Chapter Six: Alibi
By Natali K. A.
Lily laughed, feeling a little light headed from her several glasses of champagne. She'd never been able to hold much alcohol, and champagne was the worst of it.
"The world seems so sparkly," she sighed, glancing around the nice restaurant. "Don't you think so, James?"
James snickered. "I can't believe you're drunk."
"I am not drunk," Lily denied, holding out her glass while James refilled it. "I'm happy."
"Of course, my dear." He smirked at her, sipping his own glass of champagne. They looked at each other over their glasses, flirting with their eyes. James set his glass down. "Do your parents expect you home tonight?"
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm sure they'll notice if I never show up," she reasoned. "But I am old enough to make my own decisions, aren't I?"
James nodded. "I want you to come home with me."
Lily snorted prettily. "I'm sure your parents will definitely guess what we're doing. My parents are a tad bit thick when it comes to my innocence, but yours aren't nearly as dumb."
James shook his head. "No, that's not what I mean. I want you to come home with me for good."
Lily was grateful she'd set down her drink just moments before because she lost the ability to grasp things. Had she been standing, she would've probably fainted.
"We just started dating."
He made an irritated noise before leaning forward and grasping her hand. "Lily, if you believe that I haven't thought of you as my girlfriend or talked about you as my girlfriend for the recent months, you're extremely slow. I told you that because you were pressured and you had N.E.W.T.s. Me? I couldn't honestly care. I'd drop studying to spend time with you anytime."
"You never study," she said, trying to change the subject.
"But if I had, I would've stopped for you. Even if I was going to fail the exam, I would've. You can't tell me that you haven't felt a bit exclusive throughout this entire time."
Lily shrugged. "Course not, but I just… move in with you, James? School just ended yesterday!"
"And tomorrow isn't for sure." He looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"I have to think about it," she blurted out, shaking. "It's a big step. My parents would throw a fit, no matter how much they like you. They don't expect me to move out until I get married, more so now than ever since Petunia lived with Vernon for nearly a year."
He nodded, twiddling with his knife. "It's not as if I don't plan to take it there."
"Take what where?"
"Our relationship."
"Our relationship where? Marriage?"
"Well, yeah. That is why we're dating, isn't it? Trying to figure out if we're compatible or not. Isn't that why people date period?" James asked.
Lily was shocked. "James, not everyone dates to get married or to look for someone to marry! Vicky, for one. She's never going to marry-or so she says, though I know better. She just wants a good time. I have a cousin who uses women like they're a pair of pants he doesn't particularly like. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am."
"That's them," James growled. "I thought… Lils, I thought you wanted-"
"I do want to get married," she interrupted, stuttering. "But this is a bit out of the blue for me! This is our first official date and you're asking me to move in with you! Then you bring up marriage-we're barely out of school. Our seats are still warm there! You might as well get it over with and ask me to marry you." She huffed, slouching a little.
"Fine," he said dryly. "Will you marry me?"
"James!"
"What?" he snapped. "I mean it. I want you to marry me, but I figured you didn't want to go there just yet, so I decided to ask you to move in with me instead. That'd satisfy me. For the moment, anyhow."
"It's not that I don't want to go there, it's just-Well, I don't know exactly what," she sighed. She reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. "You just sort of surprised me, is all."
James leaned forward and kissed her. "I know why you didn't dream last night-or I think I do, anyway."
"Why?" Lily whispered. "Tell me. You wouldn't this morning."
"Because I realized how much I love you and that I want to marry you. Tomorrow's not guaranteed, Lily. I don't think we should waste another day," he explained. "Tell me that you don't love me and we'll pretend this conversation never happened."
His voice sounded so pained when he said that, Lily's heart almost broke for him.
"Don't be ridiculous," she muttered. "How could you think I didn't love you?"
"Say it," he said gruffly.
"I love you." Lily kissed him. "I love you." She kissed him again and this time he kissed her back.
Someone cleared their throat. They pulled apart to find their waiter waiting with their check.
"Thank you, and I hope you enjoyed your dinner."
"We did, thanks," James said, rising. He helped Lily stand up and they walked out of the restaurant together.
After a comfortable silence, James asked, "Will you come home with me tonight? Just to sleepover?"
Lily tore her gaze away from her hometown's closed stores and its dark streets. "What do I tell my parents? I just don't feel comfortable with them knowing that I'm sleeping over at your place."
"Lily."
"I'm not trying to hide it, but they're still my parents, James. They're going to look at me with that face and Daddy will never think of me in the same way." She made a hesitant noise. "I don't think it's that they're ignorant, they just don't have substantial proof, and therefore can't prove it nor fully believe it. This way, they're allowed to remain in their fairytale land."
James nodded. "Alright then, if it means that much to you."
"It does."
"We'll pretend to say goodbye, wait thirty minutes then say that Vicky invited you for a sleepover with a bunch of your Hogwarts friends. I'll be waiting for you in my room and that way my parents won't ever know either."
Lily didn't reply as they turned onto her walk.
"I'll see you soon," he whispered, pulling her into a hug. "Don't take too long."
"I won't," she promised. "I'm not saying no, by the way. To moving in with you. I just need to think about it."
"Hmm. See you then. I can disapparate behind that bush over there, right?"
"No, the neighbors from the back can see you if they're upstairs and happen to be looking out the window. Go into the shed. It's partially blocked by a tree."
"Thanks."
She stepped into her house to find her parents sitting on the couch watching television.
"Have a fun time, Lily?" her mum asked. "You're home earlier than I thought you would be. It's only 9:30."
"Didn't have anything else to do," Lily shrugged. "I'm exhausted anyway. Didn't get much sleep last night."
"Why?" her dad asked.
Lily was so grateful her back was to them as she hung her coat and a blush crept over her cheeks. "Oh, you know. Anxiety over school being over and all that. Then I woke up early because I'm so used to it."
"Of course, dear. There's some leftover cookies that I made tonight in the kitchen if you'd like some. Still in the oven."
"I'll save them for tomorrow morning. I'm stuffed," Lily said, plopping down on the couch. She really was tired. Not tired enough to stay home but tired nonetheless. She reminded herself she wouldn't be here tomorrow morning.
Oh, well.
"Did you have a nice dinner?"
"Yes. James took me to my favorite place."
Her dad nodded approvingly. "I like him immensely, Lily. I haven't gotten a chance to ask you yet, but did you mention he was your boyfriend yesterday?"
"No, I didn't. But he is." She hadn't truly lied. And if she was going to move in with him-which she hadn't decided on yet-she might as well let her parents think they'd been official for a few months now, no matter than they were unofficially official.
She ordered herself to stop thinking because she was only confusing herself.
Lily watched reruns of Fawlty Towers with her parents for about ten minutes before her mum remember she had to tell her something.
"By the way, I think Vicky sent you one of those owl things. It wanted to be let inside, but I'd just mopped the floor. I put him in Saucer's old cage in the backyard with some food. Seemed quite content, too."
This is the perfect opportunity. Oh, thank you, Vic! Lily thought. She had to restrain herself from jumping up and getting her stuff together. She went out into the back, spotted her old dog's cage and let Vicky's owl Celia out.
"Hey, sweetheart," she crooned. "Did you know that your Mama just saved my arse? Yeah, she did. Thanks for the note. Hang on while I write something back."
Hey,
Just thought I'd give you a reason to stay with your lover boy tonight. Make up some excuse that I have boy troubles and I need a friend or some shit like that.
Love,
Your "aching" friend, ha!
"That bitch!" Lily laughed, penning a quick response. "Swears she knows everything."
She sent Celia off and went back inside.
"Mum, Dad, Vicky's having some boy issues. She asked me to sleep over tonight, so I'm heading over, alright? Don't know when I'll be back."
"Oh, take Vicky the cookies, then," her mother said sympathetically. "Send her our love. And why don't you invite her over for dinner tomorrow while you're at it? James, too, if you don't think it'll bother her. We have some of your father's colleagues coming over."
"Thanks, Mum, will do." She gave both her parents a kiss and went upstairs to her room to pack the essentials.
Changing into boy-shorts and a matching cami, Lily wrapped herself in a bathrobe and disapparated to James' room.
"Boo," she said, giggling when he started. He'd been changing into his pajamas.
"There you are," he grinned. "Great news. Dad took Mum out on one of their random weekend getaways. We have the whole house to ourselves."
Lily smiled. "Just a coincidence, eh?"
James appeared offended. "Are you accusing me of somehow tweaking the situation to suit my purposes? In which case, you would be correct except that this was, for once, totally coincidental."
"How convenient."
"Lils."
"What?" she asked, even though she knew exactly what was coming.
"I want to show you how much I love you," he whispered, gently picking her up and walking over to his bed. He lay her down then came above her. "I do."
"I know. I do, too."
But my mother told me there was only one way to show a man you love that much how much you love him, she thought to herself. That involves marriage and having a baby. His baby.
I want to have his baby. I want to wait at home for him every day and jump into his arms to welcome him. I want to know his every secret and help him make decisions. I want to support him. But nothing made a man understand love like his child would.
"Let's do it," she said before she knew she was saying it. Instantly, she knew she couldn't take it back. He would never have let her.
"I'm planning on just that. Be patient."
"No, I don't mean that. Well, I do, but I mean… I'm saying yes, James."
"To moving in with me?"
"To marrying you." There was no turning back. She wouldn't risk turning into a pillar of salt when there was a promise of so much more before her. "This is my yes."
"No," he said bluntly.
"What do you mean `no'?" she snapped. "You told me that you-"
"I've got to ask you correctly, Lils! I've got to go to your parents and ask for their permission. I need my father's blessing and to find us somewhere to live. I need a bloody ring and I have to ask you in the most romantic way possible."
"I don't need any of that."
"It's what's right."
Lily scowled. "If you really want to go into detail then, fucking you tonight before we get married isn't `right' either."
James looked uncomfortable. "I know that."
"Doesn't stop you."
"It should and maybe it will."
"James Potter, I cannot believe you!" Lily shrieked, pushing him off her and standing up. "I come over here dressed like this"-she pushed open her robe-"and you'd better believe that I'm getting some action tonight." She sniffed.
"Lily," he said, half-smiling. She allowed him to draw her to him so that she was standing between his legs. He had never gotten around to putting on his pajama top, so his bare chest touched her thinly covered one. "Lily," he repeated. "It's a touchy situation."
"What's so damned touchy about it? You want to shag me, don't you?"
"What do you think?"
Lily bit her lip in order to keep from smiling proudly. She felt exactly how much he wanted to sleep with her.
"Then why won't you?"
"It's touchy because I'm battling with myself. Since my family's such an old wizard name, I was brought up in the Old ways. I grew up bowing, standing when women entered the room, giving up my chair to ladies and the elderly, holding doors open, and with the idea that women deserve the very best and it's my duty to ensure they get that and are protected."
"Then what's the problem here? You sure don't stand every time I enter a room."
"It's outdated," James said, brushing it off. "That's not what I mean. It just… well, even though I haven't exactly had any reserve in… having sex with you, it still sort of bothers me-somewhere deep, deep inside my gentlemanly self."
"You're joking."
"It's complicated," he shrugged.
Lily broke out laughing. "I can't believe you."
"What?"
"You're so silly!" she said, laughing even harder. She kissed his nose. "You're utterly outrageous." She looked at him somewhat sheepishly. "Does that mean you're not…?"
"Eh, call me a little crazy, and you'd probably be right. But no, we're not. I want to, but we won't."
"Why?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"Because now you're going to be my wife," he replied, as if it was the most obvious answer. "Which gives us all the more reason to have our wedding soon because abstinence has never been a joy for me."
Lily nodded. "Alright." And she understood. Not the reason behind it, but the why: he felt it was right. "But is it okay if I stay here for the night?"
He beamed at her. "I hadn't realized your leaving was an option." James scooped her up and lay her down on the bed again. "You do like the left side, right?"
*~*
A/N: Ok, I threw this together quickly because I'm leaving tomorrow for Halloween Horror Nights, even though Wilma's off by the Yucatan Peninsula. I mean, really, why not? So, pray we don't get wiped away by its 150 mph winds. It's moving so slowly too. It's almost agonizing. But yeah.
I know some of you are probably ready to kill me. You're all waiting for some smut, and I just won't give it to you. *sigh* and now this, huh? Yes, I'm sure a few of you are peeved.
But I'll give you a little preview of what is in the next chapter (that is, if I don't get blown away by Wilma. Keep that in mind, very important). James will figure out how he wants to propose-not that he will propose, but that he'll figure out how.
And, ah, shall the dreams return? Could I possibly satisfy your thirst for some smut that way??
Perhaps…
Mwahaha!
Ok, seriously though. I don't do it to annoy you guys. Quite the opposite. This fic had been planned originally so that it would be over by now. I'm trying to elongate the story a little. Hard for me to do, believe me.
For those who expected White Houses last week, sorry. Begging forgiveness, but I just didn't have anything to write about. But now… now I do!
To boot, it was a terribly torturous weekend.
Please review and give me thoughts and praise and tell me how beautiful I am.
Oh, wait. That's in my perfect world. *grin*
Love you all!
Natali K. A.
PS: Shall warn that Caz is my personal assassin, though it was originally projected towards A Budding Romance. I think it can extend to here too. Beware. Lol.
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