Severus gave himself a few more minutes to pull himself together, a few more minutes to change facades. When he felt he had composed himself enough to face those three and all their questions he called for Shelby. He knew as soon as Shelby came to him they would leave the room she was keeping them locked in. Within seconds they all were before him looking at him like he had the answer to the meaning of life. "Remus! Grab us another bottle!" Severus laughed.
Lily stood there slack jawed for a moment before she started "Really! That's how this works? You leave us for hours doing Merlin knows what and you come home and get drunk telling us nothing!"
Severus started to answer her but before he could get a word out here came Shelby to save is ass. "Miss Lily, Master Snape gets fuzzy. Would Miss Lily like a drink? Shelby will fetch it for you. Shelby thinks it will help your nerves. Yes, Miss Lily should get fuzzy too." And off went the little elf. The entire room was rolling in laughter on the exception of Lily who didn't know if she should laugh or be mad. Shelby made quick work of fixing Lily a drink and handing it to her with a small smile.
Lily looked at the drink in her hand and laughed "Thank you Shelby."
"Master Snape do you need anything from Shelby?"
"No, Shelby my dear you have done more than enough today. Thank you. We should be fine until morning." Severus said half chuckling. A small pop later Shelby was gone.
"Snape, I fucking love your elf." Sirius said while plopping across a couch.
"She's one of a kind." Severus said as he raised his glass to Sirius.
Remus and Lily looked to each other at the strange yet friendly exchange but didn't say a word.
"I am fine. I was not injured. What I did while I was gone is between Dumbledore and myself until all of you are official members. It will continue to be that way. Please do not ask, any of you. Now, yes when I have to go do shit for him I come home and get "fuzzy". It helps. I plan to sit here get "fuzzy" take a shower and go to sleep. Is that acceptable to everyone?" Severus stated with a fuzzy smirk.
The trio look at each other with a disappointed frown but accepted it and had a few drinks. Severus did just as he said he would he got drunk, took a shower but soon realized there was a sleeping arrangement problem. The night before they had all slept where they fell but tonight they had to figure out where they belonged. There were only two beds in the guest house and the Manor wasn't safe. "Lily you take my bed, I'll take the guest bed tonight and we will alternate sleeping on the couches and bed. Is that ok with all of you?" a rather drunk Severus asked.
"No it is not. I will sleep with you and they can swap bed and couches!" Lily said sternly.
"Lily I really don't mind giving you my bed. You don't have to sleep with me because you feel sorry for me." Severus slurred.
Lily was pissed. She drew a deep breath and said, "I am not sleeping with you because I feel sorry for you! I am sleeping with you because I love you! I lost you for months, I just got you back and now I have to deal with you disappearing for hours on end not knowing if your coming back or not! I will sleep with you if I want to! Now take your drunk ass to bed! I will be in there shortly!"
Severus was stunned into silence. He simply nodded his head and walked to his room passing out as soon as he laid down. Lily sorted out Remus and Sirius with a coin toss. Remus won the bed. Lily rummaged around until she found an extra blanket in a closet. Sirius was situated and she felt like a mother to some very overgrown children. "This is why I'm here. They need to be taken care of." She mused to herself before walking into Severus's room. Dumbledore had forgotten to send their things so she just slept in her shirt. She climbed into bed with Severus who had his back facing her. She slithered her way across the king size bed so that there wasn't anything between them that didn't touch. She carefully placed her arm across his stomach holding him; she kissed his bare shoulder and whispered "I love you" then fell fast asleep.
Severus awoke to a very odd feeling of weight on his chest, it wasn't the normal pressure of guilt and remorse he felt after doing the Dark Lord's bidding, it was actual weight. He reluctantly opened his eyes and slowly lifted his head to find red hair splayed across his chest. He smiled remembering Lily's little outburst the night before. He gently kissed the top of her head and simply laid there playing with her hair relishing in the fact he never thought he would ever experience this again. He mused to himself "Even if I die, these moments will be worth it."
"You better not die on me Severus Snape!" Lily said startling him.
"I'm sorry love, I didn't mean to wake you." He replied sheepishly.
Lily looked up at him, smiled, kissed him and said "Babe I have been awake for a while. I was the one not wanting to wake you." They laughed at each other.
"I'm so happy you're here. I never thought you would speak to me again much less wake up to find you in my bed." He said while running his fingers through her hair.
"Severus I gave you my heart. I forgive you. Just never leave me again. I don't care what we have to do, where we have to go or how hard it is, promise me you will never leave me again." She said on the verge of tears.
Severus pulled her closer to him and held her tightly "I promise I will never leave you like that again. I will never deceive you to keep you away again. We may have to be apart physically but I will never push you away again. I will do whatever it takes to be with you, even if it means becoming a loathsome animal. I am yours as long as you want me."
"Always then." She said with an arched eyebrow.
"Always." He replied sincerely.
"Good. We have that settled. Now when are we getting married?" she said giggling throwing a pillow at Severus and jumping out of bed.
Severus sat up in the bed looking at her shocked, he had no clue if she was joking or not. Lily slipped her jeans back on and started to walk out of the room. "Lily!" Severus trying to call her back.
Lily poked her head just inside the door "Get your ass out of that bed!" she winked and left again.
"What the hell! Witch come back here! I need to talk to you!" Severus yelled.
"Get your ass out of bed Sev! We have things to do today!" Lily yelled back.
Lily immediately started their day. She woke Remus and Sirius, then she called for Shelby, she started tea and coffee then made rounds to get everyone out of bed once again. It was noon so Shelby brought lunch. Lily finally had every one awake and at the table eating. For once there were no evil glances being shot back and forth, no snide remarks, and the tension in the room was minimal. Lily finally had the most important people to her in a room together and they were actually being civil. It was bliss.
"I do have a question. I don't understand where Potter is. You two were always glued to him growing up but I have yet to hear mention of him. Why isn't he here?" Severus questioned.
Lily looked to Remus then to Sirius then to Severus. Well there went my bliss she thought. Lily started to answer by telling the whole story but she didn't get out a word before Sirius spoke up. "He has chosen a different path for his life. After his injury he met the girl he plans to marry and well…. We stay in trouble and he's trying to straighten up for her. It's just been the three of us for a while now."
Severus arched his eyebrows and smirked "Potter has grown up?! You're telling me that the three of you are now the troublemakers of Hogwarts and Potter is the boy with his nose in a book?"
Sirius laughed "Something like that. Lily did sort of take his place when he told me he had to get his life together and pull up his grades."
Severus nodded rubbing his chin looking at Lily "The female marauder then, Miss Evans? I'm not sure if I should laugh or be upset."
Lily blushed then regained her confidence "Yes Sev, I cause mischief and mayhem everywhere I go! I thought you knew!"
Severus found it amusing, in the short time they had been apart Lily had grown up a lot. Merlin knows she had been through far more than she realized or deserved. She had changed, long gone was the little girl he grew up with. Now she was a fierce and determined woman who was far stronger than she would ever realize. Severus cleared his throat to swallow the lump that had formed there thinking about Lily and who she had become "Very well Miss Evans, but you two are responsible for her and her safety during any misdeeds you may decide to partake in." Severus looking at Remus and Sirius.
"Don't worry Snape. We never take her when we do the really fun stuff." Sirius gloated.
"Dammit Sirius, I told you not to tell her that!" Remus said poking Sirius in the ribs.
"What the hell do you mean! Leave me behind?! You assholes!" Lily whined.
Severus sat back watching them, at first he had been insanely jealous of Sirius and Remus but in that moment he was thanking Merlin for them. They had been there for her while he was away being an idiot. They had helped bring her back to life. They were teaching her things she needed to know. They were her friends and she was having fun and that's all that mattered. Severus frowned when it dawned on him that their fun would be over soon. They were clueless about what was coming. Let them have their fun while they can he thought. Dear Merlin I'm sitting in my house with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin being grateful for them, wishing them more time to be innocent and actually find I'm coming to like them. What the hell! Severus thought and let out an audible chuckle. The bickering at the table stopped and everyone looked to him. Severus shook his head "I was just thinking. What is on the agenda for today Miss Evans?"
Lily arched an eyebrow at Sirius and said "Patronus Charms!"