Unexpected

Part 6: Forever

There had always been an ease to Lily and James.
You know, from the moment that they met, it was like they had known each other their entire lives, that all the actions were smooth and natural between them.

Throughout the first few years at Hogwarts, they fell into a pattern, with him finding new buttons to push so as to get a rise from her, and her always there with a quick reply to take him off his high horse.

The throughout their later years, he found new ways to get to her and she never failed at knowing exactly how to get him back, the effortlessness of their interactions wasn't one that went unnoticed.

Now, in their 7th year, the comfort they had with one another was what others look search for all their lives.
They never needed to pretend with one another, they loved each other for everything the other was and everything the other was not.
The way that she would trace her fingers tips over his hand, being his support when he felt knocked down.
The way he would stay up all night to help her study for exams that she knew backwards and forward.
They melded together into one being, while still being independent whole people.
It was as if they had spent a lifetime together; that their story was written long before.
They knew each other as well as they knew themselves.

Days had seem to grow longer and darker as the end of their time at Hogwarts grew near.
The wizarding world was pulsating, tensions were high, and everyone was choosing a side.
This had been their home for the past 7 years, and in a couple of days they would be saying goodbye to the castle, to the safe comfort of the professors and the walls that had protected them for years.
Times like these it would be easy to fall into heavy thoughts, but the Marauders had decided to make it their mission to keep everyone's spirits up.

Lily and Sara sat on the steps of one of the more actively moving staircases, it was where they had become friends, when in first year they got tramped on the staircase when it decided to lead somewhere new. Adventure and exploration of the castle while being late to charms is one way to build a friendship that will last for ages.
"I still can't believe they managed to turn Dumbledore's hair pink." Sara was talking wildly with her hands as the staircase swayed to a new position, "Well, I mean I believe it. It is them after all, and the spell is easy enough…Hey!" Lily jolted and looked up at her, "Are you okay, you seem to be in your head a lot these days."

"James keeps singing."

"By the tone of your voice I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I mean we can all agree he's tone deaf, and that man needs to stop reaching for those high notes, he sounds like a cat yowling into the night after someone stepped on its tail."

"The image you painted couldn't be more accurate, but it's more of why he's singing. Remember last year when there was that Muggle Studies exam, where Professor McGuffin had me come in and be 'the normal muggle in a normal muggle flat', who was sharing the flat, and they had to use the appliances?"

"The one where Sirius almost set the class on fire because of the stove…I've heard many stories, mainly from you, and the castle, the portrait of the Blue Man by the class also was spreading the tales around the castle, he's such a little gossip. I think I'll miss him most."

"Okay, I'm going to bring you back on track, then you can go tell the Blue Man how much you'll miss him. As I was saying, James was so nervous that he would make an arse out of himself in front of me, that he sang the entire week leading up to that class; he does it when he's nervous." Lily smiled back at the memory, if there was a point in time that she fell hard for James Potter, it was then; granted it had been happening slowly, but at that moment, him singing to himself to try and calm down, hand in hair, it was the first time she fully saw him. Then it happened all at once, which left her alone with her thoughts of James Potter all summer.

"That's weird." Sara's retort brought Lily out of her memory, pursing her lips she glared at her friend, "Hush." Rolling her eyes at Lily, Sara pressed forward, ever the steamroller, "The boy I like turns into a wolf every full moon, so I'm not really one to talk."

She tried to sound nonchalant about the matter, but Lily knew better. These two had danced around each other for seven years, until last Friday night, when firewhiskey made Sara as brave as the game she talked. "Ever going to talk to him again after the sloppy drunken episode after exams?"

Getting to her feet as the staircase swayed, moving them to a direction that would lead them out to the lake, Sara gave a flippant reply as she forced Lily to her feet, "I'm just trying to get to a point where I'm all sass and not blushing stumbling over my words, because last time I made a fool of myself."

"It's not every day a girl picks a fight with the guy she like by telling him how awesome she is and what an amazing body she has and how he should just run away to candy land with her." Lily smiled recounting the night's events in her head, the blush that came over Remus' face, the way Sara had continually poked him in the chest as she gloated about herself and then about him, there was this new ease with the group of friends who had really bonded over the years' time. "Then the next day you wake up in his bed, with him sleeping on the floor, and…"

They had made their way about half way down the staircase, Peter's voice broke through the tension, and prevented Sara's hands from rising up anymore as she was severely thinking about killing her best friend.

"Lily, why does Sara look like she's going to kill you?" Sara colored as the staircase swayed to connect to one with Remus and Peter looking up at them.

"That's her look of love. What are you two doing separated from James and Sirius?" The four of them together was always a sign of trouble, but when they spilt up, it caused Lily to be more on edge.

"Just heading to catch up with them." There was a pause as Remus looked at the girls with a slight from which offset the pink that had rose in his cheeks, "I thought you two would have already been down by the lake."

Lily looked at him as if he had hit his head recently and wasn't in his right mind, "And why would we be down by the lake? Do you not see the clouds gathering?" Sara was being unusually quiet, shifting her weight from foot to foot as she tried to remove herself from the situation before Lily turned on her. "He sent an owl last night, to ask you to join him for a picnic. I was there when he wrote it, he did his best to make it formal and romantic, and was there when he got the response." Lily shot a glare to Sara.

"You were in the shower. I meant to tell you. If you hadn't been in the splash zone of their prank then you would have gotten it, so really, it's them to blame and not your dear sweet friend who was just having one last sleepover before our time at Hogwarts is done." Lily's eyebrow rose, "We'll all go down to the lake together. And you look so pretty. And I'll fall on my wand for you if James' has a question."

Their group had begun making their way out to the lake, without Lily fully realizing it. Sara was talking even more quickly than she normally did, while still avoiding all contact with Remus, who in turn was being more reserved than normal, then Peter was fidgeting and had a nervous smile on his face. Everything had Lily hyper focused on the people who surrounded her to the point that she wasn't thinking about James, and why he would want to see her down by the lake. Granted it was kind of their spot, to get away from the eyes of Hogwarts, but he was never formal about inviting her down, it was always more of a hand grab, sneak away and have a moment to themselves.

It was the end of their time at Hogwarts, and the lot of them did forgo the paths they thought they would take to join up and help the fight. Something that Lily had never thought about doing, she thought she was destined to be a healer, the fact that charms and potions were the subjects that came most natural to her had always sent her down that path. Even as a child she had wanted to be a doctor, it seemed it was her calling in life, but now there was something greater, to fight for her friends and family.
She remembered how James had paled when she told him her plan, if it was up to him, he would always keep her from harm's way, yet at the end of the day, he'd always want her by his side. She twisted her hands thinking about the future, about when this would all be done, and if the plan of everyone moving into the Black Manor was still going to be a go. Imagining all of them living together, going through their 20's together, going back and taking classes, the yelling matches, and memories that would be created there.

Times were a bit of a mess now, but they wouldn't always be, and their group had a lifetime of memories to still make.
Lily smiled, holding on to the positive thought, and then she saw James.

He was singing lightly to himself as Sirius talked to him, which only seemed to increase the singing. She laughed lightly, but it was enough to get his attention, he stopped singing, and broke out into a huge smile, "Sorry, am I late? Sara forgot to mention to me that you were planning something grand and romantic."

"Like how you throw me under the bus right away," Sara grumbled, without looking the least bit annoyed.

All of the tensions and worries faded, the moment James wrapped Lily up in a huge hug, lifting her slightly off the ground grinning widely, "I wanted to do something special for you before the ceremony tomorrow. One last memory by the lake."

"If you push me in again Potter I will hex you." There was no venom to her words, yet that didn't stop him from pouting, "You fell! It's because you get so wrapped up in how attractive I am, that you forget how to walk at you fell."

"Even if that was remotely true, you're a Chaser! You've played Quidditch for years, I'd hope you'd have the reflexes to catch me before I fell." Her hair was wild bouncing around her, as her voice grew in volume, it was all topped off with the huge smile she had on. They were wrapped up in their banter that she didn't even notice their friends had seemed to make themselves scarce.
Every now and then, their banter might have led to some light hexes and charms, some things never changed, so it was always wise to keep a distance.

"I have excellent reflexes. I caught you when you fell for me," she was mid eye roll ready to give him back a quick reply, when he pulled her close. Hand fitting into the curve of her waist, while the other moved up to lightly touch her cheek, his nose lightly grazed hers. She glared up as she pulled him closer, "You, sir, are not allowed to do that when I'm about to retort to your cheesiness." Her hands were pressed against his chest, one gripping the material to keep him close, talking so that their lips would touch ever so. She could feel his smile tug at his lips, "You're not denying it though."

She pushed him away, muttering under her breath, collapsing in a very un-lady-like manner on the blanket he had spread out on the grass. He had a collection of all her favorite foods, with some old leather bound books, and the mismatched tea set that she had gotten him as a Christmas gift.
It may have seemed like an odd gift to give James Potter. Yet the shock and joy that come over him when he had opened up the gift was a clear indication as to how much it meant to him
"Why did you wait till you met my family to tell me?" His voice was slightly teasing, he knew the answer, but this was the first time he had asked the question.
"You know why."

"Humor me." He had say down next to her, and pulled her close to him. It was important for him.
"I wanted to make sure your family liked me. I know that's stupid, because you wouldn't care what they thought of me, but I never wanted to put you in that position. It all seems ridiculous now, they raised you, and clearly you talked about me nonstop to them; but I wanted to make sure, and as I say it out loud…" she broke off, and looked off across the lake before turning to look back at him.

"I love you, even though you're neurotic at times and overthink everything." He pulled her into a kiss, before she curled up into him, "I love you too even though you're a prat and continuously push my buttons." James played with her hair, "We're good together." His voice had a slight unease to it, like he was looking for reassurance, this side of James Potter wasn't for the world to see, "We are." She turned to look up at him, and smiled, tracing the back of his hand, he seemed lost in thought, "James. Talk to me. What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

Pushing herself up, she faced him, giving him a light kiss, and he let out a small content sigh, "We're in this together, you pursued me for ages, now you're stuck with me." She pushed him lightly, he took her hand, lacing their fingers together, "Forever?" His voice was deep causing the butterflies to swirl in her stomach, she placed her hand on his jawline, "Ready to get rid of me already?" Trying to keep her tone light while his eyes where as serious as she'd ever seen them.

"Lily Evans." Her breath caught in her throat, "Would you mind being stuck with me, forever?"

She bit her lip, searching his eyes, "I could think of worse things to do forever."

The heat happened all at once. James pulled her close, melding their bodies together, his lips captured hers she ran her tongue across his bottom lip causing him to make a wimpering sound that cause her skin to catch fire. He deepened the kiss, with his hands getting tangled in her hair and his heart nearly beating out of his chest; Lily pushed him back just enough so she could talk. Breathing heavily with darkened eyes she pressed her forehead against his. "Just to make this clear Mr. Potter, you just asked me to marry you?"

His response was kissing her with the same intensity.
James Potter just asked her to marry him in the most perfect way, to others it would have seemed silly and odd, not romantic enough. There was no him giving her a long speech as to why he loved her, he gave countless reasons over the years.
Lily Evans just agreed to marry him in the best way, there was no thought of the ring or the wedding but of spending forever with the man who knew her inside and out.

She laughed as his lips were still pressed against hers, a happy laugh that life no matter how dark and hard things got, she had him by her side. He began to laugh as well, and pulled her into a warm embrace, and they sat there for a moment, laughing and holding one another. "If you had told me in 5th year, that before I graduated I'd be engaged to you of all people…"

"Come on Lils, you had to know we were always meant for each other," taking her head with both hands he placed a kiss on her forehead, "The moment I saw you, it was as if I was waking up from a dream. I know that sounds like a cliché, but it's true. I saw you, and it was as if I already knew you. Yes, I failed at knowing how to get your attention properly. Failed at asking you out on repeat. But I knew you, nothing felt wrong as long as you were around, even if you were telling me off or throwing a hex in my direction."

"Sara use to say the reason you got under my skin so easily was because I was fighting fate, and that in an alternate universe we were an old married couple." Lily smiled up at him, he was all hers.

"There was always a reason I liked that girl," James looked down at her hands before it hit him, "Oh! I have a ring. My mother gave it to me after the winter holidays and I owled your mum and dad to ask permission last week." He fumbled in his pocket for the old family ring, "I was practicing on the lads all week. Sirius was ready to kill me, and then I ended up not even going according to plan."

"When do you ever…" Lily began, rolling her eyes imagining James singing and practicing proposing to the boys; it really was something she wish she had seen. But those thoughts dashed as he pulled out a dainty intricately carved ring with a clear green emerald, "James, it's gorgeous." Taking her hand, he slipped the ring on, placing a kiss on her hand and it both hit them, this was real.
James Potter and Lily Evans were engaged.
Everything seemed right, no matter what was going on in the wizarding world, as of this moment their lives was perfect.

"I was planning something big and elaborate, but well, then this happened. Do you want me to do a redo? I can do the whole down on one knee and tell you all the reasons why I want to marry you. I even wrote down reasons!" There was pride emanating from him, his eyes bright with excitement, as he stole kisses whenever there was a pause in his talking.

"Wrote down reasons? Really?" She looked at him with her brow furrowed, as he pulled her to lay down with him looking up at the dark clouds gathering overhead.

"I began writing down reasons I wanted to date you in 4th year, because it seemed like the most logical thing to do. I was trying to work through why it had to be you and no one else." She was half laying on his chest, fitting into him perfectly, "I thought it was because we were meant to be together?"

"Well, I figured that out in 6th year, but I kept a list, and would just continue to add to it. Peter got his hands on it one day, I came up to the dorms, and could hear them howling away as he read out lines." Lily smiled into him. It was one of those things that only he would do, he was the romantic one in the relationship, "Reason why I love Evans, because she doesn't ever hide the fact of who she is. Because in she doesn't take to kindly to Slughorn's favoritism. Because when she get's lost in the castle she pretends she's a ninja. Because she calls me out on my shit. Because she turned me into a toad, and refused to turn me back."

Lily laughed out loud at that one, "McGonagall was not pleased with me on that one. And how did you know the ninja one?" They had rolled so that they were facing one another, "Not even Sara knows about the Ninja."

"I was behind a suit of armor one day, checking to see if the coast was clear and then I see you, slinky down the halls close to the walls, then freezing, then creeping further along, then calling yourself 'Ninja Lily' and going on about how you're never lost, you're just taking a new way." She pressed up against him, their lips brushing against each other, savoring the fact that they were together in this moment, until…

"Oy, you lot, I'm going to be a moment ruiner, but I'd recommend that you get your snog on up in the castle, because the heavens want to open up and let down the rain." Sirius' voice brought them back to where they were, and James grumbled into her lips about killing his best mate, Lily gave him one last kiss before pulling away.

"Come along Potter, let's get all this packed up. And Sirius, you've come to help that's so kind of you." She called over to where he was trying to slink away, only to hang his head and shuffle his feet over to them, Lily laughed as she pushed herself up and made to grab the basket of food. The ring caught Sirius' attention and he perked up. He knew James had want to propose, he had been driving him mental for the past week about it, and well seven years of his life with Lily talk. But now, actually seeing the ring on her finger, and the glow between the two of them, Sirius did, what only he could do.

Grabbing Lily's hand, he spluttered out "Ring." Before looking up at James, she gave a light laugh, "I decided I wanted him for the long haul." With that a large smile broke out across his face pulling them both into a huge hug. "My best mates are getting married!" His voice spread through the grounds. The castle which seemed to have been silent for the time that they were alone by the lake, now sprung to life.

"I'm going to let you boys finish cleaning up, I should try and tell Sara that Potter somehow coerced me into marriage before the Blue Man does." She gave Sirius a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to James and kissing him soundly till he was flushed and she felt smug, before she made her way back up to the castle.

James turned to Sirius, "I'm going to need a best man."

The castle was lively gossiping about the news of Lily and James, it had only been a couple of hours, but everyone had heard the story multiple times of how he proposed and how she had accepted.

That night, when they walked into the Great Hall, and all eyes turned to them, this couple who was radiating happiness and warmth, and who loved each other in a way that most had only witnessed in stories.

Lily nudged him with her elbow, it was clear they wanted a conformation, just as they had when she originally agreed to go out with him, "I managed to get Lily Evan's to want to spend the rest of her life with me." The Hall became alive with noise, happy chatter, people calling out congratulations, others of well wishes.

They had this comfort about them.
Like their story had been written long before, and time had perfected it.
They were a ray of pure love, which others dreamed that one day they would find, that Hogwarts needed at this moment, was Lily and James.

They were going to be the couple that people talked about for ages to come.
A great love, where two people who fit perfectly come together and change the world because of it.
James Potter and Lily Evans.
They were the couple who deserved a lifetime together.

A/N: I know it's been ages, but I've decided to try and wrap this all up the way it is in my head. I'm trying to just give snapshots of their lives together.

Anywho, I know it's rough.

But hopefully you all enjoy it.