AN: I'm proud to present you with the sequel to Different. Once again my mom was a great help to me even if she doesn't know it (I was angry at her and instead of spending the evening with my family I started writing). The chapters will probably longer than before and a lot more detailed. Love, Annabeth 3

Different Too

For Aletha Freeman-Black February 1. 1983 began relatively normal.

She woke up around 5 am to the baby kicking her bladder. After relieving herself she went to the kitchen to start some coffee. Then she returned to the bedroom to wake Sirius.

He grumbled and tried to swat her away but she threatened to unload a bucket of snow on him and he suddenly changed his mind about staying in bed.

Grinning, Aletha took some orange juice from the fridge and toast from the bread drawer. While she poured herself second glass Sirius entered the kitchen and attacked the coffee. When he was done with his first cup he smiled at her and went to the bathroom.

He came back twenty minutes later, dressed and ready for work. Before he left he kissed Aletha on the lips, stroked her belly and said good bye as he was opening the door.

She finished her breakfast and cleaned it up with a wave of her wand. Then she took a bath. Ever since she'd started gaining so much weight the bathtub was the only place she didn't feel like a mother whale. She loved her baby and she'd never really cared about her figure but dragging around an extra person was exhausting.

Lying in the warm water thinking about the little miracle she and Sirius had created, Aletha never even noticed when her water broke.

Lily Evans was organizing reports on sightings of magical creatures by muggles when she heard her name being shouted. She turned to see James running down the corridor. "Hi, James, what's wrong?" she asked when she saw the faint panic in his eyes. "Letha's in labour." He gasped out obviously having run through half the Ministry.

"Well, then what are we still doing here? Wait, have you contacted everyone?"

James shook his head and answered. "Snape doesn't know yet but he's at Saint Mungo's anyway." He grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's go."

Severus Snape was sitting in the waiting room with Remus, Pettigrew and Kassandra when Lily fell out of the fireplace followed by Potter. He got up and started quietly talking to Lily. "Aletha's fine, Black's more than nervous than Pettigrew before exams and the baby's in a hurry. Any questions?" She smiled and shook her head. Together they sat down to wait.

Sirius Black was staring at his newborn daughter in awe. She was sleeping with her fist beside her head, her mouth in a little 'Oh'. She was beautiful.

He heard the door open and turned to see James walk toward him followed by the rest of their friends.

Before anyone could ask Aletha said, "It's a girl and her name is Pandora. It means gift of the gods." She smiled exhaustedly.

"James, we've discussed this at length and we'd like you to be her godfather. We won't name anyone godmother since you're single but I think you'll all be around her so much that she'll regard you all as family. Yes, even you, Snape." Sirius added when he saw the look on Snape's face. He hid a grin when he saw Lily's elbow hit Snape's ribs.

Suddenly Pandora started crying and James picked her up before Sirius had a chance and started to murmur something quietly. It was inaudibly to everyone in the room but it seemed to soothe the baby. She snuggled against James' chest and he sat down on a chair by the window, never taking his eyes off the child in his arms.

"Wow." Aletha whispered. Everyone nodded and they watched James for a few more moments before Kassandra asked Peter something, Severus started talking to Aletha and Lily, and Remus teased Sirius about his nervousness.

Later when they were sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace, Lily said to Severus, "You love her, don't you?"

"Who?" he asked. She nudged him and he nudged back. "You mean Pandora?" he felt her nod against his shoulder. "Never."

He was startled when Lily laughed. "It seems that some things never change." She grinned up at him. Then she sat up and said soberly, "But we all have changed. James isn't such an arrogant prat anymore. Remus has learned to have some fun. Peter's never been this confident and independent. Aletha can see the fun in some of what Sirius does and Sirius can see that rules aren't completely pointless. I learned to let my friends fight their own battles instead of constantly stepping in. And you, Severus, you're different too. You're a good Healer, you laugh more and you have true friends. I love you." For a minute neither of them moved, eyes still locked on each other.

"Did you know that I hate it when you're right?" Severus asked into the silence. Lily nodded, grinning.

They went back to watching the fire in silence.

Suddenly Severus sat up, nearly pushing Lily off the couch. "Why don't we get married? I mean, we love each other, we're engaged, we've been living together for six years and we both have steady jobs. Let's just do it."

"You're not one to rush into anything, Severus. Why the hurry?"

He shrugged. She sighed.

"I'm tired. We can talk about this in the morning." Then she got up and went to the bedroom. He sighed and followed her.

PS: I'm not really sure about the ending but I sort of want the wedding over with. And besides, they're going to be too distracted with other things to plan a wedding for a while. Suggestions are welcome! See you next time.