Clary Fray stared at the small plastic stick in her trembling hands, her breath caught in her throat. Two pink lines appeared, faint but unmistakable. She blinked, her vision blurry with unshed tears. Was it a mistake? Her mind raced, replaying every moment, every touch, every kiss.
"Clary?" Jace's voice broke through her thoughts. He appeared in the doorway, his golden hair falling messily over his forehead, a concerned look on his face. His eyes flicked to the test in her hand, then back to her. "What's wrong?"
She swallowed hard, unable to form words. She couldn't—no, she shouldn't—tell him like this, not without understanding what it meant. The baby, their baby. It was so much, so soon.
Jace took a step forward, his expression softening with concern. "Clary, what's going on? You're scaring me."
She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Her thoughts collided in a chaotic swirl. How could this happen? They hadn't planned for this. They barely had time to think about their relationship, let alone becoming parents. But the test didn't lie. It was there, undeniable.
"Clary?" Jace's hand rested on her shoulder, his warmth grounding her. "Please, talk to me."
Finally, the words slipped past her lips, almost in a whisper. "I'm pregnant."
His eyes widened, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The shock in his face mirrored the disbelief in her chest. "You're… what?"
She nodded slowly, the weight of the words sinking in with each passing second. "I don't know what to do, Jace. I'm scared."
Jace's gaze softened, and he reached out to gently hold her face in his hands, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "We'll figure it out," he said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling between them. "We always do."
But Clary wasn't so sure. The world around them was dangerous enough without bringing a child into it. They had enemies, a war to fight, and countless uncertainties in their future. How could they raise a child in a world like theirs?
Her heart pounded as the reality settled in. No matter how it happened, they were about to embark on a journey they never expected, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it would change everything.
"I don't know if I'm ready," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jace's eyes softened with understanding. "None of us are ever ready. But we don't have to do it alone." He leaned in, his lips brushing against her forehead, offering a quiet promise. "We'll face it together."