DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognize isn't mine besides I am a poor college student who owns nothing so suing me would be pointless.

AtWGU

Of Confrontation and Memories

AtWGU

Lily trudged up the steps to her London flat. She was completely exhausted. She had just finished a double shift at St. Mungos and had to pick up groceries on the way home. She would have just apparated in but with the new security measures they were taking she had to climb the three flights of stairs. Besides the fact that the apartment was a three story walkup she loved it. It was the perfect first place, situated in the middle of London near both St. Mungos and the Ministry. Once Lily made it to the top of the stairs she pulled out her key to the apartment. The key unlocked the wards around the apartment as well as the door. She walked into the entryway which connected to the family room on the left and turned right heading towards the kitchen. She placed the grocery bag on the counter and started unloading the bags as she called for James, "James I'm home. You will not believe the day I had. You know the old man in room 315? Well I go in there to give him his potion and … James? Are you here?"

Silence was the only thing that met her question. She sighed. For the past few months this was becoming more and more common. Lily would get home from work and James would have been called in for an important assignment or just as they were about to sit down for a meal Lily would be called in for an emergency. They were lucky if they saw each other once a week let alone actually have a conversation. They communicated through hastily scribbled notes now. Lily understood naturally, they were fighting a war and they were needed but she didn't want to have to be the one that made the sacrifices. She hadn't even wanted to be a healer for goodness sake and now it was her life. All Lily wanted to do was settle down and have a family and possibly a small café, but with the war everyone needed to help and Lily had the skills to become a healer so she did.

Walking over to the fridge Lily found James' note stuck to the door. "Called in to work. Another raid. Love you. Don't wait up." Their notes weren't even in complete sentences anymore. Lily sighed again. This had to stop. She couldn't keep this up anymore. She couldn't be married to a note. She couldn't sleep by herself anymore. She would have to resign from St. Mungos. Lily put the rest of the groceries away, toasted a bagel, put peanut butter on it, and went to bed.

AtWGU

James came home to a black apartment. This wasn't unusual but that didn't mean he liked it. His back was aching and his stomach felt like it was stuck to his spine. He needed a shower, food, and to see his wife; not necessarily in that order. He walked into the kitchen to find it empty and cold. Again this was common. He opened the fridge and pulled out the left over raviolis. He sniffed them to make sure they didn't smell funny; he didn't exactly remember when they were made, but he was guessing almost a week ago. He couldn't cook anything that involved to stove. He could make a mean sandwich and put together a wicked chip and dip selection, but that was about it. The microwave was also his friend. He was the best mircowaver ever. Lately though he didn't even have the energy to microwave his food. He didn't know how Lily managed to cook, but she did at least once a week.

James walked down the hall to the bedroom to find Lily sound asleep. He really wanted to take a shower but it had been a good two weeks since they had been home at the same time so instead he just climbed fully clothed into bed along with his fully clothed wife. He had been asleep for what felt like only a few minutes when he was woken up by the sounds of his wife getting ready. "Lil?" he called while still half asleep. It couldn't possibly be time to go to classes already. In fact wasn't it Sunday? They didn't have class on Sunday. "Lil why are you up? Come back to bed classes aren't till tomorrow."

Lily peeked out of the bathroom, tooth brush in her mouth, to look at her husband. Did he just say classes? She spit out the toothpaste and rinsed out her mouth. As she was tying up her hair she asked him about it. "James what are you talking about? We don't have classes. I have to go I'll be late for work."

Once Lily said work James' eyes jumped open and he finally realized he was in their apartment and not back at Hogwarts. Sometimes he would forget that they had actually graduated four months ago. "You have to go in now?"

"Yeah … actually I had to go in 5 minutes ago. Thank God I only have to do this for another two weeks. I don't think I can do this anymore."

"Two weeks?"

"Yeah .... umm … I decided last night that I was going to quit and get a job with normal hours so I could spend more time with you and -"

"You can't quit –"

"Excuse me I believe it's my decision."

"You are one of the best new healers they have Lily. You can't just leave. What about all the people who keep getting injured? You said yourself that there aren't enough healers. How can you be this irresponsible?"

Lily just stared at James. Was he really lecturing her about quitting a job that was killing her? She couldn't see anymore people die. She couldn't deal with having to feel the life slip away from someone while she was holding their hand. She never wanted to be a healer and James knew it. She didn't have the stomach for it. She wasn't strong enough for it. "I can't do it anymore James, I just can't." she said quietly while exiting the bedroom. She apparated to St. Mungos without saying goodbye.

AtWGU

"Mrs. Potter please reconsider. We need all the healers we can get right now and especially gifted ones like yourself." The head nurse had been trying to plead with Lily for the past ten minutes but it wasn't working. Today was Lily's last day and she was glad even though no one else was. James had been gone when she had made it home after their fight and she hadn't seen him since. He was still upset though because he stopped leaving her notes. She missed the way they use to be back at Hogwarts.

James and Lily were lying on their backs under the big oak tree looking up at the clouds before their next class. James nudged Lily's foot, never taking his eyes off of the clouds. She smiled and nudged his back. Neither of them let their eyes stray from the clouds as their feet battled. Finally James rolled on his side to look down at Lily. "What do you think about babies?"

Lily looked at him like he had two heads. "What?"

"Babies. Small human looking things that eat and shite all the time. What do you think of them? Do you want to have babies?"

"Well … yeah but why are you asking?"

James smiled down at her. "I want 7. I can't very well marry someone who doesn't want kids now can I?" James got up and started heading to class. He looked back at Lily who had propped herself up on her elbows and was staring at him with her mouth open. "I am definitely going to marry you Lily Evans." Then he turned back around and walked to class as if nothing had happened leaving a speechless Lily under the oak tree.

At Hogwarts they had been happy and excited about the future. They knew that if they tried hard enough their dreams would come true. They knew they would always be together, be happy, and be in love. Unfortunately those times were gone. She put her key in the door to their apartment and walked inside. Now all she had was an empty apartment. She closed the door with a quiet thud.

AtWGU

A/N: This is my new chapter story since Double Dog Dare is now finished. This story should be around four chapters. I hope you like it. I wrote this story for R. L. N. Tonks who wanted a chapter angst fic. As always please read and review. It honestly makes me write faster. ; )