A/N: This really isn't a drabble, but I wanted to write it anyway. Enjoy!
Watching
Lily Evans didn't really know what she was doing when she accepted the boys' invitation. It was a reflex, really, because she had no objection to spending time with them and the pressure of N.E.W.T.s was already heavy on her shoulders, never mind that it was Christmas break. Lily was never one to procrastinate.
And so when Sirius asked so kindly if she wanted to join them in the common room she really didn't think twice when she accepted. James shot him a look that clearly said, "What do you think your doing?" because he didn't want to ruin the progress that he'd made. Lily called him James now. But Sirius held out a butterbeer, and Lily took it.
Sirius looked a little surprised that she didn't tell him off for having it at school, but she gratefully gulped it down and sat down on the couch next to Remus, looking thoroughly exhausted. And Sirius started the old conversation that he'd been having with James before she came, talking about Quidditch. James tried to change the subject. He knew Lily thought he was trying to show off, and he didn't want her to think that, so he tried to talk about the Binns essay, but Sirius kept bring up the last game. Gryffindor had beat Ravenclaw, and badly too. James had scored almost all the points, a fact that Sirius loved to point out, and a fact that James didn't want to boast about with Lily right there.
So he was caught off guard when she commented absentmindedly, "You did do a great job, James." And then she blushed, realizing that she just complimented him.
"You come to my games, Lily?" He didn't know that.
"I wasn't aware that they were your games." James frowned and took a sip out of his bottle. An awkward silence followed the comment, but he knew better then to reciprocate the verbal sparring. It was better to just let her have to last word and avoid all the fighting. Besides, she didn't really pester that much anymore.
And Lily looked momentarily surprised he didn't take the bait, but continued the conversation with Remus about the History of Magic essay due on Thursday. James listened politely, throwing in a comment here or there, but mainly just watching.
Watching how she had so effortlessly molded herself into his tight knit group of friends without making them feel like she was intruding on that brother bond they shared. She laughed at some inside joke with Peter and continued talking.
Watching how she might as well be considered a Marauder for the amount of time she spent with them now and the secrets that she knew. In her own special way, she was an honorary member.
James loved that his friends loved her, even if it wasn't as much as he did.