A/N: An update! Yessss.I was on vacation in Sedona, Arizona, which is beautiful I must say. An artsy town, so I was in heaven when I went there. Ha. But alas, I wrote this chapter as soon as I got home so you, my dear reader, may have another chapter. Build up chapter, as I like to call it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the cookies Fairy-MEGAMI gave me.

Chapter Eight (oh my.)- Majestic Light

I woke up gasping for air, tucked in my oversized bed. I couldn't sleep, this I knew. Slowly, I got up, blindly reaching for the oak door that stood across the room.

A blast of salty air hit my face, making my hair seem like fire and calming my sweating body. The ship was deserted, exempting a silhouette that faced the moon, apparently lost in thought. Even from that distance, I knew it was James. His tall figure, broad shoulder muscles, and uncontrollable hair always have given him away to me. I found my feet moving towards his slightly hunched figure, and a rush of adrenaline shot through my veins, making me wide awake.

"Lily." James said as I approached him, yet his back was still towards me. Strange.

"James." I acknowledged him. I hazily remember wearing a silk nightgown that dark, (maybe October?) night. Goosebumps trailed my arms, winding themselves around me body like a thick blanket.

"You're cold." He said, but made no movement to help me.

"Yes." I came to stand next to him, my hair blowing out behind me and my night dress clinging to my curves as the wind pressed against my thin body.

His hazel eyes flicked towards me once, before once more landing on the moon.

"Why do you hate me?" I asked tenderly, gripping the ropes with my shaky hands.

James' posture tightened to the point of where I thought he might break if one single soul touched him. His eyes now stared into the water, watching the moon's reflection as I stared at him.

It was as if I wasn't seeing James as an offender anymore… I was actually seeing him, his untouchable hair that flowed with the wind, his muscular frame that was due to hard days of work, and his remarkable hazel eyes that seemed to only glance at me once throughout the day.

He was gorgeous.

"James." I said, reaching out an arm towards him tightened frame.

"Don't." He said, now gripping the ropes with a death grip. "Just don't, Lily. Don't come out here and pretend that you don't loathe me. Right now you're just lonely."

Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn't want him, maybe I was pretending it was Adam.

Maybe is a strong word.

In that moment, hazel flickered to the deepest blue every imagined, then flickered back.

My throat was parched as I sucked in a gasp of air. "Maybe you're right." My gaze lingered on his frame before returning to the roaring waves. "Maybe."

"I know you miss Adam. I've seen you staring out into nothing. Like you've lost someone." His tone was slightly harsh, but it did not affect my calm mood.

"I have lost someone."

"I know that you sometimes see Adam in me. I've seen your gaze change as you look at me; don't think I'm stupid."

"I most certainly don't think that. And yes, I do see Adam in you, but looks is as far as you two come into comparison."

His form loosened, and his eyes bored into the side of my head as I stared into the skies.

"You don't know me."

It was a whisper, but I heard every word. "I know that you are a cruel man. But I know that you have a side that I care not to talk about."

A warm hand timidly touched my back, tracing my now healed scars lazily. I sucked in a deep breath, trying to concentrate on the azure waves as they foamed over.

"Do you care to talk about it now?" His breath came out in steam and my gaze followed the hot breath until out of site. His mouth was close to my skin, his hand sending fire through my body in a way I never thought possible. At least…not by him.

"No." I said with a surprising defiance. "I don't."

"A shame. I can be soft hearted, Lily. But you won't give me that chance." His hand came to lie on my hip as James took the position of standing behind me, his steamy breath coming out faster than usual.

"You killed Adam." I whispered, my head now upturned towards the star studded sky. Why was I letting him touch me? I thought as his arms circled around me, his chin now lying on my shoulder.

James let out a sigh that hit my neck, temporarily sending the goose bumps away. "He killed himself."

"That isn't true." I said, my body stiffening.

"Calm down, love." He drawled. "I checked his body, and found he had slit his wrists. Maybe to escape the pain? I don't know."

He slit his wrists. It echoed in my mind, recurring again and again.

Adam… why would you do that? Why would you sacrifice your life? What was the purpose? I survived… but you might not have. You knew…you knew that James wouldn't kill me. But why would you leave me alone?

"He," my voice choked. "I can't just forget about him." I finally finished with my voice coming down to a whisper.

"I know." James said, kissing the base of my neck before returning to my shoulder. "I know how you feel, Lily."

"No." I said. "No, you don't."

"I lost a woman that I once loved to an Irishman. He was richer than I, more sufficient. She left me for him."

I choose to be silent.

"Funny how you have Irish blood in you. She did too."

James retreated from my back to stand beside me once more.

Sighing, his hazel gaze drifted to the searing moon.

I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, giving him a timid smile which he did not return. "I'm sorry."

He snorted. "For what? I don't deserve your sympathy. I have hated your kind ever since."

"My kind?"

"Irish people."

The first thing I found James and I had in common: we each hated each other's blood relatives.

"I see." I said, my gaze returned to the ocean.

"I always thought you were beautiful." He said without glancing at me. "I despise how an Irishwoman can be so beautiful."

Once more, I choose to be silent.

"But sometimes…" James trailed, his eyes roaming my body. "I want to tie you to the four poster bed and have you right then and there."

"This being one of those times?" I carefully answered back.

He didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

"I see." I said again, a slight smile coming to my lips.

"But then other times," He continued without missing a beat. "I would rather just kiss you until your gorgeous little lungs ran out of air."

"And I assume that those times are when I am gazing out into nowhere."

"No." Surprised, my eyes floated back to James. "When you look at me like you are now."

I quickly turned my head back to the skies, leaving him to softly chuckle at me.

"You just make yourself all the more irresistible, Lily."

With horror, I found my cheeks changing a color that I care not to mention.

"Back to what you said before. The times when you gaze out into nowhere is when I want to make your gaze come to me. When I want to feel your eyes on me. It makes me feel special, you know." James added, slightly grinning at me.

"I'd better not do that anymore then." I said; the corners of my mouth twitched.

"When you do that…" He brought his thumb to trace my bottom lip. "It makes me want you even more than tying you to a bed and ravishing you."

"What is beyond that?"

For the first time that night, James faltered. "That, my dear Lillian, I cannot tell you, for even I have not figured it out."

"Hmm…" I replied, trying too hard not to touch his figure.

"But sadly, you wouldn't let me do any of those things to you, delightful as they would be."

"Who says I won't?" I responded, catching him off guard.

"Don't lead a bloke on. It isn't nice, Lily." James' fingers turned me towards him, letting my flickering gaze rest on his hazel eyes. "Especially when the said bloke wants to tie you to the pole behind you and have you right now."

"But I was being nice." I drawled. "I didn't kick you in the balls."

"Yes, I suppose you are right. But even so. You can't tempt me like this."

"Nonsense. I'm having the time of my life."

"You could have an even better time if you let me."

"Hmm… Let me think about it."

Becoming brave in this game of cat and mouse, I brought my hands to his hair, twirling a content finger through the black tangled mass.

"Lily." James' voice was hoarse. "Don't do that. I'm not sure what I'll do."

"Well, let's see." His forehead came to land on my shoulder while he leaned into me.

"I don't think that is such a good idea." James pressed his body closer to mine and I could feel the toned muscles beneath his thin, white night shirt.

"Come now, James. It is an excellent idea." I said in a whisper, running another hand through the black mop.

"Lily," He said in a raspy voice. "If you don't want to lose your virginity right now, stop it."

My hands immediately left his hair as James took a deep gulp of salty air.

"How do you know I'm a virgin?"

"The way you carry yourself. You don't even look at the men on this ship as they stare at you."

"Even so, I might not be."

"Dear, you are a virgin."

"And you know this because you have deflowered so many, correct?"

"Only two." He mumbled against my neck, slightly tugging on my red tresses.

"Only?"

"Mmhm."

"That is two too many."

"Jealous?" James laughed slightly, his hands tracing small shapes on my back.

"Yes."

"Could the pirate Lily Evans be feeling for James Potter?"

"No. It is lust."

He pulled back to look me in the eye. "That is the excuse I used when I first saw you."

"Nice line. Who did you get it from?"

"Myself. And it wasn't a line. It was the truth."

"I'm sure." I pulled away from him. "Goodnight James." My footsteps echoed as I felt his stare on my back, burning my soul.

A/N: A whole entire chapter dedicated to LilyxJames action. I hope you guys are happy! ;) Short, I know. -sigh-

Helen- Thank you! And I will. ;)

MissMyrtle360- Evil kid, indeed! -scoffs at brother and hits him on the head with yet another spatula- I read your thoughts, 'cause that's just how I work. -cough- Ha. I wish I had mad skills like that. -sigh- Thank you for the hug, it made me feel loved. :D True dat. Guys aren't worth it but yet I write romance stories. Woops. You shall see why he treats her bad! Well, you actually already did. Whew, I'm glad it wasn't too depressing. I thought it would put some people off. I agree, James' new title is womanizer instead of jackass. ;)

Jingle-Bellz-ROCK- Five hours of sleep? I would die of exhaustion, then snap at anyone who walks by me if I only got that much sleep. I laughed at that part, but put it in the chapter for kicks and giggles. Small world? Of course! I ran into my long lost neighbor's 16 year old daughter's dog in the street the other day and I thought, "What a small world." No, I really didn't, but that would've been weird. You put that song in my head after I read your review. AHHHHHH!

Pia- Ah! Where did I lose you? I'll explain. Lily was having dreams of Tom Riddle, and he kind of makes her go crazy in a way.

Gray Faerie- Ha. We can all have our moments. Supportive pat on the back for you.

Brighton Baby- Thank you! Yes, I finally put some L/J action in this thing.

Little Sunflower- Sorry I didn't update soon, but an update is better than nothing, eh?

the-one-and-only- I decided to sit back and have a breather from all the events. Trust me, trust me. Lily will kick some more ass in this story.

WolfGirlOfTheFlame- Thank you! And yes, those were Riddle's eyes. Sweet and James may now be put together for my story. ;)

Fairy-MEGAMI- Sorry, I had to shorten up your name a bit! ;) YES! I got cookies, and I didn't even have to make them! Hugs for you, dear.

Erin- Woooops. No darkness in this chapter. But! I'm sure more will come. MMMMMMhm, Tom is creepy in a stalker sort of way. HA. Don't worry, I always get giddy when I see my pen name after I have reviewed a story. Imagine if it was my name. Oh my.

mb4- Awesome? Aw, thank you!

GSCer- Ah! But suspense is a good element to have in a story! I hope this chapter wasn't as suspenseful. Yes, I was getting tired of all the action also, so I put in two thinking/emotional chapters.

the-honest-liar- Thank you! I don't know if it got better this chapter, but eh, it was an update right? And I had to get this out because I'm sure some people would slit my throat if I didn't. ;)

And to all of you who read and do not review: Thank you!

Shattered Serenity