Will & Tessa \ Wessa

Blackfriars Bridge

The wind ruffled Will Herondale's dark hair as he walked briskly away from Blackfriars Bridge.  He tried to ignore the gnawing pain in his chest as he walked away from his wife.

It was that time of year and although this was not how they normally did things, a new ugly threat had reared its head in London and for Tessa's safety - which was paramount to Will - he had seen her safely to the bridge then turned abruptly to walk way.  Their fingers parted, the heaviness of it still with him and with Tessa as she waited for the other half of her heart.  And the other half of his own.

Will at first walked around with no particular purpose.  He found a bench on the Southbank and sat for while, watching the mighty Thames rush along.  He stretched out lazily, his arms folded across his chest as he gazed out at the famed river, slicing through London without a care in the world. 

Will stood up after a while.  The recent hub of demon activity could be traced to the Borough of Camden and he headed in that direction.  It wasn't long before he faced down a lone Dahak demon, disposing of it with anger and skill.  Lone, but not for long though, Will chased another of its kind into Kensington, killing it, but not without a fierce fight, barely missing the poison and ichor that rained down when the demon exploded.

Will rolled his shoulders, the energy in him still thrumming, but he had lost track of time and he made his way back to the Southbank, moving down Queen's walk, he got a few glances.  He was a very handsome man dressed in all black, wearing no hat, bearing a tattoo of sorts drawn blatantly on the back of his hand in the shape of a seeing eye.  He stood out easily.

Will noticed no one as he made his way to the little cafe he and his wife had agreed to meet at.  He sat at a table in a corner, jotting down notes for a book he was working on, a work in progress.

The hours passed slowly, and he was reading when he heard, "Is this seat taken?"

Will looked up into a pair of familiar bright grey eyes.  His heart skipped a beat.  He shook his head, no, in response to her question, and she sat down.  He watched her curiously as she pulled her hat off, her dark hair spilling onto her shoulders.  Tessa pulled her gloves off slowly, blushing slightly under the intensity of his blue gaze; because it was not just a look, but a touch, a greeting, a caress.  She met his gaze with her own, a well of emotion behind his eyes that only she understood.

Tessa reached for Will's hand, noticing the blood and ink that stained them.  The blood was his and she winced.  She raised his hand and brought it to her lips.  Will tilted his head to the side, watching her face, the warmth of her lips on his skin was familiar and comforting.

Tessa stood up, still holding his hand and led him out of the cafe.  They walked hand in hand back to the Institute and Will scooped up both his children into his arms as they ran to welcome him and Tessa.  As a family they ate in the kitchen, finishing off a leftover pie that Sophie had been kind enough to bring them.

Tessa watched Will, glancing at his fingers stained with ink.  She thought how at times when he touched her naked body he left ink on her skin, how later he cleaned it off her most intimate parts with those same hands, using cloth and water.  How those same hands had punched a clave member, before their children had been born, for muttering an obscenity at her.  He had had to have meeting after meeting, Charlotte having to advocate for him and his character...

"You're smiling."  Will said, trying to help Lucie navigate the spoon to her mouth.

"I was thinking of your hands."  Tessa replied and Will raised his eyebrows with a slight smile.

When they made love that night it was with startling intensity and Tessa shook with the power of a rapture that Will had given her.  She lay awake in his arms for a while, listening to the steady beat of his heart and she felt the steadfast comfort and safety of her life with Will.  He had dared to dream of her and she was his comfort and safety as much as he was hers. 

Tessa held him tighter.  She had dreamed too and she woke up each morning with everything she had dared to wish for: Will and their children.

She whispered his words into the night, words she knew by memory, "... my heart is ringing in my chest and the sound shivers down my veins and splinters my bones with joy."  When she glanced up he was gazing down at her, surprise in his eyes.  "Will..."  She raised herself and brought her lips to his.  "You are my first dream..."

Will gripped her.  The words ignited something in him, a jolt from the past, and from their beginning.  Her face was a mirror of his thoughts, her smile knowing and satisfied.  Tessa laughed - a sound that was happy and free - Will rolled her underneath him.  She felt the shape of his body imprinted into her skin, his ribs, his muscle, his back under her fingers, his mouth on hers. 

Her first dream...

{Although this is FAN FICTION that I wrote, the last quote by Tessa is from Clockwork Princess, Will's letter to Tessa which was lost forever in City of Lost Souls. I like to think she saved it to memory which I think is only fair}