Starting Over

Mistake

Jace

Ringggggggg

"Hello," I answer my phone.

"Hey, it's mom," my mom says. "How is Clary?"

"She's good. We went to the doctor and she had a check up. Then, we went to the mall. We got some prenatal vitamins," I explain.

"Did you show her the good food places there?" my mom asks excited.

"Those places aren't healthy. She needs to eat healthy," I counter.

"Jonathan Christopher Herondale!" My mom scolds. "That girl probably hasn't eaten a hearty meal in years! Ugh! Did you at least get her something she wanted to eat?"

"Well," I hesitate. "She wanted fries, but I suggested a salad instead."

"A salad! She was probably having a craving. I know when I was pregnant with you, I wanted fries and a chocolate shake. We ate those all the time and you turned out fine!" My mom explains.

"I think I might've made her mad," I comment.

"Yeah, well if you dad or anyone else for that matter, told me not to eat something, I would've been mad," my mom replies.

"She stopped talking to me after that and she's been in the guest room ever since," I explain. "What should I do?"

"You should go get her a freaking large chocolate shake and fries from a fast food store and bring it to her in her room," my mom yells. "Now!"

"Okay, I love you mom," I reply. I hear the phone dial. She hung up on me! I get into my car and go to the nearest fast food place.

Twenty minutes later

Knock knock

"Can I come in Clary," I ask through the door.

"Yes," Clary mumbles. I slowly open the door, while balancing the food on a tray.

"Hey, I brought you someth-" I stop when I see her. She's a crying mess. Her hair is all over and she's hugging a pillow. I set the tray down on her dresser.

"What's wrong?" I ask gently.

"I...I'm such a bad mother," Clary sobs.

"No, you aren't," I protest.

"Y...you're right. I shouldn't be eating that crap. My baby needs better. I...I've been thinking," Clary hesitates. "Maybe it would be better if I gave the baby up after he or she is born. T....to someone better."

"Clary, no. Don't listen to me, I don't know what I'm talking about," I begin. "You're not a bad mother. I was just over worrying. It's okay to eat things you're craving." Clary looks at me questioningly. "I talked to my mom and she explained that sometimes pregnant women get cravings. She said she used to eat french fries and with a chocolate shake while she was pregnant with me, and I turned out fine. It doesn't make you a bad mother."

"N...no, you're right," Clary mumbles. "I can't protect him or her. I'm just weak and unstable. I can't even guarantee I'll have a roof to keep my baby warm."

"Clary, you'll have a roof. You and your baby can stay here for as long as you need to," I assure her. "No parent is ever fully prepared to have a child. It's not anything you've done wrong, it's just a fact." I grab the food from the dresser and set it on her bed. "This is my peace offering." I slide the tray to her. Clary slowly takes it, and then a smile graces her face.

"Thank you," Clary quietly responds.

"You're more than welcome," I reply. I get up to finish some paperwork.

"Jace," Clary hesitates. "Eat with me?"

I turn around. "I'd love to," I comment. She pats an area on her bed and empties the fries onto the tray. Then, she takes the cap off of the shake. I don't want to eat too much because this is for Clary and the baby, but I must admit, I'm curious as to how fries dunked in a chocolate shake tastes.

Clary grabs a fry and dips in into the shake. "Mmmmm," Clary quietly moans.

I take a small fry and dip it. I pop it in my mouth. She's right. It does taste good! It's like a sweet and salty, warm and cold, and solid and liquidy combination. "I don't really know much about you, nor do you know much about me. How about 20 questions?" I suggest. Clary bites her lip. "You can pass if you don't want to answer."

"Okay," Clary quietly agrees.

"You can go first," I offer.

"Okay," Clary thinks, "Do you have any siblings?"

"I have one brother and one sister," I answer honestly. "Do you have any family around here?"

Clary tenses. "No," Clary mumbles. Crap! Sore topic! Ugh!

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"It's okay," Clary replies. "Why do you live in such a home like apartment if you're a bachelor?"

Oh, that's a great question. Kaelie.....I have a home like apartment but I'm a bachelor because of Kaelie. "I, uhhh, I had a fiancé," I explain. "She broke up with me, but I'd already moved into this place, and it kinda grew on me. She left, and I stayed."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Clary sincerely comments.

"It's okay it was a couple of years ago," I respond. "She was cheating and fell in love with some other guy.

"You deserve better Jace," Clary quietly assures me.

"Yeah....anyways, it's my turn to ask a question," I say, changing the topic. "What is your favorite thing about nature?" Where did that come from?

"Hmmm," Clary thinks, "I'd have to say the scenery. The red tress in the autumn and the white show covered trees in the winter. The forest rich with think mossy vines and the valleys where deers gaze."
Wow, that sounds beautiful. "How old are you?" Clary asks coming out of her thoughts.

"I'm 27," I answer. "How old are you?"

"I'm 24," Clary replies. I knew she wasn't older than 25.

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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: 12/22/18