clary moaned. "Thanks."

"You seemed stiff," Jace said before giving her a hand up off the floor and slowly guiding her to the couch, where she collapsed. Jace put a blanket over her and a pillow under her head and then he sat in the chair opposite.

"Tell me a story?" Clary requested, as she closed her eyes.

"What story do you want to hear?" Jace replied.

"I don't mind," Clary said. She just wanted to fall asleep to the sound of Jace's voice.

"There once was a boy who thought his life had meaning," Jace began. "He had a lifestyle and a friend he thought he loved that fit into that lifestyle. Then one day he met a girl, a very special girl, who flipped his life upside down. The boy tried to fight against what he didn't understand ,but in the end he was powerless to resist her…"

Jace's words faded into Clary's dreams. The soothing tones of her boyfriend's voice flowing around in her mind like a gently breeze connecting everything. The details of her dream got rather mixed up, but when Clary woke she was smiling. She could feel someone stroking her hair.

"Jace," Clary whispered.

"I'm here," he said. She knew he was the one stroking her hair.

"How you feeling?" he asked.

"Thank you," Clary whispered. "It's easier to sleep when you're here, but you shouldn't stay up all night. Go home to sleep. It must be late."

"It's early actually," Jace smiled. Surprised Clary opened her eyes. There was a slight line of bright sunlight trying to get past Magnus's thick curtains.

"Oh," Clary gasped sitting up on the couch. "Wait did you stay here all night?"

"Magnus let me crash," Jace smiled.

"You didn't have to," Clary said, flustered. "I'm sure you had other things to do."

"Nothing that couldn't wait," Jace smiled at her. "You hungry?"

"Maybe?" Clary said. "But I don't want to risk it."

"Water?" Jace asked and Clary nodded. Jace returned a moment later and as Clary drank the water she realized just how disgusting her mouth tasted.

"I want my tooth brush," Clary whined. "Aftermath of sick isn't sexy at all."

"Does that mean you're feeling better?" Jace asked and Clary realized she hadn't answered this the first time he'd asked.

"Better-ish," Clary said.

"You're looking better, Biscuit," Magnus's voice spoke from behind her.

"Thanks for letting Jace stay over," Clary said, smiling as she turned to speak to her friend.

"No problem," Magnus replied. Then he added with a laugh, "It was quite amusing watching Jace play nursemaid."

"Nurseman," Jace corrected.

"Well, I appreciated it," Clary said. "It's way more comfortable here than in the dorms."

"Ah yes community bathrooms," Magnus chuckled. "Oh how I don't miss those!"

"Yeah, I'm really glad you texted me to come over," Clary said. "Even if all I did was be grumpy and throw up."

"You said nothing that wasn't true," Magnus sighed. "And you are, of course, welcome to stay as long as you like."

"Where is Tessa?" Clary asked.

"At Will's," Magnus replied. "Or Jem's. Either way. She said she'd be back this afternoon though."


Hehe I'm such a troll. Though from your comments I take it everyone is glad Clary just has a flu. ^_^ I like to keep you on your toes!

Hmmmm... what else to day... man I still suck at author's notes! sigh. I hope this story isn't getting boring now that all the couples are together. From the start I planned R&S to be the longest of all my stories, hence why I decided to include SO many plot lines! My story Innocence Corrupts has the most chapters at 56 and my story Malec POV of TMI has the most words at around 170,000. So this story must surpass both! I want it to be a long story but I don't want it to get boring. I don't want this story to have natural pauses or lulls in the plot where you could stop reading and feel like you haven't missed anything. Like between one story line I throw in the resolution to a cliffhanger for another or I give you a Tessa chapter to brake up the ciffhanger and cliffhanger resolution for the Malec/Clace plot etc.

I am not sure if anyone here has read "Love and Basketball" by SiriuslyFour'sGirl but that story was part of my inspiration for this story with a few big differences. One being that she broke her's into story arches while I am trying to make it without lulls in plot. Another is that her story is Malec only. And, of course, she is WAY more popular than me on fanfic and has WAY more reviews and follows than this story but... you can't have everything in life right? Also her story is still going at like 515,000 words which is insane! Even Holly0114's story Mad World that I beta read for her (She beta reads this one for me) is crazy long! Like 240,000 words! I don't know how you guys do it! In order to try get close to trying that long a story I started with like 5 plot lines!

Anyway... did I get off topic? I'm not totally sure. What was my topic. lol. Oh right I'm bad at author's notes but I hope at least you enjoyed the chapter! Oh and if you never notice a lull in plot please do point it out to me. #NeverDull


Sneak Peek Chapter 41

"Clary said I had to come over," Alec added. "She said you were sulking."

"Traitor," Magnus muttered turning to his best friend. Clary just stuck her tongue out at him. Magnus was annoyed until she covered her hand with her mouth and ran to the bathroom. Could he really be mad at a sick person?

"I really don't want to talk about it," Magnus sighed. He reached up with his arms and took Alec's hand. "Come sit with me."

Alec seemed torn for a moment but then he let himself to draw into Magnus's embrace. Alec laid his head on Magnus's shoulder and for a moment Magnus didn't let his worries bother him.