Clary's heart stopped for a bit and she began to sweat like crazy. 'Oh, by Raziel! You almost killed the cousin of your husband! Very good, Clarissa! You're such a genius!' Her thoughts were the only thing that she heard and could say.

"God, I'm so sorry, highness! I didn't see you! Are you hurt?" she said desperately with an "earth, please swallow me" feeling while Izzy smiled totally unworried and joyful.

"Take it easy, I'm fine… You must be Clary… right, Alec?" she turned a bit to watch her brother take her bags inside.

"Yes, she is. Isabelle, this is Jace's wife; Clary. this is my sister" he presented them as if Clary had never heard about the gorgeous, absolutely lovely and almost perfect Princess Isabelle Lightwood. Clary tried to give back that tender smile, but she could barely breathe.

"It's a pleasure, cousin" she winked at her, Clary let out a silly chuckle and turned to her maids.

"Please help the prince with his sister's bags" that was her best excuse for not looking at Izzy's beautiful eyes that seemed to pity her somehow.

"Yes, highness" said Camille and Annemarie in choir.

"Oh my, it feels so… awesome to be back home" said Isabelle with a broken voice as they walked to the insides of the palace, she hid her face a bit from her companion "But I can't help of feeling that I'm not really welcome in here" Clary wondered why would she say something like that, she had been born in the palace, she grew up in there, her whole family also lived there, why would she feel strange in her own home?

"Izzy, don't say that. I'm sure that father will be glad to see you again!" her brother assured her and like that Clary's doubts were answered in less than a minute. Even his own daughter feared him, how cruel could Robert be?

"Father is never glad about anything…" she reminded him with an angry tone that made Clary shiver, she obviously inherited her father's strong attitude, but she was completely adorable and sweet like her mother.

"Well, if it's not father then it will be grandma and mother! I cannot let my baby sitter get upset when she has just returned to her country" Alec put his arm around Isabelle trying to comfort her and for a moment Clary felt a terrible and painful nostalgia, Jonathan would have done the same for her.

"Oh, and Jace! Where's my very blonde and beloved cousin who's now also a husband?" Izzy's expression seemed to change from sad to excited, Clary felt miserable because she would get disappointed as Jace wasn't back yet.

"He's still in London" she answered, it also hurt her a bit. For five days he hadn't returned her calls, or even written something to her, she wanted to be nice and the guy was acting terribly difficult!

"Right! I wanted to ask him something about England… Damn, I guess I'll have to wait a bit" but she started to smile again, it was fascinating to see how the memory of our loved ones make us happy even when everything seems wrong.

"Izzy, remember: we cannot curse here" said Alec when they were exactly in front of the Queen Mother's chambers.

"To hell with the etiquette!" she answered fun and opened the door "Good morning, your majesty!" she said trying not to scream in excited. Queen Imogen seemed shocked but then she showed a bright smile.

"By the angel, Isabelle!" Izzy ran to hug her grandmother, though Queen Imogen was never sad Clary had never seen her that happy. "Finally, I have all my grandchildren with me" she told Alec to approach her and she hugged them both. 'Guess this is your output' she said to herself, family by blood needed to be together.

She went to Alec and hers favorite place in all the palace: the Queen Mother's back garden, they had been talking so much in there that it almost felt like they had done it always, the peace that surrounded it was incredibly relieving, the wind hit her face and disordered the perfect curls that Magnus had worked so hard on, the dew of the grass got the dress' large skirt wet and her heels dug into the ground, but she didn't care, it was the only place where she could be alone and think about everything that she had gone trough in such short time. She had gotten married, she had fought awfully with Simon, she had seen her mother's biggest fear, she had met the monarchy in a way she'd never thought, she became the next in line to take the lead of her country, and she wasn't even nineteen yet! But there was one more detail she didn't even dare to think, the biggest issue, the hardest topic: Jace. What if she…?

"Highness, the reply from your brother has arrived" said Amatis at her back, she didn't even think and ran to her to get the letter.

"Thank you very much" she said smiling happily. Amatis smiled back and that was when Clary recognized how much she resembled her brother.

"You're welcome" she made a bow and left, another good fact about Amatis, she gave her privacy.

To my dearest pumpkin:

God, Clarissa! You've made me cry, you insensible redhead! I'm sorry I haven't written to you in a long time, Clary, I know you needed my support and that maybe I left you alone in the most important part of your life, you got married and I wasn't there! You became the crown princess and I wasn't there! You feel lonely and confused and I'm not there (If you're wondering how on earth do I know that, the answer's pretty simple: I'm your brother, smarty-pants! There's nothing about you that I cannot know!) So, hate me and never forgive me, sis, I do not deserve your mercy! *makes to disconsolate damsel* (Guess we are somehow alike, we're both dramatic as hell!)The only thing I can tell you about everything you said in your last letter is that you have to take your time, don't try to know it all in a second, let things happen, let time go by, let everything be how it's supposed to and if you don't like it, well, change it! Your life's in your hands, angel, it has always been but you've also always had a pure heart full of love, the only thing you have to do is to take control of your destiny, I'm sure you can because… by Raziel! You're my, MY, sister! There's nothing that you can't do!

So, it's my time to get you bored with my dramas! *Demonic laughter*Deutschland ist das beste, Schwester! (Germany is the best, sister!) You don't know how fun can work become when you work with the right people! These models are so professional and let's admit it, they're so freaking hot! I'm sure you don't need to know all the details; I'll take care of your existence so you won't hang yourself from the window or whatever. I have never seen such an inspiring place, sometimes calm and sometimes so fun that you lose yourself, if you ever free yourself from your husband's claws… I mean! From your responsibilities as the crown princess I'll steal you so you can see my little piece of heaven, ok? Isn't this just so funny and ironic? The sinner is on heaven and the angel of Idris is on the living hell! That must hurt! (I love you, Clary. Please don't hit me to death mentally!) I see you're worried about my love life, I've got one thing to say: Stay out of my business, you brat! It's not my fault that you were "so in love" with Jonathan and you decided to marry him, I know what to do and when to do it, so stop with the pressure! But if you really want to know… I met this incredibly cute and nice girl, her name is Kaelie, I'm not quite sure if she's German, she only said that she comes from far away, how mysterious! She's one of the models I've been working with, she's so friendly and delicate, she's so beautiful! I might be falling for her and I doubt she sees me as nothing but a friend, I have to admit it hurts, but I'm not going to give up as our relationship's going very well, she even gave me an artistic nickname: Sebastian! What do you think? She's very creative! My god, I'm losing my head over her and maybe I'll never get to be someone important for her! I know I should be more professional, but this girl's got me crazy!

Well, that's a little resume of my life in here, again! I apologize for (not forgetting, I never forget about you) not having time to write to you. Please tell mom and Luke I'm okay and maybe I'll come back in eight or nine months (Don't scream in excitement! Maybe your in-laws are sleeping right now; you don't want to wake them up, do you?) And about Valentine… just forget about him, ok? I'm not saying it's wrong for a daughter to be worried about the man that saw her be born but… he doesn't really deserve our concerns, Clary. I think he left for good and to be completely honest with you, I'm pretty sure that the three of us (even apart as we are) are better off without him.

Enjoy your little jail, sis! Laugh, cry, think and make every day of your beautiful life something to remember! That's my only advice. I send you a hundred kisses! Those that make you want to throw up!

Your beloved brother (and yes, unfortunately, only brother. Can you imagine how it would be if I had a twin? Like an evil one! It would be so fun, really!)

Jonathan Christopher aka. "Sebastian" Morgenstern Fairchild. (Ha! I'm a normal person; I've only got two last names!)

Clary was surprised of feeling the tears fall from her eyes, she missed her brother badly, Alec and Isabelle were together even when their father was so obnoxious. Everything would have been much easier if only Jonathan had been there, but he wasn't and his advice was that she had to make her own life, not her mother, not him, not Simon, not the kings, just her. And he was right, what was to happen was only in her hands, The only problem was: what the heck did she want to do?

It was absolutely hilarious to hear Helen's protests as Maia tried to "fix" her mistake. Helen had been hurt for that little situation of their vacation for a long time; she still couldn't get over it! That's what made Simon laugh hysterically, his friends were the best way for him to forget about everything, but he couldn't forget the fact that Clary was part of his friends, and she was hardly around.

"This little bitch! What part of betrayal don't you understand, Maia Roberts?" Simon wasn't sure if he was still talking to Helen on the phone, she seemed pretty focused on sending Maia to hell, but he couldn't stop listening.

"You do it all the time, Helen! It was my turn to be the whore!" replied Maia at the back.

"No way! You cannot turn into a whore overnight; you have to be born being it! Simon, please illuminate her!" Simon laughed a bit more and took a deep breath before he answered.

"Maia, I think Helen's right, you cannot become a prostitute in just one second, you have to feel it!" he said continuing with the girl's play.

"Oh, you can be sure that I felt it, Lewis!" She started to laugh too, the only one who suffered in there was Helen.

"You guys suck as best friends! You're such a smug, Roberts!" she complained, that only made them laugh harder.

"Ok, ok too much information, kids! This is how it goes, Helen: get over it; you should be proud and happy about Maia's conquest, and Maia: good job, sis! You nailed it!" he said.

"Whatever! I'll show you all what being a true player means!" Helen assured them.

"Simon M. Lewis, you better end with that call right now if you don't want me to end it for you" said Becky standing in the living room, Simon almost yelled in fear thinking that he might've been having hallucinations, she came out of nowhere!

"Sorry, girls, I have to leave, my sister's here" he said that incredibly quickly and hung. "By God, Becks! What are you doing here?" he approached her sister to hug her.

"Is this the way you say: Hello, I missed you, nowadays?I haven't been gone that long!" she said playful, that made her brother smile.

"Hello, Becky, I missed you! Now, what the heck are you doing here? Mom said you weren't coming back until two more months!" he replied, Becky scowled as her mother came down to meet her.

"Surprise!" Mrs. Lewis said.

"She fooled you terribly" Becky answered as her mother hugged her.

"Is so good to have you back, my darling" her mother said.

"It's good to see my family once again! I didn't realize I had a giant hole in my heart until I saw little Simon, if you weren't my brother I swear by Raziel that I wouldn't have recognized you" said Becky trying to hide the tears gathering in her eyes.

"Oh, Becks, c'mon! You said it; you haven't been gone that long!" Simon took her in his arms again, he also felt relieved to have his sister back home.

"I know, I just… I can't believe this is real, it seems like I have been gone for a century!" she said wiping her tears.

"Ok, no more whining, Rebecca, you don't want to make mama cry. Come, I'll cook something for you" said Mrs. Lewis and her kids followed her to the dining room.

"I want you to tell me everything about Switzerland!" said Simon excited to hear his sister's adventures "But first! Did you bring… chocolate?" he whispered.

"I brought more chocolates than clothes" she assured him.

"That's why I love you!" they both giggled.

"And I also brought you a friend" said Becky with a playful smile.

"Here we go again…" it wasn't that he didn't appreciate her sister's concern, but it was kind of embarrassing.

"C'mon, Simon! You'll have to let go of Clary one day, and it's better late than never! I swear by the angel that Izzy is sweet and fun, she's gorgeous! You'll like her, I'm sure!" she hit him softly on his arms as he pulled out his: "Seriously?" Face.

"Ok, assuming that I like her, who can assure me that she'll like me?" he asked, Becky chuckled.

"Oh, she's crazy about you!" Simon froze for a moment.

"Really?" he said.

"Nope, but she could be! She doesn't even know you yet!" she reminded him.

"Then keep your big mouth shut, Rebecca!" he said annoyed.

"Give it a try, Simon! There's nothing you can lose! You're smart, you're handsome and you're fun! Izzy likes those things" she nudged her brother encouraging him.

"Whatever…" he gave up.

"Did I hear: Fix a date with her for me, please?" she bothered him until he showed a bright smile.

"Alright! But make sure we're not alone, you know how I mess these things up!" Becky let out an excited screech and hugged him.

"You won't regret it, Simon!" she assured him. 'I'm pretty sure I will, sis' he thought to himself.

Jace's arrival was like all the other times. Hundreds of reporters, crazy fans, his guards not letting him breathe, as always, but this time he got a heavy weight on his shoulders: Guiltiness, he wondered what on earth would he do when he saw Clary again, will he fall to the floor crying and asking for forgiveness? He sure wanted to, but, first: She didn't know a thing of what had happened in England, there was no real reason to tell her, and second: where would his pride go if he did something like that? There was one and only answer: Not to tell Clary.

"Welcome home, highness" Amatis greeted him when he entered the palace.

"Thank you, Lady Amatis. It's good to have a vacation but there's no place like home" he said with a smile.

"Of course it is, but…" he approached him a little and talked to his ear "You should go see the princess before you do anything, she has been really worried about you and now she might be losing her mind because of, well, you already know…" she said, Jace felt his soul fall to the floor.

"By holy Raziel!" he almost ran to Clary's room, he didn't say anything, he didn't do anything else, in that moment his angry wife was the only thing that mattered. He tried to look calm before entering; he took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Who's there?" Jace's sudden appearance scared her a bit, then her expression turned into hatred "Oh, look who's here: Mr. I don't give a damn about you Herondale" She didn't see him eye to eye, that only made him worry even more.

"I know… Amatis told me…" he tried to keep it cool but he was at one second of falling apart. "Clary, I … I'm really sorry, you didn't deserve that, I just… I don't know what I was thinking but I swear by the angel that I never wanted to do something like that…" being honest has a price, but it's even worse when the other person wasn't really looking for honesty.

"Woah, woah, wait! What the heck are you talking about?" she seemed confused and that managed to make him feel like that too.

"What are we talking about?" he asked, he was about to blunder and Clary had no idea of what he meant.

"You don't write, you don't call… you told me you wanted to fix things up and you forget about me in less than a week, I don't know how your methods work but this plan surely didn't show results" she explained, Jace was able to breathe again.

"Oh, that's what this is all about? Really? You women and your dramas!" he released a relieved chuckle, Clary got even angrier.

"Yes, that's how we women are…" she stood from her desk and faced him, her cheeks burning in red because of his comments "Women like to feel important, ok? When someone says let's do something, women actually want to do it! And you, Sir Jonathan, have absolutely no shame or brain at all for saying something like that! So, if you came here to screw my life even more than you have done instead of greeting me properly as a good husband, leave!" she was truly mad, that made him feel even worse.

"No, I won't…" he was willing to put his hands on fire and try to make her listen.

"Ok, then I'll leave, breathing the same air as you makes me sick!" she was about to leave her own room when he grabbed her strongly by her arm, in other circumstances, she would've hit him so hard that he would have taken a trip to the nursery, but now she just felt incapable of moving, terrified, confused, worried, not sure of what she wanted. Then Jace hugged her by her waist, strongly but delicate, like if she was the only person in the world that he could hold on to, his support.

"I'm sorry, about everything I've done and whatever you think I've done. If I said that I wanted to make this work, it's because I do want to do it… just give me time" Clary felt his cheek resting against her head. 'My God, what is he doing? Why now? Why like this? But most of all… WHY AREN'T YOU DOING ANYTHING? Move, Clarissa! Don't let him play with you! That's all that he has ever done! Don't be so silly!' she planned to free herself from his arms, letting her rage win, but instead she turned to meet his regretful eyes, he was telling the truth.

"Okay, I will…" they stayed like that for a moment, looking at their eyes, then it was just like a reflection, a need; Clary's Clary's arms intertwined into Jace's neck and also pressed her body against his. Neither of them would have wanted to melt in such embrace, but the situation won over their pride and for the first time they did not feel embarrassed in showing that there could be something going on between them. 'Time, is all we need' she thought to herself.

The next day, Clary woke up with a call from Simon. He said that his sister was back and that she wanted to see her terribly, Clary died to meet Becky again so her morning were rushed crazily, Amatis of course got worried but then she remembered she had to take care of Isabelle and Alec's mother, so that made it easier for Clary to ran off to Taki's.

"Hello, angel of Idris!" said Becky the moment she entered the restaurant, of course she had to go on cover, what would have happened if her people had seen her unprotected?

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Rebecca Lewis!" she hugged her strongly, three years of missing someone insanely is a good reason to want to break someone's bones with a hug.

"It's an honor to be back, highness" she whispered and then winked at her, Clary smiled.

"Wow, its amazing what a long vacation can do, isn't it?" she said looking at Becky's beautiful and relaxed expression, she seemed so worriless.

"You don't have an idea! Of course I needed to get away from this little brat so I could breathe again", she said stroking her brother's hair.

"Becks, stop it! It's embarrassing!" he protested, Clary giggled at his friend's angry comment, she missed spending time with him, if only she could have kept him in one of her bags and took him to the palace.

"You'll never grow up, Simon" said Becky playful.

"So, are we going to eat breakfast or what? I'm starving!" she confessed.

"Sure, we're just waiting for a friend of mine, she wanted to meet Simon" Clary froze at her words, but then she dedicated him an annoying smile.

"Oh, a friend of yours wanted to meet Simon, uh?" she laughed foolishly as Simon's cheeks turned into a strong red.

"She's just a friend, Clarissa!" he almost yelled and Becky covered his mouth with one hand.

"For the love of God, you want more paparazzi following us, don't you?" she scolded him remembering their little trip to the restaurant that morning there was more cameras than air in the atmosphere.

"Please no, I'm tired of them!" he said when he freed himself from his sister's hands.

"Then keep your big mouth shut!" advice him Clary.

"Oh, there she is!" said Becky waving at the front door, Clary turned to see the lucky girl who would have the pleasure to meet Simon. She seemed somehow familiar, also wearing glasses and simple clothes, she came along with other guy.

"I thought you said that she was coming alone" complained Simon as Becky's friend entered the restaurant, or shall we say… Princess Isabelle?

"What the…? Isabelle?" began Clary, Izzy shook when she saw her with Becky and Simon, and Alec did also.

"Oh, you already know each other?" Becky asked clearly knowing nothing at all.

"Do you know each other?" replied Izzy, her eyes going from Clary to Simon's sister. And Simon, well, it was like he had seen heaven for the first time.

"Of course! She's my brother's best friend, Iz!" she explained, Clary was in blank.

"Ok, time out! What's going on in here? Becks! How do you know my husband's cousin?" she asked annoyed by so much mystery.

"Your husband's what?!" Becky asked confused, Isabelle bit her lip. "Wait, that means that you… but your last name… " She thought it through and when she got her answer she said "No. freaking. Way"

"I should've known! I'll quote you, sis: There's no way she can be the Princess!" said Simon being the only person in there able to talk.

"Guess it's a small world after all…" said Izzy with an ashamed smile, Becky crossed her arms.

"How small, Isabelle Lightwood?" she was completely mad about her lies.

"Very small…" said Alec trying to fix his sister's mess.

"Becks, I'm really sorry I wanted to tell you, but…" Izzy tried to explain herself as she sat next to Becky.

"But what?" she wanted answers, and she wanted them at that second.

"I was afraid that you'd only want to be my friend because I was a Princess…" she confessed, Becky smiled tenderly and hugged her.

"You fool! You're so adorable! I would have been your friend even if you were a terrorist's daughter!" she said joyful, finally everyone laughed with them.

"This world's full of surprises, uh?" said Clary to Alec when he sat next to her.

"Absolutely" said Alec and Simon at the same time, they would be good friends for sure.

"Oh, wait a bit, its grandma calling" announced Izzy and she got a bit apart to answer her phone.

"So, how's my crown princess doing?" Simon asked taking Clary's hand, but in his insides, he desperately wanted to keep looking at the beautiful and covert Isabelle.

"She's the most fun, crazy and sweet princess of all time" Alec said happily, Clary blushed.

"C'mon now, Alexander, be honest!" she said and the three of them laughed.

"It's true, I swear by the angel! When it comes to princesses, Idris has the best of the best! I assure you, she was born to become a royal" Alec said, both Clary and Simon felt a bit awkward with that, she had never wanted to be a royal, she was never meant to be a royal, but it was surely amazing to see how a ring had changed her whole life upside down.

"Sure…" Simon was hurt by that comment, even Clary knew that his voice sounded like he was jealous to death, but she wasn't sure of why was he feeling that.

"What?!" Izzy scream suddenly. Her brother shivered. "Oh, by Raziel…" and then the call ended, she turned, her usually colored cheeks and cute expression was now pale white.

"What's wrong?" Clary was the first to talk.

"Uh, talking about surprises…" Izzy looked at her brother shakily.

"Yes…?" Alec started to get nervous.

"Alexander… Mother hasn't been really sick for all this time…" she began.

"What? Of course she has! She has felt terrible for months!" Alec reminded her.

"I know but it wasn't exactly for a sickness, bro…" Isabelle couldn't finish understanding and accepting her mother's news.

"Quit it with the mystery, Isabelle Sophia! I'm having Goosebumps!" said Alec at the point of exploding with fear.

"Alright, fine! Mother is…" Izzy swallowed slowly.

"Just say it, by Raziel!" Clary demanded, they were all losing her head because of her attitude.

"Mother is pregnant".

To be continued…

Dreamer.