Lily turned the diamond ring on her finger, admiring how lovely all its facets caught the sunlight. It still seemed too surreal, too unbelievable, to be true. As she brushed the feather of the quill on her chin once more, she refilled it with ink from the bottle before turning back to her writing. It proved difficult to control the Evans estate without actually being there. Then again, she had to sign off on everything that occurred anyway. Thus, things had halted to a slow crawl since Kingston was very remote and very far away from home.
"Then again, this has been my home already for a few years," she said, smiling.
As her pen touched the paper once more and she wrote out the lengthy orders of what was to be done with assets, interests, investors and everything else, Lily found that her hand stopped of its own accord as her mind touched upon the subject of happiness.
What was happiness? How could you describe it? Everyone in the world was searching for their happiness, chasing after it with all their heart, mind and soul. It was something that was not easily obtainable. Something like that surely existed for everyone. It was all a matter of being able to catch it in your hand and hold it close to your heart forevermore. Not a single person in the world could 'give' you happiness. Certainly, it was something that you had to get yourself. How you get it is entirely up to you, and, of course, there are always those that help you achieve happiness.
"You'll want nothing else… when you're happy…" Lily decided.
Hands and soon arms slipped around her shoulders and Lily smiled. "Whatever my lovely flower wants, I swear to her that her gardener will grant her wish," he said as he kissed her cheek.
Lily smiled and put her quill down. This would be the second interruption today in her work—but James was restless and this was his only day off from school in weeks. Unfortunately, Lily's hand sported bruises from writing for the past two months. Even for short business trips by floo were tough—especially with the baby due to arrive in seven months. Approximately one week ago James had banned her from taking floo trips—saying that the ashes would probably disrupt the baby's natural growth.
"This little flower wants nothing more than her gardener."
James laughed, pulling her long red hair out behind her from over her shoulders. "That's good to hear. So, is my lovely lily up for a little bit of lovely sunshine? Sirius is visiting and actually waiting in town for us at the café. Care to come?"
Lily sighed. "He hasn't stopped hitting on me you know. Every time he comes down for a visit I always hear the same thing: 'You know, Potter, if you ever want to be a Black, I'm available.' Surely you'll spare your lovely wife that lovely greeting?"
Kissing her head again, he moved around her so he could look into her eyes. "Absolutely not. Come on, love, he's waiting."
Lily rolled her eyes, sighed and put her quill down. After picking up her best white hat off the rack, she followed James out the door. Their house was remote; it was about a ten minute walk into town with no neighbours for fifteen minutes. Partly, this was because they were staying at the Potter's summer home. Both of James sisters had stayed here while attending Kingston, and both of them had also passed Kingtson's standards with flying colours. Arianna was the eldest and Lily had met her on occasion. Such grace and poise she never imagined possible in any single person—and yet she was lovely and ever so amiable and wonderful to be with beyond graceful courtesies.
Relina was just as lovely as Arianna and with quite the knack for wandless charming. Relina graduated from Kingston with the highest of honours and holds the record still today for the highest and most well-achieved individual to pass through its halls. His sister certainly knew how to have a good time and Lily could easily see where Sirius picked up all his techniques for attempting to have a date with Lily.
Arianna Potter—the princess of society.
Relina Potter—the ace of spades.
James Potter, her husband and the love of her life.
At first, upon moving into Kingston, after getting everything squared away with the random departure of Lily, they had gotten married promptly after. Upon finding a quaint little café in town, they made fun of Lily taking a table for one and James stopping by just so that it would seem like they met by chance. The store owners knew them by name and always played along. Lily had never lost her charm for people, it seemed.
As they strolled into town, Lily on James' arm, they headed straight for the café and easily spotted Sirius. Sitting down at his table, they exchanged warm greetings, and ordered a round of drinks. James got up to go to the washroom, leaving Lily and Sirius alone together.
"Miss Evans, lovely as ever. Oh, my mistake, that's Mrs Potter now, isn't it? You know, Potter, if you ever want to be a Black, I'm most definitely available."
Lily sighed, though a smile was on her face. "Sirius, honestly, you never give up, do you? Even when I'm well-married to your best friend."
Sirius roared with laughter. "Love, if it were any other girl, I would say I'm happy for the boy. Since it's you, all I can think of are ways to whisk you off those dainty feet of yours so that you'll fall for the one you're truly meant to be with—OW! Oh, James, back from the loo, are you?"
James simply smiled and nodded, sitting down next to Lily, putting a protective arm around her while smiling promptly at Sirius. "Indeed, and not but five minutes I'm gone you're already making a move for my woman."
Sirius sighed and shook his head. "Of course, I loved her first! So, how is life out here in the hills?"
"Peaceful. The scenery, I love it. Everything about this place is so… not like the estate; I absolutely love every shred of it."
James smiled at Lily and kissed her cheek. "My thoughts are the same."
"Excellent. How is the baby? How is my little godchild doing?"
"He's doing alright."
"He?"
"It's a boy—certainly. I can tell. James doesn't believe me, but it's most definitely a boy."
James laughed. "I'd like a boy. You know, though, I'd love a girl much more. That just means I could spoil you both ridiculously. I think my darling flower has gotten far too used to it."
Shaking her head and sighing as he took her hand and kissed it, she smiled at him. "Mr Potter has been nothing but the romantic for the last six years. In fact, he didn't want to have a child at all because he wanted my attention all for himself and said just as much."
James shrugged shamelessly. "With such a lovely wife who wouldn't?"
They both stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Life with James was wonderful—it was fun and most of all it was bliss. Lily had never known bliss like this before. It was quiet, it was calming and it made her happy.
For some, the road to happiness was paved with sorrow. For others it meant opening a door. However someone got there, happiness was different for everyone. How it was found and what it was is unique and specific to every single person. True happiness—very much like true love—was a hard diamond to find.
Lily had certainly found her happiness.
Sirius sighed. "Ah, young lovers. You're both happy, that makes me glad to know."
"And how about you, Sirius? Any young ladies in your life?"
Sirius roared with laughter. "Remember what I told you so many years ago, James? There's not a single person I would want more than your lovely wife. You cod, you stole her from me. Then again, she stole herself away from me a long time ago. I've sworn off women. The only one for me is married to my best friend."
James laughed and smiled. "I suppose. That would indeed, be a terrible circumstance. And how is silly old Manchester for aurors? Or are you considering flying for Ireland?"
Sirius smiled and sighed. "I don't think I'd be good enough to fly for Ireland. Even though they scouted me, I'll never be as good as the others and they all know it. Manchester is Manchester. It always rains and not a blue sky in sight. I might move here with you two to attend Kingston. Bloody tough school to get into though. James, my boy, you made it look so easy it makes me look terrible!"
Lily frowned. "What a waste of six years at silly old Manchester then. We'll be moving back to rainy old London soon, though. You coming here would be a waste."
Sirius laughed. "What nonsense! I'm the top of my class at Manchester. It's been a much easier six years there than James has had here. On a list of schools for auror training, Manchester is ranked third behind Kingston at first and Newcastle at second. Saying 'I graduated from Kingston' sounds much better and is far easier to say than 'I graduated from Manchester top of my class.' That's the way they see it, in the end."
Lily huffed. "The magical world is ridiculous. Simply ridiculous."
Lily had not picked up her wand in six years and she never intended to touch it again. For six years since graduation, Lily had, for the most part, lived her life as a muggle. She had no time or patience otherwise. Magic was useful, of that there was no question. However, Lily's aversion to it was not aided by her own unwillingness to be compared to James—who could probably charm and defend against Voldemort himself in his sleep.
To say that James was adept at what he did would by flat-out lying. James was no Relina Potter, but he was second to none at the school. In fact, there was no one as comparable to Relina that she could think of. Relina hardly ever had to use her wand anymore. If she ever brought out her wand you knew it meant she was serious. Everything up to that point was sport.
In fact, for the Charms portion of her studies she went without her wand. One reason due to the fact that the silly oak thing broke and she hadn't the time or energy to get a new one until the course was complete. Technically it was her fault that it broke, but the differences and similarities were all the same.
As they caught up a bit more—Sirius making a few more passes at Lily shamelessly—it eventually came round the time for Sirius to go. Unsurprisingly he had a test to 'attend to' the following day and he would need to be able to get to school in time for it. Lily scoffed at him for not having studied prior at all. With that coming to an end, James took Lily by the hand and they walked back to their house.
Lily entered the house first and didn't even manage to slip off her other shoe before James caught and held her around her middle, burrowing his face into the back of her head and into her hair.
"Forgive me, but you smell like lilies," he said quietly.
Lily smiled. "And you smell like hazel. Lovely, warm, wonderful hazel."
"Lily Evans, I love you, I'd be a fool to say anything else."
Lily smiled. Every now and then, he would call her by the name she left behind. It made them both feel so nostalgic. It made them both feel like Hogwarts had never ended and they were simply attending it where only one other person existed or mattered.
It was wonderful.
It was euphoric.
It was bliss.
It was love.
It was matrimony.
It was Lily and James Potter.
"Lily Evans, I love you."
Lily smiled. "James Potter, I… love you… very much."
Outside they heard the thunder boom as rain started to fall.
To My Dear Reviewers: It is those that I admire terribly so that have the patience to leave a review on every chapter. I shamelessly admit that I am not so good at that myself simply because I have no time to read the fiction of others. To those who have, I sincerely appreciate it! The ongoing motivation does me splendidly!
PERSONAL NOTES - In Alphabetical Order:
Ghost44: You're lovely and wonderful, sweetheart, thank you for taking the time to PM that message to me. It really made my day when I got it in my inbox! Tell your friend, whomever they are, that I think they have excellent taste in not only fiction but friends. My best love to you and your studies! Work hard, you'll be excellent in anything you do, I'm sure!
messyblackhair66: Kisses, darling, kisses, and roses and poppies and lilies and flowers. Thank you for sticking with me, I grandly appreciate it, love.
A Host of Others: cosmopolitan, Eve1980, Isolde Eris, marauder-chick101, and many, many, many more!
And that is that. Kisses.
Comments:
Fini.
Please R&R. (Absolutely last time to do so!)
- Minute Maid
The Beverage of what?
The Beverage of Queens.