Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The song "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is by Mariah Carey and I do not, in any way, own it.

Let Me Be Your Downfall
Chapter Thirty-six: All I Want For Christmas Is You

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you

Humming quietly, Jamie paced the sitting room, Hannah in her arms and a bottle in one hand. Pausing slightly in front of the window, she watched as the snow fell lazily underneath the streetlamp across the street. She could also just barely make out the Muggle Christmas lights draped on a tree across the street. A small smile graced her lips. Christmas was certainly her favourite holiday – something that dated back to so many years before.

Jamie took a moment to muse at how much not just her life, but all of her friends' lives had changed so dramatically over the past year. Two couples were now married – one of them a family of three. She had lost her aunt and uncle and, obviously, James had lost both his parents. They were now making their way in the real world without Hogwarts to protect them. What more, the majority of them were in the midst of a war that many people weren't even aware was taking place.

Hannah suddenly hiccupped in her arms, jerking Jamie from her thoughts. Looking down, the young mother realized that the bottle was now empty. In one fluid motion that only comes with practice, Jamie managed to take the bottle out of Hannah's mouth and replace it with a pacifier before she even knew anything had happened.

After walking across the room, Jamie carefully placed her daughter into a carrying seat they'd received as a gift from her parents. She gingerly wrapped a soft blanket closer around Hannah, who was slowly drifting to sleep as her golden eyes struggled to stay open. Jamie watched her until she was completely gone before straightening up.

Releasing a small sigh, Jamie crossed her arms and stared at the Christmas tree Remus had surprised her with only a week prior. His mother had given them a whole score of ornaments – ones she swore Remus was in love with when he was younger. While he claimed it was untrue, he had still managed to tell Jamie a sentimental story about nearly every ornament before putting it on the tree. Smiling slightly at the memory, Jamie jumped when Remus called from the kitchen.

"You're awful quiet out there."

Jamie turned and widened her smile, looking at him over the half wall that separated the two rooms. He gave her a warm smile as he screwed the top on a bottle and placed it in the refrigerator. The two had asked their only wizarding neighbor, Magnolia Thresher, the older woman that lived across the street from them, to baby-sit while they went to Sirius and Jaclyn's flat for a small Christmas party. Once finished with the bottle, Remus turned back to Jamie, who had walked across the room and was leaning against the wall with her arms in front of her.

"Everything all right?" he asked, furrowing his brow slightly in concern.

Jamie smiled at him, tilting her head slightly. "Perfect."

"Are you sure?" Remus pressed, crossing the kitchen so he was in front of her with the half wall between them both. He put a hand on her cheek and ran his thumb gently across her soft skin.

"What could be wrong?" Jamie asked, meeting his eyes, letting her hand rest on his own.

"If I knew I wouldn't have asked," Remus joked, letting the fingers of his other hand run through her soft hair.

Jamie let her arms hang loosely at his hips and pulled him close. "Nothing is wrong," she promised. "I was just thinking about how much things have changed in only a year."

Remus chuckled, an arm wrapping tightly around her back and comfortingly rubbing her back. "They certainly have changed. What would you have said had I told you we'd be parents by now?"

"I'd have said you're nutters," Jamie said quite simply, smiling. "I can still hardly believe it, though."

"Neither can I," Remus admitted, pressing his lips against the top of his wife's head, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment before he straightened up again. "Now, come on," he said, backing away, but letting his arms rest on her upper arms. "Let's get ready, all right?"

"Peter, we're going to be late!" Lauren announced, knocking softly on the door to the bathroom in the flat she shared with him. "Is everything all right?"

"Just fine," Peter called back, staring at his reflection in the small mirror that hung above the sink in said bathroom. He glanced around the room for a moment before adding, "Just give me a few more minutes, all right?"

"Fine," Lauren sighed, walking away from the bathroom and into their bedroom.

Lauren hated being late and she knew that they were going to be. Sitting down on the bed she shared with Peter every night, she fell backwards, feeling her shirt slide up her stomach a bit but not caring enough to pull it back down. She knew she was pouting, but she didn't care. She also knew that he probably knew she was pouting, but that was her full intention. He knew how much she hated to be late.

Letting her head tilt, she stared at the window next to their bed. They couldn't afford curtains or, well, anything too extravagant for their flat, but she didn't really mind. Lauren loved knowing that she was living with Peter and that was enough for her – even if she'd never admit such things aloud, naturally.

"I'm sorry about that," Peter strode into the bedroom, looking more nervous that usual. "I just – are you all right?" he asked upon noticing her lying on the bed.

"Just fine," Lauren pulled herself into a sitting position, fixing her shirt and looking at him. "Are you ready to go?"

"In a few minutes - "

"Peter…"

"I need to talk to you about something first," he gave her a small smile, putting his hands up in protest.

"All right, fine," Lauren sighed, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall and seeing that they were nearly fifteen minutes late as it was. "What is it?"

Trying to push past the fact that she was deterring him slightly, Peter sat down on the bed next to Lauren. He turned his body to face her, his blue eyes meeting her brown. He swallowed hard and cleared his throat, biding some time, only to make Lauren let out an impatient sigh.

"Lauren, I love you," Peter said simply.

She raised an eyebrow at this, unsure of what she was to expect. "I love you, too – you know that."

Peter took a moment to pause, trying to remember what it was James had told him to say. Damn – he had thrown the letter into the fire so Lauren wouldn't see it and, while he had had it memorized earlier that day, he couldn't remember any of it for the life of him.

When he didn't say any more, Lauren interrupted. "Peter, is there more you need to say, because I think we should - "

"Will you marry me?" Peter burst out, making her stop talking. Remembering the ring, he dug into the pockets of his robes quickly, finding the small box and holding it out to her.

Stunned, Lauren only stared at him for a few moments, hardly even realizing that the box was open and inside was a sparkling diamond ring. Her mouth moved wordlessly, trying to grasp the situation but being far from able to.

Finally, she managed, "Are you serious?" in a very quiet voice.

Peter opened his mouth to respond, but shut it before any sound came out. This wasn't going anything like he had hoped it would. He closed the box wordlessly, trying to understand why he was so daft when Lauren put a hand on his arm.

"Peter, no, you don't understand," she said quickly, pleading with him with her eyes. "I was just surprised. I really wasn't expecting this."

"Is that a good or bad thing?" Peter asked weakly, hoping that she'd just say yes. It would be horribly embarrassing to have to explain to his mates that she'd said no – especially since he had already told them she'd said yes. He had been hoping a situation would arise that would make the question easier to ask, but Peter had quickly ran out of time.

"Of course I'll marry you," Lauren replied in a quiet tone, giving him a small smile.

"Really?" Peter asked, a bit surprised as his eyes widened.

Lauren let out a small chuckle before saying, "Yes, really."

As his face split into a wide grin, Peter opened the box once again and pulled the gold ring out. He held it up to Lauren, who took it carefully and slid it onto her left ring finger. Smiling, she leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" she asked after backing away, holding her hand out in front of her fondly.

"Yes, we can go now," Peter nodded, a pleased look of disbelief still on his face.

"Jamie, will you help me put on this absolutely gorgeous diamond necklace that Sirius gave me for Christmas?" Jaclyn asked with a grin, holding the delicate chain up to her cousin. "I'm afraid that I just cannot manage the clasp."

Rolling her eyes, Jamie leaned forward and took the chain, bringing it around Jaclyn's neck. "Maybe I should just strangle you with it," Jamie joked, closing the clasp and dropping her hands. "There you are."

"Thank you," Jaclyn gave her a coy smile. "It was awful kind of you to help me put on the gorgeous diamond - "

"If you say that one more time I'm going to take it back, love," Sirius called from across the room, where he was filling his glass of wine – again.

" – necklace," Jaclyn whispered to Jamie before widening her smile into a grin.

"Go away," Jamie laughed, pushing her away softly as she finished off her wine. She hadn't drunk any sort of alcohol in a long time and the wine had quickly gone to her head. It was a rather nice feeling, though, as she knew one of her friends would manage her into the Floo properly.

Jaclyn got to her feet and staggered away toward Sirius, landing squarely on his lap and kissing him softly. James, who was talking to Sirius, shook his head slightly and smiled before getting to his feet and walking over toward where Jamie was sitting. He reached a hand out to her, beckoning for her to take it.

"What?" Jamie asked, feigning as though she didn't understand.

"Oh, come on," James rolled his eyes, shaking his hand slightly.

Jamie expelled a long sigh and gave him a smile before taking it and allowing him to pull her to her feet. "Where are we going?"

"I just have to talk to you about something," James shrugged as he led her by the hand out of the sitting room, where their friends were all talking.

The two cousins eventually made it to the guest room that Remus and Jamie had shared the Christmas previous. James sat down on the bed and invited Jamie to sit next to him. When she did, she gave him a concerned look.

"What's going on?"

"It's nothing bad," James assured her quickly, falling back into the bed.

Following his lead, Jamie fell next to him. She turned her head to look at him. "All right?"

"We finally got around to going over my parents' will," he started slowly, rolling slightly so he was propped up on his side. "I had meant to do it earlier, but what with Auror training and Order business…you get the idea."

Jamie nodded, her brow furrowed. "And?"

"My mum and dad left me everything," James said quickly.

"Well, that would make sense," Jamie nodded slowly, her brow still furrowed. "What with you being their only child and all."

"I know," James nodded, before letting out a sigh. "I was a bit surprised, I guess. You were as much a child to them as I was."

"But I'm their niece, James. I didn't expect anything."

"I know," he repeated, sighing once again.

Jamie watched him silently for a few seconds, trying to understand what was going on. "James, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, I guess," he admitted, meeting her eyes. "I want you to have some of the money."

"Oh, James - "

"Before you start protesting," James interrupted, "I should add that I'm not going to take no for an answer."

"James, that's your money," Jamie rolled so she was on her side as well. "I couldn't do that."

"But I want you to have some it," James argued. "Please?"

"Why do you want me to have the money, James?"

James let out a breath. "Well, you deserve it, first of all. Second, you're my cousin and I know you and Remus are hurting - "

"We're getting along fine," Jamie lied, her mind darting to the money she had owled her mum about borrowing just so they could feed Hannah. Remus was having trouble keeping down a job after getting fired from the Leaky Cauldron for needing too much time off for the full moon. However, he had an interview at a Muggle bookstore that he was hoping would be more likely for him to keep, as Muggles were less likely to put two and two together when it came to his monthly disappearances.

"No, you're not," James shook his head. "You don't have to lie to me of all people."

"James - "

"Jamie, I don't want to argue with you about this," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know you don't want to take the money, but I really wish you'd at least think about it."

"You know Remus would think of it as charity money," Jamie said solemnly. "He almost didn't want to take the money your mum gave us for the house."

"But if you say it was left to you?"

Jamie fell onto her back. He really wasn't going to say no for an answer, was he. Staring at the ceiling, she thought it over. They really were in need of money, but she hadn't thought James had noticed. Both Remus and Jamie were pretty good at pretending everything was all right, but they were late on their rent and their cupboards were more than a little bare.

"I guess," Jamie finally decided on. "But, James, not a lot, all right?"

"I was going to give you half - "

"Hell, James!" Jamie turned her head, her eyes wide, knowing just how much money the Potter family happened to have. "That's a lot of money, love."

"Fine, fine," James chuckled. "We'll figure something out."

"Oh, I've been meaning to ask," Jamie said suddenly, giving James a questioning look. "Would you mind if I went through some of your mum's photo albums?"

"Of course," James nodded. "What do you need them for?"

"Miriam from work has turned me into a scrapbooker," Jamie explained with a smile. "I just did mine and Remus's wedding and I wanted to find some pictures of us from when we were younger."

"That'd be just fine," James agreed as the door opened.

The two on the bed looked up to see Remus staggering slightly at the door, looking around a bit. James shot Jamie a smile before sitting up.

"Moony, you look lost."

"I'm just fine, Prongs," Remus answered, a grin on his face as he fell onto the bed.

"I'll take that as my leave," James pulled himself to his feet and started toward the door. Before leaving, he nodded to Jamie, "Don't forget what I said."

"All right, James," she replied, returning his nod as he left, closing the door behind him.

"What'd James say?" Remus asked, closing his eyes for a moment as he put a hand to his forehead.

"Nothing we need to talk about right now," Jamie replied, reaching forward and pulling a hand through his hair. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Just fine," Remus smiled, opening his eyes and pulling her forward by her upper arm so he could kiss her softly. "I think I may have drank too much wine, but it's Christmas."

"That it is," Jamie laughed, pulling away from him, aiming to be a bit of a brat. "You recognize this room, I hope?"

Remus pouted slightly as Jamie rolled away from him, leaving a few feet between the both of them. "How could I forget? Some good things happened in this bedroom almost a year ago, as I recall."

"Indeed," Jamie nodded, pulling off her shrug so she was left on her deep red dress. "Our daughter came to be in this bedroom."

"This is quite true."

"I'm glad you didn't forget."

"As am I."

"I wonder if Sirius can even come in this room."

"I doubt it, knowing him."

"What are you going to do about that?"

Remus paused, bringing a hand to his neck to loosen his tie and eventually pull it off over his head. He threw it aside, his eyes on Jamie's, as he slowly began to unbutton his white shirt. There was a small smirk on his lips as she pushed off her heels, kicking them off the bed. Once he finally had the shirt pulled out of his pants and hanging loosely, he crawled across the bed and settled above her.

"Think we can do this sort of thing at a Christmas party?" Remus asked before softly nibbling on her earlobe, one of his hands running slowly down her bare upper arm.

"I honestly think that they would be disappointed if we didn't," Jamie whispered, bringing a hand to his hair and curling her fingers behind his head.

"Do you really?" Remus asked, purposefully kissing her neck and traveling down to her shoulder, where he pushed her strap out of the way.

Jamie let out a sigh before saying, "Oh, yes," and softly letting one of her legs run along his inner thigh.

At her touch, Remus let out a low groan against her shoulder and brought his face to her own, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss. His hands began to explore her body and eventually managed to get underneath her, where he started to fumble with the zipper of her dress.

When he finally worked it open, Jamie allowed him to slowly push it down, all the while running her hands down his chest and continuing the kiss.

Finally, Remus surfaced and said, "Jamie, I love you so much."

Jamie pulled him back to her body, kissing him hard and longingly. She broke the kiss for only a few seconds, in which she said, "Merlin, I love you, too," and pulling him back to her.

Author's Note: So, I realize that this has taken, hm, forever. But, well, my real life kind of exploded the past few months and that really has to come before my fanfiction, sadly. However! I will be working hard to get back into the swing of things because I really want to finish this story – and my other ones, for that matter. Besides, things are about to get interesting and, well, I'd like to go there. So, think of this as a Christmas present? I don't know.

Also, I was going to end the chapter before Remus came into the room, but my lovely friends said they'd be horribly disappointed if there wasn't any softcore smut..so they got a little. (: Deal with it, y'all.

Anyways, merry Christmas or whatever it is you might celebrate! Please let me know what you thought.