William Herondale had been an unusual child, small and thin and glaring, not talking to anyone, and if he did, it was with cutting remarks and sarcasm, that, even though he was barely 10, made even adults feel shamed.
Which was partly why Charlotte had been so eager to take James Carstairs in. Maybe another boy his age would soften him up. And with James'…condition, he wouldn't last alone for long. She'd been right.
Will had been a snark when he first met James, but upon hearing that the other boy would die soon, he softened dramatically and surprisingly, they became best friends.
And then, parabatai.
It wasn't really a surprise, James—Jem—had a quiet, calm personality that perfectly matched Will's quick temper and rash actions. Jem was the only person to ever escape Will's wrath, even managing to calm the other boy with just one murmured word or soft touch. The two were so close that Charlotte sometimes thought they were brothers (maybe in a past life, if such things existed), even though she knew otherwise. It was rare when the two were apart, usually only when Will was out drinking or when Jem was too sick to leave his room.
It was almost like they were two halves of a whole, Charlotte reflected sadly: without Will, Jem was despondant, without Jem, Will was catatonic. Charlotte often caught Will in Jem's room, gently holding Jem's worn violin or just standing, shoulders shaking silently. She knew he was crying, but he'd never admit it to anyone, so she kept all of Jem's things exactly the way they were before he'd…
Theresa—Tessa—Gray had broken the boys' tight bond, she'd managed to effortlessly get into their circle. She was the second person to see the real William Herondale, the second prson to truly understand him. Jessamine had been jealous of her for that, even after living with the two for ages, she'd not managed it, and Tessa did in a few days. And then they both fell in love with her.
That's what would split them apart. Tessa Gray.
But she loved both of them. It was both surprising and not that she'd chosen Jem: she and Will had been arguing a lot, but the two seemed to be…made for each other. She was thr only person besides Jem that could tolerate Will, and she was the only person to match his fire with hers.
But maybe she'd just felt sorry for him, that he was to die. He'd been so happy. But then he had…
No. Don't think about that.
Anyway.
Will and Tessa had, inevitably gotten married and had kids, as did the others—Sophia and Gideon Lightwood, Cecily Herondale and Gabriel Lightwood—although Tessa was immortal.
Magnus Bane had promised to look after and protect her when he could, should their paths meet, but…even still. There would obviously be many people—whether mundane or Downworlder or nephilim—that would want to exploit her, if they found out about her power.
But she has Magnus, and Camille (maybe), and Jem.
Charlotte smiled and closed her eyes.
Yes, they would be fine.
They were Shadowhunters, after all.