I just couldn't resist. Especially not after all you lovely reviewers asked ever so nicely for the James' side of the story :) And this one was much easier to write. Anyway, this one's for MissSunshine, dancingonstars, ClaireBear1982, kathac, and looneyshazza. Much love to you all!

James

James Potter woke with a start, a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

And it had been because of the dream. He had been having the same dream ever since he had patched things up with Lily Evans—Head Girl to his Head Boy and, if he was being honest with himself, the love of his life. The dream was about Lily—honestly, all of his dreams were about Lily—dancing farther and farther out of his reach until she reached the arms of a faceless stranger and the two embraced in a passionate kiss, leaving James standing alone, trying to hold the pieces of his heart together.

It was a bit pathetic, he had to admit, but it left him feeling hopeless nevertheless. Not for the first time did he wish that Lily could go back to hating him because being just her friend was pure torture. Never before had she been so close to him, yet so far away. He knew that ultimately, she would find someone who loved her the way she deserved and James would get to play the part of the happy friend, when in reality, he'd die a little inside.

Get a grip on yourself, James, he told himself as he strode over to the window, pushing it open. The cold gush of wind was all he needed to alleviate the drowning sensation in the bottom of his chest.

He stared at the rain for a while, watching it intensely, as if it held all the answers to his problems. He had always found rain to be soothing and today was no exception. His head cleared a bit and he realised that being Lily's friend wasn't so bad. There was a chance, however minute, that he could still win her over.

And he could definitely wait for it to happen—he'd been waiting for seven years, what was a few more? After all, his mum always said the best things in life are worth the wait, and Lily Evans was definitely the best thing there was, right?

He was about to turn away from the window and walk back to bed, when a flash of red caught his eye. He peered into the darkness, not believing his eyes.

Yet, there she was; the very reason for his existence, not to mention his, lack of sleep. And she was dancing. Bloody dancing in the blasted rain! Didn't she know how dangerous it was to be out at what, three in the morning? And not to mention, she could catch a bloody cold, for Merlin's sake!

He hastily threw on a pair of discarded trousers and an old shirt before rushing down the stairs and out onto the pouring rain. He watched with awe as she threw back her head and laughed, throwing her arms open as she twirled around, reminding James of the ballerinas his mum had taken him to see when he was seven. She moved with a graceful purpose and not for the first time did James realise just how beautiful she truly was.

"What the hell are you doing, Evans?" he called through the sound of rumbling thunder overhead as he ran towards her. Lily spun around and smiled as she caught sight of him. "It's pouring out here!"

"Dancing in the rain, what else?" she shouted back, grinning like if it were the most normal thing in the world, to be out at three in the morning, twirling around in the rain.

She cocked her head to the side as he reached her, her eyes dancing with laughter. She was a real mystery to him, one that he was yearning to solve. She was spunky and random and beautiful and—and just plain wonderful.

"Dance with me?" she asked, grinning up at him.

"You're a nutter, you know that?" he said, as he peered down at her, a small smile appearing on his lips.

He allowed her to grab a hold of his hands, joining in dancing on her laughter as she pulled him closer to her body. He placed a hand on her waist and joined her in her dance, moving to the rhythm of music that only they could hear. To the rhythm of love, he thought to himself as he twirled her around and she threw her head back, laughing heartily, as if nothing pleased her more than dancing in the rain with him.

She grabbed hold of the collar of his shirt then, pulling him down towards her, pressing her lips ever so slightly against his.

He stood there, feeling shocked. Was she really kissing him? Was it truly Lily Evans that was kissing him? Or was this all just a glorious dream?

But no. She was kissing him. Lily Evans was really kissing him and why was he just standing there? Wasn't that exactly what he'd been dreaming of for the past seven years?

And now she was pulling away, her eyes wide and he could see the hurt replacing the dancing laughter that had been there only moments before. And now she was turning away and was he really going to be that dense as to let her walk away from him?

No, he decided with conviction. I've been waiting for this bloody moment for too long.

He grabbed a hold of her wrist, steering her around to face him and his breath quickened as she looked up at him, her green eyes wide with anticipation and longing.

He could see the tears adorning her beautiful green eyes and he brought his hand up, gently wiping her tears away because he just couldn't stand to see her cry, especially not because of him.

She closed her eyes at his touch, pressing her cheek into his palm, before opening them again, looking at him earnestly. He slowly closed the gap between them, keeping his eyes trained on Lily, looking for any sign that she didn't want him to proceed; he was giving her time to run away if she wanted to. But she didn't. She was looking up at him, her eyes conveying all the words she dared not speak out loud.

And he knew then. He knew then that she wanted this as much as he did.

And he could swear his heart stopped beating at the realisation and he knew then he could die happy because Lily Evans wanted him as much as he wanted her.

She held her breath as soon as his lips touched hers and James felt his heart skip a beat. And then he was kissing her and she was kissing him back, their lips moving in perfect symphony.

Her lips were blissful oblivion and she tasted faintly of strawberries, just like he had imagined she would.

Nothing could have prepared him for the glorious turmoil going on around his head at the feel of her; her hair was smoother than he had imagined and her skin felt like silk under his calloused hands. It was better than winning the Quidditch Cup, better than anything he could have imagined and he could feel himself soaring higher and higher; surely he'd wake up at any moment? Because this was too good to be true.

But she was really there and this was really happening. It had taken him seven years—seven bloody years—but he was finally kissing her. And it had been worth the wait.

He pulled away from her after a few minutes that seemed like hours and pressed his forehead against hers, relishing in the fact that he was the reason for Lily Evans' smile. A question sprung to his lips—the very same he had been itching to ask her ever since he caught sight of her in Kings Cross Station earlier that month.

"Lily—I—I need to ask you a question. And before you answer, you should know the Giant Squid isn't an option." Lily smiled as she nodded her head and James returned her smile, gathering courage for what he was about to ask her next. "Go out with me?"

"Are you sure the Giant Squid isn't an option?" she smiled, her voice full of laughter. James grinned lopsidedly as he watched Lily looking up at him, knowing her answer, but wanting to hear it anyway. "Yes."

James felt his heart soar at the sound of that glorious word and he pressed his lips against hers, not wanting the moment to end, because he was kissing Lily Evans and she was kissing him back.

He felt the rest of the world melt around them because they were all that mattered and how could he have been so stupid to think he could actually live without her?