don't own anything

SPOILERS

It was like the first time I ever met her. I couldn't move; I was struck dumb. Lily was just as beautiful as the last time I saw her.

"Severus?" She asked, looking shocked to see me. The sound of her voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Lily." I whispered. I hadn't said her name in so long. "I've missed you." I told her honestly.

She gave me a dirty look. "I'm sure."

"There is so much you don't know." I told her.

"I'd like to hear it then." She all but snapped.

I couldn't believe it. Not only was she still upset about something that happened a long time again, in another life, she was giving me a chance to explain myself.

"I've been in love with you since the first time I ever saw you." She looked stunned. "I only ever wanted you to be happy, even though I knew you could never be fully happy with me." I sighed. "The day I called you a Mud- that word was the second worst day of my life. The third worst was the day you married James Potter, and the worst was the day you were killed." I paused. "But the day I called you that, I know I've tried to explain myself, but there's no explanation. I said it, and I wish I hadn't. It did just slip out, but that's no excuse." I paused again. "You were right about everything. My friends were bad people, but I didn't want to believe it because I had friends. But it was because of them I became a servant for the Dark Lord." Lily looked surprised, like she didn't know, but she must have. "Then I heard the prophecy and told him about it and he thought it was about your family and I b-begged him to spare your lives, but he wouldn't hear it." I took a shaky breath. "I went to Dumbledore and he said he could protect you if I switched sides, but it didn't matter because Peter Pettigrew-" I spat his name out "-had to go and tell Voldemort and you were killed."

Lily still looked stunned. "Severus-"

"Dumbledore asked me to look after Harry for you. He looks just like his father; except he has your eyes." I looked up at her. "Harry was there when I died. I never dreamed I would see you again...You were my last mortal thought."

She took a quick breath in, her hand going to her mouth, eyes looking wet. I didn't want her to cry.

"I'm sorry about everything," I told her, trying to put as much emotion behind those four short words.

It must have worked because she said, "I forgive you."

Just then James came up behind her. "Harry needs us," he told Lily. "We have to go to him."

Lily nodded at him and turned back to me. I stood frozen once again when she leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you." She told me.

James turned around and nodded at me; I returned the gesture as I watched Lily walk away from me once again.

But this time, I was more okay with it, because now she knew the truth, and that was all I could ask for.