A/N: I'm so so so sorry that I haven't updated for such a long time. I've been really busy lately, and something just popped up in my orchestra class, so I need to spend a long time on that.

Now to address some things I keep on forgetting to address. Ahem. This story might be going on hiatus soon. NO, I won't be discontinuing it, but I want to map out the whole plot before I write more chapters and I forget to add a detail in it or something like that. If I did have one, it wouldn't be until the next chapter I post, and would probably last until mid-June. Another reason for this would be so I could write all the chapters during this time, and I could probably update every day, or at least four or five times a week. Once the hiatus ended, the entire story would be up within a few weeks.

Now...damn. I forgot what I was going to say. I'll probably remember in an hour, I'll add it if I do.

Please bear with me here! I'll try my best to give you regular updates! To the reviewers, favoriters, and author alert peeps: I love you all, and thank you so much!

Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns The Infernal Devices.

Will jolted upright, panting. Jem started and looked up, frowning slightly. Then his face loosened a bit. "You're up already? You've hardly slept at all."

"Why, what's the hour?" Will asked breathlessly.

"Eight thirty. I wasn't going to wake you until eleven twenty."

"Ah, well." Will swung his legs over the mattress and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the ground, unable to rid himself of what he just remembered.

He hadn't dreamed of Cecily for a long time. He thought of her practically everyday, but dreaming was…different. Will jumped up and ran to his trunk. He opened it up and rummaged around. His finger found the catch that sealed off a small, secluded compartment of the trunk that no one else knew of. He flipped it open and felt around until he touched it.

Careful not to bring it into the light, he raised it just enough so he was able to see it. He held the small bundle in his palm, then moved aside the cloth he had wrapped it in. Cecily's clip was revealed, the jeweled flower still glittering as brightly as ever before, twinkling in the light. With a sigh of relief, he held it for a few seconds more and then tucked it safely away in his trunk again.

Will made his way slowly back to his bed. He was still in shock. He reached a hand up and wiped his forehead, which was slightly damp with sweat. "I'm going out for a walk," he muttered.

"But it's almost curfew!" Jem protested.

"I'll be back soon." Will nodded and stepped into the corridor. He climbed down the staircase, pushed open one of the heavy double doors, and strode purposefully into the courtyard. His footsteps echoed slightly on the stone. A slight breeze ruffled his hair, but his heated face welcomed the coolness eagerly.

Standing in the middle of the cloister, Will closed his eyes. You know, Cecily, you're quite lucky that you're not here.

And then, quite clearly, he heard another voice.

"I am here, Will."

Will's eyes flew open. "Cecily?" he said hesitantly.

"Go to the fountain."

There was a magnificent white marble fountain in the middle of the courtyard, an angel atop of it. The angel was standing on one toe, the other leg parallel to the ground, its arms held out gracefully, like a ballet dancer's. Water was spewing from the angel's mouth. Below it was a ring of cherubs, each one possessing an innocent and lovable face.

Will ran to the edge of the fountain. "All right, I'm here?"

There was a giggle. "Don't you see me, Will? I'm right here!"

"Where?"

There was an exasperated sound, but playfully so. The air shimmered, and a faint form materialized in front of Will. A young woman stood in front of him, wearing a deep red dress and her hair piled up. She came very close to Will and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Do you see me now?" she asked softly.

"I…I do."

For a moment, they looked at each other, not saying anything. They just soaked each other's presence.

"What are you doing?" Will managed at last. "Why are you here?"

"Are you not happy to see me?"

"No, of course not!" Will corrected himself.

"You wanted to see me," Cecily said. "Didn't you?"

Will didn't answer.

Cecil laughed quietly again. "Still as moody as ever, I see."

"Would you have expected anything different?" Will laid himself along the length of the rim of the fountain. Cecily sat at his feet and looked up to the sky and then back at Will, who had closed his eyes. She sighed. "You ought to see the stars tonight, Will. They're so bright."

There was a moment of silence. Will opened his eyes and stared straight up. "It's a clear night," he murmured. The air was still, the atmosphere serene.

"Someone's coming," Cecily said suddenly. Will sat up, looking around. Sure enough, a slim figure was approaching them rapidly. "I guess I'll be going, then," Cecily said.

"Already?" Will couldn't keep the wistfulness out of his voice.

"You shouldn't worry," Cecily assured him. "I'll see you again soon."

Will nodded slightly. "Good bye until then." Cecily's form glowed and faded from Will's sight. He turned to the person coming toward him. It didn't take him long to discern that it was Garner.

"What are you doing out here?" he demanded.

Will shrugged. "I don't see how it's any of your business, really." He was feeling distinctly angry and annoyed for having his reunion with Cecily cut short, and as was his fashion, didn't bother to conceal the fact.

Garner exhaled. "Fine. I won't pry. You should get to your room. Classes start early tomorrow."

Will strolled right past him, not bothering to spare him a glance. "Better hurry," Garner said. "Someone's come to see you, he's waiting there right now. That's why I've come looking for you."

Will stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean? Who is it?"

"Don't know," Garner said.

His curiosity now taken, Will raced up to his room. He could hear voices coming from inside, low and muffled. Without a moment's hesitation, Will turned the knob and burst through the door.

The mystery person's head turned from where he had been speaking with Jem. Will pulled up and scowled. "What the hell are you doing here, Lightwood?"

Gabriel snorted. "Don't go getting any ideas, Herondale. I didn't think of this, Charlotte told me to. "

"And like you usual, you have failed to pay attention to any of the details. Why exactly are you here?"

"To help with the investigation," Gabriel said. "There weren't enough people on the case, apparently. I was just telling your good friend of my instructions, before you rudely interrupted us. Charlotte realized there wouldn't be any way to convey the things you found here, so that's my job. Jem told me you're off to explore the observatory, so I'll be coming along with you."

Will looked mutinous. "Charlotte decided that you're good enough for a task with such magnitude? Even Henry would be preferable—"

"Oh, shut up," Gabriel said. "I don't like this anymore than you, but we have to do it."

"I'd prefer if you didn't interfere in this case, Lightwood. You don't even know Tessa. Why do you need to be involved in this?"

"Look, it wasn't my decision," Gabriel argued. "If you've got something to complain about, take it up to Charlotte. It was her choice. As I have already said."

Will looked to Jem. "Does Jessamine know?"

"Not yet."

"I guess she'll find out when we meet with her," Will said.

"Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced and the inconvenience is often considerable."

- Jane Austen

Tessa kept her hand on the wall, moving slowly so as to not disturb anyone. She hid in the shadows, hoping her dressing gown was dark enough to disguise her in case anyone strolled along. It wasn't until she had almost reached the foyer when she heard voices.

They weren't loud voices, they were soft ones. It was a man's. Tessa followed the sound until she reached the south end of the house, where there was another window. This one had a long sash blocking the glass, but the voices were definitely coming from behind it. With her back to the wall, Tessa stretched out one finger and edged the curtain aside ever so slightly.

There was a flash of red and yellow. In a panic, Tessa let the curtain fall back into place. She took a few calming breaths and reached out again.

Oh, it was Crawford all right. He was seated on the ground, three other bulky men surrounding him. Tessa listened into what they were saying, but there was nothing to hear. The night was silent again, save for the pounding of Tessa's heart. There was some more sound, but they weren't human noises.

Crawford had stood up and was now dancing around the fire, throwing something into the flames. In the brief time that the light caught on the object, Tessa managed to see what it was.

It was a collection of daisies petals, long and white. Tessa wondered what Crawford could possibly gain by burning daisy petals. They were making a loud crackling noise. Tessa had never heard that come from a burning flower before. (Not that Tessa had ever burned a flower…) In a wild turn in his dancing, his entire face was turned toward Tessa's window. His eyes met with hers for a fraction of a second, but it was enough.

Tessa gasped and retreated from the window hurriedly. She knew she should have run straight back to her room, but she was too scared to even move. Should she look back through the window? Maybe he didn't notice her. But what if he did? And he was coming back to the house right now? She'd be in big trouble if she was discovered spying on them, especially at this hour. Was it worth chancing another peek? Tessa decided it was.

She very nearly screamed.

Crawford's face was right in front of the glass, staring at her with those beady eyes of his. Horrified, Tessa stared back at him, too frightened to do anything. He mouthed something. Tessa shook her head, trying to indicate she didn't understand him. He mouthed the sentence again, but when Tessa still didn't grasp a hold of the message, he motioned to the bottom of the window, and then pointed upwards.

"Oh!" Tessa grabbed the latch and pushed the window up.

"What were you doing?"

"I—I'm not sure, sir," Tessa stammered.

"Obviously you do, or you wouldn't have backed away." His gaze seared into her.

Tessa was mute.

"Well?"

Still, she said nothing.

A cool night gust sailed through the window. It was cold on Tessa's face, but inside she was boiling hot.

Crawford sighed. "You're not going to give me an answer, are you? It seems we have reached a stalemate, then. Close that window and get back to your room. You haven't escaped punishment, mind you. There will be certain repercussions for doing things." He shrugged. "It's really too bad. I had thought about making you do it anyway, but then I decided against it. However, tonight you have changed my mind once more." He reached up and shut the window from the outside.

Back in her room, Tessa went under the covers. Well, she thought bitterly, that wasn't a total waste of time. But now it was harder than ever to sleep.

Sure enough, when Tessa rolled out of bed, there were dark shadows under her eyes. She stumbled to the dresser and ran a comb through her hair. Her dress was rumpled, and she was thought, irresistibly, she looked almost as she had the day after her encounter with Will in the attic.

The thought of him made her ache. How long had it been since she'd seen those stunning deep blue eyes or such a fair face? But it was not only Will that she was missing. Jem's calmness and music, Henry's inventions, Charlotte's kindness, and even Jessamine's snootiness. There certainly wasn't a more diverse place than the Institute Tessa had ever been to, and she'd lived in New York City her life.

With a certain amount of trepidation, she went downstairs and into the dining room, where Crawford and his men had already sat down to breakfast. "Sir." She took her place by Crawford's chair.

"Relax," he said smoothly. "You needn't worry about anything."

Tessa didn't a muscle in her body. She didn't want Crawford to know that she had been worrying about what was going to happen the whole night.

A/N: A little Tessa coverage. I feel like neglecting her, I really do. I think it's because of my fangirl craziness over Will. Sorry about that. I'll try and get some help for that. Once I get some things figured out, I'll be able to post some teasers, if you want them. Gah. Now I feel like I'm copying Cassandra Clare.

Please review! Do you like Cecily? It's kinda hard trying to characterize her when we have virtually no information about her. I think I'm making her too...perfect, if you know what I mean. This is what we know about her, from what Cassie said on her Twitter with her character Q and A (these are all addressed to Will):

Q: Do you miss Cecily?" A: Every day.

Q: If you could tell Cecily one thing, what would it be? A: That I'm sorry.

Q: On what occasion, if any, would you NOT lie? A: I wouldn't lie to Cecily.

That's it, there was one more, but it was the same as the first one, but with "yes" as the answer.

And then one to Cecily~

Q: Do you love Will? A: I did.

Much thanks Cassie, for making my head explode with questions. I quite appreciate it.