Starting Over

Adjusting....

Author's Note: Shout out to isabelle_lightwood22. Happy birthday!

Jace

I sit at the table waiting for Clary. It's been twenty minutes, and she still hasn't come down. I don't want to rush her, but what if she's hurt? I walk to her room.

Knock knock

"Come in," Clary says through the door. I open the door.

"Clary, are you coming down for dinner? I've been waiting," I ask.

"I'm not hungry, but thank you," Clary replies.

"It would be better for the baby if you ate something," I explain.

Clary seems to be having an internal civil war. "O..okay, thank you," Clary mumbles. She's so fragile.....What did she live though? Why was she homeless? She seems scared of her own shadow.

"Clary, you know you're safe here. No one will hurt you," I try to assure her. Clary nods and we eat dinner in silence. I load the dishwasher and then go to bed.

A Few Hours Later

Knock knock

Who could be knocking on my bedroom door? Then I remember my day, Clary. "Come in," I groggily call. The door opens slowly. "Is something wrong?"

"I can't sleep," Clary mumbles. "I just want to get this over with." What? Get what over with?

"I'm sorry, I don't follow," I reply.

"Come on Jace, I know how this works. You help me, I....I help you," Clary quietly responds. What is she talking about? "I only have one condition. No penetration. I don't want to hurt my baby." Clary keeps her eyes low.

"No penetration?" I echo. What the actual fuck! I meant cleaning the house up a bit or doing laundry, when I said I'd need her help with some stuff.

"I'm doing this for my baby. I can't hurt him or her. I...I've had miscarriages before because of it and it's just.....I can't. I'll do anything else," Clary mumbles.

"Clary, I don't know where you misinterpreted our deal," I begin.

"I'll leave then," Clary interrupts. What? She needs to let me finish!

"There will be nothing sexual between us in exchange for me helping you. I was referring to cleaning the house up a bit or doing laundry sometimes," I explain. Clary looks shocked. What kind of person would expect that from her? Better yet, what has she gone though that she expects that? She said, 'I've had miscarriages before because of it.' She can't be more than 25, there's no way. What has happened to her?! Who's hurt her! I'll show them how it feels to mess with someone their own size. Ugh!

"So....so, I-I don't have to," Clary mumbles.

"No, you don't have to do anything. You can help around the house until you're in the third trimester if you want, but you don't have to do anything," I assure her.

"When I get a job, I'll pay you back, I promise," Clary replies, determined.

"That won't be necessary," I reply.

"Why are you doing this? Why do you care?" Clary asks shyly.

"I'm doing this because the thought of you in the cold unsafe streets pregnant, or even worse, with a newborn, scares me. I care because......you seem like a good young lady who's been dealt a bad hand," I answer. Clary covers a yawn. What am I doing? It's literally the middle of the night! She needs sleep. "How about we talk more tomorrow? I think we should get some rest."

"Okay," Clary quietly responds. Then, she closes the door. I lay my head on my pillow and think of Clary.

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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: 11/21/18