Disclaimer: Characters belong to JKR, challenge belongs to Megsy, and my love belongs to reviewers!
The door banged open, a sudden sound in the stillness of the summer's day.
"Is Harry up?" Sirius demanded, his voice excited and rushed.
"When is he not up?" Lily asked wearily, holding Harry to her chest and running her fingers through his downy dark hair.
Sirius smiled fondly at them for a moment. He dove to chuck Lily under the chin, but she ducked right in time. He grinned and asked, "Where's Prongs?"
Lily rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Asleep, lucky bastard."
He smiled, a softer smile than before, and held his arms out for the tiny thing wrapped in an old white blanket. He spoke directly to Harry, who snuggled against him like he was perfectly meant to. "Hey, squirt. How're you? Tired? Yeah, your mummy is too, isn't she? I've got a really great idea! Who about you come with me and Uncle Remus and Uncle Peter to visit Cousin Dora? She's only a bit older than you; you'd be able to play together so well! And we can give Mummy a rest, so it's a win-win situation!"
Lily laughed gently. "Harry's excited to go," she told Sirius, brushing hair from his face. Planting a soft kiss on his forehead, she granted her permission and laid gratefully on the couch. "You're a saint, Sirius!"
"Just don't get too frisky while I'm gone!" he teased, and was gone before Lily could scold.
"How was it?"
It was that and a bit of ground peas that greeted the two when they got back to the Potter's.
"Fantastic. Dora's growing every day, and Remus talked to Andi for hours about how her very own daughter is a Metamorphmagus. He's fascinated, but then again, he's Moony. And Wormtail loved seeing Ted again--though I'm not sure the bloke likes Peter as much as he likes him."
Lily laughed and took her baby into her arms, bliss on her face. "It was lovely to get some me-time, but Harry can't leave me for so long ever again!" She kissed his little cheek and gave Sirius a similar kiss.
He looked around the yard. "Prongs awake?"
"Hell yeah," Lily said, then shook her head. "I mean heck yeah. Harry, don't listen." The baby gurgled obliviously, and Sirius laughed.
"I'll see you later, Lil, James and I are, uhm, planning something…"
"Don't you dare play a prank on Harry! Or me, for that matter. There's still mustard in my drain!"