"He did what?" Tessa yelled. "Oh I am going to kill him."
"Get in line," Izzy agreed.
"Stop it!" Alec yelled. "Both of you."
"That fool," Tessa said. "I am going after him!" She didn't wait for Alec to disagree with her. Quickly collecting her purse and jacket, Tessa ran out the front door after Magnus. Camille's place wasn't that far. She went to the same university, so it made sense that the evil woman would want to live nearby.
Tessa had never liked Camille and had only put up with her for Magnus's sake. But, Tessa liked Alec. She'd never seen Magnus so happy with anyone before. Overprotective Clary was finally too busy with her own love life to meddle in Magnus's, which meant it was up to Tessa to stop Magnus from ruining his own chance at happiness. Sure, Magnus had never actually said where he was going, but she had a bad feeling. Magnus had always had a weak spot when it came to Camille, even if he didn't realize it. She had a inexplicable power over Magnus that had always made Tessa's skin crawl. In fact, that crazy woman seemed to have a similar power over a lot of people.
Tessa stopped running. She was exhausted, but she'd barely made it three blocks.
"It's just the flu," Tessa told herself as she started moving again, but she stopped not long after. She was suddenly so tired she thought she could nap right here on the street. Entertaining the thought for a moment, Tessa considered maybe it wouldn't hurt to double check. She had been nauseous for a few days now and there was a drug store nearby.
But she had to find Magnus!
The prospect of walking the last few blocks to Camille's apartment, however, made Tessa want to curl up in a ball and never move again. Switching tactics, Tessa got out her phone and dialed Magnus's number. No answer. She dialed again and her call went straight to voicemail.
'I am not sure if you are ignoring your phone or just forgot to bring your phone,' Tessa texted Magnus instead. 'But if you are reading this, remember that Camille never cared about you! She cheated on you. Don't do this Magnus. Go back to Alec.'
Tessa sank into a bench outside a cafe as she caught her breath. She thought sending Magnus that message was all she could do, but after throwing up in the trash can, Tessa felt considerably better and decided to continue her search just a little longer. She got up and headed toward Camille's again, walking rather than running this time. Walking seemed to be a bit easier and Tessa covered the last few blocks easily.
To Tessa's great surprise, as she approached Camille's building, she saw Magnus run past her in the opposite direction. Tessa called after him, but he barely turned, too intent on where he was going to stop. Her curiosity piqued beyond compare, Tessa knocked on Camille's front door. Magnus's blonde ex answered.
"Magnus?" Camille asked hopefully.
"Nope," Tessa replied. "Magnus just ran out of here like the devil was on his heels. What the hell happened?"
"I have no idea," Camille sobbed.
"Don't give me that," Tessa scoffed, though she had to give the woman credit. Those were some truly believable fake tears. "What did you tell him to make him come over here anyway?"
"Ralf dumped me," Camille replied, still sobbing.
"People don't dump you Camille," Tessa said, flatly. "You dump them. Now, the truth." Her dishonest tears dried and she suddenly looked furious. With her hand on her hip Camille glared at Tessa.
"I never did like you," Camille said coldly.
"I know the feeling," Tessa smiled back icily. "What's your angle, Camille?"
"Ralf has been looking at other women," Camille huffed. "I thought maybe he'd smarten up if he saw me with Magnus."
"You want to make him jealous," Tessa laughed. Such a stupid thing to mess with Magnus over. Camille truly thought other people's emotions were just her playthings, but as Tessa studied the other woman's face, she gasped in surprise and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my god, you love him don't you?"
"Why are you even here?" Camille complained. "Go away."
"You may never have truly cared for Magnus," Tessa said. "But you care about Ralf." With that Camille slammed the door in Tessa's face, but she didn't mind. This certainly explained a lot.
Tessa swayed slightly as the world spun. Dizzy and nauseous, she decided Magnus could handle the rest on his own. After all, Magnus had been headed to his place which surely meant he was going back to Alec. Either way, it was out of her hands. She might have been a little rash coming out here to chase after him. Sure, she knew Magnus had a blind spot with Camille, but she did have some faith in her friend's sanity.
Keeping that hopeful thought in mind, Tessa walked around the block to the drug store. She took a home pregnancy test off the shelf, paid for it and then used the public bathroom.
As she waited for the test results, Tessa told herself this was just a precaution. After all, she hadn't missed a single birth control pill. Not one. So, when the little pink plus sign appeared, she was stunned. Trying to convince herself it was a false positive, Tessa bought a second test and did it again. The results were the same. Still disbelieving, Tessa got out her cell phone and looked up the chances of a false positive pregnancy test. To her great dismay, false negatives were common while false positives were less so.
How the hell had this happened then? Determined to find out, Tessa googled 'how can you get pregnant on the birth control pill.' She scrolled through several sites before she found the answer: antibiotics. This site recommended using a second form of protection while taking any antibiotic with the birth control pill. But the pharmacist hadn't even come close to mentioning that to her when she went to pick up the antibiotics for that stupid bladder infection! And it was the same pharmacist that sold her the birth control for crying out loud!
Tessa took a few deep breaths, alone in her bathroom stall to calm herself. Being mad at pharmacists wasn't the answer. Though she decided, it was definitely their fault she was pregnant. Pregnant. It wasn't sticking in her head. It didn't feel real. She started doing some math in her head. When had she been on the antibiotics? Who had she been with during those weeks? Tessa slowly realized it could be either Jem's or Will's. What the hell was she supposed to tell them?
Tessa left the bathroom stall and washed her hands while her mind spun. She'd never really given a thought to kids before this moment. She was still finishing university. She was still enjoying being in love. She hadn't thought about what came next once! Could she handle this? Did she even want a baby? No, she needed to tell them before she thought about that. She knew Jem didn't want kids. He'd said as much that day she'd learned of his illness and Will's very existence screamed bachelor. Tessa couldn't picture Will with a child in his arms. When she tried, the imagine in her head was all foggy and fictional. And if it was Jem's baby, what if the baby wasn't healthy? She knew it was unlikely and she'd have to carry the gene too, but Tessa couldn't help but worry. Having a child was one thing. Having a sick child was another thing entirely. It couldn't be both Jem and Will's child, though Tessa wished it could. She was worried who ever wasn't the father would feel like an outsider. Worried she'd lose whoever that was. The idea of never finding out who the father was occurred to her, but that wouldn't work. Jem and Will looked nothing alike. The second the child was born they'd know. Born... Pregnant... Oh god!
Tessa splashed cold water on her face as she stared at her pale reflection. She was scared out of her mind. Tessa placed a hand over her stomach and imagined what she'd look like when she ballooned out like a whale. And from what she knew, having a baby hurt, like really, really bad.
Deciding it was time to face the music, Tessa took out her phone and dialed.
"Hey," Tessa said when he picked up.
"What a lovely surprise," Will said.
"Do you think we could meet up today?" Tessa asked. "Jem too. Either at your place or his?"
"Sure," Will said. "What's this about?"
"I'll tell you when I see you," Tessa said.
"Is everything alright?" Will asked, concerned.
"Umm," Tessa said. "That will really depend."
"Are you at home now?" Will asked.
"No," Tessa replied.
"Where are you?" Will asked. "I can pick you up and we can head over to Jem's together."
"Alright," Tessa replied. "I'll let Jem know." She quickly gave Will the location of the drug store where she was, then called Jem.
"Tessa?" Jem said surprised, but clearly pleased to hear from her.
"Will and I are headed over," Tessa said.
"Lovely," Jem said. "To what do I owe the visit?"
"I'll tell you when I see you," Tessa replied and bid Jem goodbye. She was too nervous to stay on the phone. She wasn't yet sure what her reaction to all this was apart from fear, and the thought of telling Jem and Will then waiting for their response was making her so anxious. How could they react well! Tessa had never talked about kids or the future with Will, and the only conversation about it she'd had with Jem had been him telling her he didn't want kids. This was a disaster!
Maybe she'd gone about this all wrong. Maybe she shouldn't mention anything to them until she confirmed the pregnancy with a doctor. But, it was too late for that. They both knew she wanted to talk to them and she was far too obviously stressed out to make something else up at the moment. Will arrived a few minutes later, saving Tessa from having to think any more about this. Tessa got into the passenger seat of his blue truck, grateful to have a distraction from her thoughts.
"Well, you look fine at least," Will said, concerned as Tessa put on her seat belt. "Still not going to tell me what's going on?"
"I need to tell you both together," Tessa said firmly. She knew it wasn't fair to do anything else.
"You aren't breaking up with us, are you?" Will asked. Tessa couldn't help but laugh nervously. In her current condition, that would qualify as the stupidest thing she could possible do.
"Laughter was not the reaction I was expecting," Will said. He still sounded concerned.
"Sorry," Tessa replied. "I'm just nervous."
"Because you've never dumped two guys at once before?" Will asked.
"Definitely not because of that," Tessa replied and this seemed to cheer Will up, at least a little. Tessa knew him well enough to know he was still worrying though. She could see it in the way he held his shoulders. She wondered what expression would be on his face once she told him. Then she added to herself that they could always break up with her after she dropped this bomb on them. There had been no plan to conceive a child, and for all the boys knew, she'd lied about being on birth control.
They drove in silence to Jem's house. Tessa running over and over in her mind just how she was going to tell them. No matter how she phrased the information, it always sounded ridiculous to her. She guessed that Will could sense her anxiety, but he didn't say anything.
Jem greeted them each with a hug as they entered his house. Tessa also got a kiss on the cheek. But, after that both men looked to Tessa, clearly more interested in what she had to say than in leaving the entryway. They were standing there, both of them waiting for her to speak, but Tessa didn't know how to start.
"We are both here," Will said kindly. "What did you want to say Tess?" Will moved closer to her and gently touched her arm, concern in his face. Jem was standing beside him, facing her.
"I don't really know how to say this," Tessa confessed.
"Just say it," Jem answered. "You know you can tell us anything."
"I'm pregnant," Tessa said very quickly, all her rehearsed phrases going out the window. "And I don't know who the father is." She closed her eyes as if not seeing their reactions would somehow help.
"This was your news!" Will exclaimed. "Yeesh woman, you had me worried."
"I'm sorry," she said, eyes still closed. "I know you, neither of you, want this. How could I ask you… how could..."
"Ask me?" Will's voice sounded shocked, almost offended. Tessa opened her eyes tentatively and felt her whole body relax upon seeing the affection in Will's eyes.
"You're not mad?" Tessa asked.
"I am curious how one gets pregnant on birth control," Will smiled. "But did you really think I'd be mad?"
"I don't know," Tessa sobbed. "This whole thing is crazy. I haven't finished school. We haven't talked about this at all, not even the possibility. It could be yours or Jem's and… I-"
"And nothing," Will sighed. He moved closer to her, a hand on both her shoulders. Tessa couldn't resist the comfort of his arms, and leaned against him. "Either you carry the child of the two people I love most in this world or you carry my child. It matters not which."
"Really?" Tessa asked through her tears. She was, by this point, staining Will's shirt.
"How can you doubt me so?" Will sighed. Tessa mumbled something about Will's bachelor pad.
"Don't you understand," Will told her. "I was a bachelor for so long, not because it was what I wanted, but because it was what I thought I deserved. You and Jem have taught me that I wasn't the sole destroyer of my family. I have faith now that a family of my own is possible, but I have no interest in one that doesn't include you." Will stroked her face from temple to jawline gently before he added, "My Tess." Tessa kissed him softly on the lips, tasting the salt from her own tears then turned to face Jem, tense. Jem had specifically told her he didn't want children. Jem hadn't said a word since she announced she was pregnant. The anxiety in her stomach felt like it was constricting her heart. Even if Will was with her, that didn't mean she wanted to lose Jem.
When Tessa turned to see him, she was surprised to find Jem smiling. Jem walked the two steps forward to where they stood, and taking Will's hands from hers, he placed it on Tessa's currently flat stomach.
"I know whose child you carry Tessa," Jem said. "And it isn't mine."
"You can't know that," Will replied, his hands gently leaving Tessa's stomach as he turned to his friend.
"Yes I can," Jem spoke with great certainty. "Because I had a vasectomy." Tessa's mouth fell open.
"You did what?" Will asked outraged.
"That is why I told you so early in our relationship that I was never going to have children," Jem told Tessa, ignoring Will. "Because I can't."
"Wait a minute," Will said. "When did you get a vasectomy?"
"As soon as the medical system let me," Jem said. "So when I was eighteen."
"All these years and you never told me!" Will said annoyed. Jem shrugged, but Will remained furious. Her boys argued in heated tones for a moment while Tessa let's Jem's words sink in. Tessa was pregnant with Will's child, for sure. There was no uncertainty at all. Tessa put her hand over her stomach and just stayed like that for a moment. Will's baby. She was carrying William Herondale's child.
"It's not like you tell me everything either," Jem accused Will.
"I wouldn't keep something like that to myself," Will scoffed.
"It's not like it really affected you," Jem replied. Will gave him a dubious look before Jem added, "Before Tessa that is."
"It meant I was never going to be an uncle," Will said.
"Oh please," Jem laughed. "You have sisters."
"A sister," Will corrected him.
"Well I think you should get married," Jem said, quickly changing the topic back to the one at hand.
"The law really hasn't gotten around to letting the three of us do that," Tessa laughed nervously.
"I mean just you two," Jem said. "It's your child. You're a family." Will and Tessa turned to Jem, united in their disapproval of Jem's plan.
"No," Tessa said. "You are part of this family, Jem."
"I agree with Tessa," Will added. "We won't cut you out."
"A child doesn't need two fathers," Jem said.
"They say it takes a village," Tessa said smiling at Jem. "How could having more people who love them be anything but wonderful for a child?" It seemed Tessa's question of whether or not to have the baby had been answered. Will's reaction had wiped the thought from her mind.
A sudden noise broke the silence. Tessa recognized the bing as her phone alert. She checked the clock on the wall and had to laugh at the irony.
"What's so funny?" Will asked her.
"My phone is reminding me to take my pill," Tessa told them. It wasn't really funny, but it felt so good to laugh.
"Maybe don't bother," Jem laughed with her. "So, that's a no then?"
"A no for us getting married and leaving you in the dust?" Will replied. "Yes definitely."
"I need to sit down," Tessa sighed as she moved into the living room and sank into an armchair. She was dizzy, but that wasn't the only reason her head was spinning.
"Have you gone to see a doctor yet Tessa?" Jem asked her. Both the boys were now crowded around her arm chair with concern etched into every aspect of their face.
"Nope," Tessa said. "Just found out about a half hour before you guys did." This spurred both men into action. Jem insisted on booking her an appointment for tomorrow. Tessa had a feeling he would have booked her today if the doctor's office was open on Sundays. Will started fussing over her and went to get her some water a moment later. It was all rather surreal, watching them both moving about to aid her. Maybe this wasn't the disaster she'd thought it was. Maybe, just maybe, this strange relationship dynamic could work out.
So did I surprise anyone? Yes the flu plotline was a misdirect for when throwing meant pregnant rather than sick. ^_^ I just love to mess with you guys. This chapter has been written for AGES! At least the part where Tessa tells her boys she's pregnant I basically wrote right after I uploaded the last Tessa chapter. :D Been waiting patiently to the plot to catch up. lol Once I knew where this chapter would end up being I had to merge it with the Malec plotline.
And woot! THANKS SO MUCH! 203 follows! #AWESOME ... oh dear when did I start using hashtags... this can only lead to badness.
Also... I have been PMing bash4102 here on fanfic. (Bash4102 has a cute Malec Story if you guys want to check it out) And while we were talking I realized I hadn't told you guys the other thing that inspired this story. The interwoven plots were inspired by the structure of television shows. You know how in those prime time dramas all the characters have separate lives and yet seem to always end up getting tangled up in each others lives? I wanted to show lots of points of view and perspectives on different events like a tv show would and then I wanted to mix everything up!
Sneak Peek Chapter 44:
Chairman Meow and the Great Catsby chose this moment to jump up onto Alec's lap.
"I'll miss you guys too," Alec told the cats. They were both purring and seemed to know he needed the company. Cats really were the best pets Alec thought as he stroked their soft fur. Alec knew his nostalgia was just masking the pain of losing Magnus himself. Alec also knew he should be mad at Magnus for everything that had happened and he was but not enough to matter. Mostly Alec was just defeated. It was out of his control. Either Magnus would come back and break up with him or not. Alec wasn't sure how long he sat there with the cats in his lap.
