100 Themes Challenge

Theme: Celebration

Character(s): James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin

Celebration

"Cheers. To James!" Sirius laughed, raising his glass of fire whiskey. Remus lifted his glass and James rolled his eyes. James was still a little pale, but he was gaining some color back.

"So do you know what it is yet?" Remus questioned after the men had taken a drink of their drinks.

James shook his head, "Lily keeps telling me it's too early to tell. The Healers won't know much for a little while."

"Who would have thought James Potter would be a father?" Sirius shook his head mockingly. "Then again, no one thought you and Lily would finally get together either." That comment earned him a slight punch in the arm.

The three men were currently sitting at a table in the Leaky Cauldron. It was a bit late and a Tuesday, so it wasn't too crowded. James had told his two friends that he had some important news and had asked them to meet him at the pub. He had also invited Peter, but he was visiting his mother.

"How far along is Lily?" Remus asked the soon to be father.

"About a month, I think. Maybe less." He replied. About ten minutes passed of the three friends just talking before James said, "I don't think I can do this."

"Do what?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. It was unusual for James to admit he couldn't do something. Then again, he and James had grown up a bit since their Hogwarts days.

James gulped, "Be a dad."

"You'll do fine, James." Remus assured him.

"I dunno…maybe I'm not ready to have a kid. I mean, come on, we were pretty horrible-"

"We?"

"Fine, Sirius and me."

"Oi!" Sirius interjected.

"Well it's true Padfoot."

"And you call yourself my friend? I am highly insulted!"

Remus redirected the conversation, "James, you'll be fine. And remember you're not the only parent. Lily's going to be a mother."

"And you've got us!" Sirius reminded him with a huge smile, "I can't wait to see Peter's face the first time he has to change a diaper. Two galleons says he barfs."

"Maybe Lily and I should just leave the country." James mused with a twinkle in his eye, "Take the kid and run before you guys get a hold of him or her."

"What if it's twins?" Sirius pointed out. James paled again.

Remus sighed, "Stop scaring him Sirius. The Healers would have told you if twins were coming up, Prongs. Stop worrying so much."

"Parenting can't be that bad." Sirius shrugged, "It's probably like having a pet. Feed it, water it, play with it, and repeat. No big deal."

Remus and James shared a look before James said, "You're not babysitting. Ever."

"What? I'm serious. Damn, I meant I'm not joking!"

The three Marauders all fell into deep laughter at Sirius' unintended pun. By the end of the night, James was still a little hesitant about how he felt about his upcoming son or daughter. But it wasn't like he really had a choice. In eight to nine months, he'd be a father to a kid that had a brilliant mother and three wonderful uncles.

a/n: This one was fun to write. A bit humorous, in my opinion. I'm also pretty glad I didn't involve Pettigrew. Can't stand him! At first it was going to be about Harry winning a Quidditch game. Then it switched to Harry's first birthday. Then it changed to James Sirius Potter's birthday with his parents and siblings. Then I almost did the Marauders at Christmas. Finally I decided on this one!