Revelation
James pulled a giggling Lily into their abode. He kissed her once more before spinning her into a chair at the table. He walked over to his chest of clothes and began pulling out a new outfit. "Do you need any dry clothes?"
Lily shook her head before she realized that James wasn't looking at her. She thought about how the maids used to wait on her hand and foot before she left. She wondered how Petunia was acting without Lily to stabilize her. She was blushing before she answered, "Yes, please. I'll get it myself though." She strolled over to open her own chest, a few inches from James's. A faint blush raised on James's cheeks as well. He began to pull his shirt over his head before he glanced over at Lily contemplating her clothes.
"I should change outside," he stated.
"I've seen you change before," Lily answered baffled. That had been one of the things that she had to adjust to. The boys just didn't care where they changed no matter how much Lily protested of modesty, James least of all. At least they didn't care when they were just changing their over clothes.
"Its just different now," James answered before rushing out the door. Lily laughed to herself before changing. She pulled her shirt slowly over her head, thinking back on the day. James was busy doing the same thing about ten feet away. He couldn't stop imagining the expression on Lily's face when he kissed her. It was one of bliss.
"So I believe you owe me a duel," Sirius announced. He startled James out of a reverie. James had been occupying himself by staring into space, thinking of things…
"What?" James asked. He jerked his head up to stare at Sirius, "Oh, yeah, the duel." He grabbed at his sword, fumbling slightly before getting up.
"Tired?" Sirius asked.
"Thinking," James responded. He pulled his sword out of its sheath and slid into the ready position. Sirius slashed and the dance began.
"You win, again," Sirius finally surrendered. James crowed and slid his sword into his sheath. He offered Sirius a hand up. "We fight with daggers next time," Sirius declared. He fell into a chair. James, distracted, replied yes. "James did you hear me?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah," James answered. "What?" He turned his attention back to Sirius.
"You just agreed that you would duel me with daggers."
"I heard him," Remus asserted.
"I did?" James asked. The other three guys nodded. "I guess our next fight will be with daggers then."
"You never agree to fight me with daggers," Sirius said astonished. "Not since I beat you ten times in a row." He followed where James's gaze had been when he had replied. "Unless you're thinking of other things." His voice trailed off with a suggestive note.
James shook his head. "Just worrying that Malfoy might retaliate after the raid. Are we absolutely positive that no one know where we are hidden?"
Sirius sighed and handed money over to Peter and Remus. Lily looked at them with a bemused expression on her face. "What was that about?"
"I was giving James some credit and thought it would be a month before he asked that question again. These idiots only gave him two weeks. I lost," Sirius added unnecessarily.
"We're sure," Remus said in an exasperated tone.
James looked chagrined. "I just wanted to be sure that we were completely safe." He dug into the food that Lily handed him, clearly wanting to forestall any more conversation. The taste seemed to surprise him.
"Maybe we should just go after him again!" Sirius interjected. "I mean why not. This cycle is only going to end when one group is dead. Since Voldermort is basically untouchable, Malfoy is best next. Might even draw Voldermort out." He started shining his sword, for once ignoring food. He scraped it at the end of his sentence to make a point.
Remus looked thoughtful. "Yeah, maybe. We should run it by Dumbledore."
"And what? Get told that we need to be cautious. Killing isn't the only answer? By this point it is. How many times have they tried to kill us!? Killing them is the only way we're going to be safe. The only way anyone will be safe!"
James shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe this isn't the right time. We need to get Moody behind us first. We need to plan this."
"We need to fight!" Sirius burst out. He stood up. The chair banged against the ground. "I'm tired of almost being killed!"
Lily hunched into the corner. She was scared by the direction this conversation was taking. Remus and Peter just sat there. Remus looked concerned for his friend. Peter merely looked like he was calculating something. James was the only one to react. He stood up slowly until he looked Sirius in the eye. "They've always been trying to kill us. Why does that bother you now?"
"Because I want to have what you and Lily have!" Sirius shouted back. James was shocked.
"What do you mean?" He tried to cover it up.
"I'm not stupid James. We've all noticed the game that you and Lily have been playing. We talk about it when you're not around. And I'm happy for you, I really am. I just want to have that too. And lets be honest, the odds of us finding another runaway that wants to live with us, not that good. Before I can find someone to spend my life with, I need to have a life. As long as Voldermort walks free, I can't have that and its killing me." Sirius bent down and straightened his chair. He sat down in it and looked at Lily. "Congratulations, by the way." He acted like his whole speech had never happened. "I'm glad James finally got the courage to do something. It was driving me insane. But as the best friend, its my duty to tell you that if you break his heart…" He paused to consider what he could threaten a woman with. "I'll make you kiss Snape." He finally came up with.
Lily shuddered as she remembered her first day here. "How did you?"
"You guys would not stop staring at each other when you thought we weren't looking." Sirius answered her. From across the table James finally sat down. He had been stunned motionless by Sirius's exposure.
"I didn't know you felt that way," James said quietly. His entire demeanor was diminished. He felt horrible. His best friend, brother by choice, had been struggling with this and James didn't even realize it. "Well I did, just not at this level."
"Well now you do," Sirius answered. He picked up his previously neglected bowl and began to dig into it. "This is really good," he complimented Lily. He seemed determined to ignore his shouted confession. Remus and Peter seemed content to do the same.
"We will fight them then," James replied. "Tomorrow, though. We need time to plan. We can at least Frank and Alice to help us out. Dumbledore doesn't have to know. We can leave a note here explaining, just in case." He exchanged a glance with Sirius, begging him to understand, to forgive. Sirius lived for danger, James didn't realize that that might change one day.
Sirius nodded. He finished off his dinner and turned to Remus and Peter. "You guys want to play a game?"
Remus scraped up the last bit of his meat and nodded. "Any game in mind?"
Sirius grinned wickedly. "Target practice."
"No thanks," Peter begged off. "I want to go talk to someone. Maybe pick up a new dagger before tomorrow." He scurried out the door.
Remus shrugged. "I'm game." Sirius got up to scratch impossibly small bull's-eyes on the wall.
James turned to Lily. "You want to take a walk? We can clean when we get back."
What the hell, Lily thought, I guess everyone knows anyway. "I would love to."
James looked around. They were walking next to the river. In the background, a crow took off, startled. He followed with his eyes. The crow, a symbol of death, was becoming far too suited to him for his choice. He would live, for Lily, if for no one else. He hesitantly reached out and took Lily's hand.
Lily smile shyly. "So they all knew," she said. Her voice betrayed her embarrassment. "I didn't realize we were being so obvious."
James shrugged it off. "The four of us have been friends so long, I'm surprised that no one commented on my behavior earlier. Do you mind?" He seemed anxious. Lily decided that it was cute. He cared what he thought.
"Of course not," Lily replied in a soothing tone. "At least I can do this now whenever I want." She leaned over to kiss him lightly on the lips. James indulged himself and kissed her back. He ran one hand through her hair, using the other to pull her into him. Lily broke off the kiss a few minutes later. "We need to talk," she said insistently.
James nodded, not really caring what she said at the moment. "We can talk later," he replied. He kissed her again. Lily kissed him back for a moment before pushing his shoulders back.
"I'm serious. We need to talk."
James rocked on the balls of his feet. "What about?" Please not about Sirius he thought. He couldn't handle it right then. He wanted to forget the pain that he had caused his friend.
"Tomorrow, your fight," Lily whispered. James nodded. "I don't want you to do it." James's mouth fell open. He hadn't expected this to happen. "I couldn't handle losing you. Not now. You're all I have."
James chuckled and pulled Lily into a hug. "You're not going to loose me, Lily. I promise you. Didn't you hear what Sirius wanted? We're going to end this. The four of us, we can do it. I will get my justice. I'll make this world safe for our future. And then, who knows? Maybe we can try living in a real house." The two stood there for a moment, simply embracing.
"I'm scared, James," Lily whispered into his ear. "What if it doesn't go as you plan. What if they're stronger."
"I have to do this, Lily," James stated. "I have to get my parent's justice. But I promise you I will come back. I even promise that if I can't into a fight that I can't win, I'll run away. It will break my heart, doing that, but I will. I promise," he said one last time. Lily shook her head, tears running down her face. James just held her, neither saying anything.
"They are going to fight Malfoy tomorrow," Peter revealed. His entire body was shaking with emotion. This was where hanging around with those brats paid off. They mocked him, were better than him with almost no effort. He would show them however. The Dark Lord would win, and when he did, Peter would be invincible. He would rule over those cocky monsters.
"You have done well, Wormtail." Voldermort said. "Now leave. You will find your reward in the usual place." Peter smiled gratefully and bowed. He walked out the door with his head held high. He would show them.
A/N
I have said this in so many chapters lately, but sorry it took so long. I hope you guys like the Lily/James. Or to sappy? Tell me your opinion and I'll try to improve in the future. So big fight next chapter, obviously. And for future chapters, anyone have any ideas? I'll give you credit. I'm just running out of them.
And thanks for reviews last chapter. I'm sorry I didn't reply. But I did love them and they all made me smile. I swear I will reply this time. Even if its just a thank you.
