#9

#9

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA WILL! 🥰🎉

Will stared out at the midnight London skyline from the window of the Institute’s music room. His parabatai’s violin visible from the corner of his vision, illuminated by the full moon and gathering dust just as it has been for years now.

It’s the first hour of his birthday. Another year spent with his soul’s other half at an arm’s length away from him; close enough to see and to touch, but not close enough to draw into his arms as much as he wanted to, never close enough to pull him back completely into his life again. Some would say Will was lucky. He could still talk to his parabatai when he was supposed to be dead.

Well, Will has always been greedy.

He was a sturdy masculine silhouette in the dead of night, his heart and head playing back memories before his eyes. He was still. He let the world turn while he stayed rooted in the past.

Something wet and warm attached itself on his ankle. Will jumped.

His son was staring at him with wide golden eyes and a wet smile.

“Oh dear.” Will murmured, picking James up off the floor and wiping his assaulted ankle with the blanket his son dragged out of bed with him.

“Why are you awake?” he asked James, wiping at his mouth with the blanket. It came away sticky with saliva. James lunged for his father’s cheek.

“I am not food my darling.” James giggled as Will pulled his mouth away from his cheek with an audible pop! Will grimaced and wiped his cheek with the blanket.

The long and silent journey to his room was made bearable by the tiny warm body snuggled in the crook of his neck. His baby protecting him from the walls of the Institute, thwarting its plans to close in on him with memories that refused to fade. Will dropped a kiss on his son’s head.

Tessa placed the book she was reading on their nightstand. She didn’t seem surprised to see Will enter with James. She patted the place beside her.

Will climbed on the bed and sat James between him and his mother. Tessa reached for her son.

“Why are you awake Jamie?” she asked her son. James didn’t reply, he laid his head on her swollen belly. Tessa smiled. In just a few months she’ll have two little ones running about their home.

She turned to look at Will, who was already looking at her fondly.

“Happy Birthday, love.” she kissed him. “I miss him too.”

“I know.” Will pulled his wife and son into his arms.

“I don’t want you to spend your birthday with that sad smile on your face.” Tessa’s hand came up to trace Will’s mouth.

“Our Jem may not be as near as we want him to be, but we still have other family.” she said.

Will nodded. “Yes, I saw the cake ingredients laid out neatly on the kitchen island.” Tessa laughed.

“Of course you did. You have to act surprised though, unless you want Cecily to scold you for walking around in your own home.” Will snorted. He wasn’t a thespian, Cecily would have to make do with an unsurprised Will.

Tessa kissed his cheek and predicted that breakfast was going to be an interesting affair. Everything always is when the Herondale siblings are together.

Something wet and warm was on her chest, right next to the jade necklace she rarely took off.

“Where is Jamie’s pacifier?” Tessa asked, wiping away at her chest with her son’s already soaked blanket.

“I’ll get it.” Will said softly, his eyes trained on the pendant Tessa wore. He stroked the jade once, reverently, before cupping Tessa’s face and kissing her.

Will headed to his son’s room with a heart clear of melancholy and a plan for some minor injuries that’ll require a certain Silent Brother’s attention. He grinned, knowing that he’ll once again get his way today. His family will be complete, if only for a few hours.

It was his birthday after all.

December 31, 2020