Chapter 1, James 2 weeks old
"He's beautiful," Tessa whispered, pressing her head into Will's shoulder. Will wrapped a protective arm round Tessa and smiled
"He is isn't he?"
"It's his eyes though, those beautiful golden eyes" she breathed, touching her necklace. Will smiles at her and kisses her forehead "It is" he whispered. Tessa walked over to the crib and tucked James in again, she suffered long term effects after the birth. Since Shadowhunter blood was dominant in him, James relied a lot on her Shadowhunter blood making her more tired now. Will could tell she wasn't herself anymore. It hurt him to see his wife like this, not just his wife but his beautiful Tessa. Will stepped forward, opening his hand for her to take "Tess, you need to rest now"
"No, no I just want to make sure he's alright"
"You've been making sure he's been alright for the last two hours" Will said softly "We are in the room right across from him, if anything happens we are close to him"
"Should I not stay with him?"
"Tessa, look at me" Tessa looked round at Will, her head still a little low. He tilts her head up gently and uses his thumb to brush her lips
"He is a Herondale. He is my son for that matter, and if anyone dares try to touch him they will feel the wrath of me. I assure you Tessa, he'll be fine" Tessa brushed some tears away quickly
"I lost one James in my life"
"Tessa, no that's enough now alright? Jem is not gone and do not believe for one second he is. He is always with us, do you understand? I know you miss him. So do I, but knowing we can see him and knowing he is here is better than knowing he is dead. So please don't think like that, please" Tessa was trying feebly to dry her tears away. Will sighed and hugged her, he kissed her head and rubbed her back between the shoulder blades
"What's brought this on Tessa?" he whispered gently. He was growing more worried for Tessa each day, he knew something was off from the moment James was born. Tessa just cried into his chest so he let out a gentle sigh "Come on, let's get you to bed now" Will led her away from the crib. He turned the night light on and closed the door before getting Tessa settled in their bed. Will managed to soothe her into some form of sleep, some sleep was better than no sleep. Will lay and looked at the ceiling, thoughts whirling round his head and dancing in front of his eyes until finally, the darkness pulled him under and he slept.
The next morning Will woke as usual but Tessa was still asleep. He decided to let her sleep so scribbled a note down saying he was at breakfast and he would take James with him. He got changed quickly, not really putting much effort in for who would actually be there? Henry maybe? But that was probably it. Will went across and scooped James up
"Hello little man, hello, how are you this morning mm? Did you sleep well? You probably slept better than me and mama" he mumbles, changing the nappy and dressing him. Will carried him down the stairs and went into the dining room, without fail, Henry was sitting there, narrowly missing setting Will and James on fire. The ginger looked up and smiled at Will
"Morning Will" he stood up and gently tickled James who screamed in his childish way and giggled "Hello James, hello"
"Good morning, Henry" Will sat down and tucked into his toast while Henry sat and played with James "How are you this morning Will?"
"Fine, Henry" he nodded. He had expressed his worries to Henry about Tessa, as a father to father. He asked had Charlotte got like this when Charles was born but Henry shook his head and explained that Charlotte was perfectly fine. Which worried Will even more. Will looked over at his son and rubbed his face wearily
"Did you sleep well?" Henry asked gently
"No, I got Tessa settled eventually, she was crying a lot last night" Henry nodded gravely and adjusted his position nervously. For someone marked to be careless and not exactly sane, he often was the best guidance Will had
"Will, I think you need to call Magnus. Tessa is a warlock now, and think what is wrong with her is something only a fellow warlock would understand" though Henry didn't say it. He was implying something. Will could sense it, what was he implying? He looked at Henry curiously
"What are you saying?" Henry took a breath and rubbed his face sadly "William, I don't want to insult your intelligence. You have just had a child, a mortal child"
"Yes, and?" Henry looked at him and sighed again, "Will…what is Tessa?"
"Well, she's a warlock but I don't see how that is relevant…" Will cut himself off. Now he understood. Tessa was immortal. James was not. Tessa was going to watch both her husband and her son age and grow old and die, and she would be left the same. Like a leaf kept in a class cage. The whole world could change and shift around it, but the flower would remain the same. Now Will understood, Tessa was depressed about the fact she was going to have to suffer seeing her child age and grow. Their little miracle was killing her slowly.
