Four: First Impressions
As they walked slowly, hand in hand down the pebbly path, deeper into the garden, James gradually worked up his courage… he wasn't in Gryffindor for nothing!
''Do you remember the first time I asked you to go to Hogsmeade with me?" he asked slowly. He had only been practising this for the last couple of weeks- and wanted it to be perfect.
Lily laughed; James smiled. Her laugh was contagious; he could almost feel the nervousness in his stomach being lifted slightly. ''Of course I do. It was just after your first Quidditch game. All the Gryffindors ran down on the pitch- and you came and found me." she smiled.
The look on her face made him want to hug her… She looked so… sweet- but guilty, almost. ''I'd been planning to ask you for ages- I figured that after the game was the best time… and I wanted to ask you before I changed my mind. I've never known a girl like you, Lily.'' The new un-practiced words tumbled from his mouth… ''No one has ever been able to make me speechless- no one has ever made me as nervous as you do… I could never love anyone like I love you." He paused and kicked a rose bush at his feet, trying to get back to what he'd been planning to say to her… What was he going to say, though? ''And that day- in first year, after that Quidditch match, I was so nervous… Well, today is no different- except that it's seven years later- we've practically graduated now, and it isn't a date I want to ask you about…" James took a deep breath and took her hands in his. ''Lily, I love you- more than you'll ever know- if you ever do one thing- just one thing for me, let it be this…" He slowly- nervously- hit one knee, pulling the ring box out of his robe pocket. ''Will you marry me?"
He opened the black velvet box and waited with bated breath.
''James, I…" Lily trailed off, tears running down her cheeks. Her eyes met his and he could see the love there- he'd been nervous for nothing. She was his- and he was hers. ''Yes." she breathed. They both broke into smiles. ''Yes…"
She closed the small space between them, meeting her lips with his.
He put one hand in her coppery hair, with the other, he pulled the ring out of the box. He pulled away from her, ever-so-slightly, so he could see her eyes. He took her left hand and carefully slipped the ring onto her finger. She stared down at it.
''James…" He gave her a questioning look. ''This- this ring…must've been-"
''Lils, don't worry about that…" He shook his head, smiling all the same. Trust Lily to think of something like that at a time like that. ''I love you." He breathed into her hair.
''I love you more."
''I love you more."
''Oh, don't start that…" she mumbled, kissing him once again.
''If this… is what I… get… for… starting 'that'… then I don't think… I mind so much." James muttered between kisses.
Lily blushed slightly. ''But I win either way, right?" she smiled innocently.
''Oh, I've just remembered…" he muttered. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the maroon leather-bound book that he'd carried around and written in for the last five months. He stared at it wistfully for a moment, then, with a determined sigh, handed it to her.
A look of dawning comprehension settled on her face as she took it tenderly in her left (and beautifully ringed, James thought) hand. ''James… Is this…" She trailed off as she opened the front cover. ''Oh, James… It is!"
James smiled sheepishly at her. ''I thought that maybe… You might like one back."
''Maybe?" She sniffled quietly. ''Oh, I love it…" She looked up. ''I love you so much..." she whispered.
''I love you more." James put his forehead to hers. She giggled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
''I love you more." She kissed him gently, putting her hand in his hair, as she often did… Only problem was the ring got caught in his messy hair. He winced.
''Ouch…"
''Sorry!" She quickly withdrew her hand from his hair. ''It's just- I'm not- I didn't-"
''It'll just take a bit of getting used to, love." He grinned at her, again placing his forehead on hers. She smiled and touched her nose to his.
''I love you."
----
''I can't believe you really asked her, Prongs."
''Oh, well, thank you, Padfoot, for all the enthusiasm and encouragement." James said somewhat sarcastically- but was in too good of a mood to be bothered, even by Sirius.
Remus snickered. ''Was she shocked?"
James sat down on his four-poster and looked at him. ''Actually, I think she might have been."
''Well, it isn't everyday that you hate- er- dislike a bloke for six years even, then all of a sudden, start dating him, only to have him propose seven mon-"
''Eight. It's been eight months." James corrected, grinning. ''The-"
''Best eight months of your life." Sirius, Remus, and Peter mumbled.
He nodded. ''Nicely said." He threw himself backwards and stared contentedly at the top hangings of his four-poster.
''Who would have thought that our little Jamsie-boy would grow up to be so whipped?" Sirius howled with glee.
Even James joined in on the laughter. Remus shook his head in an exasperated way, halfway between amusement and concern for his friend (meaning Sirius, of course).
But James sighed suddenly. ''I wouldn't have." he said seriously, then screwed up his face- why was he acting so old and serious all of a sudden?
''Well, James, I think we've all learned our lesson." Remus nodded importantly.
''Yeah? And what's that?"
''That persistence, annoyance, and flattery really do pay off in the end."
The four all looked around at each other, then, after a slight pause, fell into fits of hysterical laughter. James knew at that moment that he couldn't have asked for better friends.
----
''James! Get up, already! The train leaves in two bloody hours! We should have been up ages ago…" Remus pleaded, while searching for his clean socks. ''You still have to go up to your tower and pack your things!"
''Sod off…" James groaned and flopped over on his stomach.
He had never been one to get up first and they all knew it.
''That's what we get for letting him stay up here…" Peter said.
''Okay, Prongs. You leave me no choice. Sirius? A little help?" Remus muttered.
James dimly heard someone running across the room, but only snuggled deeper into the thick blankets, too comfortable to care about anything.
''Oi, Prongs! Evans just ran up here and pounded on the door for you to come out- she was in tears, so I comforted her!" Sirius yelled- right in James's ear. ''And after that, we went up to her room, and she let me-"
''I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that." he growled, pushing Sirius roughly away. He threw a pillow at him and rolled out of bed… literally. ''Ouch- too early… Since when is this floor so hard? And where is that bloody light coming from? Turn it out…" James put up a hand to shield the light from his eyes.
Remus chuckled, looking down at him in his place on the floor. ''It's nearly eight thirty, mate."
''So?"
''You were going to meet your Lily for the feast."
''I wa- what?"
''You know… your fiancée…"
James's eyes grew wide. ''I didn't dream it all?" He jumped off the floor and did his (infamous) happy dance- which, normally, was saved only for Quidditch games.
''Nope, you actually got the guts to ask her…"
''Oh, shut it, Padfoot. It isn't like I was going to back out."
''Uh-huh."
''Wait… You followed me out and listened to me, didn't you?" James asked slowly.
''Follow you? Oh, please, Prongs. We have more class than that." Sirius said innocently.
''You did!" he cried in exasperation. He knew better than to listen to Sirius when he was using the 'innocent' tone.
Remus tried to slip out the door, Peter smiled and ran for the bathroom, but Sirius broke into a large grin. ''And if we did? One is free to stroll through the gardens if one pleases."
''Maybe one is, but not three Marauders! You guys didn't believe I was going to ask her, did you?"
''Oh, we believed you. We can see that lovesick look in your eyes every time you speak of our beloved Ms. Evans… Or should I say Potter? Oi, it'll be Mrs. Lily Potter 'fore long! No, though, mate," Sirius snickered. ''we just wanted to see how badly you would go about doing it."
''We thought you might faint." Peter's face was just visible through the cracked bathroom door.
''Or stutter!" Remus added from the doorway.
''Or if you would just-"
''Okay, okay! I get it…" James grumbled, but he couldn't keep the smile off his face. He should have known his friends wouldn't leave him alone in the most important moment of his life, just like he had never left them to fend for themselves when they were in a rough spot. Even if the situation he was in wasn't considered rough… it was just nerve-racking. But he mean that in the nicest way, of course. ''Thanks." James grinned, looking around at his three best friends.
They all looked pleased- and he knew they meant the best.
----
James was the last one to leave the dormitory for the feast- Remus, Sirius, and Peter just ahead of him. They still had an hour and a half to eat, finish packing, and (for James) try to fit in enough time to walk the grounds with Lily- for the last time.
He stepped off the last stair to the boys dormitories- the last time he would ever do so. He felt an odd sense of loss- odd, because he hadn't really lived there for a year; a sense of loss because the Marauders dorm at the top of the tower held more memories than any other place in the castle, really. They'd had many pillow fights, wizard duels, games of exploding snap… But it was more than that. Like the first time James had told Sirius and Remus that he fancied Lily… When the three found out Remus was a werewolf… The first time they were all able to transform into Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs… When they realized they'd finished the Marauders Map…
James glanced up at my three best friends and knew they felt the same. The normal squeak of the last stair rang in his ears as he stared at them. They wouldn't have anymore of what they had come to label as 'our Marauder times.' They were leaving Hogwarts… And might never be back.
As one, the four sighed. They had always said they couldn't wait to leave school, that they were ready to leave and make something of themselves… But were they? James suddenly felt very worried and doubtful.
''Well… The feast won't wait for it's all-time-greatest Marauders, now, will it?" Sirius said brightly. Peter was the only one who didn't notice Sirius didn't really look as happy as he sounded.
''Hey! Hey, James! Is it true? Is it true, James?"
James looked down at a rather small, usually very talkative first year, Jeremiah (he talked so fast that most couldn't understand him, so he usually went by 'Jerma'). He practically worshipped the Marauders and when he talked to them, nine times out of ten, he wanted to know if he could help them with pranks.
''Depends what it is, I guess." James said; inside, he was glowing with pride.
Jeremiah bounced on his heels. ''That you and Lily…"
James turned his head toward a familiar voice floating down from the girls dormitory… And grinned in spite of himself. It was Lily. He knew, just by the way she spoke that she was just as sad as the rest of the seventh years about leaving. She was trying to sound happier than she was, to cheer up her friends- just like Sirius had.
The Marauders turned to watch as the seventh year girls came down from their dormitory- and silence settled on each of them when they reached the bottom. Lily was the last to walk down.
James wasn't sure if he was more surprised because she looked so sad or by how beautiful she looked. Sure, he thought she was beautiful all the time- but something about the way she looked… It might have been the fact that she'd let her hair stay curly and all down (which wasn't normal for her, normally, she put it all up to keep it out of the way), or if it was the fact that she looked so close to tears.
But when she looked up and saw him, her face immediately brightened- and she looked even more beautiful that the moment before, something James thought wasn't possible. Their eyes locked and both smiled. James almost felt nervous, as he made my way towards her, though he didn't know why. They met in the middle of the common room- where most, if not all, of the eyes were drawn to them. He slid my hand over hers and grinned.
''Hey."
''Hi…" she whispered, blushing slightly. James couldn't help but notice how adorably shy she looked. Maybe it was all the attention the two were getting; the entire common room was silent.
''Wanna go for a walk before the feast?" he asked her quietly.
She glanced around the common room and nodded. ''I'd love to."
As they walked through all the people, Jeremiah climbed up on top of one of the couches so he could see better. ''So it is true, then, isn't it, James!?"
James grinned at him. ''You'd bloody well better believe it."
'Jerma' jumped up and down. ''I knew it!" In his excitement, he toppled over on top of a rather agitated looking fifth year.
''What is he on about?" she groaned, pushing him off.
''They're engaged!" Jeremiah squeaked. He was on the floor, face-down.
Out of the corner of his eye, James saw Remus and Sirius grin proudly. Lily's friends smiled and sighed in admiration. Everyone else stared.
James looked at Lily and they shared a smile. She glanced back over the common room and shrugged. ''What, nobody else expected it?" she asked, so that all could hear.
Everyone laughed quietly as they turned back to the portrait hole, then the air was filled with whistles and cheering. Lily stopped and looked at James thoughtfully. He raised an eyebrow at her, knowing exactly what she was thinking (because he was thinking it, too).
James grinned and put one hand on her waist to pull her closer, the other he placed gently on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled impishly.
Again, the common room burst into cheers. He felt Lily smiling.
They broke apart and James rested my forehead on hers. ''Morning, Lily, dear."
''Beautiful day, isn't it?" She took one of his hands in each of hers.
''Oh, it's just lovely." he chuckled, once again pulling her toward the portrait.
Just as it shut, they could hear Sirius trying to calm the crowd. ''And that's the last show for one of the Marauders. I doubt the rest of us could come up with something as unexpected as that, no?"
Everyone laughed.
James smiled indulgently at Lily and pulled her a bit closer as they walked. She smiled thoughtfully. ''It really is a bit unexpected, don't you think?" she asked softly.
''I know… I wouldn't have thought all those years ago when I realized I fancied you that you'd ever fancy me back at all." he chuckled.
''I more than fancy you." she whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder. ''Though I never thought I would, back in second year, when you kept asking me out. I thought it more likely that I'd curse you into oblivion, you know?"
''I'm glad you never did, because I more than fancy you, too." He sighed, looking down at her. She was smiling slightly, eyes on the new ring on her left hand.
James pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. ''I love you, Lily-flower…"
''I love you more." she grinned.
''I love you more!"
''You're like a five year old, arguing with your sister." she giggled, looking out of the nearest window at the sunny summer day.
''Yeah, except you're not my sister… You're my wife… Or, almost." As the words settled in the air, James felt his heart swelling with pride. Oh, how nice it sounded…
Lily must have been thinking the same thing, because she smiled softly and whispered, ''Your wife." She sighed happily. ''I like that… My husband."
''Ooh… And I like that." he grinned.
''So… are you ready to meet my parents?"
''Erm… Can't wait." he said, after a pause.
Lily glanced up at him, surprised. ''Oh, if you're worried about daddy, don't be. I've already told them all about you, and they can't wait to meet you… Though they don't know just yet we're engaged."
''Did you really not expect me to ask you?"
''Well… I hoped you might…" she said timidly. ''But I wasn't sure."
''The guys didn't think I'd really do it."
She grinned. ''You showed them wrong, then, eh?"
''I did it for you."
Lily stopped and turned to James, her gaze locked onto his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and got up on the tips of her toes, to kiss him warmly. He smiled and leaned into the kiss, not regretting for an instant that he'd been sorted into Gryffindor… Then started fancying Lily a bit after that… Asked her out, and been refused every time… Become Head Boy, after a year of hard work… Done his best to form a friendship with Lily… Asked her to the Halloween Ball… And asked her to marry him.
He couldn't have planned things out better and he knew it.
----
"Oh, Lily, don't cry… Please?" Remus said softly, wiping away a tear from Lily's cheek as she hugged him. "We'll see each other all the time! If I know Prongs, then he'll be dragging you around to see us in a day or two…"
Beside him, Sirius nodded. "Ah, Lily, don't cry, or we all might join in… You wouldn't do that to mess up our fine reputations, would you? How would you like three big boys crying on you, anyway?"
Lily laughed once and pulled away from Remus. "It's just hard to believe it was six years ago that I was running off the train, remember? At the end of first year, you all three came and sat in our compartment… You didn't even say or do anything wrong, but I was so angry at you for sitting with us! I stormed out of here, without even saying goodbye to my friends…" she sniffed and smiled at Sirius. "And you always called me 'Red.'"
"I always thought that if I made you mad enough, you might run to Prongsie here, for comfort." Sirius said coyly, shoving his hands in his pockets awkwardly.
She watched him smile shyly at her for a moment, before bursting out into laughter. "I'd say it almost worked, Siri. T'was a valiant effort."
"Glad to be of service, m'lady." Sirius bowed low.
"I guess you're right… We'll see each other all the time… Promise to write me if we don't?"
Sirius and Remus nodded solemnly. James knew it was almost hurting them as much as it would be for him to part with her… But he was going to her house for two weeks, so he could meet her parents… He was terrified at the thought, no doubt about it.
"I've got to say goodbye to Kina and Emma… I'll be right back, okay? And if either of you leave without me saying goodbye just yet, I'll come after you and hex you into oblivion, you hear?" She narrowed her eyes, but smiled playfully.
Again, they nodded. They watched her go in silence, until she was out of sight. "She'd do it, too." Sirius muttered.
"Can you believe we're finished with Hogwarts?" James asked wistfully, staring at the train next to me.
"Whatever will it do without us?" Remus tried to grin, but failed.
"It'll have many boring nights full of nothing but painstakingly long essays and reading for classes." Sirius shook his head, hands digging deeper into his pockets.
"I don't know… Sooner or later, there is going to be a group of blokes that come along who hate- er- dislike Slytherins as much as we do." James chuckled.
"But even when they do, they'll never match us in our…"
"Marauding?" said a voice behind us. James smiled and turned around.
"Yeah. Marauding." Sirius said absently.
"There'll never be anyone like the Marauders." Lily linked her arm with James's and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Ye- hey! When did you get back?"
Lily gave him a disbelieving look and turned to James. She had tears on her cheeks. "Ready?"
Inwardly, he groaned, but forced a smile. "… Yeah…."
"Oh, don't worry about my parents. Though I do have to warn you…" she giggled. James felt my stomach clenching uncomfortably. "They can be a bit… nutty."
He sighed in relief. "Ah- well, nutty I can handle, I did have that Calasky bat for a professor in Divination for four years."
Lily nodded. "Anyway… Siri… Remmy… We'll see you soon, okay?" she looked close to tears. James felt a tiny twinge of jealousy, as she was nearly crying over his best mates.
"Aw, Lily, we'll see each other all the time. You can't keep us away, anyway, can you?" Remus grinned. She smiled and went to hug him again.
"Not as long as you've got Prongs tagging along with you." Sirius smirked as she hugged him, too. James frowned at him… Tagging along?
"I don't mind having my Jamsie tagging along at all." She said proudly, smiling over at me.
He smiled back. "Your parents aren't going to wait forever, love."
"Okay… Bye, both of you." She kissed them each on the cheek, then turned to James. "Let's go then."
Mostly, the platform had emptied out, except for the seventh and sixth years. James was glad of this, as there weren't many Slytherins he saw that he wanted to hex. Lily smiled at a few people as she passed, but turned to wave one last time as they went through the barrier.
James sighed… The last time.
----
"Okay… I think it's clear." she said quietly, peering down the alley.
"All right. I'm ready when you are."
"Oka-"
"Lily!"
As one, Lily and James whirled around, pulling out our wands. Kambrie Alex stood meek and scared before them. "Sorry…" she muttered.
"Oh, sorry, Kambrie." Lily sighed in relief. They dropped their arms to their sides.
"I just wanted to say goodbye… And thank you for all the help you gave me this year."
"It was nothing, Bree. I'm glad I could help you." Lily smiled and pocketed her wand.
"And you, James. I'm sorry I cried on you so much."
"Hey, it's okay, kiddo." James grinned at her.
"Okay… Well, I know you want to get home, but I just wanted to tell you thank you for everything… And I want to give you this, Lily." She sighed and pulled something out of her pocket. "I know it isn't much… But it was my mother's… You remind me of her. I know that if she knew you, she'd want you to have this. She… she embroidered the lily on it…" Kambrie bit her lip and held out a lavender handkerchief.
Lily, too, bit her lip, her way of trying to keep away the tears. She took the handkerchief in her hand and unfolded it. A single pure white lily with emerald leaves was stitched delicately in one corner. Lily sighed. "Oh, Kambrie… This is beautiful… A-Are you sure?" she whispered.
Kambrie smiled weakly. "I have one like it… Only it has my name and mum's favorite flower… a daffodil." She sniffed sadly.
Lily bent down so she could hug Kambrie. "Thank you." was all she could say.
James smiled gently. Lily really was an amazing person… She could make any person feel better, just by smiling, or hugging them… She knew how make people laugh, or be serious… She knew how to be in control of almost any situations (she'd have to be able to do this, with the Marauders around, while she was a Prefect for two years, then Head Girl)… She could be happy for anyone when they were successful, sad with them when they failed, but still able to make them feel better, she could make someone feel happier when they were feeling horrible, and make them laugh when they were angry. She could cry with someone, sympathize with them, be angry with them, laugh with them.
He had no idea how he'd managed to get someone so wonderful.
"James?"
He smiled warmly. "Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I love you back." James wrapped his arms around Lily. He knew that seeing Kambrie so sad and lost looking hurt her more than she was letting on. She lived in a family of muggles… Anything could happen to them, at any time, and they both knew that. "Now, let's go meet those parents."
She giggled. "You'll love them, I promise."
"But-"
"And, yes, baby, they'll love you, too. That's another promise."
"As much as you?"
"Possibly… But I doubt anyone could love you quite as much as I do." She grinned sheepishly.
----
When James opened his eyes after apparating (since he was still new at the whole appear-somewhere-else-with-only-a-thought thing, he closed his eyes every time he had to apparate… It was just easier that way), he immediately knew that even if he hadn't known where he was apparating to, he would have known it was Lily's house. Maybe it was because of the different photos on the wall of the long hallway he was in, with shots of Lily and her family. Maybe it was just the way the place felt… It might've even been the hair and eyes of the shocked woman, who could only be Lily's mother, when she rounded the corner into the hallway, carrying an armful of freshly laundered towels. Or maybe it was the rather obvious indication of Lily's name written in fancy blue letters on the nearest door to the left.
James smiled nervously at the woman as her eyes landed on him. She stared back in shock. "How did you-"
With a pop, Lily apparated next to him. "Mum!" she grinned and ran forward to hug her. The woman smiled politely, eyes still on James, obviously puzzled, but her face changed into one of recognition when Lily said, "So, you've already met James?"
"Not exactly…" He stepped forward. "Erm… I'm James Potter."
Mrs. Evans took his offered hand. "Oh! I'm so happy finally meet Lily's James. You're all she talks about in her letters, you know." She smiled.
"Mum!" Lily blushed and gave James an apologetic look. He grinned back.
"I'm her mother, obviously, Elizabeth. But call me Liz, everyone else does."
"I'm glad to meet you, too." James bowed slightly, as a wizard custom.
Mrs. Evans' mouth twitched… Now that he looked (and felt) like a complete prat… He made a mental not to beg Lily to explain wizarding customs to her parents later. For the time being, he crossed that gesture of respect off his list.
"Where is dad?"
"He's downstairs, reading the paper."
"Come on, James, I want you to meet him." Lily said.
He smiled weakly. "All right."
"I'm going to put up these towels, dear, then I'll be down." Mrs. Evans kissed Lily lightly on the cheek.
James stepped aside, so she could get by, then looked at Lily. "I've already told you, James, don't be scared of my dad. I think, that if you're going to be afraid of anyone, it's Pet, but you shouldn't worry about what she says. She never means the mean things she says."
"How do you know she doesn't?"
"I'm her sister. Isn't that one of the closest bonds a person can have?"
"After love, it is." he replied softly, taking her hand in his.
She smiled and kissed his nose. "Come on." He allowed her to pull him down the hallway, to a set of stairs, then down to the kitchen.
"Lily?" called a man's voice (obviously her father).
Lily bounced excitedly and pulled James faster, through the kitchen, into a small parlour.
"Hello, daddy." she smiled as he got to his feet.
"What, no hug?" he sighed, trying to look sad. Lily laughed and threw her arms around his neck. He spun her around in a circle, laughing.
James smiled. That was the kind of father he wanted to be someday.
"Daddy, this is James Potter," Lily said proudly, reaching over to pull James closer. She smiled as her mother entered the room.
"Ah, nice to finally meet you." Mr. Evans held out his hand.
James smiled and took it nervously. He wasn't sure how to interpret the look in Mr. Evans' green eyes. "You too, sir." James started to bow, but caught himself just in time.
"Daddy? Mum? We need to tell you something." Lily took James's hand and squeezed it. A look of sudden dawning crossed her parents faces… Then they looked extremely surprised… Even more surprised… And then, finally… quite miffed. James was ready to apparate home… They hadn't even heard her say the words yet!
"James asked me to marry him… He's my fiancé."
James smiled, just at hearing her say it. He hadn't heard her say it before, but it made his heart skip a beat. He watched sheepishly as her mother walked over and put her hand on her husband's arm. Lily sighed and bit her lip. "Mum? Dad?"
Neither said anything. Lily sighed again, this time in frustration. "Would you mind terribly if James and I go for a walk?" Without waiting for a reply, she took his hand and pulled him back into the front hall.
With a snap, she closed the door and put her hands in the pocket of her jacket. "I'm sorry." She frowned at the gravel at her feet.
James took one of her hands from her pocket. "It's fine. They'll be okay with it later, won't they?"
"Oh, they will… It's just that I'm the baby, you know? They didn't like Vernon even when Pet was just dating him… He's not… safe, really. He's weird, too. An awful temper. Anyway, they're afraid that I'm going to run out and marry the first person I can, like they think Pet did. They just don't want me to make the same… mistakes that Pet did. Is."
James felt like he'd been dunked in icy water. Her parents were never going to like him. He knew it.
"I'll make them see, love. I will." She looked at him, her eyes full of emotion. James nearly melted under her gaze. She always knew how to make him feel better. "They just need to think about it a bit and talk to each other, you know?" She leaned her head back on his shoulder. "I promise."
James took a deep breath- taking in the minty scent of the garden and the sweet scent that could only ever be Lily. His Lily.
"I promise." she whispered.
-----