Hey guys, here's chapter two! Sorry it took me a little while to post it! Just to answer some unanswered questions, no, Tessa and Magnus do not have to "do it". Magnus does have to simply search her skin for the mark, but yes, that does require her to be in her birthday suit! Hope you guys enjoy!

I don't and never will own the characters- it all goes out to Cassandra Clare!

Will's POV

"What do you mean, they want me searched again?" Tessa exclaimed. "I have no mark!"

"And the Clave still wants more proof," Charlotte explained gently. "To refuse is to call the entire engagement off."

Tessa's hand went to her throat, seeking her clockwork angel, I noticed. It was an object that brought her comfort when she was stressed or worried, I had come to see.

Jem was sitting beside Tessa, which was the only reason I didn't snarl a comment. It was the first time the two of them had been informed of the decision, Henry, Charlotte, and myself being previously notified. Jem was running his thumb over Tessa's fingers, which were clutching his hand quite fiercely.

"And who do they propose search her?" Jem asked calmly. How could he possibly be calm at a time like this, the bastard! This was Tessa's body they were discussing, for the sake of the Angel! Then again…I was being anything but calm, so I suppose someone had to be.

I spoke up. "Magnus."

Everyone was silent for a moment, and I watched as Tessa processed this information. I could almost see the gears grinding in her head- the thought made me flinch. Tessa was not a machine of any sort, as much as people like Mortmain would like to use her that way. "I suppose Magnus is an acceptable choice- he is a warlock after all. He knows what he's looking for." She had repeated almost exactly what I had said earlier. She thought he was acceptable- but was she comfortable with him? "How do they know he won't lie simply for our sake?"

"Magnus is a strong ally to the Clave," I said. "If he lies to them, he will have broken the Accords and therefore become an enemy of the Clave. Magnus wouldn't risk that."

Tessa nodded slowly. "Yes, well, then- yes, alright. How soon?"

"The time, of course, is at Magnus's expense," Charlotte said. "So I suppose whenever he is available."

"I do hope he isn't too busy," Jem said. "I'd like to get married before I die." Everyone looked at him in blank horror, including myself. Seeing everyone's reaction, he muttered, "I meant that metaphorically, of course."

"Oh James," Tessa whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

"You'll die when you're old," I barked, sudden anger welling up inside of me. "Not young and certainly not before you get married."

"Will," Jem said firmly. "I thought you had accepted the fact that-"

"No!" I shouted. "You are going to live, James. Do you hear me?"

"Yes," he replied quietly. "Yes, Will I hear you. It doesn't mean I believe you though." And with that he stood and left the room.

I cursed under my breath and went after him, only to be stopped by a gentle hand. "Will, don't," Tessa said. "It's not something he wants to discuss."

"You don't know him the way I do," I growled. "He needs to-"

"It's not something I want him to talk about," she whispered. Charlotte took this time to leave the two of us alone. "I don't want James to die, Will, you know I don't. I love him. But there is the possibility that he will not live much longer…and I don't want to spend what little time I have left with him discussing his soon-to-be death."

"You aren't the one discussing it-"

"You're missing the point, Will. If he is going to die soon, do you think he wants to spend his time talking about it?"

"So you would rather him live in ignorance of it."

"You said yourself he wasn't going to die soon. Perhaps you should work on how to make that reality instead of making everyone believe it is."

I felt tears threaten to escape. Not tears of sadness, tears of frustration. "You think I'm not trying?" I whispered roughly. "You think I haven't searched everywhere for a cure?" The thought reminded me of the search for Tessa's mark. "You are comfortable with Magnus searching you, yes?"

"Yes," Tessa answered. "I trust him. Though having him…look everywhere…I'd rather it be…"

I saw it in her eyes, what she was going to say. "Rather it be who, Tess?"

She swallowed and stepped closer, not even seeming to notice as she did so. "Rather it be…" Her face tilted up towards mine. I leaned forward, wanting to kiss her so badly, to feel her soft beautiful lips against mine- but then she pulled back abruptly. "James," she said crudely, then smoothed her skirt and walked towards the door. "Though I don't see how it's any of your business." With that, she left, as quickly as Jem had.

"No Tess, it's not," I whispered to the empty room. "I missed my chance for it to be my business."