The next morning, James and Lily went to the Ministry to sign the divorce papers. James was more than a little hungover and felt bad about the way he had acted with Lily the night before. He was waiting for her outside the lawyer's office.
"Hi," he said when he saw her.
"Hi," she said. "How are you?"
"A little rough," he admitted. "I'm sorry about last night, I was drunk but I was out of line."
"It's alright," said Lily. "I should have told you."
"Yeah, you should have."
"The papers are pretty basic. We get joint custody of Harry and any joint assets are split equally between us. The child support will just stay the same," said Lily, realising that he didn't know.
"It doesn't matter I'm not signing them," said James calmly.
"Pardon?"
"I'm not signing the divorce papers, not today not ever," said James.
"What?" demanded Lily. "That is why we are here."
"No I'm here to talk to you, I never had any intention of signing anything," said James, then he realised Harry wasn't with her. "Where is Harry? With Calvin?"
"With your Mum," Lily snapped. "Don't change the subject! Why won't you sign the papers? You can take them to your lawyer or take them home and look over them."
"I don't need to look over them I'm sure they are perfectly fair," said James, amused by how flustered Lily was. He knew she didn't feel anything for Calvin and last night he decided he was going to try and get her back instead of sitting on his ass wishing he could get her back. He was finally doing something about it. "But I'll never sign them."
"Why not?" hissed Lily, not wanting to make a scene in the middle of the Ministry.
"I'm still in love with you," he said simply, as if it was obvious.
"What?" This time she shouted.
"I. Still. Love. You," said James slowly, taking a step closer to her with every word.
"Where is this coming from? Is this about Calvin? I already told you that was just one date, and you knew I would start dating again. We separated over a year ago," said Lily, backing away from him.
"It's not about Calvin, I know you're not interested in him. We may have separated a while ago, but I told you I hadn't stopped loving you…"
"And I told you there is a difference between loving someone and being in love with them," said Lily, panic evident in her voice.
"I know the difference and I know you can love someone and be in love with them as well. I am in love with you, I always have been," said James staring intently at her.
"I… um have to pick up the papers," stuttered Lily, and then she all but ran into the Lawyers office.
"You really are wasting your time," said James when Lily emerged from the office with the divorce papers in her hand. "I won't sign them."'
"Why not? It won't change anything…"
"It will change everything. You won't be my wife anymore."
"I haven't been your wife in a long time," said Lily, getting more and more annoyed.
"You've always been my wife."
"Why are you doing this? Have I been unfair to you in anyway? You see Harry anytime you want, I never object… what more do you want?"
"You."
"Too bad, you had me and you decided you didn't want me," Lily snapped.
"What? I never did…"
"You wanted a separation and you filed for divorce in the first place! I didn't want to split up! I thought we could work it out if we just took some time off work and talked about our problems! But no! You decided to end it! So stop all this crap and sign the papers!" said Lily, thrusting the papers at him.
"No."
"Oh then just… got to hell," shouted Lily, storming off.
"Hey Lils!" he shouted after her.
"What?" she shouted, turning round.
"You're so sexy when you're mad at me."
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"Ugh, your Daddy is stupid! Imagine filing for divorce and then childishly refusing to sign the papers!" Lily grumbled to Harry who was devouring a banana in front of her. "Stupid, Harry, he is stupid."
"Stoopid," Harry repeated.
"Yes stupid," said Lily, then she continued. "He says he still loves me, I think I believe him. He never lied about that. Then there is Calvin, he is a great guy and he loves you too, granted he'll never love you as much as James… he adores me and I don't think he would ever hurt either of us. But James… not intentionally, especially not you. So what do you think? Should you be with someone you don't love enough for them to break your heart or do you risk everything for the one who can break it?"
"Dadda, Dadda," gurgled Harry.
"Well that is predictable, of course you would say that. I need you to be impartial here," Lily scolded.
"Dadda, Dadda."
"I need to stop venting at the baby," muttered Lily.