Prince Charming, Take it Slow

James immediately shrugged, answering Lily's questions with a simple, "Indeed, he does."

For a second, James looked exhausted and tired as he looked at Lily.

"Lil, you have no idea how many times he's talked about you during our time at ZALE. You're second to studying, but he's been the only thing he's talking about is you, and how he thinks you have feelings for someone else. As much as how you think he doesn't like you, it is a fact that he does. It's getting annoying, and if you seriously don't believe me, go ask Emma. I'm not the only person he complains and rants to," James admitted, halfway between complaining and ranting himself.

"Well, I have an idea. Let's talk about my love life later, and about what you're going to say and how you're going to act in front of your girlfriend's mother now," Lily interjected.

James pursed his lips.

"Right."

"Tell me everything I need to know," James said as he looked determined, and handsome, for that matter.

Lily smirked, already having something to say.

"Well. For starters, you're going to have to be nice to a female being other than Emma and myself," she said smugly.

James looked down at his polished shoes, his good-looking features a void of emotion.

"I guess you're right," he said sadly.

Lily smiled.

"Oh come on, it won't be too difficult. I'll tell you all that you need to know about meeting Emma's mother, now, follow me," Lily said as she dragged James to a less public location to discuss the dos and don'ts.

An hour or two later, Lily and James sat across each other in one of the palace guest rooms, while Lily was trying to rack her brain for anything else to inform him about, James had one thing in mind.

"So, let me get this straight. I can't be honest with her and tell her I fully intend to wed her daughter and start a family with her?" James asked disbelievingly.

Lily stared at James.

"You're joking, right? Tell me you're joking," Lily blurted out.

This time, it was James who stared at Lily.

"Lily, do I look like someone who'd joke about this?" He asked obliviously.

Lily internally facepalmed, before answering his question.

"Yes, you shouldn't. You have got to take it slow. The time will come, but you've dated her for two months, James. Two months. Emma's my best friend, and she deserves the best, but that's too fast," Lily explained.

"Yet it feels like forever," James whispered to himself.

"Is there anything else I'd have to know?" He asked, his brows furrowed as he listed everything Lily had said at the very back of his mind.

Lily shook her head, much to James' relief.

The things she had told him were difficult enough; he didn't need anything more.

In fact, he was much more curious about when he'd be able to see his girlfriend, which was what also led him to interrogate her best friend.

"When is the soonest I can see her?" He asked, out of the blue.

Lily remained quiet, silently wondering how her best friend was dating someone like him.

While this might have sounded impatient and rude, knowing James, this was a sweet gesture, and a clear sign that he was missing her.

"You'll see her during the ball, James. She's getting ready for the ball. It's only an hour or so to wait until we both get to see her," Lily reassured, trying to soothe the sad soul.

"That's definitely something Connor would say," James said unexpectedly.

"You two are made for each other," he said next, before returning to the topic at hand.

"But I miss my girlfriend...and I want to see her," he mumbled to himself.

While one would usually be ecstatic at the mention of being made for the person they had feelings for, Lily was hesitant.

"But I don't deserve someone as amazing as him," Lily said dejectedly.

James took a while to register what she said.

"Lily. You do. Although, is that what I sound like when I say the exact same thing about Emma?" He asked, wanting an honest answer if he did sound like a total fool.

Lily opened her mouth, yet no word waas heard.

"Lily…" James warned.

Lily shrugged.

"You kinda do, but it comes off as sweet," she admitted.

"Well, never mind that, what I do want to tell you, is that when it comes to you and Connor, you two are made for each other. No doubt about that. You have many things in common, you two are heavily in love with each other, and as a dense fool myself, I can admit that you two are just as dense as each other. It's a shock that you two haven't got together," James said.

He continued, not giving Lily a chance to speak as he voiced his...opinions and concerns.

"Say, tonight's the perfect chance to finally admit what you feel about each other. And, I swear, if Connor doesn't see that as an opportunity and doesn't do anything, he's going to have hell to pay, coming from me," James said, protective of his friend.

Over the months Emma and James had dated, both James and Lily had gotten closer, for Emma's sake, and also since James had always asked Lily for help whenever it came to love, and Lily came to him for help with schoolwork. During all of this, they bonded, and they were practically siblings, which both of them knew, also knowing that it would never be anything more than that.

Lily pouted at James' statement, even though she was beaming with joy on the inside

"Emma really is lucky to have such a protective boyfriend. Looks like she chose well," she admitted, her pout slowly curving to a smirk.

James shrugged, not too surprised by the compliment, a fragment of his arrogant past self showing.

"Only the best for my one and only girlfriend."