A/N: Last chapter! Happy Christmas from gingerinthesequel!
Chapter Four: Fall
And this year I will fall, with no worries at all.
Christmas always makes Lily feel a lot of things.
Excitement. Joy. Wonder.
Nervousness.
Well, that one is a little new. She doesn't quite know what to do with it.
All day, Lily has checked and rechecked the house. The wreath on the door is just so. The tree is lit. The nativities have all of their cast members. All the shoes are put away, and she's dusted more times in the last hour than she has in the past year.
"If only you helped me clean like this when you were sixteen," her mother says, pulling a ham out of the oven. "It wouldn't have looked like we had two teenage girls on the warpath."
"Put it on the Christmas pot holder, Mom!" Lily scolds, swapping it out before her mother can use a Thanksgiving one, of all things. "Everything has to match."
"It's going to be fine," her mother says, moving right along to putting the rolls in to get warm.
"But it has to be perfect."
"Or what, Lily?" Petunia says, stepping off the bottom stair. She's wearing a soft cream sweater that Lily knows belongs in her closet.
She can't fight with Petunia. She can't fight with Petunia. She can't fight with -
"Or it will look silly, Tuney."
Petunia raises her brow and meaningfully looks Lily up and down while their mother's back is turned.
Lily thinks she looks nice, actually. She has her hair down in soft waves and a dark green sweater that usually earns her compliments about her eyes. The judgement from Petunia, she decides, is probably because Lily is wearing a flowery apron over everything. There are still a few finishing touches on the cookies to be done.
"I'd already have this done if you bothered to help," Lily replies.
"I was -"
"Girls," their mother says. "Don't bicker. It's Christmas Eve! Your father -"
"What will your father do?" A voice comes in with a whoosh of the sliding door. "I shoveled off some of the back porch. We can throw reindeer food like we did when you were kids."
"Dad," Petunia says, "we might be a little old for -"
"That's perfect, Dad." Lily smiles at him as she steps forward to brush some snow from his shoulders. "Thanks."
Petunia rolls her eyes, but her expression changes in a second when the doorbell rings. "I bet that's Vernon," she says, checking her hair in the foyer mirror. She reaches for the door handle and opens it. "Darling, you're off a little early, but -"
Petunia freezes in place.
Lily spins to face the door.
It's not Vernon. Her mother might still be trying to use the wrong potholder, but Lily doesn't even notice. She only has eyes for the boy in the door, feeling herself smile while her heart thumps like a racehorse running toward victory.
"Merry Christmas, James."
James is standing there in her door frame, wearing an absolutely garish reindeer sweater.
Lily thinks she might love him.
"I'm not too early, am I?" he asks.
That's the same thing she was just thinking about her own emotions.
She takes a step forward. It's unfair that her sister is closer to James than she is. That has to be fixed immediately.
"No. You're perfect," Lily says, taking his hand to pull him inside. "Come in."
Petunia scoffs and flounces away from the door.
"Oh dear," James whispers, leaning down so only she can hear him. "Seems she already doesn't like me."
Lily kisses his cheek so Petunia won't know they're whispering.
And because she wants to.
"You should meet Mom and Dad," Lily says, taking his coat and hanging it on a peg. "They're going to love you."
"Lily Evans, are you talking about your mother?" she hears her answer from the other room, confirming that she's been listening.
"This way." Lily weaves her fingers through his and tugs him toward the kitchen.
Lily isn't sure whether it's the oven or the boy holding her hand that makes her feel warm when they move to where her mother is working on the finishing touches on dinner.
"Is this James?" her mother instantly gushes, wiping her hands off on her apron to come around and give James a hug. Lily watches as he melts into it easily.
In the back of her mind, she wonders how long it's been since he's had a mother hug him.
This Christmas Eve has to be perfect for him.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Evans," James says. He's the picture of politeness. The absolute perfect boyfriend... Assuming that's what they are.
They haven't really discussed it, but Lily tries to see the best in things.
Especially James.
"James," her father says from the other side of the kitchen. He's doing his part by organizing her mother's creations as they finish cooking. He's long mastered the art of getting everything to fit on one table. "You're not going to break my daughter's heart, are you?"
"Dad!"
James laughs at this, at ease with everything, apparently. "No, sir," he says. "I'm planning on taking good care of it."
"He's so cute," Lily's mom squeals, linking her arm through James' and placing a hand on her hip. "Henry! Look at how cute he is! Lily, why didn't you warn me?"
She catches her father smiling.
Is it wrong to be proud of how good he is with them?
No, she tells herself, keeping the hand that her mother hasn't claimed linked to hers. "I told you lots about him, Mom," Lily says. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"You can set the table," her mother says, still looking at James. "Petunia has decided to sit by the window and wait for Vernon like a princess."
"He's my husband!" Petunia cries from her perch. "He had to work late on Christmas Eve! I want to make sure he's okay. The roads are still a bit icy."
Lily and her dad share an eye roll.
Thankfully, her mother doesn't catch on.
"Here are the napkins, James."
Lily takes the silverware and shows him into the dining room.
She wonders if her mother is trying to be clever by sending them where they can be just alone enough for her to listen in on what they say to each other.
Lily is related to her, so that's probably what happened.
"If you get overwhelmed, let me know," Lily says as she sets a fork next to each plate. "We can have a signal or something."
"I'm fine, Lily," James says, following along with her. "Really. It's sort of nice. Being with a family at Christmas."
"They're so much." Lily moves onto knives for the next round. "Does your offer for Christmas dinner still stand? We can do something for just us tomorrow."
"Of course. I'd love to do something together. I was sort of just going to sit around with Purr, so you coming over sounds less depressing."
"You aren't spending Christmas alone." Their hands touch when they go to place different things at the same setting. Lily takes the chance to squeeze his fingers and look back toward the kitchen. "I'm going to see if Mom needs any help."
In the other room, her parents have managed to arrange everything into organized chaos. Their kitchen always appears twice its size on this day. Her dad shoves the rolls in her hand to put in the center of the table.
From the front room, Petunia squeals.
Lily uses her task with the rolls as a way to hide her expression.
"He's here!" Petunia calls, as if she hasn't already alerted the entire neighborhood with the high pitched sound she made. "Mommy, he's here! We can start!"
"Julia…" Lily hears her father huff.
"Hush, Henry," she chides as Lily moves back into the dining room. "Play nice."
James is standing by the window, looking out at the driveway where Petunia is fawning over her new husband. He looks greatly amused when Lily comes to stand next to him.
"Vernon is here," he repeats. He snorts a moment later. "Look at that car! Can you imagine driving that thing around?"
"I can't imagine wanting to do anything Vernon Dursley does," Lily says darkly. Her hand finds his. "But I'll try to be good."
James smiles down at her. "That doesn't sound like fun."
"It's not, trust me. I don't want to ruin Christmas Eve, though."
The door opens and Vernon's booming laugh reaches them. Without knowing her plan, Lily goes toward the front, James' hand still clasped in hers.
She's a little too aware of how this may look to Vernon. She's known James for a few weeks. They first kissed and spent the weekend together at the same time. They haven't had the official conversation where they did that they are a they, even if that part feels inevitable.
James doesn't let go of her hand.
"Vernon," her mother says, a practiced smile in place, "you should meet James. Lily brought him this year."
"Oh?" he says, looking James up and down quickly. Lily catches the brief look he shares with her sister.
James doesn't seem put off by it, extending his hand to Vernon.
"James Potter," he says. "Nice to meet you."
"Yes," Vernon grumbles. Lily is surprised James doesn't flinch with how hard Vernon is gripping his hand. "You're Lily's boyfriend then?"
James looks at Lily with amused eyes.
"I don't know. We haven't actually talked about that just yet," he admits. "Go out with me, Evans?"
Her eyes widen at the same time as Vernon's.
"Obviously," Lily replies, aiming for something breezy.
The quirk of his lips that could be interpreted as a grin or a smirk reminds her to relax. James is on her side. In a few minutes, he's already charmed her parents more than the boy who is their official son-in-law.
She doesn't have to spend the whole dinner being guarded.
Her dad laughs, clapping his hands together once. "Well, if that's settled."
"Dinner, everyone?" her mom asks. "Petunia, close your mouth. You'll catch flies like that."
Lily's head whips around in time to watch Petunia snap her mouth shut. She's looking at James like she can't quite believe that he's real. That she can't believe he asked Lily out so nonchalantly in front of everyone.
Petunia requires a spectacle too but not to this degree. She would never have been happy with being asked out in such a way.
Her eyes slide over to Lily and narrow, her disapproval apparent.
"Dinner looks great, Mom," Lily says, putting her other hand over James' too. Ignoring Petunia might be the best way to show off. "Let's sit over here, James."
Her parents watch her lead James to their seats, but there's a noticeable sparkle in their eyes.
"I'm starving," James says. "I've been looking forward to this all day."
"My company provided a big Christmas lunch," Vernon cuts in. "So I'm not too hungry myself."
"Vernon's company is doing very well," Petunia adds, looking to James. "He helped them get a big new account, didn't you, dear? He's probably the next in line for a big promotion in the new year. Where are you working, James?"
"I told you, Tuney," Lily says, fiddling with her fork. "He works at the coffee counter in the bookstore next to the bakery."
"A coffee shop?" Vernon asks.
"We're both still in school," Lily says, a little defensive.
"Working in a coffee shop this time of year has to be hard work," Lily's mom says. "Everyone out shopping. They're always buying coffee."
"It's definitely busy," James says, "but I don't mind it. Plus, it has its perks. Being next to the bakery being one of them. Lily and I wouldn't have met otherwise."
"Are you planning on sticking with the coffee shop after the holidays?" Vernon asks. "Or will you choose to focus on other things?"
Lily supposes this is the nicest way for Vernon to ask if James is going to be unemployed. She clenches her fork.
"I'm not sure," James admits. "I don't technically have to work if I don't want to, but I enjoy working at the shop. I'll probably stay on if they have room for me."
"How do you not have to work?" Petunia asks, her tone snippish. "Everyone has to work."
"Well, my dad founded Sleekeazy's. When he died, he left everything to me," James says, his cheeks a bit pink. "He wanted to make sure I was set if anything ever happened to him, and, well, I sort of am."
"Your dad owned Sleekeazy's?" Petunia screeches, dropping her fork.
James smiles. "He did."
Lily drops her fork at the same time, as shocked as Petunia is at the news. In all of their conversations, in all of their talk about feelings and vulnerabilities, they haven't discussed money. She assumed his parents left him the house, since he was still living there, but she didn't know anything beyond that. They hadn't discussed how James' parents' deaths impacted him beyond the emotional level.
Who knew the barista next door is sitting on what has to be a fortune?
"Well, that's nice for you, Lily," Vernon says, chuckling.
Her eyes narrow at him.
"What does that mean?"
"That little bakery can't be paying you well," he explains. "You're spending all day decorating cookies while other people, like myself, are making million dollar deals."
"I'm not relying on James for money," Lily says, offended. "Is that what you're implying?"
"Don't be so touchy, Lily," Petunia says, helping herself to some of the food from the middle of the table. "Vernon's just talking."
"Lily's not relying on me for money," James cuts in. "She didn't even know about it."
"You didn't know that your boyfriend is rich?" Petunia repeats, eyes wide. "Lily! What do you know about him? How did that never come up?"
"Petunia," her mother chides. "Money isn't everything."
"We didn't talk about bank accounts on our first date. We talked about real things! We got to know each other, not the stuff we have."
"And look at you," her mother says, pushing the basket of rolls toward Lily. "It's like you've known each other for years."
"Oh, you 'got to know each other.' You 'talked,'" Petunia scoffs. Her fingers form jerky air quotes. "At his house. Alone. All weekend."
"Petunia!"
"What? I'm not stupid, Lily," Petunia hisses. "You just met this boy and didn't come home for two straight days! You were doing a whole lot more than talking. Maybe if you actually did take the time to get to know him first, you would have known your boyfriend is rich."
Lily and her dad are wearing matching furious expressions. Lily's is for Petunia's harsh words about her and James. Her dad's is most likely over such blatant talk of Lily spending the night at a boy's house.
It isn't as if he didn't know.
Still, he likely preferred for that bit of information not to be discussed over Christmas Eve dinner.
"Lily stayed at my house because we got snowed in," James says, rationalizing everything, which is something Petunia would never do for her. "She stayed with me because it was safest. The roads were slick and dangerous. The topic of how much money I inherited after my parents died never came up because it wasn't important. Lily didn't care about that. She cared about the boy she found in the grocery store who was helplessly lost. She cared about the boy missing his mother's lemon cookies. She cared about me because she's a good person."
Lily swallows against a flood of emotion forming in her throat.
Her father's expression softens as James' words set in. "She's been like that since she was a kid. Always taking care of her friends and inviting them over when they needed someone. Don't you remember everything she did for Sirius?" He looks to his youngest daughter, reaching over to put a hand over hers. "You are a good person, Lily."
"And we trust her," their mother says. "She's an adult who can make her own decisions about who she spends time with and for how long. If she wants to spend the weekend with her boyfriend, I have to trust her."
"I know what matters about James," Lily says, gaining confidence from her parents' words. "I know what kind of person he is. I know that he cares about me."
"I do care about you. A lot." James says the words sincerely and as if they're not enough. As if what she means to him can't be summed up in simple words. He turns toward her parents. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start an argument."
"Oh, don't worry about that," her mother says, beaming. "You didn't start a thing. It would hardly be a Christmas dinner without the girls fighting."
"They've been doing that since they were kids too," her father adds. "Will you pass the potatoes?"
Lily half-heartedly nudges the basket of rolls to Petunia.
Life with her sister often feels like a trap door that is waiting to open underneath her. One minute their conversation will be about one thing, and in the next, it will change subjects entirely. She has to be alert, has to be ready for whatever Petunia is going to throw her way.
James makes some of that feeling ease.
"It's okay," Lily says quietly, leaning her shoulder against his and letting their knees touch under the table. "I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" he asks just as quietly.
Conversation is starting to pick back up around them. Buzzing and chattering starts as the tensions settle. It's like this every year. She and Petunia argue. Then they don't. It's exhausting, but it's a version of normal at her house.
Petunia hands Lily an olive branch by passing a casserole.
"I'm sure," she says. Lily takes a scoop and passes it along to James. "Still glad you came?"
"Of course." She can tell he means it. "As long as I'm with you, I'm happy."
The rest of dinner, after everything else, is relatively uneventful.
She gets to hold his hand in the living room, where his thumb brushes her knuckles and she discovers that he's got a few calluses gracing his fingers. They sit by the Christmas tree and watch the lights blink. Petunia makes a show over how her tree is decorated with more of a theme than their parents' tree, which holds all of their crafted ornaments from elementary school. James hides his smirk at this against her temple as he kisses her.
Then the hour is getting late, and he'll have to leave at some point. She keeps pushing it a minute later like that means it won't come.
"Did the Evans family Christmas Eve live up to your expectations?"
"It was even better," he says. "Thank you so much for inviting me. It really means a lot."
"I wanted you to come. I'm glad you did."
Her parents are sitting close together on the couch. It's probably to give her some level of privacy, since Petunia left with Vernon about twenty minutes ago.
They've been great but asking for her new boyfriend to stay the night on Christmas Eve might be too much.
"Are you sure you want me to come tomorrow? I get it if you want to do your own thing."
"Of course," he says. "My own thing involves sitting around with Purr and watching Christmas movies. I'd much rather see you."
"Cuddling in front of Christmas movies sounds perfect. I'll bring a present for Sirr Purr too."
"You really don't have to. He's already spoiled enough as it is."
"A good Christmas has a bit of spoiling," Lily says. "I'll bring something for you too."
"Hmm," he hums happily, lifting her hand to his lips. "You've been more than enough for me. I don't deserve anything else."
His mouth and the spark it causes against her skin are warmer than the fire her parents started. "You're going to give me an ego as big as Vernon's," she says. "Then I'll be insufferable and you won't want to spend another Christmas with me."
She swallows. Is a few days into this relationship too early to even mention future plans, even if it's part of teasing?
James laughs. "Not possible. You're too good of a person to get a head that big, but even if you did… What's the saying? In sickness and in gigantic egos?"
"Something like that," she murmurs. "I'll bring extra wet food so Sirr Purr is always on my side."
Her parents' soft conversation reaches them, reminding her that she's still standing by the door and no closer to being ready for James to say goodbye.
It's less than a day until she sees him again.
Surely she isn't that pathetic.
"I'll miss you," he says, not sounding the least bit pathetic when he does. If she said it first she knows she would have.
"I'll miss you too," Lily admits, empowered by his first move.
"Maybe you can spend the night tomorrow? Without the threat of snow? If you want, that is."
She doesn't have to think about her answer.
"Yes."
So maybe she is that pathetic.
"I'd love to stay," Lily continues. "Even if it's bright and sunny with no chance of snow. I'll pack a bag this time to make it official."
"Sounds great," he says, leaning down to kiss her once. Then twice. Then once more. He pulls away, looking pained. "Is it bad that it's this hard to say goodnight so early? I mean, I did just officially ask you out today."
"If it's bad, we're both guilty. How are we going to handle the end of winter break?" Lily shakes her head, not letting herself think that far ahead right now. "You should go. Get warm and spend some time with your kitty. Plus, my parents always told me that Santa won't come if I'm not in bed on Christmas Eve. You don't want to miss him."
"We can't have that," he says. James bends down, kissing her once more and letting his lips linger just above hers. "Happy Christmas, Lily."
Telling herself she only has to wait until tomorrow, Lily lets go of his hands. Tomorrow, she can kiss him without her parents a short distance away.
She stops herself from saying the impulsive set of words that comes to mind and says three safer words instead.
"Merry Christmas, James."
James wakes up early on Christmas morning.
For a second, he forgets everything. His mother and father are still alive, and he's still a spoiled excuse for a child who will have far more underneath the tree than is warranted for a person in their twenties. He will eat his mother's Christmas tree pancakes and listen to his father's favorite radio programs with him.
He will be an overgrown kid on Christmas, just like always.
Then his eyes begin to adjust to the early morning darkness, and his mind catches up with him. He doesn't hear the sound of Christmas carols being played at an ungodly volume.
It's his first Christmas without his parents.
The familiar sting of remembering settles over him. He aches with it. It's particularly heavy this morning and keeps him bound to the bed for a few moments longer.
But, he suspects, this is okay. A first Christmas without one's parents is bound to warrant a bit of melancholy. It's better to feel his way through it than to ignore it.
This is what Remus would tell him, at least.
His phone buzzes from next to him, and he squints at the time before opening the message.
Six in the morning.
He groans. Then he checks the name of who texted him and switches to grinning like an idiot.
Lily: Happy Christmas! Can't wait to see you later!
The sting gives way to something else. Something that only happens when he thinks of Lily. It's warm and settles throughout his body until he feels content. Happy. He'd ask his mom what she thought it could be, if he had the chance.
Euphemia would have loved Lily, he thinks.
It doesn't hurt as much this time when he thinks of his mother.
Stretching, James works his way out of bed and down the stairs into the kitchen where Sir Purr is yowling for his Christmas breakfast.
"Okay, okay," James says, yawning. He goes to the stocking Lily set out for his cat and pulls out the wet food tin. "Looks like someone was a good kitty this year."
The cat purrs in agreement, slinking around James' ankles as he pops the top off and sets the food on the ground. James watches with a bit of disgust as Sir Purr eats from it like he's feral and has been starved for days.
"I taught you better manners than this," James grumbles.
Sir Purr ignores him, and James moves to the pantry to fish out the pancake mix. Half an hour and several burnt pancakes later, James has a poor excuse for a Christmas tree pancake with a crispy star on top.
His mother could do better, since she has done better, but he still finds himself being stupidly proud.
The rest of the day passes slowly. Remus calls to check on him. Really check on him. James feels like he's trying to get off the phone with a worrying mother for the duration of the call. He has to assure Remus several times that yes, he's fine. Yes, he's sure. No, he doesn't need anything. No, he isn't lying. And, please, for the love of all things good, Remus, just go and enjoy the holiday.
James is fairly sure he's on speaker phone when he hears Sirius' bark like laugh in the background when he hangs up.
When the time comes to finally prepare for dinner, James is itching with pent up energy. Lily is coming, and she's spending the night. On Christmas. Everything has to be perfect. Which would be obtainable if he were actually a decent cook.
Something is smoking in the kitchen twenty minutes into starting. He isn't sure what exactly, which is posing a problem. Lily is supposed to be here soon, and how pathetic would it look if he burnt the house down trying to cook her dinner.
"Shit, shit, shit!"
"Are you okay?"
For the second time, James finds himself nearly shrieking at the voice behind the question. He turns to find Lily standing there, scarf in her hand, having apparently been unwrapping it before stopping short when she came into the kitchen and saw the state of it.
She is amused again. Like she had been at the grocery store.
James can't blame her. He's standing in an apron, and he's pretty certain his hair is sticking straight up from tugging on it so much.
"Um, no," he says, looking at her for help. "I'm fairly sure something is on fire, but I don't know what. I don't want to die on Christmas."
"As someone who has almost set a few kitchen fires myself," Lily says, crossing the room to him. "First thing is to turn off the stove." She reaches over and clicks off the knob.
When the smoke doesn't immediately disappear, James begins to panic. Lily, though, opens the oven. That's when James realizes that he's forgotten about the rolls he left in and was supposed to take out ten minutes ago.
They're completely black when Lily pulls them out with an oven mitt.
"Well," he says. "This is a disaster."
"This is not a disaster. But we do need carbs for a complete dinner," Lily says, putting the blackened rolls on top of the oven. "I brought cookies, if those count. What else did you make?"
"I managed to roast the turkey without killing it a second time. We've got that going for us, at least."
"That's something."
He sighs and then shakes his head, smiling at her. He's missed her more than should be allowed for a day old relationship. He doesn't care if that makes him pathetic.
He is absolutely smitten with her.
"Hi," he says, bending down to kiss her. Once isn't enough, so he does it again. "You look beautiful. Like a Christmas elf."
"Hi." She grins and shines brighter than the Christmas tree he finally put up in the hall. "I brought Christmas pajamas too." Lily shrugs her shoulder, where a backpack hangs by one strap.
"Perfect."
With Lily's help, dinner is mostly salvaged. They've got enough for it to be classified as a meal. They eat at the table together, chatting and joking like they've done so their whole lives. Lily doesn't even comment on Sir Purr sitting at the table like a person, occasionally blinking at them in disdain for not sharing their turkey.
James is thankful for this. He's let his cat slide into odd behaviors since his parents' passing.
"What do you suppose Petunia is doing right now?" James asks, taking another bite of his potatoes.
"It's her first Christmas as a newlywed," Lily says, poking her potatoes instead of eating them at the mention of her sister. "So she might be doing pretty much the same thing we are, now that you mention it. Can you see her and Vernon having dinner like this?"
"Not unless it was catered. He's a funny guy, Vernon. I enjoy watching him react to things. Each scoff is more pronounced than the last."
"He's so disapproving. Like he has the right idea about everything and everyone else is too stupid to realize it." She plucks a sliver of turkey from her plate and offers it to the cat. "I like dinner like this. You and me and the good Sir. It's nice."
James watches as his cat takes the turkey with a loud purring sound. Lily is working her way into being his favorite, but James can't seem to mind.
"I'm enjoying this too," James says. "Just the two of us. Well, three with this lump. Thank you. Again."
Thank you for making sure I'm not alone. Thank you for choosing me.
"We make a good trio." Lily smiles, almost to herself, and looks over at him. "Thanks for inviting me. For wanting to spend it with me. I've never had a Christmas like this. It makes me feel more like an adult than I ever have. Is that weird?"
James shakes his head. "Not at all. I've felt like that for the last few months."
"You don't always have to be an adult with me." Quickly, she reaches across the table to take his hand. Her fingers fit with his, her thumb running over his knuckles. "I'm here, you know. I want to be here for you. I can't know what it's like or fix it, but… I'm here. Whenever you need. Whatever you need."
"I know," he says, and he does. He smiles. "Being you is enough, honestly. I'm… I'm so glad I took the job at the coffee shop. I can't imagine not knowing you."
"Me neither. You're my favorite Christmas present." Lily makes a face, and, like so much she does, it makes him want to kiss her. "Is that horribly cheesy?"
"If it is, then I'm cheesy too."
"It's not so bad if we both are," Lily says. She leans over to kiss him, her hand lingering on his arm. When she pulls away, there's a decided air of mischief in her expression. "Do you want your present?"
His eyes light up. He tries to reign in his enthusiasm so he doesn't come off as a spoiled child, but he hadn't really been expecting anything other than Lily today. As usual, Lily is full of surprises.
"Of course," he says. "You didn't have to get me anything."
"It should be here soon," Lily answers cryptically. She grabs her phone from the table and taps in a message.
A few seconds later, the doorbell rings.
"You should get that," Lily says, grinning.
James gives her a curious look but does as he's told. He imagines that this will be how his relationship with Lily will go. He's better off listening to her and getting on with it. She is the one who is wise with all things Christmas spirit.
He isn't sure what he's expecting when he opens the door, but it certainly isn't the group of people on the other side. Sirius, Remus, Mary, Benjy, and even Marlene, along with her girlfriend, are standing in a wide variety of ugly Christmas sweaters and elf hats. They look like Christmas has thrown up all over them and grin back at his shocked expression.
"What's this?" James asks, eyes wide. "Are you guys out caroling?"
"I have cookies!" Lily calls from behind him and over his shoulder. "Would you like some?"
"About a dozen," Sirius answers, stepping into James' house without a formal welcome. He sniffs the air. "You didn't let Evans cook, did you?"
"Definitely not," Mary says. "The house is still standing."
"Hey!" Lily protests. "I'm not that bad!"
"Tenth grade home ec," Mary answers wisely.
"I remember," Benjy says with a dramatic shiver.
"What is going on?" James asks, following everyone into the sitting room where they're making themselves comfortable.
"Lily invited us over for Christmas," Remus explains.
"We all heard it was going to be your first one alone and thought it was entirely too tragic," Sirius says, his tone betraying that he actually finds it all amusing.
"And," Mary adds, "Black wanted an excuse to avoid his parents on Christmas anyway."
Lily tugs on James' hand so he sits next to her on the couch. "You deserve to have people who love you with you on Christmas."
"You're such a sap, Evans," Sirius says, propping his feet on the coffee table.
James looks over at Lily and isn't quite sure what to say. What could he possibly tell her that would express his gratitude in this moment? There simply aren't enough words. He had been so worried over spending the Christmas season alone, and now here he sits, surrounded by people on Christmas night.
People who care for him.
Lily most of all.
"Thank you," he says anyway. He knows they fail, these two words. His house is full of noise and life and Lily has done so much for him. "You're seriously - you're amazing. I can't tell you that enough. I'll never be able to thank you enough for everything you've done for me."
"It's Christmas," Lily says as if no further explanation is needed. "I had to do something special."
"I know it's not the coffee shop," Sirius says, "but can you still work some cocoa magic?"
Remus nudges Sirius' side like he knows his boyfriend - if that's what they also are now - is interrupting something.
"Yes," Benjy agrees. "You have to try some of his cocoa, babe. It's actual magic." He puts an arm over Mary's shoulders.
James laughs. It comes so easily.
"It's alright," he says, standing. "I really don't mind. What's Christmas without hot chocolate, after all?"
"Depressing," Sirius answers. "That's what it is."
"Want to help?" James asks, extending a hand to Lily.
"Of course." Lily takes his hand and actually tugs on it to help her get up from the couch. When it makes him take a step toward her, he sees the way her lips quirk as she puts a hand on his side.
Sirius laughs. "Careful, Evans."
"We should make a tradition," Marlene suggests. "Those always make Christmas more fun."
The group dissolves into excited chatter, which gives Lily and James the perfect moment to slip out and into the kitchen. Lily grabs the containers of icing she brought and sits them next to the box of cookies.
"I don't know how much help I can be," she says, standing next to him along the counter. "I guess I could play waitress for the drinks."
James grabs her by the elbow, spinning her to face him. He takes a moment to smirk at the surprised look on her face before leaning down to kiss her.
It doesn't take her long to respond; it never does. She encircles her hands around his neck and stands on the tips of her toes, deepening the kiss. Lily tastes like candy canes and chocolate and everything Christmas should be.
She's his own personal Christmas miracle.
With a content hum, she breaks away from the kiss. Her arms stay around him, holding her close and keeping their lips mere inches apart. She stays on her toes, so relies on him to stay steady with her body pressed against him.
Her cheeks are a little flushed, but she's smiling.
"What was that?" she asks in a hushed tone. "Not that I'm complaining."
"It's the only proper way I can think of to thank you," James admits. "Plus, selfishly, I really wanted to do it. I still can't believe everything you've done for me. Some random boy at a coffee shop."
"You're more than that," Lily answers, fingers idly playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "Besides, I'm just the girl who works at the bakery next door."
"And you're far more than that," James counters, using her own words against her. He leans into her touch. "Care to make our own Christmas tradition?"
"You know I love Christmas traditions. What do you propose?"
"Every year we set out my mother's old Christmas village, and every year the coffee shop and the bakery get placed side by side. The boy from the coffee shop and the girl from the bakery are together. I couldn't stand to see them apart. It's where they belong."
Lily moves so her nose brushes against his. "Every year? You're not going to go back to school and forget about the girl from the bakery?"
"Impossible," he says, nuzzling her nose back with his own. "That would never happen."
"You'll text me every day? Even when the Christmas magic wears off?"
"Every single day. Unless you're spending the night here, of course."
She laughs lightly, which is its own kind of present. "Whenever I can. We'll be one of those obnoxious long distance couples who visit so often our friends are sick of it, won't we?"
"Probably, but they'll get over it," James says, shrugging. From the sitting room a chorus of laughter explodes. "Though, we may not be the only ones."
"Probably not," Lily agrees. "If I'm willing to ride on the back of his bike, I can probably always get a lift from Sirius."
James laughs. "That's something I'd love to see. Something I'd love to try too. Do you think he'll take me for a ride?"
"Definitely. He got it when we were seventeen and has been trying to convince basically everyone to trust him with their lives since then."
"Excellent. I really like him," James says, leaning down to kiss her once. Twice. Three times. "Not as much as I like you, of course."
"We both might get a little jealous of your affections. But he has Remus to reassure him."
"Hey!" a voice calls from behind them. They turn to see Sirius himself standing there, elf hat slightly wonky. "What are you two love birds doing? We've started a game of charades and need two more players. You haven't even started the hot chocolate!"
James laughs, starting to let go of Lily but not releasing her. She lowers herself so she's on flat feet and not in such temptingly close kissing range.
An amused squeal comes from the other room.
"Alright, alright," James says. "We'll get to it."
"I'm dying in here," Sirius whines. "My Christmas spirit is withering away."
"It better not be," Lily scolds, reaching past James without letting go to pull down a few mugs from the cabinets. "I don't let Grinches come to my Christmas."
"I need hot chocolate to survive," Sirius replies. "And, you know, Remus might actually need it even more than me."
"That is true. He practically inhales all things chocolate," James says, turning to Sirius. "You may need to go make sure he's conscious, considering how long he's had to go without it."
Sirius salutes him, eyes bright, and yelling something along the lines of needing to resuscitate his boyfriend.
"Remus is going to kill me," James says, laughing. "Or else he's going to be really pleased."
"Outwardly exasperated but inwardly glad is my guess," Lily says. Her hip bumps his while she stands next to him at the counter. She slides a mug toward him. "Are you going to show me some of your cocoa secrets?"
"Evans, for you," he says, filling her mug up. It's got a doe on it. "I'd do anything."