James:

James turned and saw Marlene offer Sirius a hand up from the dirt. Had he slipped? He seemed alright, aside from looking exhausted. James would need to remind him to take it easy or Remus would put him back to walking the halls.

James' concern for Sirius' physical exhaustion was momentarily put on hold when Lily touched his arm and started talking.

"Would you mind sending someone to show Marly and me to the great hall once we're ready to join you for dinner? We're still learning our way around."

"I'll come and escort you myself," James reached out and took her quiver from her hands.

"Your Majesty is too kind. Is the dress I wore today and yesterday appropriate?"

James felt his smile go soft, "You mean my mother's dress?"

Lily's eyes went wide and her smile faltered.

"I, I, it was a gift, I mean, it was from Ruth, because I didn't have enough to buy something, and she thought it was a good idea, and I…"

"Lily," James cut her off and stepped closer, pulling her hand into his, "It's beautiful on you, and I hope you'll continue to wear it."

Her smile slowly returned, "Thank you, James. I'm honored to wear it."

James wanted to close the distance, he wanted to pull her into him, to run a hand into her hair, to press his lips to hers. But James forced himself to move, to slide his arm around her waist and look back at Sirius and Marlene. Because he was going to earn her trust, he was going to wait until he was sure that the moment he did kiss her, she'd know exactly how much he loved her.

The little sigh that escaped her lips made him second guess himself for a moment before Elias shouted out to Sirius and Marlene that they were heading back to the palace.

"You've gained a lovely accessory," Marlene grinned at Lily as she and Sirius approached them.

"Will you stop it?" Lily laughed and grinned up at James to roll her eyes.

"I think she's right," James chuckled. "I'm a rather lovely cloak, don't you think?" And he moved to drape his arms around her shoulders and pull her back flush against him.

"We'll call him your king-skin cloak," Sirius grinned as he wiped his brow with his shirt sleeve.

"You need to lay off a bit," James frowned at his brother. "Remus will make you walk the halls again if he knows how hard you're pushing yourself."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Please don't go running to tattle on me, baby brother. I promise I'll be good."

"Baby brother?" Lily looked up at James, still pressed against his front.

"Sirius is five months James' senior." Elias chuckled at their antics.

Marlene laughed and grinned up at James, "That makes you the youngest in our little group, perhaps I'll start calling you baby brother as well."

"Marly! That's hardly the way to address your sovereign!" Lily scolded, but James paused to look down at Lily perplexed.

"Have you set a date?" Marlene beat him to speaking with a triumphant smirk on her face. "Because there's only one way James is my sovereign, Lils."

James watched Lily's face blush bright red and he turned to glare at Marlene. He didn't need the woman making his situation more complicated.

"I was thinking you may like to have some new dresses made," James changed the conversation and started pulling Lily toward the palace.

Lily smiled gratefully up at him. "That would be wonderful. I left everything in Privet."

"I could send for all your things instead if you'd like."

Lily's grin went a touch mischievous, "Can I help you draft the letter you send? Petunia still doesn't know where I am, it could be a fun way to let her know she's wasting money on kidnappers, especially because I ended up right where she wanted me anyway."

James couldn't help himself, he brought his lips to her cheek before smiling down at her. "Merlin, you're brilliant! We'll draft up a letter together, then you'll have all your things in your new home."

Lily wrapped her arms around his middle and laughed as they pushed forward to the palace. James' heart soaring that Lily didn't object to calling his home her new home.