A/N – Because I owe it to you :-)


Saturday afternoon Lily and James say goodbye to her parents before apparating to the front gate of Potter Manor.

"What did you and my dad talk about last night?" She asks him as the walk up to the house.

"Just man stuff, you know." James says with a shrug.

Lily raises her eyebrows at him. "Like what?"

"Dunno. Quidditch, football, cars, broomsticks, the usual." Lily looks at him skeptically. "He asked what I'm planning on doing when we leave school. I didn't really know how to answer so I told him I'm going to be an Auror."

Lily thinks about this for a second. "Well, I guess you're going to be sort of like an Auror, just not the title."

"What's a detective?"

"Why?"

"Your dad asked if Aurors are like detectives and I told them they are."

Lily laughs a little. "They sort of are, but detectives aren't nearly as elite as Aurors. Detectives are just like police men, only they don't wear uniforms."

"I guess that's as good of a comparison as we're going to get." He says with a shrug. "But, he thinks that you're still going to train to be a Healer, and I didn't correct him." James tells her.

Lily feels bad that he had to lie to her father for her, but she's glad he had. "I think that it's best that I don't tell them until after the war. I don't want them to worry. They don't really understand what it's like."

They reach the front porch now and James leans down to give her a kiss. "I love you, Lily." He says before opening the door.

Mrs. Potter greets them in the entrance hall pulling them both into hugs. "Oh it is so lovely to see you. Come on, we are all in the kitchen decorating eggs." She says and leads them back to the kitchen with her arm around Lily.

Lily laughs as she sees Sirius tangled up in ribbon as he tries to decorate an egg and Mr. Potter looking bored as he plays with the a paintbrush. Mrs. Potter sits down on a stool and pats the one next to her indicating that Lily should sit. She does and out of the corner of her eye she sees James motion to his father. Both men leave the kitchen without a word. Wonder where they're going? Lily thinks worriedly.

"What was that about?" Sirius asks and then topples to the floor, trapped in ribbon. Mrs. Potter, Lily and Tilly all burst into laughter at this.

James and his father have been gone nearly forty-five minutes when Sirius gets up throwing down his paint brush angrily.

"Why am I sitting around with the girls? I'm going to find dad and Prongs, do some manly stuff." He says and stalks out of the kitchen leaving Mrs. Potter chuckling.

"I wondered how long I was going to be able to keep him here. He lasted an hour longer than I expected." Lily laughs as well. She isn't so worried about what James and his father are doing now. She is sure that they just wanted to get out of the decorating.

The men don't return to the kitchen until dinner time. "What, did you three think that you could just leave us to do all the work and then return just in time to eat?" Mrs. Potter says jokingly.

"Of course not dear, we just had some things to take care of." He says and Lily smirks. Like not decorating eggs.

"Well, we'd love it if you would clear up while we start dinner." Lily says innocently, looking at James.

He smiles and walks over to start collecting scraps of ribbon. He gives her a swift kiss on the cheek as he passes her and she smiles. He's in a good mood.

-J-3-L-

Easter is an enjoyable affair. James, Sirius and Mr. Potter get up early to make Mrs. Potter and Lily breakfast, forgetting that none of them can cook. But the gesture is nice. Mrs. Potter unveiled her eggs around lunch time and they all spent the rest of the day in each other's company.

Lily feels herself starting to get excited because the following day is James' birthday. She and Mrs. Potter had planned a nice birthday dinner for him and invited their friends.

-J-3-L-

Lily wakes James by whispering in his ear. "Happy Birthday." She says and he smiles as he turns to face her.

"Thank you, love. What time is it?" He asks groggily.

"Nearly eight. I just wanted to wish you happy birthday before I went back to my room." She explains.

"You can always just stay here." He says wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer to him. "Say you got lost and thought that my bed was yours."

"As well thought out as that plan is, you have to be up here soon anyway. Sirius said he wants to leave around nine."

James groans into his pillow. "Why so early?"

"So you can be back by noon." She reminds him.

He and Sirius were going out for a ride on Sirius' motorbike. Lily is glad they had decided to do this. She still has to run into the Muggle village and pick up one last thing for James' present.

After breakfast Lily gets ready to head out. "I'm running down to the village to pick up some last-minute things. Do you need anything while I'm there?" She asks Mrs. Potter.

"No thank you, Lily dear."

"Alright, I'll be back before lunch." She calls before disapperating to the woods at the skirt of the Muggle town.

As she makes the short walk into town she looks behind her and smiles. You can barely see Potter Manor for the main street of the village. James had told her during her first time staying there that the house is bewitched to look like a broken down farm-house to the Muggles.

It doesn't take long for Lily to find the shop that she needs and she is in and out as quickly as possible. She is pleased with her purchase and is fairly sure that James will be too. She walks back into the woods and disapperates to her room in Potter Manor. She quickly hides the bag so that James won't see it and makes her way back down to the kitchen to help prepare for the party.

Lily is helping Tilly set the table when James and Sirius walk in through the patio door with Remus and Peter in tow.

"Hi, love." James says coming over and wrapping his arm around her.

"Hi. You better get ready. We want you to open presents before Mary and Beth arrive."

"Yes, love." He says and gives her a quick kiss before he and Sirius head upstairs to get showered and changed.

"Can we help with anything?" Remus asks.

"Yes actually." Mrs. Potter says coming in from the kitchen.

"You can get James' presents out of the locking cupboard on the fourth floor and bring them down to the living room." The boys nod and head off to get the gifts.

"Oh this looks absolutely marvelous, Lily." She says, aweing over the table.

"Thank you." Lily says proudly.

When the boys all reappear they make their way to the living room to watch James open his gifts. Lily sits next to him on the love seat handing him gift after gift. She hopes that he doesn't notice the obvious lack of a present from her. She will give him her gift later that night, when they are alone.

Mary and Beth arrive then and everyone gets up to heads into the dining room. James holds Lily back and she turns to look at him confused.

"Thank you for this. I know my mum was trying to throw a big party and you convinced her to do a small get together with friends."

"I thought you would like this better." He nods and leans down to give her a very sweet kiss. "Come on, they'll be waiting for the guest of honor." She says and pulls him off to the dining room.

The conversation is pleasant as they eat the wonderful meal prepared by Mrs. Potter and they all sing happily as Tilly brings out her beautifully decorate cake. After dinner Mr. and Mrs. Potter wish their son Happy Birthday and head off to bed and the others move the party into the living room.

It's nearly eleven when Mary announces she has to get home and Beth says she should do the same. They both give James a hug wishing him Happy Birthday before Lily walks them out. Once she sees them out the front door she heads up to her bedroom. Lily shuts and locks her door behind her and retrieves the bag she had hidden earlier.

She pulls out the skimpy lingerie and admires it for a second. Feeling braver than she has in a long time, she puts it on. She steps back to admire her reflection in the mirror before she hears James and the others in the hall heading for The Marauder Room. She quickly pulls on her bath robe and ties it tightly shut before making her way out to the hall.

James and Peter are lingering out there and she watches as he claps his friend on the back. "Alright see you later Wormy, thanks for coming." He says. Peter waves at Lily and then heads back down the stairs.

"He isn't staying?" Lily asks.

"Nah, his mum wants him home, you know how she is." James says wrapping his arm around Lily's waist and giving her a kiss on the cheek. She nods as he leads her into The Marauder Room where Sirius and Remus seem to be in an argument.

"Come on, Moony! You have to! You know it'll be brilliant." Sirius says pleadingly.

"What'll be brilliant?" Lily asks sitting next to James on the couch careful to make sure her robe stays closed.

"Padfoot's trying to convince me to go to this Muggle club he heard about." Remus explains and Lily laughs.

"You two aren't hanging around either?"

"Nah, we have ladies to impress and only so much time to do it in. Prongs would be coming with us too, if you didn't have such a hold on him." Sirius says with a laugh and James chucks a pillow at him.

"You can go too, if you want." Lily says a touch of sadness in her voice as she turns to face him. She hadn't even thought about the fact that he might have plans with his mates tonight.

"I don't need to go to some sleazy club. I have all I want right here." He says and kisses her forehead. Sirius gags and Remus laughs. Lily smiles at James while sending a jinx over her shoulder at Sirius. He deflects it easily.

"Really though Prongs, we have to get going. All the attractive birds will be taken by now." Sirius says and Remus gets up and joins him by the door.

"Go have your fun. I'll see you tomorrow." He calls to his friends as the leave the room. "Keep an eye on him, Moony!" James calls and they hear the boy's chuckles.

Silence falls for a moment after their departure and Lily snuggles in closer to James. "Are you sure you don't want to go with them?" She asks him again.

"The only place I want to be right now is with you." He tells her. Lily is glad he feels this way because the lingerie she had chosen for him is not the most comfortable piece of clothing she has ever worn and she would have hated to have worn it for nothing.

It is absolutely ridiculous that she should feel nervous. They've made love loads of times, why tonight is any different is beyond her, but she can feel the butterflies in her stomach. Maybe it's because they hadn't really gotten intimate since before the holiday started. They had gotten close at her parents' house but she could sense that James felt, as she did, that it wouldn't be right to take if further there. It seemed wrong to do something so adult in a place that made her feel so much like a child. But she's glad for it now, knowing that it would only make tonight more special.

"Ready for bed, Birthday Boy?" She asks.

"Mm, more than you know." He says and she can't understand his tone. Is he really tired? She wonders.

He stands and holds his hand out to her, helping her up. "Your room or mine?" He asks with a hint of amusement.

"Yours." She tells him and wraps her arms around his waist as he leads her there.

She moves to stand next to his bed as he heads to his dresser to change. She gives a little cough to get his attention. When he turns to her she grins nervously. She unties the knot to her bath robe carefully and slowly pulls it off herself. She sees his mouth open in admiration as he takes in the fire-red, lacy material. She gives herself a metaphorical pat on the back. She knew he would love this birthday surprise.

"Lily… you look… Merlin, you are so sexy." He says walking towards her. She smiles wickedly as he reaches her.

"Happy Birthday." She says and he smiles hugely before reaching out and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her to him.

-J-3-L-

"You know, I was thinking last week how there was no way you could top my last year's birthday, but you proved me wrong." He says and she chuckles.

"I knew you would like this surprise." She says looking down to the ground where the red lingerie lay discarded and torn.

"Too bad it didn't last longer." He grins. "I should really learn to control myself better."

"No, I rather enjoyed it being ripped off me." She says and she sees his eyes darken.

"Oh really?"

"Mm, it was rather exciting." She tells him. He flashes his heart melting grin.

"I rather enjoy exciting you." He says, his lips at her ear.

"Don't I know it." She says turning to face him. They lay there for a moment, neither speaking.

"You know what we should do?" James asks and Lily shakes her head.

"Get some hot chocolate."

They both pull on their bath robes and make their way down to the kitchen, hand-in-hand.

James sits on a stool in the kitchen watching Lily prepare the hot chocolate. He can't help admiring her beauty. Her hair is pulled up into a loose and messy bun, her skin radiant with the happiness he knows she feels as well. She hands him his mug and takes the stool next to him. He gives her a soft kiss before sipping his cocoa.

"I think my parents would like to meet your parents." James tells her.

"I know my parents would love that." She says beaming at him.

"We should have them for dinner around the end of the week." He suggests. "It'll give my mum time to prepare and fuss over what to make." He says and she laughs. He loves making her laugh.

"That'd be lovely. I'll write to my mum tomorrow." She tells him. James nods his approval and continues to sip his hot cocoa.

James doesn't reveal his true motives for wanting their parents to meet. He isn't quite ready to tell her about the conversation he had with her father yet. Though, after the conversation he had with his father, he knows he's more than ready to ask her the question that has been looming over him for the last few weeks. He has her father's permission and his father's blessing. The ring is up in his wardrobe hidden from view. He could ask her now. All he'd need to do is summon the ring.

Yet, he knows it's not the time. He needs the moment to be perfect, for both of them. He knows that she loves him just as much as he loves her. Knows that she plans on joining him in the Order after school, but they've discussed so little else when it comes to their future together. He has been making plans for over a month, but he doesn't know what she's thinking.

"What's the matter?" She asks him looking directly into his eyes, green on hazel.

"Nothing love, just hoping our folks get on well is all." He says, only revealing a small part of his worries.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they will." She assures him, leaning in to rest her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sure you're right." He says. "What would you like to do now?" He asks her, not feeling the least bit tired and trying to distract himself from his own thoughts.

"I can think of something." She says standing up and smiling as she leans into him.

"What is that?" He asks wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into him.

She just kisses his neck slowly, making her way up to his ear. She doesn't have to respond, he knows her intent. He lifts her up over his shoulder and she giggles as he carries her quickly up to his bedroom.

They collapse a little while later on his bed, catching their breath. He doesn't think he'll ever get enough of her.

"James?" She asks turning on her side to face him.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I know, love."

A few moments later he sits up, reaching for a glass of water on the bed side table and he hears her chuckle. He turns to look at her again. "What?" He asks.

She smiles. "I always feel bad about the marks my nails leave on your back." She says and he too chuckles. He had never even noticed them until she pointed them out to him on one memorable evening in the Prefect's Bathroom.

"I'll have more scratches than Moony soon." He says and she laughs.

"It's your own fault really." She accuses and he smiles lying back down. She snuggling into his side and they fall silent.

He kisses her forehead. "I don't think it's possible to be happier than I am right now." He says and she doesn't respond, just gives his chest a soft kiss before laying her head to rest on it.

Soon he hears her breathing even out, and he knows she's fallen asleep. He falls easily into unconsciousness with Lily in his arms as it should be.

-L-3-J-

James is awoken the next morning by Lily's gasp and the covers being pulled up over his head.

"What the –" He says looking down at Lily, confused.

Then he hears laughter from near the end of his bed. He would know those laughs anywhere. Padfoot and Moony. James groans angrily and pulls the covers down, keeping Lily hidden, to see his best mates.

"Don't think this is really your color mate." Sirius says smirking as he holds up Lily's fiery red teddy from the night before.

James shoots a nonverbal spell at his friend and he drops the lingerie as though burned by it. "Ouch! I was just taking the piss Prongs, calm down!" Sirius says rubbing his hand as Remus doubles over in laughter.

"What the fuck are you two doing in here?" He asks. He's furious that they barged in here unannounced when they knew that Lily would be with him. "What did you see?" He demands angrily, knowing full well that Lily is just as naked as he is.

"Nothing, I swear." Remus says looking at James earnestly. They both stop laughing now. They know better than to taunt James when it comes to Lily.

"Keep your stockings on mate. We only came in here cause mum was saying that she was going to come wake you herself. Lucky we did too, or else she would have seen you two in your cozy little position." Sirius says and before he can even smile he's hoisted up into the air by his ankle.

It takes James a minute to realize that Lily must have done it. He moves his hand down to pat her thigh. "That's my girl."

"Oy, let me down. We saved you two from big trouble." Sirius shouts.

"I suppose that's true." Lily says, her voice sounding muffled from under the covers, and she lets him fall in a heap back to the floor.

"Thank you for the warning, now get out." James commands and they leave, Remus still laughing and Sirius rubbing his elbow.

Once the door is shut behind them James pulls the covers down further to see Lily. "Hi." She says and he smiles.

"Hi. Sorry, they can be real gits at times." James says and she smiles.

"It's alright, they did sort of save us. What time is it anyway?" James looks at his watch.

"Nearly eleven. No wonder my mum sent them up."

Lily sighs and gets up out of bed, putting on her bath robe and heading for his wardrobe. James panics. "Hold on a moment." He says and jumps up out of bed, tripping over the covers in his haste to stop her.

She laughs as he stumbles into her path and she looks up at him confused. "What?" She asks with an amused smile on her face.

James' mind races as he tries to think of a good explanation to keep her from searching through the wardrobe. Normally she would have her night-dress to pull back on and wouldn't need to use his clothes. "I, uh, like you with just the robe on." He says hurriedly, trying to sound seductive.

She eyes him suspiciously. "I'm not sure your mum would feel the same way." She tells him and he's relieved that she didn't ask why he's acting so strange.

"Oh, alright." He says in fake disappointment that in other circumstances wouldn't be fake at all.

He opens up a drawer he knows doesn't contain the ring and hands her some clothes to put on under her robe. Luck is on his side again and she doesn't question this. They both get dressed and head down to the kitchens together.

"I was wondering where you two had gotten to." His mother says.

"Sorry, let the morning get away with me. When these two came to wake James up, they made such a racket that they got me up as well." She says and his mum smiles at her.

"Ah, to be young again." She says wistfully and then returns to her cookies. James sits down on the stool next to Remus, taking the biscuit that he's about to bite into.

"Oy, get your own!"

"Boys! No fighting or I will need to put you in separate corners." His mum threatens and Lily giggles.

"You don't know how many times I've wished I could do that." She says. James sends her a glare.

"Oh I don't know, Lily." Sirius says, sitting on the counter top. "I think you get hot enough at us without putting us in separate corners." He says and James looks at him questioningly. It is such an odd statement. He looks over at Lily but she looks confused as well. "Wouldn't you say Moony?" Sirius asks and Remus nods.

"Red hot." Remus says barely containing his grin and James understands. Lily blushes furiously.

"Fiery red." Sirius agrees.

James' mum, who doesn't understand the references, turns to Sirius. "I don't blame her and get your foolish behind off my countertop, sit in a chair like a normal person." She says wafting at him with her spatula. He hops down and pulls up a stool.

Luckily, Lily's face has returned to its normal shade as addresses Sirius. "Well, if I didn't catch you in so many broom cupboards Sirius, I wouldn't get so angry." She says smirking at Sirius, knowing this would get him into further trouble with his surrogate mother.

Sirius shakes his head at her, mouthing wordlessly. James chuckles along with Remus. Lily always has the best comebacks. It is a lot more attractive of a quality when her jabs aren't aimed at him.

"You what?" James' mum says turning around to face Sirius. "Sirius Alphard, don't tell me you take girls into broom closets like some sleazy squid!" Sirius can only splutter as he tries to respond.

She whacks him with the spatula. "You treat women with respect! Be a gentleman, don't cram them into cupboards!" She shrieks and James and Remus can't contain their laughter any longer. James almost falls from his stool and has to hold onto his friend's shoulder for support.

"Lily dear, please tell me that at least one of my sons is a gentleman." She asks turning to Lily. James stops laughing at once.

"Yes, he's very gentlemanly. Never once has he crammed me into a broom closet." Lily says smiling at him.

James gives his mother a smug smile. It's true. He hasn't ever taken Lily into a broom closet. He has however taken advantage of empty classrooms, deserted corridors, secluded corners of the grounds, the Astronomy Tower, the Prefect's Bathroom, the common room, the Room of Requirement, his own dorm… the list continues on and on and on. Sirius opens his mouth to say something but seems to think better of it. He knows, as wells the rest of them, that Lily has far more secrets on him than he has on her.

"Sorry mum." Sirius says bowing his head. "But, honestly. Those witches pull me in there, not me them. They're maniacs."

"I'm sure you just loathe that too." She replies dryly, returning to her tray of cookies.

Sirius smirks, sure he is out of the woods now. "Well, how gentlemanly of me would it be if I reject them and break their hearts in a broom cupboard?" He reasons. James' mum turns her head to glare at him.

"James, you need to give him some tips. That way I may be able to get another girl around here as sweet as Lily."

"I doubt it, mum. We both got lucky with Lily." James tells her winking at his girlfriend. Lily smiles at him.

"Not to mention, it took him nearly four years to get her." Remus says and James aims a kick at him but misses. "It would take this one forever to find a girl who will keep him." He continues gesturing to Sirius.

Mrs. Potter frowns. "What about Mary, dear?" She asks. "She is such a lovely girl and you two really seemed to hit it off at the New Year's party."

James' father enters the kitchen then. "Oh Martha, leave him be. Not everyone finds their soul mate at fifteen." She huffs and turns to her husband. James smiles at Lily and she gives him a wink.

"Has James ever told you the story of how his parents met?" His mum asks looking at Lily. Lily smiles, James had told her the story, but he knows she'll want to hear it from his mother.

"He did, but I would love to hear it again." She says smiling widely and he grins.

James barely listens as his mother retells the story of how she had been a Ravenclaw prefect and his father a Gryffindor Quidditch player and how she caught him trying to sneak out to fly. They fell in love while taking a broomstick ride around the Hogwarts grounds. James has heard the story so many times, he knows it by heart.

"And we got married a year after we left Hogwarts." She says.

Lily sighs dreamily. James glances over at Sirius to see him mime throwing up in this coffee mug. James' dad reaches around his mum to smack Sirius on the back of the head.

Mrs. Potter and Lily hadn't seemed to notice any of this because Lily continues to gush. "That is such a romantic story."

His mum nods. "The only advice I have, my dear," she tells Lily, "is to not wait too long after marriage to try for children. I wish I hadn't."

James chokes on his cookie and Remus has to thump him on the back. He glances quickly at Lily and sees her looking just as embarrassed as he feels.

James' father chuckles. "Martha, they haven't even left school yet and you've already got them having kids." James knows he's trying to lighten the tension in the room, but it didn't work.

What does work is Remus' comment. "Who knows, Sirius may already have a few kids running around somewhere." Everyone laughs at this even James' mum.

"He better not, or I'll wallop him." She says, turning around to focus on her baking again.

"Thanks Moony." James says in a low whisper to his friend and he nods in response.

James tells his mother then about inviting Lily's parents for dinner and they decide on Friday evening. She seems over joyed as James had expected and she and Lily begin planning out the evening at once. James, Remus and Sirius leave the women to their planning and head up to The Marauder Room.

"Stay here a minute, I have something I want to show you." He says and dashes into his room, grabbing the small box from his wardrobe and taking it back to The Marauder Room. He locks the door behind him and turns to his friends to show them.

"Really I'm flattered Prongs, but I've told you before, I don't swing that way." Sirius says jokingly and Remus punches him on the arm.

"Where did you get it, Prongs?" Remus asks.

"It was my Grandma Potter's." He tells them. "Dad gave it to me, day before Easter, when I told him that I'm planning on asking Lily to marry me."

"Big step, mate. Sure you're up for it?" Sirius asks, uncharacteristically serious.

"I know." He assures his best mate. "But, I can't imagine my life without her anymore. All I want to do is spend the rest of it with her, every day."

Remus nods. "Well, I think it's brilliant. You two are perfect for each other."

James smiles at him. "Thanks Moony."

They both look over at Sirius, waiting for his outburst. It isn't like him to go so long without making his opinion known. "Nothing to add Padfoot?" James asks.

"I better be best man or heads are going to roll." He finally says, sitting back in his chair with a smile.

James grins at him. "So you think it's a good idea?"

"I think it's the smartest decision you've ever made, and that includes becoming my friend." James smiles at the man that he loves like a brother. He's grateful that Sirius thinks this is a good decision.

"Now all I have to do is figure out a way to ask her." He says and the three of them are off scheming.

Lily turns up hours later in fresh clothing and looking happy. James quickly makes sure the ring is securely hidden in his pocket.

"I've been sent me up here to see if you're staying for dinner." She asks Remus.

"I can't, I need to get going. I should've been home hours ago." He admits.

"See you later, Moony." They call and wave before he disapperates.

"And then there were three." Sirius says.

"Actually, I need to go get cleaned up. I need a shave as well." James says

Lily smiles. "That you do."

James leans down and rubs his stubble on her neck making her giggle as she half-heartedly fights him off. "I trust I can leave you two alone without having to make a trip to St. Mungo's." James says, worrying that they might get into it after the events of this morning.

"Don't worry mate, I won't hurt your girl." Sirius says leaning back in his chair.

James leans down and gives Lily a kiss before turning to his friend. "It isn't her I'm worried about, mate." He says before leaving the room.

James enters his room and quickly hides the ring in his Hogwarts things, tucking it safely in a pair of socks before heading off to get a shower. After dinner Lily and his mum go off to her planning room to finalize the details for Friday's dinner and James and Sirius head back up to The Marauder Room.

"So, what did you and Lily talk about?" James asks.

"Moony actually." Sirius admits.

"Why?"

"Dunno exactly. She mainly wanted to know why he and I don't keep a girlfriend. I told her that we aren't like you and don't want to spend forever fawning over the same bird." James chuckles. That may be true for Sirius, but they both know that it isn't for Remus.

"Poor Moony, wish we could convince him to at least try and make it work with someone." James says pensively.

"Yeah, but don't you think it'll crush him when he tells the girl and she runs off screaming?"

James nods. "Well, that's what he's always been scared of. But what he has to realize is that if she is the right girl, she won't go running. She'll accept him for who he is, like Lily did when I told her about me being an Animagus." James says and Sirius chuckles.

"I know but not everyone finds someone as perfect for them as you and Evans."

"Fair point." James concedes. "Want to play a bit of Quidditch tomorrow?" He asks, changing the subject.

"Can't mate. I have to go to the Ministry for the reading of Uncle Al's will. Apparently Dromeda and I were the only beneficiaries. We were supposed to go on Friday while Lily's parents are here, but mum told me that it is a family dinner and that if I'm not here she'll never forgive me." James chuckles at his mother's theatrics.

"He told me a while ago that I could have his flat in London when I graduate. I used to think that we would live there together after school." Sirius says. "It's a big enough place, but with your plans with Lily…" He trails off.

James smiles at his friend. He'd always planned on getting a flat with Sirius as well. It would have been a blast, Moony and Wormtail hanging out most nights. But when he thinks of living with Lily, maybe in a nice quiet village somewhere, it makes him simultaneously nervous and excited. No doubt in his mind he would rather live with Lily.

"Sorry mate, but we would probably blow up the house if we lived together on our own." James says and Sirius laughs.

"Yeah, you're probably right." He admits.

"What do you think Peter'll do for money?" Sirius asks him.

James never really worries about money. He's always had enough gold in his pocket to keep him happy and his parents set a side quite a large amount for him for when he leaves school. It's not something he ever thinks about.

"Dunno, think Dumbledore will ask him to join the Order?"

"I hope so, I mean, I know he doesn't have quite the same amount of skill as the rest of us do, but Dumbledore has to see that another person on our side is only to our advantage."

James nods. "I just hope he doesn't ask Moony to go and try to liaise with the werewolves. Poor bloke… that would be terrible."

Sirius frowns. "I'm sure he will. Not hard to spot that we need a spy there and who else would be better for the job than Moony?"

"True, just think how that will affect him though." James says gloomily.

"Oh what a cheery conversation." Lily says entering the room and giving James a quick kiss on the cheek before pushing Sirius' legs off the couch where she wants to sit.

All the serious talk evaporates as the three of them laugh and begin a game of exploding snap. Eventually they all head off to bed, Sirius to his room upstairs and Lily and James to her room this time. Lily falls asleep quickly but James lays awake, thoughts of proposals and the Order running though his mind.

James decides that he has to wait until he actually asks Lily to be his wife before he worries about anything else.

-L-3-J-

The next few days pass quickly and without much excitement. Friday morning dawns bright and James blinks as the sun pours onto his face. He looks down to see the beautiful face of the woman he loves on his chest squinting as if the sun is moments from waking her as it had him.

He silently picks his wand up and charms the drapes across the window. She stirs slightly at his movement and he smiles as she snuggles in closer to his chest. He holds her tighter, unwilling to let her move from her arms. He checks his watch and sees that it is a quarter after nine. He groans lightly and begins to rub small circles into her back.

"We have to get up, love. My mum will be looking for us soon." He tells her.

She grumbles into his chest and pulls herself closer to him. "Just ten more minutes." She says stubbornly and he chuckles softly.

"No can do, I'm afraid."

She groans and rolls over onto her back. "I was having such a good dream." She tells him and this intrigues him. He has always wondered what she dreams about.

"What kind of dream was it?" He asks.

"Well, it was in the Autumn and we were out on this patio. You were teaching –" She breaks off and James looks at her curiously.

Why did she stop? "I was teaching what?" He asks.

"Uh, you were teaching me how to make lemonade the magical way." She says and he has a funny feeling that she isn't being entirely honest with him.

"But you already know how to make lemonade the magical way." He reminds her.

"I know, but it was a dream. They're often funny." She says. He can't argue with that. He's had far stranger dreams than hers.

"Dreams don't always make sense, but I think they sometimes have a hidden meaning. Like maybe one day we'll sit on a patio and you'll teach me how to make lemonade the Muggle way or something."

She laughs at this and her face brightens. "I think that could be possible."

He looks over at her and smiles. "I love you, and if you want to teach me all the different ways to make every kind of juice, I'm in."

She chuckles. "Sounds like a plan to me." She says and then sighs. "We best get up. You're right, your mum will be looking for us soon."

They get up, dress, and head down to breakfast together, holding hands. They enter the kitchen to see it empty except for Sirius.

"Where is everyone?" James asks.

"Mum and Tilly went into the Muggle town to pick up a few things for tonight and dad went along with them to check out the beer selection." Sirius says over his Daily Prophet. James nods and Lily sits down looking huffy as he gets her a plate and cup.

"What's with you? Prongs wouldn't put out last night?" Sirius asks her crudely. James aims a plate at his head and he ducks to miss it but catches Lily's punch. "I was only joking." He says rubbing his shoulder.

"She's mad because if we'd have known they weren't here, she could have slept in." James explains.

"Oh." Sirius says, nodding as if he understands. "And sleeping in is code for –" He breaks off as Lily aims another punch at him but he dodges in time. "Alright, I get it! It's private, blah, blah, blah. Prongs has told me more times than I need to hear." Lily smiles at him and James smiles back.

"Orange or Pumpkin?" He asks her.

"Pumpkin." She says and they all chat merrily as they eat their breakfast.

James' parents arrive home a few minutes later and show them all the stuff they had gotten in town. Lily declares it all perfect and James sees the same beer bottles that he and Lily's father had drunk only a week before. He nudges Sirius and points to it.

"That stuff is excellent."

"When have you tried it?" Lily asks him and he smirks.

"Your dad keeps a stash of it out in the barn. We had a few while we worked on his mower last week." He tells her and she looks shocked at the apparent kinship between James and her father.

At ten 'til four James and Lily apparate down to the woods on the outskirts of the Muggle village and make their way to the small park, where they are to meet Lily's parents and walk them back up to Potter Manor.

"Why don't we just drive?" Mr. Evans asks as they walk. "It would be faster."

Lily smiles at her father. "The Potter's don't have a driveway, dad." She reminds him.

"Oh, that's right." He says, remembering.

"How far away is it?" Mrs. Evans asks when they are about five meters from the gate.

"It's right here, mum." Lily says, pointing to the house that James knows will look like a dilapidated farm-house to her parents.

"This is their house?" She asks Lily in an undertone.

"Once we get through the gate you'll see mum, it's very nice." She says and Mr. Potter looks skeptical.

"Is it safe?" He asks.

James smiles at him with his hand on the gate. "Yes, Sir, it's very safe. Right now the house thinks that you are just regular Muggles, so it disguises itself. Once you walk through the gate it'll know you've been invited in and it'll reveal itself to you." James knows that explanation sounds silly, but it's the only way he can think to make them understand. Lily smiles at him encouragingly and James opens the gate and they walk through.

He hears Mrs. Evans gasp. "Oh my." She says looking up at the house.

"I know, isn't it magnificent?" Lily says smiling at her mother and James blushes slightly.

James' mum is waiting in the entrance hall to greet them. "Welcome, welcome!" She says smiling and giving both of Lily's parent's hugs. James sees Tilly come up behind her and bow to the new comers.

"Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Evans, may Tilly take your jackets for you?" She asks and Mrs. Evans steps back in surprise.

Lily takes her mum's arm. "Mum, dad this is Tilly, the Potter's house elf." She says as if trying to explain something with her eyes.

Her parents just nod and hand Tilly their coats before following James' mum down the hall to the grand living room. James and Lily follow behind them with their hands intertwined. Sirius and James' father stand waiting for them when they enter.

"I believe you've already met Sirius." Mrs. Potter says as Sirius shakes their hands. "And this is my husband Charles." She says and James' father shakes Mr. Evans hand and then bows taking Mrs. Evans hand in his and giving it a swift kiss, just as he'd done to Lily the first time they'd met.

"We are so glad you could join us today." James' mum says excitedly.

"Thank you for inviting us." Mrs. Evans replies. "I must say your home is breathtaking, Mrs. Potter." She says looking around in awe.

"Oh come now, call me Martha." She says and the wraps her arm around Mrs. Evans'. "Would you like a tour?"

"That would be wonderful."

"Splendid, Lily would you like to join us?"

"Sure." Lily agrees and follow the women back out into the hall.

James smiles at her father. "Care for a drink Mr. Evans." James asks.

"Please James, call me Finn, and that would be lovely." He says and James smiles.

"Martha and I picked these up this morning. James says they're your favorite." James' dad says, handing Finn a bottle.

"Ah, he is quite right. Thank you, Charles is it?" He asks and James' father laughs.

"Yes, sorry my wife can get over excited in times like these." Sirius and James laugh as they sit down.

"Yeah, it took Sirius here awhile to get used to the madness." James says and Sirius smiles.

"Ah, but I was already so used to you mate, so it wasn't that difficult." Sirius says and then turns to Finn to explain. "I moved in here with the Potter's about two years ago. I've known James, and Lily for that matter, since the first day at Hogwarts."

"Ah that would make you the other trouble making bully." Finn laughs and so does Mr. Potter.

"That sounds like my boys." James laughs at the expression on Sirius face.

"Lily Belle has told me many stories about you as well. Usually your name has been thrown in with James' and a few other boys though." He says. "From what I understand you are quite the pranksters." Sirius smirks and stands up before giving a bow.

"Don't let Lily fool you, Finn." James says with a laugh. "She's known to retaliate and get us back just as good." James explains.

The man smiles. "She never tells me those stories." He says.

"Oh yes, remember that time in third year Sirius?" James asks and Sirius nods.

"Ah, yes that was probably the best."

James turns back to Lily's father. "Sirius and I had snuck out to take a midnight stroll to the kitchens and when we got back Lily was the only one left in the common room. She said she had just finished up on some essay that wouldn't be due for weeks." James chuckles at the memory.

"Well, Sirius and I had a plate of éclairs with us that we had enchanted to dye people's hair funny colors." James explains. "We wanted to give them to some of the nastier Slytherins but the opportunity was too great to miss out on. So, we gave her an éclair and told her to lighten up a bit and then went off to bed."

"The next morning at breakfast Lily walked in with bright purple hair and she was so angry. Well, we of course burst out laughing, giving ourselves away." Sirius explains.

"She was furious, but boy did she get us back." James says.

"Two days later we were walking down to breakfast when she stopped us asking for a quill."

"We didn't know what to think because it is so unlike Lily to be unprepared, but I gave her mine. She wrote something down on her parchment but then asked to use Sirius' quill, because mine wasn't working right. Naive as we were, Sirius gave her it without question. She wrote something else down on the parchment and then smiled and walked with us to breakfast."

"When we sat down I looked over at James and burst out laughing because written across his face were the words, Big-headed Bully." Sirius explains.

"And I laughed because on Sirius' face was written, Lazy Pretty Boy." James says and Finn laughs loudly at his daughters trick.

"And tell him how long it took you to get it off." Lily says from the doorway to the living room with both of their mothers behind her.

"Nearly all day. In the end we had to have our friend Remus steal the parchment back from her so we could burn it." Sirius explains.

"It would have only lasted twenty-four hours, if you would have just been patient. Unlike my hair, which would have stayed purple for a week at least." Lily say sitting down next to James on the love seat.

"We would have turned it back if McGonagall hadn't beaten us to it." James promises her.

They're all laughing then, and Tilly enters with a bow. "Dinner is served in the dining room, masters." She says.

"Thank you, Tilly." James' dad calls and takes his wife's arm and leads her to the dining room. Lily's parents follow and then Sirius. James takes Lily's arm and they follow with smiles. He holds out her chair for her before taking his own watching his father do this for his mother and Sirius for Lily's mother.

When they are all seated Tilly snaps her fingers and the dishes in front of them fill with food. Dinner goes very smoothly with pleasant conversations. Everyone seems to be getting along greatly and when they are finished James' mum invites the 'adults' up to the lounge for some of Rosemerta's finest brandy. James is annoyed slightly at not being considered an adult but he holds his arm out to Lily and leads her up to The Marauder Room, Sirius following them.

"Your folks are really cool, Lily." Sirius tells her as they sit around the fireplace.

"Thank you, Padfoot." She says.

"You know, it's a little strange that we don't have a nickname for you." He tells her.

"I have a nickname for her." James says suggestively, burying his face in her neck and Lily pushes him playfully.

"Seriously, Lily, would you like a Marauder nickname?" He asks her.

Lily looks pensive for a moment. "No." She finally says and James looks at her wonderingly.

"I'm not a Marauder. I'm just in love with one." She explains and James smiles giving her a peck on the cheek.

"Good point, that." Sirius says. "So you'll just be Lily then."

"Well, to you she will." James says and laughs at her scandalized expression.

After a few more hours of talking there's a knock at the door. Lily jumps up from where she's seated rather indecently on James lap, to move to her own arm-chair.

"We're going to walk Rose and Finn back to their car, you three behave yourselves." His mother says and Lily and James get up to say goodbye to her parents.

"Well I'm turning in." Sirius says. "I'll see you two love birds in the morning." He says stretching as he leaves the room.

James takes Lily's hand and leads her over to the couch and pulls her onto his lap again. He gives her a deep kiss and smiles. "I think that went rather well."

"I agree." She says and leans in for another kiss.

"They got on brilliantly. I wager my mum will be calling for weekly dinners" James tells her.

"I think my mum would agree to that. You should've seen her during the tour. She loves this house."

James smiles. "Well I'm glad they got on so well. It'll make everything a lot easier." He says and then freezes, realizing what he had said. He hopes that Lily hadn't heard him. It's a vain hope however.

"Make what a lot easier?" She asks looking confused. James tries to think up a good excuse.

"Uh, everything. Don't you think that it's nice when everyone gets along?" He asks knowing that she'll see right through this.

"I suppose." She says warily and James leans in to kiss her again, to cover this awkward moment.

She puts her hand up to stop him. "What's going on, James?"

"What do you mean? Can't a bloke kiss his girlfriend without all the suspicion?" He's grasping at air now.

"Not when he's clearly hiding something from her." She says.

"I'm not hiding anything." Except an engagement ring in my socks. "I'm just really glad they got on well. I was afraid that Sirius would scare them away or something and then that would drive an even bigger gap in your family." He says. He hadn't realized how true the words are until he said them, didn't know he was worried about that until it was no longer an issue.

"Oh, ok." Lily says with a slight smile. "But you better tell me now if it's something more than that, or so Merlin help me you'll regret it." She warns him.

He tries to hide his smile. He loves when she threatens him. He knows she's strong and can cause damage if she wants to, but the idea of her doing anything to him is comical. He gives her another kiss. "Fancy going to bed?"

"We should probably stay here for a while, at least until your parents get back. In case they check on us." She tells him.

"Alright, but we should use our time wisely." He says and adjusts her so that she's lying on the couch. He stretches out onto his side next to her.

"A nice snog session would do us some good." She says and they're off.

James doesn't hear his mother's knock at the door, but he does hear his father clear his throat loudly. James, who was on the very edge of the couch with his hand up Lily's shirt, jumps back in surprise and falls off the couch. Lily sits up quickly adjusting her shirt and skirt, her face burning with humiliation. James sits up, bring his knees up to his chest to hide the large bulge in his trousers from his parents.

"Uh, hi." He says, awkwardly.

"Just wanted to let you know that we made it home safely." James' father says, looking as if he's trying hard not to laugh.

"Good night you two. Don't stay up too late." His mum says with a smile before they leave the room.

Once the door is shut James lies back on his back and groans putting his hands over his face. "I can't believe your parents caught us snogging." Lily says and he can hear the embarrassment in her voice.

"Quite a good snog too." James says bitterly thinking of where her hands had been just moments before his parents walked in. James looks up at her and she still looks mortified so he sits up. "Well, nothing kills the mood like parents walking in."

"Certainly not." She says with a chuckle.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." He says holding out his hand to her and leading her out into the hallway.

"I think separate rooms tonight." James says, stopping outside her door. She gives him a pouty look and he smiles. "We have to get used to being back at Hogwarts."

She nods sadly. "Alright, I'll see you at breakfast." She says before giving him a lingering good night kiss and going into her bedroom.

James reluctantly goes to his own room. His bed feels empty somehow without Lily in it, almost cold. He wonders for a moment if he needs more blankets. He toss and turns for a few more minutes then tries to arrange his pillows to take the place where Lily should lay, but it didn't work.

Unsatisfied, he gets up and pulls his bath robe on. He walks to Lily's room and opens her door silently, sticking his head in. He watches as she does the same thing he had just tried to do a moment ago. Then he watches as she tosses the pillow to the ground in frustration. James chuckles and enters the room properly.

"There's the temper that I know and love." He says closing the door behind him. She turns to him smiling widely.

James takes off his bath robe and tosses it onto one of her arm chairs and turns to see her holding open the covers, asking him to join her. He does so willingly. Without a word she snuggles in close to him and James finally feels at ease.

This is how it's supposed to be. He thinks and after a few moments they both fall asleep, finally comfortable.


A/N – And so they all get along. :-)

I hope you liked this Chapter. It's a fairly long one for you. Let me know what you think!