A/N: Wow, thanks for all the reviews! There were a lot! We were so extremely very surprised and hyperly happy!

*

Lily's eyes popped open and she sat up. Taking in her surroundings, she remembered the past day and lay back down, sinking into the fabric beneath her. Whoever knew that a bed could be so incredibly comfortable…but that isn't the point. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up with a sigh.

"Christmas!" she said in realization.

She glanced out of the window and she was delighted.

"There's snow and everything!" she smiled. "The best Christmas since…since...oh, I don't know when there's been a Christmas like this!"

A knock sounded on her door as she bounded off her bed.

"Come in!" she yelled.

James popped his head in. She smiled at him, but he looked preoccupied.

"Uh – Lils…do you usually wear your pajamas around other people?" he asked, making Lily blush and look down. "I mean- it is fine, I was just wondering. Really, there's no need to change," he said hurriedly, afraid he had offended her.

         
She laughed, "I think I'll change. But yeah- I do at home, anyway."

"This could be your home," he said softly.

She only half heard the comment, and simply smiled at him.

"Well…"

"What?" he asked.

He was staring at her queerly. He's acting funny this morning…, Lily thought to herself.

"Well I was going to change – but if you feel the need to stay – I mean – you are my cousin. You could just turn around."

For some reason, he gave her a silly, embarrassed smile.

"No – it – is really okay, I'll go. I'll be downstairs; I think Flo is making breakfast. See you in a few," he said as he stumbled out of the room.

Lily shook her head and muttered to herself, "Strange indeed…"

                                                          *

A few minutes later, she descended the stairs fully dressed. James watched her closely from inside the kitchen. She smiled at him, but again he didn't respond – only stared.

"Good Morning, Lily!" Flo said, giving her a quick squeeze. "It's so nice to have you here again."

James observed the housekeeper with a peculiar look. Lily smiled and nodded.

"I'm sorry to say I don't have a very vivid memory of you, Flo. You're so nice; I don't see how I could have forgotten…"

"Ah, well, memories come and go." Flo replied, attending to the eggs and bacon on the stove.

"What a pleasant smell!"

All heads turned to the door as Mr. Potter entered the kitchen with a grin directed at Lily and James, sitting next to each other at the table.

"I do hope that you two are ready for a fun day. I presume you've seen the snow, hmm?"

"Yep," Lily replied, smiling at the man she found so familiar.

In fact, the whole house was familiar. But she had been here before – at least that's what they told her – so it was only natural… the glitch was that it didn't feel complete. Something was missing.

"You're being awfully quiet today, James," he said, nodding towards his son. "Usually you're up and about and singing and dancing."

James blushed the color of Lily's hair as he muttered, "I don't do that…"

"Is it because Lily is here? So you know, last time she was here, you both –"

"What?" Lily and James said together, listening intently.

Mr. Potter seemed to change his mind.

"Oh, nothing – it's not important."

Lily sank back into her chair. Of course it's important. I still have no idea what's going on here. James was staring at her again. Mr. Potter took a seat across from them. A few minutes later, Flo also joined the three of them at the table.

"This is nice." Mr. Potter said, sending smiles across the table.

Flo agreed. James remained silent, and Lily was deep in thought.

"Is something wrong?"

"Huh?" James asked, waking up from his trance and looking up.

 Lily's glance went from Mr. Potter, to James, and back.

"Nope – it's nothing at all. Just a little tired…"

"They work you hard at school, I'm sure," he winked.

Breakfast was rather uneventful. The food was so appetizing that everyone was concentrating solely on eating. After setting their forks down, they looked at Mr. Potter.

"Well, what do you kids say that we wait until this evening to open presents?  The snow only stays fresh for so long…"

"Excuse me, kids?" James snorted. "We aren't kids."

Mr. Potter grinned, suddenly reminding Lily of his son. Even they aren't aware of how alike they are.

"So you aren't. So you aren't. Joining us, Flo?"

"Of course," the little witch replied. "After I clean up in here, you can expect me."

"That's good, because we'll need an even number of people."


"What do you mean by that?" Lily asked. "Oh, not again…" she grinned. "My friend and I already got James and Sirius a few days ago…"

"I guess Flo will be on my team then. Sounds like you two will be teaming up."

Lily looked and James. James looked at Lily. They shrugged.

"Now you three wait for me." Flo shook her finger at them as they scampered out the door like little children.

"Dad," James whined. "You cheat every year anyway… You know I can't use magic here, yet."

Mr. Potter simply winked as he said slyly, "Fine, no magic…I promise."

James had a strong suspicion that William Potter's fingers were behind his back, crossed. He narrowed his eyes, making a sign that he'd be watching for any such cheating before turning back to a confused and amused Lily.

They built a snowman first, waiting for Flo to come out. When she did, she was entertained by the fact that James was the snowman, or at least, his father had built one around him magically and he seemed to be having trouble getting out. Lily was doubled over laughing; with James' eyes glaring at her from behind the snow – just about the only part of him that was left visible.

"You're supposed to be on my team!" his voice floated out, muffled.

"I guess I am, at that."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. Shuffling a bunch of snow into her hands, she hurled it at an unsuspecting Flo, who stopped in her tracks.

"Hey! Who said it's started already?"

Lily was busy kicking James free of his snowman imprisonment – and Mr. Potter and Flo were far ahead in making a fort.

"C'mon James!" she said, and she grabbed his arm and they dodged a storm of snowballs.

"You two are nothing but a pair of cheaters!" James yelled back at them, laughing.

He knew his yard well, and directed Lily to the small forest area off to the side.

"We can build a fort just outside here. They'll be faster, since they're cheating," he shot a glance behind him, "but we can take cover in the forest. And we'll win anyway."

He winked at her. Both of them got down on their hands and knees, crawling around and building up a stronghold. Lily glanced over the top of it and noticed that the others' fort was much more elaborate.

"Does your father always cheat?" she asked.

"Yeah, pretty much – but I usually win anyway. He's too old, if you know what I mean."

They laughed, shooting a snowball over the top and smacking Flo right in the face.

"Why's it always me?" her voice floated over.

Lily snickered, "I'll make a slingshot, and you keep throwing."

"A slingshot…" he repeated with a hint of puzzlement in his voice.

"It's a Muggle thing. They're using magic, so I'm going to use my Muggle abilities."

James looked even more puzzled, if possible, but had no time to think about it as another giant snowball went whizzing past. At least he's acting normal again. I was afraid that something was wrong…I'll ask him about it later. Lily was pelted with a snowball and frantically handed James a raggedy slingshot, which he used awkwardly at first.

"You know, some Muggles are brilliant."

Lily glanced around, seeing that Mr. Potter and Flo had a horrible aiming system. She chuckled as James' fingers fumbled over the slingshot, not really knowing what he was doing. He grunted and handed it over to her.

"This is pointless. Even cheating, the two of them suck at snowball fighting."

"Is that so?" she asked playfully, fingering snow in her palm.

James gave her a hard look.

"Uh, I –"

His voice was muffled, however, as there was soon a snowball in his face.

"Hey? What was that for?" he asked, grinning at Lily, who shrugged nonchalantly.

"Alright – if that's how you want to play – then you asked for it."

He gathered up some snow and started pelting her repeatedly. They began a heated chase around the yard. In their hurry, they didn't notice the two adults, who had conjured some rickety chairs and were having a fine time watching them try to demolish one another.

Lily stopped suddenly, and James ran right into her before noticing. "Ha!" she pushed him over and jumped on top frantically, managing to sit on him.

"I – can't – breathe – get – off – now."

Lily simply laughed, until James' face turned red and he held up his hands in defeat.

"Alright – you – win."

"Okay, then," she said smiling as she jumped off, lying back in the snow. "That was fun."

"That's easy for you to say," he replied, brushing snow off of his jacket. "I always win."

He put on a pouting face.

"Well not this time." She said, sitting up.

He was staring at her strangely again.

"James? Is there something wrong, or…what?"

He shook himself out of it, and sighed deeply as in preparing himself for a long speech.

"Lily, I – I don't know how to tell you. This morning, I –"

"Come on, you two! We're having hot chocolate!" Flo yelled from the other side of the yard.

James glanced over at her and ran off. He acts relieved to have not told me whatever it was – most peculiar.

*

James stared at the wall, his hot chocolate mug sitting on the table, every drop gone. I don't know why it's so hard for me to tell her. It really isn't that big of a deal. I mean – so what if we aren't cousins. We're friends anyway – right?

Maybe he didn't want to be friends. Something had happened, since he had found out. It disgusted him in a way. Just because he knew that he was wasn't related to her, all of a sudden she was attractive – though she had been before, too… Oh, come off it James. Just because you can't get a girlfriend doesn't mean that you have to pounce on the first one you might have a chance with.

With sudden clarity, he realized that even if he did happen to be – fond of her, she would be sickened to find out; she still thought that they were related – which could be a problem. He didn't know how long until the whole truth came out, but it would certainly be a weight off of his back. But even then, there was no way that she would be interested in him. No, the whole thing was way too awkward. He resolved to let the whole idea go, especially since the Australian guy at Hogwarts was into her. As if, James would be competition to him.

"Hey James," Lily said, pulling up a chair in front of him. "What're ya thinking about?"

He snapped out of it.

"Oh, don't worry – it – it isn't anything."

"But you have to be thinking about something – even if it isn't organized. You're always thinking."

"Okay, professor," he said, grinning.

She smiled back, and said, "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know," he replied softly, watching her closely.

"What were you going to tell me before James?" she leaned forward, staring him in the face intently.

Almost too close for James, now that he was aware that they weren't related and he was sitting so close to a girl. He grimaced. No, it's just Lily. It's always been the same, just Lily. But he was still uncomfortable. What was it like – pretending to be her brother? I remember some of it now – we had so much fun. How could I have ever forgotten? She did too.

"Well…"

"Oh, come on, James. Cousins aren't supposed to keep secrets. I thought we agreed on that."

She punched him lightly in the arm, and he continued to watch her.

"That's just it, Lils," he said carefully. "This morning, I found –"

"Okay, everyone, it's time for presents!"

Mr. Potter entered the room, carrying a handful of gifts.

"Damn the presents…" Lily muttered so quietly that nobody heard.

*

James watched Lily from outside the living room. She was sitting on the couch, smiling happily at the Christmas tree and looking totally relaxed. Now was the time to tell her.

Only, his feet wouldn't move. He didn't know what was wrong. He was hesitating, but he knew that she needed to know about all of this too. They had both been looking for this answer since the beginning of the year. It all made sense now.

He watched as she ran a hand through her red hair and leaned back with a sigh. No, no, no James. Stop thinking about her being pretty! In her mind, she's still your cousin, isn't that incest-like? Well, to her. Not to me anymore…

Too quick, he decided. It was all too quick. She needed to know, but he didn't know how to tell her. And he didn't want her to be awkward around him like he now was with her. He wanted to be friends with her, at least. And telling her might ruin that. It was something he was unwilling to risk.

Now what? When will I tell her – now? A silent answer slipped into his mind. When the time is right? He shook his head at his own thoughts. What kind of advice is that? Idiots these days…

He smiled and entered the room. Lily watched him approach lazily, and scooted over on the couch. She patted the spot beside her gently and he took it, looking over at her and grinning routinely.

*

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