InsaneJournal

Who: Clary and Billy
Where: Baxter’s
What: After Billy’s 2nd text
When: Late Nov
Rating: Low
Status: Complete



Clary was sat waiting for Billy to arrive with her hands wrapped around her cup of hot chocolate, his coffee sat in front of her on the table as she gazed out the window at people passing. They’d agreed to meet at Baxter’s after he’d sent her a panicked text about Teddy. She was trying her best to help him and could only hope she wasn’t making things worse. Sighing, she looked around the shop at the other customers, some friends chatting and catching up, some lovers sitting too close. She hoped she was doing right by Billy.

Billy was definitely panicking, he wasn’t sure what he was doing or what he should be doing. And even if Clary couldn’t fix his problems, it helped to simply tell someone. Entering the coffee shop he spotted her and headed over, sliding into the seat opposite. “I slept with Teddy” he told her miserably, arms folding on the table as he lent his head on them.

Clary stared at him for a good few seconds, mouth gaping like a fish as she processed what he’d said. “I...what? You slept with him? But I thought…” she managed to get out. “What about Justin?”

“No, not like that” Billy said quickly, keeping his voice low. “Teddy had a dream and messaged me at like 3am, I went over there and we talked but I ended up staying over. Nothing happened but I just feel terrible”

“So you just talked? Was there any, y’know...cuddling?” Clary asked cautiously.

He shook his head, “No cuddling. No touching. Just talking and sleeping. And confusion. So much damn confusion”

“Ok, ok,” Clary said, trying to keep him calm. “So what did you talk about? Does he remember anything from the Dreams?”

Billy nodded, “He remembers a lot. Mainly me and him and our relationship” he admitted, “And he thinks the dream world is the real one and this one is the one that’s fake”

“Really? How does that work? Does that mean he...he wants to be with you then?” Clary asked curiously. She ran her hand through her hair, desperately hoping she was asking the right questions and wasn’t going to upset him.
“Well in our dreams my mother can warp reality so he thinks something like that is going on” Billy explained, “And yeah, I mean he respects that I’m with Justin but I do think he wants more. He is convinced that the way we feel in the dreams is the truth and I just don’t know how I can convince him otherwise”

“And how do you feel about the Dreams? It must be so confusing having and feeling two different lives. Especially after you worked so hard to convince yourself that he wasn’t going to be here. Now don’t hate me for asking but...do youwant to convince him otherwise?” Clary asked carefully.

“Honestly, I don’t know” Billy told her, feeling guilty about it yet relieved to tell someone, “I love Justin, I do and I don’t want to hurt him but the way I feel for Teddy in the dreams is...it’s so strong and it feels so meant to be. It’s confusing”

“All right, but keep in mind that by not telling him and keeping him in the dark you’re hurting him too,” Clary said calmly. “The longer you leave telling him about all of this the more hurt he’s going to be. You might even have to tell Justin that you need a break to figure things out, have you thought about that? I think he’d understand that this is all very confusing for you,” she said, putting a hand on his.

Billy bit his lip and looked sad but he nodded, "I know. I've been considering that too. But after Christmas, if I haven't been able to work things out. I don't want to ruin Christmas for him or me or anybody. We're going to Justin's parents so maybe time away will be good" he'd turned his hand in hers and held it tightly, "Thank you Clary. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you"

“I know you don’t want to hurt either of them. It’s because I know how much they both mean to you that I don’t want you to do anything rash,” Clary smiled at him. “Maybe some space from Teddy will help clear your thoughts,” she shrugged. “You’d be just fine Billy, you’re a good guy in a bad situation, but you’ll figure it out,” she told him confidently.

Billy gave her a smile, “Thanks. I’m glad someone has such faith in me” he told her, “So tell me something happier. It seems we’re always talking about my problems. What are you doing for Christmas?”

“I’ll always have faith in you,” Clary told him honestly, looking him straight in the eye for a few moments. “Oh you know,” she shrugged. “My mom and I will probably just be doing our own thing again. I’m gonna try and see if I can spend some time with Jace. Hopefully my mom won’t try and keep me to herself for the whole time,” she gave a wry smile at that.

"Thank you" Billy was truly touched by his friends firm belief in him. It meant such a lot. "Well from what you've told me about her your parabatai would have something to say if your mom tried to do that"

“Eeek, I’d hate to see that battle,” Clary winced. “Mom takes over protective to the nth degree. I wouldn’t be able to root for anyone, either! Talk about a nightmare!” she grinned, hoping to take Billy’s mind off his troubles, at least for a bit.

That did make Billy laugh, “Mom versus Parabatai, who will win out in the battle for Clary” he said in his best voiceover voice.

“It won’t be me, I can tell you that,” Clary laughed as she took a quick sip of her hot chocolate. “And not Jace, even though he’d try his hardest,” she laughed. “I wouldn’t want to face the wrath of either of them and I pity anyone who’d even contemplate picking a fight with them!”

“That sounds about right. Though no offence to your boyfriend I don’t think he’d stand a chance against your mom or Izzy. Girls can be scary” Billy knew this to be true which was why he was lucky to have a good one as his best friend.

Clary laughed at that. "Even Jace knows his limits, especially when it comes to Izzy," she grinned. "I still can't believe she said yes to being my parabatai," she said in disbelief. A random thought crossed her mind and she frowned before asking him. "You've got powers, right?"

“Sensible man” Billy nodded, “Of course she said yes, you’re way more awesome than you realise Clary” he told her before nodding, “Yeah whole range of them. You need something?”

Clary shook her head at the compliment. She couldn’t believe how lucky she’d gotten when she came here. She had met some of the most incredible people and now she couldn’t imagine her life any other way. “Thanks Billy,” she smiled at him. “I was just wondering something, I’ll have to ask Jace and Izzy about whether you can visit the Institute,” she considered. Did the fact that Billy have powers mean that he might be able to see the great building?

Billy was the same, he’d met some amazing people since moving out here and he was so glad he’d taken the chance and done it. Despite the confusion in his personal life right now he wouldn’t change things at all. “Oh really? You think I might be able to?” that prospect was rather exciting. He wanted to see the place Clary had told him about.

“Well, we’ll never know unless we try it,” Clary grinned at him with a little wink, always one to be pushing the boundaries.