"Can you lie next to her, and give her your heart?"

James rolled off of Lily. His body was sweaty, his muscles trembling- after effects of the exertion he had placed on them within the past ten or fifteen minutes. His red-head lay next to him, panting rather unevenly, a loud gulp in between some of the breaths. James lay on his back, arms above his head as he breathed in wonderful oxygen.

Wow. That was… the best yet…

Lily rolled onto her side, draping her arm over James' torso. She kissed his cheek a few times and rubbed her hand up and down James' side.

"That was brilliant, Love." She breathed in his ear.

James let out a breathy laugh.

"You were pretty brill yourself, Lils."

They had made love various times before. There was something quite different about tonight, however. To James, it seemed more needy, passionate and defined. To Lily, it was the milestone in their relationship. This was the time that meant everything. It was as if… this was the time that defined their relationship, told whether or not they were forever or just an in-school fling.

Now they both knew.

"What are you thinking right now, James?"

James had been awfully quiet. He rarely fell asleep after sex; instead, they would cuddle and talk about random things. James' silence worried Lily. She felt something in her gut- this was a now or never moment- for both of them.

James took Lily's hand in his and played with her fingers, bringing the tips to his mouth and kissing them.

"Lily… I…"

He took a deep breath.

"You're it. For me. I can't… I can't see myself with anyone but you…"

This was it. The first time he would ever utter these words to any girl.

"…I love you."

Lily's eyes welled with tears.

"James…"

"Forgive me if you think I'm being forward. I just… it needed to get off my chest."

"Look at me, James."

James hesitantly brought his caramel gaze to meet the piercing emerald one that had captured his attention all those years ago, the first time he had seen her on the train.

"I love you, too, James. Don't ever doubt that. I need you in my life. I wish it hadn't taken until seventh year to realize that, but that's just how things go. Don't ever leave me. You're my only."

James thought for awhile. He was ready to finally give his heart away. He had kept it close for so long. He hadn't put it out there for fear of getting it broken by the only thing that mattered in his life: Lily. She had talked him down, refused him, hexed him, and yelled at him for years. When they became Heads together that year, James saw this as the last chance- final opportunity- to win Lily. And he had.

James looked at Lily once again. He smiled- a genuine James Potter smile- and cupped Lily's cheek, bringing her face to his as he kissed her. Lily opened her mouth, deepening the kiss, and James eagerly complied with her demands, slipping his tongue into her mouth. It became even more heated as the moments ticked by, and soon enough, James once again hovered over Lily.

James was finally ready to let Lily own him- all of him- including his heart.

AN

Hello! I'm back writing fanfictions, I'm finding more and more time as the semester draws to a close. For those who did not receive the memo in some way or another, Timeless and I Love Him, He Loves Her are on an indefinite hiatus. I have no energy and no interest to continue with them at the moment. Someday, perhaps. But this doesn't mean I give up on FanFiction! Not by a long shot! It takes time for me to get inspired, and "White Blank Page" by Mumford and Sons gave me some. Do enjoy!

LiLy S.C.