It was a horrible experiment. Waiting, pacing, having the portraits on the wall watch you. The silence followed by a woman's scream and then more silence. Having your friends watch you, their eyes moving back and forth but no other part of their body moving. How could anyone do this?

"Prongs you are wearing a spot in the tile floor," Sirius said from his seat looking at James.

"How are you so calm?" James asked.

"She's not my wife," Sirius chuckled.

James sent him a glare.

"I know how you are feeling James," a new voice said as it came up to them from down the hall.

"Frank," James shook his hand. "How are you?"

"Fine now," Frank Longbottom, who was an Auror and a Order member, had been a year ahead of them at school. He smiled now and said, "I'm a father. Alice just had a boy."

"What is his name?" James asked.

"Neville Patrick Longbottom," Frank smiled broadly. "Horrible waiting though, Alice was in there for 12 hours."

"Oh Merlin," Sirius hit his head against the wall behind him. "Lily is going on 2 hours and this maniac is driving us all insane."

"Good luck to you," Frank shook all their hands, "get comfortable."

They were in St. Mungo's and the day had finally arrived. Lily was going to have her baby after two false alarms. James looked at his watch, it was getting late on July 30. Just two hours ago they had been eating dinner when Lily started to scream. Chaos was the immediate reaction, even though each Marauder had a job to do. James was to take care of Lily, Sirius was to get her bag, Remus was to go ahead to St. Mungos and Peter was to tell Rosy they were leaving. It actually didn't happen that way though, Sirius said Accio without saying Lily's bag and dishes, books and chairs came flying in the air at them causing all of them to duck and hit the ground. Remus after a few seconds of things flying over ahead stopped them. Peter couldn't find Rosy, Remus dropped the Floo Powder and had to run to the gates to Disapparate. James had to pick up Floo Powder for the two of them but before that he bumped into Sirius causing both of them to swear loudly and James' glasses fell on the ground.

At last though they got to St. Mungo's and luckily in time. Lily was in a hospital room and the Marauders were in the waiting room waiting and waiting. James was driving everyone mad.

Three hours went by and then four. James looked at his watch, it was 11:00pm. They had been here since 7:00pm. Sirius was now asleep in the chair, Peter's head was bobbling and Remus was flipping through old Daily Prophets. James couldn't sit, he was too nervous. How long does it take? He put a hand in his hair and ruffled it up a little bit. He stopped, he hadn't done that in years. He continued pacing.

Midnight came. There was no word yet. James was getting tired but he couldn't sleep. He could barely sit. He went to get tea from the fifth floor. He came back but there was no word yet. How much longer?

1am came. James flipped through the magazines but none of them looked interesting. He wiped his glasses on his robes. How much longer? Was Lily fine? Did something happen? When would he hear? How much longer of this could he take?

2am came. Was it going to be a boy or a girl? What would they name it?

"Mr. Potter?" a woman in green robes tapped him on the shoulder.

"Is Lily fine? Is the baby born? Where is she?" James asked her in a hurry.

"She's fine," the woman smiled. "She'd like you to meet someone."

She walked away and motioned him to follow. James was on the woman's heels. Why couldn't she walk faster? He needed to know, he needed to see her! Was it a boy or a girl? He left Sirius, Remus and Peter behind.

"Lily," they reached her room and James went to her side.

She was sitting up in the bed with a bundle of blankets in her arms. She looked tired but she smiled. "Well what do you want to name your son?" She asked in a tired voice.

"Harry," James breathed looking at the baby boy.

Lily smiled, "Harry James Potter."

James was glowing now, his son had his name. James kissed Lily on the cheek, "Harry James Potter." He smiled.

"Here," Lily held him out to James.

With shaking hands he took his son in his strong arms. He rocked him gently, "My son, my son." He said in a whisper. "Hello Harry James Potter."

"Somehow you always try and give us the slip," Sirius said from the doorway. Remus stood next to him and Peter stood behind them trying to see.

"I'm a father," James turned to them glowing.

"I had a feeling something like this was going to happen," Sirius said to Remus.

"So that's why we are here," Remus grinned.

"Shut up you two," James snapped. "I'm the father of Harry James Potter."

Sirius wiped his brow, "Thank Merlin you didn't call him James Henry Potter Junior. What a nightmare that would have been."

"My middle name is better than yours, Sirius Orion Black!" James grinned.

"Shhhhh," Sirius said looking around. "My middle name is classified information until I die!"

James gave Harry back to Lily and then looked at her. She nodded. "Padfoot can I have a word?"

"Having we been having words?" Sirius asked.

James motioned him to come over to where he stood. Sirius came over. "Lily and I would like you to be Harry's godfather."

"Me?" Sirius laughed loudly. "Me with responsible?"

"Well I'm not planning on anything happening to me tomorrow," James said. "But with the world we are in now, incase of anything, I want someone I trust looking after Harry. And we are brothers, you will do it won't you?"

"Of course I will," Sirius nodded. "I'd be honored."

"Here hold your godson then," Lily gave him Harry.

"Hey wait," Sirius said. He took a deep calming breathe, "You trust me not to drop him?"

"Take him," James laughed.

Sirius extended his arms out and took the small baby. He pushed back the blanket a little bit so he could see his face. "Well hello." He smiled at him, "I'm your godfather little Prongs."

"Remus, Peter come here," James motioned to them to come in, they had been lingering by the door. Sirius gave Harry to Remus who held him for a few minutes. Peter then took him but not for long since he was so nervous and shaking.

"Why don't you get some sleep Lily," James told her. "We will be outside."

"Go home," Lily smiled and she closed her eyes for a moment. "Come back tomorrow, I'm fine."

"Prongs, you are asleep on your feet," Sirius put a hand on his shoulder. "We will be back first thing tomorrow."

"It is tomorrow," Remus told them.

"Then after breakfast," said Sirius.

"Bye Lily, bye Harry," they chorused and left.

**Lily left the hospital a few days later with Harry securely in James' arms. The Marauders had all come to escort her and Harry home. When they got home Lily went right to their room and put Harry down in the crib. She then went to shower and change.

When she got back to the room James stood by the crib watching Harry sleep.

"He's beautiful," James whispered to Lily so he wouldn't wake Harry.

"He has your face," Lily said and James stood behind her and she put her head on his chest.

"I have a feeling he's going to be my twin," James smiled. "Do you see the little hair, its black."

"I hope he has my eyesight," Lily laughed.

"Come on," James led her to the bed and they sat on it. James kissed Lily on the cheek.

**

That night as James got into bed Lily was putting Harry to bed. She changed her mind though and brought him over to the bed with her. She put Harry down between them and with a smile James put a protective arm near Harry. He was already fast asleep. Lily laid down on the bed and they didn't speak but smiled at each other.

They fell asleep with Harry between them. James felt like the luckiest man alive and as fell asleep he wasn't sure if things could get better.