Chapter 6
James POV
Over the next couple of weeks,James and Lily found their new normal.
They slept in separate beds and when it came time for breakfast,one of them was always cooking up a storm for the other. they liked to have breakfast together every morning. they always had. they were both morning people (maybe both of them had slight insomnia at some points) and both loved to start the day right.
While they eat they talk. Talk about anything and everything. And now that their true feelings are known,they don't need to drop little white lies and conceal secrets. the silences are comfortable,not awkward.
The day after they had broken up,Lily had owled him instructing him to gather Remus,Sirius,peter, and even Regulus into the living room of their flat.
He had achieved the first three by the time she got there,but Regulus was still cooped up in his room. Lily had had to practically drag him out by his ear. He grumpily sat on the arm of the sofa and got ready to listen,bot before giving peter a weirdly dirty look. He had done things of the sort a lot,and when James asked him about it,Regulus just said he had 'a feeling'. James just thought that if reg has a crush,being mean is not the way to go.
James had been proud of her when Lily came out. She got right to it. Just said the words.
"As you probably know,me and James broke up." Peter gave a squeak and a worried look in James's direction. 'right', thought James, 'we forgot to tell Peter'. "Well it is because I am a lesbian."
There had been confused faces and many questions,but after a short while they gave out to loving smiles and hugs. Even Regulus patted her shoulder before retreating back to his room. She had looked confused but James prodded her and whispered, "That's a good sign. It means he likes you.
Remus and Sirius were confused about why lily didn't tell them. Sirius seemed offended but Remus a little hurt.
"Why didn't you say anything when I came out to you? Did you not know yet?"
With a sheepish glance at James,Lily said,"I almost said something. I don't really know what stopped me. Then I wanted to but there was never a right time. Then i got with James because I couldn't handle it anymore."
Sirius let out a loud laugh. "You were a beard!"
"Oh yeh? Well you're a bottom!"
Sirius looks offended. Then his smile creeps back onto his face. "Doesn't matter. You were a beard."
At the tiny table they had stuffed in the kitchen,James smiled. Everything was as perfect as it could be. He was just getting up to put more bread in the toaster when there was a knock at the door.
Since he was already up,he went to get it. Plus lily was in her nightie,and if it was their pervy neighbor looking to borrow some sugar again he didn't want him to see her.
The person he opened the door to was not in the least pervy. It was a woman with a halo of black curls and high heeled boots.
"Mary!" He greeted. He stepped aside to she could come inside. She was holding a wicker basket with a blue blanket draped over it.
Lily came rushing to the door to give Mary a hug,but was practically cock-blocked by the basket in the way. "Mary! Lovely to see you! What are you doing here so early?"
Mary smiled and shifted the basket up in her hands so she could get a better grip.
"I have a huge favor to ask."
James held his hands up."Nope. Sorry. No can do. I know I am single now but I am having some time to myself,you know? Not sleeping with anyone."
"Shut it! So full of yourself! No the favor is uh,well. Just take a look."
Lily lifted the blanket off of the basket as instructed. inside was a kitten. A sleeping kitten, mostly a mix of black and white with a couple of orange spots,most notably around its right eye.
"My sisters cat had a litter,and she can't take care of them all. She asked me to find a home for this little one,and I told her I might know of a perfect place?"
Lily was looking in awe at the tiny cat in the basket,James had a similar look. It was the cutest thing James had ever seen with his own two eyes. Just a tiny ball of fluff.
As lily reached in to pick up the kitten, James asked "How the hell do you look after a cat?" It opened its eyes at first contact with Lily,but almost as soon as it was tucked into lily's chest,it was dozing of again.
James was trying to be reasonable,but he knew there was no point. Neither him,nor lily had ever had a cat before,though Lily had always wanted one. Her family had had a dog years ago,but it could hardly be the same thing. They had no idea how to look after this thing. But James already knew he wanted to look after it.
"Its not that hard! Just keep her fed and happy. Keeping a litter box is the worst part but its fine." Mary was looking at Lily and the kitten. Her brows were slightly tort and a soft smile was on her lips. James didn't notice that the look was aimed just a little higher that where the kitten was.
Lily looked up at James. James looked down at her. They both nodded.
Mary squealed and clapped her hands "Great! What will you call her?"
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That night,they sat on the sofa with the tonight show on the telly. The kitten they had named juniper lay on both of their laps,her head on lily's and her back half on James.
Lily had fallen asleep with her hand on Junipers cheek. She looked so peaceful and serene. She deserved to be peaceful. She deserved happiness. James smiled to himself.
Junipers purr was a comforting sound as he closed his eyes,lulling him so sleep with nice thoughts in his head.