Sirius had managed to get out of work, and arrived outside the hospital just in time to see Lily and James kiss. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a photographer from the Daily Prophet taking pictures and everyone in the street gathering round, and all the while Lily and James seemed completely oblivious to all of this.
"Come on, you need to get out of here," said Sirius under his breath to Lily, taking hold of her arm. He glanced at James coldly. "Follow if you must."
Sirius apparated to just outside his flat with Lily. His flat was protected by the Auror department, so it would take everyone, including Claudia, a while to find out where it was and that Lily was staying with him. Sure enough, James apparated right next to them.
"What the hell was all that?" Sirius asked Lily. He wasn't angry with her; he knew she couldn't help it, but she could have at least been smart about it. She didn't have to make out with him in the middle of the street.
"Uh… I… I'm not sure," said Lily still in a state of shock.
"I'm leaving Margo, I am. Lily is having my baby and I'm hoping she'll take me back and we can be a family," said James calmly, looking straight at Lily, aching to touch her but he feared Sirius would kick his ass if he tried.
"Yeah right," said Sirius harshly.
"I'm serious. I love Lily and I don't care what Margo or my mother does to me anymore," said James, feeling more alive than he had felt in years. He cautiously reached to touch Lily but Sirius blocked him.
"You want to get anywhere near her, you know what you have to do," said Sirius dangerously.
"But…" said James desperately. It had all happened so fast... he just needed to talk to Lily, to hold her.
"No buts. I am not going to let you near her if you're just going to hurt her again. So file for divorce and then…we'll see," said Sirius grimly, leading Lily into the flat.
"But…" said Lily, looking back at James.
"I'm doing this to protect you, if you're right about him, I'll support both of you and help," said Sirius, and they both knew he meant it. If the old James was back, then nobody was happier than he was about it. But he couldn't risk Lily getting her heart broken again, he didn't think she could take it.
"Okay," said Lily quietly. He was looking out for her, she knew that. But it was hard; she had to talk to James and make sure he had been serious.
"I'll be back in twenty minutes, I promise," said James, looking Lily dead in the eye.
"Okay," Lily said breathlessly, watching him take off down the hall with a hopeful smile on her face.
-------------------------------------------------------
Sure enough, twenty minutes later somebody rang Sirius' doorbell. Sirius got up to answer it, Lily followed hovering in the living room doorway. He opened the door and before he could say anything James shoved a pile of papers at him, and walked right over to Lily. He stood in front of her out of breath having run to the ministry and back.
"Can I…?" he asked uncertainly, his hand reaching out to stroke her cheek.
She nodded her head tearfully and in a second she was enveloped in his strong, loving arms. He was stroking her hair, treasuring the feeling of finally holding her again.
"You actually filed for divorce," said Sirius, reading the papers James had flung at him with a surprised smile.
"I said I would," said James, looking down at Lily who had pulled out of his embrace.
"But still… I didn't think you would actually do it," said Sirius, scrutinizing the papers to make sure they were genuine.
"I was completely serious about everything I said before," he said, gazing intently at Lily.
"Um…" said Lily, chewing her bottom lip.
"I know this is going to be hard, but I am going to protect you from as much of it as I can," said James forcefully, holding onto her shoulders.
"I'll… just give you some privacy," mumbled Sirius as he went into his room.
"This will get out and it will get messy, I can promise you that. My family are going to do everything they can to keep us apart, but they wouldn't be able to not if we don't let them. Not if we stick together, and love each other the way I know we do." James hands went from her shoulder to her cheeks again. "I guess I just need to know if you think I'm worth the hassle?"
"You won't let them send me away or take my baby?" asked Lily quietly.
James had never hated himself more than he did in that moment. What sort of person had he become, that woman he loved needed reassurance that she wouldn't be forced out of her home or that he would take their child from her? What had he done?
"I won't, I promise. I am going to be right by your side, raising our baby with you together. If they send you to Mongolia then I'll come with you… but I'm not going to let that happen. I promise you."
"Okay." She didn't look sure.
"Do you believe me?" he asked, holding his breath.
"I believe you love me and you'll love this baby," said Lily slowly. "I believe that you mean what you say. But I also know that your mother has this powerful hold over you and that scares me because you let her drive me and your best friends away. I don't know what she'll do and I don't know how you'll react. I want to think that you'll stand up to her, but nothing in the past has made me think that that is what you'll actually do."
"Will you give me the chance to show you?" said James sadly.
"Yes," Lily whispered, smiling gently. "Of course. I don't think I'll ever really give up on you."
James smiled and pulled her close to him, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"I won't let you down," James said, feeling happier than he'd ever felt in his life. "I promise."
