Lily and the marauders walked together downtown, Sirius holding a list of the apartments they wanted to check out. As they walked Lily suddenly wished she could take a picture and remember this moment forever. With everything going wrong in the world she could only smile at the sight of the four lively boys in front of her running around like they didn't have a care in the world. Peter had stolen Sirius's leather jacket that hung too loose off his shoulders but looked nice anyway. It was at least different from the striped polos.
Remus was holding some fancy coffee he paid far too much for but was enjoying all the same. James was explaining something lily couldn't quite hear that was causing the other two to go into a near frenzy and Sirius was walking beside Lily, shaking his head at the others like some sort of secretly proud mother hen.
"So, Black, decide you've finally outgrown the antics of your friends?"
Sirius looked off into the distance dramatically
"You know, Lily, i believe there comes a time in a man's life when he has to mature."
"Mhm."
"But, Lily, that day is not today."
"As i suspected."
"I just didn't want you to feel like you were all by your lonesome, ostracized, cast out by society,"
"How thoughtful of you, but you are welcome to join your fellow miscreants."
"Miscreants? Oi," he called, miraculously getting all three of their attention "this bird just called you miscreants."
Remus stopped and flared his nostrils violently
"How dare you." he sipped his coffee spitefully
"How dare she." peter stuck his nose in the air and put up a hand
"Well i never. Come, lads." James turned on his heel and began walking away again, the other two following.
Lily smacked Sirius in the shoulder
"What?" he demanded "you said it, not me." and with that he walked off after the others
…[...[]...]...
The five of them stood in the medium-sized empty apartment over the pub. It had one bedroom with a pitifully small bathroom attached.
"So what do we think?" Sirius asked, clapping a hand on Peter's shoulder
There was a long silence
"Wanna keep looking?" peter asked which was immediately greeted by nods and murmurs of agreement.
The next place was actually pretty good. Another one bedroom with two bathrooms and a decent sized sitting room that had a section with tile and counter to function as a sort of kitchen. It was nice. The only furnishings were an empty bed frame and a decent-looking couch but that was alright.
"What do you think?" Lily bumped James with her shoulder.
"I like it," he nodded
"You do?" she looked at him
"Yeah. it's… charming."
"Let me see that," Lily snatched the list of places from the current holder, remus, and pulled a pen out of her pocket to circle the listing
"Hey, Lily, would you like to see the list?" Remus asked sarcastically
"Okay." She smiled and circled the apartment information and handed it back
"Gee, thanks." he folded it and stuffed it in his pocket.
The next had a smaller sitting room, but a larger two bedrooms and bathrooms. The kitchen area was about the same size, not that any of them were master chefs.
"What do you think, boys?" Sirius threw an arm around both Remus and Peter
"Promising." Remus nodded
"I can just see my dream catchers lined up by that window…" Peter squinted
"Aaand it's over." Sirius withdrew his arms
The five of them wound up sitting outside a cafe they had found that night after killing their feet going to every single apartment on their list. Sirius was sipping on the top of a beer, Peter was coddling a mug of tea, Remus was holding his second fancy coffee of the day (although this one was in a mug with a cream leaf sitting on top), Lily was holding a large paper cup of hot chocolate, and James himself was drinking a seasonal "coffee" that was so dressed up there wasn't actually much coffee in it at all.
Lily took yet another sip of her drink before snapping away from it… again.
"Dammit," she complained under her breath
"Lily," Sirius sighed "dear, if you burn your mouth every time you take a sip of your drink, can't you just wait for it to cool off?"
"You clearly do not understand a woman's need for chocolate." she took another sip before scrunching up her face again when she burned her tongue "Worth it." she said, her expression not quite believable.
The rest of them chuckled.
"I'm hungry," Sirius complained
"You're always hungry." Peter observed
"Careful, or i'll eat you, because, merlin, am i hungry."
"Pads, if you're really that starving why don't you go get something to eat. Just a thought." Remus deadpanned
"Brilliant, Moony. I think i will." Sirius stood, tipping his beer to Remus and heading back inside the cafe.
James took a sip of his drink and smiled, just happy to be where he was. He and Lily had found a small, one bedroom off a busy street. It had a small balcony overlooking the shops across the street, and if you looked around the corner you could just see the nearby park. It was a little loud and a little small. It wasn't perfect but when he had seen her in it he could picture the two of them sitting there, late at night. Or bustling about in the middle of the day. He could hardly believe it was really happening.
James reached over and put an arm around lily and she slid closer to him. It was nice to be able to feel her sitting next to him. He kissed her on the top of the head, breathing in the scent of her hair. He had never been able to quite place what it smelled like. It was some sort of cross between vanilla and coconut. He usually didn't like coconut, but when it came to Lily he could make an exception.
James didn't believe in things like destiny and perfection. But this, right here, must have been pretty damn close.
