Life After Graduation

Lily had the next week off after her parents had died, and James had offered to pick up some of her shifts, as well as the rest of the marauders. She was grateful, but because James had been taking up extra hours he was always grumpy when he got home.

Nothing on the television was very interesting or catching her eye, so Lily turned it off and tossed the remote on the table, the bang causing Gizmo to jump. The rain was pattering against the window and she could see people walking briskly to check their mail before returning back to their house. Sighing Lily looked at a photo above the fireplace to see her mother and father smiling back at her on her wedding day.

“Finally,” James muttered as he headed out of the office after punching out. He was soaking wet, and had sustained a few cuts from a scuffle at a local store. A younger man, barely able to perform magic out of Hogwarts decided that he was going to be a fighter for Voldemort and he held up a shop, taking the girl behind the counter hostage since she was a ‘mudblood’. James had managed to outsmart the man, but the fight continued in the street until he successfully knocked the boy out and he was detained.

His head was pounding when he arrived home, and could not help but feel a bit angry to see Lily lounging around, though it was only because he was grumpy. James removed his tie and tossed it on the back of the chair before taking a seat to remove his shoes.

“Hey love,” Lily said cautiously as she looked at him. She could see the anger in his face, and was trying her best to avoid a fight. When he was in a mood like this there was no telling what could set him off.

“Hi,” James muttered before throwing his shoes into the small pile at the door causing some mud to kick up on the walls. Swearing under his breath he cleaned it up with a flick of his wand before collapsing into the chair.

“Are you hungry?” Lily ventured trying to avoid any conversation about work. “Dinner is ready.”

“Food would be great,” James replied before pushing himself up off the couch. He stepped on Figaro’s’ tail on accident, which caused the cat to hiss at him and run off. Shaking his head he went to the kitchen and took a seat at the table.

Lily served dinner, and was trying her best not to let James’ mood get to her, though it was contagious making her a bit grumpy as well. They ate dinner in silence, and Lily stared outside at the falling sun watching the rain begin to get harder.

“Fuck,” James said spilling his soup into his lap as he attempted to remove Figaro from climbing up his leg. Once he extracted the cat, he didn’t throw it, though he did not put it down gently. “Stupid animal,” he muttered picking his spoon up again.

“Hey!” Lily said pushing out from her spot to pick up the cat. That was taking it too far, “what has gotten into you lately?”

James looked at her and almost laughed at what she had just asked him, “do you really want to ask that?” He asked her before shrugging and continuing. “I have been pulling double shifts for a week now, I am tired, sore, and frustrated.” He said with a snip.

“And I am thankful for you covering my shift,” Lily snapped back as she put the squirming cat down, who promptly ran into the living room. “But if you are going to act like this I will do it myself.” She knew he was tired but there was no need to act like this.

“Don’t start Lily,” James replied staring at her. “I am in no fucking mood for arguing,” he stated his voice starting to get louder. They had not fought in a long while, but he knew it was inevitable now. “I come home from working about eighteen hours to have you down my throat and I am sick of it!”

“I haven’t done a damn thing!” Lily retorted anger starting to bubble up in her. “I just asked you if you wanted something to eat, and you are taking your anger out on me. Get over yourself James Potter, because I don’t want to listen to your complaining.”

James stood up now so he was looking down at her, and he could see that she was not backing down, and he was not going to back down either. “You don’t want to hear my complaining? How about you? All you have done is complain to me since your bloody parents died! It’s not my fault!” That was it; he knew he had taken it a step too far. He could see her face turn from anger to shock and hurt. God why didn’t he think before he spoke sometimes. James had always been a hot head, and was always rash.

Lily stared at him, her brows furrowing slightly as she met his gaze. She could not believe what he had just said, and it hurt her gravely. “Your right, it’s not your fault, and I am sorry for all the c-complaining I have done, they were only my parents, I should have moved on by now, it’s been a good week right?” Lily asked him sarcastically, as tears stung her eyes.

“Lils,” James said his mood instantly changing. He slumped over slightly and reached a hand out to place it gently on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean for it to sound like that,” he said trying to make up for it.

“Save it,” Lily replied shoving his arm off. “You were obviously thinking it.” With that she walked out of the kitchen, and into their bedroom shutting the door behind her, careful not to shut Figaro’s tail in the door as he followed in behind her.

James sighed and watched her go; he knew that he was definitely in the wrong with this one. “Lily stop,” James said as he followed her towards the room, but all he got was a door shutting in his face. “Dammnit,” he muttered to himself as he took a seat on the couch staring at the wall.

When Lily made it to the bed she collapsed into it, turning her back toward the door as she curled around the pillow, tears stinging her eyes. “How could he say that?” She asked herself as she stared at the dresser across the way. Sure they had their fights before, but he had never been that cold toward her before. Thunder clapped outside causing Lily to jump, and the lights to flicker, a few moments later the lights went out plunging her into darkness.

He rose from the couch when the lights went out taking out his wand for light as he went to the closet to grab candles. With a flick of his wand they were placed all about the room, and lit. He grabbed the last handful and went to the bedroom door. James knocked, and when there was no answer he walked in quietly, placing candles on the dresser and headboard. James could tell that Lily was ignoring him, but he could not hold that against her. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly running his fingers down her arm before heading towards the door.

Lily rolled on her back to watch him leave, “wait,” she said putting one of her hands behind her head. She watched him hesitate with his hand on the door handle before turning around to face her. Even in the dim light she could tell that he was sorry. “Did you mean it?” She asked him as she wiped her eyes.

“Lils you know I didn’t,” James said looking at her. He wondered sometimes how she could put up with him. “I have just been so stressed lately, and I said something I didn’t mean.”

She just nodded before stretching lightly and patting the spot on the bed next to her for him to join her. Lily was unsure whether to forgive him yet or not, but since they had been together she had never made James sleep on the couch.

“One second,” James replied before poking his head and one hand out the door to blow out the candles. Once they were out he turned back around to the room and shut the door before removing his shirt, tossing it over the footboard.

She scooted over to allow him more room, and looked out the window to her right, the rain was still coming down heavily, and the thunder was as loud as ever. When James joined her she still did not look at him, but instead grabbed Figaro placing him on her stomach.

It was awkward sitting in silence, and James figured he might as well get some sleep, he was tired and Lily was not talking to him. He stood up removing his pants and socks leaving him in just boxers, before laying back down again and rolling onto his right side facing her like he did every night.

Sighing Lily put Figaro down and rose from the bed going to her dresser to grab her pajamas, a simple tank top and pair of shorts. Not bothering to go to the bathroom she changed right at the dresser, fully removing her clothes before putting on her pajamas, not looking in James direction, though she could feel his eyes on her.

James gulped as he watched her in the flickering candle light, she was entrancing, and he could feel blood rush south just looking at her. When she finished changing he adjusted in the bed and removed his glasses before closing his eyes.

Lily climbed into bed a few moments later and rolled on her right side as well so her back was facing him. When she shut her eyes she could feel his hand, a bit timid, wrap around her waist and pull her closer to him. She did not resist, like their normal routine Lily pulled her hair up so it was not in his face and got as close to him as she could. Sure she was still mad, but she still loved him, and liked the attention.

His fingers slowly tickled her stomach, and when she did not bat him away, he snuck them under the hem of her shirt, and ran them over her skin. James could feel her begin to relax, and he felt awful for what he had done and said earlier, so he was trying to make up for it as best as he could. He moved to kiss the back of her neck, knowing that was her all time weakness.

Lily sighed a bit and adjusted to give him more room, she was still upset, but she was starting to forgive him. After a few moments of this attention she rolled onto her back and looked at him out of the corner of her eye. To this day it was weird to see him without his glasses, since she was so used to them. “I forgive you,” she said quietly with a small smile.

“I don’t deserve it, but thank you,” James replied before kissing her lightly on the lips, his hand going to the side of her face before pulling back. He just took the time and silence to look at her eyes which were a bit haunting in the candle light. “Have I ever told you your gorgeous?” James asked her a smile breaking across his face.

She just blushed before saying yes. “You make it very difficult to stay angry with you,” Lily said before laughing slightly at his mock shocked face. “If we have kids with your charm, I will never be able to say no to them.”

James just laughed and pulled her close to him, he took a second to search her face before putting some of his weight on Lily before crashing his lips on hers. Watching her in the candle light made him realize just how beautiful she was, and he wanted her.

Lily just melted into the kiss; her hands reached around his neck and pulled him fully atop of her, her hands roaming over his back and sides. When she felt his wandering hands, she arched her back up so he could remove her shirt, and once it was off they were matched in the amount of clothing they were wearing.

James was not in the mood for the normal sex they had, he wanted to be gentle and make love to her. He had been treating her horrible for a past few days, and she had just lost her parents so he knew she was in pain, even if she was not showing it. He moved the kiss down to her jaw line, to her collar bone, then finally to her chest, suckling lightly on her nipple, his other hand moving to give her other breast some attention as well.

Lily groaned in pleasure, her hands moving to his hair and shoulders as she glanced down at him biting her lip. She watched him move lower to her navel, and slowly pull her shorts down, kissing the skin as it became exposed.

He could see a small layer of sweat break out on her body glistening from the light of the candles. James pushed her legs open slightly, and moved his head down to her center, licking the swollen area that had appeared very lightly.

She writhed on the bed under him; the sensitive stuff turned her on just as much as the rough things. Lily arched her back on the bed as he continued to lick and kiss her center a bit faster, with some more pressure, though he did keep it gentle.

When James moved back up again, he removed his boxers dropping them atop of Lily’s shorts before positioning himself at her entrance, though he did not push in right away. Instead he leaned down and kissed and nipped at her neck and ear. “I love you,” he said quietly before finally adjusting his hips moving into her slowly.

“I love you too,” Lily replied her as her breath hitched slightly when she felt him move into her, and she opened her legs a bit more to make it easier. She lifted her hips up to him, and began to match his slow movements. The bed was squeaking under them slightly, and the candles flickered dangerously on the headboard.

James and Lily made love into the night, the storm long over when they finished. They lay in one another’s arms watching the candles slowly burn themselves out, and when James felt Lily fall limp with sleep he put the rest out before falling asleep himself, his arms around her holding her close.