AN: Okay. I stayed up until 3am working on this chapter last night, so I'm really hoping that you all like it. I'm still having trouble with certain types of scenes, but you never get better without doing so here we are.

Please enjoy.

Marlene looked like a princess in her very fancy bridesmaids dress and professionally styled hair. She ran up to Lily and pulled her away from James. She smelled like vodka and lemonade and Lily laughed when she saw Mary's face on Marlene's phone.

"You're making me dizzy, Marlene!" Mary called.

"Sorry!" Marlene righted her phone and turned it toward Lily and James. "Look who got here though!"

"I figured she was here when you squealed her name. I've spent almost five hours talking to her today though, so I've seen enough of her face. Though she looks significantly hotter now. Lo, James!" Mary waved and James laughed, putting his arm back around Lily's shoulders.

"Hey, Mary! I'm sorry you're not here."

"Yes, well, I sort of am at the moment. And it didn't take Marlene until two in the morning to remember I existed so," She cocked her head to the side and clicked her tongue.

"Oh piss in a bush," Lily clicked her own tongue and Marlene snorted.

"Good one, Lily," Marlene elbowed her and then walked off to talk to Mary some more.

"Did you really talk to her for five hours today?"

"Yeah, s'why I didn't respond to most of your texts before you left for the wedding."

"I assumed it was because I was annoying you."

"Fair guess, but no." Lily teased, leaning into him. "Mary was helping me prep for my interview on Monday."

"For five hours?"

Lily laughed, "Definitely not."

Lily and James went further into the tent so she could greet everyone else. Marcus was standing with Kingsley, Remus and Peter and Lily poked James in the stomach as they started in that direction.

"Are you good? Can you handle this?"

He licked his bottom lip as he smiled, refusing to look down at her as she teased him. "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for checking in." He pulled her a little closer to him and she reached up to squeeze his hand.

"No problem." She looked back toward the group and raised her brow. "And I know I said I wouldn't tell Marc how pretty he is, but can I tell Kingsley?" She hadn't seen him at the bar the other night since he and Peter had left before she had been able to get there. His jawline was even more impressive than she remembered from secondary.

"I mean, someone should, look at the man."

Lily laughed and the group turned toward her and James. Marcus walked up to them first with a giant grin, showing off his near perfect, white teeth and mile deep dimples.

"Lily! I heard that James ran off to get you! Don't know why you weren't here all day," James let his arm fall from her shoulder so she could give Marcus a hug. "You look absolutely wicked."

"Thank you, Marcus! And if I had said more than a dozen words to Nicholas in my life, perhaps he would have thought to invite me. But he's almost ten years older than we are and I was always kind of scared of him."

Marcus laughed, "Glad I didn't get pegged as a scary older brother."

"Absolutely nothing about you is intimidating, Marc." Lily shrugged and James laughed at her side.

Kingsley walked up next to Marcus and offered Lily his hand. "Sorry I missed you at the pub the other day."

"Me too! It's so good to see you again! And you too Peter!" Peter gave her a slight wave.

"I wanted to stay longer, but…"

"It was a Thursday?" Lily offered and he grinned.

"Exactly."

"Still upset that you all didn't think to invite me," Marcus stepped back to the table and picked up his drink.

"Stop trying to pretend that my friends are your friends!" Marlene shouted from the other side of the tent, still holding Mary up in front of her.

"Sod off, Marlene!"

"Don't listen to her, mate," Peter patted him on the shoulder. "You are our friends."

"Thanks, bud." Marcus patted Peter's hand and then finished off his drink.

"Where is Dory?" Lily asked, looking around the tent.

"She went to help Mum and Charlotte get all the pins out of their hair. And probably change. I don't think Marlene is ever going to take her dress off, but Dorcas said she missed her joggers." Remus offered. "Why are you being so quiet, James?"

James took a deep breath and put his arm back around Lily. "I don't know. No reason."

"You're still trying to figure out the guest list, aren't you?" Peter snickered.

"As long as we're on it, mate," Remus hid his mouth behind his drink and Lily laughed as she grinned back at James.

"Who told you two? His parents or Sirius?"

"What are we talking about?" Marcus raised his brow, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Nothing." James let his chin drop to his chest. "I'm going to go and find some drinks for us."

"Thanks, peach." Remus and Peter both laughed, and James glared at her halfheartedly before he walked off.

"Sirius told us, immediately." Remus informed her.

"Well, it's mostly his fault, so that makes sense."

"Mostly?" Peter took a drink from his cup. "He told us that he took your phone and texted Mia pretending to be you. That sounds like it was entirely his fault."

"Does this have to do with why Aunt Mia was asking my mum about the caterers?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah," Peter nodded. "She's planning James and Lily's wedding."

Marcus raised her brow, "Are you two…"

"No," Remus answered for her. "Sirius just took a joke too far and now we're here."

Lily shrugged. She wanted to tell them that it was kind of Monty's fault. That he and Mia had been joking about James' wedding and that Monty had turned to her to ask for her opinion, assuming that she would be the bride, but standing in front of James' friends, in a tent that had just housed a wedding, the implications didn't seem as funny. It didn't really even seem like a joke. Especially since James was no longer there to get embarrassed.

"I mean, I guess." She shrugged, looking over her shoulder to see if James was on his way back yet. Why had his parent's expectations about where things were headed not bothered her before? With all her overthinking, why had that never crossed her mind? Why had she not even so much as dwelled on it? James had been expecting her too, and while she knew that it was all in good fun, teasing James about the wedding, that original moment in the Potter's kitchen, that hadn't been a joke. Monty hadn't turned to her with the intention of teasing her, Mia hadn't swatted his arm because she didn't want him to tease her.

And now Mia was at her Mum's house probably recounting both sides of the story to one another and gushing about how James and Lily were always bound to end up together.

She took a deep breath and then James was at her side, handing her something to drink. "Do you like red wine?" He asked, and she looked down to see that that was what he had gotten her. The boys in front of her had all gone back to talking, but she had no clue what they were talking about.

She took a sip and nodded. "I'm not very picky," She found his free hand and squeezed it as she turned toward him. "I'm sorry that I've spent most of the day teasing you."

He lowered his own glass from his mouth and tilted his head toward her. "Did you just get delayed embarrassment? Because I could start teasing you now." He smirked.

"No," Her smile was small, but genuine. "No, I'm not embarrassed. And I'll quickly stop feeling sorry if you try and tease me back."

He looked over her for a moment and then took another sip of his wine. "Please don't apologize for giving me shit about anything."

"James," Lily sighed.

"No, really." He looked back at her, his eyes wide and full of mirth. "Every time you say something clever, or something you know is going to make my ears go red, you look so proud of yourself and your smile just about doubles my pulse. I like being teased by you. Perhaps especially so when you're teasing me about the wedding that my parents are planning for us."

And now she was pretty sure that she was blushing, and she also wanted to kiss him again. But she didn't want to do it in front of all these people. Both because she wasn't a fan of public displays of affection, and because things had quickly gotten a little too heated when they were back in the car.

So she squeezed his hand instead and leaned into his side.

"I'll pretend that I don't notice it." James referenced her blush as he smirked, bringing his drink back up to his mouth.

"Much appreciated." She said quietly.

"James!" They both turned around and saw Marlene walking toward them. "Mary wants to have a word with you!"

Lily raised her brow and opened her mouth to say something, but James stepped away from her and shook his head. "You had lunch with Sirius today and let him text my mother from your phone! You can't say shit!"

Lily let her mouth fall shut and then hung her head in defeat.

James took the phone from Marlene and then walked off to talk to Lily's best friend about who knows what.

"Why did you let her do that?" Lily turned to Marlene.

She shrugged. "Seemed like it'd be a laugh." Then she reached out and pinched Lily's cheeks. "Also, I wanted you all to myself." Lily scrunched her face and reached up and grabbed Marlene's hands.

"Well now that you've got me, what are you gonna do with me?"

"Honestly, you two," Dorcas walked up wearing joggers and a McKinnon football sweatshirt. Though whether it was Marlene's or anyone else's was a mystery. "Just get a room. That will be far less painful for me, and everyone else involved."

Lily laughed and pushed Marlene away so she could give Dorcas a hug. "You're the best dressed person at this party."

"Thanks," Dorcas grinned, kissing Lily's cheek. "I was hoping you'd show up in something similar."

"I had the opportunity to wear this dress though, so I did that instead."

"Fair." She looked Lily up and down appreciatively.

"Come along, little muffins, there is a microphone over here. We need to serenade one another." Marlene grabbed Dorcas and Lily by their elbows and started pulling them toward the other end of the tent, and Lily was starting to think that the boys were at the far end because the microphone and speakers were at the other.

James came back after two songs, with Sirius and Benjy. They were all laughing about something and Lily missed one of her lines in their song because she was too busy looking at James. Which Marlene noticed of course.

"Lily, you're drooling while you're supposed to be singing," She said, into the microphone.

She swung her head toward Marlene, only to have her attention drawn back to James, Sirius and Benjy when Sirius whistled obnoxiously.

"Dorcas!" He shouted, "Damn girl!"

Dorcas laughed and then posed for him. "Thank you, Sirius! I know, it's almost too much for people to handle. Marlene can't keep her hands off me," She continued to pose, and Marlene went back to singing.

Lily finished the song and then convinced Marlene that a bottle of water and a snack would do her some good. Dorcas thanked her, but then disappeared and came back with a beer for herself. Apparently, Lily was taking over for her.

When they made it back to the table and Marlene took a seat next to Marcus, and the two of them started going on about how grown up their baby brother was, while splitting a plate of mac n' cheese that Lily had carried over. Lily kissed the side of Marlene's head, which tasted like hairspray, and then went to stand with James and his mates.

"Lily!" Sirius put his arm around her. "It's been so long. So much has happened since I last saw you."

"Yes, I changed out of my pajamas." She nodded, though she knew what he was referring to. She looked at James, who was grinning at her over Sirius' shoulder. He had most definitely told Sirius that they kissed. "Just tell me that you didn't tell Mary."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius shook his head. "What specifically are you talking about-"

"I didn't tell-"

"No, for real. My phone is in your car. Okay, so if you told her, before I did, she will murder me. She will decapitate me, and then carry my head around on a spike until it deteriorates and falls off. Then she will keep it in her living room and talk to me everyday, and I won't be able to respond. I'll just have to sit there and listen to her go on and on. So please tell me that you didn't tell her." Sirius had started laughing after Lily proclaimed that Mary would murder her, and James shortly after.

"I didn't tell her."

"Okay, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool. What did you two talk about?" She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Do I get more details about what you and Sirius talked about." Sirius laughed and Lily threw her hands in the air.

"For fuck's sake, should we have recorded everything?" Then she sucked on her teeth while she tried to remember what they had talked about.

"Do you not remember?" Sirius asked, raising his brow further up the longer she went on thinking. "Wow, glad I made such an impression."

"I do." Lily shook her head. "You told me that you're ace," She ticked it off on her fingers, "I told you that I was seven the first time I fancied James and then you apologized to me for being so mean-"

"I did not-"

"You did, Sirius." Benjy cut in. "It was really moving, we all cried."

Sirius rolled his eyes and James laughed, throwing his arm around Sirius' shoulders. "That was might big of you, mate. I'm really proud."

"Fuck off," Sirius shrugged him off, "Red, I'm gonna have to start being mean to you again."

"That's alright, I'll know that it's just for show." Lily grinned.

It felt like she blinked, and then it was three in the morning.

They started a bonfire around midnight and then they got to reminiscing about secondary, the summers since, and the time had just melted away. Lily spent a lot of time cuddling with Marlene and Dorcas. They called Mary again and she stayed on the phone until Marlene fell asleep and Dorcas decided to take her to bed.

And then Lily had spent a lot of time cuddling with James. Her legs draped over his thighs, his hand on her knee, her head tucked under his chin. Every time he laughed, she could feel the vibrations. She might have fallen asleep too if she weren't feeling so euphoric.

James let her drive home, and she told him that she was honored that he trusted her with Edith. He laughed at her, and while she didn't really think the few beers that he'd had were making him act any different, he did tell her that her eyes were sparkly a few times on the drive home.

She pulled into his driveway and turned the car off, quietly climbing out. James met her in front of the car and silently pulled her into a hug. It was a good hug too, his arms tight around her and her head tucked under his chin.

"Drink some water." She said into his chest.

"Will do." He promised, kissing the top of her head before stepping back and looking her over. "I'll see you in a bit."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "Breakfast?"

"Lunch. You're not gonna wake up for breakfast."

"Fair." He nodded. He didn't move from in front of her, so she tilted her head to the side.

"G'night?"

He hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Good night, Lily."

She crept back into her house very quietly, not turning on any lights even when she got to her room. She pulled the dress off, tugged on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and then collapsed on her bed, completely content. She wasn't even going to wash her face. She was ready to just fall asleep on top of her blankets.

She heard her phone buzz from within her purse on the desk, and if she wasn't completely sure that it was James, she wouldn't have found the strength to get up again.

She glanced toward his window as she pulled her phone out of her purse, but his light wasn't on either. She crawled back into bed and got under the covers before she clicked on the screen.

James: I have a question for you and I know how it sounds, but I have to ask you or I won't be able to fall asleep.

James: Just remember that I haven't had nothing to drink

James: Did you mean to kiss me earlier?

Lily stared at the screen for a moment, wondering if she was so tired that she was reading it wrong. She read it a few more times, but the words didn't rearrange themselves. Was that why he had hesitated when they were saying goodnight? Had he been waiting for her to kiss him again?

Lily: What is the alternative?

James: I know, I know. But was it an accident?

Lily: I'm actually glad you brought this up, because yes, it was an accident. I was falling and your lips were the only thing I could think to catch myself on

Lily: I meant to kiss you. I kissed you on purpose.

James: Good

James: I really want to kiss you again.

Lily bit hard on her lip and felt like her chest might just explode.

Lily: Same.

She watched the three little dots appear and then disappear. She turned her screen off and then shoved her phone under her pillow.

James really was something else.

She closed her eyes, snuggling further into her blankets.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

If he was throwing rocks at her window right now, she might murder him.

She pulled her phone back out.

Lily: James, if you make me get out of bed again, I'm going to throw my feet at you. Because they will fall off. And then I will throw them at you.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

She huffed and threw her blankets back, swinging her sore legs and feet around and standing up for a second time. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw James was sitting on the small bit of roof under her window, his hand raised to tap against her window again.

She ran a hand through her hair and then walked over and pulled the window open. He was wearing a shit-eating grin.

"What in god's name are you doing?" He was still in his dress clothes. She hadn't seen him go into his house, perhaps he hadn't yet.

"I told you, I want to kiss you again." Like it was obvious why he was here. Perhaps it was, but Lily's brain was very tired and James was very distracting.

"It's nearing four in the morning," She reminded him, though she didn't know why, because she also wanted to kiss him. She should have kissed him after they'd pulled back into his driveway.

Also how many times had she had this exact fantasy? James climbing up through her window. Specifically James and specifically this window.

"Is this an inconvenient time? Are you busy?" He asked, pushing his glasses up his nose, his grin not faltering in the slightest.

She had a hard time keeping her frown in place. "Kissing you earlier might have been a mistake, but shoving you off this roof won't be."

He tutted at her, "Can I come in?"

She pursed her lips and bit the tip of her tongue. "Well, yeah." She stepped aside and his smile got bigger as he slipped inside. He closed the window behind him and then spun around to face her, his head tilted down.

"You've already changed."

"I was already in bed and half asleep," She added, stretching her fingers out and then curling them into fists. She thought that she should have felt self-conscious under his gaze, but she didn't. He was looking at her now with the same intensity that he'd been looking at her when she was wearing the dress. Her voice was quieter when she said, "I see you haven't changed."

"We just got back like five minutes ago."

Lily shrugged. "Maybe." Perhaps he was right, but it didn't matter for once. They were speaking only to fill the silence, to help navigate this new place they were in. Lily remembered the feeling of his lips on her and her stomach tightened in anticipation.

He stepped closer to her, reaching out, cupping her face in his hands and adrenaline sparked through her body. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs as his chest pressed against hers.

He paused before her, his mouth inches from her own and his eyes boring into hers. His smile had slide from his face, making way for the much more serious expression that he wore now. She was sure that her own expression was similar. There were too many feelings building up between them, there was too much history, too much wanting.

Lily's gaze darted back and forth, from one of his eyes to the others, mesmerized by the gold flakes, lost in the brown starbursts, overwhelmed by everything she saw looking back at her.

This was James. The boy-next-door. And he was here, in her room, holding her face and looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

Her heart leapt and she pushed up on her tiptoes, erasing all space that had been left between them. In the car, the console had been in the way, but there was nothing in the way now. And when her lips pressed against his it was both a sigh of relief and the start of an avalanche. She felt the thrumming start in her chest, building its way out to her fingertips as her hands slowly slid up his chest and around his neck.

One of James' hands stayed on her face, holding her gently but firmly as his lips started moving in tandem with hers. His other hand slid down her bare arm and then to the small of her back, pulling her closer.

They quickly became a tangle of heavy breathing and eager limbs.

James spun them around and pressed her against the wall beside her window, his hands moving to her hips and then under her shirt.

When his mouth was on her neck, her fingers found the buttons of his dress shirt and deftly moved over them until she could push the shirt from his shoulders. His undershirt wasn't as thick or stiff, but she still slipped her hand in his collar to grip his shoulder when he nipped at her pulse point.

She wrapped her fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth back to hers. Every new angle, every push or pull that he responded to, every rushed breath that she caught, made her pulse thrum louder in her ear. Finally, her heart was singing. What took so long.

He kissed her hard, his grip on her hips tightening before he pulled his mouth from hers, leaving their foreheads pressed together.

It took a few moments before she could open her eyes, and when she managed, she found that his eyes were still closed. She trailed her finger along the edge of his jaw, her brain a puddle of uselessness. She couldn't think of a single thing to say.

It was a few more moments before James' eyes opened and found hers. His voice sounded only slightly unsteady as he said, "Well, that wasn't an accident."

The corner of her mouth tugged up, but words still eluded her.

"I should probably go back to mine." He didn't make to move from her. His hands on her hips were on her bare skin, tucked under her shirt and pushing down the waistband of her shorts just a bit. When his thumb brushed her side, it sent a whole different kind of goosebumps than it had when he'd been kissing her. "Let you get some sleep." She couldn't make sense of what he was trying to tell her, not when his thumb was still brushing against her skin.

He pulled his forehead away from hers and made to take a step back, but Lily stepped forward with him, her hand going around his neck and pulling her back to her.

She pressed light kisses to his lips now, and then she moved to his cheek and his chin before falling back to the heels of her feet and looking at.

"You can stay." She said quietly, her smile small and slightly unsure. James was inspecting her face again and so she combed her fingers through his hair. "Please stay. I don't snore."

His smile was quick to follow the request and when he stepped away from her this time, it was toward her bed and she didn't try to stop him. "Of course, I'll stay." He said, taking a seat on the edge of her bed. He bent over and unlaced his shoes and Lily watched him toe out of them.

She got onto the bed next to him and pulled the covers back, sliding underneath. He stood up and she scooted over to make room for him.

They were quickly wrapped back up in one another, and Lily relaxed with her ear pressed to his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and feeling the rise and fall of his chest against her own.

No. This wasn't something temporary. This was James and she wanted as much of him as she could get.

"Good night, Lily." He whispered, his lips brushing her forehead.

"Good night, peach." He let out a huff of quiet laughter and pulled her closer.