A/N: Oh, goodness! Only 3 more! I'm sorry if I've let you down by not writing more, but all stories must come to end. :( I wrote James and Lily's wedding a bit differently, I suppose. I'm sorry if you wanted to hear the vows . . . but I didn't include them. :/
Anyway, I hope you like it either way. :) Happy reading, you guys are super-mega-foxy-awesome-hot!
Rewind
September 4, 1980
"Pickin' up the pieces of the mess you went and left, and I'm dealin' with dillema's in my not-so-stressful life. . . .and I'm drinkin' stronger spirits and made my home here on the floor, and I'm losin' all ambition and goes. . . .And I'm goin' all out, and I'm thinkin' you're just as bad. . . . No, I'm not sleepin' at night, but I'm going from bar to bar - why can't we just rewind?"
- Paolo Nutini
Lily was dead. Lily was dead and there was nothing James could do about it. The curse had hit her square in the chest during the fight, there was no point denying it. Everyone assured him there was still hope, but James figured he should just accept it now instead of having to cope later. So there he was, sitting in a shady pub, his head in his hand, as he fingered his drink. This was his way of coping 'now'. 'Later' would've been much worse, so he reckoned he should be grateful for his decision for dealing with it right then. . . .
He still remembered everything, and he knew he'd never forget, no matter what happened. Every one of Lily's habits, her articulate way of speaking, her expression when she'd try to fight a smile at one of his jokes, her determined expression when dueling, the way she wrinkled her nose when she laughed . . . everything.
He closed his eyes and allowed himself to backtrack through the maze of memories, anything to get away from the present. . . .
"James, what is tha - " Lily cut off and her eyes widened.
The simple, glittering diamond ring reflected off the whiteness around them as he knealt down in front of her, his knee soaking in the wet snow. He didn't really know why he chose that moment - it had been a winged sort of thing. He had bought the ring long ago - right about the time she agreed to go out with him - and he put in his pocket on certain days, hoping he'd find the courage to finally propose. Today was one of those days. And for some miraculous, possibly idiotic reason, he decided them outside in the snow, alone together, was the right moment. They'd just been out for a walk, nothing special, so James didn't understand why he'd decided right then. He wanted to slap himself over and over as he looked up at her shocked expression.
"Will you marry me?" he asked quietly, words that he honestly never thought he would say.
This is not how Sirius said it would go, he thought to himself worriedly, Dear God, shes going to say no. She's going to say -
Then, she nodded vigorously, and it took a moment before James understood. Then, he grinned the widest grin he thought he'd ever grinned and, before he could fully stand, she threw herself onto him, and they fell to the ground, laughing. And then he kissed her, his soon-to-be wife. . . .
James cradled his head, pulling his hair. He could only imagine what Lily would say. Probably that he looked like he'd been electricuted - that's what she always said . . .
"You nervous?"
James turned and saw Sirius, his best man, there, leaning against the doorframe and grinning. He wore a traditional black suit, and James gulped, turning back to his own reflection, where he could see Sirius in the background.
"Nope," he forced out with a smile. "I've been ready for this day since I met her, Padfoot. You know that."
"Why do you look so green, then?" he asked, holding back laughter.
James glared at him in the relfection, but had to silently agree with him. He did look a bit green.
"Because I'm just so excited." he breathed, swallowing.
"Merlin's pants, stop acting like you're not scared, you twat," Sirius demanded, rolling his eyes as he walked up beside his friend. He smiled lightly and clamped him on the shoulder. "You should be nervous. She might still walk out."
James glared exasperatedly.
"Right. Not funny," he muttered, then said, "Listen, mate, she's about as nuts for you as you are for her, and you're completely daft if you haven't realized it yet. She's not going anywhere, ever. You will have little Potter's running around in no time, and have a nice little family. Including me, living in your basement." he added, grinning.
James rolled his eyes, but had to admit Sirius' little speech eased him a bit. "It's the roof for you, wanker."
"Works for me," he said and smiled, shrugging. Then he continued, "Anyway, it's time to sell your soul. C'mon."
"I'm not selling my soul, git." James muttered, follwing Sirius out to where the ceremony would be held.
Sirius grinned, swinging the door open. "Knock 'em dead, Jamesy. You look simply radiant."
James gave his best friend an exasperated look. "You're a twat."
"You realize those are the last words you're going to say to me before you're married?"
"Yep. I have no regrets."
"Well, then. You're a twat as well."
When James had taken his place at the alter, his eyes scanned the guests before him. He spotted Emmeline and Dorcas holding hands excitedly in the second row, and Dorcas was gesturing to Sirius to fix his collar. James glanced at him to see him roll his eyes and fix it irritably. He also caught Remus' eye, who winked jokingly, and nodded encouragingly. Then, he witnessed him and Emmeline share a glance and a smile. He looked at Peter, too, who was fidgetting and, when he saw James looking, he stopped and smiled half-heartedly.
James smiled back and looked back at the aisle. Shouldn't Lily be here by now? Did she really leave? James wouldn't be surprised. She hated him for years, after all. He swallowed and attempted to loosen his collar. Sirius kicked him in the leg and James looked back to see Sirius giving him a 'you're-making-yourself-look-like-an-idiot' look, which he knew all too well. Then, he heard the 'aww's' of the guests and looked over to see Lily walked down the aisle. She had no one to walk with her, which saddened James, but Lily didn't seem to mind - her eyes were on him. James, in turn, only had eyes for Lily. He knew he was being stupid to think she'd leave him before. He really was a twat.
Then, as she stepped up on the alter with him, she put her lips to his ear and murmured for old times sake, "You look like you've been electricuted."
"James."
James grinned back and shook his head as she stepped back and they stood, grasping each others hands.
"James. Potter."
James wasn't really listening to the wizard as he ran through the traditional wedding speech. He winked at Lily and mouthed subtly, "I love you."
"James! Prongs!"
She smiled and mouthed back, "I love you, too."
"HEY! Twat!"
James was shaken out of his reverie blearily and he squinted up at the disturbance.
"Ah, I knew he'd respond to his true name. 'Twat'."
"What do you want?" James mumbled, annoyed at being taken out of his memories, where everyone was happy.
"What the fuck are you doing? C'mon, get a hold of yourself. It took us ages to find you."
Sirius. James groaned. It was about Lily. Here it was, they were about to tell him she was gone forever.
"I don't want to hear it. Whatever you have to say, I don't want to know." he muttered, putting his head into the cacoon of his folded arms.
"Alright, Prongs, you've got to get up. It's good news."
Remus. Damn - together they could drag him out of here whether he resisted or not.
But he still stayed rooted to the spot. What good news could they possibly have? Surely not . . . ? Lily couldn't - ?
"Lily's alive and well, you dimwit, no need to live the rest of your life as a bum anymore." Sirius sighed irritably.
James lifted his face and blinked. "Huh?"
"Yes, you can rule out holing up at my place for the rest of your miserable life without your true love." Sirius mocked, pulling James to his feet.
"You're really insensitive, you know that?" James grumbled, allowing Sirius to drag him out of the pub, Remus following behind.
"Yeah, I've been told." Sirius said.
"Sirius, be easy on him. He looks awful."
"Thank you very much, Remus." James said.
"No problem, buddy."
"C'mon, you want to see Lily or not?" Sirius asked impatiently.
"Yes." James answered, suddenly fully aware of everything.
Remus rolled his eyes. "And now he's responding."
"Can you Apparate? Or did you go overboard with the firewhiskey again?" Sirius asked.
"I'm fine." James replied irritably.
"Let's go then. She's already at the house. They let her go and all that while you were bumming around." Sirus said.
James scowled. "I'm out of my bum mode, you don't have to snape me out of it with your rude comments anymore." he sniffed.
Sirius grinned. "Just making sure."
Then, they Apparated into him and Lily's little house in Godric's Hollow, landing in the living room. Lily was sitting on the couch, watching TV, which the three boys had appeared in front of. She yelped and the bowl of chips she'd been munching on flew to the floor. She stared at them, frozen in shock for a moment, before James rushed over to her and scooped her up in his arms.
"Lily." he breathed, closing his eyes.
He heard her laugh lightly. "Hi, James."
He stroked her hair and held her tightly against him, letting himself relish in the fact she was here and alive.
"I'm fine," she laughed, "you worry too much."
He set her down on the couch and sat beside her. He noticed Sirius and Remus still there, smirking at them.
"Can you explain to me why you're still here?" James asked impatiently, "I'd like to be with my wife alone, if you understand."
"James!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"No, no, we want to be here when you hear the news." Remus explained, grinning.
"What? What news?" James frowned, looking to Lily, who was now smiling tentatively.
"Well, while the doctors were running tests on me, they . . . they found something. James . . . I'm pregnant."
James sat there, frozen for a moment.
Then, he jumped up and threw his arms in the air, letting out a long-winded yell. "YEEEES! Elevendork, Sirius, Elevendork!" James yelled, laughing hysterically.
Sirius winked, leaning against the TV hutch. "It's unisex."
