Chapter Two - Friendship and Facing Fears.

"Come on Lily you have got to eat something." Pat said worriedly to Lily she had barely been eating in the past two days since the accident and trying to hide away from the reality, and had not gone back to see her mum since she left hospital three days ago. Her dad died shortly after she left and in the back of her mind all lily could thing was that what happened if the same thing happened when she went back to see her mum.

Lily now also had big bags under her eyes from not sleeping and wasn't bothered about her appearance anymore. In the mornings Lily would wake up and put on the first items of clothing to hand and tie her hair back in a ponytail. To Lily loosing her dad and maybe her mum was like loosing half of herself and her best friends. It was too much to take.

"I had some toast this morning, and I'm not really that hungry. I'm going to go for a walk." With that Lily went and put on her shoes before walking out of the front door and following the path down to the park. Lately the park had been the place where she came to get away from everything, it was her sanctuary, and the place she could come and think without being disturbed.

Lily was sitting there swinging on the swing thinking about the times when she and her dad would come over the park and have competitions on who could swing the highest, or when she fell off the swing when she was five and her dad picked her up rushing her back to her Nan's because she had a tiny cut on her knee. Lily was sitting there smiling at the thought of her dad running up the street because of a tiny cut and being so engrossed in her thoughts when somebody sat on the swing next to her she didn't even notice until they spoke.

"Hi Lily, what are you doing here? I never knew you lived round here." The person said and abruptly Lily was snapped out of her thoughts and saw none other then James Potter sitting on the swing next to her.

"Yeah my Nan lives up the road and I'm staying with her for a while." Lily said this barely above a whisper. In the back of her mind was the last conversation she had with her parents about giving James a second try, and to Lily not doing the last thing her dad asked. James however was looking at Lily knowing that there was something wrong but wasn't willing to push it out of her.

"That's nice, do you see her often?" James asked trying to keep the conversation going.

"Yes every holiday with my mum and dad." Lily's eyes began to water as she was reminded why she was at her Nan's in the first place, and before she could stop them they started to fall down her cheeks. James instinctively put a comforting arm around her, and made circles on her back while making shhing noises to try and help calm her down while she cried into his shoulder. Ten minutes later when Lily had finished crying out all the tears she had in her she then notice whose shoulder she was leaning on and quickly jerked her head away. 'I can't believe I have just cried in front of Potter' But James was now kneeling in front of her and used his hands to wipe away the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." Lily sniffed

"Lily you have got to let it out you can't keep it all locked inside. It's not healthy. Plus it makes a change from you yelling at me" James was smiling and looking directly into Lily's eyes with concern in his voice.

"But Lily what happened?" James asked he knew half hour ago he wasn't going to ask but he had never seen Lily like this, even when he had seen her upset after a prank they had pulled on her she never cried like this.

"I... My dad… My mum…car accident." Was all Lily could say without the tears falling again.

"Lily what happened to your mum and dad?" James asked with concern in his voice and his hazel eyes looking in her emerald green ones softly.

"My dad died and mum is still in hospital." Lily said this just over a whisper in the past two dads she had never mentioned the word dad it had been too hard.

"I'm sorry." Lily was looking down at the floor. James put his hand on her chin and brought her eyes to his when all of a sudden her stomach grumbled.

"Well looks like someone's hungry." James said still smiling. "How about we go grab something to eat I know a nice little place that does the best chocolate cake we can go to." James said this getting up from the ground holding out his hand to for Lily to take, and this time Lily did take his hand a little wearily to help her self up.

They began walking down the road in silence before James tripped up on the uneven pavement and fell to the ground. Without even realising it Lily burst out laughing James glasses were askew and arms and legs everywhere, it was the funniest thing Lily had seen all holiday.

"Owch. Glad you found it funny." James said getting up and dusting himself down, but he had a wide smile on his face. "That was embarrassing."

"That was the funniest thing I've ever seen. I'll never forget the shocked look on your face as you fell to the ground." Lily said between laughs as James continued to dust himself down.

"Come on were nearly there." James looked at Lily who had now stopped laughing. Walking a little further up the street they came to a little café. Walking through the door Lily could see about twenty round tables with red and white checked tablecloths on. Around each table were four wooden chairs where the cushion material matched the tablecloth. Behind the counter was an old lady who was drying up teacups and talking to a young girl of about 20.

Lily and James walked up to the counter.

"Hello dears, what can I get for you both?" The old lady asked James.

"Can we have two slices of chocolate cake and two cokes please?" James asked politely. Before being told to take a seat and the lady would bring their order to them. They both took a table by the window in the corner.

"So what's your favourite flavour ice cream?" Lily asked James from out of nowhere. James was looking at Lily bewildered and laughed before answering.

"Strawberry. Why did you want to know?"

"I don't know I guess I just didn't want to sit in the silence. My favourite is mint chocolate chip by the way." Lily just smiled as the young girl game along and put their order on the table.

"Mmm I love chocolate cake." Lily said taking a big bite out of her cake.

"Nah cheese cakes better." James said matter of factly taking a swig out of his coke.

Half an hour later and James and Lily were walking back towards the park. Lily looked down at her watch and noticing that it was getting in late turned and faced James.

"I better get going my Nan will be wondering where I am, but thanks for today I needed some laughter and a friend." Lily looked at James smiling.

"Lily it was my pleasure, I'd rather be friends with you then fighting with you." James smiled back before lily turned round and started walking back up the road towards her Nan's.

Once Lily got home she went straight up to her room and lay down on her bed thinking about James and how much he had been there for her today. It was weird lily always stereotyped him as being self conceited and not caring about anyone but his little group, but today he had kind and caring without thinking about himself once.

"Maybe Nan was right his not all that bad." Lily said out loud. Before she knew it lily had fallen asleep while she lay there and woke up the next morning still fully dressed from the day before. Getting up Lily went into the bathroom showered and then picked out an outfit for the day, for some reason lily felt that she should choose something rather then her usual of late which was picking up the first things that came to hand. After getting changed lily went down to the kitchen to find a note on the table for her.

'Lily,

Just gone out to do some shopping and sort out the funeral arrangements. I didn't think that you would want to do any of it. Be back this afternoon.

Love

Nan.'

Lily walked to the door putting on a pair of sandals and walked out of the door and headed down the street to her sanctuary the park. A part of lily was hoping that James would be there, but when she did think of that Lily instantly felt guilt James knew everything that had happened this summer but her own best friend Isabel had no idea. Lily had tried several times to write to Isabel about it but each time she found that she just couldn't put it into words. It always came out as though it was only a little accident and everyone was fine, so lily had given up trying.

When Lily reached the park James was sitting on the grass laying on his back reading a book. Taking the advantage that James had not seen lily approaching she stood behind him.

"BOOO." She yelled as close as she could to his ear. James jumped up from the spot his book going flying in the air.

"Give me a heart attack why don't you." James replied holding on to his chest. Lily meanwhile was laughing uncontrollably as she went and picked up the book he was reading.

"Quidditch through the ages, how many times have you read this book?" Lily asked rolling her eyes.

"About as many times as you have read Hogwarts a History." James challenged.

"Touché Mr Potter." Lily walked back over to James handing over his book, and taking a seat next to James who had retaken his seat on the ground.

"So do you come here everyday then?" James asked leaning back on his elbows.

"Yeah it nice and peaceful, and I'm out of the way from my Nan." Lily replied retying her hair back into a bun.

"Lily, when was the last time you saw your mum then?" James asked with concern and seriousness in his voice.

"The day I left the hospital, it was horrible she was laying there lifelessly, and just after I left my dad died. I can't go back what if the same happens with my mum?" Lily replied now playing with her hands.

"Lily how do you know that your mum's the same as you left her? How will you know that the same thing will happen?" James asked Lily softly.

"I guess I don't. I'm just scared, what if she's worse and not better?" Lily asked playing now with a strand of her red hair and looking down at the floor.

"Lily I can't tell you that your mum will be fine, but if you don't go and see her, and if something does happen your going to be kicking yourself for the rest of your life, and I'm sure that you don't want that." James said sitting up and turning to look at lily that had titled her head slightly to look at him.

"Its just I don't, I can't do it alone?" Lily asked just above a whisper, that it was hard for James to hear.

"Lily I'll go with you. Look Lily I'm here for as long as you need me." James said softly getting up off the ground once again. "Come on lets go now and see your mum before you change your mind." James said this as he handed his hand out to help Lily get up.

Once Lily was up off the ground they started walking up the street.

"Um lils how exactly do we get to the hospital I mean St Mungo's is ages away." James asked Lily as they were walking to the bus stop.

"First of where did lil's come from? And were not going to St Mungo's were going to get on this bus and it will take us to the hospital." Lily was starting to get some money out of her pocket and stepping onto the bus motioning James to follow her.

"This is just like the night bus a little smaller, not as fast, and it's not the same without the hot chocolate spilling everywhere." James was saying this looking around the bus and taking a seat next to Lily at the very front. Lily just let out a small laugh and rolled her eyes.

"Really it's like you've never been on a bus before."

"I haven't whoooo that bus nearly took out the car in front did you see that… you sure that this is safe?" James was looking worried as he looked out the window and seeing how close the bus actually stopped to the cars in front.

"Yes James this bus is safe, you telling me you would rather ride a broom to this bus?" Lily asked felling that the bus was indeed a safer option then the broom.

"You kidding me. Of course I prefer a broom, there's nothing like speeding around in the open air, having the freedom to do what you want, to be in total control." James was saying this with such passion in his voice lily couldn't help but smile. The more time that she spent with James the more that Lily was enjoying his company and finding out about him.

"Were here come on." Lily push James up from the seat and they got off the bus right in front of them was the hospital. All of a sudden Lily became tense.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea… I think I'll just go home." Lily said this while starting to walk away from the site in front of her.

"Oh no you do not miss Evans your going into that hospital, and your going to see your mum before you regret it for the rest of your life. Now you can either walk in by yourself or I'll carry you in. I didn't just risk my life on the bass for no reason." James said this sternly but Lily continued to walk away so without warning James went up behind Lily and picked her up throwing her over his shoulder and walked towards the towing white building.

"Fine I'll walk just put me down." Lily was kicking and trying to get out of James's grip. So James put her down and they walked in through the doors and went up the stairs towards ward 2B where Lily's mum was laying.

"What you doing here?" Hissed a voice from behind Lily just as she was about to turn the handle and walk in. Turning around Lily could see Petunia standing there in a flowery dress and looking as skinny as ever.

"I came to see my mum. Only if that's ok with you of course." Lily said this as she finished turning the handle and walked into the room.

Walking in the site that greeted Lily was the same as before, apart from the scratches that had healed a little bit. Her mum's wavy red hair was platted this time thought and laying on her right hand side. Lily went and sat in the seat next to her the bed taking her mums hand within her own.

"Mum I hope you can hear me, I gave James a chance just like you wanted, and well his not as bad as I thought. In fact he came with me today." Lily now had tears trickling down her face.

"But, I promise that I'll complete school and become the best witch that I can be, I'll make you proud I promise." Lily wiped away the tears and sat there a little longer before getting up and walking back out of the room.

James was sitting in the corridor his head in his hands and looking down at the floor, and Lily instantly started walking over to where he was sitting. However when James heard the sound of footsteps he looked up and saw Lily walking over wiping tears away from her eyes. Instantly James shot up and closed the gap between them and pulled Lily into a tight embrace, which Lily welcomed. After a while James pulled back looking at Lily who was still looking teary eyed.

"Come on how about you come back to mine for some chocolate cake?" James said this as he wiped away the tears running down Lily's face with his thumb. Lily just nodded and allowed James to take her hand in his and lead her out of the hospital and back to the bus stop, to where there was a bus waiting.

"Can we sit a little away from the front, it's a little scary up there." James asked as smiled and led them to the middle of the bus and sat down by the window still not letting go of James's hand until they got off the bus near where the park was.

"Right follow me its just up that little hill." James smiled with a sparkle in his eyes and pointing to the steepest hill that was in the area.

"Little?" Lily repeated looking up at the hill with a 'you have got to be kidding me' look on her face. James just laughed and pulled her along the road.

James was walking up the hill with ease, Lily supposed this had something to do with all the Quidditch practice that he did, but by the time lily was half way up the hill she started to slow down her pace.

"Come on not much further now you can do it." James laughed at Lily as she shot him a death glare.

"Finally the top…didn't think id make it." Lily laughed now looking at the two houses that were situated along the road. James led her towards the first large cream house and walked up to the front door.

Well that's it for this chapter hope you liked it please review and I'll try and get the third chapter up by next week.

Lorna