Lily stormed from the apartment, grabbing her moneybag as she went. She needed to channel her emotions. Anger was a big one, or so she thought at first. There was also something else… was it passion? She wasn't sure. Lily couldn't help thinking back to that moment, replaying it over and over in her mind, constantly wondering if it was a dream…

Flashback

Lily heard the door open, but was to absorbed in the song. She mentally hummed the words her mother had used to sing her to sleep when she would wake up at night scared and screaming.

Don't try and grow up too fast

Just try and stay little and sweet

Like you are. It's a big scary

World full of hate and when

You find it, that thing called love.

It will be the person you never

She stopped as she felt strong hands grip her back gently and spun her around. The scent of chocolate filled her nostrils as she was spun close. A voice, sweet and mellow, echoed in her ear, telling her to continue singing. Opening her eyes, her mind became numb as she took in the smooth features, dreamy hazel eyes, and untidy black hair of James Potter.

Her body following where his hands led her, she dipped low, and out of habit from watching too many of those cheesy romance movies, extended her leg. He brought her close up to his face, and she sighed.

"Lily." James whispered. Not Potter but James. He was James, so different from the egotistical pig she knew and had come to hate. This James was sweet; he had said her name, her first name. No longer Evans but Lily.

And then he had kissed her. A sweet, beautiful kiss that had left her on a cloud until she felt the hands close to her hips, tracing her curves. It had shocked her, made her come out of her daze to realize who she was kissing, who she enjoyed kissing.

Rage overtook her. She was not another whore he could woo into a one-night stand.

"Potter, what the hell are you doing?" she hissed. The own venom in her voice had surprised her. And what shocked her even more was that he was hurt, James Potter looked confused and on the verge of tears. Not wanting to look at what she had done, she stormed out of the room. Wondering herself if maybe there was more to Potter than met the eye, than what her mind told her. It was time to do some serious heart searching.

End Flashback

Lily walked down to the shopping center in the Great Hall. Browsing carefully, she put in an order for a king sized bed, a tan, ivory, and green bed set, cherry wood floors and cabinets, and a Persian rug. The total for just those items cost her nearly $1500.00. Hoping James would have enough, though given his criminal record, there shouldn't be a lot there. Realizing she accidentally had grabbed both bags in her haste, she decided to check. Once again, Lily Evans was standing there open jawed as she realized that there was enough in this moneybag alone to pay the rest she couldn't afford with change to spare.

"I was wondering where that went thank you Ms. Evans."

Lily whirled around coming face to face with James.

"Wh-wher-how did you get all of this?" she stammered, blushing slightly.

"Are you always this articulate? I did a bunch of extra credit, and my grades are quite good. Also my parents sent some with me on the train when I told them about the project." He joked rather sheepishly. "I also noticed that we have to do a baby project and I figured you would like to decorate the room. Besides the rest of the place. I'm a guy no eye for decoration you know."

"James don't you hate me?" blurted Lily. She blushed furiously as she realized she had said it out loud.

"Lily Evans the day I hate you is the day Sirius is a virgin."

Laughing, suddenly comfortable with the crazy Potter, she showed him all that she picked out. He stopped her and paused for a minute when she showed him the bed.

"Are you sure you only want one bed?"

"I'm positive." She confirmed in a voice that sounded nothing like her own. It was firm, completely sure of the decision she had just made.

James grinned at her. "Are you sure you don't want it smaller? You know, just to save money so you can put more into painting the walls and the baby's room." He said hurriedly when he saw her eyes begin to sparkle with anger. Something came over Lily then, and she smacked him playfully.

"Sure that's what you meant." She laughed rolling her eyes. " Your reputation precedes you Mr. Potter."

James's grin grew even wider as he began to tickle Lily. " Take it back Evans!"

Shrieking with laughter, Lily suddenly came to her senses and stopped laughing.

"Right. Well anyway I think that your idea for a queen bed is lovely. And that means we can buy paint and brushes today to. I was thinking of a creamy white. Will that be okay?"

Nodding his head, James watched her walk away. Lily glanced back just to look at this boy who had suddenly made her want to lose all her inhibitions, to jump and laugh like she was little again and not a care in the world. Shaking the feeling off, Lily handed over her selection of items and paid the cashier up front. Leaving with a slip that told her the items she purchased would be brought to their place and installed tomorrow. With a nod at James to help her carry up the paint so they could get started on one thing, the couple plodded up the stairs. Wait I just had a conversation with James, and it didn't involve fighting. Odd. And I just referred to us as a couple. As an us. What is wrong with me?

Telling James's she would be back in a bit with some help, Lily walked two doors down, and knocked on Lupin and Roxxi's door.

A very ruffled looking Roxxi opened the door with a rude greeting.

"Lil? What do you want?" she snapped.

"Paint fight? Ja-Potter and I need to get it painted before the furniture arrives." she replied, stopping herself before she said James.

Roxxi, though ruffled, picked up on it. "You were going to say James. Lily Evans what is wrong with you girl? Oh forget that part I am busy come back later."Roxxi requested, tightening her bathrobe.

"God Roxxi could you even wait a minute before screwing this one?"

"Who said I was screwing him? Can't a girl take a nap? Now get the hell out and leave me alone! And don't bug Lexi she's being loud of course because Sirius turned her old teddy bear into a spider. God it's like she's killing him in there. Dust from our ceilings and everything. You think they could keep it down."

"Or these people need to learn how to soundproof an apartment."

And with that parting comment, Lily left her friends to go and paint the flat by herself with James.

When Lily arrived, she found James had already gotten started. There was more paint on him; unfortunately, than on the walls. Laughing at the sight of James with paint on his face and clothes, she grabbed a brush and showed him the proper way to do it. This caused her to collapse in a fit of giggles when she realized James couldn't even paint correctly. James looked at her and then looked at him self and joined her on the floor laughing like crazy on how idiotic this was and how he looked. It was then, Lily Evans knew as she was laying on her back giggling, that she liked this James Potter. And knowing that made her feel rather happy, like a lost puzzle piece that finished the picture.

James POV

Hearing the door slam behind Evans, James sat down on the ground and ran his fingers through his hair. How the hell does this girl even have friends with her temper? Ahh well she's worth all the slaps…and hexes come to think of it. He thought to himself. Getting up to go and find her, he realized he had no idea where to start, as this was a huge castle, and Lily was just one person. Then the thought of his friends crept into his mind. Where he found them, he would find Lily's friends. If he found her friends, he would hopefully find her. James spun around and ran smack dab into the door. Nose smarting and possibly a little squashed, he knocked next door. A harried looking Roxxi answered the door.

"Uh, umm Potter, Remus is a little busy can he get back to you? Great thanks." and without letting him get a single word in, she slammed the door in his face.

Next was Sirius's place. Knocking lightly, this time it was his friend that answered.

"God damn it James can't you take care of yourself without anyone for more than a minute." Sirius rolled his eyes at his best friend's predicament.

"Wait what about Lexi does she know where she is?" he blurted as once again, a door was being closed in his face.

"Do that tracking spell thing I don't care Potter but it will be me hexing you this time if you don't leave!" yelled Lexi back, and with that another door slamming signaled the end of another rude conversation.

The Tracking Spell had worked though, and soon he found his favorite red head in the Great Hall flipping through catalogs. Looking her over, he noticed tow moneybags in hand, and she looked amazed at the contents of the second one. Walking silently towards her, he thanked her for taking his moneybag.

As they joked, the tension between them eased. Lily showed him a set of beautiful things that would make the apartment absolutely stunning. At his request for a smaller bed, he made a quick explanation, seeing as her eyes were glowing bright again. Always a sure sign she was angry seeing as it was him who made her mostly mad.

In the end, they settled for a queen bed, and a creamy color to paint with. James realized he didn't have a clue how to paint, but seeing as Lily had left to go recruit her friends, he was all alone. He had no idea how muggles survived living like this. There was no way to open these cans without magic. That was until he noticed the little wooden stick for stirring and next to it, a contraption that cut metal. Using that, he pulled too hard, and paint splattered his face and clothes. Wiping it as best he could from his face, he picked up a brush and dipped it in. Goopy drops fell from the end as he slapped it against the wall and painted back in forth diagonally and vertically. At that moment Lily walked in, and she fell down laughing like crazy. Looking at how he had painted, and then looking down at him, he realized what was so funny. It was hilarious that wizards were so incompetent in muggle ways that they couldn't even paint right. Even more funny to Lily, since she had been muggle born. Joining her on the floor rolling and laughing, James had never felt more at peace with Lily, like they were actually together. Getting up and dusting herself off, Lily showed James how to paint the right way. Almost collapsing in another fit of giggles as he slowly got the hang of it.