A/N: Happy Birthday James! btw this chapter switches back and forth between James and Lily, sorry if the perspective isn't clear all the time. Hope you enjoy!

March 27, 1978

The first thing that James was aware of was that it was cold. Instead of opening his eyes and discovering the reason that he wasn't wrapped snuggly in his blanket as per usual he simple curled into a tighter ball.

A cough above his head caused him to crack open an eye only a sliver. He bolted up.

"Bloody hell! Nearly gave me a heartattack prats!" Remus, Peter and Sirius were standing over him grinning. His blanket lay forgotten on the ground.

"Why the fuck are you all grinning at me like that?!" James yelled.

"Git, you are so bloody dumb." Sirius said still grinning.

"What- oh….." It finally dawned on James. It was his birthday, James Potter was eighteen. He could officially drink in muggle bars!

o0o

The party was to begin promptly at seven, which of course meant that James could arrive no earlier than 7:30, or else he would be labeled puntual, at his own party, how insulting. Sirius had decided to be in charge of the alcohol, Remus wanted decorations, James found this to be ludicrous, who wants to be in charge of decorations, Remus that's who. Peter had said he would cover food, but James had sincere doubts about his follow-through abilities, but Pete had looked so happy at a job, still James could summon a cake if worst came to worst.

This all left James free to spend the day with Lily. Or it least it would if he could find her.

He had looked all over the castle and couldn't find her. It was Easter holiday and the castle was significantly less crowded, yet still she wasn't anywhere he looked.

Before lunch he bumped into Marlene and asked if she had seen Lily.

"Look Potter, I know it's your birthday, Sirius won't shut up about your dumb party, but that doesn't mean I have to like you."

"That didn't really answer my question…" James said slowly.

"Lily is busy."

"With what? It's my birthday?"

Marlene just shrugged and walked away.

James slumped forward. His friends were all busy with his party, and Lily was too busy to hang out with him. James was going to spend his birthday alone.

o0o

Lily was stressing out, she had seven hours to get James a present and she had no idea what to get him.

This is what happens when you procrastinate...her brain told her unhelpfully.

Lily was pacing around the dorm when Marlene came in.

"Uh.. you ok Lils?"

"Yeah just.." Lily gestured wildly around her.

"Right… anyway James is looking for you, why aren't you with him?"

"I don't have a present!"

"What do you mean you don't have a present?"

"I MEAN I DON"T HAVE ANY FORM OF GIFT FOR MY BOYFREIND'S EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY!"

"Okay Lils, no need to shout!"

"Sorry, I'm just getting really stressed."

"Well let's see, got any ideas?"

"I did think I get him like a bottle opener, but that seems so lame."

"Okay, anything else?"

"No…" Lily sighed miserably and flopped onto her bed face forward.

"Well, maybe go to a store and see what they've got?"

This hadn't occured to Lily, it was genius! She picked her head of the bed and grinned at Marlene.

"Oh Marls! I could kiss you! You genius you!" She rushed Marlene and wrapped her in a bear hug.

"I really don't think that would be a great gift for James."

Lily rolled her eyes and grabbed her coat.

o0o

James had decided that a nice drink of firewhiskey would help him get over his loneliness. He was wrong. The three firewhiskey shots, and two butterbeers were making him weep on the bar in the Three Broomsticks. Even the other drunks were inching away from him in obvious disgust.

Madame Rosmerta came round and looked down at him with such pity. "Oi! Potter! Pick your head off my bar! This is no time for wallowing, you are the birthday boy, go and find your lady and stop salting my bar with your pathetic tears!"

James blinked at her for at least a minute before he nodded and stood up bravely. No matter that his stance was wobbly, it was his birthday and it would be a good day. No, a great day! A fantastically wonderful day!

o0o

Lily was roaming the aisles of the large store and growing steadily more miserable. She wasn't finding anything that she thought James would actually like.

"Hello, may I help you, miss?" Lily jumped, startled before turning to face the cheery sales clerk. He was bouncing back and forth on his heels and smiling cheerfully at Lily.

"Uhh.. well maybe. I'm looking for a gift for my boyfriend?"

"Oh yes, we have just the thing! Follow me, miss!" He turned sharply and began walking back down the aisle. Lily looked around wondering if anyone else was seeing this strange clerks behavior, but she was alone in the aisle, except for the rapidly leaving clerk. Lily shrugged and followed after him.

He led her down another aisle and stopped in front of a large display. Lily cocked her head confused.

"Sorry sir, I think you misheard-"

"No miss, you want a gift for your boyfriend!"

"Well...yeah, but I don't think-"

"These are cutting edge technology, miss!"

Lily grimaced, "Yes, I'm sure, it just doesn't send really the right message you know?"

"What message would you like to send, miss?" He was still smiling, it was getting really weird.

"Uh.. I guess that I'm happy that he's reached eighteen and I love him?"

"Oh miss, I am sorry, I didn't realize you were only eighteen! I have just the thing!" He turned abruptly and walked down another aisle. Lily cursed under her breath and followed him.

"Here miss! Perfect for an eighteen year old!"

"Oh…"

"Would you like it wrapped, miss?"

"Uh sure…"

Lily took the package to the counter and glumly handed over the money.

o0o

7:15, 7:17, 7:23, 7:25, 7:26, 7:27, 7:28, 7:29, 7:29, 7:29, 7:30

James stumbled down the stairs to the party in the common room.

"Three cheers the birthday boy is here!" Someone called from the back.

It was a disappointing sight, there were barely twenty people here.

Sirius came up to him and put a paper crown on his head, and a beer in his hand.

"Come on, mate. Moony put up a banner!" Sirius was also drunk. Maybe if James got more drunk, he wouldn't notice the distinct lack of red hair in the room, or the lack of people in general.

Remus had put on the Rocket to Russia Ramones album and it was playing loudly over the dim hum of voices.

"Sirius, there's no one here."

"That's not true mate, I'm here!" Sirius grinned broadly, "And I brought a present!"

James grinned back, "Alright mate! Thanks!" Sirius handed him a small poorly wrapped package.

James looked at him questioningly, "Remus wouldn't approve." Sirius said as if this made the gift so much better.

James tore into the gift and saw… some grass?

"Pads, what the bloody fuck is this?"

"It! James! How could you!? This, this is top quality gillyweed my friend. That'll have you soaring in no time. Have a bit of respect, that stuff doesn't come cheap."
James grinned, "Right, thanks mate!" He glanced around. "Want to try a bit now?" He said still grinning.

"The suggestion that you have to ask is offensive." Sirius said putting his beer on the table next to them and pulling out a lighter.

o0o

Lily climbed into the common room and was greeted by a disturbing sight. James and Sirius were standing on a table, James' tie on his head sloppily tied so the thick part dangled in front of one of his eyes, Sirius's shirt was open exposing his bare chest and the drunkenly drawn smiley face that was on it. They were strumming air guitars and singing along to the music. Well, singing was generous, it was more screeching and slurring.

Remus was desperately calling to them to stop, because their dancing and jumping around was causing the table to ominously shake and crack. Peter was snoring in an armchair, a beer clutched loosley in his hand.

Lily walked gingerly inside, careful to avoid the bottles and smushed cake on the floor. She sat nervously on a couch and pulled out her wand in an attempt to clean up the mess, but another bottle fell to the ground and spread drink and glass on the floor. Sighing she tucked the wand back in her robes, it was fruitless.

Lily saw Remus glaring at a girl twirling her hair near an oblivious and drunk Sirius. Lily rolled her eyes they were hopeless.

James plopped down next to her smiling drunkenly. "Lily! You came! I couldn't find you today, what were you doing? Marlene said you were 'busy'."

"Uh yeah James, I was."

"What were you doing?" James pouted.

"I was getting you a present." James perked up.

"Oooh a present, what kind of present?!"

"Can you sober up for a second?" Lily asked angrily.

James just grinned drunkenly and looking stupid.

Lily sighed and pulled out her wand, "Resipisco."

James straightened and looked around bewildered. "How'd you do that?!" He exclaimed.

"Magic, remember?"

"Right. Anyway, you were saying something about a present?"

"Yeah." Lily grimaced. "Okay, I'm really sorry it's so lame." Lily pulled out the package.

James tore into it eagerly, "I'm sure it's great!"

The bottle opener lay thickly on James' lap.

"Well, I can use this…"

"Yeah…"

"No, Lily it's great! It even says Happy Birthday!"

"You don't have to lie, James."

"Lily-" Lily cut him off with a kiss. When she pulled away James was grinning.

Lily smiled at him, "I have a better present." Lily said demurely.

James grinned, "Well Lily if its like this present-"

"Watch it Potter, or you won't get it."

"Alright Lily, what-"

"Come here." Lily dragged James up to his dorm and snogged him.

o0o

Sirius had come to the dorm to puke, which had kind of ruined the mood. So James and Lily went back to the party. James had some more beer and danced the rest of the night with Lily. He decided that it was shaping up to be a bloody good birthday after all.