Disclaimer: None of the characters in this fan fiction belongs to me. They're owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. The only ones that belong to me are those that you don't recognize.
A/N: Thank you everybody who reviewed. You guys ROCKS!!
Okay, I've been waiting for this chapter for quite awhile now. All of my original characters are going through slow changes (I'm sure you can see it. If you want a better and more detailed explanation, check it out in my bio under My Fic; I'll Always Love You). And in this chapter, you can see some of the challenges that James and Lily have to face as a married couple. I personally adore this chapter.
Chapter 32
While Sirius was out with Bella, Lily was sitting at home, waiting for James to come home from work. He was late. She had already eaten dinner and had settled on the couch in her nightgown to watch the television. Later, James apparated in. He looked dead tired.
"Hey," Lily said. "How was work?"
"Fun," James said sarcastically.
"Well, sorry," Lily replied, frowning. "Look, why don't you go shower, eat, and then get a good night rest?"
"I think I'll skip dinner and shower, and just hit the hay," James said, walking into his room. He started to undress down to his boxer and then left his clothes in a mess on the floor…along with some other piles of clothing. Lily walked in and looked around the room with a disgusted expression.
"You know, James," she said, "you could try hanging up your clothes and not just leave them on the floor."
"Lily, you're my wife. Why don't you do it?"
Lily looked insulted. "Excuse me? Is it my job as your wife to clean up after you?"
"Well, sort of."
"This is an equal relationship, James. I make a mess, I clean it up. You make a mess, you clean it up."
"Fine, Lily. Fine. I'll do it tomorrow, okay?"
"James, it's a mess. Messes need to be cleaned up."
"And I'll clean it up tomorrow."
"If it takes so much effort to stand up and put away your mess, James, then I'll do it."
"You don't have to, Lily. You're right, I should clean it."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
"I'm exhausted, Lily. Let's just get to bed. I'll clean it tomorrow."
"You just said you'd clean it!"
"I didn't say tonight. Besides, why don't we just use magic?"
"Because we're in a muggle neighborhood, James. And we shouldn't use magic for everything."
"Then what's the point of having a witch and a wizard in the house?"
"Just because we know magic, doesn't mean that we should use them for every little thing. What if there was an emergency and we couldn't use magic?"
"This isn't an emergency! And we can use magic, Lily!"
"But what if we can't?"
"Argh! Fine. Whatever."
"James! Why are you acting like this?"
"Acting like what, Lily? All I want to do is just go to sleep. But you're making a big deal out of nothing!"
"It's not nothing, James! What if our baby trips over your trash?"
"Lily, what are you, mad? We don't have a baby!"
"Are you saying you don't want to have a baby with me?"
"That's not what I'm saying!"
"Okay," Lily crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying: Forget the stupid mess, forget the stupid fight. Let's just go to bed, okay?" He reached out and put an arm around Lily, attempting to walk her over to the bed. But Lily held back.
"What made you think I'm going to sleep next to you tonight?"
"What?" James looked flabbergasted.
Lily walked over to the bed and took her pillow. "I'm sleeping on the couch."
"What? Why?"
"Because I don't want to sleep next to an inconsiderate slob."
"Lily, you're being impossible!"
"I am not!" she said stubbornly, lying down on the couch.
"Argh!" James took a deep breath. He walked into the living room, and looked down at Lily, who was determined to ignore him. "Okay, Lily. Fine. If you don't want to sleep with me tonight, then fine. Why don't you take the room, then? I'll settle on the couch."
"Why do you want the couch, James?"
"I don't want it. All I want was to go to bed. But you have to go and make everything complicated. So you can take the room. I'm a man. I'll take the couch."
Lily stood up. "Are you saying that I can't handle the couch because I'm a woman?"
"Lily, come on. Let's be honest here. You and I both know, that you'd be better off in the room."
"James, good night." Lily flopped back down on the couch and closed her eyes.
James was too tired to argue anymore. Yet he was so angry, because Lily was being so unusually stubborn. He watched Lily for a while, but she had her back turned to him. He was getting drowsy. James walked back to his room and fell into bed. He was asleep within seconds.
Lily, on the other hand, had quite an uneasy night. The couch was uncomfortable and cold. Lily wished she had a blanket around her…or maybe James. But why is he acting so strange? Why are they suddenly disagreeing with nearly everything? She eventually fell asleep after wondering some more…
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A/N: Lol. Betcha didn't expect that! This was a stupid fight, but believe me, all marriages have stupid fights. Otherwise, it wouldn't be complete. Anyways, I know this was a short chapter. Please review.