Stronger Than Heaven

Chapter 2

His eyes followed her as she maneuvered her way through the tables in the tiny cafe, two steaming mugs in her hands. She sat down gracefully on the chair in front of him, placing both on the small rounded table between them. She looked as beautiful as ever.

"Black coffee right?" she said, her voice soft, her eyes digging into his. "As I remember you say, like your soul."

His eyebrows furrowed into a curious frown. He'd been doing that since the Art Gallery, where he'd waited for her to lock up after her event, and the entire time during their short and silent walk to a corner cafe nearby. They had stolen curious glances at each other, both not saying much and saving it for this moment right here.

"Yeah..." he replied, his voice reflecting his confusion. "How-" He struggled for the words that he had wanted to say to her for so long and, up to this point, thought he would never get to. So he opted with: "How do you know all of this? How do you know my name?"

She took a sip of her mug slowly and shook her head. "To be honest... I-I don't know, Jace."

He breathed out, his eyes closing. Hearing his name from her was something he had dreamt about for a year. Was he dreaming? "Do you know who I am?" he spoke up finally. "Who and what I was to you?" he asked, opening his eyes and he was sure that they were filling up with tears, no matter how hard he tried to push them back.

Her face softened and she shook her head again. He felt his heart break a little. "All I know is... that I've dreamt of you almost every single night for a year."

"Of what?" he whispered, leaning in towards her.

She hesitated but a feeling of trust and protection from him washed over. "Of us... together," she replied. "Holding hands, kissing, making love..." She blushed and he smiled a little. "Doesn't this weird you out? I mean, a total stranger who knows your name, has dreamt inappropriate things about you. Why aren't you running for the hills?" This time, she couldn't help the smile forming on her lips.

His smile deepened and a look of amusement crossed his face. He leaned back in his chair, playing with the handle of his mug and glanced at the drink she cupped in her hands. He nodded towards it. "Earl gray. A pinch of milk and a little bit of honey," he said matter-of-factly.

Her smile disappeared. "How... You-"

"If I were running for the hills right now, you'd be running with me." He chewed the side of his lower lip and looked away from her. "You're not a complete stranger, Clary. It's... it's complicated."

"Tell me," she said, her body on alert. This time she was leaning towards him. "Tell me... please. I- I've no idea what happened a year ago. All I know is that I was walking through the park in a cocktail dress with tears running down my face. All I knew was my name, my birth date, parts of my childhood... but nothing else. That's all I know. I've been so confused."

He stared at her longingly, reliving that memory that was painfully embedded in his mind. The parting letter she had written him, watching her walk away at Magnus and Alec's wedding reception. He took a deep breath. "You are the love of my life, Clary," he whispered.

She breathed in and her eyes welled up with tears. "I know. I-I don't know how I know, but I have this pull towards you like nothing else. Like we've been through hell and back."

He let out a tragic laugh. "Literally..."

"I loved you too, didn't I?"

The pain on his face was evident. He took her hands in his. "Yes," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "We loved each other very much... more than anyone we knew could love someone."

"Please," she begged, a tear sliding down her cheek now. "Tell me what this is. What happened?"

He paused and took a deep breath. Just then, the bells of the cafe doors jingled, followed by laughter from a young couple walking in. Jace glanced up at them, momentarily distracted. He looked back at her, and her green eyes bore into him - so familiar, so warm, and comforting. He finally had her in front of him again. And suddenly, he remembered the warning she'd given in her letter. That if any one of them tried to pull her back, there might be consequences and make it even worse.

He dropped her hands and she looked at him, confused. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Jace?"

He shook his head. "I can't. I can't do this." He stood up abruptly, almost knocking the table over. "Thank you for the coffee, Clary. Really... um-" He turned and headed for the door.

"Jace!" she called out. She followed him outside, the cool night air hitting her face warm from the tears.

"I need to go, Clary. I'm so sorry." His voice faltered and the look on his face let her know that leaving was the last thing he wanted to do.

"How can I reach you?"

He shook his head.

"Please, Jace. I-"

He turned away from her and quickly made his way down the street, turning into an alley. Stubbornly, she followed. She turned the corner, but the alley was empty. He was gone.