Chapter 2- Sickness
"James!" Lily whined, "I look fat!" She commented as she twirled round in front of the mirror. They were getting ready to go out for Sirius' meal. James burst out laughing at Lily's ludicrous statement. "WHY AR YOU LAUGHING?" Lily turned round glaring. "YOU INSENSITIVE JERK! YOU COULD AT LEAST HAVE THE CURTOSY TO TURN AROUND AND SAY 'DARLING YOU DON'T LOOK FAT, YOU LOOK LOVELY.' INSTEAD OF STANDING THERE LAUGHING LIKE AN IDIOTIC MORON!" James was stunned at this sudden mood swing.
"S... sorry, I was just laughing because you could never look fat." He tried to save himself.
"Shut up James I don't want your sympathy! I know I'm gaining weight, I may as well face up to it!"
"But you just said..."
"James!"
"Lily, you're not fat!" Lily burst into tears.
"Yes I am, I'm fat and I'm ugly." James went over to her hesitantly and put an arm around her.
"Lily, whats wrong?" He asked gently. "This isn't like you."
"I don't know!" She sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm sorry I look like this James, I'll understand if you want a divorce." James looked down at her alarmed.
"Lily has someone said something to you?" He asked concerned. She shook her head. "Lily I love you. I'd love you whatever you looked like. But it just so happens that you're the prettiest girl I ever met."
"Thanks." She sniffed. He hugged her tighter not letting go for a few minutes. "James... did you know you were in the news paper the other day?"
"I was?" He asked. "Why?"
"Something about being praised by the minister?"
"Oww..." James said in realisation.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lily asked in a hurt and curious voice.
"Well, I sort of forgot.." James said uncomfortably. "You know with so much going on. I didn't really feel like celebrating." He gave her a sad smile. "Am I forgiven?" Lily hugged into him again.
"Course." Came out the muffled and tearful sounding answer.
"Is that what this is about? Me being in the paper?" He asked.
She sighed. "I suppose, it's just there was this lady today and she asked about you being my husband, and there was a look in her eye and it just made me think. Then the whole of Sirius' class knew who you were and there only about 13. And I... I. Ow James." She cried again into his shoulder. He just patted her back and rocked her back and forth.
2Don't worry Lil's. I love you. I didn't even know anyone knew who I was, and even if I did, I wouldn't care about them. They wouldn't even give a dam about me if I wasn't in the paper. I've got you, and that's all I'll ever need." He paused, "Plus no one I've ever met could handle Sirius as well as you do." He smirked and she let out a weak laugh. "Now go wash your face, We're going out and getting drunk tonight- Sirius is paying."
"I don't really feel like drinking tonight, I feel a bit weird." Lily stated on her way to the bathroom.
"Ok I won't drink either. Just eat as much as I can. I'll eat yours as well if you don't feel up to it." Lily playfully poked her tongue out at him.
At dinner James was very protective over Lily, he sensed she was in a very vulranable state. When the waiter asked her what she wanted to eat he spoke for her. he had made sure he was sitting next to her and held her hand. He almost jumped a man at another table for Looking at Lily. The weirdest thing was, she didn't seem to mind. Normally she would've told him to get lost, but recently she felt more acclined to James. Maybe it was because Sirius had lost his other half? She didn't want that to happen and she wanted every moment with James to be special.
Sirius,Claire, James, Peter, Frank, Alice and Remus all ordered the steak. Lily however had the chicken casserole. Over dinner they were discussing the things they used to discuss before everything had happend. Sirius seemed more himself, Remus kept on giving Claire nervous glances. Lily noticed this and laughed, she'd have to comfront Remus later.
When Remus excused himself from the table to go to the toilet, Lily did too. But instead of going into the women's toilets, she followed Remus into the men's.
**Cough** She went, behind him.
"Um Lily?" Remus questioned. "I don't think you supposed to be in here?" He said doing his fly's back up.
"I know." She smiled. "Just fancied a chat is all."
"Ummm can it wait till after?" He said doing a funny little dance. She just smile slyly at him.
"Ok." She said turning around. "We'll talk about you and Claire in a second." And she left through the door. Remus would have run after her but he was really busting to go.
A minute later Remus left through the door to find Lily waiting outside.
"How do you know about me and Claire?" He asked getting straight to the point.
"Well I didn't for sure, you just confirmed it." She smirked. "Plus only a moron could miss the looks you keep giving her. And I'm not no moron."
"Do you think James noticed" Remus panicked.
"I said I wasn't a moron, I'm just married to one." She chuckled. Remus still looked panicked.
"Lily Please don't tell him." He pleaded.
"Of course I won't, but you won't be helping yourselves by not telling him. He won't be happy about it. That's a given. But the sooner you tell him the less mad he'll be because you won't have kept it from him for so long. It's like pulling off a plaster, the quicker you do it the less pain there is."
"You seem different." Remus stated.
"Ummm thank you?" She said confused. Remus walked slowly around her, his nose was twitching as though he had a sudden itch in it. His werewolf senses were kicking in.
"No, I mean it. There's something about you, you have a different scent. Are you sure you're Lily?"
"What are you on? Of course I'm Lily you idiot!" She said outraged at his accusation.
"Ok then, tell me what does James do as he sleeps without realising?"
"I shouldn't have to prove myself to you." She retorted.
"Ah ha it isn't you!" he said barring his teeth.
"OK ok he sucks his thumb." She replied. Immediately his defensive walls were put down.
"Well, if it is you then what's different? Are you feeling ok?" He asked confused.
"YES I'M FINE! Can we just go back to the table now? Please?"
"Ok, I'm sorry." He hung his head and walked back.
"Are you alright Lily?" James asked as she walked towards him, she had been gone a while.
"YES I'M FINE!" She snapped.
"Sorry." He said.
They had their desserts and all went home. It had been a good evening.
Maybe too good. That night James and Sirius were in different bathrooms being sick. It seemed that there must have been something wrong with the steak. Lily was running between the two helping them, giving them water and what not. They were up all night and hardly got a wink of sleep. The next morning, James and Sirius were laying on opposite sides of James and Lily's beds each with a tail and a bucket by the side of them. And Lily was in one of the spare rooms asleep. She woke up early to sort the house out and have a shower before they woke up. Then after that was done she went in to see them. They were both sitting up chatting lightly.
"Well, I'll never eat there again!" Sirius exclaimed. James smiled at him weakly.
"Are you both feeling better now though?" She asked.
"Yeah a bit." James answered. Suddenly Lily felt an urge in the pit of her stomach and she too ran for the bathroom. Luckily she made it just in time. James ran after her and Sirius after him.
"Suppose it wasn't just the steak then." Sirius said. "Definitely won't take you guys there again." He laughed. James and Lily just glared at him. That day all three took the day off work. Lily hadn't thrown up again after the first time. But James and Sirius were spending the day going in and out of the bathrooms.
Whilst Lily managed to eat her way through half the cupboards, James and Sirius were finding it hard to keep their toast soldiers down. Luckily the fact that Lily was a healer helped. She brewed them each a potion to cure their severe case of food poisoning. She also visited Claire and Remus, Peter and Frank and Alice. Offering them the same thing. They were all in bad states. Alice even so that she couldn't make herself the potion. It was weird really, after that one episode that morning, Lily felt fine.
That night Sirius seemed fine; so Lily settled him into the spare room, bucket beside his bed- just in case. And she got into her bed with James. At about midnight, Lily was awoken by a quiet snuffling noise. She sat up and looked around in the darkness. The suddenly the door slammed open.
"Ahhhhh" Lily screamed at the same time as an;
"Ouch."
"Sirius?" Lily asked.
"Lily," He moaned. " I had a nightmare."
"Ow."
"Can I sleep in with you two tonight?"
"Sure she said." She got out and let him get in, in-between herself and James.
At about 3 in the morning, Lily felt another bout of sickness and ran for the loo. She had decided to keep a glass of water on the side in each bathroom after the incident of the previous day. When she came back (By now her eyes had adjusted to the darkness) She noticed that Sirius and James were stirring a little. James had put his arm around Sirius and Sirius' head was buried into James' chest.
"Mmm, Lily." She thought she heard James mutter in his sleep. This made her laugh, and she was about to separate them, but then she remembered the 'bunny' escapade and James 'real discreet' thumbs up to Sirius behind her back. So she opted to leave them. It would be funnier to see them the next morning. And they would learn not to mess with Lily Potter.
The next morning James woke up slowly. Lily was in his arms, so he kissed her on the top of her head and breathed in the scent of her hair. It smelt different to normal; she must have changed shampoos. Then he heard a noise coming from the bathroom. That immediately woke him up. Sirius must be ill still. He looked down at his wife.
"SIRIUS?" He shouted, letting go hastily. Sirius stirred drowsily.
"What's up Prongs?" He asked.
"Sirius, why are you in my bed?"
"I had a nightmare. Lily said I could sleep in here again."
"Ow ok well next time I want Lily in the middle ok? Do you not realise I just accidentally ki… Kissed you on the head."
"That was you?" Sirius jumped up disgustedly. "I thought it must have been Lily."
"Well it wasn't. Wait… Lily doesn't usually kiss you on the head right?" James panicked.
"No, but well it was easier to imagine the YOU KISSING ME ON THE HEAD YOU MORON!"
"HEY DON'T SHOUT AT ME."
"BOYS? What all the shouting about?" Lily said stumbling out of the bathroom sleepily. "Ow." She grinned mischievously. "I take it you just found the way you were sleeping."
"You, you what?" James stuttered.
"Yes well serves you right for congratulating him for turning me into a bunny."
"I did not." He retorted lamely. Lily pulled a goofy face and gave Sirius a thumbs up. Sirius laughed and James looked defeated. So he did the one thing a noble man does when he's wrong.
He changed the subject.
"Darling, were you throwing up again?" He asked. She nodded.
"I feel fine now though." She turned on her heal. "Ow if you two want the photos I just took, they'll be on the front of your Christmas cards." She laughed and skipped down the stairs.
Lily continued to be ill every morning with out fail for the next week. Sirius hadn't slept in their bed since his and James 'INCIDENT'. But James was worried about Lily. She would be sick, then claim she felt fine. First he thought she was iil, then he thought he may have been balemic (Sp?), then he didn't know. Finally he insisted on taking her to see the healers. She refused and he ended up carrying her.
They sat in the doctors waiting room, James holding Lily's hand tightly.
"James let go, I'm fine. I'm not ill and I'M NOT GOING TO RUN AWAY!" She stressed the last bit.
"Lily, you've been throwing up all week. Theres something wrong."
"Mrs Potter." The receptionist called. Then noticing her college smiled at her. "Lily." She greeted. "You'll be in Matthews room."
"Thanks." Lily smiled falsely, and made her way through to the healers room.
"Mrs Potter what seems to be the problem?" The healer asked when Lily and James entered. Lily went to talk. But James cut across her.
"She's been throwing up allot. For a week and a half." He said.
"But, it's just once maybe twice a day, and then I feel fine." Lily defended.
"Interesting." The healer said pushing his glasses up his nose. "And may I ask if you've been feeling and lower abdominal pains?"
"Not really, maybe a couple."
"Have you been having your period?" Lily nodded.
"But it's been less heavy."
"Any irrational mood swings?"
"Yes lots of them." James answered for her. Lily glared at him.
"Ok... I'm just going to do a couple of tests, tell me does this hurt?" Hefelt around Lily's stomach. Lily nodded.
"Would you please fill this urine sample for me, then I will test it and I should beable to tell you whats wrong."
***********************************
30 minutes later, Lily and James were sitting in the waiting room again holding hands.
"James do you think theres something wrong with me?" Lily asked, in a scared voice.
"I don't know hunny, but I'll be here for you what ever." He said squeezing her hand tighter.
"Mrs Potter your results are ready." The healer came into the waiting room. For some reason he was smiling. They sat down in his office.
"Lily, James. I have come to a conclusion from your tests."
"Is it bad matt?" Lily asked.
"Well, it depends, how do you feel about babies?" Lily and James looked at each other confused, then slowly, very slowly, James began to smile.
"You mean, Lily's... we're going to have a baby?"
"Lily you're pregnant." Lily's eyes widened. She hadn't even thought of that was a possibility.
"I'm pregnant?" She asked shocked. James didn't know how she was taking it, so she took her hands into his.
"Isn't this great?" He asked her looking into her eyes, "We're going to have a baby." She smiled at him.
"Yeah... yeah we are! WE ARE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!" The doctor went through a couple of things with them, like how Lily should look after herself and ways to prevent her morning sickness. Then they left for home.
That evening they sat on the couch, Lily laying her head on James' lap. they just layed with each other every now and then James would touch Lily's stomach and Lily would smile.
"OK WHAT IS WITH YOU TWO?" Sirius finally shouted. They had been acted weird ever since they got home...
"What do you mean what's wrong with us?" James asked amused.
"You're acting all… weird…." Sirius stated, "Like you're not on this planet." James looked at Lily questionably, she smiled and nodded. The doctor had advised them not to tell anyone for the first 3 months as that was when any problems were likely to occur. But telling Sirius wouldn't matter. He would probably guess anyhow.
"Well, Sirius." James started. "You know how Lily has been a little ill recently? I took her to the doctors to get checked out."
"Oh no, is Lily ill?" Sirius asked.
"Sheesh, Lil's I'm not sure I want our babies God father to be so dense!" James smirked. "Why would we be smiling if you were sick?" Sirius looked at James for confirmation of what he just said. James smiled more, turned and kissed Lily's stomach.
"WE'RE GOING TO BE DADS! WE'RE GONA BE DAD'S!" Sirius screamed excitedly, everything which had happened was forgotten. A new baby would be a cause for celebration and happiness. Sirius ran up to James and hugged him then to Lily. He knelt down and hugged her stomach, pressing his ear against it. "Ouch, I think it kicked me!" He exclaimed.
"Sirius, I'm only about 2 and a half months gone. I don't think it is developed enough to kick you yet, however tempting the prospect!" Sirius poked his tongue out at her in response.
"Going through a few mood swings then are we Lil's?" He mocked. Then his eyes turned serious as he gazed at the parents to be. "Ewwwwwwwww! Does that mean you did it…. In there……… where I've been sleeping?" He said pointing towards the stairs. Lily blushed, but James grinned evilly.
"Why does that bother you Padfoot?" Sirius nodded and James' smile broadened. "Well then I wouldn't sleep in any of the guest rooms either." He paused thoughtfully, "Or sit on the couch." Sirius got up hastily. James continued, "Or the garden chairs."
"Oh not to mention the kitchen table." Lily caught on.
"What are you two rabbits? No wonder James Potter juniors on his way! God save the world!" Sirius grinned and hugged them once more. "Congratulations, you'll make great parents. Oh and don't forget I called god father!"
"How could we forget, you called I like 50 times!"
"No just once at the wedding!" Sirius said defensively.
"And when I bought the ring." James said.
"Oh yeah." Sirius remembered.
"And when you found out we we're engaged." Lily added.
"Ya…"
"And on my stag night!" James laughed.
"An…" Lily started.
"OK! Enough already… At least we're clear I called the position." Sirius smiled. "This is so weird, we're going to have a baby around…." Sirius gazed off dreamily. Lily and James looked into each other's eyes getting lost in their love for one another.
"Yeah." Lily sighed. "I can't wait." James squeezed her hand lovingly.
"Me neither." It was at this point Sirius realised he didn't need Lily and James as much as, at this point, they needed to be alone, alone and together. He knew they were there for him, he knew they still loved him. That's why he knew he would have to be the one to say he was moving out, because they would never ask him. This was a magical point in a couples relationship and he didn't want to interfere with their bonding.
Sirius talked to Remus that week, saying that He wanted to move out of Lily and James' house to give them a bit of privacy, but he didn't want to move back into either of his or his fathers houses. He was going to sell both, he couldn't bare to live in either. Remus agreed to let him stay in his apartment until he could find his own place. This meant that Remus would either have to tell Sirius about Claire or try and hide their relationship from him. He decided for the former.
"Sirius, mate sit down." Sirius obeyed.
"s'up moony?" he asked.
"Listen, I have something to tell you, but you can't tell anyone. Especially not Prongs." Remus stated nervously. Sirius nodded his head.
"You know you can trust me mate. You can trust Prongs too."
"Yeah trust him to do something nasty to me when he finds out about this."
"I'm sure it's not that bad…" Sirius started.
"I'm dating Claire." Remus cut him off.
"Oh, you a dead man!" Sirius laughed.
"It's not funny! Any way that's why you can't tell prongs. Promise me?"
"I promise, but it would be better if you told him, he'll understand as long as your intentions pure."
"Sirius remember what he did to you when he caught you kissing her under the mistletoe?"
"Oh yeah, once again- you a dead man! I still have the scars from that curse." Remus couldn't help but smile at the memory.
*** Memory ***
Sirius had charmed a cutting of mistletoe above the entrance from the Gryffindor girls, dormitory staircase. And every girl who came down the stairs he would pause there and 'accidentally' bump into them right underneath. Then he would look up and point out the offensive shrubbery.
"Oh my goodness," He would say, "Look up there, I guess that means we have to kiss." And he would spread his Christmas joy via their lips.
He managed to trick Claire into stepping under it with him, so she had to kiss him, but just as they were about to kiss James stepped through the portrait hole and blew his top. He chased Sirius up into the boy's dormitories and put a curse on him that took Madame Pomfrey 3 days to work out what it was and reverse it.
***Memory end***
"I am a dead man!"
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