Eve: Hey ya

Mike: Hey, TDM I know you are reading so thanks for the fan art.

Eve: I was going to say that!

Mike: I know... sooooo, when is

Eve: MUST I KILL YOU!!

Mike" *laughing. He knows she'd never hurt him* On With The Fic

*****

James sighed as he picked up yet another piece of parchment. He would be working all night, again. His desk was littered with paper and his shelves were overflowing. He shuffled through a few more scrolls and saw another memo zoom in. He looked at his schedule. He needed to write to Peter and Remus, reschedule tomorrows meeting, check and see how Lily and Kira were doing, send Dumbledore, Voldemort's attack information, delete another file saying that Voldemort was trying to build a weapon.... he knew what this weapon was. It was at his house, asleep with a sore throat about now. Yes, she had the potential to be either a major threat to Voldemort... or.... James shook his head, she was not a weapon. She did not want to be a weapon. He had not told Dumbledore about how Voldemort wanted Kira... he also was sure that Dumbledore did not know. James shook his head again, trying to wake himself up. It was already three something in the morning. He slumped down in his chair and closed his eyes, letting an uneasy sleep wash over him.

"Wake up, James, I've been filing for an hour and I'm getting tired of hearing myself talk" A voice lectured him. "Come on I sent an owl to your friends, threw some files into a fire and wrote to Dumbledore... James? Get up" James blinked his eyes open and stared ahead, looking for his glasses. Someone handed them to him and continued their list. "I rescheduled your meeting, and Lily said Kira's doing okay, still feeling bad, but okay... How come you didn't tell me Kira was sick?"

"Go back to the infirmary, Cota" James looked over at Cota, one arm in a sling and he was holding a stack of papers other his other arm. James smiled and Cota used a levitation spell on his shoes so he could put the papers into the filing cabinet with less pain.

"Are you joking? You have two hours worth of work here" Cota shook his head. "I leave for a few weeks and look what happens" He flashed a smile and stuck more papers into the filling cabinet.

"How are you feeling?" James asked.

"I'll be coming home with you tonight, if that is alright my lord" Cota said, casting a glance over to James.

"Had enough of the hospital staff I take it?" James laughed, nodding his head.

"No, they're all rather friendly... Just, I'd rather be home" Cota answered.

"We'll we'd rather you be home. Everyone's missed you. I heard Sirius swear to stop calling you kid" James stated, stacking a few papers and marveling at how much work Cota had finished in an hour.

"Oh and Peter said something about the Order changing their meeting untill next week. I don't think anyone is hurt..." Cota stated, shaking his head. Cota was an unofficial member of the Order, he wasn't considered old enough yet. However, Cota helped as much as he could. They spent one more hour there, and were finished. Cota went ahead to check on Patrick and James sent the letter to Dumbledore. He would swing by headquarters tomorrow. James's priority was first to his family, then to his friends, then to his job and then to the order. He had a special bond with every member there. However, he knew he had to continue his work here at the academy. James yawned as he sent the owl off. It was five forty seven in the morning.

"Pat, hey, buddy, get up" Cota rubbed Pat's neck gently. Pat neighed, delighted, and nuzzled Cota. "Easy Pat" Cota smiled. We're going to apperate home tonight, sorry but riding hurts my shoulder" Cota stated, pointing to his sling. So I'm going to let you out so you and Gyriph can head home on your own" Pat whinnied that he understood and Cota opened the stall. He walked back to James's office and they both apperated home. They arrived home at five forty eight. James yawned and saw that Lily was still up; she never slept well when he had to work late. To many people in the Order had died and she worried all the time, though she NEVER showed it. They walked up the path and silently opened the door, James going in first.

"There you are" Lily sighed, relieved. "Peter was here earlier, said the meeting-"

"Was moved to next week" James nodded.

"Yes" Lily nodded.

"Mommy" Kira cried from upstairs.

"Poor dear, hasn't been sleeping well" Lily shook her head and started to get up.

"I'll take care of her" Cota stated, stepping through the door.

Lily immediately got up and strode across the room to hug him. "Thank god your okay" She smiled. "How are you? Are you hurt? How's your shoulder, it's not hurting now is it?" She worried.

"My lady, it's fine. I'm alright" Cota grinned, heading up the stairs.

"I hate that word" James mumbled.

""Kira-Kira, wake up, or you shall miss the day"

"I'll miss you day" Kira responded groggily, her voice pained.

"Come on diamond eyes. You don't want everything to pass you by. What would the morning be like with out you?"

"Lets wait and find out" Kira muttered, then her eyes shot over to Trinidy, who was staring wide eyed at the door.

"I can't do that. I already miss your sparkle" Cota stepped away from the door as it was jerked open.

"COTA!!!" Kira squeaked, not caring if it hurt.

"Hey Kirameku" Cota beamed down at her.

Kira smiled in rapture and her eyes shone with excitement. "You're back!"

"Of course I'm back" Cota laughed. "How long did you think I'd leave you?" Cota smiled, tapping her on the nose. "Oh" He reached into his cloak pocket. "Here you are" Cota handed her the little raccoon. "That really is a lucky charm"

"Really?" Kira asked, still in happy shock.

Cota closed his eyes and nodded. "Oh" He once again reached in his pocket. "Here, take this" Cota handed over a watermelon Jolly Rancher, Kira's favorite Muggle candy. Cota put his finger up to his lips and walked her back into her room. He tucked her in and told her to get some rest. Kira smiled at him, eyes misty with happy tears. Cota retreated down the stairs and grinned at James.

"No" James said, not even looking at Cota.

Cota's grin vanished and he stared at the ground. "Come on I've been in a hospital room by myself for so long-"

"No. And stop reading my schedule while you're injured" James said, thanking God for caffeine as Lily handed him a mug of coffee.

Cota sighed and slumped down into a chair as Lily put some bacon onto his plate. James glanced at the clock and drank his coffee. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all coming soon. They had a day off from everything and were going to spend it slacking off as best they could.

"It's an uneven number" Cota mumbled, eating his toast.

"We'll find something to do" James answered. He glanced up at Lily and could tell she was thinking the same thing. She was thinking about the members who had died. James knew they all dies as heroes... but Moody didn't help things much. He found it easy to shrug things off, but James new he was really hoping for a drastic turn around. They were out numbered, always a step behind Voldemort, and all the years of fighting was taking it's toll. James looked up at Cota, he had also fought like a hero, and James thanked God everyday that Cota had managed to survive. Of course, Voldemort was always looking for strong members before the Order could get them. Still he was thankful that Cota had pulled through.

"Okay, I'll help you, Lily-"Cota started.

"You'll do no such thing! You're hurt" Lily interrupted, pointing her wand at the splint.

Cota stared back at her; helping was his right of passage. It made him feel like he wasn't a burden. 'Alright, thanks for breakfast I'll go back to the hospital' Cota thought. Then another thought crossed his mind. Lily was off duty from the order because of her pregnancy, so she just helped them keep track of tips and information, she'd be at headquarters. And you couldn't take a sick little girl-

"Wipe that look off your face. Kira is coming to headquarters with me. There is an empty room she can sleep it and Alice already volunteered to help watch her. She's watching her son Neville, anyway" Lily stated, smiling over at him.

Cota nodded as they finished their meal. Lily and James did the grueling task of washing the dishes and Cota was told to go lie down and watch T.V.

"That what you do when you're bored anyway" James pointed out.

"Correction, that's what I do when I know we are going somewhere or a quidditch game, is on" Cota grumbled. He slumped down onto the couch and felt a sharp twinge in his shoulder. Cota grimaced and clenched his teeth together untill the pain subsided. When it did, he groaned softly and laid back. The doorbell rang a few minutes later and Cota got up. "I'll get it" He called as he heard Lily nearly drop something and James dive for whatever she dropped.

Cota snickered and peeked out the door. Sirius was glancing around in a paranoid manner, Remus was smiling, and Peter was twitching slightly. He must have jump started him morning with a pound of coffee like James had. Cota opened the door and was met with three very surprised looks.

"Hi ya" Cota grinned, stepping aside to let them through. He glanced at Sirius as he walked into the door. "I'm on to you" He growled, narrowing his eyes.

Sirius stared at Cota; expressionless then thrust his face forward, closer to Cota's own. "I'm on to me too" He growled. They both cast mock suspicious looks at each other and then bust out laughing, leaving Remus and Peter to stand there and wonder. "Good seeing you again, I was worried" Sirius stated, patting Cota heartily on the shoulder and making Cota twitch with pain.

"Yes, excellent recovery" Remus stated. "I do hope they are giving you adequate time to heal... away from Sirius"

"Oop's" Sirius winches and cast an apologetic smile over at Cota, whom was glaring at him.

"Yeah, two hours of questioning are up next, oh the joy, oh the excitement" Cota sighed as Remus and Sirius walked past him into the living room.

"Q-q-questioning?" Peter asked.

"Yeah like, if I can identify any of the Death Eaters. Name a few names" Cota rolled his eyes. "If I know what he's planning next, where the hideout is, so on and so on" Cota stated, shrugging and quickly regretting it, ouch.

"O-oh... they really expect you to be able to accurately remember after all that has happened?" Peter sounded disappointed.

"Most of there names and faces seem to be burned into my mind" Cota stated, a repulsed look on his face as if he'd like nothing more then to wash his brain clean of the scum's faces. "I'm really hoping to blast all this away as soon as finals come around, I can't answer 'Knot' on a test now, can I"

"No, no you couldn't do that" Peter smiled, yet his eyes remained the same.

Cota stared at him and Peter seemed to want to become invisible, but that was how Peter always was, he had a brave 'stop looking at me' attitude. (A.N hey reviewers, can you feel my sarcasm. Mike says it's so thick he can't breath.)

"I'm on to you" Cota growled, tilting his head down ward and glaring up at Peter. Cota didn't drop the look and Peter stood, unmoving.

"Y-you w-what now?" Peter asked eyes wide and the hairs on the back of his neck starting to prickle.

"I'm, onto you" Cota repeated, still blocking Peter's escape.

Peter smiled half heartedly, what exactly was Cota onto.

"What on earth are you talking about" Peter squeaked.

"I'm on to you... the new code word? Remember? If you get a new member you say so and so is onto us and when you're greeting members of the Order you're supposed to tell them you're on to them so they know you know about the Order" Cota explained. "S'cuse me I gotta go tell Remus I'm onto him before James beats me to it"

Peter sighed deeply and slid down the wall. He had already been 'asked' to join the Death Eaters, he had almost been sure that Cota knew... but why would he, and why did it matter. Peter wasn't going to join them, he had enough going on in his life with the Order, and he didn't need more work. At least in the Order he had his friends with him. Peter shrugged it off and walked into the living room. James, Sirius, and Remus were standing in awe around... a photo? Sirius's eyebrows were raised and he was actually standing still, Remus looked faintly amused, and James looked about ready to either cry or burst out in a triumphant scream of glee.

"What going on mates?" Peter asked.

"They call it" James paused and held up the picture, resting it in his hand like something to be worshiped. "The Nimbus"

Peter saw that it was indeed a quidditch broom, and he shouldn't have been surprised. After an hour of talking about the broom and James saying "No" whenever Cota entered the room, they were off. Were? Who knew? Why? Who cared? They just sent out. After an hour of Sirius's top whatever number things to do wherever, they decided to take a break. They went to a field in a Wizarding community and relax under a tree. James was lying on his back with the palms of his hands behind his head, Sirius was sitting in the tree with his leg dangling down, Remus was sitting with his back to the tree, and Peter was collapsed on the ground, sprawled out with his back slightly against the tree. They were enjoying the relaxing moment until-

"Well, if it isn't Potter and crew" Smirked a greasy haired git.

"If you're a git and you know it" James sang, Remus, Peter, and Sirius clapped their hands twice and looked at Snape expectantly.

Snape, however, was unamused, imagine that. He glared at James. "Easy Potter, Minerva isn't her to save you this time"

"And I'm so glad my daughter isn't here, think of the emotional scars she could have, simply be seeing your face" James retorted, adding a meaningful glance over to his friends.

"Yes, we are all quite amused by your adopted daughter, what happened? Couldn't have one of your own?" Snape hissed.

James smiled, eyes sparkling like he had just won the quidditch championship and had been invited to the hall of fame. "Actually" James started. "My son will be born some time within the net two months. I'm hoping for July" James smiled.

Snape didn't have a come back for that. His upper lip twitched and his eyes became slits of hatred. "We end this now Potter" He snarled.

"No we won't you say that almost every time you see me, not once has it been true" James smiled, acting as though there was not one thing Severus could say to make him angry.

Sirius jumped down from the tree, Remus, stood up, along with Peter, James jumped to his feet. Sevres's lips curled as three of his own friends showed up. The combatants started at each other, motionless and it seemed a staring contest was happening between James and Severus. Sirius was watching his opponent like lion watches a zebra, his wild black main billowing in the wind. Sirius's hair was short, but still gave off a lion's mane appearance. Remus was mildly calm, but his eyes flashed for a battle. Peter tapped his foot impatiently and was tilting sideways a bit. Then it happened, quick as a whip, and as fast as lightning. The brandished their brooms and a quidditch match broke out. The Unknown Death Eaters Vs The Unknown Order of the Phoenix. (Snape had no idea James was in the order and James had no idea Severus was a death eater)

James conjured up game balls and Severus handled goal posts, with their teammates checking for cheating.

"I think he cures the game ball" One of Severus's friends announced.

"Don't bother with that. He wouldn't" Severus stated, he had never known James to cheat at quidditch. No matter what.

The game began, James and Severus circling the field as their teammates battled the quaffed. Peter was an excellent Keeper and James's team was ahead by thirty points when the snitch was released. James raced towards it and was nearly knocked off his broom by Severus. James dangled forty feet above the ground and slowly began pulling himself up onto the broom. Severus had planned a trick though. He had noticed during the many years of playing against James and Sirius, that Sirius always kept James in his line of sight, incase something happened. James did the same thing if Severus went very far off the ground. Now, Sirius was staring up as James, his attention lost from the game. One of Severus's teammates took the advantage to shoot a bludger at Sirius. However, Remus had Sirius's back and quickly deflected the bludger. James climbed back onto his broom and was off. Sirius knocked the quaffle into the left goal as Remus hit the keeper with a bludger. Severus obviously didn't like the way things were going. James's group had a tight unity. Severus's group was trying to stick together; they weren't as scary when they were separated. The game raged on for an hour, scored tied when Remus hit a bludger and it knocked a quaffle through the goal. Peter knocked a quaffle all the way to Sirius as it was about to score. Sirius shot and they were up by ten points. James was doing loopdy- loops around the snitch and waiting for the right moment to grab it. The snitch shot off with James in close pursuit as Sirius scored another goal. That was why James had not let Cota come. He knew he would have gotten hurt if they had played. James had not expected Severus to show up, but was glad he did because James had really wanted to play. Remus shot a bludger at Snape, who glared at it before dodging. Sirius sneaked by the keeper and scored a goal. They were up by twenty. James swooped down, eyes following the snitch and nothing else. Severus on his heels, James dove at breakneck speed. James saw the ground rushing up at him, but he didn't care, his eyes followed only the snitch. James leaned forward untill he legs were the only thing left on the broom; he reached and grasped the snitch. James pulled back and then turned to the left to avoid getting hit by Severus. He clutched the snitch and zoomed across the field. James beamed, Sirius whooped, Remus cheered, and Peter pumped his fists in the air. They had one.

"This isn't over James!" Severus barked.

"No! Really?" James called back, not caring.

They had won, fair and square. Severus snarled at James, then him and his teammates slithered of, cursing threats as they did. The Order had one. The Death Eaters could kill each member of the order one by one, but when you got down to it... who do you really think was better? If only all battles could be solved that way. So many little things can change everything. Imagine, for example, if Hitler had become and artist instead.

***** Eve: Well? Wacha think? Any way, for amusement today we have some rules of combat, brought to you by.

Mike: ME!!!!!

Eve: A fruit

Mike: Eve! You crossed the line!

Eve: Are you or are you not wearing a bright orange shirt with the word 'orange' on it?

Mike: Oooh... yeah, I am... but I'm not-

Eve: I know, can we continue

Mike; Yeah.

First of all. If the enemy is in range, so are you.

2. Incoming fire has the right of way.

3. Don't look conspicuous: it draws fire.

4. The easy way is always mine.

5. Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo.

6. Professionals are predictable; it's the amateurs that are dangerous.

7. The enemy invariably attacks on one of two occasions: 1. When you're ready for them. 2. When you're not ready for them.

8. Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy someone else to shoot at.

9. If you can't remember, the claymore is pointed at you.

10. If your attack is going well, you have walked into an ambush.

11. Don't draw fire, it irritates the people around you.

12. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.

13. When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend.

14. If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid.

15. When in doubt empty the magazine.

16. Never share a fox hole with anyone braver than you.

17. Anything you do can get you shot. Including doing nothing.

18. Make it too tough for the enemy to get in and you can't get out.

19. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.

20. A Purple Heart just proves that were you smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.

21. Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last and don't ever volunteer to do anything.

22. The quartermaster has only two sizes: too large and too small.