A/N: Yay!! I'm baaaaaaaack! And this time, I have more answers…and even more answers and cliffhangers!! What happens with Sirius and Savannah? And what will happen with the rest of the group when they find out she's back!?
Anyway, I'm going to be reeeeeeeeeeeeally busy because of college applications and field hockey, so I may not get a chance to update as much as I was planning on. I'm sorry…..But I'll try to update as much as possible! Your reviews may help me so tell everyone to read this story and tell them to REVIEW!
Disclaimer: I am not a famous British author who makes tons more money than Queen Elizabeth…however I wish I was.
MEMORIES
CHAPTER 25: Wedding Bells
Written by ByeByeBirdie
Everything around Savannah stopped. Her life froze. She stopped breathing, she stopped moving, Sirius was a blur, the cars outside stopped honking, the bugs stopped chirping, the coffee maker stopped spurting. She brought her hands to her mouth in shock and before she knew it, she was crying and saying, "Oh, yes! Yes, Sirius, yes."
Sirius leaned in and gave her a long, satisfying kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and caressed his hair and Sirius wrapped his arms around her waist and stroked her back. The kiss intensified, just as their passion for each other did. They connected in a way no one could have figured it out. They opened each other's hearts to each other and each other's desire. They never realized how perfect they were for each other until this exact moment. They never realized how much they missed each other's love until this exact moment. They never realized how much they were meant to be…until this exact moment.
Whenever dark turns to night
And all the dreams sing their song
And in the daylight forever
To you I belong
"I don't have a ring," Sirius admitted after pulling apart.
Savannah wiped away the tears of happiness. "I don't care. I only want you…and now I've got that."
"I had no idea what I was thinking until those words flooded out of my mouth. I seriously thought I was going insane until you said yes. And I realized all I've ever needed was you."
"God, I love you so much, Si-Si. Words can't even express it," she said breathlessly.
"I love you, too…Vannie." They shared another passionate kiss, before breaking apart.
"Leigh," Sirius muttered.
"What?" Savannah asked, completely confused.
"I've always wanted our child to be named Leigh…a middle name will have to do," Sirius teased.
"Our child?"
"I don't know what I was thinking. But I promised myself that that name was for you and me and you and me only."
"But…Elizabeth…uh…"
"Isn't mine? It doesn't matter. She's yours and you're mine. That's all that matters."
"Aw, Sirius," Savannah said, giving him a hug.
"Elizabeth Leigh Turner," Sirius mumbled.
"No…Elizabeth Leigh Black."
"You mean…"
"If you wanted to, I think it would be nice if you adopted her."
Sirius looked up at her with joyous, wondering eyes. "Oh, God, I'd love that more than anything…beside you."
"You're everything a girl could want," Savannah murmured.
"And you…you're everything anyone could want."
"I thought this Christmas was going to be one of the worst Christmas' ever…but nothing could get any better than this."
Sirius grinned. "Merry Christmas, Vannie."
Savannah looked up towards him and into his eyes. "Merry Christmas…Si-Si."
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Finally on Sirius' birthday, Savannah and Sirius were ready to tell everyone that they were engaged. They freaked out in past times and ended up not telling anyone, especially after Lily reacted to Savannah's return. Lily was happy of course, but she was mad at Savannah for not keeping in touch. Lily held a grudge for about a week, but eventually realized that she should just be happy that Savannah was back. So, they eventually made up and everyone was one big, happy family. Especially when Savannah officially moved into Sirius' house (finally!) and Peter moved out to his own apartment (more privacy he claimed) three blocks away from James.
"You guys, Savannah and I have some news that we've been holding in since Christmas," Sirius started. "We were afraid to tell you guys for a while, just because it happened the day she arrived at my house and I knew that a few would disapprove at the time but…" Sirius trailed off.
"Yeah?" James asked.
"We're engaged," Savannah finished.
Kaitlynne, Lily, Allie, Josh, James, Remus, and Peter all gasped.
"Since CHRISTMAS!?' Lily and James shrieked.
Sirius and Savannah had guilty looks on their faces. "Yes," Savannah squeaked.
"But…but…how?" Allie stuttered.
"I love her. I've always loved her and always will. Unfortunately it took two and a half horrible years for me to figure that out. Dating another year or so wouldn't have made my feelings any stronger than they are now…so I went ahead with it."
"Awww," the three women cooed. The men all laughed and rolled their eyes.
"I can't believe you didn't tell us until now," Remus said in shock.
"I know, I know. We feel horrible," Savannah said. "We were just afraid of your reactions."
"Hey, I'm just glad you've finally realized you two were meant to be together," Lily said with a rolling of her eyes, and they all laughed.
"When's the wedding?" Josh asked.
"June 1," they answered in unison.
James and Lily stiffened when they heard the date. Lily let out a little gasp that everyone missed except for James. They exchanged a quick look before looking back at the ground in complete shock. For the past five years, they tried to ignore the date, refusing to think about the other person and refusing to see the other person on that date. They kept their mind on something else, usually work, and got through the day like a normal day. Unfortunately, this year would be different. They'd be forced to see each other. What was going to be the happiest day of Sirius and Savannah's life…was going to be a disaster for Lily and James.
Lily still hadn't gotten over James, but she still hasn't told him how she felt. James had broken up with Avril not even a week after Christmas, but Lily held back from revealing her feelings. Mostly because she knew that James had moved on and that he didn't feel the same about her anymore.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
The next five months were mostly centered around Sirius and Savannah's wedding, except for other holidays and James' and Lily's birthdays.
And then the big day came…
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Savannah was saying to Lily, her maid-of-honor, standing in front of the three-sided mirror in her beautiful white wedding gown. It was a strapless, shaping, satin white gown with a simple lacy veil on top of her head flowing down her beautiful golden honey hair.
"Neither can I," Lily murmured happily.
"And to Sirius," Savannah said breathlessly the tears glistening in her eyes. "I've always dreamed this day would come, but I never actually thought about what would happen when it did. And here it is. The big day. And I'm not nervous at all. In fact…I'm so overjoyed. I-I never knew I could be this happy."
"Oh, God, Savannah. I'm so happy for you," Lily said, getting all teary-eyed. "And I'm happy you're finally ending up with the man you were always meant to be with."
"Okay, I have to stop crying before my make-up goes running down my face."
"Just think, Savannah. At this time tomorrow, you will be Mrs. Sirius Black."
If it was possible, Savannah smiled even wider. "I know. That's what makes it so great."
If they were to write about the story of my life
They would have to mention you with every page they write
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
"Wow, I never thought this day would come," Sirius was saying to his best-man, James, in another room at the same time.
"I know. But I'm so happy for you now that it is," James explained…as honestly as he could. James wasn't about to admit that he has a bit of depression still in his mind and his heart.
James reached into his coat pocket and felt around for the ring that he still had from five years before…Lily's ring. He's always kept it and that day just felt like a day that he needed it to be close with him. Not only was it Sirius' and Savannah's wedding day, which just made him feel even more like a pathetic single bachelor, but it was his and Lily's Anniversary. When he went into his bureau drawers, sitting on top of that was the ring behind a picture of him and Lily on Hogwarts' graduation night. He stared at the ring for a good five minutes, for picking it up and slipping into his pocket. He didn't know why…but he just wanted it. Not just in remembrance…but for comfort. He wanted to believe that everything was going to be okay.
"Wow. I've dreamt this since I was eighteen…with Savannah as the bride. But I never thought it would actually come true. But now here we are and I know I could never be this happy again. I don't think it's physically or mentally possible."
"I've never seen you this giddy, Sirius!" James said laughing. "This is so great. I couldn't be happier, Sirius. I really am ecstatic. You've finally got what you want."
If I were the ocean, you would be the shore
And one without the other would be needing something more
Cuz I have needs only you would know
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the minister said. "You may now kiss the bride."
Both Savannah and Sirius had tears streaming down their faces, along with half of the congregation, as Sirius bent down to give Savannah his first kiss as a married couple.
I have known the emptiness, the feeling out of touch
Living life without you was living half as much
Always love me; never leave me
Lily sat off to the side of Savannah with Kaitlynne and Allie as her only two bridesmaids and they were all three in tears of happiness. Lily watched James and Sirius' two ushers, Remus and Peter, and even James' eyes were filling with tears. Remus and Peter just stood there beaming, getting ready to pounce at Sirius in a few seconds. Lily didn't realize it was possible to be so overjoyed for Savannah, but she definitely was…and in a way, Lily was jealous.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
"Okay, as Sirius' best man, and his best friend, I am so happy to be standing up here giving the toast they both deserve like no other. Sirius has been my friend since I was two when he hit me over the head with a toy truck." Laughter filled the reception hall and James grinned at Sirius. "Since then, we were inseparable and I'm glad to be standing up here on his wedding day knowing I can always count on him. Now, Savannah…what can I say? Beautiful, talented, smart, fun to be around. She's everything a person could want in a friend and it's obvious why Sirius is marrying her on this day. Now I've only known Savannah for seventeen years, and not a day has gone by where I haven't thought about how lucky I am to have her as a friend."
"Awwww," everyone cooed and Savannah blushed.
"These two were meant to be with each other since the get-go. They have been through so much together, through happiness and anger and sorrow and much pain, yet they have always found a way to get through it all. I don't think anyone ever thought that this day would come, but I knew it was meant to be all along. And I'm just glad they finally figured it out. And here they are finally happily married. I don't know if it's possible for me to be any more delighted with them than I am now. They deserve each other. They were destined to be together. They always have. So I hope you will all raise your glasses with me and toast to the happy couple. Because I know I will…for the rest of my life," James finished, looking over at Savannah and Sirius, who were teary-eyed.
Sirius stood up and gave James a hug. "Thanks, man."
Savannah's hot tears were slowly drifting down her cheeks, as she walked over to James in her white wedding dress and gave him a huge hug. "James, you're the best."
"Okay, okay. Now it's the maid-of-honor's turn," Lily said with a grin, clinking her glass. "I haven't known Sirius for as long as James has, but it has felt like I have. There's too much to say about him. He's smart, funny, sarcastic, modest, goofy, smart, fun to be with, spontaneous, and the list goes on. He has taught me so much in life and so much in the world that I feel as if I can't compete with him. He's got it all. And I had the privilege of living with him for three years, and it sure surprised me that this guy could be mature!" Everyone laughed. "But every day to which I woke up in a depressed mood, he was always there to cheer me up. Not one day out of those three years did I ever get a chance to be angry or upset at anything…or at him and I owe it all to him."
"Awwww," everyone cooed, as Sirius was the one to blush this time.
"And then there's my best friend. The woman who changed not just my life, but me as well. She came into my life seventeen years ago and we clicked instantly. She's not only a good friend, but she's also a good person. She was always there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to or just a shoulder to cry on. I spent the best years of my life with the best person and nothing can take that away." Another chorus of 'awwwws' arose and Savannah, surprisingly didn't blush, but smiled. "And now two of the most important people in my life are about to begin a long and hard journey of their own and there's no doubt in my mind that they will turn seventy and still be as happy as ever. These two were meant to be together ever since they set eyes on each other. They never realized it, but I knew it was their fate. When people ask if I believe that there is only one person in the world for everyone, I never know what to answer. But when it comes down to Savannah and Sirius…I know the answer to that question is yes," Lily finished. "Good luck in the future and I hope you lead that perfect life you two are bound to have together."
By now, Savannah was bawling and holding on to Sirius for support, and he was still teary-eyed.
"Thank you, Lily," Savannah said with a sniffle, giving her best friend a long hug.
Sirius stared at Lily for a few unbearable seconds with a hue smile planted on his face. "Thanks you, Lils. Thanks for everything," he whispered, before giving her a squeezing, loving hug.
They pulled apart and Sirius turned towards Savannah. "May I have the pleasure of this dance, Miss Turner?"
Savannah turned to him. "Don't you mean…Mrs. Black?"
Sirius beamed and knew that everything was perfect. Nothing could stop them from being the happiest people in the world and Sirius liked knowing that. "Yes…yes I do."
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
"Okay, it's the maid-of-honor's turn to dance with the groom," Lily said, cutting in after their seventh dance together.
Savannah and Sirius grinned. "Fine, just don't steal him away from me," Savannah said with a wink.
Sirius and Lily started dancing and Lily broke the silence. "Sirius, I don't think I've ever seen you this happy."
Sirius smiled for about the zillionth time that night. "I don't think I've ever been this happy before. Just look at her," Sirius said, nodding his head in Savannah's direction, whose head was thrown back as she laughed. "She's gorgeous…and she's mine. It's still all so unbelievable. I mean, just last year I never thought I'd even see her again, and here I am…at our wedding. It all seems so unreal."
"Yeah, well start believing, because it's finally happening, and I don't think I've ever been this happy for you guys," Lily said with a smile.
"Thanks, Lily," he said.
"You know, ever since you started dating in your seventh year at Hogwarts, I always thought you two would end up together. Even after your break-up I knew it was your destiny. But when she got pregnant to Daniel and left for two and a half years, I wasn't so sure anymore. But now…I'm just so glad that it's happening. I'm just so glad that it's Savannah and Sirius…and not Savannah and someone else and Sirius and someone else. You two were always meant for each other…you just never knew it until now."
"I think you're right," Sirius simply said. "I just wished we realized it sooner."
"There's nothing you can do about it now. Just be glad this day has finally come."
"Oh, I'll always be glad with her around."
~~*~~*~~*~~ *~~*~~* ~~ *~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Finally, the reception ended, around one o'clock in the morning, and Sirius and Savannah ended up getting into a car which would take them to the airport which would take them to Hawaii for a week. Lily offered to take Elizabeth for the week, and after much uneasiness, Savannah and Sirius finally agreed especially after Remus, Kaitlynne, James, Peter, and Allie agreed to stop by and help out whenever they could.
Everyone had left to go home, except for Lily and Elizabeth, who were the last ones to leave the reception hall.
"Lily?" a voice whispered to her from behind.
Lily practically jumped a mile. "James!!!" she gasped. "You scared me half to death!"
He grinned stupidly. "Sorry."
"What are you still doing here? I thought you left."
"I thought I did, too, until I realized I left my jacket. Why are you still here? It's after one in the morning!"
"I was helping clean up this place and besides, Elizabeth was sound asleep and I didn't want to move her too much."
James nodded. They sat there in silence, both thinking the same thing. About how awkward it was to be sitting there together on their Anniversary (or what felt like it because technically it was June 2nd)…of course, they didn't want to mention it.
James finally said, "I still can't believe Savannah and Sirius are actually married."
"I know. It's great," Lily said with a heavy, uncontrollable sigh.
"What's wrong?"
That took Lily by surprise. "Wh-what? I didn't say anything."
"Yes, but I've known you for seventeen years now and I know that sigh meant more than a happy sigh for Savannah and Sirius."
Lily smiled at him and blushed…mostly because it was true. She should've known he'd guess something was wrong. He always sensed her emotions.
"Well. It's just…" Lily trailed off.
"It's just what?"
"Well…don't get me wrong, I am so happy for Savannah and Sirius and I couldn't be happier, but at the same time…" Lily trailed off again.
"Yeah?"
"I'm a little jealous, I guess."
That took James a little by surprise. "How exactly?"
Lily looked at James for a second with her head tilted. "Well…okay, normally to anyone else I wouldn't tell this to just because it kind-of sounds stupid, but with you…it's different."
"What is it?"
"I just always thought that it would be you and me first," Lily spat out. Once she started, she knew she wouldn't stop. "We'd be the first ones married out the eight of us. We'd be the first ones to have child. And not just me. I mean both of us. You and me. Together. Everything just seems so…different than I thought it would be…than I wanted it to be."
James stared at the ground, digesting her words in his own mind. As amazing as this was…he's always felt the same, as well.
Lily sighed. "You probably think it's stupid of me to say it, but-"
"No, I totally understand where you're coming from, Lily."
"Y-you do?" she said in shock.
"Yeah. There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Lily."
"Like what?"
"First of all…I never stopped loving you even after these five long, hard years." Lily sucked in all of her breath, but James tried not to notice.
"But…if you never stopped loving me, then why didn't you ever do anything about it?"
"Because I always thought you hated me."
"I never hated you!"
"I know…I was just paranoid…and dumb. I did a stupid thing the night we broke-up, but I did an even stupider thing by not going after you in the five years afterward."
"I think that was stupid on both of our parts," Lily said. "I…I was just angry and then I hated that it was so different between us," Lily said. "And I blamed it all on you…of course. I mean, if you hadn't gotten angry and jealous we would still be together and for awhile all I could think about was the fact that it all changed because of one stupid fight."
"Lily, it was my fault and I knew it. I was angry with myself. But then I became angry because you weren't trying to be friends…but now I realize why."
"Because it hurt that you didn't trust me."
"The thing is…I trusted you with everything and anything."
"I also knew that…and it confused me and I never bothered to ask you about it or even try to talk about it."
"Well I didn't try either."
"I know…" Lily said turning to face him.
"Life's strange. That's all I have to say."
"James, what else is there that I don't know about you?" Lily asked, truly interested in what he had to say.
"Well, I'm not sure why I'm telling you this, but I am. I feel like you need to know this…or maybe I just need to tell you."
"Yeah?"
"On our Anniversary five years ago, I was going to ask you to marry me."
Lily gasped. "You…you what?"
"It's true. But then my feelings became so mixed up when you said you were moving and…and I was afraid you'd say no. So I didn't."
"I wouldn't have said no," Lily said without thinking, realizing that maybe it wasn't the right thing to say.
James sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that."
"You want to know something about me that you don't know?" Lily questioned.
"Uh…okay."
"Well, on Christmas, I showed up at your house, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah…"
"I was going to tell you that I still loved you," she said barely audible.
James froze. He was afraid she was going to say that. "But…but why didn't you?"
"Because…" Lily croaked. "Because Avril was there."
He groaned. "Oh…yeah…her. She and I got serious for a while, but I knew I couldn't let it go on. I will still in love with you and I wasn't being fair to you."
Lily secretly smiled. "I have something else to confess."
James turned to her and nodded hesitantly. "Okay…"
"I think I just lost five years that could've been better but because you weren't a part of me, they just…diminished, I guess. They became pointless and purposeless."
James sighed again. "I did a stupid thing, Lily. I wish I could take it back, but I can't. I just got…jealous, I guess. I hated the fact that it seemed as if you didn't even miss me."
Lily laughed. "James, I don't know if it was possible to miss you any more that I did. I…I just needed a break that night, I guess. I mean, I thought I had lost you and I had grieved in my room for a whole day and did nothing but look at old pictures, think about old memories, think about you. I just needed to get you out of my mind for a second before I actually became a waterfall. I couldn't think of you dead somewhere, so I tried not to."
"You thought I was dead?"
"Kinda…somewhat…sorta...not really. Ack, I'm not sure. I mean when Sirius told me that so many of the Aurors had, most of them which were beginners, I couldn't help but feel that awful ache I had at the bottom of my stomach. I couldn't help but realize that maybe you were one of them."
"Lily, there's one other thing you don't know about me…"
"Yeah?"
"Um…well, to start off, I know we both feel as if we just lost five years that could have been more meaningful, but instead we hid from our true feelings."
"I know, James. I'm so sorry," Lily said.
"Lily…what would you do if I kissed you now?" he asked unexpectedly.
She breather heavily and looked up at him. "Kiss you back…" she said, leaning up towards him and letting her lips fall on to his. They shared their passionate kiss, which they both had missed over the years. But all that mattered was that they were reunited once again. That kiss symbolized more than just honesty and trust and faithfulness between them…it meant more. It symbolized their undying love that they both never forgot but just put off for a long period of time where they were both in denial.
They pulled apart and looked up into each other's eyes. "I've missed you…" James said.
They hadn't left each other over the years, but Lily knew exactly what he meant. "I've missed you, too, James."
"I don't want to lose you again…" he started.
Lily looked up at him with confusion shining in her eyes. "Huh? You won't lose me. I won't let you…"
"I know…but…"
"What is it, James?" Lily asked, trying to understand.
"I…I just love you so much," he struggled to get out.
Lily looked up at him tearfully and embraced him tightly, not wanting to let him go. Nothing could have made that day better…nothing.
"I love you, too, James Potter. And don't ever forget it."
"I've forgotten it once," he whispered into her ear. "I'm not about to let it happen again."
If you had asked Lily what she had wanted in life before that night, she probably never would have known. She probably would have pondered over the question for more than a necessary amount of time and eventually given you a bunch of meaningless predictions of her future, but nothing would have been substantiate. Nothing would have even been something that she's wanted for a long time. It was a good question for her to think about, and before that night she wouldn't have even been able to make something up off the top of her head.
But it's different now. Things have changed for her and for James. And if you had asked her what she wanted the following day or month or even year, her answer would have been the same.
She wanted James…it's all she's ever wanted.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
"Good morning, Lily," James said groggily answering the door three days later as he stifled a yawn.
"Tired?" Lily teased, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, before following him inside.
"Of course I am. It's before noon."
They both laughed.
"Hey, you were the one who asked me if I wanted to see pictures from the wedding."
"Yes, but I didn't mean at ten o'clock in the morning on a Tuesday morning."
"Oh, please," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "I've had to get up at six o'clock in the morning plenty of times to go to work in California."
James gasped fakely. "There's a six o'clock in the morning??" he teased.
Lily rolled her eyes, but nonetheless laughed at his measly attempt for a joke.
"Besides, I have work in less than two hours, and unless you wanted to wait until Friday to show me the pictures, this was the only time that I could come and see you."
James smiled at her. "You're so adorable."
"How did we get from my work schedule to me being so adorable?"
"Do you not want me to say you're adorable?"
"Well, maybe if you add cute in their somewhere, I could appreciate it even more."
James laughed, and kissed her briefly. "Coffee?" he offered pointing to the coffeemaker brewing the coffee.
"No, cute, James. I said cute," Lily teased.
"Okay, then would you like some coffee, my cute, adorable, sweet Lily?"
"Oooh, I like the 'sweet' you added in. It gives it a touch of…well…er…um…-"
"Sweetness?"
Lily laughed, and hit him playfully on the arm. "How about just the coffee, then?"
"With some sweet sugar?" he joked, passing her a coffee mug.
"Is it full of sweetness?"
He laughed and handed her a donut with the coffee.
"Oh, how romantic," Lily said with a chuckle. "A donut."
"I figured that unless you were willing to die of food poisoning, that a store-bought donut was the best way to go."
They both laughed. "Well, good choice, considering I like being alive."
"Almost as much as I like you being alive," James interjected, and they both laughed long and hard as he leaned down to give her a gentle kiss on her sugary lips.
"Come on, Lily," James said a few minutes later after taking a bite out of his donut and a few sips from his coffee with back-and-forth chatter with Lily. He loved being with Lily, now. Instead of just James and no one, and Lily and no one…it was James and Lily. It just fit. It was always supposed to be that way. And he couldn't have been more happier than if his dad were still alive or something. Lily was always there for him, and he wasn't about to forget her ever again. He's always loved Lily. But now…now he realized that she loved him equally. And that's all he's ever wanted in the first place.
"The pictures are up in my bedroom," James continued.
Lily followed James up to his room slowly and cautiously before entering the darkened room. "Wow, it's changed since the last time I've been up here."
James snuck a peek at her and smiled secretly. "Yeah, well it's been a while since I've brought you up here," he snickered, walking into his walk-in closet to find the two packages of pictures from Sirius' and Savannah's wedding.
Lily laughed loudly and sauntered over to his bureau drawers where he had a bunch of picture frames standing on top of the drawers. "Oh, wow," she thought out loud.
"What?"
Lily jumped a little, forgetting that he was still in the room. "Oh, nothing. Just these pictures. You've a got quite a lot from Hogwarts. It's…it's just fascinating that you have them still."
James didn't say anything for a few seconds, and Lily figured he was just smiling or remembering back to the Hogwarts days. "Yeah, well they were some of the best times of my life. And I don't just throw them out."
Lily smiled as she picked up a picture frame with the whole gang in Three Broomsticks one cold, snowy, late New Years back in their seventh year. She remembered walking in at ten o'clock p.m. sharp with her seven friends and playing pool, singing Karaoke, dancing, eating, drinking…doing everything to make the last day of the year the best one ever. The clock struck midnight, and they struck complete happiness. A round of fun, meaningless kisses and hugs went around for everyone and no one was forgotten.
The eight of them never went to bed that night. They stayed up all night having as much fun as possible. When they got back to the Gryffindor commons room three and a half hours after midnight, they stayed up for another four hours just talking. About everything. They relived the past year through the seven friends' minds, hearts, and souls. All of the smiling. All of the laughing. All of the crying. The yelling. The fights. The fun. The all-nighters. The rule-breaking. The kisses. The hugs. The parties. The Quidditch. The schoolwork. The studying. The strenuous tests. The vacations. The breaks. The feuds. The arguments. The pranks. The break-ups. The relationships. The games. The insults. The complements. The loneliness. The isolation. The solitude. The anger. The frustration. The happiness. The surprises. The childlessness. The immaturity. The fantasies. The dreams. The gifts. The love.
The memories. That's what life was all about.
Lily noticed a small, black, velvet box on the bureau as well and couldn't help but be a little curious. Why would James have a velvet jewelry box just lying on his bureau strewn about? Lily thought suspiciously.
She glanced towards the closet where James was and without another thought against it, she picked it up much to her conscience's nagging no's. She opened it up tediously and prudently and gaped at what was found inside.
James happened to enter the bedroom from his closet with the two rolls of pictures in his hands. "Here they are, Li-" he said, stopping short when he saw what she was looking at.
"Er…nice ring," Lily said with a bewildered, yet annoyed, look on her face, trying not to sound angry or depressed at the moment. But why shouldn't she? She was standing there with a box and an engagement ring in her hands that obviously belonged to James. How did he get it and why did he have it, she was afraid to know, but that didn't stop her from assessing the situation. The only answer she had was Avril, but she pushed that thought in the back of her mind immediately. She figured that he was probably thinking of giving it to Avril when they were dating.
He stared at her with a torn look on his face, not sure who to deal with it. He knew that she must be thinking that he had received it from someone, especially with her aggravated, confused, and noticeably hurt look on her face, but when he tried to say anything to make her think otherwise, no good explanation came out of his mouth except the unexpected words that drabbled off his tongue.
"It's yours," James said clearly and firmly, gripping the pictures a little too tightly, making his knuckles as white as a ghost.
"What?" Lily said confused and impatient. She didn't exactly want to hear his excuse about the ring, but he was obviously mixed up and deranged to think that she could believe that the had given him the ring and not remembered…unless…………
James walked towards her forcefully and gently lifted the ring out of her cold, untouchable hands. "Lily, five years ago I bought you this ring…and I never let it go," he explained. Lily dropped her jaw in amazement, but before she couldn't say anything, James quickly continued on with his explanation. "I loved you more than anything back then, and I wanted to marry you. I knew what I wanted…I knew who I wanted. But after the attacks caused by Voldemort, I…I became scared. Afraid. Alone in the sense that I wasn't surrounded by you…or my friends. But it was you who I ran from and hid my true feelings from. Voldemort reminded me of how much I had yet to learn about life. About…well, love. Nothing comes easy and while on the job hunting him down, I had a lot of time to think. Mostly about you. In fact, you were all I could think about. And I started wondering about us. And I couldn't help but question our relationship. When I arrived home, you were the only person I wanted to see. I just needed to know that you cared as much as I did. But, I couldn't handle it…us, I mean. I snapped. I blew up. I was questioning too much and overanalyzing the whole situation. But after losing you that year, my questions faded and my confusion faded. I began to realize that I was being stupid. Voldemort should not have the satisfaction of knowing that he was the one who brought me to think we deserved to be separated. And…and when I saw you at the reunion I knew that you were still the one…the one I always loved…and always will love. It just took me too long to realize it, and I'm sorry, Lily…I'm so sorry," James grieved, practically begging Lily to forgive him for nothing that he really did. He looked into her sweet, innocent, confused eyes and saw shock…amazement. But the last thing he saw surprised him the most. It was love and understanding.
Lily looked up at his melancholy face of despair and mixed emotions. He meant what he had said. She knew it. He was being truly sincere about everything, and all she's ever done was ridicule him for it. "James, there's nothing to be sorry for. I'm as good as guilty as you and Voldemort are because I didn't do anything about it. I was being pathetically stupid. You claim you ran from your feelings; I ran from you. I was afraid of us and what we were becoming, as well."
"I think the whole world was," James said with a chuckle.
"So, we both understand each other now, right?" Lily said with a smile, still holding the ring forgetting she was holding the box that resembled their love and cherishing.
James chuckled and nodded. "Yes. All of our secrets are out in the open."
"And I hope that is the way they will remain."
"Trust me; I'm never hiding anything from you and I sure as hell ain't running from it, either."
Lily threw back her head and roared loudly. "So, are we good, then?"
James paused and looked at the ring she was holding and knew what the answer to that question was immediately. "I'm not so sure," he replied hesitantly.
Lily wasn't expecting that.
She looked up into his deep, dark, contemplative eyes that were holding an air of mystique and suspicion. "Er…what?" she asked in confusion.
"I'm not so sure," he replied, more firmly this time. "Because I still don't have you."
"What? Yes, you do, James," Lily replied. "You'll always have me."
"Will I?"
Lily stared at him incredulously with a look of astonishment and fury on her face. "James, what are you trying to say?"
"I-I'm not sure exactly."
"You're not going to lose me again, James," Lily said gently, touching his arm lightly. "I love you too much."
He paused and looked at her concerned face. "I love you, too."
"Then what's the problem?"
"What happens if one of us starts thinking about the future again? Or about love? Or about the idea of us and a relationship that may not be going anywhere??"
"We both agreed that we love each other and I don't plan on breaking that agreement anytime soon. Beside, we both said that running from our true feelings wasn't doing us any good, so we-"
"But that's exactly it."
"What??" Lily cried in frustration and disbelief. Is he actually going against his words only less than a minute later!?!? What is he afraid of now???
"It's not doing us any good," he repeated. "Which is exactly why I'm asking you to marry me."
A/N: Please don't kill me! This cliffhanger was fun to write, I have to admit. But I wonder what Lily is going to say? Will she agree or will she wonder if it's the right decision? Tune in next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
