Hello everyone. This is my first Potter fic, so please be kind. My continuation of this will be somewhat based on if I get reviews/ if I have time. Hope you enjoy! As always I own nothing, but dream of writing as well as JKR.

August 1976

James gripped Remus' arm and looked into his eyes with a desperation that shook Lupin to the core. "Take care of her, Moony."

Remus stuttered for a moment, "I will."

"Promise me, you'll watch over her," the tone was heavy and sad. "Watch over Lily," he choked on the name.

His words were simple, but Remus sensed more was going on. "James, I don't understand…"

Others were gathering around the port key. It was time to go. James looked at his friend with a pain and seriousness that seemed both foreign and unwelcome. "Promise me."

Remus placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "If it's the last thing I do. Yes I promise."

Without another word, James turned and walked away, quickly dissolving into a crowd of people.

June 1977- Canada

Remus Lupin was watching Lily Evans. He'd been doing it a lot in the near year they had been living together in Canada. Both had been pleased to find a posting there, even if the winters were rather cold. Lily was able to hone her skills as a potion maker, and Remus had been able to experience a new sense of freedom whenever the moon was bright and full. He'd watched her work, clean the house, create new potions, and read until all hours of the night. Most people would think her level of activity was a simple extension of her work ethic.

But he knew her better, because he'd also watched her closed door at night when she cried, debating if his knocking would be seen as comfort or an intrusion. He loved her like a sister, and was reasonably sure the feeling was reciprocated. But, in matters of heartbreak, especially between two people he held dear, Remus felt there was no good side to sit on.

This particular night, he watched Lily as she studied the moon. An owl had arrived earlier in the day, and he'd watched her read the letter in silence. Once done, she'd simply set the letter down, put on her shoes, and walked out the door. Curious, he'd picked up the parchment and read:

Dear Ms. Evans and Mr. Lupin,

Though I hate to brake up your lives and the success that I'm sure you're having in your current pursuits, I must ask that you return to London. It would seem that the Dark Lord is building strength much faster the anticipated and your unique abilities will be needed in the coming fight. You mentioned before your departure that you would be interested in helping the cause, and I can only assume your offer still stands. I will expect to see you tomorrow by midday.

Yours,

Albus Dumbledore

Lupin read the letter twice, and then sat back in his chair. What was Lily so upset about? So things were getting worse, much worse if they were needed back so soon. Wasn't that almost expected? And so what if they had to go back to England. Wouldn't it be nice to see old…

Then it occurred to him why Lily had run, and he shook his head a bit. He decided to give her space, and busied himself packing the few possession he had and cleaning their small house. Remus waited and waited, but became worried after the sun had almost gone down and Lily had not returned home. Grabbing light coats for both, he went outside.

He found her sitting on a rock, staring at the moon, eyes and cheek shining from tears. She looked beautiful like that, even if the moonlight made her seem small and vulnerable, not at all like the young woman who was known for her wit and strength. It was a few minutes before he found his voice.

"I wouldn't look too closely at the moon for answers. I've been asking her questions for years, and I still haven't gotten any good advice."

She smiled. "I was wondering when you'd come and look for me."

He sat down next to her, gently placing her coat around her shoulders. "It's almost dark. I was worried." They sat in silence for a minute, Remus thinking of the best way to broach the subject. "So, are you going to go back tomorrow?"

She looked over at her friend and gave him a concerned frown. "I don't like how that cut is healing." Lupin had gone lupine the weekend before, and had met with a female wolf who, in hindsight, seemed much less approachable. So Remus had come home with his tail between his legs and a rather nasty scar on his head. "Have you been putting the ointment that I made on it?"

"What are you, my mother?"

She began to poke at the imperfection. "Well, have you? It looks a bit infected and…"

He batted away her hand lightly. "Stop it, the cut is fine. You haven't answered my question though."

Lily gave an annoyed sigh, "Of course I'm going back tomorrow. Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. Just how you reacted to the letter I thought…"

"I'm still up and ready for the fight, so don't think that I'm out here because I don't know what I need to do."

"I don't think that. But I do know why you're crying."

She was indignant, "Oh do you now?"

"You are out here because of James."

Lily put her head on her knees so her answer was very quiet. "Shut up."

"Do you need to talk about it?"

Lily jumped off the rock and paced. "What more is there to talk about? We've gone through this about a million times, and it doesn't change. He said he didn't love me, that he never had, and that it would be a mistake if we stayed together. He turned into the same James I knew before seventh year. So I left, and you came with. The end."

"Alright."

"That's the way things are, and they aren't going to change."

"Sure."

She glared at him. "You are no help what-so-ever."

The young man ran a hand through his hair. "Well, this is complicated. He was my friend first, after all, like a brother. Then you and I got close…What do you want me to say? 'Yes, yes, when we return lets beat him up and make him look stupid.' What, are we fourteen again?"

Lily cracked a small smile, barely visible in the night. "Well, you could have at least been a gentleman and offered to beat him up for me."

Remus jumped from the rock, smiling broadly and shaking a finger at his friend. "There's my girl. There's my Lily." He cupped her face gently. "I don't know why he gave you up." Her faced saddened, but he refused to let her eyes leave his. "What I do know, is that being here has not made the reasons for his behavior any clearer."

Lily nodded. "I'm tired of hating him. I just want to be done."

He let go of her face. "Maybe this is fate's way of letting that happen." He shrugged. "Plus we get to fight evil. It'll be fun."

"Why do I get the feeling that you're excited about this?" Remus shrugged again. "Oh, I get it. You're excited because this means the Marauders are back."

He grinned shamelessly. "It might be a reason."

"The Marauders ride again. Merlin help us," Lily looked up at the moon, "Merlin help us all."

June 1977- England

Sirius Black was a loving and loyal friend, often to a logical fault. And he took great personal pride in these traits, gladly telling anyone within shouting distance on a drunken Saturday night a long list of things he would do to keep his friends safe.

Take James Potter, for instance. There was no one he was closer to in the entire world then this boy: his classmate, his friend, hell, really his brother. Now usually James was a good guy at heart, but he could be bullheaded and arrogantly stupid. And Sirius had stood by him through the stupid times, if for no other reason then if James was having a wicked thought then Sirius was probably having the same thought, only worse. But even this man's best friend was having a very difficult time understanding his comrade's actions considering recent events. Because over the past year, James Potter had been a world class idiot.

It all started when he had dumped Lily Evans out of the blue and broken her heart.

Lily Evans, who James had been sweet on for years before she felt the same. Lily Evans, who was kind, smart, beautiful, and could kick your ass. Lily Evans, who even a deaf mute could tell was the only person in the world for James.

When Sirius had learned that he had dumped her, Black first thought of consoling words for his friend. Those thoughts were quickly discarded.

"You irresponsible bastard!" He caught James in a hall, quickly pinning his against a wall, "What the fuck do you think you're doing dumping her? Are you mad?"

James met his gaze coolly. "I don't love her. Don't think I ever did. Just puppy love. Better to end things now."

"I don't believe you."

"You don't have to believe me for it to be the truth." James shoved away Sirius and kept walking.

"I still don't believe you."

"Fine."

"I'm going to figure out what's going on here."

James turned. "Let it go, Black."

"No."

Now it was Sirius who was pined against the wall. "Now listen to me. Hard as it may be for you or anyone else to believe, I just don't love Lily any more. You need to let this go. Now." There was something burning in James' eyes, a deep emotion that made Black flinch. He released James, who went stalking down the corridor away from him.

They never spoke about her, and to everyone else it would seem that James had really moved on. But Sirius knew his friend too well. James Potter could drink his way through England and sleep with as many girls as he wanted, but these actions did not speak of a general lustiness. They were the actions of a man being chased by a memory.

The only evidence that Sirius had to his suspicions was a single incident. They had spent the day researching for Dumbledore, as they had done many times before, though it seemed that James was simply rereading the same page over and over. Per usual, Sirius suggested a drink, at a muggle bar no less, and his friend had allowed himself to be dragged along. Sirius was having a great time, chatting with James and a gaggle of girls in the corner. One girl even had a hand strategically stroking the back of James' arm, but the young man just looked uncomfortable, so he excused himself to the bathroom. Sirius was so wrapped up in a thrilling conversation with a young lady in a rather low cut top that failed to notice that his friend never returned. Thus when the young lady's large, angry brother came to their table and expressed his dislike of Sirius, the Black thought nothing of mouthing back, confident that James would show up at any moment. It was not until Sirius had verbally boxed himself into a place of no return that he realized James was not coming back. Soon, being in a muggle bar where magic was out of the question, he found himself boxing physically as well. Things didn't go well for either man involved, and Sirius went home with only cuts and bruises. While lying in bed in the early morning hours his throbbing head came up with an answer to his friend's odd behavior the day before.

It had been Lily's birthday.

But being a dutiful friend, Sirius had mentioned none of this, deferring to his liking of their present life style. So when the letter had arrived attached to a shaggy owl, and upon reading James face had turned from red to ashen, Sirius didn't worry. James simply walked to the kitchen, grabbed a beer, chugged it, and then read the letter again.

"Padfoot?" James called.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Dunno."

"Would you do something for me?"

"Sure. What do you need?"

James plopped down the letter in Sirius' lap, and without a word went to his bedroom. Sirius picked up the letter, which read:

Mr. Potter,

I thought you would like to know that Remus Lupin and Lily Potter will be returning tomorrow to join our little group, as their services are now needed. They will be arriving through a port key at the Ministry's Atrium tomorrow. Please be so kind as to pick them up.

Thank You,

Albus Dumbledore

Sirius sighed. This complicated things significantly. It wasn't like James to not do what their former headmaster asked, but in this case, he understood. "James," he called. No response, but there was a loud repetitive thumping from James' room which Sirius followed. He propped himself in the doorway, watching his friend bounce a ball against the wall. "James."

James responded with something that sounded like "huh" but it was hard to tell.

"I'll do it."

The ball continued to bounce. "Do what?"

"Would you stop bouncing that ball?"

"Why?"

"Because if you don't stop, I will find an orifice on your body and shove until the ball is secure."

"Right." James caught the ball and dropped it on the bed. "So you'll do it?"

"Yeah." Sirius sat down on the bed and rubbed his neck. "So… do you want to, you know, talk about this."

"Oh gee Sirius, let's. And afterward I'll braid your hair." James made a feeble reach for Sirius' straggly locks. "You'll look so pretty."

Sirius jumped off the bed. "See, this is what I get for trying to be not so…" He pointed. "Don't tell me this doesn't bother you."

"It doesn't."

"Liar. You're a bad liar."

"Whatever."

"I give up! And with that, I'm going to get some rest. But I'll leave you with one thought, in hopes that you sleep well. Tomorrow, you see Evans again. And she hates you."

"That's two things!"

Sirius turned and gave a small wave from the door. "Nighty night."

James Potter lay awake for a long time. He'd told so many lies in the last year that he had started to get used to them as reality. But now that could all end. And if Lily Evans thought that he was done hurting her, and himself, they were both sadly mistaken.

So what do you think? The next chapter will be a flashback to when James and Lily fell in love, and I want to keep having some chapters like that. That is, if you want me to continue the story. R+R, please!