Games2011 ♥ FIC: Sweet Surrender [R]
Title: Sweet Surrender
Author: lunalovepotter
Team: DOE
Rating: R
Wordcount: 2673
Warnings: N/A
Prompt: "Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."
Summary: James was tired of watching his vibrant young wife crumple under the unending stress of war. So he took her away from it. Takes place in summer 1979.
Author's Note: Thank you to the awesome D for the beta.
James had always been a sound sleeper; as a boy, his parents had often joked that he could sleep through a bomb raid. He probably still could sleep through just about anything, except when it came to Lily. Lying in bed he felt her movements: the subtle shifts in the weight of the mattress, and her soft, desperate sighs as she tried to rest followed by the rustling of the sheet being pushed away. He heard her feet crossing the hardwood floor, and the slight creaks as she stepped on the weak floorboards. The bathroom door closed with a soft click, and the shower came on. But he knew she wasn't taking a shower, because when he put his ear up to the door that first night he heard the distinct sound of sobbing.
It was like a knife in the gut. He wanted to go in there, to do something. But there really wasn't anything he could do. Plus she would be upset with him for eavesdropping. So he retreated, angry at the world that was making his wife cry, and waited for her to come back to bed. In the morning she would act as though everything was the same, with that calm resignation and the smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. They had always promised to be honest with each other, because life was too short to lie to the ones you loved. Yet she refused to admit that the fight was breaking her. The cause was too important. Too many people had already been lost.
But he felt the stiffness in her body when he held her, and the slackness in her lips when they kissed. There was no fire, and no passion. She didn't want to fuck anymore; he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her naked, except for an accidental glimpse when he walked in on her getting out of the shower. He was losing his Lily, and he couldn't take it.
"We're going away," he announced one evening after dinner. It was summer, and the windows were thrown open to let in the breeze. The weather had been uncharacteristically warm, even for the season; the air was oppressive and dry. He felt the heat crawling all over his skin like tiny insects.
"What are you on about?" she said. She stood with her back to him at the kitchen sink doing dishes, wearing shorts and a green halter with her thick auburn hair piled up in a clip. When she was upset, she liked to use her hands. The mundane repetitiveness of household chores like folding laundry and doing dishes took her mind off things; it was something James had never understood, especially given her aptitude for charms and spells. But it only made him love her more.
He came up behind her, putting his hands on her bare shoulders. He swept his thumb down across her shoulder blade. Usually she would move instinctively toward his body when he was close, fitting her hips and her perfectly curved bum into his groin, but this time she went rigid. "My parents kept a cabin by a lake. It's Unplottable, and completely hidden from Muggles. We used to spend a couple of weeks there every summer until --" he broke off, memories of his father's long illness momentarily clouding his resolve. But then he resumed. "I'm taking you there for a long weekend. We'll leave tomorrow."
"Don't be daft. We can't take a holiday," she answered, distractedly. She placed a dripping plate into the drying rack on the counter, and reached inside the soapy water for another one. The breeze picked up, ruffling the stray wisps of her hair that clung to her face.
James swallowed, and cleared his throat. He squeezed her shoulders. "It's not up for discussion, Lily. I've already cleared it with the Order. We're going."
The plate she'd been rinsing dropped from her hand and fell into the water, clinking hard against the other dishes. "Fuck," she muttered. "What are you doing?"
"I'm getting my bloody wife back, that's what I'm doing."
"James -- " she started, bracing her hands on the edge of the sink. Then she exhaled slowly, dropping her head. "Fine."
Even though he'd gotten what he wanted, his wife's acquiescence still came as a disappointment. James realized then that he'd actually wanted her to fight him about the trip, because he missed the defiant flash in her beautiful green eyes and the line of her jaw as she challenged him. He wanted to see the heated flush in her cheeks as she rounded on him, and hear the sharp tone in her voice as she rattled off every reason why they shouldn't go, all of them probably valid. Instead she picked up the fallen plate and began to wash it.
"Fine," he said. He lightly touched his lips to the back of her neck, inhaling the intermingled scent of perspiration and perfume, and then went upstairs to take a shower.
* * *
They Apparated to the head of a trail that led into a densely wooded area. Even though it was still early in the morning and the sun was only starting to clear the horizon, the promise of suffocating heat hung in the air. By noon it would be unbearable. Taking Lily's hand, James started to lead her through the brush, following the path he'd known by heart since he was five years old. The moment they crossed into the woods a hush seemed to fall over everything. The only sounds were their footsteps and the leaves rustling in the faint breeze, peppered with the light chirping of birds.
They'd been walking for close to ten minutes before Lily spoke. "How much farther is it?" she asked wearily.
He squeezed her hand. "Almost there," he said, with excitement laced in his voice. It had been years since his last visit, and all of the good memories were starting to come back. The further they moved into the trees, the lighter his mood became. He felt the last few months of uncertainty and stress melting off him with the beads of sweat that rolled down his temples. There was a definite magic about the place that had nothing to do with charms or enchantments. He only wondered why it had taken him so long to think of coming back. He tugged Lily's hand to move her along; she stumbled slightly, and muttered a curse word under her breath.
"Bloody hell, James, go easy on me would you? I'm knackered."
Then he stopped abruptly at a fork in the path; it continued straight toward the lake and curved left toward the trees. Turning to his left, he took a deep breath as he laid eyes on the cabin for the first time since he was sixteen. The sight of it nestled into the trees on the gently sloping land made his heart clench for a moment. It was almost overgrown with brush and dead leaves, its windows layered with dust. He felt a sting of tears behind his eyes, but he refused to cry. He'd spent some of the happiest days of his life here with his parents before his dad had fallen ill; and now he was going to make new memories here with Lily and, he hoped, their future children.
"This is it," he said, unnecessarily. He released Lily's hand, shrugged the knapsack off his back and then took her bag. He dropped them both onto the ground at their feet, and they stood for several minutes just gazing at the neglected wooden cabin while catching their breath.
"How come you never told me about this place?" Her voice softened as she moved closer to him. Her hip brushed his, and she delicately touched his forearm. The dark hairs rose to her touch. He felt a pulse of electricity through his veins.
He shrugged. "It never came up, I guess."
Lily frowned, and released a sigh laced with frustration. "I would have liked to know. This place is part of who you are, James."
"Honestly, since Dad...I never expected to be back here again. No matter how much I tried, Mum never wanted to return after Dad died because it reminded her too much of him. It was like she'd forgotten what it was like to be happy without him. Then she got sick, and I just never thought about the place again until now." James laced his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand to push back the swell of sadness in his chest. With his free hand, he lifted a strand of hair clinging to her temple, and tucked it behind her ear. "Feeling all right?"
"Just tired. And hot. But a little better, yeah." She rested her head on his shoulder. "It just gets to me sometimes, you know?"
He pressed his lips into her hair. "I know. That's why we're here, to forget about all that for a while."
The sun was starting to break through the trees, splashing a dappled pattern of golden light on the ground. James heard the water lapping at the shore, and felt an all-too-familiar twinge of mischief. He glanced at Lily, and then abruptly released her hand to yank his t-shirt over his head. Then he slipped out of his trainers and unfastened the belt at his waist, eyeing her to follow his lead.
"What are you playing at?" she said. The corner of her mouth twitched.
"Come on, Lils, don't tell me you've never been skinny dipping before?" He arched a brow and smirked. Then he drew down the zip of his jeans, and shoved them and his boxer shorts down below his hips. He noticed with pleasure that Lily's green eyes dipped toward his groin as his cock bounced into view. "It's the perfect day for it."
Lily slipped off her sandals, and then started to slowly untuck her sleeveless blue cotton blouse from her denim shorts, glancing around as she did so. "You're sure no one else is about?"
"I promise we're completely alone. Since when do you care what anyone else thinks, anyway?" He watched expectantly as her fingers went to the top button of the blouse. She unfastened each one with excruciating patience while he shifted from one foot to the other, itching to get into the water. Finally she parted the fabric to reveal a plain white bra trimmed with lace. Just seeing the swell of her breasts with the sprinkling of freckles across her fair skin was enough to make his breath hitch. Her nipples were hard and pointed under the stretchy fabric. He'd seen her naked countless times in their relationship but yet every time he saw her was like the first time all over again. Sometimes he just couldn't believe how lucky he was.
Lily shrugged off the blouse, and stepped out of her sandals. "You don't have to wait for me, you know," she said with a little smile and a twinkle in her eye that told him she was enjoying making him wait. It drove him utterly out of his mind, but he still refused to move. "All right then." She shrugged, and her hands dropped to her waist. She unfastened the button and drew down the zip, shimmying out of the shorts. By now James was cradling his erection in his right hand. Tingling heat pooled in his abdomen, threatening to explode. Even in modest underthings, she was still the most gorgeous living thing on the planet.
Then she reached back behind her to unfasten her bra, curling her shoulders inward and squeezing her breasts together to allow the straps to slide down her arms. Free of the confines of the bra, her breasts swayed and bounced almost merrily. He thought of cupping them in his hands, and the delightful sigh that always escaped her lips when he swept his thumb across her erect nipples. "Blimey, Lils..." he groaned, taking a step back toward the water.
"I already told you, you don't have to wait. Not my fault you're an impatient git." She winked as she tugged down the waistband of her knickers, exposing the bare curve of her slender hips.
"Bloody hell, I'm a lucky bloke," he murmured, his throat tightening, as the knickers fell to her ankles. The auburn hair between her legs perfectly matched the hair on her head. It was like a miracle of nature.
"Luck has nothing to do with it." Lily stepped out of the knickers and moved toward him. Releasing his erection, James held out his hand and led her into the lake. The cool water was a balm to his hot, sweaty skin. Wading in up to his waist, he then pulled Lily close. She draped her arms around his neck, her perfect breasts compressed against him. She gently kissed his chin before resting her head on his shoulder. He rested his cheek on her head as his hands swept down her back, curling into the hollow at the base of her spine. For the first time in weeks her body melted into his, every curve fitting together as they should. He couldn't help but smile; he had his Lily back again and, he thought, he'd found a bit of himself too. They stood quietly for awhile, enjoying the tranquil sounds of nature. It was as though nothing in the outside world could touch them there.
"Thank you for bringing me here. It's beautiful."
His arms tightened around her. "I'm sorry for not telling you about it before. But I have thought about -- " he paused, not sure if he should broach the idea, but then decided to continue " -- about bringing our kids here; when the time comes, that is."
He felt her body shift in his arms but she didn't stiffen or pull away. Instead, she looked up, her eyes tinged with surprise. "Really?"
"Of course."
"You've thought about kids?"
"Lily, I've thought about us having kids since the day you first agreed to go out with me. I can't help it. I want to have a family with you. I want to grow old with you, and watch our grandchildren play on the front lawn."
A smile tickled the corners of Lily's mouth. "So do I," she said. "I told myself at first it was foolish to plan for the future given all the uncertainty we're faced with now. I've been losing sleep over it, struggling with the idea of bringing a child into this mess, but then I thought, we have to live in the moment. Enjoy every second we have. I want something good to come out of this, James." She touched her lips gently to his. "I want to talk about trying for a baby."
James's heart swelled in his chest so much he thought it would burst clean through. "Holy fuck, Lils...are you sure?" He cradled her face in his hands and gazed deep into her emerald-colored eyes, already imagining those eyes on their child.
"Absolutely, yes." Her cheeks flushed with color. She rolled her hips forward, eliciting a low growl from his throat. "Need any more convincing?"
"Hm, come to think of it..."
She swatted him, splashing water in his face. James caught her around the waist and lifted her up, catching her mouth in a long, slow kiss.
Please take a quick minute to rate this fic! Results will be secret, and contribute to the overall performance of Team Doe or Team Stag in the Lily/James Games 2011. Only community members can vote; but joining the community is open to all and will only take a quick minute!
For your vote to count, you must fill out BOTH parts of the poll. The first will rate the author's utilisation of the prompt. The second rates your overall enjoyment of the story. Please use only integers when rating the submission. For further information about voting, please see this post.
Due to technical difficulties, the poll for Sweet Surrender is located HERE. Everything else remains the same. Apologies for the inconvenience & thanks for your understanding!
Author: lunalovepotter
Team: DOE
Rating: R
Wordcount: 2673
Warnings: N/A
Prompt: "Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."
Summary: James was tired of watching his vibrant young wife crumple under the unending stress of war. So he took her away from it. Takes place in summer 1979.
Author's Note: Thank you to the awesome D for the beta.
James had always been a sound sleeper; as a boy, his parents had often joked that he could sleep through a bomb raid. He probably still could sleep through just about anything, except when it came to Lily. Lying in bed he felt her movements: the subtle shifts in the weight of the mattress, and her soft, desperate sighs as she tried to rest followed by the rustling of the sheet being pushed away. He heard her feet crossing the hardwood floor, and the slight creaks as she stepped on the weak floorboards. The bathroom door closed with a soft click, and the shower came on. But he knew she wasn't taking a shower, because when he put his ear up to the door that first night he heard the distinct sound of sobbing.
It was like a knife in the gut. He wanted to go in there, to do something. But there really wasn't anything he could do. Plus she would be upset with him for eavesdropping. So he retreated, angry at the world that was making his wife cry, and waited for her to come back to bed. In the morning she would act as though everything was the same, with that calm resignation and the smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. They had always promised to be honest with each other, because life was too short to lie to the ones you loved. Yet she refused to admit that the fight was breaking her. The cause was too important. Too many people had already been lost.
But he felt the stiffness in her body when he held her, and the slackness in her lips when they kissed. There was no fire, and no passion. She didn't want to fuck anymore; he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her naked, except for an accidental glimpse when he walked in on her getting out of the shower. He was losing his Lily, and he couldn't take it.
"We're going away," he announced one evening after dinner. It was summer, and the windows were thrown open to let in the breeze. The weather had been uncharacteristically warm, even for the season; the air was oppressive and dry. He felt the heat crawling all over his skin like tiny insects.
"What are you on about?" she said. She stood with her back to him at the kitchen sink doing dishes, wearing shorts and a green halter with her thick auburn hair piled up in a clip. When she was upset, she liked to use her hands. The mundane repetitiveness of household chores like folding laundry and doing dishes took her mind off things; it was something James had never understood, especially given her aptitude for charms and spells. But it only made him love her more.
He came up behind her, putting his hands on her bare shoulders. He swept his thumb down across her shoulder blade. Usually she would move instinctively toward his body when he was close, fitting her hips and her perfectly curved bum into his groin, but this time she went rigid. "My parents kept a cabin by a lake. It's Unplottable, and completely hidden from Muggles. We used to spend a couple of weeks there every summer until --" he broke off, memories of his father's long illness momentarily clouding his resolve. But then he resumed. "I'm taking you there for a long weekend. We'll leave tomorrow."
"Don't be daft. We can't take a holiday," she answered, distractedly. She placed a dripping plate into the drying rack on the counter, and reached inside the soapy water for another one. The breeze picked up, ruffling the stray wisps of her hair that clung to her face.
James swallowed, and cleared his throat. He squeezed her shoulders. "It's not up for discussion, Lily. I've already cleared it with the Order. We're going."
The plate she'd been rinsing dropped from her hand and fell into the water, clinking hard against the other dishes. "Fuck," she muttered. "What are you doing?"
"I'm getting my bloody wife back, that's what I'm doing."
"James -- " she started, bracing her hands on the edge of the sink. Then she exhaled slowly, dropping her head. "Fine."
Even though he'd gotten what he wanted, his wife's acquiescence still came as a disappointment. James realized then that he'd actually wanted her to fight him about the trip, because he missed the defiant flash in her beautiful green eyes and the line of her jaw as she challenged him. He wanted to see the heated flush in her cheeks as she rounded on him, and hear the sharp tone in her voice as she rattled off every reason why they shouldn't go, all of them probably valid. Instead she picked up the fallen plate and began to wash it.
"Fine," he said. He lightly touched his lips to the back of her neck, inhaling the intermingled scent of perspiration and perfume, and then went upstairs to take a shower.
* * *
They Apparated to the head of a trail that led into a densely wooded area. Even though it was still early in the morning and the sun was only starting to clear the horizon, the promise of suffocating heat hung in the air. By noon it would be unbearable. Taking Lily's hand, James started to lead her through the brush, following the path he'd known by heart since he was five years old. The moment they crossed into the woods a hush seemed to fall over everything. The only sounds were their footsteps and the leaves rustling in the faint breeze, peppered with the light chirping of birds.
They'd been walking for close to ten minutes before Lily spoke. "How much farther is it?" she asked wearily.
He squeezed her hand. "Almost there," he said, with excitement laced in his voice. It had been years since his last visit, and all of the good memories were starting to come back. The further they moved into the trees, the lighter his mood became. He felt the last few months of uncertainty and stress melting off him with the beads of sweat that rolled down his temples. There was a definite magic about the place that had nothing to do with charms or enchantments. He only wondered why it had taken him so long to think of coming back. He tugged Lily's hand to move her along; she stumbled slightly, and muttered a curse word under her breath.
"Bloody hell, James, go easy on me would you? I'm knackered."
Then he stopped abruptly at a fork in the path; it continued straight toward the lake and curved left toward the trees. Turning to his left, he took a deep breath as he laid eyes on the cabin for the first time since he was sixteen. The sight of it nestled into the trees on the gently sloping land made his heart clench for a moment. It was almost overgrown with brush and dead leaves, its windows layered with dust. He felt a sting of tears behind his eyes, but he refused to cry. He'd spent some of the happiest days of his life here with his parents before his dad had fallen ill; and now he was going to make new memories here with Lily and, he hoped, their future children.
"This is it," he said, unnecessarily. He released Lily's hand, shrugged the knapsack off his back and then took her bag. He dropped them both onto the ground at their feet, and they stood for several minutes just gazing at the neglected wooden cabin while catching their breath.
"How come you never told me about this place?" Her voice softened as she moved closer to him. Her hip brushed his, and she delicately touched his forearm. The dark hairs rose to her touch. He felt a pulse of electricity through his veins.
He shrugged. "It never came up, I guess."
Lily frowned, and released a sigh laced with frustration. "I would have liked to know. This place is part of who you are, James."
"Honestly, since Dad...I never expected to be back here again. No matter how much I tried, Mum never wanted to return after Dad died because it reminded her too much of him. It was like she'd forgotten what it was like to be happy without him. Then she got sick, and I just never thought about the place again until now." James laced his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand to push back the swell of sadness in his chest. With his free hand, he lifted a strand of hair clinging to her temple, and tucked it behind her ear. "Feeling all right?"
"Just tired. And hot. But a little better, yeah." She rested her head on his shoulder. "It just gets to me sometimes, you know?"
He pressed his lips into her hair. "I know. That's why we're here, to forget about all that for a while."
The sun was starting to break through the trees, splashing a dappled pattern of golden light on the ground. James heard the water lapping at the shore, and felt an all-too-familiar twinge of mischief. He glanced at Lily, and then abruptly released her hand to yank his t-shirt over his head. Then he slipped out of his trainers and unfastened the belt at his waist, eyeing her to follow his lead.
"What are you playing at?" she said. The corner of her mouth twitched.
"Come on, Lils, don't tell me you've never been skinny dipping before?" He arched a brow and smirked. Then he drew down the zip of his jeans, and shoved them and his boxer shorts down below his hips. He noticed with pleasure that Lily's green eyes dipped toward his groin as his cock bounced into view. "It's the perfect day for it."
Lily slipped off her sandals, and then started to slowly untuck her sleeveless blue cotton blouse from her denim shorts, glancing around as she did so. "You're sure no one else is about?"
"I promise we're completely alone. Since when do you care what anyone else thinks, anyway?" He watched expectantly as her fingers went to the top button of the blouse. She unfastened each one with excruciating patience while he shifted from one foot to the other, itching to get into the water. Finally she parted the fabric to reveal a plain white bra trimmed with lace. Just seeing the swell of her breasts with the sprinkling of freckles across her fair skin was enough to make his breath hitch. Her nipples were hard and pointed under the stretchy fabric. He'd seen her naked countless times in their relationship but yet every time he saw her was like the first time all over again. Sometimes he just couldn't believe how lucky he was.
Lily shrugged off the blouse, and stepped out of her sandals. "You don't have to wait for me, you know," she said with a little smile and a twinkle in her eye that told him she was enjoying making him wait. It drove him utterly out of his mind, but he still refused to move. "All right then." She shrugged, and her hands dropped to her waist. She unfastened the button and drew down the zip, shimmying out of the shorts. By now James was cradling his erection in his right hand. Tingling heat pooled in his abdomen, threatening to explode. Even in modest underthings, she was still the most gorgeous living thing on the planet.
Then she reached back behind her to unfasten her bra, curling her shoulders inward and squeezing her breasts together to allow the straps to slide down her arms. Free of the confines of the bra, her breasts swayed and bounced almost merrily. He thought of cupping them in his hands, and the delightful sigh that always escaped her lips when he swept his thumb across her erect nipples. "Blimey, Lils..." he groaned, taking a step back toward the water.
"I already told you, you don't have to wait. Not my fault you're an impatient git." She winked as she tugged down the waistband of her knickers, exposing the bare curve of her slender hips.
"Bloody hell, I'm a lucky bloke," he murmured, his throat tightening, as the knickers fell to her ankles. The auburn hair between her legs perfectly matched the hair on her head. It was like a miracle of nature.
"Luck has nothing to do with it." Lily stepped out of the knickers and moved toward him. Releasing his erection, James held out his hand and led her into the lake. The cool water was a balm to his hot, sweaty skin. Wading in up to his waist, he then pulled Lily close. She draped her arms around his neck, her perfect breasts compressed against him. She gently kissed his chin before resting her head on his shoulder. He rested his cheek on her head as his hands swept down her back, curling into the hollow at the base of her spine. For the first time in weeks her body melted into his, every curve fitting together as they should. He couldn't help but smile; he had his Lily back again and, he thought, he'd found a bit of himself too. They stood quietly for awhile, enjoying the tranquil sounds of nature. It was as though nothing in the outside world could touch them there.
"Thank you for bringing me here. It's beautiful."
His arms tightened around her. "I'm sorry for not telling you about it before. But I have thought about -- " he paused, not sure if he should broach the idea, but then decided to continue " -- about bringing our kids here; when the time comes, that is."
He felt her body shift in his arms but she didn't stiffen or pull away. Instead, she looked up, her eyes tinged with surprise. "Really?"
"Of course."
"You've thought about kids?"
"Lily, I've thought about us having kids since the day you first agreed to go out with me. I can't help it. I want to have a family with you. I want to grow old with you, and watch our grandchildren play on the front lawn."
A smile tickled the corners of Lily's mouth. "So do I," she said. "I told myself at first it was foolish to plan for the future given all the uncertainty we're faced with now. I've been losing sleep over it, struggling with the idea of bringing a child into this mess, but then I thought, we have to live in the moment. Enjoy every second we have. I want something good to come out of this, James." She touched her lips gently to his. "I want to talk about trying for a baby."
James's heart swelled in his chest so much he thought it would burst clean through. "Holy fuck, Lils...are you sure?" He cradled her face in his hands and gazed deep into her emerald-colored eyes, already imagining those eyes on their child.
"Absolutely, yes." Her cheeks flushed with color. She rolled her hips forward, eliciting a low growl from his throat. "Need any more convincing?"
"Hm, come to think of it..."
She swatted him, splashing water in his face. James caught her around the waist and lifted her up, catching her mouth in a long, slow kiss.
Please take a quick minute to rate this fic! Results will be secret, and contribute to the overall performance of Team Doe or Team Stag in the Lily/James Games 2011. Only community members can vote; but joining the community is open to all and will only take a quick minute!
For your vote to count, you must fill out BOTH parts of the poll. The first will rate the author's utilisation of the prompt. The second rates your overall enjoyment of the story. Please use only integers when rating the submission. For further information about voting, please see this post.
Due to technical difficulties, the poll for Sweet Surrender is located HERE. Everything else remains the same. Apologies for the inconvenience & thanks for your understanding!