Disclaimer: I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.

A/N-This is...not my best work. It was supposed to be "C is for Crowded" but clearly I could never get it right. I feel like I didn't really use James's voice like I should but...whatever. C was hard. Hopefully D will be more forgiving. I hope you enjoy reading it more than I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter Three: C is for Candles

Married - James' POV

"Can I take this stupid blindfold off yet?" Lily asked, a hint of irritation in her voice. "I know what the place looks like. I don't need it to be a surprise." I was leading her into our new apartment…our first apartment. She just got back from visiting her sister for a few days. I met her at our designated Apparition spot and immediately (well…not immediately. We did go through the newlywed "it's been forever since I've seen you" niceties first) tied one of my rarely used ties around her eyes.

"Can you be a bit more patient please?" I replied in a tone which I knew was maddeningly arrogant. I somehow managed to keep myself from laughing at the very irritated look on her face that followed my question.

Clamping down on my hand a little harder than was strictly necessary, she said through clenched teeth, "James, I'm tired. I just spent four horrible days with Petunia. I know I still have a million boxes to unpack. Can't whatever ridiculous thing you have to show me wait until tomorrow?"

Closing the door behind us as we entered our small, dark living room, I reached up and pulled the tie away from her head and I heard her breath catch in her throat. I'd spent the better part of the past four days unpacking all of our boxes and getting things put away. My back was sore from lifting boxes loaded with books and my arms and legs ached. Candles covered every surface of the living room and kitchen, their soft, flickering light bouncing off of Lily's smooth skin.

Complete shock was evident on her face as she turned to look at me. She was speechless for a moment, her emerald eyes sparkling. "I..I can't believe you did all of this!" she whispered, dumbfounded. "Thank you." She pushed up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips gently to mine.

Circling my arms around her, I looked down and was surprised to see a glistening tear streaking down her cheek.

Concerned, I asked, "What's wrong?" as I lifted and hand to wipe the tear away.

Continuing to stare around and the room, she answered in a hoarse voice. "You just don't understand. I had a horrible time with Petunia. I thought that maybe we'd finally be able to put all of this nonsense behind us but she was just the same. I tried talking to her about our wedding and our flat and I'm convinced that she doesn't even know your name. The only thing she seemed even remotely interested in talking about was how to decorate her new house. And I was dreading coming home and having to do all this…and you already did it." She stepped closer into my embrace and rested her head on my chest. "You have no idea how relieved I feel." She sighed and I enjoyed the feeling of having her in my arms again. I'm sure a day will come further on in our marriage where four days apart won't seem like an eternity, but the last week was nothing short of bleak without her around. "There was a lot to unpack. You were very brave to get started without me."

"Crazy… I think the word you meant to use is crazy. I started pretty soon after you left and when I went to bed that night, it looked like I hadn't even started…except for the fact that there was crap everywhere!" She giggled. "You know I'm still probably going to redo most of it," she remarked, looking up at me with raised eyebrows.

Confusion, I'm sure, was clear on my face because she started giggling again. "It's a girl thing. I need to put things where they belong and while I'm sure you did a fine job, I doubt anything is where it's supposed to be."

Chuckling and rolling my eyes, I murmured, "Whatever you say, honey. Knock yourself out." I kissed her again, longer this time, hoping that she realized how much I had missed her while she was gone. We'd only been married about a month. After a weeklong honeymoon, we'd crashed at Padfoot's place while looking for an apartment. The day we signed the lease, Lily got a call from her sister telling her that she had found a bunch of her old stuff and that if she didn't come get it then she was throwing it away. So Lily went to Surrey to visit her and at the request of some of her old friends, stayed a few extra days.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked, my voice husky.

"Certainly," she murmured, pressing her lips against the hollow of my throat.

Closing my eyes and pulling her as close as I could, I leaned down and whispered, "I missed you," in her ear. I felt her smile against my chest. "I missed you too. I couldn't wait to get back home." I stayed silent for a moment, breathing in the floral fragrance of her hair, feeling her chest rise and fall gently as she breathed against me.

"Come on," I said more loudly, releasing all of her but her hand and pulling her through the kitchen.

"Care to tell me where we're going?" she asked, her voice amused but her feet dragging.

Catching her up in my arms I said, "I was thinking of showing you the bedroom. I unloaded all of the boxes in there too, you know."

"Candles too?" she asked, giggling. I nodded. "Good, because I don't give it up unless there are candles."

A/N-There you go! Short and sweet and to the point. I'll get to work on D soon enough. As of now it will be "D is for Dancing." Any guesses as to what that will be about? Leave a review! Tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, what your predictions are for the next chapter, anything! I love you guys for reading!

Chuckling, I began walking toward the bedroom door. "Is that so?" She nodded again, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably. "I happen to know for a fact that statement is a lie," I muttered, causing her to giggle again.