All Jace could think about as he walked the halls was the expression on Clary's face, the last time he'd seen her in his mother's living room. An anxious feeling had settled in his chest. He was scared Clary was going to break up with him. She probably blamed him for what happened over the summer, and Jace couldn't help but feel she'd be right if she did.

This thought turned round and round in his head, to the point where Jace had hardly been paying attention when he and Alec went to look at apartments. He smiled and nodded when Alec liked a place, but unless there was something very obviously wrong with it, Jace tuned the whole thing out. In the end, Alec must of gotten tired of his head in the clouds approach to apartment hunting, because Alec picked out the place on his own and just handed Jace a key. This suited Jace fine.

Once Alec and Jace were settled and classes started, Jace spotted Clary in the halls and froze. He had no idea what to say to her. Should he do the right thing and make this easy on her, or should he beg her to stay? Should he get down on his knees and confess that he wasn't sure how to live without her, or put aside his own selfishness? Clary saw him then, and Jace still hadn't moved, both too scared to talk to her, and too scared not to. Unable not to, Jace took a step toward her. This seemed to wake Clary from her daze. She quickly turned and walked away. Jace's heart sank.

He went home to the apartment he hadn't selected and collapsed on his bed. If that wasn't a sign, he didn't know what was. Jace was somehow sure now that Clary was done with him. Maybe she was just trying to find a way to break it to him gently. Jace had no idea what his life would be like without Clary. He supposed he'd still have Alec and school, but the whole concept felt foreign to him. Since arriving at this University, Clary had consumed his every thought. Maybe before he knew what joy it was to kiss her, hold her, call her his, maybe then Jace could have given her up, but now he was lost. He wished that he'd hadn't worked over the summer, and gone to visit her family instead. What did it matter if he was totally broke all year? If he hadn't taken Clary home with him, she wouldn't have had to face Sebastian again. It would have been better even if they'd spent the summer apart. At least maybe then she'd be happy to see him when he got back.

Jace wasn't sure what happened in his class that day. When he arrived home though he made an effort to listen to his roommates problems, which were a much better distraction from his pain and Econ 201.

"After spending half the summer waiting for Magnus to get off work," Alec explained. "I went home to my nosy parents who wanted to know what was wrong, and kept trying to make me talk. It seems I am an open book with lots of pictures. It just sucks watching someone you love work so hard for so little when you can help. All I want to do is make his life easier. Why is that so bad?" Alec paused then turned to face Jace. They were sitting in their living room together, unpacked boxes behind the couch, and bubble wrap in the corner. "What if you'd spent your whole summer watching Clary wrestle with problems that you could easily fix, but she wouldn't let you fix them?"

"Sure, that would suck," Jace agreed. "But I can kinda see Magnus's point on this."

"Really?" Alec asked surprised. "Then please do explain it to me."

"This couch we are sitting on," Jace began gesturing to the sofa in question. "You bought it on your own. I didn't help and yet, I am going to use it. And the fridge. You bought groceries that you are probably expecting me to eat, though I didn't pay for them."

"I still don't see how this is a bad thing?" Alec counted.

"It isn't," Jace sighed. "It's just that it can make the person getting it all feel guilty for getting so much without giving anything in return." Though Jace did believe this, since learning Alec was rich, Jace had been trying not feel bad about how much more Alec contributed to the household. He had to imagine it was worth, if one were dating Alec.

"Magnus gives me far more than I give him," Alec disagreed. "It's just money."

"To you it's just money because you have it," Jace argued. Alec sighed and covered his face with his hands.

"Why does it have to be so freaking complicated," Alec groaned.

"Because it can create a sense of debt or obligation in other people," Jace explained.

"In that case you can't eat my cereal," Alec stated seriously. Jace couldn't help it; he burst out laughing.

"Deal," Jace laughed. It felt so good to laugh for a change. The second half of his summer had been so lonely.

"Alright enough about my first world problem," Alec added. "So how was your summer?" And to Jace's surprise he actually told Alec everything. He wasn't sure if it was just because he had to tell someone, or if he needed to tell his best friend, but suddenly words poured from his lips. He told his roommate everything from the reason he'd really cut Sebastian out of his life, to the events of the summer.

"Oh god, I need to shut up about my lame problems," Alec exclaimed when Jace was done. "Wow that's… wow. I didn't have a clue. Poor Clary. If you hadn't gotten there in time… I mean I knew Sebastian was horrible, but I didn't realize he was capable of such a thing."

"She didn't want people to know," Jace added. "Otherwise I would have told you sooner."

"Yeah I get it," Alec replied kindly. "Are you okay?"

"No," Jace whispered. "No Alec, I am so scared. I haven't seen her since she got on that plane to her parents."

"Haven't you guys been texting or talking on the phone since then?" Alec asked.

"A little," Jace replied. "But she's been so distant, and earlier when she saw me, she turned to walk the other way. The worst part is that honestly, I can't even blame her. She shouldn't have been in that situation again, and it's my fault that she was."

"Actually it's Sebastian's fault," Alec corrected.

"If she hadn't come home with me," Jace explained. "He wouldn't have been able to get to her again."

"You can't blame yourself," Alec informed him.

"Yes I can," Jace replied. "And so should Clary."

"No she shouldn't," Alec stated firmly. "You just wanted her to meet your mom. How were you supposed to know where Sebastian was if you haven't heard from him since last January."

"We look so similar," Jace added.

"If Clary had a problem with that, she never would have went out with you in the first place," Alec reminded him. "I am sure it isn't as bad as you think."

"Or maybe pretty soon I am going to be the a single pathetic miserable mess on your new couch," Jace sighed. Alec clearly didn't know what to say, and Jace had to admit he wouldn't have either in Alec's shoes. No one's words but Clary's could cheer him up at this point. Jace watched Alec check his phone, likely trying to give himself thinking time. Then Alec's eyes went wide.

"I am really sorry," Alec said quickly as he stood and went in search of his coat. "I didn't realize how long we'd been talking. I am supposed to be meeting Magnus for coffee, and if I don't leave now I'd be late. I'd cancel, but it's the first time I've seen him in like a month and-"

"No, it's fine go," Jace sighed. "Go be happy. At least someone should be."

"We will finish this later," Alec said firmly. "I am sure it isn't as bad as you think it is."

"And I'm sure you're wrong," Jace called as his friend vanished out their front door.

Alone in his apartment, Jace stared at the wall. Should he call Clary and just pretend like he hadn't notice her avoid him this morning, act normal and just hope? Or should he put off the inevitable pain of losing her by not seeing her, because that totally made sense? With a great sigh, Jace opted for putting off making this decision and turned on the television. About an hour of lame cable tv later, he was forced to face reality when Clary called him.

"Hey Jace," Clary said over the phone.

"Hi," Jace replied. She sounded happy, and Jace found his hopes soaring. Maybe Alec had been right?

"So," Clary continued. "I happen to know for a fact that Alec isn't at home."

"And you know this how?" Jace asked, trying to focus on details that didn't matter rather than her dumping him. Her voice didn't give the impression she was mad or upset, but he was still vary.

"I just left Alec with Magnus at the cafe," Clary explained. "They were making lovey dovey eyes at each other." She giggled, and Jace had to resist the urge to make a noise of disgust though he knew it was only because he was so anxious. "Anyway my point is that this means we have your place to ourselves. Can I come over?"

"Oh," Jace replied surprise. "Yeah of course."

"Great see you in a bit then," Clary replied. Jace wasn't sure what to do with himself when the phone line went dead. He knew she wouldn't be long since the apartment was so close to the dorms. Then he remembered she'd be coming from Magnus's apartment not the dorms, so it might be a little longer. Jace settled for literally just sitting on the couch staring at the blank television screen, and waiting for her while trying to keep his mind blank. When the doorbell rang, Jace was already up and at the door before the sound had completely faded.

There stood Clary in a long fall coat and boots. Jace just stared at her. She usually wears sneakers or flip flops. He hadn't known Clary owned black knee high boots. The coat as well wasn't familiar to him. Where was her hoodie and jeans? That patchwork bag she used as a purse. Who the heck was this woman, and what had she done with his girlfriend?

"Umm hi?" Jace said tilting his head slightly at her.

"You like?" Clary asked, taking a step inside the house and closing the door. Then Clary spun around a little to emphasis her outfit. Jace watched her coat twirl around her, and caught just a glimpse of her leg as it whirled.

"I thought you stayed with your parents over the holidays," Jace began. "How did that lead to knee high boots?"

"I didn't get these over the summer," Clary told him as she moved forward, kissing him. Once again Jace was surprised, but this time in a much more pleasant way. He'd missed the feel of her. Forgetting all about her silly outfit, Jace put his arms around her. It felt so good to hold her again, kiss her again. He held her close as if that could dislodge his anxiety. He wanted to lose himself in her kiss, to forget everything that had gone wrong over the summer, forget the look on her and Celine's faces when Jace had arrived home that day.

"What's wrong?" Clary asked. Jace had pulled away. He couldn't forget. He couldn't just kiss her and pretend everything was fine.

"When you saw me before," Jace stared. "Why did you turn and walk away? If you blame me for what happened with Sebastian please tell me Clary. I know it's my fault, but-" Clary put a finger over his lips. She was smiling at him with the strangest expression on her face. Jace couldn't quite figure it out.

"It's not your fault," Clary said. Those words from her lips were as sweet as honey. Jace felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders. "I had to go home for a while, but I am glad I got to know your mom. She's great. Next holiday, we will go visit my parents. Don't worry about everything else that happened okay?"

"You sure?" Jace couldn't help, but ask.

"Totally sure," she replied. "Now I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" Jace asked. Smiling. He felt so much lighter and frankly it amazed him. If her surprise was a huge spider or hell, even homework he'd have been thrilled.

"A present really," Clary corrected.

"You didn't have to get me anything," Jace answered quickly, worried he'd missed an anniversary or something.

"Yes I did," Clary countered with a grin. Jace had no idea what she thinking. Clary took a step back so she was in full view of him. Then she slowly brought her hands to the tie of her coat. As the coat fell to the floor Jace froze, his mouth open, and his eyes wide. She was wearing nothing, but a sheer white lace dress, so short it looked closer to a long shirt than a real dress. Under this, was what Jace could only described as string. Think black bans for fabric started at her navel and went up between her breasts, and around the back of her neck, only to wrap around again and criss cross over her chest. Jace had always been able to see the beautiful woman underneath the comfy hoodies and jeans, since the moment he'd first laid eyes on her, but this sight quite took his breath away. Jace wasn't sure he had words for it. His eyes couldn't focus on her face as he took in her outfit, his heart already racing.

"Would you like to unwrap your present?" Clary asked, still grinning. Jace had no idea why Clary was doing this, but he sure as hell wasn't about to complain. Moving forward quickly, he scooped her into his arms and kissed her, placing his hands on her flushed skin. He felt her soft touch against his skin, where her hands were under his shirt. What had he been worrying about again? Jace whispered her name, and heard his back in return. Her boots were sexy as hell, though once they fell tangled up together onto the couch, the boots were downgraded to just annoying. Pulling away, Clary got them off while Jace busied himself in catching up with her. Clary had after all, arrived to the apartment half naked while Jace was still fully clothed, and rather wishing he wasn't. Jace got his jeans undone, and just had time to breath a sigh of relief because Clary was kissing him. Jace ran his hands over the sheer lace of her outfit. The fabric was so thin it almost felt like her skin. It was an amazing feeling.

When Clary pulled away from their kiss to sit on Jace, he looked up at her, wanting to check that she was okay. He smiled as he realized she was just as annoyed as him by the amount of clothes Jace was still wearing. Jace helped her remove his jeans and shirt while she ground her hips into his. Jace was quickly far too distract to be able to remove a single button on his shirt. She removed it instead as Jace gasped. Leaving his pants and shirt on the couch, Jace pulled his girlfriend into his arms and carried her to his room.

Throwing her on his mattress, Jace climbed onto the bed with her, holding himself over her so his weight didn't crush her. With his free hand, Jace found the hem of her lace and moved up under it, slowly running his fingers over the thick straps which were the only clothes she had on. Pushing the lace up to her neckline, Jace brought his mouth down to kiss her skin. There was so little covering her breasts, just crossed strips of fabric, and somehow having not all revealed was even sexier. Jace slowly moved each strap aside to expose her nipple before taking it into his mouth. She gasped, speaking his name again gently before he felt her hands dive under his boxers. She had her hand wrapped around his very hard length for just a moment before she decided to switch tactics. Clary used two hands to shimmy his boxers down to his knees where Jace kicked them off. He now hover naked over Clary who was in nothing but lace and straps.

He wasn't sure how he'd gotten so lucky. Why had this woman chosen him? Chosen to forgive him for everything? Jace had never cared for anyone as much as he loved this little fiery redhead who currently had her hand wrapped around him again. He wanted to show her how much he loved her, so rather than give in to her when she tried to wrap her legs around his waist, Jace leaned down again and continued kissing her skin as he trailed his fingers along the side of her hip. She was breathing hard as Jace's fingers moved around her thighs to the wetness between her legs. Her temptress outfit clearly had not included underwear. Jace got two fingers inside her, gently caressing the tissues on the outside while he stimulated her within. Her hands were gripping the sheets tightly as she called out his name and moaned.

Jace kiss the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, all the way up to her lips before reaching over to the nightstand. With practiced fingers, Jace slide a condom over himself. He continued to kiss her, and this time when she wrapped her legs around his waist, Jace obliged. As he filled her, she moaned softly into their kiss. She was still breathing hard as she began rocking her hips with his. Her muscles squeezed him as he thrust inside her, and they came together. Panting, they collapsed onto the bed.

Jace had known for a long time that Clary had a hold on his heart, but perhaps only then did he realize how strong a hold it was.


Royal Dilemma is complete so R&S is now my ONLY incomplete story and I have no new ones up my sleeves. I am very excited to just leisurely update a single story as I haven't had just a single story to worry about for like ten months!

I'm just gonna take a second and bask in the wtf moment I am having here. I wrote Malec POV of TMI and didn't want to stop so I started Innocence Corrupts. By the time I got close to the end of IC I had about 4 chapters of Roommates and Soulmates written though still under a working title. Then since I uploaded chapter 5 of Roommates and Soulmates I have been writing at least one other story alongside it. I know this because in the author's notes for chapter 5 of R&S I mention starting a new story which was my Vampire Diaries story 'Human Delena.' Shortly after that I couldn't resist uploading 'Elusive Love.' I started writing 'Forgotten' at about the same time, but managed to resist uploading it until EL was over. I finished Human Delena just in time to start updating Royal Dilemma than I was struck with the need for Klaine from Glee and wrote almost all of 'Elevator to Home' in a matter of weeks while ignoring Royal Dilemma and R&S. And now finally RD is complete and R&S is the only one left. And I can't even say this story was my only story for those first 4 chapters because technically speaking I was still writing Innocence Corrupts while writing those. For the first time in this story's life it is an only child.

*Bask in moment* Wow my doc manager is going to be so much easier to organize!

Okay moments over. Here is your sneak peek...


Sneak Peek Chapter 59

"You either have to talk to her or give up," Simon stated after a moment's silence.

"I can't give up," Jordan replied quickly.

"Okay, then speak to her," Simon reasoned, but Jordan just shook his head.

"I can't take the rejection right now," he argued. "I need to come up with a way for her not to reject me before I talk to her."

"Oh is that all?" Simon sighed. Jordan covered his face in a pillow and Simon suppressed a smile. It wasn't always like this. Most day's Jordan was actually functional. When they weren't practicing band with Eric, they often watched movies together; Simon was working on turning his roommate into a Trekie though with only minimal success. Jordan didn't seem to understand the brilliance that was Captain Picard. He had better luck getting Jordan to watch Sense8 on Netflix though he suspected that was mostly for all the sex scenes rather than the amazing storyline, characterization, plot points, and cinematography. However Simon refused to give up. If anyone could turn someone else into a nerd it was Simon Lewis.


I have been considering maybe trying for an actual schedule now that I only have one story to update. Do you prefer getting chapters as I write them (meaning sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly) or would you prefer to get a chapter let's say once a week on a certain day instead? At this point I am thinking every Monday or every Wednesday. Just depends if people want to start their week with reading or have it half way through. :) If you have a preference please let me know.