Sweet Little Serena (Original)

Chapter 34

"Don't listen to him," Serena said as she walked into the back room where her brother had just had a bit of a daunting training session with his father after Clary and Luke had left to scout out a place called Renwick's, where they suspected Valentine and Jocelyn might be, based on Michael's information.

"What?" Jace asked his sister as she came inside, having overheard the entire conversation about how Michael could see how Jace's bond with everyone had weakened because of Clary. And how he'd never expected Jace to do something like that. That the Jace he knew would never have let anything stop him from going on a mission, least of all a girl.

"Don't listen to what he said," Serena told him after she made sure their father was out of earshot. "If you want to be with Clary little brother, then be with Clary. I love you and I will be proud of you no matter what you do. And if being with Clary makes you happy then I support you. Don't listen to Father," she urged as she gripped his taped hands, her brother just having been boxing before his father had joined, despite his recent brush with death.

"You always call him Father, never Dad. Why? I never noticed it when we were little."

Serena sighed. "The lessons he taught you, were vastly different from the lessons he taught me, especially after I pleaded with him to ease up on you after he killed your falcon."

Jace stared at her in amazement. "You were the reason."

She nodded. "Father taught us the way he did because he wanted to make sure that we could survive anything. And he taught me to always protect you, and I did. Even from him. I tried to shield you from his harsh methods as much as possible, so please, don't listen to him."

Jace hugged his sister.

He squeezed her tight as he realised all the things she'd done to protect him, that everything she'd done was to protect him.

Protecting him from their father, helping him land his roundhouse kick when he just couldn't get it, defending him to the Clave when they called him reckless and insubordinate. Hell, part of the reason why she started fighting for the Downworld and befriending them was so they could provide extra help and assistance should they need it, to protect him.

Saving his life.

Saving Clary's.

Helping get the Mortal Cup.

Forgiving him and being there for him, literally, whenever he needed it.

"Thank you," he muttered into her shoulder, a single tear falling down his cheek.

"You don't have to thank me, JJ," Serena said as she kissed his head.

And Jace only hugged his big sister tighter.