Author's Note: Shout out to SazzleBunch. Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy your special day

Clary

"I.....I was too harsh. I wasn't good enough, but I'll do better." Jace seems to be grasping at straws.  "Alec, you want to be in his life, right? If you stay with me, you can. Your baby can..." Jace hesitates, "can grow up around him your baby will have an uncle. Alec and I will make sure your baby's taken care of." Why is he only mentioning Alec? I'd love for him to be in my baby's life, but maybe....I don't know, it seems like maybe could be more...involved? What am I saying? Focus!

"Jace," I try to interrupt him to explain.

"No, please, I'll do whatever you want. Alec can come over any time, you two can hang out. I...I'll leave you two alone. Please," Jace pleas as he cries. Why doesn't he think I want to be friends with him? We've had many good times together. Maybe he was too harsh at the party, but maybe I was just too sensitive.....

"Jace, it wasn't your fault. I was too sensitive. I...I've experienced things before and it's made me...weary. I fell into old habits, and I'm sorry," I comment. Now to settle this whole only wanting to be friends with Alec thing. "I don't know where you got the impression that I don't want to be in your life, but from what you've just said, it seems like you're misunderstanding. Yes, Alec and I are friends, maybe even good friends. But, I thought we were too."

"Jace, you need to tell her about Kaelie," Alec says from the top of the stairs. Kaelie? He mentioned her during our 20 questions game....The girl he was engaged to.

"Clary, when I was 16, Kaelie moved to my high school. I was a sophomore and she was too. We became friends and eventually.....we became more. I fell in love with her and she with me, or so I thought. We dated though high school and college. I proposed when we were seniors. When I was 23, I came home, to this home, after a long day of work," Jace doesn't look good.

"Jace, you don't have to tell me," I quietly assure him as I grab his hand comfortingly.

"I do, you have to understand. I got home after a long day of work. I was new there and the newest people worked the most hours, it's just how it went at this company. Anyways, I got home and the house was empty. I found a note on our bed." Ugh! I'm such an idiot! I left him a note too! What if he relived all of that pain when he saw my note on the bed? His tears continue to fall. "Kaelie told me that she found someone better. In a detailed seven page letter, she explained how I worked too much and how I wasn't satisfying her anymore." She broke his heart. How could someone do that to another human being, especially someone as kind and caring as Jace?! That's why he thought he wasn't good enough. That's why he said he'll do better. Why he's trying to convince me to stay as if the alternative, being homeless, is better. "She then proceeded to tell me that she was having an affair with the boss of my accounting department. I never heard from her again." So, when he read my letter and I said goodbye, that was the same as how that cowardly bitch left him a note instead of telling him to his face.

"Oh Jace," I whisper. I run to him and pull him to my body in a hug.

"I...I wasn't e....enough," Jace cries in my ear.

I pull back from Jace for a second, so our eyes can meet. "Jace," I gently murmur. "Jace, look at me." Jace's eyes slowly meet mine. "Jace you are more than enough. Any woman would be lucky to have you. You're caring, smart, kind, generous, respectful, employed, and I mean you're not too bad to look at either," I tease. Jace chuckles lightly while tears fall.

"Plus, how many people do you know who can cry sadly and laugh happily at the same time? Two opposite emotional responses, it's a skill," I continue joking with him. "Now, let me see that smile." Jace smiles and by now his tears have stopped.

"So," Jace looks down, suddenly nervous, "you'll stay?" Jace asks nervous. Is he serious? Of course I want to stay. I'm safe and cared for here.

"My alternate is cold, dirtyness, and hunger," I chuckle dryly. "You make it seem like I'm the one who'd be doing you a favor."

Jace smirks. "So that's a yes," Jace responds. "I knew you couldn't resist my charm."

"Yes, I'd love to stay," I confirm.

"Yayah!" I hear from upstairs. Alec.

"Why don't you come down now Alec," I suggest. I hear footsteps and Alec comes into view.

"You're staying," Alec smiles. I nod and he opens his arms, so I go in for a hug. I pull away after a few seconds. "So, is bug okay?"

"Oh, you mean Bean," I comment. "Yeah, Bean is okay. I should probably eat some breakfast and take my vitamins though."

Jace walks toward me and asks as he looks at my stomach for permission. "May I." I nod. Jace gently lays his hand on my stomach. "I'll make some scrambled eggs, how does that sound Guppie?" Jace asks my stomach. Just then it decides to make weird stomach noises and I blush. "I'll take that as a yes," Jace smirks. I nod and hide my face in my hands.

"Alec, do you want to be on toast duty?" Jace asks. Alec nods.

"What about me?" I pout.

"You are going to go to your room, unpack, and rest until breakfast is ready," Jace explains.

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I do not own any of the Mortal Instruments books, materials, etc. All credit belongs to Cassandra Clare.

Author's Note:
I hope you all like it! Please leave comments, votes, and feedback. I'm going to update, when I do and it'll be random.

Originally posted: 2/26/19