Fate is cruel.

Just when Lily finally allows herself to give in to happiness, to give James and his world a chance, it all blows up in her face. She has no idea where she is headed as she rushes down a labyrinth of hallways in her efforts to get as far away from the ballroom as she can. Tears blur her vision, making it harder to see where she is going.

Relief washes over her as she approaches an expansive room at the end of the corridor. Somehow, she's wandered far enough away from the living quarters and has landed in an industrial-sized kitchen. By some sheer miracle, the room is unoccupied, and for the briefest of moments, Lily's culinary mind wonders where the food is being stored and transported from if no one is here. But the thought reminds her of the ongoing party and another wave of distress knocks into her with full force.

What is Severus doing here?

Lily knows it is a stupid question and an easy one to answer. Like James, Severus comes from money. She wouldn't be surprised if they ran in the same social circles. Hell, his stupid investment company may even manage some of the Potter wealth!

This is exactly what she's been trying so hard to protect herself against—more hurt, more pain, and a reinvigorating reason to stay away from the entanglement of wealthy men. She pulls out one of the stools that rests underneath the expansive kitchen island in the center of the room. Her arms splay out on the cool surface as she buries her head in the crook of her elbow.

Perhaps running off was the cowardly thing to do, but she couldn't bear to listen to Severus's lies or see the pained expression on James's face as if he believed him. James's reactions make her wonder what she's been doing over the last two months. The glimmer of hope that maybe they were coming to an understanding implodes around her.

What if it was only about physical intimacy? He'd taken the time to romance her, to woo her. Hell, she'd even admit that he's swept her off of her feet! But was it all just about sex? It wouldn't be so surprising given his contemplative stance as he listened to the vile words Severus used in his accusation.

Birds of a feather…

"Lily." James's voice cuts through the silence of the room. From the sound, his tone is rigid, but there's a hint of concern that Lily thinks she might be imagining.

The sound of his voice ignites the war between Lily's heart and mind, tearing her in two. Her heart yearns to run into his arms, seeking comfort from the distress, but her mind urges her to use sense and keep her distance. She's too afraid to look up, worried that he's believed whatever cock and bull story Severus has fed him.

His footsteps echo on the linoleum floor, and Lily flinches when his hand grazes her back. "Lily, love, talk to me."

The endearment sends a chill up her spine. How could the same word make her feel so drastically different less than twenty-four hours from when it was first used?

"Please don't call me that," Lily begs.

She looks up in time to see his lips part slightly before closing again. The expression gives away his pain at her dismissal of the endearment, though he hides it just as quickly.

"What happened? Please talk to me," he repeats.

She should be happy that he wants her side of the story. It means he hasn't written her off as the gold digger Severus tried to imply, but an overwhelming sense of contempt and anger win the battle of raging emotions within.

"Oh, now you've come to hear my side of the story? When we're alone and out of earshot from everyone else? What, were you too afraid that I might make a scene if you'd asked me in front of everyone else?" She spits the words out like darts aiming for the bullseye in the center of the board.

"Of course not. Lily, you—"

"What? Need to calm down?" She glares at him.

"No. Why would you even—do you think I give a damn about what other people think? The only thing I care about is you. How do you know that man? Severus—" Lily flinches at Sev's name, the sound wounding her as if it is a knife piercing her skin.

She notices James's hands ball into fists as she looks down, unable to meet his eyes. That's when she sees the swelling on his right hand with prominent purple splotches covering knuckles.

"James, what did you do?" She reaches out to examine his hand.

"I took matters into my own hands."

"Clearly."

"Lily, he insulted you. He made statements that I pray are insinuations, but until you tell me what's going on between you and whoever that stranger was in my home, I can't make this go away."

Anger is laced with desperation in his voice, and she dares to look up to see his hazel eyes pleading with her. She wishes he could understand why she's so reluctant. It's not that she doesn't want to confide in him. Lily wants nothing more than to throw her arms around him, allowing him to comfort her and protect her but she can't. This problem with Severus is far from over, and it's clear he's going to continue doing everything in his power to ruin her.

"Lily, please. Who is Severus to you?"

She has to tell him. It wouldn't be fair if she didn't. Not after everything they've shared recently. Collecting her thoughts, Lily steels herself to respond with a long inhale.

"Severus Snape is the man I entrusted to be my investor. I was supposed to open my shop—Gingersnaps—earlier this month."

James frowns, no doubt trying to make sense of her words. She doesn't blame his confusion. This is all new information for him, pieces of her life in Belfast that she kept locked up for a reason.

"This wouldn't have to do with the reason you were so upset when I picked you up for our first date, would it?"

For a moment, she forgets about the emotional turmoil and state of disarray her life is in, drawn back to their evening in the tent. How he'd recreated his finale bakes for her, how they'd shared their first kiss. How she wished to go back to that simpler time.

"It does. Earlier that day, I'd been served a letter with his intent to sue me."

"What?" Anger sizzles in James's voice as his jaw clenches. Lily can tell he is trying to keep himself calm for her sake, but his patience is growing thin.

There are too many holes that need patching, and Lily knows she must start from the beginning to help James understand. When it comes down to it, Lily reminds herself that she's done no wrong. Severus manipulated her, attempted to use her, and tried to bribe her with his money in return for an intimate relationship.

"Do you remember that day we ran into each other near the market?"

"I do. You looked rather upset, though I assumed that it was solely my presence that soured your mood."

"It wasn't. I'd been trying to work with the realtor to salvage the contract for the storefront by myself, but I didn't have enough to put down without help, so they declined. After that, I wandered around looking for other available areas for a bakery, but nothing would ever live up to that prime location. I was moping in defeat, trying to come up with a plan B to stay afloat. If Mona hadn't called and offered me this opportunity, I'd have been working random events and selling my baked goods in local coffee shops to pay the bills, considering I didn't win the Bake Off."

"I'm sorry—"

"That wasn't your fault. Your judging was fair and I commend you for it now. Things worked out for me—at least they did for a little while."

"But that still doesn't explain why that man backed out of the deal. Or even why he sued you for that matter. Didn't you sign a contract? What company does he work for anyway?"

"Slytherin Enterprises."

James groans. "That's Severus Snape?"

"You know him?" There's a hint of surprise in Lily's voice, though when it boils down to it, she's not surprised at all.

"I know of him. The Potter family businesses are partnered with Gryffindor Investments. He held a brief stint with them back when my father became ill. I never met the man, but heard he was apprenticing under Gideon Weasley before he left abruptly and joined the Slytherin team."

Lily senses that there may be more to the story, but James doesn't go on. Instead, he waits for her to continue.

"I met Sev in a coffee shop. We were friends before he suggested helping me realize my dream of owning my own business. There are contracts, but I never signed any of them. He assured me we could wait until the end."

James closes his eyes, and the gesture hits her like a sucker punch. In hindsight, she knows it wasn't right. She'd been stupid and naive. "He'd added something in the final contract, hadn't he? I've heard the Slytherins do that."

Lily nods. "Yes. He wanted our partnership to extend beyond the business." Tears well in her eyes as she heard his words ringing in her ears.

"And?"

"He didn't like being told no. We were friends. I didn't like him like that, and I knew it wasn't a smart business practice either." Lily's lips tremble as she tells James what happened next. "He tore up the contract and called the whole deal off."

"Did he ever touch you?"

"N-no. But the whole exchange happened outside in the open. I don't think he would have dared."

"Good." Despite the tears flowing freely down her face, James looks relieved.

"No, not good. James, you don't understand! Now, he's suing me, claiming that I tried to coerce him! He changed that contract at the last minute and I never received a copy. I don't even know what it says, and it's his word against mine! Mona's been a blessing and I have a great lawyer, but I just don't see how this is going to work out in my favor. Not to mention the legal fees...at this rate I'll never realize my dream because I'll be in debt for years to come."

"Nonsense."

"Excuse me?"

"There's no way people will believe him over you."

"Yes, they will. He has money. He can persuade people with that! I'm sure he's already won before a court date has even been set!" She stands and paces the room, hands pulling at the hair she'd worked so meticulously on setting into place and ruining the delicate curls in the process. "Don't you get it now? You and I come from two opposite sides of the spectrum. You and Snape have money, and I don't. Money can't solve my problems."

James's hard gaze softens and Lily believes that finally, something has clicked. Perhaps he now understands why she's been so hesitant all along. He steps forward, arms extended to wrap her in his embrace. She lets him, letting her guard down a bit.

"I'm sorry. I wish I'd known. I wish you'd told me."

"It's not exactly something I share with many people."

"Well, I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself."

"Yes, but now he's here. Now he's seen me with you and he's going to think I'm using you for your money and he'll use that in his case against me and—" James cuts her off by placing a finger on her lips.

"He won't."

"You don't know that. What am I supposed to do?"

"Marry me."

"Wh-what?" Surely, she misheard him. There's no way that he's just proposed!

And yet, her heart stops pounding in her chest as he sinks to the ground, kneeling on one knee in front of her, sincerity in his eyes. He reaches out to take her hands, the warmth engulfing her cold skin with his tenderness.

"I said, marry me," he repeats, with more conviction this time.

"N-no. James, you can't be serious."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you're not thinking straight."

His gaze darkens, brows furrowing as his impeccable posture stiffens even further.

"Lily Evans, will you marry me?"

Would he stop asking that?

Lily feels her jaw slacken as she stares at him in wonder. She'd give anything to know what is going through his mind. A cold sweat breaks out on the back of her neck as her heart thunders in her chest, blood pounding in her ears. Her response is an instinctive, gut reaction.

"No."

And it's not the answer he's expecting. His hands tighten around hers, his thoughts hidden behind the blank stare in his eyes. "Excuse me?"

Lily holds her ground, hanging on to the absurdity of the situation. She doesn't even know if they're officially together. They've never talked about it. Not to mention they've only known each other for two months!

"No." Her answer is firmer the second time.

There is no way she can marry James Potter. It would go against everything she stands for. The mere thought of becoming Mrs. James Potter, mistress of Peverell is laughable. She isn't cut out to mingle among the upper echelons of British society, nor does she want to. She'd already been accused of using a man for his money once, and she refuses to let that happen a second time.

Even if somewhere deep down inside, the idea appeals to her. Just the tiniest bit.

No. Absolutely not. You and James are cut from different cloths. You don't belong in his world. You'd never fit in. This is real life. Fairytales don't exist, which means you don't get to marry the prince who saves you on his white horse.

"I can't marry you, James."

Wincing, he releases her hands, jamming his own through his hair in frustration as he stands."You must know that I'm in love with you, ardently so."

"Please stop," she whimpers, her voice unrecognizable in her ears.

He doesn't say another word, but his displeasure is obvious. His lips have set in a hard line, and storm clouds darken his bright hazel eyes to a dull brown.

"You can't honestly be surprised by my response. We're far too different. I'd never fit into your world, and it's clear your mother would never approve of a lowly baker who doesn't even have enough money to open her own business. I'd be bringing nothing to the table." Lily shudders at the thought of Euphemia's reaction to the proposal.

She waits for James to respond, each second that passes becoming more agonizing than the next. The only thing worse than his ridiculous proposal is his silence.

"My mother's judgment is clouded by Regulus's ill attempts to make her think I am someone I'm not, but I've dealt with him. She will come around in due time, not that I need her approval for whom I choose to marry. I'm a grown man who can make decisions for myself."

"That's not the point—"

"And you must know how much Dora admires and respects you. Sirius, too. Do their opinions count for nothing?"

"No, but—"

James is pacing now, his feet scuffing the floor as he argues all the reasons to convince her to say yes. "But what?"

A lump catches in Lily's throat. He wasn't going to make her say it, was he? Does he really not know? She searches for the appropriate words. "It wouldn't solve anything. You'd only be trying to protect me, and I don't need protecting. I'm still a middle-class entrepreneur and you live a life where everything is handed to you on a silver platter. I'd just be the harlot that seduced you."

"Stop." Anger rises in James's voice. "You're creating scenarios that are untrue. Everyone I know respects and adores you. Just because Mum hasn't warmed up right away, doesn't mean she won't. And you only think others would question my loyalty to you because you hadn't bothered to stick around the party. If you'd stayed, you would have seen Severus knocked out cold because of what he dared to say against you. He will never set foot in this home again, nor will he bother you."

Warmth swirls in her chest at his words. The urge to give in and say yes, to let him make her problems go away so she can be selfish and wake up to him every morning builds. But she tamps it down and sticks to her resolve.

"All of this will be a moot point once you're my wife."

And just like that, the warm feeling disappeared in an instant. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Once you're my wife, people will no longer question anything. They'll leave you alone because they can't tear us apart."

She fans her face in mock swooning. "Wow. Please excuse how hot I've gone for your words. Never have I ever been swept so thoroughly off my feet by such romance."

He pauses, turning to her in astonishment. "Would you like some grand romantic gesture? To be reassured of my feelings for you? Bloody hell, Lily, have you forgotten everything we've shared over the last twenty-four hours? We slept together last night. We made love in a bloody treehouse mere hours ago! Don't you dare tell me that meant nothing to you!"

"James, we live in the twenty-first century. You don't have to commit your life to me simply because we slept together." Tears are streaming down her cheeks now, falling in hot splashes onto the shiny sequins of her dress.

"That's not why I asked you and you know it." Hurt and disappointment are etched in his tone, almost like she'd slapped him in the face. James closes the distance between them, bending down to her eye level. "Maybe my words haven't penetrated the hardened layers of your brain, but I told you I love you earlier. I know things haven't been easy for us. I know we drive each other crazy. I've even tried telling myself what I feel isn't true, but it hasn't worked. Much to my surprise, I've fallen in love with you."

She wants to believe him. There is a truth to his words. Everything about their relationship hasn't been easy. It's almost enough to believe him and give in, but two months isn't enough time to know you're in love.

"This isn't love, James."

"Then what is it?"

"You not wanting to take 'no' for an answer."

"I beg your pardon?"

"When's the last time you didn't get what you wanted? That's what this is about. You getting what you want. What person that's in love tries to talk themselves out of it? Let alone try to win that person overusing that exact explanation."

James peers into her eyes, questioning her argument when a small smile curls on his lips. "You're afraid, aren't you? That's why you're finding every excuse to say no. To find a fault in my sincerity. Lily, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I've known you long enough to understand that."

It would be so easy to fall into his arms, to give in to his touch and his words. To just say yes.

Yes, I'll marry you, James.

But it's not that easy, and Lily can't jeopardize everything she stands for to be with a man so prideful that he can't even listen to her reasoning. There is no way what James is feeling can be real. He loves the idea of her. The feel of her underneath him.

He is basking in the afterglow of the most amazing sex she's ever had in her life, and it is clouding both of their judgments. This isn't love.

"No, you don't. James, this is a rash decision and you know it. You don't love me, and I don't love you. If anything, it's infatuation." Her voice trembles as she tries to convince them both that she's right.

But if it's right, why does it feel like your heart is tearing in two?

"You mean to tell me how I feel?" James pulls away again, and for some foreboding reason, Lily feels like it's for the last time.

A sob escapes her lips and all she can do is nod.

"Forgive me, then, for not understanding my thoughts and feelings. Thank you for clearing things up on the matter. I won't take up any more of your time if that's what you wish."

He's angry. She can tell by the way his jaw clenches and his hands ball into fists. His body is rigid and he shoves his hands into his pockets and turns away from her. She hates that it has to end this way. Every amazing moment is slipping away and Lily's left standing there, unable to pick up the pieces. She needs to leave or she'll change her mind. Not that it would matter now since James has finally accepted her answer.

Without another glance, she flees. Tears flow freely down her face as she moves silently down the hall, returning to her room. James follows her to the edge of the door but stops.

"Lily…"

She doesn't turn back and doesn't respond. Instead, she presses forward, needing to pick up the pieces of her life that have shattered around her.