A/N: Hellooo! I don't think I realized how long I've been away until I uploaded the document and started writing this AN. Since we all can acknowledge that I haven't updated this, or any of my stories in forever, let me just share what's been taking up my time.

I've been working, wedding planning, trying to keep up with the social life (lol), and just making future plans. I kid you not when I tell you I daydream about the day that I'm settled and able to just write again. When I get a free Saturday, I go to the same coffee shop that sees me sitting here for at least two hours, with the determination to get something done for this story. Shout out to the employees that remember me and give me the wifi without me having to ask, lol. I woke up this morning, knowing I was free for the day, and was determined to get this uploaded for you today. Shout out to Camille for beta'ing this when I expressed my determination, you da best.

That may have been unnecessary share, but hey, why not. Just wanted to let you know what's been doing on with me during this hiatus. How are you guys? I hope you've all been doing well, sincerely, especially the ones I've had conversations with through PMs, or even through reviews. Really hope you guys are feeling hopeful, and feeling good.

The songs used in this chapter are both previously mentioned in earlier chapters. They are:

Day Late Friend - Anberlin

Wrecked 'Em, Damn Near Killed 'Em - Four Year Strong

This is the longest chapter yet, but with good reason, since it's the last one before the epilogue. Hope you guys like it :)

With her boots hitting the floor of the empty hallway, Clary walked toward the sound of instruments getting tuned. Her chin was tilted slightly up while she stared forward, expressionless, wondering if that moment truly happened. She wondered if that was how she wanted it to go. She always imagined herself throwing stuff at him, or not even talking to him. The scenario she always wanted to happen was to ask if she knew him. To just look at him in the eye, and she ask if they knew each other. As if he didn't mean a thing to her. As if he was an actual stranger, not just that he felt like a stranger. As if he didn't have an instant connection with her.

But she knew the moment she saw him that it just wasn't to go like that. She knew the moment they made eye contact and her heart swelled seeing that he was alive. She knew her interaction was not going to be detached and far, because she could feel that they were still connected. And she hated it. But she couldn't lie to herself and say she wasn't relieved, as now she did feel a little free. She felt like years 0f worrying about him had lifted just a bit from her shoulders, and it was enough, and maybe she wouldn't be carrying it around with her for the rest of her days.

And a part of her knew that the moment would go exactly how it did, because no matter what, he was her father. And an incredible one when he wasn't brought down by his demons.

And, with that, she took a deep breath and opened the door into the arena. She walked towards the front row to find her loved ones sitting right in front of the stage watching her best friends set up on stage. As if she could feel her in the room, Jocelyn looked up and immediately stood up, walking quickly towards her. As Clary's stoic expression started to crumble, Jocelyn ran and wrapped her arms around her. Instantly, Clary hid her face and sobbed as Jocelyn held her as if she was trying to hold her together.

"I talked to him," Clary whispered once she controlled her sobs.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She paused. "I didn't hit him. I really thought I would."

Jocelyn chuckled and squeezed her. "You did good, Clary. You did good."

After both The Elite Four and Jace were finished with rehearsals, they sat in the dressing room, the silence following them into the room. They all sat on the couch, crushing each other to fit, as if it was bringing comfort to them all, which it ultimately did.

Maia, who was missing from rehearsals, along with Jordan and Magnus, popped her head in the room.

"Jace?" she whispered, and Jace looked up. "You have meet and greet, babe. Are you up for it?"

Jace looked to his right at Clary, and then up at Maia. "Of course, I'll be there."

"Alright, I'll give you ten minutes before we escort you there. Me, Jordan, and Magnus." Jace nodded. She gulped. "I'm sorry we missed your rehearsal. We had to get some air."

"I would've come with, but—"

"You're a professional bastard and had to rehearse, we know that," she said, and he grinned. "We'll see you out here in fifteen."

"But you said—"

She winked. "Fifteen is good."

She closed the door, and Jace stood up as the others slightly shifted towards the middle from the empty space.

"I should eat," he muttered, patting down his pockets for no reason, and made his way towards the food.

Clary's eyes followed him and met with Jonathan's. His eyes were following him too, and Clary reached over Isabelle to nudge him.

"Go," she mouthed, and Jonathan stood up, making his way towards Jace. She looked at the couch to the left of them where Mari and Dallas sat. Mari's eyebrows went up in inquiry, and Clary patted the couch. "Fill the spaces, please."

"You okay?" Jonathan asked, grabbing a croissant.

"Um." Jace stared at the food, holding a plate. "Not really, but…" He looked over and shrugged. "It's just a little bizarre. Do we just go about our day like it didn't happen?"

"When you're playing MSG for the first time in your career, fuck yeah." Jonathan smiled, and Jace barely smiled back. "Hey." He put a hand on Jace's shoulder. "It's okay."

"It's really not." He shook his head. "How are you and Clary okay?"

"Clary adjusts really well to turmoil," Jonathan said simply.

"And you?"

Jonathan pursed his lips. "I'm just feeling really grateful that I didn't turn into him. That I was able to stop because of you all."

Jace's eyes softened, and he nodded. "Yeah, of course," he whispered. "I never doubted that."

Jonathan glanced at the food for a second and then turned to Jace. "How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Stop using."

And Jace gulped. He was never asked about it after Jon exposed him for being involved with the same drugs he was using.

Jace cleared his throat. "Um. It definitely wasn't one night like that that got me to stop. You're lucky, but you know that."

"Yeah." Jonathan faced forward, thinking that Jace wasn't going to answer his question.

"I, um..." Jace started. "Well, I had Jordan, Magnus, and Maia. And they just didn't give up on me." He paused. "For a while there, I thought maybe I'd be like Valentine."

"And after seeing him?"

"I'm just happy not to be alone like him. Or like I'd be chasing something my entire life." Jace looked over at him. "I thought I'd be alone forever, you know? So it's just...nice."

Jonathan gave a nod. "Yeah, it's gonna take more than a little tantrum to get rid of us now."

Jace laughed and took the croissant from his hand. "Good." He walked away, and Jonathan's smile dropped.

"Ugh. You child."

Clary watched as her brother leaned towards the mic. "Okay, so." He looked down and tuned his guitar. "I can't believe I'm tuning my guitar live at Madison Square Garden." He gave a laugh. "It's very obnoxious of me to say that every time I do something." He looked up and mocked himself. "I can't believe I'm playing a first song at MSG. I can't believe I'm drinking water on the stage at MSG. I can't believe I'm fucking cursing and Jordan is getting upset with me at MSG." The room laughed and Jon flashed a grin.

"Ugh, be more annoying, Jonathan." Isabelle's voice echoed in the arena, and the laughter escalated.

"Alright, alright," Alec mumbled into his mic. "Let's get on with it."

"Okay! As I was saying before I got rudely interrupted—"

"By you. You interrupted yourself," Simon cut him off, and the crowd continued.

While Jace was shaking his head and laughing along with the crowd, Clary looked into the filled seats of the arena and tried to search for Valentine's hair, but she couldn't make anyone out other than her family standing right in the front.

"He's out there," Jace told her, and her heart stopped. "He wouldn't miss it."

Clary looked up at smile. "Yeah."

"You ready?"

"Are you? You just learned the song."

He raised an eyebrow. "I always catch on quick to songs written about me."

"Ohh, you're real obnoxious today."

"Stop flirting and get out there!" Isabelle yelled into the mic, and the two rushed out, waving into the crowd. "Been in love their whole lives, but they still flirt—isn't that the cutest?!" Isabelle gushed in a way that Clary glared at, because she knew she was being sarcastic. Jace grinned as the crowd aww'ed anyway.

"Okay, so, Clary and I"—Simon pointed at himself and his best friend that waved—"we wrote this song together when we were teens. Probably middle school, so tweens?"

"Mostly Clary," Alec whispered into the mic and winked. Clary abruptly stopped smiling and turned her head to him.

"And we know you guys have been waiting for some type of performance with us and Jace, so we decided this would be the best one."

"Because it is about me," Jace announced taking his time with every word, and everyone but Clary laughed on stage, Jonathan putting his hands over his mouth from the shock.

Clary smiled sweetly, and said into her mic, "Yeah, but listen to the lyrics, ladies and gentlemen." She pointed at Jace. "It's not flattering."

"And with that," Simon yelled into the mic, smiling from ear to ear while Jace looked unamused, "this is 'Day Late Friend'!"

"Alright." Jonathan looked down at his audience, nervously tuning his guitar. "This will be our last song. And it was actually the last song we played when Jordan and Jace came to watch us play that night in September at The Knitting Factory. The day after we reunited with Jace and his father. The day that turned our whole world upside down yet again—as if our world didn't turn upside down constantly." He gave a laugh and looked out into the crowd, his smile dropping immediately. "I know you all don't know this—I mean, other than the little family we had on this tour—but it's been a rough ride for us during this tour." Jonathan shook his head and looked down. "I'm not saying that we didn't have the best time of our musical lives on this tour, we did, but sometimes all that good is mixed with bad to remind you of how good life is, and there was definitely a mix of bad during these months." Jonathan squinted in the light. "But you wouldn't be able to tell. And I just wanna credit that the family we've created on this tour. I wanna credit Alec, Simon, Isabelle, fucking Jace, Jordan, Maia, Magnus, freaking Bat and Raphael who watched our asses during this time, and of fucking course, my little sister, Clarissa." He laughed. "We do not joke around when we say she is the heart of this operation." Jonathan cleared his throat amongst the cheers of the crowd. "Thanks to our parents for letting us pursue this. I know it wasn't what you saw for us all, but thank you for never doubting us. And to the friends we made along the way"—he winked in Mari's direction in the crowd— "thank you. And the new old friends"—he pointed at Dylan— "welcome back." He held his arms out. "And to the enemies we made," he grinned. "Fuck you." Isabelle began to lightly create a beat from behind him. "We love you. Thank you for getting us here. Thank you for accepting us. Thank you for reminding us that life is fucking wonderful. Thank you. And I'm sorry for all the cursing. This is 'Wrecked 'Em? Damn Near Killed 'Em'."

"Alright," Simon said into the mic when Jonathan looked over at him. "So, we're going to need to go real fucking crazy."

Dylan looked over at Jace and Clary. They were staring up at the stage with awe in their eyes, admiring Jonathan during his speech, and for a moment he understood how it must've been when they watched their own parents as kids. And, for a second, they weren't the adults that they had to be every single day— they were just normal people who didn't get much of a chance to be kids. They were free of worries and free of pain. He smiled a little as Jonathan began to thank them, and looked up just in time for him to wink at Mari—who couldn't help but smile back at him. His remark even had Dallas smiling back at him, and Dylan shook his head when Jonathan pointed at him.

His heart was starting to beat as Isabelle tapped her foot to lightly play the drums. He could see the adrenaline start to pass through the four of them like a current, and he could feel it coursing through Jace and Clary's veins as they prepared themselves to go crazy and sing along. Dylan looked around for a moment and forgot completely that the people up on the stage were his friends, because he felt as if he was just there with friends that he loved and missed and was enjoying a show. He let out a laugh when he realized that the people playing were his friends, and they were playing Madison Square Garden.

Mari's shoulders jumped a little when she heard Dylan scream a loud yeah towards the stage, and laughed when Jace followed him. Clary began to yell too, and Mari followed lead. She looked around to see phone cameras panning from them to the stage and back again, and she knew that even if the crowd wasn't going to go insane, they absolutely would, and the energy alone would fill the room.

Keeping their eyes locked, Jonathan sang She's one in a million, which makes my chances about million to one while Simon followed with Like finding all the answers to every single question you've ever asked yourself, and with too much excitement sang their line together: While you're staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.

Isabelle was unable to hold in her laughter from watching the boys go crazy in front of the stage. She closed her eyes to keep her focus and played harder than she had at any show, smirking while she did it.

Alec closed his eyes after the second verse. It was his favorite part of the song, but he knew performing it at this venue would be his favorite. Jonathan screamed so, come on, check check and he followed with can you hear me now? Alec looked over at Isabelle just in time to watch her play the drum lead before she would stand up, make an x and hit her sticks together. He shook his head with the knowledge of how dangerous his little sister was, and how proud he was of her for it. He looked back to the front row and squinted because he needed to see Clary sing along with her brother during their favorite part of the song. His eyes got wide when he watched Clary started to stand on the armrests.

And don't go running away from

All the things you're feeling inside

That's right, I don't care if she leaves me gasping for air

But she keeps me coming back for more

Jace looked over at Clary. He watched her as he distinctly remembered how she sang this song with her brother from across the room the first night he watched them. He always knew this was their favorite, and that it perfectly displayed how in tune they were. And now, surrounded by fans that were screaming, or singing along with the lyrics, he felt that this would be his favorite moment of theirs.

And then Clary climbed onto the armrests, and he could hear Dylan yell out her name, while behind him, Jocelyn and Luke only sang louder. Jace grinned, making eye contact with Dylan, then climbed onto his arm rests too, making Dylan look around for assistance.

Clary looked at Jace briefly as he appeared beside her, and she turned forward when she screamed out so, come on, check check along with Jonathan, and she could feel the reverberation when the rest of the arena responded with can you hear me now?

Clary jumped up and down on the armrests, barely feeling Dylan holding onto her left leg, his other one of course holding Jace's.

Life throws a punch and I hit the floor

bruised and broken still I'm begging for just one more

Call it compassion or satisfaction

And in unison, Jace and Clary jumped up and off singing but she keeps my heart beat beat beating for one beat more.

Breathing hard, Clary stopped singing, a smile on her face as the band sang the last chorus. Everyone around her was going crazy, the lights on the stage danced along, and she looked around, turning in a circle to look at the crowd around Madison Square Garden. She took a deep breath and turned to the front of the stage, and the band stood in the front, taking their final bow as the arena roared, and they exited the stage keeping their eyes up towards the lights.

Isabelle looked around the room, her family and friends packed into a room. She could see her parents, Simon's parents, Jocelyn, and Luke in the corner whispering to each other, tilting her heads back to laugh. The last time their parents were in the same room like this was the night before they went on tour, and now they were here in a room filled with people that could be described as A and B-list celebrities, giggling like they were still just in the back of The Knitting Factory, and she appreciated that about them. She knew they would need it. She took a deep breath, remembering that at the beginning of tour, she was afraid to lose their old lives. And maybe it was because she watched Clary recover for years, and it shaped so much of who she was—to strive for something normal—and now, watching her loved ones at the last show of this tour, she wasn't as afraid. She wasn't trying to cling to what could be normal for them because she would only waste time in doing so. This was their life. This was what felt right for them. This is what life had brought them to. And the family in front of her is what would be normal. That was where she could feel like home, in the city that they roamed. She still had this. And with that, Isabelle smiled.

She looked around the room and found her friends on the other side of the room. She started walking towards them and noticed that a familiar head of golden hair was missing, and she scanned the room for him. Taking steps backwards, Isabelle looked one more time, and then left the room when she couldn't find him. She walked down halls, wondering where he could be. She froze, and walked back towards the arena.

She pushed the door open and breathed a sigh of relief when she could see him sitting in the front row, looking up at the stage.

"I was worried you got kidnapped by fans," Isabelle said, breaking him out of his trance.

He chuckled. "That would be really be the cherry on top of this day."

"Of chaos?"

"Yeah."

Isabelle looked down at him, sadly. "Jace." She sat down. "Come on, let's go spend time with everyone."

"I can't shake it off," Jace told her, and Isabelle looked forward. She imagined that Jace was feeling like a little boy again, watching The Uprising playing on a huge concert stage. "How did everyone just shake it off?"

"Honestly, I think they've spent the last eleven years imagining seeing him again." Isabelle leaned back into the seat. "And I think they all reacted kinder than they thought they would." Jace was quiet. "And I don't think they just shook it off, Jace. I think they're just letting it be. The day was more important than him, and actually, closing this tour with him makes sense."

Jace looked over at Isabelle, and he knew he sounded rude when he asked, "How?"

Isabelle smiled a little and shook her head. Jace and Clary had the same exact sass face, and she mentally noted it. "Because I feel like all of us have been haunted by him, by The Uprising, since the tour started. Since the news was even presented." She reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Don't you feel that way?" Jace nodded. "And can't you feel that looming presence leave us a little? It's like we've seen him, and we've been reminded that we can't become them if we don't let it."

Jace nodded. "Yeah." He stared down at his shoes. "I need to find my mom. I need to feel free from him." He squinted and then looked at Isabelle. "I don't think my main issue has ever been with Valentine."

"That makes sense."

"I need to find her."

"We'll help you."

"And I need to talk to her."

"We'll be there."

"She lives in England."

"Off to England we go."

Jace grinned. "Okay."

"Okay?" Isabelle inclined her head. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Jace nodded. "Yes." She let go of his hand. "Thank you, Izzy."

"You are my brother. Of course." She stood up. "Now, get up. Because you need to spend time with us, and then with Clary because after you fly off, you give her back to me and Simon. Finally."

Jace glared. "Real nice, Izzy."

"No." Jordan had his arms crossed as he looked at the group in of them. "No. It's absurd of you to even ask." In front of him were Clary, Isabelle and Mari holding hands together as they frowned.

"Jordy, please. Bat and Raphael will be with us," Isabelle begged.

"Raphael and Bat can't even handle Jace."

Raphael and Bat side-eyed each other, and Jace pointed at Jordan. "That's an extremely rude thing to say. Go on, boys. Pummel the man!" Jace nudged the two body guards towards Jordan.

Jordan extended his hand. "See. I can't let you do that."

"But—"

"You want you go to Rockefeller Center and Wollman Rink? Do you know how many people are there?" He leaned towards them. "How many teenage girls are there?"

"Exactly! So many people that they won't even notice us," Mari argued.

"If one person recognizes who you are, it will be a shit storm. You just had a show. Fans will be looking for you." He pointed at from left to right. "All of you. Jace isn't the only famous one now."

Clary looked at Mari to her right, and Isabelle on her left. "Then we'll leak fake information of a One Direction sighting?"

Behind her, Jon pointed. "Yes! That'll work immediately."

"I said—"

Jordan stopped talking once Maia put a hand on his shoulder. "Jordan." He turned to her.

"Oh, no, no," Jordan said, shaking his finger at the group in front of him. "You can't use her to get what you want."

"They aren't," Maia assured him. Jordan looked at her, and back at the group. She coyly winked at the girls when Jordan looked back at them. "Look, we have work to do tonight. We need to figure out our job situation."

Jace stared at them blankly. He wasn't amused that Jordan, Maia, and Magnus might be forced to be kicked off as his team, and the thought was too much for him to bear. So he put his head down, reminding himself that Jordan and Maia would figure something out.

"I'm sure they'll know what to do."

"Call the cops if you need to!" Jordan told the group.

"Yes, hello, officer. I just want to report about 1,000 girls. They're screaming and crowding me. Please send help!" Simon yelled and grinned, and and Jordan didn't look amused.

"You mock me now, but you'll be calling when you're climbing fire escapes just to escape them," Jordan warned, and they all stared at him, pleading with their eyes. "Ugh, okay. Fine." He turned to Maia. "Duly noted for how you'll support me when we have kids," he whispered, glaring as she held back a laugh, and he walked around her.

"Be safe." She raised an eyebrow, and the accomplished grins of the group fell. "I mean it." With that she pointed and turned around.

Sitting across Jon, Mari, Dallas, and Dylan on the subway, Jace stared at them, off in another world. The subway train was full, and they purposely chose that one, hoping it would be less of a chance of getting recognized. So far, it worked.

Dylan waved at Jace, and Jace shook his head.

"You staring at my girlfriend, Herondale?" Jon asked, fake glaring.

Jace crossed his arms, and nodded. "Mhm." He promptly winked at Mari, who pursed her lips together, and Jon shifted uncomfortable beside her.

"That would be gross," Isabelle mumbled. "He's essentially your brother." Jace and Clary looked over at her. "Not saying you two are siblings." She paused. "Although Jonathan and Jace are very brother-like."

"Isabelle, stop," Simon whispered as he watched Jace and Clary's faces go from offended to horrified.

"Brother-in-laws," she corrected herself. "When you get married."

"Wow," Alec muttered, standing with Magnus above Simon.

"Just stop, babe. It's okay." Magnus comforted Isabelle and put a hand on her shoulder.

Clary held out an ear bud. "Wanna listen, hubby?"

Jace took it, and told her, "Don't tempt me, Clarissa. I'd marry you tonight, and you know it."

Clary gulped and settled back into her seat, staring up at an ad. Jace absent-mindedly kept his eyes on the same ad while he mildly panicked about what was going on in his life. It felt like the universe had completely shifted, and he knew it had been less than a year since he reconnected with the Morgenstern family and his career blew up in America but it felt like a complete split between feeling like they had never been separated, and that it was lifetimes ago that he had to live without them.

He could feel the loneliness that was going to haunt him during nights on tour when he left in a couple hours. Not only for Clary, but for everyone, and the entire dynamic they had created. He thought about how they were going to be. Would they go back to the lives they had before tour? It couldn't be possible, he was almost sure. Would they continue playing little shows, or would they hit the road? Was he even a client with The Clave anymore? Was Jordan fired? What about Maia? Would Magnus just move to New York to be with Alec?

Where was Valentine? Will he and Clary speak again? Will Jonathan be okay? Is Jonathan still an addict, ready for a relapse? Was he an addict, and ready to relapse? His loneliness might very well be something that makes him turn back to drugs. Where the fuck was Sebastian?

He leaned forward, and started to take deep breaths, his knees supported his dizzy head. He had no idea what was going on, and what would happen. He felt a hand on his back, and he looked over at Clary, whose eyebrows were knitted together in concern. She kept her hand there, and it was if the warmness has imprinted into his skin. As if he would be able to carry her touch when he left. Maybe because he wanted to. Maybe because she wanted her comfort to always be with him.

"You okay?" she mouthed. He nodded. "It'll be okay."

And he knew she was asking all the ridiculous, endless amount of questions that he was. And somehow, that made it better.

"I can't believe we just took the subway to get to Rockefeller Center. What a disgrace we are," Clary muttered.

"We can't just walk through Times Square after a concert at the Garden," Simon told her. He paused, and looked at her. "I thought you were smart, Clarissa."

She glared and made a move towards him, but was pulled away by Jace.

"I wouldn't be surprised if your sister and Isabelle leak Simon's location and tie him up so he won't be able to leave," Mari said, hooking her arm through Jonathan's.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow and looked down at her. "You've been spending too much time with them, because that's exactly something they would do."

Mari tilted her head back and laughed. "I'll miss their company."

"Duly noted," Jonathan mumbled, pulling away from her a little.

She rolled her eyes. "I'd miss you first."

He grinned at her. "Good." His face fell, cleared his throat, and looked up.

Mari gulped, and looked up at the tree. It boggled her mind how a beautiful tree, lit up, towered over all these people admiring it, and that there could be beautiful beautiful building surrounding it. She sighed. She would miss the city and the people she was spending her days with. She felt a shift in her life that would always make it feel dreamlike. As if this was something she would never be able to accept as reality, because it damn well didn't feel like it.

"What are you guys doing after all this?" she asked.

Jonathan stared up in the same direction she did. "I have no idea." He untangled their arms to hold her hand. "I don't even think we know what we're doing tomorrow."

Mari paused before she asked, "Will you be okay?"

And she knew she didn't have to specify whether she meant without Jace, or her, or tour. She wanted to know if would be okay enough to be strong. If they weren't surrounded with a daily schedule, and things to do, and were only in a state of what do we do now, would he be able to stay strong to stay away from using, and to stay from beating himself up over something that almost ruined the entire tour—as well as his entire life?

He didn't answer, which made her weary. She resisted the urge to just say she would cancel her flight and stay to help him. Because she couldn't take care of him. It wouldn't be fair to her, and it wouldn't be fair to herself. As much as this time in New York has been amazing to her, it wasn't her life. She doubted that Jonathan had even come to terms to the fact that it was his life.

"I'll be okay enough," he finally spoke. "Okay enough until I'm okay." He looked around. "And don't worry. Alec hasn't forgotten. Or my sister. And I still catch Simon following me when I go to the bathroom, which is disgusting, I know what he's doing."

Mari laughed. "Okay, good." She gave one nod. "I knew they hadn't forgotten."

Magnus and Alec stood behind their friends. Magnus has seen the tree before, and Alec hadn't left his side since the end of their set at the show. Magnus knew that they didn't have to speak, that Alec was just enjoying having them be beside each other. They didn't have the worry that their friends had of not making it, because for some reason, they were so sure. They were sure they this was it; they were it. They didn't question or fear what would happen during their time apart, because in the midst of taking care, of thinking about their friends and all they went through during tour, they found their unwavering support in each other.

And Magnus knew that would carry on whether they were physically beside each other or not, because they had found friendship. Alec stepped out of his comfort zone in communicating with Magnus, and Magnus had stepped out his comfort zone in trusting Alec when all he trusted were the ones he traveled with.

"I'll miss you," Alec said out of nowhere, in full confidence. It wasn't whispered, or had a glimmer of doubt in it. He was sure, and he was sure that he wanted to tell Magnus.

Magnus looked at him in surprised."I miss you already, Alexander."

Alec gave a nod. "Good."

And another wave of surprise hit Magnus, and he shook his head. "What have I done to you?"

"I have no idea." Alec sighed. "My mother will hate it. It's like having another Isabelle around."

"How do they get this tree here?" Jace asked.

Isabelle and Clary looked up at him for a moment and went back to talking.

"How do they get into the city and put it up?" he asked out loud and then rolled his eyes when they didn't answer him.

Jace side-eyed them. "I'm not even gone yet and they're already ignoring me." He looked over at Dylan. "When are you going back to California?"

Dylan shrugged. "I'm not sure, actually." Simon and Jace looked at each other. "I got a one way ticket, so I'll be here for a little bit."

"I can't believe it. This is awesome, Dylan," Simon told him.

"I need to figure out what I want."

"Not Clary, I'm hoping," Jace interjected.

Simon spun to face Jace. His jaw was dropped. "No subtlety. None at all."

Dylan shook his head. "No."

"Mostly because he's probably more in love with you now," Simon said with a smile.

The two rolled their eyes, and both told Simon to be quiet.

"So, what will you do?" Jace asked.

Dylan shrugged. "Figure out what I wanna do. I'm young, and I'm working a full time job in a state that isn't making me happy anymore. I need something. I miss music." He took a deep breath. "I miss home."

"Get a place with me."

Simon turned to Jace. "I'm shook. I am absolutely shook by the two of you."

"What?" Dylan asked. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I'm moving here, but I'll barely be here, and it's a waste to just have a place with no one in it." Jace shrugged.

"You two are most bizarre case of ex and boyfriend," Simon pointed out, and his shoulders jumped when he heard the familiar scream and giggle of girls. The three turned around to see a group of girls heading towards them. Their excited scream catching the attention of the other people at Rockefeller Center, many of them turning out to be fans that they hadn't even noticed.

"Short lived," Isabelle whispered as she smiled.

"Worth it," Jace grinned as he waved, and they began taking pictures.

Jumping into action, the group huddled in one place where Bat and Raphael walked them through the crowds, all of them arm in arm, trying to get to an area while Jace called for his drivers.

With the light of the TV glowing onto their faces, Jace looked over at Clary and stared. Everyone else had fallen asleep, all setting alarms for when Mari, Dallas, and Jace had to go to the airport. After the crowd at Rockefeller, the cars took a scenic ride to Mari and Dallas's hotel where they picked up their stuff, and then down to Brooklyn. Once getting there, the group put a movie on that soon everyone fell asleep to from being exhausted from the day, but Jace and Clary found themselves not even feeling tired.

"What did he say?" He broke the silence.

Clary gulped. "Everything he needed to." She leaned her head back, and turned to face him. "And I got my say in too."

"How do you feel?"

She smiled slightly. "Free."

"Will you contact him?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't wanna spend any more of my day worrying about him, and what he would do, or wanted."

Jace looked down. "Yeah. Let's stop talking about him."

"Okay," she whispered. "What do you want to talk about?"

He glanced up. "Do you ever miss London?"

"All the time." She sighed. "Maybe now I can finally go back. Since I don't have to have the anxiety of running into you, or my father."

He let out a small laugh. "Yeah." He shook his head after a few seconds. "Everything is so up in the air. Everything feels like it's on rocky ground."

She reached over to put a hand over his. "We aren't." She squeezed his hand. "It won't be easy, but it'll be okay."

"Yeah," he repeated. "I know."

Clary stared at Jace. She felt his worries, because she had the same ones. But she also had the undeniable feeling that everything would be okay.

He looked up, and his eyes locked with hers. Her heart began to race. And while she stared at him, it became entirely clear to her that looking into Jace's eyes always had her heart racing. Whether she realized it or not. That he always had her stomach in knots. She might have excused it as her genuine love for him, but she was always in love with him. So much so, that being in love was normal. And if being in love was normal, she never planned on being anything else with them. Because they didn't fall in love. It was that they were undeniably meant to be.

And as if he read her mind, he said, "This is a long time to be in love."

"I know," she whispered. "That's why I know we'll be okay."

With that, he looked at her hand in his, and kissed her back of her hand.

And she thought of that moment. Through the bizarre feeling of watching them bring all the stuff to the car, through walking them through the airport with the paparazzi following them, security and airport staff huddling around their huge group. And she held onto it as she hugged Mari and Dallas goodbye. She held onto it as their group waited in silence and tears for another hour before Magnus and Jace had to go through security. She replayed it over and over while they were sitting in the car that they were forced to take home because paparazzi would've followed them through the subway. And while they all walked up through the stairs, feeling the absence of four of their friends, up in the skies, she clung to it. Because it made her feel like it was okay. It kept her through.

But as she was the last to walk through the door, the group completely silent as Isabelle, Dylan, and Simon prepared breakfast with the bagels and Snapples they bought, she looked around at her family. Alec, who sat on the couch next to Jonathan, the two of them obviously thinking about Mari and Dallas. And she knew that she wasn't only lucky to have Jace, but she was equally lucky to be surrounded with them every day. That she couldn't oversee the fact that they had each other, while Jace would cling to Maia, Jordan, and Magnus the same because all had created families under their circumstances.

Clary made her way to the counter, and sat on a chair. The three looked at her, and Isabelle left the boys to grab the plates and cups.

She reached for Clary's hands and the two faced each other. "What do you wanna do today?" Clary didn't answer at first. "We can drink, and cry. Or we can sleep, and cry. Or just movies, and cry. Or watch Friends, and laugh without the crying. Whatever you want."

Clary cracked a smile, and Isabelle's face lit up. "I think I wanna just stay home, and plan."

"Plan?"

"For our days. The band's days."

"That sounds good," Isabelle responded, squeezing her hand.

"And maybe edit that video," Clary followed, and looked over at Simon.

He winked. "You got it, best friend."

"Wait. Would I be the best friend now that I'm back?" Dylan asked, and Simon turned to him, his head pulling back as she stared at Dylan.

"You're forever labeled as tumultuous ex-boyfriend. That's it."

Isabelle pursed her lips. "O-kay." She turned around to look at Jonathan and Alec. "Brothers." They looked up at her, the same way, their eyebrows raised the same way. She smiled at the sight of it. "What do you wanna do today?"

"Be together," Jonathan declared.

"Drink," Alec suggested, and they all turned to look at him in surprise. "What? I like to drink."

"Such a new man," Jonathan remarked and stood up, holding a hand out to Alec. Alec took it and the two walked to the kitchen island, the plates laid out already, the bagels and cream cheese in the center.

Jonathan sat beside Clary and pulled her to his side as she struggled not to fall off her chair. Isabelle examined her brother's face, telling him she could see his sadness. Dylan and Simon argued over the latter's attitude. And he put his chin on top of Clary's and she complained. He smiled a little, and for a moment Jonathan couldn't feel the emptiness their friends, and tour left behind. He suddenly became absolutely sure that they wouldn't become what he feared, that they wouldn't follow the steps of their parents in broken friendships and lost purposes. He knew that they would be okay. Individually and together. And for once, he wasn't scared of what was to come for them.

A/N: My loves. All of them. Just so much love for them.

My main mindset while writing this was wanting to write it feeling like an ending, but also, that there is an undeniable hope. I hope you guys felt that while reading along. I feel like I was writing this chapter for a while, and I'm excited to hear how it felt like for you.

Too excited to know what you guys think! Please leave some reviews, and feedback :)

Thank you to those who saw a story alert, and even a little been interested to read it. Thank you to those who have been following this story, and to those who are reading this a completely new, and long, one. Thank you for the reviews, for the favorites, for the alerts. Hope you know I still grin when I get those emails, and immediately miss it. Thank you, thank youu, always.

Shout out to rippingbutterflywings for truly being the best, and beta'ing this long ass chapter, and just for still being willing even though life and school is already much to deal with. Thank you, Camille. Sincerely. Always sending you prayers, and hoping the best for you. Still not over your comments that have me laughing out loud in public during this chapter.

Shout out to LOVERGIRL, TheMortalBlade, Jling, AFourAddict (thank you for the live reviewing, you're awesome), cheshire15, Guest, Debra Williams, Flora Silverthrush, Guest, bookaddict223, JMDeaton, Ads S, Guest, clacelover2003, Guest, Hunterbow, , andaaliya! Thank you, thank you for the reviews. I was about to use caps in saying those thank you's but that might've been a little overwhelming, but know that I'm screaming the thank you's with joy in my head. Thank you for the taking the time to reviews, and always letting me know what you think. And thank you for being kind in what you're saying when it comes to updating. Seriously, a blessing. You guys are amazing. I've got some stuff to get done this weekend, but I'll be replying to you this week if I didn't get to reply to you in January :)

LOVERGIRL: So happy that you loved it, thank you for the review!

Guest: Thank you for your review! Definitely poor Jace, but it felt good to write about him letting it out, and that he was able to get support from the ones that love him. It was also great to write Clary getting it off her chest. I hope you like this chapter!

Guest: Thank you for your review! There is SO much Mayday Parade in this story, and although that was planned, I'm so happy it worked out that way because the songs fit so well in this story :)

Guest: Thank you for your three reviews! Thank you for mentioning that Jonathan's actions in the chapter were realistic. I was very focused on making the situation realistic, and it makes me happy to know that it was. Thank you so much.

I had a couple Guest reviews asking for an update, and I'm sorry it took so long, but I hope you guys liked this chapter! :)