Disclaimer- It's not mine. It never was. Characters belong the Rowling, and lyrics belong to Dolly Parton.

A/N- Okay people. This is the last chapter in this crazy story of unrequited love and heartache. Hope you enjoyed it, and remember to leave me a review.

Later,

A.A.

Chapter 5

Sirius' answer to the problem had been simple. Stuff James and Sabine into a magically locked room, with him playing instigator, until Sabine finally cracked and told James what was really going on. Everything would have worked fine, but Sabine had been avoiding him as of lately, especially after she saw him on the Pitch that morning and he had later confronted her with the piece of paper she had penned the verse on.

'She probably things I'm up so something.' he had thought. 'That woman knows me too bloody well.'

The end of the school year was drawing to a close, with only about two months before graduation. Sirius was on his way to the Head's dormitories to speak with James when he heard James and Sabine in the middle of a conversation. He did not want to interrupt, but he was curious as to what was being said, so he decided to do a little Marauder eavesdropping.

"I am going to ask her tomorrow." James had said, the happiness obvious in his voice. "I think she'll a actually agree this time."

"Well, good luck, Casanova." Sabine said. "I wish you the best of luck."

"Do you think she'll say yes, Sabine?" James asked, suddenly completely serious.

"Potter, as persistent as you've been, I'm surprised Evans hasn't already fallen for you." Sabine answered, a small amount of humor in her voice.

"Thanks, Kitten." he murmured, slipping up and calling her the pet name Sirius had given her. "If it hadn't been for you, I'd never have gotten this far with Lily. Who knew women could be so complicated. I owe you so much."

"You're a good guy, James." Sabine said slowly. "Lily's lucky to have someone like you to care so much about her."

"Flattery gets you no where." James said, smiling at her.

"Unless I'm talking about you." Sabine countered. They laughed and it was a few minutes before either of them spoke again. "Do you love her, James?"

"Say what?" the Head Boy asked, caught off guard by her blunt question.

"Do you love her?" Sabine asked again. It was a few seconds before James said anything, and Sirius figured that he was either about to lie to Sabine, or was trying to figure out exactly how to answer that question.

"More than anything." James finally answered. "I'd die for her in a heartbeat if I had to, Kitten."

"Well, I guess it's time I let you go, and grow up." Sabine said quietly.

"Sabine, even with Lily in my life, things will always be the same with us. Don't doubt that, please."

"It's just awkward, seeing you so wrapped up in Lily. I honestly never thought it would happen. She was so stubborn at first." Sabine said, the humor in her voice once again, even though Sirius could tell it was forced.

"So the amazing James Potter sunrises you, yet again." James asked, his cocky attitude once again in place.

"Yeah, and you can surprise me even more when I see Evans by your side for the Hogsmeade trip this weekend." she said. "Now scram. You've got to get things set up for tomorrow."

"Okay, I'm going." James said, getting up from the chair. Sirius heard the rustle of school bags and quickly ducked into an alcove near the door.

"Kitten?"

"Yeah, Prongs?"

"I just wanted you to know, that had I never met Lily…..you'd be in her place right now." he said quietly. There was no answer at first, and Sirius was beginning to wonder what was going on.

"Get outta here, Prongs." Sabine said finally, a lilt in her voice as though she did not believe what he was saying. "Lily's waiting for you in the Great Hall."

"But..Kitten..I'm.."

"Get a move on Romeo." Sabine said, her voice forced and on the brink of cracking, even if James couldn't tell. The humor was still there, but only so. But obviously James did not pick up on the hurt, and only heard the humor. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." James left the room and Sirius heard the door click shut. It was not long after that when Sabine came out of the room and headed towards Gryffindor Tower, her eyes red from crying, but a small smile on her face.

Sirius just stood there, letting the conversation sink into his head.

James had known what was happening with Sabine, yet he had kept bugging her about Lily. Why? What had been the point? Sirius had no clue, and felt like hitting James for treating Sabine like that. James might practically be his own brother, but Sirius drew the line with purposely using Sabine's feelings as a way for him to get closer to Lily. Of course, Sirius' reputation with the females of Hogawarts wasn't exactly squeaky clean, but he'd never let himself stoop so low as to use one of his friend's feelings to get closer to a crush he had.

The next day, Sirius avoided James as much as possible, not that it mattered since James seemed to be walking on pins and needles half the day. All four Marauders shared a Herbology class that day, along with Sabine and Lily, and the Hufflepuffs. When Professor Dandy announced that they would work in pairs, James latched a hold of Lily immediately and pulled her to the far side of the greenhouse. Sirius cornered Sabine and tried to find out what was going on after watching James bodily pull the Head Girl from her group of friends without so much as an explanation.

"He's asking Lily to Hogsmeade this weekend." she answered absently. "And to be his girlfriend, as well."

"That insensitive prat!" Sirius grimaced.

"Leave him be, Sirius." Sabine said, grabbing a pair of pruning shears. "James and I sorted out our differences, and I gave him and Lily my blessing, not that he really needed it to begin with. He's happy now."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked, still angry with James. Sabine grinned and pulled the branches back on a nearby bush, revealing the two Head students wrapped up in each other, and a contented smile on their faces.

"Because I just know." Sabine said with a grin, catching James' eye and winking. The Gryffindor Head boy gave a goofy grin and hugged Lily even tighter. He smiled even more and silently mouthed to Sabine, 'She said yes. Thanks, Kitten.' Sabine allowed the bushes to fall back into place, once again concealing the new couple from view.

"She accepted?" Sirius asked, bewildered that the fiery redhead had finally given into James' relentless pursuits after all that time. "She actually said yes?"

"Do you think they'd be standing like that right now if she hadn't?" Sabine asked with an amused grin.

"What about you?" he asked, looking at her. He was surprised to find her smiling as though nothing was the matter. He figured she'd be covering up her own sadness, but what puzzled him was that she seemed genuinely happy for James and Lily.

"What about me?" she asked, walking to another plant and beginning to prune the leaves back.

"You and James…." he began, only to be stopped by Sabine putting a hand over his mouth.

"James and I came to an agreement yesterday, Padfoot." she said. "I'm fine. Everything is back to normal, and that's all you need to worry about. Okay?"
"Do I want to know how you two reconciled this?" he asked, removing her hand from his mouth, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Probably not." she said, seemingly contemplating the idea. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you don't." Sirius only shook his head in complete confusion.

"You amaze me sometimes, Kitten." he said, finally grabbing a pair of pruning shears as the Professor walked by. "You really do." Sabine only smiled and shook her head as she snipped one of the branches from a nearby plant. She was grateful for Sirius' concern, but she and James had come to an agreement about Lily. Sabine would let James go, and allow him to try his wings with Lily. By now, Sabine knew that James would never be hers. He would forever be her friend, but nothing more. Lily Jolene Evans was the one girl his heart belonged to, and that would never change.

'Well, at least I get to be named Godmother for their first child.' she thought with a grin. 'James assured me of that much……'

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

Please don't take him even though you can.

Jolene………

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A/N - Okay, this is finally out of my system. Now I can get back to my other stories. Anyhow, I hope you guys enjoyed this little story glimpse.

So, if you like it, hate it, or could care less, please remember to leave a review.

Later,

A.A.