At those words, Lily stared at James in a dazed fashion. She was having a very hard time comprehending she had just married him. For reassurance she turned to the Ministry official, just to see him smiling benignly. Lily twisted slightly to see Millie making odd gestures. Having decided she definitely missed something, she peered over James's shoulder to see Sirius mouth very clearly 'kiss him'.

Lily glanced quickly to the audience and saw them all watching with expectation. Deciding Sirius was the most helpful, she looked back to him. Sirius was patting his stomach and after a moment Lily made out the word portkey. Lily decided she wasn't getting very far with this particular quest for knowledge, so she shrugged, took a step closer, wrapped her arms around her husband, and kissed him. Before Lily even had a chance to contemplate what she was going to do next, she felt the tell-tale tugging at her navel indicating portkey transportation.

Before she knew it, they were both in the sitting room at James's parents' home, nearly drowning in her voluminous skirts. "Well. That was quite a kiss."

"The portkey would only work if you kissed me instead of the other way around. I suppose we should have mentioned that before the ceremony," James explained. "The magical ceremony traditionally ends when the bride kisses the groom."

Lily stared up at the painted vaulted ceiling and asked, "Did we really just get married?"

"Yes."

"I can't believe it."

"Me neither."

"Do you regret it?"

"Definitely not."

"Me neither."

Silence.

"James? How did you get that whole thing arranged so quickly?" Lily swiveled on the small settee and propped her elbow on the back of it.

"I was desperate. You know how you hear stories about women moving big stones without magic when their kids are trapped? It was sort of like that."

"Oh. I am very glad you did it. The whole thing was perfect; it was my dream wedding."

"I figured you would either love it or hate it. I was worried."

"It was brilliant, Potter. Absolutely brilliant." Lily leaned across the small sofa to straddle him. She lovingly ran her fingertips along his jaw and through his hair. "I can't even describe how much I loved it, love you. How much I adore you for this."

"I'm always open to your best try."

Lily was giving it just that when Sirius abruptly slammed into the elegant room. He just as quickly backed out, shut the door again, and began knocking pleasantly against the frame. "Can I come in?"

Sirius could only hear the loud rustling of Lily's dress and a few murmurs before James yelled, "What do you want?"

Sirius cautiously opened the door a crack before entering the room. "I was just looking for you two. Everybody's waiting to begin supper for you."

"Supper?" Lily questioned.

Sirius found himself looking away, trying his best not to make too fine a point on what he obviously interrupted. "A lot of people had to go home since it is Christmas Eve, but the most important ones are here. Dinner, wedding cake, nothing fancy."

It was a miniscule affair compared to Petunia's grand reception, but it was cozy, and perfect for a Christmas Eve wedding. James's mother didn't have much to say; she was apparently even more dazed than Lily. They had a lovely supper, and Lily was sure the food was delicious, but she couldn't taste the difference between fried Christmas trees and eggnog. The handcrafted clock told her it lasted nearly two hours, but it felt like just a few minutes. Their friends giggled and pointed at the two of them occasionally, but Lily was pretty much left to her own devices. James was at his most gregarious with Sirius, Remus, and Peter next to him. Millie, on the bride's other side, sat quietly, obviously in her own private, hellish nightmare. Her best friend, after all, had just married the spawn of the devil.

James and Sirius paused in their ebullience for Sirius to give his traditional best man's toast. Instead of the drunken ramble Lily half expected, Sirius simply stood up and raised his glass, saying, "To Mr. and Mrs. Potter, James and Lily, may you have a long, wonderful lifetime together. You two deserve all the happiness in the world."

It was simple and perfect enough to bring tears to Lily's eyes. When she turned to clink glasses with James he echoed the sentiment, "I hope I never again have to know the world without you."

It was forty five minutes later that the guests formed a receiving line to wish the bride and groom goodbye. By the time Lily reached the end of the emotional line, tears were falling freely down her cheeks. Remus had kissed her cheek and said, "James is seldom agreeable, but I know you two will be happy. Don't give up."

Peter had awkwardly hugged her and murmured, "Congratulations and best of luck. You'll need it."

Sirius had hugged her tightly and whispered, "Take care of him. You're the only one who can break his darkness."

The elder Mr. and Mrs. Potter were at the end of the line. Mr. Potter also kissed her cheek and told her seriously, "James may not believe it, but in my heart, you two are my son and daughter."

Mrs. Potter was the last, and she grasped Lily in a nearly brutal embrace. "I love you for loving my son. I am indebted eternally."

"It isn't such a chore, really."

"That's what makes it even more remarkable."

"Nobody can call you the remarkable Miss Evans anymore," James said after kissing his mother goodbye. Looking down at Lily, he brushed her lips lightly, then directed, "Apparate to the park. I want to show you something."

That something ended up being their street. Their house was one of the dozens of beautifully decorated homes on the street. Since there was no traffic, the two of them strolled down the middle of the street, absorbing the festive scene. "It's gorgeous."

"I thought so. I noticed it last night and I knew you would love it."

"You know James," Lily commented, slipping an arm around his waist, "I think you may be getting the hang of this Christmas thing."

"Just think how good I'll be a hundred Christmases from now."

"We'll be the doddering couple the Muggle children think are crazy lunatics for the huge array of holiday decorations."

"Only you would be thrilled by that. Here we are. I believe I read somewhere it is a Muggle tradition for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold."

"Oh, really? Will you be following through with that?"

"I was toying with the idea," James revealed, leaning against the doorjamb. Lily mimicked him, crossing her arms.

"It would be terribly romantic, you know."

"Would it?"

"I may even kiss you when we get inside?"

"It sounds like we should definitely give it a try then."

"If we don't like it, you could always drop me. Of course, then, I may not be so inclined to kiss you."

"I don't see any other choice. I will most certainly have to carry you." James opened the front door and lifted Lily into his arms. "Did I tell you how staggeringly beautiful you are today?"

"Not in those words, no. Was I?"

"The most beautiful bride in the history of brides."

"That sounds biased, but you're entitled to be a little prejudiced today." When Lily looked away from him, she gasped at the sight of their house. The outside was pretty amazing, but this was awe-inspiring. The decorations she put up were nothing compared to this. Garland and white fairy lights had been put on almost every available surface, and they provided the only light in the house. "Holy Honeydukes. I have never seen anything this gorgeous before."

"Really, Lily, are you digging for compliments?" James asked wryly, still holding her.

"Who did this?"

"One of my parents' house elves."

As they stared at each other in the warm glow of the lights, both were thinking the other had never looked so beautiful, and both thought it was impossible to be any happier than they were right then.

When Lily woke up on Christmas morning, she looked straight into James's hazel eyes. She had become accustomed to him watching her while she slept, so she wasn't surprised. "Hmmm, what time is it?"

"Time for you to stop setting alarms every morning."

"I sat it as soon as I got up yesterday, remember? For Christmas morn – oh!"

"Yes, oh."

"Is everybody still coming this morning?" Lily asked, already rolling off the other side of the bed. Before James even had a chance to answer, she was dressed in her special Christmas morning pajamas.

"I wish they weren't, but I'm sure the leeches we call friends and family will wander our way."

Lily laughed and threw the holiday pajamas she had chosen for him at him. "I hope you speak of me in such a flattering way."

"I'll let you know once I put these on. I can't believe you bought me Christmas pajamas." James looked down at the flannel outfit with Father Christmas's sleigh flying around the legs and Rudolph's nose lighting up. "I just hope they don't look as dorky as yours."

Lily looked down in disbelief at her green pajamas with dancing gingerbread. "Is there something wrong with these?"

"You look like a demented baker."

She made a sound of disgust and abruptly jerked the blankets off the bed. "How about you give them a try?"

"You know, I'm not exceptionally experienced with this sort of thing, but I am actually pretty sure we're not supposed to be discussing nerdy Christmas sleepwear the morning after our wedding night."

"I guess that means we're unique." Lily walked around to his side to kiss him. "You're parents are probably downstairs. You should probably get dressed."

"Ugh! Way to kill the mood, Lily. I guess we can't really tell them to leave, but there is always the honeymoon."

Lily immediately pounced on this little tidbit. "Are we even having a honeymoon?"

James laughed and started putting on the pajamas pants. "Of course. We're leaving tonight."

"We are?"

"Yeah. Mother's house-elf has already got everything you'll need packed."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there. You know, there is no way I'm wearing this." He held up the button up top to the outfit.

"Whatever. You can't just say I'll find out. You have to tell me, James." Lily grabbed both of his shoulders to draw him down to her eye level. "Seriously. I can't handle the wait. I'll probably die."

"Venice."

"WHAT? Venice! You are the greatest! Are you serious? My Mum's family lives there. Are we really?"

"Actually, yes. Sirius and Senior arranged most of it, but it was my idea," he said modestly.

"Oh, my…wow. Wow. I can't believe this. Yes!" Lily screamed, and threw her arms around James.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"I am better than alright. I am shocked. James, you are a certifiable genius. I don't want you to think I can be bribed with trips or anything, but I really love you right now."

"So I gather. I'm glad you're so excited. So, do you want to skip the family thing, then?"

"Definitely not. We cannot just skip Christmas."

"Sure we can. We'll just stay up here and ignore them," James said reasonably.

"Nobody ignores Sirius for long. He'll be up here by noon. I got you a really cool present, anyway."

"Are you trying to bribe me to see my parents?"

"I wouldn't do that…exactly."

"Let's go and get this over with. At least the parents are supposed to be bringing dinner. I won't have to eat whatever you try to pass off as food."

"You are impossible."

"It is so hard to take you seriously when you are wearing clothing with dancing gingerbread. Really difficult."

Lily sniggered, "You're the one with Father Christmas flying up your leg."

James slung an arm around her shoulder and said, "Point taken."

Christmas morning with James's parents and the Marauders went surprisingly well. Nobody argued, and Remus was the only person to throw food, and that was only when Sirius requested a roll. For Lily, it was like rediscovering Christmas after the previous year's fiasco. For James, it was like a perfect, storybook holiday.

A/N: I am SO sorry that took so long. I was planning on including the honeymoon, but something important happens in that, and I only have an hour before I leave for my trip, and I don't want to rush it. I plan to have this finished before August 20th, when I leave for college. I think I'll just finish it before I update THR again. Only three chapters left!