Yeah, it's been a month. In my defense, however, every single bit of my time has been spent either in band rehearsal or screaming into the void. So I kind of have an excuse, right? No? Well, I'm sorry. This is definitely my worst break yet. But with school starting now, I'm going to get into a writing rhythm! Yeah! I believe in me, do you?

Hey, I have a new story out based on the one time they mentioned the Marauders as a crew in The Cursed Child. Don't worry; I'm not abandoning this fic by any means- it was just to warm up my writing engines after a month of ignoring my responsibilities. You guys should check it out, though! It's pretty okay (I think so, at least).

The castle they go to is a 13th century keep where Edward, the Black Prince stayed. I encourage you all to check it out, it looks wonderful. If only I lived in Cornwall...

Thank you to all of you who gave me kind reviews during my block month. There were a number of them that genuinely made me cry. You have no idea how much that means to me; please keep writing them. Thanks also to my beta, honorary-marauder-1. She writes a great Jily fic (which I beta) I would highly recommend called How To Move On 101. Check it out, you guys, she deserves all the love.

On to the chapter, I won't deny it any longer. In apology for my long absence, I'm giving you all some good old-fashioned travel fluff. Then some less-than-fluff. But you know, whatever. This chapter's super long too, so hey! The fact that I legitimately hate it holds no relevance! Enjoy yourselves! Cheers, folks, and thanks for sticking around.

Lily hugged Remus, her red hair barely peeking over his shoulder. "Come to Tuney's wedding, would you? I don't want to be alone. You too, Sirius, I don't think I'd be able to stand being there on my own."

Sirius looked at her amusedly, tousling the cloud of ruddy hair that exploded out of her head. "Isn't that what Jamesy here is for?"

Ignoring James' indignant squawks from behind her, Lily answered Sirius with over-exaggerated sobriety. "We both know he'll be too busy crying over the wedding ceremony to entertain me." She embraced Sirius. "I'm not kidding, though, please come. My dad would love to meet Remus, and he'd be ecstatic to see you again.

Remus smiled at her slightly, pain showing through on his pallid face. "I would love to, Lily. "We'll see how it goes, with the giant tear in my abdomen, you know?"

"Of course, Remus, if you don't feel up to it, absolutely do not. Call us, okay?"

"Yeah, Drive home safely." Remus hugged her again and whispered into her hair, "I'm really glad you're going back to music. It's where you belong."

She smiled up at him. "Yeah. Me too."

-x-x-x-

James had been watching Lily the whole way home- not in a creepy way, mind you- and with every kilometer they got closer to home and the reality of Petunia's wedding, Lily's face fell back to the deep lines it had been in the entire semester. It saddened him to see her losing the vigor she had seemed to regain in St. Ives- Moonymas had done both her and Remus some good. She'd been pushing herself too hard this semester; he'd been watching her (again, not in a creepy way, just in a concerned friend way) and she'd pressed herself too hard into her studies to make up lost time in education.

It wasn't just her appearance that clued him into her quickly falling spirits, though: she had been playing steadily sadder songs the closer they got to Cokeworth. They had reached the middle of "Adiago in G Minor" when James pulled off at an exit at Trebyan.

Lily looked up, worry lines giving way to confusion. "What are you doing, James? This isn't the way home. We told my dad we'd be home by one."

James set his face and slammed his foot on the accelerator, well exceeding the speed limit. "We're going to have a bit more fun before we're going home. And I believe your father knows me well enough by now to not expect us until suppertime, if not later. And I hardly think he'd begrudge you a bit more fun."

Lily grinned. "You're probably right, but what about Petunia? She wanted me to stop and pick up napkins for the rehearsal dinner."

James waved her worries aside. "Ah, we'll pick some up on the way home. Don't worry about that. Just focus on having fun. And put something less depressing on, would you? Honestly, I feel like the next thing on the queue is going to be 'Bring Me To Life' or a song of that caliber."

"I will have you know that 'Adiago in G Minor' is one of my favorite pieces of music."

"Well, it makes me want to go take a bubble bath and drown in my own sorrows."

"James Potter, the coolest guy around campus, three-time winner of the university newsletter's 'most charming smile' award and resident rock star takes bubble baths when he's upset?"

"Hey, everyone deserves to wallow every so often, and I just so happen to like soaking in a warm and fragrant tub. Everyone copes differently, at least I don't drag race when I'm down."

"Drag racing is fun!"

"I never said it wasn't. It is, however, illegal. Taking a bubble bath is a perfectly legal practice that comforts me, leave me alone."

Lily shook her head, snickering. Once she changed to a more upbeat song James recognized as Tchaikovsky, she asked, "Where are we going, anyways?"

James' eyes twinkled mysteriously. "You'll see."

"Tell me!"

"Nope," he said, leaning away from her fist and accidentally veering into the opposite lane. Lily screamed, clutching onto the handle above her window.

"Don't you trust my driving, Evans?" James said teasingly, adjusting back to the correct lane. Lily, still clutching at the handle, snorted derisively.

"Please, Potter. The only person I trust driving is myself- I've seen more talented drivers than you wreck racing."

"Wow, Evans, that hurts." But it stuck in his mind. Somehow, the fact that Lily had been in such a dangerous place never hit it in its enormity. She could have died, and that was his fault. He just had to goad Snape, and Snape had called her a- a mudblood and she called her parents, and they got in the accident. If he had just kept his fat mouth shut-

Lily put her hand on his shoulder. "James, look at that."

James shook himself out of his reverie. Looking ahead, he saw their destination had appeared over the horizon- the grand ruins of Restormel Castle.

Lily's eyes shone, her excitement making her all but bounce up and down in her seat. "James, I'm so excited! Castles are phenomenal- what's this one?"

"Er, it's called Restormel Castle- I'm not sure what the history around it is."

Lily pulled out her phone and began to read aloud. "Apparently it's a thirteenth century castle that was once home to the Earl of Cornwall, but was nearly destroyed in the English Civil War." She looked up, her face alight with excitement. "Wow, wouldn't Sirius love this?"

"Yeah, I guess it's almost perfectly circular- he'd think that was wild."

Lily was already halfway out the door before James had even put the van in park. Grinning at her exuberance and locking the van behind him, he sped up the winding road that led to the castle, jogging to catch up with her.

When he finally reached the redhead, she was halfway up the tower of the castle. Panting all the way up the wooden stairs, he caught sight her looking over the snow-blanketed English countryside with a wistful look on her face.

He leaned on the castle walls, the cool breeze providing welcome relief to his burning face. Sucking in a deep breath, he began to speak.

"This place is dead. It's stunningly beautiful, but there's no one here. I feel like this is the beginning of a horror movie where we're trapped alone in a castle and an angry ghost princess chases us around."

She laughed, shaking her hair back over her shoulder and tightening her scarf- his scarf, actually- around her neck. "It's two days after Christmas, James. Everyone's at home enjoying their new presents and having leftovers- we're the only ones mad enough to be out here in below freezing weather."

James looked out at the countryside. "So, any legends surrounding this place? Any tales of classic romances? Any heartaches, arranged marriages, or running away into the night for true love?"

Lily snorted. "I doubt it- this was the home of the Black Prince for a while. The only thing here were atrocities."

"Well, do you want to make one?"

Lily looked over at him, shocked. "What?"

"Do you want to make a story up? Look around- it's beautiful here. A place like this deserves a story to match its surroundings, don't you think?"

Lily grinned at him, her green eyes sparkling in stark contrast to the white snow on the fields behind her. "James Potter, who knew you were such a romantic?"

"Well, I would have thought the numerous attempts to ask you out would have said it all," James grumbled under his breath.

Lily continued on as if she hadn't heard him. "Well, you start then, since you're obviously the most well-read of ancient romances," she said, tossing her hair and giving him the barest trace of a smile.

"Excuse me, who did I find just yesterday sobbing their eyes out over Pride and Prejudice in my library?"

"Oh, hush. The story was your idea, now start it!"

James looked over the walls, taking in the scenery. "Once upon a time-"

"Really?"

"Look, you wanted me to start it, so unless you have a better idea-"

"Go on, then."
"Once upon a time, there was a lovely maiden who lived in a castle in Cornwall. She lived with her mother and her father and her sister, and she was the sweetest, loveliest, funniest, and most intelligent maiden to ever walk the land. She drove her own chariot- very quickly and somewhat recklessly, mind you- and against all odds, she received one of the best educations in Europe. She was also stunningly beautiful, with shining red hair that never seemed to stay under her wimple, escaping in wonderful whips that gave her a rakish, runaway look.

"Her mother, father and sister loved her very dearly, but one day, disaster struck the keep. The Black Prince was coming, along with his two aides and full company, a pair of lords who had been vying for the sisters' hands since they had come of age. The mother and father couldn't very well turn the Prince down, for he would declare war on them and their entire household would most certainly lose their heads.

"So the Prince came, and with him came the dreaded lords and an order from the Black Prince that the maidens must both be married by year's end. Lord Vermin took the hand of the older sister at Michaelmas, and soon made the sister behave like himself- rude, stuck up, and obnoxious- though it was only an act by the eldest sister to keep her family safe from the Black Prince.

"The younger sister, however, was forced into a betrothal with Lord Snivellus, the vile, cruel, and remarkably greasy ruler of a small county in the north, known the land over for being callous and tyrannical to his underlings. The younger sister despised him, and vowed she would run away.

"But lo! The date the Black Prince had set her wedding for was drawing near, and the younger sister was growing more and more panicked. With each passing day, Lord Snivellus grew more odious and even greasier, when she met a young aide of the Black Prince- a lowly knight who went into the Prince's service to save his father. The two fell madly in love, or, rather, the knight fell madly in love with her at first. He was assigned to make sure she didn't try to run away before her wedding by the Black Prince. But he loved her deeply, every part of her- from her shining red hair to her sparkling emerald eyes to her biting wit and unending bravery. He loved every inch of her, and somehow, she fell in love with him, too. One night, on the walls of the keep, she confessed to him that she would rather die than marry Lord Snivellus.

"'Why?', he asked, curious. 'He is an odious little twit, of course, but he is notably rich and, look at him. He's out still getting drunk and making enemies- someone's bound to stab him soon.'

"'I could never deign to marry him when I am in love with someone else.'

"The young knight's heart sank. Of course she loved another, he thought sadly. She is a lady, and I am but a lowly knight. I am unworthy of her in position and in soul.

"'I am very happy for you, my lady,' the knight said wistfully.

"'Are you?' she said, matching his tone. 'I'm not.'

"He looked over at her- wimple pulled completely off and red hair curling off in all directions so she seemed to have a halo. Her fingers gripped the wall of the castle keep, and oh, how he wished to grasp those fingers and confess his love for her and beg her to run away with him-

"But no. She was in love with another, and he respected that."

"'Why are you unhappy, my lady?'

"'I believe my love is unrequited.'

"He tightened his fists and reached for his sword. 'Who is he? I shall challenge him- I am the strongest fighter in this keep, I can and I will best anyone for your honor.'

"She laughed, her voice ringing over the fields outside. 'I seriously doubt you can beat him, my dearest, for he is the strongest fighter in this keep.'

"The knight froze, letting her words sink in. 'Then, you mean to say-'

"She laughed again, the sound of her voice rooting him in place. 'Yes, of course, love, it's always been you.'

"His heart felt like it was going to break right out of his chain mail and soar up to the heavens. How could he possibly be so lucky to win the heart of the bravest maiden in the land? The he remembered a horribly sobering fact.

"'My love, you are to be married to Lord Snivellus at the end of the week.'

"And so it was decided that they would do the very thing he had been assigned to prevent- they decided to run away. All seemed well, when suddenly-"

James broke off, making Lily scream. "When what, you prick? You can't just leave someone on a cliffhanger like that!"

James smirked. "Who's the romantic now, eh?"

"Shut up and finish the story!"

"I can't."

"Why the bloody hell not?"

"It's your turn."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope."

"I've got no idea what to do."

"Just go where the story takes you, Lily-flower."

"What if the story takes them on a dive down the castle walls?"

"Then I forsee the same fate in your future."

Lily laughed. "Alright, alright."

"Well, all seemed well, when suddenly, the night before, the knight began to have second thoughts."

"Woah, woah, woah," James interrupted. "The knight would never have second thoughts."

"How do you know?"

James struggled for an answer, then replied, "Look, if you do anything to endanger their love, I wasn't kidding about throwing you down the castle walls."

"Noted." She cleared her throat. "Anyways, the knight was having second thoughts. The night of their escape, he turned and clasped her hands in the stable, going down on both knees. 'Dearest,' he said, 'you know I love you more than anything in the world. But it would be wrong of me not to offer you a way out. After the father marries us and we make our escape, you will never live easily again. I am but a poor knight, and we will be on the run until we reach France, and even then, Snivellus will never stop looking for us. It will be a dangerous journey. Are you sure this is the path you will choose?'

"She grasped his hands and knelt down to his height. 'My love, I would be weak indeed if I let Lord Snivellus scare me into a safe lifestyle rather than an adventure with the man I love. Never speak of this again; I would rather die a thousand deaths than live without you. I love you from the top of your wretchedly messy hair to the tips of your boots, and there is no one I would rather spend my life with. Now, stand up so we can become man and wife.'

"And they did. The castle priest married them at midnight in the stable with her mother and father and sister, who had escaped the clutches of Lord Vermin for just a second to send them on their way. Then, in the dead of night with only two days' provisions and the lady's chariot, they set quietly out on their way to find a new life- the ultimate road trip. And though Lord Snivellus never stopped chasing her, they evaded him, living in France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal for some time, but news reached them that Lord Snivellus had been killed by a man he had angered in a pub. They returned home to England and lived happily in the keep that had been the lady's home for so many years, living happily ever after."

James was in shock. She had described him as the knight. He had obviously chosen her as the lady, but had stoutly refused to characterize the knight, choosing to leave that to Lily. But her comment about the ridiculously messy hair- that was him.

Lily Evans was in love with him, really and truly.

He stepped closer to her. "Lily, I-"

She backed up, the realization of what she had said dawning on her. "You know, James? We should really be heading home. It's time to go, don't you think? Dad's probably missing us and it's really just time to go, come on, race you to Bertha-"

She cut off as she whirled around and raced down the creaky wooden steps. James didn't move, though. A wicked smile crept up his face, because whether she was ready to admit it or not, Lily Evans liked him. Loved him, even. And he would give her the space she needed, and pretend he didn't know until she decided it was time- but he knew, and he'd wait forever if he had to.

-x-x-x-

They had reached Cokeworth before James saw Lily again. By the time James had reached the van, Lily had already picked the lock with one of her hairpins and was laying facedown with her earbuds in on Bertha's very back seat. James accepted this as her way of dealing with what had transpired on top of Restormel Castle, and plugged his phone in and blasted Van Halen the whole way home.

Lily popped up from the very back seat of the van where she had been laying down. "Hey, James, can we stop somewhere to pick up napkins for Tuney? I forgot to have us stop somewhere, sorry…"

He smiled at her in the rearview mirror. "Yeah, no problem. Here, we'll just pull over downtown and pick some out."

He pulled to the side of the road, parking Bertha in front of a shop named Emmett's. He opened the door and was out on the street when he noticed that Lily was not following him. He pulled the back door open and stuck his head in the door.

"Lily? You coming?"

Lily dragged herself out of the car as if it was the absolute last thing she wanted to do. "They won't be there, it's okay, it's no big deal-" she whispered, almost to herself.

"What?" James said.

"NOTHING!" she yelped, speeding ahead of him and opening the door to the shop.

James followed her in and promptly ran into the scarlet-headed girl frozen in the doorway, staring at the red-lipped, dark-haired, smirking beauty behind the counter.

"Hello, Lily," she simpered. "How's mom?"

Without further ado, Lily spun on her heel and rushed out the door, breezing past James on her way out.

James stayed firmly in his spot, glaring at the girl behind the counter who had just noticed him. Her face transformed immediately from a smirk to a charming smile. She looked him up and down before saying, "Well, hello, love, whatever can I do for you?"

James glared even more fiercely at her, making the beauty's smile falter briefly. "I'm looking for some napkins," James said sharply, storming over to the display and picking up an armful of disposable napkins without looking at them, dumping them unceremoniously on the counter.

"Haven't seen you around town," the girl said, biting her lip and looking up at him. "Here for Christmas?"

"Yes, I'm staying with my girlfriend's family."

She froze in the middle of scanning a stack of napkins. "Oh, really?"

"Yes. Now if you would please continue, I'd rather be with her than here."

She finished the napkins without further ado and James paid for them, sweeping the bag of the counter without so much as a good day. He left the girl at the counter gaping behind him and went off in search of Lily.

He found her in the alley beside Emmet's, sitting down on an overturned dustbin, sobbing into the overlarge sleeves of her sweater. He sat down next to her and said, "What's wrong?"

"Sorry, I'm okay, I just had a little bit of a freak out-"

"No, you aren't okay. Please tell me what's wrong."

She sniffed and buried her head further in her sweater sleeves. "You're going to think I'm horribly stupid."

"Please, like you haven't seen me be an idiot."

She smiled. "Those occasions are alarmingly frequent."

"Hey!"

"Sorry. Anyways, the girl behind the counter? Her name's Ava Emmett. We were best friends until I dated her brother."

"That pulls a friendship apart?"

"It does if you carelessly crush his heart into a thousand pieces."

"Was this during Lily Evans' first crime phase?"

"Yes. Now, I would completely understand that and support her being bitchy to me, because I would, too, but when my mom died, she came to my house, told me it was my fault and that I deserved it. And you know, maybe it is my fault. And maybe I do deserve it."

James scowled and stood up. "I shall challenge her to a duel."

"James, no."

"I am the strongest fighter in this town, I can and I will best anyone for your honor."

She smiled at the reminder of the story they had created in Restormel. "No, James, it's really not a problem. We've discussed this, it's just some things make me doubt myself, and seeing Ava is one of them. I had a freak out, I'm done. It's okay."

James looked up at the sky and smiled slightly. "Forget Beauty and the Beast, we're Beauty and the Breakdown." He puffed his chest out. "I, of course, am the beauty."

Lily laughed a little, sniffing and wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. "I thought the lady was supposed to be the most beautiful woman in all the land."

"Well, no one ever said the knight was unattractive." James stood up, offering both his hands to Lily. "Now, come on, I can't wait to show Petunia the napkins I picked out for her wedding."

Lily started to smile. "James Potter-"

"Look, after you left, I had to save your ass! I picked the first ones I saw, which just happened to be-" he picked a package out of the large bag he held at his side- "Happy 7th Birthday napkins. Maybe it's the seventh birthday of their love?" he asked hopefully.

Lily laughed and grabbed his hands, hauling herself up. "Come on, dork. Let's go home."