Smile
A baby usually smiles properly for the first time between six and eight weeks. That is, then is when they first respond to people smiling at them, and through a process of mirror neurons and reflexes, they smile back. Before then, they might smile randomly and in their sleep, as no reflection of their emotion, but simply because it is instinctive and innate. A baby born blind will still smile even though they have not seen it themselves. Despite this, however, despite knowing that it is only a reflex and nothing more, it could still give a parent no more joy when they first see their baby's smile.
The new-born slept in Marlene's arms and Marlene couldn't tear her eyes away, other than for a brief few seconds as her husband settled next to her on the hospital bed, put an arm around her and leant his chin on her shoulder where they both could gaze at their daughter.
"She's so beautiful," Stevie said softly, breaking a silence that wasn't really there with all the other babies and families in the maternity ward.
"She's so little," Marlene replied. "She's too little."
Stevie shook his head. "No, she's perfect. Healthy, beautiful and ours."
Marlene wasn't going to argue with that and they settled back into a comfortable silence. This was interrupted again soon after with the opening of the door. Lily poked her head around the door and Marlene smiled up at her, beckoning her over. The bed was quickly surrounded, four Marauders with uncharacteristically soppy smiles and each of their girlfriends cooing over the little girl.
"Lil, you're godmother," Marlene said without any pre-amble. Everyone paused and looked at Marlene.
"She is?" Stevie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Lena, thank-you," Lily said slowly, clearly trying to stop herself from squealing. She broke out into a grin, gave Marlene a quick kiss on the forehead and then did the same to the baby.
"Of course she is," Marlene said to Stevie, passing the baby to Lily. "You got to pick Andrew for godfather, did you not?"
Sirius pouted. James took one look at his expression and snorted. "Like they'd pick you. Who'd want you to be a godfather?"
Sirius grinned. "You."
"I don't need a godfather, I'm eighteen."
"I bet ten galleons you won't pick me as your first child's godfather."
Lily's eyes widened. James smiled smugly. "Deal," he shook Sirius' hand. "I'd go for Moony anyway. He's the most responsible of us."
Sirius smirked "Better get that money ready, Potter."
Lily groaned and James looked at her in confusion. "What...?"
"You don't listen, do you?"
James paused and thought back over the conversation. Sirius bet that he wouldn't pick him as... wouldn't. "You..." he spun to face his laughing best friend, leaving his sentence unfinished when Marlene hissed at him. He shrugged. "You're right, I probably would go for you anyway."
Sirius punched the air, ignoring the amused looks he was getting off Meg and Lily.
Remus chuckled, now holding the baby. He looked at her square in the face, though she still slept. "Uncle Sirius is stupid, isn't he?" he told her. "But he'll realise what he's just done eventually."
Sirius looked at Remus suspiciously. "Stop talking to the baby and hand her over," he demanded at length. He softened once she was in his arms. "What are you going to call her?" he asked. Marlene shrugged.
"We thought she was going to be a boy. All our names are boy names," Stevie explained.
"What names did you have?" Lily asked. "You might be able to go for a female version."
"Alvin and Harry and then we considered Taylor, because it was my mother's maiden name."
"Alvin?" Sirius handed the baby to James, having nearly dropped her.
"It's my uncle's name," Marlene said, sounding a little offended.
"Harry's a nice name," Lily mused. She caught James' eye and he looked down at the baby in his arms.
"It wouldn't suit her," he said sincerely, and then he mouthed the words Harry Potter, trying them for size.
"Just steal our name, sure," Marlene said reaching up to get James to give her back her daughter.
"I wasn't!" he said indignantly. "Just... You do realise that Taylor's a unisex name, right?"
"Like Elvendork," Sirius added helpfully. James chuckled.
"Taylor Marlene McKinnon," Stevie said, running a hand lightly over the baby's head.
"I like it," Marlene said. "I like Harry James Potter as well," she added, looking meaningfully at Lily.
"We're not having any children yet," Lily said with a smile, idly playing with her engagement ring.
"Taylor," repeated Marlene, looking down at the girl. The baby let out a small sigh, a smile forming on her lips, before she gurgled and her eyes slowly opened. "I think she likes it too."
The group all smiled at that one tiny girl, so sure that Taylor could have a good life to look forward to, despite the war.
"Oh, no," Sirius groaned, slapping his hand to his forehead. "Did I just agree to pay to be a godfather?"
