Who: James Potter and Lily Evans What: James comes home from England When: Mid-June Where: James' house Ratings/Warning: Some talk of parental death, some cute fluff, otherwise low/none Status: Complete
James didn’t think that three weeks could last so long. He’d only intended to stay a week or two at most, to help take care of his parents and their household while they were bedridden with the flu, and had wound up needing to stay much longer to make the funeral arrangements and to try to deal with their estate. He hadn’t really had the heart to go much into the legalities though. The lawyer was an old family friend - he’d known James since he’d been in nappies, and James trusted him to take care of all if it to his parent’s wishes. The lawyer assured him it was all straightforward enough though. James was their only heir, and they had left everything to him.
He wished Lily could have come to meet him, though he hadn’t brought himself to ask her. Lily, being absolutely perfect, had of course offered to come herself, but he had assured her all was well, and that she needn’t trouble herself. While he could have easily paid for her plane ticket, he couldn’t pay her missed wages (at least, not in any way that Lily would agree to, at least) and she needed that money for her schooling. Besides, it was hardly how he wanted her to meet his family. Nor did he particularly want her to see him as devastated as he was.
His parents had been embarrassing at times, and he complained of them more often than not, but that had to be expected when they hadn’t had James until their fifties. They had, all in all, been the best parents James had ever heard of, and while he expected to someday be without them, he hadn’t thought that day would come until someday in the far off future. To lose them both within hours of one another…
All said and done, he was glad to be home. He was glad to be away from all the well-wishes and the concerned looks, and people he barely knew all but shoving food down his throat. He opened his bedroom door, and had no choice but to stop and stare. There was Lily, laid out in his bed, wearing one of his oversized t-shirts while she slept. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, James smiled sincerely, just a small one. It was amazing how just seeing her could make half his problems just melt away. He took off his socks as he made his way to the bed, climbed under the covers, and curled up against Lily’s back, taking comfort in her warmth.
***
Lily had offered to housesit for James while he was in England looking after things and helping his parents get over a rather nasty flu they’d caught. He would have one less worry and she could try and get a head on her readings for the fall with less distractions while she was at his place. And when he’d called to tell her he’d be staying longer and why - she’d almost bought a ticket and gone over even though he’d told her not to. It had been tempting and she’d looked up that website more than once but each time she’d been about to buy the ticket she’d stopped herself. He’d told her not to and even if it went against her instincts she had to respect what he’d said.
And what he hadn’t. Which was why she’d started sleeping in his tshirts, hugging the pillow from his side of the bed instead of her pajamas and falling asleep studying each night. She was a light sleeper, always had been when she was by herself, so when she felt the bed starting to dip down behind her it woke her up and she tensed as she felt someone sliding up behind her. Damnit. Why hadn’t she taken Amycus up on his offer of warding the house? Would whatever wards James had placed still be in effect with him having been out of town so long? She turned her head slightly so that she could try and see who it was and let out a relieved breath when she saw the familiar head of messy hair, rolling over to face him and sliding closer to the middle of the bed. “Trying to scare me James?” She asked, voice soft as she looked at him, body relaxing beside his. “I’d have come picked you up at the airport if you’d called to let me know your flight was coming in.”
She’d missed him. Even if she wasn’t willing to admit it outloud just yet.
***
“I didn’t mean to scare you, Lil,” James said, an apologetic tone in his voice. He hadn’t even thought that that would be a possibility; he probably wouldn’t have been so worried about trying not to wake her if it had been.
“I know you would have,” James said, managing a bit of a smile. “But it was a pretty late flight, and it just seemed easier to take a cab home. Besides, I knew I’d probably see you when I got home anyway.”
***
Lily gave him a faint smile as he apologized. “Smart man. I guess I’m a light sleeper when I’m by myself.” She bit down on her lower lip, studying his face. She wasn’t used to seeing him looking like this and she was at a loss for what to say him, what she could possibly say to help. So instead she just reached for his hand, lacing her fingers between his as they laid there.
“Well...you did ask me to housesit for you. Seemed the smartest way was to stay here. And there was less distractions here than at the flat for me to try to get ahead start on my readings. I didn’t think you’d mind me borrowing one of your shirts to wear for pajamas.” It had helped her feel less lonely to pull it on when she was getting ready to climb into bed. Reminded her of the much more fun circumstances of the first time she’d slept there but those were thoughts she was trying not to let surface too much right now.
***
“I don’t mind at all,” he assured her. “In fact, you look rather fetching in my old t-shirts. It’s a good look for you,” he said, giving her a bit of a wan smile and giving her a light peck on the cheek.
***
Lily gave him a small smile in return, reaching with her free hand to push a wayward hair back away from his face. "Careful. I might get used to that. Did you get any sleep?" She asked, looking him in the eye and trying to figure out how to ask what she really wanted to know - what he needed. How she could help him now that he was back.
***
“I got a bit,” James said. Not a whole lot. He’d almost managed to doze off on the plane, but didn’t think he’d managed more than an hour or so. “I’m just glad to be back in my own bed. I imagine that’ll make things easier.” He paused for a brief moment, debating whether or not to continue and ultimately deciding to, “especially with the company here.”
***
Lily gave him a tired smile at that last comment, squeezing his hand gently. “That your way of saying you want me to stay?” She said, unable to resist teasing just a little before getting serious again. “Whatever you need James, I’m here.” She swallowed before continuing. “I almost came over to England anyway.” She confessed.
***
“Of course I want you to stay,” James said. “I would have liked to see you, but I’m glad that you didn’t,” he said after a moment. As much as he had wanted Lily there, he wouldn’t have wanted her to see him like he had been. “You’ve got too much going on here to pack it up just for something like that.”
***
Lily shook her head and rolled her eyes at his assertion that she had too much going on. “What would the park have done? Fired me?” She asked him. “The only reason I didn’t was you said you didn’t want me to. That’s your one time of pulling that by the way. Next time you’re facing something like that I’m going to be there.” She said, resolve obvious in her voice.
***
James wasn’t going to argue with her. He had the feeling there really wasn’t much of a point to it, and besides, he hadn’t wanted to stop her from coming anyway. Not really, at least. Having her here with him now just reminded him how much he had wished she had been with him in England. Instead, he just pulled her close and kiss.
***
Lily was vaguely aware of Chip grumbling at the foot of the bed as James pulled her over onto the same side of the bed as him. The puppy definitely didn’t like having his sleep disturbed or being shifted by people’s movements when he slept and didn’t mind letting anyone know that he wasn’t happy with him. She put one arm over his waist as she kissed him back, pressing as close to him as she could. Needing to feel him there beside her as much as she figured he needed that same comfort from her.