A/N: Keep those votes coming in, there is still a little bit of time left! It looks like the character will be coming into the story sooner than chapter 40 at this rate. (We have now skipped ahead about 2-2.5 years). In the next couple of chapters, you guys aren't going to like Lily very much (I don't like her very much either, though I can understand her… fear…). Anyways, read. Enjoy and know I am done up to chapter 37 and will start chapter 38 tonight (Oct 4th).

Disc.: Standard "I didn't create it" disclaimer.

A Death

It was raining, the sky dark with the threatening storm. She looked up, blinking away the rain from her eyes. She had left her umbrella at work the previous night, not having needed the night before. She sighed, ducking into the bus stop quickly, glancing at the route map distractedly. She couldn't explain it, but she had a feeling deep rooted within her that things were about to change.

"How many tonight, Shanna?" she said as she placed her purse in her drawer. An older dumpy witch with a shock of white, sparse hair looked up with a haggard look to her face. Tiny gold rim glasses balanced precariously on the end of a long, pointy nose.

"Just four, but Mr. Longbottom's taking a turn for the worse," Shanna said shaking her head. "So many years under such mental conditions, I'm surprised he made it this long. I've already sent an owl to the family."

"Thanks, Shanna," she said.

"Lily, honey, have you been sleeping?" Shanna asked. The woman laughed, shaking out the rain from her dark auburn colored curls.

"My dad asked you to ask?" Lily teased as she clipped her name tag to her shirt.

"He worries," Shanna said as she gathered up some files.

"I'm twenty years old," Lily protested lightly. "I think I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that," Shanna said as she handed the files to Lily. "How's Scorpius?"

"Scorpius and I are fine," Lily laughed. "You've got to quit playing spy for my father."

"He worries," Shanna said. "You're going to give your old man a heart attack. You need to go see him."

"I will, I will," Lily huffed.

"Call your father and spend some time with him," Shanna pressed. "Go to Sunday supper. It's time to stop avoiding him so much."

"I'm not avoiding my father," Lily protested. Shanna patted Lily's arm and sighed.

"What I wouldn't have done to have a daughter like you, Lily," Shanna said. She started to walk away. "Marshall will relieve you at six."

"Good night, Shanna," Lily called as she headed toward the Critical Curse Unit's west ward. She smiled as she checked on her patients, one by one, and noted in their charts. She wasn't a fan of the night shift, but it worked well for her choice of life. It was easier to avoid her family and friends when she worked opposite of their shifts.

"I've three flowers," Mrs. Longbottom said. Lily broke into a grin. The poor old woman was holding a balled up tissue.

"You certainly do, Miss Alice," Lily said. "How are you feeling today?"

"I think pancakes, definitely pancakes," Alice said as she never quite made eye contact with Lily. Lily nodded.

"And syrup?" Lily asked.

"Gnomes, mainly," Alice said. Lily nodded and finished making her notes. Lily handed Alice a little carton of milk. The woman giggled like a little girl and scrambled to her bed.

"Goodnight, Miss Alice," Lily said. She headed to the second bed, the man wasting away before her eyes. Lily touched the brow of the man. "Hello there, Frank. How are you today? Did day shift treat you well?"

The man was silent, his eyes closed. He didn't react to Lily's words or touch. Lily felt his forehead with the back of her hand. It was less precise than just waving her wand over him and knowing his stats, which she would do, but she knew that touch was more personal and people like Mr. Longbottom deserved a little human interaction. Not that he didn't get it, his son came often to visit, as often as he could, and would bring along his wife and children, both who were now married with their own children.

"I'll bring you something for the pain, Frank," Lily whispered as she waved her wand over him like a hand held scanner. She tapped her page with her wand, the numbers immediately filling in on their boxes. Lily had been doing this now a year, working the night shift. In the beginning, she worried a little that it would affect her relationship with everyone, especially Scorpius. Lily laughed mirthlessly as she took her seat at the circular desk.

The relationship was one in the weakest sense of the word. They were still technically dating in the sense that she still called him boyfriend and he called her girlfriend. They maybe saw each other once a week, most times in passing. Lily wasn't ready to throw in the towel yet, not when she still had some fight in her left. They were committed to make it work, even though the odds were stacked against them. Lily gathered her supplies and headed in to Mr. Longbottom, easing his pain with a bit of IV potion. The rest of her patients were calm, sleeping, and it gave Lily plenty of time to work on her charts and just think.

It frustrated her slightly still that no one, not her father, brothers, or Auror friends, told her anything about the dangers that she knew that they were facing and fighting. She had to pretend that it didn't bother her when Scorpius would leave at the drop of a hat, disappear for weeks without word, and show back up as if he had never left. It was a bitter cycle, constantly repeating. She knew that Kate and Maggie, James' bride, handled it fairly well. Kate was already the mother to Tina, the cute little thing was already two and a half, and pregnant again; Maggie had a little boy named Petri, the one year old clone of James. Lily sat back, thinking. Rose was already married, as well, shortly before James had been married to a fellow Auror, Billy Meyers. She was expecting her first child. Hugo and his new bride, Sara, were actively trying for their first child.

"Damn Aurors," Lily said crossing her arms. Her voice sounded loud though she knew that it wasn't really that loud. It was part of running the night shift. She sighed. Everyone she knew that had become an Auror had run off and gotten married, sans Scorpius and Damon. She sighed and continued to work her shift. They all knew something that the rest of the wizarding world didn't and were in a hurry to start their families. Marriage and family, two things Lily did not want out of life.

Promptly at six in the morning, Marshall arrived to start the day shift. He grinned at Lily, his goofy grin plastered on his face. They were the same age, having gone through the accelerated program at WHI. He shook the rain out of his hair.

"Good morning Lily," Marshall said. "How's Frank today?"

"Not well, not at all," Lily said as she frowned slightly. "Shanna contacted the Longbottoms and told them that Frank probably doesn't have much time."

"Man, that sucks," Marshall said as he began to flip through the charts from the night. He laughed lightly. "I see Alice is the same. Sad to say that maybe it's best that she's not totally clear as to what is happening to Frank."

"I was thinking the same thing last night," Lily said as she gathered her belongings.

"It's raining still," Marshall said as he nodded at her umbrella.

"Oh, thanks," Lily said grinning. She grabbed the umbrella leaning against the counter.

"You're welcome," he laughed. "I left mine here, too."

"It explains the rain," Lily teased lightly. "You will call me, won't you?"

"When Frank passes?" Marshall confirmed.

"Yes," Lily said.

"I will call, though I hope he doesn't go on my shift," Marshall said as he ran his fingers through his sandy brown hair. "I hate when the long timers pass on my shift."

"Paperwork?" Lily asked lightly. Marshall broke into a big grin.

"Yeah, well, you know I never did like that aspect of being a Healer," Marshall said shrugging. Lily rolled her eyes, laughing and nodded.

"Have a good day, Marsh," Lily said as she began to walk away.

"You too, Lils," he called in a laughing voice as he gathered his charts. She heard him say brightly, "Good morning, Miss Alice!"

Lily struggled with a brown paper sack of groceries, precariously balancing it on her knee as she struggled to keep Tina by her side. She shoved the door open, practically spilling the groceries and Tina raced into the apartment, running right over to the piano. The discordant sounds of many keys being mashed over and over filled the apartment. Lily grinned as she carried the groceries into the kitchen.

"That's beautiful, Tina," Lily told the girl as she began to unpack her groceries and put them away in the cupboards. She had picked Tina up at Kate's request since Albus was coming home and the two wanted a little couple time.

"Cookie," Tina said as she jumped off the bench and ran into the kitchen. Lily reached into the cookie jar she had just for Tina's visits.

"Don't tell your mum and dad," Lily told her as Tina took the cookie. The two of them had spent the better part of the morning together, and Lily knew that Kate would be by in a few hours to pick the child up.

Lily sat at the piano, Tina by her side, as she played. Occasionally Tina would mash a key with her chocolate covered fingers. Lily enjoyed spending time with her niece, playing the piano. The two of them usually got together once a week, though it was during the day when most normal people were at work. It helped Kate out, Tina and Lily played together, and Lily avoided the big family functions at her Dad's house.

The buzzer startled them both, Lily glancing at the clock. Lily flicked her wand to the door as she jumped up and grabbed Tina, hauling her into the kitchen. Lily deftly placed Tina on the counter and wetted a paper towel, cleaning Tina's face and hands as she heard movement in the living room.

"Lily?" a concerned Scorpius called out.

"In the kitchen," Lily called out in a sing-song way as she tossed the paper towel in the trashcan. Scorpius found her standing there, Tina on her hip while she poured a cup of apple juice for her niece.

"You shouldn't leave your door unlocked, and set it to open without you being on your guard, Lils," Scorpius told her as Lily placed Tina down with the spill proof cup. "Even if you are trying to avoid getting in trouble with Kate for allowing Tina to have chocolate chip cookies."

"How did you know?" Lily said frowning as she inspected the pristine Tina.

"You have a chocolate hand print about Tina's sized hand on your shirt," Scorpius smirked. Lily looked down and sure enough there was a hand print on her shirt. She laughed and pulled the shirt off, throwing it into her washing machine without a second thought. She grabbed a sweat shirt from the dryer and put it on, glancing at Scorpius.

"What?" she asked.

"I just never seem to get over how beautiful you are," Scorpius said grinning. Lily rolled her eyes but laughed.

"Good to know that you're not quite tired of me yet," Lily teased.

"Not quite," he smirked as he kissed her. Tina giggled loudly as she skidded into the room, holding up her empty, topless cup. Lily groaned and grabbed the paper towels, knowing that Tina had taken the top off and spilled it. Sure enough, there was a puddle of apple juice dripping off the coffee table and on to the carpet. Lily was in the middle of cleaning it up when Kate arrived, big as a house.

"Sippy cup crisis?" Kate asked. "Did you spank her?"

"No," Lily said as she tossed the soggy paper towel in the garbage.

"You should have," Kate told her as Scorpius carried Tina in to the living room. "Oh, hello Scorpius."

"You're looking lovely, Kate," Scorpius said as he placed Tina on the floor.

"Mummy!" Tina squealed. She wrapped her arms around Kate's legs.

"Did you have fun with Aunt Lily?" Kate asked.

"Uh-huh," Tina said nodding. She giggled and tried to climb up Scorpius.

"Dad wants you guys to come to dinner," Kate said. "Are you free, Scorpius?"

"I'd be delighted," Scorpius said. Lily groaned.

"It's not an accident you're here when Kate's picking up Tina, is it?" Lily accused. Kate and Scorpius looked at each other with intense innocent looks on their faces.

"Gee, Lily," Kate said.

"Paranoid much, love?" Scorpius asked as he slid his arm around her waist.

"So, you'll be there, yes?" Kate asked Lily. She grinned at Lily, scooping Tina up in her arms.

"Yes," Lily sighed. Kate cheered.

"Dad'll be so happy to hear," Kate said as she picked up Tina's bag. She sniffed the girl slightly and groaned. "You gave her a chocolate chip cookie, didn't you?"

"I cleaned it up off her," Lily said frowning. "How did you know?"

"Pregnancy makes my sense of smell more sensitive," Kate said. She laughed.

"Well, as Tina's aunt, I can spoil her," Lily said in defense. Kate laughed again as the phone rang. Lily rolled her eyes and went to pick up the phone.

"See you on Sunday," Kate said as she waved and left.

"Potter here," Lily said as she picked up the phone.

"Lily, hey, it's Marshall," the voice on the other end said.

"Hey, Marshall, what's up?" Lily asked as she began picking a few things Tina had taken out.

"I just wanted to let you know that Frank Longbottom passed away," Marshall said quietly. Lily froze for a moment. She had known it was coming, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon. "Lils, are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Lily said. "I just honestly didn't think it would be so soon."

"Me neither," Marshall said.

"Was he alone?" Lily asked.

"No, Neville and his family were here," Marshall said. Lily sighed.

"Well, that is good that they were there to say their good-byes," Lily said sadly.

"Are you ok? Do you want me to come by?" Marshall offered almost hopefully.

"No, that's ok," Lily said. "Scorpius is here with me."

"Good bye Marshall," Scorpius called loudly. Marshall groaned in to the phone.

"If you need anything, Lils, give me a call," Marshall said quickly before he hung up. Lily put the receiver down and looked at Scorpius, her hands on her hips.

"You know I don't like him much," Scorpius said.

"He's my coworker," Lily assured him.

"Yeah, but you are blind when it comes to when people really want to be more than just friends," Scorpius told her gently. "Or boyfriends."

"Huh?" Lily said quietly. Scorpius groaned but didn't push it.

"So, what did Healer Marshall Clocks want?" Scorpius said with a tone of attitude to his voice.

"He wanted to let me know that Frank Longbottom passed away," Lily said. Scorpius' face softened and he hugged her.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Lils. I know that has to be hard," Scorpius said as he held her tightly against him. He kissed the side of her neck. "I know we've not gotten to see each other enough, and it seems like we will get to spend more time with each other soon."

"Sure, sure," Lily said. "Like I've not heard that before."

"I mean it this time," Scorpius said. He grinned at her. "I could think of a way we'd never be apart."

"I am not joining the Aurors," Lily said as she shook her head.

"We could always get married," Scorpius said lightly. Lily rolled her eyes. She had heard that plenty of times, too.

"Why don't we go spend some more alone time in the room," Lily said grinning. She kissed him slightly.

"Are there more of those to come?" Scorpius asked smirking as Lily pulled away from him slightly. She began to walk towards the bedroom.

"Why don't you come and find out," Lily taunted with a grin.

Lily and Scorpius headed into the house, Lily more reluctantly than Scorpius and he practically had to drag her by her hand. The house was loud, full of people. James threw his arms around Lily at once, thrilled to see his baby sister after rarely seeing her. They never crossed paths, even living in the same building. Lily rolled her eyes when her dad hugged her. They all sat down to eat dinner, James' son and Albus' daughter sitting in their high chairs.

"So, Scorpius, when are you going to make an honest woman of my sister?" Albus teased. Lily started coughing.

"Smooth Al, nice," Scorpius said smirking as he patted Lily on the back.

"Yeah, you know Lily has no intention of ever getting saddled with anyone," James taunted. Lily threw a roll at her brother, it bouncing of his head. Tina and Petri laughed hysterically, spraying food.

"Way to go, Lily," Kate grumbled as Tina threw her roll at Petri.

"So, you guys are having a boy?" Lily asked Kate, changing the subject.

"A girl, actually," Albus said as he continued to eat. He looked back at Lily. "So, really, Lily. We know that Scorpius has asked you a few times, why do you keep denying us a chance at him for a brother in law?"

"That's rather personal," Lily said shrugging. The others looked at her, expectantly. Lily rolled her eyes. "You guys know, I am not family material."

"We're not talking about starting a family," Harry said quietly. "You and Scorpius love each other, don't you?"

"Dad, this isn't exactly the time or place to talk about this," Lily said blushing furiously. She glanced at Scorpius, frowning. He sighed so that only she could hear him.

"I hate to do this, but Lily and I have to meet with Madame Fuchsine in a bit," Scorpius said as he glanced at his watch. "I didn't realize how late it had gotten."

"Oh, yeah, no problem," Harry said as Lily had started to clear her plate from the table. He stood and hugged Lily before she put her jacket on. "You guys will come back again, right?"

"Sure, Dad," Lily said unconvincingly. Harry looked at Scorpius.

"Yeah, no problem, Dad," Scorpius said as he took Lily's hand. The two of them left the house in a hurry.

"I can't believe that they did that to us," Lily snarled as she slammed her keys down on the counter of the kitchen.

"Lily, don't be mad at them," Scorpius said quietly. "They just don't understand how I could have asked you to marry me so many times and still, you say no. I mean, we're in love aren't we?"

"Of course we are," Lily said as she looked at him.

"But not enough to get married?" Scorpius said lightly.

"I told you that I'm not marriage material," Lily sighed. Scorpius nodded.

"Yeah, you did tell me that," he said as his fingers touched her face. "I can still dream. Hope."

"You dream about marriage?" Lily asked as he linked his fingers with hers. He traced her finger lightly with his, drawing an imaginary ring on her finger.

"I dream about it, yeah," Scorpius said. "I hope to change your mind. The idea of waking up next to you for the rest of my life excites me."

"We wake up next to each other most mornings as it is, the ones where we're both not busy or working or whatever," Lily said. Scorpius pulled her by her hand toward the bedroom.

"Still, it'd be nice to call you Mrs. Malfoy," Scorpius breathed in her ear.

"Keep dreaming," Lily laughed. Scorpius rolled his eyes and closed the bedroom door behind them.