(A/N: Companion story to Giesbrecht's "Somethings Are Better Left Unknown". Thanks for letting me write this. I hope you're proud of it! I told this by James' point of view… it seemed the best way to fully express his emotions toward knowing his destiny.)

Life's Own Love

I broke the rules, I traveled to the future. It was Sirius' idea, he came up with it. But I went along for the ride. I wasn't entirely innocent in this deal, either. I wanted to ask Harry what had happened, I was the reason we overheard the argument. But I never thought it would turn out the way it did… There are some things that you just shouldn't know about… And the way your life is going to go is one of them.

Anyway, after I returned to my time, twenty-five years before I met Harry, I began to wonder if everything I did changed what had happened. If the moment I left, Harry had a family. But part of me told me that wasn't true.

I didn't ask Harry who his mother was, I didn't want to know. It would ruin the relationship, knowing where it was going. But the moment I saw her, I knew it. She was sitting at a table in the common room as I walked down the stairs, trailing my usual rat pack. But when I stumbled down the remaining stairs at six o'clock that morning, I stumbled into heaven.

She was sitting to the far side of the common room, engrossed in a book… I saw her, and it hit me like a flash of lightning. The way her hair flickered scarlet in the pre-dawn light, the way she moved her hands across the page. So much of me wanted to rush over, and erupt into how she had affected me at that very moment. But I didn't.

Let me tell you something, watching someone from a distance is never the same as watching them up close. From a distance, Lily Evans was a prefect, stunning, but a princess. But up close, she was something totally different. I still remember that day, walking through Hogsmeade with Sirius, Remus and Peter, cracking jokes about the various people passing us.

We entered into the Three Broomsticks at exactly eleven in the morning, hoping to get a jump start on lunch. Rosmerta seated us, and I could tell Sirius was about to pull a comment out of his bag of pick up lines, when I heard her.

"Like I said, Jasmine," she was saying. "He didn't even try to be kind about it, he just demanded I go to the dance with him…." I turned to see her, sitting behind me, red hair tumbling over her shoulders, spilling across her back.

The dark-haired girl beside her nodded, taking a sip of butterbeer. I was entranced with Lily. What was wrong with me? She was the annoying little prefect that would rat us out sooner then not. But something about her in that moment, the lack of badge, knowing that she might be the one girl in Hogwarts to turn me down. I had to do it.

Rising to my feet, I brushed past Sirius, who was hissing at me to stop. "Um, Lily?" I asked, leaning on the back of a chair, across from her. Emerald eyes gazed up at me, and I hesitated.

"Potter," she said, not unpleasantly, "James Potter…" Jasmine giggled.

I nodded, feeling slightly woozy. What was WRONG with me? "Yeah, you're Lily Evans," I replied. Jasmine rolled her eyes, and I struggled to ignore Sirius' hissing. "I was wondering… That is if you don't have a date to the dance… Maybe you and I could… Never mind, it was stupid of me to ask…"

Feeling rejected, even though she had to yet speak to me, I stepped back. Turning on my heel I went to stroll away, staring at Sirius' open mouth. "I'd love too," she said softly. I felt my legs wobble, and I almost reached out to grab the nearest chair to keep from falling. Spinning around, I smiled at her. God, those eyes… They were stunning.

* * *

The Great Hall was decorated in Christmas colors, mistletoe hanging around every corner, music pumping throughout the school. But none of it mattered. I had Lily Evans on my arm. Believe me, no one was more surprised then me, except Sirius. He couldn't believe I went for Lily. But that's not what bothered me.

Halfway through the dance, I had lost her on the dance floor. When I finally found her, she was cornered by none other then Severus Snape. I hated him. With a vengeance. But what really angered me was what I heard him saying to her. "I told you that you were coming with me!" he growled, shoving her up against a wall. "And you showed up with that loser!"

My fist hit the wall by his head, and Lily squeaked. "You were saying, Severus," I growled, far more menacingly then he had. He shuddered, and stepped back. "Good boy, run along…" I whispered, reaching for my wand, "Before I get expelled… And you get worse." Severus turned and fled, leaving Lily behind, leaned against the wall. I turned to her, and brushed a strand from her face. "You all right?" I asked, every inch of me wanting her to say yes.

She nodded. "Thank you, James," she whispered. Her eyes met mine in that moment. Did you know that eyes are ten times as bright, twenty times as deep, and a hundred times more beautiful when you love the person? I didn't. Not until that moment. "When you didn't notice me…" she whispered, staring up into my own dark eyes. "I noticed you…"

* * *

Graduation was a thrill for me. I knew I'd make it, after all, you had to pay pretty good attention in class to get the information for the Marauders. But I never thought that Sirius would be standing there with me. We didn't have a big ceremony, we never do. But as we loaded into those horseless carriages for the last time, I felt a fog sweep over my heart. An era of my life was over, I was leaving forever.

Climbing into the carriage with the Marauders and Lily, I felt this incredible dread overcome me. Something had begun, something I couldn't change. And something in me wanted to fight it. But all dark thoughts were banished as Lily cuddled up next to me. I glanced to my friends.

Dear Sirius, his looks only surpassed by his charm. The man had the power to make women fall to their knees, and pray to the gods. His swarthy black hair fell to his shoulder, always swept back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. His dark eyes were expressive and yet unforgiving at times. He would have a smashing time with the world. And the world would have a smashing time with him.

Then there was the poor Remus. He had so many struggles in his life, so much to deal with at once. But he had the silent strength, the power behind the gods. At one point, his life would go down, farther then even he could imagine, but he'd always pull himself out. And he would always have Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. We would always be there, every full moon, no matter where we were.

But the one that stuck out in my heart the most was Peter. He had always been a little brother to me, something I'd never had. He was sweet, quiet, shy. Only when I had known him for a few months did he come out of his shell. Then it was only a whispered word, or a meek suggestion. I felt it was my job to protect him, maybe too much.

All of this pressed into my mind as I stared at them, huddled together in the tiny compartment of the carriage. Rain poured down around us, and I felt Lily slide closer as lightning struck nearby. My arm slid around her protectively, and suddenly I was home.

* * *

I remembered how I felt, only months after graduation. I worked for the Ministry by that point, as an Auror. There was something about knowing that I fought against Voldemort that kept me from thinking of what Harry had told me. Everything was going right, and I was sitting in my living room with the Marauders, watching Sirius try his best at charades.

He pointed to his first finger. "First word," Peter said. Then Sirius messed up his hair and put his fingers around his eyes like glasses.

"James," Remus supplied, far to easily. I turned and glared at him. He shrugged, smiling. Something was going on. Sirius dropped down on one knee, and flung his arms open. "James proposes to Lily!" Remus yelled, smiling brightly. I fell out of my chair.

Sputtering, I turned to glare at Sirius Black with contempt. "I am not going to propose to Lily!" I shouted, narrowing my dark eyes.

"You've been carrying that ring around for a month!" Peter cried, turning to stare at me. Sirius and Remus nodded their agreement. I admit, they were right. But I was terrified that she'd say no.

Almost as if he were reading my mind, Sirius turned to look at me. "She'll say yes, chap," he said, clapping his hand on my shoulder. "She'd be mad not too."

"You aren't serious!" I said, not realizing it. The moment I did, I clapped my hand over my mouth.

A grin spread over Sirius' face as he said, "Last I checked I was Sirius…" Remus groaned loudly, and Peter slapped his forehead. Sirius took one look at my wide brown eyes over my hand, and burst out laughing.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Glaring at Sirius rudely, I started toward the hall. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I opened the door. Standing there, clutching her purse and a bag, with two suitcases at her feet, was Lily. Her cheeks were stained with tears, her eyes overflowing. "Petunia," she sobbed, "Got a hold of my wand, and hexed herself… Mum said it would be best if I left…" By that time, the guys had appeared behind me. Sirius reached around me, and grabbed one bag, while Remus grabbed the other. Peter pulled the bag from her arms as I pulled her close. "I didn't have anywhere else to go…"

I hushed her, helping her into the living room. The guys took her things to my bedroom, and excused themselves, leaving us alone in my apartment. Lily leaned against me, sobbing softly, clutching me close. "You can stay here," I whispered. "I'll take the couch, you can have the bed."

She shook her head, "I couldn't take your bed from you," she said, burying her face in my shirt. "I can take the couch."

"Of course you can't," I exclaimed. "I leave earlier then you, I'll wake you."

At that moment, her shaking stopped, and I realized my heart was hammering. The image of Sirius on one knee popped into my head, then his comment. She'd be mad not to. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the blue velvet ring box.

"Marry me…" I whispered to her, popping it open. I didn't plan a speech, I didn't even think about it. I just said it.

She lifted her eyes to look at me, that's the moment it hit me. Those eyes! Those were Harry's eyes. The same dazzling green depths, so expressive, so stunning. I knew in that moment that Lily wouldn't say no to me. I knew I'd taken the right course of action.

She didn't speak, she just nodded. I had done it… I'd taken the first step into the life that my son had told me of. And I'd be damned if it ended the way he said. I swore right then that I would change my life, after all, destiny isn't always pre-written.

(A/N: More to come… Promise. This story is going to consist of the things in James' life that Harry notified him of. Of course, the love of his life, the arrival of his newborn son, the decision of secret keeper, and of course, his untimely demise. But the question you should be asking is "If Harry hadn't told him, would it have turned out the same? Please Review… Thanks, Ky.)