The minister might have said some sort of thing in terms of vows – they didn't know. But when he said, "You may kiss the bride," James swooped up Lily in his arms without hesitation, and did just that.

The only thing James Potter meant to do was steal a wallet. He didn't mean to find the picture, he didn't mean to decide to return the wallet, and he really didn't mean to meet Lily Evans in person. And he most certainly did not mean to fall in love with her. But fate works in mysterious ways, and when the heart has been stolen, it is very, very hard to take it back.

There are a million reasons why Lily, and James, and everything in between, are fire, are ice, are heartbreak, are hate, and are absolutely, absolutely imperfect. There are a million reasons why Lily and James are beautiful.

"Because…" He drags out the word, while his gaze fixates on her, trapping her. She freezes, immobilized. For in his eyes are a million emotions, overlain by ice but completely, utterly visible to her. And some are readable, and some are obvious, but most are darker, and shrouded, and he looks very, very dangerous.

October 31, 1981. Lily and James gave up their lives to save their son. Lily's last thoughts.