A/N: Alright! The next chapter is in! Cool. As for last chapter's poll (the hippie question)…some of you thought yes, people should protest, while others of you didn't care, and there were a few outright "no"'s…so that's cool. I think we should protest. There's a lot to protest about here in America, and I think our country is due for some major changes. As for this chapter's poll…. Do you have any bad habits that you know you shouldn't do, but can't help but do them anyways? Okay…so read, review, yadayada…
Chapter Twenty-Four; The Sun is Setting
The first thing James Potter noticed the next morning was a warm, heavy feeling in his chest. He opened his eyes slowly to see Lola, Lily's now overweight calico cat, resting on his upper body. A small smile pressed upon his lips as he lifted his hand to pet Lola, who responded by stretching happily. James was very aware of Lily's sleeping body entangled in his as his grin broadened. So as not to wake her, he reached slowly over her to grab his glasses from the nightstand.
He spent the next quiet moments watching Lily sleep. She looked simply beautiful, her hair cascading wildly in every direction, her smooth, pastel skin illuminating in the early morning light.
Lily's green eyes opened slowly and James enjoyed watching her wake up—one eyelid opened at a time, and then a small smile formed at her lips.
"Good morning." She said in a slow, raspy voice that James found undeniably sexy. Her eyes locked with his before she asked, "Have you been up long?"
James shook his head. "Only a few minutes…I didn't mean to wake you…"
Lily smiled and admired his ruffled appearance. His hair was skewed in all directions and the sleep hadn't quite left his eyes yet. "You didn't."
"Good." He replied almost dumbly. His hand had reached for her hair and he ran his fingers through the red mess, untangling small knots as he did so. As his hand reached the back of her neck he leaned in and kissed her in a tender way.
Lily smiled against his lips and rolled on top of him, taking half the sheets with her as they became more entwined with one another.
"What time is it?" Lily whispered into James' ear.
James mumbled something along the lines of "It doesn't matter." But when he felt Lily moving to get up and check, he quickly glanced at his watch on the nightstand. "It's half past six."
Lily sighed and smiled as she looked down at James, his hands were holding her waist and they were threatening to move lower. "I could have sworn it was later…I feel so energized for it to not even be seven yet…I am not a morning person."
James smirked at her and pulled her down to him. "Not tired, Lily?" He whispered mischievously and she let out a mix of a squeal and a giggle.
It was almost seven thirty when Lily finally suggested breakfast.
"I'll make you something, anything you'd like!" James said energetically as he kissed her forehead.
Lily grinned slightly. "You don't have to…besides, you're a terrible cook."
James huffed. "Not terrible. I'll prove it to you. Now, what does your little heart desire, Schnukums? Pancakes, French toast? Eggs Benedict? Waffles?" he listed off the top of his head.
With a half smile, Lily resigned herself to James' and replied, "Some pancakes would be delicious."
"That's my girl!" James smiled as he moved to leave her bed, "Now, sausage or bacon?"
"Bacon." Lily answered as she moved to follow James. "I'll show you where the pans—"
James held up his hand to stop her from leaving the bed. "I know where they are, Schnukums! You stay here…I'll call you when I'm done."
"All right-, but please, don't burn down my kitchen. Or building, I happen to like my belongings, and I'm sure Charlotte and the Apples will agree." Lily stated, smirking as she watched James put on his boxers.
"But I want to burn down your kitchen. Hell, I want to burn down this whole side of London. Now, excuse me while I go start a grease fire." James answered coyly, winking at her before leaving the room.
Fifteen minutes later Lily couldn't stand it anymore—she kept hearing pots and pans clashing and James mutter the occasional "damn" or "shit"--- she sighed and jumped out of bed. She grabbed a bathrobe and sniffed. Good Lord, was that smoke?
As she walked down the hallway to the kitchen the smell got stronger and she could see a small hazy cloud enveloping the entire flat.
"Merlin, James!" She called through the cloud, pulling out her wand and dissipating the smoke.
She heard James laugh lightly and she finally saw his figure, waving his arm around, clearing the air and smiling.
"What did you do?" Lily asked, not sure what was so funny. "Did you put the fire out?"
James laughed. "That wasn't a fire…I found a candle…but apparently it wasn't a candle…I think it's Charlotte's…or maybe mine or Sirius'…it came from Zonko's."
"A Zonko's product?" Lily laughed. "James, you're losing touch if you were fooled by the company that got you through Hogwarts."
"I know." James replied. "I feel so old and decrepit. Quick, check…are there any gray hairs? Am I balding? My eyesight…it's blurry!"
Lily laughed and kissed him on the nose. "Do you need any help?"
He shook his head stubbornly. "I told you I'd do it, now you go sit down over in the sitting room and turn on the television and watch those mad people go on about the weather…they're never right, but then how could you expect them to be? It's not like they're wizards or anything…"
"You're too cute." Was all Lily said as she shook her head and headed to the sitting room, plopping down on the sofa.
After many minutes of anticipation, Lily was finally allowed to come to the kitchen.
"Your breakfast, my dear, is ready." James announced. Lily nodded and looked him over.
"Good, you still have your eyebrows."
"Funny."
"I know, I know." Lily smiled as James showed her to the rarely used dining room. She wouldn't have been surprised if he had to clean off an inch layer of dust. He had decorated with a vase full of lilies, which she could only assume he had transfigured from something—it was October, after all, and she didn't remember having any vases.
"This looks lovely, James." Lily complimented, kissing him softly before he pulled out her chair and motioned her to sit down.
That morning was indeed lovely. Much to Lily's surprise, the pancakes had turned out quite nicely, but, Lily told him, even if they hadn't, she would have said they were delicious anyways. The bacon was perfect, and James had even prepared a dish of strawberries.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." James said as they finished and Lily had run out of things to compliment him on.
Lily made to reach for James' empty plate when an owl swooped into the dining room, hitting the vase of lilies and causing water to spill across the white table cloth.
"Damn old bird." James swore, righting the vase and yanking the piece of parchment from the graying owl's beak. He handed the letter to Lily, "It's for you, from my mum, I suppose."
Lily recognized the old owl as the one Mrs. Potter treasured and occasionally used for relatively short trips so that the bird didn't feel useless in its retried age. She couldn't recall its name—Boris, perhaps?
James cleaned up the mess made by the morning delivery and then began to clean up the dishes as Lily read the letter.
"Your mother has invited us to an early dinner this evening. She says my parents are going to be there as well." Lily stood up and met James in the kitchen.
"Oh damn, is that today?" James asked, slightly startled. "I was supposed to tell you about that."
"So the letter says." Lily grinned slightly, stroking James' arm with her hand.
He looked endearing, standing in her kitchen with nothing but his boxers, and trying his hand at cleaning dishes. This was the man she got to spend the rest of her life with. It was a comforting thought.
"I'm going to get a shower. I've got to make something for this evening…" Lily said quietly, admiring James looking down at her.
"You don't need to make anything…if I know my mum…which I daresay I do, she'll have enough food for five Christmas' feasts."
"No, no. I've got to bring something. It's only polite." Lily argued softly and passively. "I'll make a dessert. What would you like?"
"It doesn't matter." James replied. "Anything easy."
"James, I'll use magic. It's all pretty easy. Now, what would you like?"
James smiled. "Cherry pie? I love that."
"All right, cherry pie it is." She grinned, kissing lips quickly. "Now I'm going to shower."
"Is that an open invitation?" James called out, chuckling.
Lily didn't reply.
"I take silence as a yes, Lily dear."
James left the dishcloth on the counter top and went to explore the bathroom.
Later that evening, Lily and James found themselves knocking on the Potters' door. Lily had almost walked right in the house before James had pulled her back. He insisted that his father sometimes forgot he was at home and not out on the field and could set off all sorts of jinxes and hexes towards any intruder without so much as a glance at to who the trespasser may be. So they stood together, knocking on James' former residence.
His mother answered the door, looking as happy as ever to see her son and future daughter-in-law. She hugged them both after magicking Lily's pie to the kitchen (not without a compliment to how beautiful the dessert had turned out) and then sent them to the parlor, where she informed them Lily's parents were already waiting.
James greeted Lily's parents first, giving a strong hand-shake to Patrick and a warm hug to Beverly.
"Lily, you look lovely." Beverly told her daughter, hugging her tightly. "I miss not seeing you so much, you know you should at least call once in awhile…you got that phone installed but you barely use it."
"Sorry, Mum…I just get so busy sometimes." Lily replied, knowing it was a terrible excuse for not keeping in touch with her own flesh and blood.
"Not good enough, love." Her father said as he gave her a hug.
"I'll call once a week from now on." Lily promised. "Or more, if work isn't too hectic."
Her parents smiled at her and returned to their seats on the sofa. James and Lily took a seat at the couch perpendicular to Lily's parents. Just as they sat, James' mother entered the room, looking around.
"Merlin, where is your father? He promised to come down as soon as he was done with the letter he was writing…"
"Chances are one letter turned into two or three, Mum. You know Dad when it comes to business." James responded, looking up at his mother.
His mother sighed, wringing the dishcloth in her hands. "Well dinner is ready, you all can go take your seats. I'll go get Sam."
James showed Lily and her parents to the dining room, where gigantic proportions of food were displayed. Lily thought their meal could rival one of Hogwarts.
They all sat for a moment before James' mother returned—alone.
"Sam will be down in a moment. Please, go ahead."
Half way into dinner, Sam Potter joined them, taking his seat at the head of he table and giving them all an apologetic look.
"Sorry for keeping you." He stated, beckoning the roasted chicken towards him with his wand.
"Hope everything's all right." Beverly said, noticing the tired, worried air Sam seemed to carry around with him.
"Oh, well. Matters are just grave at the moment." Sam spoke truthfully. "But we're doing are best to take care of it."
James and Lily both looked at Sam with arched brows and pursed lips, wondering what had gone wrong. Before James could question his father, Margaret Potter diverted their attention to a different topic.
"Now, Beverly, I've heard Lily has a sister." Margaret started.
"Yes, Petunia, she's a few years older than Lily." Beverly offered, ignoring Lily's blanched expression.
Margaret didn't notice an edge in the air and continued. "Ah, she's all Muggle then?"
"Yes, she was married a few months ago, actually." Lily's mother explained.
Her father tactfully engaged Sam and James into one of his favorite topics—cars.
"That Thunderbird you restored for Lily, James, was a piece of work. I'd like to ride in it sometime." Patrick conversed.
James smiled. "I'll have to talk Lily into letting you take a ride…although I'm sure you could persuade her to drive it. There's a great difference between being behind the wheel and a passenger in a car like that."
"I would imagine so." Patrick replied, grinning and then looking to the man that looked so much like James it was rather shocking. "Do you make a hobby of cars, Sam?"
Across the table, James heard Lily ask.
"Just how are The Dursleys these days, Mother?" with only the slightest amount of annoyance in her tone. James thought for sure he was the only one who picked up on Lily's current animosity.
"They are fine, Petunia's had a wonderful time setting up their house with all the proper decorations. She is so anal about some things, I think she spends half her day cleaning that house." Her mother continued. Margaret smiled and took a sip of her red wine.
James stroked Lily's hand lightly under the table as he continued to listen to Sam and Patrick's conversation.
A few minutes later, Margaret offered dessert (a choice between Lily's cherry pie and Beverly's brownies—James requested both, as did Sam and Patrick).
"This is delicious, Lily. You'll have to give me your recipe." Beverly said.
"Sure, I'll send an owl over tomorrow." Lily quipped, taking a small bite of pie.
"I'd like it too, if you don't mind, dear." Margaret added.
Lily nodded and smiled.
After the plates were cleared, the party was directed back into the parlor, but James excused both he and Lily to take a walk around the manor. Both sets of parents readily released their children, and moments later James and Lily found themselves outside, walking in the chilly but refreshing October air. Lily wrapped her cloak tighter against the wind and admired the setting red sun and brown and golden leaves illuminating in the light from their piles on the dead ground.
James draped his arm over Lily's shoulders and gave her a swift kiss on the cheek.
Lily smiled and wrapped her arm around James' waist as they walked.
"I get the feeling our parents wanted us to leave." Lily said.
James nodded. "I think they're discussing our wedding present."
"What makes you think that?" Lily asked, looking up at him with her green eyes.
"My mother had her 'present face' on…the one she gets around Christmas and my birthday…when she's either finished buying my presents or wrapping them…"
"She looked the same to me." Lily said matter-of-factly.
"To you she would…but don't worry, you'll pick up on it." James smiled, kissing the top of her head.
They walked at a comfortable pace through the fields of Potter Manor. Occasionally Lily would remark on the beauty of the trees and the simple nature, and James would provide her with the history of what ever she had pointed out.
"Care to sit for a moment?" James asked her as they reached a small pond. "The water is going to look bloody brilliant against the sunset."
Lily grinned and nodded, taking a seat next to James.
"So what do you think our parents are getting us?" Lily asked playfully, leaning her head on James shoulder and intertwining her hands with his.
"I don't know…" he pondered. "I was thinking about….but no, I don't think they would, not yet at least."
Lily studied his profile in the dimming light. "What?"
"I was thinking, well. I know this estate is endowed to me; I'm the only heir. But I don't think…I don't know, my Dad is just acting so strangely lately. I hope they aren't giving the estate up as a wedding present." James rambled as he thought. "No, they know we've bought a house…"
James' words stopped as Lily placed her lips on his and kissed him. He smiled and responded appropriately, letting his arm catch Lily's back as she leaned towards the ground, allowing James to hover over her, just kissing her.
James was a great snog. Lily had decided that long ago. But it always surprised her how he treated kissing like an art. He could kiss for hours and not push any further. Just snogging. Letting his lips travel around her jaw bone and nibble at her ear…creating that delightful ticklish feeling that always left Lily wanting him more.
She knew he got as much pleasure from this exercise as she did. She knew that he liked the way that she could move her lips across his neck and leave traces of her hot breath seeping into the pores of his skin.
James finally broke away for air, smiling down at Lily, whose lips were slightly swollen. She grinned back at him, waiting for him to say something, or better, do something.
"You're very pretty." He said finally, breathing heavily.
"I know." Lily replied with a smirk. James smiled and pulled away, kneeling beside her, stroking her fingers.
He suddenly looked very contemplative, and Lily sat up, wondering what had come over him so quickly.
"There was something else I needed to talk to you about." James started, almost in a whisper.
Lily huddled closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, looked up at him, and smiled. "What about?" she replied in a playful voice as she kissed his cheek.
James sighed and let his smile slip off his face. "It's serious."
The change in mood seemed to finally have hit Lily, and she held his hand tighter. "What's wrong?"
"Well, I've been talking with Mad-Eye, and he's been stressing with us…Aurors are becoming more and more scarce lately…either being killed, injured, or just quitting because they couldn't handle it anymore. Dawes had to go on "a much needed vacation", which is just Ministry lingo for something terribly wrong…Imperius probably…"
"I know things are rough now, James." Lily interrupted. I've been filing the cases for Madam Bones, it seems like every week we have a least one file coming in…a murder, Muggle terrorism…but you've just got to look above it. This will pass, the Ministry and Dumbledore—The Order--- are all going after Voldemort and his Death Eaters…things will get better."
"Damn it, Lily, I'm not telling you my training is getting to me, that these dark times are bothering me…I'm trying to tell you that Moody has asked me to join the Aurors." James snapped.
Even in the increasing darkness, he could see the color drain from Lily's face.
"What?" Lily asked. "He can't do that, you haven't even come close to finishing your training!"
"I wouldn't be a full-fledged Auror. It would count towards my training…"
Lily let out a dry laugh. "Oh that's fair. We're not going to call you an Auror, we're just going to work you like one, let you die like one…"
"I'm in the Elite program, Lily. I'm not completely incompetent." James retorted, shaking his head, pulling at the grass with his fingers.
"I don't think you're incompetent, James." Lily said in a soft tone. "I just wasn't ready to let you go out there yet. I thought we'd at least have a few more months of being safe…"
"Nothing's safe anymore, Lily. Don't try to live in a illusion." James said, in an equally soft voice. "And Moody said it won't be a full time thing. I'll still go to training, it's just when the Aurors need help, they'll call on me. I go tomorrow to get my contactor."
"I know you'll do amazing." She said, with as much confidence she could put into her voice. "You're the most brilliant person I've ever met." Lily knew it was important for her to support James now; he needed to know that she had faith in him.
He was silent, but Lily could see a small smile forming on his thin lips. Lily moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his torso, holding him in a warm embrace. His head buried in her chest as he whispered, "I love you."
Don't forget to answer the poll: Do you have any bad habits that you know you shouldn't do, but can't help but do them anyways?
Thanks to my reviewers: I-ARE-COOL, Hermione-Lilypotter1234, WhiteCamellia, Heather Gernenz, glowing-ice, dancergrl19, modeltd09, Princess Eclpise, Missing Summer, x-The-Skittles-Alchemistx, Official Cheeky Devil, granny hpfan, xxxxParvati-Patilxxxx, and luv24+Alias
TigerLily2217- The story will speed up soon…I'm working on it…the marriage will be here before you know it! Thanks for reviewing!
Delilah Evans- Lily won't get pregnant for another year or so. Harry was conceived around Halloween 1979. It's still 1978.