Author's Note: I am so so sorry! I know it's been like two weeks, which is embarrassing, but remember that I did warn you. This could turn into an enormously long ranting about how swamped I've been with school and work and stuff but I know you're not really interested, so I'll just say; Enjoy. Here's the final chapter.

Chapter 15: And You Can Have This Heart to Break

So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

(And so it Goes – Billy Joel)

"Potter," Lily said coolly while walking down the stairs, "just give me the chicken or you will unleash a monster that you – believe me – do not wish to meet."

"Pardon?"

Lily jumped the last few steps while pulling out her wand. "Give me the bloody chicken!" she exclaimed while pointing her wand at James.

"Help yourself," he said courteously and made a hand gesture towards the food.

She looked at him suspiciously but sat down opposite him, conjured up a fork and made herself ready to tuck in.

"Wait," she said suddenly, "it's not poisonous, is it?"

He shrugged. "Not that I've noticed."

"Where did you get all this food anyway?"

He shrugged again. "Kitchens."

"Really."

"Ooo, ickle pickle prefect gonna land me in detention for sneaking down to the kitchen by night?" he mocked her.

Lily had her mouth full of food and chewed hugely to be able to swallow, so that she could snap back.

"Because if that's the case," James in the meantime continued casually, "please let me know, as I then shouldn't bother giving you any." He grinned.

"Oo rauht," Lily tried to speak.

"Pardon?"

She swallowed. "You prat."

"Careful, or I might not want to share the chicken with you anymore."

"Why don't you head off to bed?" she asked. "I'm perfectly well capable of finishing the chicken on my own."

"Why would I?"

"Um, you're tired? It's an hour past midnight."

"Nah. I don't like sleeping at night."

"Right, you prefer sleeping during classes."

"Well," he boosted, "if you're as smart and talented as me, you don't really need to pay attention during class."

"You really are the most self-absorbed, cocky git that I've ever met, you know that?"

"So you've said."

"Yes."

"And yet, you're madly in love with me."

Lily choked. "I thought I told you, I don't know what came over me. I must've been possessed."

"Lily-"

"Well, I'm off to bed," she said cheerily and rose from the sofa, "Thanks for the chicken."

"Don't go, Lily-"

"Goodnight then!"

"Lily!"

She stopped and spun around, hands on her hips, glaring at James. "What is it, Potter? I'm not going to stay here letting you torment me and making fun of me. I do have some dignity, you know, and that is no way at all to treat a lady!"

"I'm sorry," he said simply.

He sounded sincere, but how could she know he really meant it? She searched his eyes for some sort of evidence but lost focus as she seemed to melt in front of them. "Uh, right," she stuttered and dragged herself back to reality. "Uh, I mean, well you should be! Sorry, I mean."

"There'll never be another you."

Albeit she had heard his love confessions before, she blushed at this. Thank God the room was dimly lit, and he probably didn't notice.

"Why, thank you," she said indifferently. "Really, I ought to be off to bed-"

"For bloody God's sake, Lily!" James cried out and rose abruptly. "You were right – it's the chase, isn't it? Though I don't think you have any right to accuse me of just being in this for the chase, when it's what you're doing yourself!"

"What on earth are you talking about?" She uncertainly took a few steps towards him.

"Lily, I'm trying so hard here," he said, and shifted his weight to one foot while ruffling his hair up with his hand. "We're back to me being the one chasing and you being the one running away. I had given up on you, you know, yet when you said those things I couldn't help but hope-"

"Shut it, Potter," Lily mumbled and took the last step up to James. She reached out and put her hand behind his head, pulling it down to her own level, and kissed him.

It was a slow, searching kiss, and initially she couldn't tell if he responded to it or not – well, thankfully, he at least didn't seem to try to push her away. And slowly she noticed him answering and deepening the kiss. James's hands slid around her waist and she began feeling all warm and gooey inside.

Eventually he pulled away, doing a slight lip nibble-thing as if a final statement, and grinned at her. "Hey! That was my card to play!"

"Oh yeah?" she asked him daringly. "Well, you were taking forever."

"Oh my," he mumbled, while breathing in her flowery scent and just simply enjoying being close to her, "look who's talking."

She slapped him playfully on the arm. "I hate you," she pouted.

"I know."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"Kiss you?"

"Good idea," she answered smiling, and leaned in for another kiss.

"I like snuggling," Lily announced. She was curled up in the sofa, leaning her head onto James's chest, with his arm around her. "You better as well."

"I like snuggling with you."

"Good enough," she laughed.

He kissed her forehead. "Weren't you tired?"

"Nah," she said. "I'm just gonna settle for being a total mess tomorrow."

"You're gonna fall asleep in class," he teased her.

"Yeah, and I don't really care," she answered. Then she glared in a half joking, half accusing way at James. "Look what you've done to me."

"I know, isn't it great?"

She shot him a nasty glare but laughed before falling serious again.

"This is it, then?" she asked slowly. "No more games? Just you and me?"

He nodded. "No more games, no more chase, you and me."

"You think that'll work?"

"Knowing you and me, I'd say… no. But who knows. Maybe you'll surprise me."

"Ha! It's you who would need to surprise yourself, more likely."

"Whatever you say, darling," he said, and smiled before kissing her again.

Author's Note: I could, as said, easily turn this into an everlasting note about the load of crap I've got to do right now, but I'll just cut to the cheese. Or chase. Or whatever the saying is.

I've got the epilogue mapped out, I haven't began writing it yet though. This Sunday is my first day off for like two weeks, I'll hopefully be writing something then, and if not, during the next weeks, so… well, it's finished when it's finished.

I will most likely not be writing any more stories in the near future. I mean, look at how long time this chapter took (I'm not one for updating once a month, I tend to lose track of the story). And term has barely started yet. Check back next summer… or just put me on your Author Alert so that you won't have to check back! Isn't that a handy little feature?

Oh, and I really appreciate reviews. (Who doesn't?)