Tale as old as time

Chapter 10: Return to me

Madame Pomfrey took Lily under her care from the moment aparated in the castle with her. Remus had made sure Nan and Madame Pomfrey had everything prepared so there was no time wasted. Lily looked pretty badly hurt. Luckily, Madame P managed to heal most of wounds and said that Lily would archive full recovery.

Sirius came in much later; he was in the company of Lily's father. Exhausted, Sirius only asked if Lily would be okay, and when they told him she would, he quickly disappeared in the general direction of his room. Lily hadn't woken up yet, and James was adamant about not leaving her during the night, so he and Mark Evans spent the night in silent vigil.

They talked a lot, to fool the long, sleepless night. The two men shared stories about Lily, they talked of how much both loved her, James told of his mistakes and what had happened before Lily left the castle a few weeks earlier; Mark listened patiently and assured James that if he spoke to Lily with the same honesty he was using with him now, Lily would forgive him and they could start over.

Morning came, and James refused completely to go for something to eat, but Mr. Evans allowed Nan to convince him of going downstairs with the rest to eat some breakfast, he knew James wished for some alone time with Lily, and he really was hungry. Plus, he knew Lily would be fine, so he said "Why not?"

James sat by the side of Lily's bed, and started to stroke her head and hair. After a while Lily began to move a little and, eventually, woke up.

"What happened?" She asked confused. "Where am I?"

"I brought you home… to the castle, so Madame Pomfrey could take care of your wounds." James answered and told Lily all of what had happened from the moment he had found her at Snape's place to what he and Mark had said during the night.

"Oh, I remember. You came foe me… Why did you do it?" Lily asked quietly.

"I went for you because I love you."

"WHAT!" Lilly was more than a little surprised and tried to stand up but she got a dizzy spell and had to lie down again, James really had some nerve! Last time she had seen him, when she had told him she loved him, James had acted so…. Cold ad now this!

"I said I went for you because I LOVE YOU." That last part James said with great vehemence. It was the truth and he wasn't nervous about the truth… though he was a little afraid of what Lily would say to him. "But I'll understand if you can't love me anymore… just say the word and I won't mention it again."

"James," Lily said so softly, melting him on the spot. "My feelings for you haven't change. They should have because you were a complete jerk… but they haven't. I still love you."

James kissed her then. How could he not?

"I'm so happy Lily is okay now!" Nan told Remus later that night while both of them got ready for bed. "James would be back to be himself not that Lily is back."

"Yes, you're right." Remus answered, somewhat distracted.

"What's wrong?" Nan asked sweetly as she sat on his side of their large bed. "Don't tell me you're still upset for what your brother said? I thought you had forgotten it."

"You do know me so well… you're right, that's what has been bothering me… well, it began to bother me now… before I was more worried about Lily and James, but now that things are back to normal… I got time to think on what Romulus said."

"Romulus is a jerk. You shouldn't think of him."

"I know he's a jerk but I didn't like at all the way he was looking at you. I don't feel comfortable leaving him with mother."

"You underestimate you mother, she knows Romulus better than anyone she'll keep him on a short leash. She just wants to keep him out of trouble. She trusts you, that's why you're the heir even when he's older than you."

"For like five minutes!" Remus answered, he didn't like talking about his twin.

Both of them were so different, sometimes he thought the only think they had in common was their last names, and the fact that both of them belonged to the House of Gryffindor and the Protector Clan of the Wolf. But besides that, they were different. And though they loved each other for being brothers, they had grown apart long ago… and the estrangement only grew when the Old Lord Lupin had named Remus the heir And then Remus went and married Nan… and now he had found out that deep down, Romulus had always wanted her to himself.

"Besides, don't tell me you didn't mind what Romulus said about you."

"About how I chose you because you're the one who has all the money and not him? I don't mind, I would have to care for what he has to say before I mind his opinion. For me the only opinions that matter are yours and your mothers- but not because she's your mother, but because I know she loves me too."

"I know." Remus said as he hugged her. "But you know what? I think I don't wan to keep talking about my mother of brother. What I'm thinking about includes me and you and… it isn't exactly sleep.

Nan just smiled knowingly.

From the moment Lily woke up, she and James had become inseparable. They did everything together, even when James had estate functions to attend to, Lily would sit next to him in the library and keep him company.

After two weeks, Madame Pomfrey said Lily was fully recovered and another set of problems was brought upon James. Surely, Mrs. Evans would want to go back to Quiet Village. And James had to prevent that from happening. So he would have to pop the question, and soon.

James had thought about it hundreds of times… hoping it all went in the most romantic way… with moonlight and stars… perhaps in the rose garden… but it all happened during the day, while they were sitting under an old tree after a long hike and with only a few silly words. … He barely remembered had he had said, all that mattered was that Lily had said YES!

The news spread like fire! Everyone in the castle was happy, even Mark Evans gave him approval to the union and James presented Lily with an engagement ring the likes of which had never been seen before.

And that's how; they planned their wedding for merely two weeks later. They would even have time to go to their wedding trip and come back in time for Sirius' wedding. James and Lily would have married that same afternoon but when James got married he had to be crowned king and that ceremony would take a little time to prepare. This time it wouldn't be a Grand Wedding, just a small affair, a wedding that would only include those they loved best, it would be quick because Lily and James couldn't wait to be together.

Trey days before the wedding, they were still some things to be taken care of, and James realized he had lost every discussion he an Lily might ever had in the future, for Lily was simply the light of his life, and all Lily had to do was wish for something and James would make that something happen.

"James, really, I don't want another heavy piece of jewelry, just plain gold band will do!"."

"But…"

"Please, James, just look at my engagement ring. It's pretty and I love wearing it because you gave it me, but it weights a ton and it looks more like the ring is wearing my hand. Pleas, say they will be plain bands… say it."

"But Lily..."

"Please, say yes..." Lily said and James could only sigh. As he could deny her of anything.

"I will be as you like." James said, kissing her. He had never met someone so little interested in material things. It was just another reason why he loved Lily.

The wedding and following coronation ceremony were performed by Albus Dumbledorre, who had given his blessings to the young couple on wished them the best of lucks.

And soon Lily found herself married to the man of her dreams. And while Dumbledore but over her head the crown that made her Queen of Godric Hollow, Lily realized that at her young age she was assuming responsibilities far greater than what she had ever dared to dream of: wife, lover, Mistress of a castle and Queen. All that was a little scary, but Lily found strength in knowing she loved James with all her heart, she loved him, the man, enough that her duties to the king and kingdom didn't seem like a chore so much.

As they were proclaimed King and Queen of Godric Hollow, James finally understood that fortune was good with those who are brave and can learn from their mistakes, it had taken him all his courage to love – and admit he loved – Lily and he could never let her go now. Not when she made him the happiest man on earth.

From that day on, Lily and James were support the one of the other. They faced all the obstacles fate threw their way and they made their own way in the world the only way they knew how: Together.

That day was the beginnings of one of the most prosper rulings of Godric hollow. The actions this rulers took in the name of their people left a legacy that passed to the Great History Book of the Hollow… but nothing ever compared to the stories, which passed from generation to generation, about how much Lily and James loved each other… and the best part of it all was… the stories were true.

End of Chapter 10

End of Tale as Old as Time.

Notes:

So sorry for the delay, finally you guys got a proper ending!

Hope you like.

Love,

C-