A/N: Day Five: Dates: Jily on their first date. Set after sixth year, but before they were officially an item. Enjoy!

The sun was casting an orange glow over the small town as James raised his fist and rapped repeatedly on the door in front of him. He ran a hand through his hair and tapped his feet. He couldn't wait to see Lily again. Sixth year had just ended a couple of weeks ago, but he felt like he hadn't seen her in ages. He hoped that she felt the same way. What if she didn't? He bit his lip in frustration. They had never gone on a proper date and no one (except their friends) knew that they were something of an item. But they weren't together. Not officially, but they weren't just friends either. No friends snog and touch each other as much as James and Lily did. A smile crept across his features as he thought this. Yeah. All that kissing's got to count for something right? And besides, she's the one who asked him to come over tonight.

Thundering footsteps interrupted his musings and before he knew it, the front door was flung open and a squealing Lily leapt into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist, send him staggering backwards. Her palms resting on his broad shoulders, she lowered her head and captured his lips in a searing kiss. She pressed herself against him, her body moving as she kissed him hard. James hands were gripping her waist, holding her close to him. It had been too long. He had missed being able to do this. She sucked lightly on his bottom lip and he let out a small moan. Biting down slightly, she continued her ministrations on his lower lip. "I've missed you so, so much." she said, in between the kisses.

James beamed against her lips, and wondered if she knew how his heart soared when she said those words. He tilted his head up to kiss her harder. "I've missed you too." he responded, and felt her smile against his kisses.

Out of breath, they ended the kiss, Lily resting her forehead against James', her legs still firm around his waist. Her eyes were shut as she reveled in the feel of James' arms around her and when she opened her eyes, she found herself lost in the dark brown of James' eyes.

James stared into her emerald eyes, losing himself in her cinnamon scent. She was so beautiful, her parted lips slightly swollen, and her green eyes sparkling. He bit his lip to prevent himself from blurting out three words that they were certainly not ready for. No. They were happy now. He missed her, she missed him, there was no need to complicate things. There would be a time and place for that. This was not it.

Lily slid off James, ignoring his whimper of protest. "You ready to go?" she asked him.

"Where we going, anyway? James asked twining his fingers with hers.

"You'll see. We'll grab a quick dinner on the way there." she pulled him towards her house. "Come in and say hi to mum and dad. Then we'll leave."

"Oh. Oh. Lily, this is ... wow." James stared in awe at the expanse of flowers stretching before him. The flowers reveled in the glow of the setting sun, seemingly bursting with radiance. The flowers ended at a small lake, its water swishing at the banks comfortingly.

Lily dropped his hand and danced through the flowers, twirling around, her arms stretched out and her hair creating a halo around her. For James, the beauty of the flower field became slightly muted and dull in the wake of Lily Evans.

"Isn't it? God, James! Isn't the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" she said, still spinning.

His eyes still transfixed on a whirling Lily, James had to agree. "Certainly. Mesmerizingly beautiful."

Lily stopped whirling, realising that James was looking at her. A magnificent blush spread across her face and she averted her eyes from his. "Come." she said, stretching an arm out to James.

He walked over to her and took her hand, pulling her in for a soft kiss. She smiled against his lips but broke the kiss. "Prat. You have to stop kissing me. Otherwise, we're gonna end up shagging in the grass. Do you want that?" She stared at James, the amusement flickering in her eyes betraying her stern expression. She watched as James smirked mischievously in the twilight. "Don't even bother answering!" She pulled him to the bank of the lake, and began removing her shoes. "I don't even know why I ask those questions! Honestly, I should know better, God knows I hang around you Marauders enough to know that rhetorical questions about shagging will always be taken seriously." she laughed and flopped down next to James on the shoreline of the lake. She dipped her toes into the water, and basked in the coolness of it.

Lily sighed and lay down, her head resting on James' shoulder. The stars were making their appearance, dotting their way across the rapidly darkening purple sky. " I first started coming here when I was eleven. First-year Christmas break. Things were getting bad with Petunia at home, and I wasn't very close to anyone at school yet, and I was all alone. And I found this place. I came here almost every night - it was like my little safe haven, you know?" James nodded, rubbing soothing circles in the back of her hand and she continued, "I love this place. And I know its pretentious, all the flowers and the lake, and at night, but I love it. You're the first person I've ever brought here."

"Really? I can see why you love it. Do you still come here every night?"

"Nah. I'm not lonely anymore. I don't have Petunia anymore, but I have so many friends now. Marlene, Dorcas, the Marauders," Lily hesitated. "And I have you. And this thing with you."

James turned onto his side and tugged at Lily's hand so that she did the same. "This thing? What is this thing, Lily?"

"You know. Us. Whatever we're doing. Don't ask me to define it James! It's so complicated." she began tracing patterns on his chest, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Are we together Lily?" James couldn't help it, he didn't want to ruin the night, but he needed to know where they were at. He couldn't stand on this unsure, unstable ground with her. Not with her.

Her eyes snapped up to meet his, she had heard the tremor in his voice just as he had felt it. "Yes! Of course, but people don't need to know that."

"But why not, Lil? Lily, are you... are you ashamed to be with me? Is that it? Have you just resigned yourself into being with me?" James sat up and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He felt his chest constrict painfully. He hadn't meant to say those things, but the thoughts had plagued him every day.

Lily sat up quickly too. Pulling James' hand away, she cupped his face in her hands. "NO." she all but yelled. "No James, please. Don't ever think that again. I'm not ashamed of you. Never." she pulled his face down for a quick kiss, trying to erase the hurt she had seen in his eyes. "It's not that James. I just don't want you to deal with what I've dealt with. If people know that you're with me, they'll abuse you. You'll be a target because your contaminating your blood. They'll attack you in corridors and insult you. Don't you see? I can't do that. Not to you." Lily's quivering voice broke and James' eyes widened at this revelation.

He pushed some hair back from her face, his knuckles grazing her cheek. "Lily. I don't give a rat's ass about them. They can't keep me away from you. And what we have will be so, so worth it. He nudged her with his shoulder. "We're fantastic together."

Lily laughed. "We are. I'm fabulous all by myself, and you're... okay." She winked at him.

James feigned stabbing himself in the heart. He dropped back down on his back. "Do you mean to say that I'm not extraordinarily amazing?" he asked.

Lily straddled him, and leaned over to look him in the eye. "No. You're more like outstandingly phenomenal."

James eyes sparkled with delight. "I love you Lily. And I'm not even sorry."

Lily smiled, her eyes also shining with happiness. "I wouldn't expect you to be cause I kinda love you too." she bent and kissed him deeply, then rolled off him to curl next to him instead. "It's a gorgeous night isn't it? For our first date?" she asked, snuggling closer to him.

The lake water, now silvery in the moonlight beat a slow, swishing rhythm, and James closed his eyes, relishing in the cool night breeze, and the warmth of Lily's body pressed next to his, her warm scent rushing over his senses. He tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "It's stunning. Just like this date."

A/N: Thanks for reading! x