A/N: I did a lot of personal research for this chapter (research which involved me procrastinating homework and standing in the rain for almost an hour while my parents wondered at my sanity) so I'd appreciate it if you'd review, please. Also, if you want some music to listen to while reading this, I suggest 'When I look at you' by Miley Cyrus and 'Fearless' by Taylor Swift. R&R!

That night, it rained.

What had started out as a slow trickling drizzle had escalated into a full blown tempest in a matter of an hour. Torrents of rain ran haphazardly about, spiraling to the ground in over lapping and constant cadences that one could easily mistake for the roar of a thousand footfalls. Lightning flashed in jagged streaks and thunder rumbled perilously throughout the air.

If it weren't for the darkened skies appareled with gigantic clouds of periwinkle and grey, the sun would have revealed the day to be coming to a close, evening on the rise. There was not a patch of light, nor a spot of blue sky, visible that night. It didn't matter, however. No amount of darkness could have stopped him from enjoying the brilliant and effervescent rain.

The grass in between his toes was a beautifully fresh green, the soil beneath his feet a moist plethora of new life. The last efforts of winter had long since been washed away by the April showers. Everything was flushed with renewal and the promise of a long stay.

Spring had inevitably arrived.

It was everywhere; in the way the flowers and trees began to bloom and in the gradually lengthening hours the sun stayed up. Winter had hardened over old wounds like a scab, and now spring was here to heal and cleanse them. There was color and spirit in everything.

James stood on that grass; his eyes closed as he stood without hesitancy and soaked up the pouring rain. He listened quietly to the pinkering plop of each raindrop as it fell into the lake, felt the cool rain on his warm skin, trailing down in small rivers over his muscled shoulders and upturned face. His lips were parted, letting the occasional drop fall onto his willing tongue, tasting of sweet fresh air, earth, and pure, innocent bliss.

His friends often called him mad for going out in the rain like this, his mother often told him he was going to catch his death, but he never listened. There was something eternal and forever energizing about rain, something that made all grudges be forgotten, all scars erased, all hurt vanished, and all feelings of vulnerability intensified times ten.

His mind was open, accepting anything that might happen at any given moment. He honestly couldn't care if the lightning struck him down right there. It was totally and completely worth it. A sense of calm had slipped over him, bringing with it an unusual sense of purpose and energy.

The last three months had been a blur of numb, warmth, and stares. Lily had clearly been struck by his words to her. He could often feel her gaze on the back of his head, hear his name whispered as she argued with her friends in the Library. He had no way of knowing if it was a good thing or bad thing, but he knew she was soon to be making up her mind.

They'd started talking to each other again. Short, harmless, even playful conversations that meant everything without even trying. It was effortless, being able to talk to her again, he'd found. She had a cohesive personality that made it easy to talk and a smile that encouraged his jokes and teasing remarks. They hadn't discussed anything serious yet, and didn't dare bring up the subject of what had happened in winter, but James knew it would have to come out eventually. They couldn't avoid it forever.

Another thunder clap forced James to open his eyes, taking in another brilliant flash of lightning across the darkening sky. For a second, the entire world was filled with light, carrying out to all the nooks and crannies seeking it. The lightning also lit upon the steps of the castle, where a figure was standing hesitantly, a few feet away from the sheet of rain.

Lily.

Their eyes met, and for once he did not look away as he had been doing as of late. She stood there, under the protection of the castle, her feet bare and hair hanging loose along her shoulders in its usual long and flowing scarlet tresses. She was looking at him uncertainly, not sure if she was allowed to intrude on his peace or not. She looked like she'd wanted to stand in the rain too, as crazy as that seemed.

"May I join you?" She called out to him, voice barely audible above the roar of the storm.

Even from this distance he could not help but think her beautiful. He was surprised, though, to see her out here, completely ready to plunge headfirst into the rain.

He gave a slight smile. "Of course!"

And then she ran for him, screaming as the rain hit her in full force, drenching her clothes immediately. He laughed as she sprinted, both of them able to admit that it was the most exhilarating of all feelings to be standing out there in the rain. Their cares were tossed aside, overcome by the mere liberation of mind and body that the rain brought. There was no awkwardness, no secret staring, it was just the two of them, running about in the pouring rain; all caution and insecurity stripped away by the pelting drops.

It seemed to last for hours, their laughter and smiles. They ran around like children, bare feet slapping on the wet grass and water dampening every inch of their bodies as they splashed about in the puddles and spun about in an effort to taste the droplets falling from the sky. The ricketing thunder and lightning, the cascading water that surrounded them, the cool splashes that smelt of earth and pine trees, it made James feel incredibly alive at that moment, every square centimeter of his skin was aware of what was going on. Joy spread through his system as him and Lily jumped around, ignoring the fact that they both looked like utter idiots. He stopped counting the times that they fell down in the puddles, or tackled one another in an effort to get the other more wet.

It might have lasted for hours, their running, laughing, and splashing, but now it was almost completely dark outside and it was hard to see Lily, even with her smile bright enough to light a room. He'd never seen her so radiant; her flushed cheeks and soaked appearance glowing like a fire refusing to die out.

James stopped, leaning over to catch his breath, his lungs repeatedly filling with the warm, moist air. Lily, still giggling to herself, leaned against the beech tree, happily soaked from head to toe. He glanced at her, blinking the rain out of her eyes as if she had been crying, sending rivulets down her cheek and collarbone. Even though she was still conservatively dressed, James found sopping-wet-Lily to be more than slightly arousing. She smiled at him, and ran a hand through her hair, wiping her water saturated bangs out of her face.

He walked over slowly and leaned up against the tree next to her, more than aware of her shoulder touching his, but not aware enough to change that. She looked slightly confused, her brow crinkled as she looked at her feet and then at him.

They stood like that for a while, watching the rain and listening to the distant thunder. It was a warm, balmy night and the thrum of each drop on the ground was like the comforting whistle of a whippoorwill.

"I know why I apologized." She whispered, just audible over the storm, with a small smile.

He didn't glance at her, just nodded. It was crucial to let her say her part and see what would come of it. Meanwhile, it continued to pour, and the last remains of sunshine were extinguished from the sky. The dim lanterns from the castle were barely visible through the wall of rain.

"It's the same reason I would come out here and spend an hour and a half dancing in the rain with you." She answered, staring up at him with a rather calm yet anticipatory expression, as if she'd been dying to get these words off her tongue. "The same reason I would go walking in the snow with you. The same reason I would sit in the Quidditch stands just to watch you practice. And the same reason I'd plan to walk by you at the lake in September to see if you'd notice me at all."

James turned to her, quirking a rather arrogant eyebrow and started to smile back, his heart pounding furiously. Lily's eyes were back to how they used to be before the fight, sparkling like emeralds. She was blushing, but to her advantage, it only made her look more appealing.

"Like I said, James," She continued softly, "You're under my skin. Except now, I don't really feel an inclination to try and remove you."

The stood there, inches apart, the storm continuing to rage around them. Dripping wet, smiling, bathed in the fervor the rain brought on, James Potter and Lily Evans had finally reached the last cautious boundary of their relationship.

They met each other half way, lips brushing as they brought down that last barrier with astounding force.

Her lips tasted of brownies and rain, and her hands--now running through his hair--were as soft and gentle as butterflies. Water slipped down their faces and joined the kiss, bringing it to a whole new level of sensation that made the stomach swoop and the heart clench.

It continued to rain and they continued to kiss, his arms wrapping around her slim waist and pulling her flush against him, the scent of her skin overwhelming his already livened senses. They must have stood like that for ages, wet skin on wet skin, intimacy and simplicity within itself. She cupped his cheeks, stroking a thumb along his jawline and kissing him with passion that he figured she must have been disguising for quite a while.

"Now." She whispered into his lips, pressing kiss after urgent kiss unto them.

He pulled away for a second, brow wrinkling in confusion. "What are you talking about, Lils?"

She smiled slightly at his new found nickname, touching her forehead to his. "You once asked me when you would get to love me without me doing you bodily harm every time you so much as spoke to me..." she laughed. "Well, I think now would be a fine time for that 'when'."

James grinned, rain fogging behind his glasses and dripping off the bridge of his nose. "You're telling me. And here I was, thinking that this whole kissing business was just strictly platonic."

Lily laughed out loud, the sound accompanying the thunder like a soothing harmony. "C'mere, you."

Their lips met again, sealing the unspoken promise of affection. In continued to rain cats and dogs, ensuring the two of them sufficient colds in the morning. The leaden skies continued to weep, yet the world seemed alight with the feeling that Lily and James kept between the two of them. The air smelled sweet and the rain was cool and welcoming.

A year ago, neither would have believed that they would end up like this, standing in the pouring rain, denying the fact that any fight had transpired. It had taken four seasons, a thoughtful summer, an irritating autumn, a quiet winter, and a jubilant spring, to bring them together.

But the wait for Lily to catch up to him hadn't mattered, for James hadn't needed a why, how, or where.

All he'd needed was a when.

A/N: I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this closing. I originally had a toned down sex scene involved, but the prude in me threw a fit and wouldn't cooperate with my muse, so sorry, no sexy naked James today. :) Anyways, thanks for reading, and yes, this is the end of the story! Please REVIEW and, if you can, vote on my profile page poll and you shall be my favorite person!