Tessa waited at the end of the bridge, her gold gown rustling slightly at her nervousness.
Finally. She thought. It is finally our turn.
So much had changed since she had last worn a gold dress meant to meet Jem in. But much of it was good. She saw Jem beginning the walk down the bridge to her, and she smiled. There was no frailness about him now, his skin, while still fairly pale, held color more than it once had. She saw him in his wedding gear, something she had never actually seen him in before, and was breathless.
But once she saw his smile, the world melted away.
The happiness she had felt in procuring a modern shadowhunter gown (much more comfortable than those blasted corsets), the nervousness about a second wedding, all faded away.
There was only Jem, only him and his bright smile, like the sun. His eyes were a light brown, not silver, and his hair was a dark mahogany, but he was her Jem. Hers.
Her heart felt as if it would burst by the time Jem reached her. As she looked into his eyes, she knew he was feeling the same way.
Honestly, the ceremony passed quickly, as it was only a formality they had waited a lifetime for. But it meant more than anything that they were joined as a couple for the first time in their lives.
When it came time to kiss, Tessa pressed her lips to Jem's and nearly cried with the overwhelming love she felt for him.
She looked around the small crowd that had gathered at the bridge to witness their marvelous triumph, a marriage that had overcome a lifetime of waiting, of death, of hopelessness, but ultimately, a marriage that had come about from miracles.
There was Jocelyn and Luke, Jace and Clary, Isabelle and Simon, Magnus and Alec, as well as a few other Silent Brothers and Iron Sisters. And Church, of course. He had not been content with staying in the audience and Tessa found herself nearly tripping over him during the wedding vows.
It seemed only fitting.
As they walked away, Tessa thought of Will. She could almost sense his presence, his approval of their love being passed on to Jem. Looking in Jem's eyes, she could tell he was thinking of him as well.
"I will always remember you, parabatai." He whispered. "I will love her just as much as you did, and I will care for her always."
You will, parabatai, you will.
It wasn't an audible voice, but a feeling that passed through Jem as he held Tessa's hand, walking away from the crowd.
For the first time since he could remember, Jem felt at peace. With the blessing of his parabatai, Church in one arm, and Tessa in the other, he considered himself the most blessed. He had been lucky, loved for over a century of the girl he had finally married.
Tessa was his wife.
Jem smiled and kissed Tessa on the cheek, ignoring the complaints Church made as he was squished.
"Wo ai de hen." He whispered. "I love you so much."
A single tear coursed down Tessa's cheek.
"I love you too. I always have. Always will."
They walked off the bridge and into a small car.
"There is much I need to learn about these modern times, still." Jem sighed.
Tessa laughed lightly as she slid into the drivers seat.
"And now you have a lifetime to learn all you need." She leaned over and helped him with his seatbelt, kissing his shoulder gently. "And I will help you, of course, my love."
They drove away, ready to explore the world, both the mundane and the shadowhunter worlds. It was time. Time to build a home, a life, together.
Time to be in love at last.