'I'll get the dishes, love,' said James, scooping up her plate in one fluid movement.

'Thank you,' Lily said as he went into the kitchen. She slid a book from the new bookshelf (that James and Sirius had installed earlier by hand, after several fruitless hours of trying to do it the magical way) and sat back down, propping her feet up on James's abandoned chair.

For a few minutes, the only sounds that could be heard in the Potter Manor were Lily turning pages and James whistling as he levitated dishes into the sink. Then -

'James?'

'Hmm?'

'What would you say if I told you I was pregnant?'

CRASH

'MERLIN'S ARSE!'

James poked his head out of the kitchen. 'What - what was that, dear?' he asked in a falsely cheery voice.

Lily surveyed him over the top of her book, and he was hit with a sudden memory of Professor McGonagall giving him the exact same look after catching him wandering the castle at night. 'I said, what would you say if I told you I was pregnant?'

James gaped at her. 'I - well, er - ' he spluttered.

'Just answer the question, darling,' said Lily sweetly, turning her attention back to her book.

'Er - is now the time to have a baby, sweetheart?' James asked nervously. 'What with the war and all - '

'Well, if I was already pregnant, what would you say?' Lily glanced back up at James, who fidgeted uncomfortably.

'Couldn't we talk about this later? I've got stuff to do - '

'James,' Lily said in a warning voice, and he mentally smacked himself. Warning-Lily-tone was never a good sign. 'It's a simple question. Just answer.'

He rubbed the back of his head. 'Well - er - I mean, I'd be glad, but - what - how?'

Lily smirked. 'I think you know how, darling.'

James turned a fantastic shade of red. 'That's not what I meant - just - '

She watched him floundering, an amused look on her face. 'If you've got something to say, just say it,' she said, grinning.

'Why do you want a baby, anyway?' James asked frantically.

He'd been hoping to change the subject, but by the look Lily gave him, he knew she knew what he was doing. 'I've always wanted children, you know that, James,' she said, raising an eyebrow.

He did? 'Of course I do,' he said smoothly. 'But now? There'll be plenty of time to have children after the war ends,' he added hopefully.

'I suppose you're right, but - '

'Good!' James said, a little too exuberantly. She glared at him, but he had already begun to ramble. 'Good thing we don't have to worry about that for a while. Phew!'

'Well, actually - '

'Ha, can you imagine me as a dad?' he guffawed.

'I mean, you wouldn't be ter- '

'The poor kid would be scarred for life! Especially with Sirius around...why...why would you even ask something like that?' he snorted.

'Because I'm pregnant, James,' Lily snapped.

He froze mid-laugh, gaping at her. Now I've done it, he mentally cursed himself. I've really gone and done it now. Prepare for death, James Potter, your wife is about to kill you. Then the actual meaning of the statement hit him. 'You're...'

'Pregnant, yes.'

'We're...'

'Going to have a baby.'

'I'm...'

'Going to be a father, but honestly, James, if you can't even speak in full sentences I don't know how our child is ever going to learn how to - mmph!'

He had cut her off with a passionate kiss, but after a few seconds she pulled back. 'Are you trying to shut me up?' she asked with a playful smile.

'Er...yes?' He waited for her to slap him, and made a mental note to do it himself the next time he put his foot in his mouth.

But she just laughed. 'Well, carry on, then,' she said, and without a single complaint, he swept her back into his arms.