Hey people, I'm back! Sorry for the long absence... I'll try to update more often, I swear.

Chapter 21 - Now its you and me.

It was a quidditch morning. James woke up early like he always did. He looked at Lily sleeping peacefully and felt the perfection of the moment dawn on him; he had her, he finally had her. He was sure that now his life was truly starting, he felt that with her at his side he was whole and there was nothing that they couldn't achieve together. Thinking about the many things he wanted to do in his life (auror training, marriage, kids) he left for his "de-pumping warm-up run" before the game, only this time feeling slightly in doubt because that meant leaving Lily. He looked at her sleeping form and leaned in to kiss her softly before leaving; she sighed contempt and smiled still sleeping soundly.

Lily woke up and there was no James. For a second she thought maybe she had had a great dream and now was back in cold harsh reality but the she saw a flying note waiting for her. She smiled at the sight of James handwriting and grabbed the note.

"Flower,

Its Quidditch morning! I went for a run but will be back before breakfast, so if you are the loving caring person I know you are you'll wait for me so we can walk to together to the GH.

Love,

James"

Lily laughed at his note; it was sweet and very James-like. Of course she would wait for him, right now all she wanted was to stay with him every waking minute she had, and possibly every sleeping one as well. Now that she thought about it, it kind of creeped her out how much she longed for his presence. She went in to take a shower to find the bathtub already filled with vanilla bubbles floating around the room and she couldn't help but smile again. "Just how perfect he is?" - She thought to herself as she entered the sweet water.

James came back from his run, which he had considerably shortened for obvious reasons, and walked into the Heads Dorm hoping Lily had seen his note (he thought a flying note over her head was hard to miss, but you never know) and had waited for him.

" – Good morning!" – Lily's sweet voice sung as soon as he stepped inside the common room.

" – Morning!" – He replied walking over to where she was; she looked positively gorgeous with a special gleam around her. – "Missed you." – He said and kissed her. He enveloped her in his arms and Lily felt like melting again. She loved that feeling.

" – James!" – She said after realization hit her. – "You are dripping with sweat and I am squeaky clean! Let go!" – She slapped him lightly on the arm in a joking fashion.

" - No." – James grunted and pouted feigning a child upset.

" - Pretty please?" – She said and he chuckled and let go.

" – Fine. I thought maybe you missed me too… But I see I was sadly mistaken…" – He joked while walking towards the stairs.

" – Well, it wouldn't be the first time…" – She teased him. They loved their witty banters, it was a ritual for them; it was just how they worked.

She watched as he entered the bathroom in his jogging uniform. James and Sirius liked muggle clothing and wore it a lot, and his favorite running outfit was baggy black adidas pants and a white t-shirt. He looked hot (but then again he did in almost everything) and then Lily hit herself on the head when she caught herself thinking he might be even hotter without it. After a few minutes James reappeared from the bathroom in full Quidditch gear. He looked even better.

" - Ok, Miss Flower, breakfast!" – He said clapping his hands together excitedly – "But first, where's my kiss now that I am, how did you put it?... Squeaky clean?" – Lily chuckled at him and gladly went over to kiss him.

" – Ok, let's go, can't have people accuse me of kidnapping the captain, can I?" – She said after their kiss had extended.

" – Oh, alright." – James concurred. " – I'm starved!"

They walked together talking and laughing playfully and Lily found herself thinking she wished everyday could be like that, filled with happiness and laughter. She knew at that moment that her life was brighter than it had ever been, and James was the reason. She wanted to hug him tightly and thank him for it, but instead she just squeezed his hand, but he seemed to understand what she meant by it all the same.

" - James?" – She said just before they entered the Great Hall.

" - Yes?" – He said turning to face her; his beautiful hazel eyes staring right into hers.

" – I was wondering if we could go on our first date tomorrow?" – Lily asked.

" – Sure, Lils." – He replied, a huge smiled spreading across his handsome features. – "Just have to be after lunch, because we have Swaps and Head duties in the morning, ok?"

" – Great." – She smiled happily – "Just so you know, I'm planning our date, since I'm the one who finally convinced you to go out with me."

" – Oh did you, now?" – He eyed her with a teasing glint in his eyes. – "How on earth did you pull that off, I wonder?"

" – Oh, I think I owe it all to my dashing good looks…" – She said, her lips curling up as James chuckled lightly and they seated by their friends for breakfast. As they entered the Great Hall the two heads decided to lay low their relationship and so instead of holding hands they just walked together.

" – Good morning, my dear Head students!" – Sirius said as soon as they sat. – "My, my, don't our heads look giddy this morning! Don't they Moony?"

" - They certainly do, Padfoot." – Remus said nodding amused – "I wonder what has gotten into them."

" – Me too." – Sirius replied, the jokeful tone in his voice evident – "So, Prongs, Moony said you had a lot of work to get done yesterday. Did you manage to finish all of it?"

" – I would have." – James replied with the same teasing tone – "But then I got caught up snogging Evans senseless." – He continued and the jaws dropped around his friends, including Lily's.

" – James!" – She said giving him a positively scandalized look, but she was smiling all the same.

" – What?" – He feigned innocence perfectly. She sighed.

" – You're such a prat!" – She said chuckling while buttering a piece of toast.

" - Whorahh!!!" – Sirius yelled jumping up on his seat and everyone in the hall turned to look at him, so he sat back down. – "You and Lily are together!' - He said in a hushy way.

" – Oh, Padfoot, you catch on quickly." – James replied sarcastically.

" - Lily Bean! How come we are only hearing about this now?" - Alicia said glaring at her.

" - Sorry, Als, but as James, the prat, here put it, we were kind of busy..." - Lilyreplied trying to maintain astraight face.

" - Oh, thank Merlin!" - Emma cut in. "- It was about time."

The rest of breakfast went on like this until some people begun to leave to the pitch; the minute anyone walked through the Great Hall's door to leave it, their hair would transform into some sort of wig that looked like it was made of plastic. Girls would get golden wigs and boys flaming red ones. It was obviously a Marauder prank and now Gryffindor had the entire school as their supporters, and the slytheryns weren't the least bit pleased about that.

The entire Gryffindor team huddled together in the pitch, the captain in the middle. They could all feel that their leader was in high spirits and he had an aura about him that showed them that today he was unstoppable. After having one look at James Potter face that morning they knew it didn't matter who they played, they could even play the English team, that they would win. It was exciting and envigorating and as he gave them his pep-speach all the members felt the strange mood of their captain spread towards them, so when they kicked off the ground and the match started there was nothing the slytherins could do but try to avoid utter humiliation. It was a wash out.

Lily watched him from the stands; he had the look of sheer determination on his face and she could something else there too; faith. James believed that on that day he could do anything and therefore he could. She smiled as he did a specially bold move, scored and then did a piruette to celebrate. She could tell he was smiling. She cheered alongside her friends but for her this was much more. She cheered because she could tell he was happy and she wanted to keep him that way forever. They had decided to wait after their first official date before letting their relationship out on the open, of course they had to tell thier friends because, honestly, they wanted to and also there was no way they would get away with it if they didn't.

As the judge whistled the end of the match, Gryffindor crowd went wild. The final score was 530 x 150 for their house and the party that was bound to come would certainly reflect the anihilation that ensued on the field. Lily watched as the team carried its captain amongst the crowd, she locked eyes with him and they smiled and nodded at each other reaching a silent agreement.

- - - XXX - - - XXX - - - XXX - - -

It was Sunday morning and James woke up still with the giddy feeling that he was convinced now that would never leave. He put on his glasses and gathered his clothes going to take a shower. Just as he put his hand on the doorknob, the door opened and a smiling fresh Lily Evans appeared.

" - Ha! I got up before you!" - She said with a look of triumph.

" - You sure did, Lils." - He replied amused that she would think it was some kind of great deed. "- But why, may I ask?"

" - Well, I have a date to plan and also head duties and swaps, so I thought I'd get started on something." - She said with a cheeky look. "- Unlike some people that slept until nearly breakfast."

" - Well, I am sure that you know I was up until wee hours of the night." - James countered giving her a naughty look. - "You know, snogging a sexy redhead in a broom closet can be very exausting."

" - Oh, I'm sorry." - She said squinting her eyes at him dangerously. "- Was that a complaint?"

" - Not at all." - He answered with a grin and then kissed her matter of factdelly until her breath faltered. "- Ok, See you in a bit, need to hop in the shower now, mind."

For a second Lily hesitated and it was enough for James to walk in and close the door behind him. She stood there gaping like a fish for almost an entire minute until realizing her predicament and cursing "James Potter you will be the death of me" under her breath many times before walking downstairs. She sat on her desk on the common room and did some of the planning for the upcoming Halloween Ball and duplicated her Swaps sheet. As she entered the last sentence on the note she planned to pass to the prefects their next meeting, James came down and propped himself next to her, looking over her shoulder.

" - Hungry, Evans." - He said widening his eyes.

" - Was that a question?" - She said turning to look him in the eye.

" - No, Flower." - He replied pecking her on the lips quickly and the grining wildely. "- I was simply stating that I am hungry as a Hippogriff."

" - Oh, I see." - Lily said but her lips curled up slightly. "- So then you have no consideration whatsoever for my person?"

" - Of course, I do!" - He said pulling her out of the chair and slinging her bag over his shoulder while pulling her towards the door. "- I have considered many many things about your person, I can assure you that." - He said wiggling his eyebrows at her.

" - Really?" - She said playing along. "- I have considered some about you too."

As the morning went on Lily caught herself counting the minutes. She and James had agreed to meet at two near the lake and now it seemed to her that time was simply refusing to pass; how come it was still noon? Darn, she was so nervous and she didn't even know why. She and James were already together, she knew he liked her, he knew she liked him, they knew that kissing was most definetelly not a problem, so why did the date matter so much? It was because it would be official, she thought, but then she realized it was something else too; it was because it would be the first time they would be alone together in a non-friends way. She couldn't eat, so she went to the kitchens with the girls instead and afterwards she was hoistered up to the girls dormitory to get ready for the "Big Date".

- - - XXX - - - XXX - - - XXX - - -

James waited for Lily near the lake. The guys had had a field day making fun of him for being nervous about the date, but still they had helped ease the nervousness somehow. He had on the nicest pair of jeans he owned and was wearing the shirt Lily told him not to wear the day he went to Hogsmeade with Missy because he could tell she liked it. He had on a dark brown leather jacket, that was a little old but that was why he liked it. He had tried to fix his hair (with no success, obviously) and was now running his hand through it, giving it one last try.

" - You know, I used to hate when you did that." - Lily's voice sounded behind him.

" - Used to, huh?" - He turned around and was glad he had spoken before he could see her. She was stunning. She was the same Lily as always but yet she was completely different; she was wearing a dark purple cashmere "V" necked sweater that fitter her perfectly, a dark jeans skirt and shallow camel boots almost to her knees. But what striked James the most was her face; he was positive she had a glow on her cheeks and her eyes seemed to sparkle tirelessly.

" - Well, to tell you the truth I quite like it now." - She smiled and moved positioning herself so that she could run her hand through his hair now. She took in his appearence; everyday she thought he looked better and today she thought that she might have to just attack him. He looked like a muggle movie star with that leather jacket and the shirt she liked. Lily was sure if James needed an alternate carreer he could just move to London and model; it was absolutelly unfair for him to look that yummy because she was 18 for crying out loud and she could only control her hormones for so long.

As they stood there, Lily running her hands through his hair and James holding her waist enjoying the spontaneous act of caring, the nervousness that had filled their mornings flew out and a sensation of calm and tranquility settled in. Slowly James started to seat at the edge of the lake and Lily allowed him to seat her next to him.

" - Oh, I was so nervous about today." - She said as she once again caressed his hair.

" - I know. Me too." - He said smiling at her. "- But now its gone. How weird is that?"

" - Weird, and yet not weird at all." - She replied scooting her body closer to his and he chuckled at her response because he thought it was absolutely right. He put his arm around her shoulder and she rested her head there.

" - So, Flower, what are the many activities you have planned for our date?" - He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

" - Well, first activity is special and you'll have to follow me with your eyes closed and no questions." - She said with a smile spreading through her face.

" - Ok. Lead the way." - He said getting to his feet, closing his eyes and extending a hand in her direction. "- Just remember if I disappear I do have friends that will come looking for me." - He joked.

" - Shut up, James." - Lily grabbed his hand and leaded him to the place she had set up their first "activity". It was the side of the castle where the walls were clearer; she had put on a charm so that now it was almost smooth and white. She seated James down on where she had put two blankets and conjured some cushions.

" - Can I open my eyes now?" - He asked taking a peek.

" - Like you haven't already." - She smirked.

" - So what is this?" - He asked pointing to a metal object behind Lily.

" - It's a projector." - She answered seating next to him. - "We're going to watch a movie. The best movie; "Breakfast at Tiffany's".

" - Cool." - James said looking at the projector and the wall as the light begun to project in it. Lily had put a charm around them and suddenly it was dark and cozy around them.

" - Shhhh." - She teased him and he sighed. She went and rested her body against his; life could not get any better.

- - - XXX - - - XXX - - - XXX - - -

" - She's really pretty." - James said as the movie ended.

" - Oh, yes." - Lily said kissing his cheek. The first part of their date had gone great. - "And now it's Date - Part Two." - She put on a serious face and James chuckled.

" - Bring it on, Evans." - He gave her his best determined look and she had to laugh. And kiss him.

" - Ok. Here it comes." - She said giving him a mischievous smile. "- You are going to take me flying."

" - Really?" - James said almost bouncing in his place. It was his perfect dream.

" - Really." - Lily said looking at him beaming; she could tell he was extatic. He loved flying and it wasn't hard for her to figure out he would want to share that with her. And even though he didn't catch on, Lily was just as excited as he was. She had always been afraid of flying but because of some unkown reason she couldn't wait to be up there with him, to be close to him where she knew he was always happy.

Not even a minute later they were on the air. Lily seated behind James, holding tight to his back, her head resting on his shoulder while he steered the broom effortlessly taking them to a place he knew she would love. She enjoyed the feeling and made an effort to engrave those moments in her memory forever; the chilly wind, James smile and the breathtaking view. She wanted to have it with her always, it was such a sensation of bliss that at that moment Lily coul not believe that something could be wrong in the world. She felt James ease the broom and stop subtly. He got off carefully and then offered her his hand, but then changed his mind and grabbed her my the waist pulling her down. They were on top of Gryffindor tower and they could see the entirety of Hogwarts grounds; it was a view she would never forget. James stood behind her and hugged her lightly, kissing her softly on the neck.

" - I thought you would like it here." - He whispered in her ear causing goosebumps to spread through her body.

" - It's amazing, James." - She answered quietly.

" - I think this is the best date ever." - He said chuckling softly.

" - I think so too." - She agreed and turned to face him. "- You know, I wish I could have known you sooner."

" - Don't do that, Lils." - He said bringing her closer. "- We never know what would have happened before, we have to be glad we can be here now."

" - Still, I wish I hadn't been so blind." - She said biting her lip. "- I'm just so happy now, James. I didn't know a person could be this happy." - Lily lifted her green eyes to meet his and he could see that she meant every word and to that he smiled brightly, a smile so beautiful that Lily was sure that the day was made a little clearer.

" - I'm happy too." - He said and gave her an eskimo kiss, causing her to laugh earnstly. "- I'm just glad you changed your mind and decided I'm not a bullying arrogant toe rag anymore." - Once again she laughed, but this time feeling slightly guilty about saying those things to him.

" - Well, if it makes you feel any better I only called you that to see if you'd stop annoying me. You see, I knew I would break if you continued to ask me out looking all sexy and hot like this." - She had decided to tease and complement him at the same time, hoping to at least earn one of his special kisses.

" - It does make me feel better." - James replied and kissed her just like she had hoped. They stayed there enjoying the view and kissing and laughing.

" - James, how do you think its going to be for us when we leave Hogwarts?" - Lily asked after a while.

" - I dunno, Lils." - He said tightening his arms around her. "- I just know its going to be you and me." - He said it with such confidence that Lily wouldn't allow herself to doubt it even for a single second. She knew he was right, what they had started together was something extraordinary and it didn't happen to everybody. She knew they were meant to stay together. They were meant to be, just like he had always said.

" - No matter what." - She said after reflecting a bit. And it wasn't a question, it was a statement.

" - No matter what." - He confirmed looking directly into her eyes.

A/N: Okay people, this is it! Next chapter wont be so fluff, so enjoy it while it lasts! R&R if you can.