AN: Prompts will be displayed at the bottom to avoid them potentially giving away things.
hold me close (and don't let go)
AlwaysPadfoot
James found Lily sat on the floor in the centre of their living room.
Apart from noticing the chaos of the Christmas decorations that were strewn around, he couldn't help but notice how pretty she was, even though it appeared she was on the edge of a nervous break. He cleared his throat quietly, announcing his arrival, and stepped out from under the frame of the door.
"You're taking the decorations down alone?"
"Yes, thank you for your input," she retorted bitterly, not looking up from where she was stuffing tinsel into a bag.
They had planned to do it together. It would have been simple, even without magic, but apparently Lily couldn't wait. James frowned, wondering whether he'd come home too late, or whether he'd done something wrong this morning before he'd left. He moved closer to her. She was purposely not looking up; purposely avoiding his gaze.
"Lily, what's wrong?"
She threw her hands up in the air. "It's nothing. There's nothing wrong."
Her voice broke at the end of her sentence. James' heart dropped and he surged forward, kneeling down beside her. He touched her shoulder gently. Before he could say anything, Lily turned, wrapped her arms around him, and hid her face against his chest. He responded by holding her tight, rubbing circles on her back as he did. He wasn't sure what was wrong, in fact, he didn't have a clue, but he was going to find out.
"What's wrong, Lils?" he asked softly into her hair. "What's the matter?"
"I hate this stupid war," she said, her voice muffled. "I hate not knowing whether you're going to come home. I hate the fact that any of our friends, or family, could go missing or die next."
James' heart broke at her words, and he squeezed her tight. "Oh, sweetheart."
They sat together on the floor. James didn't let her go until her shoulders stopped shaking from the tears she was so desperately trying to hold in. When she pulled away, her eyes were red, and her cheeks were stained with tears. She ran a hand through her hair, pulling out some tinsel caught at the bottom, and then shook her head slightly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just—I just wish this war was over."
"I know, Lils," James said, pulling the half-stuffed bag of tinsel towards him to repack. "I wish it was too. We're strong; we will get through this, Lily."
She scoffed lightly, not truly believing him, and then smiled with a raised eyebrow. "You might not if you don't tell me what happened to that ugly picture frame that was on the mantelpiece."
James winced and then grinned, feigning innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lily tossed the nearest pillow at him. Falling to the carpet like he was wounded, James found himself wondering as the night drew on.
How lucky he was to have her.
Comp/Challenge & Prompts:
- Hogwarts Assignment 1: Charms - Task: Write about someone wishing something or someone away.
- Conversation Starter Prompt Challenge: Write about a character being grateful for another character being in their life.
- The Jily Competition
- Bath Bomb Appreciation Challenge: 18. Heart 2 Heart - Write about two characters having a heart-to-heart.
- Insane House Challenge: 669. "Yes, thank you for your input."
- 365 Prompts Challenge: 13. Taking down Christmas decorations
- Tea Challenge: Strawberry Sensation - Write about Lily Evans.
- Writing Club: [Showtime] Only Us - (restriction) Write a fic with only 2 characters (cannot mention any others)
- Writing Club: [Days of the Month] Kiss a Ginger Day - Write about Lily Evans in a romantic relationship.
- Writing Club: [Count Your Buttons] (object) picture frame, (word) pretty
- Dragon Appreciation Challenge
Word Count: 488 — not inc. notes, titles, or ANs.