Runes, Rings, and Little Things

Chapter 58- Lovers Vow

{CLARY}

I wake up and surprisingly find Maia by my side, feeding a very large Trista. Bennet is in a crib, and Spencer and Will are running around the room, playing tag.

"Thank god you're awake," Maia says to me. Jordan walks out of the bathroom, and sits next to her, putting an arm around her. I'm about to get up to give her a hug, before I see her face is puffy. She's been crying.

"What's wrong?" I hesitantly ask. "Is everyone okay? I swear to the angel if Jace..." I couldn't even finish the sentence. What would I do, if something happened to Jace?

But Maia shakes her head. "Jace is okay. Physically, anyway." Physically? She pauses to look at Jordan, I sign that he should take Trista and leave. He obeys. "Alec... Alec is dead." She croaks.

Alec? Dead? How is... How is that even possible? I try to say something- anything. But words fail me. All I can do is listen as she explains what happened. What my biological father did to him. What Magnus did to him. Jace is on his way home, with everyone. Magnus is a wreck. They'll be home soon.

Alec and I were never super close, but that doesn't mean I wasn't his friend, that I didn't respect him. Because I was- and I did.

When Jace finally gets here, he's relieved I'm awake. But as soon as we're settled in at home with the kids in bed, Jace's head was in my lap on our couch. He wasn't crying, but I see the gesture. He wants to be comforted, but to bawl his eyes out. I can see he's already done that- probably several times. I caress his face, and softly kiss his forehead. "I love you," I whisper into his head. "I'm so, so sorry."

Put of no where, Isabelle storms inside. "This is all your fault!" She yells at Jace. "Get the hell out of the institute!" She roars. I'm up on my feet in seconds. This is out of control.

"Isabelle, I know you just lost your brother but blaming it on Jace won't-" I begin to help.

But my dear best friend had other plans for me. She throws me against the wall, causing the picture of Spencer and Will to nearly fall on my head. "If it weren't for you," she points at me accusingly "We wouldn't have had to choose between you and Alec. But of course. Everything has to be for you, Clary. I'm guessing Jace didn't tell you, to spare your feelings?" She's not softening one bit.

I look over at Jace. "Tell me what?" I whisper, holding my right elbow which broke the fall from my head. It's bleeding- badly.

Isabelle's glare softens a bit, when she sees my wince. But she simply shakes her head. "Valentine made Alec think he wanted to kill him, to get him close." I nod. I already knew that. "But what you don't know, is why. He wanted you, Clary. And we weren't about to choose between you and Alec. He chose for us."

With a flip of her hair, she walks out the door.

Jace told me this wasn't my fault, so of course I told him I knew that. But I don't. If I had simply gone with Valentine, Alec would be living. But then again- he could have gotten my cold unconscious body whenever he wanted. Maybe he just wanted revenge. So I guess I can't blame myself. But that doesn't mean I won't ever feel bad. Because I do- and I probably always will. Magnus is a wreck. He won't allow anyone to see him. Katherine is confused, but mostly sad. We're all sad. I never realized how much I liked Alec. He was a good friend, brother, husband and father. I'm going to miss him. We all will.

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No, my lovelies. This is NOT the end. You still have one more chapter- The epilogue!

Don't worry- I'll try to dial down the insane-ness of things. Oh- and I'm considering doing a sequel. Probably not, though. I have other stories to work on.

Try:

Normal Isn't Real

The Secret of Loving You (Pre/Sequel to Normal Isn't Real)

Mistakes I can't Regret (The Hunger Games Fanfic)

Need You Always (Twilight fanfic)

Thanks loves!

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~Sophia~