A/N: I just want to thank all of my readers who enjoy my writing. Really, you guys are awesome, and I'm so glad you actually like what I write and post on here. I hope I do these characters justice. Now onto one of the more fun ideas I got when I was on a business trip this weekend. Tessa is my favorite character and I hope you enjoy the unexpected arrival.
"Do you remember when Will ran up the tree?" Jem's amused voice matched the sparkle in his eye, Tessa sitting in his lap as they had a lovely picnic on the floor of Magnus's apartment. Tessa's laughter rang out through the empty place. Alec had taken the glittery warlock out for a dinner date, much to Tessa's amusement, and had offered Jem to use the space to set up a nice romantic date for Tessa while the warlock was away for a few hours. Someone had to feed Chairman Meow on schedule, after all.
"How could I forget? The fearless Herondale knight cowering from a duck." The brunette girl responded, laying her head on Jem's shoulder. Their fingers entwined, a smile adorned her perfect pale pink lips. He rested his chin on the top of her head, both of them lost in the past.
"Oh, speaking of ducks, I heard Magnus has a new visitor." Tessa rose her head from his shoulder, a questioning expression on her face. "Besides Chairman Meow of course." This statement only confused her more, her raised eyebrow and mouth off to the side showing she was utterly lost at Jem's new piece of information.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean one of your great great great-" Before he could finish, a knock on the door interrupted them. Glancing at each other before staring at the door, Jem drew a stele from his pocket and Tessa slipped a seraph blade from the inside compartment of her boot.
"Who could that be?"
"I don't know." The knocking continued again before it suddenly stopped. Tessa rose to get the door, wiping her hands on her denim light blue jeans before arriving at the door. She pushed a stray brunette curl behind her ear before looking through the little looking glass in the wood. Blonde curls came into her view and she let out a breath of relief she wasn't aware she was holding.
"Who is it?" Jem's voice hardened as his eyes flashed a darker hue, Tessa's behavior not so comforting with just a sigh. Her posture relaxed and she opened the door. Jem was by her side in an instant, making no sound thanks to the silent rune he drew on the inside of his wrist with his stele.
"Tessa. I need to talk to you." The blonde teenager focused his attention directly onto the warlock girl, his tone indicating the conversation was, indeed, serious.
"What's wrong Jace?" Her kind bluish gray orbs examined him like a mother would, Jem's arm around her shoulders with a displeased expression on his face and earning the young Herondale's attention.
"Oh, um...I just have a few questions I wanted to ask you, and Alec said you were staying with Magnus and you know what? It looks like you're busy so I should go-"
"No, please. Come in. Take a seat." She opened the door wider, much to Jem's disappointment. But Tessa's kind nature was something he originally fell in love with so he decided it wasn't worth the fight and gave in to her silent request. He stepped aside, allowing the young teenager to step through the threshold and into the apartment. Tessa shrugged off Jem's arm and ducked under it, letting him close the door. "Would you like coffee, or tea or-"
"Just a water, please." Tessa threw him a soft smile before she disappeared into the kitchen. Jace took a seat in one of the plush purple chairs by the fireplace. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?" A fake smile appeared on Jem's face until he remembered Magnus's newest addition to his 'family.'
"Not at all. We were just talking about the past." The older shadowhunter took a seat on the couch as he waited for his Tessa to return.
"Oh, yeah. You two have known each awhile." Jace cocked his head to the side, nodding along to what he was saying.
"Longer than you'd think."
"So, did you meet my great great great-"
"Yes. I knew Will Herondale." A true genuine smile replaced his previous fake smile. "He was my parabati."
"Oh." Jace nodded, his gold eyes showing he was lost in thought. "Oh..." Jace's eyes widened with realization.
"I take it that's what you were going to ask Tessa. About Will?" Jace nodded absentmindedly, his blonde curls bouncing as he did so. "He was one of the best and most skilled shadowhunters I had ever met. You remind Tessa of him a lot, you know." Jace looked up to see Jem smiling softly at him. "He had many secrets guarding his past too. He had problems letting people in, showing his emotions, until one girl showed him it was okay to feel love. She showed us all it was okay to love. He loved her, I loved her...in the end I lost her. I lost the love of my life to my parabati. I don't regret it but it was hard. To watch him take her from me...I lost my only love. And I thought I had lost her forever until a shadowhunter with gold hair and eyes cured me. Now I have her back. In a sense, your Clarissa is like our Tessa."
"I had no idea..." Jace trailed off in disbelief.
"You two are very similar." Jem nodded, serious now. "But I'll let you ask Tessa the questions. She was with him longer than I was."
"I just have one more question for you." Jace blurted out, causing Jem to chuckle and wave his hand in a 'go ahead' type of motion. "How did you know Tessa was still in love with you?" Jem laughed, shaking his head as his gaze fell to the floor.
"I didn't. I proposed to her on a whim. I never truly believed she would say yes."
"Of course I would say yes." Tessa giggled, coming back into the room and handing Jace the glass of water. "But that's besides the point. What are your questions, Mr. Herondale?" Tessa sat down on Jem's lap, the older man gazing lovingly at his wife.
"Magnus talks about him to Alec a lot-" Tessa's melodious laughter cut off the rest of what Jace was going to say. Jem's eyebrows rose in amusement as she laughed and shook her head.
"They had no history other than Magnus finding Will extremely attractive. He had jet black hair and blue eyes like Alec. Magnus has a type, Love. But unfortunately for him, so did Will, though Will preferred the um...opposite gender only." Tessa's bluish gray eyes lit up with amusement, the color standing out against her naturally pale complexion.
"Did you ever meet my father?" Tessa's face fell, her crestfallen expression encouraging Jem to lightly rub her arm soothingly.
"No. Unfortunately, I was busy for the better part of the century and wasn't around civilizations much."
"But you met Clary-"
"Once. Magnus called me back, claiming he needed my help with a Fairchild. You see, the Fairchild name has been around since the time I stumbled to the London Institute where I first met Will. Your cousins are the Lightwoods, you know." Jace's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
"Will's sister, Cecily, married Gabriel Lightwood."
"Much against Will's dismay I presume." Jem snickered, causing Tessa to reach behind him and whack him behind his head. "Hey!" He exclaimed in surprise. "You are not very nice." Tessa stuck her tongue out at him, causing Jem to roll his eyes, however Jace was still thinking over the new pieces of information.
"He also despised ducks." Tessa returned back to Jace, a wicked smirk appearing on Jem's face at the recollection of Magnus's hidden surprise.
"He did?" Jace breathed out in awe. Jem lifted Tessa up then set her back on the couch, disappearing down the hall.
"Mhmm hmmm. Though I think that was also partly Jem's fault."
"Wow..."
"Every time we saw one, he'd scream for me to kill it." Tessa giggled sadly, remembering what she missed. "I never did, though. I don't think they're evil."
"You're crazy." Jace shook his head, his wide eyes staring her down. "Ducks are vicious beasts created for death and destruction of the shadowhunter race." Tessa giggled again, this time throwing her head back and laughing.
"You and Will are so much alike." She mused, a playful smile on her face. "You have no idea." Exhaling softly, the smile fell from her lips as her eyes focused on Jem, or what was in his hands, as he came back down the hall. A mischievous expression on his face, Jem encouraged her to keep quiet. "Don't you dare James." Her tone lowered and her voice contained a threatening vibe to it.
"What?" He replied innocently before setting the duck down and watching as it waddled into the room. Jace was on his feet instantly, his seraph blade drawn as soon as his eyes spotted the duck.
"Tessa! Kill it!" The golden-eyed shadowhunter shouted, crouching on top of the chair. "Tessa!" He shouted, Jem's silent laughter causing Tessa to shake her head.
"Jem." The man was doubled over, laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. The duck took a few steps towards Jace, the Herondale jumping over the chair and hiding behind it.
"Tessa! It's coming towards me. Tessa! Tessa!" His panicked tone made the brunette girl sigh and turn to her husband. She stood up from the couch, her hands automatically landing on her hips.
"Jem." Her voice growled. Jem couldn't stop laughing, and Tessa sighed, relaxing her posture. "I guess this is Magnus's new visitor." Jem nodded, still doubled over and laughter escaping him.
"Tessa!" Jace screamed, terrified of the duck which was only looking in his general direction, the blonde teenager cowering behind the chair.
"James Carstairs. Put it back where you found it this instant." Tessa commanded her husband, Jem's laughter finally ceasing.
"Aw, c'mon Tess. You have to admit this is funny." Jem chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he watched the interaction between one of Will's descendants and the dreaded demonic duck.
"Put. The duck. Back." Jem chuckled again, nodding afterward this time.
"Alright. Alright. I'll put it back in the room." He easily picked up the creature. The duck squawked, Jace jumping out from behind the couch and darting over to the door.
"ThanksTessafortalkingbutIhavetogonowhaveagoodnight." Jace rushed out in one breath before opening and closing the door in a flash. Jem still wore a smile, Tessa's hands still on her hips and giving her husband a pointed stare.
"You have to admit that was funny."
"Seriously Jem?" Tessa's hands fell from her hips as she shook her head. A teasing smile toyed her lips. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Well, finishing our dinner date would be a start." He suggested with a wink before he walked down the hall, the little duck making noises in his arms and Tessa's silent laughter behind him.
