Clary stood before the mirror. Her hair was done, her makeup was flawless and he dress was on. Tessa, Will and Magnus had appeared at Jace's doorstep at one o'clock on the dot that afternoon to assist her in getting ready. They had shoved Jace's garment bag and shoes into his arms and told him to not even look in the room's direction.
"I'd listen to them man, Tess can be scary when she wants to be," will had cautioned, a dramatic shiver racking his body.
Jace had simply leaned across the doorway to give her a soft kiss and then he was gone, leaving his beloved to the clutches of two overly excited designers.
Magnus damn near teared up when he saw his 'masterpiece' that was Clary's face, and Tessa had simply looked on like a proud mama when Clary waltzed around the room in the beautiful gown. The red haired girl had never felt so famous, or so pretty. Even when Izzy would make her up, she never felt quite at up to par with the model like girl standing beside her. But looking in the mirror, she knew she was no longer an insecure little girl but a woman who had everything she could want, even if it took heartache to get her there.
"You look incredible, biscuit," Magnus coos softly as Clary comes to a stop in front of them.
"Absolutely stunning," Tessa said dreamily.
"I owe it all to you guys, thank you," she smiled, holding her arms out. She embraced her newest and oldest friend, then it was time to show off their work.
"We'll head down first," Tessa exclaimed, already running to clamor down the polished wooden steps. Magnus followed swiftly after and Clary waited a few moments before following suit. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she was met with Will who was walking by with a sandwich in his mouth.
His jaw opened slightly to allow the food to drop into his open hand.
"If you weren't like my dear baby sister, I'd say you were so hot, but that would be weird," his eyes had been wide, but his features easily schooled into a grossed out smirk,
"Aww thanks, big bro," Clary smiled, to which Will beamed.
"My idiot cousin's in there," he jerked his head toward the kitchen where Clary could hear the clatter of plates. She followed the sound to see Jace. His back was facing her, but she could already tell just how well his tuxedo fit him. It followed the lines of his body to the T and it hugged in all the right places. And when he turned, her heart stopped and sped up all at once.
What broke her from her spell was the shattering of a dish as it fell from Jace's hand. His mouth was hanging wide and his eyes were gleaming. He stepped over the shards, moving until he was right in front of her.
"Turn around," he whispers. Clary does as asked, giving a slow turn in her heels. When her back is facing Jace, she hears his sharp intake of breath. When she's once again facing him, he wears a goofy grin.
"What?" she asks shyly, unsure what that smile could mean, but that she likes that it's directed at her.
"You look stunning, and I get to walk in there with you at my side," he muses, his arm going to wrap around her waist.
"Thank you, you look rather handsome yourself," Clary smiles, placing a hand to his chest. He looks ready to reply when a voice chimes in behind them.
"And you make fun of me and Tessa," Wil rolls his eyes before looking pointedly at the shards from the broken plate still resting on the floor. He goes to the broom closet and swiftly picks it up before gesturing for the duo to continue, "This is better than any soap opera," he explains.
"You watch soap operas?" Jace chuckles. Will just shrugs.
"Grandma Imogen got me hooked,"
"Fair enough," With that Will leaves the kitchen, and the two lovers. They simply take the other in, absorbed in this moment, absorbed in each other. When they are filled to the brim, Jace pulls away shortly to grab his phone and wallet from the table, slipping them into inside pockets of his suit jacket. He takes his keys into his hand and offers the other to Clary.
As they enter the hallway leading to the front door, they are met by the murmured conversation of Tessa and Magnus. Seeing the couple, they offer toothy grins and Magnus walks over with a glimmering gold clutch.
"It has your phone, some money and your lipstick, in case it smears," he tosses a wink to Jace before handing the bag to Clary.
"How thoughtful," she mutters under her breath. Jace simply chuckles, placing a feather light kiss to her temple, earning and endearing blush along the apples of her cheeks.
"Have fun tonight," Tessa smiles, coming to stand before the duo, "Give that boy something to cry about," she winks before drifting into the living room. Will calls out a farewell and Jace calls one back.
They leave the house and Clary's arms prickle with gooseflesh as the brisk autumn air touches her abundance of bare skin. Magnus and Tessa had not factored in weather when they had chosen this outfit it appears, but it didn't matter seeing as the event was indoors.
Jace leads her to the car he normally uses for work, opening the passenger door for her, offering a hand as she takes her seat. He closes her door then ambles over to the driver's side. As soon as he gets in, he starts the car and blasts the heat, directing the jets to Clary, who was rubbing her palms over her skin.
"It's a little cold out," he observes, lowering the blast slightly when he sees how much it disrupts her delicate curls, and puts the car into gear.
"It's not a big deal, we'll be inside all night anyways," Clary replies easily, already comfortable in the warmth from the vents and from Jace's hand that had settled on her knee and was currently drawing languid circles.
"This is true," he nods. They take the drive in comfortable silence, Clary mentally preparing for seeing all of Simon's colleagues even though she will not be there with him. Jace was mentally preparing for the inevitable meeting with the man himself within the hour.
When they arrived at the museum, they drove up to the impromptu valet, where Jace left his keys to the young man parking cars. He notices the lingering look her gives Clary, to which she pays no mind. Placing a comforting arm around Clary's waist, they make their way up the front stairs and into the main lobby. Other couples are milling around with drinks in hand, dressed to the nines.
"The party is on the top floor, where they have a large area set up for events like this," Clary whispers, walking over to a set of elevators. She seems to drift over the floor like an angel, the material of her dress swishing around her ankles, the chains of the back of her dress cool under Jace's touch. They give off a light tinkling sound as they bounce together with each step.
Jace chances a glance or two over his shoulder to see many eyes trained on the two, many of which belonged to jealous males, wondering how he had landed such a gorgeous woman, or at least that's what Jace thought. He couldn't believe it at times, including right now. Clary was a vision in gold and he could see a smile creeping onto her lips as she admires the art on the walls leading to the elevators.
When they arrive to the gleaming doors, Jace pushes the call button and they wait a few moments before the carriage arrives. They step in and when no other souls attempt to enter, the doors shut.
"It's the tenth floor," Clary says, and Jace pushes the button that promptly lights up and they begin their ascent. He observes Clary from the corner of his eye when a sudden flood of emotion crashes over him.
"Can I kiss you?" he blurts out, making her swivel her head around to look at him. A smile grows rapidly on her face.
"Of course," she nods. He gently leans down, brushing his lips to her own before pressing them together with slightly more pressure. Just when her hands find the nape of his neck and his snake their way under the chains of her lower back, the elevator lurches and the doors open. They only realize this when someone coughs uncomfortably, causing them to break apart.
Clary meets the brown eyes she believed she knew so well and watch as they fill with shock.
"What are you doing here?" Simon demands, his hands balled into fists at his sides. His suit is a little too big for him, as always and his tie is tied incorrectly. Ties had never been his, or Isabelle's, strong suit. Clary schools her features into mild disinterest and sees Jace do the same, linking an arm around her waist so her side aligns with his.
"I was invited to the exhibit opening," she says in a bored tone, as if he should know this already, "Considering I've been on the list for years, and that my art will be a part of the first true art section," she says. It had been the latest development in her career that she was especially excited about, not that Simon would care.
"Simon, what's going on?" a voice chimes before Clary can see the body, but it only takes a few seconds. In the weeks since Clary had seen them, Isabelle had grown. Her pregnancy was impossible to hide, even under the flowing chiffon dress she wore. And it was impossible to miss the glittering ring on her left hand.
When the dark haired girl's eyes snag on the couple, she freezes. Her eyes meet Clary's before dancing down her form, her stomach still flat under the form fitting dress. Then she eyes Jace, looking like a star in his tailored suit and slicked back hair.
"Hello Isabelle, a pleasure to see you again," Jace says formally, leading Clary out of the elevator, but he doesn't stop his progress when they are out. He continues walking and as they brush past he says, "We'll are parched. Clary and I will grab a drink and hopefully be able to catch up with you later on tonight,"
Clary tries to stifle her laughter at his crisp words, so formal and cold, so unlike her Jace. His tense body loosens as they drift to the refreshment table and he shares her smile.
"You were brilliant," Clary commends, grabbing them both a flute of champagne.
"As were you, my dear," he clinks their glasses before taking a small sip, "For a professional, he looked like quite the little mess," Jace says thoughtfully, looking into the glass of bubbly.
"He was always a little more…shaggy," Clary says, observing the room. Many faces she recognized from previous years, even a few names, "Dinner should be served in a little while," she says.
Jace simply nods.
"Are you okay?" Clary asks, placing a hand on his arm. He looks up at her and his eyes have a faraway look to them. She asks him again and he seems to break from his spell, his look replaced by one of determination.
"Let's get married," he says firmly.
"What?" Clary splutters into her drink. She gapes up at Jace, unsure she had even heard what he said at all.
"And have a baby," Jace continues. Clary traces his face for any hint of joking or humor, but he is all serious, and maybe hopeful.
"Where did this come from?" she attempts a chuckle but it comes out a little brittle.
"It burns me up that Simon and Isabelle are getting everything I've ever wanted for us off your back. I'm the one that had loved you since we were kids, and yet I only get to call you my girlfriend," he says feverishly, his words coming rapid and tense.
"I understand where you're coming from, but they shouldn't be the reason you want to get married," Clary tries to reason.
"Would you want to marry me, some day?" Jace asks, looking a little deflated, his eyes a more calming shade than the blazing gold they were a moment ago.
"Of course I would Jace," she says and she realizes she had never said anything more true. She wants to marry Jace, of course she does, just not for the wrong reasons.
"Then that's all I need," he smiles, then looks down sheepishly, "I'm sorry for springing this all on you, I just had to say it, so you knew,"
"Well now I know," she smiles. At that moment, a deep, warm voice announces that dinner was about to begin and that all guests should find their seats. Clary and Jace weave their way through the tables and when they find their names, Clary notices who is at their table. None other than Simon and Isabelle.
"Ahh, I'm glad I have been able to be a man of my word tonight," Jace comments as he pulls out Clary's chair. She sits primly and he takes the seat beside her, resting his arm on the back of her chair.
"Yeah yeah," Simon waves him off, looking angrily down at his empty salad plate. Isabelle looks highly uncomfortable and seeing as they were the only ones at the table at the moment, she turns to Clary.
"It's wonderful to hear your art will be displayed here, you were always the most talented in the studio," she attempts at conversation.
Clary considers her with a cool glance before looking to the bouquet of flowers in the center of the table, "One would say you have a talent at well, for interior design," she looks over to the other woman who had the grace to look down shamefully, "I did enjoy the throw pillows the last time I was at my old house," she says coolly, remembering the horrible day after her heartbreaking discovery.
"Clary, I-"Isabelle begins.
"No matter," Clary waves her hand, "It's been plenty of fun shopping for Jace and I's home. It's been fantastic spending all those long days together," she places a hand to his thigh before giving a dazzling smile to the man beside her. Jace returns the grin and nods in agreement, "How had shopping for the baby been?" Clary asks, genuinely interested.
"Oh give it a rest," Simon says, glaring at his soon to be ex-wife, "We know you hate us, so stop being such a passive aggressive bitch about it," Isabelle gasps, and Clary feels the rolling hatred boil in her core.
If there was one word she hated, it was that one. She couldn't put her finger on why, but every time it had been directed at her, she suddenly had the urges to throw hands. And Simon knew this.
"Listen to me Lewis," Jace seethes. He has gone rigid in his seat and was now leaning forward, "I would think very carefully before you insult my girl again. Let's not make the mistake of forgetting who was in the wrong here," his skin is hot where it meets Clary's and she can see the way his pupils seem to engulf the gold of his eyes.
"Calm down, he's not worth it," she whispers in his ear, placing a hand to his chest. He nods once before slowly settling down into his seat. She then addresses the other two.
"Perhaps my earliest reactions were a little knee jerk and childish, which I admit to. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to pretend we have moved past this," she looks pointedly at a flushed Isabelle, "I may forgive you for what you did, because it's not worth hurting myself or Jace over, but I will never forget, and I sure as hell will not welcome you back into my life," then she stood, grabbing her clutch, "Seeing as how we have put such a damper on the evening, Jace and I will be going," Jace stand at her side, the figure of support and care.
They begin to walk away when a voice calls out to them. Isabelle had stood from her seat and was only a step behind.
"I miss you Clary, I just wanted you to know that," she says, eyes glimmering.
"I miss the Isabelle that was my friend. The girl I told all my secrets too. But I suppose that's not who you are anymore," Clary replied, only feeling the guilt rip through her as her words cause the tears to spill down the other woman's cheeks. She tries to swipe them away, but they come too fast.
"Let's go," Clary releases the choked whisper to Jace, and he leads her back to the elevators.