A/N: Written for the Pairing Appreciation Challenge by fan-freak121.
Summary: Lily and James share a midnight conversation while he is away.
Mirror
'Lily. Lily!'
The whisper came from her bedside table. Lily sat up slowly and fumbled for the switch to turn on the lamp. Blinking in the sudden brightness, she pulled open a drawer. She heard the whisper again as she drew out the small mirror. 'James?' she said, her voice cracking. 'James, are you there?'
Suddenly, his image appeared in the mirror. She smiled in relief. 'Hi,' he said simply.
She laughed. 'Hi.' He looked the same as always, his hair a tousled mess, his hazel eyes glinting behind the glasses, his lips stretched in a cheeky grin.
'How are you?' he asked, scanning her face.
'Alright,' she replied. 'I miss you,' she added truthfully.
'It's only been a week,' James pointed out. 'And you could have talked to me any time.'
'I know,' she said, sighing. 'I didn't want to bother you.'
He laughed slightly. 'You could never bother me,' he told her, and she smiled gratefully.
'When are you coming home?' she asked, turning over onto her stomach and propping her head up with her free hand.
He bit his lip. 'I don't know,' he said. 'The Order needs me here, you know that. It might take a few more weeks, months, even.'
'I just wish they'd picked me, too,' Lily said regretfully. 'I could have helped. And we could be together.'
'I'd rather know you're safe at home than see you die right next to me,' James said.
'What about me?' Lily asked. 'I can't stand not knowing if you're alright. You can't carry the mirror around with you everywhere, and even if you could, I wouldn't be able to call you every two minutes.'
'You know I'll be fine,' he said. 'Sirius has my back.'
'Is that supposed to reassure me?' Lily asked, smiling despite herself.
'Don't be that way,' James said. 'At least he let you have the mirror. This is strictly against the rules, you know.'
'I know, I know,' Lily said, rolling her eyes. '"No contact with people outside on a mission",' she quoted. 'It's all written down. But it's not like anyone can tap into the mirrors. They're a private form of communication.'
'True,' James said, grinning. They were silent for a moment, neither knowing what to say.
'Listen, James,' Lily said, seizing her chance. 'I had something I wanted to tell you - ' She was cut off by a loud voice she recognised as Moody's.
'All troops respond!' Moody shouted. 'Suspect has left the building! All troops, dressed and outside in the next minute!'
'I have to go, Lily,' James said hurriedly.
'Be careful,' she said anxiously. 'Don't do anything stupid.'
He grinned. 'I won't.' Then the mirror clouded over until all she could see was her own reflection.
Lily sighed and put the mirror back into its drawer, sliding it closed. She rubbed her abdomen; the news would have to wait. But she would wait, as long as it took.
Until she heard the whisper.