Give me one more chance
Chapter 5: Sorry, could you repeat that?
Pairings: James/Lucius, Sirius/Severus, Remus?
Disclaimer: I don't own so don't ask
WARNING: mpreg, male/male relationships. Not your cup of tea? Then hit the back key.
Notes: Sorry I'm just now updating but I've been sick with the flu twice in addition to my kids being sick plus there was death in my family so I haven't really had the mind to think. I've started school again and it's taking up a lot of my time. Don't worry I have several chapters writing out.
Hellion Foxx: here's your next chapter
Special Thank you to: SlytherinvsGryffindor yahoo group x orlin x Paws-Black-Wings x Lenora x inumoon3 x Sarahamanda x Rchan2 x Beth5572 x 'Mione n Sevvie and those who didn't review I hope I at least kept your interest for you to read thus far.
/ Thoughts /
Enjoy!
oOoOoOo
The tall ex-Slytherin hung-up his travelling cloak and dropped his attaché case near the clothes stand. James greeted him with a small peck on his smooth unblemished cheek.
Immediately, Lucius knew something was wrong. Caressing James' face tenderly with both hands he wiped away the tears that spilt down from those hazel eyes he had fallen in love with.
"Wha-"
"I'm pregnant."
James' sudden proclamation was met by silence. He feared for the worse. After just getting Lucius back, he was going to lose him because of his own stupidity. Everyone tried to get him to tell Lucius about their child, but no, he didn't want Lucius to know.
Simply because James was scared. Scared that Lucius would take his baby.
Lucius stepped away from James in surprise. James didn't say what he think James had said, but that could only mean…
"I'm sorry Lucius."
Suddenly, Lucius' anger ignited. Quicksilver eyes flared to life. The portraits on the walls quaked. Crystal floor vases shook. The lights around the foyer flickered, and with one threatening step, the door window exploded.
"How far?" Lucius questioned grabbing his lover by the arms.
The bespectacled man hesitated. Again Lucius asked, "How far along are you, James?"
"Six months," he whispered.
/Six months/ "When were you planning on telling me? When the child was born? First year at Hogwarts? On my fucking death bed!" Lucius' voice rose in volume with each sentence he spoke.
"No," was James' weak reply.
"Then when? Were you planning on suing me for money? What!"
Crying, James broke free of Lucius' hold. "I was never going to tell you, you insensitive bastard!" James shouted.
"What, pray tell, made you change your mind? I know it wasn't out of the goodness in your heart."
That hurt. James renewed his crying from the biting remarks. "Voldemort wants me dead, you prick!"
Lucius opened his mouth to say something scathing but closed it only to realize what his lover had said.
"James, I-"
"Don't! Just go, Lucius. I don't need this right, now."
And for the first time, Lucius saw James swollen with his child, and he'd never seen such a beautiful sight.
"I'm not leaving you – not now. Not ever," Lucius said truthfully over his partner's heart wrenching sobs.
Lucius pulled the younger wizard into his embrace and held onto James, gently running large hands up and down the distraught youth's back. They remained this why until James fell asleep. Lucius took his precious burden to the master bedroom laying him down on the bed.
Removing the overly large robe and other pieces of clothing, Lucius tucked James under the covers and spooned up against him. All thoughts of food were gone from his mind as he laid his hand across the expanded stomach, drifting off to sleep himself.
oOoOoOo
"SEVERUS!" Sirius shouted as he entered his lover's personal bedchambers at Hogwarts. He called out again for the professor, but received no answer in return. He ventured further into the room to find his lover. Sirius saw Severus' outer robe followed by his shirt, shoes and finally his trousers.
Sirius had been in a meeting with his boss, Fudge, and his team of Aurors discussing the recent activity of dark wizards and witches called Death Eaters. Sirius already had inside information about them, but he didn't tell his boss that. The dark-haired Auror had received an urgent owl from Madame Pomfrey requesting him to come to Hogwarts immediately.
According to the brief note, Severus had collapsed in the corridor shortly after leaving the Great Hall.
"In here, Sirius!" Madame Pomfrey called out.
Preparing for the worse, Sirius steeled his nerves for whatever he might find, but to his surprise, Severus was curled up in the bed asleep. Poppy was keeping watch. Whispering in order not to disturb the Potions master, Sirius asked, "What happened?"
Poppy clucked her tongue disapprovingly at the young teacher. "Your stubborn husband went without breakfast then ate very little for lunch. As a result he became dizzy and blacked-out in the hallway on his way to class."
"And the child-"
"Don't worry about a thing. The twins are fine," she said. The Auror exhaled the breath he had been holding.
"I've given him a mild dose of Sleeping Draught to rest and he should stay asleep until late into the evening. When he wakes make sure you give him this and this to eat." Getting up from her chair, Poppy gave Sirius' arm a loving squeeze and quietly left the dungeons to get back to her less difficult patients.
Sirius placed the phials of prenatal vitamins and nutrient restorer on the bedside table. After doing that, Sirius took a shower and climbed into bed with his headstrong lover. Sirius thought about how James was doing. They had bumped into each other last Monday as Sirius was going to meet Severus in Hogsmeade.
oOo Flashback oOo
"Hey, Jamester! Where are you going?" Sirius greeted his best friend.
"Hey Siri, I just left Dumbledore. He gave me the rest of the day off as well as the rest of the week, so I'm going home to catch up on some rest and Lucius is coming by later for dinner."
The two friends were walking in step with each other.
"I don't mean to pry Jim but you need to tell him."
"I know, and I am. Tonight – promise. Anyway, look I need a favour of you."
Sirius nodded his head for James to continue.
"Dumbledore gave me a bit of unsettling news and I need to lay low for awhile. I was wondering if you could be my Secret Keeper?"
oOo End flashback oOo
The body next to Sirius stirred. Eyelids slowly fluttered opened to reveal mesmerizing obsidian orbs.
"What time is it?" Severus inquired, his voice husky and weak. Sirius winced at the unnatural sound. He was use to hearing the low, soft, silky tone of Severus' voice.
"It's a little pass eight. Are you hungry?" Sirius traced his hand along his husband's not so slender face. It was evident that the Potions master was pregnant, and Sirius was concerned for his lover and his unborn children.
The rumours of Voldemort were enough cause for alarm, and Severus was right in the thick of it all. Just like James. If Voldemort ever found out the truth Severus was a dead man. The only thing that was keeping the twins safe was the concealment charm.
And like Lucius, Severus did not care for anyone other than Sirius, and maybe Dumbledore, to know about his private life. Dumbledore knew of Severus' abusive childhood and his joining with the Dark Lord. Severus had confided in the older wizard once he realized that not only was he risking his life, but that of Sirius' as well.
The Headmaster was completely off guard when his former pupil told him about his pregnancy, and when Albus asked who was the father - Severus didn't hesitate in revealing the father's identity. That's how Sirius found himself in the Headmaster's office with an arm full of a sobbing lover.
oOo Flashback oOo
The newly graduated Auror followed a few paces behind the Headmistress of Hogwarts. The butterflies fluttering in his stomach were making him sick. He was ready to lose whatever food he had consumed in the last half hour. He ascended the stone steps leading into the hidden domain of the elder wizard.
Sirius was surprised to see not only Albus Dumbledore, (sitting behind his desk, smirking, eyes roaming with mirth), but he also saw Mr. and Mrs. Snape (not a good sign). Next to them sat his puffy-eyed, tear streaked face boyfriend.
Up to this point their relationship had been a secret. Especially since both of their families were warring with each other. They had been dating since the end of their fifth year, and finally, made it official in their sixth year. Sirius smiled in memory at that night, Severus blushing like the virgin he was, but shook his head clear when Severus' father initiated the discussion at hand.
"A Black!" he spat. "I should have known."
"Excuse me?"
"How could you have stooped so low as to let yourself get knocked-up by him of all the bloody people-"
"Octavious that is quite enough," the Headmaster interrupted. "Sirius, Mr. Snape is just a little stressed right now."
"Well, that's no bloody reason to go off on me. So, now that I'm here, mind telling me what the devil this is all about?"
"Of course my boy. As you know, Severus has been our resident Potions professor for the last year – almost two years in fact – and Madame Pomfrey has brought it to my attention that after his most recent visit to her, that due to certain potions he must take, Severus will have to have a substitute instructor."
"Professor what does it has to do with…me?" Sirius questioned again. Concern growing for his boyfriend.
"Stop beating around the brush Albus! What the Headmaster is trying to say Black is – that you have somehow managed to impregnate my son!"
Blink, blink
Sirius chuckled. "You must have been inhaling too much Wolfsbane, Snape. There's no bloody way for Severus to get pregnant unless we were soulma-" but Sirius caught himself as Severus began crying.
"I understand what you're about to say Sirius. However, you know that it is possible," Dumbledore said referring to an unnamed source.
"Okay." Sirius ran a hand through his tousled hair while he comforted Severus with the other.
"Well, Black, since you were man enough to get my son in the condition he's in now, I'm sure you're man enough to take responsibility and marry my son."
"Fine."
"Sirius?" Severus spoke for the first time.
"I said fine." He turned to his boyfriend holding his hand. "I've been wanting to ask you to marry me since we've been going out, but there was never the right time or that special moment. Then every thing came up with Jamie and work – I just forgot."
Sirius reached inside his robe and pulled out a small black velvet box. Still sitting beside Severus, Sirius opened it. "I know I've been a pain in the ass since day one and tried to kill you numerous times – more than any of us can count. And you've put me in the hospital wing on many occasions as well, but know this Severus – I will never forsake you when you need me. Especially now. Will you do the honour of marrying me?"
Severus launched himself at Sirius knocking both of them out the their chairs. "Yes, love. Yes, I'll marry you."
Later that night, Dumbledore performed a private ceremony legally binding Sirius and Severus. Octavious and Serenity stood as witnesses for Severus. Professor McGongall was a witness for Sirius.
oOo End flashback oOo
The house-elves served them sandwiches and soup along with pumpkin juice. The couple basked in each other's warmth. Hands roamed freely, seeking out tender spots with loving caresses when Severus winced in pain.
"What?" Sirius jumped up in alarm.
Immediately, the Potions master grabbed his husband's hand, placing it on the side of his stomach. Underneath Sirius' splayed fingers small ripples could be felt.
"They moved!" he said in awe. Severus nodded his head, pulling his lover down for a kiss, and for the rest of the night they laid in bed enjoying the slight bumps and kicks of their children.
oOoOoOo
A few days later, Lucius met with Calhoun again before leaving on his business trip. Calhoun explained to Lucius about what he had discovered at his family tree. As it turned out, James was indeed Lucius' soul mate (much to the pureblood's relief). Apparently, they were bonded back in 1978.
Since Lucius didn't know of the bond he would not be held accountable for any affair outside of the bond. James, however, could file charges against him for infidelity. Narcissa was another matter. Since she had pursued Lucius using unconventional forms of magic to lure him out of a secure, stable relationship with his bond mate, she more than likely would serve some time in Azkaban, and if that happened Lucius would automatically get full custody of their child.
oOoOoOo
The night before Lucius' departure to the States proved to be more stressful on the pureblood than James.
"Stop Lucius. You're making me nervous. Not to mention the hole you're wearing in the floor. I will be fine." James placed his hand over his bulging stomach. "We will be fine. Sirius promised to drop in from time to time. Now, go to sleep, love."
Lucius huffed, but complied and settled into the bed alongside James. He heard James' breathing even out, but he didn't fall asleep right away. When he did the sun was coming up.
oOoOoOo
4 months later -
The school year passed uneventfully. James had left on maternity leave a week before the official end of term. He had also found out that Severus was expecting twins two months after he was to give birth. James was so happy for his friends that he nearly went into labour early. Doctor Bloom cautioned him about over-doing things and to keep his excitement level to the bare minimum or else he would have to confine James to his bed for the remainder of his pregnancy to ensure the safety of the baby.
James was not to exert himself because Lucius was not there to feed him magically.
The afternoon was a bit warm for James. Earlier his stomach had been cramping since he woke. He was reading his weekly letter from Lucius during breakfast. The business deal that Lucius was conducting was proving to be a bit of a bear for the former Slytherin. The owner's daughter of the Wizarding Company Lucius wanted to invest in was trying her best to seduce the blonde and Lucius was getting fed-up at the woman's tactics.
James was giggling at the harshness of his lover's words when there was a knock at his front door. He slowly got onto his swollen feet to answer it when a cramp made him double over, nearly dropping him to the floor.
"James?"
/Oh, god not now/ He wasn't ready to deal with his parents so early in the morning.
"I'm in the kitchen, mum!" he called out.
"Hi sweetie. Your dad and I-" Mrs. Potter saw sweat beading across her son's scrunched forehead. "James, where's Lucius?"
"Out of town," he huffed easing himself back into his chair. "He's suppose to be coming back some time next week." His breathing was out in short gasps.
"Harold, you fire call Lucius. Honey, where is he staying?" Mrs. Potter asked.
"The…Lexington," James answered, whimpering with each step as his mother lead him to his bedroom upstairs.
"Contact Lucius dear, then contact Doctor Bloom and Madame Pomfrey," Mrs. Potter instructed, guiding her heavily pregnant son to the bed.
"Tell them hurry up and get over here."
"Why?" Mr. Potter asked, unsure if he should leave his son.
"James is in labour."
oOoOo TBC oOoOo
A/N: Teaser is the same from chapter 4