Lily Evans couldn't help but laugh, maybe it was because she was so nervous but it was still funny nonetheless. All she could do was picture herself at eleven when she first met him on the school train, ha or even herself two years ago, and that girl would never believe what was about to happen. Not even in her worst nightmares. That girl would tell her she was completely mad; under a very powerful hex or even poisoned with a series of nasty potions. But here she was at eighteen, standing in her childhood bedroom in front of her old full length mirror about to marry James Potter. And quite frankly she could not have been happier. She wanted to shout back at her younger self tell her that she loved him, she was in love with him and he loved her back all the same. That it didn't matter that people said they were too young and it was the pressures of war forcing them to make rash decisions they would regret in years to come, but it was because they were two people who were simply meant to be together.
A small tear ran down her check which was followed by another burst of spontaneous giggles after she remembered that Marlene would kill her if she ruined her makeup- especially because her best friend had already had to redo it today and would not have time with them needing to leave soon in order to get to her local church on time for the ceremony. So Lily gave herself one last good look in the mirror with a deep breath, she knew that Marlene would come back any second to help her get down the stairs in her dress. Not that she was overly swarmed with fabric, actually it was very tastefully made in a Greek goddess style on one shoulder with an empire waist. No, she knew the reason was something else entirely and was the same reason why her wedding had been brought forward, after all not that many people get married so soon after leaving school these days, and the same one why she had a small bump on her stomach that she couldn't help gently run her hand across.
Yes, Lily Evans was pregnant and with James Potters baby.
That itself had been a shock, she wished she could say she'd been cool and calm about the whole thing but she was eighteen and in the middle of a wizarding war. She had freaked, really, oh and maybe telling her best friend would have helped, nope, she freaked out to, if not more. Surprising for Lily the person that she thought would be most likely be scared away by the prospect, her boyfriend, was the most rational. He really had matured in the last few years, not that he had stopped pranking and pulling jokes, he remained the same marauder causing havoc. Part of her had stopped being so stiff and tense but started to enjoy life, he made her enjoy it and made her laugh. Something that was so desperately needed with the looming war. There were more disappearances every day and only last month Marlene's uncle went missing, Lily knew that the girl was still devastated as they'd been close but was trying to put on a strong front on for the wedding and had engrossed herself in today's preparation as a way to avoid talking about it. At least they hadn't found a body yet. Lily thought it was always worse then, it became so finalised no 'what if's?', they were really gone. She also knew that Marlene had stayed at Sirius's house a lot in the last few weeks- now there's a plot twist if ever one was needed.
Sirius Black the renowned bachelor of her years at Hogwarts. The two of them were as bad as each other and would never admit they could even stand in the same room let alone have some form of a positive, or even neutral, relationship. Whist Marlene would never say she was friends with him Lily had grown fond of James' best friend, he was fiercely loyal and very protective of his adoptive family and as he had informed her, she was marrying his brother and would therefore be his family. Well that same night he also passed out on her sofa after consuming an abhorrent quantity of firewhiskey, so she wasn't precisely sure what he was muttering but was sure the sentiment was there. It was also due to him that she had discovered a large variety of expressions and idioms for being pregnant, whilst she didn't think some were as polite as others it amused her that he never used the same one twice. He had started with what he called the classic 'bun in the oven' and had more recently moved onto things like 'marinating' and saying that James had 'slipped one past the goalie'. Ok, maybe she hadn't been so relaxed or amused by that last one, but come on that was stepping a bit too far, he'd narrowly missed a good hex for that.
He would be at the church now with James, it was only just down her old road in Cokeworth. Her mother had wanted some tradition and had asked her to get married at her local church near where she grew up as a child, as it was the same church she had married Lily's father. She also expected it was because her sister Petunia had refused for her wedding two years previously, stating that the place was old and dull and her husband Vernon wanted something more refined in a hotel, not a "crumbling ruin". That and Vernon didn't believe in what he called the "Hocus Pocus" of religion. If only he knew. Of course Lily herself loved the idea, she had always thought the place looked beautiful and she loved thinking about the history that would have happened within its walls, the present building had been build in the thirteenth century but a church had been on the grounds since the seventh century. Her years at Hogwarts and secret love of history of magic had encouraged her interest in such places, which had only developed with her curiosity and imagination. Since starting school her parents would take her away for weekends in the summer holidays visiting old castles and stately homes.
She heard a small knock before Marlene put her head round the door "Ready to be tied down to Potter for good Lils?"
"Ready as I'll ever be"
They grinned at each other as she came to stand behind Lily, being taller than her Marlene was easily able to rest her chin on her friends shoulder as she wrapped her arms around her pulling her back in a tight embrace. When their eyes met in the mirror opposite, emerald and sky blue, Marlene took in a deep breath and moved next to her friend linking their arms. "Come on then, I won't let you fall"
"You better not or I will invoke my rights as bride and pregnant lady, and make you dance with Sirius for the rest of the day. Oh you'd look so good together, with your dress and his tie matching, imagine how good the children would look so handsome." She replied with her best imitation of a doting grandmother.
After crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes, Marlene looked down and finalised in a deadpan tone "I swear to Merlin, Lily, if you make me dance with Sirius even for a second longer than our previously agreed best man and maid of honour dance, I will hex your hair so badly that when you wake up on your honeymoon with Slytherin green hair and no way of reversing it, Potter will not go near you with a ten foot broomstick. And I don't care how many times you tell me he's matured that boy will scream.
James watched her walk down the aisle and she was beautiful, every time he saw her he was reminded how perfect she was. When he woke up in the morning the young teenage boy inside gleamed with happiness that he had finally won over Lily Evans the girl he'd spent his entire school years completely in love with. Her emerald eyes glanced at him nervously and he returned with his huge grin, which James was pleased to see gave her more confidence and an equally big smile as she walked down arm in arm with her father. Lily wasn't the type of girl to get easily nervous but there was a big enough audience watching her become his Mrs Potter.
It was probably also something to do with the fact that she was pregnant and clearly showing with the loose fabric around her bump. Oh Merlin he was going to be a father. He had tried to be mature and responsible about the news as he knew that Lily needed him but that didn't mean he wasn't scared to death at the prospect. He was an only child and had never been around children, but hey a little boy wouldn't be too bad right, another marauder to add to the pack... or a girl, a mini Lily walking around the place, he'd be in trouble then and outnumbered in his own home. Surrounded by women and pink and tiaras and stuff- Sirius would find it hilarious.
Speaking of his best man, the guy had been great about it when he spoke to him. He knew the man would never admit it but he would make a great father one day but he doubted there was a woman out there Sirius liked more than his own hair. Still he was sure that Sirius would be an amazing godfather to his child. He had told Lily that due to a bet they had made back in third year that Sirius would have to be godparent of their firstborn for the sake of his honour, however truth be told he would not be able to think of anyone better. But Lily being who she was felt that she couldn't exclude any of their close friends so this baby would have four; Sirius, Marlene, Remus and Peter. No not very conventional, however safer. If anything were to happen to both Lily and his child at least there were others who would protect him or her. A daunting prospect but one that was need, especially as a sworn member of the Order of the Phoenix.
He, along with the others had joined soon after finishing at Hogwarts. Many people including his own parents had tried to advise them to wait and experience life and adulthood before joining an organisation which frequently found itself in opposition with both the Ministry and other prominent members of wizarding society. Not that was in anyway a coincidence; Death Eaters were often deeply embezzled in activities involving a large quantity of status and wealth. He had discussed it with Lily after he had asked her to marry him and they both agreed that with the changing nature of the world and the damming ideologies that threatened everyone with pain and death, there was little to gain from living a half life and hiding from issues that would soon encapsulate them. With luck there would be full lives to lead at the other end and it was something they were now all fighting for.
Just before Lily had finished descending to the alter he heard Sirius creep up next to him and whisper "Still time to bail if you wanna join me in eternal bachelorhood".
All he gave in reply was a small elbow in the ribs as he resumed watching his soon to be wife come and stand opposite him. Why would he ever want bachelorhood when he had the most perfect woman walking towards him carrying his future family and years of happiness to come?
Three Months Later...
Lily was exhausted and had an ongoing ache that was consuming her body but couldn't bring herself to sleep; she could only look at the small sleeping bundle in her arms. She glanced up at her husband from her hospital bed, he to was watching adoringly at their little baby girl protectively wrapped in a soft pink blanket. She already had him tied around her little finger at only a few hours old and James had become so protective. When the midwife had come for a routine check up the man had been close to heart failure thinking something was wrong. It was far off in the future but, Merlin there would be issues when she got older.
"The others will be here soon Lils, do you want me to tell them that you'd prefer to rest first" James whispered moving a small strand of hair out of Lily's face, being careful not to wake the newborn.
She looked back at him and gave him a knowing smile, whilst James wanted the best for them and would put his new family first, he'd want to show off their little girl to their friends "No James send them in, I'm sure they all want to meet their little niece"
Sure enough they all came charging in within the following fifteen minutes. Marlene and Sirius arrived first, together, Lily was tired and that might have made her a bit disorientated but she still took a mental note to ask her friend about it later because she was sure that her best friend was wearing one of Sirius' favourite leather jackets. And she was well aware that he did not lend them out lightly.
Shortly before Peter, Remus arrived, he looked exhausted with a grey and green tinge covering his skin which soon got Lily apologetic "Oh Remus I'm so sorry it was full moon last night I completely forgot and James was here with me and not out helping you! Merlin it's seven in the morning you should be resting not -"
"Lily please I will be ok I just need a minute to wake up properly that all. And you know I wouldn't miss being here for anything and I don't think neither you nor James got any say in when this little girl decides to make her entrance and we both know James should be here with you. Besides Sirius and Peter were with me. And you should be the one resting you've had a baby so don't even think about getting out of that bed because I am most defiantly not going to lie in it." At this moment the small baby in the pink bundle made her presence known as she lifted her small fist in the air and started to squirm.
After a few rounds of "awhhs" and "congratulations", they all got to hold the baby with Sirius arguing that he should get to hold her the longest as he was 'premium godfather' due to James' and his bet years prior.
"So Prongs, what are you going to name our newest marauder? Got to have a good name but please don't go into that constellation crap, unless of course you are looking at little Sirius? However personally I think that name suits dudes better not little ladies, which might be something to consider for future. As premium godfather I've taken the liberty to make a little list, so what do you think about Sambuca, Alize, Taittinger or Tia?"
Before either James or Lily could reply Marlene kicked in at Sirius "Really Sirius?... Oh no don't even join in with some 'funny' remark on your name and yes I am being serious. They are not going to name their daughter after any alcoholic beverage or even you for that matter and let me guess Tia's middle name would be Maria?"
The long drawn out stare Marlene was glaring at Sirius who was putting on an overly fake sad puppy dog expression in return was broken by Lily's reply "Rose, after James' mother". After which she took James' hand in her own and began holding it in a reassuring manner.
His mother and father had died shortly after his last year at Hogwarts from ongoing dragon pox but as an only child James had been very close to his parents and as well known aurors would always regard them highly. Lily too had deeply admired them. In the short time she had known James' mother they had formed a close bond, at first Lily was nervous- visiting a pureblood family and dating their only son, she knew pureblood stereotypes all too well but was relieved to find herself with those who opposed beliefs often found among their peers. But more so she loved the conversations she would have with her, particularly about work at the ministry. Rose Potter had been one of the first female aurors in the office and was especially good with advice. On the day she asked her about joining the Order, Rose had talked her through all the reasons why joining would be a bad decision, Lily had at first thought this to be Rose not wanting her only child and precious boy in the line of fire, something James' dad agreed upon. However at the end of her list of reasons she had held Lily's hands in her lap, her looked her deeply in the eyes and simply remarked "But you will regret it if you don't and that's the worst thing anyone can do, look back and regret their life".
Lily hadn't realised she'd mentally drifted off as she looked down at her daughter. Attention however was now on Sirius who was pulling a bottle of a well known amber liquid and small glasses out of his jacket pocket. Oh magic she sighed but she didn't know if it was that or Sirius Black who surprised her most these days.
Upon realising Sirius had just retrieved a bottle of firewhiskey from his pocket whilst in a hospital Marlene looked ready to protest or more likely strangle the man next to her. As if he knew she would say something he gave her a small personal wink and chuckled "Just this once" at her before looking down at Lily. "I'm sorry Lily-love you can't have one, Marly really would kill me for good if I tried to offer but I'll give James a double instead to make up for it. Anyway I think he's going to need it"
As Lily held her daughter in her arms, her husband and friends surrounding the bed held up their glasses before adding in perfect unison "To Rose Potter!"