Forever

James stretched out languorously and relaxed under his favourite birch tree, shielding his eyes from the sun as he watched his girlfriend approach with a smile.

"Hey you," he greeted as she flopped down next to him.

"Hey," she replied with a small sniff, "how long've you been out here?"

"Not long, I just – Lily …" he paused, trying to look at her face as she ducked her head, "… are you crying?"

Lily sniffed again, slightly louder this time.

"N-no."

"Lils…"

He sighed and put his arm around her, pulling her shaking body against his. She sniffed and buried her face in his shirt, gripping him tightly.

"What's up?" he asked her quietly, rubbing her back soothingly.

"Nothing," she choked.

"Come on, Lily … look at me."

She reluctantly lifted her head and he kissed her forehead gently when he saw the tears brimming in her eyes.

"I'm sorry … it's just-" she paused and twisted their hands together. "We're leaving Hogwarts tomorrow, James! Are you scared?"

"Petrified," he admitted with a small smile. "We'll be okay though, Lils."

"Will we?"

"Have a little faith in us, Lily," said James seriously, holding her that little bit tighter.

"I do," she whispered, wiping stray tears from her face, "it's just … I love you so much – it scares me sometimes."

James kissed her quickly, softly on the mouth.

"I love you more," he whispered, making Lily giggle slightly. "We're going to stick together through this. I can see us growing old together … grandkids running around … us reminiscing about the good old days."

"You see us growing old together?"

"Yes. Don't you?"

"I-" she paused, looked into his eyes – so alive, "yeah. Yeah, I do."

Then he pulled her back into him, tucking her neatly into his arms and holding onto her as if he would never see her again.

Their breathing was in synch. In. Out. In. Out. He threaded his fingers carefully through her long red locks and he knew. He just knew that this was it.

"Marry me."

Eh. I go through phases of liking this one and then hating it … so I thought I'd just post it anyway! Tell me what you think =)