Thinking of him always
A fic for @carstairgray Parabatai Week : Day 2 Will & Jem
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It’s nearly noon by the time Tessa wakes to an empty bed. The sheets beside her, still perfectly pressed. She sighs quietly, reaching for her robe to draw it over her nightgown. She ties her hair into a low bun and washes her face in the basin before creeping out into the hallway.
As she makes her way down, a noise from the living room catches her attention, she peaks around the corner and is met with a happy squeal.
“There’s my sweet boy!” Tessa coos, reaching down to pick up the crawling baby.
“Ah ah! No bending!” A voice calls out.
Tessa looks up just as Sophie crosses the floor and scoops James up into her arms. “You remember what the doctor said, no bending or heavy lifting.”
“I hardly call him heavy lifting.” Tessa tuts as Sophie passes James to her. “Huh? Are you too heavy for me? Is my Jamie too strong for me?” Tessa half-sings, bouncing James lightly in her arms while he giggles.
“Even so, you should be careful.” Sophie scolds.
“I am careful,” Tessa says, “Will hardly allows me lift a finger. You know how he was with James.”
Sophie nods in agreement, “I do, but I also know how stubborn you are.”
Tessa shrugs, poking James’ nose softly while rocking him. “Speaking of Will, have you seen him?” She asks.
Sophie shakes her head. “Not since this morning. I came to drop off more scones, and he asked if I had a moment to look after James.”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry to have kept you for so long. You should have come to wake me.”
“I don’t mind! And besides, Will said to leave you sleep. The little one keeping you up again?”
“All night long” Tessa sighs, rubbing her tummy with her free hand “this one has quite the kick.”
Sophie laughs, “Euginia was the same way. And always at all hours of the night.”
“How are the girls doing?” Tessa asks.
“Very well.”
“And little Thomas?”
“Just fine. Barbra has taken it upon herself to tend to him. She’s always carrying around an extra blanket to wrap him in or asking to check when he needs fed.”
“Such a good big sister,” Tessa smiles, shifting James in her arms as he wiggles. “Would you mind terribly if I handed this wiggle worm back to you while I see if I can find Will?”
“Not at all” Sophie grins, taking James back over to the couch.
Tessa finds Will in the study sitting with a book in hand, only when she follows his gaze she sees that it falls on an instrument case in the corner and not the page.
She’s careful not to startle him as she comes to stand beside the chair. Will, of course, notices her presence before she can speak and lays the book in his lap so he can take her hand.
“Good morning, my beloved,” he smiles, pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles.
“Afternoon,” Tessa corrects. “I see Sophie is here. She mentioned she hasn’t seen you since this morning.” As Will releases her hand, she moves to card through the curls atop his head.
“Oh damn. Sorry, I must have” he glances at the instrument case and then quickly to the book in his lap. “I got lost in the pages.”
Tessa hums still petting his head, “thinking of him again?”
Will leans into her, “always” he whispers.
She gives his arm a squeeze and kisses the top of his head, “you know”, but before she can finish, there is a knock at the door.
Tessa and Will turn to the door, “Charlotte,” Will says getting to his feet.
“I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, Sophie let me in.”
“Not at all,” Tessa says. “Would you like some tea?”
Charlotte shakes her head, “No thank you, I was just passing by, and I wanted to ask you something.”
“Has something happened?” Will asks.
“Well, I’ve just gone through Gideon’s report. Seems he’s found a nest of Ravnor demons just pass the square. I was hoping you and Gabriel could have a look at.”
“Of course,” Will says, turning to Tessa, who nods.
“I’ll be fine,” she says and smiles when she notices that familiar glint in Will’s eye.
“You know,” he says, turning back to Charlotte, “it’s quite out of season for Ravnor demons to be nesting…perhaps we should send word to the Silent Brothers. For their records.” He glances at Tessa hopefully.
“I’m not sure that,” Charlotte starts, but gets cut off by Tessa.
“We could also give them an update on the pregnancy and how James is doing.”
“A SPLENDID IDEA!” Will rejoices, nearly jumping in the air “I shall send for a carriage immediately! Tessa, my wife, you are brilliant.” He kisses her cheek, “brilliant!” He turns to Charlotte, “Thank you Charlotte, I’ll meet with Lightwor- Gabriel, tonight at the square. See to it, he isn’t late this time.” He rushes past her down the hallway, his voice echoing through the house, “Sophie! Here, let me! Jamie my boy! Come! We need a carriage!”
Charlotte, dumbfounded, turns to Tessa, who smiles sweetly, looking down at her stomach, rubbing it. “Come on, little one. Let’s get dressed.”
~ over 100 years later ~
“That’s what I’ve been saying tho. Movies are better than books!” Kit exclaims, as he shuts the car door and walks through the garage.
“You lose all the details and composition. Hardly any movie can truly do the book it’s based on justice.” Tessa mentions, following Kit into the house.
“All that stuff is just fluff. Besides, you get plenty of details through the visual effects,” Kit retorts, setting the grocery bags onto the counter.
“Fluff,” Tessa chuckles, setting her own bag down on the kitchen table. “I would imagine that” she stops suddenly when she hears it.
Kit perks his head up from the paper bag.
Soft strings float through the house. And their playful discourse quiets at the ambivalent tune.
“Kit honey, would you mind putting these away for me?” Tessa asks.
Kit nods in understanding.
Tessa checks the baby monitor before heading down the hall. Mina is just stirring from her nap, but won’t be fully awake for a few minutes.
Tessa finds Jem in the office. The violin tucked delicately between his arm and his cheek as he plays. The case lays open on the desk next to an old blade stained with a past. Tessa leans against the doorframe, watching, smiling as she recognizes the song.
Jem stops when he catches sight of her, “Wǒ de àirén” he says, “I did not hear you get in.” He sets the violin back in its case, running his fingers over the strings.
Tessa hums, coming to stand beside him. She places her hand atop his and rests her head against his arm. “Thinking of him again?”
“Always,” Jem answers, lacing his fingers with hers.
“wŏ yĕ shì” she whispers.
Jem gives her hand a squeeze and presses a kiss to her temple. He closes the violin case and sets it on the desk.
“Mina mine should be up from her nap by now,” he says.
Tessa nods, “you should get her, then you can join Kit and I in the kitchen. Kit picked Bagel bites for dinner.”
“Bagel bites?”
“Mhm. Little mini pizzas on bagels. Kit’s very excited to see you try them.”
Jem quirks an eyebrow, “I best hurry and get the silly melon then.”
“See that you do Jem Carstairs. It isn’t right to keep a lady waiting.” Tessa teases, sending Jem a wink before heading back to the kitchen.
Jem smiles, turning back to the small dagger on the desk. “I’ll be keeping you waiting a bit longer, my brother,” he whispers, before leaving. “For now, I follow where she goes.”
It may have been a trick. A mix of the voices in the kitchen and the closing of the door. But for a brief moment, Jem hears the whisper of an old friend.
Go on my Parabatai. I can wait.
For both of you.