Note: Next chapter may be another time skip. I will be doing two more big time skips. I will jump to when they are 13 and than to when they are 16. After that, I mean unsure how the story will go. I know how it will end and how it will reach that point, but not how many chapter that will take. I seem to write long chapters with a number of things happening in them. Anyway, I wrote an alternate type ending to Love is a Battle ground called Shell. If you would like to see an evil Heat, read that fic. It's a one-shot. review to let me know how you felt about the chapter and mad love to all those that followed/favorited this story. I love that you are loving my story. I could do with more reviews or favorites/follows though. So, If you haven't please check those boxes.
Jack was the first one to wake up the next morning. He was a bit surprised that he wasn't in his room and that Tessa was beside him. It took a few moments for him to recall what had happened last night. Jack couldn't help but stare at the girl in his arms. She looked scared and lost, even in her sleep. He had no idea what he was meant to do. How was he going to help make this better? How was he going to help her?
Tessa slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Jack with an air of confusion. Why was he staring at her? Jack blushed and turned his head a way. He couldn't believe that she had caught him staring at her while she slept. He felt stupid. Tessa pulled herself up as Jack removed his arm from around her.
"Sorry." Tessa said as she tucked her hair behind her ear. She was thankful that the spell she had placed on her hair was still working. She didn't know how to explain having pink hair. She thought for a moment about how her mother was gone. What would she do when she started to come of age? How would she learn how to be a good cherub? Tessa felt hot tears starting to form.
"It's okay Tessa." Jack said as he tried to think of what to do. Tessa threw her head into his chest and started to cry hard.
"I can't believe she's gone." She chocked out. "I don't know what to do without my mommy."
Jack didn't know what to say. He wasn't used to seeing brave, strong Tessa in this state. It broke him inside to see her hurting. He felt helpless and small. He was thankful when Aunt Tessa came into the room and pulled Tessa into her arms. The older woman whispered that Jack should go home. She said that his mother may be missing him. Jack understood. He promised to be back later to check on Tessa before leaving.
"Tessa," Aunt Tessa whispered once the child stopped crying. "Would you like to make a list of the things you need? Hmm? You will be staying with me for a few days and I need to get some of your things together."
"Why am I staying here?" Tessa asked. "Doesn't daddy want me around?"
"Of course he wants you with him." Aunt Tessa tried to smile out. "He just needs time to sort things out."
Aunt Tessa understood the look forming in the eyes of the child in front of her. It may have been a bad idea to let Tessa stay here. She should have gone off with North, but that wasn't safe. North had left with Cupid to over look the prison. They needed to make sure that it would hold what it needed to. Aunt Tessa bit her lip unsure what to do.
"Would you like to help design the tomb stone?" Aunt Tessa asked. "We can make it pretty for your mommy."
"Can there be angels on it?" Tessa asked.
"Yes, and a poem if you'd like. Or some kind words she said."
""I trust in love to see me through the darkness and I will always see the light." Tessa whispered. "I want that on the tomb stone."
"I think that would be nice." Aunt Tessa agreed. Bliss made a note of saying those words whenever she felt down, scared, or helpless. "Trust in love and it will see you through anything."
Tessa sat and thought about what she had just heard. Trust in love. What kind of love should she trust in? Her father's love? He couldn't even bring himself to visit her. Trust in her mother's love? Her mother was gone. Tessa thought and thought on the matter until her mind turned to Jack. She could trust him to see her through anything. It was clear to her that he was willing to help her and be with her even if you father didn't. Tessa would trust in Jack to see her through this. She would trust in him.
Xxx
Three months... Three months... and she was still living with Aunt Tessa. Why hadn't he come for her yet? Tessa didn't understand how her father could love her, but leave her. It felt like she lost both her parents. Tessa stood in front of her mother's grave and tried to think of what her mother would say. Bliss was smart, understanding, and thoughtful, but Tessa doubted that her mother would have approved of North leaving Tessa with someone else for this long.
"Hi, Tessa" Jack said as he slowly walked towards his friend. She gave a small smile and placed her flower on her mother's grave. She promised herself that she would trust in her friend to be beside her forever.
"Hi, Jack." Tessa said after a moment. "I came to see mommy and show her how much I have grown."
"I think that was a good idea." Jack stated as he looked at the grave. It was strange that they hadn't buried her in the church yard. Aunt Tessa had said that it would be better out here in the fields. She would have wanted to be near life rather than death. Jack's mother hadn't liked the idea much, but didn't speak out against it, After all, it had made Tessa feel better. And Jack seemed happier because of it.
"How is your mother?" Tessa asked after she placed a kiss on the tomb stone.
"She's well." Jack replied. "Getting bigger everyday."
"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" Tessa asked giving Jack a weak smile. She was trying to be happy for him. Though, it had been hard. She would be an alone child. Her father did not seem the type to be able to move on from such a great love. How could he replace his soul mate?
"I hope that its a boy." Jack stated. "Than I can teach him all kinds of things."
"Jack! That's mean." Tessa cried out. "Girls can do anything boys can."
"I know, but I don't have to worry about much if I have a baby brother."
"You sound like Aunt Tessa." Tessa sighed out. "Is there a lot to worry over when it comes to girls?"
"I guess." Jack said. "I worry about you a lot."
"That reminds me. Ray came to the house yesterday." Tessa said as she started to leave the field. Jack followed behind her. It had rained the night before making the ground muddy.
"Oh, what did he want?" Jack asked. Ray hadn't said anything about going over to see Tessa. In fact, Jack didn't even know that Ray liked Tessa.
"He wanted to see me." Tessa stated. "I believe that he may have a crush on me." Tessa laughed out. It seemed funny to her that Ray would like her. She had never liked Ray and in her mind believed that he could never like her back. His visit had shocked Tessa greatly.
"What gives you that idea?" Jack questioned. His heart was beating fast. He felt uneasy about the idea of Ray having a crush on Tessa. Jack wondered if it was possible that she had feels for his friend.
"He said he came to call on me." Tessa laughed out. "He used those words."
"And what did you do?" Jack questioned. He hoped that she ignored him.
"Aunt Tessa sent him a way. She said that I could not be called a upon. To come back after a few years, if he still wanted to call on me." Tessa treated the matter as if it were a joke. "I couldn't stop laughing." She added with a smile.
"I don't think that Ray would have liked you laughing out him." Jack stated causing Tessa to sigh out in dismay.
"He should know better than call on me after being rude to me."
"He isn't rude to you." Jack replied.
"Jack, do you want me to be with him?" Tessa yelled out. "Because if you wish, I'll go to him now and say sorry. I will bow before and beg him to be with me. I will-"
"Enough!" Jack whined out. "You know that I don't want that. Besides, its too soon for things like that."
"I guess." Tessa frowned for a moment. "But soon, it will be time for all that. Aunt Tessa said that her daughter started having suitors around age 14. That means about age 13 I should start having some. Three years goes by faster than one would think."
"Yea, I know." Jack said in thought. He didn't like thinking of Tessa courting some boy.
"You will start courting some nice girl." Tessa went on. "What do you think she will be like? The woman you will marry?"
"I haven't given it much thought." Jack said honestly. He had never thought about such things before. Did Tessa think about them a lot? He wondered as he watched her form a frown.
"I have thought heavily on the matter." Tessa stated. "He will be fun, loving, kind, and try to keep me happy at all times. He bring endless joy and give me children. A huge number of them." Tessa said as she neared the town. "And there will be a garden for me to plant lots of flowers."
"And where will you live?" Jack questioned. He kind of liked seeing Tessa dreaming again.
"That doesn't matter. Mommy said a place has a place. It's the heart that matters more than stone. I trust in love." Tessa said as she locked eyes with Jack. It almost felt like she was saying 'I trust in you Jack.'
"Let's get going. Dinner should be ready soon." Jack said to ease the mood. He turned his face from the girl. He had wanted to kiss her too much for it to be good. She was his friend and he didn't want to drive her a way.
"Come by tomorrow." Tessa said. "Dick will be there and I will tell a story."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
"Bye."
xxx
Aunt Tessa smiled as Tessa made her way into the house. She had a treat for the young girl. Sarah, Aunt Tessa's daughter had come over to see her. She would be staying for a while and had planned to visit the home often. Tessa had recalled hearing that Sarah was married to some solider.
"Sarah is human." Added Aunt Tessa. "Since I was human when I had them and carried them, they have no cherub in them. My son does not know of my past self, but Sarah does. She had seen Bliss flying one night and we had to tell the child everything."
"She knows that I am half cherub?"
"No, I have not told her that much."
"Why?" Tessa asked.
"There are things that are better said in person." Aunt Tessa added. "But I believe that she was an idea that you are not normal. I do not have many friends and I had stated that your mother was a childhood friend. If she has any brains, she would understand that you were not human."
"If she doesn't get it, you would feel bad." Tessa said.
"Do not point my flaws out." Aunt Tessa stated. "Your mother did that all the time."
"Jack said he would come over tomorrow." Tessa stated as she ignored what was just said. "I told him that Dick was coming to hear a story."
"Oh," Aunt Tessa said in thought. "Jack is a nice boy. Do you think that he will come to call on you in a few years?"
"One would hope." Tessa smiled out. "If he wants to, I would enjoy a courtship with him."
"I don't like that Ray child. He is not a good boy. I haven't seen him harm anyone, but I feel that he is not someone you should be near."
"I understand." Tessa said. She wondered if she should tell Aunt Tessa about how Ray made her feel cold. Her mother had told her it was nothing. But how could something that was nothing keep happening.
"Eat." Aunt Tessa said. "Sarah will be here tomorrow night."
"And daddy? Will he be coming by?" Tessa asked softly.
"No." Aunt Tessa said without needing to think the matter over. North would not be coming. He did not say as much, but it had been clear. He was not ready to see his child and deal with the fact that she was all he had left of his wife. Tessa took her plate of food and started to walk towards her room. She felt like being alone.
Xxx
"Jack." His mother called to him. "Did you see Tessa today?"
"Yea," He answered as he cleaned his plate.
"How was she?" His mother asked as she sat down. "Did she look better? Well feed?"
"She looked fine."
"I only ask because I know how hard this is for both of you." His mother said. Jack looked unsure of himself.
"Do you think that Tessa will have a lot of men after her when she gets older?"
"Why are you asking that?" She asked shocked that he was thinking of such things so soon.
"She said that Ray came to call on her. She treated it as a joke, but..."
"But it got you thinking of the future." His mother paused for a moment. "I think that if she wants she can have many. I doubt that she will though. She seems the kind of girl who will have eyes on one man and keep them there."
"What if he turned her down or something? She'd move on and have eyes on someone else."
"Not girls like her. Don't confusion being with someone else with being in love with that person." His mother explained. "If the one she loved with all her heart were to leave her, she may move on, but her heart... that would stay with him always."
"How do you know that?" Jack asked. "It's too early to say how she will be in love."
"Oh, you're too sweet." Jack's mother said with a laugh. "Off to bed with you." She laughed out. Oh, to be young and blind. She thought to herself. When her boy grew older, he would be able to tell that young Tessa was in love with him and him alone.
Xxx
"What story shall I tell?" Tessa asked Dick. He had been the first to come to her home. Jack had slept in or at least that was what she had reasoned.
"hmm, tell the tell of the two lovers. The one where the girl is a daughter of a god and the guy is a mortal fighting for her hand in marriage." Dick said in a rush. He had missed her tells greatly.
"Is love on everyone's mind these days?" Tessa laughed out. "I will tell it, but you must tell me about your cousin Sarah. Aunt Tessa said she was to come tonight."
"Sarah is coming?" Dick asked amazed. "I have not seen her in ages. Oh, you will love her. She loves telling stories and knows so much about traveling. Her husband works for the king and Sarah is a lady-in-waiting for the queen herself. That's why she travels so much."
"How did she get that rank?" Tessa asked.
"My uncle was a nobleman and so was my mother. She lost her rank when she married my father." Dick stated. "That is why I love your tells of lovers."
"How romantic!" Tessa sighed out with loving eyes. "She gave up everything she every knew for your father."
"Yea," Dick said. "And she always says that she did the right thing."
"Aunt Tessa left her family too for your uncle." Tessa said. "I don't know if you knew that."
"Sarah had said that once. Something about Aunt Tessa's family not liking my father." Dick said as he recalled his uncle. "He was a good man. I have no idea why they didn't like him."
"Sometimes... there isn't a good reason or any reason." Tessa said. She knew why the cherubs didn't like Aunt Tessa leaving to be his uncle. Cherubs didn't like having their own with mortals. While cherubs helped bring love into the lives of humans, it was hard to be a cherub and love a human. Cherubs lived long lives. Humans did not. Cherubs went to the point of madness when they lost their mates unless they had children to lessen the loss. Humans did not have to worry about that issue as much.
"I guess." Dick said unsure of himself.
"When Jack comes, I will tell you the tell of the of the son of the goddess of love and the mortal princess he fell in love with. In this tell, the princess goes on many quests to rejoin her love, even though the goddess of love stands against her on every turn."
"Oh, a female as the hero? That sounds different." Dick said as he looked about the home. "How is your room? I have not been over since your belongings first came."
"Come and see before Jack comes." Tessa said as she waved Dick towards her room. "It is a fine room. Aunt Tessa let me paint on the walls."
"What did you paint?" Dick asked as they reached her door.
"A garden." Tessa said with a smile. She pushed open the door. The walls indeed looked like a garden. Flowers covered every inch of the walls and they looked so life like.
"You did this be yourself?"
"Yes, I couldn't sleep..." Tessa said. She didn't need to give the reason why. Dick understood the reason.
"Jack would love them."
"Do you think? I always took him as a winter person." Tessa laughed out. "He always whines about the heat."
"Doesn't he?" Dick chuckled. "And the way he lights up when he sees first snow fall?"
"As if he had never seen it before." Tessa giggled.
"I wish I could look at snow look that." Dick said.
"Me too." Tessa said as she wrinkled her nose. "I do not care much for snow. I used to live where it always snowed. I never got to see flowers and spring time weather. I enjoy being able to see the weather turn to spring for once. A welcome change since meeting you all and moving here."
"We are glad you came into our lives too." Dick added, "Jack more so."
"What does that mean?" Tessa question. Was Dick saying that Jack had feelings for her? No, he must be mistaken. Jack saw Tessa as just a friend.
"Hello." Jack called out as he stepped into the house. Tessa and Dick gave a laugh before racing to join their friend. It was story time.
Xxx
"That's when Psyche opened the box and fall into a deep sleep. For inside the box lay death." Tessa yelled out.
"She would have slept forever if Cupid had not looked at his window at that moment." Someone else said. It was a young woman who looked a little like Aunt Tessa. Dick raced towards her with wide eyes.
"Sarah!" He yelled as he hugged her.
"Hello," Tessa said shyly.
"Hello, Jack." Sarah said as she walked over towards where he sat and Tessa stood. "Hello, Tessa. It is nice to meet you."
"Your mother speaks of you highly." Tessa said unsure what else to say.
"She tells me that you take after your mother and love stories." Sarah smiled out. Tessa nodded her head weakly. She blushed slightly. "May I finish your story?" The little girl nodded.
"Cupid saw his wife laying on the ground and raced to her side. On finding her dead, he offered up his immortal to save her life. His mother outrage by what her son was planning stopped him. She took up his bride and breathed new life into her. Psyche woke up no longer human, but a god in her own right. And so heart and mind were one at least and together they had a child named bliss."
Tessa looked at the ground. That had been her mother's favorite story. It was the story of her parents and her birth. Tessa clapped softly after a moment and smiled. Sarah smiled at the children and stared at Tessa as if in awe of her being. Tessa knew, in that moment, that Sarah understood that she was not fully human.
"Is my mother around?" Sarah asked.
"She went to the store some time ago. She should be back soon." Dick said.
"Oh, well than who wants another story?" Sarah laughed out.
Xxx
Jack noticed that Tessa had been oddly quiet once Sarah came in. It was as if Tessa were studying the stranger in the room, watching, waiting. Jack was unsure how to take this new version of Tessa. Sarah seemed to be doing the same thing. There was a silent understanding between the two females. They would talk once they were alone. Dick seemed to pay no mind to what was happening around him.
"That is how the prince was able to kill the dragon and save the princess." Sarah finished. "Now, you two need to run home. It's getting late."
"Yes, Sarah." Dick said. He turned his head to look at Tessa. "Thank you for showing me your room. It was very nice."
"It was nice seeing you again, Sarah." Jack said before leaving. "Good bye Tessa. I will see you tomorrow if I can."
"Okay..." Tessa said. The last thing she had on her mind was Jack. The boys left and Tessa waited for Sarah to speak first. It seemed either knew what to say. Sarah let out a sigh and started.
"So, you are half cherub?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, and you know that your mother and mine were good friends." Tessa stated, hinting that Sarah's mother was once a cherub.
"I know. Mother spoke about her life as a cherub. She said that it was a life I could never know. I was born human. I wished, when I was little, that my mother had stayed a cherub." Sarah said to both their shock.
"You wished to be a cherub?" Tessa asked.
"Yes, when I was little, but I see that the life of magic was not meant for me." Sarah explained. "Tell me. You have not come of age yet? Will my mother be your teacher?"
"I do not know. It is an issue we will deal with at that time." Tessa stated feeling uneasy. She was not used to talking to humans in this manner. It went against what she had been taught.
"Is that wise?" Sarah asked. She did not know much about the world of cherubs, but she did understand children. Sarah doubted that her mother would be able to train the young girl and it was not wise to train in such a small town. If they thought Tessa were a witch, they may burn her.
"I just lost my mother." Tessa stated. "I don't want to think about what she should have been doing at this moment." The young girl hissed the words out. Sarah understand that she had crossed a line. She sighed and waited for her mother to come home.
Xxx
Aunt Tessa came home an hour later. Tessa seemed lost in her own thoughts and Sarah sat reading a book. It was a skill her mother had taught her, along with other things. She was a prize at court to the queen. Sarah stood up to greet her mother. Aunt Tessa hugged her child and looked at Tessa. The child was acting odd.
"She knew what I was the moment she looked at me." Tessa stated. "May I take the spell out of my hair?"
"You may for a little while." Aunt Tessa said. She studied her daughter and smiled with joy. "Tell me, Sarah, how far are you?"
"Not far." Sarah stated with a smile. "I had just found out before I came. My husband was the first I told. I had to talk him into letting me come. We wish that you would join us in the city."
"No, I feel more at home here." Aunt Tessa said as Tessa let her hair turn pink. Sarah seemed amused by the sight.
"How amazing!" Sarah stated in awe. "Mother, your hair was blue, right?"
"Yes," Aunt Tessa replied. Sarah would light up at any sign of magic.
"Mother was born with purple hair, but she always changed it red whenever he went out." Tessa stated. "Every cherub has different hair colors and it doesn't matter what color your parents have. It comes out any shade it wants to be."
"That's why Tessa hates to change it to black." Aunt Tessa explained. "Her head starts to hurt as her hair tries to reject the new color. When she gets older, her hair will stop caring as much."
"That sounds amazing." Sarah cried out as she went to touch Tessa's hair. "Can one have rainbow hair?"
"I do not know." Tessa said in thought. "I have never heard of that before."
"Nor have I, but it could happen."
"I will be your closest female friend from now on." Sarah promised. "If you will have me?"
"I have never had a female friend before." Tessa whispered. "Jack and Dick are my only real friends in the world."
"Than let me be your friend. We shall write and talk all the time." Sarah promised. "I will tell you all you need to know about boys and all the fashion of the world."
"And will you send me books and read to me when I see you?" Tessa questioned.
"Yes, of course." Sarah smiled out. Tessa tried to smile back, but she couldn't. Tessa felt bad. Was she asking too much of Sarah. "It would be my honor to be your friend. Oh, and you must tell me all about the cherub king. Mother said he was very powerful. Have you met him?"
Tessa smiled at the woman in front of her. She did not know that Tessa was princess of the cherubs. Sarah thought Tessa was a normal cherub. Tessa beamed at this thought. She nodded her head fast and hard. She even giggled. She would have another true friend that didn't view her by her rank. Tessa went to sleep that night feeling much better about the world.
Xxx
"Did you mean what you said?" Aunt Tessa asked her child after Tessa had gone to sleep.
"I did." Sarah said. "I plan to visit often after I have my child."
"That is unwise." Aunt Tessa stated. "The child could die."
"Than I shall wait until it is well enough to travel." Sarah replied with an eye roll.
"How is your brother?" Aunt Tessa inquired.
"He is himself." Sarah stated dryly. "He still does not wish to speak with you and hates me for siding with you. I believe that he wished you went back to being a cherub."
"I would rather live my life as your mother." Aunt Tessa stated.
"I know that and I agree with it. But brother is hard headed..." Sarah paused. "What will happen to Tessa? Who will teach her when she comes of age?"
"I believe that I will have to send her off to her grandfather." Aunt Tessa said. "If not, I will have to be a cherub again and that is not something I wish to do. I want to be the one buried. Not the one watching you grow old and die. Mother's should not need to do such things."
"I understand." Sarah sighed out. "Tessa will not though."
"I will deal with it when she is 13." Aunt Tessa said. "And not before that."
"Who is being unwise now?" Sarah laughed out, weakly.
"I can not let her feel anymore unwanted at this moment."
"So, you leave it for a few more years? Let her feel as if this is her home and than kick her out?"
"I am your mother." Aunt Tessa hissed out. "I shall do as I wish and you will not question it. I did not question your wish to join court nor did I ever question the fact that you have spent many nights with our king." Sarah seemed hurt by that statement. "I have never said a word against you. Now, be silent and let me do this."
"I will do so, but in anger." Sarah said as she made a face. "And it was not many nights. It was only a few and to keep my husband alive."
"You do not need to explain." Aunt Tessa said. "I do not care for reasons nor if you still do such things. I care you are happy and well as I do the girl. Her mother trusted me and you should trust in your mother."
"I do trust in you." Sarah sighed out. "But I do know that you do not understand the heart of a child. You have not been one in ages. The actions done now will try with her forever."
"Trust me. I understand forever more than you do." Aunt Tessa said.
"But you do not face forever any longer." Sarah reminded her mother. "You have a number of years left while Tessa has many, many more."
End Note: I need a name for Jack's baby sister. Does anyone know it? Or has an idea of what I should call her? Oh, and there's this box you could write a message on and if you push send I get it. Check it out. K? Thanks.