Y is for 'You do?'
Many people, right before marriage, feel a horrible, crippling doubt. They wonder to themselves if they really want to go through with this whole marriage deal. After all, it's supposed to last forever.
Yet Lily felt absolutely none of these qualms as she readied herself, just behind the closed church doors. The war had forced her to put the prospect of life and death into perspective. Even without it though, she knew that she wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with James. If it was one year or one lifetime – or more – Lily knew exactly where she wanted to spend it: by James' side.
He wasn't exactly the knight in shining armor that every woman wanted. He was petty and sometimes cruel, annoying and downright childish at times. He was a handful and a headache, one that kept Lily on her toes. Yet he was also a miracle – an angel sent for her and her alone. He was handsome and charming, funny and downright caring at all times. He was a lover and a friend, one that kept Lily protected no matter what. He was the one that had fought with her all their childhood, and then fought for her all their adult life. He was her best friend, her lover, her confidant, her everything.
And, soon, he would be her husband.
With no doubts in her mind, Lily nodded to her bridesmaids as they opened the doors, allowing the stunning bride to walk through. Red hair cascading down the delicate white silk dress, her green eyes shone brightly, excited. Completing the image were the red flowers she held in her hands, the exact color of her hair.
At the altar, she saw James gape at her, stunned.
The next moments were a blur. The wedding march, the preacher's words, their carefully crafted vows, full of words too beautiful to express their love and too inadequate to even try. Then, the fateful moment. Turning, the preacher intoned in a deep voice:
"Lily Evans, do you take James Potter to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Staring into James' eyes, Lily knew there was nothing she wanted in this entire world more than James. "I do," she said confidently.
From across the altar, James look at her, shocked, "You do?"
Yes, it was the middle of their wedding, a solemn, serious ceremony that would mark the beginning of their lives together, but Lily couldn't help but glare at him, "No you prat I came all of this way, got dressed for what felt like hours, only to say no."
Such was the nature of their love and, reminded of it, James' smile stretched a mile wide.
"I do too," he said, ignoring the preacher. Then, without a care in the world for tradition or the crowd watching them, he scooped her into his arms, held her close to him, and kissed her. It was just as much of a kiss as it was a promise:
Forever.
Word Count: 499