A/N: Okay, okay—you all have to be happy because I updated VERY fast (faster than I even unexpected).  Lily's answer to come…………………

Disclaimer: You know the drill—anything you don't recognize is mine, but everything else belongs to the famous J.K. Rowling (who better keep on writing her books!).

MEMORIES

CHAPTER 26: Another Wedding…?

Written by ByeByeBirdie

            James stared at the ring in amazement.  He always knew the ring would be Lily's…Lily just didn't know that.

            Lily stood there in a state of shock, not realizing she stopped breathing until she was gasping back breaths into her body.  She brought her hands to her open mouth and tears started running down her face.  "Omigod.  I don't know what to say."

            "Say yes," James urged, still holding the ring out.

            "How are you so sure of yourself? How do you know this is right?" Lily whispered, stalling for time.

            "Because it's you and me…together…forever," James said gently looking into her eyes.

            "Then…yes," Lily said inaudibly.

            "What?" James asked.

            "Yes…of course," Lily said.  "Yes," she repeated barely audible.

            James smiled down at her.  "I love you, Lily," he said, giving her a huge passionate kiss symbolizing not only their future, but everything they've ever been through together.

            Lily pulled apart and looked intensely into his eyes.  "And I love you."

            He took the ring out of the box Lily was holding and slid it on her finger, and gave her another kiss.

            "You were right…" Lily murmured.

            "About what?"

            "You and me together," Lily said, glancing at the ring on her finger.  "…Forever."

            She looked deeply into his dark, gleaming eyes full of happiness and exhilaration.  "Everything is perfect now."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

            "How was Elizabeth?" Savannah asked Lily six days later.  It was Monday night and Savannah and Sirius had returned from their honeymoon earlier that evening

            "Oh, she was absolutely perfect.  She's the most adorable baby I've ever seen in my whole life," Lily cooed.  "I need to get myself one of these babies."

            Savannah, Sirius, and Lily all laughed.  "You know, if you need any help…" Sirius said slyly.

            "Sirius!!" Savannah cried with a laugh.

            "Marriage problems already?" Lily said with a grin.

            "Oh, I'll give him a problem," Savannah teased.

            "It's nice to know you still love me, honey," Sirius said laughing.

            "It's not fair that you have a daughter, Allie has a daughter, and she's going to have another child soon and I don't have any.  How come she gets two?" Lily whined playfully.

            "Speaking of children, where is my little Lizzy?" Savannah asked.

            "You just had to throw that in my face, didn't ya," Lily joked.  "She's in the back with Jenna and James," Lily explained, walking through her house out into the back.

            "James?" Savannah questioned.

            "Yeah, he came over to help baby-sit them both with me since Josh and Allie had a doctor appointment—oh FYI, the due date is July 6 for their baby if you didn't know—anyway, the last time they brought Jenna to the doctor's office, she messed up the buttons on the ultra-sound.  So they brought her over here and were grateful that James was already here," Lily explained.

            "And why was James here?" Sirius asked suspiciously.

            "Because he's my friend," Lily said with a smirk.

            "Hmm…" Sirius said, stroking his chin.

            "No, we didn't have sex, Sirius, we-"

            "Who had sex?" James asked, walking inside with Jenna in one arm and Elizabeth holding on to his hand, walking beside him.

            "Do you really want to know the answer to that question?" Lily asked, and they all laughed.

            "Nevermind. Don't wanna know what happened on the honeymoon," James said and they laughed again.

            "Oh you already know…it's no surprise," Lily said.

            "Actually we were talkin-" Sirius started with an evil grin.

            "I dare you not to finish that sentence," Lily said. 

            "Elizabeth!" Savannah cried, running over to her daughter, who rushed into her arms.

            "Mommy!" Elizabeth cried.

            "Awww," Sirius said, and they all laughed.

            "I have something to tell you guys," James started, after winking at Lily.

            "Oh no.  You joined the military, didn't you," Sirius teased.  "Now what have I told you about doing that, James!?"

            "But I get to hang out with the women on the shipping deck!" James whined.

            "Oh…then have fun!"

            They all laughed.  "Actually…it's a little more important, and better, than that," James said.

            "You're Head Auror?!" Savannah guessed.

            "Note to self," James mumbled to himself.  "Finish your train of thought before Sirius or Savannah start to talk."

            They all laughed and Lily chimed in behind James.  "Well,-"  

            "Wait, you know about this?" Sirius cried.

            "Uh…you could say that," Lily said, trying not to laugh.

            "But why-"

            "Okay, will you let me finish!" James cried with a grin.

            "No," Sirius said, but he shut up anyway.

            "After you guys left the reception for your honeymoon, Lily-"

            "Lily's a part of this?" Savannah questioned.

            "Maybe you'd know that if you'd let me finish what I'm telling you!" James cried, and they all laughed.

            "Anyway," Lily said.

            "Yes, anyway, Lily was alone in the hall with Elizabeth, and I came back realizing I had forgotten my jacket.  Lily and I got to talking…and one thing led to another…" James trailed off.

            "And…"

            "Well…" Lily said, blushing.  "We got back together."

            "What??" they both cried in unison.

            Lily and James nodded sheepishly and James put his arm around her shoulders.  "For real this time…it's the real thing…"

            Sirius and Savannah stared at them, and then exchanged looks.  "Wait, so you two are now going out?" Sirius asked unbelievably.

            "Together?" Savannah questioned.

            "Dating?"

            "Boyfriend-girlfriend?"

            "Kissing, holding hands, cuddling?" Sirius asked.  "Oh, I'm forgetting something—sex?"

            They all laughed at his last comment and James and Lily nodded with huge grins slapped across their faces.  "Yeah," Lily answered.  "And-"

            "It took you long enough!!!" Savannah cried, and she and Sirius burst into laughter.

            James turned to look at Lily in confusion.  "Are you as confused as I am?"

            "Oh, yeah," Lily mumbled.

            "What's there to be confusing?" Sirius asked.  "It's been six years."

            "We've all been waiting to get your act together," Savannah continued explaining.

            "We knew that you two would end up getting back together at some point in life, but did you really have to wait this long???"

            "We all thought that you two would have realized it at least at the point when Sirius and I told everyone that we were getting married."

            "Everyone, including Savannah and I, thought that you two would be the first to get married," Sirius explained with a snicker.  "Even when we were in Hogwarts, we thought you two would get married at a young age."

            "In fact, we had to pay old debts because of you."

            "You bet on us getting married??" Lily asked.

            "Yep," Savannah said proudly.

            "Well, then this isn't going to come as a surprise," James muttered, and he and Lily both laughed.

            "What isn't?" Sirius asked curiously. 

             She held up her left hand with the diamond ring on it.  "We're engaged," she said sheepishly.

            "YOUR'E WHAT!?!?!?" Savannah and Sirius cried in unison.

            "You have got to be kidding!" Savannah said with all seriousness.

            "Yep, you've caught us.  I'm lying.  We didn't get back together and we're not getting married and I don't have a ring on my finger and I don't love this man," Lily teased.  "In fact, this is just a big stuffed doll who professed his love for me.  I've finally realized that a doll is what I've needed all of my life."

            "Ha ha ha," Savannah said laughing.

            "Okay, don't you think it's a little crazy by asking Lily to marry you even though you haven't dated in five years, James?" Sirius questioned.

            "Are you telling me this from previous experience?" James said, with an eyebrow raised, pointing to Savannah and they all laughed.

            "Oh…right.  Well, just because I'm your idol does not mean you should be following in my footsteps!" Sirius teased.

            "Oh, trust me, it was anything but," Lily joked.

            "Hmph, some friends I have," Sirius muttered.

            "Besides, weren't you two just saying that it took us along enough to realize we were meant to be together?" Lily pointed out.

            "No one said anything about meant-to-be," Savannah joked with a hearty laugh.

            "Yeah, well no one said anything about you being my maid of honor, either, and no one will if-"

            "You two are completely meant-to-be!!!" Savannah squealed, and they all laughed.

            "This is absolutely the way we thought it was going to turn out!!!" Sirius cried, giving them both a hug.  "Congratulations!!"

            "Okay, when's the wedding?" Savannah demanded to know.

            "We've talked about it for a while this week, and we think it's probably going to be in either late October or early November," Lily explained.  "And now that you have mentioned us being meant-to-be, I hope that you, Savannah, will agree to be my maid of honor?"

            "Oh, yes, yes, yes!!!" she shrieked.  "I was waiting for this day to come!"

            "It's second in line compared to our wedding, though, of course," Sirius scolded.

            Savannah glanced at Sirius up and down and then turned back to Lily.  "Hmm…it's a hard decision."

            "HEY!!"

            They all laughed.

            "And I was hoping that Elizabeth would be the flower girl," Lily said.  "Besides, everyone would absolutely swoon over her."

            Savannah grinned.  "That would be so excellent!"

            "A-HEM!" Sirius cried looking at James.

            "Oh, right, right," James said.  "You'll be the ring-bearer for me, right?"

            Sirius threw a pillow at him.

            "Oops, I mean flower girl," James teased.

            Sirius threw another pillow at him.

            "Okay, okay.  Fine, you can be the best man."

            Sirius threw another pillow at him teasingly.

            "HEY!!!  What else do you wanna be?  The minister??"

            "Ooooh, could I!?!?"

            "Okay, definitely shouldn't have mentioned that," Lily pointed out and they all laughed.

            "I can see it now," Savannah said and then started mocking Sirius. "James…do you take this stupid, pitiful, you-could-have-done-better girl standing in front of you? And Lily, do you take this horrible, annoying, never-shuts-up, nagging guy standing in front of you? If you do, say I don't." They all laughed at Savannah's prediction. 

            "No!!" Sirius protested.  "You forgot the part where I added in somehow that their best friend is an awesome, good-looking guy that will forever be the King of the World!!!"

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

            "I never thought this day would come," Sirius finished off his speech five months later, on November 2.  "But it finally has.  And I couldn't be happier.  Here they are.  James and Lily.  Husband and wife.  And happier than ever."

            Everyone clapped and cheered as Lily went up to Sirius and gave him a forceful hug.  "Thank you."

            "Agh, it might be better if I didn't die tonight," he stuttered.

            Lily laughed and let go of him.  "Does the bride get to dance with the best man?"

            "Not if you hold me like that," he teased, but he stood up and they walked out on to the dance floor near James and Savannah, who were dancing at the time.

            "Do you realize that out of the eight Marauders and Honorary Marauders that seven of them are now happily married?" Sirius mentioned.

            "Yeah and six of them are married to each other," Lily pointed out.

            "After graduation, I was so scared that we'd go our separate ways and forget about each other.  I never imagined marrying one of my best friends.  I never imagined any of my friends getting married to each other and I especially didn't imagine still being friends with you or James or Savannah or Remus or Kaitlynne or Allie or Peter.  When Kaitlynne disappeared, I thought it was the end.  When Allie disappeared, I thought it was the end.  And then Savannah left and I knew we were over.  But standing up here dancing with you on your wedding day, I've finally realized we are all complete.  And that's the way it will always be."

            Lily was afraid she was going to cry.  "Awww.  Now, why didn't you say that in your speech instead of talking about how living with me may have made you permanently insane?" 

            They both laughed and Sirius said, "Actually, I was planning on it.  But it's more…emotional and private and not for everyone to hear.  It's just for the eight of us.  It's about us.  Not them."

            "Thank you, Sirius," she whispered.

            "For what?"

            Lily hesitated.  "Everything."

            "Okay, my turn again," James cut in, after the song finished.

            "What??  The husband dance with the wife!?" Sirius said sarcastically in horror, and all three of them laughed, as he walked off to find Savannah.

            "You look gorgeous tonight, sweetheart," James muttered, kissing her on the forehead.

            "Why, thank you, my dear husband," Lily said with a smile.  James grinned down at her and kissed her on the lips.

            "I love you," he whispered.

            Lily looked up at him and probably could've cried again, for the thousandth time that night.  I mean, here she was, finally marrying the man who she's always loved.  The man who she was destined to end up with.  The one man who was just meant to be hers from the very beginning.

            Lily smiled and took a deep breath in and out.  "I love you too," she whispered full of emotion.

A moment like this

Some people wait a lifetime

For a moment like this

Some people search forever

For that one special kiss

I can't believe it's happening to me

Some people wait a lifetime…

For a moment like this.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

            A month later, it was Christmas Day and they were all gathered at Sirius and Savannah's place in Alphamstone for a nice Christmas dinner.  Everyone meaning Lily, James, Savannah, Sirius, Elizabeth Kaitlynne, Remus, Peter, Allie, Josh, Jenna, and Cole, which was Allie and Josh's five-month-old baby who was born on July 4.

            "I have to say, it's been a very…eventful year," Peter said at the table.

            "Yeah, two weddings is two too many," Remus teased.

            "Yeah, you want to get married, also, Peter?" James joked.  "You've still got six more days to fit it in this year!"

            They all laughed.  "Actually, I am dating a supermodel."

            "WHAT!?!?" they all cried in unison.

            "How'd he get a supermodel and I'm stuck with Savannah?" Sirius whimpered jokingly.

            Savannah threw a piece of bread at him.

            Peter laughed.  "I'm just kidding.  But the look on your faces was priceless," he said, and they all laughed as Sirius threw a piece of turkey at him, which make them laugh harder.

            "Even without Peter dating a supermodel, it's still been exciting.  That's all I've got to say," Allie said with three-year-old Jenna on her lap.

            "I've got a lot more to say than that, but maybe I won't say it," Sirius joked, and they all laughed.

            "Yeah, well I have one thing to say," Savannah said, looking at Sirius.  "Do you know what today is?  It's the day you asked me to marry you."

            "Is that important?" Sirius joked. 

            "Sirius Devon Black, I swear if you forgot I'm disowning you," Savannah teased with a wink.

            "Now, how could I forget you, Sav—oooh, look a piece of lint," Sirius said pointing to her jacket.

            Savannah hit him.

            "You two make me sick," Lily said.

            "Look who's talking!" Kaitlynne cried, and they all laughed.

            "Okay, well Sirius and I have some news that I've been dying to say all night."

            "Yawn.  Maybe another time," Lily teased.

            Savannah threw a piece of bread at her.

            "Actually, we have two things," Sirius reminded.  "First of all, I finally have fully adopted Elizabeth as my own daughter."

            "Oh, that's wonderful!!" Allie cried.

            "Congratulations!" Josh cried.

            "What else do you have to tell us?" Kaitlynne asked.  "And make it quick because Remus and I have something to say, also."

            "Well…" Savannah started, already beaming with pride and looking over at Sirius proudly.  "I'm…uh…well, I'm pregnant."

            "Are you kidding me!?!?!?!?" Lily and Kaitlynne cried at once with much enthusiasm.

            Savannah, and everyone else at the table, jumped.  "Whoa, calm yourself."

            "Did I miss something?" James asked, thoroughly confused.

            "No, it's just that…well, my news is going to seem somewhat boring now," Kaitlynne said with a laugh.

            "Oh, really?  You mind telling us what it is then?" Lily teased. 

            "Well, uh…I'm pregnant also."

            "What!?" everyone cried happily.

            Lily couldn't help but burst into hysterics, and she found that she couldn't stop and eventually found it hard to breathe, as the tears started running down her face and as she clutched her sides. 

            "The next thing I know, she'll be telling us that she's pregnant, also," Sirius muttered with a grin.

            Lily looked up at him and laughed even harder.  "It's funny you should mention that…because I am."

            They all looked at her with dumbfounded expressions, and ended up laughing until they felt like they were going to die from laughing too hard. James mouth dropped open wide.

            "WHAT?!" James exclaimed. Everyone looked from Lily to James.

            "Okay Lily, James is the father right?" Sirius joked.

            James turned towards Lily with raised eyebrows, questioning her news. "How come I didn't know about this?" James demanded to know.

            "I found out this morning and we've been so busy that it kind-of slipped my mind.  And I wasn't going to say anything tonight.  I was going to tell you first, but when Kaitlynne and Savannah said they were pregnant, I felt like I needed to say it.  So I did."

            "I understand," James said, kissing her on the cheek.  "I'm just so happy for you!"

            "Be happy for yourself, also," Lily said, kissing him on the lips.

            "Wow…it all seems so unreal.  I mean, in nine months, I'm going to be a father," James cried.

            "And all this time, I thought you'd be a grandmother," Sirius said sarcastically, and everyone laughed.  "Who would've thought."

            "Actually, James, it's about eight months," Lily pointed out.  "I'm about seven weeks."

            "Wait, wait, wait," Sirius said a few seconds later.  "Seven weeks?  That would be the first week in November?" Sirius said mysteriously.

            James and Lily blushed.

            "That was the time of your honeymoon wasn't it…" Remus said slyly.

            "Maybe," Lily said secretly, trying not to laugh.

            "Tsk, tsk, tsk.  You two should be setting an example!" Savannah cried at them and they all laughed.

            "To who!?  Almost all of you have had your honeymoons!" Lily cried and they all laughed.

            "Well, what about you, Savannah?  How far along are you?" James asked, changing the subject.

            "I'm a little under two months," Savannah said.  "Nothing mischievous there."

            "Nothing mischievous?" James said with an eyebrow raised.  "When it comes to you and Sirius, everything's mischievous."

            They all laughed.

            "How far along are you, Kayti?" Sirius asked.

            "Five weeks."

            "Now, please don't tell me, Allie's pregnant, too," Sirius groaned and Allie shook her head.

            "Hey, I'm twenty-eight and I already have two children, one who was born only five months ago.  Let's not even think about having another," she replied, and they all laughed.

            "Good, because I do not need four pregnant women running around England, much less three women," Sirius responded, and they all laughed.

            "It's good to know you care," Savannah said rolling her eye.

            "I never said that."

            "I know," Savannah said with a wink.

            Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Peter practically jumped out of the chair in complete shock.

            "What, never heard a knock on the door?" Remus teased him.

            "Wh-What?  Oh…it ju-just seems odd th-that someone would b-be knocking on th-the door on Christmas," Peter stuttered.

            Savannah stood up, since she was closer to the door, walked out of the dining room, through the sitting room, and to the front door.  She opened it to reveal a strange man at the door.

            "Um…may I help you?" Savannah asked, bewildered.

            "Maybe.  I was wondering if a Sirius Black was staying here at this moment?"

            "Uh, yes he is.  May I ask who you are?"

            "Um, I'm just…er…an old friend of his…uh…my name's Silas," he replied secretly.

            Savannah looked at him strangely, wondering why he didn't reveal his last name.  "Um…okay, come in."

            She led him into the dining room where everyone was laughing at something Sirius said.

            When the man walked into the room, they all turned towards him and Sirius immediately stopped laughing and stared at the man incredulously. 

            "Why, hello Sirius," the man said.  He turned to the group.  "Hi, everyone."

            Sirius stood up and practically fell over his chair.  "Hi…Dad," he said coldly, sending him a deathly look.

A/N: GASP!!  This is the father who he hasn't seen since….well, you won't know until next chapter!!!!  I wonder what's gonna happen?  And why is Peter so edgy?  Hm……news to come!

Oh, the song is "Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson (oh, an btw, CLAY AIKEN IS SOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER THAN RUBEN STUDDARD—but that's besides the point….I just wanted to point that out…)