Chapter 4: Baby Bliss

(A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Shamiah, whose birthday is today! Many happy returns! You're one year older than me now! =) Hope you'll like the baby fluff. More will come later on!)

It was yet another Sunday full of chores to do and groceries to buy. At one corner of the supermarket, James and an eight-month pregnant Lily were bickering like two spoilt brats over what brand of milk to buy

"I'm sure the low-fat milk would be the best. I wouldn't want to look fat after pregnancy!"

"But Lily," James coaxed, "You need plenty of calcium and vitamins right now! You have to drink the fat-enriched milk! That's what the Baby-Talk column in the Daily Prophet recommends!"

"Listen, James, the baby doesn't even need calcium right now. It has too few bones and muscles to grow to even need these minerals and vitamins! All it will do is to get me fat! Can't you get that through that thick skull of yours?"

"Unfortunately, no, dear. I insist that you drink the fat-enriched milk! Why don't you just drink it down for the baby's sake? I don't want him to grow up to be a puny little kid, I want him to be a Quidditch star!"

"James, will you quit all these stuff about Quidditch? First you let Sirius buy the kid a toy broomstick, then you went all the way to Quidditch Supplies at Diagon Alley to get a set of Quidditch robes and an even bigger toy broomstick, and now you're forcing the fat milk down my throat! What's the meaning of this?" Lily glowered at James, who stared back nonchalantly.

"I'm starting to think the things they say about pregnant women are true the fussiness, mood swings it's all a dream come true" James muttered, unfortunately loud enough for Lily to hear.

"James! For goodness' sake, grow up! You're going to be a father soon, and you're still acting like a baby! That's just what I need, two babies to look after!" Lily flung her hands about her helplessly and turned to walk away when she felt a stab of pain in her abdomen. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Lily?"

Lily crumpled onto the floor whimpering, clutching her stomach in agony. "Oh no, the baby. It's coming. Oh no."

James rushed to her.

Lily clutched him and whispered pitifully, "James. I'm scared."

"Lily, hold on, I'll get the Emergency Delivery Squad right now, don't move, be brave, darling. You'll do fine." James said reassuringly as he kissed her sweating forehead and chanted a spell.

In seconds, a group of professionally dressed doctors appeared beside the couple. With just one glance at Lily, they placed her and James in an Apparition Bubble and apparated away to the Angel Guardian Wizarding Hospital.

~

James paced worriedly outside the delivery room in the maternity ward. Lily's screams of pain were just enough to torture him. "Is Lily okay? What about baby Harry or Hilary?" Thousands of questions probed at the back of his mind.

Impatient with worry, he strode up to the door of the room and placed his hand on the handle. He was just about to turn it when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"James, stay here. Let the doctors do their job."

Light gray eyes met deep brown ones.

"Remus, I'm so worried for Lily. She's been in there screaming for the past hour and she hasn't stopped." He slumped against the door and ran his hands through his hair distractedly.

"Don't worry, James. She'll be fine. Angel Guardian's got the best doctors in England." Sirius added. For once, the frivolous young man looked serious.

"Yeah, we'll always be your pals. Come here and sit down," said Peter.

James just stood there against the door, still as stone.

~

"Look at him! He's such a cute little thing!" The cute baby, wrapped in a cosy blue blanket, snuggled closer to Lily as she spoke, his little hands waving about uncertainly, as if looking for something to grab hold of. All Lily could do was to smile in adoration of the baby. She simply couldn't believe that the adorable baby she was holding in one hand was actually hers. Her baby.

James held her other hand, while staring at the baby, speechless. Baby Harry, who was now sucking his thumb, seemed so peaceful. Even though he was a newborn, he already had tufts of jet-black hair. It must be a magic thing, thought James.

The other Marauders simply cooed and grinned at the baby in amazement.

Remus ruffled Harry's head and observed him carefully. "James! I swear he's got your hair, nose, mouth and ears. He looks exactly like you!"

Harry's eyelids fluttered open as he looked intently at Remus.

"Lily! He's got your eyes!"

There was a large commotion as everyone scuttled off their chairs and went nearer to the bed for a better look, knocking James' glasses askew.

With one end of his glasses dangling from his left ear, James stood up angrily and said, "Will you guys please calm down?"

There was a moment of silence as everyone turned to look at him.

Sirius hissed, "James! Be quiet! Harry needs some sleep!"

"Oops." A very embarrassed James sat down quietly, but stood up immediately again and moved towards Harry. His eyes met with bright, piercing green ones.

"Oh my goodness" James murmured. "Lily's eyes he really has Lily's eyes!"

Everyone crowded around again and took a good look at Harry's fascinating eyes.

Lily smiled serenely.

Everyone sighed, and sat back. The wonders of a baby was just too amazing for words.

Sirius suddenly bolted up in his chair. "I just realised something!" He waved his hands vigourously at everyone, trying to catch their attention.

"What?"

"I'm a godfather!" Sirius yelled proudly and beamed at everyone.

Lily glared at him. "Be quiet, Sirius!" she hissed. "Harry needs some sleep!"

"Oops, sorry." Sirius grinned apologetically at her.

"And Padfoot, since when have I said that you were going to be Harry's godfather?" James asked.

"Aw come on, Prongs, pretty please, lemme be the godfather! I promise I will be a very good one I'd take care of him as if he were my son! Please!"

"Well" James glanced at Lily, who smiled, shaking her head.

"Okay then."

"Yipee!" Sirius the inconsiderate godfather bounced up of his seat.

It was now James' turn to glare at him. "SIRIUS!"

"Oops."

~