The Year From Hell by NatiFcs28

Rating: R
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Lily & James
Book: Lily & James, Books 1 - 5
Published: 27/12/2004
Last Updated: 05/05/2005
Status: Completed

After three years of being apart from each other because of "differences", Lily and
James aren't exactly thrilled to see each other again, and to continue seeing each other. Worse
of all, to kind of want each other. But there's no escaping fate... Hello, I'm Fate.




1. Chapter One: I Hate The Holidays
-----------------------------------



Disclaimer: Ok, if it'll make all the Harry Potter people feel better, I'll do one of
these. But I really think that they're pointless. I don't own anything that JKR, genius
that she is, has made up. Emmy's mine though. So far, those are the only people I have. Oh, and
Erica.

Summary: Well… There isn't much of one. I think that the title is sort of self-explanatory.
Naturally, Lily and James do end up together. And this is a Lily/James fic. Ok, I think that covers
it. Rated R.

-**Chapter One:** **I** **Hate the Holid****ays**-

-**By Natali**-

Lily Evans grabbed a glass of champagne as the guy carrying the tray passed by. “Happy New
fucking Year, Lils,” she muttered to herself caustically, downing it all at once.

“You've got to cheer up,” Emmy said, joining her best friend with her own champagne in her
hand. Lily took it, and downed that one too. “It's been three years, Lily.”

“So? I still hate it. And I've never liked the holidays. So pointless, and all you do is get
fat on delicious desserts that you spend hours making,” she snarled. “Gosh, whoever invented
Christmas and celebrating the new year anyway? As if anyone cares that it's a new year. Do you
know how many things there are to celebrate?”

“Lily, *don't* start off on one of your rants again,” Emmy hissed. “For fuck sake,
it's a party. Be happy, drink, get laid, and let it go.”

Lily's full lips drew down in a frown. “I don't want to get laid.”

“'Cause no one's as much of a sex god as James Potter.” It wasn't a question, but a
statement. Emmy shook her head sympathetically. “Lily, you both agreed to—”

“Shut it, Emmy, please.” Lily looked around for another glass of champagne. “I'm going to
get pissed up tonight, and I don't want to even remember tonight tomorrow morning.”

Emmy bit back a groan as she saw a commotion near the door of the house they were at. “You might
not want to do that, Lils.”

“Why the bloody hell not?” Lily growled, closing her tapered fingers around the neck of her
newly acquired glass triumphantly. “It's not like I care about a little liver disease.”

Tearing her eyes from the new arrivals, Emmy studied her friend. “You are the oddest depressed
person I have ever met.”

Lily shrugged. “I passed depression two and a half years ago.”

“Whatever. Point is, I wouldn't be so quick to get drunk. Potter's here.”

“Ha, ha, very funny.”

“Dead serious.”

“Sirius's dead?”

“No. I mean I'm serious.”

“You forget that I'm halfway drunk already. You're not Sirius. And if you are, then I
seriously drank too much.”

“Lily, you're being stupid on purpose.”

Lily smirked. “All right, well. On the bright side, at least he can't say I've let
myself go and look like shit.” Lily surveyed her red dress. “I'm a bombshell who just happens
to be slightly sad inside but hates to dwell on it.”

“If you're lucky, he'll even get a boner.”

“Fuck off, Emmy,” Lily rolled her eyes. “Oh, Merlin, he's coming straight this way,
isn't he?” She downed another glass of champagne. “Maybe I'll even vomit on him.”

“Remind me why you two broke up again?” Emmy smiled politely, speaking out of the corner of her
mouth.

“Different. Wanted different things.”

“You haven't told me that yet,” Emmy noted. “You said that you just didn't feel
comfortable with each other. Thank God that alcohol always makes your lips loose. And after three
years, too! Let me guess, he didn't want children or a wife or any of that committment?”

Lily graciously returned James's greeting nod. “No. Other way around.”


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hey, Linda,” Remus smiled, kissing the cheek of the hostess of the party. “Here's James. Is
that girl here yet?”

“Erica will be here later, and she's so excited to meet him,” Linda replied, taking their
coats. She gave Sirius a special smile, winking as she shook his hand. “So glad that the notorious
heartbreakers of Franklin Street could join my smallish party.”

James looked around. Not really a small party, or a small house. There was a *ballroom* for
heaven's sake. He guessed that there were about one hundred and fifty persons in that room,
probably more already shagging in the garden out back. New Years parties were always so predictable
and almost always resulted in someone getting pregnant.

His eyes came to rest against a bored-looking redhead and her blonde-haired best mate.

“Oh, *fuck*. Sirius, Remus. Look who's here,” James sighed, nodding his head in their
direction. Why him? And why now?

“Who? Lila and Emmy? Do you know them?” Linda asked, messing up Lily's name. “I work with
Emmy. Lila seems a bit of a bitch though. And she's drinking all my champagne. I hadn't
originally invited her, but Emmy wouldn't have come otherwise.”

“We… have been acquainted,” Remus replied when she seemed to wait for a comment. “Go over there,
James. Say hi and all that shit.”

“Spare me,” James snorted. “Do you have any hard liquor, Linda? Or arsenic? I'll take
whatever poison you have.”

Linda laughed it off as a joke. “Go mingle. Should I call Emmy over?”

“No!” James said quickly. She'd think he was coming here purposely to see her. “I'll… do
it myself.”

“You'd better go,” Sirius said, lightly nudging James forward. “You can't avoid her.
Besides, you'd look immature and she'd probably think that you were ignoring her, which you
would be, and that you didn't want to see her. But we all know that you do. Very much
really.”

“Go up to her before she comes up to you,” Remus suggested, sipping a cup of vodka Linda had
handed him. “You'll look better. And you know that she'll come up to you if you don't.
Lily always had balls. You broke up because…?”

“And if she doesn't come, then Emmy will,” Sirius chortled. “Damn, they both look good,
don't they?”

Remus made a slight humming sound in the back of his throat. “No kidding. Could those dresses
get any tighter?”

“Yes, they could,” James glared. “You two so-called friends aren't helping matters any.
Well, let's get this hell over with. If we find a nice drink along the way, grab me five.” That
said, they headed for the two girls, who were apparently discussing them, if the glances were any
indication.

Along the way, Remus and Sirius had gotten caught up in the crowd, so James reached them first.
He would have liked to have waited for his back up, but that would've made it seem as if he was
afraid to go on by himself (not that he wasn't afraid, but they didn't need to know that).
As he reached them, he inclined his head in greeting. “Hello.”

“Hello,” they chorused.

“Such a pleasure to see you,” Lily said, smiling so naturally that he wondered if she was so
over him that she barely remembered his name. He wouldn't want that. Yeah, he was over her, but
there was still something there. Sort of. To put it plainly, he was too much of a pompous ass to
not want her to remember him.

He was about to reply when he felt Sirius brush past and say, “Hello, my gorgeous ones.” He
walked up to Emmy, kissed her cheek and let his eyes roam over her golden dress. “You look
*so* good, Ems,” he growled. Next he turned to Lily and stretched out his arms. She smiled and
stepped right into them, giving him a kiss on his cheek as James watched Sirius's hands slide
to her bare back.

James saw green.

Next, Emmy spotted Remus. “Remus, my love, are you shy or something? Come say hi.”

He obliged, grinning as she brushed her lips on his nose, a hand running down his jaw. “You look
even better up close than you do far away,” her mumbled into her ear.

They released each other, and Lily went to Remus, kissing *his* cheek too. James felt his
fists clench. Why were they being so chummy with her? She'd been his girlfriend, and they'd
never touched her like that before, three years back.

Finally they'd all said hello—bar James, of course. And, of course, Lily just had to fix
that.

“James, I don't bite,” she smiled, holding out her hand. He took it and awkwardly hugged
her. Damn, she felt good. “Not hard, anyway,” she whispered into his ear, just for him. A million
visions flew into his mind. No, not hard at all.

“Where have you three disappeared to?” Emmy asked.

“Work,” Sirius replied for all of them. “In Venice.”

“Sounds fun.”

“Was,” Remus said. “Until we were called back here. I have to say, I'm glad. I can't
understand more than two words in Italian.” They all laughed uncomfortably.

There was a short silence (well, between them. It was actually rather loud in the room).

“Hey, there's ten seconds `til midnight!” someone called out over a microphone.

As everyone began the countdown, Lily held James's gaze. Blimey, but he looked good! He had
only gotten even better in the three or so years she hadn't seen him. Sexy bastard.

“Three…”

That first year had been hell, fending off other dates and trying to keep happy. It wasn't
exactly depression, but not exactly not either.

“Two…”

The second was better. Not as hard, but still rather dull since they'd both sort of sworn
off dating for awhile. After all, who needs all that pressure? A very boring year.

“One…”

It was still very boring. Too boring.

“ZERO!” There was a great noise suddenly.

It was boring, but not sufficiently so for them to ever even think about getting back together.
At least, not with each other. Maybe in their head. But not in any other way.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“How is it,” Emmy said from her bed the next morning, “that you never seem to get hangovers?”
She groaned in misery.

Lily shrugged. “I guess I'm unlucky. I brought you something for it from my house. You left
it there last time.”

She handed Emmy the bright green liquid, which she drank as quickly as she could. “I was
wondering where it'd gotten to,” Emmy remarked, instantly feeling better. “Did you have fun
last night?”

Lily didn't answer right away. “It was different.”

“Obviously. But did you have fun?”

“I just drank and had to let down some fifty-year-old who thought he was the shit. Did you?”

“I would have enjoyed myself more if you had.”

“I didn't have a bad time.”

“But neither did you have a good one.” Emmy sighed, burrowing close to Lily as she got into bed.
“Lily, why do you keep doing this?”

“I'm bored.”

“Of what? Me? Life? The men in Britain?” she asked somewhat hysterically. “You've been hung
up on this guy for—”

“I'm not hung up.”

“But you can't seem to find anyone else satisfactory,” Emmy retorted. “The longest
relationship you've had since him has been two days long.”

“Look, it's not that I want him back or that I'm still crying over him. Damn it, Ems,
the decision to break up was mutual. That means we both thought it was for the best. We both
agreed!” Lily snapped. “I just don't want to get involved with anyone else. Too much
hassle.”

Emmy was quiet for a moment before saying what she should have years ago. “You don't want to
get involved with anyone else because you know that all the good guys are looking for wives and
kids and for someone to love and love them back. You're not bored, you're
bor*ing*.”

Lily didn't respond to that, and it made Emmy only more annoyed.

“What happened to the Lily I knew?” she carried on, sitting up in her bed now. “What happened to
lively, satisfied-with-life, take the bull by the horns, never let anyone take advantage of her
Lily? The one who actually cared about herself?”

Lily got up from the bed, saying, “She isn't here anymore.” She'd walked out into the
hallway, but Emmy still felt she should say what she said.

“No, she can't accept that she *does* want the things she thought she didn't, and
now the only person she could ever imagine helping her to accomplish those things is probably out
of her life forever!”


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Practice Room* James read on the sign, opening the door. He'd finally located a wizard
gym in London after being back for two weeks. He'd probably be sore tonight. But being pretty
has its price. Everything was going great until he noticed someone in there as well.

The person inside wasn't who he was expecting at all. It was so out of character for
her.

Lily Evans—damn, of all the places—was beating up some dummy in her tight work out pants and
matching blue tank top. She was sweaty, her hair was coming out of its ponytail, she was red in the
face, she didn't have make up on, and looked beautiful.

“You little fuckers,” she growled when the dummy finally ran away, whimpering. “Where's the
next little shit?”

“Slow down there,” James said, putting down his back. “What is it exactly that you do,
Lily?”

Her eyes got wide for a moment, before she regained composure. “I'm a receptionist at St.
Mungo's.”

“And do you regularly beat up people there, or is this just for fun?” James smiled, pulling off
his shirt. Lily's eyes lingered on his sculpted abs, the planes of his chest reminding her of
what she couldn't have.

“It's something to do when I'm so fucking bored I've even counted the tiles in my
flat. Which happens pretty bloody often. I hate being bored, it's such a pain in the arse.
Happy New Year again.”

“Same,” he muttered, watching her out of the corner of his eye. She seemed to be waiting for
something. But what, he didn't know.

A dummy jumped out at her suddenly. With one quick yell, she punched it in the jaw, sending it
to the floor in a split second.

With raised eyebrow, he continued to watch as she got her bag and left without even a
goodbye.

“I think she resents me,” he chuckled. “Or maybe my missing shirt.” A dummy came at him, and he
felled it with one swift kick to its gonads. “You *are* little fuckers, trying to sneak up on
a person like that.”

Which also made him realize something. Had Lily always sworn like that, or was this a new
addition to his angel's personality?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily opened the door to Emmy's office, throwing her gym bag onto the floor haphazardly. “I
saw him again.”

Emmy looked at her over her professional looking glasses. “Who?”

“James. I saw him at the gym. *My* gym, I might add,” Lily scowled. “What the hell was he
doing at *my* gym?”

“It isn't yours, Lils.”

“I was there first!”

“I thought you were over him?” Emmy asked coolly.

“Piss off, Ems. You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I know that you mean that it annoys you to have to see him because you know you want
him.”

“No, I mean it annoys me that I have to see him because I don't want to see him!”

“Because you want him.”

“I do not.”

“Do too.”

“Do not!”

“You do, I just know it,” Emmy stated, as if that settled the matter. “When I took you to your
flat last night and you were asleep, you said his name.”

“Of course I did. I'd just seen him for the first time in three years. How can you expect me
to *not* dream about it?” Lily snapped.

“You said his name… with a certain *umph*, if you catch my meaning.”

“I'm afraid that I don't.”

“You sounded as if he was giving you the best sex you've ever had,” Emmy snickered. “You
were groaning, and—”

Lily made a frustrated noise. “You, Ems, are impossible!” She disapparated back to work, hoping
to get rid of the heat that had infused her.

The only reason that she felt so messed up was because he'd surprised her by showing up
there today. That was all.

At least, that's what she kept telling herself.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**-****A/N: This had started out as a one shot.** **S****o** **much for that.**
**R****ead** **and review, let me know if you like it.**

-->



2. Chapter Two: I Need A Drink, Fast
------------------------------------



-**Chapter Two: I Need A Drink, Fast**-

-**By Natali**-

“Oh, you mother fucking little shit straight from my asshole!” Lily swore, punching the stubborn
dummy for the final time. “Take that, you damned wanker!” She kicked its side. “And one for good
bloody measure. Rot in hell!” she said, kicking off its head. “Oops, sorry, Robert. Come up,
sweetie.”

The blue dummy got up and shook Lily's outstretched hand.

“So sorry I knocked off your head like that, but you were being a regular bugger today,” she
smiled, drinking some water. “I suggest you go up to the main office and get that fixed.” The dummy
nodded and walked away.

“Did you always curse that much when we dating?”

Lily was so surprised to hear him that she spilled water all over herself. “No, recent, I
suppose. But he was being a pain.” She took up her gym bag. “Really must fly, I'll see you
around.”

“Do you always leave whenever I enter a room?” James asked, grinning.

“It's a gift, I suppose.” She headed for the door. “I suggest you stay off Robert today. I
whacked off his head and he might not be feeling up to things.”

He nodded. “Lily, want to talk?”

“Not necessarily,” she grimaced. “Sorry, nothing personal.”

“You never did like talking about things. Took me a year to figure out that we weren't
heading in the same direction,” James muttered, just as she put her hand on the door knob.

“You idiot, I talk about things, it had just never come up in conversation,” Lily defended
herself, all thoughts of leaving gone now. “And this is *my* gym!”

He smiled. “You were always possessive too.”

“Do not talk about me like you know every damn thing about me, James,” she fumed, slamming down
her gym bag. “Gosh, I haven't even seen you in three years! Who's to say that I haven't
changed? You noticed yourself that I swear more. Good bye.”

Convinced that she was going to leave, and maybe even find a new gym, Lily turned the
handle.

“Who's to say that it's not for the better?”

“Shove it, James. I still don't want a husband or kids.”

“Don't believe you,” he said softly. “But ok.”

“Ok,” she repeated, leaving for real this time.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(-*A Month Later…*-)

“I need a bloody drink,” Lily muttered, rubbing her temples. “Whoever decided that opera was
singing must be nuts. Completely whacked. Crazy.”

“Talking to yourself now, Lily?”

She looked up and frowned. “Oh, hello, James. No, just complaining about the singing. Emmy
dragged me along. She's somewhere inside, `enjoying' that dreadful music. Are you stalking
me, or something?”

He smiled handsomely, making her melt just a little bit. In truth, she'd forgotten all about
him this past month.

“No, actually, I'm—”

“James!” cried out a curly red-haired woman in a black strapless dress. “My love, it's still
going on you know.”

Lily's stomach plummeted as the bitch walked straight up to him and kissed him soundly on
the lips.

“This, Lily, is my new girlfriend, Erica. Erica, this is a friend from school, Lily,” James
said, his arm around the woman's waist. “Well, we should go back in. I'll see you around,
Lily. I noticed you weren't coming to the gym anymore.”

“I go in the mornings, before work now,” she replied absently.

He nodded, letting Erica fall a bit ahead. “I'll see you then. By the way, Robert says
hi.”

She smiled, but only after he'd walked out of sight. Shaking her head, she mentally berated
herself.

*Oh, Lily. How could you do this to yourself? …**Again*.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh, James,” Lily groaned, writhing in her bed. “Oh, my… Do that with your hands again. No, to
the right… *Right there*.” She moaned, louder this time, turning so much that she fell off the
bed with a *thump*, certain to leave a bruise on her left thigh.

“Ouch!” she hissed, waking up instantly. She felt instantly like crying. She, Lily Evans, was
having an erotic dream about her ex, James Potter.

And not feeling one damn bit remorseful about it.

“My gosh,” she sighed, rubbing her neck. “Sad part is that he's even better in real
life.”

*And he has a girlfriend who he's probably blessing with that delightful treatment right
now*, she reminded herself. *A pretty girlfriend who looked nearly exactly like her. Sort
of.*

“I just had to wake up, right?” she sighed, looking at her clock. “Seven in the morning already?
Glad I don't have any work to do. Mandy, come here!” she called to her owl. “You have to go
tell Emmy to meet me at the gym.”

Twenty minutes later, she was already pounding on Robert, who was feeling much better, but was
feeling the stress of Lily Evans on his foam body parts.

“Ah, I see you've appeared again.”

“Yes, I'm back,” Lily replied, punching Robert in the jaw. “I'm sure that you're
thrilled. What on earth are you doing up at this hour?”

“Same as you,” James replied, picking up a towel. “I just came here to get my towel. I left it
here earlier. I'm here with Erica.”

Lily hid her scowl. “Tell her hi for me then.” After a quick pause, she felt compelled to say,
“She's pretty. Been dating for long?”

He paused near the door. “About less than a month or so. We met at the New Years party.”

Lily's lips formed a small O as two dummies attacked her at the same time. “If you don't
mind me saying, she's kind of… Well, kind of like me, isn't she? Red hair that curls in the
most annoying fashion if not done properly, green eyes…”

“If I can't have the real thing, I've got to find the next best,” he said simply, trying
to hide a grin as Robert punched her in the stomach. “You ok?” he snickered.

“Fine,” she gasped. “Just dandy.” Doubled over, she soaked in the information. *“If I
can't have the real thing, I've got to find the next best*.*”* What was she
supposed to make of that?

So engrossed was she in her train of thought that she didn't realize that James had crept
behind her. He put either hand on either side of her waist, lightly massaging it. She let out a
squeal.

“You know, I had a dream of you last night,” he told her in a husky voice.

“Did you?” she asked lamely. Where were her wits?

“I did,” he affirmed. “In it, you wanted me as your husband and you wanted to bear my children.
In it, we were happy, in love, and had a wild sex life. My sex life hasn't been so good in the
past few years. Yours?”

“Get off me, please,” she whispered, standing up. “This isn't one bit fair, to me or to
you.”

“I just… If I had known that night, three years ago, that that was the last time I'd ever
make love to you,” he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine, “I would've done
much better. Maybe then…”

“James,” she warned. “We're not together. And it's three years later. If your sex
life's suffered, that's your fault. As if millions of women wouldn't love to shag
you.”

He sighed heavily. “I've missed you.”

“You got over me, if Erica is apparent,” she insisted coldly, as his lips brushed her shoulder.
“James, I'm sweaty. Get off me, please.”

He turned her around slowly, his hand massaging her cheek softly. Against her own will, she
pushed her face into his hand, nuzzling him back. *No one* made her feel like he did.

Which was terrible, of course. But it felt *so* good.

“Lily… why can't we—” He broke off abruptly, dropping his hand as Erica came in. “Hello,
sweetheart.”

“Hey. Oh, hello, Lily!” she said, too perky for Lily's own taste. Who smiled that much
anway?

“Hello,” Lily responded, then to James under her breath, “We can't meet anymore. Ever.” She
broke off as Erica joined them.

“My, Lily, you sweat like a pig, don't you?” Erica laughed.

“Thank you,” Lily bit out, glaring at her replacement, who apparently didn't sweat at all.
“Well, I need to go now. I'm meeting up with a friend for coffee and then there's an art
exhibit that's opened at the east end. I hope you two have a happy lifetime. You seem to be
perfect for each other.” She walked away, loathing the girlish giggle that Erica gave.

*That* was the “next best” thing to her? What did that say about her?

“Thank you, Lily. I hope that you find someone as wonderful as Jamie is,” Erica cooed. “Come, we
need to go and meet up with Mummy.”

Disgusted, Lily disapparated to Emmy's flat, near regurgitation.

“Emmy, you will not believe what James—Ah.” Lily stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes glued to
the scene on the bed: Emmy and Remus tangled in the bed covers.

“I-I sent you an owl, that I couldn't go. I guess you didn't get it,” Emmy said
nervously. “You two've met, right?”

Lily giggled, for the first time in a few months. “Well… Just… Use protection, and let's try
to prevent this from happening again.” She winked and went to disapparate, but added, “By the by,
nice position, you two. Looks positively kinky.”

“*Lily*!”


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*James tip toed into Lily's room, pulling off his shirt as he went. Lily lay across her
bed, as if she'd expected him to come.*

*“I've missed you,” she whispered, tugging him onto the bed. “A lot.”*

*“Lily, tell me you love me,” he whispered against her lips. “Tell me that you'll marry
me, and that you'll have kids with me, Lily. Please, that's all I ask.”*

*“I love you,” she said, softly crying. “I love you so much. Are you asking me to marry you?
Because if you are… the answer is yes. Please, James. I've been so afraid for so long.”*

*He kissed her, plunging his tongue into her warm mouth, exploring its crevices with a hunger
he'd never known before.*

*“This time, I'm not letting you go. Ever,” he promised, slipping off her lacy underwear
to reveal the treasure beneath.*

*As they began to make love, throwing themselves completely into the task, tears of joy fell
down their faces, glad to be whole again.*

*Happy again.*

*In love again*.

A loud, rude snore woke James up from his pleasurable dream. He sat up, distressed at his dream,
looking at the sleeping Erica.

He'd just had the worst sex ever with her. It was disgusting.

His bloody dream had been better, he noted with a grimace. She'd been so cold and had even
*faked* an orgasm.

*Maybe I'd be a little nicer if you'd pretend to at least enjoy yourself*, he
thought bitterly. *Really, as if it's such hell*.

He swung his legs over the side of her bed, and apparated to his house.

“That was the *crappiest* shag I've ever had!” he exclaimed, climbing the stairs to his
room. “Good Lord, as if it's so hard to just lie there…”

“Didn't enjoy yourself, mate?” Sirius asked, popping his head out of his door. “I could hear
you complaining from downstairs. Anyway, point is, I think Remus is shagging someone.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because he told me he was shagging someone.”

“Ah, that'd do it. But who?”

Sirius shrugged. “Not a clue. Well, I'm heading back to sleep, we'll interrogate our
lovely shagger tomorrow morning. As for you, dump that bitch, because she's always calling on
you. And it's rather annoying, if it must be known.”

James shook his head. “She's terrible in bed. I never thought I'd see the day when I
would *never* want to shag a girl ever again. And I mean that. *Never*.”

“Too bad, too,” Sirius sighed, closing the door. “She was hot.”

James shook his head, continuing down the hall. When he reached his door, he was surprised to
find it already open. Cautiously and with his wand out, he went in, only to find that he didn't
need it. But he might need a psychologist.

There, sitting on his bed and inhaling hard liquor in pink pajamas, was Lily.

“Hello,” she smiled drunkenly. “You've been forever, you know. You cannot imagine how much
alcohol I've consumed in the past two hours. So much that maybe I'll even have my first
hangover tomorrow morning!” She gave a high pitched laugh.

“I think that you've had enough,” James said, gently taking the bottle of rum from her
hands. “I'll take you back to your flat, Lily.”

But she ignored him. “Do you know that I've just accepted a date with a man that I met today
at the art exhibit? After, of course, Emmy and Remus disengaged themselves from their kinky
position in which I found them this morning after the gym.”

“What?” James sputtered. “*Emmy* is the girl Remus shagged?”

“As I was saying, I'm really serious about this,” Lily sighed. “I know I won't love him,
but Emmy says that he's a lovely guy. She knew him because they used to live on the same
street. He's a muggle, damn it, but he knows about the wizarding world because his mum is a
witch.”

“That's… interesting, Lily. You sure you don't want to go home?” James asked, trying to
ignore the jealously welling up in him. There's a guy now?

“Yes, I'm sure. I came here for a reason, you know. But back to my story,” she slurred.
Taking a deep breath, she seem to orient herself. “I'm going to marry this one, if he wants to.
I'm ready, I've decided. I'm tired of coming home to an empty flat. I want a home, with
someone who will take care of me, even if he doesn't love me.”

*I would love you*, James felt like telling her. *I would love you and take care of
you*. But instead, he only nodded, fists clenching.

“So yeah. You mentioned something earlier that if you had known that we were going to break up
that night so long ago, you would've enjoyed it more. Or something to that effect at the least.
I'm somewhat tipsy, and can't seem to even remember getting here,” she giggled. “So,
I'm here, to let you enjoy. I'm not so drunk that you should feel bad about sleeping with
me, but neither am I sober enough to know that it's wrong because you have a girlfriend.” She
gave him a sloppy grin. “So what do you say, James? You in?”

*This isn't how you want her. And yet, you're still willing to take what you can get,
you disgusting slime ball*, a voice inside his head said. *Go ahead, take advantage of a girl
who probably will regret her decision in the morning*.

*But that,* he snapped at himself*, is her problem. I, for one, will not regret one
moment of this. She said to enjoy it, so enjoy it I will*.

He made to kiss her, but she averted her head.

“What's the matter?” he asked.

“Don't kiss me, please,” she whispered, taking his chin in her hand. “Don't.”

If the request seemed odd to him, he didn't let it show. “Alright. I won't.” He pushed
her gently onto her back, kissing her shoulders.

She sighed happily as he slipped his hands under her girlish sleeping attire.

“I'd like to apologize for this disgusting confection,” she gasped as his fingers reached
her breasts. “It was all I had.”

“On the bright side, you won't be wearing it for long,” he chuckled. “And I think you should
throw it out. It looks like something my grandmother used to wear.”

They shared a laugh, and Lily seemed to sober up a bit.

Many minutes later, just as the waves of pleasure finished washing through them, James broke his
promise to her.

His lips found hers and she kissed him back, without reserve. And it felt so good.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, with some effort.

With a racking sob, she said, “I'm always going to love you. I'm so sorry.”

He made to tell her right back that that was how he felt too. They could stay together, get
married, do everything he'd always dreamed about.

But fatigue overcame him, and after all…

He could always tell her in the morning.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-**A/N: You cannot believe how pleasantly surprised I was to find that so many people liked
this story****, even though it was at fanfiction.net****. Goes to show, when you review a
lot, I'm motivated to write. Anywho, thank you very much for reading and reviewing, and I hope
that you all continue to do so.**

**Also, I didn't expect this chapter to happen, but for lack of anything better to do…
Amie, you requested, and so I gave.**

**HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERY ONE!**

-->



3. Chapter Three: I've Decided That I Love Him
----------------------------------------------



-This is dedicated to my Rosie. Always, love. Always.-

-**Chapter Three: I've Decided That I Love Him**-

-**By Natali**-

“It was a dream,” Lily said out loud, preparing herself a cup of coffee the next afternoon.
She'd overslept. “Fucking awesome dream,” she laughed, upset that she didn't have a
hangover. She'd always wondered what it felt like.

“Thank God it wasn't real,” she continued, sitting down at her table. “I can't believe
it. I've decided that I love him. Bloody hilarious. No, it's great that it was just a
dream.”

It would be so terrible if it had been real, because that meant that he thought they could get
together.

*And why couldn't you?* asked an annoying voice in her head. *You swear that
there's some sort of thing in your way, and*—

The voice was cut off by Lily herself interrupting it.

*Oh, shut up, shut up! You know that I'm going to go over there right now, so why the
unwanted lecture? Just let me collect my thoughts and actually* **remember** *what happened
last night!*

*Fine,* the voice replied caustically.

“Now, what happened?” Lily asked herself, pacing the kitchen. “Did it even happen?”

*Yes*, something inside her answered. She could feel that she'd been with him.

“Alright, so that's solved. So what next?”

*How about trying to see how you got here?*

“Ah, just my luck!” Lily squealed like a little girl, eyes lighting on an envelope. She ripped
it open, and a ring fell into her hand.

The ring she'd rejected so long ago. Something told her that she wasn't going to like
what she read, but she read it anyway:

*I figured you should have this, since I have no use for it. Last night was… great, needless
to say, and thank you for letting me enjoy it again. I'll remember that. I wish you all the
happiness with that new guy, and I hope you won't mind if I hope he rots in hell. -J*

“It's ok,” she told herself. “Just go over there and tell him how much you love him! …After
you figured out what happened last night. Now, why are you here and not over there?”

You came over in the middle of the night because the two of you decided it would be fun to take
a bubble bath, and James had lacked the necessary ingredients.

*And why did he leave?*

With a feeling that felt oddly like nausea, Lily realized: *Because he can't stand to see
you anymore. Because you told him that you were going to marry that guy you'd met. You'd
basically told him he wasn't good enough.*

*But he is!* Lily told herself. *He is worth it, and oh, Lils, you've really done
yourself in this time.*

“But,” she smiled wickedly, sipping her coffee. “I'm going to prove it to him in a simply
wicked way. So now the question is, white lacy lingerie, or red lacy lingerie? Or, even better, no
lacy lingerie or anything at all?”


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“James!” Lily called out, having apparated to his house. “James, I—holy fuck, hello there,
Erica.” Lily gulped as she watched the idiot girl rummage through James's cabinets.

“Hello, Lily! Just give me a moment, I'm looking for a tea cup.”

“Two cabinets to your left,” Lily said automatically. “Third shelf. Get the white ones. James is
connected to the blue ones. They were his mum's.”

Erica glared, but covered it up immediately. “Why, thanks. You must still remember from your
friendship with James.”

*No, I remember because A) I screwed James for a whole year, many times here and B) I was here
last night, getting a coffee cup*.

“Exactly,” Lily replied coolly. “Is James here?”

“Poor dear was so tired from last night,” Erica giggled. “But I don't suppose you need to
know about that.”

*I know that he didn't shag her before he shagged me!* Lily thought. But then she
caught herself. She had been the one to come to him. Not the other way around.

“Could I speak to him?” Lily asked dryly. “It's rather important.”

“He's asleep.”

“I'll wait.”

They stared at each other, both with an intense hatred. Then Sirius entered the room.

“Bloody hell, it's as cold as the Arctic in here. What's the matter with you two?” he
asked. “And what are you doing here, Lils? You too, for that matter, Erica. Must say I'm
surprised.”

“I needed to talk to James,” Lily answered.

“James called me over,” Erica said at the same time. They glared again. “You could just leave,
Lily,” Erica said sweetly. “I'm sure Jamie will get to you eventually.”

“He hates being called Jamie.”

“Not when I do it,” Erica shot back.

“Funny,” Lily laughed, “here I was thinking that you actually had class. But really, all you
truly are is an imitation of me with a bitchy twist.”

“Funny,” Erica mimicked, “I thought *you* were the bitchy twist. You can get out of the
house now.”

“This isn't your house,” Sirius reminded her. He didn't really hate Erica, but she
didn't have the right to kick someone out, especially someone with as much history with the
Marauders as Lily.

“Not yet,” Erica said in a sweet tone. “But soon. And you won't have to worry about it,
Sirius. You'll be the first thing I dump in the garbage. You're too old to be living off
your best friend.”

Sirius growled, but Lily managed to speak up before he did.

“And what makes you so sure of that?” Lily snapped, stepping closer. “Does he know just how
annoying you are? By the way, purple really isn't your color.” Lily gave her a glance-over.
“For that matter, neither is black.”

But it didn't affect Erica in the slightest. She only held up her left hand. And for a
moment, it took both Liy and Sirius a minute to digest what it was that she was flaunting.

An engagement ring.

There was dead silence in the room, and Lily felt sick to her stomach. How was she supposed to
interpret that? Didn't he… After only a month… How could…? There were so many questions and not
one single answer.

Lily gulped, trying to fight back her tears. “It's nice, but small. I'm surprised that
James would get something so utterly… well, for lack of a better word, *boring*. That stone is
so tiny that I'm surprised I could even identify it. And, well, the metal he chose. Gold, of
all things. So un-James-like, really.”

“Shut up. Really, what would you know?” the evil bitch hissed.

“A lot more than you think,” Sirius muttered. “If you'll excuse me, I have no wish to
witness a murder, thank you. Good day, Lily.”

“Well? What do you know then?”

“I know that the first time he proposed was with a platinum band with three huge diamonds and
two emeralds at either end,” Lily replied smoothly. “I also know, because I have experience in
these things, that that ring must've cost less than my old professor's hair piece!”

Erica gasped. “How dare you? As if you know anything.”

Lily gathered up her purse, which she'd put down and walked straight up to her newest enemy,
just three inches from her face. Slowly, almost as if to prolong her amusement, she held up her
left hand, just as Erica had done only minutes before.

“I know *a lot* of things,” Lily smiled, savoring the enraged look on Erica's overly
made up face before disappearing back to her flat.

“*James, you had better get down here this very instant!*” Erica shrieked, heading for her
fiancé's bedroom. “And be ready to explain this utter insanity!”


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Lily, don't give up,” Emmy said encouragingly. “He's… mad, I suppose. I'm not sure.
But don't give up. You're nuts. One time, shame on him, twice, shame on you. Double shame
on you if twice, because it was your fault first time too.”

Lily twirled a single curl of her hair, staring at herself in the mirror. “Yes, I know. I
won't.”

“So what are you waiting for?”

“Revenge.”

“Don't be stupid, Lily. Your revenge is getting him back. So go do that this instant,” Emmy
said stubbornly. “I won't stop bugging you until you do. You're finally… the old Lily, and
I couldn't be happier for you. So go!”

But Lily shook her head. “Not revenge on Erica. Revenge on myself. For being so bloody
*stupid* the first time.”

Emmy glared. “You're being `so bloody stupid' the second time too.” With a frustrated
sound, she gathered up the dress she'd lent to Lily for the opera a few days ago, and turned
back to her. “I hope you know what the hell you're doing, mate. Hope it doesn't
backfire.”

“It won't. Just hope that they don't elope sometime without me knowing it.”

“You'd only help him cheat,” Emmy smiled, kissing her cheek. “Since when do you care for the
institution of marriage? That Charlie chap you went out with once was married, wasn't he?”

“Very married. Happily, too,” Lily smiled. “Good shag, too. Even if he was a little too old for
my taste. He was well winded five minutes into it. Must say, did keep trying though.”

“You evil arse,” Emmy laughed, looking at her, friendly love etched on her face. “Only you,
Lils. I'm glad that you're back to normal.”

“I've never been normal, Ems. Maybe normal for me?” Lily offered, a slight smile tugging at
her lips. “Are we still going to that house party tonight?”

“Very much so, and I've got a guy I want you to meet,” Emmy answered crisply. “So look
gorgeous, if you will.”

“I always do. And what about that guy from the art exhibit?”

“Ah, took care of him. I did some research on him at work—”

Lily broke out laughing. “You make it sound like you launched some sort of investigation.”

“Not nearly. I wouldn't waste my energy,” Emmy winked. “Just looked up his name on my
employer's program—you know, that odd barrister thing he's got—and turns out that he's
been divorced twice and has three kids. Doesn't pay alimony. I dumped him on your behalf.”

“So good of you. But damn, where'd he find the time? He couldn't have been more than 29
or so.”

“First marriage straight out of a muggle high school. Lasted two year, two kids from that.
Second three years ago, lasted one week. Apparently wasn't paradise. Then he had an affair with
another married woman about a year ago, kid from that.”

“I'm not exactly sure that's legal, Ems.”

“Yes, but when have I followed the laws?”

“I thought you were interning to be a barrister? You're supposed to be a defender of the
law.”

“No, sweetheart,” Emmy called, going to the door. She'd come in her car. “Not at all.
Actually, we're really very low blood-sucking, money-hungry bottom feeders! `Til tonight, and
remember: wear that slutty red dress you've got. Later!”

Lily laughed, shaking her head. How screwed up her life was.

“Prep yourself for a long year,” Lily sighed, heading for the shower. “Your revenge on yourself
has just started.”


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Lily, this is Brent Williams. Brent, this is Lily Evans, my best mate,” Emmy introduced.
“Excuse me a moment. I have to use the loo.”

Lily gave herself a mental note to murder her “best mate” later.

“So, what do you do Lily?” Brent asked.

Lily looked at him. He was tall, broad-shouldered with light brown hair. Around twenty five, if
her guess was right. Very handsome, in a Clark Kent sort of way. Very professional.

“Receptionist at St. Mungo's.” *Liar,* Lily teased herself, raising her tequila shot to
her lips and downing it. *You dirty little liar*. She gave an inward giggle. “You?”

“Accountant at my father's business. I'll inherit someday,” replied Superman.

*I rather like that name*, Lily thought to herself. *I'll call him Superman in my
head. Oh my, really am drunk aren't I*?

“How lovely,” Lily nodded, searching for Emmy's head. She would kill her. “What do you do
for fun?”

“Ride horses,” Superman said.

*Likes to watch porno where women ride the men*, Lily amended in her head.

“Anything else?”

“Cook—”

*Get cooked for*.

“—watch pigskin football—”

*Watch yet more porno, where guys smack each other's arses.*

“—and spend time with my dog.”

“Pick up women with dog,” Lily said aloud accidently.

“Pardon?”

“Nothing!” she said quickly. “If… you will excuse me, I'm afraid that I don't feel right
up to par.” She nodded her goodbye. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Lily walked away anxiously, before Superman could detain her.

“Kitchen baskets, Emmy, I'll cut your head off for leaving me with that bore bag,” Lily
threatened into the blonde's ear.

Emmy laughed. “Shitfaced already?”

“Damn right.”

“Didn't like Brent?”

“Superman was too boring. Someone more lively, if you will, Ems. No one that's looking for
long-term commitment. I am going to be a married woman soon.” Lily looked around for a waiter.
“Dash it all, can't a person find a good drink around here?”

Emmy pointed to the bar running along an entire wall. “Open bar, love. Really drunk, aren't
you?”

“If I'm lucky.”

Emmy went with her to grab a drink. “If you would like to stay a bit longer, they're playing
drinking games at one.”

Lily rolled her eyes, and Emmy laughed. “Do you know me at all, Emmy? Since when do I do
drinking games? Especially since Hogwarts.”

“You need to live a little,” Emmy muttered under her breath. “And here's your little. Do you
see that blonde over there, by the drums?”

Lily's eyes found the stage where the band had been playing, then found the object of
Emmy's interest. “Yeah? What about him?”

“He is a top barrister, makes millions of pounds a year, has an American accent, and abhors
long-term relationships. I believe that he just might be your cup o' tea, Lily.”

Lily considered him thoughtfully. “You're sure about the relationship thing?”

“Dead sure. A girl at the office used to date him, and when he said that their relationship had
to end because it'd been going on too long… Well, needless to say the whole office got to hear
her sob story,” Emmy grunted. “Gosh, I wanted to bash her. She wouldn't shut up.”

“Might've just been an excuse,” Lily said, winking at the guy. He'd noticed her almost
immediately. “I need something just a bit more secure.”

“He's got—you'll love this—a rep for it,” Emmy snickered. “Jake, that's his name.
They've taken to calling him Jerky Jake. I immediately thought of you.”

Lily smiled. “Too easy. Thank you so much, mate. This should be fun. Anything else?”

“He likes the chase, or so they say. Apparently, that's his favorite part.” Emmy swigged
another shot of something that Lily didn't recognize.

“Well. So do I.”

“I'm telling you, perfect boy toy for you.”

“A gift from the heavens.”

“So, you're still going for it, even though you're going to go for James?”

“Naturally,” Lily muttered. “I need to be entertained.”

“Do you think he's heading over?” Emmy asked coyly.

“Of course.”

“Do you think I should leave?”

“No. Make it seem that I'm not so desperate. You said he liked the chase. This isn't
going to be easy.”

“Lily, I love your evil mind,” Emmy sighed contentedly. “What should we talk about then, before
he comes into hearing range?”

“And when I saw those posh little lacy undies, I just had to buy them! They were too sexy to
ignore, you know? Ride up my arse though,” Lily laughed, Emmy laughing even harder at her random
topic.

“Pardon, I hope you won't mind, but I simply couldn't keep away. You're exquisite,”
said the American, coming up to them. “Good evening, ladies.”

“Evening,” they said simultaneously. “How can we help you?” They'd long ago noticed that
guys found this rather irresistible, and used it to their advantage.

“I was wondering, if you'd be so kind as to take a drink with me?” Yankee (as Lily had
mentally dubbed him… Blame the alcohol) said smoothly. The question was directed at Lily.

“I'd love to,” Lily replied, watching satisfaction light up his face. “But I'm just
leaving. Too sorry. Maybe I'll catch you around? I'm Lily by the way. Lily Evans.”

“Craig Tucker. Maybe we will catch each other. I must admit, I hope so.”

Lily smiled in her Lily way. “Maybe we will. I'll catch you later, Emmy.” With a wink, she
headed for the door.

Too easy. Only too easy to do.


*------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*

(*One year later, the long-awaited wedding*…)

Lily Evans, one year older and wiser stepped into the church.

She'd waited so long for this. Maybe she was being selfish about this whole thing… Oh, screw
it, there was no other option now. And it's not as if Erica's parents couldn't afford
it. They were rich as the Queen herself. It wasn't her fault (alright, so it was. So
what?).

So much had happened: she was different. For one, men loved to propose to her, and maybe it was
the fact that she actually had something to live for. After that put down from Erica that day in
February… Well, she knew whatever se did, it would have to be big.

Craig had proposed. That had been interesting, needless to say. Then Chris, who'd only
lasted for two weeks, had proposed not once, but twice. Rex, George, Brad, David, and one who she
hadn't even known too.

What a life.

James, who was already at the altar, saw Lily (late, as always) come into the church, and look
around for Emmy. What had he been thinking, inviting her? Why had she accepted?

They shared a small smile.

Damn her. A year, and he still felt so much for her.

*But you're getting married.*

*To someone you can barely stand.*

*You'll never see her. She's always with her friend.*

*You'll never see Lily either.*

*Yeah, well…*

*You could.*

*Shut up, would you? I'm on the freaking altar.*

*You're heading for the asylum. Even Erica's* clothes *annoy you.*

*It's because she's always wearing purple. And she looks terrible in it.*

*Lily doesn't.*

*SHUT UP!!!!*

James, breathing hard, turned to Sirius. “I should've had a big bottle of rum before doing
this.”

“I think you're an idiot,” Sirius said simply, disapproving of the relationship openly for
the first time. “You're mad. Completely bonkers.”

“Great timing, mate,” James hissed. “Remus, what do you think?”

Remus nodded his head toward Sirius. “What he said.”

“You never told me anything!”

“Yes, well… You never did ask.”

With a frustrated sound at the back of his throat, he turned back to the people in the pews,
eyes instantly coming to rest on Lily.

*What are you doing, James?*


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-**A/N:** **Alright.** **I** **had originally planned to do this differently, but**
**I** **decided that** **I** **like to see Lily drunk. :-D. Sorry. Lol.**

**Thanks all!**

-->



4. Chapter Four: Sex On The Beach
---------------------------------



-**Chapter Four: Sex On The Beach** -

-**By Natali**-

*You're keeping your word to someone to whom you gave it*, James repeated, over and
over and over and over again, hoping that he'd faint or something—anything to stop this.

“Do you, Erica Egbert Christina Emily Robinson, take James Potter to be your lawfully wedded
husband?” the pastor droned on.

“I do.”

“And do you…?”

Lily was clutching her purse wildly, unsure of what to do. This wasn't going to work. What
had she been thinking? Was she mad? Most likely, but she should've realized that this is utter,
unmitigated madness! She should never have come. He didn't deserve someone like her. Someone
who always put things off. She should've told him what she had to say earlier, not *at his
bloody wedding*!

“Excuse me,” she whispered, getting up and heading for the door. The entire church glared at
her, and she begged that James would not turn around. *Keep looking ahead*, she prayed.
*Don't turn around. Not now*.

And for once, things went just as she wanted them to; she'd escaped.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(-*Later…*-)

“Mmm, you look terrible,” Joe remarked, fixing Lily a glass of her favorite hard liquor—Scotch.
“What, are your bloomers all in a bunch?”

Lily smiled bitterly. “That's one way to put it. Only one problem though—I'm not wearing
any.”

“Naughty bitch,” he laughed. “Seriously though, what's the problem? You haven't looked
this bad since… *Oh*. Is he back again?”

“No. He's gone for good now.” She didn't drink her Scotch, but instead stuck a straw in
it and twirled it around, just for the hell of it. It was something to do with her hands instead of
balling them and crying into them. “Very for good, actually.”

Joe nodded, slipping the receipt in front of her, then snatching it back. “No, I think this one
should be on the house.”

“Heaven knows I need liquor,” she sighed, but still didn't drink it. “He's got married
now. Today. I was invited, and I went—to mess up the whole thing, mind you.”

“And… What happened? He rejected you?”

Lily shook her head adamantly. “No. In fact, if I'd asked him to come and marry me, love me,
*be* with me, I'd bet a whole bushel of galleons that he would've accepted and left
that ugly, hideous-in-purple bitch faster than you can say Snitch.”

“Galleons? Snitch? Have you lost your marbles?” Joe asked.

“No, never mind.”

“Purple is a nasty color,” Joe said randomly, wiping down the bar. “I mean, it's the color
of puke for fuck sake.”

“Joe, I don't need a description of the color. As it is, I'm planning on getting rid of
this thing”—she indicated her purple cocktail dress—“just because it reminds me of her.”

“Then why'd you wear it?”

“Men are idiots. I wore it to show her—and James—that *I* don't look bad in
purple.”

Joe looked at her soft lavender dress. “Lily, I don't think you look bad in *anything*.
Or nothing, as I'd prefer it.”

Lily laughed, waving over Emmy, who'd just arrived. “Yes, well… You aren't really the
one whose opinion I care about. At least, not like I care about his.”

Joe shrugged. “If you ever need a shag, I'll be more than happy to offer myself as a
sacrifice.”

Emmy sat down, smiling. “Sex-On-The-Beach, Joe. And I'll vouch for him. He's a
*good* shag, Lils. I bet he'll be able to help you get over your little slump here.”

Lily glared at her. “I've been caught up in this `little slump' for a year now, Ems.
Somehow, I don't think a good shag—and I know Joe is one, trust me—is going to help any.” She
downed her Scotch now, all at once. “Glad you're here,” she gasped. “You know I don't like
drinking alone.”

“You missed a good wedding, Lily,” Emmy practically sang, paying for her drink. “Marvelously
good, truth be told.”

Lily growled. “You're a cold-hearted bitch.”

“Don't I know it!” she laughed, sucking the juice off a cherry. “Why don't you go on
over to his place and congratulate them, since you were unable to stay for the whole thing?”

“Because I'm leaving,” Lily snapped, getting up and gathering her stuff.

Emmy's face clouded over with worry. “What do you mean you're bloody leaving? Where the
hell would you go?”

Lily slammed money down on the bar mat, and ignored Joe when he tried to give it back. “Who
cares? But I'll owl you when I find out.”

“Owl?” Joe echoed. “What the bloody hell is that supposed to be, code?”

“*Shut up, Joe*,” they chorused, and Emmy jumped off her seat to go after Lily.

“Lils, you're mad!” she exclaimed, attracting several stares. “Why on earth are you leaving?
Which brings me to my next point! Why did you leave today, during the wedding? I thought you were
in love, I thought—”

“Guess what, Ems!” Lily bit out, cutting her off. “I guess I was wrong. Love isn't
everything, and now it's too late. It's over. Fucking hell, it was over four years ago, and
I'm just too much of an idiot to let sleeping dogs lie!”

Emmy stopped as Lily gathered her umbrella; it was raining outside.

“Lils, there's something you should know about him,” she whispered, noticing that everyone
was trying to hear their conversation. “Something happened today. After you'd left, he—”

“I don't *care* anymore, Emmy!” Lily interrupted again, straightening up. “I left that
church because I knew it wasn't right, and it's *still* not right now! Except,
it's only more wrong now than before. I'll talk to you later, Emmy, I will. Give me two
days. I'm leaving town. I should've done it so long ago, and I should've given up this
silly fantasy of `true love'.”

She'd said the words with such disgust that Emmy balked in surprise, and didn't stop her
when she tried to leave. Lily had never believed *she* would fall in love, but she knew “true
love” existed. It was a slap in the face for her best mate to hear that she'd given up on
it.

“Whatever it is that you did to upset your ex-girlfriend there,” said a fifty-something year old
bloke from the table to her right, “it sure must've been something terrible if she deserted you
at the altar. And I didn't even know homosexuals could marry here…”

Emmy was breathing fire. “Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you, you disgusting old pervert!
Bastard! As if Lils and me would date. Please, she's not my type.”

“And then just what is your type?” asked a masculine looking female from the same table as the
fifty-year-old perv bastard. “Something like me, would you say?”

“Depends. Do you have testicles and a large penis?” Without waiting for an answer, Emmy said,
“No, I didn't think so. And if you do, then I *still* wouldn't go out with you, `cause
you're uglier than the shit on this place's toilets!”

With a loud, frustrated sound, she exited the place, came back in, grabbed her drink, and then
went in search of Lily.

She never did find her.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(-*Four days later…*-)

“Hello, Dumbledore,” Lily said brightly, pushing open his office door. “Here, I've got those
papers you wanted me to fill out. I hope you don't mind I did them in pink ink—I'd run out
of black, and that's my letter writing ink.”

“Not at all,” said the Hogwarts Headmaster. “You remember James, right? Of course you do… You
two were all the thing back in the old days.”

Lily whirled around, shocked to find James there. Without a wedding ring of any sort. Or any
other jewelry. Except for that adorable little earring he had, which she'd always loved…

“How's your wife?” Lily asked calmly. *Oh, thank God I am so high on magical
pills*…

James quirked his eyebrows. He looked like shit, quite frankly. “Haven't you heard?”

“Obviously not,” Albus chuckled, picking off a piece of lint. “James didn't go through with
it. Maybe if you'd stayed long enough, Miss Evans, you would've known that.” His eyes
twinkled mischievously. “I did like that dress you were wearing though. You look very nice in
purple, my dear.”

“Thank you,” Lily said absently. “Why not, James?”

He gave a casual shrug, continuing to look through Dumbledore's massive bookshelf. “Love
someone else, I suppose. Great party after though. We got so drunk that we couldn't move for a
whole day. Slept there at the banquet hall and everything. Too bad you didn't stay.”

She nodded, glancing back at Dumbledore. Her old headmaster didn't need to know that she
wasn't a virgin—hadn't been for eight or nine years—and that she would willingly shag James
just now. It was awkward.

“I should, um, go then,” she muttered. *Does he know? Should I have told him?*

“No, Lily. Maybe you should stay. There are a few things I'd like to say to you. James, sit
down. There's something I want you to join…” Dumbledore commanded, locking his door magically.
“James, how do you feel about fighting Voldemort?”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-**A/N: Guys, I'm** **so** **very sorry! I've just been in a slump! I know this
chapter is short, but that's how I get over my writer's block, in tiny chapters. Forgive
me? I'm so sorry… I'm hoping that it wasn't completely predictable.**

**Thanks to** **everyone.**

**I'll try to update faster guys. Please read and review, and don't hurt me.**

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5. Chapter Five: Mini Chappette To Cover My Stupidity
-----------------------------------------------------



-**Chapter Five: Mini Chappette In Order To Cover My Stupidity**-

-**By Natali**-

-Dedicated to Amanda G. Who inspired chapter four. I can't remember why exactly right now,
but I know she did because I made myself a note. If you know me at all, you're aware that I
have just about the worst memory possible. So, thanks Goddess of White Houses and All That Is Good
And Sexual... From the Goddess of Wisdom, Beauty, Sarcasm, and the Bed-Pissing Dog. Love you!-

-Ok, more stupidity from me. In Word, I'd had this laced together with chapter four, because
I'd forgotten I'd already posted a chapter four. So you can imagine how utterly surprised I
am to find a chapter four already up. I'd lace it with the original chapter five, but I love
chapter six so much, that I can't bear to do it. Sorry. Ok, now to the part you guys actually
care about.-

------------------------

“I would consider it the biggest of honors to take out that bastard,” James replied honestly.
“Why? The Order of the Phoenix, Albus?”

“How do you know?”

“Well, Sirius *is* in it, isn't he? I was eavesdropping,” James grinned. “Incidentally,
I was initially very offended that you hadn't asked me to join, but considering I was just the
biggest lout for awhile there, I can't say I blame you.”

“Well, I'm asking you,” Albus grinned.

“One condition,” James stated. He glanced at Lily, who was still in a slight daze, and then
spilled the beans. “Lily can't join.”

“Who's to say he was going to ask me?” she sputtered.

“I was,” Albus confirmed, frowning. About to say that it wasn't really his place to decide
whether or not Lily, he was cut off from doing so by Lily.

“You've got no bloody right, you prat!” she hissed, walking straight up to him and poking
his chest. “In case you haven't noticed, we were finished a long while ago.”

“But I still care,” he said sincerely. “Dumbledore asked me first, and I accepted first on the
grounds that you couldn't join.”

“And just why can't I join, Master?” she said smartly, crossing her arms.

Dumbledore smiled, remembering the several times throughout their Hogwarts career when
they'd gone head to head. He sat back in his chair to admire the sport.

“You'll die!”

“That's not certain! Besides James, why would you care a bloody fig whether I died or not?”
she laughed bitterly, throwing her head back. “Do you think that just because you didn't marry
Erica I'm going to come and crawl back to you?”

“Damn you, Lils, I still love you.” James shut his eyes. “Dumbledore, could you give us a
moment?”

“Sure,” the nearly ancient man nodded, springing up. “In my defense, I knew it all along.” With
that famous twinkle in his eyes, he briskly left the office, leaving Lily and James alone.

Well, technically.

“Ha! Crawford, you old hag!” a somewhat unorthodox blue-haired witch screeched, calling another
of the past headmistresses of Hogwarts. “What did I tell ye? They'd still have somethin'
after they left this school!”

“Shut up, you old tartar,” Crawford screeched back. “I'll give ye the bloody twenty galleons
some other time. Shut up and enjoy the show. Come on, young pups, I've not had good R rated
entertainment since the 1800s when young Jimmy and Christina-”

“Shut your face,” Lily interrupted, turning back to James. “Good God, James. You're kidding
me! You just had a wedding planned with another girl four fucking days ago!” She pushed him aside
and strode for the door. “No, James. I don't want that over my head.”

“God damn it, Lils!” He caught her wrist and tugged her, a bit too hard. She winced and took out
her wand.

“Let go of me. Or I'll hex you without a second thought.”

“Hear me out! You wouldn't let me four years ago, and not at the wedding, not ever!”

Lily closed her eyes, suddenly weary. “I'm tired of it all, James. I want it to stop. When
you were gone, my life was fine. Last year, it got all messed up because you looked *so damn
good* every time I saw you. And now... My body can't take it again.”

“Your life was fine. It can be great,” he whispered, pulling her closer. “You've changed in
four years, Lily. Whatever happened to marrying that guy from the art exhibit?”

She glanced at him. “How'd you know about that?”

“Your drunken ramble.”

“Oh.” She looked down at her toes, blushing at the few thoughts she could recall from that night
she'd gone to *his* bedroom, practically begging for sex. “I... I didn't think you
remembered that.”

“You told me to enjoy it. I did, and I memorized every bit that I could.” He sighed. “Every
touch, every emotion that rolled through me... I was *so* mad at you that morning, Lily.
You've no idea.”

“You left me,” she gasped on a dry sob, allowing herself to lean on him for support. As if by
their own accord, his arms mobilized and wrapped themselves around her small frame. He'd always
been taller than her by at least a head. But it'd always felt right.

“I didn't know what to do,” he admitted. “You... You had been talking in your sleep. You
kept saying `No, James... Don't ask me, the answer is no. It was just sex. *Just*
sex...'. I couldn't take it. I got up and left.”

“And Erica? What about that?”

James ran his hands across her back. “I was mad.”

“What happened at the wedding?”

“I realized it was wrong. You look good in purple, did I ever tell you that?”

Lily remained silent for a moment, then broke out into tears, laughing. “You agree? Oh, I'm
so glad you agree. Erica looks terrible in purple. It clashes with her skin and hair.”

James laughed. “She doesn't know how to wear it, it has nothing to do with her colors.
*You* look good, and you have the same coloration.”

She stretched up and draped her arms around his neck. “I love you. Damn you. Damn you.” She
nipped his lips. “Why did you kiss me that night? When I came to you in my pink pajamas? Which, by
the way, I never got back.”

“I kept them. I still have them. I kissed you because I wanted to,” he shrugged.

“But I asked you not to,” she whined, giving a little stomp with her foot. “It would have
created so many less problems! That's what I'd been dreaming about. You asked if you could
kiss me, and I said no. And you said that we'd slept together, and you deserved to kiss me.
That was the whole `just sex' thing.”

James leaned his head against her forehead, placing light kisses on her nose. “I should've
stayed.”

“I should never have gone.”

“You should never have turned me down.”

Lily nodded, choking on her tears. “I know,” she whispered. “Do you think there's anything
left?”

“Of course! Don't be an idiot,” he glared. He hugged her tighter. “But I can't do this
again if the end result isn't going to be marriage. For me, that includes kids and a whole
lifetime. Also, you're not allowed to desert me at the altar.”

She bit her lip. “Do we have to do this now?”

He opened his mouth to say a firm Yes, but Dumbledore poked his head in.

“Are we done? Not that I'm all for love and all that good stuff, but I'd rather not have
to step in here and think of the time Lily and James did a few things on my desk...”

They stared at him.

“Yes,” Lily said softly. “To both your questions.”

“WHOO!” James yelled, picking her up and twirling her. “You've got three months to organize
a wedding, Lils. So get started!”

“James! I'm *not* rushing into this!”

“No, if we were rushing, we'd be leaving *now*. But, as we're not, no rushing
involved.” He smiled down at her and kissed her deeply. “I mean it. Three months from today.”

“On one condition,” she whispered against his lips.

“Anything.”

“I join the Order.”

“Damn you. Fine. But you're getting a desk job.”

“Too late,” Dumbledore interjected happily. “You are currently embracing the new head of the
Order. You, too, of course, James, but she's been in the Order for about two years now. I was
going to ask her to join my poker group, not to join the Order...”

Lily laughed, kissing his chin as he stubbornly held his lips out of reach. “On the bright
side... I've currently got an empty flat in downtown London, if you'd like to rendezvous
there...”

James considered her, a wicked grin growing on his face. “Let's, then.” He glanced up at
Dumbledore. “If anyone asks, we were never here, and you most certainly do not know where we are or
what we're doing. We'll see you tonight at the meeting.”

“How did you know there was an Order meeting tonight?” Albus asked curiously, smiling
slightly.

“Sirius said he `had to work late' tonight. If you knew Sirius, you'd know that his job
is nothing. Quite simply because he's a spoiled little rich boy, whose parents died and left
him mounds of money. I'm not a simpleton,” James replied. “We'll be going then.”

“And we might be late!” Lily called over shoulder as they jumped into the fire to use the Floo
Network.

----------------

-**A/N: Hello! Don't shoot me! Ok, I've got one more chapter for this, then it's
done. Let's put it this way: I'm going to wait for twenty reviews to post it. So, get your
friends, do what you will. I think twenty is a pretty decent number. Ok, so I know you all hate me,
but could you please read and review anyway????**

**Thanks to all of you for reading. I'm really sorry I haven't been posting. Anyone
want to flame on me????**

**Please read & Review!!!!!!! Love you!**

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6. Chapter Six: I Really, Really Hate The Holidays
--------------------------------------------------



-**Chapter Six: I Really, Really Hate The Holidays**-

-**By Natali**-

(-*The Next New Years' Eve...*-)

“Happy New Fucking Year,” Lily muttered, bitterly sipping a cup of water. “This is hell, Emmy. I
want to shoot myself.”

“Cheer yourself up, Lils!” Emmy groaned. “I've done this for the past 5 or so New
Years', and it's getting quite old. It hasn't been *that* long, you exaggerated
bitch.”

“So what? You swear that it makes it any easier for me. You know how addicted I was. Am, I
suppose, but I currently have to use past tense, to my disgust,” Lily sighed, pouting. “Now I
*really* hate the hols, Ems.”

“Yes, I know,” Emmy muttered dryly. “Let me guess. You spend so much time and money on a dress
that you won't even fit into soon-partly to blame for the holidays, and in the end, you
can't even get drunk to make it worthwhile!”

“Exactly!” Lily nodded. “My life is a hell.”

“I've said it before, and I'll be saying it until one of us dies, and then I'll
remind you in the afterlife.” Emmy paushed, taking a long sip of her Bloody Mary. “It's a
fucking party, Lils. Have a fucking good time or I'll stick a fucking knife up your arse. You
fucking got me, mate?”

Lily didn't reply, staring grumpily into the distance.

Suppressing the urge to follow through with her threat, Emmy continued, “Go get laid or
something, Lils. I can't stand you like this.”

“*But I don't want to get laid sober!*” Lily hissed, shutting her eyes closed.

“Not even by sex god James Potter?” Emmy smiled. “Oh, speak of the devil. Look at who's
traveling the length of the room, just for you, Lils. Maybe the little darling will get a boner for
you.” She downed the rest of her drink. “Holy bloody fuck, I need another fifty or so of
these.”

“I think I might vomit on him. I'm not feeling too hot.”

“Can I leave you two alone for just a few minutes?”

“Of course. We're civil, Emmy. Go and get me a wine at least, will you?” Lily begged.
“Please?”

“No. Now shut it. Oh, James, maybe you can do something about her. If I hear her say one more
time that she doesn't have enough alcohol in her system, I might do something and get sent to
Azkaban for it. Later, loves.” She left without another word.

Lily looked into the smiling face of James Potter. “But it's not that I don't have
enough alcohol-it's that I have *absolutely none*!” She let her face crumple. “My gosh I
haven't this sober for this much time since... I was twelve.”

James only smiled wider. “Come here.” He stretched out his arms and she walked into them without
another thought. “You know you can't have alcohol, Lily.”

“Why?” she demanded, knowing the answer. His lips dipped and slid across hers in a tender, short
caress.

“Because you're pregnant. Would you really drink?”

“No, but I'm going to complain about it all I want. I can't believe you knocked me up so
soon. We've only been married not even a year!”

James chuckled. “So I'm virile. You used to love that in me.”

Lily smiled wickedly, sliding her hands into his jacket and touching his chest. “I still do. I
just finished telling Emmy that I didn't want to get laid, but I'm horny suddenly. These
mood swings aren't the greatest things, you know.”

James laughed. “Speaking of, I thought of a name for Junior.”

“What?”

“Harry.”

Lily blushed, giggling. “But, love, that's what we named your little man!”

“Yes. I thought it fitting. What do you think?”

“I love it, sadly. Oh, this kid is going to be so bloody corrupt. Too bad. His problem. Come on,
I really am horny now.” She made to move, but he held her within the cage of his arms. “Yes?”

“I love you.” He kissed one of her closed eyelids. “You know that?”

“Yes. I love you too. A lot.”

“Dandy. Now, let's go. I'm very randy.”

“That rhymed!”

“You know, I think the water had something in it, because you're awfully air-headed.”

Lily laughed, taking his hand as their fingers intertwined. Without another word, they apparated
away from the party, hoping every would excuse their absence.

After all...

They were still newlyweds, weren't they?

**THE END**

**….Or Is It?**

-----

-**A/N: Ok, here's the thing. I'd planned to stop it right there. But hey, anyone up
for a prequel? I don't know though. I would need at least forty-five SIGNED reviews. This means
you've gotta have a name here. Or at least give me your email. I got way too many anonymous
reviews… Anyway, I know you were all expecting a wedding, but if I do the prequel, that's how
it'll end.**

**BUT thanks very much to:**

**All the anonymouses, which were like at least half of them…**

**Amanda G-** yes, Lily was in the Order before James. In case you haven't noticed, she
says that she lies about her job when speaking to Superman…

**Gah_meep**

**Lizzy Bennet**

**Watermelon914**

**Alex C Potter**

**Dramageeked**- Lmao, you didn't finish your sentence in your review…!

**Arch**- Still have to join the Great Break. Oops…

**Mani 1219**

**hermione278**

****herbsila@yahoo.com

**Flame Of Desire**

**Carmen**

**Greengrl**

**CattyCat**

**kat black**

**Tanya J. Potter**

**MarauderQueen**

**Reines im Herzen**

**Isabelle Gibson**

**me**

**Windowseat Wonderer**

****tickeledpink_429@yahoo.com

**Almost there and nowhere near it**- HA HA that's so funny! A real life superman named
Brent! I promise you I just made that up.

**KMK**- I guess she did plan a wedding in three months...

**And my very first hate review: Thank you brilover, for you awesome use of tact. That, by the
way, was sarcasm. I respect that you seem to think I'm the worst writer, but really, I'd
have to disagree. The fact I spell most things right is enough to get me published. But thank you.
I appreciate your honesty.**

**Love you all!**

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