Ten Things Girls Want Guys To Do

Summary: I received a bulletin via myspace with a list of things that a girl wants a guy to do. I was lounging around my room one day and felt that I could make this into a cute little one shot with absolutely no plot—except for the fact that it would list the things girls would want a guy to do, and then have them displayed… You'll get what I mean. So if you're looking for a story with a plot, not the place for that. This is a Lily/James fic.

Disclaimer: I did not make up this list, and I am unaware of who did. But I did add to it, so I'll take some credit. But thanks to whoever got a girl down on paper (or a screen, technically). Um, I do not own Harry Potter either. So yeah.

Ten Things Girls Want Guys To Do…

By Natali K. A.

1. Tell her she is beautiful (not hot, fine, or sexy—or at least, in addition to being beautiful).

*~*

Lily laughed, throwing her head back. James loved it when she laughed like that. She laughed like she did everything—by throwing herself completely into it. She gave 110% and never less. It was one of the things he admired about her, because it was such a rare thing to find.

“I can't believe Sirius actually did that!” she exclaimed, wiping the tears from her eyes. Sirius was smiling proudly across from their couch, nodding.

“I'm brave that way,” he bragged. “But you should hear about the time James covered himself in honey and rolled around in feathers and ran out in the middle of the street without a bit of clothes on him. Just feathers.”

Lily smiled warmly at James and kissed his cheek. “That's my boyfriend.”

“I'd like to add that the feathers fell off in a few places. Gave his old neighbor Mrs. Gillenhall quite a good time.”

James glared. “Not funny. The old bat kept trying to get me into bed with her, saying she need a `virile young male with big equipment that knew what he was doing' to appease her appetite. Yuck.”

Lily laughed even harder. “You're terrible!” she said fondly.

James shrugged, chuckling. “I am. It's a gift, I can assure you.”

Sirius pushed himself off the couch. “Well, I've got to go, you two. I've got a date with a very lovely Madame Rosmerta.”

“You're joking,” Lily gasped. “She's years older than you, Sirius!”

He wiggled his eyebrows, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “Yes. I like them that way. More experience.”

Lily shook her head, suppressing a smile. “He's worse than you, I believe.”

“Most likely,” James agreed. He leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear, “You're beautiful, you know.”

Lily blushed. “You're a sweet talker.”

“No, it's true,” he insisted, taking one of her hands. “You're the most beautiful woman that I have ever met, Lily Evans.”

It didn't matter to her that they were in a crowded, loud common room. To her, they were all alone in the world and she'd never been more attracted to him than at that moment.

“Thank you.”

*~*

2. Surprise her with things you know she wants.

*~*

“James, look!” Lily cried out, running up to a shop window on one of the busiest streets in Bath. “Isn't that just the prettiest dress you've ever seen? I'll have to buy it for your parents' Christmas party.” She hurried inside to investigate.

He laughed, heading after her. It was pleasantly warm in the shop after the chill of the December weather.

But when he found Lily, the excitement had left her.

“I just can't afford it,” she said sadly. “We'll try another store.” She looked back at the gorgeous red silk princess cut dress and walked out of the store with James at her side.

James studied her for a minute. She was sad, and he could tell. She hadn't always had everything she'd wanted when she was growing up because of her family's financial circumstances, unlike him. She made her own money now, but she still didn't indulge herself like she deserved.

“Let's go have lunch, shall we?” he asked as they passed a shop advertising yummy pasties. “I'm in the mood for some hot chocolate. I think I've lost my nose to the cold.”

She smiled, but her heart wasn't in it.

He'd made up his mind.

After he'd seen her seated, he said, “Oh, I forgot my gloves at one of the shops. I'll be right back.”

“I'll go with you,” Lily said, rising from her chair.

“No, no,” he insisted. “Order the food so that they can get it here quicker. I'll just dash across the street. Shouldn't take more than two minutes.” He leaned down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

After he'd hurried out the door, Lily glanced at his chair and noticed his gloves sitting there, quite visible on top of the scarf he'd removed. Why had he lied?

James went back into the shop and pulled out the required payment of 300 pounds.

“You must really like that one,” the sales clerk said, smiling. “Very few good men left. She's quite lucky. Tell her that I hope she rocks that dress the way it deserves to be rocked.”

“I'm the lucky one. And believe me when I tell you that she will be the one rocking. The dress is just an ornament,” he explained.

“Whoa, head over heels, eh?”

“Definitely.”

Later that night, after searching all of Bath and still having found nothing satisfactory, Lily and James returned to the flat they shared in the heart of London.

“Lils, there's a surprise for you on our bed,” James said softly, watching lovingly as she ran excitedly to the room like a child on Christmas morning. Her gasp told him she hadn't guessed, and he was pleased with himself.

She deserved to be spoiled so much.

“James, you didn't!” She lifted the gown off the bed and held it up to herself in the mirror. “James, this was so expensive, you shouldn't have—”

“You deserved it,” he muttered next to her ear. “Run and try it on, I want to see how you look in it.”

She turned to face him and her eyes appeared especially bright.

“Thanks, James. I love you.”

“Hmm.” He captured her lips in a short kiss. “Love you too. Now I mean it. Change into that dress. I want to enjoy peeling it from you in fifteen minutes.”

She giggled and headed for the bathroom, clutching the dress to her happily.

*~*

3. Kiss her on the forehead. Because you don't just want pleasure. (Let her believe that anyway.)

*~*

Lily smiled up at the man of her dreams as she watched him humming as he prepared breakfast.

James was unaware of her presence, and was presently dancing a little jig that involved bouncing around.

“Good morning,” Lily giggled, leaning on the counter.

He started, then turned around.

“Good morning, my love.” He walked toward her and kissed her forehead. “Hope you slept well. Eggs benedict?”

“If you please.” She watched him as he grabbed her a plate and sighed happily.

There were so many up sides to being in love, but the little things were always the most treasured.

*~*

4. Leave her messages to wake up to.

*~*

Lily yawned, stretching in her soft, warm bed. The sun was shining outside already and James' spot beside her was empty. She frowned until she remembered he said he was going to help Sirius do something early today.

Lily sighed, feeling lonely, as she always did whenever he wasn't around. She was growing accustomed to having him around.

She liked it that way.

Sitting up in bed, a scrap of paper on the night table caught her eye and she picked it up.

Hello Lils. Had to run, but I just wanted to let you know that I love you. Have a good day, sweetheart, and give Harry a million kisses from me. Be back by five.

She beamed, feeling better instantly. He knew her so well, knew exactly how much she missed being away from him even one minute.

*~*

5. When she is upset, hold her tight and tell her how much she means to you.

*~*

Lily shut off the faucet in the girls' bathroom and picked up a paper towel. As she did, a female voice she recognized as Blair McKinnet's of Slytherin wafted through the room.

“That James Potter sure does know what a girl likes.”

Lily froze, her heart turning cold.

“Blair, you didn't really shag him, did you? I thought you'd just said that to piss off your ex,” one of her stereotypical friends said.

“Nope, I was dead serious. He was marvelous. Of course, he asked me not to mention anything because that Evans girl would get upset, but that's ridiculous. Girls just have to accept that guys need more than one chick to bang. And Potter is definitely male.”

Lily didn't remain to hear anything else. She didn't believe it, she told herself. James wouldn't do that.

But when she saw him walking towards her acting carefree as if nothing had happened, she couldn't help the doubt that snaked its way into her mind.

“How could you?” she asked, voice shaking. Tears clouded her vision. “With Blair McKinnet, James!”

“What are you talking about?” he asked with a look of confusion. “I haven't talked to McKinnet in months.”

“What you two did doesn't involve much talking, does it?” she spat, tears sliding down her face. She was grateful that school was out, because she couldn't help but create a scene.

James seemed to pick up what she was referring to. “Lils, I didn't—”

“Don't call me that! Don't call me that when you've defiled yourself with another woman's name!”

“Lily, listen to me.” He took careful, slow steps toward her and embraced her. She gave in, shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. “Whatever she told you or whatever you heard, it's not true. I would never—How could you even think—I…”

She believed him, but it didn't lessen her fright. To think she had almost—in a way—lost him…

“Shh,” he soothed, wiping the tears off her cheeks as she continued to express her worry. “Come now, Lils, I'd never even think about doing that. And definitely not with McKinnet, the lying bitch. That should've tipped you off.”

“I—I didn't kn—know what to think,” she stuttered. “She sounded s—so convincing.”

“Well, she is an imp of Satan, so I don't put it past her.”

*~*

6. Sing to her—no matter how horrible your voice is.

*~*

“I will get there through the night and make it through to the other side…”

Lily felt her eyes becoming heavy even though her stomach was doing a million somersaults. James' voice washed over her, soothing her.

She felt, in short, like shit. Her head was throbbing, she'd already thrown up three times, and her throat was sore from it.

She'd never had such a bad case of the flu, but James was right next to her, risking contamination.

He had promised “through sickness and in health”, but those words should carry him only so far. Yet he'd been there, holding her hair while she'd emptied the contents of her stomach into the ceramic bowl of the toilet. She'd now become intimately acquainted with it and had deemed it proper to name the toilet Timmy. James had agreed it was a good name.

He had a great voice, Lily thought. I wonder if he knows how much I love to hear him sing.

“Sleep so you can feel better, my love,” he whispered, brushing the hair away from her face. “Hopefully tomorrow you'll be able to keep something down.”

Lily hummed and shut her eyes gratefully, praying sleep would claim her.

*~*

7. Introduce her to family and friends—as your girlfriend. (“Woman of my dreams” is optional but encouraged.)

*~*

“I'm nervous,” Lily announced as they made ready to apparate out of Hogsmeade to James' parents' house.

He stopped, looking at her. “What for? They're just my family and some friends.”

“Exactly.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You're not nervous because you're `meeting the parents', are you?”

Lily blushed. “And if I am?”

He gave a short laugh. “They'll love you, I guarantee it.”

“I just can't help thinking that we should've done this at a less personal time. I mean, your cousin is getting married. Shouldn't we have a simple dinner first or something?”

He didn't reply but grabbed her hand and disapparated to the church down the street from his house.

There were guests milling around everywhere. It was chaotic. Young children in fancy dress and tuxes chased each other, squealing. Servants ran around with hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

Lily was a bit breathless and was about to ask for water when James let out a loud, piercing whistle.

Everyone stopped short and turned automatically towards them. She could feel her cheeks heat up.

“Lily, these are my family and our closer friends,” he proclaimed. “Family and friends, meet Lily, my girlfriend… and the love of my life.”

Lily swore she heard a cricket.

“Ah, my dear!” a chocolate-haired woman exclaimed, stepping forward out of the crowd and embracing her fiercely. “Welcome, dear. I'm James' mum. And whatever he's told you about me, it is not true!”

The crowd broke out into laughter and chaos erupted once more, only Lily and James were at the center of it all.

“I thought you said this was a small affair, James!” Lily hissed.

“It is. We didn't even invite the relatives from Ireland or Holland.”

*~*

8. Throw pebbles at her window in the middle of the night, just because you miss her. But don't break the window.

*~*

Tap.

Tap.

Lily popped an eye open. What was that sound?

Tap.

Tap.

Her other eye opened as well, and she threw off her covers. Padding across the room in her rabbit slippers, she picked up one of her sweaters and threw it on as it was chilly.

She peered outside and had to squint to make out who it was.

“What on earth are you doing here, James?” she hissed.

He smiled up at her. “I missed you,” he called up.

Lily shook her head. “So you threw rocks at my second story window at three a.m. and 15 degrees Celsius?”

“I did.”

She paused for a moment. “Get on up here, Mr. Potter.”

“What about your parents?”

“They went to Surrey to visit my sister and her husband for the night.” She shut the window and chuckled to herself.

That was incredibly sweet of him. Corny, but sweet nonetheless.

She hurried to find something besides the hideous duck pajamas she was wearing. Preferably that matching pink tank top and the tiny, tiny knickers, but she couldn't find them for the life of her.

*~*

9. Let her fall asleep in your arms.

*~*

James stared down at his redhaired beauty, who was falling asleep slowly but surely in his arms.

“Lils, your parents are set to be home any moment now.”

“Mmm,” Lily sighed, her eyelids growing heavier.

James sighed as well, and sat back into the cushions. There was nothing else for it. He'd have to stay here and wait until she woke.

“Oh, you do have me whipped, don't you, Lils?”

“I feel compelled to agree,” Mrs. Evans said cheekily as she entered through the front door. “Don't get up, James. I'll bring down a blanket and some pillows so you'll be more comfortable.”

“Er… Thanks. Are you sure you don't want me to leave?”

Mrs. Evans stopped on the bottom step, Mr. Evans having gone up ahead of her. “Don't be ridiculous, James. You're Lily's boyfriend! Of course you can stay.”

James snorted. Most parents would find that a reason to forbid him from staying.

*~*

10. Carve your names into a tree.

*~*

“There,” James announced proudly, stepping back so that they could admire their handiwork. It'd taken the better part of half an hour, but they'd managed to carve “James + Lily forever (09/13)” into the oak tree. They'd decided to leave out the year to see if they could come back in their old age and remember what year it had been.

“I love it,” Lily nodded. She turned in his arms. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

*~*

And one for good luck…

11. If you love her, never miss a chance to tell her.

*~*

Teary goodbyes were said at King's Cross Station as Hogwarts' former students hugged and promised to keep in touch.

“It was great rooming with you,” Lily whispered into the ear of one of her roommates, holding back giant tears. “I'll see you next month for shopping, right? Lisa getting married and all…”

Jillian nodded, glancing over Lily's shoulder. “Hey, I think Potter wants to monopolize you now. I'll owl later this week with the pictures from graduation, alright?”

Lily nodded and turned to James. “Yeah, babe?”

She wasn't sure where they would go after this, because they'd never discussed what would happen once they left Hogwarts. It would be their one year anniversary in late September and she hoped they would make it that far.

“Um…” He glanced toward his parents, who were talking to some of the other parents. His mum caught sight of her and waved. “Lils, I wanted to talk to you about us.”

Lily dragged in a breath. “Oh. Um, yeah, I thought this would come up soon.”

He seemed shocked. “You—You did?”

“Yeah. Of course you'd want to break up. A Hogwarts things isn't the same in the real world, is it?” Lily laughed to make her seem more carefree. But inside, her heart was breaking into a thousand pieces.

“Lils, I don't want to—”

“Don't worry, you're not hurting me in the least. It was fun, James.” Tears stung her eyes, so she made to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.

“I was going to ask you to move in with me actually,” James let out in a rush. “Breaking up never entered my mind. I don't know if that's what you want, but I don't, and I'll put up one hell of a fight, Lily. A Hogwarts thing isn't the same in the real world, you're right. It's fucking better because I don't have to sneak around at night or worry that you'll reject me when I tell you how much I love you.”

“You love me?” Lily asked stupidly.

“I do,” he smiled, hugging her. “Move into my flat with me, Lils. Marry me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“But James, what about your parents, my parents, or—”

“My parents have been planning our wedding since February and your mum and dad practically forced me to ask you already,” he chuckled. “Anyone else can shove it up their arse.”

“Oh, James, we're so young,” Lily sighed, closing her eyes. “I don't know.” She looked up into his eyes and her heart began to beat faster.

Why not?

“Lils?”

“Yes,” she whispered, kissing him. She pulled away and squealed. “Yes, of course, what the bloody hell am I thinking? I love you, James. I want to marry you. I've never wanted anything more.”

James startled her by giving a shout of triumph and twirling her in a circle. A cheer went around when everyone saw him pull a band out of his pocket and slip it onto her finger.

Except, of course, for Blair McKinnet.

“Bitch,” she muttered. “Don't know what he sees in her.”

“I can,” one of her friends sighed. “He's so perfect.”

“Shut up!”

*~*

A/N: Ok, originally it was a list of 28. I gave up. Eleven is a good number, lmao. I would like some feedback. I think this is definitely the least character development I've ever put into a story. I definitely didn't go in depth, and I definitely had way too much fun writing this.

It's pointless, but I happen it to like it a bit. Basically because I would like for a guy to do all those things.

Hint, hint.

Natali K. A.

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