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_ ((A/N: Wow. Long time, no see! Well, I'm sure a fair number of you hate me now because I don't have a really good excuse. The sky didn't fall, I didn't break every last one of my fingers. Nothing like that. Basically we got a new computer that didn't have Microsoft Word so I couldn't read my disk. Plus, I was being lazy. And I've had some health issues. But that's not important and I'm taking up precious space that my story could have! Since I've made you wait for so long, I've decided this is going to be the chapter of all chapters. Ladies and gentlemen, put on your seatbelts. It's gonna be a long ride)) _
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_ _ Chapter 13 True Love Conquers All
Lily leaned against a bridge, her knuckles white, her heart pounding. She glanced around and looked at the quaint little bridge she was leaning on, one of her childhood favorites. Ironic, isn't it? She thought briefly, a moment's respite from what she had to say. You can go to a place every day for months and then, you can't even remember its name. I suppose that's love. Wanting to smile, Lily looked at James, meeting his eyes quickly and then dropping them to the floor.
A deep breath and then she began. "James, I was wrong about a lot of things. I don't.I didn't." Oh heavens. This was getting to be so hard. "That night at the club, you weren't what you are now. To me, I mean. I was a high school girl who had gotten into a club for the first time. I didn't think the things I told you would have any impact on my future. Truthfully, I doubted you would have much impact on my future. Shows how you can be wrong sometimes." She took a pause and looked at James. He was looking intently at her, his blue eyes dark with sadness.
She started to speak once more, but he interrupted her. "Lily, you're taking all the blame for something that is as just as much, if not more, my fault. You never precisely lied to me. Months ago, I couldn't have admitted that. Now, when I run through our first conversations, you told me a somewhat exclusive truth. Not exactly lying, just not everything. I shouldn't have automatically assumed everything I had. But that's not what my real problem was. I was most wrong about being angry when I should have been calmer. I shouldn't have yelled at you that day in my office. I realize now how hard it must have been to confront me like that. It took courage and I should have been strong enough to listen to what you have to say."
He felt her hand rest on his. "I should have told you earlier." She said, as her brilliant green eyes filled with tears. He wrapped his arms around her. "We both should have done things differently." He responded. But that wasn't all they needed to say and they both knew it. His arms tightened instinctively. "Kirsten was not something I'm proud of. It was my pathetic attempt at showing you that I didn't need you. It is probably the worst thing I have ever done, and one of the few that was done intentionally to hurt someone I loved." She quivered, unsure of the subject and of the response she should make. "Lily, I would understand if you never forgive me, but I pray that you will. There has never been anything I have been more sorry about."
Tears escaped from her eyes, "Oh James, haven't you realized I already have?" James wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Lily, I don't know what happened between you and Amos. But I know that you didn't marry him, and that for some reason, I have been granted a second chance. I hope you know that I never intend to let you go." He smiled, but his eyes remained solemn, knowing that Lily, the one true love of his life, was more important than anything at all. More important than life itself.
Lily smiled at him, overcome by a joy beyond any she had ever known. Mum and Dad, he's truly wonderful. I wish you could have met him. Now, more than ever, she knew that if she didn't take advantage of life, of living, Voldemort would have another victory. Love, ancient and true, could overcome whatever it is that might be in their future. "James, I have never loved anyone the way I love you. You mean the world to me. Life without that love, would be empty."
James burst into a true smile. He kissed her gently. Pulling away, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the box she had given him months ago. "Lily, I stopped wearing this when you didn't answer my letter. I thought you were through with me and I didn't think it was right to hold on to something that you didn't want me to have. I always meant to send it back to you, but I couldn't. It meant too much to me."
A wondrous look on her face, Lily reached forward and opened the box. She took out the necklace and laid it face down on his palm. "Did you ever notice the edging of pale gold on my ring? Or the edging of red gold on the back of this?" Feeling like something big, something important was about to happen, she fumbled with her ring as she took it off. Pressing it into the back, she heard something engage with a click. Nothing happened? She thought quizzically. ::Actually, yes, something did,: James replied. His eyes were riveted on hers, and it was obvious he wasn't moving his lips. ::James?:: Lily thought incredulously. ::Lily.:: His eyes lit up. ::Telepathy, Lil. I hear you. I can tell what you're feeling. Are you okay with this?:: Lily smiled at him. ::Okay with it? James,I.oh.wonder what this does..::
She twisted the ring slightly and sparks flew into the air, quickly forming words.
Light A fire filled merlin Her coal covered knight Dark A merlin of no color With fear as his ally Only the bright Will conquer the dark
The words stopped. Lily trembled. ::Do you know about the merlins, James?::
::Dumbledore told me, Lily. You have a great destiny.::
::As do you.::
::As does our.::James trailed off.
Lily smiled. ::I know.::
::Lily, I want to say something to you. Not think it.::
"Yes, James?" She smiled at him as he blushed. He stuttered. "Well, I didn't know if I could talk or not."
She pulled her ring away from his necklace, and after slipping her ring on, she clasped the necklace around him.
"Just that I love you, Lily. I really love you." James said quietly.
"Oh James, I love you too." She kissed him, letting the moment seep into them both.
"Jeez, Remus. They work fast, don't they?" A female voice said loudly from the other side of the bridge.
Lily reluctantly let go. "Well Bell, I suppose we do!" She called backwards.
"That's nice." Bella's happiness was obvious. "Want to go get some dinner?"
"Sure." Lily said. "That'd be great." James finished for her. They shared a secret smile and headed off to join their friends, knowing that their world was perfect and that in that moment, nothing could go wrong.
~*~ ~ _
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_ ((It took a while. Was it worth it? Lemme know!}}
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_ ((A/N: Wow. Long time, no see! Well, I'm sure a fair number of you hate me now because I don't have a really good excuse. The sky didn't fall, I didn't break every last one of my fingers. Nothing like that. Basically we got a new computer that didn't have Microsoft Word so I couldn't read my disk. Plus, I was being lazy. And I've had some health issues. But that's not important and I'm taking up precious space that my story could have! Since I've made you wait for so long, I've decided this is going to be the chapter of all chapters. Ladies and gentlemen, put on your seatbelts. It's gonna be a long ride)) _
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_ _ Chapter 13 True Love Conquers All
Lily leaned against a bridge, her knuckles white, her heart pounding. She glanced around and looked at the quaint little bridge she was leaning on, one of her childhood favorites. Ironic, isn't it? She thought briefly, a moment's respite from what she had to say. You can go to a place every day for months and then, you can't even remember its name. I suppose that's love. Wanting to smile, Lily looked at James, meeting his eyes quickly and then dropping them to the floor.
A deep breath and then she began. "James, I was wrong about a lot of things. I don't.I didn't." Oh heavens. This was getting to be so hard. "That night at the club, you weren't what you are now. To me, I mean. I was a high school girl who had gotten into a club for the first time. I didn't think the things I told you would have any impact on my future. Truthfully, I doubted you would have much impact on my future. Shows how you can be wrong sometimes." She took a pause and looked at James. He was looking intently at her, his blue eyes dark with sadness.
She started to speak once more, but he interrupted her. "Lily, you're taking all the blame for something that is as just as much, if not more, my fault. You never precisely lied to me. Months ago, I couldn't have admitted that. Now, when I run through our first conversations, you told me a somewhat exclusive truth. Not exactly lying, just not everything. I shouldn't have automatically assumed everything I had. But that's not what my real problem was. I was most wrong about being angry when I should have been calmer. I shouldn't have yelled at you that day in my office. I realize now how hard it must have been to confront me like that. It took courage and I should have been strong enough to listen to what you have to say."
He felt her hand rest on his. "I should have told you earlier." She said, as her brilliant green eyes filled with tears. He wrapped his arms around her. "We both should have done things differently." He responded. But that wasn't all they needed to say and they both knew it. His arms tightened instinctively. "Kirsten was not something I'm proud of. It was my pathetic attempt at showing you that I didn't need you. It is probably the worst thing I have ever done, and one of the few that was done intentionally to hurt someone I loved." She quivered, unsure of the subject and of the response she should make. "Lily, I would understand if you never forgive me, but I pray that you will. There has never been anything I have been more sorry about."
Tears escaped from her eyes, "Oh James, haven't you realized I already have?" James wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Lily, I don't know what happened between you and Amos. But I know that you didn't marry him, and that for some reason, I have been granted a second chance. I hope you know that I never intend to let you go." He smiled, but his eyes remained solemn, knowing that Lily, the one true love of his life, was more important than anything at all. More important than life itself.
Lily smiled at him, overcome by a joy beyond any she had ever known. Mum and Dad, he's truly wonderful. I wish you could have met him. Now, more than ever, she knew that if she didn't take advantage of life, of living, Voldemort would have another victory. Love, ancient and true, could overcome whatever it is that might be in their future. "James, I have never loved anyone the way I love you. You mean the world to me. Life without that love, would be empty."
James burst into a true smile. He kissed her gently. Pulling away, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the box she had given him months ago. "Lily, I stopped wearing this when you didn't answer my letter. I thought you were through with me and I didn't think it was right to hold on to something that you didn't want me to have. I always meant to send it back to you, but I couldn't. It meant too much to me."
A wondrous look on her face, Lily reached forward and opened the box. She took out the necklace and laid it face down on his palm. "Did you ever notice the edging of pale gold on my ring? Or the edging of red gold on the back of this?" Feeling like something big, something important was about to happen, she fumbled with her ring as she took it off. Pressing it into the back, she heard something engage with a click. Nothing happened? She thought quizzically. ::Actually, yes, something did,: James replied. His eyes were riveted on hers, and it was obvious he wasn't moving his lips. ::James?:: Lily thought incredulously. ::Lily.:: His eyes lit up. ::Telepathy, Lil. I hear you. I can tell what you're feeling. Are you okay with this?:: Lily smiled at him. ::Okay with it? James,I.oh.wonder what this does..::
She twisted the ring slightly and sparks flew into the air, quickly forming words.
Light A fire filled merlin Her coal covered knight Dark A merlin of no color With fear as his ally Only the bright Will conquer the dark
The words stopped. Lily trembled. ::Do you know about the merlins, James?::
::Dumbledore told me, Lily. You have a great destiny.::
::As do you.::
::As does our.::James trailed off.
Lily smiled. ::I know.::
::Lily, I want to say something to you. Not think it.::
"Yes, James?" She smiled at him as he blushed. He stuttered. "Well, I didn't know if I could talk or not."
She pulled her ring away from his necklace, and after slipping her ring on, she clasped the necklace around him.
"Just that I love you, Lily. I really love you." James said quietly.
"Oh James, I love you too." She kissed him, letting the moment seep into them both.
"Jeez, Remus. They work fast, don't they?" A female voice said loudly from the other side of the bridge.
Lily reluctantly let go. "Well Bell, I suppose we do!" She called backwards.
"That's nice." Bella's happiness was obvious. "Want to go get some dinner?"
"Sure." Lily said. "That'd be great." James finished for her. They shared a secret smile and headed off to join their friends, knowing that their world was perfect and that in that moment, nothing could go wrong.
~*~ ~ _
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_ ((It took a while. Was it worth it? Lemme know!}}