It has been FOREVER since my last update. I am so sorry. But you should be thankful. I was this close to just giving the entire story up. But after many painful rewrites and rereads here it is.

Also special thanks to all of you who PM-ed or reviewed asking about this chapter. Without you this would still be sitting in my computer unfinished. :D YOU AMAZE ME!

Chapter 11: Birthday surprise.

"Have you gotten a letter recently?" James asked as Lily reentered her small living room, having just gotten herself a glass of juice.

"No." She answered slowly, setting the cup on the table set up beside her couch. "Why?"

"Just wondering. Sirius was supposed to send you something."

"What?" Lily asked, sitting down beside him, instantly leaning against his chest. His arm coming around her.

"Just a thing."

"A thing?" Lily asked. She may have had a bit of wine at dinner, making her happily buzzed. "Is he sending me a puppy?"

James laughed. "No."

"A kitten?"

"It's not an animal."

"Is it a mineral? Because rocks are nice, and you could always draw a cute little face on it, but-" She stopped when there was a noise from the window.

"I think he finally sent it." James said, kissing her neck lightly.

"But I haven't guessed what it is yet." Lily smiled, pulling herself off the couch. "Oh! Is it a convertible? That poor owl."

"A what?" James called, now that she was back in the kitchen.

"Never mind." She replied. A few seconds later she came back into the living room with an envelope in her hand. "This looks too small to hold a convertible anyway."

She sat back down, frowning at the envelope. "Well? You going to open it or what?" James asked.

"Nope. I'm just going to stare until it tells me its intentions."

"Okay. No more wine for you." James decided reaching for the envelope.

"No!" Lily cried, holding it out of his reach, a smile on her face. "It has my name on it. Back off."

"Then read it."

"You're very bossy tonight."

"You're very playful tonight."

"You love it." She told him, kissing his lips, letting him taste the sweet drink on her. She then ripped open the little cream colored envelope.

"An invitation?" Lily asked, having read the fancy scrawl.

"It would appear so."

"Why couldn't you just give it to me?"

"Because it would take away from the formalness."

"No." she disagreed, "It would have made it personal. My very own mail boy."

James rolled his eyes. "So, are you coming?"

Lily thought about it for a second, teasing him. "I might be busy..."

"Come on. It's my mum's birthday. There will be a live quartet, sure to put you to sleep. Tons of old people smelling of strong perfume. And food that looks too good to eat, but taste like shit."

"And here you had me at quartet. Besides, if I fall asleep I won't have to smell the old people or eat the shit."

"Genius." He complimented.

Lily smiled. "What would your mum like?"

"You don't have to get her anything."

"If it's a birthday party I have to get her something."

"Don't worry about it. I've already got something picked out. I'll just put your name on it too."

"How thoughtful." It was clear she was being sarcastic.

"No really. She's got everything. The only reason either of us would need to get her anything is because of social protocol. But since we're a couple we can just share a gift. I've got it covered all right?"

"Fine." Lily agreed bitterly. But despite what she said she would get her a gift.

"You'll go then?"

"Yes. I'll go."

"Good." James smiled, leaning forward to give her another kiss. Lily smiled against his lips. "What?" He asked.

"Nothing." She shook her head, wrapping her arms around his neck. Lily gazed into his dark eyes.

"You're beautiful." he told her, resting his forehead against hers, their noses touching.

"You're cheesy." She replied, her lips brushing his teasingly. "But handsome."

"I think," James began, kissing the corner of her mouth, "I should go."

"Home?" Lily asked, her own lips tenderly touching his cheek.

"Yeah."

Lily pulled away slightly, playing with a bit of hair at the nape of his neck. "Now?"

"I should." He tucked some of her red hair behind her ear, running his knuckles over his soft skin. Lily leaned into the touch.

"I don't want you to." She told him, pushing him down into the cushions.

"I don't want to either." He said, running his hand over her hip.

"Which is why you should." Her voice was now soft and regretful. James' hands crawled across her lower back.

"I can stay a bit longer." He allowed, causing her to smile slyly, biting her lip.

"Five minutes." She whispered. James leaned up, kissing her thoroughly.

Much more than five minutes later, James left for his own flat.

"Where've you been?" Sirius asked upon his arrival.

"Lily's." He answered with a smile.

Sirius nodded knowingly. "That would explain the look."

James frowned so Sirius explained. "The hair, rumpled clothes, eyes, and grin. Also your lips are a bit puffy."

"You know we didn't."

"Shag. Snog however is a very, very, different story." He smirked. "On the upside you shouldn't be too bored in the shower now."

"Bugger off."

"All right. All right."

"Is everything set up for Mum's birthday?" James asked.

"Yeah."

"And the engagement?"

"Yes."

"You sure?"

Sirius rolled his eyes, going toward the kitchen. "If you don't believe me go ask Moony or Worms. They'll tell you the same thing."

"Just checkin'."

"Do we have any chicken? I'm hungry."

~o~

Lily and Ambre browsed what had to be the third dress shop. Both looking for the appropriate attire for Mrs. Potter's birthday party. They were shopping together because they were the only two going out of their friends. None of the others were friends with Mrs. Potter or her son and his friends.

"What do you think of this one?" Ambre asked holding up a knee length, rather cute number.

"You should try it."

"What are you going to wear?"

"I don't know what's really right to be honest. I mean most birthday parties, or any party for that matter, I've just worn pants. Or at Hogwarts, the uniform."

"True. But this is going to be a nice event. You should wear something memorable. Something you'd look back at while browsing your closet and remember what happened at that party."

"Its an old ladies birthday party. Not a royal ball." Lily smiled.

"Right." Ambre agreed. "Maybe I'm just being nostalgic."

"Do you think Remus is planning to do something special that night?"

Ambre grinned looking away and playing with her short hair. "I don't think so."

Lily didn't believe her.

"Oh! Before it slips my mind, James wants you to get two dresses."

"Two?" Lily repeated. Ambre nodded. "Why?"

She shrugged. "No idea. I think he's planning on a real nice dinner sometime later this week."

"After the party?"

"Probably. I don't know. I was just leaving with Remus when he asked me."

Lily frowned. "What did he ask exactly?"

"Just, if I was going shopping with you. I said I was, so he asked that I make sure you get two dresses. Then Remus insisted we leave so we could catch the play production."

"Interesting." They smiled knowingly at each other. Lily couldn't repress the excitement for the dinner. She just had to get through the party first.

~o~

The day of the party came and Lily was all dressed in a simple black dress. Elegant, but nothing too fancy. Lily heard James knock on the door

"Hey." She leaned over giving him a swift kiss.

"I told you I had taken care of the gift." James said, noticing the parcel.

"And I ignored you." Lily told him. "Should I bring a sweater?"

"It won't be that cold." He replied.

"But its good to be prepared."

"Its the beginning of July."

"So, that's where the being prepared and just in case comes in."

"You won't need one. Its hot out."

"Then maybe I should wear no clothes at all."

"That would certainly...erm, I don't-" She grinned as he stammered.

"I'm ready. How does this look?" She spun around.

"You look amazing." James assured her.

"You would say that. Your opinion is biased." She took her purse from the arm of the couch along with the gift.

He opened the door. "Shall we?"

Lily smiled taking his hand. "Let's." They walked down the sidewalk a ways before she spoke up again. "I feel nervous."

James gave her a strange look. "Why?"

"I don't know. It's like my body knows something big is about to happen so I feel all giddy and excited. I just wish my body would fill my mind in."

He rubbed his thumb against her hand saying, "I'm sure it's nothing."

"I suppose."

"Ready? We're aparrating to my place to meet the others at the portkey."

"Yeah." James pulled her close, looking quickly around them for muggles, seeing no one ,he spun around.

After being sucked through the straw, they landed just outside his flat. James opened the door, revealing Sirius, Ambre, Jamie, and Ivy.

"Jamie, Ivy!" Lily called moving quickly into the room. "What are you guys doing here?"

Jamie answered, "Sirius and Peter needed dates. Look who got roped in. I'm going with Peter, Ivy's going with the other one."

"Didn't want to go with your ex?" Lily teased.

"Not so much." Jamie smiled.

"So, where's the portkey?" James asked, if only to move them away from an argument.

"Right here." Sirius showed him a potted plant. It looked like a small bush.

"A plant?"

"A rose bush. Just like you asked." Sirius grinned. "Its about time. Grab on everyone."

Each person took hold of the pot, within seconds they were spinning.

Soon they landed on a sandy bit of land not too far from the dock.

"Must all magical forms of transportation be so painful?" Ambre asked. Lily laughed, finding herself beside her.

"I know. I mean the Floo Network isn't so bad, if you don't fall out of the fire place on the other end."

"I banged my head on a mantle before." Jamie admitted, joining the conversation. "Just as I was stepping out I hit my head, fell back then slipped into the room. Messy business."

"Apparition makes me dizzy." Ambre said. "I nearly vomited during those lessons. All the spinning."

"Broomstick isn't much better. How Quidditch players manage I'll never know." Lily said.

"Hey. I play." Jamie reminded her.

"How do you do it? I mean your sitting on a stick." Lily asked.

"Its much like riding a horse. It only looks uncomfortable."

"No. I've been on a broom. It is uncomfortable." Ambre disagreed.

"So have I, and I agree with Ambre."

Ambre and Jamie discussed the comforts of broom riding a bit longer, but Lily had stopped, searching for the boys and Ivy. They were behind them, chatting in hushed tones.

"Lily?" Jamie called a few steps ahead. But Lily was watching as Ivy took something from James, spun around and disappeared.

"Lily!" Jamie called again. This time she turned. "Come on!"

Lily looked back at the men who were now looking at her. Jamie noticed what she was looking at.

"You guys coming?"

"Of course." Sirius answered casting a glance at James. Together they jogged up to the girls.

"Where'd Ivy go?" Lily asked James.

"She went to pick up the gift Sirius left at our flat for my mum."

"Why didn't Sirius go get it then?"

"Because I couldn't remember where I left it. She did." Sirius answered. "Plus she offered. James just gave her the key to get in and she left."

"Lets get going then." Ambre suggested.

A short while later they were on the yacht. Remus and Peter were in charge of putting the gifts in a pile, which is why they weren't at the flat to port key with every one else.

Sirius took up his post at the bar until it switched over to open bar.

"Happy Birthday Mrs. Potter." Lily greeted, having just climbed aboard.

"Thank you." Mrs. Potter nodded with a smile. "James, why don't you go introduce her to some of the other guests."

James grinned, offering her his arm. "Right this way."

"You're very formal tonight." Lily commented, taking his offering. He was wearing nice dress robes, as was everyone else present.

"Its all part of the act. I have to make everyone believe I have the most impeccable manners."

"A few of us know the truth." she teased. He just grinned taking her toward a group of people.

After many introductions and a few sips of fine wine Lily asked, "When are we leaving the dock?"

James looked over at her. "Er, well, I suppose when all the guests have arrived."

"James. There you are." Mrs. Potter said, touching his shoulder. "Did you remember to water your uncle's garden?"

"No. I forgot." He answered.

"I was just talking with someone, they reminded me to remind you." She smiled at Lily, as if this were so typical of James. Forgetting all about his responsibilities. James looked about the crowd, finding Sirius, who passed him a silent message through a simple look.

"Want to come Lily?" James asked her. "I've really got to do this. I promised. And I don't want to leave you with people you don't know."

"No. That would be terribly rude of you James." Mrs. Potter agreed.

"I could stay with Sirius, or Ambre is here isn't she?" Lily offered.

"Nonsense." Mrs. Potter urged, "just go make sure he gets it done properly. It will only take a minute. We'll undock once your back."

"All right." She said, as James pulled his hand away from hers.

"This way." He led her away. Stopping once near Sirius, who gave him a strange look. "Can I use your bike?"

"It doesn't fly yet." Sirius told him.

"We're not going far."

"James, why don't we just apparate?" Lily asked.

James looked at Sirius, who seemed to understand the unspoken for he reached into his cloak pulling out a set of keys. "Good luck mate."

She frowned. "Good luck? You do know how to drive a motorbike don't you?"

"Technically speaking." James said, forcing a grin.

They were just about to step off the deck when Ivy, who had been in charge of the guest list upon her return, found them. "Where are you headed off to?"

"I've got to go water my uncle's garden. Mum's only just reminded me."

Ivy nodded, a secret sort of smile on her face. "Have fun."

"Er. Right, thanks."

James placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her toward the motorbike.

"How did this get here?" she asked. "I mean Sirius apparated with us."

"Peter and Remus took it." James answered. "Now come on, it won't take long. Then we can get back to the party."

~o~

He kept an arm around her waist as he pulled Lily off the path to the side of the house, leading her to the gate. "Garden's this way." He explained.

"So, why do you have to water these plants on your mum's birthday?"

"Well I was supposed to do it earlier, but I forgot. It's for my uncle. He's out of town." He reached over the gate to unlatch it so they could walk through.

As soon as they stepped through Lily looked around, from the two large moss covered boulders in the corner with a small pond, water trickling into it over mossy rocks just in front of it; to the hammock that hung near by in a tiny orchard. Her gaze continued to roam over the overgrown yard, it was enchanting almost, with the tall grazes, and perfectly green bushes and the small stones hidden among the many flowers. A cobbled stone led from the ivory covered house out into the yard they were standing in.

Just beside them a rose bush grew, its flowers just preparing to bloom, some still green buds, others red petals closing in around itself, not yet revealing it's full beauty. The soft sent of lilacs also reached them.

"The other day," James began, rather randomly, "I remembered that you wanted a garden. With a hammock, a garden for your potions, and something about a moon, which turns out to be what the pond is for. I also remembered when I was with you looking for a temporary place to stay, that you wanted a fixer-upper. I didn't understand at the time, but you insisted; it had something to do with memories and making it more like a home." James explained, he was nearly rambling.

Lily looked around at the yard again. It was so perfect. Though they'd come in from the side gate, so she had no idea what any of the house looked like except the back wall, which admittedly wasn't promising, seeing at is was covered in the vines, though it did add to the enchantment. She bit her lip, not sure what any of this had to do with watering his uncle's garden.

And then it all clicked in her mind. Or most of it. James didn't have an uncle. Which meant-

"James," Lily said tentatively.

"Hang on," he instructed running a hand through his hair. He looked over at Lily. "I've practiced this," He told her with a nervous laugh. "Somehow it was easier in my head."

Lily gave him a reassuring smile and a small nod. She waited for him to get his bearings. A soft wind swept around them rustling the leaves and causing her hair to sway around her face.

James continued to pace. He knew he loved her more than anything in the world. He'd been rejected by her many times before, and those rejections haunted him. However, he knew she would want to marry him. Hell, he had asked her about it months ago, but he still couldn't bring himself to just ask. It was the scariest thing yet. He'd said no to being a death eater and escaped Voldemort alive, even fought him a little. He was a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Yet he couldn't ask the woman before him to be his wife.

"James, honey," Lily tried again. This time when he looked at her there was pleading in his eyes. She reached up for his hand. He walked over to her taking it in his. She gently pulled him to her. Lily knew that this was his moment. She wasn't about to take it from him, but she figured he needed a little push first.

Their fingers entwined, but Lily looked at him, waiting for him to take his gaze from their hands. When this didn't happen she lifted the object of interest so that his hand brushed her cheek, causing their eyes to lock

James pulled her over to a rose bush. Lily looked back at him following his hand as he reached over, plucking a rose bud; wrapped around the closed crimson petals was a sliver of silver, gleaming as it caught the sunlight, red as it set.

Lily reached out, brushing her fingers over the rose's soft surface, brushing the ring. It was warm from the sunlight and beautiful. Lily slipped her fingers around his, easing the rose into her hand.

With one hand holding the stem, she used the other to admire the ring. Finally Lily let out a soft breath, looking back at him. "I love the garden." Lily told him.

"Really?" James asked, running a hand through his hair. Instead of saying anything she nodded, just as another soft wind swept through her hair. He reached out brushing the locks back, out of her face. "So. Er-"

Lily waited, his hand still cupping her face. She could still see pleading in his eyes. Though he'd practiced and planned for this moment for weeks, he was still incredibly nervous. She reached up, lacing her fingers through his, still holding the rose in the other.

James seemed stuck. Unable to get out what he so clearly wanted to. She was so sure that now was the proposal. He needed prompting, just a little push to get him to say, to ask, the question. James just stared at their hands.

"James, honey." Lily said bringing his gaze back up, to rest on her before she continued quietly, "I love you."

He smiled, the sound of water trickling from the boulders into the small pond reaching their ears. "I love you too."

"And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Forever could be ours, all you have to do is ask."

"Forever?" He asked. Everything he'd rehearsed left him as he mumbled, "That sounds nice."

"It could be yours." She said.

James took a moment to get his bearings and regain some sense of the man he was. He continued to stare into her beautiful eyes, getting what he needed from them, getting the love, support, and encouragement that showed in them. "So, will you be mine? Forever? Will you be my wife?"

Lily's face broke into a huge smile. She nodded, warmth filled her veins and butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach, even her chest had a new inflated feeling. "Yes."

"Yeah?"

She nodded again choking out a happy, "Yes." James smiled pulling Lily in, kissing her gently, passionately. The moment was theirs. Time meant nothing, the people waiting for them meant nothing. James didn't have to think about the boundaries as he kissed Lily. As theirs lips parted slightly, their hearts beat together as if now they truly were, more than anything, one.

Wasn't this a pretty happy ending? ;) There's a bit more I wanted to explain. But this was just such a good ending!