AN: There doesn't seem to be a lot here content-wise, but the stopping place was good and there was over 3,000 words and I usually like to have a max of 2500.
When the four teens arrived at the Potter Manor the place was in a frenzy. Athena, Peter and Remus were under directions from Agatha and were running all about trying to get everything ready. Lily smiled as James took her coat from her and hung it in the closet.
"We better report for duty," he said.
"I'm going to help grandfather with the punch," Sirius said as he tossed his coat inside too. "Would you like to help me, love?" He put an arm around Marlene, who rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, maybe if I get drunk enough we can come up with another plan. We can't use Lily to distract the guys if she has a wedding ring. Athena isn't completely dreadful at flirting…" she muttered.
James just laughed as Lily leaned against the wall. "I never saw it before, but they're perfect for each other. Most girls hate Sirius' charming disposition and slightly excessive drinking…"
"Slightly excessive?" Lily said as she leaned against him. "You know, if anyone can put up with that tosser, it's Marlene. She's always chasing after boys." Looping her arm through his, she rested her head on his shoulder. Right now she wanted nothing more than to go back home and curl up next to James either in bed or in front of a fireplace. Wiggling a bit she moved her hand to interlace her fingers with his and stared at her hand. "Wait, where's your ring? If I'm off the market, so are you."
James just laughed and kissed her temple. "I couldn't handle more than one girl," he said. "Besides, I didn't think you'd want to advertise it at school. I thought we'd keep it under wraps like Frank and Alice."
"We already blew the secret," Lily muttered as her eyes went over to their friends entering the room.
"What secret?" Peter questioned as she straightened his dress robes. Remus and Athena came in behind him. The former looked half-awake, while the latter looked every bit a vision of perfection in her flowing blue dress robes.
"I don't know, mate, she doesn't tell me anything." At this James lifted up their clasped hands to show them the ring on his finger. A smirk crossed his face as Lily rolled her eyes.
"Lily!" Athena shouted, running over to envelope her friend who stiffened, surprised at her usually more reserved friend's outburst. "Oh, you look beautiful, a blushing bride. Let me see the ring." Tugging James' hand free she turned over her friend's hand to view the ring. "Should have known James would choose a Gryffindor ring." She scoffed dropping the hand.
Behind Athena, Remus walked over and gave Lily a hug as well. "Congratulations, Mrs. Potter."
"Merlin, I know why Agatha insists we call her by her first name, it makes me feel ancient," Lily replied. "But thank you Remus, this whole marriage thing was sprung on me and I don't forgive you for keeping it from me."
"James informed us this morning, I was wondering why Sirius seemed a bit more barmy than usual," Remus told her. "I'm just glad that you're with him for the long haul, he needs someone like you to keep him-"
"What?" he interjected. "If you excuse me, Lily and I are going to wait by the door to greet guests."
"Actually, Marlene and Sirius will do that. Remus, Athena head to the main room and make sure that the food is set out, along with drinks. James, can you head upstairs? Your father just got in and after the day he's had, he probably doesn't want to be alone." Agatha walked over to Lily, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Take a walk with me, sweetheart."
Everyone split up to their respective parts of the house as Agatha took Lily to an empty room she guessed was used to entertain guests at some point as there were two small couches and a piano in it. Sitting down she ran a hand through her, realizing she probably looked like a disaster after all the apparating she had done.
"You look beautiful," Agatha said as she sat beside her. "I'm proud to call you my daughter."
"Thank you." Lily looked at her and tried to figure out the emotion on the older witches face. The smile she had was faltering and her eyes looked wet. "What's the matter?"
"Oh, nothing," she said. "I'm happy, so happy for the two of you I can't adequately describe it in words." Agatha wiped away the one tear that dared to fall before she spoke again. "No mother wants her seventeen year old son getting married when he still has five months left in school, but I understand."
"I wish you would have been there," Lily told her. "It was nothing special, just a civil ceremony with Sirius and Marlene as witnesses, but I know my parents…" The younger witch reached up to wipe a tear that fell as well and laughed. "We're both falling apart. Godric, I never thought it would happen, truly."
"I know." Agatha wrapped her arms around Lily and pulled her close. "There are extenuating circumstances, but I promise you that you will have a brilliant reception when James has his two week break from training. I'll get you a white dress, there'll be cake and music and dancing and so many people."
"I don't need all that," Lily said.
"Well, I want you to have it. Honestly, I didn't know if you would marry James, but I came prepared." Agatha pulled out a ring from her pocket. It was a solid gold band, the color gold similar to her own ring. "It was my father's, I knew James wouldn't think about getting a ring for himself and he should have one to wear tonight. I'm not going to try to hide the marriage from Charles' family."
Lily just nodded and clenched the ring tightly in her fist. "Thank you, for everything."
"Well, I'm just glad that he has you." Agatha hugged her again, pressing a kiss to the top of her forehead. "Remember that no one can make you feel inadequate, unless you let them."
"I know," Lily answered as she pulled away and uncurled her fist to look at the band. "I'm going to find James." Getting to her feet she inhaled a shaky breath and willed herself to remain calm. She walked around the house, passing a smile to all the early guests. It was forever before she spotted him. Rushing over she planted a kiss on his lips. "I owed you one," she said and grabbed his left hand, slipping the ring on his finger. It was perfect fit.
"What is this?"
"Mum thought you needed one." She slipped her hand in his and turned it to look at the ring.
"Mum?"
"Agatha," Lily quickly said. "I meant-"
"I know what you said." He slipped his hand free and put an arm around her shoulder, preferring this positioning as it brought her closer. "Be careful calling her that to her face, she'll burst into tears."
Lily was about to respond when James face broke into a smile. "Charlie!" He exclaimed as blonde fled to them.
"Have you seen Scott? Marlene's busy making sure Sirius isn't making a complete fool of himself..." She began to rub her temples, muttering to herself in French. "My mother is already trying to set me up with men that are practically ancient." Crossing her arms over her chest she began to mutter what Lily assumed was a string of creative curse words.
"Well, I just so happen to have a charming and polite friend. His name is Remus and if Scott doesn't come he can pretend to be your suitor." James reached out to put a comforting hand on her. She laid her hand in top if his but recoiled quickly. "Does my hand feel funny?" He took it back and watched curiously as she reached for Lily's hand.
"When did that happen?" Her worried expression shifted to one of amusement as she crossed her arms over her chest. James still looked rather confused.
"Today," Lily answered, a smirk crossing her face as she understood what she was asking. "James sprung it on me."
"She proposed a week ago," James added, finally aware of what Charlotte was referencing. "So she can't really say that I caught her off guard."
"Merlin..." Charlotte muttered as she shook her head. "Hide that ring from mother she'll be pushing that Augustus bloke on me, are you even related?
"No," James admitted. "His dad is a good friend of grandpa's. I'm glad that Lily has a ring on her finger, I didn't like how he looked at her last year."
Lily laughed and shoved his shoulder lightly. "Jealous much?" she questioned. "Besides I was flirting with him. I have a way with boys." Interlocking her hands, she leaned on James' shoulder, placing a light kiss on his cheek. "You don't have to worry about that anymore, though."
"I will always worry." He slid an arm around her waist as they continued the conversation with Charlotte. Guests were now coming in a steady stream and they were often interrupted by different people wanting to spark a conversation. Thankfully, only a few people commented on the new accessories adorning James and Lily's hands. Soon enough they were joined by the rest of the Marauders, Lily's friends and Charlotte's sister. Once that happened the drinks started flowing. James placed a cup of spiked eggnog in his and Lily's hand, while Remus managed to switch out the drink in Sirius' hand for a virgin version.
"Excuse me, miss, I am looking for a Charlotte Dumont, have you seen her anywhere? A beautiful young lady," a man said that Lily didn't quite recognize, but by the look on Marlene and Charlotte's face she knew it was none other than Scott McKinnon.
"Where have you been?" Charlotte immediately wrapped her hands around one of his biceps. "I've been hiding all night to avoid those ridiculous men my mother parades me in front of."
"Relax, Charlie." He pulled an arm around her to put her at ease. Lily took in his features that were similar to her best friends. His hair was dark, even cropped short she could see the curls beginning to form. While he cleaned up nice, she could tell by his hands that he was used to hard work, just the sort of man that Charlotte would choose. "James, a little birdie told me that there's a second Mrs. Potter in here tonight."
"Perhaps." He slung his arm around Lily, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. "Finally, convinced this one I'm not a complete tosser."
"Any tips for convincing parents?" Scott asked. "With me being transferred to France, and us moving in together it just makes sense."
"Oh, Lottie you have to let me plan your wedding or at least help with the color scheme. I'm thinking something in pastel, it looks the best with my skin tone and I am going to be your maid of honor," Nicolette began. "However, trying to make your groom presentable will be a challenge, as will finding a dress maker that's good at expanding charms…"
"Hey!" Scott and Charlotte protested.
"Is she insinuating what I-" Lily whispered to James.
"Yep," he answered. "You're just lucky she hasn't asked you how you hide it."
"James…"
"Well, it's only natural for people to assume," Athena interrupted. "Sorry," she tacked on with a shrug of her shoulder. Lily only took a swig of her eggnog, a scowl crossing her face. Of course pregnancy was the only reason she would get married at seventeen.
"As long as I'm the godfather, I don't care," Sirius interjected with a shrug of his shoulder. "Lily, love, I don't think that eggnog is the best for the baby, take my punch instead." He thrust the pink liquid into her hands, taking the mostly full cup from her with a smirk.
"Padfoot, please keep your voice down if you're going to use those type of jokes," Remus admonished, but then lowered his voice even further. "And Peter is here, if you talk any louder he'll be getting ideas and we both know he can't keep his mouth shut for long."
Eventually the group broke up and the rest of the night passed without much event. Lily spent most of the night dancing with James, occasionally with Sirius or Remus or Charles, but if anyone else tried coming near her, he played the husband card and pulled her closer as she rolled her eyes at his stunts.
Lily was sitting on the couch, talking with Marlene and Athena before they flooed home. Both of them had taken advantage of Edgar Potter's copious amounts of liquor, drinking a bit more than was safe to apparate, but were fine to enunciate their destination. As she gave each of them a hug and wished them a happy Christmas she caught James out of the corner of her eye, leaning against the wall.
"Are you tired?" he questioned.
"Fine, but I'm probably a touch more sober than you."
"I only had the eggnog," he said. "Sirius switched the drinks around so much it was like playing Russian Roulette to find the one that actually was spiked."
"You know Russian Roulette, but not-"
James had crossed the room and by now he was in front of her, placing a kiss on her lips he quieted her. "How tired are you?"
"Why?"
"Too tired to floo or apparate?"
"Charles said that we were all staying here tonight," Lily said, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "The house elves are prepping rooms for us as we speak."
"Mum said we could head back to the house if we want." He held out a hand for Lily. Once she took it, he pulled her to his feet. "She figured that we would want to be alone tonight. I know it's Christmas, but…"
"Can you apparate or should we floo?" Lily questioned, a smile playing at the edges of her lips. James looked a bit surprised and kissed her once more. "This'll be the last time for a while that we're really going to be alone with no interruptions."
"Yeah, let's floo so we won't have to bother with coats." He wrapped a hand around her wrist her and tugged her towards the fireplace, Lily practically giggling as he grabbed a handful of floo powder and said, "Potter house."
They both were a bit tipsy from the alcohol they consumed, in conjunction with being so tired everything seemed like a joke. It was Lily's turn to lead and she pulled him upstairs to her room, taking out her wand to lock the door. "Just in case," she said as she pulled the pins holding curls away from her face. They fell in a wild cloud, frizzy hairs resembling a halo in the dim light. "Let me do that," she said when James fumbled with his bowtie. In one swift move it was off and her nimble fingers moved to his buttons.
"I've never seen this Lily," he said.
"You don't know nothin' yet." She laughed again as she finished the shirt and realized his suit jacket was still on. He shrugged that and the button up off, standing in front of her in a white t-shirt. "Merlin, why is this taking so long?" Her hands fumbled with his belt and it was James turn to throw back his head in laughter as he helped her.
Once his pants were off he stopped Lily from hooking her thumbs in his boxers. "Your turn," he said. She didn't turn around, but he wrapped his arms around her, feeling for the zipper. Soon enough it was in a puddle at her feet.
Stepping out of it she tugged at the hem of his t-shirt. They both paused, breathing deeply as the looked over each other, savoring the moment. It was always a frenzied rush where awkward moments seemed inevitable as their limbs tangled together, mouths mashed against each other and hands tugged at shirt hems or waistbands. If, by some miracle, things went smoothly they would be in the middle of heavy snogging when there was a knock on the door by Sirius or a first year or a prefect. Of course they would get impatient, pounding on the door harder as they were in the middle of getting dressed and they would look embarrassed when they saw James' messier-than-usual-hair and askew glasses accompanied by Lily with swollen lips and a rumpled uniform. This, however, was different.
James looked her over, seeing every inch of her body. Pale skin seemed to glow even with the bad lighting. Her breasts swelled ever so slightly over the top her bra, scantily cut underwear showcased hipbones.
Lily smiled as she rested a hand on his chest. The hours of Quidditch practice left him with defined muscles on his stomach and arms, but it was in such away that he remained lean and not overly burly. Her perusal was cut short by James grabbing her around the waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hopping up to wrap her legs around his waist. He carried her the short distance, setting her on the bed. Giving her a smile as he looked at her, dark red hair splayed across the bed, arms out with a wide smile on her face. Positioning one leg on either side of her, he leaned down giving her a kiss, his mouth wandering further south resting on her collarbone.
"This is going to get in the way." He tugged at the edges of her bra and continued his kisses stopping in between her breasts, right before he hit the material.
"Well, this is in my way." She hooked fingers around the waistband of his boxers. James pushed her hands away and gave her a smirk. Lily narrowed her eyes at him, propping herself up on her elbows. "Don't I get any say?"
"Of course you do, Mrs. Potter." He smirked, leaning in to kiss her again.
"You're insufferable and I love you." Her hands went back to his waist, as he reached behind her. It was an awkward tangle of limbs as they removed the final articles of clothing. Lily, though, would not have traded it for the world. James Potter was hers and she was his.
AN, again: Please review! I want to know if you like the direction the story is heading, and if you think the characters/plot is believable. I get that it's starting to stretch a bit, but you'll understand even more once they get back to Hogwarts.