Great to be back folks!

Thank you all for your lovely reviews. They were wonderful as always. I looked forward to your feedback each and every week.

After the heaviness of the last chapter, I figured we could do with some cheer, so here it is! Enjoy

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter Seventeen: The Little Things

Severus woke with the sun as he did every morning, never failing to beat his alarm clock. He didn't know if it was just his internal clock that woke him or the sound of the birds chirping outside that did it, but he always woke up with about fifteen minutes to spare.

Typically those fifteen minutes were spent lazing in bed, relishing the feel of a soft mattress beneath him instead of loose springs stabbing him in the back, of fresh smelling linen's to embrace him instead of threadbare blankets stolen from a neighbor's trash can. He enjoyed the sight of blue skies outside his window with ivy scaling the sides of the house, thankful he no longer stare out grim caked windowpanes at a dead tree with its branches looming dangerously close to piercing the glass. Even the sight of a ceiling without cracks in the plaster or spider webs in the corners was a welcome change.

A quiet sigh by his shoulder reminded him of another gift he was lucky to enjoy every morning, turning his head to gaze down upon the beauty nestled at his side.

Ever since the she first requested it, Lily returned night after night to sleep beside Severus. As soon as everyone had tucked into bed, things got quiet, and the house was still, Lily would creep out of her room and covertly sneak into Severus's bed to snuggle up with him. She would tiptoe across the floor and lightly tap Severus shoulder, a soft smile playing on her face as he would make room for her.

Lily thought Severus was asleep most nights when she would come knocking, but in truth, Severus would lie awake at night waiting for the sound of her door creaking open and her soft steps down the hall.

At first, the pair would simply lie side by side, maybe facing each other, maybe one facing away. But as days turned into weeks, the routine gradually shifted. Severus would wrap his arm around Lily and draw her close. Then Lily started to slip her arms around Severus in her sleep as if he were a big teddy bear, one arm around his neck, the other over his waist. Soon Severus began curling around Lily, squeezing her to him so tight. Eventually, Lily took to throwing her leg over Severus' hip and so became their routine. It became second nature for the two of them to intertwine, Lily's head tucked up under Sev's chin, his nose buried in her hair, pressed against one another from head to knee.

Lily cuddled against Severus as he watched her, the girl's eyes fluttering under her lids and a peaceful expression gracing her face. She sighed yet again in contentment, stretching slightly in her sleep and nuzzling closer. Her fingers behind's Severus had twitched occasionally and her other hand gripped his nightshirt the way a child would her favorite blanket.

Severus cherished these moments before Lily would wake. It was the rare occasion he had her all to himself. In her waking moments, Lily was headstrong, quick witted and concerned for everyone and everything. She possessed a fierce determination and pride that warred with her stubbornness and steadfast ideals. Asleep she was angelic, almost ethereal in a way, slumber melting down any worry that may crease her face, easing the tension away to a pristine, smooth canvas of skin, as if someone had sculpted her with the finest precision. No one else saw this side of Lily; not her friends, not her family, not strangers on the street, and certainly—though Severus was ashamed of the tiny, childish part of himself that crooned in victory—not James Potter.

Immature as it was, Severus couldn't help but gloat to himself that Potter had never managed to get this close to Lily, no matter how hard he had tried. A part of Severus wonder what Potter's reaction would be if he could see Lily now, wrapped in Severus's arms.

Of course, it was a silly thought; one selfish and born of boyish competition, Severus chided himself. Lily had come to him in a time of need and wanted comfort, security. To turn something so innocent into another tally mark in the battle against Potter would be beyond insensitive. After all, she had been the victim of someone treating her like a goal, a prize or trophy only too recently that summer. Lily had made it clear; romance was the last thing on her mind after all that.

Lily was no prize to be won and certainly, no object to miserly covet in greed. Severus wasn't in love with an object, but a person, a living breathing person who listened to him, whose eyes lit up when she discovered something new, whose smile warmed the depths of his heart when she put all her focus on him. She would never stand for him treating their time together like some triumph in a petty rivalry. She was an independent girl—a woman now—one that made her own choices and would not stand to hear others decide her fate for her. No, she was not a prize for him or Potter.

Lily muttered something in her sleep, grumbling nonsensically. Severus made out a word or two of a colorful dream, something about 'Baked apples' and 'Mr. Turkey'. He tried not to laugh, but couldn't help letting out a chuckle, biting his lip to keep silent as Lily's brow furrowed. Grumbling again, Lily flopped over onto her side, leg tossed carelessly over Severus's hip as she wiggled to get closer.

Suddenly Severus was biting his lip for a different reason.

This was the one issue with their little arrangement. As innocent as Lily's nightly visits were, there was one little factor that tainted that innocence. Severus was a hot-blooded, abled-bodied young man, one with hormones and urges and desires he couldn't ignore. While he could control his actions, that didn't mean he could control his thoughts, and his mind did wander often with Lily pressed so close to him.

Lily squirmed again, and Severus bit back a groan. Clearly, Lily had no idea what she did to him.

Times like these, Severus couldn't help but feel guilty. Lily had been through a traumatic experience, the very reason she could no longer sleep alone, and here he was fighting back hormonal teenage urges. Last thing Lily needed was to wake up to…that poking her. She'd probably be mortified. Maybe even afraid of him.

That really worried Severus. Never would he want Lily to look at him with the fear in her eyes that she had for Avery. How would she react to knowing Severus had some less than wholesome fantasies on him mind every now and then? She didn't need her best friend lusting over her.

Lily let out a quite moan in her sleep, causing Severus to curse his treacherous body as his blood rushed south.

'Think of something, anything,' Severus thought frantically, 'Dumbledore doing a strip tease…McGonagall bursting out of a cake at a stag party…that…that Umbridge woman in a thong!...that did it…'

Severus breathed a sigh of relief, as his morning 'problem' died a horrible death, though he did worry if he may have left himself impotent for life with that awful image.

It was all for the best, he supposed, as his alarm clock chose that moment to go off.

Lily shifted again, rolling slightly on her back and pulling away from Severus. Stretching her arms out—and nearly smacking Severus in the nose—she opened her eyes a fraction. Her gaze falling on Severus, she smiled sleepily at him, let out a hum.

"G'morning," she mumbled.

"Morning," Severus greeted, propping himself up on an elbow.

Lily sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes, "Have you been up long?" she asked with a yawn.

"Just a minute or two," Severus lied as he did every morning, "Time for you to head back, isn't it?"

Lily flopped on her back with a groan, "Ugh, I don't want to move," she whined, tugging the blankets up to her chin, "I'm so comfy right now."

"If you don't hurry, your parents might see you leaving," Severus reminded her.

Lily pouted up at him.

"Or Petunia might catch you," Severus added.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine," she relented, "Tuney would never let me live it down." Just because Petunia had mellowed out about magic, it didn't mean she had lightened up at all with her rules about proper etiquette or manners. Sneaking out of a boy's room would send her through the roof.

Wriggling out of bed, Lily gave Severus a quick hug before creeping to the door. Listening for any sound on the other side, she flashed Severus a thumbs up, letting him know it was all clear. Opening the door just enough to slip out; she scurried back to her room.

Severus sighed deeply. Getting out of bed, he stretched languidly before heading into the hall, grabbing his bathrobe off the back of his door as he passed. Having three women in the house with miles of long, back length hair, it was always a good idea to shower first thing in the morning, before anyone else woke up.

Since moving into with Lily's family, showers had become a luxury Severus enjoyed daily, as was brushing his teeth. Back home, there was never much hot water and cleaning products were in a bare minimum, and toothpaste rarely bought. Tobias saw such things as frivolous and insisted on them buying cheap bars of soap to use on both their body and hair. It left the skin dry and itchy and the hair limp and greasy, but as far as Tobias was concerned, it got the job done.

"You're just need to rinse off dirt, not smell like a poofter," Tobias would say.

Severus turned on the shower and undressed. While he waited for the water to heat up, he looked around the bathroom. It was a nice place, with coral-colored walls and white flower tiled floors. Matching fancy towels that they never used hung on a rack, flowers embroidered on them, a petunia on one and a lily on the other. The shower curtain had a lavender cloth outside pulled back while a plastic white curtain hung down for privacy.

Severus looked at the sink and smiled. Lined up on the counter were the Evanses toothbrushes; red for Hank, yellow for Willow, purple for Petunia, and green for Lily. At the end of the line was a dark blue toothbrush, Severus new toothbrush. And in the shower on one of the two little built in shelves, there was a set of shampoos and soaps Willow picked out especially for him, placed right next to Hank's things.

At school Severus took showers only rarely. Even within the privacy of his dorm's bathroom, Severus had to be wary of letting his guard down. A halfblood with pureblood allies was still a halfblood and even if he wasn't attacked in the dorm, that didn't mean there wouldn't be a nasty little prank waiting for him if he wasn't careful. On more than one occasion, people had stolen his robes, forcing him to leave the shower naked.

Once steam began fogging up the mirror, Severus stepped into the shower. Standing under the hot spray, he just luxuriated in the blissful sensation for a moment. Picking up his body wash, he poured a dollop into his hand and allowed the warm scent of cinnamon and nutmeg wash over him.

He could get used to this.

{page break}

By the time Severus was clean and wearing fresh clothes, breakfast was already in the making. Petunia bustled about the kitchen humming to herself while she made cheese quiches that would make any gourmet chef green with envy. Always trying to outdo herself, Petunia took pride in preparing staggeringly opulent meals for the family to try. Originally preparing meals was a chore assigned to the girls that rotated weekly, but Petunia had soon taken over the task completely, finding joy in cooking and cleaning.

Severus supposed it had to do with her desire to be the perfect housewife; classy, sophisticated and skilled around the house in ways that others were lacking. Being around Simone and witnesses a reserved, dignified lifestyle of garden parties and afternoon teas must have appealed greatly to her; he could see why the pair became friends. Petunia was enthusiastic to learn from the house elves at the Serapeum estate. Trained from young ages to serve wizards to the utmost perfection, Minks and the other elves knew all kinds of confectionary tricks and cooking methods that Petunia lapped up eagerly during her visits.

When Severus thought about it, even if Petunia had been born with magic, she would likely still have chosen a life of housework and gardening over potion brewing or dragon taming. She enjoyed the simple, the orderly. Managing a household gave her joy the way only magic did for Severus. If she were a part of the wizard world, she would be content as a very proper housewife, governing a household and raising children.

"Did you wash your hands?" Petunia asked as Severus passed her in the kitchen on his way to the breakfast nook.

"I just got out of the shower," Severus answered.

"That's not what I asked," Petunia said primly. She pointed the spatula to the sink, "Wash your hands."

Severus sighed; Petunia was definitely destined to be a mother.

As Severus washed up, a red blur blew into the kitchen, snagging an apple it passed.

"Uh-uh-uh!" Petunia tutted, catching her sister by the arm. She plucked the apple from her sister's mouth and put it on the counter.

"You'll spoil your appetite," Petunia scolded. She pointed Lily towards the sink, "Breakfast is almost ready. Wash up."

"Yes, Mom," Lily said sarcastically, stomping to the sink.

Petunia sniffed at them and turned back to the fruit she was chopping up.

Severus smirked as Lily sidled up next to him.

Lily snickered and shoved Severus lightly with her shoulder, submerging her hands in the soapy water, "She got you to, huh?"

"She always does," Severus replied.

"Do you two want any tea?" Petunia called from the counter.

"I do," Lily answered.

"Coffee, please," Severus said.

"You're too young for it," Petunia said without looking at him, same response as every morning.

Severus rolled his eyes, "I think I'm old enough."

"You're not an adult, yet," Petunia reminded him, placing the quiches on individual plates.

"I'm old enough to put up with you," Severus muttered under his breath, causing Lily to giggle.

"Be nice," Lily chided, bumping shoulders with Severus.

Severus grinned. "Make me," he challenged, drying his hands off.

Lily flicked water at him.

"I saw that," Petunia scolded, "don't go making a mess of the kitchen."

Severus's grin widen as Lily pouted and stuck her tongue out at her sister's back.

'You wait…' Lily mouthed at Severus.

Severus raised a brow, 'Bring it on,' his eyes said.

Petunia assembled the food on the plates and hung up her apron.

"Head out to the table, now," she said. She poured Lily a cup of tea and sent her sister on her way, "Food will be out there in a minute." She laden a tray up with three plates and set about pouring some juice.

At the table, Hank was reclined leisurely back in his chair with the morning paper, perusing the police reports and wedding announcements for the secret thrill of seeing if it was anyone he knew. Willow sat with a cup of coffee filling out the crossword section while simultaneously puzzling out a word scramble.

"Good morning, you two," Hank greeted from over his paper.

"Morning dad," Lily said, kissing her parents each on the cheek, "Morning mum."

"Good morning Mr. Evans, Mrs. Evans," Severus said formally.

Willow sighed good naturedly, "Good morning, Severus. Did you sleep alright?"

Severus nodded, shooting Lily a discreet look, "Quite well, thank you."

Petunia bustled into the room with a tray heaped with food.

"Chair legs on the floor, daddy," Petunia reminded her father, stepping on the chair rung and being the front legs of her father's seat back to the ground.

Hank had the grace to look properly scolded and muttered an apology, disappearing behind his paper.

With the skill of a veteran server, Petunia balanced the tray on one hand and set down the plates from it with the other hand, "Cheese quiche with assorted fruit cups, blood sausage, and apple turnovers. Enjoy."

"Petunia, you've outdone yourself," Hank praised, folding away his paper, "This looks marvelous!"

Petunia beamed with pride.

Willow waved everyone to his or her seats, "Sit down, sit down. We wouldn't want this fine meal to go cold, now would we?"

Lily slipped into the seat next to her father with Severus coming to sit on her other side, right next to Willow. As Severus sat down, Willow poured him a cup of coffee and slid him the cream, unaware of her eldest daughter's disapproving stare or Severus's shit-eating grin. Since staying with Lily's family, Severus grew quite amused with the silly routine. Willow remained completely unaware it was even a subject of debate between Severus and Petunia; she simply gave him coffee because it was what he was accustom to at home.

Severus took on an air of nonchalance, maintaining eye contact with Petunia as he slowly brought the coffee cup to his lips and took a sip. Savoring the bitter taste, he licked his lips and let out a small 'ah' as he put the cup down, trying to keep a blank, innocent face.

Petunia just huffed and shook her head, "Git," she mouthed.

"So, girls, Severus, what do you all have planned for today?" Hank asked, cutting up his sausage.

"I was thinking of going to that new café on Main Street and seeing if they were hiring," Petunia offered up, "Then I thought I would finish up on that skirt I've been hemming."

"What a lovely idea," Willow praised, "what are you hoping to apply for, dear?"

Petunia shrugged, "Waitressing, probably. Just so that I can have a bit of spare change for myself. I don't want Simone and Thea to be forced to pay for everything whenever I visit."

"You should apply for a cooking position," Severus suggested between bites of quiche, quickly devouring the tasty morsel.

Lily nodded enthusiastically, "He's right, Tuney! Your cooking is incredible. They would have to be barmy to not want you cooking for them."

Petunia blushed, looking down at her plate, "I have a few more years at Uni before I'm qualified as a chef."

"Stick to your guns and it won't be long before that school gives you a scholarship to one of the finest culinary colleges in France," Hank said proudly, "Just imagine it, our daughter in Paris!"

Petunia smiled inwardly to herself; the appreciation was nice.

Severus hid a grin. Something about meeting Simone and Thea had brought out an entirely new side to Petunia. A warmer, more vibrant side that had a contagious positivity to it. It allowed her parents to see her in a new light and suddenly, everything their once cross daughter said and did seemed fascinating and interesting. The way Petunia seemed to glow instead of withdraw from the world drew people near her now and made her the life of the party. Now more than ever, one could see the similarities between the Evans daughters; both light up a room with a laugh and a smile.

"What about you two?" Willow asked, taking a bite of some fruit, "any plans today?"

Lily thought about it, "Well I know Severus is all done with his summer coursework, but I still have Ancient Runes to finish. After that I might take a walk around the park and pick wildflowers." She turned to her friend, "Sev, do you want to join me?"

Severus swallowed a mouthful of turnover and took a sip of coffee before answering, "Can't say I want to pick flowers, but a walk would be nice. Maybe I can find some potions ingredients growing in the field."

Lily rolled her eyes and playfully nudged him, "Of course you're thinking about potions. Well as long as you come along, I'm happy."

"It sounds like you all have a nice day planned out," Willow observed, "I'll be teaching piano to the Winthrop girl at noon. Then I have to go to market."

Hank wiped some crumbs from his mustache, "Yes, and I have one class to teach today."

"People really go to school during the summer, daddy?" Lily asked, amused.

"Yes, it is a perfect time to fit in extra courses you had no room for during fall or spring semesters," Hank explained.

"Surprised you haven't tried to do that," Lily teased Severus.

Severus took a long gulp of coffee. Dabbing at his mouth with his napkin, he meticulously cut up his sausage into equal sized pieces.

Looking at Lily, he gave her a wry smile, "I asked; Hogwarts doesn't offer summer sessions."

Everyone at the table laughed.

As everyone was finishing up breakfast there was a tapping at the window.

"Morning mail's here," Petunia said excitedly. Getting up from the table, she opened the window and a little Morning Dove landed on her outstretched hand, a small letter clasped in its beak.

"Thank you Dewdrop," Petunia said, taking the letter from the bird.

Close behind the dove, a large, tawny brown owl swooped up onto the windowsill. It dropped the letter in its beak and hooted softly.

Petunia gave the owl wide breadth as she reached for the letter.

"Thank you…," she said nervously. While Petunia was adapting well to the magical world, owls were a bit too intimidating for her to get used to with their large sharp beaks and stern eyes. It was why Simone sent her mother's Morning Dove to deliver letters whenever possible.

Dewdrop hopped down from Petunia's hand and onto the sill next to the owl, both birds taking little sips from the water dish placed there and savoring a few treats left out in a cup by Lily.

Petunia examined the letter from the owl, "This one is to you, Lily."

"Oh," taking the letter, Lily flipped it over and studied the writing.

"It's from Remus," she said, breaking the seal.

"What's it say, dear?" Willow asked politely.

Lily browsed through the contents of the letter, "It says here that Remus would like me to come visit sometime this month. After the full moon…because he's busy before that," she added hastily to her parents.

"Yeah, busy," Severus snorted.

Lily stamped on his foot, "Be nice."

"That sounds lovely, sweetie," Willow said, "When do you suppose you'll go?"

Lily frowned down at the letter, "I'm not sure…I mean, I may be busy this summer, what with visiting Mary and getting school work done. Plus Severus and Remus don't exactly get along and I would hate to have to leave Sev alone."

"You don't have to stay here on my account," Severus told Lily. Though he wasn't thrilled at the prospect of her spending time with that wolf, he wasn't going to resort to old behavior and horde her away for himself, "A day by myself won't kill me."

"Still…I'm going to be awful busy…I may have to think about it," Lily said hesitantly.

Severus cocked an eye at her, giving Lily an odd look.

'What's up with you?' he questioned with his eyes.

Lily caught his look and shook her head before looking down at her plate.

"Ooh!" Petunia squealed, calling everyone's attention to herself, "Simone says her folks are heading off to Rome for the weekend and that I am welcome to stay with her and Thea while they're gone."

"That's wonderful, dear," Hank said, "I must say, Simone's folks sound like lovely people. Her father was certainly nice. Now, what are Thea's parents like? I don't believe we've met them yet."

Petunia paused thoughtfully, "You know, I don't think I've ever met them either. Thea doesn't really talk about them much…strange." She shrugged and went back to babbling with her mother about what outfits she should bring.

After breakfast, Lily dragged Severus upstairs to help her with her Runes. Sitting together against the headboard of her bed, Lily had Severus quiz her on what each Rune meant while they snacked on a bag of crisps. A Beatles record played in the background from the record player by her desk.

"Remus letter included another missive from James," Lily admitted about thirty minutes into their study session.

Severus raised a brow, "Oh?"

"Yeah…he wants to know why I haven't written him back," Lily told her friend.

Severus turned to look at Lily, "Are you going to write him back?"

Lily shrugged, "To be honest, I'd rather not. I don't want to give him the wrong impression."

"And what wrong impression is that?" Severus asked.

"That I am encouraging him," Lily replied. Closing her Runes notebook, she spread out on the bed, stretching her arms over her head, "I don't know…I guess I am sort of flattered that he likes me so much…and he can be rather charming sometimes, when he isn't being a git and all. Honestly, there's a part of me that sort of likes him, but…"

"But?" Severus prodded, his heart beating painfully loud in his ears. He always suspected Lily had some feelings for Potter, but hearing her say it allowed was like carving a gaping hole in his chest.

"But I don't think it would ever work out," Lily confessed finally, "Sure we have some similar interests and we get along when he isn't causing trouble…we actually have had some fun in each other's presence before and its…nice. But, there's one thing that can't work."

Severus held his breath.

"It's you," Lily said, turning to look at Severus, "You two will never get along and frankly after all I have learned this year, I don't blame you for that. But James, he would never 'make nice' with you and I'm sure he would always be waiting for me to change my mind and end our friendship for good. He'd probably pick at every little thing you do, just waiting for the moment he can sneak in and push you out of my life…and I don't want you out of my life, Sev."

Severus stared at Lily, his eyes wide.

Lily smiled sadly, "You've been there through every important moment in my life and I…I honestly can't see myself moving forward without you. It's just too painful. Just a week or two without you hurt more than anything I ever thought could. Dating James isn't worth losing you."

Severus was speechless.

"I.." he stammered, "I-I don't want you to feel like you can't date because of m-me, Lily," he offered feebly.

Lily laughed, "It's no big deal, Sev. It's just a little crush if anything. I mean, so I think he's cute, that doesn't mean I would overlook everything else. He's not the one for me. Someday I'll find the one, but I don't think it's going to be James Potter." She rolled onto her side and poked Severus playfully, "It's some silly little attraction; I'll get over it."

Severus didn't want to show it, but inside he was crowing with victory. 'I'm more important!' he thought, his mind racing, 'Take that, Potter!'

"I wouldn't want to lose you either, Lily," Severus said, "You're the most important person in my life."

Lily smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, "I'm glad. I was worried Simone had replaced me."

Severus snorted, "Fat chance of that happening."

Lily giggled, "She's not that bad."

"She's insufferable," Severus insisted.

Lily giggled louder.

"So is that why you don't want to visit Lupin?" Severus asked, "Because Potter might be there?"

Lily looked away, askance, "Not really. It's complicated."

Severus cocked his head, "What is it?"

Lily sighed, sitting up and resting her arms on her knees, "Well it's like this: Remus is nice, right? But he's also a boy, you know? And well…I just don't know if I feel comfortable alone with him."

Now Severus was confused, "Why? Outside of the full moon, Lupin is harmless. Useless, but harmless."

"Be nice," Lily scolded, "I don't know…it's sort of like…things feel weird with guys now, you know?"

Severus shook his head, "Not really."

Lily groaned, "Okay it's like…I thought I knew Avery, right? I mean, I didn't know him, know him, but I at least thought I knew him well enough that he wouldn't try something like…that. I didn't think anyone would. But he did…and now guys just sort of feel like this big unknown to me somehow…I mean, I know I can trust Remus, but still there's this part of me that just…doesn't want to risk it." She slumped forward, "It's not just Remus; I don't think I want to be around any guy at school."

"But you're around me all the time," Severus pointed out.

"That's different," Lily insisted, "With you I just…know I'm safe. Like, you'd never do that to me and I feel it with every fiber of my being. I don't know, maybe it's because you saved me, but I don't look at you and think…you're this unpredictable…something, you know?"

Severus shook his head, perplexed, "I…"

Lily groaned, burying her face in her arms, "I told you it was complicated. I don't even want to think how it is going to be being in the same room as Avery for the trial."

Severus put a hand under Lily's chin, lifting her head so she would look at him, "Lily, it's okay to be a little wary after what you went through. You can get through this."

"You think so?" Lily asked skeptically.

"Of course," Severus assured, "You said it was understandable for me to be cautious around muggles after dealing with my father, didn't you?"

Lily nodded, "That's because what he did to you was terrible. It would make anyone nervous."

"What you went through was just as bad, if not worse," Severus pointed out, "And if you think there is hope for me, then there is hope for you. But until then, it is perfectly fine if you want some time apart from boys for a while. No one is going to force you. I'm certainly not."

Lily leaned her head on Severus's shoulder, "Thanks, Sev. That means a lot to me. I just don't know what I'm going to do."

"Neither of us do, Lily," Severus admitted, "and that's okay. We don't have to have the answer to everything."

"But not having the answer must be driving you crazy," Lily teased halfheartedly.

Severus gave a put upon sigh, "I suppose it does put me out of my element."

Lily giggled, "Thanks, Sev."

Severus blinked, "For what?"

Lily shrugged, "For everything, I guess. You've been a real help to me. This wasn't exactly something I wanted to check off my list of life experiences, but I'm glad I have you here for me to help me get through it."

Severus rested his head on top of Lily's, "You know, I think it helps to have you here for me too. Who knows how things would have turned out if I didn't have you? I…I might have made some pretty bad choices, I think."

"You don't know that, Sev," Lily reasoned.

"No, I do," Severus reaffirmed, "Lily, I was heading down a very dark path. I wanted to. I was mad and so obsessed with getting even with people. I had stopped caring about how it might affect others and was hung up on myself. I think if things hadn't gone the way they did, I might have become completely wrapped up in my own victim complex. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have escaped my father; I wouldn't have broken away from Avery and his friends." He looked down at Lily, "I know I don't say this enough, but I'm very lucky to have you in my life, Lily."

Lily flushed under Severus's intense gaze, "Come on, you're making it sound like I'm so much better than I am."

"You're much better than you realize," Severus stated factually.

Lily tilted her head and gazed at Severus, "I have probably said this so many times now, but I'm really," she pressed their foreheads together, "really glad we made up."

Severus closed his eyes and smiled, "Me too."

Lily pulled away, "What's say we finish my homework down by our spot?"

Severus's smile broaden, "Nothing would make me happier."

Another chapter down, many more to go.

I decided to touch upon my feelings over the Lily/James pairing in this chapter.

The one thing I always had against their relationship is that Lily essentially throws away all the knowledge what James had done out the window because he "matured"...which he hadn't since he actually was just hiding his harassment of Snape from then on. I know people can change and people can grow up, but frankly there is a difference between letting go of the past and saying "fuck what you did to my friend; you're hot and we should date!". It seems like the ultimate betrayal on Lily's part. Yes, I know you can't help who you have feelings for, but it just feels like any justification Lily could have come up with would fall flat considering how much pain Potter caused Snape. She is basically saying that how ever much she once cared for Snape was a lie by dating and marrying the one person who so utterly destroyed his self esteem and self worth on a regular basis. It would be like me hooking up with the guy who nearly drove my friend to suicide (long story) because he 'changed' later on; his new personality doesn't change the impact he had on my friend's life. Lily no longer being friends with Snape should not mean she should disregard all he suffered and went through.

Okay, rant over.

Read and review, my lovelies!