Chapter Forty Nine

"Anyone home?"

"In here, Sirius."

Sirius grinned as he rounded the corner in the Potter house to find not only James and Lily, but Remus playing with Baby Harry.

"Well, if this isn't the most adorable scene..."

"And if you don't look like Santa himself!" Remus chuckled. "Loving the hat there, Pad."

"Yeah, well, 'tis the season." Sirius grinned as James stood to hug his friend.

"Happy Christmas, Sirius." James said, patting him on the back.

"Happy Christmas. How've you been, brother of mine?"

"Good, very good. Glad you could make it." James said. He could always bask in the happiness he felt around his true friends.

"It's good to see you, Sirius." Lily greeted him with a hug and a smile. "You shouldn't stay away so long. And you too, Remus. I miss having you boys around."

"Hear that, Moony? She misses us." Sirius said, putting his back down. "But this is no ordinary visit. I come bearing gifts!"

"Oh Sirius, you didn't have to do that." James said. "We're just glad to have you here."

"Shut up, he brought me a present!" Lily said excitedly.

"Presents?" Remus said, his ears perking up. Then he picked up the baby and made his way to the Christmas tree where everyone was gathering. "Come on, James Jr. Uncle Sirius brought us presents!"

"One for Mrs. Potter," he said, handing her a paper size and paper thin gift with a bow on it.

"One for Moony," and handed him something messily wrapped.

"One for Jamesy-poo," and he handed him a very small giftbox.

"And one for baby Harry." Sirius looked picked him up and Harry smiled up at him, drooling. "Come here, sport. Come see your Godfather."

Suddenly, there was massive squealing from Lily. "Ohmygosh, Sirius! You got me the Eagles new album?" And then she tackled him on the floor in a giant hug. "I'm going to put this on the record player in my room!" And then she was gone.

"Um, James, what the hell is a record player?" Remus asked.

"It's this muggle music player thing, I dunno. She loves it, though." James shrugged. "How did you know what to get her? She's still in love with her muggle stuff, no matter how much I tell her she's a witch."

"I dunno, I owled Alice and asked her, she told me to go to a muggle music store in London and ask for the Eagles latest album. So I did." Sirius smiled.

"Well, I got her a Charms book and she loves it." Remus boasted.

"Great, my two best mates are going to make my gift to my wife look insignificant."

"Well, what did you get me?" Lily asked, as she plopped down on the floor next to him.

"In a bit, love. Let Sirius have his moment first." James said, kissing her cheek quickly.

"Death of a werewolf?" Remus cringed, reading the title of the book. "Well gee, Sirius, it's what I always wanted..."

"No, you great git!" Sirius said knocking him over the head. "Read the back. It's about a great wizard in Merlin's time, who was a werewolf and all the great things he did before he died. It's true, it really happened."

"Hmm, is that so?" Remus said, now flipping through the pages, interested. "Well, thanks Padfoot. That was very thoughtful of you."

"Hey, don't go accusing me of being thoughtful." he said jokingly.

"I got Harry a cute little leather jacket so he can look like his Godfather." Sirius said proudly, putting the little jacket on him and turning to look at him. "Well, now isn't he just the little heart breaker?"

"Of course, he is. Now take that jacket off my son so he can be baby," Lily said with a smile.

"You'll never believe it, Sirius, but I got you a leather jacket." Remus laughed. "It's not here yet, you know how slow owl post is."

"Indeed I do." Sirius nodded. "But thanks, I can't wait to get it."

"Moony got me this nifty Gryffindor sweater, aren't you so jealous?" James said, showing off proudly.

"Nope. I'm getting a leather jacket." Sirius smirked, and James threw his wrapping paper at him.

"These Seeker gloves are great, Pad, but why did you get them? You know I hardly ever play Quidditch any more."

"I know it, but I figured we could all come over and play quidditch some time. You know, for old times' sake. And if not, then it will be a great hand me down for Harry, you soon to be Champion Seeker." Sirius laughed.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. You just wait. My son's going to be the greatest quidditch player ever."

"Yeah, keep dreaming, Potter." Remus rolled his eyes.

"Hey, if my husband wants to dream, then he can dream. Isn't that right, hunny?" Lily said to James, making the other boys laugh.

"You're supposed to be on my side, sweetheart." he protested.

"Of course I am, darling." she nodded. "Tell me what you got me and we'll see who's side I'm on."

James sighed. "Okay, okay. Harry first, though."

Lily was startled when he stood and disapeared into another room. He returned with two little boxes in hand. Sitting on the floor, he held his arms out to his son.

"Come here, slick lookin' baby. Daddy's got a present for you."

Baby Harry was now almost 6 months old, and he was the happiest little boy. Not only was he constantly crawling around babbling happily, but he always recognized his parents and grinned toothlessly. James stretched out his arms, and Harry instantly smiled up at his father and scooted across the floor.

"There you are, son." James said, handing him the box. "Go ahead and open it." After several minutes of Harry trying to figure out how to open the box, he finally managed to pull the top off, revealing a lovely shiny pocket watch.

"James, that's beautiful." Lily gasped, looking over his shoulder. "Wherever did you get it?"

"The same place I got your ring, sweetheart. I wanted to get something I could hand down to my son." Then he grinned up at her and kissed her sweetly on the mouth. "I also got your gift at the same jewelry shop."

Lily smiled wryly. "James, you didn't have to."

"Yeah, you didn't have to marry me either, but you did it anyway." James chuckled, making Remus and Sirius laugh as well.

James opened the box and Lily's eyes grew. Inside were emerald green earrings, to match his mother's necklace and Lily's engagement ring.

"James, they're gorgeous!" she exclaimed breathlessly, taking the box from him and moving to the mirror over the fireplace to put them on.

"I find it the only thing fitting for my gorgeous wife." he said behind her. As putting his hands on her hips and she gently placed the exquisite stones on her ears, he watched her nose scrunch up in her adorable facial expressions, and he was awed in her magnificent beauty. Her fiery red hair had grown longer if it was possible. Her green eyes shown like the emeralds she wore, off setting her flaming locks and porcelain skin. When she turned to him and smiled, James couldn't help but smile back. He could die happy, he had the most beautiful, loving wife in the world, and through that love, together they had created a son, the most amazing creature in James' eyes. Life was defiantly good.

"Thanks you James," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "And your present will be given later on tonight."

"Really?" James said with a raised eyebrow, suddenly intrigued.

"Do you mind?" said Remus jokingly. "We are your guest, after all. You're supposed to be entertaining us, not yourselves."

"Ah, but look there, Moony." Sirius pointed out. "James specifically planted that little sprig of mistletoe over the fireplace because he knew when Lily got her earrings, she'd want to put them on immediately, and would naturally use the mirror."

Lily looked up suspiciously, and indeed, there was a little twig of mistletoe, and raised an eyebrow of her own at James.

"See, there's a reason you're my best friend." James nodded with a smile.

"Is that so?" Lily teased. "And what am I chopped liver?"

"Never." James said, suddenly growing serious. "You're my wife and I love you. More than anything, I love you." Then pulling her closer, he kissed her.

The sweet intoxication she enveloped him in was euphoric. He loved kissing Lily. It helped him understand the true meaning of love. It renewed in him a conviction to love Lily and to keep her happy. It reminded him what exactly he was living for - her and her love.

"Ahem," Sirius cleared his throat. "Get a room!"

"I think 'later on tonight' is going to come sooner." Remus laughed in a whisper.

James felt Lily smile in his kiss as she pulled away.

"Happy Christmas, Lily." he said looking lovingly into her emerald orbs.

"Happy Christmas, James."

They rejoined their friends hand-in-hand. Sirius and Remus were trying to teach little Harry to walk. James sat on his large comfy chair and Lily sat on his lap.

"Where's Hestia, Sirius?" Lily asked. "I saw you two last week in London. I figured you two would be spending Christmas together."

"Nah, she's spending Christmas with her family in Italy. And I wanted to spend Christmas here with my family." he smiled. "So we decided we'd spend the New Years' Eve together."

"She's such a sweet heart! We had a great time when she went with Alice and I to Diagon Alley to go shopping." Lily commented. "And she has impeccable taste in clothes."

"What about Jenny?" James asked. "I thought you three were inseparable; You, Alice and Jenny."

"You mean, your girlfriend?" Lily teased.

"I was actually curious about your boyfriend, but yeah, what about my girlfriend?" James said as he poked her in the side.

"Unfortunately, my dear friend Jenny has moved to Norway." Lily said wistfully.

"Norway?" James said incredulously. "Why the hell would she move there? It's supposed to be bloody frigid up there."

"Well, it just so happens that Travis was accepted to be teacher at Durmstrang." Lily smirked.

"Travis?" Remus commented. "That's impressive. Not only are they selective in the students they allow, but they must also be very selective in those they allow to teach."

"I always knew he was a smart guy." Lily said, earning more poking from James.

"Yeah, but eventually you knew that I would become the world's most powerful Auror, and that they are grossly overpaid, so you decided to go with me." James said arrogantly while Sirius chuckled and Harry giggled and played with the ball on the end of his Santa hat.

"How's your schooling going, Lily?" Remus asked. "We go to separate campuses now, so I don't get to see you as often."

"I love it." she smiled. "I'm learning so much in my Charms classes, I can't wait to actually start as a Charms Specialist for the Ministry. And speaking of school, guess who I saw last week?" Lily said with almost a smirk.

Remus shrugged.

"Joselynn."

Lily watched as his face turned pale and he looked away. "Did you really?" he said nervously.

"She asked about you." Lily said. "She always does. And every time, I tell her 'he's busy' or 'he's doing good.' But I shouldn't have to tell her. Hell, she shouldn't be wondering. You should be with her and she should know how you're doing."

Remus stood and shook his head, walking to the window to watch the snow fall in the darkness.

"It's obvious she's interested in you, and I know for a fact that you're crazy about her. So why aren't you doing anything about it?"

Remus sighed. "If she knew anything about the real me, Lily, she wouldn't be so interested." he said quietly.

"Damnit, Remus!" Lily said, standing and yelling angrily at his back. "I'm sick and tired of you feeling sorry for yourself. If she loves you, then she wouldn't care about that. But you'll never know because you won't even give her the opportunity to love you."

"That's right. Better for her to be safe and happy, rather than burdened and endangered by me." he retorted spitefully.

"If that's how you really feel, then you don't understand love, Remus." Lily said, calming herself and taking a seat back on James' lap. "I used to think like that and that's what kept me from James from love, because I didn't under stand that love is a two way thing, it's can't be one-sided. And if I still felt like that, I wouldn't have the amazing life I'm living now. I wouldn't have the perfect husband and an amazing child."

James smirked and whispered to Sirius, "She called me the perfect husband."

Sirius chuckled. "I hate to say it, Moony, but she's right."

"Yeah, Remus, why not give her a chance?" James said. "It's obvious she can make you happy, and you love her enough to keep her happy and safe. Why don't you give her the chance to feel that way about you?"

Remus sighed and ran a hand through his long brown hair. "I... I just... fine. Fine, Lily. I'll send her an owl, will that make you happy?"

"Yes, thank you, Remus." Lily smiled. "You won't regret it."

"We'll see about that." Remus said with a rueful smile as he took his seat on the floor once more.

"I think little Harry's had it for one night." Sirius said, cuddling a sleeping Harry in his arms.

"Oh, poor baby." Lily said as she stood. "He's not used to having so many visitors. You two must have worn him out." she said smacking Sirius playfully on the back of the head.

Sirius chuckled as Lily took the sleeping child from him and out of the room. "Aw, we were just playing, weren't we Moony?"

"Yeah, James Jr. probably gets as much rough housing from his dad." Remus added.

"'James Jr.?'" Now that's cute. Did you make that up all by yourself?" James laughed, only to be 'shushed' from Lily who was down the hall.

"You have to admit, James, he looks exactly like you." Remus said.

"Yeah, he does have my dashing good looks, doesn't he?"

"Rough face and messy hair? Yup, that's you." Sirius joked.

"He's got Lily's eyes, though. Anyone could tell that from a mile away." Remus said.

"I know it." James sighed. "That little kid is going to be heart breaker, that's for sure."

Remus smiled. "Well, he's got great parents, so..."

"So he'll definitely be a heart breaker." Sirius chuckled.

"Well, James had great parents too, and he didn't break too many hearts..." Remus said, but then he stopped and laughed. "Okay, so maybe that's not totally true, but you did have great parents."

Sirius nodded. "Amen."

"Can you believe it's been almost three years since my parents died?" James said in revered amazement.

"Really? Time sure does fly." Sirius said.

"Your parents were always great, James." Remus said. "Always happy and joking... and thinking back on it now, though we all thought it was disgusting then, they were really in love with each other. And I see that in you and Lily, too. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Moony."

"Not to mention the house smells the same." Sirius said. "Fresh bread, oranges and vanilla... it's such a familiar homey house, I could just live here. I did live with you for a time, James and I feel right at home here." Remus nodded in agreement.

"Well, feel free to come over any time. I miss having my best mates around. We haven't been the Marauders for a long time." James said regretfully.

"I know it." Remus said. "You haven't heard from Wormtail lately have you? I haven't seen him in ages."

"Yeah, I actually got a little note from him a few weeks ago. You know, the 'Happy Christmas, I'm fine, how are you?' kind of note."

"Yeah, he would owl you first. You've always been the one he really looks up to." Sirius said in a very un-jealous tone.

"I just hope he doesn't get into trouble. You know how easily he can be mislead. Remember around the end of the term he was saying Slytherins like Malfoy and Snape weren't that bad?" James said incredulously.

"Yeah, the boys got a screw loose." Sirius said.

"I'm serious, Pad. If he wasn't a member of the Order, I'd be worried. Voldemort has persuasive power that everyone underestimates."

"How's your work going, James?" Remus asked. "I'm worried about you since you're the one getting close to all the action."

"Well, I'm personally fine. I'm about to finish my apprenticeship and Auror training, then I'll be moved out in the field, so I'm not seeing any action yet. But it's so close to home... just last week, one of our double agents was discovered and killed. Then his wife was tortured to death. I attended the funeral service - and it's really not a happy thing to deal with. It's very real and it could," he paused and corrected himself, "it will get very dangerous."

"I just hope you're well protected." Sirius said.

"And well hidden." Remus said solemnly. "We don't want to be attending any funerals any time soon."

Suddenly Lily walked back into the room and stopped. "Whos, boys. Easy on the dramatics. There's so much tension in this room, it knocked me in the face when I walked in." She said, taking her seat on James lap again.

"No worries, love. We were just talking." James told her.

"Ready for your present now?" Lily said in a low voice.

"Hey, wait a minute." Sirius said. "You didn't get us anything?"

"No 'Happy Christmas' for your tow best mates?" Remus said with a fake pout.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot." James and Lily smiled at each other. "Out on the back porch are two brand new Nimbus 1700's waiting for you."

Sirius and Remus looked at each other and only laughed. Not only was the newest most expensive broom on the market, but it was also the most high quality broom made so far. It was the broom used by the professionals. Surely, James hadn't spent that much money on them...

"No, really, what did you get us?" Sirius said.

"Um, I'm not joking." James said.

They stopped laughing. "You're serious." Remus said in disbelief.

"No, actually, he's Sirius, but if you don't believe me about the brooms, go see for yourself."

Remus and Sirius fumbled over each other as they raced for the back door. Throwing it open, they were gone, leaving Lily and James alone.

"That was a very nice thing you did for them, James." Lily said quietly.

"Oh, it's the least I could do for them. They've been my best mates for years. After all they've done for me, it's really nothing."

"I know it, and I'm proud of you." she kissed him quickly.

"So what exactly did you get me again?" James smiled.

Lily giggled and began trailing kisses down his neck. "You'll find out as soon as your friends leave."

"Hey, who invited you kids anyway? Get on out of here, you mangy teenagers! Scram! Scrounging animals! I'm trying to get a present from my wife!" James yelled playfully.

Lily only laughed and kissed James on the mouth sweetly. Then looking into his eyes, she smiled. "I love you James."

"I love you too, Lily flower."

Then there was some excited screams in the back yard, indication that they had found their presents.

"Beat it!"

A/N: Well, this definitely took longer than I had planned, but seeing as how I'm totally obsessed with Lost and Livejournal, not to mention my job and finals are coming up at school, ya'll are lucky this is even up today. But I swore to myself that I would finish this fic and I will. I can't believe that I started this fic last May, and that's next month! Man, time sure does fly. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chappie, it was fun to write and it's been a long time coming. Let me know what you thought of it, please, by reviewing!

THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT - how sad is that? Ah, well - there's always "After Tragedy Strikes" and "Daring Destiny" right? I'm trying to get back into my original fandom (Harry Potter) and my OTP (Ron/Mione) so expect to see more fics pop up over the summer. I'm really excited about some of them, hopefully you will be too. Anyways, you all know how much I love reviews, so please feel free to make my day! -grins and hugs- I love you all!