AN: Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all have a good day, and read lots of fluff! Enjoy Lily's party!

At some point while she was getting ready for the party, she started to get excited again. She felt her anxiety give way to butterflies. She knew the mess with the pictures wasn't over, and she knew that there was someone in the castle who was intent to catch her making a mistake that they could exploit, but she also knew that she had a bunch of friends coming over soon and she was excited to see them and talk to them and dance with them and eat junk food with them and slide down the giant staircase slide with them.

She knew that they weren't going to give her grief over the pictures or the implications and so she found, as the party got closer, it was easier to breath, easier to smile. Tonight she wouldn't have to put on a mask for the public, tonight she would get to be Just Lily, and that was all that would be expected of her.

Putting on her ballgown made the smile come easier still. It was bright yellow, a color that was hard to look at without wanting to smile. She felt like a sunflower, and Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Her hair was done up in elaborate braids, twisting around a bun on top of her head, and one of her smaller tiaras encased it. She was wearing heels, but she knew that as soon as she stepped away from the press, they would be coming off and she would get to be barefoot for the rest of the night.

She got to see James all dressed up for the party after she was finished getting dressed, and that only made her smile even more. He was wearing a suit like the one he'd been wearing in their engagement photos, only Lily was not freezing her ass off, so she was in a better state of mind to appreciate all the subtle details of a well-tailored suit.

"Well look at you," Lily grinned, walking over to the top of the staircase where he was waiting for her. "Quite dapper," He turned to face her and she took his lapel in her hands, smoothing it out or just taking the excuse to touch him. His eyes were roaming her, and she felt like there was electricity dancing over her skin. "I'm glad you didn't do anything to your hair too."

James cleared his throat and reached up to let his fingertips slide down her arm. "I've got nothing on you."

Lily smiled, fully aware that he could feel the goosebumps on her arm. "Yes well, it is my party. It wouldn't be very nice of you to outshine me at my own party." James laughed quietly.

"Yes, I did keep that in mind while I was getting ready."

"I appreciate it," Lily reached up and took his hand. "Though you're standing a little close to the line," She mused, fighting the urge to reach up and play with his hair by turning them both toward the stairs.

"I really don't think I am."

"That's only because you can't see yourself." Lily shrugged a shoulder. "Just wait until the pictures come in tomorrow. Everyone will be talking about how great you look."

James laughed again. "Sure, as though I hold a candle to you."

Lily frowned at him.

"You're the sun, Lily. Nobody can compare."

Lily pressed her lips together. He was telling her that she was pretty, something he'd done before, but this was different. Just like his previous compliments about gardens and flowers, it hit her a little different than usual.

She squeezed his hand. "You can't say things like that to me when I'm walking down the stairs, James."

He squeezed her hand back. "I won't let you fall."

"I know."

Having him by her side when the press arrived and started taking their photograph made the entire thing far easier than it had ever been in the past. She wasn't worried about tripping over her dress, or saying the wrong thing, or making the wrong impression on someone who would then run off and write something nasty about her. She found that with James next to her, she was overthinking the whole process a lot less than she usually did.

It was even kind of fun.

And of course, James commented on how at ease she appeared. He credited it to her getting used to the cameras and being excited for the party. She told him that she thought it was more to do with him being there. He blushed and she smirked at him.

After they'd posed for a while, and Lily answered Emma approved questions about the party and the upcoming wedding, her guests started arriving.

Dorcas was first, and she brought three of her stepdaughters with her. The eleven-year-old named Ellanore, and the twin six year olds, Elodie and Elena. Ellanore looked a little putout about something, but the younger girls were ecstatic to be dressed in ballgowns and at the Princess' birthday party.

"Dorcas!" Lily greeted her friend brightly. They were still in front of the press, so less formal reunions and introductions would take place later in the night. For now, cameras flashed as the two women embraced.

"It's so good to see you, your highness!" Dorcas beamed at her. "I'd have brought Elizabeth as well, but she's in France with her mother for the weekend."

"Ah," Lily nodded at Ellanore. "Is that why…"

"Yes, but I'm sure she'll start having fun in no time!"

"I don't know how you manage all those children." James chuckled from Lily's side.

"I'm not sure how well I'm doing most of the time, but I'm trying. Some of them appreciate it more than others," She shrugged and gave James a quick hug. "Just so you know, my brothers are expecting you to invite them up for a match sometime soon. Now that you live so close to them and all."

Lily wondered how well the Potters and the Meadows knew each other, because this friendliness didn't seem like it was political or superficial. She'd have to ask James about it later.

"They don't want to play football in January!" James laughed, and Lily kind of figured that was her answer, obviously they were familiar with one another. "But as soon as the weather warms," He promised.

Dorcas smiled, took her younger girls' hands, and walked toward the ballroom.

"She's my cousin." James told her when they were out of earshot.

Lily nodded, remembering that she had known that at some point only after he said that. "See, normally she's the one who's reminding me how everyone is related and what their names are." She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

She greeted many other smiling faces, Princess Susan of Hufflepuff, Princess Andromeda of Slytherin, and then Marlene was there and rushing toward her.

"Lily!"

"Marlene!" The countess through her arms around Lily and laughed. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"I told my auntie that there would be no more traveling until after the royal wedding," She pulled back and looked at James. "Good to see you too, James." She nodded her head and James did the same. "I'm terribly sorry about all the nasty business with Bertram this morning. Would you like me to moon all the reporters now so that they'll all be focused on me for a little while?"

"You would like the attention." James laughed and Marlene smacked his arm.

"Why do you always say things like that?"

"Why are you offering to moon the press?" James laughed, which only caused Marlene to roll her eyes.

Lily laughed and shook her head. Marlene and James both turned to her. "I keep forgetting that I don't need to introduce James to my friends because he's known you all longer than I have."

Marlene laughed and pulled her in for another hug. "Don't worry, love, I still like you more."

"I can't say I blame you," James grinned.

"I'll see you in a bit, Lily!" Marlene waved and then started down the hall.

Lily turned to James. "She and her aunt started having Christmas with my family after the fire." He said, and she could tell by his voice that he had known her family well before they passed in the terrible accident.

"I've met her aunt. I'm sure she was hoping the two of you would marry." Lily smiled as she squeezed his hand, this time in comfort. James chuckled.

"Her aunt hopes for her to marry any man with a title that they happen across. But it's not going to happen." He wasn't referring to the fact that Marlene wouldn't be marrying him, but rather that she wouldn't be marrying any man if she had her way. And she would have her way.

"No," Lily agreed. "It's not."

Soon all of the guests were accounted for and in the ballroom, so Lily bid the reporters goodnight and started for the room herself, feeling a hundred pounds lighter as Moody closed the door behind her.

"Happy birthday!" Mary yelled very loudly, and then everyone else was joining in. Lily started laughing and covered her mouth with her hand. She was glad for her friends, she was glad that they had all come, despite the scandal of the morning. She was glad that there were no cameras in the room, she was glad that for tonight, she just got to relax and have a good time at her birthday party.

"Mary! Dance with me!" Marlene called out from the other side of the room, and then they were both running at each other and girls were shrieking and laughing as they dodged out of the way. The music got louder and soon most of girls were jumping around and dancing.

"You ever get jealous?" Reggie said as he slung his arm around her shoulders, appearing at her side like magic.

Lily laughed as the girls reached each other and started doing some fantastic movements with their arms and legs that she supposed could be considered dancing. "Nah, I know she'll come back to me. Also, Marlene told me that she liked me more than she liked James so," She shrugged.

"It was rather rude." James ran a hand through his hair.

"You agreed with her." Lily reminded him. "Now come and dance with me before you and Reggie get kicked out for the night!"

"Thanks for leaving me here!" Reggie called after her.

"Consider it payback for years and years of you ditching me!" She laughed as she led James out into the crowd. "Or dance with literally anyone in this room and Mary will be back at your side before you can find out what their name is!" Reggie laughed and waved her and James on.

She danced with James for a couple of songs, and then she danced with some of the other girls, she even got a smile out of Ellanore, she laughed the entire time and couldn't believe that it had been so long since she was able to relax this completely.

Eventually someone turned down the music, only for everyone to start singing happy birthday as Gwen and Amelia brought a large, three tier, green cake down the staircase that hadn't been converted into a slide.

Anita came in with them, and once the cake was set down and the candles were blown out, she stepped up on the small stage that would be used for karaoke later on in the night.

"Now, now, I don't want to take up too much of your fun night," She grinned at all the girls who had all taken a seat, their puffy gowns marshmellowed out around them. Lily had realized that most of them were wearing their pajama pants under their gowns and she wished that she would have thought of that. "I know that many of you do not get many nights like this, nights in which you are able to worry about nothing but having fun with you friends! I only wish to say a few words about my granddaughter, and then I leave you to it," Mary stood up and took a bow.

"They all already know how much I mean to you and how wonderful I am," She grinned, "Though of course I never mind you singing my praise publicly."

"Sit down, Mary," Anita chided, though she was still smiling and the girls laughed. Lily felt a hand on her back and she smiled when she saw that James had found his way back to her side. She had told him back when they first met that her gran wasn't really the mushy type.

"Lily and I have been through a lot together in the last six years or so." Lily sat up straighter, hoping that her gran wouldn't make her cry, but it already seemed like a very real possibility.

"We've jumped through many hurdles and dodged many obstacles that a few men have thrown our way, and every time something new happens, every time I watch Lily navigate the difficulty with grace and dignity, I think, 'Now there is no way I could be more proud,'" Lily felt her throat tighten. She knew that she didn't always handle everything perfectly, but nothing beat hearing her gran tell her and everyone that she was proud of her. "She has her father's spirit and good heart, and I can't wait to see what she will do as she steps into her new role as queen. Lily, my darling, I love you more than you know and I hope that you know that I am always behind you."

And then Lily was crying, "Damn it, Gran," She muttered, walking over and throwing her arms around her. "You can't make me cry at my birthday party, it's against the rules."

Some of the girls were laughing again and Lily's smile only grew.

Anita pulled her closer, "I love you so much, darling. I always will, and I always have."

Lily kissed her cheek. "I love you too," She said, reaching up and swiping away a few tears from her cheek. "But stop saying nice things to me now, I'm getting all weepy."

"Just like your father," Anita shook her head. Lily hadn't heard that she was like her father in that regard so it took her a moment to settle that information away. "Alright, girls!" Anita stepped back and looked at the small crowd. "I'll let you get back to your party!"

A couple hours later, Lily was sitting on a chase, french braiding Elodie's hair while Elena watched how her fingers moved. Dorcas was on her other side, her feet propped up on Marlene, who was throwing marshmallows into James' mouth. Mary was somehow still dancing, though her partner continued to change, it was currently Susan and Hestia. Reginald was talking to a much livelier Ellanore who was on her fourth slice of cake and a smattering of other younger titled ladies who all wanted to know what he thought about an array of subjects.

"So, have you two decided where you're going for your honeymoon?" Marlene asked, tossing another marshmallow toward James. He caught it and then shrugged, looking at Lily.

"James suggested his family's cottage." She said, deftly folding Elodie's hair just so as she got closer to the end of the braid. "Wherever we go, it's going to be secluded and illegal for paps to be on the premises."

"Speaking of," Dorcas sat upright and looked at Lily.

"We don't have to speak of," Lily shook her head, holding a hand out to Elena for a hair tie.

"It happened this morning, and not for the first time, but definitely for worse,"

"For worse?" Marlene and Lily repeated at the same time. "We're not even drinking, Dory, what was that?"

"Shut up, Marley, you knew what I meant." Dorcas shrugged. "Someone is being unkind to my friend and I want to know how I can help." She looked back at Lily and Marlene was looking at her too.

"They said mean things about you," Elodie said quietly. "But they didn't say mean things about him."

"It was a lie," Elena spoke up. "So they shouldn't have said anything."

Lily swallowed. She was sure that they were saying what they were saying because they'd heard Dorcas say something similar, but it was true, wasn't it? Lily's reputation had been shredded this morning, and Bertram would have gotten through relatively unscathed. "It was a lie," Lily nodded, "But it's all cleared up now. There," She patted the girl's shoulder. "All done!"

"I want to see!"

"Let's go to the bathroom!" Elodie grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her off.

"Lily Jane," Dorcas tugged on a loose curl. "We're your friends. Use us."

"Please," Marlene added, "Give me something to do with myself."

Dorcas clicked her tongue. "You have plenty to do, you just choose not to do it."

"I need something that will keep my interest."

"Not many things do, do they?"

"You keep my interest." Marlene winked at her and Dorcas' cheeks tinted pink and she looked away. "What can we do to help?"

Lily looked down at her hands and then sighed. "I don't know." She shrugged one of her shoulders. "But I promise that if I think of something, I'll ask for your help." She looked back up at them, and could tell by the look in both of their eyes that they were going to make sure that they held her to that.

"Good," Marlene nodded, "Maybe I should visit a little more often than I do."

"I always love your company," Lily smiled.

"Yeah, but I think I need to visit with Mary." Lily frowned.

"That doesn't seem like the best idea."

"Oh? And why not?" Mary entered hearing distance with Reginald, who she'd rescued from the younger girls. She also brought with her, Susan, and Hestia.

"Because you frequently talk about how you want to beat people up on live television for me and I don't think Marlene would tell you what a terrible idea it is!" Dorcas laughed and Marlene pinched her thigh.

"I would to!" She yelled, "She's five foot nothing and could be blown away by a light breeze!" Lily raised her brow, waiting for Marlene to go on. Which she did, talking over Mary's protests that she was a big strong woman who could take down anyone. "I would simply suggest that maybe I do the beating up and she can point the camera at me."

"I like that idea better," Regniald said unhelpfully as Dorcas and Marlene collapsed into one another in a fit of laughter.

"Honestly, we've had nothing to drink, why are you two like this?" Lily grinned.

"I don't remember the last time I've had this much sugar." Dorcas said, reaching for her plate of cake that she had been continuously nibbling on for the last couple hours. "So that could have something to do with it. But I mean, honestly, I just feel as though I'm allowed to act my age when I'm with you girls." She looked over at Reginald and James, "And you two."

James tipped his head at his cousin and Reginald waved his hand as if to say the concession was unnecessary.

"Gran said the boys have to be gone by ten," Lily reminded them.

"Is she afraid of something untoward happening before the wedding?" Marlene wiggled her brows and looked back and forth between James and Lily.

"I doubt it. Lily wasn't sneaking out of Bertram's room in that photo, but she was leaving someone's room." Mary had her head tilted to the side and a smirk glued to her face. Lily narrowed her eyes as the girls around her started giggling. Instead of blushing or getting embarrassed, she looked over at James, surprised to see that his ears were red.

"Gran told the littles parents that there would be no boys at the sleepovers. In order to maintain political peace, we'll adhere to her rules." She said calmly. James looked up at her and she grinned at him. It was ridiculous how easy it was for a smile to appear when she was around James. "And even if the people we would upset by breaking the rules weren't world leaders, I would still listen to them because my gran said a bunch of really nice things to me earlier, and she told me that she loved me twice and I don't want her to take it back."

"She would too!" Mary cackled and Lily shook her head at her friend.

The boys left at ten, about an hour after the sliding had begun. James was miffed about leaving since he'd not yet managed to make it all the way to the bottom while standing upright, but Lily promised him that the slide would still be there in the morning, kissed him on his cheek and sent him and Reginald on their way.

Now she was in her pjs, laying on a sleeping bag between Mary and Marlene, listening to Hestia and Dorcas sing My Heart Will Go On, quite terribly into the karaoke machine.

Mary leaned over and whispered, "Near, faaaaar, whereeeeeever you are," Then she started giggling and Lily leaned her head against Mary's.

"I love you, you know that?"

"I do," Mary nodded, reaching over and clasping her hand. "You're my favorite person, I know everything." Lily laughed. "Happy birthday party, Lillian."

"Thank you kindly, Maryanne."

"I need a best friend like you two," Marlene sighed. "I mean, I'm sitting here feeling as though I'm intruding upon an intimate moment-"

"You are!" Mary swung her head around to glare at Marlene.

"Well, I wat to be included! I'm laying here next to you two! I managed to claim Lily's other side! I'm important too!"

Lily laughed, "Marley, no one said that you weren't important. Mary and I love you too."

"Yes, we do," Mary agreed, her glare transforming into a devious smirk. "And because we love you and because you want to be our friend, I have some questions for you."

"Oh? Yay!" Marlene crossed her legs and scooted closer.

"How long you and Dorcas been making eyes at one another?"

Marlene nearly rolled her eyes, "How have you not asked me this before? I thought everyone knew that I fancied her."

"Everyone does know," Lily agreed.

"Yes, but she was all blushy earlier. What happened?"

"Nothing." Marlene said. "And nothing is going to happen because she's married and she's a stepmother." She looked off to where Hestia and Dorcas were finishing up their duet. "Hopefully someday though."

Lily reached out and took her hand. "I know that you travel with your aunt, but you really should hang around the castle more often."

"Yeah?"

Mary nodded. "Yes, we both like you and very few other people can stand us for more than ten minutes at a time."

"We are a bit much for people." Lily agreed. "At least when we're not pretending that we're not." Marlene laughed.

"Well thank you! I hope you're as sincere as you sound, because I'm planning on taking you up on that offer."

"Good! Mary's going back to school soon and I need more friends," Lily squeezed her hand again.

"Yes, and she needs to be teased about James by more people." Mary said this just as seriously as Lily had said she could use more friends. Lily scoffed.

"Yes! How have we not talked about James yet!" Marlene threw her hands in the air and Lily started shaking her head.

"I don't think we need to talk about James."

"She keeps saying that." Mary said as though Lily was being the most difficult that she could possibly be.

"Oh Lily," Marlene shook her head. Then she turned to Mary and nodded, "I didn't realize it was this bad."

"You know what, fine! What do you want to know?" Lily asked.

Mary squealed and Marlene jumped up onto her knees. "Is he a good kisser?"

Lily stomach squirmed. "I haven't kissed him."

"No?" Marlene raised her brows.

"I've been telling her to snog him since he got here," Mary gave Marlene another stage whisper.

"No."

"Okay, well, do you like him?" Marlene asked.

"Yes," Lily nodded. "I like him very much."

Marlene wiggled in her seat excitedly. "You fancy him?"

"Yes," Lily nodded, "Very much."

Mary was smiling widely at her.

"Then why haven't you snogged him?" Marlene asked, and Lily felt her stomach squirm again.

"I don't know. I feel like we keep getting interrupted, or we're never really alone. I don't know," She repeated, shaking her head. "Things will calm down after the wedding and maybe things will feel... "

"I'm sorry," Marlene scooted closer again and took Lily's hands. "I don't want to add pressure to you. I know things are hard. I hope things feel more normal after the wedding. You'll go on your honeymoon and finally get some real time with one another."

Lily gave her a small smile. "Thank you. And I'm hoping for that. But also, I do want to snog him." Marlene laughed, and soon Lily was joining in, because it felt good to finally say that outloud.

Mary reached out and smacked her. "There's nothing stopping you, you know!"

"I know," Lily said, reaching out and tugging her hair. "But it's not like I have a time limit. We're getting married," Lily smiled, "We've got the rest of our lives to work everything out."

Marlene pressed her lips together and smiled. "That's kind of romantic, isn't it?"

"It kind of is," Mary agreed. Lily tugged her hair again.