A/N- I am not mental, therefore, I do not think myself to be the great JKR. :)

This chapter is dedicated to Seth's Imprint for her encouragement and praise! :) (by the way I wish I was Seth Clearwater's imprint he's so cute!)

Sob, last chapter! But it's not completely over, there may be an epilogue! Yay!

And thanks for all the reviews, guys! Seven! I did a little dance when I saw! (and I'm not a very good dancer… used to be in ballet… yea I'm WAY too klutzy for that) :) I love you all: AsItThunders, Seth's Imprint, Merino649, x-Clare-x, ICantRemberSodAll, mysterious victoria, and feeling5!

On the Twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

James awoke very sore on the cold, hard ground. He sat up stiffly, and looked around him. He was in Hogsmeade, the sun was setting. The death eaters must have left, for around him were only the three bodies of Lily, Sirius and Carmella. At the sight of Lily's lifeless body James leapt up and ran to her. "Oh, please don't be dead!" he prayed, kneeling over Lily.

For a moment, he thought she was. Her hand was cold and lifeless, but he could feel a faint pulse. He almost cried with relief. "Lily!" he shouted, "Lily, wake up!"

Lily didn't respond. James was afraid that it was too late, that the wound in her side had lost too much blood. He wasn't very good at healing, but he decided that her life depended on it, that he needed to heal it now, or risk her death. Carefully, he chanted the healing spell over the wound. It began to knit together, until it left only a mangled scar imprinted in her side. James siphoned the blood from her ruined dress, then decided he had done all he could for her. He turned to Sirius.

Sirius was lying spread eagled on the ground, eyes shut tight, but his breathing was obvious. "Padfoot!" cried James, to no effect. He poured a stream of water over his face by muttering "aguamenti."

This woke Sirius up. He blinked his eyes and looked around him, realization dawning on his face, "They've gone and done a runner, haven't they?" asked Sirius.

"It appears so," said James, "Come on, let's get out of here, they might come back."

"Alright," said Sirius, turning to Carmella, "I don't know why she followed me," he said, referring to Carmella, "She sucks at dueling."

"I don't know either," said James, "But you should keep her. She's brave, I like her."

"Me, too," smiled Sirius, before turning to Carmella and leaning down to wake her up, prince charming style. James preferred not to look, so he turned back to Lily.

She was pale, and appeared nearly dead, but her beauty still took James breath away. He considered waking her up with a kiss as Sirius was doing to Carmella, but he wasn't sure that she'd appreciate that. Instead, he reluctantly roused her the same way he'd done Sirius.

Lily's eyes fluttered at the touch of the cold water on her skin. She looked up to see James staring down at her, "Wha-" she asked, before leaping to her feet, which made her light headed, and she fainted into James arms. Her eyes flickered open again, "Oh, I'm useless." She mumbled, "Where's the death eaters?"

"They're gone," said James. "I don't know why they left like that, it makes no sense. I bet they're going to come back, we should go." Behind him he could hear the sounds of Sirius pulling Carmella to her feet.

"Yea," agreed Lily. She shrugged out of James arms and tottered a few feet before falling again, once more James caught her.

"What the hell did the death eaters do to me?" asked Lily.

"Well, you kind of have a gash on your side," said James, "I think you lost a lot of blood."

"Oh," said Lily, looking down and blushing.

"Want me to carry you back?" asked James seriously.

"I am perfectly capable," said Lily.

"Lily…" said James.

"Potter…" said Lily.

"Hey!" yelped James, "You promised."

"I suppose I did," allowed Lily, "James, then."

"Yes," smiled James, looking down at her, placing one arm at her waist and still supporting her with the other.

"You may not carry me back," said Lily firmly.

"Why not?" James smirked down at her.

"Because I can walk back on my own," explained Lily.

"You know you can't," said James, "As you're bodyguard, it is my duty to protect you. And you trying to walk back on your own poses a danger to yourself."

"And you could prevent that threat?" asked Lily.

"It would be my pleasure to," said James.

"In that case," said Lily, "I suppose you could assist me to the castle because and only because I hold you responsible for my safety." James grinned and lifted her bridal-style, carrying her to the castle, with Sirius and Carmella trailing them.

0o0

Lily intended to stay up throughout the night: it was the very last day of Christmas, Christmas Eve, and she was determined to find out who the mysterious gift-giver was.

Robbin drifted off around eleven, and Lily's emerald eyes began to sag. She pulled out a bar of Honeydukes' best chocolate and began to munch, knowing the caffeine would keep her awake.

It was one thirty when she finally heard a scraping at her window. She hurriedly dived under her sheets and buried her face in the pillow, eager to get the best view of her admirer by waiting to peek at him until he was at her tree. There was a scuffle, and she heard a body drop into her room and shut the window quietly. She heard footfalls make their way slowly across her room. Then she flipped around and sat up.

James' head swung back to look at her so fast it was remarkable that he didn't get a crick in his neck. His face turned brick red faster than a traffic light. For once he was at a loss of words.

"You?" asked Lily, she didn't see how she hadn't seen it before. Looking at it logically now, all the pieces seemed to fit.

"Erm, yes…" said James, still bright red.

"Come over here," commanded Lily. James was afraid she was going to slap or jinx him, but he reluctantly obeyed. "Closer!"

James inched forward, frightened of the consequences.

"I just wanted to say… thanks," said Lily, and she kissed him.

James was shocked, he looked at her, dazed. Then he cupped his hand on the back of her neck, the other in her flaming hair, and kissed her. She clung to him and didn't let go, even when their breathing became ragged. All too soon, they broke apart.

"I need to be heading back," said James.

"No!" pleaded Lily, "stay!"

"Okay," agreed James, not needing persuading. They stayed up and kissed… er… talked all night.

A/N- that's that. In your reviews be sure to tell me if you'd like an epilogue. (I have an idea for it… remember, she still hasn't found the ring! ;))

Thanks to everyone who has read this far!

LU

Oh, and by the way, the gift was twelve drummers drumming, suited in a similar fashion as the eleven pipers piping… except twelve… with drums. :)