Operation Baby Steps Phase 6: Go out with me, Evans?

It was Christmas, the Marauders final Christmas at Hogwarts ever. So naturally, they had decided to throw a party. James was standing next to Sirius, both had drinks in their hands and they were laughing at something, when he saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. Leaving Sirius in Remus's capable hands, he followed her the redhead out.

He found her sitting against the wall.

"Can't handle the excitement in there, Evans?" James teased as he sat down next to her. She snorted.

"As if."

"Then why're sitting out here? or were you just hoping that I'd follow you?"

She punched him lightly in the shoulder. James pouted.

They sat in silence for a little bit, shoulders touching, hands occasionally brushing. James worked hard to get his heartbeat under control, she didn't like him like that.

"I only came out here for some fresh air, Sirius looked about ready to do a naked tribal dance on the table."

James sorted, and lifted his hand to run it through his hair. She caught his wrist. His eyes locked onto hers and he felt his heartbeat increase tenfold.

"I, er, sorry. It's just really irritating when you do that with your hair."

She gave him a sheepish smile. Merlin there faces were so close now, they hadn't broken eye contact. He swallowed nervously. Se did not look away.

Suddenly his mouth went dry, and he spoke the five words he'd vowed never to speak again

"Go out with me, Evans?"

His voice was barely above a whisper, she was still holding his wrist and his forehead was almost touching hers. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the rejection that never came. Instead her lips met his, softly, sweetly at first. Then her hand moved up to the back of his neck and tangled in his hair. His hands slowly cupped her face.

When they broke away, she said;

"What do you think?"

And he grinned and kissed his girlfriend (He could finally call her that, after all these years) again and again and again.

Operation Baby Steps Phase 6: Go out with me, Evans?: Complete.

A/N, Well this was fun! I finally got around to finishing this...it feels good to write JamesLily again.

Anyway, this story is now complete, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please leave a review, feedback is lovely. It feeds my soul. Plus you get cookies.

xx

Liza