Re: Sleigh 3: Ariel and James (UTC +5 to +6)
James turned to Ariel with an exaggerated wince as the Reindeer faced forwards again, his lip curling comically. 'I keep forgetting they talk!' he mouthed silently.
Grinning crookedly at the giggle that escaped the redhead, James turned his focus back to driving, calling a quick apology forward to their antlered team.
He frowned, then shrugged. "Not a bad wife, nah. Maybe not the right wife for someone like that. You both have to want the same sort of stuff for it to work, I reckon. You can still go out and do stuff when you're married, but you both need to be on the same page." He thought for a moment. "Maybe you were just in the wrong time, or place, the whole 'stay home and play house' thing sounds pretty dated to me. Lily's just as much a hero as I am. More, actually. She's saved my hide plenty of times."
It was easier to talk about Lily now that Sirius hqd arrived, all energy and light and 'remember when'. It still sent waves of guilt and grief rushing through him, shuddering painfully in every inch of nerve, but it was bearable. Just. James took a deep breath, snatching up air as it rushed past.
"What do you think you would have done if you'd stayed there?