Hey guys! =] Thank you so much for all the amazing reception! I swear, I don't think I've had so many Story Alerts or Favorite adds in a twnety-four hour period! You're all awesome! Anyway, I'm trying to make Sirius as British as possible, so...yeah. I'm pretty sure I'm just making him sound confused as to his Nationality, but oh well. I'm doing my best. Reviews make me happy. I love you all! x]

~Ouaysis.

Just as promised, Lily and I went shopping that afternoon, dragging James along with us. I was thankful that none of us had Auror Training that day. Remus and Peter were both coming over to James and Lily's house later for dinner, where I would tell them about Emilia.

"What about this?" I asked, picking up a flowery bag.

"She already has a nappy bag, Sirius." Lily said, lifting the strap of the bag hanging on her shoulder. I sighed and put my head back.

"What are we looking for? This is hopeless. I'm going to be a horrible father!" I looked down at Emilia, whose little head was searching her surroundings in curiosity. Her tiny body felt fragile in my arms, but I didn't know what to do. What was I supposed to do? I couldn't just give her away. No, my heart was already too entrapped in Emilia's sweet, innocent smile and gentle eyes. But could I do this? I wasn't sure that I could. Lily put her arms out for Emilia and reluctantly I handed her my daughter.

"I'll go find some clothes. You and James find a pushchair. Sound good?"

I nodded solemnly and then headed for the correct aisle with James at my side. Once we got there I raked both hands through my hair and took a deep breath. Dropping my hands I looked over at James.

"What am I going to do, James?" I asked, shaking my head. For a moment James said nothing. But then he slowly turned to me, a mischievous grin spreading over his face.

"We're going to do as Lily says and find a pushchair." Without warning James started toward the pushchairs strapped to the shelves. He looked around to make sure we were alone before pulling out his wand and muttering a spell, tapping the straps. Next thing I knew, James had two baby pushchairs on the ground, standing innocently in front of us. A smile spread over my lips when I realized what he was up to.

James gestured to the pushchair.

"You first, mate."

I laughed and shook my head before sitting on top it the best I could.

"Ready, Padsie?"

I nodded, gripping the sides of the pushchair. "Ready, Prongs."

James took hold of the top of the pushchair and started forward in a run.

"Turn, turn!" I shouted, laughing when James turned sharply and nearly dumped me out. Several Muggle customers stared at us with wide eyes as they jumped out of James' way, but I didn't care. After a few more minutes I switched places with James and headed back to the other pushchairs.

"Out of the way!" I shouted, barreling down the aisle. I was aware that an employee was running after me, yelling that the pushchairs were for children only but I just pumped my legs faster. A small boy laughed when he saw us, his mother shouting in surprise and pulling him closer to her side. When we arrived back at the pushchair aisle the disgruntled employee was panting and shouting at us at the same time.

"Can't use pushchairs! – For children! – I'll have you thrown out! – No more! –"

James and I stood side by side, nodding with solemn faces and trying not to laugh our heads off.

"Yes, sir. I apologize. My friend's a little excited at the moment. He just learned he's going to be a father, you know." James said. "I promise, good sir, that there will be no more incidents. I guarantee it."

The stout man squinted at us a moment before nodding curtly and stalking away. He shot us one last, suspicious look before disappearing behind a corner. James and I exchanged looks before bursting into laughter. Looking around, I noticed a display of pool noodles at the end of one of the aisles. I glanced at James before running over and grabbing two. Handing one to James, I took a pram and backed it up to the end of the aisle.

"Brilliant!" James exclaimed, following my example.

"Ready?" I asked, preparing my noodle. James nodded and at the same time we started to advance. After several meters we both jumped on to the pushchairs, which continued to speed down the aisle. As James approached I extended my noodle and he did the same. The noodles completely missed and the pushchairs lost control. The sound of snapping plastic and mine and James' shouts filled the air as the pushchairs collided and sent us both flying.

I landed on the cold ground with an umph! I laid there for a moment or two before sitting up, laughter rumbling through my chest. Across from me James was laughing as well.

"James!" Lily's voice came from the other side of the pushchairs. Going silent, James and I turned to look at each other. Then we both burst into laughter again, putting our heads back.

"What on earth happened here?" Lily demanded. Looking up, I saw Lily holding Emilia on one hip, an arm wrapped around her. A basket of clothes was looped through the other. Somehow she still managed to put her hands on her hips as she glared at her husband.

"Care to explain?" She asked as James stood up and brushed himself off. I did the same, still chuckling.

James shrugged. "I was helping Sirius get his mind off things."

I nodded and clapped James on the back. "Thanks for that mate."

Lily rolled her eyes and handed Emilia to James. I pulled out my wand and pointed it at first one pram and then the other, muttering, "Repairo". The plastic sealed itself back together and the two pushchairs were once again good as new. Then I put them back on display and picked one that looked reasonably fun for Emilia.

When I returned to the spot Lily and James were standing James handed me Emilia. My heart felt a little heavy knowing that I was mostly on my own. At the end of the day, Lily and James would be at home and it would just be me and Emilia. I sighed and kissed Emilia's soft forehead. I couldn't help but smile at the way she wrapped her tiny infant fingers around my index finger. I peered over Emilia's head at Lily and James.

Lily shook her head. "I swear, you two are worse than children! I can't take you anywhere. We better get out of here before you find the toy section. God knows what you would do over there."

I grinned over at James, who rolled his eyes and pointed at Lily's back. "Killjoy," he mouthed with a shake of his head.

"I saw that," Lily said without looking back. The look on James's face was priceless. I snorted and shook my head.

"You should know by now that she sees and hears everything, Prongs." I said, inclining my head towards Lily.

James sighed. "Some of us never learn. You going to be alright?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Me? You kidding? It'll take more than a baby to keep me down."

James slid his hands into his pockets but didn't say anything. I was grateful. An hour later I had all of my purchases stacked in the spare room that was now Emilia's. With a wave of my wand and a mental charm, the baby cot came out of its box and started to assemble itself. Then with a sigh I looked down at the instructions Lily had written.

If she starts to cry, check her diaper.

If it smells, change it.

If not, try to feed her.

Don't leave her alone in range of things she can put in her mouth.

In fact, it's best if you just don't leave her alone at all unless it in her cot.

Contact me if you have any other questions.

Lily.

I looked over at the chair Emilia was asleep in. She looked so peaceful laying there, her small chest rising and falling gently, her fist balled up and in her mouth. A small smile twitched at the side of my mouth. I leaned against the doorjamb and crossed my arms over my chest. I wasn't ready for this, but what choice did I have? She was my daughter. That thought hit me hard. It was still a crazy thought, a nearly impossible notion. Yet it was true. I was a father and I was now solely responsible for the tiny life that I had helped to create. Pushing away from the jamb I crossed the room to my mantle.

Silently I reached for one of the pictures framed there. Looking down at it I traced the face of Dani with my thumb gently. She smiled and laughed up at me from behind the glass. My chest constricted and I closed my eyes. I was such a fool. I'd refused to tell her I loved her when I had. I still did. It had been over a year but the beautiful features and mesmerizing eyes of Danielle Wilson still haunted me, especially on nights when I laid sleepless in my bed. I cursed myself for letting her slip away just because I was too scared and proud to say three stupid words out loud.

I put the photo back and gathered Emilia into my arms, careful to not wake her. Then I cradled her in my arms, sat down in the chair, and looked down at her. Closing my eyes, I put my head back against the head rest. Before I knew it, I was joining my daughter in the comforting realm of sleep. I woke up to the sound of Emilia starting to cry. Groaning, I opened my eyes.

"Shhh." I said, rubbing her back gently. "It's okay, I'm here."

I could tell she didn't need a diaper change and I was grateful for that. And Lily had just fed her an hour ago, so I didn't think that was it either. But I stood up and made a warm bottle anyway. Emilia turned her head each time I tried to put the plastic thing in her mouth.

"Come on baby, drink it. What wrong?" I asked, bouncing her up and down gently in my arms. She was in full-on scream mode now. I sighed and started to walk around, bouncing and shushing. Still, Emilia screamed. I wondered if babies knew when their mother's left, never to return. I had a feeling that they did. By now Emilia had to sense that her mother wasn't going to come back for her like she no doubt had assumed Dani would.

As a last ditch effort I started to sing to her. By no means was my singing voice wonderful. But I remembered James' mother saying something about babies liking it when people sang to them. My voice wasn't horrible, though it was in no way the best. Just when I thought she would never stop Emilia started to calm down. Her screams went down in volume until it was just a small whimpering.

"Shhh. See, it's okay. Daddy has you now. Did you have a bad dream?"

I looked over at the clock on my wall and realized that it was a good thing Emilia had woken up, because if not I might have been late for dinner tonight. Once Emilia was calmed down I took her to her room and found one of the nice outfits that Lily had bought earlier that day. It was a lot more difficult to dress a baby then I had ever imagined. Every time I thought I had it on, Emilia moved and I had to start all over again. Eventually though, I got it on and then took Emilia into my own room so that I could change. I sat her down on the bed, handing her a toy from the ground. She watched me intently with her small little eyes as I changed my pants and shirt.

Thirty minutes later I was all set; Emilia's nappy bag was packed with everything I might need and Emilia and I were both dressed and ready. I picked her up off of the bed and then looked down at my daughter. She gripped my shirt in her tiny fist and her eyes were bright with curiosity. I couldn't help but notice they were the same color as her mum's, though her brown hair was dark like mine. Pain stabbed at my chest as I thought how she'd been in this world for five months already and I'd never known.

I sighed and jiggled Emilia in my arms. "You ready, baby?" I asked. I wasn't so sure I was. She babbled, so I assumed she was saying yes. Then I took a deep breath and spun on the spot, Apparating to James and Lily's house. I appeared with a little pop in the living room, where Remus and Peter were already seated. Remus frowned at me when he noticed Emilia.

"Who's the kid, Sirius?" He asked, and Peter looked just as curious. James turned around the corner, joining us in the living room. Moments later Lily also appeared, wiping her hands on a dish towel. James and Lily looked at me expectantly while Remus and Peter both stared. I dropped the bag to the floor and glanced nervously down at Emilia.

"This," I said, gesturing to Emilia with my free hand, "is Emilia….my daughter."

Peter choked on the drink he'd just put to his lips and Remus stared at me incredulously.

"Your what?" Remus demanded.

"My daughter," I repeated uncomfortably. I shifted Emilia in my arms, wrapping both arms around her small body for comfort.

"What the hell, Sirius? Since when do you have a kid?" Peter asked.

"Danielle showed up at my house this morning and said she was going back to the States—and that she couldn't take Emilia with her."

"So she dumped the kid on you?"

I scowled. "She didn't 'dump' Emilia on me. But yes, I'm taking care of her now."

Why was I defending Danielle? Peter was right—she had dumped Emilia on me. Somehow, I couldn't find the will in me to be mad at her. I was scared out of my mind, sure. But I also saw a beautiful opportunity in raising my daughter. Given the choice to go back and relive those moments, I would do everything the same. A smile snuck up on me as I looked down at my baby. Because that what she was—my baby. There was no better feeling in the world than the one you get from parenthood. Still, if the the look on my friends' faces, was any indication, this wasn't going to be easy.

Remus shook his head. "Wow…this is crazy. How're you holding up?"

I sighed and handed Emilia to Lily, who held her hands out for her.

"It's a lot to take in, but I'm dealing."

James came up beside me and slapped my shoulder.

"You'll be fine, Padfoot."

"Thanks," I mumbled. Lily saved me from further embarrassment by announcing that dinner was ready. I didn't ask where she'd got the high chair Emilia was sitting in, banging her fists against the plastic tray. I just sat down beside her and smiled.

Thankfully dinner passed as it normally did, filled with conversation and laughs. I'd secretly been afraid that Remus and Peter would take the news harder. But now I knew I shouldn't have worried about anything: Remus and Peter were my friends, and friends stuck together. Even though the news was shocking and unexpected, after a while everything would settle down.

Suddenly Emilia screamed loudly in an attention-seeking kind of way. Everyone went silent and looked over at her. She laughed and forced air out of her cheeks and through her lips, making noise. I shook my head and rubbed my finger up and down her soft cheek.

"I think she's a lot like you, Sirius." Peter said. "Always wanting to be the center of attention."

I rolled my eyes and tossed a piece of meat off of my plate at him. Peter dodged it but we both were grinning.

"Before you lot start a food fight, James and I have something to tell you." Lily said, standing up. James grinned and stood up as well, nodding eagerly. He wrapped an arm around Lily's waist as we all looked up expectantly at them. The room was filled with silence except for Emilia's babbling until Remus broke it.

"Well?" He asked. James and Lily looked at each other and James nodded again. When they turned their attention back to us they were both beaming.

"I'm pregnant!" Lily announced in a rush, a smile turning up her lips. A smile spread across my own lips and I stood up, hugging Lily and then James, who was practically glowing with happiness and pride.

"Congrats, mate." I told him.

"Thanks," James said with a ridiculous smile on his face. I shook my head.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me earlier."

"I wanted to, but Lily insisted that we tell everyone together. And then this morning you showed up with Emilia."

I turned to Lily, who was beaming.

"Congratulations, Lilykins. You're probably mad at me for beating you to parenthood, huh?"

Lily laughed and shrugged. "Honesty Sirius, I'm surprised this hasn't happened earlier."

I rolled my eyes and punched her in the arm lightly. I couldn't say that I agreed with her. I'd never really thought about that kind of thing at school. I never thought about becoming a father, not this early. But here I was, with a daughter I wasn't sure how to take care of. I had to admit that I was a little scared at the prospect of being responsible for another person, especially one so small and dependent on me. Looking over at Emilia I knew that now I had her, no one was ever going to take her away from me.