Carve Me Open / r.l. + s.b. /

Messrs. Prongs and Lily Pad

"I saw you
and that was all that mattered."

-via Ben Maxfield

▬▬ι══════════════ι▬▬

The Potter Wedding, January 1980

"James! James, for Christ's sake," Sirius groaned. "You can't spend any more time in the bathroom."

Remus watched from the doorway, irreplaceable smirk on his face, as Sirius made attempts to coax James out of the washroom.

Not only had they all woken up late – Remus included – but Alice had been late with the suit. Why did Alice have the suit? Upon trying it on one last time before the big day, he'd ripped the underarms of the blazer and the pant legs were far too short. Alice was the only one with acceptable suturing skills, so, like any sensible person, Remus had delivered the suit at two o'clock in the morning just a day before the wedding in hopes she'd get it fixed up in a pinch. And she had! Just in time.

Peter hadn't shown up yet, which was exactly what Remus had expected in such circumstances, and Euphemia was banned from the boy's dressing room lest she make James even more nervous than he already was. Fleamont had been in and out just to make sure everyone had been on task; of course, they hadn't been more often than not, but it was a wedding day! These are only supposed to come once in a lifetime. What would be a Marauder wedding without, you know, marauding?

"I can't do it," James breathed, his voice just as frantic from the other side of the door. "I can't do it, Pads!"

"Open the bloody door, you idiot," Sirius shouted, knocking his shoulder against it in hopes it would open.

Remus approached, "Why can't you do it, Prongs?"

"Because!"

"'Because' isn't an answer, James," Remus said. "Would you open the door?"

"He didn't open the door for me, and I'm the best bloody man," Sirius hissed, fumbling with the knob. "I doubt he'll—"

The door swung open, pulling Sirius as it did till he fell to the floor. James, looking an utter disaster, eyes Remus from behind his fogged glasses.

"Because I'm a wreck," he cried. "How could Lily marry someone like me?"

Remus began fixing James' suit, adjusting the tie and the cuffs just like Hope Lupin had done for his graduation.

"Trust me," he smiled, "the answer is beyond me, but that's what makes this so special! Out of everyone, she chose the wreck. Which means she loves the wreck."

"But why does she love the wreck," James threw his hands above his head, not noticing the subtle glare from Remus. "I was seventeen when I learned what a damn cinema was!"

"Hey, now," Sirius said, brushing the dirt from his suit. "To be fair, we had a disadvantage."

"It doesn't matter," James said. "She's so smart – knows everything about anything I ask her. Math, science, astronomy, economics, Muggles – you name it, she knows it. And then there's me. All I know is Quidditch and takeout."

"Oh yeah?" Sirius countered. "What's Lily's favorite color?"

James eyed him, looking baffled – insulted almost – that he would ask such a question.

"Yellow."

"And what's her favorite takeout order," Remus continued, managing the storm of curly, dark hair that had somehow ended up even more tangled than when he entered the bathroom.