Chapter 3: Time

The interactions with Lily in the following days were guarded at best. She seemed quieter and closed off then she was those first few weeks. He, on the other hand, was just trying to keep himself together. He replayed every interaction they had, every conversation, each joke, every giggly squeal from Harry, and every dream. He tried to pinpoint the moment his feelings changed when things started to mean more than just lust driven dreams. Eventually, it all came back to the day after Annie. The look on Lily's face, his guilt, and spending time with Harry is what changed things.

He didn't know how to feel. Usually, when he fancied a girl he would just ask her out. But this was different… Lily was different, she had a baby. Everything was so complicated. Lily had responsibilities, she had to look out for Harry. Their relationship, if they ever had one, would not be the light and breezy relationship most people in their early 20's had. It would be a serious relationship with high stakes because there was more to consider than just him and Lily. What if they didn't work out? What if they did? Was Harry's father even still in the picture?

He just needed time so he could think about this properly. He needed to know if she was involved, he needed to figure out if he really wanted to be in a relationship with her, he needed a game plan for if he decided to go with it. He just needed time. Time, however, was not something he was granted. Because with all these thoughts in his head he walked into the hallway and ran into Lily.

When he felt her body crash into his unexpectedly he didn't think about the pain in his foot, or how her elbow jammed into his side. He thought about how he was able to smell her perfume, and as he grasped her arms to steady her he felt soft skin. When her head collided into his chin he didn't think of the pain, okay he did a little, but mostly felt that read hair he dreamed and tried not to nuzzle against her.

Then all too soon she was gone, and not just from his arms. With the briefest of apologies, she was gliding away into her flat. Before he thought twice he shouted out "Wait!" She stalled in the doorway and turned, reluctantly, to meet his eyes. He stood there staring at her. Pale skin, navy blue dress that clinched at the waist, and her red hair was a mass of curls that just begged for his hands to sink into. He didn't want time, he wanted her. He stepped towards and his voice was rough when he said "I just…" and when no words came to mind he coughed and ran his hands agitatedly through his hair. She looked confused and he understood why, he wasn't making much sense but he just needed to keep her around him for a little longer while he figured out what exactly to say, and then it came to him "I really enjoyed watching Harry last night." By the sheer grace of God that made her smile and she let out a little laugh, and that gave him the courage to continue speaking. "Really he is a great kid anytime you need a babysitter I'm available," good he is in control, he's being smooth, no major mess-ups, "available in more ways than one."

Spoke too soon. His face was flushed and his eyes bugged out of his head, or at least it felt like they did, he didn't really just say that there is no way. When he looked at Lily though it was clear that yes, he did say that because her eyes were wide and her skin was flushed. Shit, oh shit, shit, shit. He tried to go into recovery mode, just be charming he thought to himself, talk about Harry or work, coffee, maybe the weather "Is Harry's dad still in the picture?" Lily made a choked sound and stared at him like he had three heads and Jesus he fucked up. What was wrong with him? What happened to thinking through his feelings? Or taking his time? This was not taking his time, he was screwed so monumentally, catastrophically screwed.

But then she was talking, she didn't look at that happy with him but at least she was talking to him. "No he's not," her eyes were downcast and she sounded skeptical of him and it was clear she was hesitant about talking about this with him. "He knows about Harry and everything, but he wasn't ready to be a dad and quite honestly I just don't think he is the type of person who would want to be." He was relieved, okay Harry's dad wasn't in the picture, he could work with this, he just needed to reel himself in, no more speaking without thinking. "James…" she was looking at him hesitantly now and he realized he wasn't completely in the clear.

He gave a quick smile and quickly said "Sorry that was rude, I'll see you tomorrow." When she offered him a hesitant wave goodbye before she went back into her apartment. As he turned towards the elevator he couldn't get the look on her face in those last moments of their conversation out of his mind. She had looked at him like she didn't know him and it just occured to him when the elevator doors closed that in reality, she didnt. He dreamed about her, thought about her, knew how he felt about her, she probably never came him a second thought after they parted ways in the morning. But then he remembered Lily's face when she saw Annie with him. Remembering her distant looks and her unwillingness to meet his eyes. He now recognized what could have been the beginning of jealousy, and as he walked towards his favorite coffee shop he felt a little more helpful.

XXX

Over the next few weeks, he didn't push, he just talked to her. Every morning he held Harry while she locked the door, it was awkward the first few days after his hallway outburst but soon they returned to a normal rhythm. They talked about work, friends, their mutual hatred of the landlord. Those 5 minutes with her every morning were soon becoming the best part of his day and he wanted more...God, he wanted more, but he waited and he would continue to wait. Then one day she was talking about how excited she was because Mary, her best friends from college, was coming to visit next month. It was then, he realized, just how lonely she must have been this past month after moving to a new city and not knowing anyone. So without thinking, like he so often does around her, he offered "The boys and I are going to the bar tonight, you can come with us, I'll call Frank and ask him to get Alice to come too. You'd like her Lils, shes really nice I'm sure you'd get on."

"That's really sweet James, but I couldn't impose like that, really I'm fine," but even as she said it he saw how much her eyes had lightened up at his suggestion.

He brushed off her concerns and poked Harry, who was being held tightly in her grasp, in the belly so he giggled "Really Lily you should come, get a babysitter for this munchkin, and we can drive over together."

When the elevator doors opened and they walked out Lily's smile was no longer hidden and a full, breathtaking grin was spread over her face and she said "I'll have to call my babysitter and see if she can come over…" she trailed off but the hope was there and that's all he needed.

Pulling out his phone he said, "Just text me when you figure it out." Then her hands were brushing his as she reached for his phone and typed her number into it. Then as he walked towards his car he smiled.

XXX

From: Lily Evans

To: James Potter

Hey, Cindy said she could watch Harry tonight, so if your offer still stands I'm free to come!

He grinned, ignoring the assistant who was currently trying to get his attention, Lexi he thinks her name is and responds with a kind of gusto he hasn't felt in a long time.

From: James Potter

To: Lily Evans

Sounds good! We can drive together. Meet you in the hallway at 7

He ignored the urge to put a winky face or something more flirtatious. This was about time. This was all about time.

XXX

Authors Note:

Thanks for reading!

Please review I would love to hear your thoughts!

Please Not a Username