Thanks to all the reviewers! You guys are the best. I found this chapter hard to write so I hope it was worth it!
The two young men walked into the frosted meadow behind the little church. James immediately headed towards the willow, remembering that night over a year ago...
(A/N: This is sort of a flashback.)
The April spring breeze whistled past their ears and the willow that swept over them swayed in the wind. The leaves crackled but other than that, the place was silent and watchful. James Potter sighed anxiously and leaned back against the tree trunk. Next to him, Lily Evans smiled. She could tell he was preoccupied and she saw his nervousness. He fidgeted for about the fifth time and Lily started to laugh.
"James, you never get nervous, so what's the matter?" Lily asked teasingly.
He was silent for a moment. "I'm thinking about the future."
His words made Lily smile. She knew about her future (A/N: Remember this is after her whole Christmas thing). She was prepared for it. There were things she couldn't tell James.Yet.
"About your job?" Lily asked. They had one term of school left and James had already been accepted at the Auror department of the Ministry of Magic. After extra training, he would be an Auror. Lily knew she would get in too but hadn't got her official letter about it yet.
"No," he said softly, "about more important things."
Lily raised her eyebrows quizzically, "Like what?"
James grinned at her, "You."
Lily was surprised but she understood. "Must be a very boring thought," she joked.
There was a comfortable silence for about five seconds.
James nervously broke it, "Lily Evans, will you marry me?"
The question caught Lily off her guard, although she had known he would ask one day she hadn't expected it right now. So soon after they got together.
"Of course. I'd be an idiot if I said no," she laughed.
James took her right hand in his left and gently slid an engagement ring on. It was gold with a blue stone set in it.
James grinned as he wrapped his arms around her. "I must be the luckiest man in the world."
Lily smiled, remembering how he said that to her at Christmas time as well. "No," she breathed before he gently kissed her cheek, "I'm the luckiest woman in the world."
James smiled at the memory. He had walked into Sirius' bedroom later that night and had gone completely crazy with joy. He remembered bouncing all over Sirius' bed.
Sirius glanced at his friend, who had become quiet. He saw the familiar goofy smile on James' face and shook his head. A small white flower was in James' hands. How Prongs had become so attached to Lily was beyond him. He remembered finding out that the two were engaged...
(A/N: Flashback thing again)
"PADFOOT!" James bellowed at the door of Sirius' room.
Sirius sat up in bed, looking at his watch and he groaned. Three in the morning? Although Sirius liked staying up late usually he wasn't really in the mood today after dealing with Remus alone last full moon. Moony had been rather anxious and Sirius had had a difficult time controlling him since James had been away at a Heads' meeting with Lily. They had been talking about the Easter holidays afterwards and making plans to see each other. Sirius liked Lily enough but he hated the fact that he and the rest of the Marauders had to share Prongs with her. She was taking up a lot of his time. Sirius wondered how long the relationship would last. He shook himself as he went to undo the locking charm on the door, thanking James' parents for making the house sound-proof. He didn't want to have to deal with angry neighbours.
"Yes, Prongs?" Sirius said sleepily, "What is it?"
His best friend engulfed him in a huge hug. "I did it."
"Did what?" Sirius rubbed his eyes.
"Asked Lily," James said cheerfully.
"That's nice, can I go back to bed now?" Sirius yawned.
"Don't you want to know what she said?" James asked incredulously.
"What did you ask her?" Sirius was trying to be polite but he was really tired...
"To marry me, of course," James rolled his eyes and sat on Sirius' bed.
Sirius was immediately fully awake. "You didn't," he whispered, astonished.
James nodded, "I did."
Sirius was shocked. He thought they weren't serious in the relationship. Apparently he was wrong. "But that's an important commitment, Prongs. Like forever."
"I know. That's why I did it. I want to be with Lily forever," his eyes were starry, "I don't want another guy to get her. I want to protect her and to wake up and see her next to me in the morning. To learn more about her and-"
Sirius thought it was getting a bit soppy so he quickly cut in, "What did she say?" He knew the answer by the scream James gave. Or perhaps it was the cartwheels that convinced him. His best friend was getting married.
When they entered the house they could hear muffled sobs coming from the lounge. They followed the noise and found Lily, hands over her eyes and tears streaming down her white cheeks. Sirius looked uncomfortable and mumbled something about getting tea ready before he strode down the hall and back into the kitchen. James knew he felt awkward with crying girls.
James slowly walked towards Lily, not wanting to startle her. He laid a hand on her shoulder and she jumped slightly. He sat down next to her and squeezed her shoulders protectively. She didn't protest. James sighed, thinking that comforting someone twice in one day really wasn't something he had imagined himself doing for Christmas. All the same, he knew his duty as a husband and he soothed her until she felt ready to talk. Sirius was taking a long time with the tea and James suspected that he was purposely going slowly to avoid the tension.
"Are you all right now?" James asked Lily gently as she wiped at her eyes again.
Lily shook her head, still trembling. James started to remove his arm from around her shoulders and she stiffened when she realized it was there.
He politely put his hands at his sides and looked at her directly, "I don't need to say this again, Lily. Tell me," James had a pleading look on his face and Lily knew how much he wanted to know.
"The Healer came," she said softly glancing at James. Lily was silent for about three seconds before she whispered, "I'm pregnant."
(A/N: And I'm sure you all saw that coming. LOL; lots of you told me in reviews!)
As Lily stretched out under the comforter in the spare bedroom that night, she reviewed the day. It had certainly been the strangest and most eventful day of her life but somehow, despite telling herself she shouldn't, she had enjoyed it. A lot. And the Healer's visit? It had been eventful...
(A/N: Another sort of a flashback.)
Lily had walked home quickly through the snow, easily finding her way back to the house. She slammed the door shut and took off her boots and coat. After hanging them up she walked into the lounge and collapsed onto the leather couch, thinking over the things that Sirius had said.
She stared absent-mindedly into the fireplace and to her surprise, she found it staring back. A woman was materializing in the flames and then, she stepped out. In the flickering light of the flames her pale face was ghostly and it took Lily a second to realize that she was just the Healer.
"Merry Christmas," Lily said politely to the woman and patted the seat of the couch next to her, "please sit."
"Thank you, Merry Christmas," she sank back onto the couch and looked at Lily appraisingly, "You were right," she said simply.
"I was right about what?" Lily asked, feeling rather idiotic.
"You don't remember? Well, given your condition I suppose you wouldn't remember what you said," The woman drew a breath and sat up, rather smugly, "It is my duty to re-inform you then."
Lily nodded, knowing full well that the only reason she didn't know was because she had arrived only that morning. She bit her lip nervously. She didn't like the way the Healer had said "condition."
"Yesterday, you came to St. Mungo's for a check-up. You told us what you suspected was the matter and warned us not to tell your husband," the Healer paused for breath.
Lily felt her heart beat faster, why had she said to not tell James? Had she been worried about what he'd say? Or do?
"So," the woman continued pompously, "we checked you over and came to our conclusion: Mrs Potter, you're pregnant. Due at the end of July."
If the Healer had expected Lily to rejoice and yell triumphantly or anything of that sort, she was sorely disappointed.
Lily just nodded numbly and said quietly, "Thank you."
The Healer sensed tension and so she hurriedly wished Lily a Happy New Year and left.
Lily was alone, thinking through the situation. She was worried, why hadn't she wanted them to tell James? A nasty thought struck her. 'Was it because I was afraid he'd... reject me?' Now that the idea had come up, she thought harder and the more she did the clearer it became: James wasn't going to like this, why else would Lily Potter have wanted it to be secret? He would probably leave her. She knew that he feared commitment and a child was pretty much a permanent thing. It required time and energy, even though it would grow up. Her heart speeded up. A baby. 'Now I know how Mary felt,' she thought ruefully (A/N: Did that make sense?). But a baby. With James Potter. It was ludicrous, almost. She turned back to her original thought as the door slammed, announcing the return of Sirius and her husband. 'The husband that would soon leave her,' she couldn't help thinking.
The tears came, she was scared. When she was kicked out, where would she go? Her friends were all away, and she couldn't get back to her real time... Then she thought of Lily Potter; she would arrive back and be homeless! Fear kept licking at her, making the tears continue to flow.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and she jumped slightly, despite knowing it was James'. She didn't look up or flinch at it. What was the point? In a few minutes she'd probably be out of here anyway. As his arm crept around her and squeezed her, Lily felt a slight jolt in her stomach. She actually wished that she wouldn't have to leave. He continued to soothe her and finally talked to her.
"Are you all right?" he asked gently.
She shook her head numbly and stiffened as he removed his arm. It had been comforting and she knew that he was going to want her to talk soon. She was dreading that.
Fear licked her insides as he said, "I don't need to say this again, Lily. Tell me." His voice was gentle and reassuring, with a slight wheedling tone but Lily still felt sick with anxiety.
'You don't like Potter anyway, she reminded herself, do you?' she told herself, trying to get up the nerve to tell him. She wasn't convinced but told him anyway. "The Healer came," she said softly. "I'm pregnant."
Lily knew that it was the end. She had just ruined her future self's life. She closed her eyes preparing to be ridiculed and thrown out, after all, hadn't James been like that in fifth and sixth year? A bully. Scared of any promises and uncaring towards others. She felt like she was ready to throw up now, the unbiased part of herself had actually started to like him. She shivered, waiting for the blow to fall.
She waited for him to say something. To kick her out or mock her. He didn't. She sneaked a peek at him, expecting a scowl. He was smiling. Was he happy that he was going to throw her out?
An ear-splitting scream filled the room. Never mind. She didn't know what to expect but certainly not James jumping up and down, looking ten times as excited as he had that morning. Watching a grown man behave like that was a mixture between frightening and entertaining. He started pumping the air with his fists and Lily was strongly reminded of the time Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup in their sixth year. Except James looked far more joyful now.
"I can't believe it (yes). I'm going to be a father (yes). This is the best Christmas present ever! (yes) I can't wait (yes, yes, yes!)" James was shouting, not caring who heard or saw him. Tears of joy streamed down his cheeks and he laughed.
"I claim godfather!" Sirius rushed in (without any tea) and joined James in shouting "Yes!"
Lily was confused but relieved. After about five minutes when they had both calmed down, James sat back again next to Lily. His eyes were shining. "This is so great."
"Remember I told you about him being excited on his wedding day, Lily? Well, I think he just managed to put in a good encore. I really think it's a good thing you house is sound-proof," Sirius leaned back, grinning mischievously. "When are you due?"
Lily was still in a state of shock. "July," she muttered.
Of course, James couldn't keep the smile off his face. "I told you, Padfoot. One day my dream would come true. You just never believed me."
Sirius snorted, "You told me in second year that you would marry Lily Evans and have a family with her. Pardon me for not believing you but at that time Lily hated you."
James shrugged. "I'm the luckiest man in the world," James said (he was remembering his words from so many years ago).
Sirius smirked, "You're only twenty (A/N: yes, his birthday's in September 1959, so his school story is like Hermione's. He was 11 then he turned 12 at school.) and you already have a wife and soon a child. What's the rush?"
James laughed, "You know me well enough by now to know that I have no patience, Padfoot!"
Lily found her voice. "I don't understand," she said quietly.
Sirius and James turned to look at her. James gave Sirius a hard look and he got up and Disapparated.
"What don't you understand?" he asked sympathetically.
"Why don't you hate me because of this? You were always scared of commitment," Lily didn't look up and so she didn't see the hurt look in his eyes.
"I could never hate you," he told her simply. "When we got married we both agreed we wanted a family. This is our dream."
"I didn't have anything to do with this baby," Lily continued, "I was scared you'd leave me if you found out."
James shook his head slowly, "I'll never leave you." He lifted up her left hand and pointed to the ring, "Remember what it stands for. I love you and I won't hurt you. That's forever. I promise."
She smiled as she finished remembering. The unbiased part of her completely loved him. But there was a stubborn streak in her, mistrusting and suspicious. She still wasn't sure, it had only been one day. She twirled the ring around her finger, not thinking over everything.
She grinned as she thought about it. In spite of everything it really had been the best Christmas ever. Lily turned her thoughts to the baby. It felt weird to think that she was pregnant, and since the time change had happened, that Lily Potter had already known about it before leaving. She rubbed her abdomen absent-mindedly, surprised to suddenly realize that she was carrying James Potter's child. It scared her. She decided to not think too much about it, to avoid feeling sick again.
James stood on the threshold of the guest bedroom, watching his wife's form sleep. The moonlight shone on her face, making it pale and making her hair shine bright in contrast. She was so perfect as she slept, peaceful and relaxed. He had been the one to suggest that she sleep in the guest bedroom, knowing that she would hate the idea of sharing the main bed with him. He smiled ruefully as her small hand moved down onto her abdomen and she protectively covered it. She was looking after his child. His child! He was still overjoyed, finally he could have a family of his own. He walked along the hall to his own bedroom, quietly changing and getting into bed. His smile faded as he realized he would be alone tonight.
My longest chappie yet! It was hard to write because I'm terrible at writing emotions nicely. Oh well. I hope it wasn't too confusing. Please review! And I promise the next chappie has some explanations about time travel. I don't mind flames but please no bad language!
