Author's Note: I just want a cute little backyard wedding for James and Lily followed by an absolute rager at The Three Broomsticks that convinces Madam Rosmerta never to host a wedding again. I want that for them. Now enjoy this!

Disclaimer: The following characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and this story derives from her original works, storylines, and world. You can tell I am not she because #transrights

Hogwarts: Assignment #3, Floristry Task #4 - Bouquet: Write about a romantic gesture

Warnings: Loss of a parent; terminal illness

In the Backyard or on the Moon

"Lily?" James asked quietly, his voice muffled.

She rushed over to the door and pushed her hands against it before he could open it. Her bridesmaids had gone to check on the state of the backyard, to see if the chairs were set up properly and if the ribbons and lights had been hung across the big oak tree properly, but they had been very clear that Lily was not to get up to funny business while she was left unsupervised.

"It's bad luck to see the bride before her wedding day," Lily said loud enough for him to hear her through the door. "Or is that just a Muggle tradition?"

"No, wizards have that too, but Lily…" his voice caught in his throat and so Lily frowned. She decided to take her chances.

She opened the door just a crack and stuck her hand through it. James grabbed her hand immediately and squeezed her fingers. Lily leaned her forehead against the door. Since his parents had both become ill, Lily had always felt hypervigilant around James—trying to anticipate his needs, the times he needed a break, when he needed to talk, when he needed a distraction, when he was kissing her because he needed to feel loved versus when he was trying to forget… it felt like an impossible balance.

They had spent what felt like an endless amount of wasted time ferrying Fleamont and then Euphemia in and out of St. Mungo's for various appointments, liaising with Healers, and then coaxing Euphemia into eating and drinking and taking her potions after Fleamont had passed… that was the worst part. Where Fleamont had gotten sick but kept the spirit for weeks before blinking out of existence, Lily felt like they were watching Euphemia waste away no matter what any of them did and no matter how hard his mum tried to hang on. Lily knew James felt it too. It was part of why today was happening, after all.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked quietly. She chewed on her lip, the bitter taste of lipstick filling her mouth. "You're not getting cold feet on me, are you?"

"On you? Never," James said. "But are you… you don't have to do this. I know this is quick and I know it's just small and in our backyard, and you deserve everything in the world Lily, so if today isn't what you dreamed of or…"

Lily let go of his hand and swung the door open, propping her hands on her hips.

"James Josiah Potter," she said, clucking her tongue. "James. Your family's my family. Your mum is my mum now. I want to hurry up and get married in front of her too, James—we're doing it in our backyard, yes, but I'd do it in a broom closet or on the moon or in the back of a car if need be."

James' hazel eyes blinked at her from behind his glasses and his mouth had parted in a sweetly surprised little 'o.' He slumped underneath his formal robes and now that she'd snapped at him, she took in how handsome he looked. She saw how the burgundy rose and the baby's breath at his boutonniere matched the bouquet Remus had handed her earlier, and how the darker colours brought out the flecks of amber in his eyes. His glasses were smudge-free and his hair looked as neat as it possibly could, as if he'd just been to the barber that very morning and had held very still while somebody worked some very intense magic. His shave was particularly clean too and he still smelled bergamot and witch hazel from his after shave.

"You're really beautiful," James finally said.

Lily blushed and absent-mindedly ran her fingers along the aged lace that lined her veil in the same way that she would reach up and play with her hair, had Alice Longbottom not already pinned it to the back of her head with clips. The veil had been Euphemia's and she had been more than happy to lend it to Lily—tearful, even, when she had found it tucked away at the Potter Estate. It was one of the only things that she had brought with her from Jamaica to England, when she had moved to be with Fleamont. Lily was glad she'd thought to ask, even if the veil was slightly too dressy for her dress. When they had decided to get married before his parents became too ill, and then lost Fleamont before they could even do that, Lily had grabbed the first dress she'd found in a thrift shop. Still, they had done quite well on their quick-and-easy bridal shopping. She liked the way the plain white chiffon felt against her skin and how loose it felt around her. But she hadn't thought that today would be about being beautiful. When James said it, however, she believed it.

"Thank you," Lily said.

James sighed and then he pulled her towards him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

"We're family," Lily said. "I know that… that's scary right now, because your family is changing and you're losing pieces. But family always changes, you taught me that when you brought me into this fold."

James held her a little tighter.

"I'm so thankful for you," he said. "You have no idea how happy you make me."

"I'm going to make you that happy for the rest of our lives," Lily promised. She pulled away to kiss him, her engagement band glinting when it caught the hallway light. When she realized what she'd done, she gasped and wiped at his lips.

"Oh no!" she said. "I left lipstick on you. Marlene will know I cheated and opened the door when you came knocking…"

"She said I'd come?" James asked, trying his best not to sound offended and failing.

"She said you and Sirius had planned not one but two heists to try and see the dress hiding in her closet," Lily said. "These are verified facts, let alone her unverified suspicions."

"She thinks so little of me. Though there was a third one that Remus stopped," James admitted. Lily smiled.

"And that is why Remus got to come dress shopping and you didn't," Lily said.

"Lucky bastard," James said with a grin. "Although I'm the lucky one now."

"Yes you are, Mr Potter," Lily said. "Now go; wash that lipstick off your face before my maid of honour kicks your arse and hands it to me on a silver platter."

"But if she did, you could do whatever you wanted to that arse."

"Go," Lily laughed.

WC: 1112