"The big, big bang. The reason I'm alive, when all the stars collide, in this universe inside." - The Big Bang, Rock Mafia


Tessa pulled the bedroom door shut quietly, holding the handle down longer than necessary so that it would not squeak under the pressure. She smiled to herself at a job well done and made her way towards the spiral staircase that led to the floors below. As she descended, she couldn't help but look around at her still somewhat new, beautiful home.

The move to Wales had taken some time and the house was still not completely as it should be, but the general rooms were together and it was more decorating and living that the large manor home needed now.

As she came to the landing below, Tessa took a moment to remember what was on this level of the house and then proceeded towards the large door at the end of the hall, only to be welcomed by a burning fire and her Will buried amongst their towering shelves of books. She smiled at the sight of him, not reading for once but instead standing before the large wooden frames and organising the books from the boxes at his feet into categories.

From her view point at the threshold of the door, she could see his entire frame, watch as the muscles under his shirt shifted and pulsed with his every movement. Tessa bit into the flesh of her lower, fuller lip, not able to merely stand and watch him any longer. He was so absorbed in his task that he did not even hear her as she approached, not aware of her presence until her arms wrapped around his waist from behind and pulled him close.

She felt him startle slightly, and then instantly relax, his hands coming up his stomach to lay over hers. Tessa heard him chuckle, and then in an instant her had turned and his arms were around her too, firelight bouncing between their gazes as they smiled at one another.

"Are they asleep?" he asked softly, tenderness seeping into his tone as he spoke of his two little children.

"They are," she breathed, leaning even more into him, "James took a while longer because he was determined to have two stories tonight, which of course kept Lucie awake as all the noise of his protests was rather a bit too much to be ignored. What a boisterous boy we have, I wonder where he gets that from, hm?"

Will's grin flashed into view, a cheeky and proud look to it and Tessa did not doubt at all that he was glad his son was following in his wayward father's footsteps. Tessa was rather pleased about it too really, but more so because James did seem a bit more controllable than Will ever was.

Still looking pleased with himself, Will said, "He is only four Tess, he may still grow out of it, but where would be the fun in that?"

She scowled, only to repress the smile that was threatening at the corners of her lips. There was a book still in Will's hand, she could feel it pressed against her lower back as he held her. Sliding her hands up onto his arms, she followed his bare skin from where it appeared at his rolled up sleeves, tracing her finger tips down and behind her own back until she could feel his hands.

Plucking the book from his grasp, she gently dropped it on top of the stack beside them, her eyes never once leaving his. The blue seemed to have darkened as she had touched him; the softness growing sharper and fierce with heat. Yet he did not move, letting her do whatever she liked with him, allowing her to lead the way. Tessa grinned and smoothed her hands back up his forearms and onto his biceps.

Through his thin shirt she could feel the heat of his skin, see the inked marks that lined and completed him. She stared up at him, blinking slowly and letting her lashes flutter in a way he had once complimented her about. Being with Will was never repetitive, never the same. Every touch, every quiet moment alone was rediscovering the true meaning of adoration. Passion. Lust. Love. As though he could feel it too, she heard him inhale quietly, his body tensing ever so slightly before he eased once more.

"You're taunting me" he said quietly, his voice husky and full of suppressed desire. It made her spine tingle, her toes curling against the soft carpet. The air felt tight between them, building with pressure and stifling tension.

Tessa smirked faintly and leaned up on her toes to press her mouth over his, but merely pressed, skin on skin without movement. Then she spoke against him, her lips curving with her smile, "And what if I am?"

Will shuddered. The feel of it, running from his chest to her own, was so delicious she could not help but sigh against his lips. Then he moved, their bodies a blur of motion as Will turned them about and pressed Tessa up against the shelves half filled with books. She was laughing quietly, exhilarated and giddy from his eagerness.

In a rather menacing tone he said, "We'll see if you're laughing in a minute." His hands caught at her wrists, drawing them up above her head and pinning them there, his hips against her own and caging her with his body. Giving her no time to respond or even attempt to go against him, he claimed her mouth, massaging his lips almost aggressively against her own.

Tessa felt her bones turn to limp sponge, melting against him and into him. She could do nothing but kiss him back, her body suddenly flooded with heat that spread from the pit of her stomach outwards. "Will" she breathed, a warning in her voice. This was not exactly the time or place to be fooling around, the entire room was a mess about them of boxed books, their children sleeping on the floor above could wake up any moment if they were too loud.

He either did not hear her, or did not care - she assumed the latter - for his hold did not let up, the pressure of his lips only intensifying. The room blurred and fell away; worries, sensibility and thoughts of anything but Will suddenly gone. She heard a moan, realising too late that it had been her own, and knew he had won.

Letting go of her wrists, his hands followed the shape of her arms down to her shoulders, passing over her chest and the swell of her breasts to her curving waist and further still to her hips. He caught at the wad of fabric by her thighs, dragging it up suddenly and causing Tessa to make a startled noise in the back of her throat.

Then he had lifted her, drawing her legs about his waist as he pushed her back even harder against the shelves. Her dress bunched between them as he greedily palmed over the soft skin behind her knees. It was all happening at once and Tessa was certain they might not even make it to getting undressed if he carried on this way.

A crack sounded from behind Will, the squeak of a door. Tessa peered over his shoulder and her cheeks flushed to a shocking red against her pale pallor.

"Mam," a little voice said, black wavy locks falling into sleepy amber eyes.

Will had tensed at the sound of his son, and he too was now glancing back to see James standing in his little blue sleep-suit. He stayed where he was, trying to conserve what he could of Tessa's modesty.

"James, its bedtime. Go back upstairs," he said, his voice not as sure as he would have liked it. The little boy simply stared at his parents, the look on his face still somewhat drowsy and confused. He nodded, the black mop of his hair shaking, before he began to close the door over once more.

"Ne'night" he called and silence ensued as they both listened for the sound of his footsteps retreating back up the stairs.

A mutual sigh passed between them, and then they were both smiling. That had been a little too close. Smiles became laughter, their foreheads leaning together as they enjoyed their moment of embarrassment. James had a habit of wandering in at the worst moments, but at least he was young, and they were always somewhat presentable.

Pressing a kiss to her warm cheeks, Will said, "I may need to invest on locks on the doors, or at least ours. And in here. Maybe the dining room too."

Smacking his arm, Tessa laughed. "And the training room," she added, just to watch his eyes go wide.

"An excellent notion, Mrs Herondale," his tongue caressed her name in the most intimate manner and he pressed his chest to hers, noses brushing as his lips hovered inches from her own.

Skimming his thumb over the side of her thigh, he pushed the material of her dress higher, "Now, where were we?"