AN: The song is… Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum.

Chapter Three - Just A Kiss On Your Lips In The Moonlight

.{ End of November }.

Lily messed up, hugely. She fell asleep in the common room. Not such a bad thing for normal people. For her? It was way up there on the list of dumbest ideas ever. She didn't wake up as James and Sirius entered, she didn't even hear them chatting away. As her nightmare progressed she let out a shrill scream and her body flew up off the sofa. James and Sirius were at her side in a moment, wands drawn to attack. Her skin was so pale it almost looked greenish. Her cheeks were covered in tears. Her whole body shuddered as the sweat she was covered in cooled down. Lily pushed away from them. "I'm fine." She was shaking like a leaf.

Sirius looked at James before looking at Lily. "Lily flower… you just let out a scream that a banshee would be proud of, then practically levitated off the sofa. You are not fine." He gave her a look that dared her to argue.

James was quiet. 'Does this have to with whatever she was so afraid of?' He never wanted to hear her scream like that ever again, it felt like his heart might break if he did. He didn't need a crystal ball to tell whatever her nightmare was, it had to do with him. Not when she wouldn't even glance at him. He conjured a glass of water and handed it to her.

Sirius looked out the window. "Hey I'll see you tomorrow? I got that thing tonight." He motioned his head to the full moon. James started to jump up. "No I can handle it. She shouldn't be left alone." He moved so quickly he was through the portrait before James could argue.

"You're not going to tell me about the nightmare, are you?" Lily took a drink in lieu of an answer. She was also still avoiding eye contact. "I'll take that as a no." He sighed. "Do you have these nightmares often?" She nodded still deathly pale. James couldn't stand it anymore. He leaned down and placed his lips on hers briefly to get her out of her head. He pulled his face back enough to see she had some color now. "Do I hurt you or something?"

Lily shook her head. "Of course not. Why would you think that?" 'He thinks he hurts me cause I flinch when he touches me.' She realized. "It's not that at all." She wants to tell him. Just confess everything. A big part of her as dying to do just that. It's the reason she tried to distance herself from him. The reason she wouldn't allow her feelings to run away with her.

James took the water from her hand and set it on the table. "If I don't hurt you, then what is it? What are you so afraid of?" He knelt beside the sofa so they were level.

Lily looked into his eyes. "You die okay?" she paused. "Because of me." Tears streamed down her face anew. She feels relieved yet fearful at having finally confessed, "I won't let it happen!"

James placed a hand on her cheek and used his thumb to wipe a tear. "Lily." He waited for her to look at him. "I would rather have five minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of mediocre." As her eyes traveled down he took the opportunity to press his lips to hers.

"James, what…" Then his lips were on hers again. Lily was losing her will to resist him. When he ran his tongue along her bottom lip she couldn't help the moan that spilled from her mouth. Lily pulled back from reach. "James, how would you feel if I died for you and you could have prevented it?" At the horrified look on his face she could tell he got her point. "Why is my life so much more valuable than yours?"

"Why is mine?" James countered. "I've lived for several years now without being able to kiss you, or hold your hand, or any of the million and one other things I've wanted to. I can't live like that anymore, it would a hollow life. I willnot live a lie Lily, don't ask me to." James lost patience when Lily bit her bottom lip yet again. "And for Merlin's sake, quit doing that!" James captured her lips with his, stopping Lily from asking to what he meant by that. This kiss wasn't tender and gentle like the others. It wasn't a sweet slow kiss, or a playful teasing one either, it was an all or nothing kiss. It was all about longing and passion, and it was perfect.

Lily opened her eyes and stared into James' hazel ones. "James I…" She couldn't find the words. Her smile spread as he cupped her jaw and ran a finger along her swollen bottom lip.

James could see the worry in her eyes. Somehow he was going to have to find a way to reassure her. Right now however? Now he was happy to be close to her. That she wasn't trying to run away. But right now his knees were starting to hurt on the stone floor. He moved Lily forward and sat behind her and put his arms around her. He kissed behind her ear. "Get some sleep, I'm not going anywhere." He hoped that by holding her that might keep her nightmare away. 'She's trying to kill me.' He decided as she moved around trying to get more comfortable. Meaning her bottom was wriggling against his very hard appendage. "Lily, I swear if you don't stop that I will take you upstairs and not let you get another minute of sleep tonight."

Lily blushed deeply. "Sorry." She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Wrapped in his warmth, she almost instantaneously fell into a deep sleep.

James could tell she was asleep as her breathing evened and her body completely relaxed. He kissed the side of her neck. "Goodnight love." Then he closed his eyes.