Five Years later
Since becoming a father, Will Herondale has learned many things. One of which was how to exhaust a child without running your own batteries down. His favourite way to do this was to arrange playdates so the little energizer bunnies could tire each other out.
"Everyone's napping, huh?" Jace asked.
"You betcha," Will replied. "Jem was up all night feeding Jimmy and Tessa is still recovering from Jimmy's arrival. And Jimmy, well he's sleeping cause he's two weeks old."
"How very newborn of him," Jace commented.
The two men were sitting on deck chairs overlooking Will's back yard. Felix and Lucie were running through the sprinkler together giggling. The four year old and eight year old got along rather well considering the age difference. Since Felix had started walking and running Will and Jace had made a point to arrange these playdates as often as possible, sometimes twice a week. It was a great way for Lucie to burn off energy after school.
"I can't imagine having two," Jace laughed. "One is definitely enough chaos for me."
"It helps when there are three parents around," Will explained. "Since Jimmy was born I've had a new found respect for single parents."
"Agreed," Jace said.
"I promised Tessa I'd ask," Will continued with a snigger. "How's the wedding planning going? Been engaged for, what, eight years now?"
"Five, thank you very much," Jace replied with a huff.
"Oh yes, five is much better," Will laughed sarcastically.
Before Jace could reply, they were interrupted by the approaching of tiny wet feet.
"Did you see me, dad!" Lucie exclaimed. "Did you see me?"
"Yes," Will lied, making a mental note to turn and look at his daughter instead of Jace. "You were wonderful, sweetheart."
"Felix can't do the cartwheel like I can," she explained, clearly very proud of herself.
"He's younger than you," Will reminded her. "He just wants to have fun in the water."
"I know," Lucie said with a deep sigh like it was such a burden for her to not compete with the toddler. Then at once she perked up and asked where the water balloons were. Will told her and she ran off to get them.
"You know they are just going to throw those at us, right?" Jace stated.
"It's thirty degrees out," Will reminded Jace. "Suck it up and get wet like a real man. Fatherhood requires water balloons to the face. It's just a fact."
Jace laughed. "Sitting here in the shade drinking cold soda it doesn't feel like thirty," he commented.
"Well then get up, take two steps to your left and stand in the sun. Stay there a few minutes and you'll be begging for a water balloon to the face, my friend."
Jace laughed and took another sip of his soda. Will realized he'd forgotten about his drink and picked it up as well. Jace was right. Quite refreshing and he better finish it before Lucie got back with those balloons or he'd never get the chance.
"On another note guess who finally met a decent guy?"
"Who?"
"Annika," Jace explained. "They've been going out for well over a month now and she can't seem to find anything wrong with him, which is a first. She seems to really like him so as long as it's mutual I think they have a real shot."
"And how do you feel about that?" Will asked.
"Happy for her," Jace replied easily. "Just because your three parent family is in one big relationship doesn't mean mine is." He chuckled. "If all works out Felix will get a step dad and maybe some half siblings. I think he'd like that."
"Annika wants more kids then?" Will asked. Though he'd never admitted it, Will had been desperately anxious when Tessa had told him she was ready for another baby. He knew he wanted another child in their little family, and Jem agreed, but watching the woman he loved more than anything in this world go through postpartum depression had been gut wrenching. Will wasn't sure if he could do it again, but if Tessa was brave enough to risk it then who was he to chicken out.
Even so Will had been anxious through her entire pregnancy as well. Worrying far more than he knew was necessary and even today when he knew they were all safe and sound sleeping in the house behind him, Will was still worried. He'd done quite a bit of research on postpartum depression and knew it could happen even years after birth.
"Yep," Jace answered. "Despite the things she said while Felix was being born she wants to do it all over again. Women are crazy."
Will laughed. "They have to be or the birth rate would drop to zero as we'd become an endangered species."
At that moment Lucie returned with the water balloons and just as Jace had predicted began throwing them at her father and his friend. All attempts at adult conversation were put on hold as the two fathers joined in the playtime.
Laughter was their constant companion as they played in the water with the kids. Felix's giggles were half screams and his aim wasn't great but he made up for it with force. When that kid hit you, you felt it. Lucie had better aim and hit her father square in the face a few times, but her throws were gentler. The water felt wonderful against his skin with the sun beating down on them. He was very glad they'd covered both kids in waterproof sunblock before coming outside. Without the sunshade they were at the mercy of the sun's powerful rays.
Jace and Will couldn't keep up with the childrens energy for long and eventually collapsed back into their shaded lounge chairs. This didn't seem to slow the kids down at all. They were running around again, in the sprinkler playing some kind of pretend game neither of the adults understood. Will was fairly sure it involved pretending to be animals of some kind, but that was it.
"I just don't understand how they still have energy?" Jace said exasperated as he watched the kids.
"I think they siphon it off us," Will observed.
"Would explain a lot," Jace agreed.
The sound of the screen door opening made them turn to see Tessa headed in their direction. Will stood up to walk over to her. He kissed her sweetly on the cheek. Childbirth had done nothing to diminish her beauty. If anything motherhood had created a glow around her that made her more lovely.
"Hello," Will said smiling as he kissed her one more time. "How did you sleep?"
"Good," she said. "How's Lucie?"
"Having a blast," Will answered. "How's Jimmy?"
Tessa held up the baby monitor in her hand. "Still sleeping," she said. Will looked at the monitor and there was his son sleeping like an angel.
"What about Jem?" Will asked. Tessa confirmed he was still asleep too.
"I'm worried about Jem," Will said. "I think last night was rough. I should probably take over the night shift for a while."
"Don't be silly," Tessa exclaimed. "You have to go to work tomorrow. I'll cover for Jem when he needs it."
"But you haven't finished healing yet," Will reminded her.
"I can sleep during the day," Tessa explained. "Lucie will be in school and Jem can watch the baby." Will gave her a look, but had to admit she was right. He just hated feeling unhelpful.
Tessa let him take the monitor from her and went to sit on Will's chair. She and Jace struck up a conversation about the kids game but Will wasn't listening. He was busy watching Tessa for any signs of postpartum depression. He studied her expression, counting her smiles until he felt assured that at least today she was alright.
He'd made a habit of doing this everyday since they'd come home from the hospital with their little baby boy. Overall, Tessa had been answering questions well and responding normaling since then. Even if she did give an apathetic answer on occasion, she usually elaborated if he asked further questions. With every passing day that she was fine, Will's anxiety lessened.
Right now she was very animatedly chatting with Jace about the kids imaginary game of dinosaurs and monsters. It seemed they'd figured out the game while he hadn't been listening.
"From what I can gather," Tessa was saying. "The monsters are winning."
"I thought the dinosaurs were the heroes of this story?" Jace asked.
"Maybe the story isn't over yet?" Tessa suggested.
"Well it's gonna have to be put on pause soon," Jace sighed. Then he raised his voice so the kids could hear him and added. "Ten minute warning, Felix. We gotta go home."
Felix ignored his father.
"In five minutes I'll warn him again," Jace told Tessa. "And then the whining will start."
Will chuckled lightly. He remembered that age well. It was an adorable age, but also a rather energy intensive one. It would be only a few short years until they were doing it all again with Jimmy. Why did his kids insist on growing up so fast? Too fast. Sometimes he looked at his daughter and he wondered how she could be the same little baby girl he'd once held in his arms. Other times she still seemed so small and in need of his protection. He suspected he'd want to protect her for the rest of his days. No matter how grown up she got she'd always be his little girl.
Five minutes went by and Jace called out to his son again. Just as he'd predicted, Felix didn't want to leave. He ran over to his daddy, suddenly crying real tears and talking endlessly about their game and how he couldn't leave yet.
"Don't worry little buddy," Jace told his son. "We will be back again very soon."
"Super soon," Will agreed, speaking to the little guy. Felix sniffed but seemed to accept their word.
"And you still have five more minutes," Jace reminded the four year old. A huge smile erupted on Felix's face as he turned to run back into the sprinkler screaming in delight.
"Time really doesn't mean the same thing to them does it?" Will sighed.
"Nope," Jace replied with a smile. "It really doesn't."
Will went to sit on Jace's abandoned lawn chair as his friend began packing up to leave.
"So same time next week?" Will asked.
Jace agreed at once. "But right now I gotta start dinner. Clary will be home soon and she always comes home hungry."
"What's that saying," Will replied. "Happy wife, happy life, but oh wait you aren't married yet."
"You're one to talk," Jace chuckled. "The wife you're not married to has two husbands."
Will couldn't contain his laughter. "Touche," he chuckled.
Tessa, Jem and him had talked about getting married more than once but no matter how they planned it someone was left out. Jem always insisted that person should be him but neither Tessa nor Will liked that idea. Jem was just as important a part of this family as Will was and so the three of them have maintained their little out of the ordinary relationship without legal marriage.
They had, however, convinced Jem to legally adopt Lucie. Once she'd started school the idea of three parents had confused basically everyone. One day Jem had gone to pick his daughter up and been denied so the next day all three of them had shown up to explain to the teachers that Jem was indeed allowed to collect Lucie from school. The teachers looked very confused when she called both Jem and Will daddy. One of them even asked if Jem and Will were a couple and Tessa had been their surrogate.
In the end it had just made sense to legally add Jem as her guardian. They planned to do the same thing for Jimmy once everyone was sleeping through the night and running complicated errands with detailed paperwork didn't sound like such a chore.
Felix's five minutes were up and Jace called out to his son, who came running to tell them all about how the dinosaurs defeated the monsters and saved the world! Jace was doing his best to listen but he was also clearly focused on getting the little guy to dry his feet and put on his shoes.
Will walked them to the door and waved to little Felix as they drove away. He then returned to the backyard. Without Felix to play with Lucie had decided she wanted to play with mama who was doing her best, but was clearly too tired.
"Hey Lucie," Will called to her. "Do you wanna watch a movie?"
At once the little girl perked right up and ran over to her father. They tried to limit screen time but after an entire afternoon out in the sun and the heat it was probably better she be inside for a while now. Sunscreen didn't last forever.
Tessa mouthed the words 'thank you' as she walked past him and into the house.
Lucie took quite a while to pick out a movie but once she had, Will set it up for her and slowly moved out of the room and back up the stairs to where Tessa was sitting at the kitchen table.
Will moved closer and put his arms around her from behind before whispering sweet nothings in her ear and kissing her neck. Tessa made a soft happy sound.
"Are you hungry?" Will asked. "I could make something or order something if you'd rather."
"Sushi," Tessa said at once. "The good raw stuff I wasn't allowed to eat for nine months."
Will chuckled. "Good raw sushi coming up," he said before pulling out his phone to order. He knew what Jem would want and ordered for him too. Lucie didn't like sushi. He felt sure she'd end up having a peanut butter and jam sandwich or chicken nuggets for dinner. They tried to get her to eat whatever they were eating and most nights it went over pretty well, but when it came to sushi the child would not budge.
Just as he hung up the phone, Will heard the tell tale sound of his son crying. Tessa made to move, but Will stopped her.
"I got it," he said and at once turned to head down the hall.
Reaching the bassinet, Will picked up his newborn son. Jimmy still fit perfectly in Will's arm, light as a feather.
"Oh I bet you're hungry," Will cooed at the baby. "Do you want mama? Yeah. That's what I thought."
Will carried the baby back to Tessa, who was already set up with her nursing pillow in her favourite chair. Will handed the baby over and then sat across from her to watch as his son got his dinner early.
The baby was still nursing when Jem appeared, looking groggy but much more awake than before his nap.
"What'd I miss?" Jem asked with a yawn.
"Will ordered sushi," Tessa smiled at him. "But your son wouldn't wait to eat with us. Hungry little bean."
"He is a hungry little bean, that's for sure," Jem replied. "Every hour he had me up and feeding him. It's a good thing he'll take a bottle or you'd be a zombie, Tess."
"Oh I remember," Tessa agreed.
This second time round, Tessa hadn't fought them on bottle feeling Jimmy and thankfully the little guy had been quite accommodating. He'd take the breast or bottle with equal enthusiasm. Tessa pumped so alot of his bottles were her milk, but when they didn't have any in the fridge, Jimmy would also drink warmed up formula. He was at this point in life very much against cold food.
"I'm glad you got some sleep," Will told his friend.
"Me too," Jem agreed. He walked over to Tessa and gave her a kiss, before leaning down to kiss the top of Jimmy's head.
"Where's Lucie?" Jem asked next, turning to Will.
"Watching a new kids movie on netflix," Will explained. "She was rather excited about it so I'm guessing she'll be back upstairs to tell us the entire plot in detail shortly."
"Excellent," Jem smiled.
The baby decided he was full and passed out in Tessa's arms.
"Could someone come get him," Tessa asked quietly. "It's just hard to stand up without waking him.
Before Will could so much as move, Jem was on it. Sometimes Will felt like he was missing out on something so important by not being the stay at home parent in his family, but at other times he was just glad to be able to escape the chao for a few hours. Maybe he'd try and take more days off. Was there such a thing as flex fridays for firemen?
When the doorbell rang every adult in the room froze and turned to stare at the sleeping baby. But Jimmy didn't wake up so Will went to pay for dinner and brought it into the kitchen.
"Little dude can sleep through anything," Will said, amazed.
"He can now," Tessa said. "Infants and toddlers don't sleep like newborns. We should enjoy this while we can."
"Agreed," Jem said.
And so little Jimmy slept in his portable bassinet while everyone started eating their sushi.
As he'd predicted, when Lucie finished her movie and came upstairs she requested chicken nuggets for dinner. Will set the oven to preheat and went to get the nuggets from the freeze while Lucie told Jem and Tessa all about the characters in her movie and their awesome adventures.
After dinner, Jem got out his violin and tucked it under his chin. As he moved the bow over the strings it created such beauty that for a moment Will closed his eyes to enjoy it. Lucie was sitting with her back to Will, gazing up at daddy as he played. Lucie had always loved listening to Jem play. Full tummies and good music created a soft warm cozy feeling and Will couldn't remember the last time he'd been so calm.
The strokes on the violin changed, moving faster as the song picked up the pace. Will moved closer to his daughter and put an arm around her as they watched Jem play together.
When Jem was too tired to play anymore Lucie requested that Will read aloud. They relocated to the living room and put the gas fireplace on before settling in to listen to Will read Lucie's favourite chapter novel for the third time.
What do you think of Will's pov? First and last chapter with it but I think it was rather more fun than just doing this chapter from Tessa's pov. Only one more chapter left guys and it will go online on Sept 5th along with my final author's note.
