Petal in the Rain

Chapter 9 – Godric's Hollow

'Cause everybody falls
When they're in love
There's no one at all
Can get enough

-Serena Ryder

"STUPEFY!" James roared furiously, the sparks emitting from his wand ricocheting off the walls in a display of red.

Sister Agatha lay sprawled on the floor like da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, her eyes bugged out and her mouth an open portal. Her shoes, the colour of mud, pointed towards the crown-moulded ceiling.

Disregarding the consequences of such a hasty move, James locked all the doors in the hallway and atrium with the Colloportus spell and bounded towards the stairs, his heart pounding.

"Lily!" James gasped, the sight of her mangled body at the bottom of the stairs making him dizzy with panic. "Darling, please look at me!"

Lily was unconscious, her eyes firmly shut. Her ashen face was spattered with blood, fresh and sparkling like the facets of a ruby. The school basement was dark, dank and infested with dust, a grimy cloud of dirt swirling above the concrete floor due to the sudden agitation.

Even through the mess, James could make out the sharp piece of glass that had impaled Lily's right shoulder.

"Merlin," James breathed, his voice hoarse as he propped Lily's limp head against his shoulder in an attempt to awake her. "Reducio!"

The shard of glass immediately shrank in size, making it easy to extract from Lily's tender skin. James winced as blood poured out of her shoulder, coating his hands and upper arms.

"Episkey!" James whispered, the wound on her right shoulder and back healing, her collar bone - also broken - beginning to piece itself back together.

Sitting on the basement floor, Lily pressed close to his chest, James raised his wand for a final time, obliviating the fallen nun's memory before apparating out of the basement.

Remus Lupin sat in the waiting room of St. Mungo's Clinic, his nose buried in a particularly interesting book, Why Didn't I Die When The Augurey Cried? by Gulliver Pokeby. The myth about the Augurey was that whenever it cried it foretold the death of all those who heard it—but Remus knew better. An Augurey only cried when it was about to rain.

Remus sighed and stuffed his book back into his canvass bag. He ran his hands through his sandy blond hair in impatience, waiting for the medi-witch to return with the medication. The hag sitting on his left eyed him and smiled—she was missing most of her top teeth and was belching out toads—while the wizard on his right seemed to be transforming into an overlarge carrot, his skin a putrid orange colour and his bald head sprouting vegetation.

Remus hated sitting in the commoners' waiting area. It wasn't because he felt superior or wanted special treatment; he was supremely fearful that someone belonging to the higher class would spot him and question him. He didn't want to disgrace his family's reputation or for people to speculate why he was there. If anyone found out about his illness…

A sharp pop woke Remus out of his bored stupor. There, in the middle of the hospital clinic, stood a dark, remarkably handsome man drenched in blood. Remus strained his neck to catch a glimpse of the limp form nestled in his arms.

"Sir, we do not allow apparition in the cli—" an oval-faced medi-witched began in annoyance, pursing her lips and lifting herself out of a chair behind the main desk.

"I need a team of healers!" James demanded, his voice frantic as he ignored the nurse and swept hair out of Lily's ashen face. "Now!"

"There are no beds, you will have to—" the nurse began again, flustered and alarmed at being ordered about.

"Do as he says. He's a Potter," Remus came up beside James, his tone authoritative. "Healer Frankfurt will do."

The nurse's face drained of colour as she regarded James with immediate respect and muttered a quick apology.

"Please, Lord Potter, follow me."

"Remus? What are you doing here?" James asked, relief washing over his features as he followed the nurse, Remus in tow. "Am I ever glad to see you."

"It doesn't matter why I'm here—who is this?" Remus blanked, his eyes outlining the face of the pretty redhead in James' arms.

As James and Remus followed the nurse through corridors chock-full of doors, patients and nurses gathered in clusters to stare at the two Lords and the battered woman. Many wondered what two men of such status were doing with a poor schoolgirl.

"Just put her down in here," the nurse said, her breath ragged as she herded the two men into an empty room containing one pallid bed. "I'll fetch the Healer and have him in here as soon as possible."

James set Lily down on the hospital bed and sat on the edge, gripping her hand and watching her with worry-filled eyes. He had successfully stopped the bleeding and healed the wound, but it wasn't enough to convince him that she was stable. Remus remained near the doorway, stunned by James' emotion.

"I was under the impression you had just left St. Mungo's, Lord Potter," a bulky man in a white lab coat announced, side-stepping Remus as he entered the room, his healing intern following with a cart of assorted potions.

"You know how much I love St. Mungo's," James grimaced.

"What have we here?"

"It's bad, Frankfurt. This is, er—Sally; she fell down the stairs while at school and landed on a piece of glass that pierced her right shoulder," James indicated where he had healed her. "I didn't know what to do. I panicked, I—"

"You've done a fine job, Lord Potter. I'll ask you to leave the room with Lord Lupin while I examine her. Nothing to worry about, you must stop fretting," the healer replied soothingly, putting a hand on James' back and escorting him to the door.

"She's a muggle, Frankfurt," James stopped, his brow creasing as if he dared the magical doctor to protest.

"A muggle in St. Mungo's?" the healer ceased uncorking a potion and turned to James, perplexed and alarmed. "You know as well as I do I need Ministry authorization to heal a muggle, Lord Potter. I could lose my job for this!"

"I'm sorry, Frankfurt, but if you don't help her you will lose your job," James replied seriously, his voice barely audible. "Must I remind you my father is one of the most prominent benefactors of St. Mungo's?"

"No, you needn't," Frankfurt gruffed, his walrus-like mustache framing his blotchy face. "But if anyone gets wind of this—"

James shut the heavy door and took a seat in the sitting area across from Lily's room. The walls were painted a pale blue, typical of any medical setting, and trimmed with white baseboards. Pasted over the walls, looking like awkward pieces of art, were posters advertising different sicknesses and healing potions.

Remus took a seat beside James, expectantly awaiting answers from his long-time friend.

"Who is she, James?" Remus whispered, nudging James, who was hunched over with his face buried in his hands. "I know it's been a long time since I've seen you, but—"

"Her name is Lily Evans," James lifted his face from his hands, his forehead crumpled. "I met her back in May, during my birthday party."

"She's a noble woman? I've never come across her before. She's quite beautiful. Your mannerisms suggest you care for her..."

"She's not a noble woman, Remus," James sighed, his eyes darting about the waiting room to ensure he wasn't being overheard. "You mustn't breathe a word of this to anyone, understood?"

"Of course I won't," Remus frowned, curiously leaning forward in his chair. "I've been able to trust you with my own secrets—of course I'll return the favour."

"Forgive my caution," James apologized, offering his friend a small smile. "It's been too long since we last talked. I'm eager to hear about the new research you've been conducting."

"And I'll be glad to accommodate your curiosity, James, but first tell me about this lovely redhead you've saved," Remus returned, warmth spreading through him as he recalled his Hogwarts days with the Marauders—the happiest days of his life.

"Like I said, Lily isn't a noble woman. She's a commoner," James explained. "She appeared in the Potter gardens the night of my party, like an out-of-place angel, soaked to the bone. You should have seen her, Remus…she was a vision. She's probably the smartest, feistiest girl I've ever met."

Hearing the words escaping his lips, James could barely believe what he was saying. The sight of Lily bleeding…her fragile state…it had heightened his fervor for her. He reckoned the seriousness of the situation had stimulated his protective nature—a nature that seldom surfaced, for he loved few, but it didn't make sense that he felt for her so deeply so quickly. James had known her barely two months, yet within him stirred an obsession—no, passion.

James winced. Remus always seemed to bring out the sensitive side of him.

"I don't think I've ever heard you speak of a woman so enthusiastically," Remus' stormy eyes twinkled, encouraging James to continue. "You and this girl…are you courting?"

"It's complicated," James murmured, running his right hand through his mop of hair. "We're practically from different worlds. No, we are from different worlds."

"You're being dramatic," Remus scoffed, his smile widening. "Just because she isn't royal doesn't mean it can't work out between you two."

"Slow down, Remus! You're giving me a headache," James closed his eyes, the possibility of him and Lily becoming a couple an irresistible, truly optimistic wish. "I haven't given you all the details yet."

"I know it'll be difficult to convince your mother to acquiesce to such a pairing, and you'll most definitely receive criticism from high society individuals, probably even the media, but—"

"Remus!" James threw up his hands, as if pleading for a breath of air. "You haven't even met Lily yet, why are you getting ahead of yourself?"

"I don't need to meet the girl, James. The way you speak about her, the way you flushed that shocking shade of pink when I suggested courtship, the amount of concern you're showing for her condition—that's enough to convince me she's special," Remus grinned, practically ecstatic at James's reaction to his reasoning. "Look at you, James bloody Potter blushing like one of the schoolgirls that lusted after him at Hogwarts."

"Shut up," James muttered, smiling despite his denial. "Last time I checked you were a researcher, not a match-maker."

"What can I say? I have many hidden talents," Remus stretched out in his rickety chair like a tired lion. "Now, what's this 'we're from different worlds' rubbish?"

James leaned in toward Remus, almost reluctant to betray the information.

"Lily is a... muggle."

"Really?" Remus whispered back, his mouth forming into a little 'O'. "This plot just becomes more and more romantic by the minute."

"I told you it was complicated. If we courted, I would never be able to bring her to any magical functions, expose her to our world…nothing," James said, slumping in his chair. "It's an impossible situation. I'd always have a secret from her."

"Why don't you just tell her then?" Remus suggested nonchalantly.

"Wow, what a great idea!" James retorted sarcastically, his brow furrowing. "If my position and wealth doesn't scare her enough, why not frighten her off by telling her I'm a bloody wizard?"

"Well when you put it like that…" Remus trailed off, annoyed at his friend's defeatist attitude. "Listen, if you care for her and envision things going further, just accept the problems you may face and move on."

"Easier said than done, Remus," James muttered, heaving a great sigh.

He lept out of his seat when Healer Frankfurt exited Lily's room, his intern following in his wake. He removed a pair of plastic gloves and threw them on the trolley to be discarded later.

"How is she?" James inquired, closing the distance between them. "Will there be any permanent damage? Is she in pain? Is she—?"

"She's perfect, Lord Potter," Frankfurt offered nonchalantly, his mustache quirking upward in an amused smile. "Her bones have been repaired and the flesh is smooth and without blemish. She's sleeping now. I haven't yet obliviated her memory, but I'll—"

"That's not necessary, Frankfurt," James cut in, though his voice lacked the aggression it previously held. "I can easily explain this away. No need to involve the Ministry. Besides, we can't jeopardize your job."

"Now you're concerned for my job?" Frankfurt frowned, folding his arms. "Very well, Lord Potter. I performed an anti-apparation spell in her room, in case some dolt accidentally apparates into her room and puts magical security at risk. Her door will also remain magically locked at all times. You may take her out of St. Mungo's once she is conscious, but, as she cannot walk out of here without witnessing magic, I'm giving you this."

The healer placed a small green pill in James' hand.

"What will this do?" he asked skeptically.

"Knock her unconscious for a half hour, giving you enough time to apparate her out of here. She should rest for a few days. Drop the pill in a glass of water; it will instantly dissolve, she won't be able to taste a thing. Don't bother checking out at the front desk, either; she's not an official patient."

Frankfurt turned to leave, but James caught him by the shoulder.

"Listen Frankfurt, I really appreciate you doing this for me. I panicked back there…I'm sorry I threatened to have you fired. You're one of the best healers in this institution, and after you brought me back to health…it was a poor way to repay you," James said genuinely.

Frankfurt had known the Potters for a long while and knew what James had done was uncharacteristic. Unlike his mother and numerous other members of high society, he was a sincere, honourable wizard—though many people did not know it.

"Apology accepted, Lord Potter," Frankfurt shook James hand. "And your secret is safe with me."

"What do we do? As soon as he gets wind of the—"

"Hide her, somewhere no one would think to look—"

"But we must tell someone where she will be, we—"

"No one can know. It's for her own safety. We must never—"

"We'll never see her, I can't—"

"It will be done—"

"But the boy she will—?"

"It is too vague, he will never find—"

Lily lurched awake, her breath laboured and perspiration dotting her forehead. Small tears lingered in the corners of her eyes as she tried to recall the figures in her dream. She had not seen their faces...she had been listening behind a heavy door, her little ear pressed against the warmed wood. Was it a dream, or a memory?

Her eyes opened when she felt a dampened cloth pressed to her hot forehead. The pale blue room began to spin, but as she re-focused her eyes, she realized a sandy-haired man with an exquisite jaw-line was standing by the edge of her bed, peering at her curiously. The man exuded a comforting serenity.

"You have startling eyes, Miss Evans," the man said quietly, a small smile lingering on his lips. "If you'll wait a moment, I'll fetch James for you. He's outside conversing with a…doctor."

Lily didn't seem to comprehend his words as she struggled into an erect position and clutched the bed linens to her chest. Looking around at her foreign surroundings, she became alarmed.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Lily managed shakily, panic rising. "What's going on?"

"Don't fret, Miss Evans. My name is Remus Lupin, you're in a hospital. As James has explained to me, you took a nasty tumble down the stairs at your school. Do not be alarmed, you're safe," Remus attempted to sooth the startled redhead. "Sit tight for a moment, I'll be right back."

Lily watched Remus leave the room. As she got out of bed to follow him out, feeling perfectly healthy, she found the door locked. Contorting the handle in many different directions, Lily gave up and sunk back onto the hospital bed, feeling nervous. Why was the door locked? Remus had claimed she took a nasty fall down the stairs, but she didn't have a scratch on her. Nothing ached, nothing looked bruised…yet she did remember Sister Agatha slapping her after their argument. Had she really fallen down the stairs?

Lily was wrong, she did feel sick. Preparing to wretch due to her overpowering nervousness, Lily began to breathe erratically, unable to stop herself from panicking. What do I do?

She heard someone whisper behind her door, and mysteriously it clicked open without the handle twitching once. Lily sucked in a breath of stale air.

"Lily, you're awake! Thank Merlin you're alright!" James looked visibly relieved as he entered the hospital room and locked the door behind him.

"James?" Lily gasped, her eyes becoming watery, regarding him as if he were an apparition. "You're…you're here? I didn't think I'd ever see you again, I—?"

"Never see me again?" James repeated uncertainly, taking a seat in the chair by Lily's bed and reaching out for her clammy hand, an action that felt natural to him. "I'm sorry I was away for so long—I encountered some trouble in Paris…just got out of the hospital myself."

"I thought perhaps—well, I didn't know what to think. I'm just…I'm glad you're back," Lily blushed, her bold expression of her feelings taking her by surprise. "What happened in Paris? Are you well?"

A warm feeling inched up her arm as James held her hand tightly.

"Much better now that I've reunited with you," James smiled, his heart fluttering at the prospect of being needed by Lily—that she missed him. "Just a run in with a few…well, criminals, I guess."

"And it landed you in the hospital? Does this have anything to do with the war?" Lily probed, wondering what on earth a wealthy lord was doing mixed up with a bunch of criminals.

"Yes, actually. I'd like to tell you more, but it's secret business," James explained, hoping Lily would cease questioning him so he could stop lying. "I was in a coma for a few weeks. I only got out of the hospital yesterday. I hope you'll forgive my absence."

"Bloody hell, James! Thank god you're alive!" Lily gasped in shocked dismay, launching herself out of her hospital bed and into James' willing arms, hugging him tightly. "If I'd known I wouldn't have concocted so many silly reasons for—well, it's not important."

James was tempted to scold Lily to stay in bed and so as not to strain herself, but he much preferred her in his arms. Holding her close, it was as if he'd never been away.

"And I arrived just in time it seems," James said darkly; Lily untangled herself from his arms and faced him. "I walked into your school just as Sister Agatha pushed you down the stairs."

"So it did happen…" Lily breathed, her eyes shifting from James' face to the floor. "It transpired so quickly—I can't even recall what we were fighting about…"

"That woman won't be working there for much longer, I promise you," James tilted Lily's chin upwards, trying to get her to match his stare. "She nearly killed you; I could have her arrested, Lily…"

"James, I—" Lily began, suddenly feeling dizzy as she thought of Agatha behind bars. "I don't know what I want to happen to her, but I can't have you fighting my battles for me. I'll figure out something, I mean, look at me! I'm fine."

You're fine now, Lily, but you were close to death an hour ago—James thought, fighting the impulse to tell her the truth; how much danger she was in when around that horrible nun.

"Things are just getting worse. First it was being strapped 'till your hands were raw, now it's being pushing down a flight of stairs. Lily, I have the power to make a difference in that school. I wouldn't just be protecting you from that woman's temper, but the other girls as well," James implored, reaching out and grasping her shoulders. "You will end up seriously injured if I don't step in soon."

"But…what if you can't have her sacked and she finds out I'm behind it? God only knows what will happen to me then," Lily whispered.

She had never been afraid of Sister Agatha before. She was a nasty woman with a bad temper, but she had never physically intimidated her. Having her hands strapped seemed like nothing now; besides, she could handle it. She used to be able to control her emotions in front of her…but now…

"I'll be honest with you. My family is probably one of the most powerful in London—England, even. I will have her thrown out, I promise you. Not many people—never mind school board officials—would dare question a Potter. We just have too much wealth and influence," James spoke confidently, though he was not keen on revealing just how important his family was.

Before Lily could reply, a small knock sounded at the door and Remus Lupin popped his head in. He held in his hands a tray with a glass of water atop it. Once Lily looked closer, she also saw a bottle-green pill tucked into a napkin.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think it's time for Lily to take her medication," Remus spoke directly to James, his grey eyes trying to convey an ulterior message. "Doctor's orders, of course."

Why is Remus in such a rush?—James pondered, still unsure of where he was going to take Lily.

"Thank you, but I'm sure it can wait a moment, Remus—"

"No. She must take it now," Remus urged, placing the tray beside Lily. "The pill will help ease your headache, Lily. I don't know if James told you, but you suffered a concussion."

"No he didn't," Lily replied, offering Remus a small, uncertain smile as she eyed the medication before her.

James smiled and nodded, indicating Lily should follow Remus' instructions. Lily extracted the pill from the tray Remus brought her and placed it at the back of her tongue. Taking a large gulp of water, she washed it back.

The effect was almost immediate. Lily gradually closed her eyes and fell back onto her pillow, unaware she had been drugged. James lightly brushed some red hair out of her face and took her hand, feeling for a pulse.

"I would've liked more time to speak with her," James frowned. "I'm still not sure where to bring her. Until everything is fixed to my liking at her school, she'll have to stay with me—"

"James, we must go. The reason I rushed in here was because there was a disturbance on the first floor. A small explosion. There's been speculation among staff that someone was trying to create a diversion to gain access to the other floors."

"Death eaters?" James demanded, extracting his wand and ensuring the door was triple locked. "What…or who could they be looking for at St. Mungo's?"

"It could be either of us; they know we are both in the Order. I say we don't stick around to find out," Remus' eyes darkened as they fixated on James. "Do you have a summer home, a place outside of London, that you can take her? It might be a good idea for you two to get out of London before the paparazzi has a field day. It'll be safer, too."

"I know of a place…but I still have damage control to take care of at Lily's school. If the nuns find she's missing the muggle police might interfere. I've already wiped the culprit's memory—"

"Don't worry, I will take care of it for you," Remus assured James, eager to get him out of the hospital with Lily.

"Remus, I—" James began, moved by Remus' kindness. "It is too much to ask..."

"What are friends for?" Remus smiled, "Now go!"

James picked Lily up, draping her over his shoulder in order to free his right hand for using his wand. Grasping hold of her legs, James shut his eyes as he conjured up images in his mind. Within a moment, he'd vanished, Lily apparating along with him. Remus sighed.

He still had to pick up his wolfsbane potion. Bugger.

Lily stirred. As if on a timer, her eyes opened, presenting her with a very different scene than the last one she had awoken to. Where am I now?

The room she was resting in seemed to dance, light erratically splashed over the ceiling and walls. The room had a simple, rural décor, fashioned with mahogany furniture and floral patterned cushions and wallpaper. Unlike the hospital room she'd previously been in, here she felt comfortable—safe.

She curiously sat up, realizing why the room sparkled.

Outside the window opposite her bed was a beautiful lake, the colour a crystalline blue tinged with soapy green. It was a fair size and surrounded by ancient evergreen trees the size of mythical giants. The water looked pure, untouched, as if no one had swam in it for hundreds of years. Luminous in the sun's late hue, the water seemed to call to Lily. A wooden dock extended from the pebbled shore, a rickety old boat fastened to it.

There, standing ankle deep in water, was James, his back to the cottage.

Lily got up off the bed and pressed her face close to the window, having the chance to admire James from afar. He was, without a doubt, one of the most striking men she had ever encountered. The slight summer's breeze made his dark hair look more tousled than usual and his fresh shirt flap in the back. His stance was pensive; Lily wondered what he was thinking about.

Turning away from the window, she decided to explore the little cottage further. Creeping into the hall, Lily passed a dusty mirror propped up on a table and stopped to inspect her reflection. Wiping some of the grim away, Lily realized she was no longer in her school uniform, but a simple white dress made of duchess satin that flowed to her knees and revealed her creamy shoulders. Her fiery hair was loose and wavy, making it look slightly unattended, yet beachy. Her feet were bare.

"How did I get into this?" Lily murmured, fingering the soft fabric and continuing down the hall towards the kitchen.

The kitchen was the epitome of providence design. The cabinets were white-washed and antiqued, the counters composed of crude-looking wood used for chopping boards. On the sill by the window was a silver pail housing the white blooms of cow parsley. In the right corner of the room was a round table, Victorian-style chairs cluttered around it, while located to the left was a wood-burning stove and cooler.

Lily cocked an eyebrow. There was no electricity.

She opened the cabinets and found multiple candles and oil lamps covered in cobwebs, as well as sets of china and tea cups. In the cooler there was fresh vegetables, milk and fish, and neatly arranged on the counter were loaves of bread, potatoes and fruit.

She smiled. It was quaint and comfortable.

Having explored the rest of the house, Lily discovered it was quite smaller than she had anticipated, having a kitchen, powder room, two bedrooms and a tiny den with a fireplace. It lacked a proper dining room and spacious lounge…but what did Lily know about such things? She'd been in school ever since she could remember.

In her opinion, it was perfect, exuding a sense of humbleness and seclusion.

Lily exited the cottage and stepped out onto a veranda that wrapped around the entire house like a tightly-bound parcel. The deck was festooned with white wicker furniture and shielded from the elements by a wooden dormer. Lily descended the few stairs from the porch and plunged her feet into the yellowish sand, squinting as the burning sun filled her eyes with pinkish-purple colour.

She approached James quietly, the crashing surf and distant squealing of seagulls the only sounds reverberating in her ears. James arched his head and peered over his shoulder, seemingly expecting her. Lily's smile faltered; there seemed something amiss in his eyes.

"You're awake," James turned, drinking in the pretty image of her. "How are you feeling?"

"I can't recall ever feeling sick to tell you the truth," Lily replied, the cold water sending shivers up her back as she stood beside James in his rolled-up pants. "What is this place?"

"It's called Godric's Hollow," James said, subtly reaching for Lily's hand and warming it with his own. "My father used to take me here when I was young. We'd fish, swim, row…but that was a long time ago. I doubt any Potter has been here in over ten years. Only he and I knew about it, you see."

"It's beautiful…and it looks so well kept. Are you sure no one has been here?" Lily doubted. "I saw food in the kitchen."

"I said no Potter has been here in nearly ten years, Lily. We do, however, have an elderly woman that comes once a week to clean the cottage, tend the garden and stock the cooler with food," James explained, walking back to the shore with Lily and nestling in the warm sand. "The cottage is always ready for us, in case we plan a chance visit like this one."

"Why did you bring me here? Not that I'm complaining—" Lily inquired, the sun making her hair shine; she felt her cheeks getting rosy in the warmth.

James wasn't sure why he had brought Lily there. The Potter's had so many summer homes tucked away in the country, fully staffed—yet this one always stood out in his mind. It was a secret place he had shared with his father, a place where he could stay uninterrupted. It was filled with so many memories, now bittersweet. More than anything, it was an escape.

"Until things cool off at your school, I…well, I thought it best to bring you here," James spoke softly, his chocolate eyes luring Lily into a sense of comfort. "I would've asked your permission first had that medication Remus gave you not put you to sleep. If you're not pleased, I can bring you back at any—"

Very uncharacteristically, Lily slinked her arm around James' neck and pulled him into a kiss—a kiss that James readily returned with simmering passion. James gently pushed Lily back onto the sand and positioned himself atop her, tenderly pinning her to the ground. Lily entangled her fingers in James' hair to deepen the kiss, which, unlike the last, was sensual and seemed more…natural. Their last had been exciting and erotic; this was emotional. She felt more connected to him.

James pulled away to look into Lily's eyes, his lips swollen from her touch. She looked back at him, trying to guess what he was thinking. James' face was partially shadowed, the romantic sun barely peeking over the horizon.

"Don't you know?" Lily whispered, not shying away from his almost fearful eyes. "There's no place I'd rather be than here with you."

James was fearful—fearful that his feelings for Lily were growing too powerful. He was no longer merely physically attracted to her…he hadn't been for a while. There was so much more now, and that scared him.

He dipped down and kissed Lily more fervently, pushing his worries about their future to the back of his mind. He couldn't think too far ahead. Life was too precious, especially now, to worry away.

Author's Note

Thank you to all those who rewarded me with their reviews! : ) Please continue Reading & Reviewing!

Much love,

-pratty prongs princesse