Disclaimer: I don't own characters you recognize, and even some that you don't. Some of these ideas came while fooling around with friends, and us talking over 'what if' senarios.

Flames are okay as long as you give me constructive criticism and don't request I change the cancer part of the plot because it won't happen.

Chapter 14- Confrontations

Lily only tried talking to Sirius once. "Hey Black," Lily attempted the friendly direction in the Gryffindor common room one night before dinner.

"What do you want, Evans?" Sirius's voice was full of spite. He didn't bother looking away from the parchment he had been writing on.

"Listen, Sirius, I didn't mean to make you think I'm giving up or that anything will happen, but you need to know that it's a possibility." Lily touched Sirius's shoulder, which he shrugged off. "Just tell me what you want me to do," Lily said as James entered the commons.

"Just stay the hell away from me!" Sirius shouted at Lily. James stopped in his tracks.

Lily composed herself. "Fine," she said her heart breaking, even though she realized she had asked.

"You're just going to accept that? Just like you've accepted what all the doctors say?" Sirius accused.

The majority of students in the room were now staring at the commotion. Lily was grasping desperately to reason as her temper threatened to reveal itself. "Sirius, I asked you what you wanted, and I have every intention of doing what you've asked," with that Lily picked up her book bag and left.

"Lily," James said, but she was already to the portrait hole. "What in the name of Godric was that about?" James asked Sirius. Sirius just shrugged, still looking at the parchment, though he had stopped writing. "Don't you blow me off, Sirius," James said with anger, but managed to keep his volume down. "What happened?"

Sirius felt the guilt that he had let pile up for the last few days finally flood through him. He explained the situation to James making his innocence in the scenario which James saw through. "Why don't you go tell her to lighten up?" Sirius said trying to finish covering any involvement of his own. He was awfully grateful that Samantha wasn't there to hear all of it, knowing whose side she would be on.

"Have you even thought about how Lily might feel about this? Do you understand what she's going through?" Dinner was almost half over and James was feeling his stomach growling which didn't help with his mood. Sirius, however, wasn't sure if the feeling in his stomach was hunger or a new wave of guilt. "You're so damn selfish that you can't see the fact that she's had to see her own mother die from the same thing that's eating at her!" James didn't worry about keeping his voice down since everyone had already left for the Great Hall. "You need to get your head out of your ass and help out a friend, because now is when Lily needs you the most, and what are you doing? You're putting your tail between your legs and running away," James said.

"Excuse me?" Sirius said infuriated that James would say such about him.

"I said you're being a coward," James said directly.

Sirius grabbed James by his robes and held tightly. "I am NOT a coward!"

James pushed Sirius off of him, straightened out his robes and glared Sirius down. "Then prove it," he said and left Sirius there to stew things over.

After going to the Great Hall and grabbing a sandwich, since Lily wasn't there, James made his way around to see if he could find her. She wasn't in her room and James had Samantha check the girls' bathrooms for him, no luck. As he passed the library, James saw a dim light from the back. He went toward it and saw an intent Lily, pouring over the books. "Didn't the library close an hour or so ago?" James asked as he pulled a chair up next to her.

"I got special permission," Lily explained, starring intently at the page. "If I'm going to be missing classes then I have to get a bit ahead for N.E.W.T.s."

"I don't think he meant it," James said.

Lily looked up with a confused expression, "huh?"

"Sirius, I don't think he meant what he said," James explained.

Lily went back to making notes on a piece of parchment from the book she was studying from. "Then he shouldn't have said it," Lily pointed out.

"Come on, Lily, can't you forgive him," James said not knowing if he could handle the two of them fighting.

"He doesn't need my forgiveness, if that's how he feels. I'm just going to do what he's asked, and that's to stay away from him."

"How long can that last?"

"I suppose that depends on Sirius," Lily answered patiently. "You know, it's gotten to the point that I'm damned if I do, I'm damned if I don't. I was telling you, all of you, because last time people got upset with me for not, and then people get mad at me when I do tell you. I just can't figure it out."

"It's just Sirius's way of dealing with things, to be honest," James said taking out the sandwich and taking a bite. "He doesn't have many people he can trust, and knowing something bad is happening to one of them just, I don't know, he just can't handle it."

"Good analysis," Lily said, copying another line down. "I'll try keeping it in mind."

"Lily, I think he wants to-"

"It doesn't matter now what he wants, I have to study. I won't be too long, I'll be back in Head's common room in probably an hour, hour and a half."

James sighed, realizing that he was fighting a losing battle. "Alright," he said. "See you there."

Sirius came to the library just as Lily was packing her things up to leave. Lily figured James had told Sirius where she was, not that she cared much.

"Lily, I just came to apologize," he said unconvincingly.

"No need," Lily said picking up her bag and starting to walk.

"What are you doing?" Sirius asked as if she should stay to convenience him.

"Leaving you the hell alone. Remember?" Lily said with no emotion, although remembering him saying such hurt her very much. "I never thought of you as a fair weather friend."

"Lily, I'm sorry, but I still don't think you should act like you're going to keel over any second."

"I haven't been, and you need to be prepared if I do die."

Sirius cringed at the thought, but was here to accomplish something. "Come on, Lily, you can't stay mad at me, can you?" Sirius said trying the charm approach.

"Who said I was mad at you?"

"Aren't you?"

"Just hurt," Lily said. "I figure I asked for it though, right?"

Sirius didn't think he could take this. He would have much preferred for Lily to rant and rave at him. "I was being an idiot, don't take anything I say seriously, I don't let my name define me."

Lily laughed, music to Sirius's ears. "Come on, Evans, let me get you an ice cream."

She looked at him skeptically. "How exactly are we going to do that?"

"I have some friends down in the kitchen."

Two days later James got an owl back from his Aunt Sarah. She was a mediwitch at Mungo's and he had written her to find out if there was any kind of magical help for Lily. Since Lily didn't know about James's inquiry he tucked away the letter to read later, in a more private setting.

James went straight to his room after breakfast and before charms. He quickly opened the envelope to read its contents.

Dear James,

It's so good to hear from you. It seems like ages since I've seen my favorite nephew, and I'm sorry with which this letter was written for. I, myself, am not an expert on such muggle disease and illness, but I have included a letter from a friend of mine who works in that department. I'm sure he can help in some way or another.

Good luck with your friend and behave yourself in school.

Love,

Aunt Sarah

James smiled knowing his mum probably had some effect on that last comment. He looked at the other paper that laid in the envelope.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Unfortunately we don't have a lot of information on this particular disease, but there is one solution. I'll let you know now that it is very difficult and must be done without your friend knowing about it. The potion is extremely advanced and it will be very important for it to be done right, because if it isn't the cancer will spread twice as fast as it would otherwise. Friends must be involved, or I would have had one of my staff do this for you. Good luck with this, but go about this cautiously.

Wishing you the best,

Jerome Fischer
Mediwizard St. Mungo's
Department of Muggle ailments

On the back of that letter was the potion which, as James noticed, was more difficult then he could handle. He could fudge things in class to get a decent grade, but when it came to Lily's life... James knew he couldn't do this one. Yet at the same time, he couldn't see Lily suffer time and time again, never knowing if the muggle way would work. She had told him that this first time would basically be a trial, if it worked she would have to do it a couple more times, but if it didn't work, well, James didn't want to think of that. He only wanted to think about what he might have to do.

Lily came back from her first of this series of treatments not ready to do much. She couldn't even motivate herself to pick up a book. She had left the previous Wednesday night and stayed until Monday, coming back on the train and not arriving until after dinner. Samantha, Peter, James, Sirius and Remus all came into her bedroom to play games and entertain her, and though it worked she still felt very weak.

James let the others borrow his invisibility cloak since it was well past curfew when they left. He went back in Lily's room after giving them the cloak. "How are you holding up?" he asked Lily, sitting next to her on the bed.

"Not too good," she admitted with a smile on her face, "but I'm alive."

James gave her a lopsided grin. "Why don't you take tomorrow off, I'll make sure Remus takes good notes for you," he said.

Lily rolled her eyes at him. "Heaven forbid you take notes."

"Come on, Evans, would you really want to try reading my chicken scratch, you know I'm just thinking of you," he said putting on a false sincerity.

"Right," Lily said. "I think I'll go to bed."

"Are you going to stay here tomorrow," James asked, this time with true concern. "I don't think you should push it."

"Yeah," Lily said, already half asleep. "I'll stay here."

"Goodnight Lily," James said squeezing her hand.

Lily gave a weak squeeze back. " 'Night."

The next day after double Transfiguration with Slytherin James stopped Snape in the hall. "What do you want?" Severus asked.

"Life debt," James said in a whisper, making Severus follow him down the hall into an empty classroom.

Snape was actually glad that James had finally thought of something that would fulfill this for him, then he could go back to hating him, not that he didn't still hate James, but Severus knew he couldn't be in this git's debt and be satisfied with himself. "What is it Potter?"

"I need your help with a potion," James said, hating that he needed Snape for any reason. He handed a copy of the potion ingredients and instructions to Severus.

"What's this for," Snape asked as he overlooked the potion.

"For now, that's my business," James said.

"I have to know before I start," Snape said spitefully. "If this is so you can pull a prank on me, the life debt won't be fulfilled, and I refuse to do it pointlessly."

James was ready to tell Snape to get bent, but decided this was more important than putting Snape in his place. "It's for Lily," he said.

Severus looked up suddenly, his face going paler if it was possible. "Lily Evans?"

"Yes, Lily Evans," James said, reading the expression as Pure blood hatred, instead of concern. "You have a problem with that?"

"No," Severus spit out. "Why does Lily need this?" he tried keeping the hatred facade up.

"She has a muggle disease, and this is the only definite way to cure it, if it's done right," James explained quickly. "But you aren't to tell anyone else or I swear-"

"I won't tell anyone," Snape said honestly. There were too many Slytherins that might use the information to their advantage. "So basically, you need me because you can't do it?" Severus sneered at James.

"No," James would ask for some help, but there was no way in hell that he was going to admit that he couldn't do it. "But if it isn't done right it will make things worse, and you're the best in potions," James admitted spitefully. "Besides, you owe it to me for last year."

"Fine," Severus said, although he knew he wouldn't be doing this for James, and would still have a life debt. "I need the money for these supplies," he said.

James had pretty much talked a years of allowance out of his mom for dates and Hogsmeade, but he hoped that this one might be given as well. "I'll take care of it," he said. "I'll talk to you again when I have the money."

James got Professor Dumbledore to allow him an important weekend visit with his parents. "What's wrong?" Kyla asked when James came home in such a hurry.

"I just had to come see my wonderful family," James tried.

"What do you want this time?" Kyla put her hands on her hips and gave him an exasperated look.

James knew he couldn't fool his mother, but had been worth a try. "I need more money," he said.

"For what?" Kyla asked.

"It's Lily. She's sick and there's only one-"

"Way to cure it," Kyla finished. "You're aunt already wrote to us. Let's take your things to your room." James was baffled by this, but followed his mother up the stairs and to the messy room filled with Quidditch posters. "She had the man send us a copy of ingredients and we got them when we went to Diagon Alley last weekend. Maybe you can clean this place you call a room while you're home."

"What?" James was speechless. He had expected a weekend of begging and pleading with his mum over the money.

"Clean your room," Kyla said, cupping her hands around her mouth like a speaker phone. "You know, like pick up the clothes, and such. It shouldn't be too hard now that you're a legal wizard, but if you don't really grasp the con-"

"I get that," James said. "But you already got it all?"

"Why is that so hard to believe?" Kyla asked. "You don't think we'd let any of your friends go through something like that, do you?"

"No, I guess not," James was growing a new appreciation for his mother. "Thanks."

"That's what we're here for," Kyla said with a smile. "Now, clean your room."

A/N: Alright there's another chapter for all of you. Hope it lives up to some standards that are apparently being set for me...(sweats it out). I'm waiting... hoping for your reviews... they are my life source =) I think this is one of the longest chapters I have ever written.

I told you the Snape/ James thing would shock you. And you all thought I was going to have a smack down. Not exactly the norm huh? Then again, I'm going out of my way to steer clear of the norm. Thank you for everyone who's reviewed!

Thank you:

Hearts: I'm glad you like Sirius here. I was really afraid that people would be mad at my version, but this is how I see him.

Mell Minamoto: what does the XP mean? I don't want to sound stupid, but that's the only part I don't get... Hope you read this one at a decent hour, but if you do find yourself with nothing to do at 3 in the morning, check out some of my other stuff.

AAandACFOREVER: Teusday? That's my mom's b-day. Glad you liked the last one, this one is longer, as you can tell, and I try to keep them up there around 2000 words, but I couldn't last time, and I didn't want to push it.

JamieBell: Don't have a heart attack, I would be distraught if I lost you... anywho, I hope you like Kyla in this one. She's a little more serious, but has the funny flair still. Yes, a new character, but I don't think she'll be a round character, just a means to my end.

mochalatee225: If I did the caffine thing, the writing wouldn't be the same quality, not that I think I'm that great, but it would be more like the writing the little boy I nanny would do. Sorry if I'm blabbing, but if your summer is that boring, you could try reading and reviewing some of my other stuff? You might like Resentment, which is kind of a companion to this one.

Rose in Winter: 'get into it'? I had you fooled didn't I. HEHEHE. Hope you aren't upset that I tricked you, but you gave me a laugh or two that you thought that.

ninariddletales: I'm blushing from your last review still =)

Elspeth Renee: As realistic as I can get, although people have pointed out I don't know much about cancer, though most of it is basically true... I really do try =)

animalluvr75: Here's 14 for you!

MaraudersIce05: I'll continue, and if it's any conciliation, we all know how Lily really dies =)

vache: I know I'm corny, but I like those sorts of little things. I can't help the sappy stuff.

theoneandonlystephy: Reread your review and the answer to your question is in there... I do it to make people cry =) Not in a bad way, just to see if I can get the reaction I want in my writing.

Space-Pirate10: Thank you! Yes it is serious, and that's just how the topic goes.