James climbs into the boat with a practiced ease. You clamber in awkwardly after him, grateful that he hasn't turned around yet. You pull yourself up before James gets the chance and follow him to the front of the small motorboat. The bow, you think it's called. You're not confident enough in your boat knowledge to say it out loud, though.

You watch your boyfriend as he turns to face you, leaning in to kiss your forehead before he undocks the boat and you drift off on the lake. It's a strange sensation – one you're not sure you'll ever get used to. You take a seat with James, him behind the wheel of the boat and you pressed up against his side, an arm around his waist. James kicks the motor into gear, and you ride the subtle waves for a while. Occasionally, he flashes you a smile, takes your hand in his. He's been talking about taking you on his boat all summer. If it wasn't for the way his eyes lit up as he spoke about it, you probably would've said no. You love James, but you don't love the open water. But here, holding him so close to you… maybe this is alright.

Here you are, the last day of your summer holidays, out on James Potter's boat in the middle of the lake. It's stunning, really. The water is shimmering and clear; the trees that border the lake are tall, picturesque. James lets the boat float on its own, turning in his seat to kiss you on the cheek before taking your hand and leading you to the row of seats along the back.

"I was thinking," he says as he lifts the seats, revealing a storage compartment. He pulls out a picnic basket and a pack of beers. "That we could eat, maybe take a swim?"

You smile, looking into his eyes and realizing just how incapable you are of saying no to him. You argue half-heartedly. "What about that rule, not swimming straight after eating?" You smirk as he waves off your concerns, laying out a picnic blanket on the floor of the boat.

"That old saying? It's merely a suggestion." James sets the basket in the center of the gingham blanket and sets out a beer for each of you. "C'mon, Rem. Take a seat."

You do, but you shift over to sit beside him instead of across from him, as he'd set it up. He chuckles, raising an arm and you nestle underneath it, taking the cap off your beer and taking a swig. "It's gorgeous out here," you comment.

James sets to work making you each a plate of food, and as he passes yours over, his eyes linger on you. "It really is."

You roll your eyes, shoving him slightly. "You're ridiculous."

"You're the one who loves me."

You hum. "I guess that's true." You set your beer down, and take his cheek in your hand, turning his face toward you. You lean up, kissing him. "I love you."

"If the rest of my life could be like this moment, I'd be really happy."

"What, you're not really happy now?"

James grins. "Looks like you should try that again." You breathe a laugh into his mouth, savoring the warmth of his lips, their softness against your own. He's got a point. This is all you really need in life.

You finish your picnic and pack the basket back up into the rear of the boat. James has had quite a few beers – it's clear on his breath and in his eyes. "Lightweight," you murmur. He doesn't hear you. He's too busy taking his shirt off, leaving him in just his swim trunks. His hair is a right mess; you want nothing more than to run your hands through it, tug on his locks as he kisses you deeply –

"Remus, c'mere, look!" You roll your eyes but follow him back to the driver's seat. "When I drive it real fast, look at the bubbles it makes!" He pushes forward the accelerator as far as it'll go. The boat shoots off across the lake, leaping across the wakes and crashing back down. You follow James's glance behind yourselves, just for a brief moment. Water builds up behind the boat, a wall of foam and bubble and wave.

"James, cut it out." Placing your hand on top of his, you slow the boat down to a normal speed again. He looks up at you, smug and gleeful. "Don't be driving boats when you're drunk, you're a mess."

"Maybe – hic – it wasn't right. But I can't be right all the time." He looks off across the water, eyebrows scrunched together in thought. When he looks back at you, he's got a confident and entirely false sense of knowledgeable authority about him. "Quite often I is left instead of right."

"What are you even talking about, mate?" You can't help but laugh, but you muffle it behind your hand. The last thing you want is to boost his ego.

"I'm not right, I'm left!"

"You're a right mess is what you are, babe. Do you really expect me to get us back to the dock?" James shrugs.

"I can do it, babe." He drags out the last syllable, just a hint of mocking behind his voice. He reaches for the wheel, but you stop him.

"I've got a better idea. How about we just stay out on the water for a while, worry about heading back later." James leans back, resting on your chest. You run your fingers through his hair; you're not in any rush to leave.

A/N: Writing Club – Character Appreciation 5: (features) Messy hair; Disney Challenge S1: Write a fic set on water; Dark Lady's Diabolical Lair 7: Shimmering; Book Club – Linus: (relationship) boyfriend, (action) smiling, (drink) beer; Showtime 5: (word) Sensation; Amber's Attic 4: "I swear that when our lips touch, I can taste the next sixty years of my life"; Ami's Audio Admirations 4: (setting) Summer Holiday; Sophie's Shelf 31: Remus/James; Bex's Basement 4: (dialogue) "I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right"; Film Festival 8: (item) Bubbles; Slash September: James Potter; Fortnightly – Feline Fair 19: Write a story set on or near water; Supernatural Day – Nymph: Write a fic set on or near water; Assignment #4 - Muggle Cultures Task 2: Write about someone getting drunk; Insane House Challenge 117: (Pairing) James/Remus; 365 Prompts – 7: (action) Preparing a picnic; Seasonal – Days of the Year – June 8: Write a story that takes place in, on, or under the water; Summer Prompts: (object) Swimming costume; Shay's Musical Challenge 5: Write about someone who likes adventuring; Gryffindor Challenge: James Potter, Reckless; Summer Astronomy Prompts – Sept 23: (theme) Last day of summer; Writing Month wc 943