So…a girl walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a double entendre, so he gives it to her. This chapter is short…only 5 pages by hand so it's gonna be shorter than most. And no, James and Lily are still not going to get engaged in this chapter…can't say anything about the other Marauder's though…

Chapter Seventeen

Yuletide Shopping

The next morning, Lily was surprised to find herself in the arms of her bespectacled boyfriend.

"Good morning, Lily." James said as he opened his eyes.

"Why did you come in here last night?" Lily asked. James hung his head slightly.

"Because I love you." James replied. Lily sighed and then smiled before kissing him lightly.

"Come on, James. We need to get up." Lily replied, sitting up.

"Alright. Don't bother getting dressed for breakfast, no one does." James said as he sat up as well.

"Okay. Let me just grab my robe." Lily insisted as she got out of bed.

"Me, too. Why don't you head down? I'll be right behind you." James said, getting out of bed as well. Lily nodded and made her way downstairs. When she got there, Mrs. Potter, Remus, and Madison were already down there. Madison and Remus had not bothered to dress for breakfast either. Everyone bid Lily a good morning, which she politely returned as she took her seat.

"Did you sleep well, dear?" Mrs. Potter asked.

"Yes. I slept wonderfully." Lily replied as James walked into the room. He grabbed a piece of bacon from the tray as he sat down next to Lily.

"Morning everybody. Mum, where's Dad?" James asked, looking at the empty spot at the table.

"He had to leave for work early. He promised he would be back early tonight." Estelle promised. Just then, Cara and Sirius came down as well. Everyone bid them a good morning as they sat down at the table.

"James, what time are we leaving? And where are we going?" Madison asked.

"We are leaving in an hour and we will be going to London, around Diagon Alley. We will apparate there." James explained.

"An hour? Oh my, we need to get ready!" Lily exclaimed.

"Thank you for breakfast, Estelle." Cara said, standing up with Lily.

"Yes, thank you so much." Madison replied, pushing her chair in and following the other two girls upstairs.

"James, will you be back for dinner?" Estelle asked.

"Hopefully, Mum." James said. The boys finished their breakfast and also went upstairs. Luckily, the girls were getting ready in their rooms so the boys were free to take quick showers. At ten o'clock, they were ready to go.

"Alright. We're going to apparate just outside of Gringott's. I am sure we could all use a bit more pocket money." James said as everyone pulled out their wands. They pulled their scarves tightly around their necks and focused on the white marble steps of Gringott's Bank. There was a collective 'bang' as the six teens apparated right in front of Gringott's.

"James, we are going to go shopping now. We will meet you at the Leaky Cauldron at one for lunch?" Lily suggested after they got some money out of Gringott's.

"Alright. Sounds good to me. Marauders AWAY!!!" James shouted triumphantly as the Marauders went in one direction and the girls went in the other.

"So Lils, what are you getting James?" Madison asked.

"Well, just before we left school, I nicked James' broom and I'm going to get the handle engraved." Lily explained.

"That's awesome. I'm getting Sirius a new Beater bat and having it engraved too." Cara replied.

"And I'm getting Remus an engraved watch." Madison added. "I guess great minds think alike."

"So true. I guess it's the Quidditch Store, and then the Jewelry Store, and then the Engraving Shoppe." Lily replied.

"Don't forget the book store." Cara said.

"And the joke shop." Madison relied.

"And the candy store." All three girls said at once. That sent them into a fit of laughter as they linked arms and made their way through the bustling streets of Diagon Alley.

"So Prongs, when are you going to pop the question?" Sirius asked.

"Christmas Eve, at the party." James replied.

"That's great. I'm really happy for you." Sirius said, clapping his friend on the back.

"Me, too, Prongs." Remus added.

"Thanks guys. So what are you getting the girls?" James asked.

"I'm getting Madison a promise ring." Remus said.

"What the hell is a promise ring?" Sirius asked.

"It's a ring that means I will always love her and that one day we will get engaged." Remus explained.

"So you're going to marry her?" Sirius asked.

"Yes. I just don't know when yet. But yes, I will marry her. What are you getting Cara?" Remus asked, changing the subject slightly.

"A necklace…a diamond necklace." Sirius said.

"So, I guess it's the jewelry shop for all of us." James said as they headed for the jewelry store.

"So Moony, do you have any idea when you are going to propose to Madison?" Sirius asked.

"Not really. I need to talk to my parents about it. And I would like to ask her father for her hand in marriage first." Remus explained.

"Why?" James asked.

"Because, it shows her and her parents that I have good intentions." Remus replied.

"Moony. That's not a bad idea at all…"

The boys all bought their girlfriends' gifts. Then they left to get their family presents. Just before they had to meet the girls, Remus went back to the jewelry store to pick up Madison's present. After lunch, the girls went and bought their gowns. The couples split off to buy everyone else gifts. By six o'clock, they were back at James' house for a lovely home cooked meal.

Again, sorry for the delay. I've been going through a lot of stuff. Any who…spring break is coming up, and as always, I will have a minor side project. This year, it will be a one-shot in first person depicting a way Remus deals with the pain of being a werewolf. It will be titled Comfortably Numb. I hope you all enjoy it, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Read and review.