Thanks to Harrylee94, Alethea27, Jordina, Laurena1234, HughSoSexy, Scotty77, RavenclawBabe, OnyxEmerald, Phantom-Menace-of-Hogwarts, Blueowl, Deno91 and LadyElena17 for the nice reviews! I've never had quite this many reviews, so thank you, honest! I really appreciate you all taking the time to leave a comment. They were all encouraging!

Lily's not going to be pregnant any time soon, promise.

Scotty and RavenclawBabe and others: No, they won't be more than friends, at least not any time soon. It wouldn't be realistic (even for a fantasy story) to think they automatically make up and sleep together, so I agree with both of you.

*Cleaning up my chapters, but this is not the newly edited version yet so may still have a few typos/errors.

Chapter 11: Christmas Eve Fiasco

Christmas Eve 1981

Lily came in the door with Harry, taking off her and Harry's snow laden coats. Harry was running circles around her. "Stay still." She let out a huff.

"So, how was the visit? Did he give Harry fleas?" He sneered. Lily turned to the living room where Severus was sitting.

"No, instead he gave Harry plenty of candy and sugar, by the spoonful." She said this with a grumble. "I could kill him. Now he won't calm down. He's been running up walls." She paused. "Literally." Her frustration with Black made him smirk.

"Typical Black. I'm sure he wants a spoiled kid like him and Potter."

"Well, I don't want a spoiled brat for a child. I told him Harry could have one piece of candy, one! Apparently Sirius can't count and gave him ten pieces. 10 pieces! And then the git gave Harry plain sugar, straight sugar by the spoonful. He said Harry had two spoonfuls, but I could tell he was lying. I know he gave him more. Completely disobeyed my orders."

"Well, to be fair Sirius never did play by the rules."

"Well, I don't care for direct disobedience about how I want my child raised. If he has a child he can raise it however he wants to, but I am not listening to his nonsense on how he thinks I should raise James's son. That's how he worded it too, as James's son." She crossed her arms in anger. "He is my son and he never had a say on how either of us were going to rear Harry, ever! The nerve of the man!" She grumbled. "Look at him! Look what he did to him!" She pointed at Harry, who was running up and down the hallway from the front door to the back door, over and over.

Severus pursed his lips. He was trying not to laugh at the situation, but he couldn't help it. He thought she was cute when she was mad, particularly when she was mad at someone else and even more so when she was mad at Black. Lily mad at Sirius made his day. He smiled at Lily.

"And what may I ask is so funny."

"Sorry, Lily. It's just that this is the first time I've seen you mad at someone else in a long time. I love that is it Black that you are angry with, the git deserves it." He wasn't about to tell her the real reason he was smiling. Perhaps he would at some point, but not any time soon. He didn't want to scare her off. He was enjoying the friendship again and they had been getting along fairly well so far.

"Well, I," Lily was speechless for a moment. "Yes, he does deserve it." She grabbed the presents Black and Lupin and a few others had sent and set the packages under the tree. She stood up and admired the tree.

Lily smiled. "It's beautiful. Thanks again for letting me put up a tree."

"You've thanked me about a dozen times and a dozen times I've told you it was nothing really. You kept hinting you wanted one. You are the guest and I want you be happy here. Who know how long you will be staying."

She sighed. "Yes, and I appreciate all the help. You've really gone out of your way to make us feel at ease and I am grateful for that."

"Well, I don't want to make you miserable. It can be a bit dull around here."

"No, it's fine. I know it can't make life any easier for you, hiding us and also pretending to be a spy for the thing that's after Harry."

"I can hide quite a bit from the Dar-You-Know-Who, sorry." He corrected himself at Lily's look.

"I know." She looked at the tree again. "It's just very kind of you. Even though you don't care much for the holidays."

"It's just another day to me. It's never been very special. It was always was for you though, so it's the least I could do."

"I just want Harry to have a good Christmas." She sighed and looked at Harry, who was playing with blocks on the floor. He was stacking them up and then knocking them down wildly.

"Yes, well, I guess he should have one. I hope you do too." He was now standing beside her in front of the tree.

"It will be difficult. I know we weren't together long. Just a little over three years, but still, we spent the last three Christmases together. Our first Christmas together was right after we married. It was not so good because I was pregnant and very sick. He was only 4 months old last year. This is Harry's first real Christmas. We were hoping to start some nice traditions with him." Severus really didn't like to hear about the two of them together, but he always pretended to listen anyway.

"Well, you still can."

"Yeah, but things just seem so bleak. James is gone. The war is still going on. More muggles have been killed. The Death Eaters destroyed an office building." She looked at him. His expression was sullen. "Sorry, I keep forgetting you are one, sort of."

"I didn't know what they were doing. I wasn't with Travers. It was The Dark Lord," She gave him a reproachful look. "I mean You-Know-Who, sorry, Lils, bad habit." She gave a small smile. "It was his and Travers idea."

"But the muggles weren't doing anything. I just don't get it. It's an act of terrorism, that's what it is." She sat on the couch.

"Basically, yes, but more eugenics."

"Yes and I'm part of what he wants gone." He swallowed hard.

"Despite what I called you and despite what you think, I never would have harmed you, ever." She gave a curt nod.

"I believe you." She sighed. "I just want it end."

"Me too, Lils, me too." He sighed and sat in the chair across from her. She was watching the tree. He couldn't help but notice the sadness in her eyes. Harry had walked over to the tree and taken a bulb off without notice. He raised his arm as if ready to throw it.

"No!" Lily said to him, suddenly realizing what her son was doing. "We don't throw. Put it back please." He looked at her and put his hand down.

"No!" He said back.

"That's right. Put it back." He set it down. "Thank you." He turned back to the tree and attempted to take another ornament off it. Lily got up, took it out of his hands and put it up higher in the tree. She then put him on the couch with her. He fussed. "You are being awful feisty today, you know that? Damn Black." She muttered the last words, but Severus heard and curled his lip. Lily damning Black was music to his ears.

"Want it!" He cried.

"No, they aren't toys." She grabbed some books. "Here, look at these." He took one and started to flip through the pages. She rubbed her temple, her head was pounding. "I have a headache."

"Well, you did spend the morning at Black's. He always gives me a bad headache too. I think it's his presence. He just makes people ill." She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "There's a headache potion in the lab. I can get it for you if you want."

"No, I'll get it. He's been cutting more teeth. I think that's part of the reason he's being so cranky today, besides the sugar." The last words rolled off her tongue like venom at the reminder. "I want to get his teething ring." She got up.

"Fourth shelf, fifth from the left, I think. It's labeled anyway." She nodded and left the room. Severus grabbed one of his potions books on the table and began to read. Lily came back in shortly. She handed Harry a cold teething ring.

"I think I'm going to go lay down for awhile. Can you keep an eye on Harry?" He looked up.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I just need to lay down for a bit."

"Alright, let me know if you need anything." She smiled and gave a nod before turning to Harry, who was looking at the book still. "He'll be fine." He said, sensing her apprehension. She nodded again and turned for the stairs. Severus watched her go before turning to Harry. He hadn't noticed she left and was looking at the images with excitement.

"Bear!" He exclaimed, pointing to an image in the picture book. Severus turned to his book once more. The kid was fine.

It was less than ten minutes later when he heard the creaking of the front gate. He set his book down and peered out the curtain. The snow was getting thicker, but he recognized two figures coming up his walk. The Malfoys. Of course they would come now because right now was a really bad time. He looked over at Harry. He had to do something quick. He jumped up and grabbed Harry, who seemed confused. He started to fuss. "Shh." He put his finger to his lips.

"Shh." Harry mimicked.

"Yes, we must be quiet." He gathered Harry's toys and stuffed them in their box fast and bolted up the stairs. He entered one of the spare rooms he had turned into a room for Lily and Harry. Lily was sound asleep. He put Harry on the floor with a coloring book and crayons. "Stay quiet." He shut the door as the doorbell rang. He put a charm on the room to silence it. Severus couldn't have Lucius and Narcissa know about Lily being here. All their lives were at stake if caught.

The doorbell rang again. He headed down the stairs. "Coming!" He shouted and pointed his wand to the toy box, waving it behind the tree. He started to open the door and noticed the booster seat in the kitchen. He banished it and opened the door.

"Afternoon, Lucius. Narcissa. And Draco." They had their baby with them.

"Afternoon, Severus." Lucius responded coldly, looking at his place with a bit of disgust. Ever the snob, thought Severus.

"Well, come in." Severus gestured them inside. They entered and he shut the door. "Well, can I get you all anything?"

"Oh, no thank you." Narcissa said with a small smile. She set Draco down.

"I am fine." Lucius said. It was then he remembered why they were here. He had said he would watch his godson for a couple hours while Lucius and Narcissa went the Holiday Ball. He resisted the urge to smack his forehead. How could he of all people forget?

"Just great." He thought to himself. "Now I have two toddlers to keep an eye on."

"Well, here's a bag of toys and things for Draco. I packed him some snacks and stuff. I just changed him before we came so he should be fine for awhile. I packed some potions and a dropper just in case he gets ill, but I hope not. His favorite blanket is in the bag too. He won't sleep without it."

"He'll be fine, Narcissa." Lucius said. "Don't baby him."

"He is a baby, Lucius." Severus sighed mentally. Why had he agreed to this again? Oh, yeah, because he was the boy's godfather and because he figured Lily would be nearby to help. After all, Draco was just a bit older than Harry.

"Okay, then." She gave Draco a kiss and took a deep breath. "We should be back by 11." She walked out the door. "I hope he won't be too much trouble for you." They left. Draco was looking around the room. Severus figured he ought to check on Harry. He hoped he hadn't woken Lily up. He left Draco and went upstairs.

Severus found Harry scribbling on the dresser to his horror. He bit back the urge to lose his temper. Lily was still asleep and he wouldn't dare wake her. He snatched Harry and proceeded to leave the room. Before he did, he took one last look at Lily. He couldn't help but think she was just as beautiful as always. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and shut the door. At the top of the steps, he saw Draco fumbling up the stairs. He walked down and snatched Draco up. This was going to a longer evening than the night when he watched Lily's kid. Now he had the Potter and Malfoy brats to keep an eye on without any help from Lily.

He set both boys down in the living room. Harry took a ball from his toy box and rolled it around. Draco took it from Harry. "Mine!" He shouted. Harry started to cry. Severus collapsed onto his chair. He felt a headache coming on and rubbed his temple. He really hoped Lily would be up soon and feeling better.

"Can anything in my life ever be simple" He pondered. "No, why ruin the gods' fun?" The fates always seemed to mock him and were probably having a good laugh. All Severus wanted was some whiskey, liquor, any type of strong drink really. He had a long evening ahead of him.

A/N: Draco may be spoiled in the canon (and here too), but his behavior is actually typical of 18-month-olds. Everything and I mean everything, is "mine" to them. I'm sure at least some of the readers know this, but the note is for those who don't. Kids always have problems sharing. ; )