'God, Lily, don't be dead.' James murmured as the feeling of shock subsided. He slapped her cheeks lightly. 'Don't be dead, don't be dead…'

  Lily didn't stir.

  'Well, Lils, I guess there's only one thing I can do right now.' James said, choking back a sob. Tears began rolling down his cheeks.

  'Here's the story of Lady Lillian. The one that has been passed down from generation to generation of Gryffindors.'

  'A noble and fine lady, Lady Lillian Potter was the prize wife. She was beautiful, with shining scarlet hair and her eyes a twinkling blue, she was smart, and for a lady of her time, extremely athletic. And her heart was given to Godric Gryffindor. He was so happy to have won her, he completely forgot his one obstacle- The man that her father had promised her hand to.'

  'And of course, Godric was no ugly man, either. He had messy black hair, like mine, and playful gray-blue eyes. He was kind and one of the most genuine and upfront people Lillian had ever met. And he, too, was athletic.

  'Godric and Lillian were to be married, even. They had this grand party not too long before Salazaar Slytherin left the Hogwarts Four. Why did he leave' Most say that it was his hatred for Muggle-Borns. But that wasn't true. Salazaar loved Lady Lillian with all his heart, though it wasn't hard, the heart was so small, and her Muggle father promised that Salazaar could have Lillian for his wife.'

  James held Lily close. He had sat her up in his lap and had scooped her up to keep her from freezing.

  'Everyone Godric and Lillian knew was invited to the party. Everyone, that is, excepting for Salazaar. And that did not please Salazaar in the least. After all, it was the party of the year. There were magical sports matches, food of all kinds, and of course, many enjoyed seeing the look of devoted love on the couple's faces.'

  'Everyone, that is, excepting for Salazaar.'

 'Salazaar was not going to let his only love slip through his fingers. Like I did to you.'

  'Godric and Lillian were finely dressed in their favorite colors and fashion of the time. The couple were on the dance floor, in Sirius's words, strutting their stuff. Every guy wanted to find their Lillian and every girl wanted to find their Godric. The two were very much in love.'

  'Salazaar had gathered a group of his followers and he led them on jet-black horses in a siege on Gryffindor's estate. They destroyed the palace almost completely and had taken many hostages. Among them, Lady Lillian.'

  James looked down at Lily again. He closed his eyes and began to drift off into thought. 'She can't die. She won't die. Don't die, Lils. I can't help you too much. My leg- Lils, I really wish that it wasn't broken.' And James began to cry again, hugging Lily's limp body.

  'Well? Does Godric get her back?' Lily murmured in his ear.

  James nearly dropped her in surprise.

  'Lily!' James exclaimed and hugged her tightly again.

  'Did he? Tell me he got her back!' Lily exclaimed, standing up and stomping her foot. But her body was all too weak for these movements, and she fell again.

  'Lils, he took a huge siege on the palace, all right?' James snapped in a worried way, making her comfortable. 'He took her back and they got married and had kids, after his death Orion, his son, swept his mother away to the only magical territory and made her queen. He had his own name changed to Potter and half of his children were to go to Gryffindor and rule. He married this girl named Ravenclaw and her daughter got pregnant and gave the children either the Ravenclaw surname or the Potter surname, and told them to keep those names for as long as they lived.. Lils?'

  Lily smiled at him weakly. 'Thank you.'

  'You were defending me, Lils, weren't you?' James asked, his tears of joy filling his eyes.

  'Like you would have for me.' Lily murmured.

  'It was all protecting me, wasn't it? The little game, the break-up, this? You've been protecting me all this time.' James whispered in realization.

  'Yes, and it isn't working!' Lily pouted. 'We keep returning to this whole--..'

  'Love thing?' James asked with a grin.

  'YES!' Lily exclaimed.

  'But it has been working. It's kept the both of us alive thus far and Lily?' James asked, his eyes straying to the ground.

  'What?' Lily asked, ducking her head to meet his gaze. He looked at her with an obvious sparkle in his eyes.

  'I don't want this anymore.' James said confidently.

  'Don't want what, James?' Lily replied, her voice soft and her gaze- Maybe he was just being hopeful. But was it- Loving?

  'I don't want to be apart from you any longer. It seems as if these past two years have been about keep-away. These past two years have been hell on me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.' James told her, taking her hands in his. 'Lily, you have to promise me you won't play this game any more. Your protection will do no good if I'm perfectly miserable.'

  Lily nodded. 'I promise. I don't want this. This life of forever being perfect.'

  James snorted.

  Lily slapped him lightly. 'You know, for a moment there I thought you were going to ask me to marry you.'

 James grinned. 'Not yet, anyway.'

 Lily smiled in return. 'I must look like a wreck.'

  'An attractive wreck.'

  'Lily? James?' A familiar voice bounced off the walls of the cave.

  'SIRIUS!' Lily exclaimed.

  'What? No hug?' Sirius walked in carefully with a band of Gryffindors lead by Professor McGonagall in pursuit.

  'James's leg is broken and I don't exactly have the strength to stand up.' Lily explained with a sigh.

  'No wands?' Sirius mumbled, going over to fix James's leg.

  'I didn't have mine and Lily's is a bit tired after battling with Voldemort.' James explained, not noticing the flinch of ninety percent of the people in the cave.

  'Never boring at Hogwarts, is it?' Lily asked him as she was helped up.

  'Would it be as interesting if it was normal?' James asked.

  'Nah.' Lily replied, shaking her head playfully, her hair whipping him lightly in the face. He laughed, tucking her hair back in place and she gave him a sweet kiss to shut him up.

  The other Gryffindors turned away.

  'We'll be getting you back to the castle now.' Professor McGonagall muttered.

   Lily slipped her hand into James and they began to walk with everyone else.

A/N: This not be the end!