James was relieved when term ended and the went home for the holidays. Seventh year was proving to be stressful enough without the added drama with Lily. He was looking forward to getting away from it all.

James woke up, about a week into the holidays, and lazily made his way downstairs, still half lost to the world.

"Morning mum," he greeted her, dropping a kiss to her cheek.

"Morning- aah- Sirius," he yawned.

Sirius acknowledged him with a nod.

Having helped himself to some tea, he dropped into a seat and began scanning the headlines in the Daily Prophet. None of them were managing to catch the attention of his sleep addled brain, when suddenly, his breath caught.

"Death Eater attacks in Cokesworth" the paper read.

James brain cleared up instantly at that, and his breath hitched. His heart began to pound.

'Lily.'

He had to go. He had to know. What if she was hurt? What if she was- and after how he'd been treating her. No, she couldn't be. He had to go. The world faded away as he stood up, intent on his task and a tight grip on his wand.

"James, where are you going dear? James stop, you're not even dressed! James!"

He could barely hear his mother's voice over the rush of blood in his ears as he apparated.

He reappeared in front of the doorway of a charming, run of the mill house, in a charming, run of the mill street. However, James had no time to take in his surroundings as he frantically banged on the door.

"I'm coming! Jesus!"

Lily opened the door, perfectly unharmed, and he could breathe again. James crushed her to his chest, arms imprisoning her. Her own were pushed into her sides.

"Oh thank Merlin," he murmured against her hair.

'James, what the hell?"

He ignored her.

"James, aah, I can't breathe! James!"

"Sorry!" he let her go, and took in the flush on her cheeks and the 'what the fuck?' look in her eye.

"I- I read in the Prophet that there were attacks in Cokesworth," he ruffled his hair, " and I just had to check that you were okay."

He stared at her for a long moment.

"Merlin I've been an idiot," he said before pulling her into a less crushing hug.

"Let go!" she shoved him away and glared. "Why would you care if there were attacks in my neighbourhood? I thought we weren't speaking?"

"Okay, I deserved that, but-"

"Who do you think you are? Just showing up here unannounced after ignoring me for weeks."

"I was worried about you, Lil."

"Well, you've seen that I'm fine. So you can stop worrying and piss off."

She started to head back into the house.

"Lily, no, please wait. I want to fix this."

"What's there to fix James? I admitted I had feelings, and you completely cut me off. I think I get the message. "

"Lily please. You have to know that I don't want to act like this!"

'No one's forcing you to Potter."

"Lily…"

Her demeanor softened at his pleading hazel doe (stag?) eyes. Stupid Potter.

"Look, I don't like it either, but you made your choice, and that's fine, you're entitled to that."

"But Lily I made the wrong choice!"

She frowned.

"I've been a complete idiot," he told her. "I chose Jess because I wanted to prove to myself, to you, that I wasn't that guy anymore. The one who just jumps from girl to girl and doesn't care about them. But today, when I thought you were hurt or- or-,"

"James-"

"I can't lose you Lily. Please don't let one mistake mean I've messed things up forever! I couldn't bare it if I lost you because it took me too long to come to my senses. I knew that night. I knew that I felt the same. And if you can forgive me, and still want me I'll go and break up with Jess and make sure I never do anything that stupid ever again, and we-"

She cut him off with a kiss, and threw her arms around his neck.

"I missed you so much," she whispered when they had stopped kissing and were just holding one another.

"I missed you too."

"You just had to go and complicate everything, didn't you Potter?" Lily teased, tweaking his chin affectionately.

"Well, as you have pointed out on many occasions, I can be a bit of an idiot sometimes."

"What can I say? I am always right after all."

"Okay Evans."

He cut off her rebuff with another kiss.