Stronger Than Heaven

Chapter 12

** Author's Note ** I KNOW it's been almost 2 years since I've updated this! Long story short - my husband and I had a baby lol! Happy to be back and writing :) Enjoy!

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Jace laced his hands around the leather belt, the soft material well-worn and cracked. He fastened it gently around Clary's waist, making sure the buckle was secured and tightened. This had always been her weapons belt that he had kept even after she left. He never thought in a million years that he'd be helping her put it on again. Clary watched him silently, his eyebrows furrowed in deep thought.

He reached for a stele from the table beside him and placed it in one of the belt holders. "You're going to need this," he said softly, glancing up at her with an unreadable expression on his face. "And this," he added, securing a small dagger to the belt. He let out a sigh as he reached inside his pant pocket and pulled out a small translucent rock, almost like a crystal. "This too."

A memory jolted Clary's mind. "A... a witch light," she said with a grin.

Jace laughed softly. He couldn't help the smile forming on his face. "Yeah," he replied. "A witch light. Do you remember how to use it?"

"Of course." Clary took the light from him and held it in her hand. "You showed me how."

"Right," Jace replied with a nod.

After a few seconds, the witch light illuminated in the palm of her hand and formed shadows across The Armory. The weapons building of Alicante was immaculate; part historical museum that held centuries of old Shadowhunter weapons and part functioning research centre for new weapons technology. It was basically Isabelle's playground. She and Simon were on the other side of the room, talking quietly amongst themselves beside a set of swords. Alec had gone to update Magnus while Aline kept watch of curious and prying eyes.

This was their first task before the next - gathering their weapons before time travelling to a completely different century. Jace could hardly believe it. But the Shadow world was full of surprises and nothing was impossible.

Clary switched off the witch light with awe, examining the rock between her fingers. Jace studied her, wondering what else she remembered. He still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that her memories were slowly trickling back. He was having a tough time wrapping his head around much these days.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, gracefully pulling himself up onto the table for a seat.

"Nervous," Clary replied, putting the witch light in her pocket. "I have no idea what I'm doing. One day, I'm teaching an art class and the next I'm getting ready to time travel."

Jace looked down at the floor, trying to sift through his muddled thoughts. "It's not too late to back down," he said in an almost-whisper. "You don't have to do this. You can say no, Clary."

"What other choice do we have, Jace?" she asked. "It's this or back to the drawing board and we have nothing on that board. This is the only chance we have at figuring out what to do."

Jace went silent for a moment, trying to choose his words carefully. "I mean... you can go back to your old life." His voice was still soft, but this time it was tinged with pain.

Clary tilted her head at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean before you saw me at your art show. You could go back to teaching, to working, to living a normal life. Without me." He whispered the last part, his eyes fixated on the smooth floor of The Armory. He couldn't bear to look her in the eye; it would undo him.

After a few seconds of silence, Clary moved towards him, positioning herself between his knees. With him sitting on the table, they were just about eye to eye. "Look at me," she said softly. Reluctantly, he looked up and she gently took his face into her hands. "We've come this far. I may not remember much... I have vivid memories of moments here and there... it's like a puzzle with many missing pieces. But a love like this Jace..." she took his hand and placed it against her chest to let him feel her heartbeat. "It's not a memory. It's embedded within me and nothing... not even the Angels and Heaven can change that."