A/N: Jay is Lily's nickname for James.

Chapter One

Lily's Point of View

Ten minutes. Ten minutes and I will be Mrs. James Potter.

Only a matter of years ago, I would have never believed such a thing possible.

Until our seventh year, I was sure that James Potter was nothing more than an arrogant prat.

It's hard to believe just how wrong I turned out to be.

My opinion of James began to change a few weeks after the beginning of term, seventh year. It was clear to see that in the short time period of a summer, James had changed. That change could also be seen in his friends, except Sirius. Definitely not in Sirius Black.

The Marauders - thick as thieves and closer than brothers. It's as equally hard to believe that they are my family now.

...

When seventh year began, I felt more alone than ever. Severus and I hadn't spoke in over a year, and while I knew it was for the best, it didn't stop me from mourning the loss of a once great friend. My best friend Hestia had decided to take the year off to travel with her parents, and my sister Petunia had officially disowned me.

Many people said that James became a different person over the summer holiday, but I disagreed. I believed James had set aside some of mischievousness (some, I repeat, some) and began to act on the good I knew was inside him all along. He grew up, I suppose. Well, grew up as much as James Potter was capable of.

...

From the first time we met on the Hogwarts Express, James Potter had tried to get to my attention. Over the course of several years, he asked me out more times than I can count, but it wasn't until seventh year that I finally agreed.

I had never felt butterflies in my stomach as prominently as I did when I prepared for our date. I had to sit down for a good five minutes and convince myself that he always genuinely fancied me, to gain the confidence to leave my room and meet him in the Great Hall

It was a snowy day in the beginning of December when we went to Hogsmeade - just James and I. We first went to Honeydukes where he bought me a pack of sugar quills, though I have no idea how he knew I loved them. Then to the Three Broomsticks for warm butterbeer and Rosmerta's famous roast beef. We talked for what felt like hours. James explained quidditch to me and even got me excited to watch him play in the next match.

At one point, after our drinks and food were gone, James reached for my hand on top of the table. When he felt how cold my skin was, he grabbed both of my small hands, enclosed them in his abnormally large ones, and blew his hot breath into the space he created.

He did it without thought, but that small motion caused a great swell of affection for him to wash over me.

We looked up at each other then, and I think both of us realized something had changed.

We left the Three Broomsticks and slowly walked back to the castle.

I don't remember what I said along the way, but it made him throw his head back and laugh like a lunatic. I loved his laugh. After he regained his composure, he grabbed my hand, brought it to his icy lips, and placed a soft, tingling kiss there.

He intertwined his fingers with mine and held on for the rest of our journey.

...

When we returned to the castle, James and I were officially a couple. I'm not sure how it happened or if there was even an actual declaration - we just were.

Less than a week after our first date, there was a quidditch match - Gryffindor against Slytherin. After a few hours of hard play, James the main Chaser for our team, scored the goal that won the match even though the Slytherin Seeker caught the snitch.

The Pitch erupted into a familiar joyous chaos. James suddenly broke away from the mass embrace of his teammates, and flew over to me in the Gryffindor stands.

"I love you Lily Evans!" he screamed,

The entire student body looked to me.

My heart was pounding so hard, I was sure it stop beating all together, but I ignored it and replied that I loved him too.

James closed the small gap between us and caught me in a breathtaking, heart-squeezing kiss. As our lips melded together, James grabbed me round the waist, and lifted me onto the back of his broom. I wrapped my arms around him and squealed in delight as we took a victory lap around the Pitch.

The pair of us laughed like mad as the crowd cheered.

...

After that, James and I spent every possible moment together. It was as though we molded into one entity. We were 'James and Lily' to everyone except the Marauders; to them I was 'Prongs's Girl' and I honestly didn't mind it.

The day we graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, James proposed.

With a smile plastered on my face and a laugh caught in my throat, I accepted.

Now I'm here, standing inside a beautiful cathedral, waiting impatiently to become Mrs. James Potter. My two best friends, Alice and Hestia, have been so wonderful in helping me through all of the madness that is wedding plan-

"Lily?" Alice says, pulling me out of my daze. "It's time, Lils."

I barely have time to pick up my bouquet before the double doors open and the music starts. Hestia and Alice walk ahead of me, keeping perfect, graceful timing with the wedding march. I can hardly stop myself from sprinting down this stupid aisle when I see James in all his handsome glory.

He's doing his best not to cry, but I can tell anyway. The only thing stopping him is the likelihood of Sirius Black tormenting him for the rest of his life about it.

I really don't give a damn about the people in the pews. I don't care that my family isn't here. In this moment, I care about nothing but the man in front of me. The man who is going to be my husband.

I'm at his side now, thank Merlin. We instantly reach for each other's hand and he squeezes mine so tightly, I gasp. Sirius starts to laugh, but my dearest Remus discreetly cuffs him on the ear.

The priest clears his throat.

"Here we go," James whispers.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to bear witness to the matrimony and bonding of James Potter and Lily Evans. The couple have prepared their own sacred vows to one another, so, James if you will ..."

James takes a shaking breath and smiles nervously at me.

"I, James Charlus Potter, take thee, Lily Amelia Evans, to be my bonded wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my dearest love from this day forward. In the presence of God and these, our witnesses, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you even after death do us part."

Stream after stream of tears are now falling down my face, and I'm desperately trying to hold in a sob. I love you Jay, I love you so much more than I can ever put into words.

The preist looks at me and I try to swallow the lump in my throat.

"I, Lily Amelia Evans, take thee, James Charlus Potter, to be my bonded husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my dearest love from this day forward. In the presence of God and these, our witnesses, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you even after death do us part."

We're squeezing each other's hands so hard, I'm positive one of us is going to end up with at least a broken finger.

The priest asks Sirius for the rings, and with a wink at James, he places them in his hands.

Time seems to move in fast forward. I barely even recognize the gold band slipping onto my finger and the wizard from the Ministry of Magic taking the place of the priest.

The wizard takes his wand from his pocket and performs a series of complex motions, completing the spell that is the purpose of all bonding ceremonies.

"From this day, until the end of days, you are man and wife." The wizard announces, "You may seal your vows, and the bond, with a kiss."

Our kiss rivals all of the ones that came before it, and successfully drowns out the cat-calls and whistles directed at us.

We pull away and I start to feel an ache in my face from smiling so wide.

It's official. We're actually married. And it happened, surrounded by the people we love the most in this world.

Not once, have I ever been happier.

If you are a fan of this story, you will be pleased to know that I am going back re-editing, starting at the beginning.

I love this story and I love all of you!