AN: Ok so the time it took me to update this story was ridiculous. I mean, I started writing this chapter as soon as I posted the last one. I rewrote it about 6 times, and in a fit of frustration, I deleted it all and sulkily refused to write anymore until I had an actual idea in my head...Then of course I promptly forgot about it, and almost a year later, went 'oh yeaaaahhh. fanfic. woops." Of course the addition of a packed uni year and a boyfriend to rival Edward Cullen probably didn't help ( If you didn't understand that reference, for goodness sake, just read the Twilight series already. You will not regret it. )

I can't even start to tell you how sorry I am for making you wait this long for an update. It really is unfair to all my avid and dedicated readers, who really did find this stry enjoyable and interesting, and I will try to be better in the future. I have a three month holiday now, and I promise to use it productively!

So here it is, the final chapter, and I hope it lives up to your expectations.

Still love you all!

Lily gazed unseeingly into the flickering fire before her, knees bent up under her chin, her long red hair falling around her body. Her thoughts jumped from topic to topic, not able to rest on one event of the past few days without feeling slightly queasy.

It was strange to be back at Hogwarts. Strange to be back in a place of her childhood, a place of innocence. Too much had happened since she'd left and even this beautiful place of sanctuary would never be quite the same again. She wished she could be sitting safely three floors above, in the Gryffindor girl's dormitory rather than the grand yet impersonal guest quarters of the castle. But someone else was nestled safely in her old bed now. A first year girl, temporarily safe from the war raging outside this fortress.

At that moment the door creaked open, and the dark shaggy head of Sirius came into sight.

"James is awake," he said, smiling weakly at Lily and entering the room properly.

"Oh thank Merlin," Lily murmured, releasing a breath she didn't even realise she had been holding, and uncurling herself from the couch. "Is he alright? There was no damage?"

"Just as irritating as he was before he lost consciousness," Sirius assured her with a feeble chuckle.

Lily nodded in relief and was about to walk past him out of the room when she caught his eye and paused. "How are you, Sirius?" she asked carefully, concern etched into her soft features.

A flicker of comprehension sparked behind the dark eyes and Sirius' brow creased ever so slightly. "Have you seen Remus lately?"

Lily nodded slowly, meeting his dark gaze.

"And you, er, spoke to him then?"

She nodded again.

Sirius closed his eyes. "He told you, didn't he?"

"We tell each other everything," Lily said softly.

"He trusts you."

Lily narrowed her eyes slightly. "But you still don't, Sirius." It wasn't a question.

"I'm getting there, Lily." They both stood in silence for a long moment before Sirius whispered, "I really fucked up, didn't I?"

"He'll forgive you. He'll always forgive you; he'll always be there."

"Yes, but I hurt him," Sirius said, and Lily was surprised to hear his voice crack and pain mar his beautiful face. Stepping forward, Lily touched his shoulder and when he did not pull away, she folded him into her arms and let him cling helplessly to her.

"He knows you love him, Sirius. Not in the same way, I know, but he'll always be there for you because he knows that."

Finally, Sirius wiped his eyes, and took a step away. "I'm fine. Go to James, he needs you now."

Lily nodded and opened the door. "Sirius, if you ever need me…I'm here. I'll always be here."

"I think I'm starting to realise that now."

---

"For a fractured skull, you don't look too bad." Lily crossed her arms and leaned against the bed, mouth twitching in amusement.

"I never look bad, Evans," muttered James, blearily opening his eyes and grinning at her. He raised a hand to his hair, but met thick white bandages instead. "Shit…what happened?"

"Your reflexes are getting slow," Lily replied, moving to sit next to him and gently brushing his forehead with her fingers. "You were stunned."

James winced. "Then what happened?"

"I got to you just as Guildenweed got to me." She shrugged. "Don't remember anything after that. We woke up in a cell somewhere."

The colour drained from James' face. "Then what?"

Lily hesitated. She couldn't tell James the truth. She just couldn't. As much as she wanted everyone to know what a truly brave person Severus was, James would hate to owe his life to his previous nemesis. And besides, if word got out of Severus' betrayal to Voldemort…she didn't even want to think about it.

"I stole a Deatheater's wand," she replied, repeating the story she had constructed as she dragged James' lifeless body up to the Hogwarts gates, still shaking with fear. "From that big one…he sort of looks like a gorilla. Crabbe, or Goyle. I'm not really sure which. I managed to stun him and accio our wands before they realised we were escaping. We got away just in time."

James stared in astonishment for a moment then grinned widely. "You're incredible, you know." He reached out and took her hand in his. "What about the muggles…all the wedding guests?"

"No one was hurt," Lily breathed. "The Deatheaters weren't bothered with them. It seemed they wanted the four of us: you, me, Sirius, and Remus. Probably Pete, too, now I think of it. I guess they've started to realise just how involved we are."

James sighed. "I suppose we couldn't keep it a secret forever, could we?"

Lily just leaned forward and kissed him gently, careful not to knock his head. "There's one more thing," she whispered.

"What?"

Lily licked her lips carefully, thinking of how to best phrase what she was about to say. "Madame Pomfrey was called away about an hour ago…It's, um, it's Sally."

James didn't say anything, so Lily continued.

"She went into labour this afternoon."

"But," James stuttered. "But, she's three months early."

Lily swallowed and gently shook her head. "No. She's had the baby – a little girl – she's very healthy, and…well she's only a few weeks premature, James."

"Oh," he slouched back into his pillows and looked out the window across the dark grounds. "Oh right."

"I'm so sorry, James," she whispered, studying his face intently.

"I should feel relieved."

Lily shook her head. "She was going to give you something beautiful, something good. And she took it away."

With a sigh, James ran a hand over his face. "I don't understand why she'd do this. What did she want? The house? The money? She can have it all, I don't care."

"I think she wanted something more," Lily replied softly, taking his chin in her hand and making him meet her eyes. "She wanted you James. All she wanted was you."

"I messed up, Lils."

"No it was me who made the mistake. I never should have left you. I won't ever again, I'm in this now. I promise. Forever. I'm never leaving again, being apart from you is too hard." She paused, tears glistening in her emerald eyes. "You're a part of me. A part I couldn't bare to lose."

He reached out and cupped her cheek with a warm hand. "I love you my darling girl." They sat like that for a moment before James finally drew away and leant back into his pillows, a look of discomfort crossing his face. "I've got the worst headache."

"What do we do now?"

James sighed and shook his head, wincing at the pain that small action caused him. "We get married Lily. We love each other for as long as our lives may last. We never stop fighting."

Lily raised her eyebrows. "I'm not sure, James."

"But -"

"Oh, not about the marriage!" she quickly corrected herself. "Trust me, I'm all in for that! It's just, I don't think we can fight for awhile. We're number one and two on Voldemort's most wanted, and besides…" she hesitated, seemingly unsure of how to phrase what she wished to say. "James, it's just…I think I might be pregnant."

For a full minute, James was rendered speechless, his mouth hanging open in comic surprise. "But. I. When?"

Lily smiled, her cheeks pink with excitement. "Right before my sister's wedding. I thought I might have been, after that. We weren't exactly being careful."

"No," James murmured, then grinned. "Oh this is excellent, Lily! I'll teach him to play Quidditch, he'll be the best flyer England has ever seen! And he'll have your brains, of course. Hopefully my charm and wit."

Lily was laughing now, and she climbed under the hospital blankets to nestle into James' side. She felt safe now, tucked into her love's arms. Everything would be okay. There would be happiness again, there would be joy. Small happinesses, small victories…that's what mattered now. That's what kept everything together, kept everyone standing. And the fact that they had the courage to still stand, to still be happy in defiance of the evil, to laugh in the face of death, and love through all the hatred, that's what mattered now.

Kissing James softly on the cheek, she watched him doze off, knowing that they were no longer two people, two souls, but one, never to be torn apart again. She would never leave him, never could, because he was everything now. Everything she had, everything that mattered, and she loved him, wholly, explicitly, undeniably. He was hers, forever, past fear and death. And nothing could change that.

Maybe things wouldn't work for her friends, Remus and Sirius, but then again, who knew what love could overcome? They were alone now, but they had their friendship, and surely that was strong enough to surpass anything? They would be alright. Everyone would be alright in the end. Because that's just how it was.

And that was how it ended. In loneliness and friendship. Death and new life. A sense of loss and the glimmering jewel of hope. But most of all with love. A love that was eternal. A love that would outlive death and overcome everything. Because the good always win, will always win, because love is all we have, and love will overcome anything. And as long as there are those who love, they will keep fighting for it.

Thank you my beautiful darlings. Please do review, even if you are horribly angry with me. And I do promise not to put work or boys in front of you all again. Ok well, that was a lie, but I'll try and be better!! Love you all, annie xx