Chapter 41

"I need to get a job," complained Sirius as he sat playing with Anastasia. She was having fun playing with her dolls and Sirius would occasionally portray one of her dolls. James was sitting on the couch watching the two of them.

"Why?" asked James. He was working a job on the side of going to the Auror school and that was bringing in enough money for them to live on, although they weren't financially comfortable.

"Because I feel like I'm not doing my part of keeping this family together. I feel like you're doing everything while I'm sitting home doing nothing. That's not fair. We're supposed to be equal partners, which means that I also work."

James sighed and slid down onto the floor to sit next to his husband. "Siri, if you went to work, who would watch over Ana?"

He shrugged in response and leaned over to pick up his daughter. She gladly leaned into his arms and snuggled up. It was getting late and she was getting tired. "I don't know. Your mom is always willing to help out and if worse comes to worse, I can always ask Jamie to watch her."

"Who's Jamie?" James asked, sounding confused. He didn't know anyone named Jamie and didn't know how Sirius could.

"She's one of our neighbors," explained Sirius. "I was walking outside with Ana and she came out and started talking. She's really cool, although she thinks we're gay."

James snorted. "Wonder where she gets that idea?"

Sirius laughed and stood up. Anastasia was now asleep and he decided he should put her in her bed. "I have no idea. I'm gonna take her up to bed and then go to sleep myself. Are you coming?"

James thought about it for a moment and then nodded. Auror school was really time consuming and he was exhausted from getting up early. "I'll be up in a minute," he said and Sirius nodded before taking the little girl up to her bed. Just recently, she had gotten a newer bed, which was somewhat annoying as she could get out as many times as she wanted without being hindered.

Once she was in bed, Sirius walked to his room and got ready for bed. When he came out of the bathroom, James still hadn't come up to bed. He looked confused for a moment, but then shrugged it off. He slid under the covers of his bed and snuggled in. However, he wasn't the least bit tired. Mentally anyways. So he picked up one of his notebooks and flipped through it. He had many pages that were dedicated to his poems and songs.

"That's what I'll do," he exclaimed, just as the door opened. James entered and he looked at Sirius in confusion.

"You'll do what?" he asked as he walked into the bathroom. He didn't close the door so Sirius could still talk to him.

"I'll get a job producing music, or getting mine produced. Who knows? It sounds like fun!"

James popped his head out of the bathroom, completely bewildered. "You really are serious about getting a job aren't you?"

Sirius nodded and smiled. "What's so horrible about that?"

James thought about it for a moment and then sighed. "I like you being home with Anastasia. I'd really prefer that we weren't strangers to our own kid. I'd really hate for her to spend more time with someone like…oh, my mom than us. That idea always freaked me out, whenever I was thinking about something like that." He gestured towards Sirius's slightly protruding stomach. "Plus, we've got another one on the way. This is the fourth month. Shouldn't you be resting?"

Sirius grimaced and shrugged as James sat down on the bed, drawing the covers over his body. "I probably should be, but…it's only the fourth month. What could possibly happen?"

James shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not the pregnant one."

Sirius laughed at that and snuggled up into James's side. "I love you so much," he said softly. James brushed his husband's hair away from his eyes and kissed him on the forehead.

"I know. I love you too. I always will."

Sirius grinned again. "So, can I get a job?"

James rolled his eyes. "Can't you wait until after the baby is born?"

Sirius gently slapped him and responded, "No, 'cause then I'll have another excuse not to get a job. And you know that and you're planning that in your devious little mind. How dare you?"

James laughed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. What could I ever do to make it up to you?"

"Let me get a job."

"Like I really have a say in the matter."

"Of course you do. That doesn't mean I'm gonna listen to it, but you can still say as much as you want."

James laughed and brought his hand to rest on Sirius's stomach. "I'm so happy."

Sirius grinned and turned his face towards James and gave him a quick kiss. "I'm glad."

la-la-la

The next morning, when James woke up Sirius was gone. He sat up and looked around in confusion. Next to James, on his bedside table, was a note. He picked it up and started to read it. It said:

James,

I wasn't joking when I said I wanted to get a job. So…yeah, that's where I am now. I was going to wait until you got up, but you sleep a long time. Sorry, mate. I'll see you when I get home.

Sirius

p.s. don't forget that Ana's home with you, so take care of her.

James smiled when he read the last line. Sirius always automatically assumed that James was the worst possible babysitter, which of course made him a horrible dad when alone. Of course, Sirius didn't really think that, but it never hurt to put a reminder. James wondered where Sirius was looking for a job.

His thoughts were cut off abruptly when a little dark haired head popped into his room. He smiled and inwardly rolled his eyes. He had told Sirius that it was a bad idea to get her that kind of bed. He knew that she would be constantly getting in and out. "Come on, Ana," he said, gesturing her over to the bed like a puppy. Eagerly, she complied.

He picked her up and stroked her dark tresses back from her forehead. She looked up at him and said, "Daddy, hungry!"

James laughed and nodded. "Should I go cook breakfast?"

She nodded and he got up. He loved her so much. She reminded him of his husband so much. Her grey eyes sparkled with the same mischief that Sirius's had so many times before and her smile was very similar to Sirius's. The only difference between the two was their noses. And cheekbones. Sirius had high, accented cheekbones whereas Ana's blended in with the rest of her face. Kinda.

"What do you want for breakfast?" James asked as he carried her down the stairs. She could get down them, but she had not mastered the technique of walking down the stairs quite yet. Which caused James much relief. He really did not want to have to worry about her falling and dying because of stairs.

She pointed at the bread and then the refrigerator. Just recently she had started eating more variety of food. Her favorite was noodles. So James got to make noodles for Ana and eggs and hash browns for himself.

Breakfast took no time to cook and soon he and Ana were sitting down eating. Or, at least James was sitting down. Ana was walking around with noodles in her hands, spilling them all over the floor. When she had finished the noodles in her hand, she would walk back to the table and pick up more. James shook his head and after watching her do that three times, he got up and picked her up. "You have to sit down and eat, Ana. Walking while eating is rude. Not to mention you're making a mess."

She looked at him with her big eyes, but didn't move when he set her in her chair, she didn't attempt to get back up. Instead she watched James as he picked up his utensils to continue eating and then did the same. James grinned when he watched her attempting to use a fork. "How would you like to play with play dough today?" he asked her. She looked up at him and grinned. James took that for a yes. "Well, then you can go play with your dolls or…something else. I don't know."

She seemed to understand what he meant and got up to leave the kitchen. He watched her leave and chuckled slightly to himself. Turning his attention back to the kitchen, he started rummaging around for the materials needed to create play dough for the little girl.

later that day

"I'm home," Sirius called out as he entered the house. He could hear giggles and laughter from upstairs. For a moment he just stood there in confusion and then walked up the stairs. James and Ana were sitting on the floor of her room making a big mess with play dough. Sirius just stood there shaking his head for a moment. "I almost don't know which one of you isthe child," he teased as he sat down next to his husband.

James turned to look at him. "And this is coming from the person who sings Veggietales constantly?"

Sirius smiled sheepishly and picked up a handful of play dough. He began to meld it in his hands, saying, "I got a job."

James looked at him in mild surprise. He had not really been expecting for him to get one, for some odd reason. He really didn't want to leave Ana with someone other than her parents for too long. "What are you going to be doing?"

Sirius looked at him and smiled. "I found someone to produce some of my music stuff."

"Like a recording?" Now James was confused. Was his husband going to become some famous singer?

"Kinda, only not right now. For now I'm just going to be rehearsing and getting background music ready and all that jazz." He smiled weakly, "I'm not sure this is going to be so much fun."

"I told you that you shouldn't get a job."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "That's why I did decide to go through with it. I wasn't going to sit back and let you tell me how to completely rule my life. I don't settle well with dictators."

James laughed and kissed Sirius on the forehead. "Then why the hell did you marry me?"

Sirius's eyes widened. He gestured toward Ana with his head, who was watching the adults with interest. "Shush, little ears."

A.N.- that got to be longer than I thought it would be. Oh well. There you go. Anyways, thanks for reading it. Thanks for reviewing it. Thanks for being such awesome people!