A/N: This is shorter than I had originally intended, so I'm sorry if it feels rushed, but I wanted to get it posted, since it's been so very long, and I'm not likely to have much more time for writing in the upcoming couple of months, so here you are!

Chapter 7: Always

Lily and Alice sat on Alice's sofa, both holding mugs of hot tea. Lily's face was still tearstained. Frank had been banished to the bedroom for the evening so that the friends could talk privately.

"And he didn't offer any explanation at all?" Alice asked, lowering her mug and setting it on the coffee table.

"He tried," Lily scoffed, "but there's nothing he can say to make this better."

Alice sighed.

"But, even if he really did cheat on you," she began.

"What do you mean 'if'?" Lily asked.

"Well, you've got to at least give him the chance to explain his side of the story. That's how communication works in a marriage," Alice replied, forcing the edge of sarcasm out of her voice. "But, if he really did cheat on you . . . Does that necessarily mean that your marriage is over?"

Lily took another sip of her tea, considering. There was no doubt in her mind that James did still love her, even if he had cheated. But she didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive him. Would he start to call another woman's name in his sleep? Would he think of her when he made love to Lily? She shuddered at the thought.

"I don't know," she said after a long pause. "I don't know anything right now," she muttered, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

Alice took Lily's mug and set it down, pulling her friend into a hug.

"Everything will work itself out, one way or another," Alice said, rubbing Lily's back. "And you know you're welcome to stay here as long as you like. It's going to be okay, Lily."

A knock sounded at the door, and Alice rose to answer it.

"Don't know who it could be at this time of night," she muttered irratably.

James stood in the threshold.

"I'm not leaving here until you let me see her," he said firmly, leaning slightly against the door frame.

"That's up to Lily on whether she wants to speak to you or not," Alice said, glaring coldly at him. "In fact, I think it's better if you just leave, James."

"No, Alice, let him in," Lily replied, her voice even. Alice sighed and stood aside, admitting James into her home. Lily stood in the living room glaring as coldly as humanly possible at her husband. They stared at one another for several unbearably long moments before Lily finally spoke. "So, did you come here to stare at me or do you have something to say?" she asked, her words scalding.

"I have something to say," James replied softly. They stared for another moment.

"Well, spit it out, then," Lily muttered.

"I'm sorry," James said and, in the moment that passed before he could continue, Lily burst out savagely.

"You're sorry? Sorry! You cheated on me and then hid it from me so that I had to find out by finding another woman's lipstick on the collar of your bloody shirt and all you can say to me is that you're sorry?"

"No, Lily," James replied, his own voice growing heated. "I didn't cheat on you! I came to explain what happened if you would just listen to me for five bloody seconds."

"I'm not exactly in much of a mood to listen to anything you've got to say. Sod off."

"Lily," Alice interrupted tentatively.

"What?" Lily snapped.

"I-I think you ought to listen. You two need to talk. Just hear him out. I'll be in the other room." Alice walked quickly into her bedroom.

James took a deep breath then started to speak. "It was about two weeks ago. I was just leaving the office. I ran into Marcia Torrence, and I spilled her coffee everywhere. It was all down the front of her shirt, so I was trying to be polite, I just did a little drying charm. Honestly, I don't even know how it happened. One moment we were just standing there, talking politely. She told me that she works at the Ministry. But the next moment, I don't know, she had pushed me back and she was all over me. I pushed her away and I told her that I was happily married and then I walked away. I swear, Lily, I never wanted that to happen. I didn't intend for you to ever find out."

"If that's really what happened, why weren't you honest with me? Why didn't you just tell me so I didn't have to find out like that? You've no idea how that felt," Lily said, dabbing at her tearing eyes. James produced a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it without a word, staring up at him, waiting for an answer. James sighed and sat next to her on the sofa.

"I know now that I should have told you about it. But, you were just starting to get well, and Alice said that emotional stress could make things worse, so I was thinking about that, and I… I just didn't want to hurt your feelings."

Lily put her face in her hands, her mind spinning. "I want to believe you," she said softly.

"I swear that I'm telling you the truth," James replied. Lily looked up at him, and their eyes met.

"Okay," she said softly, nodding and sniffling.

"Yeah?" James replied, hopeful, relieved.

"Yeah," Lily replied, nodding again. James held out his arms and Lily let him pull her into an embrace.

"I'm so sorry," James murmured into her hair, kissing the top of her head. "I should have told you."

"I'm sorry, too," Lily replied. "I should have given you a chance to explain before I just assumed that I knew what had happened."

"I would have done the same thing," James said.

"And I understand why you didn't tell me. I still wish you had, but…. I get it." James held her tighter, and Lily breathed deeply, inhaling his scent. She looked up into his eyes and James kissed her softly.

"You will always be the only woman for me," James murmured against her lips. "Always."

Lily sniffled again and kissed him back, hard, needing to feel him there with her, needing him so completely at that moment that she felt as if she would fall if he weren't right there next to her. Always.

"Let's go home," she said softly as they pulled apart. James nodded and stood, pulling her to her feet.

Alice walked back into the room. "I didn't hear shouting, so I thought it might be okay to come and check and see if everything's okay," she said softly.

"Yeah, everything's fine," said James.

Lily nodded, looking up at him. "It was all just a big misunderstanding," she added.

"That's good," Alice said, smiling at her friends. "We'll see you both soon, then, yeah?"

"Yeah," Lily replied as she and James walked out the door. They apparated home, holding hands. James took down the wards around the house, and they walked inside. Without saying a word, they both walked straight to their bedroom.

James closed the door, and Lily sat on the bed, removing her shoes and her cloak. James walked over and knelt in front of her, placing his hands on her knees. Lily covered his hands with her own, looking into his eyes.

"I love you," James said. Lily smiled.

"I love you, too," she said softly, squeezing his hands. James stood and then joined her on the bed, laying her on her back and settling over her, kissing her soundly. Lily cupped his face in her hands, fighting back a moan of longing and desire. James broke the kiss and looked straight in to her eyes once again.

"I'm yours," he said softly. "Totally and completely yours, always."

Lily felt herself tear up again and James kissed the tears away before kissing her lips again, passionately, hotly, pressing his tongue between her lips, pulling at the hem of her shirt at the same time. Lily broke the kiss and ran her hands up and down his sides and back as he kissed her neck, removing her shirt entirely. Soon, they were both entirely naked, making love in their own home, in their own bed. They soothed over emotional wounds with soft kisses and touches, forget jealousy and distrust, and lost themselves entirely in their passion and love for each other, reaffirming their claims on each other's bodies, expressing their love without words, letting their souls speak silently through the union of their bodies.

Afterwards, they lay in each other's arms, basking in the afterglow of sex.

"Hey," James said softly.

"Hmm?" Lily replied, sleepily.

"You still want to have a party?" James asked. Lily laughed, turning in his arms to face him. The look on her face said quite clearly that she thought he had lost his mind and found him adorable for it. "Come on," James replied. "Let's have a party. I want to celebrate." He kissed her quickly. "Say yes."

Lily laughed again. "You can throw whatever sort of party you want, love," she replied.

"I love you," James said, jubilantly. Lily smiled, but then her look softened, remembering the events from earlier in the day, suddenly insecure.

"Always?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Always."

A/N: Well, there you have it, I hope that you enjoy. Keep in mind, with married couples, especially couples with tempers like Lily and James', just because you've made up, doesn't mean that the fight is forgotten.

At any rate, please review. I don't care if you just say "Cute Story. I like it." or "Crappy Story. I hate it". Obviously I'd prefer the first option, but it's up to you. Anyway, just drop me a line to let me know that you've read it and if you like the fic or not. Again, I apologize for the horrible length of time between updates!

Love from

Lyny Angell