Lost Love Can Always Be Found Again

James's wedding was tomorrow, and the one thing all of them expected hadn't happened; the bride wasn't Lily Evans. The Marauders were gathered in a small antechamber off of the main church, near London. James was still wearing his tuxedo, even though the rehearsal had ended almost an hour ago. He sat on a stern looking wooden chair, hunched over, his elbows resting on his knees with hands clasped, hanging in open air between his calves. Remus, in a worn sweater and slacks, and Sirius, in his ripped jeans and black jacket, alternated each between pacing and lounging against a wall. As Sirius stopped, Lupin picked up the pace over the same patch of not so colorful carpet. Pettigrew, being who he is, lay on an out of the way bench, twiddling his thumbs and staring at the ceiling, creasing his sweat pants and shirt.

No one had spoken a word for quite some time, when the door opened in its creaky, slow fashion. In stepped Lily Evans, who happened to be on more than one Marauders mind. She was dressed warmly, but less so than in the rainy winter that had just passed. Lily wore black trousers, a pale green blouse that set off her eyes wonderfully, and a dark khaki, long jacket slung over one arm. On her other was a pure white gift bag. Unnoticed, right behind James's long ago girlfriend and only love, was the esteemed Professor Dumbledore.

When the two had entered, all motion and fidgeting stopped. In seconds of the arrival of these two companions, the four age-old friends and practiced troublemakers were alert, standing in a line, except Peter who only sat up. James true feelings of despair and rejection showed on his face when he looked at Lily, his lost love, but only for a few seconds.

"I, um, I brought you a wedding gift," Lily said, offering this statement as if she were handing them a white flag of truce. She quickly removed the white bag from her arm. The redheaded woman proffered it to James without looking at his face, only her hand on the bag's handle. His hand touched hers, and she looked up, surprised by the pain in her former boyfriend's eyes like a deep gash in his side, bleeding for the world to see.

All Lily had wanted of James when she turned down his proposal at seventh year graduation was for him to wait awhile and push on when she was ready, but he hadn't. No, a few weeks later he was long gone when she went looking for him at the Marauders' flat, off to America with a relocation paper from the Auror Administrations Office, to continue his training there. That he hadn't told her said to her just how much she hurt him with her "not yet, I'm not ready" at graduation. Lily knew they would probably never have a second chance at love and "happily ever after", forgetting her principle that the only chances one has in life are the ones you make for yourself.

Lily brought herself back to the present. She watched James take out the black velvet box, in contrast to the bag it came in. For the first time in years, Lily Evans was scared; scared that James wouldn't like the gift, scared that Sirius would shake her like the rodents he so often caught in his dog form for what she did to his friend, until there was no more Lily Evans, and she was scared that Remus Lupin, who had been her friend before any of the other Marauders, would disapprove and never wish to be her friend again.

James opened the box, holding it gingerly between his fingers, calloused from long days of Quidditch, a blank look on his face. When the satin cover rested, open, in thin air Lily's wedding present was revealed. A white gold watch, chased with yellow gold inset with rubies around the mahogany face with sterling silver hands and numerals, sat on a black satin cushion.

Lily and James looked up, into each other's eyes. Green met hazel-brown in a torrent of emotions. Lily swallowed painfully, and backed away from the two Aurors, and one werewolf, in front of her. The three men who used to be her friends watched as she cried out, spun around, and ran out of the church, tears streaming down her face.

Dumbledore let his former student run, but he wouldn't let the boys who had been her torment, and her happiness, in school hurt her again. The wise old man surveyed the groom, and his three best men, waiting for them to realize that he would try to resolve whatever problem broke up their friendship with Lily. "Come with me," was all he said, and, used to Dumbledore as a teacher, they followed.

Lily felt herself floating in a void. The last thing she remembered was running out to the peach orchard past the cemetery, now she was here. She could see a clump of silvery white cloud ahead of herself, so she moved towards it, hoping for some answers.

Welcome, Lily. A voice whispered in her mind. When she tried to speak aloud, and couldn't, Lily realized she was probably in a void where only consciousness existed. Years could be passing in the real world, while she was suck here, timeless.

A new voice entered her thoughts. Are you going to James's wedding, Lily? Did his love and passion mean so little to you that you hurt him so carelessly? She couldn't tell who it was, but it couldn't be Remus because the voice, mind, consciousness, didn't have his...something, probably quietness, or restraint.

I don't think I'm going to his wedding, I don't think I could handle watching another woman marry him. Lily spoke truthfully, it was one of the drawbacks for liars when you spoke mind-to-mind. I didn't mean to hurt him! I loved him too much to want him to be hurt! She felt like she could have cried as realization struck her that she could have been engaged to James, and wait a year, or wait six months.

If you loved me so much, Lily o' mine, then why didn't you marry me? The same voice asked. She couldn't take it, she was speaking with James. Lily hadn't talked to James in, well, in ages, not after he went to America, nor when he returned.

Oh, James, loving you doesn't mean I was ready to get married! I was only seventeen, still a girl and inexperienced in the games of life! Lily took a new tactic. You could have waited, James Potter! You waited long enough to date me, why couldn't you wait a few months for me to grow up and marry you! She almost screamed. He paused before responding, a silvery strand of mist connecting their two clouds.

I don't know, Lily. He left, and was replaced by another, more canine consciousness. Sirius.

Lily, if you couldn't stand watching James marry another chick, how do you think he felt watching you date other men? It was hell just watching him in that state, watching him waste away!

Sirius, I didn't date other men. Not after James. If you have a taste of perfection, could you settle for anything less?

Lils,... we didn't know! You didn't date anyone?

Not a soul. Sirius made a satisfied noise. Lily was beginning to figure out what the purpose of this was. She could only sense two unknown thought bodies, other than James and Sirius. She supposed Dumbledore hadn't come, but that was unlikely. Peter probably wasn't there.

Lily?

Yes, Remus?

I know your base principles, since you've told me them millions of times, so why aren't you following your base fact of life?

Which principle are we talking about, Remus?

That you don't believe anyone has chances other than the ones we make for ourselves!

Oh,... Oh, my G-d! What have I done!?!?!?!?! Oh, Remus, help me!! Please! I've been so stupid!

Lily, you know what you need to do if you really want to marry James. You have to go after him yourself, tomorrow.

Thank you, Remus! You've been such a big help!

Your welcome, Lily, It's what I do. His mind smiled, then receded. Now Lily was alone with only the fourth mind left for company.

Ms. Evans, you know what you need to do.

Yes, Professor Dumbledore.

I'm not your teacher any more...

You've never stopped teaching us, though.

::chuckle:: Yes, I suppose you're right, Ms. Evans. Now, go back to the world, and plan for what you must do.

I will, Professor, and ... thank you,... for this.

It's the best I could do. Both of them left the pearly white void behind.

Lily woke from her induced sleep to find the sun had begun to set, painting the sky a magnitude of colors. She pushed her loose hair away from her face, picked herself off the ground, and walked home to begin her preparations for tomorrow. James's wedding.

Lily sat towards the back of the church, on the aisle in one, long wooden pew. Not to mention hard, the pew was very hard. She looked down at herself, satisfied with her appearance. The black gown screamed "I'm Lily Evans and you can't stop me"! It was long, with a more than A-line skirt embroidered with a trail of silver stars, and on her right shoulder on the front was a silver stag. Her neckline was a V-cut, revealing some bust, and the back a definite U-shape.

When Sirius and Remus greeted her they smiled encouragement and directed her to a seat on the aisle. When James saw her, sitting in a pew marked 'friends of the groom' he became definitely more happy. But not as happy as he'd been with her, at Hogwarts. He thought she came with her blessing for his marriage with an American. He was wrong, so wrong. Lily was there to get her man back, or die trying.

The ceremony began as the guests quieted down. Lily waited for the key 'does anyone have any objections...'. She waited, and waited. Finally, it came and she spoke up and didn't 'hold her peace'.

"I do." All of the people present turned looking for the person who spoke.

The priest was confused and said, "What? Child, what did you say?" It was quite funny. Sirius and Remus were struggling to not laugh, and Lily smiled. She stood.

"Father, I do. I have an objection to this marriage." Her voice echoed off the ceiling and walls, creating a very eerie effect. Lily walked slowly up the aisle as the bride had done long minutes before. The similarities and differences between the bride's dress, who looked as if she might scream or cry, and Lily's struck her suddenly, reminding her of the Muggle story 'The Swan Lake'. In that story the two lovers ended up dead; Lily hoped that wouldn't happen here.

"Lily! What do you think you are doing?" James hissed at her as she reached the raised platform where the bridal party stood. Lily couldn't help it, she smiled.

"Saving our love years of regret," she hissed back through her smile. The priest indicated for her to state her objections to see if they could be solved.

Lily addressed the bride, once again noticing their profound differences. Where Lily was equal in height with James, his bride was considerably shorter. Where Lily had flaming red locks, the bride was a platinum blonde. Where Lily had colorful eyes, the bride had the palest gray.

"I understand that you love James, because I love him too. In fact, since third year at Hogwarts until Sixth I denied my love, thinking it to be only a passing crush. Now I know differently. I love James and I know I will not be able to live without him! I don't know how you feel towards him, but I don't think it can hold a candle to what James and I shared during our seventh year at Hogwarts, no matter how long you two are married. I'm sorry that you have to lose such a great guy, but he's mine, and has been for forever. He even has a tattoo with my name; you can check, if you haven't seen it at night." *hint**hint*

Addressing James, who was blushing after her last words, "Now, James, just like a year ago, I am going to ask you a question. Well, actually its more than one, but who's counting." Lily took a deep breath. "James Potter," she opened a small white leather box, "could you live without me in your life? Not even on your mind."

James sighed looked deep into Lily's eyes, and said, "No, Lily, it was a living hell without you when I went to America, and when we weren't talking." Lily gave him a small smile.

"Since the answer is 'no'. James Potter, will you marry me?" She bit her lip, the bride had started crying into her Maid of Honor's shoulder. The blue dress would probably be ruined. Lily stared at James, her gaze never leaving his, watching him think.

"Yes, Lily Evans, I will marry you." James said it with such finality no one dared question his choices. The priest whispered something in Sirius's ear. The best man moved to join them.

"Well," Sirius said quietly *what a shocker*, so no one else could hear, "the priest doesn't know if he'll get paid if he doesn't perform a ceremony. He's askin' if you two wanna get married now. So?" James smiled and took Lily's hand. She squeezed his.

"Lily, would you marry me now?" James asked his eyes dancing with happiness. Lily knew he would wait to the end of time to marry her now.

"Of course, I think it's a wonderful idea!" Lily laughed, happy for the first time in a long time. Remus nodded to the priest. The man of G-d finished the ceremony.

"Do you, James Potter, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to hold, in good times and bad, through illness and health?"

"I do, from now till the end of time!" James smiled into Lily's eyes. His face, he, would always be a part of her.

"Do you," a whisper from Peter, "Lily Evans, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to hold, in good times and bad, through illness and health?"

"I do, I will, I have, from the beginning of time to the end of eternity!" Lily could feel her cheek muscles hurting. She just couldn't stop smiling. The priest finished up.

"I now pronounce you witch and wizard, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." And they did, oh, they did. James moved in and held Lily in his arms like he used to do when they were younger by the lake at Hogwarts. He kissed her passionately, and she kissed him back.