[Tessa]
I felt the soft and warmth of Jem's lips on mine, and I was savoring every bit of it. Never, since the moment he had decided to become a Silent Brother, had I believed this to be possible again. For us to be able to proclaim our affection towards one another. But yet again, this world of shadows and secrets had found a way to surprise me. I drew away from him a little bit, and a growl sounded from deep inside his throat. He opened his eyes and gazed at me from beneath his thick lashes. I felt my lips tip upward as I said with all the tenderness and love in the world that one could muster, "James Carstairs."
His eyes grew darker and his teeth pulled on his bottom lip. "Tessa- do you even know how much I need you right now? How deep my love runs for you?" He pulled me into a fierce hug and I reached up again to wrap my arms around his neck. The embrace spoke volumes. It told of our devotion and love to one another. It spoke about the past and the ghosts that surrounded us, and of the time that had occurred when we were not together. Finally, it spoke of your future, of the path ahead of us, of this grand gift that had somehow found its way right into the palm of our hands. And there was no way I would ever let it slip from my grasp. Any time with Jem would be treasured. He loosened his grip enough to straighten himself, and then he leaned down and kissed my forehead. I sighed quietly, but still loud enough for him to hear. When I looked up at him, sweet Jem Carstairs was wearing a smirk that I had once associated with Will Herondale. Never in my life had I thought Jem would... could don a smugness about him, especially because I had always known him to be much more modest. This new man that was standing in front of me, would be an entirely new experience. I welcomed it with open arms, for I myself had changed greatly from the girl he had once known all those years ago. I placed my hand on his cheek, and he cupped his own around it. He then took it and place a gentle kiss on it and then held it down between us. "C'mon, let me show you the world and how it's changed since you have been here. I cannot wait to show you all of the places you will see and go. And I hope with all my heart that you'll see these places with me."
He gave me another brilliant smile, and with that we walked hand in hand off of Blackfriars bridge, and into the city that I had come to adore since my first encounter with it on the way to find Nate. I would take Jem back to New York where I currently rented an apartment in the heart of the city. It was much more pricey than I had originally wanted, but Magnus had insisted I take it and offered to pay half of the rent if he could come and go as he pleased. I said yes immediately, because I couldn't bear the thought of parting with this life-long friend I had come by.
So, Jem and I would start out there. Events would occur, and the world would go on: year by year. We would take it together. With the memory of our friends in mind.
[2 months later]
I woke up to the sunlight pouring through the thin, white curtains hanging on the window. As I try to get up out of bed, I feel an arm tighten about my waist and I'm instantly held against a hard, bare chest. Jem loosens his grip on my waist a little bit and kisses the back of my neck. "'Morning gorgeous," he nips at the back of my ear and I roll around so that I'm facing him.
"Hey" I say softly and smile at him. He playfully tugs on my tank top strap and then he sits up in bed. "What're we doing today?" I ask as I snuggle up next to him.
"You tell me." he grabs the tv remote off of the bed side table and turns it on. He's adjusted well to the 21st century- thank God. There are a few things that he's had trouble grasping like many of the slang terms, and he still isn't fully comfortable with the new iPhone I just bought him, but other than that, he's doing just fine.
Speaking of phones, mine dings and I pick it up from the spot next to my pillow. Magnus just sent me a text.
Magnus: im stopping by around 11:15. b ready.
I roll my eyes; Magnus is always trying to stay young and this is his latest way of doing so. I check the time- 10:30. Crap. There was less than an hour for both Jem and I to be ready, with only one shower.
I don't even bother responding, because he'll come by whether I'm fine with it or not. Shoving my phone to the side again, I look up at Jem who is staring at me questioningly.
"What is it?"
"Magnus, he'll be here at 11:15." Jem had been living here long enough to know that Magnus does this from time to time, and doesn't ask questions. I ran a hand through my long hair and then throw our large, down comforter to the side, "Mind if I hop in the shower first?"
"Go ahead." Jem turns back to the tv and kicks his legs out of the comforter so that they're now on top. He's only wearing gray sweatpants.
"Thanks." I lean down and kiss his cheek before grabbing my robe and towel, and heading towards our bathroom.
It has a shower, a two sinks, a huge tub, and [the obvious] a toilet. I grabbed my shampoo, face wash, and body wash out of the cupboard beneath my sink, and -knowing that I'd take way too long if I got a bath- got in the shower.
The whole process took me a good 10 minutes. Once I was out of the shower, I put all of my bottles back where they belonged, and dried off. I then put on my dark blue, silk robe and wrapped my hair in a towel. Before I left the room, I brushed my teeth and swiped my hair dryer and curling wand from off of the hooks I had them on.
As soon as I was out, Jem went into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. I went straight to my vanity at the other side of the room. It was a light cherry wood and I absolutely adored it. A friend that I had meant in Paris when I was with Magnus had given it to me as a gift for helping them. All of my cosmetics were neatly aligned, and while I never wore much make-up, I still had a lot from all my various collections. I had everything from Elf, Maybelline, Bare Minerals, and Cover Girl to the average drug store stuff.
After drying my hair, and then curling a few pieces of already curly hair (to give it a more finished look) I opted for light make-up: just foundation, concealer, eyeliner, and mascara. I heard the water shut off and quickly went over to my dresser. I pulled out a pair of light wash jeans, a blue Henley shirt, and some brown boots. It was beginning to get cooler here now that it was entering fall. I still wish it were summer- Jocelyn's wedding was beautiful and meeting her daughter, Clary was a special occasion for me. We still e-mailed every now and then.
Jem came out of the bathroom at 11:02 and went over to his dresser. He pulled out a baseball tee and jeans. He quickly paired them with sperrys that I had insisted he buy. Jem might be new to this century, but Magnus and I had quickly turned his closet into something worthy of envy. The only male closet that i had seen with more fashionable clothing than Jem's was Magnus's.
We killed time waiting for Magnus by making a quick breakfast-involving pop-tarts- and then we sat on the sofa and watched I Love Lucy reruns, Jem's new obsession. So, that's how I came to be on his lap ten minutes later, kissing him. Magnus was unusually late, so I figured that it'd be okay and he wouldn't burst in on me.
I run my hands through his silky hair and my teeth graze his bottom lip. At that exact moment, the door flies open and Magnus stalks in arguing with someone else. "You didn't need to kiss Clary goodbye for twenty min-" the arguing stops as Magnus finally spies Jem and me on the couch.
"What, you couldn't find it in you to knock?" I ask him with an arched eyebrow.
"Well excuse me if I didn't exactly expect to find you and your boyfriend making out on the new leather sofa I just got you!" Magnus retorts.
"You were the one who said you'd be here at 11:15- you're ten minutes late."
"Oh so you just conclude I'm not coming at all?"
Before I can reply though, a voice comes from behind Magnus, "Why is my great-whatever-grandmother sitting on Brother Zachariah's lap?" I gape, as I stare at non other than Jace Herondale.