Song: "At Last" by Etta James
Chapter Three
By Natali K. A.
"Well, Lily m'dear," Jocelyn sighed as they sat at the same table they did yesterday. "Continue with your story."
Lily shook her head. "Jocelyn, I'm really grateful, but I can't. It hurts too much. I even avoided my friends. They don't even know where I am. They wouldn't understand anyway. I never told them where we went that first date."
"You told me the story of your first date while we were eating. It's time you continued."
"With what? Every single thing we did?"
"Most certainly not! I might not have anywhere to go, my dear, but I hardly think I'll stay here for three years," Jocelyn chuckled. "Anything that comes to mind, love," she said more softly. "Any happy memory. That's what you need to remember. The happy memories."
"They all were," Lily sighed sadly. "Even when I was fighting with my mates, he'd still make me laugh. That only happened once, my being mad at my mates, I mean, but even that was a happy memory."
"Did you ever fight?"
Tears filled Lily's green eyes. Jocelyn should have known just by looking at her that this was Lily, James's Lily, the girl Miriam had always said he doted on. With the way Miriam had always gone on about her… It was unfortunate-or fortunate?-they'd never met prior to this, but things had always gotten in the way.
"Once, for three minutes, over what we were going to eat. That's it. And we were laughing the whole time through. I don't get it, Jocelyn! Three years, and not a single fight, or a single cross word. Well, that's not entirely true. I was mad with him enough, and vice versa, we just never fought. Not really. Just disagreed. And I called him loads of things."
When she didn't elaborate, Jocelyn said, "Such as?"
Lily smiled. "Ungrateful bastard, unbearable little cockroach, faggot, spawn of the devil, and my favorite, you horny little bastard."
Jocelyn chuckled. "I presume he called you names as well?"
"Naturally," Lily laughed. She played with the edge of her napkin. "Of course, it was all meant in a playful way, so we never took offense. But I shouldn't say that we never argued. Just never fought. And in three years, we never broke it off."
"That's good."
"That's bloody awesome. I've been in God knows how many relationships. Some only lasted for just a week or so, and we fought so many times and threatened to separate." Lily looked out the window. "He was perfect."
"Was, my love?" Jocelyn asked softly.
Lily nodded. "Was," she repeated. "He did something to me that I can never forgive, because I still love him, but my hate overrides that now, Jocelyn. But anyway, I'll tell you another story. This was about a month after that first date right out there in the meadow."
"I'm listening." Jocelyn wondered what it was he had done. From what Miriam had hinted at, he was just going about it the wrong way… Did Lily mean she couldn't forgive him for breaking up with her? But that seemed rather unlikely.
"Well, he hadn't asked me out since. We were talking more than before, but otherwise we were just friends. I was a little hurt, but I figured it was for the better. I had fooled myself into thinking that I loved him, just after that first night. What I hadn't realized that all the time we spent together, much of it alone, was a date in his own way. We went all around the castle; the library to read together, snuggling, the greenhouses to fling dirt at each other, the towers to walk along the turrets."
"That's sweet," Jocelyn said without thinking. "I never knew James was such a romantic."
Lily looked at her questioningly. "I thought you didn't know him."
"Oh, I don't," Jocelyn replied quickly, too quickly. Lily raised her eyebrows. "No, I just feel like I know him. From your stories."
"My three little stories?"
"Yes."
Lily shrugged. "Whatever. Anyway, we were going to visit Hogsmeade one Saturday. It was a Hogsmeade weekend, you see..."
*~*
(--Memories...--)
Lily laughed, hitting James playfully on his arm. "You're a horny little bastard, aren't you?" she asked, grabbing his hand as they walked out of the Hogwarts gates. They were the last ones to leave because they'd taken too long eating breakfast. Both had been late to that too-it was two in the morning before they got back from setting up a prank for the Potions master.
"Slightly so, Miss Evans," he grinned, looking her over with his blue eyes. "Mmm mmm! What milk are you drinking, Lily?"
She laughed again, shaking her head. "Oh, Potter, what am I going to do with you?"
"On one hand," he said, sliding his hand to her waist, "you could tie me up with handcuffs and torture me until I beg you to stop."
"James!" she blushed.
"On the other..." He paused, looking away from her. "You could come with me to meet my parents."
Lily gasped dramatically. With a hand clasped to her chest she said, "The Parents? Oh, my James. Whatever shall I do?" She smiled, dropping the act. "I don't know. I mean, look at what I'm wearing."
He did. He could feel a tightening in his groin. How he'd managed to refrain from throwing her down wherever they were to do very naughty things to her, he'd never know.
"I have noticed," he muttered, looking her over again. "Oh, man, Lily, have I noticed!" He groaned and stopped, pulling her closer. He hadn't kissed her since that night nearly a month ago. James was sorely tempted to do it now.
"James," she said softly, leaning on him slightly. "I'm gonna seem like some whore. And I'm not."
He had the gall to laugh. "My parents will not be looking at what you're wearing, Lily. They'll be wondering why it is that I brought you home to meet them."
Her pulse quickened suddenly. "I'm the first girl you've brought home, James?"
He laughed softly as he kissed her neck. "Yes, Lily."
"Why?"
He stopped in mid-kiss, frowning. "Well, because I like you, Lily. Why else?"
"It's just that you haven't asked me out since that night," she muttered. "That's all."
"You don't want to go out with me?"
"Never said that. I just thought that you didn't want to get serious."
"Do you?"
"What do you think?"
"True. All woman want commitment," he chuckled. "Lily... I didn't ask you out because I thought that's what we were doing. Just not out, because I can't get expelled from Hogwarts or Mum will kill me with her own two hands. I need to be a good boy for the remainder of the year."
"I agree," Lily nodded. "But, your mum will have to wait `til I'm done with you if you do get expelled." She giggled and softly kissed him quickly. James was about to lean in for another, deeper kiss when they heard a shout.
"Ah-ha!" Sirius's voice sounded through the air. "I knew it. You two've been making out all this time. Prongs, how could you?"
"Yeah, Lils," Lynn laughed, walking up to them with Sirius. "I've asked you for the past month what moves Potter's been making on you. I'm hurt, mate. I'm hurt."
Lily rolled her eyes, but didn't extricate herself from James's arms. They were very firm and male (how she hated that word. But it was the only thing that did him justice), and very much strong around her. So even if she had wanted to step away from him-which she most certainly didn't-she wouldn't have been able to. She looked at her best mate and Sirius, who were looking oddly cozy with each other.
"I could say the same," Lily smirked. "It's been my experience, Black, that when you want to keep a relationship on the low, it's best not to have your hand on the girl's ass. Right, James?"
James grinned down at her. "I totally agree." He paused, eyes glinting dangerously. "But, seeing as I have no wish to keep our relationship a secret..." She felt his hand slide slowly from her waist to her left buttock.
He chuckled.
She swatted at his arm playfully, and turned to look back at Sirius and Lynn, who were grinning at them.
"What's wrong with you lot?" she frowned. "Do we amuse you?"
"Indefinitely," Lynn muttered. She snapped out of her thoughts. "What're your plans today, lovebirds? I hear they have an interesting little show at the auditorium this afternoon. A lecture, actually. On the careers of the age. As boring as it sounds, Sirius and I plan to go."
"And since when are you two on a first name basis, Clancy?" James asked shrewdly.
Lynn blushed. She ignored him. "Your plans, then?"
"I think James is taking me to meet his parents," Lily replied, examining her fingernails. "Unless he's changed his mind."
"Not at all," James insisted, moving his hand back up from her bottom and gently massaging her back. The tender motion sent Lily's pulse racing. "I mentioned to Mum and Dad to be at home in case I brought a friend."
Sirius's masculine eyebrows flew up. "Seriously, James? You're taking Evans to meet your parents?"
James narrowed his eyes at his friend. "Yes, I am, Sirius." The tone he used was enough to get the message across to Sirius. He promptly shut his mouth.
Lynn, who'd been staring at the two males oddly, shrugged and sighed. "Very well. We'll leave you then."
"And Julie? Where's she?" Lily asked.
Sirius snickered evilly. Lynn smiled at him as if they shared some sort of secret, which they most likely did.
"They're... busy," Lynn sniggered. "Working on their Head duties. In Julie's mum's house. Two miles out of Hogsmeade."
Lily chortled too. "Ah, I see. And, um, they don't plan to be back until they've `solved every problem that comes upon them as Heads'?"
The four friends broke out into laughter.
"No, but seriously," Lynn finally said. "There's a party at Brian's house later on. Naturally, we're all going to get expelled for it if we're caught."
"But it's worth the risk," Sirius added. "He's getting the same disc jockey as last time. It'll be wicked, because this time we don't have to be back at Hogwarts until nightfall. It rocks to be graduating from this damned place."
"Finally," James agreed. "We'll see you later then?" Lynn and Sirius nodded. "Fine. Come on. I think Mum is just about to wet herself." He pulled her closer to him and apparated.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Lynn?" Sirius asked.
"That James Potter has never taken home a girl before?" she said quietly. "Just that, Sirius. I have a feeling there's more to it though."
He nodded. "It's because he wouldn't take home any of his girlfriends-and they tried."
"Why ever not, Sirius?"
He paused, hesitating. "He didn't want to present someone to his parents that didn't matter to him."
Lynn let the information sink in. "He cares for Lils, then?" When Sirius nodded, she shook her head. "But Sirius, Potter doesn't care about his girls. He's The Player, for goodness' sake!"
But Sirius only shrugged. "I'm telling you what I know, Lynn. And what I know is that that git, Potter, is falling for Evans. Hard."
"All the better then," Lynn said softly. "Because ever since he snuck out of the common room with her a month ago, she's never been happier." She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. "I knew she'd find him one day."
"Him who?"
"Why, you know, him. The only man that would put up with Lily and that Lily could put up with."
*~*
When Lily opened her eyes, because she'd closed them (apparating wasn't her favorite thing to do), she saw a sort of parlor with a very lovely looking light-haired brunette sitting at the desk. The lady, with James's clear hazel eyes, looked up and her face lit up.
She stood, arm extended. "Hello, my dear. I'm Miriam Potter, James's mum, just to clarify." She eyed James, and frowned momentarily, before resuming her bright smile.
Lily accepted the hand she was offered and shook it. "Lily Evans."
"Told you I'd be coming round, Mum," James smiled, grabbing Lily's hand back and heading for the exit. "Is Cook making lunch? I'm famished."
Lily sighed. "You just ate no more than twenty minutes ago." She noticed his mum following her. "And it's awfully rude, too."
But Miriam smiled. "James has a fetish with eating. If he doesn't eat every hour, he dies."
Lily laughed. "I believe it, Mrs. Potter." When she smiled and saw that James's mother was scowling, she quickly sobered. "I'm sorry. Did I offend you?"
"Mum hates formalities," James explained, grabbing an apple from a bowl atop the kitchen counter. "Hello, Cook," he said to the fifty-something year old lady at the stove. The cook nodded in greeting. "This is Lily."
"'Ello, miss," Cook said. "Just call me Cook. Everyone does. `Cept Master Potter. `E calls me Fran. I `ate the name, miss."
Lily smiled. "Nice to meet you, Cook. You may call me Lily."
Miriam clapped her hands. "Ah, splendid. Lily, dear, I just know I'm going to love you. That hair, by the way, is simply heavenly. Natural, I daresay. You like chicken in duck sauce, I say? If not we can cook up something more."
"I like it, Miriam," Lily assured her. "And thank you. I got my mum's hair."
James sent his mother a warning glance.
She didn't ask.
"Lucky for you, then. Ah, here's Charlie. Charlie!" she cried out. She leaned closer to Lily and said, "My husband, you know."
"Mum's infatuated with him," James whispered in Lily ear. "It's revolting."
Lily laughed, and shook her head.
A tall, slightly plump around the middle man came through the door of the kitchen. She could see where James got his black hair. The man must have been at least fifty, but he didn't have one gray hair on his head. He had the same facial features as James, while Miriam looked more feminine. Charlie's dark, nearly black, eyes lit when they spotted Lily.
"I see James's `friend' is here," he said jovially. He walked towards her, catching her off guard by hugging her. "Lovely to meet you, my dear."
"Dad," James hissed, cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "For God's sake, man! Release her."
Lily laughed. "Lily Evans, sir."
"Charlie. Just Charlie. Well, my name is Charleston, for some absurd reason, but it's Charlie." The man flicked a glance at his wife. Lily could swear they were communicating through their eyes.
James must have felt that too. "Mum, Dad," he said quickly. "I'm going to show Lily the garden then." He turned to her. "Mum's got a gigantic rose garden. Girls seem to like it, though I prefer the apple orchard."
He led her out the door that led to the garden she hadn't noticed. With a soft gasp, Lily stopped dead in her tracks.
"My gosh, James," she breathed, staring at the scene around her.
Roses. Roses of all colors and size; some were classic looking, while others looked positively wild. There was an arch of some sort overhead, and there were roses growing there too. The scent that reached Lily's nostrils was intoxicating; it must have been similar to heaven.
"I'm guessing you like it then," he chuckled, leading her to the other side of the rose arch. There lay even more flowers, roses and other blooms scattered amongst the place.
"Your mum must be very devoted," Lily muttered absently. "This is gorgeous."
"She spends hours here. It's her haven of sorts. Away from me and my sister," James said. He looked about him. It'd been awhile since he'd really taken a look at any of it. It was a work of art. "She doesn't use magic either. God knows what it would look like if she did."
"Miriam has a green thumb," she noted, still looking all around her. She spotted her namesake. "Oh, look there, James! It's a lily." She laughed. Without a word, James stepped forward and plucked the bloom from its plant.
"A lily, for the most beautiful flower in Britain," he muttered softly, slipping it behind her ear. He smiled softly and kissed her lips.
She smiled back. "You shouldn't have plucked it. Won't your mum be upset? After all, it is her flower."
He shrugged carelessly. "I don't quite think she'll be too upset."
Lily looked back toward the now empty kitchen. Even Cook was out of sight. "They seemed very nice, James. Why haven't you ever brought any of your girlfriends home? I know a lot of them only last for about a week, but there've been a handful that were about a month long."
He looked away from her. "Because," he said simply. When he didn't elaborate, Lily pursued the subject, and him-he'd gone down the path.
"But why, James? What's your reason?" she persisted, colliding with him abruptly when he stopped.
He turned and grabbed her shoulders to steady her. "Because. None of them mattered to me."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "What-?"
He covered her mouth with his own.
(Back in the kitchen...)
"Charlie," Miriam said softly, peering out through the curtains. "Do you see that? Our baby has finally gone and found himself a girlfriend worthy of us."
Charlie nodded. "I spoke to Sirius this morning, when we got that owl saying he'd come by. I wanted to ask him a few questions."
Miriam looked nonplussed. "Sirius? Black? Why? And what questions?"
"I asked him what the deal was with James and his `friend'. Apparently, according to my source, James hasn't even tried to convince her to climb into his bed."
Miriam frowned deeply. "I have never liked that about James. He's been doing it then? I told him I wanted him to stop. But anyway, that's good. So all they've done is kiss?"
"It would appear so." Charlie looked out the window. "Though it would seem that they're deeply involved in doing so. James must have said something charming," he chuckled.
His wife looked out the window too, and saw her son and his girlfriend seated on a bench at the far side of her garden, her third child so to speak. From where she stood, she could see a lily blossom tucked behind Lily's left ear. Her blue eyes flitted to the hand that was caressing Lily's neck.
It was a sight too beautiful for words.
Even though he was still her baby, forever and always, Miriam realized that he was a human being and that he would have girlfriends by the ton. But the way he held her against him... The tender the kisses...
"Oh, Charlie," she sighed happily. "Look at them. The moment I saw them... Charlie, I knew."
Her husband nodded slightly to her left. "Miriam, should we interrupt, you think?"
She shook her head several times. "No. Let them be. They're fine."
*~*
A/N: Yes… the Parents… *dramatic music*. Um. Not much to this chapter, I haven't really changed all that much in the story, so yeah. Thanks to everyone who reviewed-and tonight's ONE TREE HILL!! Unfortunately, my cable just went out (dammit!) so I'll have to watch it on a small, 4", black and white tv. Oh yeah. Who's got connections?
So, go watch One Tree Hill! Or review! Or do BOTH! I'll love you more!!!
Love,
Natali K. A.
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