"I can't believe you really said yes."
"What? Why? Jace, I love you and there is no one else I would want to marry. Okay, at the age of 16 I promised to marry Simon but…"
"Really?“
"My crush at that time had broken my heart and Simon had promised me, he would never do that.”
“Of course he wouldn't. We're talking about Simon.“
„I still have the oath we've written in the cafeteria back then.“
„So I would have had to ask Simon for your hand in marriage instead of Luke?“
„You really did that? When?“
„A few days ago when you were out with Izzy and Magnus.“
„Jace, you know that Luke likes you. You didn't have to do that.“
„After all we've been through I wanted to make it right.“
“I thought, you were joking when you said, you wanted to. How was it?”
“Let's say I'm glad I never had to be interrogated by him when he was still a cop.”
“Gosh, I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. I understand why he did it. You're like a daughter to him and he probably promised your mom to protect you. And let's say, my reputation at times wasn't the best. I'd have had second thoughts about me.”
“Just promise me, you won't do the same to our children.”
“I pictured that it would be you, scaring future boy- and girlfriends away, throwing your kindjals after them especially if our daughter comes home with a guy like me.”
“You mean your old 'It's a shame to glamour myself because I'm denying mundanes glorious looks' arrogant self? But who would I be to judge her? I fell for you non the less.”
“Yeah really, Clary, you should have known better.”
“Very funny. But regarding the scaring, we can take turns, so they'll never know what to expect.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
"You were really afraid I'd say no to you?“ Clary asked with a chuckle.
“Not afraid but I thought about the possibility.“
“Jace, sometimes you're really stupid.“
“Why?“
“After all we've been through, all the times we had to fight for each other, all the times we thought we had lost each other but found our way back, did you really think, there could be someone else than you I'd say yes to?“
“Apparently I did and as you admitted, you said once yes to Simon.“
Clary shook her head smiling and caressed his cheek.
“That was in a different life and I assume, Izzy would have serious objections to this cafeteria oath.“
Jace wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
“So...?”
“Jace, there will be no one but you. I was always yours and I'll always will be,“ she said with her hand still on his cheek. He leaned into her touch and closed his eyes.
“Do you want to tell the others?”
“I know, they'll be happy for us but I'd like to keep this a secret until we come back from our vacation.”
“Actually I had planned to propose to you in Prague. But thinking about the last days I didn't want to wait any longer.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No, … and regarding how close knit our family and friends are, if I had told just one person about my plan for tonight, they had been hiding in here.”
“They definitely would have. And you don't think, it's weird to keep this quiet for a little while?”
“No, we barely had time for ourselves and I'm really looking forward to it, I don't have to share you for two weeks.”
“Have you ever been on vacation?”
“No, unless you want to consider Shadowhunter summer training camps as holidays.”
“Okay, you definitely never were on vacation.”
“Do you want a glass of champagne?”
“Are you trying to make me drunk?”
“Then I'd offer you vodka shots.”
“Very funny. So, to what do we drink?”
“To you, soon to be Mrs. Herondale.“
“I'd rather drink to us and our upcoming vacation.“
“Even better.”
“And there's another benefit of not telling them about our engagement yet.”
“Which one?”
“No bad jokes about our vacation being some kind of honeymoon training camp. And I don't have to fear Izzy will confront me with a completely planned bachelorette party.”
“Why do you fear it?”
“Because she might go overboard with it and she'll probably come up with things I don't look forward to.”
“Like what?”
“We were once out at the Hunter's Moon and a group of women celebrating that very certain event came into the bar and we ended up talking about it. She has this kinda classic plan of going to Las Vegas, spend a night full of gambling, booze and strippers.”
“You're not up to guys who undress for a living?“
“This may surprise you or not, Jace, but there's only one man I want to see without his clothes on.“
“Really?“ Jace shot her one of his trademark smiles, “Do I know him?“
“I think, you know him very well,“ Clary said with a solemn smile on her face, “He's very handsome, very caring and loving, has a bigger heart than he likes to admit, sometimes a bit too cocky and arrogant but he would do everything and more for the people he cares about, he's an excellent kisser and expert snuggler, he makes fantastic Eggs Benedict but would start a war over the last slice of bacon. He has the most beautiful smile and I wish, I could see that more often. Ever since I met him, he makes me weak in the knees and when he kisses me the world just stops and nothing else matters and I fear absolutely nothing when he holds me in his arms.”
“If I wouldn't know you're talking about me, I'd have to wonder which guy is about to steal my fiancee.”
“No one can steal me from you. Hey, what if we go back to our room and you bring the Chairman over to Izzy and Simon?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
As Clary had expected, Chairman Meow wasn't very fond of being moved but as always some treats worked their magic. When Jace came back, Clary sat on the ground in front of the fireplace looking at her engagement ring.
“Already regretting your decision?”
“What? No, not at all. I'm just stunned how beautiful it is. How's the Chairman?”
“Sulking and probably hating us for the next few weeks. Izzy asked if she should do a last check up on your suitcase but we should enjoy our time off.”
“After you were gone I just checked it if she hadn't been in here to exchange most of my clothes with flimsy lingerie.”
“Did she?”
“No, thankfully not. I checked the forecast. It might be snowing there.”
“Is that a hint I should opt for a summer vacation the next time?”
“No, it wasn't. I think, it's quite romantic when it snows there. You said our apartment has a fireplace?”
“Yeah, we just need to get the keys after we arrived.”
“And you won't go crazy with two weeks of free time? No training, no missions, no patrols...”
“I'm pretty sure, you'll keep me busy.”
“Careful, I might hold you to that.”
“I'm sure I'll enjoy it.”
“We'll see. Are you okay, we'll portal in the early morning because of the time difference?“
“Absolutely. Then we'll have the bigger part of the day.”
"You want to start early on this keeping me busy thing?“
“You said yourself, you'd enjoy it."
"I thought, you meant, we take the time to enjoy ourselves."
"Who said we won't?"