A/N: This is possibly the fluffiest chapter I have ever concocted. Just wanting to let you know that you may be prone to squealing and/or 'ahhing' towards the end of the chapter. Don't say I didn't warn you! And by the way, for all those Peter Pan fans out there – there's something in here that's more than a nod to the big Barrie himself. Anyway, please review, as usual, for happy reviews make me write complete fluff like this that I know you all enjoy. In our last chapter: James pulls his chair around to my side of the table and swings his arm over my shoulder. I can't write properly but at the moment I'm not really minding, because the feeling of James' strong arm around my shoulder makes me feel safe and protected…

Quidditch is so much more exciting and nerve-wracking when you have someone out there on the pitch that you actually feel something for…But it's not because I love him. I can still like him and enjoy being around him, and not have to think too carefully about all of the connotations that go along with all of that, right?…

'Molly, well, I know this is going to sound kind of strange, but…I think I must be sick, or something. Whenever I see Potter, I always seem to get sick. I'll get dizzy, or have butterflies, or start thinking that he's a really nice guy…'

For a moment she just stands there, staring at me open-mouthed. And then she throws her head back and laughs. And looks at me again and laughs even louder. 'You're not sick, Lily, but there's no way that I'm telling you what's really up with you. I think it's important for you to figure that out by yourself.' She shakes her head. 'Honestly, you'd be blind not to know.'

James comes swooping down, hugging me with all his might. But as he pulls away and kisses my cheek, and those pesky butterflies come back to haunt my insides, I know that Molly's wrong. There is definitely something up with me.

What True Love Is

also known as

The Potter Gene

I'm losing – extremely badly, might I add – a game of Wizard's Chess to Remus. How badly? The short story is he's still got all his pawns whereas I surrendered my queen in the first five minutes.

I'm trying to salvage what I've lost, attempting to ignore the whinging of the pieces still remaining on the board, when James comes up behind me, a sly smile on his face.

My face heats up just looking at him. 'Hey, James.'

'Hey, Lils. Remus, mate, can I steal this lovely lady from you?'

'Oh, thank Merlin, take her!' the pieces on the board screech. 'She's killing us here! She won't listen to any of our advice! And who do you think would be more knowledgeable on the subject? Huh?'

Remus just laughs, at both the chess pieces and James. 'She's your girlfriend, Prongs.'

James just shrugs. 'But maybe you needed her, or something.'

I shake my head. 'No way does he need me. He's beating me horribly, James, and if I stay he'll just gloat, and I may be forced to do something I regret.'

Remus laughs, amazed. 'What's this? Lily's actually willingly accepting to do something with James? I've never heard of such a thing!'

Neither had I, but I'm starting to think that maybe I was wrong about James. I mean, he's really different once you get to know him…I shake my head. However I feel about James won't stop me from going through with the plan.

So I groan at Remus and get up from my seat. 'Where are we going?'

James smiles. 'It's a surprise.'

I raise my eyebrows. 'Ah…maybe I'll stay with Remus.'

They both laugh at me.

'I think that there may be a little more time needed for basic dating before Lily will willingly accept a Potter surprise,' Remus says, grinning at me.

'Trust me, it's nothing bad,' James assures me.

'How do I trust you?'

He fakes a shocked expression. 'Lily, I am outraged! Not trusting this Marauder?' He shrugs. 'Honestly, if it were going to be a bad surprise Moony here would be warning you and Padfoot would be lurking around. Tonight Remus has no idea what this is, and Sirius is…' He turns around and I glimpse part of Sirius. It's hard to see his full profile because the blonde sixth year on top of him is blocking most of his body.

'See?' James says, holding out his hand. 'Come on.'

'Do you know anything about this?' I ask Remus.

He shakes his head. 'I swear I know absolutely nothing about this particular plan, Lily.'

James waves his hand in front of me. 'Come on, Lily, this hand isn't going to wait around forever!'

I sigh and put my hand in his. 'Okay. Let's get this over with.'

'Glad you're so excited,' James mutters sarcastically, and with a wave of his wand produces a red and white spotted scarf. 'Now, I need to blindfold you…'

'No way.'

'Lily, please.'

'James, no! I've been at the end of too many of your pranks and besides, the colour totally clashes with my hair.'

He stifles a laugh. 'Okay, I'm going to ignore the latter argument. This isn't a prank, it's a surprise, and I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you, okay? I wouldn't let it.'

He's so sincere I have to believe him. 'All right…'

'You can hold on to your wand the entire time,' he says.

'Can you at least change the colour?' I beg.

He rolls his eyes but the scarf turns green with little blue dots. I smile, and, satisfied, he ties the scarf over my eyes so all I can see is black.

'Can you see anything?' he asks.

'No.'

'How many fingers am I holding up?'

I wave his hands away. Or at least, where his hands were a couple of seconds ago.

'Thanks for that head massage, Lily,' Remus says, and I quickly detach my fingers from his hair.

'Sorry, Remus.'

'I think that means you can't see anything. Okay, I'm going to lead you to this special place. And no peeping!'

'You tied this so tight my blood supply to my brain will cut off before I can peep, James.'

'Good.' He starts leading me and I can hear giggles as we leave the common room. I know what they're all thinking – how none of them would ever trust James Potter, Marauder extraordinaire, to lead them anywhere blindfolded. To have me, the one person who never gave into any of James' pranks, be the one in the blindfold must appear pretty strange. Some part of me knows that James isn't going to try anything silly, but I'm still nervous. And the feel of his hand on the small of my back is making me shiver. But maybe it's just the cold night air. Except we're still in the castle – I can hear the paintings making unnecessary comments as we walk.

'Where are we going?' I ask, but James just shushes me, his hand on my back, slowly steering me to wherever he wants to take me.

Finally we stop and I can feel his breath next to my ear. It sends tingles up and down my spine. It's the cold air, dammit! It doesn't have anything to do with one extremely cute boy standing right behind me…

'Now,' James whispers, 'I want you to think of the most romantic place you could ever want to be, okay?'

I smile uncertainly. 'The most romantic place I could ever want?'

'Yeah. And while you think very hard of that, I'm going to lead you a bit more, okay?'

'Okay,' I whisper, and think of my all-time dream place, wondering what the hell Potter is up to this time, as he walks me back and forth three times.

He grabs my hand and I follow him uncertainly. I hear a door being opened and James leads me through it, shutting the door behind him. I can hear the sound of waves breaking and trees rustling. I taste salt on my lips. Next to me James chuckles appreciatively.

'I like what I see,' he says. 'Want to have a look?'

With gentle movements he unties my blindfold and I open my eyes to the most perfect night. We're on a beach, the stars bright and beautiful above us, the water dark and silky as it reflects the yellow moon. I gaze along the beach and see a little campfire set up in front of a pile of blankets, candles set up all around. James takes my hand and we walk slowly up the beach, stopping in front of the campfire. There are tiny fairies flying above the blankets, giving off strange, ethereal glow. There are blankets and pillows and lying on a particularly large red pillow are two perfect roasting sticks and two packets of marshmallows.

I laugh. 'What is this place?'

'The most romantic place you could ever want.' He smiles at me and I am overcome with emotion. I thrust myself into his chest and hug him tightly, feeling his hands come down to rest on the small of my back.

'Thank you,' I murmur into his chest, and I can feel him smile.

'It's okay.' He bends down closer to my ear. 'I'd do anything for you, you know that, right?'

I give a small nod, knowing he's speaking the absolute truth. And that thought comforts me, it gives me hope in a time that I know won't always be so perfect.

I pull away, suddenly embarrassed. I bend down and pick up the sticks and marshmallows. 'Would you like a lovely delicacy, Sir?' I ask, holding out a stick.

'With pleasure, my Lady.' He grins at me and I duck away, sitting down on the white sand, opening a packet of marshmallows and expertly placing one on the end of my stick.

We sit quietly, eating sticky warm marshmallows for a while, before James leans back and pronounces himself full.

'We need to talk about something.'

'Okay.'

'We should tell each other our secrets.'

Instantly I want to leave. 'No, I don't think so.'

'Come on, it's the most romantic night of your life. You have to tell all your secrets then.'

'Don't be ridiculous.'

'I'm being utterly serious.'

'James…'

'Just do it, okay? We have to tell each other a secret. Something big.'

I shrug my shoulders. 'I don't like Brussels sprouts.'
'I don't like porridge, but that's not what I meant. You have to tell me something that you've never told anyone before. And I have to do the same.'

'But…Most of the secrets I've already told Alice.'

He chuckles. 'Why do girls have to tell each other everything?'

'You don't tell Sirius everything?'

'I tell him the basic ideas…but he doesn't know everything.' He tilts his head to the side. 'Come on, tell me something.'

I'm just using you to get back at all the horrible things you've done. I knew this was a bad idea.

'Ah…I find Professor Slughorn creepy.'

'Who doesn't? Anyway, anybody who dotes you that much has obviously got some serious issues.'

'Ever heard of the words pot, kettle, and black, James?'

He frowns at me. 'I'm allowed to dote on you.'

'Oh, are you now?'

'You and Sirius don't get it. He doesn't reckon that it's ever going to pan out. You and I. He reckons it's a passing infatuation. It's not that at all.'

'I don't think it is either. A passing infatuation is not something that's lasted for seven years. James, even I have come to the conclusion that whatever we do in life, you'll always be around the corner, nagging me to go out with you.'

'I think you've already given in to those nags, Lily.'

I throw a marshmallow at him, trying not to let him see how close I was to giving it all away. 'It's your turn.'

'I want to be an Auror.'

I look up from putting another marshmallow on my stick. 'You're joking.'

He just looks at me pointedly.

'You want to be a Chaser for the English World Quidditch Team – you tell everyone!'

'And I'm telling you that it's not what I want to do. I want to be an Auror.'

It's like everything I've ever known to be true has come crashing down on top of me. James Potter, an Auror? Somehow it seems strangely fitting, but ever since I started going out with him things have been strange.

'I love Quidditch, but choosing between that and saving people's lives? It's not such a hard decision. And with Voldemort killing every Mudblood he can find, I want to be able to protect someone I care very strongly for.'

I squirm and turn red when I realise he's talking about me. I want to change the subject. And then, before I realise what I'm doing, I ask him quietly, 'Why is always me, James? Why has it always been me?'

'What?'

I don't want to look at him. 'Why me?'

He touches my arm and I turn my face up to look at him. He smiles. 'It's something in the Potter gene,' he says in all seriousness. 'All the males in my family have this bizarre attraction towards short redheads.'

I can't help laughing. 'You're ridiculous.'

He chuckles. 'I'm being serious. For the past five generations every single Potter male has married a redhead. My mum's a redhead. My grandmother…Well, she did have red hair. It's kind of tradition.'

'Is that all I am to you?' I ask him jokingly. 'A family tradition?'

'Of course not.' He smiles. 'I've known a lot of girls, Lily. But all of them have been flawed. None of them have been perfect.'

'I'm not perfect.'

'I wasn't saying that you were. If you were perfect then you would've said yes to going out with me all those years ago. But nothing's perfect in life. Nobody can be perfect. What we're all striving for is something close to perfection – something that's good enough. You, Lily, are the only one that I never cared about not being perfect. The fact that you're not perfect makes me love you even more…If that makes any sense to you.'

I can't say anything. It's too hard. I just nod.

'I think that's what true love is. It's not finding your one true soul mate that you share everything with and never fight with, because I don't believe that there is someone like that for everyone. True love is finding someone that you know is flawed, but love despite all of that.'

I let out the breath that I've been holding and swallow, looking up at him. 'You know how you wanted me to tell you when my best moment was?' I whisper.

He nods.

I smile. 'You just gave me it.'

He reaches out his hand and cups my face in his palm, smiling at me. He then moves around to sit right next to me, his arms curling around me. I rest my head in his chest, wondering at how happy and safe I can feel just being in his arms. All that is with me at this moment is that I am the happiest I have ever been, knowing that this guy, this not-perfect-but-that's-okay guy, the one guy that I had always thought was immature and ridiculous, has just surprised me and given me the sweetest thing I've ever known: true love. Somehow, even with death and destruction all around, I know that as long as I have him with me, I'll deal with other tragedies.

'This is perfect,' I murmur.

He hugs me to him tighter. 'I wish we could stay like this forever, Lils.'

I angle my head to watch him, smiling. 'Forever's an awfully long time.'

He shrugs, and then looks at me, our eyes locking together. 'You know,' he murmurs, 'when I'm with you it doesn't seem like that. I start to think that forever couldn't ever be long enough.'

The sincerity of his words sends me reeling. 'Really?'

He brings his hand up to my cheek, stroking it tenderly. 'Really.' His cheeks turn slightly pink as he says so softly I can hardly hear him, 'I love you, Lily.'

It's not like the times when he does it at school. This time it's so much more personal and true and passionate and I know instinctively that I want to tell him the same thing, that inside I love him too.

Without having to think things through, knowing with all my heart that this is what I want, I lean forward and touch my lips with his, an agonisingly sweet, slow kiss that has my mind tumbling. James' hands cup my face and before I completely lose myself in the taste of his kiss, I pull away and breathe into his ear, 'I love you too.'

I turn my face up from his neck to see him smiling down at me. And then no words are needed. He gently kisses my forehead, my cheeks, my nose, my chin, and finally my lips, holding me as if I am the most precious thing in the world.

And I know that, to him, I am.

Acknowledgements: I'd like to thank all the lovely people who reviewed my last chapter: popkornchicken; mrspadfoot4eva; girl from across the bridge...; islington bus no. 199; grannyHPfan; embracing; mauraudersminuspeterarehot; Burgirhig; Leigh A. Sumpter; mean-girl123; shmokey-bear; ohsnap its potter and Amenti. All of you were so cute about the footsie thing – it made my day to make all of you guys so happy, and I hope that this chapter satisfied all those fluff-urges!