Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

She wore her favourite dress tonight. James had never heard her say it was her favourite, but he could tell. The way she acted, the way she spoke when she was in it clearly told him that she loved herself in that little black dress. He couldn't blame her. She was gorgeous in that dress and there was no denying it. Even Sirius, who had never cared for her much, couldn't take his eyes off her.

Now she was dancing with James. Dancing slowly with him in a crowded jazz pub in the heart of muggle London and he loved it. She shifted in his arms and her dress rode down some. James took a slow breath. She rested her head against his chest and he rested his chin atop her head. He pulled her closer into him and sighed thinking that he hadn't been this happy in a very long time.

The song ended and he stepped back and smiled down at her. Her hair was perfectly managed, her eyes glowing in the darkness and the paleness of her skin shining against the sea of black. He could have kissed her there, if there weren't any boundaries. He had known her eight years and was her best friend for all eight.

She had gotten this dress a year ago. Ever since then things went downhill for James. He saw her differently ever since she first wore that dress for him. Now, whenever he saw her, she was in the dress. She might be in her wrinkled pyjamas with her red hair matted around her face, but she still looked perfect, like she does in her little black dress. Tonight was no exception.

"A drink, James?"

"Of course, what would you like?"

"The usual."

James laughed. "There's no butterbeer here, Janey. Muggle drinks only."

She hit James lightly and smiled. "I know, I was talking about my usual muggle drink."

James covered her mouth with his hand "Jane, how many times do I have to tell you?" His eyes danced as he dropped his hand.

"Pardon me, James? How many times do you have to tell me? I believe it is the other way around."

"That was one time, Janey."

"One time that cost that poor man his memory."

"It was only one memory, and it wasn't a very pleasant one. His life is better without it."

"How would you know? Maybe he was a wizard in the first place, and you made him forget."

James shrugged and began to walk towards the bar. "I'm sure he'd forgive me. Wizards aren't all they're cracked up to be."

Jane cringed as James had yelled out the last part of his comment causing several people to give them looks of distaste.

James found a place along the counter next to Sirius.

"I thought you wanted to stay home tonight?" James asked casually.

"I changed my mind. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see her in The Dress."

"She's not a piece of meat, Padfoot."

"I bet that dress would look smashing on my floor."

"You'll regret you said that tomorrow."

"I'll regret a lot of things tomorrow, but shagging her I would not."

"Yes, you would. When you wake up you'll realize how much you don't like her and complain to me about how she seduced you."

"I suppose you're right. Has that happened before? You seem awfully familiar with the scenario."

"No, I just know you that well. You should take it as a compliment."

"I will, kind sir. Now I must be off. There is another fiery redhead in the pub tonight and she, I will definitely not hate." He winked and was lost in the crowd.

Jane was dancing with another man when James returned with the drinks. He found a table close by and waited patiently for the song to finish, all the while thinking up curses to send at this man if he tried anything. James slumped down in his chair when he realized that was something Jane's father might do, and James definitely did not want to be compared to her father.

The man gave Jane his number, then left for the door. She spotted James and sat down across from him.

"He seemed nice."

"James, you never talked to him."

"It was a question."

"Oh, yeah, I suppose he was alright."

"Expand."

"He seemed smart."

"Really Janey-"

"No. Smart as in he just wanted to talk about things that he knew. Not things that opinions could be formed on."

"That was a very smart answer, but I have an opinion on it. I think that was biggest bullshit I have heard since Peter tried to talk his way out of buying us drinks."

"Well, that's my story and I am sticking to it."

"I'm sure you will. He had a lisp didn't he?"

Jane glared. "It was hardly noticeable."

"Yet it was enough for you to be totally turned off by him."

"I was not. I asked for his number after all."

"That's not his number."

"What?"

"That's his mother's number. He lives with her."

"Shut up, James."

"Did I hit a sore spot?"

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt a lover's quarrel." They blushed. "But I would like to introduce you to a rather interesting find." Sirius stood with his hands behind his back.

"For Merlin's sake, Sirius, I'm not an ancient artefact."

That voice brought James back. He knew to whom it belonged before she even spoke.

"I know, luv. But I found you and you are interesting, ergo an interesting find."

"I will never understand your reasoning, Sirius Black."

"And thank Merlin for that." He flashed a smile at her.

James found that he remembered every note of her laugh.

Sirius' smile faded when he saw Jane at the table. "Terribly sorry, Janey, but you're no longer the only redhead after my heart."

"What a relief, it was becoming too easy."

"Jane, this is Lily Evans. An old friend from school."

Jane's face lit up. "The Lily Evans I've heard and read so much about?"

Lily smiled. "I'm afraid so, however I'm not sure you should trust whatever these two have said about me."

"I assure you, it has all been flattering."

James looked up.

A silence passed over the four.

"You look well, James."

"You look as beautiful as ever, Lily."

The awkwardness passed when Sirius gave Lily a giant hug.

"Mmm Lily-bear I missed you so much!"

"I definitely didn't miss that name. But I strangely missed you."

"Glad to hear it Lilykins." Sirius broke away from her and began to pull her towards the dance floor.

"Still terrified of dancing?"

"Petrified, mortified, stupefied."

"Wonderful! Some things never change."

James found himself smiling watching the two of them make their way around the floor.

"You're right, she is lovely."

"Lovely? Are you my mother?"

"What else am I suppose to say about the girl who broke your heart?"

"I don't know. How about, 'she looks miserable, I don't know what you ever saw in her'."

Jane laughed. "You of all people should know I'm a terrible liar."

"Go call your lispy mother's boy."

"You know I'm right, James. I'll see you at home."

James couldn't bring himself to go with her. Even in that perfect little dress. He found himself wanting to see if Lily was still as bad at dancing as he had remembered.

The band walked off the stage after a healthy round of applause and Sirius, his arm around Lily's waist, walked towards James.

"I believe it's time to call it a night," Sirius yawned.

Lily was rather outraged. "Pardon me? Sirius Black is calling it a night at," Lily looked at her watch, "one thirty. I don't believe it, I won't believe it."

James laughed. "We, Lily, unlike others, have paying jobs that need to be attended to."

"Then why would you come out in the first place if you weren't intending on staying out all night?"

Sirius was taken aback. "Evans, what has gotten into you? It was only six short years ago when you swore on that eleven thirty curfew."

"That was eight years ago, it's my first night back in London. If that's not a reason to stay out all night, I really don't know what is."

Sirius nodded slowly and looked at James. "She's got a point, mate."

"Of course she does, and who are we to stop her?"

"We are no one."

"Too right, Padfoot. However, we both have work and as much as I would like to drink myself under the table, I have to be somewhat fresh tomorrow morning."

Lily frowned. "I understand the fact that you have a job, James. But remember all of those times you asked me to stay up with you when we had exams the next day?"

"Times change, Lily. Exams don't compare to paying jobs." James smiled and nodded to both and left.

Lily grimaced. "He grew up."

"He just did what you asked him to do."

Lily nodded and then her face broke into a smile. "You can still stay out with me, right?"

"I don't know, Lily. I too have a job."

"Oh come on Sirius, live a little."

"I live a lot, thank you very much."

"Then prove it."

Sirius sighed and let himself be dragged out of the pub. "You'll be the death of me, Evans."