Drabble per request for birthday on August 30th: arashi wolf princess

Happy Endings

A/N: This isn't part of the OTTLECHMAJP universe. Therefore, I'm allowing myself some freedom with the characters. If there is a wedding in OTTLECHMAJP it will not be this one. That's it.

Lily loved white more than any other color. She loved the symbolism of it most, but the fact that it didn't clash with anything – including her hair – was wonderful, as well. She gazed at herself fondly, absolutely adoring the design Marlene helped pick out for her.

"Are you ready?" Speaking of the blonde, Marlene appeared in the doorway at that very moment. Dressed in elegant, light, sun-colored dress robes, Marlene's soft beauty had rarely, if ever, been more pronounced. The makeup artist had really done a number on her, transforming her features into that of a seductress almost; Marlene rarely, if ever, wore makeup in her day-to-day life, but whatever the makeup artist had done definitely worked, though what she did was mostly just adding glamour to the already existing beauty.

"Oh – Merlin, you look gorgeous! You're prettier than I am!" gasped Lily.

Marlene giggled, but continued to insist that there was no way that fact could be true. "You're the bride," she said. "And you look so amazing. James is going to fall on his knees and cry the moment he sees you. You realize he's dreamed of this day since we were like, eleven? This is his happy ending! This is your happy ending!"

Lily laughed. "Yeah, I know." For a moment, the charming smile vanished, only to be replaced, a second later, with another, even wider smile. "I'm going to be married, Marlene. Can you believe it?"

Marlene hugged Lily, tears rolling down her cheek silently. "Yeah, I can," she said, choking back even more tears. "You two were meant to be. I'm so glad that you're – this is going to be one of the best days of your life, and it's now! Now, c'mon – let's get out there. They're waiting for you."

"I love you," they had whispered to each other, "I do" had been said twice, and their vows had been made, and then Lily Evans was Lily Potter and after the party ended the two lovebirds were back in their apartment. There might have been no time for a honeymoon in this war-filled time, but that didn't mean their wedding night wouldn't last to the a.m.'s.

"Good morning, beautiful," whispered a familiar voice in her ear, and her eyes fluttered open to see the familiar ceiling. Lily turned her head and smiled when she saw her fiancé – nay, husband – lying next to her, in front of him two breakfast trays. "I made breakfast."

She smiled and stretched, a content expression covering her features. "I love you," she murmured, leaning in to kiss James. "Potter," she added.

"Yeah, you too," he smiled, and as she sat up he placed the tray on her lap and then positioned himself similarly. "On both counts. I made eggs and toast– I know it isn't much, but – "

"It's perfect, James," she assured him. "You know, I don't think I've ever been happier."

"We finally got our happy ending," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. "Now, dig in."

And that she did. He really was a much better cook that he gave himself credit for, and they had both finished before they knew it. "Gahhh, that was good," Lily sighed, moving both trays away from them and leaning into James. She then stared silently ahead, and when James started tracing patterns on the skin of her arm, she remembered suddenly something that had been on her mind, steadily in the very back of it, the entirety of yesterday.

"What are you thinking about?" he whispered softly in her ear. She shuddered, and said in a similar tone, "Nothing. Just…"

"Just what?" he straightened up, pushing her away so they could look each other in the eyes. "What is it? You don't regret – "

"No, of course not!" she sighed. "Potter, how many times do I have to tell you – I'm here for good. I love you. I was just thinking about Se-Snape. About how – " she hesitated. "Snape was my best friend ten years ago, and we didn't even know each other yet. And he would've hated every moment of this. But I loved it. I loved him for a while – and then – and now – and everything's so different now, I can't even – " she sighed again. "And I'm so happy, and for a moment I felt guilty for leaving him behind. He was my best friend for years, and now he's not a part of my happiness."

James frowned, thinking silently for a moment or two. Lily watched him with nervous eyes, until finally he said, "I never liked Snape. You know that. But if you two hadn't fought with each other, and he was still a vital part of your life – and you wanted him here – I would – "

"Don't, don't – " Lily tried to interrupt, but he cut her off too. "I'm just saying," James continued, "that if he were vital to your happiness, I would not object to him being at our wedding.

"That said, I know you're a kind woman. It's one of the many, many reasons I love you – but Lily, don't feel bad for leaving him behind. He was toxic, you've said so to me yourself. And Lily – you finally got your happy ending, and there's a reason he isn't a part of it. So don't feel guilty for being happy. Whatever you do, never feel guilty for being happy."

"It's my happy ending," she whispered. "And he used to be part of it."

"And now he isn't, and you're still happy," he mumbled, leaning in and kissing her forehead softly. "And I love you, and I hope to dear God you love me because we're stuck together now. So let's please open our new life together – and let's make it a good life."

"Our happy ending," she summarized, and they both laughed, and then –

Well, they are newlyweds, after all.

I'M SO SORRY I WAS SUPPOSED TO POST THIS YESTERDAY AND I FORGOT I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON.