"Ahhhhh….Back 'home' atlast." Lily said, dropping her bag down into the carpet of their suite. Jeanne laughed and immediately flopped down onto the couches.

"That was an awesome vacation was it not?" Jeanne said, stretching her arms over her head. "Definitely blessed to have met James and Sirius on this vacation. What do you think we'd have done without meeting them?"

Lily shrugged and grinned, " I don't know, but we'd have just as much fun." The two girls sat down, staring outside at the gray sky, which was heavily beating down clear drops of water. Rain was so beautiful, always washing away problems. Lily just didn't want to leave this haven. She didn't want to face the reality and hardship of homework and school again, and fearing her parents' wrath. Lily didn't want to know if James would forget her or not.

BAM~ FLASH~ SCORCH!

Jeanne jumped at the sight and sound of the fireplace being lit up. Green iridescent flames flashed before the two girls and instantly a large head appeared.

" Lily Maria Evans!" The woman called bitingly calm, making Lily cringe with fear. Yet Lily didn't show it, only a placid look while Jeanne knew better. " Lily Maria Evans, you have no more credibility! First off, you failed to tell us that you were going on a cruise ship. Your father and I would have had a heart attack if anything happened to you! Jeanne's parents had to contact us because she found out from Sirius' parents. What happened to your responsibility?! How can we trust you?!"

"Moooom." Lily's face was just as placid as her mother's handsome face. The similarity was remarkable except that her mother had platinum blond hair with the same sparkling green eyes.

"Why hello Jeanne dear, how have you been?" Mrs. Evans interrupted, noticing the petite Asian girl getting up to make some lemonade.

" Just fine, Mrs. Evans. Thank you so much. Would you like some lemonade? I'm going to just make some." Answered Jeanne politely. Mrs. Evans nodded and smiled, turning back to Lily.

" Mother, as I was just saying, I'm not a child!! I told you we're going on vacation! And you agreed to it! Don't deny it, I know you accepted my plan." Lily said, eyes flashing.

"Yes, but, you didn't tell your father and I that you were going on a cruise ship! What happens if something might have happened to you? But that's not the point. As soon as you get yourself home, you MUST start studying your NEWTs and OWLs. Heaven only knows what will happen to you when you TRY to get a job. You haven't even started studying! And here you are! Having fun when you're suppose to be studying for the test that'll determine your future!" Mrs. Evans finished.

"Fine mom." Lily said, her eyes now ablaze with cold green fire. " Just leave me in peace for my remaining days of happiness." Mrs. Evans sniffed and examined her nails.

"Don't give me that darling Lily, you've had your fun, you've been out for so long and your father and I have just been working. How does that feel for us?"

Lily snapped back, losing her cool. " Mother, you and father are ADULTS! You're supposed to work!"

" Lily! My final answer is that you WILL study when you get back. We'll see with your results. Don't try to put the blame on us now!" Lily's mom blazed back. "Oh by the way, Jeanne darling, your mother wishes to speak to you as well." Jeanne looked uncomfortable, holding a pitcher of lemonade.

"Thanks Mrs. Evans," Jeanne said softly, knowing what was coming.

Mrs. Evans gave a dazzling smile to Jeanne and turned toward Lily, who was fuming, with a cold glance and gave a nod goodbye.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE HER!" Lily fumed, her fists clenched and shaking uncontrollably. Jeanne knew better than to try and tell her what to do. Instead Lily dashed off. Slamming the front door, down to the lobby and going through the doors that led to the ocean's coast. Rain was her soothing advisor. What luck? It was certainly raining.

" Jeanne!" Another head popped up from the dancing green flames. " The same goes for you young lady!" Jeanne sank down onto the leather couches, showing her sign of respect to her elders and parents.

Jeanne's mother's perfectly coiffed bobbed hair and her perfectly painted red lips appeared on the flames. Minutes later, So did Jeanne's father's head.

" What have we told you? We had to find out from Sirius' parents. You KNOW how we hate to be surprised! And to make it worse, you haven't even started studying for your NEWTS and OWLs yet either? What is wrong with you? Have you no shame? Have you even thought about what you're going to do when you graduate?"

Jeanne sighed.

"Don't sigh at me young lady! We didn't bring you up to be spoiled. Your sister got perfect grades! She even became the fourth advisor to the Minister of Magic himself! Now what about you? You fail to………….you fail to…….you haven't….. And to make it worse….you……… Atleast Lily has………"

Jeanne's eyes were threatening to release the tears that were being held captive. It was always like this, her parents always screamed and yelled, despite how much she tried. Always comparing her with her sister or with Lily.

" So when you're back at home, its time to hit the books for you missy! You've had your fun."

"Yes mother." Was Jeanne's quiet reply.

"Good, now go have the remaining days of your fun, just like what Lily said." With a final nod, Jeanne's parents vanished from the fireplace, leaving Jeanne alone on the couch, staring outside with silent tears dripping down her chin.

How could she have fun? Her parents never understood her….

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lily ran with all her might. Ran. Ran….Ran….Ran……

Run….Run…..Run…..Run……Run……. The sand flew up behind her; she had forgotten her shoes. Oh well, they'd get wet anyway. Her wine red hair was now dark and dripping and flying out everywhere as she ran with all her might, trying to get rid of the anger that was inside of her.

She needed to hurt someone, something.

"ARGHH!" Lily let out a scream. Lily flew at the ground with her fist, the sand enveloping her knuckles. She sat there, all wet as the rain continuously poured down on her, breathing heavily. Her hair streamed with the rain, falling down on her back where the rest of her clothes were soaked as well.

Not good, Lily was wearing a white T-shirt with a black halter underneath and black shorts. Oh well, she didn't care, no one would care and see her. Lily stood up again and ran as fast as she could, trying to catch and savor all the raindrops and get rid of her negative energy. Lily ran back to where the huge hotel was, looking up high at where her balcony was. Good, Jeanne wasn't outside.

Lily twirled around, dancing unconsciously with the beat of the rain. Her red curls flying out everywhere, her white shirt, becoming see-through. Lily closed her eyes and spun around. Rain…..Rain…..it was so cool…..it was so soothing…..

Nearby from the top, James watched with fascination. Lily was obviously upset. But he saw that calm look take over as she lifted her closed eyes up, and flung out her arms, twirling her body. James saw Lily dancing, flinging out her emotion. She looked so beautiful, so upset, so alive. But then again, so did Marianne (his ex) when she had run for his help. James knew that Lily was not like that though. However, he couldn't help but guard himself. Back to Lily, He saw that she had waded out into the Ocean, where the waves beat gently against her body and the Rain slowly fell and slid down her see-through shirt. James slowly used his wand and levitated himself down to the sand, near Lily.

" Lily Lily Lily…..Lily, my flower. What happened? I can obviously tell your upset." James murmured. Lily heard him and dropped her arms. Not yet turning around. James walked up to Lily although keeping his distance and murmured again.

"Was it something to do with your parents?"

Lily turned around and slowly opened her eyes, searching for James'. She lifted her head so that she could meet his gaze and said nothing. Sadness, frustration and anguish poured out and James saw it pouring out through her tears. Silent tears that could be mistaken for raindrops slowly dropped. James knew better. He waded into the ocean walking straight for Lily. She stood there, watching him, almost questioning why he was coming into the entrance of the water. James stopped when there was one feet between the two of them and waited for her to move, to do something, to explain.

If anyone had looked out at the window, they would have seen a tall male with unruly dripping brown hair with a see through white shirt and black pants, and petite girl with long red locks, black shorts, and a see-through white shirt with a black halter underneath; standing close, facing each other in the middle of the water. Such a poetic sight it would have been, the rain beating down on them but the two people only staring at each other, waiting…….

Without even thinking, Lily's sobs broke down from her mouth as she reached forward and clutched at James' shoulder, sobbing her tears out on his chest. James, surprised and maybe a little bit alarmed, put his arms around her waist and just held her for awhile, looking up at the sky while Lily cried out all her frustration onto his already wet shirt.

"Shh….it's ok.." James soothed, feeling history repeat itself and it made him uncomfortable. Nevertheless, he held Lily while she poured out her heart.

"……….And it was just awful James…….They……" Lily had her one arm on James' shoulder and one near his neck. Her cheek was on his chest. James stroked Lily's hair, which was just a bit tangled but that's ok, James stroked her hair unconsciously.  So, Lily's sobs died down, leaving her sniffling into James' really wet shirt while he settled his chin onto the top of Lily's head.

"It's ok now Lily." James said softly after not speaking for a while.

" Thanks…..James….." Lily said, sniffling a bit as she finally wiped her eyes with her hands. James released her looking at her intently. Lily blushed as she realized that he had come into the water to accompany her.

"Water always sooths me, that's why I'm a swimmer…." Lily said blushing red and looking away, crossing her arms over her clear shirt.

"Come on Lily, let's go inside before you get sick." James smiled and started walking while Lily caught up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jeanne was also crying while Sirius rubbed her back soothingly.

"Jeanne…parents are like that because they care. My parents don't even know if I'm at home or not." Sirius said, rubbing her back in circles.

Jeanne just sobbed into the couch, as a response.

" All they care about is my grades and if I'm better than my sister or whomever!" Jeanne cried.

"That's not true," Sirius objected. " You're worth more than a grade and if you were like your sister or whoever else, you wouldn't be Jeanne and everyone loves Jeanne."

Jeanne's cries died down as she started to hiccup. " Hah..who loves me….I wish…." She said bitterly.

Sirius just smiled, " More than you know. You know that there'll always be someone there for you…And you can always talk to me, James or Lily. Speaking of which, where is Lily? James went to find her awhile ago."

Jeanne smiled sadly, "The same thing happened to her as well."

Sirius whistled but hugged Jeanne as Jeanne was caught by surprise and hugged him back, catching a slight drift of cologne. Sirius released her tugged playfully on one of her braids just as Lily and James entered the room, dripping on the floor.

"Whoa…what happened to you two?" Sirius asked wide-eyed.

Lily smiled and crossed her arms over her shirt. " Jeanne you ok?"

Jeanne smiled at Lily before holding out her arms to hug Lily. Sirius looked from James to Lily and nodded understandingly.

"Agh." Jeanne teased. " You're sooo wet." Lily just grinned and shook her hair, making Jeanne's nose crinkle.

"Come on everyone!" Lily called. " Let's go enjoys our days before we go to Hogwarts."  But before she could run, James took Lily's arm saying, " Hold on Tiger, you don't want to get a cold."

Using his wand, James placed a drying charm on both Lily and himself, not noticing as Sirius and Jeanne watched amused while Sirius looked on knowingly. This simple yet loving gesture could mean anything, Sirius mused but James didn't just act simple and loving to anyone.

" James?" Lily said innocently, not really noticing that what she was doing might have considered to be flirting, even though she liked him. " Will you give me a piggy back ride?"

James looked at Lily, at first with one eyebrow raised but then slowly put an amused smirk on his face, causing Lily to sigh inwardly.

" Hmmm…..uhhh ok." Was James' usual reply, grinning. A dimple formed on the side of his cheek, making Lily stop and rethink about squealing.

"For real?" Lily said, eyes wide.

"Yeah for real." Said James bending his knees, preparing for Lily.

" Erm….James? Uh…I'm uh…I'm not exactly---I'm uh…I'm healthy?" Lily said hesitantly. " Well uh..what I mean is that I don't exactly weigh like a feather."

"It's ok Lily." James coaxed shaking his head. " I can take you." Lily shrugged and climbed on.

Oof. James had to say that Lily didn't look her weight at all. But then again, no girl with the training in athletics that Lily had could weigh like a feather. Besides, her spark and wit could probably pass for a lot of weight since Lily was just so vivacious. But anyway, Lily was most definitely not light, but James didn't care because it was normal for girls to weight the way they do. I mean, Give them a break. James thought. They have boobs and a butt. It's simple like that. But he didn't like girls who were always on diets anyway. Wait…..He only liked Lily as a friend right?

James hopped to get a better grip on her legs and had to laugh when he heard Lily squeal and cling to his neck. For some reason, that gesture made him happy to feel her arms around him. Weird……feel her arms around him? What was happening?

"Hurry up man." Sirius bellowed. " We haven't got all day!" James strutted over as smoothly as he could manage and got on cloud nine. Once stepping outside the hotel, Sirius bounded outside as the sun finally came out from behind the clouds. James also released Lily from his back. It had stopped raining and what was left was a clear sunny afternoon.

Lily slipped on her Racing sunglasses and dragged Jeanne's hand to the ice cream vendor. Buying four fudge bars, Lily and Jeanne handed two to the guys.

"Mmmmh…" James licked his lips unconsciously. " I absolutely love chocolate."

"I know." Lily said smiling. Jeanne turned towards Sirius grinning. " How about you?" she asked.

"I love it but it just can't compare with my love for you." Sirius winked playfully. Jeanne rolled her eyes and chuckled while Sirius threw up his hands and yelled, " oooh! Score three for the S-Man."

A/N: Yeahhh…maybe this isn't going to be over as soon as I thought. I've gotten an attack of the plot bunnies and maybe it'll go several more chapters than I had planned on the original 14. Blah…hope it's going well for you guys^^ and thanks for reviewing!!  Those messages really do brighten up my day and tell me how I'm doing^^ hehehe.