ABO Prompt: "I know I'm just a Beta, but I love you and I want to be bonded to you."

Polyam Prompt: Inspiration

When Tessa first came to London, all she knew was pain. The Dark Sisters wanted nothing more than for her to Change, and Tessa didn't want to. It was painful, and though the pain faded away the more she got used to her power, it still didn't make it enjoyable. And the Dark Sisters wanted her to marry the Magister, a certainly unpleasant person as well.

When Tessa was first rescued, she immediately realized her life had just gotten better. The London Institute treated her kindly, even though she was a Downworlder and they were Shadowhunters. They treated her as one of them.

Tessa's favorite people were parabatai: William Herondale and James Carstairs, who went by Will and Jem respectively. And, according to the Codex, it wasn't unusual for parabatai to be involved romantically. That seemed to be the case with Will and Jem. Of course, Tessa had never seen them kissing in public or anything like that, but the way they acted with each other…

It was beautiful.

Tessa wanted a relationship like that. Someone she could trust to have her back; someone she could lean against, even slightly, whenever she wanted to; someone she could love wholeheartedly and know that they loved her back. She didn't know if she could truly find that love one day, but…

She wanted it.

It took her far too long to realize that she wanted it with the two that had inspired her.

She wanted to be with Will and Jem.

But of course, there were problems with the idea.

They were two men together with each other. There was a chance that neither of them were interested in women.

Jem was an alpha, and Will was an omega. The perfect pair. Tessa was only a beta. How could she ever intrude on their relationship?

Will seemed to hate her.

Tessa wasn't usually the type of person to take initiative with these sorts of things. In fact, she never had before. She had never had a boy she fancied, nor a boy who fancied her. But she wanted to take her chance if she could. She decided that the easiest problem to tackle first was the third one.

And, not only was it the easiest, but it was also the most crucial. One and two didn't matter if three was true.

She made another decision. She would ask Jem about Will.

She did not enter Jem's room. It would be impolite of her to do so, and certainly his room was private to him and Will (and Sophie, who cleaned the rooms, but that was not the point). She waited for a moment when Jem and Will were not together before approaching him.

"Hello, Jem," Tessa said politely, sitting across from him in the drawing room.

Jem looked at her, and a brilliant smile spread across his face. It was as if the sun was rising in this very room. Tessa's breath was taken away. "Hello, Tessa. Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Tessa caught her breath. She was sure that if she were not a beta and could smell scents, she would think that Jem's was fragrant. "I wanted to talk about Will."

Jem tilted his head. "What about Will?"

Tessa took a breath. Moment of truth. "I noticed… does Will not particularly like me?"

Jem looked a bit surprised. "I don't think so. I think he appears to everyone as if he does not like them, but…" He let out a small breath. "I do think he genuinely likes all of us. And the reason why he acts so harsh to you in particular…" He paused. "No, that theory is absurd." He smiled a little. "Ignore me, please."

Tessa was confused as to what Jem had been about to say but then retracted, but she figured that the information she had already gotten was good enough. "You're saying that Will doesn't hate me?"

Jem nodded. "Correct."

A small smile spread across Tessa's face. "That's- that's great, I suppose." Suddenly feeling a flash of fear that Jem might guess her feelings for the two of them, she added on, "I rather wanted a friend to talk about books with. I was going to accept an enemy, but a friend is much better."

Jem looked amused, mainly, though there was some underlying feeling beneath his amused expression. "Correct," he agreed. "A friend is much better."

The next problem Tessa decided to deal with was the first one. What if it turned out that neither Jem nor Will - or at least even one of them - were interested in women? The thought almost gave Tessa despair. Not that there was anything wrong with liking only those of the same gender, but Tessa wanted so badly for them to like her, it was almost painful.

If it turned out they didn't, she would support them all the same. Even if she couldn't be their lover, she could remain their friend.

Tessa soon realized that going up to them and asking them if they liked women would be an awkward conversation. Thankfully, Sophie knew that yes, they both did.

Though, after she had gotten her answers, Tessa and Sophie stood in awkward silence.

"This is awkward," Tessa admitted, in order to break the silence.

"It is," Sophie agreed. "Ah, about the reason why you asked…

Tessa shook her head. "I'm afraid I do not want to tell you, or anyone for that matter."

Sophie nodded slowly. "I understand, miss. But I'd just like to say that the way those two look at you rather resembles the way they look at each other."

Tessa's heart rate sped up. "W-well," she stammered, then found she did not have any more words. "You may be excused, Sophie," she said at last.

Sophie bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement, then left, leaving Tessa alone with her thoughts.

And then there was one.

Tessa had to talk to both Jem and Will, she knew. She only hoped that their friendship would not be destroyed after this.

She knocked on Jem's door, where she knew the two of them were. She knew that it would be impolite to enter his room, but surely, if he was okay with it…

Jem opened the door, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face at the sight of her. "Tessa," he said, and her name coming from his mouth made her heart rate speed up.

"Jem," she acknowledged. "I believe Will is here as well?"

"I am," Will said, appearing at Jem's shoulder. "Do you want to talk to me?"

"Both of you," Tessa admitted. "May I come in?"

Jem nodded, and Tessa entered. She remembered this room. She had been in here before, the first time she had met Jem. The way he had played his violin… it had been beautiful.

"I would like to ask you something, or say something, or…" Tessa paused, heat rushing to her cheeks. "Well. It's embarrassing."

"Ask away," Will said, a curious glint in his eyes.

Tessa struggled for words, before finally, they rushed out of her. "I know I'm just a beta, but I love you and I want to be bonded to you." She looked between the two of them. "Both of you."

Will's eyes widened. Jem seemed just as surprised. "Tess," Will spoke first. "Are you- are you sure?"

Tessa nodded, finding that she could no longer speak.

"I love you too." Jem spoke first, stepping closer to her. He turned his head and smiled at the omega. "And so does Will."

"I can say it myself," Will grumbled, but looked at Tessa. "I love you, Tessa, I truly do."

Tessa could almost collapse in relief. "Oh, oh- thank god," she whispered. "If you didn't-"

Jem offered his arm for support and took her to the bed so she could properly sit down. "How could we not love you?"

Tessa blushed. She did not know how to respond to a question like that.

Will sat down next to her. "The only bad part about being a beta is that you can't smell Jem right now," he said with a grin. "He smells very happy."

"So do you, William," Jem countered.

Tessa smiled. They were hers now, and she was theirs.

She could stay in this moment forever.

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