A/N- I'm back. Yes, I know it's been over a month but with the army and all I really didn't have much time.
Anyway, here is the last chapter. If you want to talk to me or to know of any updates on the stories go to my Live Journal (link on my bio).
Please read and tell me what you think, I've never finished a story before and I'd like to know if you think I could have done it better and if you got what you've expected.
A Lesson In Love For Non-Believers
Chapter 4- I promise
By: Liat
As per usual the sun woke James up. He thought that he really ought to remember to close the shades on his bedroom window from now on.
But the light wasn't directly on his eyes, where it usually was, and his bed didn't feel quite so soft. And unlike all the other mornings the sun's intrusion wasn't unwelcome since reality was far better then any dream he could have ever had.
And that was because the sun wasn't pouring in from his bedroom window, but from the living room window, and he wasn't sleeping on his bed but on the sofa, and he wasn't alone but with Lily in his arms.
Beautiful, smart, amazing Lily Evans was asleep in his arms.
He hadn't dreamt last night, hadn't made it up, and now Lily was with him and he could feel her and smell her and, he realized with a stupid grin, that this was probably the best morning he had ever had. Even though his neck was killing him, his arm wasn't getting its sufficient blood flow and his back felt like a board - he felt utterly and completely satisfied, both physically and emotionally.
Last night had been amazing; James couldn't understand how it had taken him so long to see what lay so obviously in front of him. He and Lily were made for each other. Even now as they lay together facing each other her body fit perfectly to his. His right hand entangled in her hair and his left caressing her back, her head cushioned between his neck and shoulder and one of his legs between the two of hers.
He loved her.
It was simple as that, he realized now. What began as a platonic feeling grew to passion and from there to true love.
All he had to do now was convince Lily of that, which, based on the events of last night, wasn't going to be too hard to do.
Last night Lily was perfect, completely responsive and not at all passive. It was, to put it mildly, the best sex James had ever experienced fallowed by the most soul shattering release.
That was probably because is hadn't been just sex but love as well. They had made love, perhaps for the first time ever, and that was why it had felt so… different, so good.
And damn if he wasn't looking forward to a lifetime of making love to Lily.
James smiled gently as he gazed upon his beloved's face. Lily looked so peaceful when she slept. He had never taken the time to just stop and look at her all the times they had slept together, and he had never regretted any thing more. Because then he would have noticed how cute she looked with her mouth in a small pout and how endearing her eyebrows were with that little pucker between them.
He sighed; he was definitely in love if he was acting like this- fussing and cooing over her cuteness. His grin returned when Lily cuddled closer to him, probably to absorb his body heat since all they had on was a thin white sheet. She groaned as she stretched and he saw her eyes start to flutter a little and then close tight because of the sun.
"Shhhhhh," James calmed her and put his hand over her eyes to protect her. He was going to protect her from anything, and that included all the natural elements.
Lily laughed and pushed his hand aside, "I'm fine James! This isn't the first time I've woken up with the sun in my eyes." She scolded lightly, though the effect was ruined when she grinned.
"Sorry," He said sheepishly and blushed a bit after being caught fussing over her.
"Oh that damn boyish smile, I can never stay mad at you when you look at me like that." She said but her eyes were warm and they both knew she wasn't serious.
"How did you sleep?" James asked as Lily began caressing his cheek.
"Wonderfully, and you?" she asked with a tender smile and that warm delightful feeling in the pit of his stomach came back full force and he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he loved her. Truly and completely adored her.
"Just fine." he answered though it was obvious he had something on his mind. And Lily, knowing him as well as she did, noticed it at once.
"What's the matter?" she asked, a concerned frown appearing between her eyebrows.
"Lily…" James started but cut himself off. How do you tell your best friend, the woman you've slept with for the last couple of years, that you've suddenly had a change of heart and that you've found out you loved her- probably always had?
"Come on James, you know you can tell me everything." Lily said with her usual smile. The one that always made him a bit light headed.
"Lily, there's something I have to tell you. Now, promise me you'll listen without interruptions, and please- don't laugh."
"Of course I won't laugh, go ahead" she said, her smile never dropping.
"Well you see Lily, the thing is- I love you. And I really can't have you going out with any other blokes any more, see? These last three months had me climbing the walls with jealousy and I've just realized why. I love you. God, I can't believe it took me so long to say it, but I do! I can't share you with anyone else. I know the deal was sex and friendship and no more, but I just can't do it anymore…" James, while making that speech, had avoided looking at Lily. But when he heard a choked sound from her, his eyes flew to her face and he suddenly notices the tears that were flowing down her beautiful face.
Thinking her tears were of distress at his sudden declaration, he tried to reassure her-
"Oh God, Lily! Don't cry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry; I can share you if you want, this won't hurt our friendship- I promise." He said but Lily was far from distressed as it turned out to be, since she did the strangest thing- she started smiling and that turned it to a joyous laugh.
"Oh, you stupid Oaf of a man!" Lily exclaimed, "I don't want you to share me. I want to be with you- and only you!"
"But, you're crying! And… and what about Jake?" James asked puzzled, afraid to let the bubbling feeling of happiness to wash over him just yet.
"I broke it off with him yesterday, do you really think I would have gotten into bed with you otherwise? And I'm crying because I'm happy, you idiot." James didn't appreciate her continuing insults, but since he loved and wanted to hear what she had to say, he let it slide.
"Haven't you ever noticed that I never go out on dates? Never even accepted one? I've always loved you, but I knew you didn't feel the same way. So I settled for what I had." Lily said, her eyes sparkling with love.
"Well, I always figured you just had good taste since all those guys that came on to you were completely wrong for you." James said a little note of jealousy and possessiveness in his tone.
"No James, most of them had a lot in common with me."
"Okay, I'll admit that I might have encouraged you to reject them out of personal interest. But I was right, wasn't I? They were all wrong for you. You belong with me, you're mine now." He said with the biggest smile his lips could make, Lily loved him and that's all that mattered.
"You conceited man!" Lily said with a laugh, "But I do love you. So completely and utterly." She said and hugged him.
James laughed and returned the gesture fiercely, never wanting to let go. "You've made me so happy, I love you so much." he said into her hair.
"No, you've made me happy. I never thought I'd hear you say those words."
James felt like the luckiest man on heart, and the biggest cad as well. How he must have hurt her all this time. But, no more, he decided, from now on his goal in life will be to make Lily as happy as possible.
With that thought he became more serious, pushing Lily away so she could see his eyes as he talked-
"I'm so sorry Lily. So truly sorry I've hurt you for so long. I promise you I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you." He said fiercely.
And then he proceeded to show her just how he was going to make it up to her.
A/N- Well, that's it for this story. As I promised at the beginning, there is an epilogue that's written from Lily's POV but I'm going to wait for you feedback and see if I'm going to post it as I wrote it or insert changes as you suggest it- if you feel the ending was lacking something or if I left an open thread you wanted to know about just tell me and I'll put it in the epilogue.