JAMES

I saw in slow motion as Lily began to slip backwards, her eyes wide and scared, her face frozen in fear and surprise. I ran forward to try and grab her but my arms clutch thin air as she slips out of my grasp and begins to roll down the forest.

"Evans!" I yelled as everyone else screamed or gasped in surprise.

"Oh my god, she's going to die!" Violet screamed causing Alice to slap her, hard.

"Shut up Violet, you hear me? Lily is not going to die you twit, shut up!"

Tears fell silently down Violets face as she hung her head in shame. Not even Remus tried to confort her.

Ignoring their petty battles I sat at the edge of the hill top, took a deep breath and then pushed myself, propelling myself forward. Fear gripped me for only a second before my muscles began to relax and I found myself smirking. With the incredible speed, wind whipping through my hair and blurring of surroundings it was like Quidditch on the ground.

It wasn't until my back got cut on a rock and a branch smacked me in the face that I stopped smiling.

This was why I was better in the sky. Stupid forest dangers.

It wasn't long before I found myself rolling to a stop, right next to Lily who was cradled into the foetal position, lying too still for my liking.

Ignoring the pain shooting up my spine and my raw face, I ran to Lily and turned her to face me.

"Evans, are you ok?"

There was no response and I gasped as her face was bruised and bloody and her shirt had been ripped exposing a pretty blue bra.

"Come on Evans, you need to wake up so you can yell at me for looking at your bra."

I felt for a pulse, it was there but weaker than it should be.

What the hell was wrong with the teachers? Taking our wands away for help? They should have known something like this could happen, especially with Slytherines and Griffindors present.

Stretching Lily out, I used my knees to prop her head up, put my jacket over her chest to let her keep her modesty and then took her hand in mine.

"Evans, seriously I'm begging you to slap me, I would kill right now just to have you slap me. Nothing bad can happen to you Evan's, not on my watch. You mean way too much to me for me to lose you now, I haven't even gotten to kiss you yet."

Her eyelids fluttered and I found myself half smiling. "I knew you wanted to kiss me Evans, it's the only thing you responded to. You didn't need to try and trick me into CPR, if you just asked I'd gladly kiss you. I really like you Lily."

Slowly, so slowly I almost didn't realise it her fingers began to tense and then she was stirring weakly.

"Potter?" she asked weakly.

"Your knight in shining armour, at your service."

"Let go of my hand before I make you."

I let go, massive smile on my face. "That's my girl."

"I'm not your girl," she sighed.

"That's fine, be whatever you want love, just don't be gone, never be gone."

Surprisingly Lily looked, if possible flattered. I pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and heard her breath catch in her throat. Taking this as a good sign, I leant closer until our noses almost touched, she still wasn't pulling away, slapping me or screaming, just a little further and then I'm going to be able to say I've kissed Lily Evans, just a little bit…

"Lily! Oh my god. Are you ok? Can you move? How hurt are you?"

Upon hearing Alice's panicked voice Lily and I both sprang apart and away from each other.

Godamnit, it was always something pushing us apart. Always something getting in the way, it wasn't fair!

"Yeah, I think I can walk," Lily was saying to Remus, who was checking her over.

"I think your arm may be broken," he told her somberly, as he gently took her arm in his hand and she whimpered loudly. "Yep, definitely broken."

"But my legs are fine?" she asked softly.

"Try walking and we'll find out."

Gingerly and with the help of Frank and Alice, Lily got herself standing. Shooting me a triumphant smile she took one step forward and then cried out in pain.

"Shit! This is so unfair. How come he's ok?" she asked practically snarling at me now.

All eyes turned to me at that point and identical gasps were let out again. "James…your face,"

Frank said.

"Is it ruined?" I asked calmly. "No more hot dates for me?"

"You've definitely looked better," Remus added.

"So there's still a chance I can get some dates?"

Lily rolled her eyes as Violet giggled. "What do you say Evans, let me buy you a butterbeer to say thanks?"

"Thanks? For what?" she asked.

"For making this day one of my best, you haven't slapped me once yet."

Giving me a genuine smile she replied. "Days not over yet."

"Well, as cute as the flirting is, we're gonna need to call for help," Frank stated.

"I think we should carry on." Lily said. "I can walk, I promise and if Remus is right, and this is the fast way we can win. It'll be the ultimate show of survival, we've got to get top marks for that."

"Lily, you can't walk," Alice told her soothingly.

"You might slow us up too," Violet added much to Lily's disproval.

"I'll carry her," I volunteered.

"James, that's very sweet but I don't think Lily-"

"Ok, but we're not playing grab arse after," Lily interrupted.

We all stared at her like she was crazy. Had Evans just consented to let me touch her? In public? Without repercussions?

"Evans, how hard did you hit your head?" I asked timidly.

"Hilarious James, now shut up and carry me before I change my mind."

I didn't need to be told twice that was for sure! Carefully I lifted her into my arms, careful not to bump her broken arm or sore leg as much as I could help. I had to give it to her too, she didn't cry once like I was used to girls doing, just grit her teeth and waited for the pain to surpass. As awful as it made me, I loved having her this close, she smelt like earth and strawberries, she was light and she was perfectly made to fit my arms. Perfect.

"You alright?" I asked, bracing myself for her sharp tongue.

"Yes, thanks for being so gentle."

"Um…you're welcome?"

Her laughter like pretty chimes made me smile along with her. "I'm the biggest bitch huh? You don't even know how to react when I'm not screaming at you."

I looked at her intensely. "I'm praying I can start to get used to it."

"You done?" Remus asks with a small smile. "We've got to get a move on if we're going to make it before anyone else. Hey, before we start is anyone hungry?"

"Well, sure, but I'm not really seeing an all you can eat buffet around," I reply.

Taking off his back pack Remus pulls out some dried fruit, chocolate cookies, rolls, pumpkin pies, chocolate frogs and some wrapped up cold pieces of chicken. I start to smirk as I realise he'd prepared for everything and made sure he'd taken supplies from the kitchen before we even started the camp. Then my smile is wiped clean as I kick myself for not thinking of it first.

"Well, well, well, good boy Moony stole some food from the kitchens huh?" I grinned.

Remus turned a brilliant shade of pink and shrugged. "I didn't steal, I asked politely and the house elves helped out."

"That was a really smart thing to do Remus," Violet tells him quietly. "You really prepared for this. I feel stupid, I only brought a water bottle, a jacket, a mirror and lip gloss."

Remus pats her shoulder awkwardly then halves out his supplies and hands them around to us. "Don't feel stupid, being a Marauder you need to prepare for anything, as is I didn't pack nearly as much as I would pack if I had been in the group with Sirius."

"Thanks Moony," I tell him with a smile. "I think."

I make sure Lily eats all her share of food before urging her to eat mine.

"James, I can't eat your share, you need the energy, what if we get lost again and you end up dying because of me?"

"I lived to see the day you called me James, so I'd die happy."

Lily blushed and silently ate the food and I thanked God that Sirius wasn't here because if he saw how soft I was becoming he would do something to make me prove I was still a man and that would mean I would have no chance with Lily, and that was something I wouldn't allow to happen. Ever.

LILY

I needed to get out of here and fast because James Potter was ruining everything. All the years I've put into the cold focus on my studies, all the years I worked extra hard to know everything I could about magic just so I could pull my own pranks on him, all the years I worked on keeping my self from being vulnerable, were starting to break down and I couldn't have that. It would mean I was feeling something for Potter, it would mean being vulnerable, and it would mean giving him the chance to break me.

"Are you ok?" he asked, still holding me gently, still not faltering after over an hour of walking.

"Fine."

"Do you need a break? Some water? I got some chicken left if you're still hungry I made Remus save?"

"Potter, please, cut it out."

"Cut what out?" he asked, and damn him he actually looked confused.

"Being nice to me, I get it, you have a heart and it works, congrats. So you can stop trying now, you can go back to being yourself so everything is back to normal."

For the first time since James picked me up I feel my arm starting to throb in agony again and I realise it's because he's stopped holding me how he was before and he's staring at me with those twinkling hazel eyes, hurt. He's actually hurt and it stops me dead.

"Frank?" he calls and within seconds Frank is by our side, followed closely by Alice.

"Do you think you could take over for me? I think Evans could use a different set of arms."

"Oh. Well, sure, I guess," Frank replied uncertainly as we come to a stop and I wince in pain.

"Just so you know," James whispers as he helps me into Franks' arms, "I wasn't trying. That, before, this whole day, wasn't an act."

I stare after him in shock and want to kick myself, right in my stupid hurt leg.

"What was that about?" Alice asks, nodding to James who is now stalking past us to catch up to Remus.

I sigh and shrug, making myself wince again. "Another game I guess."

Alice doesn't push it but her eyes say it all, that I'm a liar, that my act is falling apart, that I'm starting to lose the hate I felt for James Potter.

"We're about half an hour from the end, " Remus comments. "The only problem is, because we're down here, we're going to need to either signal the teachers to come get us from below, or trek up where we came from."

"Moony Lily isn't going to make that," James tells him patiently.

"I know, so maybe half of us go to win and someone waits with Lily so the teachers can get her a stretcher and she won't be in pain?"

"Yeah, but what if the teachers take forever and she's stuck waiting and in pain, her arm is broken Moony, and she's losing blood, we need to get her help soon, she's put on a good brave show but now it's enough."

"Can you stop talking about me like I'm not here?"

James turns to me and I feel my face going pale as he stares at me and there's no warmth in his gaze.

"Sorry Evans. What would you have us do?"

"Frank, are you up to carrying me up the hill?" I ask.

Frank looks at Alice, then back at me and then bites his lip. "Well…I..."

"It's fine Frank, I'll carry Evans up the hill, if you can keep carrying her until we get there," James reasons, not even looking at me now.

"Yeah, thanks James, that would be good," Frank replies, clearly pleased with the compromise.

The next half hour is the worst of my life. No one talks, no one even tries to and the silence is so loud it's practically deafening. Every part of me hurts and I struggle to keep my whimpers to myself, Frank is not as gentle at James, he doesn't keep me close to maintain my warmth, he doesn't know where to hold me so I'm comfortable and he isn't as strong so he's constantly stopping to shift me and sometimes knocks my arm back the other way and I feel like I'm going to pass out from the pain. It's not until now that I realise just how much effort James put into making me comfortable and as pain free as he could. It's not until now that I realise that just maybe James Potter does care about more than getting in my pants after all.

Damn I hate being wrong.

"Can I cut in?" James jokes as we stall to a stop and he comes to relieve Frank.

Frank can't get rid of my fast enough and he transfers me into James' strong arms he immediately kisses Alice and holds her close.

"Ok, I think if we use the rocks and trees as guides we should make it up the hill, Prongs are you sure you can do this? You're going to have to be pretty steady," Remus states.

"I wouldn't hurt her," James replies defensively.

"I mean you,"

"Oh. I'll be fine."

Remus gives me a sharp look and then continues. "I'll go first, Violet behind me, then Alice, Frank, then James with Lily."

"I don't hear anyone up there," Alice commented.

Remus grinned and it was amazing how it transformed him into carefree and beautiful. "That's because we cut an hour out of our time by going the back way where the teachers didn't set up and obstacles."

"Diabolical Moony," James grinned.

Moony bowed and then as quick as it came the smile and carefree air was gone. "Let's go."

We watched as one by one they slowly and awkwardly clung to trees, rocks and logs to help them safely up. Every almost fall added more dread in my heart and I was starting to panic thinking of James not having any holds to use to his advantage.

"You don't have to do this," I told him quietly. "I can just wait here."

"And deprive me of being the hero? I think not. Come on, it's our turn to be the conquerers."

It's a painfully slow process, every step knocks me the wrong way, every almost slip causes both our cuts to bleed heavier and we're not even half way when I start to cry and want to give up.

"Don't cry, I'm not going to drop you. I'm sorry it's hurting," James gasps as he slams his already sore back into a bend in a tree to support us both so he can re arrange his footing. I sneak a peek over his shoulder and his jacket is now caked with dirt, mud and blood, so much blood.

"Oh…you're bleeding so much! I'm so sorry!"

"Hey, it's ok, I've had worse. Sirius used to try his new hexes out on me and I had a boil the size of a quaffle on my back that I had to have cut off for a week. Talk about pain! I almost considered being the 'back' of a pimple company for muggles and get a massive pay out when I got it properly removed."

I find myself smiling at his story. "Really?"

"Yeah, it was awful!"

"Tell me another story," I ask, forcing down a sob as he slips and my arm hits a rock.

"Sorry! Ok, how about this, in first year, after the sorting a girl with red hair and the prettiest eyes I've ever seen sat down next to me and I was so nervous I spilt my drink on this girl. I expected her to yell at me, make a scene, hit me, but she turned to me and said "nervous too huh? It's ok, I just realised my robes are inside out, we're both failing at first impressions. Do you think we can recover from the social humiliation?" and then she smiled at me, and I knew I was a goner."

There are no words for what I feel when he says this. There are no words to properly describe his vulnerability or sincerity and how it makes me feel.

He continues on even though it must be embarrassing to have me not even acknowledge his feelings.

"Then in the first holidays I went with Sirius and the Marauder's to a muggle fair, they dared me to see the fortune teller there so I did, and she told me I was to live a hard life but I would fall in love with a flower child and she would be my strength. She said my life line was cut short but the girl with her soul on fire that I would make my own and I would like a thousand life times in one. She told me to stop at nothing to get this girl, that I had already met her and would need to work hard for her love. And when I scoffed at her she gave me the lovers card and asked me to believe. She told me it comes in Seven's, our beginning, our consummation and our end. I knew when I left that it was you. And so for years I've done everything I know how to get you to notice me and nothings worked, we only have three months left of school before seventh year so I figure I'm running out of time. I just hope that this trip helps you see a different side of me because I'm starting to lose my belief in my happy ending."

He doesn't look at me and I can feel the heat from his cheeks getting warmer and warmer. What do you say to something like that, how are you meant to answer someone when they hand you their heart and trust you not to break it?

"Um…Thank you?" I reply dumbly.

Idiot. Who the hell says thank you?

To my surprise James chuckles. "You're welcome, better than I expected it would go."

"I don't know what to say," I admit shyly.

"We win," he responds and it takes me a minute to realise that we've stopped.

Our group is waiting for us and by the looks on their faces, they heard the last part of James' speech, violet looks like she might cry, Remus smiles knowingly and Frank looks shocked.

"Well, we got here first," James notes, ignoring everyone's reaction and still holding me tight.

"Yeah, more or less in one piece," I add.

"Man, McGonagall is going to be pissed about this," James says shaking his head.

"You did a great job of looking after Lily at your own personal risk," Alice says, looking confused. "Why would she be mad?"

"Because I couldn't stay out of trouble for one day," he explains.

"I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything less of you," McGonagall said, stepping into view from behind a tree. "Would you care to explain what happened?"