Hi everyone! Sorry it took me so long, homework is the devil. Anywho, I know this chapter is v. plotty and everything moves along pretty quickly, so I'll put a brief summary at the bottom (if I can remember what happened). This is now edited, and a few parts have changed. I would say thank you to my editor, but she went about editing it in a v. rude way. I am slightly upset over it.

p.s Computer is in the middle of crashing, won't be able to update for a while!

-Jill

Rating: M for Moo Cow. No, Mature.

Disclaimer: I have v. few possessions which I cherish with all of my heart. This idea is not one of them. J.K Rowling has that to snuggle up with at night.

Of Following and Falling

It was early morning when someone knocked on the door. James grabbed a shirt from the back of a chair and staggered into the living room. Hoping that Jane didn't wake up he opened it, and relaxed when he saw Remus standing there.

"Bloody hell," he yawned. "I thought there was a fire the way you were banging down the door."

Remus shoved his hands nervously into his pockets. "It's worse than that."

James stopped smirking.

"Alastor Moody was attacked, James."

James let Remus in before he ran to the bedroom. He came back out in jeans and a backward undershirt. "How did you find out?"

Remus bit his lip and handed James his jacket. "Lily was as well, they're both at St. Mungo's."

James was still pacing the waiting room when Remus returned with Sirius and Peter.

"Is she alright?"

"I don't bloody well know!" James snapped.

Sirius sank down in a chair and pulled James beside him.

"Relax mate, she'll be fine."

"What about Moody?" Peter asked.

"He's fine. Old bastard took all of his attackers down with him."

A sallow-faced Healer approached them. James jumped to his feet.

"Can we see Lily?"

"Are you Ms. Evans' family?"

"Not exactly…"

"Then I'm sorry, only immediate family are allowed."

The Healer turned away.

"Wait, I'm her fiancé."

The Healer looked back at James, then nodded for him to follow.

She was sleeping when James saw her. The last time he saw her sleeping, he had just come back from being with Marlene. He felt his heart break all over again.

If that hadn't happened, they would have been married by now, he would have been there to protect her. She would have never had to feel pain.

Lily smiled up at James. "You were really the last person I wanted to be here."

He chuckled and took her hand. "Are you alright?"

She took her hand away back and sat up. "Fine, just fine."

He looked at her.

"James, seriously, I'm all right."

He pulled up a chair and sat down beside her bed.

"Oh no, don't get comfortable, you have to go home. What will Jane think?"

"Jane won't wake up for hours."

Lily turned and looked out the window.

"Don't do this James."

"Do what?"

"I've been in her position, I know what it's like to be waiting up for someone."

"Lil…"

"It's better if you go. Stop yourself before you start. Please send the rest of the guys home too, I don't feel like visiting much."

James stood up and hesitated before kissing the top of her head. Then he walked out.

The next time James saw Lily she was sitting in an interrogation room at the Ministry.

"Please Miss Evans, for the record, repeat what happened that night."

Lily sighed and began, "I was walking home from the Mathew and Carter law firm when I heard several people Apparate behind me. I stunned a few of them, but more kept coming. I blacked out when Aurors started arriving. When I woke up I was in St. Mungos."

Darvy leaned onto the table and glared at her. James stood silently behind the one-way mirror.

"Miss. Evans, witnesses say they heard you screaming bloody murder."

"I was scared out of my wits. Who wouldn't scream?"

"Aurors said you were already out when they came."

Lily glared back at the man. "Are you saying that I'm a liar?"

"Your words, not mine, can you tell us what really happened?"

Lily tensed in her chair.

"No? Healers said you had all the signs of being under the Cruciatus Curse, were you?"

Lily flinched and James took a step forward.

"Why am I here?" Lily asked, resting her arm on the table.

"We need to know if you saw any faces."

"I said in the beginning that I didn't, can I go now?"

"Why did you lie?"

"I never lied."

"You just left out parts of your story?"

"Yes."

"Who are you protecting by doing that? You know what happened, I know what happened, why couldn't you just tell the whole story?"

Lily's eyes shifted toward the mirrored wall.

"There are people in the world who choose not to look back on the lowest parts of their lives."

"Indeed. You are free to go Miss. Evans. Thank you for your time."

James caught up with Lily in the entrance of the Ministry.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you knew."

"I asked if you were okay."

"And I said I was."

"But you weren't."

Lily stopped walking and jabbed her finger into James' chest. "I'll be the judge of that."

"I'm sorry Lils."

"So am I." Lily started walking again.

"Why did you lie to Darvy?"

"Because I knew that somewhere down the line what I said would get to you."

"Of course it would."

"See my point?"

"No, Lily, I don't."

"Sorry James, I don't trust Aurors, and you have yourself to thank for it."

"There is something you aren't telling me…us."

Lily stopped again. "So what if there is?"

"I need to know so I can stop these people."

"Death-Eaters."

"What?"

"They're called Death-Eaters."

James gave Lily a skepticial look. "How do you know that?"

Lily threw a folded piece of paper at James.

"This arrived at the house two days before I was attacked."

James quickly unfolded it and read.

Lillian Evans,

I am sure you are aware of the times that are fast approaching. We are currently searching for strong and powerful witches and wizards, such as yourself, to help us with our work. Send your reply by return owl and we will meet with you accordingly.

James looked at Lily.

"This is all?"

"Yes, I sent it back saying that I have job that I am not willing to leave. Two days later I was attacked."

"How did you know the name Death-Eaters?"

"One of them let it slip."

"Did they say any more?"

Lily glared. "Considering what I was put through, you should be pleased with what you have."

"Right."

Lily started to walk away.

"Thanks Lily."

She didn't answer. As she reached the Apparition point she called back, "I thought you said you would never bother me again, James."

"That was if you went to Jane's work."

His eyes met Lily's across the hall.

"Who says that I didn't?"

James walked back to his office reading Lily's letter over and over again.

"Marlene McKinnon, sir. I was hired to be on your team."

James stopped walking and looked up at Marlene.

"Hullo James."

He glared and continued walking to his office. He grabbed her files and began to look through them.

"Look, if I knew that you would be my boss, I would have turned down the job."

"You shouldn't turn down a job because of me."

"Well, with our history wouldn't you think it'd the best thing to do?"

"Not necessarily. That was a long time ago. I've grow up and so have you. We can act like adults now."

Marlene frowned at James.

"Is this the same James Potter who chose the pushy reporters over me not even two days ago?"

James smirked. "This is my territory now, McKinnon."

"James Potter, I refuse to have Aurors follow me-" Lily froze at the door.

James glanced at the door and then straightened. Marlene took a step back.

Lily held herself up against the doorframe and took a breath to finish her sentence. "James Potter, I refuse to have Aurors follow me around for the next week," Lily managed in a much calmer voice.

James stood up. "It's a precaution."

"Precaution or not, I don't want them following me."

Lily glanced at Marlene.

"Hi Lily, I'm glad your back."

"I wish I could say the same to you."

Moody returned a few days later, much to his Healer's dismay, and James could see why. Alastor had a large chunk of his nose missing.

"Don't take this as a sign of weakness, Potter."

"Never dreamed of it."

James continued to walk with Moody into his office.

"Do you like the new Auror we hired for you?"

The corner of James mouth tugged into a slight frown.

"What's wrong with her? Not up to your standards?"

"No, no, she's exactly what we're looking for."

Moody continued to look at James.

"Are you upset about that Evans girl? You haven't been the same since."

James looked around Moody's office. "Upset might not be the right word."

"Then what is it? There has to be something. You sent out your two best Aurors to follow her around for the next week. We have a unit trained to do that."

James shrugged.

"Look Potter, whatever you have going on with her better stop. I don't need you gormless. Leave your personal life at the door."

James clenched his jaw. "I hope you're not implying that I am sleeping with her."

"I don't care what you're doing or not doing with her as long as it doesn't affect your work."

James walked out.

"They follow me everywhere!"

"Everywhere?"

"Everywhere!"

"Even into the bathroom?"

Lily glared at Sirius. "They eat my food, sleep on my couch and look at me like I'm some piece of meat!"

Remus flagged down the server. "James says they're the best he has."

"James is a bloody wanker."

The two Aurors sat down at a nearby table. Lily continued to glare.

"He's worried."

"He's a pillock."

"Lily, you don't understand. I've never seen him that upset before. He was miserable for days."

"Didn't he have his Janey to cheer him up?"

"She had no idea what was wrong with him."

Lily frowned. "He never told her?"

"No, don't think so. And I don't think he will either."

"That's his own bloody problem, not mine. If he wants to keep secrets from her that's peachy with me."

Sirius and Remus looked at Lily as if they were seeing her for the first time. She really hated him. It didn't seem like an act anymore. Lily absolutely despised James Potter and that was the only way to it.

Lily went home that night (closely followed by her bodyguards) and cried. She was scared. She knew this fear would pass, but for now, and for the last few days she cried herself to sleep.

Lily alarm sounded at six. She was still in her clothes from last night. She quickly changed and went into the kitchen for coffee. One good thing about having the two Aurors around, they usually had breakfast ready, or at least had made coffee. This morning she woke up to find her place empty. There was a note left on the door.

Miss Evans

Had to check in with Potter, DON'T LEAVE. Be back soon.

She tried the door, but it wouldn't open. Perfect, she was a prisoner in her own house.

"She doesn't do much."

"She complains about you a lot James, why is that?" James looked up from his desk.

"Have there been any threats, any attempts to get a hold of her?"

"Nope, we check all her owls. The only ones she ever gets are the Daily and Evening Prophet."

James looked worried. "Nothing outside of that?"

"No, sir. Like we said, she doesn't do much."

"Outside the obvious that is."

James sighed and let them leave.

Lily had gone through three cups of coffee before there was a knock on her door. She tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. As the person on the other side continued knocking, she tried countless charms to get it open. She finally gave up and started yelling.

"Sorry! My door isn't working properly today, can you come back tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

The voice was dangerous, deep. Lily backed up and held her wand at the ready.

"Please, come back tomorrow."

"I prefer to stay."

"I'd prefer you leave."

The voice laughed and tried the door from the outside. It still would not move.

"I thought you were lying when you said your door wasn't working."

Lily cursed the Aurors for leaving her alone when there was a killer outside of her apartment.

"Who are you?"

She heard the voice chuckle.

"You don't recognize me, Lily?"

The way he said her name brought back memories of Rome. Memories of mysteries, secrets and above all else, lies.

"Davis?"

Davis Faxon was the biggest thing to hit the Italian Quidditch team. Raised and trained in England, he was the best player they had seen in years. When he made it onto the national team, he was a name heard in most households. Not only that, he was worshiped by every girl who laid eyes on him. Two years of being the 'hottest bachelor' in Rome ended when he secretly married his personal Healer. Girls all over Rome cursed this beautiful unknown and wished secretly for the wedding's demise.

A man as gorgeous as Davis couldn't, even when married, resist the beauty that he found in every girl he met. He had many affairs, but none nearly as spectacular as the one he had with a young, English divorce lawyer, Lily Evans.

Ok, Lily is attacked. James goes to visit her. She sees (or thinks) that he is falling in love with her again and planning on cheating on Jane.

Lily then leaves the hospital and gets called to the Ministry for questioning. That doesn't go v. well and she gives James a note that the Death–Eaters send to all possible recruits. James is worried about Lily and sends people to follow her.

The whole thing with Marlene is slightly complicated. Well, not really... She was Lily's best friend in school. She and James slept together and Lily left... I'll explain more later.

Davis Faxon was a romance Lily had in Rome.

Got it? Any questions, please let me know!