Chapter Forty Eight

Nine Months Later

Lily was laying on her bed beside James with a had resting on her large stomach. She sat there in amazement, admiring the little miracle that she bore, and the amazing man at her side.

It awed her how her love for James, the love that they shared could create the bundle of joy that she carried. Her heart swelled and burned with a new love, a maternal protective feeling overwhelming her body. It was the most amazing thing in the world to Lily, and she was humbled and honored and deliriously excited to share this experience with her husband, the man she loved more than life.

She turned to lay on her side, watching James as he slept; one of her favorite past times. She loved James, and was inspired by his unconditional love for her. His constant care for her and her unborn child was touching, and she could never thank him enough. Even though they had been out of school for years and were now not only adults but almost parents, James was still a child at heart. Still cracking jokes, always bringing a smile to her face. He was a man when required, like when working at the Ministry or whenever Lily needed him, but Lily saw the real him - just a happy and care free little boy, just itching to run wild and free.

His dark hair was falling into his face, accenting his skin. Lily sat there admiring his sheer beauty, gently moving the stray strands of raven locks aside, caressing his skin. How did such a wonderful man learn to love her? Always persisting, never giving up, forever fighting for her love... every time she pushed him away, it only made him try harder. How did she ever become so lucky? She softly touched his face, her heart swelling, growing with more love than she had ever imagined.

Then a smile grew on his face, and though his eyes remained closed, he began to speak.

"How am I supposed to sleep with you pawing at me like that?" he said.

"I'm just admiring," Lily smiled back innocently.

"Admiring is with your eyes, not your hands, luv." James whispered back.

"I'm sorry, I just... can't help myself." she teased. "You're too irresistible."

It was then that James opened his eyes, and Lily felt her heart melt. His intense dream-glazed eyes locked with her own. She was drowning in their hazel depths when he finally smiled.

"Well, then you're lucky I have more self control than you do, or I'd ravish you right here and now."

Lily giggled as he leaned into her. "In case you've failed to notice, you already have ravished me and this was the final result," she said, patting her large stomach.

James only chuckled and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Just try to get some sleep, honey. You have the baby to think of, now."

"What else do I think about?" she mumbled, turning to her side. Then she felt James arm snake around her stomach and pull her closer. Lily smiled and snuggled back.

Mmmm, she thought. Heaven.

Then...

Oh. My. Gosh.

"Uh, James?"

"Mmm Hmm?"

"I think it's time to go."

"Lily, the doctor's not here yet. Calm down."

Lily's face contorted into a painful grimace as she screamed, "I want you down here having this bloody baby so I can tell you to calm down! Damnit, if this baby pops out without some sort of professional assistance, I'm going to-"

"Shhhh, Lily. Don't worry." James said soothingly. "He'll be here soon, everything will be all right."

Lily was laying on a bed in a hospital room at St. Mungo's preparing for labor, and James was standing beside her, trying to be as supportive as possible.

"That's not going to stop it from hurting." she said a strained voice.

"Well, take my hand and squeeze it if it makes you feel better." James told her, taking her hand. Then he realized his mistake. Damnit, I can't feel my hand!

"Did you know Alice and Frank are here too?" James said, trying to make conversation, and to take the attention from the grinding bones in his hand. "She's having her baby as well."

"Well, that makes me feel better." Lily breathed. "At least I'm not the only one here dealing with these bloody labor pains."

"Well, they may not be labor pains, but I'm dealing with some pretty bad pains myself." he said teasingly.

"Oh, do shut up, James." Lily yelled. "You're the one that did this to me! You deserve a little pain yourself!"

James gave a half hearted laugh as the door opened and the doctor walked in. About time, he thought.

"So sorry, I'm late." the doctor said. "How are you doing, Mrs. Potter?"

"Well, I'm having a baby." Lily tried to smile, but another contraction took over.

"I'm sure that your husband here will take care of you, and you'll be fine." The doctor patted James on the back and James smiled.

"Okay, now let's have this baby."

Lily was speechless. Total and complete amazement. After hours of painful, body wrenching labor, she held in her arms an angel. A little piece of heaven. Her very own baby boy. Carrying him for nine months, the worry, the stress, the morning sickness, the bed rest, the bloated feet, the ten hours of labor - it was all worth it.

Lily's baby was perfect. He had a full head of raven black hair, a cute nose, toothless smile, ten fingers, ten toes... Lily was holding a little miracle. How did their combined love create such a little miracle?

"Isn't he amazing?"

Lily felt like crying tears of utter joy as she watched her husband, James, the man she loved more than anything, gently take the baby from her and hold it, cradle it, love it - her baby. Their baby.

"He is," Lily agreed quietly. "He looks just like his daddy, too. Look at all the hair."

"Nah, but he's got your eyes, Lily flower." James said with a soft smile, staring down in awe at the little child. "Bright green emerald eyes, just like you. Some pretty little girl is going to be smitten with him, just like I was when I first saw you and those sparkling orbs of yours." Kissing her softly on the lips, he placed the baby boy back into his mothers arms.

"Hello, my little one." Lily whispered as the baby cooed and smiled up at her.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" James quietly questioned. "You never have told me what names you like."

"I have a good one in mind." Lily smirked.

"Not something silly and common, like Thomas or Ethan. Something with character and power, meaningful and life changing... like Charlie... or Dominic..."

"I like Harry." Lily said, looking up at him with knowing eyes. "Harry James Potter."

Lily watched as James' tired hazel eyes filled with tears and a smile spread across his lips. He pulled her to his side and kissed her cheek.

"I knew I married you for a reason."

POP!

"Honey, I'm home!"

Lily greeted her husband at the fireplace with a quick kiss and a baby on her hip. "How was work?"

"It was hell," James said with a sigh, "You'll never believe what the Minister-"

"That's nice, dear. You can take Harry and get him cleaned up. We're having company over for dinner in less than an hour."

"Well, hello there, my dirty little son." James said, taking the child from her arms and heading towards the sink. "What have you gotten into?"

"Anything and everything you could imagine." Lily said with a stressful sigh from the other room.

"Who's coming over for supper?" James asked.

"Alice, Frank and Neville. We've hardly seen them since that day at St. Mungo's and I want to talk with my best friend."

"What am I, chopped liver?" James muttered as he undressed baby Harry.

Lily paused in her bustling and turned. Taking James face in her hands, she kissed him. Hard on the mouth and longer than she had intended, but she wanted to revel in her husbands kiss for one moment longer...

"No, you're my husband and I love you very much." She said, looking up at him intently. Then with a smile, she turned back to the meal at hand. "But you're not a female, thanks heavens, and sometimes I just need a girl to talk to. Alice and I live in homes with too much testosterone. And we need to have some estrogen parties every now and then."

James dropped the brush he was using on Harry's hair and paused. "So we're having and estrogen party?" he asked incredulously.

Lily giggled. "No, we're just having some friends over for dinner. Sadly, the males still out number the females."

"You hear that, little Harry? You, me, Frank and Neville, we're going to have a big testosterone party." Harry only splashed around in the sink and babbled happily.

"Neville... what kind of a name is Neville? Rather odd, I'd say." James said loud enough for Lily to hear.

"Alice has loved that name all her life. It's a lovely name, and I find it adorable."

"You also found me adorable, Lily flower, and look where that got you." James laughed as he dressed Harry.

"If I remember correctly, darling, You found me adorable first. I thought you were a pompous self centered git."

"Hmf," James said, "and she didn't know what she was missing out on." he muttered to his son.

"I heard that!"

"I was just wondering out loud, sweet cheeks!" James called out. He picked up Harry and turned him around to look in the mirror.

"There now, don't we look spiffy? Oh, Harry, you'd better be careful. With my good looks, you're going to be a heart breaker, that's for sure."

"Come on, Mr. Vain. Get that baby out here so you can help me with dinner." Lily said as she rushed past the door.

James picked up the baby and followed Lily to the kitchen. "What are we having for dinner, anyway?"

"Chopped liver."

A/N: I don't know what else to say, other than I'm so terribly sorry! I never meant for this to take so long, but at least it's up now, right -grins- And I know that this one is shorter than normal, but the last two will be long and action packed, I swear! I hope to have them both up soon. Then it's onto a story I really want to do - Before Tragedy Strikes. A little intermission-type story about our favorite Marauder, Sirius Black and his love life, set before and through the beginning of "Daring Destiny." When will it be up, I do not know. I have to finish this one first! I'll try to keep my updates more frequent and again, I'm sorry it took so long! I thank all of you for sticking with me while I've been on hiatus. I love you all-smiles hopfully-