A/N: If it's not JKR's, it's mine.
(we don't want Jo taking my credit now, do we?)
He tossed and turned in his bed. He didn't normally sleep; in fact, he hadn't slept for seventeen- almost- years. But, nonetheless, he didn't mind much, lying peacefully on the rectangular mattress, his socks warm in the cool winter months; his body pressed up against Lily's. She yawned, disturbed by his movement, and rolled out of the bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked her. She shook her head, her dark red hair spilling across her shoulders.
"Remus is here," she said calmly. "It took him awhile in the Between. He wasn't ready."
James nodded silently. No one was ever ready.
He kissed his wife firmly on the lips, and strolled outside of their small apartment. It was sunny out; of course, not exactly sunny, but dimly illuminated by the likings of millions of wizards and witches. He had not ever been this confused since the arrival of Wormtail. Or the arrival of Padfoot.
Padfoot.
Sirius.
My best friend.
Three years, and he hadn't seen him. He could have, but he didn't. He would not be able to take seeing him again, not in his own peaceful realm inhabited only by Lily and himself. The exception had been Dumbledore, when Dumbledore had come. Other than that, who could he trust?
Lily had met with Sirius, naturally. And Godric. And Salazar. And Amelia and Erin and Gideon. In fact, the only person she ever refused was Snivellus, yet with good reason. James hadn't gone to see any of his friends yet. Not even Sirius.
Lily had to meet with him, she said, because he knew about Harry. She was an avid collector of all things related to Harry; she had collected memories from everyone she possibly could, scavenging the world for any remnants of memory of him. Every week she would meet with Sirius to talk about him- to talk about the son that she never had a chance to know.
James left the room, took a lighter from his pocket, and brought a cigarette to his lips. He hadn't smoked when he was alive, but he enjoyed the familiarity of the warmth over the course of his death.
He walked around aimlessly, vaguely identifying his settings. Dumbledore and Grindlewald's apartment- post confession-, beckoned at him, and he wondered if he should venture again, but then decided against it. Dumbledore was always being bothered. Best he not add.
He walked for a long time, until he reached a fountain. He sat on the edge of it; one hand dipped into the cool water, the other cupping his cigarette gently. Interesting that the things that made him so happy in life were meaningless now.
"James Potter."
James turned around, not in response, but thinking that someone was talking about him, thinking that he wasn't there. When he turned, there was only one set of eyes. Odd. Normally people don't talk to themselves- at least not here. He sighed, blowing a thin ring of smoke. The voice, however, was not satisfied.
"Well, it's about time. I can't have the excuse of being nervous as to if you're okay anymore- what's there to be nervous about?- but one does seem to worry, especially if you've been gone so long, and so alone for who knows how-"
James turned around, facing a squat little woman with raven black hair. Her cheeks were red, lightened with the joy of jabbering on and on, afresh with blood from her bodiless state. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and threw it into the water, leaving a trail of ash.
"Mum," James said quietly.
The woman harrumphed.
"Mum is right. Although what job does a mum do, when her one and only son won't even do so much as bid hello-"
"I've been busy," James growled.
She laughed at that.
"That's not what Lily says. Poor dear, she has every right to worry. You don't get out, you don't joke. What the hell is wrong with you?"
James was taken aback, and he was sure his expression told that. His mother never, ever, cursed- she had brought him up on the principle that even "stupid" was a terrible word, and may Merlin bless those that did not understand. She grabbed his arm fiercely, leading him to a cottage. He didn't object.
Her keys rattled as she opened the door, and she lead James inside the house. He followed in obediently, overwhelmed by the aroma, the scents- new scents- of chocolate croissants and apple pies. How long had he not eaten? A day? A week? Seventeen years? And he instantly felt a pang of guilt- for he knew that Lily had tried to persuade him to eat, purposely sneaking custard pies into his room whenever she possibly could. But no one could cook like his mother- and only his mother's cooking would ever persuade him to eat.
"Lumos," James muttered, lighting the room. He was glad he had died with his wand at his side, or else he would have had nothing to channel his magic with in the afterlife. A twitch of excitement overtook him. He wanted Mrs. Potter's cinnamon scones as much as he did when he was a boy getting rewarded for his good marks.
But there were no scones nor pastries nor pies. Just scented candles; unlighted, yet strong. There were four of them in total, all wafting through the air like meringue dancers of scent. Three people sat comfortably on his mother's scarlet rug, each holding one of the candles. The last one was placed in his hands silently. He hadn't even noticed.
He looked up into the faces- not the eyes. Everyone was so old; so tired looking. He gulped, staring intensely into the faces of none other than Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.
Did it matter now, that everything was already said and done? Did it matter that nothing could be changed? That no hearts could be mended- or broken? A person either has two choices; live in peace, or live alone.
James Potter didn't want to live alone anymore.
And for that moment- that splendid, everlasting moment, the four Marauders were reunited again, and were for all of eternity to remain.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it!
However, how am I ever going to know that if you don't REVIEW? I never share anything with people I know- so this is written specifally for you, so I won't learn and grow upon it if I don't get your feedback! (such big pressure, I know). I realize I didn't explain a lot of things (i.e., How does Lily know that Remus is there?), so if you have any questions feel free to ask in a review! If I get a lot I'll post an FAQ later, and if not I'll answer all questions personally.
Happy reading everyone!