A/N: Review and enjoy!

Chapter Three: Torch Lily

The next morning Clary woke up slowly, the kind of slow when you know you have nothing to do and nowhere to be, and she couldn't help but smile at the memory of the night before. It had been a long time since she had kissed anyone; in fact, nearly six months since she had even considered it. T seemed kind of like Jace had just free-fallen straight into her life, as equally welcome as it was unexpected, and at some point Clary had seen a glimmer of hope that had her wanting to fall too. She was lying in her bedroom letting the warm weekend sun filter through the windows and onto her skin when she felt her phone vibrate; diving her hand into the covers to retrieve the device, smiling when she saw the text.

'I had a lot of fun yesterday.'

Clary bit her lip, unable to contain the full out grin that spread across her face, the flutter in her chest.

'Really? Shame.' She replied, feeling like as kid when she felt her heart race.

'ah, is this still about the milk moustache? I promise I can be a whole lot more charming.'

'I'll believe it when I see it'

She was still grinning when the phone rang suddenly and she sat up in bed and began to flatten her hair, before realising how ridiculous she was being as he wouldn't even see it. She coughed, hoping she didn't have frog voice, then picked up.

"I thought that last night proved my accomplished charm." His voice came though like melted honey, and Clary couldn't help but melt slightly too.

"Oh, you were definitely charming, in the same way a friendly salesman is."

"Ouch, that was straight to the ego."

Clary pressed her lips together. "Hey, not my fault you spent half the night selling Golden Girls to me."

This time Jace's unrestrained laugh came down the phone, and Clary couldn't help but smile at how relaxed he sounded. She liked it a lot.

"Fair enough, I definitely could have been cooler. Let me make it up to you—are you free today?" He asked.

"Well, that depends. What do you have in mind?

"This might be super cheesy, and probably not a whole lot interesting, but my boss gave me these tickets to an event their having at the University Botanical Gardens. I thought it might be fun to have someone to keep me entertained."

Clary raised an eyebrow. "So, I'm the entertainment."

"You are very entertaining." Her breath hitched, and for the second time that morning she remembered the kiss; she had to shake the front of her shirt to cool herself down, cheeks flaming. "So? You up for it? I can promise coffee, definitely, and I promise to feed you too."

"You had me at coffee." She breathed, and Jace's laugh came again.

"Well that was one of the last things I said, but I'll take it. I'll pick you up around two?"

"Okay… See you then, Jace."

"See you then."

Clary floated around her apartment, snuggling back into bed with her coffee and feeling lighter than air. It didn't take her long, however, to begin to panic. She got up, showered, changed. Then she changed again, and again, and two hours later she was sat on he bedroom floor, surrounded by a sea of clothes, phone ringing Isabelle as she nervously painted her nails.

"Clary…" She heard Isabelle croak through the speaker. "What are you doing up so early on a Saturday?"

"It's nearly midday, Iz." Clary laughed, and Isabelle lshot her a look of disdain through the camera.

"Exactly my point, it's far too early—what the hell, doing a bit of spring cleaning are we, Fray?" Isabelle sat up in bed, observing the mess in Clary's room, and Clary heard Simon say something in the background.

"Well, actually Iz, I'm going on a date."

She heard a bang in the background, and all of a sudden Isabelle was joined by Simon, gamer shirt rumpled from sleep, glasses askew.

"You're what?! With who?!"

Isabelle swatted at her boyfriend and held the camera back up to herself. She looked at Clary seriously. "Tell me everything, Clarissa."

"Funny story… It's actually with Jace." She blushed hard at Isabelle's knowing look, and launched into the story of their first night, and then their second, and the call she had received that morning. Simon spent the entire time with his mouth hanging open, Isabelle nodding along intently as though she were taking mental notes. When Clary ended with her current clothing dilemma Isabelle juts nodded, pulling her hair back behind her ears and getting serious.

"Okay, so we're talking a daytime date?" Her best friend asked, and Clary nodded.

"Oh, and then dinner, I think." She said. Isabelle cursed dramatically.

"Damn that cousin of mine, he never follows the rules. How am I supposed to style an interchangeable outfit from my remote location?"

Clary rolled her eyes. "Will you please just help me? I have like an hour!"

Isabelle's eyes bugged out. "An hour? Why didn't you tell me! Ugh, I should be there."

"I can dress myself you know." Clary said, throwing her hands up in frustration, and then she sighed. "I just want to look nice for once."

"You always look nice, idiot." Isabelle replied, watching her face fall, and she leant forward.

"It's just… its been a while…" Clary murmured, placing her head in her hands and sighing yet again, and Isabelle couldn't help but feel a squeeze in her heart for her friend. She clapped her hands to get the redhead's attention.

"Okay, Clary! I know exactly what to do."

Jace felt the same surge of nervousness as he had the day before, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he approached Clary's apartment building and rang her bell. He looked over his shoulder as a buzz rang out that went on forever, and then finally her voice chimed out.

"Hey, Jace!" She heard her voice and the blatant sound of her throwing things into a bag haphazardly. He grinned. "I'm on my way down now!"

He only had to wait a minute before he saw her through the hazy windows, and he stood back as she pushed open the door; he held his breath for a moment, trying not to think inappropriate thoughts. She had on a short green summer dress that matched her eyes and made her flaming hair, that was wrapped in a knot at the base of her neck, curls flying wildly out, seem impossibly brighter. He found himself wondering for far too long how someone so short could have legs that seemed to go on for so long but forced himself to meet her eyes when his eyes wandered toward her neckline. He knew he looked guilty, and he grinned lopsidedly.

He was distracted, thankfully, by the small redhead bouncing out to meet him, slipping a hand into his and tugging him along.

"Quickly!" She hissed, and Jace tried not to laugh as he looked over his shoulder, the tiny girl still tugging him along.

"Where's the fire?" He asked, and Clary just whipped her head around, wild curls flying as she watched the apartment building. They rounded a corner, and she finally slowed, dropping his hand and turning to face him, blowing an errant curl from her face.

"Sorry," She started, breathing heavily and grinning, still glancing over his shoulder. " My crazy neighbour was on her way out and we would have been stuck for the next hundred years if we'd been caught—hey, you look very—"

She was cut off as Jace swooped down quickly, capturing her lips in his in a quick kiss. Clary smiled against his lips, and when he pulled away it was her turn to be tongue tied.

"Hello." He said, biting his lip, and Clary grinned, slipping her hand back into his.

"Hello to you too…" She murmured, and he pressed his lips together as he began to lead them along again. "What was that all about?" She asked, and he just shrugged.

"I don't know. I just… wanted to. Is that okay?" He asked sincerely, and he already knew the answer by her blush.

"Fine by me." She replied, biting her lip. They very quickly fell into a nice rhythm, Clary swinging their arms as they walked along. "What I was wondering before I was rudely interrupted—"

"Rudely is not the word."

"I was going to say you look very nice." Clary said, taking in his smart shirt, the long jacket hung over his lean frame. Jace grinned, squeezing her hand.

"Yeah?" He said, and Clary blushed rolling her eyes.

"Oh, hush. You know you do…" She blushed.

"Well, for the record, you look more than very nice. Perfect even." He said lowly, helping her navigate the busy streets. They had to stop briefly at a crossing, the pair getting caught up in a sea of people, and Clary liked the way their joined hands tethered them together. It was a long walk to the Gardens, but Clary didn't really mind, because being with him was easy. Like they had known each other for so long. By the time they arrived Jace had her laughing once again with accounts of him and Alec when they were younger, painting the stoic Alec she knew in a whole new light.

"I had no idea he was like that—he really pretended to be straight?" Clary asked in disbelief, and Jace nodded.

"Yep. He was dating this girl Julie for a good six months—I mean, of course, we all knew she was gay too…"

He trailed off as they reached the entrance hall, and for a moment Clary felt slightly inadequate: filtering into the gardens were swathes of people, couples and small groups, all dressed in beautiful dresses and smart suits. She gulped, looking up to Jace—he, however, seemed unbothered by the mess of wealth, turning on a bright smile and greeting an older man in a tweed suit, shaking his hand.

"Dr Starkweather." Jace smiled. "Good to see you out of the office, sir."

"Oh, Jace, please call me Hodge. I'm ancient enough without becoming my father." The man before them said in an English accent, and Clary peered up at them both: she still felt inadequate in her short dress and sandals against the formal backdrop. But she felt some of that anxiety ease when 'Hodge' smiled at her, reaching out a hand also. Clary took it with her free one and smiled at the older man. "And who's this?" Hodge asked.

"My date, Clary Fray. She's a nurse at St Xavier's." Jace said swiftly, and Clary raised an eyebrow: Hodge caught the look and laughed, giving her hand one more shake before letting her go.

"A noble profession, far nobler than mine," Hodge said with a wink, and Jace rolled his eyes.

"Hodge is my advisor, I've been working with him since I was an undergrad." Jace said. "he specialises in… the weirder stuff."

"Weird is definitely the word I would use for the occult." He said, and Clary raised an eyebrow.

"Occult? And here I was thinking literature was safe to study."

Hodge shot her a knowing smile. "So, Clary, I assume you met through the Herondale charitable—"

Before he could finish Jace let out a swift cough, Clary getting distracted to check if he was okay, and he shot Hodge a look of discretion. "We actually just have to grab out tickets from the reception—I'll see you later, sir."

He led Clary away, feeling the sweat under his collar sit uncomfortably. Clary slipped her arm through his, seemingly distracted, and Jace let out a breath: he would need to have a word with Hodge later. They collected their tickets, and then they were through the door, Jace offering to carry her bag when they were offered tall flutes of champagne and were allowed to finally wander through the gardens. Clary had to admit she was somewhat starstruck, glancing around at all the fancy people.

"Jace… I hate to say it, but I think we're criminally underdressed."

"We're essentially at a garden centre, I'm sure we're dressed fine."

"But look—I swear that's the Mayor!" She hissed hiding behind her glass and grinning. Jace couldn't help but laugh too—I mean, she was right. It was the Mayor.

"C'mon, let's actually visit the exhibit this is all about, shall we?" He said tactfully, steering them along as he carefully avoided the business associates of his father and led her through the various trellises of flowers. Clary was happy enough to trail along, her eyes wide as she took in each and every plant like she was memorising them.

"These are so beautiful." She breathed out as they came to the whole reason the event was being thrown in the first place: the torch flowers, at the centre of the labyrinth of botanicals. Jace nodded, mesmerised at the towers of flaming petals, like a sunset. He could tell that Clary was enthralled, but all he could think about was the way that the colours matched her hair.

"It's like they're actually flames." Clary said, taking in each plant: Jace stood back, still holding her bag, letting her inspect them with such a critical eye that he couldn't help but laugh.

"Do you have a hidden interest in botany that I didn't know about?" He said lightly as the rest of the visitors milled around them. Clary blushed, standing up and taking a sip of her drink.

"I like to paint." She said, turning back to Jace and smiling, "And these are the most fucking beautiful flowers I've ever seen. I just want to…" She made a gesture with her hands, and Jace grinned lopsidedly at the action. "I just want to paint them, you know."

"They are beautiful." Jace said.

Clary stood back up, blushing. "You think I'm being stupid." She laughed, and Jace shook his head lightly, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Nah. I just think it's funny that you find everything so… magical."

"Everything is magical." She said, looking up at him. He knew that he should kiss her again, that her eyes were scanning his, waiting. He knew that he probably shouldn't in front of so many of his co-workers, but that didn't stop him from swooping down anyway.

It felt like a perfect moment and Clary couldn't help but grin as she pulled back, slipping her hand into his. "Come on." She whispered. "We're being highly inappropriate in front of all these oldies."

They carried on their trail through the gardens, Jace occasionally nodding at strangely well-dressed men, pulling Clary quickly away from them.

"I'm starting to think that you don't want your colleagues to know you brought me." Clary laughed as she was whipped particularly fast around the exotic rose exhibit. Jace bit his lip.

"Sorry… It's just these people are so damn boring, and I promised you—"

"Clary?"

They were interrupted by a commanding voice behind them, and Jace felt Clary's whole body stiffen beside him. They both turned, Clary's hand slipping from his, and Jace watched her with curiosity as she took in the couple in front of them. A tall, smartly dressed man with strikingly dark hair and pale skin that made his eyes, which were fixed on Clary, seem that much darker. The woman next to him was watching the exchange with equal curiosity, a vague look in her wide blue eyes. The man stepped forward and Clary stepped back, the air between them crackling with tension.

"I thought it was you." He said again, putting his hands in his pockets. "How are you?"

Clary couldn't get any words out: Jace watched her furrow her brow, open her mouth and close it again, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness when the guy smirked. He squared up, snaking an arm around Clary's waist before holding out a hand to him.

"Hi." He said, ignoring the look of disgust that the guy before him shot at the gesture. "Jace Herondale."

There was a flash of recognition and the man narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in a breath. But before he could grasp Jace's hand Clary's own hand whipped out, pulling at Jace's extended arm and shooting the man a look of disdain. She no longer looked like a deer in headlights: she looked pissed.

"Come on, Jace. We have better things to look at."

'Sebastian returned his eyes to her and grinned, the woman beside her widening her eyes slightly. "Oh, come on Cee, don't be like that."

"Let's go." Clary said to Jace, placing a hand on his back and steering them away.

Sebastian shot out an arm and gripped Clary's, and she sighed as she turned to face him. He brought his head closer to hers, whispering something, and Clary frowned before pushing him away. He shot a look to Jace, who was feeling waves of anger growing in him, and Clary pushed him away, turning back to Jace.

"Great to see you, Clary." Sebastian called as they walked away, and Jace couldn't help but turn back and glare at him.

"So." Jace said as they entered their tenth silent minute of wandering the Gardens. "Want to tell me about that guy?"

Clary sighed and rubbed her temples, looking up at him apologetically. "I'm so sorry, that was so awkward." She said, slumping against a wall. Jace took the opportunity to look around them, then he folded his arms. Clary looked up, grimacing. "That was, well, that was my ex-boyfriend. And sorta boss."

Jace frowned. "Oh."

"You can say that again." Clary replied with a humourless laugh.

"So… recent ex. Guess it wasn't a friendly break up?"

Clary let out a breath. "He's not that bad, I'm just dramatic. We were alright really, well, until he cheated on me,"

Jace's jaw dropped at thee thought of anyone cheating on her. Well, anyone, but her? Was this guy crazy? "You're kidding. Clary, that's… I mean, that's fucked up."

"Eh, it is what it is," She shrugged, standing up straight again. "We grew apart. I wouldn't have been so rude its just… well, he moved out of state six months ago to finish his residency. I guess he's back now."

She glanced over his shoulder and sighed. "I'm sorry… we were having such a nice time and I messed it up."

Jace rubbed at his hair. "I'd get if you wanted to just go home…" He said, trying not to be quite so forlorn. Clary shook her head vigorously.

"No! I mean—" She blushed, tucking a hair behind her ear and turning back to him. "I'm having a good day, really."

Jace grinned too. "Okay. If you're sure…"

Clary reached out to take his hand, dragging the pair of them in the opposite direction. "I am absolutely sure. Plus, I'm pretty sure I was promised coffee… and definitely food."

"Hunger is my sole motivation in life." Jace responded, happily letting her drag him along.

"And I wanted to see these purple things in the brochure… where are they?"

They spent the rest of the day following the trail around the exhibit, Clary admiring the flowers whilst Jace admired her. He couldn't help but watch over his shoulder, hoping that neither his colleagues nor this Sebastian would cause them any more problems. He was lucky, in that by the time the light began to fade into the evening, they had made their way around successfully with little consequence. Clary was busy chatting away about a patient, no HIPPA violations, and by the time they had finished dinner they were both exhausted and happy and definitely tipsy.

Jace walked her back to her apartment again, knowing that he would feel the same strange ache when she left once again.

"Hey," Clary said as they strolled up her street. "Thank you again, for taking me out. I had a lot of fun."

"Me too… I've been so busy the past few years I forgot how nice it was to just… be with someone."

"be with someone?" Clary said with a laugh. "It's okay, Jace. You can say 'dating', I won't judge."

Jace laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry… more proof that I'm just really rusty."

"Well, that's okay because I am too. Do you want to… You want to come up for a drink?" Clary said, rubbing her key in between her thrum and forefinger, trying to not to blush. "Okay, now that was really rusty." She said, mortified. She felt the key slip from her fingers and looked up to see Jace making his way through the door to the apartment building, reaching a hand out for her. "What?" She laughed, and Jace just gripped her hand.

"I would love to come up for a drink. Now, come on. I thought we were in the habit of avoiding your neighbours."