A/N: This is my first HP fanfic. James/Lily is one of the most beautiful relationships out there. I hope I somewhat did the two of them some justice. I always see fics about Lily eventually recognizing her feelings for James after he has shown he has matured. I wanted to write one where Lily has been in denial of her feelings for a while and James just lays it all out on the table, that he loves her but he can't completely change who he is for her.

Today is the 30th anniversary of their heroic deaths and I wanted to post this in tribute. RIP Lily and James Potter.

Hopefully this isn't too bad. Any reviews would be appreciated, good or bad. I apologize for any and all errors I may have missed. Thank you for taking the time to look this over. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, our almighty Queen, and thus do not own any part of the HP franchise.

It was her eyes. The color of them – a deep emerald green I always got lost in. The way they sparkled when she laughed; the way they gleamed when she was angry. The way they perfectly matched her complexion. The way she squinted when she was concentrating on something she was reading. The way they narrowed when she argued. Her eyes were mesmerizing.

No, it had to be her hair – the auburn red mane that shone in the sunlight. The way it frizzed when she curled it. The way it fell to mid-length when she straightened it. The way it fell in waves when she let it dry naturally. It looked so soft and I just wanted to run my fingers through it for the rest of my life.

Honestly, the list of traits and characteristics that I loved about Lily went on for miles. Sirius had tried writing them all down once to embarrass me with, but he had given up after he had reached thirty.

But if I could only choose one thing, it was definitely the way she glared at me when she scolded me. Her eyes took on this fire that I couldn't explain. Her nostrils would flare in the most adorable way. Her mouth would be set in a tight line, but I could still see how plump and luscious her lips were. Yep, that was it. That was the thing I loved most about Lily Evans.

"Potter!" And there was that adorable glare again. "Are you even listening to a single word that I've been saying?" We were walking the corridors together on one of our weekly patrols as Head students. Lily was still uncertain as to whether or not I was taking the position seriously and had gone into how she would murder me if I so much as abused my powers in any way.

I blinked. She didn't need to know I was admiring her more than listening to her. "Of course, my dear Lilyflower."

"Then what did I just say?" She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head to the side to show her annoyance. I could tell she thought I was bluffing. Oh how little she knew me.

"You were going over how if I ruin your chances at being Head Girl you will personally see to it that I can no longer have children. You will make sure it is slow and painful. You will then make it public knowledge," I recited. She looked surprised that I had actually been listening to her rant so I added, "I always listen to you when you're talking to me. I might miss something important if I didn't."

She nodded, as if I was making a valid point. "Right. Well, just don't let me catch you doing anything stupid this year."

"I'll try my best, love." I sent her a charming smile, my most charming one in fact. It almost worked.

"Not the right answer, Potter."

I sighed. "My dearest Lilyflower, you cannot actually expect me to not do anything stupid?" I questioned.

It was Lily's turn to sigh. "I suppose you're right, Potter. Luckily for me though, I specifically stated for you to not let me catch you. So, as long as I am in no way involved in your childish pranks, we should be alright."

I gasped, taken aback. "Does that mean you, Head Girl Lily Evans, are giving me, Head Boy James Potter, your permission to continue on with Marauder traditions?"

"Don't push your luck, Potter," she grumbled.

"I must tell Remus about this!" I exclaimed dramatically. She huffed, an adorable sound that I had grown to love over the years. I made sure to run my hand through my hair (I knew she liked it even though she denied the fact) before adding, "And Sirius. He'll freak."

"Stop doing that!" She shouted at me, out of the blue. I might have had an idea what she was talking about, but how was I to be sure?

"Doing what?" I asked innocently.

"Running your stupid hand through your hair!" She yelled, exasperated. "You know I bloody hate when you do that!"

"Did mine ears deceive me or did Lily Evans just swear?" I smirked at her and she instantly looked away.

She blushed, whether from anger or embarrassment I couldn't tell. I found myself thinking that it complemented her quite nicely. The blush quickly faded though as she regained her bearings.

"Yes, I did. It seems you bring out the worst in me." She looked down at her fingernails haughtily, as if I was merely dirt under her nails.

"While you bring out only the best in me," I replied.

"How does you acting like an annoying prat who can't take no for an answer bring out the best in you?" She inquired curiously.

Ouch. That hurt a little.

"Actually," she continued on with her tirade, "Why do you do that? Every time I think you might actually be a good person, you ruin it with some outlandish prank or some ridiculously pompous assumption that you can ask me out and I'll just be drooling at your feet. Is that what you're really like? An annoying, immature, egocentric toerag who doesn't know when to quit?"

Ouch. That hurt a lot. Is that what she really thought of me?

"Lily." She was stunned that I had actually said her name in anything other than a mocking tone but now wasn't the time. I had to convince her that she was wrong about me. Remus had been right all along.

"Lily," I started again, "I can't believe that you see me that way. I apologize for everything I've ever done to make you view me in such a fashion. Yes, I love pulling pranks. Yes, every time I ask you out I hope with all of my being that you'll finally say yes. But I do not ever expect you to be drooling at my feet. You're not that kind of girl; you never were and you never will be. And that is one of the many things that I love about you." She gasped, but I continued on. "Yes, I said love. You may not believe me, but I do love you, Lily. I've loved you since the moment I saw you on the Hogwarts Express in our first year. I love your intelligence, your wit. I love your eyes, your hair. I love the way you yell at me. I love the way you are so compassionate to those who need and deserve it. I love the way you laugh, the way you bury your nose in books when you're studying for some test you would've passed with or without the studying. I love everything about you."

"Potter, you –" She reached out her hand, trying to get me to stop talking.

"No, Lily. Let me finish." I inhaled and exhaled deeply, pulling in all my Gryffindor courage. "I know you'll refuse to speak to me after this is over, so I want to get it all out in the open now while I still have the chance." She nodded, so I went on. "You mean everything to me, but I can't completely change who I am. No matter how much I want to be with you, I can't let go of the Marauders. What we do and what we stand for. Remus, Sirius, and even Peter are like my brothers. We do nearly everything together. We're always there for each other. And part of being there for Sirius is going along with his stupid pranks, the good and the bad. I hope you can understand that." I exhaled sharply. I had finally laid it all out there. Now the quaffle was entirely in Lily's court.

I was expecting her to scream at me. Or to deny my existence and just walk away, leaving me behind and heartbroken yet again. I was even contemplating the possibility of her hexing me into oblivion. What she actually did, was something I was not expecting.

She started crying. Not silent tears, but loud body-wrenching sobs. I stood there awkwardly for a minute, not really sure what to do. Should I comfort her? Should I get one of her friends and tell them what happened? Before I had a chance to make up my mind, Lily did it for me.

She threw herself at me, burying her face in my chest. I slowly wrapped my arms around her, not wanting to scare her away. She put her arms around my torso, pulling me closer; I resisted the shiver that ran down my spine. It was oddly nice having Lily in my arms, although I wished it was under different, happier circumstances.

Her sobs slowly turned to sniffles. I rubbed her back in soothing circles, relishing the moment while it lasted. Then the sniffles slowly receded. She slowly disentangled herself from my grasp, to my disappointment, and moved back far enough to be able to see all of me.

Her eyes were red and puffy. Her nose was nearly the same shade of red as her hair. I was so used to seeing the strong, confident Lily that argued with me every day. This vulnerable, fragile Lily was something utterly new to me. To me, she had never looked more beautiful.

"James?" It was barely above a whisper, and I was sure I was hearing things. Lily had never spoken my first name before.

"Lily?" I approached her cautiously, not knowing if she would hex me for stepping closer to her while she was in such a state. My worry was for nothing. She stepped forward as well, closing the distance between us.

She looked up at me, her eyes showing both admiration and awe. There was also a hint of fear. What was she afraid of?

"James." The reiteration of my name was what did it. If I had ever doubted my love for Lily before, the way she had just said my name sealed the deal. The pure defenselessness that was her voice broke me. I was forever and irrevocably hers, whether she wanted me or not.

"Yeah?" I attempted to hide the waver in my voice. I don't know if it worked or not.

"Thank you." She leaned forward and pulled me into a tight hug. I returned the gesture, albeit somewhat awkwardly. "Thank you for dealing with my bitchy moods. Thank you for always trying to cheer me up after something happened with Sever-Snape. Thank you for never giving up on me."

"I could never give you up, Lily," I replied honestly. It was true. I'd rather die than not have her in my life.

"I hope it isn't too late, but I also have a confession." Lily spoke quietly, as if she were afraid to break the moment we were sharing. I nodded, encouraging her to continue. She took a quick steadying breath. "I think I'm in love with you."

I stood motionless, allowing the words to sink in. Was this reality? Or was this fantasy? Did Lily Evans, the girl I had been chasing after for nearly eight years, just say that she loves me?

As if she could read my mind, Lily chose that moment to talk. "Yes, James. I mean it. Honestly, I've been in love with you for years; I was just in denial. After being friends with Snape for so long, it was difficult to see you in any other light than as an arrogant toerag. But ever since last year when you starting going easier with the pranks and asking me out so often, I realized that maybe you weren't as bad as I always thought you were. Alice would never let it go. She kept pushing me to admit that I had feelings for you. I refused to acknowledge it at first. I was scared; scared of what could happen if I let myself fall for you. I thought that maybe if you found out that you had won, you wouldn't to be with me anymore; that you were just in it for the chase, nothing more. Then Remus found me pondering it over in the library one day. He told me everything. How you three help him out during his transformations. He also told me about the side of you I never got to see. And then I decided that I couldn't keep lying to myself anymore. I accepted that I had romantic feelings for you."

I was stunned. No, stunned wasn't a strong enough word. I was baffled. Shocked. I never would have thought those words would leave Lily's lips. No matter how many times I had fantasized about Lily admitting her feelings for me, I never really thought it would happen. I thought I would just have to live the rest of my life trying to win her over; my unrequited love remaining just that – unrequited. But the love of my life had just admitted that she had been in love with me for years. I wanted to be angry; to tell her it was too late and that I was done waiting for her; that there was no way I would ever be able to forgive her for letting me go on like that even though she knew she had some kind of feelings for me. I couldn't though. She meant way too much to me for anything as petty as holding a grudge. I could never stay mad at her for long anyway.

"James?" She stepped back, looking into my eyes again. Her entire countenance was blaring concern. "Are you alright?"

I couldn't speak; I didn't know what to say. So I did the one thing I had longed to do for ages: I kissed her.

I brought my face down to hers and connected our lips. It was a slow, tender kiss that showed her exactly how alright I was. She hesitated at first, but slowly returned the kiss with the same heartfelt emotion. It wasn't a full-out snog like I had so often dreamed about, but it was perfect.

When I could no longer deny my lungs the oxygen they so urgently requested, I pulled away. Resting my forehead on Lily's, I looked into her emerald green orbs. She was smiling contently and I couldn't help but smile in return. I decided to try my luck one final time.

"Lily Evans, would you accompany me to Hogsmeade?"

Her smile widened a fraction. "Of course, James."

We shared another kiss, this one slightly more passionate. Her lips were intoxicating. They tasted like strawberries and mint. I never wanted this moment to end. Who needed air anyway?

Eventually Lily pulled away, catching her breath as I caught mine. She smiled at me and I grinned in return.

"So I take it that you're my boyfriend now?" Lily teased.

"If you'll have me."

She laughed, linking her hand with mine. I twined our fingers together and as one we made our way back to the Heads dorms. We walked quietly to the portrait that guarded our rooms. It was of a lion and a lioness, both guarding a young cub which slept beside its mother. I remember thinking when we had first arrived that the portrait was foreshadowing something, because why else would Dumbledore have picked it? Now it all made sense to me. Lily was my lioness. The one who kept me in line, provided for us just as much as I did. She was strong, resourceful, and intelligent. And now she was mine. Forever.

We walked into the common room, still hand-in-hand. I walked her to the bottom of the staircase that led up to her bedroom. We shared a quick kiss. As I let go of her hand to go to my own bedroom, Lily tugged on my hand. I turned, raising an eyebrow in question.

Lily huffed. "Why is it that everyone can do that but me?"

I chuckled. "While that is a very interesting question Lils, I'm assuming you had something more important to tell me?"

Lily sighed. "Yeah, I did. James, how are we supposed to tell our friends about this in the morning?"

She had a point. Our friends would all flip out, positively of course, but still. It would be a big deal to make our new relationship public. The rest of the student body was still used to our epic arguments.

"We'll figure it out in the morning." I gave her a tight hug before releasing her and walking toward the stair that led to my dorm. "Everything will work itself out, I promise." I paused at the top of the staircase, as did Lily. "Goodnight, Lily."

She smiled at me, seemingly reassured, at least for the moment. "Night, James." She walked into her room and shut the door behind her. I followed suit. I quickly changed into my pajamas and threw myself into my bed, smiling so widely I wouldn't have been surprised if my face split in two. I had finally won Lily over. She was finally mine.

A/N: If you're reading this, thank you for sticking through with me. This may or may not be continued if enough people are interested. Leave a review either way.