#Chapter 12 – The Talk

A/N- I hope you all liked the previous chapter. Please review. Xx

Lily and Kyla walk out. "Look, Lily, I know this will be awkward because you don't know me but we really need to talk." The latter said.

"It's ok. At first I thought you were an exchange student and I got really jealous when I saw you with James but I was ever so relieved when I found out that you were his sister." Lily said.

Kyla laughed. "Never thought I'd see the day Lily Evans was jealous of me. Do you know I used to be super jealous of you? First year when James came back, all he talked about was you. I was 5 back then. Oh, how jealous I was when he only talked about you."

"No one can resist him." Lily laughed and Kyla raised her eyebrows. "He said that once. I guess it is true isn't it. I mean just after one date I am already jealous of seeing him with some other girl, who turns out to be his sister."

"Well, as much as I'd like to continue this light hearted chatter I am here to give you the 'I'm-your-boyfriend's-best-mate-talk.' You're going to get three more of them. Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and I won't spare you."

"James isn't my boyfriend." Lily blushed.

"Oh, yes he is. He is going to make it official any moment. He's been dying to for years. Anyhow back to the point. Look James can be an absolute arse at times but he really is a very sweet guy and he loves you a lot. Just don't hurt him, okay?"

"I won't. I know he's an extremely sweet guy and I won't hurt him."

"If you aren't serious about him then please don't lead him on, because if you break it off now he might get over it but if you break it off with him later he'll be broken. He is a very emotional guy, he doesn't take emotional blows easily."

"Don't worry, Kyla. I really, really, really like him a lot and I can't dream of hurting him. And I promise that the last thing that I would do is lead to lead him on. Nobody deserves that kind of torture." Lily said earnestly.

"Do you want to be his girlfriend?" Kyla asked bluntly.

"I-"

"Lily, I want a reply, don't play games with me."

"I don't know! I really like him but I'm also scared."

"Why the hell would you be scared? He isn't a devil, he won't eat you up!"

"I've never been in an extremely serious relationship and I'm scared of heartbreak."

"He won't break your heart. He loves you. He loves you a lot." Kyla said quietly.

"He loves me? As in loves?" Lily asks in shock.

"Yes. He loves you, he's not fooling around I swear. Do you love him?"

"I don't know. It's too early to tell. But I could easily fall in love with him. He's so sweet. I had absolutely no idea."

"Well, that's about it. We should be heading in. James will be thinking that I ate you up."

Lily laughed. "You're female James. If I were male I would love you like I love James." Lily gasped and covered her mouth. Kyla stared at her wide eyed.

"You said that you- never mind…" Kyla ran off while Lily desperately called her back. She didn't love love James. She loved him as a friend and she didn't want to disappoint him.

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"James! James?! James! James?! James! JAMES?!" Kyla called all around.

"Hold your hippogriffs Kyl!" James exclaimed wearily walking up to her.

"I have awesome news!"

"What is it?"

"Lily loves you!"

"WHAT?" James asked in shock.

"She said that to me." Kyla shrugged.

"What did she say?" James asked urgently.'

"Her precise words were 'You're female James. If I were male I would love you like I love James.'"

"She said that?"

Yes she did."

"NO!"

"Yes James yes!"

"I have to go!" James said in ecstasy.

"Where?"

"To ask Lily to be my girlfriend!" James called back as he was already running away. Kyla fondly shook her head.

"No one can stop him." She mused to herself.

"Lily!" James called bursting into the common room.

"She isn't here mate." Remus looked up from his book wearily.

"Thanks, Moons."

He ran up to the dorm and took out the Marauders' Map from Remus' bedside table.

"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." He murmured and began scanning the map whispering "Where are you, where are you" all the time. He checked the possible locations- the Astronomy Tower, The Charms Classroom, The Potions Dungeon, Hagrid's Hut finding her nowhere. He finally had a brainwave "Mischief Managed." He wiped the map clean and ran out of the castle.

He ran over to the back of the greenhouses and up the small path leading up to the small garden only the Marauders and Lily knew about. He pushed the gate open and found Lily leaning against one of the trees with her head in her arms and the snow white cat mewing at her feet.

He rushed over to her. "Hey." He said warmly and slung his arm around her shoulder.

Lily looked up. "Hi." She said quietly.

"Kyla told me." He said softly and she groaned. "What is it?" he asked her.

"I- it's just that I don't." Lily murmured guiltily.

"You don't…you don't love me?" James asked sadly feeling a lump in his throat.

"James, I like you a lot. I really do but I don't love you, yet. I told this to Kyla and I'll tell this to you too, you are so sweet, I could easily fall in love with you but I need time."

James nodded. He didn't trust his voice not to crack. "James, I'm sorry."

James nodded again and took a deep breath "Um there's something that I want to ask you."

"No, I wouldn't mind if you do not want to date me anymore. I know that's what you were going to ask."

"NO! No, you idiot! Why would I ever say that? I, I wanted to ask if you would be my girlfriend?" James asked tentatively. He hoped that he wasn't pushing his luck.

"What?" Lily was shocked.

"Um, nothing, forget it."

"No, do you mean it?"

"Yes, Lily will you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course, of course I will!" Lily exclaimed and threw her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly.

James smiled as he hugged her back. After a while Lily pulled apart and smiled at him. James leaned in and kissed her, much to her happiness. She wound her hands into his hair as he pulled her onto his lap. Lily sighed in content against his lips. After a while they surfaced as their need for oxygen overpowered them.

"That was…" James began.

"Awesome!" Lily finished.

"Well, aren't you beautiful…" he murmured stroking her hair. "So beautiful…"

Lily blushed and rested her forehead again his "Aren't you so sexy?" she teased him as she ran a hand through his hair. "Your hair looks messy but it's so soft." She murmured.

"I'm so lucky to have you." James cupped Lily's cheek.

"I am lucky to have you as well as be yours. Thank you James." She whispered.

"Why?"

"For not giving up on me. For loving me. For waiting for me to give that love back. I am so lucky. So very lucky." She leaned in and kissed him.

A/N- That's the end of another chapter. I hope the Jily action was worth the wait. Gosh it is so hard to make Lily not say I love you but all good things come to those who wait. Please review. Xx