A/N; Hello, guys I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update. Exams and stuff have started and I've been stressed but I'm back! Ok everyone I have a slight AU that Will's father use to hit him, what are your opinions on that? Would you all mind if I did that? Thank you! –HerondaleThoughts x

Chapter 8, Will's POV

Will stared at the cat. The cat stared at him. Church looked at him with greedy eyes, what had Jem ever seen in him? Will wondered, the animal was the devils spawn. Will sighed and rubbed his face, why had he agreed to this? Well, he got to see Jem again. That was good, but what they were talking about was not so good. Will didn't register someone had entered until he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was soothing for he knew the touch

"Jem"

Will

"Don't use that tone with me"

What tone?

"That serious tone that I've done something wrong, I've done nothing wrong"

I know that

"Then stop sounding like I've done something wrong," Will snapped angrily. He rubbed his face and let out and exhausted breath

When was the last time you slept?

"That doesn't matter"

Have your nightmares returned?

"James, I said leave it!" Jem looked up at Will. He saw his blazing blue eyes. Those eyes with so much hurt and pain in them and he couldn't cure it

Will…please.

"They have alright? Yes. The nightmares have returned. And I wake Tessa up nearly every night when I'm screaming from them"

You should not be ashamed, Will let out a noise from his nose and scoffed at Jem

"You wouldn't know"

You're right, I wouldn't. My parents were dead before I got the chance to ever really know them. Will looked at Jem and sighed again. He knew he had stepped too far when Jem spoke to him like that. He sat down and buried his head in his hands and shook his head

"I'm sorry" Jem nodded and moved away so he was sitting opposite him

Do you still read?

"Of course"

Poetry or fiction?

"Poetry, Tennyson mainly but occasionally W.B Yeats" Jem nodded again and sighed gently

Do you ever turn to music?

"I can't play to save my life," Will laughed. Jem smiled up when he laughed, it was good to see him laughing instead of crying

Singing?

"Oh yes I sing, I sing little Jamie lullabies"

He is very lucky to have you do that. Will nodded and looked at Jem sadly

"Jem, I don't want to talk about this" Jem nodded

If I return tomorrow, do you promise you'll speak to me then?

"I swear" Jem nodded and bowed

Then goodbye brother

"Mizpath" Will stood and walked Jem to the door. Will knew what he was doing was wrong, he knew fine well it was but he couldn't talk about it.

Jem's POV, The Next Day

Jem stood and looked at the large Institute. Will was somewhere in there, he thought, his parabati was somewhere in there. He took a step up the stairs but was stopped by an invisible force and a voice cooed

"He's not in there" he looked at Jessamine

He is not?

"No, he left this morning. Said he wanted to go race Balious in the forest"

Did he know he was due to meet me today?

"Oh he knew full well, he told me to pass on a message to you" Jem nodded and waited

"He said, I am not running from you. I never could. Tell Tessa I'll be back before midnight and to tuck Jamie up. Tell them both I'm sorry" Jem looked at Jessamine worriedly

"You don't think he's gone to…you know"

Will would never do that, he has too much here now just to abound it

"Yes, but he's not in his normal frame of mind is he?" Jem sighed and nodded

I must go to Tessa now, tell her Will is gone before she starts worrying. Jessamine nodded and let Jemcontinue his walk.

He found her in the library, she had been crying. He could tell straight away she had been crying, he always knew. He touched her shoulder softly, not startling her

I am here, but he's not

"He ran away, Jem. I woke up and he wasn't there and Balious was gone"

He did this as a child, he would take the stallion away at all hours. It happened a lot when we were growing up, he would get frustrated at himself or me. He would storm out of the library and leave me, I never left my spot though. I always sat and waited for him to return, and he always did return. Soaked from rain and covered in mud as if he had been wrestling himself or the horse. He probably did wrestle Balious, they have a bond. A blood oath almost, to protect each other. Tessa nodded and pinched the bridge of her nose

"Was he like this when I was not myself? Did he drive himself to despair?"

He worried greatly for you, but he knew you would come back. He had faith in you, as I had in him. Jem sat down in front of Tessa and took her hand, tracing lines

We are connected; You, Will and I. We have a red ribbon that strings our hearts together. In a way that one is never alone from the other. Even now as Will is away, you can feel him can't you? Or hear his mutterings in Welsh? For I know when I am in my chambers in the Silent City, I hear Will's mutterings or your gentle encouragements. And I hear all of us laughing, we are a three. We are never alone. Will made a vow to protect you, I made a vow never to leave you, and you swore that you will love us for all our life. A three, never to be separated. Jem spoke so heartedly he didn't know Tessa was crying. He didn't mean to make her cry, he sat and held her as she sobbed into his robes. He listened to how she begged him not to leave because she was scared. He kissed her temple occasionally, he knew he shouldn't but he meant it as a comforting gesture and Tessa soon settled. Drying her eyes as best she could

"W-Will misses you" Jem nodded gently "Sometimes he cries in his sleep for you, I do too. He will get better won't he?" Jem kissed Tessa's hands softly and spoke kindly

Tessa, you do not know how long Will bottled every emotion that was possible. His heart is like a Phoenix. When it is at its brightest, it puts out its own flame… he pressed a ring into her palms, it was Will's Phoenix ring that he made Jem wear when he was lost, the ring had the beautiful colours of fire in them

And falls down to ashes, but from the ashes it rises into its former glory again. And all is not lost. Tessa sobbed and nodded. She slipped the ring on, looking up at Jem with tear stained cheeks "I love you" she whispered to him

I love you too, Tessa. And I never will stop falling in love with you. But I must go now, next week I will see you again. Blackfrairs Bridge, for an hour as promised

"I will hold you to your word," she laughed shakily making Jem smile and nod

Hold me to it indeed, I will not break it

"No, you never would" Jem stood up and kissed her forehead, leaving silently. He knew things were shifting now, he knew he needed to get to Will before the darkness did. For if he lost his parabati to the darkness again…he wasn't sure if he would be able to pull him out.

He later received word from the Institute that he was needed. He rushed back to the institute and saw Henry nursing Will on the sofa, the side of his head was clearly beaten in. Jem couldn't rub his face in frustration, this was the next stage. Wills recklessness. Jem stepped forward

"He's been out since he came home. Cyril was tending to the horses and he saw Balious come in with Will unconscious on his back. Cyril has a broken nose from trying to settle the horse" Jem took a sharp breath in and inspected the wound

What of Tessa?

"She is with Charlotte, Bridget is taking care of James, Charlotte managed to get Tessa settled" Jem sighed and nodded, he checked the wound gently and shook his head

He did this himself, I think he rode too fast and too dangerously and this is the result

"Would it surprise you if it was?" Jem remained silent. He cleaned the wound and drew an iratze to stop any further bleeding

Henry, do you mind if I have a few moments with Will please?

"Of course, of course" the ginger soon left and Jem sat down opposite Will, taking a breath

I know you're awake, and I know you can hear me. That was very wise, getting a head wound like that. Did you know you missed your meeting with me today William? You probably do. Who am I to lecture you for missing it, but I care about you. And I care so deeply that I have to tell Magnus that you are refusing to talk. He made me swear if you were being stubborn, I had to tell him. Jem waited but Will still didn't reply

I'm trying to understand, I do not want to argue with you Will. Please…there was no response. Jem sighed and set the small tonic on the table

I made you a tonic for your nightmares, to help you sleep. Please take it. Jem stood up and left the room. He saw Tessa looking at Jem with wide eyes

Tessa, he refuses to talk to me. This is beyond my control and I swore to Magnus if he was being difficult I would go to him. Tessa nodded and sighed "Alright, alright" she sounded so broken. Jem hugged her and then drew back

Tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that. I will keep at him until I find a solution and a way to help him

"Sometimes, you can't fix everyone. Some people are too broken" Jem tilted Tessa's chin up

When the world thought I was as good as dead, Will refused to loose hope. I owe him that, I will see you tomorrow. He bowed and left before Tessa could reply, he had an appointment with the High Warlock of London, and he couldn't be late.