Wow! It's so crazy to be giving you guys this last chapter (or, well, epilogue I should say)! I wrote this peice just as a fun extra little tidbit and from here, you can imagine their story ending however you like. Maybe, the prophecy doesn't come true in this universe.

Thank you, thank you for coming on this journey with me. It's been an absolute pleasure to read all your reviews and theories on tumblr, as well as on A03 and FanFic. I can truly say, I'm sad for you to read the last page because that means no more Reputation Era. Writing this fic let me extend the Reputation era past the end of tour and for that I'm so grateful. I do have deleted scenes and stuff I might publish later on and if I do, they'll be under something called "Reputation Secret Sessions".

I have had the time of my life, writing this story with you.

Chapter 17:

You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi

I can tell that it's going to be a long road
I'll be there if you're the toast of the town babe or if you strike out and you're crawling home

Don't read the last page, but I stay.

"Come on James!" Lily hollered piercingly from beside Sirius as James did a lap around the snowy field on his broom, trying to catch up to Marlene as she tried to get the quaffle to the other side of the pitch, "Knock Mckinnon into the snow!"

They were at a New Year's Day match of street quidditch, with James and Marlene both leading opposite teams. Lily and Sirius weren't the only ones screaming James' name in the crowd. James' parents were there wrapped in blankets and sitting on foldout chairs, cheering loudly for their son. Mrs. Potter had her hand in Lily's hand, squeezing it every time James scored a goal.

At first, Lily had been nervous to meet James' parents, but they had welcomed her into their house with open arms from the very first day. Mr. Potter loved making fun of James for falling in love with a Slytherin but Mrs. Potter always stuck up for Lily during those playful arguments. Lily loved his parents, and, despite the shock, Lily's own family had been quite receptive of James when he'd shown up the day after school let out to snog Lily against the glare of the Christmas tree lights. Lily's father as still warming up to James, but Lily's mum was such a fan, that she always asked Lily when they were going to see James again.

Neither Lily's mother, or father, even asked once about Snape. Only Lily's sister brought up Snape. It was one late night when she was brushing her teeth as Lily got out of the shower. Lily and her sister had never really gotten along, but Petunia squared her bare shoulders and asked Lily bitterly that night, probably with the intention to start a fight.

"Where's that creep boy from down the road been?"

"We don't talk anymore." Lily had replied coolly, dropping the subject immediately.

It was the first time in years that Petunia actually seemed to be proud of Lily.

Luckily, besides that one altercation, Lily hadn't had to think about her ex best mate at all. He was nothing more than a bad memory. Mary had dutifully stepped in as Lily's best friend, often stopping by to watch their favorite television shows together at night. They'd both been through hard times and were better people because of it. Lily couldn't ask for a more understanding person to be her best friend.

When Mary or the other girls weren't around, Lily had been adopted by James' mates. Remus, Sirius, and Peter all considered her a permanent part of their lives now. Sirius especially, had taken quite a liking to Lily and now the pair were almost as inseparable as James and Sirius. It had been Sirius' idea that they all go to James' street quidditch match as a family since James and Lily were going to the concert the next night.

Lily and Sirius both started screaming their bloody heads off for James when he scored another goal. They high-fived as James did a victory and they laughed when they heard Marlene cursing James' future children from the other side of the pitch. Street quidditch had less rules than real quidditch and was more hands on, which is why Lily was sitting out. She didn't fancy going up against James and breaking a broom on the same day, especially since she just gotten a new broomstick to replace her broken one for Christmas. Lily didn't want to have to buy another if anything happened. Two players had already been escorted off the field by fouls that had them broken and crying on the sidelines.

Lily preferred the sidelines for once.

In the end, Marlene's team won, if only because Marlene had a ruthless side that even James couldn't compete with. James sauntered over to his family, broomstick slung over his shoulder. He was covered in fresh bruises and cuts from playing. Lily raced forward to lean up and press a hearty kiss against his cheek as James' parents stood up to clap their son on his back proudly.

"Nice playing James."

The Potters, always so friendly and kind, invited everyone back to their house for hot chocolate and shortbread. Everyone was talking about new year's resolutions, but Lily didn't care about any of it. She just wanted to snog James, something she told him when his mouth wasn't full of shortbread. James and Lily snuck away from the party going on in the sitting room so she could snog him probably, away from prying eyes.

Mrs. Potter watched them go and her eyes shone brightly. They'd learned pretty quickly not to snog in front of Euphamia, who always looked close to tears when it happened. Apparently, Mrs. Potter had been worried James would never fall in love because he was too busy causing trouble. Mr. Potter warned Lily and James that if they weren't careful, Euphamia Potter would start taking pictures just as proof of her son having a girlfriend to show her bridge ladies on Thursdays.

Lily and James took his warnings to heart, making sure to only get handsy when they weren't anywhere near James' mother, who seemed to have a camera ready at any moment.

"How long before mum comes looking?" he joked with lily as they fell back against his locked bedroom door.

"Fifteen minutes."

"I hope not." He chortled, "although, she adores you, she'd interrupt us just to ask you your opinion on diner tonight."

"My dad still isn't sold on you," she confessed as he started unbuttoning the sweater she wore.

"Well that's shite."

"He just doesn't like how handsy you are."

"Also shite." He said as he undid her bra.

Lily laughed into his mouth, "but my mum told me she'd marry you, if I didn't."

James chuckled, pressing kisses to her jawline, "will you marry me?"

Lily's hands wound up in his hair as he kissed her lazily, "tomorrow, if you asked."

James was pulling off his sweater as he replied casually, "this is me asking."

She grinned at him, feeling her cheeks warm up at the thought, "you're serious?"

"Yes," he said honestly, "I want to marry you."

"That's not the same as asking?"

"Will you marry me?"

"Well," Lily pretended to consider, James pinched her sides and then she said humorously, "will the color scheme be red and gold for Gryffindor? Or green and silver for Slytherin?"

James picked her up and she laughed even louder as he carried her to his bed, "I don't care about a bloody color scheme, Lily, I just want a yes or no."

He pressed his kisses along her throat, bringing her back to the night before. She recalled the clock when it struck midnight and the way he'd dragged her away from the fireworks and the glittering orbs, kissing her until she was moaning his name.

Lily knew it was going to be a long road ahead, after all the war was only getting started. Still, as long as she had James, Lily felt like she could face any obstacle the world threw at her. She wanted to stay by his side no matter what, just like he'd done for her since the moment they'd become friends.

"Marry me."

"Yes."

He rested over top of her, kissing her, lavishing her, making her see stars as she sunk deeper into his comforter. They could hear people downstairs cheering about something, much like the night before, but they couldn't be bothered to care. Not with her hands in his hair and his fingers on her skin as they let the remainder of their clothes litter the floor like confetti.

"You and me," he breathed against her skin, "forevermore."