Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I'm just playing in her world.

A/N: I love this era so much. (: For anyone wondering, everyone in this is from the canon world.

Title: Pep Talks
Genre: Angst
Rating: K
Warning: Reality (scary stuff, you know. Some people can't handle it).
Pairing/Character: Lily/James, Mad-Eye, Marauders, Some of Order.
Word Count: 279

The Order stood in one of the small room's above the Hog's Head, awaiting Moody's instructions.

James' arms were around Lily's waist, who leant into his touch and rested a hand softly on his arm. Sirius and Remus were frowning, biting their lips. Peter was chewing his nails. Alice and Frank were holding hands. Gideon and Fabion were leaning against the wall, their arms crossed. Marlene, Caradoc and Emmeline were pacing nervously. No one else was asked to come to that meeting.

Moody hobbled in, Aberforth wishing them well before disappearing, and he closed the door, his magical eye examining each person individually. The three eldest in the room stopped pacing and turned to face him, their heads held high. James' grip of Lily's waist tightened as the eye fixed on them, and Lily cowered, pressing into his chest.

"This isn't training any more, guys," Mad-Eye said gruffly. "This is the real deal … you may never come back."

"Alastor, we're not kids any more," Emmeline said softly.

This earned a snort from the Prewitt twins. "Speak for yourself," they said in unison.

Sirius chuckled slightly, and the corner's of James' mouth twitched, but no one found it extremely funny. The impact of the war was heavy on their shoulders, and none of them were in the mood to laugh.

Lily looked up at James with nothing but unconditional love and concern in her emerald eyes. His own eyelids fluttered closed as he pressed his lips against her forehead. The war was no laughing matter, they knew that.

"This isn't training any more, guys. This is the real deal ... you may never come back." ~ "[name], we're not kids any more." - X-Men 3.

A/N: So, the next one in my document is horrible. I can honestly say that I hate it and I'm ashamed to have written it. Will not be posting it. The one after that, however, is alright. Expect more Lily/James (:

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