AN: This chapter was a bit more fun to write, less sad, but there is a bit of anger. James and Lily sort of got out of hand and made me wonder if my rating should be upped. Nothing too bad, but let's just say they don't want to keep their hands to themselves.

The next day Lily awoke with the sun. She walked past James' bedroom and wanted nothing more than to slip in beside him. Both Charles and Agatha were gone, so now was there to interrupt him besides Sirius and he could be combated with a silencing spell and locking charm. After standing in the hallway for a few moments she decided against it. James was grumpy in the morning and she knew he would be in a better mood if she was accompanied by some chocolate biscuits and an extra sweet cup of tea.

Lily bounded down the steps, halting at the final one when she saw the scene. Sirius was awake. It wasn't even eight yet and he was out of bed. "Hullo," she said softly as she walked into the kitchen area. Mopsy was already there, wringing her hands and hiding behind the extra tall counter. "What's going on?" she whispered, getting to the height of the house elf.

"Miss Agatha said that you were sad, Mopsy was going to make a special breakfast, but Mister Sirius was here...He yelled at Mopsy, did Mopsy do something wrong?"

"No," Lily said and hugged the small elf in her arms. "I'll take care of Sirius, you find something else to do, alright?" Lily questioned. The elf merely nodded, took a step back and disappeared with the snap of her fingers. With a sigh the young witch filled the kettle and put it on the stove. "Would you like a cup Sirius?"

"No," he muttered.

"I'm famished, would you care for some eggs?"

"No."

"Fruit? Biscuits?"

"God damnit!" Sirius slapped his hands against the table and Lily jumped back against the cabinet. Shocked by his anger and choice of a mostly muggle curse. "Can you just shut up for five minutes?"

"Are you mad about yesterday? I know I sort of hogged James, but I was a mess-"

"You think I'm that childish that I care if you shag my best mate? That I can't be alone for five fucking minutes? Huh?"

"What in Merlin's name is wrong with you?" Lily shouted. "I'm trying to be a friend and you never speak to me like this."

"Lily, go whine to your boyfriend."

She pursed her lips and marched over to the kitchen table, standing in front of him. "I know you're used to people playing into this delinquent image, but I know how you are Sirius and I'm going to stay here until you tell me."

"Sod off," he said and got to his feet. Lily grabbed his arm. "Let go or-"

"You'll what? You're just like James in some respects, you would never-"

"I just want to be alone, alright?"

"James is going to be just as adamant as me." Lily released his arm and perched herself on the one of the chairs. As she sat down she eyed the single sheet of parchment resting beside a large ivory envelope.

"As much as you hate to hear this, there is a difference between you and James. He's my brother and you're the girl he's shagging." Sirius laughed. "I know you think you're something special to him, but a year ago he was going to forget about you. Then you showed up on his doorstep, poor pathetic Lily. He's always had a soft spot for pretty vulnerable girls." His mouth twisted into a smirk and Lily remembered her argument with Regulus all those months ago…

"This isn't you, please, Sirius I'm your friend."

"Just because I got drunk with you once, doesn't make us buddy-buddy. I've gotten drunk with every guy on the Quidditch team and I don't want to pour my heart out to them."

"Just tell me what the letter says." Lily pointed to the parchment on the table. "I'll tell you a secret, it's not really a secret, but...You know my sister's wedding is in less than a month and I didn't know it was happening."

"I'll top it," Sirius muttered and reached for the letter, waving it in the air. "My Uncle Alphrad died a month and a half ago. Regulus didn't even have the decency to tell it to my face." He let out a bitter laugh as she slapped the letter on the table. "Jokes on him though, my Uncle Alphrad left me his entire inheritance, all the money he has. I didn't get any of his precious antiques or the estate that I know mummy would fight over, but he left me every last knut he had in the bank."

"Sirius…." Lily began, but was lost for words. Instead she stepped forward with open arms and awkwardly placed them around him.

"No." He pushed away from her and stomped up the stairs.

Lily frowned and wrapped her arms around herself. The tea kettle began whistling on the stove, pulling her out of thought. After yesterday her mind was all befuddled and dealing with a furious Sirius wasn't exactly what she wanted to deal with. As she prepared the tea she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. "If it'll put you in a good mood, I'll spike the tea as long as you provide the booze."

"Just cream for me," a voice still rough from sleep called out.

"James," Lily said with a smile. "Did Sirius and I wake you?" She averted her eyes, seeing him in his boxers and an ancient t-shirt littered with tiny holes.

"No, the tea kettle did. I've learned to tune him out." James chuckled as he took a step forward. "Why aren't you looking at me, I've seen you in less."

"You look ridiculous." Lily handed him a cup of tea. "I'm surprised that shirt isn't in the rag pile." She rolled her eyes and lifted herself up on the counter.

"Why would Sirius and you talking wake me up?"

"We were having a shouting match," she muttered. "You should talk with him. He's having a hard time." Lily poured herself a cup of tea and wrapped her hands around it. "Apparently his uncle died a month and a half ago, and he found out this morning after he got a copy of the will from his Uncle's lawyers."

"Shit." James slammed the cup on the counter, tea sloshing everywhere. "It was Alphard wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Alphard and Andromeda are the last members of his family that still treat him decently." He shook his head and then looked at Lily. "Listen, forget anything he's said to you. When Sirius is upset he either will make a joke out of everything or be so act so angry that he won't stop until you feel just as bad as him."

James walked over and kissed her quickly before heading back upstairs, leaving Lily to drink her tea in solitude.

Two days later James and Lily had the house to themselves. Sirius had been invited to his cousin Andromeda's house for a week or so, and Agatha had been called away to conference in France. The pair didn't know when Charles was coming home, with a new wave of attacks he was getting called away at all hours of the day and night.

Lily had just stepped out of the shower, dressed in a flimsy night gown that was damp at the shoulders from the loose braid her hair was in. Turning the light in the bathroom off she headed down the darkened hallway to her bedroom. At one time the room seemed inviting, now it seemed rather lonely. With a frown she backed out, not even bothering to turn off the light. There was no way she could handle being alone again. The night after visiting the cemetery she did want to curl up by herself, the next night when she wanted James, him and Sirius were off gallivanting much to the dismay of Charles and Agatha.

The door was slightly ajar and she knocked once before entering. "Could you use some company?" She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door frame.

"Always," he replied as he set down the novel he had been reading moments prior. "What do I owe this pleasure? You've been going to bed early."

"My room is lonely and your bed looks more inviting." She walked over and sat at the end of his bed, folding her legs beneath her.

"Lily…" He sat up all the way and leaned closer to her. "Don't tempt me."

"You're mum is gone and Charles doesn't care," she said. "It's hard being by myself."

"You sleep alone at school all the time." He moved across the bed to sit beside her.

"The room has three other girls," she said. "We slept together over Winter Holiday and it was nice."

"But-"

She turned her body and then pulled him closer to her, planting a kiss on his lips. "I thought I fell in love with a sinner."

"Merlin," he muttered and placed a hand on the back of her head, the other on her upper thigh. "If mum finds out..."

"I'm fine with just snogging," Lily said, pulling her lips only a centimeter away from his.

"Just when I think I know you…" He moved both hands to her shoulders and she let out a shriek as he collasped against the bed, with her sprawled across his chest. "Is that sinful enough for you?"

"Mmmhmm…" her mouth was already on his, hands on either side of his head. James' hands rested on the small of her back pulling her even closer than she already was. As she moved her legs to straddle him, he sat up and she struggled to maintain their kiss, eventually giving up with a short laugh. Lily's hands traveled south resting on his hip bones before pulling on the hem of his shirt.

"Are you sure this is the girl that blushed at my boxers?"

Lily's hands tensed around his biceps as her body stiffened. She looked behind her and moved one hand to his mouth. "Shut it."

He pulled it away. "What's the matter?"

"I think you're dad's home, didn't you hear the floo?"

"No," he said as Lily scrambled off of him. They both heard footsteps on the stairs as James tried to put his shirt back on, happy that Lily didn't get too carried away.

"James, is that you?" Charles called out as he entered the upstairs. He saw the light flicker and went he looked into his son's room he saw the petite shape of Lily on the spare bed, James stepped forward. "What's going on?"

"Lily came in here to read, she fell asleep," he lied.

"Is that why the light flickered?"

"It was the bathroom light," he covered.

"I see." Charles sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't have the patience for your games. Listen, I expected you two to take advantage of an empty house. I won't tell Agatha, but don't try to fool me, I'm not stupid. Lily is dreadful at faking sleeping, your hair looks like you've discovered electricity and your shirt's on backwards." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I was young once, you two are adults. Just don't be so obvious next time." Charles patted his son on the shoulder before turning on his heel towards his bedroom, but then stopped and turned his head. "If Agatha finds out somehow, I absolutely do not condone this behavior and gave both of you a stern lecture. Understood?"

James did a mock salute and smirked at his father.

"Lily?"

The young witch was glad for the cover of darkness, her face burning. "Understood, good night Mr. Potter."

"It's Charles and please shut the door for Godric's sake."

James did just that before walking over to his bed and flipping on the light. Lily stared at him, cheeks tinged with color. "That was mortifying."

"It's my dad, you heard him he doesn't care."

"He probably assumes I've shagged you and half the guys at school loads of times with how we acted," she muttered.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, come here." He patted the side of the bed and she walked over slipping beneath his arm. "Besides, have you heard the rumors about me?"

"You're a bloke, it's different." She sighed. "If I'm virgin, I'm a prude, but if I have sex I'm a tart."

"Says who?"

"Have you heard Sirius talk? Don't pretend you're any different." Lily frowned and hugged him tighter. "I didn't intend to come in here and do...this, but when I'm with you…" She looked at him. "It just happens, it feels natural...I probably sound like one of Marlene's soppy romance novels."

"I know what you mean." James laughed a bit. "You've changed, though, you used to blush when I kissed your cheek."

"You make me sound like some innocent schoolgirl. You saw me shirtless before I got to see any of you."

"I'll show you whatever you want." He wiggled his eyebrows, and Lily laughed wondering how long he practiced that in front of the mirror.

"Can we just sleep? We can do the other stuff when Agatha leaves for work and Sirius is distracted, but when she comes home…"

"Such a prude," he teased.

Lily pulled away smacking his arm before grabbing his hand to tug him to the top of the bed. They wiggled underneath the covers. Lily tried to turn away and make plenty of room, but James pulled her close, molding her body to his. As she drifted off to sleep her last thought was a wish that every night could be like this.