CH: 10- Christmas Gifts
"Petunia!" Lily shouted excitedly as she saw her sister. She ran and hugged her tightly, love shining from her eyes. "You got engaged daddy tells me. Why didn't you send me a letter?"
"I don't like Grimm," Petunia said stiffly and then her attention turned to James. "Who are you?"
"I am James Potter, you must be Lily's sister Petunia," he said trying to smile at her in a friendly way. Vernon cleared his throat and stepped in.
"I don't care who you are, take your hands away from my fiancé," he said gruffly and pulled James hand away. James looked around the room in astonishment. This was a family and yet they were so far apart in emotions. "Who the hell is Grimm?" Vernon asked.
"My owl, he is black so I called him Grimm," she said softly, looking to James for help.
"You have a pet owl? What kind of a person are you?" Vernon roared. Just then Laurie stepped in and announced that dinner was ready. It was a good thing too, because James was about to murder Vernon for yelling at Lily.
Dinner was an interesting affair, Petunia sat and pecked at her food, oddly quiet and reserved. Vernon on the other hand wouldn't shut up; he had several opinions and felt the world had to know them. Lily tried to hold back her laughter as his criticism moved to James.
"Your hair needs a good trimming; it's far too long and messy to be appropriate. I get mine trimmed once a month to keep it short and orderly, that's what runs a life, order," he said firmly through a mouthful of sausage. He kept it up for a good ten minutes, explaining that a gentleman's looks were his greatest asset and he had to play them for all he was worth. Lily and James left the table a short time later and entered the front parlor.
"I guess Vernon isn't worth much then is he?" James mused thoughtfully as he and Lily sat on the sofa. She laughed softly and curled up in his arms.
"I wonder what he would think of Sirius. Vernon would die of shock to see that mane of hair," Lily teased. James smiled down at her and kissed her forehead softly, enclosing her fingers in his.
"I think we should introduce them, maybe Padfoot could shut him up and whip him into shape," James replied. Lily burst into giggles as she imagined Sirius standing over a quivering Vernon Dursley.
"He is rather large isn't he?" Lily giggled into James shoulder. James grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye.
"I miss you," he whispered thickly. Lily knew instantly what he was talking about. He missed her kisses and caresses, the way she told him she loved him as they held each other. She missed him too she decided and hugged herself closer to the contours of his body.
"Soon James, I promise it'll be soon. I miss you too," she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
"Isn't this lovely?" Vernon asked as he and Petunia strolled into the room. Lily turned her eyes away from James to stare at her soon-to-be brother-in-law.
"Is it a crime to hold each other?" Lily asked in a sickeningly sweet voice. Petunia looked guilty and shifted her eyes to the floor. "We'll leave," Lily said softly and stood up facing her sister, "but first I need to ask Petunia a question."
Lily reached out both her hands to her sister and waited patiently. James couldn't understand what was going on and to his great glee, neither did Vernon. Petunia stared at her hands as if they were a snake and as a tear fell down her cheek she put her hands almost hesitantly in Lily's.
"Tell him the truth if you love him. He will be better off if he hears it from you," Lily said and wiped the tear from her sisters eye. Suddenly the tear became a sob and Petunia collapsed on the sofa, her shoulders shaking. Vernon looked from Lily to Petunia and then exploded.
"What have you done to her? Why is she upset? The truth about what?" he yelled as Lily took James's hand and walked out the door. James waited until Lily had pulled him outside and sat in the swing to say anything.
"What was all that about Lils? Why was Petunia crying like that?" James asked. Lily sighed and threaded her fingers through James's, holding his hand tightly.
"When we were little we had this special thing we did. When I wanted to get her to answer a question she didn't want to answer I would hold out my hands to her so she could take them for comfort. She knew the question I was going to ask; I ask it on the first night back from school every year. I always ask her if she is ashamed of me, her tears were a sign that she is and Vernon obviously doesn't know," Lily explained gently. James watched the tears form in her eyes; he knew what hell it was to love someone who doesn't love you in return. He decided to change the subject.
"What is that cottage being used for?" he asked pointing to it. Lily began to grin and she stood up, the swing hitting her in the back of her legs.
"Nothing that I am aware of, it used to be Petunia and my playhouse but we haven't set foot in it since the day I received my letter from Hogwarts. I want you to see it," she said and pulled him over, laughing when he picked her up and carried her over. He let her down to open the door and he saw her smile fade.
Looking into the cottage was like taking a stroll down memory lane, but there had been major road construction. When Lily had left for school the cottage had been half-painted, half-carpeted and unfurnished. Now she was looking at a completely finished little house. She stepped inside to look around.
The walls were a pretty baby blue, a beige carpet covered the floor and there were little lace curtains in the window. Lily noticed that their furniture had been installed as well; the sofa, chairs and coffee table were now tastefully arranged in the sitting room. Lily walked to the kitchen and gasped. She and Petunia hadn't even started the work on the kitchen and yet it was done. China plates filled the cabinets and an oak table and chairs were in the dead center of the room, gleaming beautifully. She ran her hand along the table and felt the smooth polished surface beneath.
James had followed her in and watched her face become radiant and surprised as she walked into each room. Finally she came to a little bedroom and she opened the door. This was the room that she had claimed for herself when she was four years old. She walked to the bed and sat down; it was a canopy, something she had always said she wanted. Everything was fragile and beautiful, everything Lily had ever wanted in a room. The bed sunk with her weight, the covers were soft and warm, and tears began to form in her eyes. They fell on a small card on the bedside table, which she picked up and saw her name written on the envelope in familiar writing. She opened it quickly and read the card.
Dear Lily,
I know how much you have always loved this cottage. It's yours now, my Christmas gift to you. I love you Lily.
Petunia
James watched as Lily was reduced to heaving sobs, but he knew when to comfort her and when not to and now was definitely not the time. She looked so beautiful though on that canopy bed, her thick coppery hair spilling down her shoulders and her lovely emerald eyes swimming with tears. She looked up at him and then she reached her arms out to him. Now he could hold her. He rushed to the bed and knelt in front of her, enveloping her in his arms. Her hair was silky and soft in his hands and it smelt of lilies, if he had a choice he would hold her forever.
"She did this for me James, Petunia fixed up the cottage for me, and" Lily wept softly; "she really does still love me."
"She isn't the only one who loves you Lils," he whispered tenderly in her ear. His warm breath sent shivers down her spine and made her body feel tingly. She hugged him tightly, spreading her fingers up into his thick black hair.
"I know James, just keep on loving me, and don't stop. Not yet when I am so close to recovery," she pleaded.
"Don't worry sweetheart, this is one promise I'll keep or die trying."
James told Lily's parents he was going to sleep in the cottage during his visit with them. They were delighted, but only they knew the reason. They could see the cottage from their bedroom window and if James or Lily decided to go for a midnight walk, they would see them. What they didn't know was James had cleverly packed his invisibility cloak away for just such an occasion. He had to use it, if only to save both him and Lily from the nightmares they had without each other, it was purely innocent, or so James kept telling himself.
He tucked her in that night, kissing her hands as he held them tightly. She looked so vulnerable and lonely that he was tempted to throw caution to the wind and crawl into bed with her immediately.
"Either one of us can use the cloak," he whispered gently as he kissed her ear, "it's all up to you Lily. I want to hold you in arms so badly it hurts, but if you'd rather keep it low profile for this two week period I understand." He leaned down to kiss her lips lightly, like a brother would when she put her hands to his cheeks to look him directly in the eye.
"If you don't hold me tonight I'll brain you," she whispered threateningly. James grinned at the look of fierce determination on her face.
"Would you like to wear the cloak then?" he teased.
"I don't feel comfortable in it," she sighed dramatically. He kissed her cheek, grinning like a fool and then left the room. "I'll be waiting," Lily whispered.
When James finally got up to Lily's room that night she was already asleep, but he knew she would make him miserable if she didn't wake up in his arms. He would already be miserable without her, so why make them both suffer? He lowered himself to her bed, making sure his cloak was covering him completely. It would be awkward if her parents came in to check on her and found a disembodied arm wrapped around their daughter. He stretched out beside her, stroking her hair and was quickly lulled to sleep by her even breathing. This became their nightly pattern for the next week; after everyone was asleep he would go to her room and curl up beside her, letting her gain comfort in knowing he was there.
Christmas Eve dinner was delicious. Laurie made roast and potatoes. Lily and James sat close together hand in hand and smiling widely. They were happiest when they were together, which was all the time. Life was looking up for everyone it seemed, but Petunia and Vernon. Petunia once again picked at her food while Vernon complained, this time it was about her.
"You damn well should have told me the truth. I deserve to know about your family shouldn't I? I am marrying you am I not?" He demanded. Petunia cowered slightly and a silent tear rolled down her cheek. Laurie and Harold watched their oldest daughter sympathetically; she had poor choice in men.
"If you care about her, it shouldn't matter that she was too embarrassed to tell you. I mean you wouldn't be bragging about having a witch for a sister would you?" James asked pleasantly. The entire family turned to him; this was a surprising turn of events. Someone was sticking up for Petunia's behavior.
"Shut up boy," growled Vernon furiously, "I wasn't speaking to you." He then turned to Lily, "Say nothing you witch, I want to leave here in one piece."
"Apologize to Lily!" James snapped, standing up and rising to his full 6 feet of muscle and strength. Vernon cowered in his seat and looked to Petunia for help, but she was looking at her plate in fear. James grabbed Vernon by the shirt cuff, "Apologize!"
"Sorry," Vernon mumbled and rushed out of the room.
"You've done it now Lily, you have ruined my life just like I knew you would," Petunia cried and ran out of the room after Vernon. Tears sprang to Lily's eyes as she looked at her parents; they were both staring at the door.
"I'm sorry," Lily whispered and left the room. James watched her go and realized the only thing she had ever truly wanted was to be loved by Petunia.
"I'll go make sure she is okay," James said politely and then left the room as well.
"Do you think he really cares for her Harold?" Laurie asked worriedly. Harold put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it tightly.
"He loves her very much, she isn't a little girl anymore Laurie," he said softly.
"I know she isn't and that is what worries me."
James found her out in the cottage, it had become her… no their refuge from the world. It was their special place where they could be together without anyone else and for the few brief moments they had, they were James and Lily in love and happy. He saw her curled up on the sofa, her face almost emotionless.
"Sweetheart? Are you alright?" James asked as he shut the door and moved to her side.
"Tomorrow is Christmas and people should get along on Christmas right? They should love each other," Lily asked pleading with him to agree. When he remained quiet she put her head down and sighed. "I don't even know why I invited you here."
"You invited me here to prove a point; you aren't ashamed of your family at all. Would you like to spend the summer holidays with me? My mum will love you," James whispered. Lily threw her arms around him and smiled.
"I would love to visit your family," she admitted and James buried his face in her hair, grinning like a lunatic. That was one step closer to his final goal, marriage. That was all he had ever wanted since he had met her and it was finally coming true. Without speaking a word he turned her in his arms so they were lying on the sofa, bodies pressed tightly together.
"We will go inside in a little while, just let me hold you for a bit," James pleaded. Lily rested her cheek on his chest and was asleep almost instantly; comforted by his strong arms and his caressing movements up and down her back. It was the first time he had really held her since Hogwarts; it was comfortable, familiar and so very right. He followed her into dreams soon afterward.
When he awoke it was just after midnight and Lily was holding him as if she would drown if she let him go. He smiled and kissed her head softly. He would be in very large amounts of trouble if he didn't get her back into the house soon, sighing he pulled out of her arms and went to get the cloak.
Lily stretched wide as she woke up and turned to put her arms around James, but he wasn't there. At first she was afraid, why wasn't he there? Then she was furious, how dare he leave her when he knew damn well she needed him? Then she heard him snoring from the chair in the corner of her room. She couldn't see him but she knew he was there.
She got out of bed with fury all over her face, she wanted to kill him… and kiss him. Oh well… kill him first and get it out of the way, she decided and pulled the cloak off him.
"Jamesie boy, you are in for it now," she said angrily and he awoke as she hit him hard in the gut. His eyes fluttered and he let out his breath in a whoosh. "How dare you scare me like that!" she accused.
"I'm sorry!" he cried and as suddenly as she had been upset, she was happy again and she kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for staying with me," she soothed and then took his hand to lead him down to breakfast. James's head was still reeling from her violent (literally) mood swing.
"We were about to open gifts without you," Harold said cheerfully as he spotted them coming downstairs. He looked as if he were a child again his face was radiating joviality. Obviously he hadn't noticed that they had walked downstairs together.
"I'll pass out the gifts," Petunia said cheerfully. She looked as if everything had been resolved with Vernon for he was grinning at her almost sappily. Petunia grabbed a gift for each person and handed him or her, a brightly wrapped package. The wrappings flew everywhere as the gift giving began. It took them nearly an hour to go through the bundle underneath the tree. Vernon even handled the magical gifts well, when Lily gave him a small package of Honeyduke's chocolate she had special ordered (at the last minute) for him. James noticed later that he had not received a gift from Lily. When he turned a questioning look on her she blushed and leaned over to him.
"I will give you my gifts later James, they are very personal," she whispered in his ear. Her light breath tickled, but it also made him want her. He had kept his cool for this long, holding her every night, but that small thing sent him spiraling into desire. He was glad he was wearing a thick robe. Later Petunia and Vernon left for his families place, but not before Petunia gave her sister a large hug and kissed her cheek.
"Have a happy Christmas Lily," she said and Lily hugged her tightly.
"You too Petunia."
James for one was happy to have her all to himself, without the prying eyes of the other couple to make him nervous. Lily was wearing his gifts to her, a small gold locket with pictures of them smiling and waving from inside and an emerald green sweater that matched her eyes.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered after they had retreated to the cottage. His heart swelled with pride as he looked at her. Finally after years of fantasizing she was his and he was hers. She came willingly into his arms and raised her lips to his for a kiss. He placed a chaste peck on her lips and then led her to the sofa.
"I want the invisibility cloak tonight James," she said suddenly and he looked at her in surprise, "I need to give you your gifts away from prying eyes."
"Are you sure Lily? I don't want you in trouble for me," he murmured caressing her cheek.
"I'm determined," she said grinning. James tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and sighed dramatically.
"Then I suppose I have no say in the matter do I?"
"No," Lily said and she captured his lips with hers for a long, deep and very satisfying kiss. It was their first real kiss since the night she had returned from the hospital, it felt so right to finally be opening up to one another.
"Can I have my gift now, or do I really have to wait?" he teased as he nipped at her neck with his teeth.
"Not now, I don't want to risk anything. This is very personal James, I already told you," she told him, enjoying the sensations he was building in her.
"Will I like this gift?" he asked now kissing the sensitive spot behind her ear.
"You had better, or I'll clobber you," she said sweetly and James buried his face in her hair again, trying not to laugh.
"I guess I'll just have to like it then," he sighed again.
"I had better get back inside, give me the cloak and I'll be back in a while," she whispered and pushed him off her. To lessen the hurt of leaving him she kissed him again, softly and with little feeling. She couldn't risk getting carried away.
James racked his brains after she left, wondering what it could possibly be. Maybe it was going to be… what could it be? He thought for over an hour, trying to guess what on earth could be personal but couldn't think of a single thing. What it actually was never crossed his mind.
Lily walked into the cottage an hour later, waiting for the right time when her parents would be asleep. She shrugged off the invisibility cloak and walked toward James in a short white baby doll nightgown that was definitely skimpy to say the least. When he opened his mouth to speak she pressed her fingers to his lips.
"Don't say anything," she begged and then she took his hand and led him into her room. When they got there she turned into his arms and pressed her lips against his, urging him to respond. He did and so violently that she was rocked to the very core of her being. He picked her up and wound her legs around his hips, so that she was pressing against him. His tongue clashed with hers over and over again until they were both panting with need.
"Are you sure about this Lily? You still have time to back out now," he whispered as he laid her on the bed, the virginal white canopy bed.
"I am giving you two gifts James, don't be so callous as to refuse them," she begged as her lips again found his. Her fingers pulled at his shirt and then she pushed it over his head. In moments they were skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, hungry for each other. Lily only had a moment's hesitation when she thought about all the girls he had been with but then she decided that she was going to be the best, so good he would forget everyone else. It was good. It was heat, magic, love and passion all rolled into one sensuous act of lovemaking that Lily wanted to share with one man alone, and that was James.
Later that night James held her tightly, resting his chin on her bare, ivory shoulder and he kissed it softly. "I need to tell you something Lils," He whispered and turned her around to face him, she laid a hand on his chest.
"What is it?" she asked worriedly, she knew what was coming. He was going to tell her how horrible she was in comparison to his other women, but what he said surprised her.
"I know you won't believe this but… you were my first Lily. I have never made love to anyone before you, before tonight." Tears welled up in her eyes as she heard him. Not James Potter, the nymphomaniac of Gryffindor tower. But then when had she ever really believed rumors? She kissed him tenderly.
"Thank you James. That means a lot to me," she whispered and his lips claimed her once again. The fire began again hot and passionate and they were lost in each others touch.
"You said you had two gifts for me," James said later as they lie in bed fully clothed and comforted in the presence of each other.
"I do," she whispered. She took a deep breath, "I love you James Potter, now and forever." Silence fell on them as Lily let her words sink in. He looked her straight in the eye.
"This has been the best Christmas ever Lily. You gave me the only two things you had to give and you gave them to me. I love you so damn much," he said and they held each other, neither speaking, both crying tears of joy and love. They fell asleep holding each other, knowing all was right with the world.