A/N: I'm finally back from vacation! It was a stressful two weeks – I'm actually really glad to be home! Well, this is the chapter that I think everyone has been waiting for. I was really nervous writing it. I hope it lives up to your expectations! Enjoy!

I don't own Harry Potter or Swiss Army Knives. Actually, I don't own anything produced by the Swiss – but their chocolate is great!

Happily Ever After

The dancing continued for hours. By the time Remus finally realized that he was sobering up, it was after four in the morning. He looked around for his friends, knowing that they needed to get home. Sirius and Peter stood on the edge of the dance floor. Each had an arm around the other's shoulders, and they swayed from side to side as they belted out the wrong words to the song that was playing. Remus shook his head. They were far too drunk to be much help. Casting his eyes around again, he found Lily and James. They, too, were obviously drunk. They were dancing impossibly close together, kissing every few seconds. Shaking his head again, Remus scanned the room one last time. He found Laura, Olivia, and Dana together, standing next to the bar. They were all laughing hysterically, yet looked like his best bet for finding a semi-sober friend. He crossed to them, and touched Laura's shoulder.

"Laura, how drunk are you?" he asked.

"Not very," she replied with a grin. "I didn't have as much to drink as these lushes."

"Hey!" Olivia cried. "Lushes have drinking problems! We're just social drinkers!"

"Yeah!" Dana agreed, swaying into Olivia. Olivia caught her, and they both started laughing again.

"Whatever," Laura laughed. She looked back at Remus. "What's up?"

"We need to get everyone home," Remus said. "It's really late. Everyone can just crash at our place. We can walk there, and I'm sure we'll have enough room for everyone."

"All right," Laura agreed. "Shall we start rounding up the troops? I'm sure that these two will need help getting home."

"Yeah, so will everyone else. Let's get moving."

Laura nodded, and turned back to Olivia and Dana. Remus made his way across the room toward Sirius and Peter.

"Hey, guys, it's time to go," he said as he approached them.

"Remus!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing his arm around Remus' shoulders. "We can't go yet! I love this song!"

"You don't even know this song," Remus smiled. "You're singing the wrong words! We have to go home. You and Peter can make up songs there."

"Hey!" Peter exclaimed, swaying into Sirius. "We're artists!"

"Sure," Remus laughed. "Let's get moving, guys."

Sirius reached into his pocket. "I'll drive us home."

"Good luck with that," Remus laughed. "We left your motorbike at our flat before we even hit the bars around us, remember? It's still there."

"Oh," Sirius laughed. "I guess we'll walk, then."

"Good call," Remus smiled.

He glanced around, looking for the others. Laura was leading Dana and Olivia toward the exit. She caught Remus' eye, and jerked her head backwards. Remus glanced in that direction, and saw James and Lily still on the dance floor. Their bodies were pressed tightly together as they swayed completely out of time with the music.

Sirius followed Remus' gaze, and caught sight of his friends. "OY! PRONGS!" he yelled. "We're going!"

Remus shook his head, wondering if it was acceptable to bellow a nickname like "Prongs" in the middle of a crowded Muggle club. As if in answer to his unasked question, two men walked past him; one was calling the other "Moose." Perhaps "Prongs" wouldn't seem so odd.

Once James and Lily had reluctantly joined them, Remus led his friends out of the club. They found Laura, Olivia, and Dana waiting for them on the sidewalk.

"Your flat?" Laura questioned.

"Right," Remus replied. "Let's go."

The walk was only a few blocks, but it seemed to take forever. Sirius and Peter supported one another, still singing loudly. James and Lily clutched at each other, trying to keep one another standing. Dana was clinging to Laura as they walked, while Olivia leaned on Remus as she took stumbling steps.

"You're great, Remus," Olivia said as they approached the guys' flat. "I love you."

Remus laughed. "I love you, too, Liv."

"You're a great friend," she said.

"So are you," Remus replied. "Come on, love. Up the stairs."

"Oh, they're high," Olivia giggled as she nearly fell into Remus.

Remus sighed, and put his arm around her waist to help her up the stairs. Once they had made it inside, he dropped her into a cushy chair.

"Thanks, Remus," Olivia said. "I love you."

"So you've said," Remus laughed.

Laura helped Dana onto the sofa, and looked at Remus. "Where is everyone going to sleep?"

Remus grabbed his wand, and transfigured two chairs into beds. "Problem solved. Dana and Peter can have these, and the rest of you can sleep with your significant others."

James and Lily, who had come in last, were already on their way to James' room. They were still supporting one another, laughing as they crashed into walls and furniture. Remus laughed.

"Well, that takes care of them," he said. "Sirius, take Olivia to bed."

"If you insist," Sirius grinned. He pulled Olivia off the sofa, and led her to his bedroom.

Remus shook his head. He and Laura helped Dana and Peter get settled, then went to Remus' room.

"Has working in law enforcement made you forget your Potions?" Remus asked as he pulled off his shirt.

"Why?" Laura asked as she peeled off her clubbing clothes. "Do you still need a tutor?"

"No," Remus grinned. "But I can think of at least six people who are going to need a good Hangover Remedy in the morning. I've never been all that great at Potions, so I thought maybe you could help them out."

Laura grinned. "I suppose I could put my skills to good use." She grabbed one of Remus' large t-shirts, and pulled it over her head. "Let me go see if you guys have all the stuff I'm going to need."

"All right," Remus agreed. He had stripped down to his boxers, and laid down on his bed. "I'll be right here."

"I'm sure you will be," Laura grinned. She leaned down to kiss his forehead. "I'll be right back."

She left Remus' bedroom, and began to walk down the hall to the kitchen, knowing it to be where the guys kept their potion ingredients. As she passed James' and Sirius' rooms, she decided to check on her drunken friends. Quick glances assured her that James, Lily, Sirius, and Olivia were all sleeping peacefully. All four were still fully clothed, but they were breathing deeply and evenly, which Laura decided was good enough. Dana, too, was sound asleep, but Peter was awake, staring up at the living room ceiling.

"Peter?" Laura asked softly. "Are you all right?"

"Laura," Peter said. He turned to face her, his eyes full of misery. "Have you ever made a terrible mistake?"

"Sure I have," Laura replied. "Everyone has."

"A really, really terrible mistake?"

"Peter, getting drunk at your friend's bachelor party isn't that bad."

"That's not what I meant," Peter said, waving his hand in a crooked path over his head. "My dad told me all along that it was a mistake, but I didn't listen."

"What was a mistake?" Laura asked softly. Despite the after-affects of the alcohol she had consumed, she was a bit frightened. Peter's tone was rather desperate. To her knowledge, he had never spoken of a mistake before, and she knew enough about his father to be concerned.

"It doesn't matter what I did wrong," Peter said, hope trying to fight its way past the misery in his eyes. "I can still fix it, right?"

"Of course," Laura said hesitantly. "We can always fix our mistakes. It's never too late to make it right, Peter."

"I'll fix it," Peter said with determination.

"Of course you will," Laura replied.

Peter nodded, his eyelids drooping. "I'll fix it, Laura. I'll make it right, and I won't make any more mistakes."

"Peter, what mistake did you make?" Laura asked.

It was too late. Peter's eyes were closed. He had fallen asleep.

Laura looked at him for a moment, wondering what his horrible mistake had been. Abandoning her plan to go to the kitchen, she returned to Remus' room.

"Remus," she hissed. "Remus, I have a question."

Remus' response was a muffled snore. He was stretched out across his bed, fast asleep.

Laura looked at him in annoyance. For a moment, she considered shaking him awake, but decided against it. She wasn't even sure that Peter himself knew what he was talking about. He was drunk, and half asleep. It was probably nothing. Laura laid down next to Remus, curling up against him. Peter only lingered on her mind for a moment before she, too, was asleep.

During the next week, Lily learned exactly what it meant to be a Potter in the eyes of the financial world. She had always known that James' family was well-off, but had not fully realized how well-off they were until she and James began the process to purchase their home. Approvals were practically gift-wrapped for them; even the Gringotts goblins didn't hesitate to offer them a loan. Lily was amazed, but James took it as a fact of life.

"Well," he said cheerfully after they had signed the papers officially declaring the house theirs, "that's done. We're homeowners now, Lil!"

Lily laughed, and grabbed his hand. "I can't believe it! That was too easy!"

"You didn't expect it to be hard, did you?"

"James, normal people have far more trouble buying houses."

"We are normal people."

Lily smiled. "Believe me, your family has quite a bit more money than normal people."

James flushed. "That's my parents' money, not mine," he said uncomfortably.

"James, it doesn't make a difference to me," she said, squeezing his hand. "Your parents' names and reputation may have given us an advantage in buying this house, but we can't ride on that forever. We're going to have to make a name for ourselves now." She gave him the smile that she only smiled for him. "I love you, James, not your parents' money."

"Good," James said, smiling back at her. "Come on. Let's go buy some furniture for our house!"

Lily laughed again. "Are you sure you're willing to set me loose in a furniture store?"

"Absolutely. Our wedding is in two weeks, and we don't have a single piece of furniture! We can't exactly sleep on the floor, can we?"

"Well, we could," Lily laughed, smiling mischievously. "It might not be comfortable . . . but we also might not notice."

"Oh, you're a naughty girl," James laughed, squeezing her hand. "We're going to buy a bed first. I refuse to sleep on the floor!"

After an afternoon of shopping, James and Lily had managed to furnish their bedroom and living room. They still needed to find pieces for the kitchen, dining room, and spare bedrooms. Lily had decided that the spare bedrooms would come last, since they would likely be used the least.

"Shall we have dinner?" James asked as they left the furniture store. He looked at his watch. "It's getting late."

"Sure," Lily smiled. "But we can't stay out too late. I have to be at work early in the morning to go over some research with Minnie."

"It's not more about Ludo Bagman, is it?" James asked, making a face at the thought of his hero as a Death Eater.

"No, not him. But we have a few others we're watching, and I think we have enough evidence to go public on at least one of them."

"Who?" James asked eagerly.

Lily shook her head. "I can't tell you. It's still confidential."

"All right, then," James sighed. "I wish my job was as exciting as yours."

"You're sick of dealing with foreign wizards?"

"Not exactly. It's more that I'm sick of dealing with Fudge. But, really, the entire job is starting to get to me. Maybe I wasn't cut out for working in the Ministry," he said as they approached a favorite café.

"Laura seems to love it."

"Oh, she does." He paused as the host led them to their table. Once they were seated, he continued. "We did get Laura a present, didn't we?"

"For being in the wedding party? We got everyone presents."

"No, I meant for the potion she made us the other day."

Lily giggled. "She's good, isn't she?"

"The best. I don't know what I would have done without that potion."

"I don't think any of us does." Lily paused, and closed her menu, giving James her full attention. "There's something I wanted to ask you about that night."

"I already told you we didn't see or solicit any stripper or hookers!"

"It's not that," Lily laughed.

"What is it, then?"

"Did Laura say anything to you about Peter?"

"Remus said she told him Peter was rambling on about some mistake he made. Is that what you're talking about?"

"Yeah. Do you know what his mistake was?"

"We asked him about it, but he said that he didn't remember talking to Laura at all." James shrugged. "It was just drunken ramblings. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

"All right," Lily said uneasily.

"You don't seem like you believe me."

"Well . . . It's just that people are more prone to tell the truth when they're drunk, that's all."

James shook his head. "This is Peter, Lil. One of my best friends. I believe him."

Lily nodded. "If you believe him, that's good enough for me."

By the end of the week, Lily and James had selected all the furniture for their house. It was all to be delivered at the end of the following week. They requested that it be delivered on Saturday so that they both could be at the house to receive it.

Lily arrived at the house at the prearranged time, wearing old jeans and a sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. She was ready to arrange furniture.

She only had to wait a few minutes before James and Sirius came in. Her face lit with a smile. She kissed James, then turned her smile to their friend.

"Sirius, I didn't know you were coming!"

"Well, James said that you might need some help moving this furniture, so I volunteered. Remus and Peter both found very convenient excuses for not being here today."

"Such as?" Lily asked with raised eyebrows.

James laughed. "Remus has a practical exam, and Peter is staying with his father, who is apparently on his deathbed yet again."

"See? Ridiculously convenient," Sirius said.

Lily laughed. "Yes, I'll never forgive Remus for skipping this to take a test, or Peter for staying with a dying relative."

"Good girl," Sirius grinned. "Hey, I think your deliveries are here."

Lily ran to the door, and threw it open. True to Sirius' word, several workers were already arriving with cases of goods. With a squeal of delight, she watched them bringing her furniture to the house.

"This is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed.

James and Sirius laughed at her enthusiasm.

Lily watched in amazement as the men brought in the small cases. Once they had the furniture in the appropriate rooms, they restored it to its original size with quick spells. James signed for the deliveries, and the workers went on to make their next delivery.

"Now we get to arrange it!" Lily exclaimed. "Let's start in the living room."

James and Sirius both pulled out their wands as they entered the front room of the house. Lily frowned.

"What are you two doing?"

"What do you mean?" James asked with a frown. "We're getting ready to move the furniture!"

"With your wands?"

"Of course," Sirius said. "How else would you do it?"

"You mean you've never actually moved furniture?"

"Of course we have," James replied. "We rearranged Sirius' room at my house when we were only thirteen!"

"No, I mean moved it! You know, shoving it across the room using your arms?"

"You want us to move the furniture without using magic?" James asked in surprise.

"Of course!" Lily exclaimed.

James looked helplessly at Sirius. Sirius laughed.

"You're the one who's marrying her, mate."

James sighed. "All right, Lily. If you want us to physically move the furniture, then we'll do it your way."

Lily shook her head. "We'll do it the Muggle way."

"Whatever," Sirius said, removing his heavy robes to reveal jeans and a t-shirt. "Let's get going. I have a feeling this is going to take awhile!"

They managed to make it through the living room and the kitchen without using magic. After that, Lily was completely fed up with James' and Sirius' whining, and gave in.

"Fine!" she exploded. "We'll do it your way!"

"Ah, compromise. We did half the house the Muggle way, and we'll do the other half the wizard way. This is what marriage is all about, my friends," Sirius grinned. "I think you've officially passed your first test."

James and Lily looked at one another in surprise. Neither of them had seen this situation as much of a compromise.

Lily wound her arms around James' neck with a smile. "I guess I could have been a bit nicer about it."

"And I could have whined a little less."

Lily leaned up to kiss him. "I love you."

"I love you."

"Hey! Enough with the mushiness! We have work to do!"

Laughing, James and Lily broke apart, and grabbed their wands to help Sirius arrange the furniture in the bedrooms.

"Lily, you have mail!"

Lily walked through the front door of her flat, tossing her purse onto a table. "Is it another RSVP?"

"Looks like it," Dana replied, carrying the envelope into the living room. "It was delivered by Muggle post, at any rate."

Lily shook her head. "Honestly! The day before the wedding!"

"Some people are procrastinators," Dana shrugged. She handed the envelope to Lily, and disappeared back down the hall to her bedroom. "I have to finish getting ready. We leave at six, right?"

"Not a minute later!" Lily called after her, looking at the return address on the letter. While the address, number four Privet Drive, was unfamiliar to her, she knew the handwriting only too well.

"I'll be ready!" Dana called. "But I make not promises about Olivia! She's not back from the Academy yet!"

"What?" Lily yelled, delaying the moment when she would have to open the letter. Talk about procrastinators. "We leave in thirty minutes!"

"I know!" Dana yelled. "She'll be here!"

"She'd better be!"

Dana's door closed, ending the conversation. Without further distractions, Lily had no choice. She had to open the letter.

She broke the seal carefully, trying to keep the address unscathed. She might want to write a letter to her sister someday, and she would need to know where to send it. She pulled out the single sheet of paper, and began to read.

"Dear Lily,

"I'm sure you can understand why Vernon and I will not be in attendance at your wedding. We could not possibly attend a gathering that involves your kind, even if it is to take place in our church.

"Too much has happened between us, Lily. We can't ever make it right, and we can't ever be sisters as we once were. You will live your life, and I will live mine. We will both go on as though we don't have sisters. It is the easiest way.

"With that said, please know that I certainly don't wish you harm, and that I hope your wedding day will be considerably happier than mine. An end to our relationship is simply the easiest way to handle this. With our lives as they are, moving in different circles, we won't have any need to see one another again. Consider this our final correspondence.

"Sincerely,

"Petunia"

"Damn you, Petunia," Lily whispered. She swiped the back of her hand across her eyes to rid them of the tears that were forming. "You had to wait until the bloody day before my wedding, didn't you?"

"Hey, now, watch the language," Olivia said as she entered the room, concern already creasing her face. "What's wrong, Lils?"

"Petunia," Lily said, waving her letter. To her chagrin, tears formed in her eyes again.

"What has that bitch done to you now?" Olivia asked, stepping closer.

"Officially and formally written me off," Lily replied angrily, the tears she had tried to stop beginning to fall. "Apparently, our ties as sisters have been severed."

"What do you mean, 'severed?'"

Lily handed Olivia the letter. "Here, let her explain it to you."

Olivia read the short note, her eyes growing wide. When she was finished, she folded the sheet of paper, and put it down on the nearest table.

"Well?" Lily asked.

"You're better off without her," Olivia said, trying to contain her anger. "We're your sisters – Dana, Laura, and I. You don't need Petunia."

Lily nodded, and bit her lip to keep from crying.

Olivia looked at her for a moment, and realized that no words could comfort her friend. She pulled her close, and hugged her tightly.

Lily clung to Olivia, trying desperately not to sob. She had cried enough for Petunia already. She didn't need to cry anymore.

"Look," Olivia said gently, "this isn't a day for tears – not tears of sorrow, at least. You're getting married tomorrow, Lils! You should be happy!"

"I am happy."

"Well, you need to look it," Olivia said, looking into Lily's face. "Now, go wash your face, put on your prettiest dress, and get yourself ready for this rehearsal. Don't think about Petunia. Think of James."

"All right," Lily said giving her a lopsided smiled.

"That's better," Olivia said, kissing her cheek. "Now, get going! We have to leave in less than twenty minutes!"

"Good evening, everyone! My name is Georgia Landry, and I am the coordinator for James and Lily's wedding."

James and Lily glanced at one another. The church had insisted upon appointing a wedding coordinator, despite the fact that Lily had planned every detail of the wedding. Georgia Landry was there to make sure that the ceremony ran smoothly. Lily was quite sure that the older woman was a titch insane, and had shared her suspicions with James. Judging by the barely contained laughter on Sirius' face, he, too, knew of Lily's opinion of Ms. Landry.

"This is Father O'Leary. He will be performing the ceremony."

Fr. O'Leary stepped forward, and smiled at them all. "I'm very pleased to be here for Lily and James," he said. "They have endured more in the past few months than many people deal with in a lifetime. They are both wonderful people, and I'm thrilled to be the one who will join them in marriage. With all that they've shown us they can do together, I'm sure that their marriage will be incredibly strong." He smiled at Lily and James, then turned his smile to the entire group. "Before we begin, let's bow our heads and pray together."

After the opening prayer, Georgia took over again. She went on at length about the way in which the bridesmaids and groomsmen would enter the church, which seemed to calm them considerably. Lily decided that it was worth the extensive speech if it got their attendants to relax.

After they had run through the entire ceremony in words, they put it into action. Georgia put them through their paces, practically escorting each girl down the aisle herself in an effort to make them walk at the appropriate pace. They made an enormous number of mistakes, which they all took in good humor. Everyone laughed at themselves – even Fr. O'Leary – to the great annoyance of their wedding coordinator.

The second time through was far more organized. They all knew what they were doing, and were able to follow along easily. Even Sirius, who was taking his position as best man very seriously, stopped joking and did everything perfectly. When it was over, Georgia told them that they were ready, and reminded them of the time they needed to be at the church in the morning.

"Is she going to be here tomorrow to tell us when to walk down the aisle?" Dana muttered to Olivia and Laura.

"Probably," Olivia whispered. "I can't imagine that she'd be willing to let a moment of this wedding go off without her there to take credit."

"Or to assign blame," Laura giggled. "She's not coming to dinner with us, is she?"

"No, she's not," James said as he came up behind them.

All three girls jumped, and barely stopped themselves from screaming. James laughed.

"Lily told you that she's crazy," he said.

"She was right," Olivia said. "Who does she think she is?"

"The wedding god," James laughed. "Come on, ladies. We have reservations!"

Because the entire wedding party consisted of wizards, they had reserved a back room at the Three Broomsticks for their rehearsal dinner. James' parents had been shocked, but James and Lily insisted that the location of their first date, as well as the date that had included James' proposal, was the perfect spot for their rehearsal dinner. The Potters had reluctantly agreed, and were now accompanying the wedding party to the bar.

When they arrived, Madam Rosmerta led them to their reserved room. She herself acted as their server, to the great delight of James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. The girls smiled, knowing of their friends' special relationship with the bar's owner.

Dinner was just winding down when James and Lily exchanged a glance. They nodded at one another, and stood.

"Could we have your attention, please?" James asked.

Conversations ended, and all eyes turned to James and Lily, who were standing at the head of the long table they were seated around. James looked at Lily, and she nodded.

"James and I wanted to say thank you to all of you for being here today, and for sharing in our special day tomorrow," she said. "We love all of you so much, and we are so grateful for everything that you've done for us. And to say thank you, we have some gifts for you."

She picked up the bag at her feet, and extracted three packages wrapped in red and gold paper.

"These are for the bridesmaids," she explained, passing one to each girl. "I want you to wear them tomorrow."

The girls opened their packages, exclaiming over the pearl necklaces and earrings. Lily beamed at their reactions.

"You like them?" she asked.

"So much," Dana affirmed, already trying on her necklace. "They're beautiful, Lils! Thank you!"

"You're welcome," she replied, still beaming.

James cleared his throat, and picked up the bag Lily had set on the table. "Gentlemen, these are for the groomsmen – and I don't care if you have them with you tomorrow or not!"

He passed three more red and gold wrapped packages to his groomsmen. They tore off the paper to reveal pocket knives.

"Lily tells me that they're called Swiss Knives," James said with a shrug. "She said they're pretty special."

"Swiss Army Knives," Lily corrected. "They're the best Muggle pocket knives you can buy. They're to remind you that sometimes the Muggle way of doing things can be better."

"Never!" Sirius laughed. "You made James and I help you move all that furniture into your house the Muggle way, and that took forever!"

"I didn't ask for your opinion," Lily laughed.

Sirius blew her a kiss. "You know I love you, Little Flower!"

Lily shook her head, but laughed again.

"We're not done yet," James said with a smile. He pulled another package from the bag. "Mum and Dad, we could never have done this without you. You've been there for us every step of the way, and supported us more than we can ever say. So, this is for you."

Mr. and Mrs. Potter worked together to open their package. Mrs. Potter gasped as the final piece of wrapping paper fell away. Lily beamed at their reaction to the family tree she and James had created.

After months of research, they had traced both of their families back five generations. They had recorded all their findings on the parchment, ending it with their own union. Sirius had charmed it to magically add to itself like the family tree in his own parents' house did.

Mrs. Potter looked up at them with teary eyes. "You made this?"

"Sirius helped," James admitted.

"Oh, my dears!" She jumped up from her seat, and crushed James to her. Once she had released him, she pulled Lily close.

"Thank you so much," she said.

"Thank you," Lily replied. "Without you, Mrs. Potter, I wouldn't even have a gown to wear tomorrow!"

She pulled back, and looked deeply into Lily's eyes. "You're far too formal with me, darling. I would be honored if you would call me Mum."

Now Lily's eyes filled with tears.

"If it's too hard, you don't have to," she said quickly. "Just Margaret will be fine, if it's easier for you."

Lily shook her head. "I would be honored to call you Mum. Thank you."

Mrs. Potter kissed her cheek. "Welcome to our family, Lily."

With one last hug, she moved on to hug Sirius. Once his mother had sat down, James cleared his throat again.

"We have one more to go," he said.

"No, we don't," Lily contradicted. "That's all."

"You didn't know about this one," James grinned. "This one is for you." He pulled a small box from his jacket pocket, and cleared his throat. "Lily, I've loved you for as long as I can remember. For years, you were this unattainable goddess that I had to struggle to impress. It wasn't until I stopped struggling that I realized what I had been trying to do all along – to be a better person. You make me want to be a better person, Lil, and everything good about me is that way because of you. I love you, and I can't wait until tomorrow, when I can declare that before God and our families and friends." He opened the box, and held it out for her to see. "I want you to have this today, so that you can wear it tomorrow, and every day after. Your wedding ring will be a symbol of tomorrow and our wedding, but this is a symbol of tonight, and of the anticipation and the hope that we're feeling right now."

With slight confusion in her eyes, Lily lifted the amethyst ring out of the box. "But, James, this is a birthstone ring," she said softly. "My birthday isn't in February."

"I know that," he said, his voice a bit husky. "But our wedding – the day our new life begins – is in February. It's the birthstone of our life together."

Lily's breath caught in her throat, and a gasping sob escaped. James slid the gold band bearing the precious stone over her ring finger on her right hand. With her tears still spilling down her cheeks, Lily flung herself into James' arms. She couldn't find the right words, and didn't have the power to say them even if she could. It was enough to be locked in his arms.

"Maybe drinking after dinner last night wasn't such a good idea," James moaned as he stumbled into the kitchen, clutching his head. "I feel awful, and I owe Remus five galleons from that poker game! Lily's going to kill me!"

Peter, who was already seated at the table, looked up at James for a moment, then dropped his head back onto his outstretched arms. Remus walked in after James, and went straight to the sink. He grabbed a glass, and began pouring himself glasses of water.

"Good morning, glories!"

"God, Sirius, when did you become so obnoxious?" James asked.

"Or so loud?" Peter asked. "Inside voices, please!"

"Didn't you drink with us last night?" Remus asked, downing his fourth glass of water.

"Yes," Sirius said briskly. "And, as we do have to be at the church in under two hours, I'd advise you all to start drinking again."

"Are you mad?" James exclaimed. "If Lily's going to kill me for being hung over, I don't even want to think about what would happen if I came in drunk!"

"Here," Sirius said, handing each of his friends a glass. "I'll have you know I've been up for three hours working on this, so you'd better drink it!"

Remus took a tentative sip, and a grin spread across his face. "Sirius, you're a genius!"

"Is this --?" Peter asked.

"A Hangover Remedy!" James exclaimed, taking a large gulp. "Sirius, you truly are the best man!"

"If I hear that joke again, I'll hex you into next week," Sirius grinned. "Finish your drinks quickly, men. We have much work to accomplish before we leave!"

"Right," Lily said as they entered the girls' flat. "We have our hair done, and now we have an hour to get dressed and put on makeup before the limo gets here."

"Lils, we're doing great on time," Dana said soothingly. "Now, let's get you in your dress first, then we can get dressed."

"Before we start, do you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?" Laura asked.

"What?" Olivia frowned.

"Muggle tradition," Lily explained. "On your wedding day, you're supposed to have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."

"Oh," Olivia smiled. "Cute."

"Well, do you?" Laura asked.

Lily frowned slightly. "Well, the ring James gave me is new," she said slowly. "And I'm wearing the bracelet my mum gave me, so that's old." She paused, and giggled. "And I'm wearing blue underwear."

"You'd better hope that doesn't show through your dress," Olivia cautioned.

"With all these layers, there's no way it could," Dana laughed as she carried Lily's dress over. "Strip, Lils. We need to get you dressed!"

Lily laughed, and began taking off her clothes. The girls helped her step into her undergarments, and then pulled the dress over her head. They were still arranging it to hang right when Laura gasped.

"Lils! You never mentioned anything borrowed!"

Lily frowned. "I don't have anything borrowed."

"Yes, you do," Dana said. She unclasped her necklace, and put it around Lily's neck. "I'm going to wear the necklace that you have me today, so I won't need this."

"Dana, didn't Aidan give this to you?" Lily asked, fingering the diamond pendant that she was certain had been a graduation gift.

"Yes," Dana said with a smile. "That's why it's something borrowed. I expect it back in this same condition!"

"Done," Lily grinned. "All right, I can do my own makeup, girls. Go get yourselves dressed before we're late!"

"James! Sirius! The limo's here to take us to the church!"

"Are you ready?" Sirius asked, watching as James straightened his tie.

"I think so," James said. "This is it, Sirius. This is my wedding."

"Actually, it's just your limo. Your wedding won't happen for at least another hour."

"You're a prat."

"Yeah, I know," Sirius grinned. "Come on. Let's get to that church."

"Right."

Peter and Remus were already outside, admiring the limo. Neither of them had ever ridden in a limo before, and they were both ecstatic at the prospect.

"Are you guys ready to go?" Remus asked.

"Yeah," James replied. He started down the walk toward his friends.

"Wait a minute," Sirius said, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder.

"What?"

"This isn't right. James Potter shouldn't arrive at his wedding in a limo."

"And just what do you suggest?"

Sirius grinned. "Remus, Peter, you go ahead without us! We'll meet you there!"

"What?" Peter exclaimed. "If we show up at that church without James, Lily's going to go ballistic!"

"Lily won't know! She's not allowed to see James until the ceremony! Just go! We'll see you there!"

"Sirius, what are you doing?" James hissed.

"You, my friend, are going to arrive at that church in style!"

"The limo's here!" Laura exclaimed. "It's time to go, girls!"

Lily looked at her reflection in the mirror one last time. She brushed at her hair, making sure it was all staying in place.

"You look gorgeous," Dana praised. "You'll be the most beautiful bride that church has ever seen."

Lily smiled. "I'm nervous, Dana."

"All brides are," Dana smiled. "This is a lot of change in your life. But it's good change, and you're ready for it. You're marrying James Potter, Lily. You know better than anyone how long you've wanted that."

Lily nodded. "You're right. I'm ready. Let's go."

The girls arrived at the church, and were ushered in through a back entrance. The wedding coordinator took them straight down to the basement.

"I'm sorry, girls, but this is the best place for you to stay. This way, we can be sure that no one will see Lily before it's time for the ceremony. I'll come to get you when it's time to line up."

The girls nodded, and Georgia left the room. Lily looked at her friends, her nerves written plainly across her face.

"Lils, stop," Dana said, touching her cheek. "I absolutely forbid any nervousness."

Laura giggled. "You're going to be fine, Lil. Don't ruin your wedding day with nerves! Just concentrate on being happy."

"Take a deep breath," Olivia said. "You need to focus."

Lily nodded, and took a deep breath as Olivia has commanded. "How long are we going to have to wait?"

"About ten minutes," Olivia said, glancing at the clock hanging over the door. "So, you have ten minutes to get yourself under control."

To everyone's surprise, tears gathered in Lily's green eyes. Lily tried to smile, but it only made her tears threaten to fall.

"What's wrong, love?" Dana asked, alarm showing in her face.

"It's just hard, that's all," Lily replied, still trying desperately to fight her tears. "I always imagined that my mother would be down here with me, telling me to be calm. I never dreamed that my father wouldn't be here to walk me down the aisle. I just . . ." She paused, and took a deep breath, trying to force back the sobs that wanted to shake her body. "I just really miss them."

Dana pulled her close without saying a word. Lily clung to her, trying to swallow her tears. She shouldn't cry today of all days.

"Only happy tears, Lils," Olivia whispered, stepping closer. "This is a happy day, and I'm sure that your parents are happy for you. They're watching over you, wishing that you would only cry happy tears."

Lily nodded, and drew back from Dana. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go to pieces." Her hands flew to her face. "Oh, no! My makeup! Did I ruin it?"

"Nothing we can't fix," Dana said cheerfully, pulling her wand from her purse. "Is anyone coming?"

"No," Laura said, crossing to check the staircase. "It's all clear over here."

"Good." Dana waved her wand at Lily's face, muttering a spell.

Lily felt an instant cool breeze against her face. Dana held up a mirror, and Lily nodded. She looked exactly as she had when she had left her house.

"Thank you," she smiled. "I couldn't have done this without you girls."

Remus and Peter were standing outside the church when James and Sirius arrived on Sirius' motorbike. Peter laughed, and Remus shook his head.

"Do I even want to know how you two got here?" he asked.

"Perfectly legally," Sirius replied, parking the bike. "Remember, this thing has an invisibility function."

"Shh," Remus cautioned in a whisper. "Watch what you say. We're in mixed company."

"Right," Sirius said softly. "Well, we'll tell you all about our adventures later."

"Yeah, I think we have a wedding to get to now," James said. "And don't worry – we didn't really have any 'adventures.' We basically just got ourselves here."

"You guys had better hurry and get yourselves inside," Peter said. "That insane wedding coordinator has been out here about twenty times to ask when you two were going to get here."

"How long have you been here?" James asked with a frown. "I didn't think we were that far behind you."

"You weren't," Remus grinned. "We've only been here for about five minutes."

"We think she thought you were going to bail," Peter laughed.

"James would never do that to Lily," Sirius said, clapping his hand down on his friend's shoulder. "Right?"

"Right," James grinned. "Well, I'd better get in there before she tells Lily that I'm leaving her at the altar."

"Are you ready for this?" Sirius asked as he and James took their positions at the front of the church.

James looked at Remus and Peter in the first pew. He looked at Laura, who was preparing to begin the wedding procession at the first strains from the organ. He looked at the friends and Order members – including Dumbledore himself – in the congregation. He looked at his parents, seated behind Remus and Peter, their eyes shining with unshed tears. Finally, he looked back at Sirius. He thought of all the years of wishing that Lily would love him, and the ecstasy when she finally did. He thought of her eyes smiling at him when she promised to marry him.

"Yeah," he said with a smile. "I've been waiting for this moment for years. Yeah, I'm ready."

"You're absolutely gorgeous," Dana whispered. She arranged Lily's train to fall just right. "Are you excited?"

"Excited doesn't even begin to describe it," Lily replied. She watched as Laura made her way down the aisle. "I'm such a jumble of emotions that I can't even try to name how I feel right now."

Olivia took her first steps, and Dana and Lily moved up, closer to the door.

Dana leaned over, and kissed Lily's cheek. "You can do this."

"I know," Lily said. "I'm ready."

Georgia touched Dana's arm, indicating that it was her turn to walk down the aisle. Dana gave Lily one last beaming smile, then started her part of the procession.

Once Dana had made it to her spot opposite Sirius, the organ stopped. There was a moment's pause, then Lily's music began. She glanced at Georgia, who nodded.

Lily took a deep breath, made sure she had a firm grip on her flowers, and began to walk down the aisle.

James felt tears gather in his eyes at his first sight of Lily in her wedding gown. He didn't care that men weren't supposed to cry. There was no way he could have prepared himself for the emotions that hit him in that moment. There was no way he could stop the tears.

She looked like an angel in her white gown. There was no other way to describe her. The neckline was scooped down, revealing white skin, but not so far down as to be revealing. Lacy sleeves covered her arms to her wrists, and her skirt floated around her, ending in a long train. A gauzy veil fell over her hair, muting its red tones.

James swallowed hard. He loved her. There was no room for any other emotion in his heart. He loved this angel, and she was about to become his wife. He blinked, trying to chase back the tears.

Lily smiled as she made her way down the aisle. In some faint recess of her mind, she could hear the murmurs as she passed. Her guests obviously agreed with Dana's assessment that she was beautiful. But at that moment, the only other person in the room was James. He was watching her walk down the aisle, his eyes locked on her face. He gave her a beaming smile, and blinked rapidly.

The sight of his tears brought new tears to Lily's eyes. He really did love her. She had known that for years, but if there had ever been a whisper of a doubt in her mind, that moment chased it away. Her heart swelled with love for him. She was going to marry him. She was about to become his wife.

"My friends, we are here today to witness the union of two souls. We are asking for God's blessing on this union, which is, in all ways, a reflection of the love that He has for each one of us. Let us begin with readings from the Holy Scriptures."

James and Lily were forced to break their eye contact as they knelt down before the altar. Lily was vaguely aware of Dana fixing her train again before she knelt down herself. The only person that mattered right now was the man who was kneeling beside her – the man who would be beside her for the rest of her life.

"Please join your right hands, and repeat after me. I, James, take you, Lily . . ."

"I, James, take you, Lily," James repeated, tears gathering in his eyes again.

"Place this ring on James' finger, and repeat after me. With this ring . . ."

Lily's hands trembled as she slid the broad gold band over James' left ring finger. "With this ring," she repeated. Her hands may have shook, but her voice was firm. She meant every word that she said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. James Potter!" Fr. O'Leary said, giving them a beaming smile. "James, you may kiss your bride."

James gave Lily a beaming grin, and placed his hands on her waist. Lily put her own hands on his shoulders, and tipped her face up to kiss him. He leaned down, and his lips touched hers. Unexpected tears sprang into both their eyes. They had never before shared a kiss quite like that.

Sirius tapped his knife against his full champagne glass, trying desperately not to spill it. The band leader handed him a microphone, and Sirius looked at in confusion for a moment. Lily rolled her eyes, and grabbed it from him to turn it on. She blew into it to demonstrate how it magnified sound. Sirius grinned, and winked at her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you attention, please!" he said into the microphone.

Conversations quickly died as all attention turned to the best man. Sirius grinned.

"I know that everyone is very anxious to get to dinner," he smiled, "but before we do, I'd like to say a few words."

He paused, and smiled at James and Lily. They both looked up at him expectantly.

"Since I was eleven years old, James has been my best friend. We met on our way to school, and we've been inseparable ever since. I'm sure our teachers would say that's a bad thing, but I'm here today to tell you that it's not.

"James was the one who taught me how to be a good friend. He taught me how to work with someone else, how to share, and how to relate to others. His parents taught me what real families are like, and how to love others. James has been more than a friend to me for all these years – he's been my brother.

"Lily, I should hate you," Sirius continued with a grin. "Because of you, James and I will live apart for the first time since we were little kids. Because of you, James no longer has as much time for me. You made our relationship change, and I should hate you for it – but I can't.

"Lily is one of the sweetest people I've ever known. Yes, she has a temper, but she also has this amazing ability to see the good in everyone. She sees beyond what the rest of the world sees, and finds the face that we're not always willing to show in public. She could see the good person hiding in me when everyone else thought I was just a practical joker from a bad family, and she saw the responsible, sweet person in James when everyone else was appalled that he was selected to be Head Boy.

"James has always been my brother. Now, Lily, his princess, has become my sister.

"Lily and James complement one another perfectly. They've become better people because of one another, and I'm sure they'll continue to do so in the future. They've given me hope for humanity, and for true love." He grinned at them again, and raised his glass. "And, so, ladies and gentlemen, I raise my glass to them. Please, join me in toasting my brother and my sister on their wedding day."

"Have I mentioned that you look absolutely beautiful?" Remus asked as he and Laura danced together.

"I think you have," Laura grinned. "But I'll take the compliment again."

Remus grinned. "Good. I don't handle rejection well."

Laura smiled, and kissed his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

The song ended, and the dancers stopped, waiting to see what was coming next. Remus' eyebrows shot up as he heard the unmistakable rhythm of a salsa song.

"I thought Lily didn't salsa?" he asked as they walked off the dance floor.

Laura giggled. "She's been learning. We've all be practicing with her, but we weren't allowed to tell a soul. It's a surprise for James."

"He looks surprised," Remus acknowledged, watching James' delight as he danced with Lily. "Pleasantly surprised, I should say."

Laura grinned. "They look so happy."

"They are so happy," Remus replied. "It's like Sirius said – they're perfect for each other."

"I think we are, too," Laura smiled, lacing her fingers through his.

"So do I," Remus said, kissing her temple.

His heart rate picked up as Laura leaned back against him. Was this the moment he had been waiting for? Could it be any more perfect than this moment?

"Laura?" he asked.

"Hm?" she said, moving back so that she could look at him.

"I need to ask you something."

"Go ahead," she smiled.

Remus cleared his throat, and reached into his jacket pocket for the small velvet box he had been carrying with him for the past three weeks, waiting for the perfect moment. He looked at Laura, whose eyes were growing rounder by the moment.

"Nothing's certain in our world right now, Laura," Remus said softly. "Everything is in chaos – everything but us. You're the one thing I'm sure of, and I want to know that we can be sure of each other for the rest of our lives." He opened the box, revealing the heirloom ring his mother had given him so long ago. "Laura, will you marry me?"

Tears filled Laura's eyes. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Remus grinned, and pulled the ring out of the box. He slipped it over her finger, and she threw her arms around him.

With all eyes on James and Lily salsa dancing across the floor, no one noticed Remus and Laura as they clung to one another with tears spilling down their cheeks. No one noticed as they sat down, talking fast as they began their wedding plans. All eyes were on the other happy couple – they couple they were there to celebrate.