A/N: HEY READERS, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I RE-EDITED THE FIRST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS. AND CHANGED A FEW THINGS. : )

Disclaimer: JKR owns all characters, plots, etc. that you recognize.

Summary: It seems love just isn't what's in store for Lily Evans and James Potter. After two years in a relationship, they couldn't see why they were still together. Now they try to convince themselves and everyone around them that breaking up really was for the best, even though deep down they are heartbroken. They struggle to find some sort of happiness, sort through confusion, and end up realizing that they were meant for each other. Then all they have to do is put aside their pride and tell each other the truth. Eventually LJ! R&R Please!

Chapter 2

"Lily, we need to talk…" Sirius said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I jumped a mile high. I had not expected him to follow me. I should have known better because I knew him. Sirius had always taken the place of the big brother I never had. We had a unique friendship.

"Sirius! You startled me. What are you doing here?" I questioned nervously.

"Lily, you know why I'm here. I saw you outside of my flat." He looked knowingly at me.

My eyes continuously shifted as I tried to find an excuse as to why I ran. "Sirius…I'm sorry. I just don't think that I can handle being around him right now, and he's obviously very happy--"

"No. He's not," Sirius replied sharply, looking me in the eyes. "He's just as heartbroken about this breakup as you are."

"He said that?" I asked incredulously.

"No. I can just tell. He's my best friend. He doesn't need to tell me something is wrong for me to see it. Just like you."

Changing the subject, Sirius began looking around my new flat with interest, "So I see you've settled in completely. I guess I can let Remus know that you won't be needing our help."

"Yeah, I've got it all under control. Thanks for the offer anyway…" I trailed off uncomfortably.

Since when had I become so uncomfortable around Sirius? I had always been able to talk to him. He'd seen me at my worst just as much as James had. I rubbed my arms trying to create some warmth--I was frozen and soaked to the bone. Sirius looked back at me and saw that I was shivering uncontrollably.

"We should get you out of those clothes and get you into some dry ones," he said with concern written all over his face, "We don't want you getting sick now."

I looked up at him with a watery smile and turned to my room. He gave me a gentle push and walked over to the fire place. Just as I reached my door, I turned back telling him to make himself at home. Sirius smiled in thanks.

Walking out of my room in dry clothes, I felt much better. Sighing I walked over to Sirius who was sitting on one of the couches. I sat next to him and he put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me up against him. We sat there for about five minutes not saying anything, and then I heard his deep voice begin to speak.

"Everything is going to be fine. You just have to make the best of every situation," he smiled looking down at me. "You know we all miss you. You should come to dinner. Like I said in my letter, Remus' new girlfriend, Taylor is there. She's really nice and somewhat funny. You'd like her. Jenn and Abby have taken quite a liking to her. Please come," Sirius pleaded with a puppy dog pout on his face.

Sirius always had a way with words and he could be sensitive at times. But he was mostly only like this around me. He was always so sweet to me.

"I don't know, Sirius. I mean, James is there. And I'm sure he wouldn't want to have me around. But I do really miss you all."

"Lily, I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Besides you can make yourself look hot to show him what he's missing." Sirius reasoned, trying to sway my decision.

I looked real hard at Sirius, weighing my options silently in my head. "Fine, but on one condition," to that Sirius nodded his head vigorously. "You never, ever use the puppy dog pout face again. It just doesn't work for you."

Sirius laughed in agreement, "Deal. Well get your buns back in there and make yourself look hot, we've got to get going. The other's won't be happy because I told them to wait to eat," he said, shoving me to my room.

Sirius and I trudged up the stairs towards the front door of his flat. Shaking the rain off my jacket, I looked back nervously thinking if I could escape without Sirius noticing. Even if I had escaped, he would have known where to find me. This little action calmed my nerves a bit. He opened the door and we were hit with immediate warmth. I could hear everyone talking and laughing as I hung back behind Sirius. Still having a hold on my hand, he pulled me inside. He took my jacket from me and hung it on the coat rack, doing the same for himself.

"Sirius? Is that you," a voice called out with laughter.

"Yeah, sorry you guys had to wait so long," he replied back, practically dragging me along with him to the source of the voices.

"What took you so long," another voice questioned, as Sirius came into their view. The others couldn't see me yet, as I had continued to hide.

"I have a surprise for you guys," he grinned, suddenly stepping to the side. I hadn't expected him to do that, so there I was just standing there looking like a little kid being caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"Lily!" Jenn and Abby exclaimed in unison, hints of surprise were heard in their voices. They immediately rushed over to me and pulled me into a giant hug. I laughed and looked to Sirius, who had a twinkle of laughter in his eyes.

"Hey you guys! How have you been," I laughed, pulling away slightly. Without waiting for their response, I continued, "I'm sorry I haven't talked to you recently. It's just I've been busy with work and moving into my new flat. You guys should come over and see it."

"Yeah. We should have a girls night over at your house. By the way, this is Taylor, Remus' girlfriend," Jenn replied, dragging me over to the tall blonde.

"Hi. I'm Lily. It's nice to meet you," I said politely, holding out my hand.

She returned the gesture, replying, "Hi. I've heard so much about you from everyone."

"Good things, I trust," I joked.

"Of course, my dear Lillian," Sirius snickered.

I just chuckled and gave him a disapproving look. Remus walked over to me and gave me a great big hug.

"Hey Lily. It's good to see you. You look good," he smiled at me.

"You better watch what you say Moony. You have a girlfriend now, remember? You can't just hit on Lily anymore," Sirius joked, nudging Remus in the ribs. Remus turned red, while everyone laughed. Peter than came up to me and gave me a small hug.

I had greeted everyone but one person. And that one person had been James. I was waiting for him to make the first move. After all, he was the one who had proposed the idea of our break up. Eventually, though, it had become a mutual thing.

He had not moved from his chair. He no longer had a smile upon his face, no traces of emotion at all. I cleared my throat, unsure what to do so I just stood there awkwardly, in the middle of the room. There was so much tension in the room that you could cut it with a knife.

I felt James' burning gaze on me, but I would not look up at him. I stood there for a few minutes; no one moved. Then, James stood and walked over to me. He offered me his hand, just as awkwardly as I felt. I stared at his outstretched hand for a few seconds before returning the gesture with my right hand.

As soon as our hands touched, there was this feeling of an electric shock. We both pulled our hands away immediately. I didn't like that electric shock; it wasn't a good sort of shock. Shaking my hand at my side, I looked everywhere but at him.

"It's, uh, good to see you Lily…" he trailed off gruffly.

"Uh, yeah, good to see you too." I replied, unsure of how to respond. This had been the first time we had interacted since we broke up a little over three weeks ago. It was more tense and awkward than I thought it would be.

"You look good…"

"Um, thanks…" I nervously began to tug on my clothing, when I heard someone clear their throat. I turned to find it was Sirius, my savior.

"So…how about dinner? I don't know about you lot, but I'm starving."

He rubbed his stomach to emphasize his point even more. I caught his eye and threw him a grateful look, as everyone headed over to the table. He nodded back in response.

"Mmm. This all looks so good," Jenn said, licking her lips causing everyone to laugh.

Everyone had already sat down and now there was only one seat left. I was right in between James and Sirius. Somehow, I knew Sirius had planned it this way, I thought as I sat down in my seat. Sirius just had this innocent look on his face as he shrugged at me, implying that there was nothing he could do. I knew James was thinking the same thing.

"Lily, could you pass me the potatoes," Sirius asked. Great. Now I would have to ask James to hand them to me so I could give them to Sirius. He could be downright evil sometimes.

Dinner passed uneventfully. We all sat around the table talking after dinner was finished. I raised myself from the table and gathered the plates, with the help of Abby, and took them to the kitchen. I washed the dirty dishes, while Abby made coffee and we talked for a bit.

Walking back to the table with ice cream and coffee for whoever wanted any, I lowered myself back into my seat. I sat there silently, listening to the conversation. The guys were talking about work at the Ministry and about Voldemort.

Remus worked in the department of accidental magic usage and Peter worked as an assistant to the head of the charms department. James and Sirius were Aurors for the Ministry, as well as Jenn, who was classified as a lower division Auror. Abby worked in a bookshop in Diagon Alley. And lastly, Taylor was a professional quidditch player. Everyone had been extremely surprised when they found out. Of course they had known a Taylor Meline was a chaser for the Chuddley Cannons team, but they hadn't known it was this Taylor.

Sirius, noticing I had stayed quiet for quite sometime, ask me, "So Lily, how's everything at work for you?"

I looked up from my coffee, to find everyone's eyes focused on me. I was a little startled because I had been spacing out completely.

"It's been okay. In a chaotic way. You know how St. Mungo's can be. I'm being promoted soon though."

At once, I was being congratulated by everyone. Even James congratulated me.

"What are you being promoted to? Head Healer," Remus asked. Again everyone's eyes were trained on me.

"Uh, not quite. I'm going to be a field healer."

Everyone just looked at me, not understand what I meant.

So I explained, "Basically, I'm going to be put in the Auror Academy to train to become an Auror. Once I'm out of the program, I will go out on the field and be the head healer and fight if need be."

I could tell by the looks on everyone's faces that they were shocked and didn't know how to react. I have to say I was completely surprised when someone voiced their opposition to the idea.

"You can't do that. I won't allow you to do that."

"I agree completely," Sirius said, nodding.

"Well, that's just too bad, James. It's not your decision to make. And you can't say things like that anymore. You lost that right when we broke up." I said, getting frustrated.

"I don't care. You're not going to do it. And that's final," his voice was rising.

"You don't get to dictate my life, James. I'm going to do this with or without your approval. All of you. And, if it's so dangerous, I never heard you objecting to Jenn being an Auror," my voice rising as well, and I was getting red in the face.

"It's a completely different situation with Jenn," he tried to reason.

"No it's not. Tell me how it's different with her. I can take care of myself just as well as Jenn can. I can't believe your being like this," I shrieked.

James and I were about to strangle each other's necks. He made me so mad sometimes because of how bigheaded he could be. Just like before. Before he had changed in our seventh year; before we began dating. James' fuming face was in my face, when I felt Sirius pull me back, away from James. While Remus did the same with James.

"All right. That's enough from the both of you. James, Lily is right in saying that you have no right to make this decision for her. And Lily, James is right when he says that it's too dangerous."

At that part, I gave a cry of indignation. I couldn't believe Sirius sided with him.

"Now, let's all behave like adults and sit back down. Can we trust you both not to attack each other?"

Both James and I nodded.

"Good."

As we sat down, I couldn't believe how Sirius took control of the situation. Usually Remus was the one who would give that little speech. I guess Remus was just rubbing off on him. I looked around the silent table. Jenn and Abby were looking down at their hands in their laps. Peter was playing with his melted ice cream. Remus was talking quietly to Taylor, who had a look of shock on her face. This was the first time that she had witnessed a fight between James and me, but it would not be the last. Sirius was hunched over his cup of coffee. And lastly, James sat back in his chair, arms folded over his chest, still fuming.

Sitting up straight, I began to apologize for my behavior. "I'm sorry that you all feel this way, but my decision has already been made and I will be starting the Academy soon. I'm also very sorry that you all had to witness my inappropriate behavior. I think that it is time for me to leave," I said standing up.

Everyone stood up as well, save for James. They all said goodbye, while Sirius offered to accompany me back to my flat. I declined his offer, but of course, he insisted. As we headed to the front door, he told the others that he'd be back soon.

Grabbing my jacket, I made my way out the door and down the steps. Sirius followed me to the park where we'd apparate back to my place.

I've always hated the feeling of apparating, I thought to myself as I appeared in my dark flat. I guess it was because I could be so claustrophobic at times. About two seconds later, I could feel Sirius' presence in the room. Pulling off my jacket, I turned to face him.

"I am really sorry for my behavior at dinner, but I thought that you would have supported me and been happy for me."

"I am," he reasoned, "it's just I feel that this is extremely dangerous because you don't really know what you're getting into. You're going to be so focused on healing an injured Auror that if the enemy was to sneak up and attack you; you'd be off your guard. It's just that we care so much about you."

"I guess I can see it from your point of view. But I do know what I'm getting myself into. So don't worry too much. Besides, I'm trusting you to have my back," I smiled at him.

He laughed lightly at my statement. "You know, I hadn't really expected James to blow up at you about this whole thing. I mean, I know, even though you guys broke up, he still cares about you and your safety."

"Yeah, I guess. Well thanks for seeing me home. Even though James and I got into an argument, I'm glad I came. It was fun hanging out with everyone again. We should go out to lunch sometime, alright?"

"Sure thing, Lil."

"Well, goodnight Sirius," I hugged him.

"Goodnight," he said, as he hugged me back. And with that Sirius apparated back to his flat.

I sighed to myself, walking into the kitchen. I grabbed a water bottle and headed back to my bedroom. I threw on some pajamas, brushed my teeth, and brushed my hair, before I climbed into bed. Pulling the covers over my body and turning off the light, I just stared up at the ceiling and though about the events this evening had brought. I still couldn't believe how James had acted. Or how I responded to his behavior, bring myself down to his level. What's happened to me? I thought I was mature enough to be around him. Oh well. What's done is done.

I had fallen into a deep sleep when someone began pounding on the front door. I jumped up, grabbing my wand from my nightstand. Tiptoeing quietly, I peered out through the peep hole. I couldn't see anything but a dark figure. The light in the hallway was out. Suddenly I heard the figure outside the door whisper Alohomora and the locks on the door clicked. I began to back up when I saw the handle turning. I back myself into a dark corner, hoping that the intruder wouldn't spot me.

The dark figure walked slowly into my flat and headed blindly around the flat until he bumped into a piece of furniture. He immediately lit his wand, cursing quietly. I couldn't make out the figure, because of where I was hiding and there was also the fact that he had his back to me.

I thought of calling for the order's help, but I didn't want to risk getting caught by my intruder. He peered into my bedroom, and upon noticing that I wasn't "in" my flat, he began to whisper more cuss words.

I lifted my wand in front of my face, aiming at the intruder, and as I was about to use a stunning spell on him, he turned around. Apparently, I had made a slight noise that he heard. Crap, I thought as he raised his wand in my direction. Think fast now, Lily.

A/N: Hey! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I should have the next chapter up in a couple of days. Please let me know what you thought about this chapter! Thanks! Special

Love,

Jenn

PS…

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