Sweet Little Serena (Original)

Chapter 11

"Look, you're an acting head of this Institute. It's a diplomatic mission, you or Serena should go. Let's switch assignments."

"Nope. This time I'm actually going to obey orders and babysit your girlfriend," Alec said as they walked through the control room, eyes instantly landing on where his wife sat typing away at a desk with earphones on, lip-syncing to the song she was listening too.

"Clary?" Jace tried to say nonchalantly. "She's more like my responsibility," he covered up before he grabbed Alec's shoulder to stop him from walking, the older boy shying away from his touch.

"Hey, you'll keep an eye on her right?"

"If you're going to check up on me, how about you check up on the other person on this assignment?" he asked as he nodded over to where Serena sat.

Jace was silent.

"You haven't talked to her in days. And your actions almost got her killed. And while she may not blame you, the least she deserves is an apology."

"You think I don't know that?!" he shot back at his brother's face. "I've been trying to get the courage to talk to her, but every time I try all I see is her lying dead on the floor. And it's killing me."

"So, get over it! Talk to her and get over your guilt. She's your sister Jace, your twin, she's not going to hate you."

Jace sighed. "Look, I'll talk to her, but just promise me one thing?"

"What?"

"Don't take your eyes off of Clary."

Alec, though annoyed, sighed as he said, "Sure."

"Thank you."

And the brothers shared a quick hug before going their separate ways, both of them unaware that Serena had heard the entire conversation.

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Serena and Alec had been training, had been. They'd been sparring with staffs when Alec had trapped Serena, her back pressed to his chest as she laughed, the kisses he left on her neck ticklish as she tried to escape his grip.

"Can I train with you?" Clary asked as the smiles faded from the couple and they composed themselves.

"Sure," Serena said before Alec could protest and the redhead nodded as she went to grab a staff.

"Looks like we're stuck with each other. Go ahead. Knock me on my ass. You'll feel better," Clary said, directing the last part at Alec.

"Try not to have too much fun, baby," Serena said as she tapped his chest before pecking his cheek and sitting down on a bench to watch the fight as Alec said,

"Don't make me say that you're right about something. Plant your feet wide."

"Why is your mother so harsh towards Izzy?" Clary asked as she badly blocked Alec's strike.

"Don't step into the strike, step through it. Not that it's any of your business, but my mother is not too fond of Izzy's intimate relationships with Seelies."

"So, you're going to let her send Jace out instead of you?"

She managed to block two more strikes as Alec said, "I approved those missions, I screwed up and I expected to be punished. Not to mention that my brother is too distracted in your presence. And that I'd rather be partnered with my wife anyways."

Clary shoved Alec off her as they circled each other and she said, "You know what a leader does Alec? Make decisions. You need to find Valentine and stop him. I need to find Valentine and save my mother."

The two went at it for a while, Serena even impressed when Clary managed to knock Alec's staff from his hands. But it wasn't enough to stop Alec as he sent Clary to the floor, falling over her own staff.

"You need to work on your defence," Alec grumbled as he helped her up. "What do you think? That we haven't been trying to find your mother?"

"Of course, you have. But I know you can colour outside the lines you're just not letting yourself think that way," Clary pointed out as Alec walked over and picked up the fallen staff, tossing one to Clary, harshly.

"Colouring outside the lines is what led us to summon that memory demon that almost killed my wife."

He glanced at her, just to make sure she was still ok, before taking his stance against Clary.

"But please, enlighten me. What is the big thought I'm missing?"

"There's a box. My mother didn't think I knew about how she took it out once a year and cried over it."

"'Cause?" Alec asked.

"It belonged to my father. Had his initials, JC on top."

"But your father is Valentine. Why JC?" Serena asked this time as she moved to stand next to Alec who could breathe a little easier.

"Because for 18 years she told me that my father's name was Jonathan Clark. That was a lie, but maybe there's something inside that could help us track him," Clary explained.

"Where's the box?" Alec asked.

"Probably back at the loft," she looked at the two with a mischievous smile on her face. "Let's go get it."

"Absolutely not. Not without permission," Alec said as Serena's phone rang.

"Speak of the devil," she said as her phone flashed with Maryse's name.

"Don't move," Alec said to Clary as he pulled Serena to once side to listen to what his mother had to say.

She didn't talk for more than a minute, checking up on them and giving them a quick briefing on how things were working on their end. Maryse actually giving them permission to go, seeing as this was a potential lead to Valentine but they could only go so long as Clary didn't leave their sight. But as she hung up, the couple realised that Clary was long gone.

Alec looked as if he was about to explode in frustration as they burst into Clary's empty room.

"Baby, breathe," Serena tried to calm him.

"One thing! We ask her to do one thing!" he exclaimed before Serena shut him up by planting her lips on his.

"Why did you do that?" he asked as they pulled away, Alec still tense but calmer.

"Because that seems to be the only thing that can distract you from anything," she grinned cheekily before walking out the door to go find Clary, Alec on her heels.