Epilogue: Fearlessly Red

"Don't tell me you tried baking dad a cake?"

A young boy came stumbling through the main door into the kitchen where Lily was pulling a half-burnt cake out of the oven. Harry Potter's pointed nose wrinkled when he smelled the burnt cake and he slid across the kitchen in his socks. Harry's hair was in tight little curls around his green eyes, the messy hair getting in his way as he examined his mother's awful baking. Lily covered her mouth worriedly with one hand, inspecting the damage along with her son.

"How burnt does it look?" Lily asked her son, placing the cake pan on the counter with a sour expression, "think I can save it with two cans of frosting?"

"Mum you roasted it." Harry burst into giggles that had the echo of her laugh, "it's like a rock cake!"

"I'll just scrape off the bad parts." Lily said, looking for a knife, "it's fine."

"Mum you'll only make it worse." Harry told her, sitting on one of the stools and placing his chin in his hands, "just go buy dad a birthday cake."

"Your father makes me a lovely homemade cake every year," Lily shook a kitchen knife at Harry, "I plan on returning the favor, burnt or not."

"It smells awful." Harry wrinkled his nose again as she started to try and scrape the top of the cake off, "honestly, mum, just go buy him a cake."

"That's enough sass from you, Harry James Potter." Lily said, "either go back to your video games or stop critiquing on your mother's baking skills."

Suddenly, the front door opened. Harry perked up like a dog and looked through the doorway that led to the front door of the cabin. Their little kitchen party was interrupted by the arrival of Alice and Frank Longbottom. The Longbottom's son, Neville, was carrying a chocolate fudge cake decorated with colorful frosting that said 'Happy Birthday James' in cursive. All eyes settled on Lily trying to scrape the burn pieces of the cake and then, Frank held out a hand to his wife.

"You owe me ten dollars." he sniggered.

"You two bet on if I was going to ruin the cake?" Lily looked between her retired bodyguards angrily, "some friends you are!"

Alice shot her husband a look before motioning for Neville to put the cake down, "we bought a spare, just in case, but I want it known that I tried to give you some credit, Evans."

"I don't know why you'd ever give her credit when it comes to baking." Harry giggled into his hand and Lily purposefully reached across the counter to playfully smack her son upside his head.

Harry rubbed the back of his head and glared at his mum, "ouch."

"Stop making me feel bad about my cooking." Lily ordered Harry, "Or I'm calling Mrs. Weasley and telling her that Ron and Ginny are uninvited to the concert."

"If dad were here, he'd say the same thing." Harry mumbled.

Neville grinned at Harry, "at least Hermione will be there!"

Harry nodded eagerly, "but I still want Ron and Ginny there, so let's go play video games before mum keeps to her word."

Lily looked down at the burnt pieces of chocolate cake that she'd brutally murdered. Harry was right, James was going to lose it if he heard she'd burned his birthday cake. She kind of hoped it still tasted okay, but she tested a piece and wrinkled her nose. Alice and Frank laughed as she picked the whole burnt cake up and put it in the trash.

Neville and Harry raced off to the media room, likely to play video games. Alice settled by the kitchen table, her round face shining contentedly as Frank teased Lily endlessly about burning a cake for the thirteenth year in a row.

"Shove off Frank," Lily scoffed at her mate as she re-taped a banner to the island, "James is going to give me enough grief about it later."

"Where is the birthday boy?" Alice asked, looking around as if expecting James to pop into existence.

"Sirius and Annie took him to town for lunch so I could try and bake him a cake," Lily explained, "they'll be back soon."

Lily pulled some pizza rolls for the boys out of the freezer, throwing them on a cookie sheet. Minerva came downstairs from her guestroom just as Lily put the rolls into the oven and hit the timer to warn her when it was time to pull them out. Minerva's nose rumpled, likely from the burning cake smell. Luckily for Lily, Minerva had the decency not to say a thing as she hugged Frank and Alice hello.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?" Minerva asked Lily, noticing that Lily was still in leggings and a messy mom-bun.

Lily waved Minerva's worries away, "it's not like they can start without me."

"She's right," Alice joked from the table, "it is her concert."

Lily's father and grandfather were last to come downstairs for the surprise party. They both helped Lily and Minerva decorate the sitting room and kitchen with birthday balloons and decorative favors. Harry and Neville were dragged from their game when Lily got the text from Sirius that they were on their way back to the cabin.

When James walked through the door to find everyone waving little banners, a huge smile broke across his features. Harry broke from the group, running at his dad. James bent down a bit to envelope Harry in his arms before lifting Harry up into a hug. Lily clasped her hands to her chest as Harry wished his father a happy birthday, her heart melting with adoration for both of them. James ruffled Harry's hair in the same way he'd ruffle his own before setting the eleven-year-old back on his feet.

Lily walked over to her husband, kissing him just as Sirius and Annie pushed through with smiles on their faces. Samantha came in right behind them, carrying a cake. Lily glared at her manager.

"You brought a cake too?" Lily acted offended, despite feeling thankful for her friends, "does no one have faith in my baking ability?"

"No." everyone said simultaneously.

James lifted a brow at Lily, "you tried to bake for me?"

"Tried being the operative word." Harry said.

"Sorry Lily," Samantha said, "but you don't have a good track record with birthday cakes."

Everyone laughed as Samantha placed her cake next to the one the Longbottom's had brought. Lily blew her fringe from her face as James tossed an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. Lily knew it was the thought that counted but she wished that after years of being married to James, she would've improved as a cook.

"If it's not Ramen or scrambled eggs," James joked, "she's hopeless."

Lily pinched her husband's arse, "be nice to me."

James' eyes twinkled down at her, "no."

Lily tried to punch him, but he grabbed her fist, holding her back. She wrestled against his hold until he swooped in and planted a firm kiss to her lips. Harry made a disgusted noise as she smiled favorably against James' mouth. James pulled away only after a moment, if only to spare their companions.

"I love you." He murmured.

"I love you more." She pressed her nose to his, content with the world they built together.

"Let's have some cake!" Samantha announced, "it's a tight schedule tonight!"

James pulled back from Lily, grinning, "back to business as usual, who invited my wife's manager?"

Samantha shook her finger at James, "careful Potter, or I'll cut this surprise party early."

Everyone ate cake, plenty of it to go around. Truthfully, Lily was thankful her friends knew her well enough to bring back up cakes to her husband's birthday. They gave James his birthday gifts, a set of brand-new shoes for running and a few tickets to sporting events back in England. James was the star in the spotlight until the clock rang three and everyone looked at Lily with raised eyebrows.

She let the normativity of the cabin settle on her shoulders before she smiled around at her family, "showtime, already?"

She really was the lucky one, having chosen a quiet life away from the spotlight for a few years to raise her family. Of course, she couldn't stay away from her fans forever. Lily was on tour and had a show that night in New Jersey.

Sometimes when she walked on stage in a stadium as big as MetLife, Lily remembered Manchester. Sometimes she had bad concerts that took her breath away. Sometimes she questioned if she'd ever be able to let go of the events that triggered nightmares, even over fifteen years later. Still, nothing could keep Lily Potter from walking out on stage with her guitar and a microphone.

It was the Happier World Tour and Met Life was her last concert in the United States. The stadium was packed to capacity, filled with people who loved music as much as she loved music. She watched all her fans as she sang, focusing only on their faces when she could. They danced, cheered and celebrated along with her. As much as she loved all of them, no one shone brighter than the man swaying with his arms around their son.

The Potters were in a tent right in the middle of the floor, both of them wearing tour shirts. Harry had a lightsaber and was waving it through the air as he danced with some of his friends from Lake Placid. James was laughing along with Samantha and Sirius, all three of them watching her as she performed her music for crowds of thousands.

She couldn't believe how far they'd come, together. She remembered how they'd all once worried that Lily's touring days were over. They'd all worried Lily would never get her master albums back from Tom Riddle. They'd all been scared that no one would continue to care about what Lily had to write.

Life had proven that eventually, the world righted itself. Tom Riddle had been found guilty, charged with embezzlement and other various crimes, including being the person who instigated the attack at the Piper premiere. Peter Pettigrew had lost everything and, last Lily heard, was living in a prison in Nebraska. Piper had premiered to rave reviews and Disney officially indicted Lily into the Princess Hall of Fame.

Lily got married to James Potter in a small rose garden with only their closest friends and family present. They'd overcome their fears, nightmares and dark moments together. They were each other's biggest fans, always cheering each other on. The day Harry was born, just a few hours after the Longbottom's had their first son, was the happiest day of Lily's life.

Harry was the perfect mix of them both. He was kind to his very core, just like Lily tried to be. He also had a passion for rugby, something he got from his dad. Despite having famous parents, he was also incredibly down-to-earth, always befriending the people who didn't have many friends. Lily was so proud to have him as her only child.

Even now, Harry had his hands in Ginny Weasleys, dancing with her and her brother Ron and their best friend Hermione. Lily smiled as she saw them rocking out to her music, all of them living their best lives. Lily channeled their energy as she sang some of her dance-centric songs. The crowds were going while and Lily prayed that one day, when her time in the spotlight was finally over, that the people would remember her name and everything she stood for.

In the middle of the concert, Lily slowly stepped to the middle of the stage, her guitar sparkling in her grip. She stood there, barefoot, preparing to sing. She leaned into the microphone, looking out at the crowds affectionately.

"Hello, to all five hundred thousand of you." The fans screamed as she fixed her earpiece, "if you didn't already know, today is my husband's birthday..."

More screams, and people turned to face the tent where James was being clapped on the back by all their friends. The spotlight settled as Lily pointed out James with one finger.

"Hi Honey."

James waved enthusiastically at Lily from the VIP tent. Even after years being married, he still looked at her like she was always under a spotlight. Even now, amongst crowds bigger than either of them really liked, he only had eyes for Lily. His love shone through his radiant smile as she strummed lightly on her guitar.

"I'm sorry I burned your birthday cake," she said, and the crowds laughed, "I'm going to sing you your favorite song though, to make up for it."

The chords to Fearlessly Red echoed through the stadium. Lily rocked into the beats, her smile gently lifting her features as she stared at James when the lights weren't blinding her. James had an arm around their son, the other arm around Sirius. Lily felt none of her old fears as she sang, new tears running down her cheeks as she wondered how she'd gotten such a blessed life.

The stadium sang back the lyrics that would forever mean everything to Lily and James:

"I'm fearlessly yours, Red."


I want to thank you all, especially the readers who have been with me since this was published and then deleted and then reposted. This story means so much to me, as Lily's story and James' story is a mixture of my story and my brother's story.

Lily's story was a story I had to tell, because I never could bring myself to answer people truthfully when they asked me "why would you ever leave your job-it's like a dream" because my dream had turned into my own personal nightmare. No one would understand except the people who'd been with me since the day I started. Some of the conversations between Lily & James and Lily & her father are real conversations I had with my parents and friends.

For my brother, he lost a lot in the war and never really recovered mentally or physically until he met (his now wife) Abby. Their story always inspired me, but I know my brother would never let me write a book about it because like James...he struggles with self-confidence. So, I settled for this, a story he'll never see.

I hope if you're struggling with depression, a bad situation or anxiety...you can find it in yourself to leave toxic relationships, find yourself again and choose the rose garden over Madison Square. I promise that's where you'll find your own Happily Ever Something.

All my love,

Petals