Christmas Night War

by AdloveBook

Tessa is tired of life. It was only a few years since her beloved husband died. Their children were grown up, just like their children's children. The only thing that gives her stability is working in the hospital in the middle of a war. But when she meets an old familiar face from her youth, life gives her a second chance. And this at the age of eighty-three. (AU- Jessa and Wessa)

14. Chapter 14

Jem loved the institute. He could still remember being brought here for the first time when he was twelve.

After the death of his parents, he still had an uncle, but he was not able to take Jem with him. However, as a donor to the institute and his father's English side, Elias was able to get him a place here.

Jem hadn't cared where he would spend his final years. He never expected to find a new home without his parents.

But that's what the Institute had become for him.

Just as its residents became his family.

And in his few years there, he had lived more than in the nearly seventy years that followed.

Presumably the one day that he was with Tessa again gave him more feelings and life than he had during his time in the monastery.

They stood by the grave for a long time, sharing stories from their youth. About Will, who he was, who he's become.

Many of the stories seemed to have been told so many times that they seemed more like a retelling than a memory.

In between they had turned to his stone and spoken to him as if he could still hear them.

Jem knew Will was happy.

He wouldn't be jealous of what was in Jem's heart. His love for Tessa was nothing new, after all.

Even back when Jem was engaged to her and Will secretly loved her too, he wouldn't have done anything to win her over.

Presumably Jem would have stayed, married Tessa and left her a young widow if he had known Will could have lived out his love afterward. He would have been there for her. Would have given her comfort and finally given her a new love.

However, Will would never have done so.

If Jem had died as her husband, Will would never have touched her. They both would have had to grieve alone as he would have kept them at a distance, leaving them both a grumpy, lonely life.

For that reason, Jem didn't blame himself for leaving.

He blamed himself for not coming back sooner. To accompany Will at his deathbed. Holding his and Tessa's kids in his arms. To be able to accompany their life with advice and wisdom.

How many times had he wished the monastery could have been in London? As a monk he had not been allowed to have a family of his own. He could neither marry Tessa nor give her children. But he could have been there when she gave birth to Will's kids, hugged them both and wished them well, on their wedding day. And he would have been there, in every step of life.

Of course Will was right. Their connection bound them beyond death, and he would see him again.

In another life, another appearance, they would recognize each other.

And they would become brothers once again.