Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Written for assignment 5; Muggle Art, Task 3 - Write about a Lily

Other Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 713

Pairing - LilyAlice

Warning - University!au, Slice of life.

Not Far From Heaven

Lily studied the drawing on her paper, moving it around carefully. She loved drawing, so this was one of her favourite parts of her work. She probably took much more time on this than most everyone else, but she figured, eventually, it would mean her final product was just that much better.

University was everything she'd hoped it would be, and yet, so much more. She'd met the most wonderful people, her classes were engaging and interesting, and she was just having the time of her life.

Lily had never been so happy before, and much of that was because of Alice.

They'd met on their first day at the university, both excited and nervous in equal measures, and they'd bonded immediately. Friends on that first day, they'd started dating three months later and had been together ever since.

Every time she looked at her, she still got that flutter of excitement in her tummy, the anticipation of what would come next in their relationship still fresh even nine months in.

"Special delivery," Alice said, stepping into the lab. She tossed a lime green packet at Lily, who caught it with the tips of her fingers.

"Lab safety has completely died," Lily said shaking her head. Her eyes lit up when she looked down at the packet of Ice Mice in her hands. "I love you."

"Heathen," Alice muttered. "They're gross."

Lily scowled. "They're the best. This is a hill I would die on!"

Alice stared at her for a long moment. "Why are you like this?"

Lily crossed the lab and kissed Alice chastely on the lips. "You love me."

"You're not wrong," Alice replied, as she snagged Lily around the waist and pulled her closer for a longer, deeper kiss. "I've got to run an experiment, you sticking around for a while?"

Lily nodded. "I can work here as well as anywhere else."

"Good." Alice kissed the tip of Lily's nose. "We can go eat after."

…

The bang made Lily look up, and she almost choked on her tongue when she saw Alice standing in front of her equipment, smoke drifting around her and ash in her face.

"Well. That was unexpected," Alice said, blinking down at the smoking test tube. She was utterly composed and calm, and it was that, more than anything else, that set Lily off laughing.

Alice looked up at the sound, looking vaguely surprised, as though she'd forgotten Lily was even there.

"That… went a bit wrong?" she admitted.

"Write the process you used down, and study it later, see if you can make changes," Lily suggested through her giggles.

"I, yeah," Alice agreed, looking around for something to write on.

Lily snorted, getting up and offering Alice a notebook and pen, which Alice took gratefully, immediately doing as she suggested.

"I, uh, think I'm done for the day," Alice said, once her fevered writing came to a stop. "I need food. And cuddles. And kisses. Not necessarily in that order."

Lily wrinkled her nose. "You need a shower before any of that," she said. "You smell like smoke and chemicals."

Alice rolled her eyes. "You still love me."

…

"I'm surrounded by idiots," Lily complained, as she watched James and Sirius throw pieces of chicken at each other. "Why do we come here?"

Alice snickered. "Because as much as you like to complain, these idiots are our friends."

"Seems like bad life choices," Lily sniffed.

Sirius looked at her, raising a hand to his chest mockingly. "I'm wounded, Lily! Wounded!"

"You will be wounded if you carry on," she muttered, shaking her head. She turned to look at Remus. "How do you put up with him?"

"Meditation. Lots and lots of meditation."

Alice laughed and Lily grinned. Yeah, these were her people, even if some of them were… questionable.

…

"Today has been so long," Alice complained, as they climbed into bed that night. "Why can't we just live in bed where I can just cuddle you all day?"

Lily shifted across the bed into Alice's waiting embrace and sighed. "That sounds… like heaven. But… what we have… it's not far from heaven anyway, is it?"

Alice kissed her head. "It's really, really not. I love you."

Lily closed her eyes. "I love you too."

Written for;

Assorted Appreciation - 11. Keeping composure when things go wrong

Disney - D5. "I'm surrounded by idiots."

Showtime - 7. Femslash

Attic - 15. Someone who enjoys drawing

Love in Motion - Fem - LilyAlice

Em's Emporium - 5. University!au

Arcade - 4. Navi - Flutter / looking for something / Alice Longbottom

Alphabet - I - Ice Mice

Around the World - 1. Papyrus Scroll - Writing

Mythology - 29. "This is a hill I would die on."

Pop Figure - Gert Yorkes - Happy / Calm / "Why are you like this?" / Kissing

365. 51. Delivery

1000. 933. Lime