A/N Ok, here is my pathetic excuse for a next chapter. It's not awful, jut really really short. It gives a somewhat stupid explanation for Remus loving Tonks, because I just couldn't take it anymore.

And it's come to my attention that some reviewers are a bit hostile. Thanks for the criticisms, but the things that are different/wrong as some of you are pointing out are different/wrong for a reason. But thanks for telling me! I appreciate all my reviews!

Disclaimer: See last chapter.


Chapter 7: Ready to Jump

Lily picked up her new feather quill, a recent present from Remus, and dipped it in the inkwell. Before she could write anything, however, Kayla came and sat down next to her, a loud "Humph!" escaping from her lips.

"Um, hello to you too?" Lily replied quietly, looking uncertainly at her friend.

"He finally did it." She said angrily.

"Who and what?" Lily asked, setting her quill down with a sigh. Her charms essay would have to wait.

"Remus. He broke up with me. I knew he would. He's been distant for weeks now." Kayla explained. To Lily's surprise, Kayla wasn't crying. She seemed more angry than anything. Lily of course had known that Remus was planning to break up with Kayla because of Tonks…even after Tonks had left, he still talked to Lily about it.

"I just wish I could leave and never see her again…I love Kayla! I really do…"

"Just not in the same way…" Lily supplied, trying to be helpful.

"Like the way James loves you." He finished.

Lily looked away, frustrated. Everyone was trying to convince her to go out with James, and she was getting extremely annoyed.

"Either James and I will happen, or we won't! I wish people would just leave us alone!!" Lily exclaimed.

"He won't force you into anything. But you're killing him Lily. We're just looking out for him." He paused, watching her carefully. "It's not always about you, Lily."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked, sounding offended.

"You're really being a bit selfish Lils. I wasn't going to say anything, but with you not giving James an answer, and then getting mad when people say things about it because we care about you two makes us think that we shouldn't be trying to help you."

"Remus, did I say anything about you when you told me you had this perverted love for a 10 year old? No, I didn't. Did I listen? Yes. Did I tell you that you are disgusting? No." She paused. "Why do you like her anyway?"

"I can't tell you." He answered, looking away.

"Oh no, you don't get off that easily." She said, grabbing his arm and turning him to face her.

"Fine! You can't tell anyone though, ok?" Lily nodded, and he led her to an empty table closer to the back of the library. "It was in Divinations one day, in 5th year. I had gone back to turn in a paper I had left in the dorm. Only, Professor Alastria wasn't there. Her crystal ball was though." He paused again, closing his eyes. "I saw her Lily. I saw her, and I saw me, and we were together. And I all of the sudden felt this weird protectiveness for Tonks that I've never felt before. I think what I saw was me around my 30's. I just remember the way she looked at me. Kayla's never looked at me like that…It's the same way James looks at you." He finished, sounding guilty.

"You said you've never seen anything in a crystal ball." Lily replied, looking somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, well…where we would we Marauders be without our lies?" he asked, grinning.

"So that's why you feel this way. It's not so much about her now…it's about her in the future." Lily mused.

"Sorry I couldn't explain sooner." He said guiltily.

"That's ok. I guess I should trust you more…but when you were talking about being in love with a ten-year old, I was seriously thinking about denouncing our friendship." Lily smirked. They sat in silence for a moment, until Lily gathered enough courage to speak again. "So why does James 'love' me?"

"Ask him yourself." Remus answered, grabbing his book bag and leaving the table, Lily still sitting, staring at the wall.

"Men." She huffed, then stood up and exited the library.


"Allison. What is it that you like most about Sirius?" Lily asked, staring into the common room fire.

"Is this about James?" Allison asked, not looking up from her potions essay.

"Oh alright. Yes. It's about James." Lily conceded grumpily.

"Lily, just give the poor boy an answer! He's dying. I know you don't see it, but the rest of the bloody school does, and we're all getting a bit tired of it." Allison said. Lily looked up at her surprised.

"Fine. I'll talk to him. But I'm not promising anything," Lily declared, standing up.

"He's changed Lily. Really he has. And I know you've noticed. Just...just think about it." She finished, and Lily nodded, then slowly made her way to the heads dormitories.

She entered his room silently to find him sitting and reading by the window. She sat down on his bed, folding her hands in her lap.

"Hi." He greeted uncertainly.

She didn't respond. She just sat in silence, staring at her hands. Finally, she gathered enough courage to say something.

"I am scared James. I'll admit that."

He watched her carefully from the window, not moving.

"I'm scared of the future. I'm scared of Voldemort, and the attacks that the Ministry tries to cover up. I'm scared of exams and finally being on my own in life. But none of that compares to how scared I am of you. And I don't know if I can jump James. You have to help me."

James stood up, walking slowly to her.
"Of course Lily! I'll be standing next to you, holding your hand!" He answered, and Lily had to fight the inward giggle at the cheesiness of his words. But they fit.

Lily took a deep breath and reached out her hand, taking his fingers in hers.

"Then I'm ready to jump."

A/N well, there it is. No it's not over. Just the retarted, annoying part before they get together is.

REVIEW PLEASE!

Thanks to:

SweetSouthernGal: thanks for the spelling correction! And I know, I was trying to get away from the creepy thing between Tonks and Remus! Thanks for your review!

fairydustandcansofspam: thank you for your neverending support!

AJ: I realize that Lily doesn't play Quidditch, but as I said earlier, some things in this story that are different from the book do serve a purpose! Thanks for reading!