It quickly became a routine that every Monday, Wednesday and Friday the two kids would alternately go to each others houses.

Paul found it hard to hate the little boy after he was continually courteous to his daughter. He would open doors for her and pull out her chair.

There are some things you go through that make it impossible to hate someone, and an hour and a half of being stuck in heavy traffic was one of them. The little boy put on a serious face as they finally stopped the car outside Lily's house, ready to get out.

"Mr Evans," he asked, mannerly as ever. "Yes James?"

"Why don't you like me?" he asked finally, his tone was honest and hurt. Paul sighed, "I don't hate you James."

James brightened immediately. "So it did work!" he said grinning from ear to ear. Paul looked at him curiously, "What worked?"

"My Dad said you didn't like me because me and Lily are going to get married." James said matter of factly, "So I asked him to teach me to be a gentleman and have manners around girls. He says I'm a natural!" James looked extremely smug at this and Paul got the feeling that the lessons in chivalry had been weighing on his mind, desperate to tell someone.

Paul sat back and stared at the boy in wonder. "You did that because you thought I didn't like you?" James shook his head, "Not really, Mr Evans. My Dad says you have to be manner-trained before you get married. I think that girls deserve to have boys who treat them well." It was in such earnest and full of complete honesty that Paul felt his heart break slightly. If Lily ever did get married, he realized that a boy like James (or hopefully James) would be the one to put the ring on her finger.

-oOo-

"Lily!" James yelled running to throw his arms around his friend as they got into the house.

Lily jumped and turned in astonishment. She was still in her pyjamas, hair unbrushed and around her shoulders instead of in it's regulatory plait but James looked as if she was ready to go to a royal wedding. "James?" said Lily frowning but hugging her friend like she hadn't seen him in years instead of the two weeks he had been gone.

"How come you cut your holidays short?"

James and Lily were ten-years-old and eagerly anticipating their Hogwarts letters. Mr and Mrs Potter had taken James with them on holiday to Paris for a month, Lily being left behind in dejection.

James grinned. "Ah Lily-Flower, you don't honestly think I'd leave you behind for a month? Especially during your birthday?" Lily blushed, it was her birthday in three days and she had been feeling quite depressed that her best mate wouldn't be there for it.

"James you idiot! You'll be going to Hogwarts soon, you should spend as much time with your parents as you can!" In spite of her words, she drew him in for another hug and was smiling happily. "Come on then, you pig. I'm making some breakfast. It's pancakes or cereal!"

Paul smiled fondly at the two. They had been best friends since they were five, it seemed such a short time but they were together for five years at that point. They still hadn't called off their engagement, despite their mere 'friendly feelings' for each other.

They did love each other, Paul could see that every time they looked at each other. He just wasn't sure if it was strictly platonic or if - unbeknownst to them - they loved each other as more than that.

-oOo-

"No way!" Lily yelled in delight. James was nodding when Paul popped his head around the door to see what the shouting was about. "I just picked up my pumpkin juice and Marlene thought I was being 'a sick masochist pig' so she dumped a huge cauldron of this gunky grey potion that looked like vomit all over me! She's bang out of line these days!"

Lily giggled, "Ah now James, Marley is just sticking up for her beliefs!" James caught her around the waist and twirled her, "Well I believe we'll end up married but you say that I'll leave you for the first bint I see at Hogwarts. I'm just sticking up for my beliefs when I do this!" He locked one arm around her waist and grabbed an egg, cracking it over her head with a satisfying squelch.

"James!" Lily groaned mockingly. Her wandless magic was more refined than ever and she managed to rid her hair of the goo quickly. James laughed and ruffled her hair, "That's my girl!" James was notoriously proud of Lily for her control over her magic. James was okay at keeping his from fizzing over but not to the extent of actually doing something.

"You sound like my Daddy," Lily said, grabbing the pan and beginning to pour pancake batter in. James nodded smugly, "Then your father must be a cool guy. Sounds like someone to aspire to be!" He ran a hand through his unruly hair, grinning at her charmingly.

"James Potter," Lily said facing him fully, her eyes twinkling with mirth even as her tone took on a warning edge. "If your head swells any more you'll end up destroying the house. I've never met someone with hair like that that was such a vain git."

James snorted, "You love it."

Lily elbowed him, "Apologise for your sexist behaviour, Mr Potter, or I'll make Marlene look like a bumbling idiot with regards retribution." She smiled sweetly then, batting her eyelashes and flipping a pancake as she did.

James looked scandalized, "That wasn't sexist, Lily! You know I'm so pro-female I'm practically gay!" Lily burst into laughter, "I knew there was something going on with you and Sirius!"

His face turned to horror and he backed away, "Lily!"

She continued to laugh at him until he said sulkily, "I'm not gay Lily. I have a perfectly healthy interest in girls. Red headed girls with stunning green eyes and fiery tempers."

Lily threatened him with the spatula in her hand, "Ever the charmer, Potter. You know flattery doesn't get you anywhere with me." James held his hands up as a sign of peace. "Ah come now Lily, you know it's the truth."

Lily heaved a sigh, she was so happy with James that it was unbelievable. "You idiot."

She cuffed him over the head and dragged him in for a quick hug, lips brushing over his cheek as they had all those years ago. She still greeted him with a peck on the cheek. So long as her father wasn't there. He was still bitter over the fact Lily kissed a boy at the age of five.

Her father drew back from the door. He never spied on them together but he was feeling extremely surprised at James' obvious flirting with the oblivious Lily. Bloody hell, they were only ten!

"James," she said as her father was walking away, "I need to finish the pancakes. James! Lemme go!"

James laughed and released her with a quick kiss on her nose. "I'm allowed to hug my fiancé if I want to, Mrs James Potter," James said cheekily.

Lily growled, "I don't know why I keep you around."

He stole the plate with the pancakes and took it to the table. He murmured just loud enough for her to hear, "I think we both know the answer to that."

And they did. James was perhaps the perfect best friend, for Lily anyway. He was always kind, always there for her to talk to, ready to defend her in anyway and he loved her just like she loved him.

It was times where James was serious that she really appreciated him. He wasn't all that often and she wasn't peeved about that but his serious side always made her feel better or showed her just how much he really cared.

She let him have the first batch of pancakes, both knowing that it was more than leniency. It was her letting him know how deeply she was thankful for his friendship.

They sat in silence for a while, both lost in their thoughts until there was a barrage of knocking from the front door. James stood and told her to keep back, he'd go and check.

Lily tutted, "Out of the way, Potter. It's my house, I get to see what sort of an idiot is banging on the door. I think I know who it is though, he did say he would be over soon."

Lily went and flung the door open, arms ready to be bowled over by the blur that entered. "Lily!"

She received a smacking kiss on her cheek and hands gripped her head forcing her to meet the excited eyes of Sirius Orion Black. "You still look a bit sickly, but that's nothing a potion won't fix. I honestly can't believe James pissed off to France and left you here for your birthday, you'd do well to dump him as soon as possible. Wait, I'm his best mate. I shouldn't be saying this." He gave her a goofy grin.

"James loves you, Lily. You should have told me it was your birthday before hand. Oh wait, the potion. Almost forgot." Sirius stuck a hand into his pocket, rummaging through the sweet papers and pulling out a vial of pale orange potion with a flourish. "Mum forgot she had it made, the bloody idiot. She wouldn't have given me it for you no doubt if she had. Merlin I hate Pureblood prejudice."

Lily laughed, grabbed the potion and downed it with a slight grimace, "Thanks Sirius. Now James didn't leave me here for my birthday. The fool came back only today for it." Sirius peered past her shocked when he met James' cool stare.

"Merlin, Jamesie!" Sirius said, laughing in delight and running to hug his best mate.

Sirius and James were best mates, Lily and Marlene were best mates but Lily and James were closer despite that. Even Sirius and Lily had a firm friendship, best mates of a sort.

Lily sighed in mock frustration, "See James, I told you there was something going on between you and Sirius!" James rolled his eyes with a exhalation of "Merlin..." Sirius grinned at her, "Oh Lily, James has eyes only for you. I'm just the hugging type."

Lily laughed, she had gotten that message plenty of times. Sirius raised his eyebrow. "Unless you weren't angry that I was touching your James, maybe you were jealous James was hugging me!" Sirius crowed and ran to clutch her to his chest dramatically.

Lily laughed as he declared, "It okay Lily, our clandestine love affair will remain! James needn't know of it!" Pushing him off her she said, "Sirius you're as bad as James. The pair of you are as full of yourselves! I swear, James would be engaged to himself if he could be!"

James laughed and slung an arm over her shoulder, "Ah now Lily, that's hardly fair. I'm just so proud of myself for getting such a beautiful fiancé!"

She snorted, "Black, control your mate. Pancakes in the kitchen if your hungry."

"I'm always hungry. Honestly woman, you call yourself my friend." he grumbled under his breath but followed her with a simpering smile to the kitchen to be fed Lily's amazing pancakes.

As much as he loathe to admit it, Lily was amazing at everything. He snuggled deeper in his chair and watched with a twist in his stomach James and Lily's love for each other.

Sirius was jealous. They had found love at such a young age.

Sirius was lonely. His two best mates were in love with each other.

Sirius was sad. He had a feeling he wouldn't find love like those two.

Sirius was happy. If it made the two of them happy, he could be happy for them.

A/N: Well there was quite a time jump there! Not to worry, I'll be sticking details of the years in there somewhere! I just couldn't bring them the entire way through their childhood, I'd have you dropping off to sleep!

Well I think this is a rather original idea, something that just popped into my head. Let me know what you guys think of the plot, you guys after all are the ones reading it, I live to please and all that jazz!

I realize they're acting kind of mature but remember this is Lily, the bookworm. She was like Hermione in first year. James has two Aurors for parents so he's more grown up than his attitude would show and Sirius had to spend his childhood with the Blacks, yeah poor amadáin.

Feedback is greatly appreciated, I do love to read them! And questions you have don't hesitate to ask, even if you want to PM me over it!

And finally sorry this is really quite a long author's note, I'm feeling in the rambling mood tonight!

~ShazzaBlack...x