Once again, I'm so sorry it took a while for this chapter. But I've been so uninspired! Please send suggestions and feedback! I love everything I get, and it means so much to me.

Anyhow, everything's about to get super awkward and fun. Hope you enjoy. Please tell me with reviews!

Sirius stepped out of the back of Bertha, spreading his arms in elation. "Here we are," he exclaimed in satisfaction. "York Minster."

James stepped out from an information kiosk, his nose buried in a pamphlet. "It says here York Minster was built in 627 AD as a place to baptize some royal prick."

Sirius frowned. "I suppose it was rebuilt? Gothic architecture didn't gain popularity until the twelfth century. And this is definitely a Gothic cathedral."

James frowned at the pamphlet. "Yeah, it was burned down a couple of times." He looked up. "Where'd Lily go?"

But Sirius was too far away to hear. At the sight of his best friend alight with the joy of being near the thing he loved most, James's mouth quirked up at the corner. Poor bloke. I'm glad he won't have to stay with those plonkers again…

James ambled around, trying to catch a glimpse of Lily. Where is she? On his third trip around the cathedral, a flash of red hair caught his eye by a side altar. He strolled over to her, reluctant to disturb the peaceful Lily he saw kneeling before the statue of a lady.

"Hi, Lily," he murmured, smiling slightly when he saw her start. He gestured to the candles and altar before Lily. "Um, we're not very religious. Would you explain what all of this is?"

Lily smiled at him. "I'm not all that religious either, but my mum was." She motioned to the statue. "This is St. Cecilia," she said, gazing forlornly at the candles. "She was my mum's patron saint."

Was?

"Lily, I don't mean to pry, but, um, you talk about your mum in the past tense?"

Smooth. That made her feel really good, James.

Lily got off her knees and held out her hands to James, leading him to a pew. "Last year, the day after Sev, um, said his part, my mum and dad were in a car accident on the way to pick me up from the train in Exeter. My mum was driving, and the driver's side was hit by a man who had lost control of the brakes. She was killed instantly."

James put his hand over hers. "Lily, I am so sorry."

"My dad received severe spinal damage, and he can't walk anymore, and he obviously can't drive. So now I have to bum rides off of bums like you," she said, smiling a little and nudging him playfully.

James turned to her and smiled. "Ma'am, let me remind you that-"

James heard footsteps behind him. A hand gripped his shoulder. "Right, mate, we need to leave. Like, right now."

James turned around so quickly his neck cracked. Massaging the offending muscle, he asked, "Why?"

"I-" He frowned at the two. "Are you two holding hands?"

Lily yelped and withdrew her tiny fingers from where they had been interlaced with his. "No!" she gulped, before standing up and putting on her bomber jacket. "Why do we have to leave, Sirius? We got here not fifteen minutes ago!"

Sirius wrung his hands uncomfortably. "I was going up to the altar to see how the architect built the organ into the wall, right? But the priest left some of the wine out and I just thought-"

Lily yelped again. "You stole the communion wine?!"

Sirius looked away. "I didn't steal it! I was really thirsty, so I took a bit of a swig and the custodian caught me and he said he'd call the police, so we need to get out of here. Like, right now."

James could hear Lily muttering several unpleasant adjectives under her breath about what Sirius could do with his drinking habit. Smiling crookedly, James extended his arm to Lily and bowed. "May I escort you out, my lady?"

Sirius wiggled his eyebrows at Lily. Blushing profusely, Lily lifted her nose and headed for a side exit. Sirius held his hand to his heart and assumed an expression of extreme indignance. "I thought I was your queen."

Laughing at the expression on his best friend's face. "Fine, your highness. Let's go before the police arrive."

XXXX

Lily pulled out her phone once they had reached the street. I haven't called Mar since last night! Lily thought frantically. She must be worried sick!

Pulling her name up out of the contacts list. Lily anxiously awaited the voice of her best friend on the other side.

"Lily? Lily-blossom? Is that you?"

"Yes, Mar, it's me. I'm sorry I haven't called, I've been a bit busy, um, doing things."

"Oh, I'm sure you have, Jellybean. Is things James Potter?"

"Marlene Evelyn Lewis, you know very well that would never, ever happen!"

"Sure, sugarplum. Whatever you say. So what's your cover story?"

"There is no cover story, since nothing happened. But what we've done, if that's what you're asking, in your wonky way, is a bit on the, er, illegal side."

"I expected nothing less from James Potter."

"You knew and you didn't tell me?!"

"Lily, my star, we run the same aviation course. I have seen James Potter do everything from set fire to the professor's projector to create an elaborate trap that sent a particularly nasty exam flying out the window. When I heard you would travel with James, I knew something odd would happen. So, tell me of your dastardly deeds. Let me live vicariously through your misadventures, my darling."

"Well, I slept in a minivan that is barely comfortable enough to ride in, kidnapped Sirius from his own house, got kicked out of a cathedral because Sirius drank the communion wine, and am now standing outside a car mechanic's because this blasted minivan won't heat up in the dead on an English winter."

"It's good you're expanding your horizons, marshmallow."

"Sure, if you call expanding horizons committing felonies."

"Live while you're young, dear."

"The boys are coming back. I have to go. Love you, Marlene."

"Love you too, Lily-blossom. Call me tonight."

"I will."

Lily hung up, and as soon as she did, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to find a smiling James Potter with a Styrofoam cup in each hand.

"Here's the milkshake I owe you, Lily-flower. They didn't have caramel, so I gave it my best shot."

Lily took a cautious sip of the shake. "Mocha?" she asked, eyeing his nervous look. "That's lovely, James, thank you."

James looked elated. He turned to Sirius. "I hope the hotel is in town, because the mechanic says he won't have it finished until tomorrow."

Sirius grimaced. "It's about an hour and a half to the west. You call to cancel, and I'll look around for another place.

"Deal."

XXXX

Sirius came back about fifteen minutes later with two hotel keys in hand. "Right, so here's the dig-"

Lily eyed Sirius suspiciously. "There had better be another key in that fancy leather jacket, Black."

Sirius smiled in a fashion Lily assumed he thought was winning. "Ah, Lily dear, that's the catch. These rooms right here are the only two left in town. There's a Christmas music festival going over on the Shambles and everyone's in town to see it. I'm afraid we've caught the last two."

"Well, you and James can share, then."

Sirius smiled again. "I sleep with James every night, and there is no way I will put up with that outside of the dorm. Sorry, sister," he said, winking at her, then went running off in the direction he came from.

"SIRIUS BLACK!" Lily yowled, and began to run after him.

Behind her, James smiled at the sky. Sirius was a fast runner. He'd be in his room and absorbed in his design program by the time she made it. Shaking his head at his best friend's antics, he pulled both his dark blue suitcase and Lily's purple floral one out of Bertha's trunk, and began the long haul to Stonegate Lane.

XXXX

Lily and James both stared at the bed, arms crossed. Lily spoke first.

"There is no way I'm sleeping in there with you."

"Well, maybe there's no way I'm sleeping in there with you."

"Isn't it gentlemanly to let ladies sleep where it's comfortable?"

"It's a good thing I've never cared much for rules, then," James replied, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Rock, paper, scissors. Two out of three."

One, two three, shoot. James won with paper. Lily steeled herself, and they went again.

One, two, three, shoot. Lily won with scissors.

One, two, three, shoot. Lily won again with paper. "You get the bed, then," James said grudgingly. "I'll sleep in the bathtub."

Lily smiled crookedly. James shot a pair of sad hazel eyes her way. No, Lily, stay strong. Just because he's attractive doesn't mean-

Lily tossed a pillow and the comforter at James. "I'm taking a shower. No peeking,"

James bowed. "Now, milady, would I ever?"

XXXX

Lily was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling when James spoke for the first time.

"Lily?"

"What, Potter?"

"It's really wet in here."

Lily stayed silent.

"And my neck hurts from sleeping sitting up in Bertha."

Lily smiled, but still remained quiet.

"I'm going to be really grouchy tomorrow if I'm cold and wet. Can I please sleep in the bed?"

Lily sighed, sat up, and turned the light on, exposing her flannel sheep pajamas. "Okay, but you have to stay on your side of the bed!"

James was up and had jumped on the right side of the bed before she even finished talking. He burrowed under the covers and wiggled his eyebrows at her. "I know I can, but can you?"

"Potter, you disgust me." She turned the light off. "Good night."

"Lily?"

"What, Potter?"

"Today, at Bitterwood, when you said that I wasn't what I seemed, did you really mean it?"

Lily flipped around so she was facing him. His face was alarmingly close to hers, yet she didn't feel uncomfortable. I've never seen James without his glasses on…

"Lily?"

She studied him. "Yes, I did mean it."

He smiled softly.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Good night, James."

"Good night, Lily."