I've gotten 18 reviews on this story since I last updated. 18! All of you get cookies and ice cream! You're making me feel guilty for taking more than a day to update this time!

leafyaki: Thankyou! -hands over an update-

lizzya: MORE!

Desanges: Sorry I kept you waiting, then. –Sprinkles some extra suspense on this chapter-

Tanya J. Potter: It's fun to update. I sit at my computer and pounce on all the email notifications that tell me I have reviews.

TrunkZy: Fluff is fun. And this is my first piece that's fluff without a bit of angst in. And I don't plan on stopping my writing soon, so I think you'll see more. Yay favorites list! It's so comfy!

Becky Silver Black: Just for my No. 1 fan, here's some of the greatest ice cream in the world. –Hands over Ben & Jerry's Dublin Mudslide-.

Lieu of Flowers: James doing just about anything is funny. Although I did enjoy coming up with hare-brained schemes for him. Or rather, deer-brained.

BookwormRose: Kudos! -Throws them in the air and dances around giggling-

keisan: Of course Lily will help. Boys are never as good at setting people up as girls are.

The Naz: I'm not sure how clichéd the end scheme is going to be. But it won't exactly be anything on his list.

uknowho: I don't like seeing them sad, either, but it's kinda fun with all the irony going on, so I guess I'll forgive myself.

HanSolosGal: Leia? Wow! Apparently my fic's being read long long ago in a galaxy far far away!

gatermage: Mweheh. Another slash convert. … And knocking them over the head is actually a pretty good idea. I'll take it under advisement. But Lily's coming to take things in hand, so we know everything will turn out alright.

sexyteluguchica: I'm glad you like it, and the projected length is nine chapters, so five more after this one.

The Unknown Marauder: I know I'm evil. Mweheheh. In fact, the other night I took four different D&D alignment tests, and ended up as chaotic evil every time. Muahahahahahahaha! But here I've made you wait almost two days for the next chapter! See? Evil!

sesshomaruhasafluffytail: There might be closets involved. We're not sure yet.

Soooo many reviews! It makes me happy! So… mild slash warning, reviews welcome, flames welcome, I don't own it, and on to the fic!

Lily was late. She hated being late, even to a study session with… James. It was hard to remember not to call him Potter, the habit was so ingrained in her. She had to admit that he'd improved a lot this year, though. Not once this year had he asked her out. It was really almost depressing.

Wait. She was not depressed that Potter hadn't asked her out. No. She was glad about it! Wasn't she? Shocked at the thought, Lily paused just inside the common room and studied her study partner. He was leaning over a scrap of parchment writing something. A thoughtful frown painted a line between his brows, and his left hand mussed his hair as it always did when he was thinking or flirting. Although he hadn't flirted with her all year…

Surprised that James didn't seem to notice her presence, the redhead moved closer to him until she was looking over his shoulder. His hair was so dark it seemed to absorb the light around it, and it was all she could do to keep from burying her hands in it to find out if it was as soft as it looked. Lily froze. It was true, then. She, Lily Evans, was falling for James Potter. The girls would never let her hear the end of this.

Searching for a distraction, Lily's eyes lit on the parchment that James was scribbling on. "Veritaserum in their pumpkin juice? What are you up to, James?"

She smirked when the boy nearly fell out of his chair and frantically tried to cover the parchment. "I… It's not a prank, if that's what you're thinking."

"Then what is it?" Now Lily was curious. And she wanted to take advantage of the newfound realization that she liked James. Leaning over him momentarily, she snatched up his list and read it while he turned red and tried to stammer out an explanation. "It looks to me, like you're trying to play matchmaker. So who's the lucky couple?"

It was amazing that she'd never noticed how cute James was before. Especially when he was nervous. His hands went through his hair and he looked around the room to make sure nobody was listening to them. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow, hesitant, as if he was choosing his words carefully. "Remus… is in love. And I know that his crush likes him back. But neither of them is going to be the first to act, so I'm trying to figure out how to get them together."

That was so unlike her mental image of James that Lily was shocked. Her gaze traveled over to Remus, who was still buried in his book. She liked the bookish Marauder, although she often questioned his choice in friends. He was always a perfect gentleman, though, and ever-willing to tutor anyone on any subject. He didn't look particularly lovesick, though, until he looked up from his book. Then his face transformed into a study of resigned infatuation that made Lily feel guilty for watching.

To at least make the guilt worthwhile, Lily followed Remus's gaze. Green eyes widened. Her jaw dropped, forming her mouth into an 'o' of surprise. James caught her bag as it slipped from suddenly nerveless fingers, and the next thing she knew they were both in the hallway. She let herself be guided into the empty classroom where they usually practiced charms and transfiguration, then sat heavily in a chair.

"You never did say that Remus's crush was male, did you?" Lily wasn't disturbed by the fact that Remus liked boys. Really she couldn't say that it even surprised her. But that Remus liked Sirius… And James had said… "Sirius is gay?"

"I don't know if he's gay, but… if you watch the two of them long enough, you'll notice that whenever Remus isn't mooning over Sirius, Sirius is gazing longingly at Remus." The bespectacled boy seemed to be regaining his confidence with the knowledge that Lily wasn't disgusted by the information. Her expression must have been skeptical, because he laughed. "I didn't believe it at first, either, but all you have to do is watch them for an hour, and you'll see."

Lily had always held one count in James's favor. He had never once lied to her. And since she doubted he'd changed that habit… "I believe you. But why are you trying to get them together. I can't imagine Black seeing someone he wanted and not going for them right off."

"I think they're both afraid of messing things up." James ran a hand through his hair. His voice had gone back to the slow thoughtful tone that told Lily he was choosing his words carefully. "Siri's family is…"

"Dysfunctional? Abusive? Evil? Spawn of Satan? Death Eater central?" She smirked inwardly at the shocked expression her bluntness produced. So he thought she was all sweetness and light, hmm?

"Yes, that sums it up pretty well. Although from what I've seen, you're going pretty easy on them." Oh, how she loved that grin. The one that said 'we understand each other.' She wanted a chance to admire that grin, but he was frowning again now, and continuing.

"Remus, Peter and I… Well, Sirius thinks of us as his family. If one of us stopped talking to him, stopped caring about him… I don't want to think about what he'd do. It might kill him. It might drive him insane. I don't know, but it wouldn't be good." James paused for breath, obviously thinking. "He's especially dependent on Remus. Sirius and I are brothers and best friends, but he confides in Remus. There's always been something special between them. Something more. Remus is the only person Sirius can spend time with and not have to be talking or doing something. They don't have to talk when they're together. It's just enough that they are together. I don't know how else to explain."

Lily was blown away. She was learning all sorts of things tonight about the Marauders. And about James. Before this year she never would have believed he could be so observant. Even having been studying with him since September hadn't led her to suspect this. Now that she thought, though, this was the longest serious conversation she'd ever had with him that didn't involve schoolwork. A slow smile spread across her face. "Then they obviously need to be together. And after seeing your list, I don't trust you to do it right on your own. Here's what we're going to do…"

Wow. Guess what! That was the longest chapter in this fic so far. And will probably remain the longest. Enjoy it while it lasts.