"You are truly beautiful. I don't know what I would do without you," Jace professes as he twists one of my red locks around his finger. His hand moves slowly to my jaw and he brings my face up to his. I lose myself in his kiss as his hands trail slowly down my body.

Suddenly his hands are on my butt and he gives me an aggressive squeeze. Surprised, I pull away and squeal. However, the familiar blonde hair I expect to see is now black, and the golden eyes I love are gone. Sebastian is staring down at me with a possessive look that chills me to the core and his grip on me tightens as I try to pull away.

"No. Please, let me go!"

"But baby, what's wrong? You don't like this?" He drops his head down to the crook of my neck and whispers hot air on my skin, "You don't want me?"

I shiver as his tongue trails up my neck, and struggle not to whimper in fear. I push against his chest as hard as I can but he holds firm. I clench my eyes shut and try to calm down so I can figure out how to escape. I am disgusted as I feel his hands roam over my body and I struggle not to vomit. One of his hands makes its way up to my neck.

"Come on baby, don't be like this. Look at me. I wanna see those pretty green eyes." When I don't respond he grips my chin a little too hard and urges, "Look at me!"

Instead, I jerk my chin from his grip and chomp down on his finger. He grunts in pain as he shoves me backward with his free hand, and suddenly I am falling. I open my eyes and no longer find Sebastian, but instead a dark, hooded figure standing on the edge of a balcony watching me fall. His menacing figure gets smaller and smaller as I continue to fall towards my impending death. Just as I am about to hit the ground, I sit up with a gasp and find myself in a bed. Not my bed though, but Jace's bed.

"Thank the Angel you're awake. Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

I look to my left to find Jace lounging in the bed beside me. I notice the dark circles under his worried eyes before I get dizzy and everything spins. I grip my pounding head and lay back down.

"Absolutely horrible. What the hell happened?" I pull the covers over my head and hide from the debilitating sunlight pouring in from his window.

"Do you remember anything?"

"I remember drinking a few drinks, but that's it. Geez, how much did I end up drinking?"

"Just a couple."

"What? How am I so hungover after just a couple of drinks? And why don't I remember anything?" Silence engulfs the room as Jace doesn't reply. Slowly I pull the blanket down and carefully adjust to the light. When I do, I find Jace angrily staring at the wall. He literally looks like he wants to murder that wall.

"Jace? What's wrong?"

His jaw tenses and he refuses to look at me. Something bad must have happened. "Did I do something?"

"No," he answers too quickly. "No, Clare. You didn't do anything. Someone did else something. To you. Something bad."

I grip the comforter, terrified of what I'm about to hear. I'm afraid to know, but at the same time I am sure I won't be able to stop thinking about it until I do. I need to know. "Jace?" He closes his eyes and takes a breath before carefully taking my hand in his.

"Baby, this is going to be hard to hear, and just as hard for me to say, but just know that I am here for you no matter what."

"Jace, you're scaring me."

"I'm sorry. Okay, um, last night someone put something in your drink. And then they took you upstairs and tried to take advantage of you. But I found you before anything happened and I stopped him."

"Who?"

"I... I don't know. He got away from me. I punched him in the face to get him off of you but he got away while I was seeing if you were okay. I wish I knew though. I would beat whoever did this senseless."

"Jace, it's okay."

"What?" he questions incredulously.

"It's okay. I'm okay. You saved me, and I am so grateful you were there."

"So, you aren't mad?" He seems genuinely shocked at my reaction.

"Of course not, not at you."

"Why not? I almost let something horrible happen to you. I almost didn't stop him from violating you. I almost-"

"You didn't do anything except save me. None of this is your fault, nor would it have been if you hadn't saved me. Even if something horrible had happened to me. But you did save me Jace, and I love you even more for it."

Jace intakes a sharp breath and stares into my eyes. I realize what I have just admitted and also realize that I wholeheartedly believe it.

"You... love... me?"

"Yes I do. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me." At that moment, I see every wall he ever put up around him crumble. His facade is gone and before me sits the Jace I always knew was there. His eyes shine and I can tell that someone loving him is not a common feeling for him. That someone telling him they genuinely love him is rare upon his ears, but he actually loves hearing it. "And before you freak out I just want you to know that you don't have to say it back just because I said it so-"

"I love you too. And not because you said it, I promise."

"Really?"

"Yes. I know we haven't known each other long, but I've been drawn to you since the first moment I saw you and I haven't been able to get you out of my head since. I've known since the beginning that I feel different for you than I've ever felt for another girl before, but last night made me realize that I don't know what I would do without you, or if something happened to you. I love you, and it means so much to know that you feel the same way."

"Dang it Jace. How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Manage to take my breath away so easily." He chuckles as he cups my cheeks and stares lovingly into my eyes. Those beautiful golden irises stare deep into my soul and my heart melts.

"I love you. And I'm never going to get tired of saying that."

"And I'm never going to get tired of hearing it."

I'm about to kiss him again when I notice the fist sized hole in his wall. Did he do that because of what happened last night? Or did I seriously not notice that yesterday? "Uh, Jace? Why is there a hole in your wall?"

He chuckles and I notice him blush a little. "That? That's what happens when you make me think the worst has happened to you when really you just took a nap in a good hiding place. While I think it's kind of cute that water makes you pass out like that, can you please not let that happen again?"

"Yeahh, sorry about that. I'm the worst."

"Not you're not. But believe it or not, there are people that care about what happens to you, especially me. I don't know what I would do if you disappeared on me for real. Going missing for just a few hours was bad enough."

"Speaking of disappearing, where did you go a few days ago?"

"What do you mean?"

"The day after we first time we spent the whole day together? You disappeared for a while until I ran into you at the art store? I know this house is big but I really don't think I would have gone that long without seeing you."

His look gets distant and he won't look me in the eyes.

"Promise you won't get mad at me?"

"I mean, I can never promise that. You know my temper. But I'll try my best."

He chuckles as he recognizes the truth of those words. "Okay, well, when you and I spent the day together I realized that I was in trouble because I was falling for you pretty hard. So being the usual asshole, I kinda went to one of my exes to try to get you off of my mind. It was that annoying chick from the party that was all over me? She was my usual distraction from all the shit in my life so I thought she could help, but somehow being with her only made it worse. All I could think about was you, and what you were doing, and why I couldn't be with you. I just couldn't get you off my mind, so I came home. And then I tried to get you a present on my way but then I ran into you at the art store. Seriously though, please don't get jealous. She means nothing to me."

"It's okay, I understand. I did my best to ignore what was happening between us because I didn't think it could or would ever happen. But somehow it did. Somehow you love me enough to ignore everyone who will be against us, and I love you the same. Now we are together, I don't want to let you go. I won't let you go."

"Me either baby. Don't you worry. You are all mine."

"It happened!" Izzy exclaims through the phone.

"He asked you? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Well, no, I asked him. And I was more worried about you after last night so I didn't want to bring it up at first. But we're totally going to your party together. Like, together together!"

"Congratulations! I'm so excited for you! How did it happen?"

"Simon walked me to my door when the limo dropped me off at my house. We talked about how worried we were about you and after I assured him you were in good hands with Jace, I casually dropped that your party was coming up and I didn't have anyone to go to it with. Of course, Simon completely didn't get the hint so, I, uh, kissed him to help him connect the dots."

"You did what?!"

"Yeah, I know! I was still a bit intoxicated and I couldn't really help myself. So, yeah, we are definitely going to your party together!"

"That's awesome! I'm so excited for you!"

"Thanks! So, are you sure having a party is okay after what happened?"

"Seriously, Iz, like I told you earlier it is okay. Nothing actually happened so while I'm a little freaked out, I'm okay and I'll be more careful with my drinks from now on. Everyone needs to accept that it was not anyone's fault except the bastard that did it. I'm fine, really. Plus the party will be crawling with bodyguards as usual and there won't be any alcohol - at least not out in the open - so nothing should go wrong. Honestly, I'm actually looking forward to this year's party. Normally I dread the lavish carnival my father clearly only throws for his own social status, but this year I have a feeling it is going to be much more exciting! Speaking of the party, I just realized I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to wear. Do you, uh, maybe want to go shopping with me?"

I have to pull the phone away from my ear as she squeals in order to prevent receiving permanent hearing impairment. I'll take that as a yes.

"What about this one?"

I am starting to regret asking Izzy to go shopping with me. She is holding up yet another dress for me to try on - I lost count after twenty, and I am still standing uncomfortably in the overly skin bearing dress she had me try on last.

"Okay Izzy, I can't do this much longer. I am pretty sure this place doesn't have anything for me, and I'm just thinking we should go home and scour my closet for something more, well, appropriate for a carnival?"

"Nonsense! We cannot go home until we have the perfect, jaw-dropping outfit that will turn everyone's heads. It's your day, you have to look fabulous!"

"Okay, fine, but can we at least go somewhere else?"

"Fiiiiine."

I change back into my clothes, apologize to the woman in the shop for turning her place upside down, then head back onto the streets with bodyguards close behind.

"Hey, why don't we stop and get some coffee before we find our next destination? I could definitely use a break, and if you have never been to Java Jones before then you are seriously missing out."

We head into my favorite coffee shop and I introduce Izzy to the best cup of coffee in town. She loves it, and I am thrilled to have converted yet another Starbucks zombie. As we are about to head out, hot drinks in hand, I nearly run into the next customer walking in the door. I stop dead in my tracks when I recognize the familiar head of dark red hair.

"Mom?"

She looks up at me shocked, and her face quickly lights up when she realizes it is me. She gives me an awkward hug which I don't return and I don't know what to do.

"I'm so happy to see you! I wish I could stay and talk but I'm in a huge hurry." Shocker. "But please can we get together soon? I really want to see you."

"I'll think about it. This is my friend Izzy, by the way." I'm pretty sure my attempt at a subject change was not the least bit subtle. Regardless, they shake hands cordially and I excuse us while practically dragging Izzy out of the cafe.

"Jeez, and I thought my relationship with my mother was bad. I mean, I know her calling you the other day upset you, but that was absolutely cringe-worthy. What happened?"

"Well, my mother skipped town a few years ago, leaving me here with my father as she went to Europe to pursue her dreams. Apparently I was just dragging her down because she didn't even look back, didn't call or write, just pretty much forgot about me. So I forgot about her as well until a few weeks ago when she called to tell me she was in town. Now she thinks I'll just forget everything and come running back into her arms."

"Damn girl, that's awful."

"Yeah, I have some pretty shitty parenting, all around."

"Seriously. How about we go get you that hot birthday outfit and then forget this ever happened over some mimosas, yeah?"

"Yes please!"

Gahh, it's been forever since I updated last! I'm so sorry! I've been pretty busy alongside my stupid writer's block, but I recently found some inspiration for this story again so hopefully I will be able to finish it soon. I've already got another story in mind but with my poor update rate lately I may hold off on posting it until I get well into it. Anyways, would anyone want to read a story about Clary being a mind reader?

I loved reading what you guys had to say about Shadowhunters! For those of you that kept watching, I hope you are enjoying it more now! I think the actors are doing much better than they started and I'm really interested to see how they play out the sibling relationship story line. What do you guys think?

Thank you all for reading my story and telling me what you think! It really means a lot to me! :)