Disclamer: I dont own nething u recognise.

Chapter 8

Its over! (But who with????)

Lily owled Malfoy explaining that she couldn't go out with him as she wasn't up to it. She hoped he wouldn't mind but she could not miss the opening of a club that James, Sirius and Amel were going to. She wanted to be with her friends. She was 20 years old. Clubbing is what 20 year olds do she thought to her self as she put the finishing touches to her make-up.

"Lily you look so good like that!" Amel said as she walked in a noticed Lily's clothes. She was dressed in a white off-the -shoulder top and a not to short white gypsy skirt.

"Thank you. You look amazing, if I was Sirius I wouldn't let you out of my sight." Lily laughed. Amel was dresses in a baby pink (her favourite colour) top that tied up at the back and some tailored dark purple trousers that hung of her figure perfectly.

"Well, he is going to let me out of his sight! Tonight is about fun! Oh and Remus is going to be there." Amel squealed excitedly. Lily hadn't seen Remus, he worked a lot. Or it was the full moon so the boys never saw much of him.

"Ok, girls, come on!" Sirius shouted up the stairs.

"Coming!" Lily shouted, pulling a little jacket on.

"Lily?" Amel looked serious. Lily knew what this was about.

"What?" Lily asked.

"Have you decided yet?" Amel asked.

"Can't we just forget about it for one night?"

"You can't put it off forever you know?"

"I know! But tonight I can and I will, now I'm going to have fun and forget about all of this! Are you joining me?"

"Ok, are we ready?" Amel asked Lily.

"yes, yes, and YES!" Lily squealed. She was looking forward to going out so much.

They arrived at the club, to find the music blasting and a very handsome looking Remus. The boys greeted each other with the usual slaps on the backs, while Amel hugged him and he kissed her on the cheek. Then it was Lily's turn and by was she nervous. It meant a lot to her being accepted by James's friends. When he hugged her and smiled she was so relieved she felt like kissing him.

"Lily, I remember you, Ravenclaw right? Head girl?"

"Yes." Lily beamed.

"You got beauty and brains there James, don't let her go." He grinned. Lily was glad it was dark as she was blushing like a beetroot.

"Come on James, Let's go and dance!" Lily said grabbing his hand and leading him onto the dance floor.

The night was spent dancing and having the time of their lives. For a while Lily forgot about Malfoy completely and focused on having fun with James.

Lily let them all into the house. When Lily came in she collapsed on the chair, shattered.

The phone rang.

"The phone? What time is it?" Lily asked James.

"Past one. It's for you." James said answering the phone and passing it to Lily.

"Hello?" Lily answered.

"Lily, it's Petunia."

"What are you phoning at this time for?" Lily asked yawning.

"Because mom's in hospital."

"What? What happened? Which hospital?" Lily asked frantically, holding back tears.

"She's alright. She's just broke a few bones in her leg." Petunia drawled as if it didn't matter that her mother was in hospital.

"What? How? What happened?" Lily yelled, trying to keep calm.

"She fell over, she's in the local. Come down tomorrow to see her if you must.." Petunia told her.

"I'm on my way!" Lily said as she put the phone down.

"Lily what's happened?" She got a chorus of.

"Mom's gone into hospital, I have to go." She said rushing around picking up her coat.

"No! You can't go now! It's nearly 2 o clock, they'll be no trains out at this time." James told her caringly.

"James, I have to see her. It's all my fault." Lily cried.

"Lily, how is it your fault, you were trying to help if anything."

"No! I should have been there, but I was out having fun, not even caring how she was." She exploded, tears falling down.

"No! Don't say that, you weren't to know. Come on Lily, I'll take you straight away in the morning, as soon as the suns up. Your not fit to go now. Please!" James looked at her pleadingly. "

Lily never slept at all that night. She kept tossing and turning. When she finally got to sleep, she had a nightmare. It was her mom, dead and Petunia, standing there yelling at her. "It's all your fault! All your fault!" Petunia yelled at her.

"No! No it's not! It's not!"

James heard Lily scream at the top of her voice. He ran into her room.

"Lily, Lily it's ok, you just had a bad dream." He told her, holding her and stroking her head.
Lily soon fell asleep in his arms. She woke to the sunrise and was on her way back home with James at her heal.

James sighed at the image that was sat in front of him. Lily asleep with her head on her mothers lap. He was shattered, it was 9.00 pm. He had been at the hospital almost 10 hours, but he didn't mind, as long as Lily and her mother were alright. He realised he did actually have feelings for Lily. Strong feelings. Could it be love? He asked himself. He didn't really know. All he knew was that the beautiful lady peacefully sleeping in front of him meant the world to him and he never wanted to loose her.

"James, I never had chance to say it, but thank you so much for today." Lily told him on the train back to London. She hadn't said much since she'd left the hospital.

"It's ok, as long as your moms alright?"

"Yeah, she'll be ok. Though they said she'll be in the hospital for about 12 weeks. She's broken a couple of bones in her leg." Lily told him wearily.

"How did she fall?" James enquired.

"Over a fallen piece of stone on the floor. That house is not safe for her. The sooner it's fixed the better." Lily said as she yawned.

James felt a pang of jealousy towards Malfoy as he knew that Lily (if the plan went well) would be married to him.

Lily lay in her bed, the silence was good for her. It give her time to think and she badly needed it. Her head was pounding. She had been at the hospital since God knows what time. She smiled at the thought of James, but her smile quickly turned into a frown. She knew who she would pick. She knew she had to. It was the right thing to do and she couldn't string both along.

The next week was a blur for Lily. She hardly saw James or Malfoy. She was always visiting her mom, when she did though, she smiled, for both of them were caring, loving and made her happy. Always telling her, to calm down, chill out, because she was doing to much. But Lily refused to believe. No matter how tired she was, she would never give up seeing her mother. She had visited her every other day, and on the spare days seen either Malfoy or James. Amel and Sirius were gems always helping out, accompanying her to the hospital. But as the second week processed things slowed down and even though Lily still visited her mom, she had time for other things as well.

By the third week Lily was back to her usual happy self. She couldn't believe she had been in London for 3 weeks. It seemed so much longer! She was sitting in the living room, watching the t.v, when Amel walked in.

"Hey, you ok? You look shattered." Amel smiled and sat next to her.

"Yeah, I am shattered. I need some sleep!" Lily chuckled. She was hoping Amel wouldn't bring up the subject of James and Malfoy. She really wasn't in the mood for an argument, but right on cue;

"Lily I know it's a bad subject but...?" Amel started.
"Look, I know what your going to ask me, and I've got it all worked out." Lily lied. "I love James, I want James." Lily told her, convincing her self almost as much as she was convincing Amel.

"Really? Oh Lily I'm so happy. But what about the money, the house?" Amel asked.

"Um, I'm sure we'll figure something out." Lily told her uneasily.

"Ok! Well I'm going to meet Sirius. See you later." Amel hugged her and left. Lily had just told another lie to her best friend and regretted it very much indeed. She hated lying, but little white lies couldn't hurt, could they. After all she didn't really lie did she? All she had told Amel was that she loved James, and wanted James. Not necessarily a lie really? She had never said she was going to not see Malfoy. Lily Evans didn't really lie did she? Maybe just twisted the truth!

As the month progressed, Lily continued playing the scarlet lady, seeing Malfoy and James. She was back to square one; confused as ever! As far as Amel was concerned Lily was seeing James, and James only, this is what Sirius thought too. In fact the only person that knew the whole truth was Lily and her mother. Lily had told her mother everything, and on her weekly visit to the hospital, would tell her about the dates she went on in the week. Her mom would give her a lecture but then smile and tell her to hurry up and choose! Lily's mom was recovering well, Petunia had only been to see her once so Lily mentally noted to hit her the next time she saw her. According to Lily's mother Petunia had a new boyfriend called Vernon. When Lily's mom had described him they both exploded into fits of giggles. Lily only had to think of his big, purple face and she would laugh.

Lily had told Malfoy about Dursley once.

"What was his name again?"

Malfoy asked her.

"Dursley, Vernon Dursley."

She had told him while eating at his Manor.

"Dursley, I've never heard of him, does he work?"

"You wouldn't have heard of him, he's a muggle." Lily told him, forgetting the Malfoy's view on muggles.

"A muggle? If my sister ever came home with a muggle, I'd sende her and him back where they came from. You know my view on muggles and muggle borns for that matter." He told her with disgust. Lily had to bite her tongue from saying something she would regret. She knew she was not to say anything, but it hurt her very much. The man she was to marry was against her and her family and she hated it.

"Anyway, how's your food?" He asked changing the subject.

"Um, it's superb." She smiled.

"Good. I have been meaning to ask you something for quite a while now." He asked her with a certain gleam in his eye. (AN its not the proposal, dont worry.)

Lily nodded.

"Well, I know we've only been together for a month or so, but I have enjoyed my time with you and I was wondering, whether, you'd like to move in here with me. I mean the place is huge and I'm all on my own. Plus your always here" He told her.

Lily didn't know what to say. Eventually, if she was to save her home, she would have to. But maybe it was too soon.

"Would you mind if I thought about it. I don't want to rush into anything." She found herself saying.

((((((((((******DONE********)))))))))))))

AT LAST! I'm done with this chap! It took the longest and in my opinion is the worst! But I hope you like it! Please read and review!

luv

annie

xxx

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