Reaching up she placed the hard copy of Shakespeare's Hamlet beside Macbeth. Pulling her hand back, Tessa's eyes were drawn down the row as she read the title of his other works written along the spines of the books. The Taming of the Shrew was a funny tale, though maybe not a very modern take on women. A Midsummer's Night's Dream she hadn't read in a while, though Tessa could recall it's focus on enchantments, and an angry Fairy King. Then, of course, there was the classic of Romeo and Juliet.

Moving past her bookworm nostalgia, Tessa picked up the next book to be shelved on the trolly. It was a rather peaceful task, shelving library books. Tessa found it relaxing to look up their index numbers and make sure each one went in its proper place. She'd been volunteering here for quite a few months now, and it had become her quiet 'me time'. At home with two partners and a child there was always someone who wanted her attention, but here in the library - surrounded by books - Tessa was totally and completely at peace.

It didn't mean she loved Will, Jem, or Lucie any less. In fact, it probably meant she appreciated them more. Spending four afternoons a week here had been the best decision she'd made in years. Tessa had even signed up for a couple classes come September. She had dropped out after her third year, so by doing classes part time, Tessa was pretty sure she could finish her Bachelor's in two years which was fine by her. What was the rush anyway? After all, Tessa enjoyed studying English and taking more time to get it done didn't bother her, especially as she had very little idea what she was gonna do once she completed it.

Finishing the stack she had left, Tessa moved away to go fill the trolley once more. Pushing it down the endless rows of books she liked to glance at the titles, and see how many she knew, even if it meant she had to walk slower. Libraries were her favourite place on earth. Behind every book cover was a new world woven with the written word. The very concept often felt like magic to her.

"Finished with those already?"

Tessa looked up from her musing and smiled. The speaker was her co-worker, Sophie Collins. She was a slender woman, with luminous hazel eyes, and dark flowing hair. Sophie had a gentle kind smile, and a shy disposition, likely due to the scar on her cheek. Tessa has not asked where she'd gotten it, though she suspected it had been some kind of childhood accident.

"What can I say," Tessa replied, smiling. "I love shelving books."

"And you're good at it too," Sophie replied. "I just wish we could pay you for it."

"It's okay. I enjoy it," Tessa answered as she stacked more books on her trolly. "It's my 'me time' before I go home to chaos."

"I know what you mean," Sophie chuckled. "I have two kids at home myself, and sometimes it seems like my husband is the third kid instead of a parent. So it's more like three."

"I hear ya," Tessa laughed before taking her now full trolly back the way she'd come.

All her co-workers here knew Tessa had a partner, or common law spouse, and they knew she had a child, but Tessa hadn't quite figured out how to tell them she had two common law spouses. In fact, she hadn't even figured out if she wanted to. Instead, she just used the pronoun 'he' when referring to either Will or Jem, and let everyone else assume she was only talking about one person.

Most of her close friends knew. Tessa's parents had died when she was young, and she hadn't kept in touch with her brother when he started ruining his life, so there really hadn't been anyone else to tell. When she was at home with Will and Jem it all felt normal to her, but out in the world, defining her beautiful three way love affair didn't seem quite so simple.

While Sophie had two kids and a husband, Tessa had two husbands and a kid.

Letting her thoughts fall away with her breath, Tessa focused once more on her task. Instead of the collected works of Shakespeare she now had a pile of cookbooks to shelve. Definitely a less interesting task, but just as peaceful.

One of the really wonderful things about coming to volunteer here had been getting to talk to Sophie about mom stuff. Tessa hadn't realized how much she'd craved female company. With Sophie she could talk about her stretch marks and the discomforts of being pregnant, the problems with screaming toddlers and overworked spouses. Tessa wanted to tell Sophie that she had an overworked spouse and a stay at home spouse, but again it just seemed easier to keep that detail to herself. Sophie's life seemed so perfectly ordinary to Tessa, and she still didn't feel sure Sophie would understand her odd arrangement.

Cookbooks all put away, Tessa did one more trolly full before her shift ended and she went to collect her things. She waved a quite goodbye to Sophie before she did. Sophie was the only full time employee at this library as most of the others were part time students or volunteers like Tessa.

It was a beautiful day outside. The sun was shining in that way it did in early June that made you feel like the whole summer would be glorious. Tessa took a deep breath in and savoured the moment. Life was good. She'd overcome so much more than she'd ever thought she'd have been able to in the last few years, and now here she was still standing.

Or rather walking in the beautiful sunshine to the bus stop. Tessa chuckled to herself.

Reaching the stop and knowing she had a few minutes Tessa pulled out one of the books she'd taken out at the library today. Tessa had always been an avid reader, and spending so much time at the library had only added to the number of books she read in a month. It was one of the reasons Tessa didn't mind taking the bus. She enjoyed reading on her way home. The bus driver was even nice enough to gently remind her when her stop was coming up if she got really lost in her book. The other reasons being of a more practical variety; Will was working and Jem was on Lucie watch.

One short pleasant bus ride later, Tessa arrived home to find her Jem sitting on the floor with Lucie standing beside him giggling. The two and a half year old seemed to be doing her father's hair. Jem had many different coloured barrettes tangled in his hair along with what might be glitter.

"Oh my," Tessa chuckled.

"It was either this or a tantrum," Jem explained.

"Wise choice," Tessa smiled at him.

Then Jem stood up, moved forward to kiss Tessa lightly on the lips and whispered, "Tag you're it." Before moving off towards the hall and probably his hair brush.

"Ma ma!" Lucie giggled toddling over as fast as her little legs would carry her.

"Hello my lucky Lucie," Tessa smiled reaching forward to scoop her daughter into her arms. "Did da-da let you do this hair?"

"Da-da beau-ful," Lucie grinned proudly.

"Indeed he is," Tessa replied, still smiling.

"Da-da fun un un," Lucie almost screamed.

"What about da?" Tessa asked.

"Da gone most time," Lucie shrugged. Then she started to wiggle without mercy, and Tessa almost dropped her.

The moment the toddlers feet hit the ground she was off running down the hall. Tessa heard an 'oof' then Jem's voice greeting Lucie.

With a sigh, Tessa began making dinner. She was peeling carrots when Jem and Lucie made a re-appearance. Jem had gotten most of the obvious toddler mess out of his hair, and Lucie was looking sulky about it.

"No like," Lucie huffed.

"Lucie did a beautiful job, but da-da has to look different from a fairy princess," Jem was explaining as if he'd explained this a dozen times already.

"No," Lucie objected.

"I give up," Jem sighed as he slumped into a bar seat near the counter Tessa was preparing food on. "Tag your it, remember? I'll make dinner. Your turn to be queen of the castle."

Tessa smiled at him. "I love you," she said softly.

"Not as much as I love you," Jem replied easily, standing up to move around the counter and kiss her deeply this time.

The task currently at hand forgotten, Tessa focused on his kiss and being pulled into his arms. A soft contented noise came from deep in her throat, and she'd quite forgotten the world around her until they were interrupted by Lucie pulling on their clothes.

"No," Lucie said firmly.

Tessa reached down and scooped her daughter up into her arms to rest on her hip. "Lucie," Tessa said calmly. "You can't say no to mommy and daddy kissing."

"No," Lucie repeated with a shake of her head.

"What about da and ma kissing?" Tessa asked.

"No -issing," Lucie stated, shaking her head again.

"I'd like to get this in writing," Jem said. "To remind you that there is to be no '-issing' when you're a teenager."

Tessa couldn't help but chuckle. True to form she took charge of Lucie while Jem made dinner. And less than an hour later they were all sitting around the table eating. Tessa hated it when Will wasn't home for dinner. She knew his shifts often ran late, but it always made her worry more than when he was gone during the day. She wished he'd text or something, but she knew he was probably just too busy working to text.

"You know what after dinner means," Tessa began, forcing an exaggerated smile. "Bath time!"

"No!" Lucie yelled, wiggling in her high chair.

"Come on Lucie," Jem counted. "You love bath time."

"Out!" Lucie demanded, pushing on the straps buckling her into her high chair. "OUT!"

They let her out, and no sooner was she free than she'd dashed down the hall.

Tessa and Jem looked at each other, before lifting their fisted hands and moving them up and down three times.

"Scissors beats paper," Jem gloated. "Your turn."

With a sigh, Tessa got up and followed the toddler down the hall. After a half hour of careful parenting, Lucie was in the bath and after a half hour bath, Lucie demanded she wouldn't leave the tub.

"She doesn't want to take a bath or leave the bath," Tessa sighed. "It's like trying to reason with a paradox."

"They should put that on parenting brochures," Jem laughed.

It was at least another hour before they finally had the adorably devious toddler in her pajamas and ready for bed. Getting her to sleep though was another matter entirely.

"Story!" Lucie exclaimed.

"Who do you want to read you a story?" Tessa asked.

"Da-da," Lucie stated firmly. Tessa smiled and gracefully bowed out. There were some perks to not being Lucie's favourite guardian. At times it stung, but it also meant she could go collapse onto the couch right now.

About twenty minutes later Jem joined her. He looked tired. Neither of them said anything, but instead cuddled up on the sofa together. Jem pulled the blanket from the back of the couch down over them. Tessa was so comfortable there with him, warm and wanted. There really was no replacement for this cozy family feeling. The only thing that could have improved this moment was if Will was curled up on her other side.

Tessa must have fallen asleep, for it seemed a second later that she opened her eyes to see Will's smiling face.

"What time is it?" Tessa asked, groggy.

"Late," Will replied. "I just got home to a very sleepy house." Tessa turned to see Jem still asleep beside her.

"Why are you home so late?" Tessa asked, rubbing her eyes.

"I lent Jace my truck today," Will explained. "So I had to get a ride home with a buddy."

"Oh," Tessa replied, unable to recall why Will had lent the truck out.

Will was smiling at her now, and second later he leaned down to kiss her. Tessa moaned softly. "I've missed you," she whispered.

"I miss all of you when I'm at work," Will replied. "My Tess, my daughter, my best friend. My family."

"Don't go to work then," Tessa replied as if this was the simplest thing in the world to do.

"I love you," Will stated with great conviction. "But I am my job. Being a firefighter defines me. I'd be lost without it."

"I know," Tessa sighed. Then she reached out and pulled him down onto the couch beside her. "Stay," she ordered.

"Forever," Will whispered back.

Tessa smiled as she turned to kiss him. His arms reached out to wrap around her, and before she knew it, she was sitting on his lap. Moments later she could feel him hard against her thigh.

"Should we wake Jem?" Tessa whispered.

"After," Will whispered back as he stood up and carried her off to the bedroom.

Tessa was thrown on the bed. She knew somehow that Will didn't need her to do anything. He had that look in his eyes that he wanted to make her melt, and Tessa wanted nothing more than to let him. Slowly he peeled back her clothes, sending tingling sensations across her skin. Tessa closed her eyes and focused on his movements. His hands covered her breasts, teasing her nipples as his mouth moved down her sides and around her hip.

"Oh Will," Tessa whispered. She had her legs spread now, welcoming him. His hands were moving along the sensitive skin of her hips while his mouth teased her.

Unable to handle any more teasing, Tessa sat up and attacked his clothes. Why did he still have so many on! She loved the planes of his chest, the toned muscles of his arms. She ran her fingers over them before he seized her mouth in an open kiss. They fell backwards onto the bed, and as she wrapped her legs around him the teasing ended. She felt him now engulfed by her and moving quickly. Her climax built in her so fast it burst almost at once. Her limbs tingling, Tessa indicated that she wanted to flip them over and Will obliged. On top now, his hands on her hips, Will bounced his hips with hers and moments later they both finished. This time Tessa collapsed on top of him, panting and out of breath.

They stayed like that for what felt like a long time. Tessa rolled over and the next thing she knew, Will was snoring. Smiling to herself, Tessa got up, wrapped a robe around herself and went back into the living room.

There she found Jem, still fast asleep. Tessa leaned down to whisper to him as she gently touched his shoulder. "You fell asleep on the couch."

"And you smell like sex," Jem replied. "I take it Will is home then?" Tessa nodded.

"Hmmm," Jem sighed as he reached out to have her sit next to him. "We have a very strange little family, don't we?"

"That we do," Tessa replied. "And I wouldn't change it for the world." She leaned forward and kissed him deeply before adding, "Come to bed, my love."

"One of your loves you mean," Jem smiled. Sensing something was wrong, Tessa turned to face him.

"You know I love you both so much," Tessa said. "My love for one in no way diminishes my love for the other." He nodded but still looked sulky so she added, "What's wrong?"

"I can't keep up," Jem sighed. "I used to push myself, but then we had Lucie, and everything slowed down. I got used to the slower pace, and now I just don't think I can keep up anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Tessa asked kindly, raising her hand to touch his face.

"I'm just always tired," Jem sighed.

And Tessa knew why. Hemochromatosis. It was the disease she'd researched more than any other because it was the one Jem had. One of the symptoms was lack of energy and it got worse with time.

"No one is asking you to, as you say, 'keep up,'" Tessa told him gently. "You are part of his family Jem, whether we make love once a week, or once a year." She paused then added, "And on top of everything, you take care of Lucie more than anyone. Full time toddler care would exhaust even the healthiest adult."

"Thanks," Jem smiled.

"If you like we could look into daycare," Tessa added. "Just a couple times a week. She needs to meet other kids her own age, and it seems to me that you need a break."

"No daycare would take her without potty training," Jem reminded her.

"Right," Tessa sighed. "We gotta start that."

"Yes," Jem laughed.

"A problem for tomorrow," Tessa grinned. "Now come to bed, my love, or do I have to carry you?"

Yay! A Tessa chapter. It's almost been as long as with a Clary chapter! Sorry! Just didn't have a scene for her and got distracted with all the Jaia. Also I will admit to rushing the clock in the story these last few chapters to get Clary home. There was like NO plot left to do without her. lol. I had done everything I'd decided to do in the Clary-free world. I cut a few things that didn't fit but that's besides the point. Those last few months for these characters till Clary's return did involve alot of time gaps, hope no one is complaining. You all seemed to want Clary back so bad I figured you wouldn't mind.

Also the next chapter is almost done and I've even updated my other in progress story, Rock Bottom! It's almost like the good old days but not quite.

Anyway please review! As always I love to hear what you think.

Sneak Peek Chapter 153

"I know it doesn't exactly look like it did," Jace mumbled. "But our room is the same." Jace paused when she didn't speak and then continued. "With Jon and Jordan here this place has become a bit of a bachelor pad, is all. But we can fix it up, change whatever you like."

Her instincts were telling her Jace was nervous, but it had been so long since she'd stood in his presence it was hard to be sure.

"That makes sense," Clary finally said. "Three single guys living alone would end up with a very bachelor vibe."

"I wasn't single," Jace replied firmly. "And Jordan isn't anymore either. Did you hear he and Maia got back together."

"I hadn't heard yet no," Clary smiled. "That must have been quite something. I hope Paige is okay."

"She's at Magnus and Alec's," Jace explained.

"It's crazy how much has changed while I've been gone," Clary said.