RP: Warm & maybe cozy through the storm

[tt_james]

Date: 19 March 2002
Characters: James & Lily
Setting: James' house
Content: TBD
Status: Private : Complete

When Kingsley had announced the coming storm, James had told the media center that he would work from home via datapad and then made sure to get to the market and stock his kitchen. Finally - after making himself wait a whole two hours - sent Lily a note to ask if she'd like to ride out the storm together, at his house, and he'd even do the cooking if she accepted. Two days cooped up together - James was very much an all of nothing type of wizard, as apparently their first marriage back in London had proven.

And now the storm was nearing it's completion and if James was honest it'd been the best two days he'd had since he arrived here. He had worked, he had cooked, and he had teased Lily for her trouble with the datapad before pulling up lots of movies and tv shows, most of them he'd never seen or heard of thanks to last seeing a movie in the 1970s, but it was fun nonetheless, and he'd put his arm around her on the couch as they'd watched.

Late night after Kingsley's announcement, he made a chicken casserole that was quick to pop in the over so they didn't need to stay up too late if she didn't want to, and he'd offered to sleep on the couch so she wouldn't be uncomfortable.

The next day he'd made breakfast and they'd had leftovers from the night before for lunch, he'd been pretty proud of himself. Now it was dinner time on the last night of the storm, and he headed to pull out a bottle of wine before shouting through the house to see if she preferred red or white.

Comments

[tt_lily]

When Lily had received the note from James asking if she'd like to ride out the storm with him, it was all she could to respond in giant letters "YES!" for two reasons: the first being she didn't want to scare him away and the second being that she did not like storms ever since Voldemort tried to kill them for the second time. She had packed her overnight bag and headed for his home before the wind picked up terribly and the rain started, although it wasn't long after her arrival that the rain came down.

She did her best not to be jumpy when branches banged outside or when thunder rolled, but she really couldn't help it. She had to admit though, James did a wonderful job distracting her from the world out there. The movies and TV shows were funny, even if she didn't get some of the jokes - being only 20 years behind on the times. It was time well spent with James nonetheless; Lily was sure she had turned crimson when he put his arm around her, but it was welcome.

While he had been a gentleman by giving up his bed, she couldn't accept it. She knew she wouldn't sleep anyways, but sleeping in his bed without him would've driven her insane. She missed that familiarity. James had proven to be a wonderful cook, and even as a leftover, the casserole had been just as tasty.

--

Lily was in the bathroom fixing her hair when she heard James holler and was tempted to yell back, but decided on just following the sound of his voice. For the two days together, she had went with comfort over how cute or pretty something was and that was how she ended up in jeans and a long-sleeve dark shirt. She hated to see the two days end and knew she would head home later this evening if the storm allowed. She had such a great time with him.

Stepping into the kitchen, Lily answered him, "Red is fine."

[tt_james]

James turned to find Lily had joined him in the kitchen and couldn't help but smile. "Have I told you how much I've enjoyed this?" It had been a long time since he'd shared living space with anyone - since Hogwarts, really, since his parents had passed.

He poured them both a glass of red wine and then checked on dinner one more time, letting it all simmer a bit longer.

Bringing her glass across the kitchen to her he asked, "Is this what we were like at all? Living together?" He wasn't sure if it was a tactful question to ask, but it wasn't something he could learn from the datapad, and he was still so curious.

[tt_lily]

"It wasn't always perfect, but it was nice. We both had bad habits, but we lived well with each other. We were both stubborn at times," Lily said as she took the glass from him.

She thought back to when they had first moved in with each other; it had been shortly before they got married. Both were definitely used to living on their own. "When we first lived with each other, more often than not we'd start out in separate rooms, just because one had irritated the other. In the morning we'd be together though. It took a lot of learning." She had a slight blush across her cheeks at various memories.

[tt_james]

James couldn't help his small smirk at her story, the thought of curling up with Lily in the morning light, lazy weekend days spent just lying around together. He liked the sound of it.

"Well, it doesn't have to end just yet, you know, I'd love it if you stayed tonight, too -- storm or no storm after dinner." The storm was due to blow out any time tonight, but he wasn't ready for Lily to do the same.

"And..." He took a sip of wine and looked up at her, feeling shy, "that learning you mentioned, I'd hate for you to stay on the couch again..." He let the thought hang in the air, waiting for her response.

[tt_lily]

Lily couldn't help but blush a dark red. She had been married to him! Why was she blushing? "It isn't the most comfortable couch ever, I must admit..."

She tried to think of other memories, "You set half of our kitchen on fire one time," she couldn't help but laugh, face still red. "The look on your face was priceless."

[tt_james]

James smiled when she blushed, it was lovely on her, though he wasn't sure why she would. Hadn't they had a child? And even he remembered snogging in 7th year, it wasn't like they hardly knew each other... "I'll be an absolute gentleman," he promised, and when she started laughing he couldn't help but look indignant, even as she told her story.

"I'll have you know I'm a very good cook! Nearly artistic!" But then it dawned on him, "Wait, how did I set the place on fire in the first place?" He'd forgotten all about the food he was cooking, the sound of her laughter and the smile on her face plenty enough for him for the evening.

[tt_lily]

"I've heard that line a time or two, I'll tell you that," Lily said, shaking her head. Harry wasn't exactly a planned baby.

"You are a good cook. Sirius apparently stopped by and you forgot that you were cooking." She couldn't help but laugh again. "I came home and the pair of you looked so scared." Lily could laugh now, of course. It had been a whole different game then.

[tt_james]

James chuckled along with Lily, "I'm pretty sure Sirius and I learned the hard way at school to fear you. Especially your temper." He rolled his eyes, remembered times she had scolded them, even when she'd been dating James.

"How did you put up with us? Even in school, I never could believe you gave me a shot like you did, I'd been crazy about you since about second year, you know." He wondered if he'd told her that when they had been married.

[tt_lily]

"Remus. He helped me put up with your antics. Even after we were married, he helped tremendously. It got really hard though when we couldn't see them frequently." Lily frowned a bit, "But, if it hadn't been for him, I surely would have killed you and Sirius."

She couldn't help but smile, "Second year? I was a gangly little kid. Funny looking too..." Her first couple years at Hogwarts were a mess for her. And then the summer before third year, her body started working together.

[tt_james]

"Ah, so it's him I have to thank." He smiled thinking of his friend, knowing he should reach out to him soon.

"And it sounds like you think I only liked you for your looks. Which by the way, even as a funny looking little kid, were above and beyond everyone else. But either way - you were the first kid in our class to figure out fourth year charms, in second year, it was impressive." James had been a natural at dueling and DADA and quidditch, but he wasn't as good as he always hoped he'd be, coming from the families he did. Lily had been that way, though, good at everything she tried and put her mind to, and she hadn't been able to stand him, even when he turned on the charm, which made him even more fascinated by her, even young.

[tt_lily]

Lily couldn't help but feel bashful again, "Charms were easy for me was all... you were mighty impressive with Transfiguration. It drove me nuts when I couldn't do something and you of all people could do it." He was right, she couldn't stand him up until 7th year. Then, she gave him the benefit of the doubt. It was fun while that lasted.

[tt_james]

"So... I never did have the guts to ask you," he set down his wine and moved around to where she stood on the other side of the kitchen's bar, "Why did you finally go out with me then? Was it my roguish good looks, my undeniable charm?" He gave her a sarcastic grin and leaned close, kissing her cheek just because he could, and she looked far too adorable when she was shy.

[tt_lily]

Lily gave a mock sigh, "Pity," she said before she stuck out her tongue at him. "I think it was just giving you a chance. You changed between sixth and seventh years. And you had a persistent friend who happened to be a prefect with me..." she said. "You owe Remus. Big time," she said and instead of kissing his cheek, she kissed him on the mouth. She could feel herself blushing again.

[tt_james]

When she kissed him, James felt himself get a little light headed, like the first time she'd kissed him in 7th year. He reached around her and wrapped his arms tightly, pulling her closer to him and deepening the kiss. He was still hesitant when it came to her, terrified she'd find him that boy who'd split up with her in school, instead of the man who wanted to be enough for her. He was afraid of scaring her off or her thinking his playboy reputation was his motivation... But when she kissed him, all his fears seemed to leave him.

He broke the kiss for just a moment, to try and say something but he didn't even know what, and so he leaned in and kissed her again, quickly, before stepping back and holding up a finger as if to say "one moment" and then dashed across the kitchen just in time to turn off the stove before totally ruining dinner.

In a flash he was back to her and had pulled her into his arms again, kissing her quickly, with need.

[tt_lily]

Lily had gotten a bit nervous when he pulled away, and then remembered he was still cooking. He didn't need to set this place on fire either. She trusted him to be faithful... now. She'd remembered back in seventh year after they broke up all the rumors that he had ran around on her. Initially, when they had gotten back together, she didn't trust him and often wondered why she gave him that second chance.

Her thoughts soon dissolved as she was kissed again. Merlin how she had forgotten how he could kiss. Lily put her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss, all thought completely gone.

[tt_james]

When her arms came around his neck his hesitation faded and her turned her, moving her so her back was against the bar and brought one hand to her hair, burying it there, and the other moved lower to encircle her lower back, moving his body flush against hers.

His breathing sped up as they kissed, and he broke the kiss to nip down her neck, stopping at the spot just below her ear, which if he remembered correctly had been very ticklish 7th year.

[tt_lily]

Lily couldn't help but start giggling and squirmed in his arms as he got to that spot. How had he remembered?

She tried to wriggle out of his grasp or at least payback the favor but couldn't due to laughing. "That is not fair!" Lily managed, pulling her neck from him. "You're not as ticklish as I am..."

That statement did not mean she couldn't kiss him in revenge.

[tt_james]

He couldn't help but grin at her laughter, she seemed so full of life in this exact moment, the girl he'd fallen in love with at school - all fire and mirth.

When she kissed him again he found himself lost in her, memories and the present moment flooding him. He broke the kiss, "Lil," he got out between rapid breaths, taking her hand, he tried to put to words what he was thinking and then shook his head, turning to walk through the house and tugging her with her gently as he did so. Making it to the couch he turned and pulled her into him, kissing her again, hard this time, all joking gone. When he broke the kiss this time he said, looking her directly in the eye, "I know was a stupid kid when we tried this last time around, and I don't know how you've decided to give me another chance - don't know why you tried back in the real world, too, but... I hated that we split in school. I wanted you, I was afraid of how much I wanted you, I was a play boy in my own mind and I didn't handle anything the right way but..." He took a breath, trying to make sense but it wasn't working so he shook his head, sat down on the couch and pulled her into his lap, quickly kissing her again with his arms wrapped tightly around her. With this kiss he tried to say what he couldn't with words, that he wanted her and wanted to be good enough for her and wanted all their fears from the past to stay there.

[tt_lily]

Lily really couldn't get a word in as she followed him to the couch. She listened patiently as he spoke, trying to decipher everything. She summed it up before she was snogged again: He was dumb. He made a big mistake. He knows it now.

Lily eagerly returned his kiss, running one of her hands through his hair. How else could she respond by reciprocating? Would he realize that she had forgiven him a long time ago?

[tt_james]

The feel of her hands running through his hair had his eyes rolling back and his hands searching out the hem of her shirt to sit on the warm skin of her lower back. He didn't move them after he placed them there, worried about pushing her too far too quickly. But the feel of her skin was heaven and he kissed her back languidly, lovingly. Yes, he was pretty sure he loved Lily all over again and it was with a dizzy feeling he pulled back from her lips and licked his own. "Lil," he swallowed thickly, not quite believing he was about to say the next, "We should finish dinner, and have another glass of wine, and watch some more awful tv, and when we do, I'm going to wrap my arms around you right here on this couch and hold you close all night. And then I'll be a complete gentleman when we go to bed, because you're not sleeping on the couch again and you won't let me, so I'll keep wrapping my arms around you all night, and in the morning we'll get up early and have some coffee and head to work and neither of us will be able to think back on this night as anything but perfect. What do you say?" His breathing was even, his voice tender.

[tt_lily]

Lily had been so lost in the kiss she was vaguely aware that words were coming out of his mouth. She tried to catch up with what he was saying. She caught the tail end of 'anything but perfect. What do you say?' and was so very confused. What was she to say?

Had James just changed his mind after that snogging? Did she do something wrong? Lily moved off his lap, not sure what to think. Should she asked him to repeat?

"...sure..." there was quite a bit of doubt in her voice. What had she agreed to? Why was he being so fickle?

[tt_james]

Seeing the immediate change in her mood and the way she only sort of half reacted to his idea had James suddenly worried and he moved on the couch to be facing her, taking her hands in his quickly.

"Lil, this isn't... Merlin, that probably sounded like I didn't want this when that's the farthest you can get from the proof. I just... These days have been incredible, having you here and having you back in my life and I don't want to do anything that might screw that up. Does that make sense? I know we never went further than snogging in school and I know that was school but I know my reputation and I don't want you to think that's what this is about for me, does that make sense? I want you like mad, Lily, I'm pretty sure you've no idea," he looked her up and down thinking again what an idiot he must be, "but I also want to do this right." He waited, hoping she didn't think he was rejecting her or changing his mind about being with her.

[tt_lily]

The lightbulb over Lily's head went off. Apparently she had misheard him. What an arse she was.

"I understand now. I misunderstood before though. I'm sorry if I made you think I was angry. I erm... wasn't paying attention." she blushed once more. What could she say? He was one amazing kisser! "I can be patient as long as you can." Lily hoped, at the very least, that she could be patient.

[tt_james]

James' face lit up, "I'm not a patient man, never have been," he grinned and then stood up, reaching down a hand for her. "How about we go finish cooking dinner, which is probably terrible by now but at least didn't burn the kitchen down." As he lifted her to her feet he leaned in and kissed her again, briefly but lovingly, wondering if she knew that he saw her this way, and then lead the way back to the kitchen.