A/N: I'm back! This isn't my greatest work, by any means, but once I had the idea, it wouldn't let go of me. And, to the guest reviewer, thank you for alerting me to the AUness of the last chapter. I haven't been paying attention to post-publication interviews very much, and I knnd of like the way it is now, so any mentions of Will and Tessa's kids will be referring to my verision of them. R&R!


Tessa was walking in the park, listening to the sounds of young children laughing joyously. It had been two years since Jem had… gone. It was also her wedding anniversary with Will. Most of the time, Tessa didn't mind her abilities. She was able to help the Clave occasionally. But there were four days a year when she just wished she was normal

Her wedding anniversary with Will and his death. Her wedding anniversary with Jem and his death. Then, she would nearly always stay at home all day and sob. For her children and her husbands. But today, something had made her go to Hyde Park. It was one of the worst places in London for her, because of how often she had come here with Will and their children.

"Mith?" she heard a little voice say from just in front of her. She nearly gasped when she saw the child. "Are you okay?" the boy with raven hair and posy eyes asked.

Tessa wiped the tears from her eyes as she bent down to the child. "Yes, I am. Thank you for asking. It's just a sad day for me."

The boy looked at her seriously. "I'm thorry. What's you name?"

"I'm… Tessa," she said slowly. "And yours?"

"I'm-"

"Billy!" a woman called from across the park. "Come over here, and don't bother the nice lady."

"No, it's fine," Tessa said with a smile. "I enjoy children very much."

Turning back to the boy, she asked "Is Billy short for anything?"

He turned to his mother, who had come closer, and she nodded. He leaned forward, like he was telling her a great secret.

"William."

Tessa grinned, and stood up. "Come along," she said, taking his hand. "You should go back to your mother."

He grinned, missing a front tooth, and stepped away from her. "I wike you, Mith," he lisped.

Tessa smiled again. "I like you too, sir," she said, offering her hand again.

The boy smiled angelically at Tessa again, and pleaded, "Up?"

Tessa laughed, and then caught herself.

I haven't laughed, or even smiled, really, on this day in years, she thought.

She picked him up and walked towards his mother.

The woman rushed over to Tessa and apologized.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. He always has been very forward. I hope he wasn't bothering you," She said, taking her son from Tessa.

"Oh no, not at all. I rather enjoy children. My… younger siblings are all grown now and I don't have any of my own. I'm Tessa… Gray," Tessa said, reaching out to shake her hand, and then pulling back when she realized that the woman's hands were full with the toddler.

"Maggie Heron. And this is Billy, though I don't doubt he's told you already," she laughed.

"Of course," Tessa murmured. "You know, Mrs. Herond- Heron, sorry," she said, noticing the woman's ring, "I have taken a liking to Billy, and if you would ever like to have a day to yourself, I would love to watch him for you," Tessa proposed, taking out a scrap of paper on which to write her address and phone number.

She handed to paper to Mrs. Heron, and the woman took it thankfully. "Thank you. Though, he does have two sisters, one only a baby. I rather fear that they would run you down," she said with a chuckle.

Tessa nearly fell into hysterics. As it was, she laughed rather rudely, and had to excuse herself. "I'm sorry. It's just that I had four… brothers and sisters that I… essentially raised because my parents… passed away…when I was eighteen."

"Oh?" the woman said, shocked. "I'm so sorry. Of course. I'm sure that my husband and I would love a night out soon. I'll be calling you soon, I suppose."

"Thanks," Tessa said warmly. "I'll see you later."

"Good bye," Maggie said, walking away with the by on her hip.

Tessa watched them walk away for a bit, and soon turned back to her apartment.

Will… might you love me again? What if Jem comes back at the same time? Will you keep coming back? How will I survive?

Tessa stopped brooding, though she knew that she would never look at children again without trying to find a friend in their faces.