Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 1027

Of Poppies and Chocolate

Lily looked up when the bell above the door tinkled and smiled at James. He was her most consistently regular customer—every Thursday afternoon, between two and three, without fail.

"Hey," she greeted cheerfully, and his whole face lit up as he smiled. He was so handsome.

She'd think it almost a shame that he was clearly so devoted to his girlfriend if she didn't find it so charmingly adorable.

"Hey, Lils," he greeted, a slight blush colouring his cheeks. "You look pretty today. Well, I mean, you always look pretty but—"

"Thank you," she interrupted gently.

"Right. Got anything new and exciting this week?"

"I got some stunning carnations," she replied. "I saved you some; I figured you'd like them."

She brought out the already-made bouquet and handed it to him carefully. He took it from her with almost reverent hands, bringing it to his nose to smell the soft scents emanating from the fragile buds.

"They're beautiful," he murmured. "I'll take them."

She grinned, ringing up the purchase. "I'll have some poppies in next week, if you want something a little different."

He nodded. "Sounds good. I, uh, guess I'll see you next week?"

"Thursday afternoon," she agreed with a small smile. "Bye, James."

"Bye, Lils."

…

Remus perched on the stool behind the counter, admiring the poppies.

"They're beautiful," he said eventually. "Though I can't imagine they're a bestseller when you've got all these other flowers surrounding them. People tend to go more for the flashy sort when they're trying to impress someone, right?"

Lily snorted. "You're not wrong, but I love poppies. I couldn't resist them. Even if they don't all sell, at least I get to look at them for a little while, right?"

Remus chuckled. "Not sure that's a sound business plan, Lils."

"I never opened a flower shop to be rich, Remus," she replied, wrinkling her nose. "How many people can say that they get to be around their favourite things all day, every day?"

"That's true enough." Glancing at his watch, Remus arched his eyebrow at Lily and then smirked. "So, am I finally going to meet the man you've been mooning over for the last three months? It's almost two."

She looked up at the clock and blushed. "I guess so, since I suspect I won't be able to convince you to leave."

"You suspect correctly. Though I will make us coffee as a consolation prize."

She rolled her eyes at him but waved him towards the back of the shop where the brewing equipment was stored.

She was nervous that Remus was going to meet James. Despite there being no hope of anything beyond the friendship the two of them had struck up over the weeks, she was fond of James.

He seemed really sweet.

The bell jingled as Remus set two steaming mugs down on the counter, and Lily looked up automatically, smiling when she saw James stepping through the door.

He smiled back at her, but then his eyes widened when he saw Remus, and for a moment, Lily was confused.

"James?" Remus asked. "This is…" he looked between them. "Oh. Seriously?"

Lily glanced at James and then back at Remus, who was practically vibrating with amusement.

"Want to fill us in there, pal?" James asked, approaching the counter.

Remus finally broke and laughed, long and hard, leaving Lily and James to stare at him like he'd lost his mind.

"This is the most precious thing," Remus finally choked out. "Because Lily, you've been lamenting that James has a girlfriend, while James has been buying his mum flowers weekly just so he can see the pretty florist who I'm eventually going to marry one day."

James blanched while Lily blinked.

"The flowers are for your mum?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I, uh, yes. But also, Remus, I'm going to kill you so dead, I don't even care if it makes Sirius cry."

The words caught up with Lily and she blushed furiously even as she smiled. "You, uh, you're going to marry me, huh?" she asked shyly.

James flushed but grinned at her. "I had a whole plan."

"If you'd followed your plan, you'd have been collecting your pension before you even asked her on a date," Remus said, still chuckling.

"When we get married," James said, "he's not allowed to be in the wedding. He can sit outside while we get married with a glass of water and a pork pie and wish he was inside with us."

"Maybe you should take me on a date first," Lily suggested.

"I can do that," James agreed eagerly. "Tomorrow? I'll pick you up at eight?"

She nodded. "Sure. I guess you won't need to be buying flowers from me every week now."

James snorted. "My mum has been enjoying them. If I stop now, she'll be mad."

Remus shuddered theatrically. "We don't make Mrs Potter mad. Bad things happen when we make Mrs Potter mad."

"Why do I think that's happened a lot?" Lily asked, looking between them.

"I'll tell you all about it on our date," James promised.

"I wouldn't, if you want a second date," Remus muttered, sipping at his tea. James glared at him.

"So dead, Remus. Sirius is going to be so upset."

Lily chuckled and shook her head. "I don't think I know what I'm getting into here, but… I think I'm looking forward to finding out."

James winked at her and then nodded at the display of poppies. "I'll take some of those while I'm here, Lils. You're right, they're really pretty. My mum will love them."

She nodded and walked into the back to get the holder for them. Back in the shop, she heard James ask Remus, "What the hell do I buy for a florist on a first date? If I buy flowers from anywhere else, she'll think I'm a dick, but I can't turn up empty handed! Then I really would be a dick!"

Laughing, she returned to the main area of the shop. As she gathered up the poppies, she said, "Chocolate always works. Milk, in case you were wondering what kind."

Written for:

Written In The Stars: 17. Poppy

Angel's Archive: 6. Arnold: Fluff/Romance

365: 16. Fragile