AN: Sorry for the late update. I met a couple of Taiwanese boy band members last week and the experience turned my brain into pure mush incapable of writing a single coherent sentence. Thanks for still reviewing! :) I feel so appreciated.

Disclaimer: Common knowledge

Chapter 24: Decide to Love You

Sirius sped downwards, trying to beat his best friend to the ground. Adrenaline rushing through his veins, he stopped a few feet below James, carefully maneuvering the broom and hoping James wouldn't miss. Barely a split second later, the broomstick rocked, hard, as James landed squarely behind him. "Lily!" Sirius called. "Come on! We have to get to St. Mungo's!"

Lily, who he had left on James's broom while he went to rescue James, paled. "I-I can't! I don't know how!"

"You've ridden a broom before! You can do it!"

"I rode a broom as a PASSENGER!"

"You have to fly, Lily!" Sirius yelled. "Please, for James!"

Lily bit her lip, but after a moment, her shaky hands managed to grasp the handle. She managed to make it up to beside Sirius.

"You did it!" Sirius exclaimed. "See, I told you you could do it."

Lily managed a small, but proud smile. "Yeah, I guess I did. And I guess it was kind of fun."

Sirius went into serious mode. "OK, here's the problem: There's no way I can make good time without James falling off this broom. So, you have to stay beside me at all times. That way, Elsa can support James, and we can hurry without having to worry. You have to keep up, OK? Now!"

They went tearing off across the skies, masterfully dodging trees and other obstacles. In record time, they screeched to a stop in front of the hospital.

"Ow!" Sirius complained as James's head crashed into his back. "Elsa, you were supposed to hold on to him!"

Lily ran to inform the Healers, and soon, a couple of them whisked James off. For the second time in weeks, they were in the waiting room again. Sirius borrowed an owl so he could mail Remus. The latter had perfect timing. Just as a Healer came out to give them the news of James's condition, Remus came running in and knocked the poor man over in his hurry.

"Whoops," Remus ventured sheepishly as the others helped the Healer up. "Sorry."

"How is he?" Elsa asked as soon as the man was on his feet.

"He's—" the man paused to rub his head, "—fine. He's just unconscious now."

Overjoyed, they nearly knocked him over again as they ran for the ward.

"Hey!" the sour-looking nurse who was manning the ward called. "Only family allowed!"

The Healer shook his head. "Don't stop them," he sighed. A smile crept onto his lips. "They're his family."

James was dreaming. He felt like he was in a theater, watching the movie of his life unfold before his eyes. Images just rushed into his mind with the speed of a bullet. Him lying on the grass with Remus and Sirius and a mousy boy, haughtily watching the crowd. He saw Lily's furious face as she defended a boy he had been publicly humiliating. He saw her dreamy face as they watched a fireworks display from the top of the Astronomy Tower. Her face once more as they sat on his broom, watching the stars. Lily, Lily…"Lily!" James gasped out as he awoke suddenly. He smiled gently as he reached out to the female figure asleep beside his bed. He could see Lily's red ponytail and the peaceful look on her face as she slumbered…

"James?" The girl lifted her head, and James realized that it wasn't Lily after all but rather, Elsa. "You're up!" she exclaimed, grabbing his hand. "How do you feel? You want something to eat?"

James managed a weak smile. "I'm fine."

"Sirius! Lily!" He's awake!" Elsa called as the door to the ward opened and the two came into view, juggling bags of food and drink.

"Hey, how are you?" Lily leaned over and gave him a hug. James breathed in the scent of her hair. He had never wanted someone more. But just as he reached out to return the hug, she pulled away.

"We brought you guys some eating," Sirius said as he set the bags down. "Moony and Moonier are still at Honeydukes, picking up Acid Pops for Jamesie. Or at least that's what I think they're doing."

"Uh-oh, bad mental image," Elsa quipped as she looked through the food.

"What's a bad mental image?" Remus asked as he and Phoebe came in, also loaded down with packages.

"Trust me; you don't want to know." Lily shot a Look at Sirius.

"Unfortunately, I already have a clue," Phoebe muttered. "Wash your mind out, Black."

"Okay, here we have fudge, Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans—everything. We practically bought out the whole store," Remus announced.

Lily raised an eyebrow as she pulled a strawberry-cream-flavored gummy candy out of one of the bags. "My, you have got that much money?"

"Well, I'm sure there's a rich girl here who could've footed the bill," Elsa commented almost distractedly as she opened a container of breakfast.

Remus turned to his girlfriend. "Don't worry, honey; I'll pay you back ASAP!"

"Yeah, in about ten years." Phoebe crossed over to James's bed. "Hi. You look better."

James remembered the patient, kind girl who had helped teach him wizarding skills before and smiled. "Thanks."

"Open wide," Elsa ordered as she lifted a forkful of bacon to his lips. James recalled another time Elsa had taken care of him like this, back when he'd gotten a dizzy spell while shopping with her in Muggle London. The memory brought a fond smile. Sweet, sunny Elsa. She had always been by his side when he needed her…

"Do we honestly need to see this?" Lily piped up. "Come on, Sirius. Let's step outside and let these two get a little alone time."

James felt an instant surge of jealousy as he watched his best friend and his girlfriend walk out of the room together.