AN: Okay, so I was surprised that I got a pretty even amount of people wanting a canon ending and a fix-it fic. Also a good number of people suggested both and I think I will be doing that because it was honestly difficult for me to decide as well. So as of now...both! Because both is good!

Thanks again as always and thank you so much for everyone taking time to tell me their preference!

James was practically dying to talk with Lily but it turned out he had a mission that needed seeing to the next day. Instead he had to wait a full week before finally being able to sit down with her.

Well actually it was more like standing and walking back and forth as he watched her do her job.

Despite the fact that it was in the dead of winter, the ice cream shop was still open and those unafraid of the cold still occasionally came in to get a scoop. It was probably the lack of customers that kept Lily from yelling at James to leave.

"Will you just calm down? You're like an excited puppy," Lily sighed with a roll of her eyes. "You've told me again and again, the same thing but with different words."

"I can't help it alright? I'm just so god damn proud of him! I mean, what he did, I know it tore him up inside but I'm so shocked that he was able to do it. And Christ! Little Roxy comforting him and everything! She's utterly adorable! Did I tell you about the shrunken that we got her? I told you about the shrunken didn't I?"

"Yes you did!" cried out Lily with an exasperated sigh. "You're acting like you're in a romantic comedy!"

"And that's a bad thing?"

"If I have to be that one side character who's only plot point is to allow the main character to gush then yes," shot back Lily as she walked back to the cash register and opened it.

As she took out all the money, James gave her a pointed look. "What are you doing? Finally getting fed up with societal roles and just taking all the money for yourself?"

"I'm counting it asshole. It's closing time."

"What!" James' head whipped towards the clock. "It can't be that time!"

"Of course it's that time. You've been here all day and the only time you haven't talked about Alastair or Roxy is when you've talked about being hungry which is your own damn fault because you didn't have any money on you and you wouldn't leave me alone long enough to just go home," replied Lily with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh yeah. Want to have dinner?"

"Something tells me if I say no you'll just follow me to my apartment."

"You do live across the hall from me."

"Well I have been thinking about moving…"

"Oh don't be like that Lily!" whined James as he followed her out of the store. She'd zipped her coat up and threw on her scarf, locking up right after. The lights remained on to hopefully deter unwanted guests.

Only the street lights and windows from neighboring buildings illuminated their way as they walked through the quiet streets, clouds creating a black sky.

James' voice broke the silence however as he said, "But no! I did such a good job with the present! You know, the dog!? You should have seen his face! He was so happy and Julia and him fit together perfectly right away! And Roxy thought she was so cute!"

"I was there idiot," Lily replied as she rolled her eyes and bumped into James' shoulder. "You do realize that he could come out of this and decide he doesn't want to date you right?"

"I could care less about that!"

Lily looked at James curiously as she saw only honesty in his face. "I know you're one of the most selfless people I know but do you seriously mean it?"

"How could I not? I just want him to be happy. To be healthy! And if I had any doubts that the environment he was living in wasn't healthy beforehand then Christmas Eve utterly destroyed them! All I need is for Alastair to feel safe, to be himself. I mean, as much as it would hurt, if I had to choose between seeing him and him being happy then I would never see him for the rest of my days."

James said it all with utter honesty and innocence, his hands waving about and face earnest. It made Lily realize something that she simply had to voice.

"You know how I once told you that heartache is painful but if you're one of the strong ones you can get over it?"

"Yeah."

"Well if this doesn't play out the exact way you're hoping for then you're never getting over this."

Frowning, James muttered sarcastically, "Well thanks for that."

"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Lily quickly replied. "I mean that if there are such things as soul mates then holy hell Alastair is yours. Don't know if he's yours, which is the sucky part, but I honestly can't ever see you falling out of love with that man. Which would be bad except for the fact that you're somehow mature enough to simply relish in the moments when he's happy."

"What do you mean somehow?"

"Hey! Just focus on the compliments alright? You care so much for Alastair it would be sickening if it wasn't so refreshing. All those people our age and teens that you see being extra lovey dovey and who are always saying they'll be with each other forever? Lies, fakers, whatever you want to call them it just doesn't work and it's probably because every love story on TV is like that which isn't realistic. Yet if you were to say you'd jump in front of a bullet for Alastair, I'm pretty sure you'd actually mean it!"

What the hell were you even thinking!

You didn't have your bullet proof suit on! I was thinking that if I didn't do anything you could be a goner but if I stepped in then at least my suit would stop the bullet.

You still shouldn't have done it Lancelot! You could have endangered both our lives!

And yet I saved us both. You know most people would just say thank you Perci-cical.

Don't call me that. And…thank you. Even if it was—

"James!"

"Huh! What!?"

"You were out of it for nearly a minute man. Come on. If I didn't know better I would have thought you were having a flashback to actually stepping in front of a bullet," Lily replied with a laugh.

"Oh, yeah, how I weird would that be," James said as he quickly let the memory fade away. "But you are right. I would jump in front of a bullet. Or out of a plane. Or really just whatever to make sure he's okay."

"I know you would and I hate that because I don't want to see you hurt."

"So you honestly think Alastair doesn't like me like that. Even with everything I told you," James responded, his voice simply curious and not accusatory at all.

"It's not that. I just…I know that everything you've done is to help Alastair but honest to god I don't think he's going to be able to overcome it."

"Overcome what?"

"His mother of course! I know you cut ties with your brother without a hitch but not everyone can just do that. My mother was on and off with her sister for years before she was finally able to get the courage to get out of her life and I've had friends who even if they can leave a family member behind, the memory still resides. I mean holy hell, I've never the mom but from all that I've heard I know that she's left her mark," Lily replied. "Actually, it's not even really a mark. It's a scar that's been repeatedly ripped open and even it will finally heal, it's not going away."

"I know that," said James. "I've always known that. It's a hurdle that he'll have to overcome and yeah, he's probably not ready now but he's already started climbing it and soon he'll be at the top."

"You're making it to simple. Some people just can't get over these hurdles that they create or other people create for them."

James only shook his head in response. "Only if you give up on them. And you haven't seen Alastair in action. He's the strongest person I know."

"In action? You're tailors. Not secret service agents," Lily responded as they finally came upon their apartment building. "Now can we finally talk about my problems instead of yours? You always take over the conversation."

"I'm sorry! I don't mean to. Tell me about the boy in your life."

"Actually it's more of a lack of one."

James followed Lily into her apartment with an apologetic face. "Now I am really sorry that I took over the conversation! Tell me everything."