Sweet Little Serena (Original)

Chapter 124

"Hey Rena, you got a sec?" Jace asked as he knocked on his sister's office door, the girl still in her dress but her shoes and make up gone and her hair in a messy bun on her head as she looked from her computer on her desk to the tablet in her lap, a tulip in her hand.

She'd returned to the Institute while Alec helped Magnus with a plan to investigate the tampered ley lines that had affected the warlock's magic, because Lorenzo had accused Magnus of doing it. And when she'd returned, she'd discovered a vase of tulips and lilies on her desk along with a note from her husband.

She couldn't help but smile as she read the words written in his elegant penmanship.

Because I love you.

Alec had made a point to get her flowers once a month, something he did since they got married, and he'd found a way to get around Serena's protests. He'd leave her a bouquet of flowers in a random place on a random day at a random time to throw her off so she could never predict when it was coming. After the first year of their marriage, she'd actually grown quite fond of finding his bouquets for her, not that she'd admit it. And in turn, she gifted Alec with random little gifts once a month as well. His favourite pastry from this quaint little bakery in Paris where they'd spent their honeymoon- Magnus helped with that one- little touristy love charms she'd find in stores when out on a mission, a book he'd really been wanting for a while, a gag gift coffee mug that said world's greatest husband that Alec proudly used most days, even little love notes here and there. It was their thing.

"Sure, JJ. What's up?" she asked as she set the tablet down, bringing the tulip to her nose as her brother leaned on the edge of her desk.

"I was kinda hoping you have a dinner recommendation. I wanna take Clary somewhere mundane on a date and you know Clary and what she likes as well as every restaurant in New York."

Serena looked at her little brother, surprised as she pulled her legs up to tuck them under her.

"Who are you and what have you done with Jace?" she joked, using the tulip to gently smack his hand away from her vase of flowers.

"What do you mean? I've gone on tons of dates," he defended, and Serena gave him a look.

"With who? Your book club?"

"Yeah. Among others."

An almost shocked but yet teasing look appeared on his sister's face.

"Wait. Jacey are you nervous?"

He looked down as his cheeks tinted red.

"You are! By the angel. The notorious Jace Herondale is actually nervous to take a girl out on a date."

Jace blushed as he couldn't help but smile.

"Rena, this is serious. I wanna take her someplace she's going to enjoy, a night that she'll never forget. She deserves to have fun."

"Ok," Serena said as she thought for a moment. "Then I know the perfect place. Take her to Woods, up in Williamsburg. She'll like that."

Jace smiled.

"Thank you, Rena," he said as he kissed her cheek and left to get ready.

"Yeah. Remember this when you need someone to help plan your wedding!"