A/N : Yay for the first multi-chapter in my first multi-chapter fic! I hope everybody enjoyed that last chapter and this one lives up to any and all expectations. I love my readers, you guys are my life force 3

Please remember to review because if I'm Tinkerbelle and I'm dying, reviews are definitely the lost boys clapping their hands together and telling me they do believe in fairies. And I am happy with that metaphor. Yep, absolutely sticking with that.

So enjoy! Disclaimer: I am not and will never be J. K. Rowling. Just like Tink will never be Wendy, because she is so small and wouldn't be able to kiss Peter anyways even if he wanted her to. Okay that one got away from me. You should just read my thing now. Stop looking at me. Thanks.

Lily was still humming to herself. She had been doing it all the way home and still couldn't stop. If she was ever a cliche it was now, humming cheerfully to herself in a sunny yellow a-line dress, hand washing the dishes and filled to the brim with domestic bliss. Honestly, never mind if that "bliss" hadn't come from the man she would be sharing these plates with. There was a war on, after all, and God knows stranger things have happened.

A door opened and closed behind her, and Lily peered over her shoulder just quickly enough to see a wiry set of shoulders and a head of mess of raven-black hair before whipping her head back around to the soap-filled sink, giving James the element of surprise he so loved adopting for her. Of course there had been guilt, in the beginning. And shame. And anger, and tears, and excuses. But it had all come back to Sirius. It always came back to Sirius.

Dammit, she was cliche-ing again.

So caught up in her thoughts, Lily didn't have to pretend the little jump of surprise when James clasped his hands on her shoulders, putting his head over one of his hands to look into the soapy sink like it was the most interesting thing he had seen all day, like Lily's hands in the water were the most beautiful things he'd seen in his life. Those big, earnest eyes. They always had that habit of zeroing in on whatever she was doing, suspending her alone in the universe.

"I missed you." His voice was low and deep in her ear, just like Sirius's. But James's voice was smooth and soft and bright somehow, while Sirius's was raspy and smokey. Passionate. But when he reached down to grab her wrists and spun her around from the sink, placing her hands around his neck and placing his on her waist before leaning in for a kiss, she didn't think twice before she answered his boyish smirk with a whispered "I love you".

Because she did. He was her best friend. He cared about her more than anyone else in the world did, and just this moment he'd swept her into a slow dance while she was washing dishes just to tell her he missed her after she was at her sister's for the weekend. She would never find a sweeter guy. Never find a more charming guy, or a guy that loved her like he did.

Lily gave him another beaming smile, letting her eyes twinkle at the gorgeous half-grin on her husband's face. She adored when he did that, it always made his glasses crooked. She giggled as she tried leaned far back enough against the counter to fix them, and he scrunched up his face when she started groping his nose and eyes. It didn't help that her fingers were absolutely full of bubbles.

Before she knew quite what was happening she was chasing James around the tiny, sun-bathed kitchen tormenting him with bubbly fingers outstretched like a shrieking, girly zombie. It was all very fun until the bastard decided to turn the tables and get his own soapy hands. And of course after that it was only a matter of time before he had her trapped on the granite island, very effectively silencing her giggles and making a complete soapy mess of her pretty yellow dress.

Tuesday came all too fast and not fast enough. The morning was a whirlwind full of cooking, washing, scrubbing, decorating, yelling at James to get out of the way, yelling at James to get of his arse and help, crying and apologizing the James... Visitors really did tend to bring out the worst in Lily Potter.

But that was all behind her, the house was shining and bright, and Lily looked absolutely beautiful, if she did say so herself. The mirror agreed with her, too. The long, shimmering dress was the same color as the blue streaks in her eyes, and her long hair was pulled up into a gracefully up-do, with strands falling here and there all over her every-so-slightly sparkling face. James was already dressed in his matching suit and royal blue tie, and was downstairs waiting for any guests that might come early.

It had always been a tradition with the Marauders to throw a party on the anniversary of the boy's first "run" with Remus, and it was James and Lily's turn to host. Of course some of their guests, Dumbledore and the Longbottoms especially, didn't know exactly what they were celebrating, but that was really all part of the fun: inventing a reason for a fancy party. This year, if Lily remembered correctly, they were doing a benefit for the awareness of... something. Shit. As long as she stuck close to James or Sirius, they'd cover for her. Remus would probably just laugh, and Pettigrew wouldn't catch on quick enough to help her out.

There was a ring at the door downstairs, and Lily literally squealed as she picked up her dress to rush downstairs.

"Don't forget your shoes, dear, you look quite silly barefoot." said the mirror in a squeaky, matronly voice.

"It's my own damn house!" Lily shot back as she slammed the door behind her.

Lily took a moment to collect herself before going down the stairs slowly and dignified, fully aware that she would hold the full attention of whatever guest was at the door. But her breath hitched when she saw the mess of dark brown and black hair that was James Potter and Sirius Black hugging. They broke apart and the sound of her climbing down the stairs, and men turned at once to look at her. James smiled quickly before turning to shut the door, but Sirius's gaze lingered suggestively, trailing down her body with that knowing smirk until she was blushing and panting lightly, her eyes gleaming brightly and unrestrained. He was wearing a gorgeous old suit, vintage and unique, with his hair shaggy and loose, the whiskers on his chin unshaven and effortless as ever.

Sirius's eyes met hers once again as he slowly, meaningfully licked his lips. And winked. By the time James turned back around from the door Sirius turned to make easy conversation, but Lily could hardly hold herself upright anymore. God she hated him. Both of them. Maybe. Probably. She didn't know. She should have worn shoes.

And dammit if she wasn't being cliche again, but one way or another Lily knew right then that this would be a very, very long night.