: Everyone is agreed? I don't own this?

"Happy unbirthday to you," Sirius kissed Lily on the check, after of course he greeted the little ickle Harry into the world.

"Black," Lily laughed weakly, still knackered from the previous days labor. Having all her friends around her, James holding her hand, she was content as could be.

Remus, Ava and Sirius stood around her bed at St. Mungo's, all holding flowers and baby gifts. James looked just as proud, tired, excited and exhausted as his dear wife. Ava sat down on the foot of Ava's bed adjusting the blanket neatly folded up and the one about her friend.

"I hear Baby Boy Longbottom was just a few hours behind you." Remus spoke to the sleeping Harry.

"Neville?" Lily supplied. Alice and Lily had discussed baby names to death until finding their preferred perfect selection.

Peter showed up late, brandishing a silver rattle and an album, which he handed to James unwrapped. He sat down on the foot of Lily's bed, friendly shoving Ava off it, who fell on to the floor with wide eyes at his latest personality. It seemed that he was of a slight changeable mood lately. Smiling good-naturedly as the other laughed 'with her, not at her' she went a head a laughed at herself too.

Getting up she dusted her bum off and hitting Sirius lightly for laughing too much, she found that Lily was more than amused. So she improvised a slight skit for her as she went and hid behind Remus, who caught on quickly. Ava narrated a story acting it out as she made it up on the spot, soon turning it over to Sirius who added in, and they followed along with his words with their actions. Pretty soon, they had pulled James into their game.

It went on for some time, more than one story passing through. One would hope so, if not they would find one long and very twisted tale. Lily was extremely pleased to be entertained, and when Harry woke up, it kept him from crying. But five seconds later, a tum full of milk, he was back asleep.

Peter watched as they made absolute fools of themselves, which they and he enjoyed immensely. After some time, he begged off, though feeling guilty, knowing he was supposed to be watching and interacting with them regularly. There was only so much he could take thought as he apparated back to his nice cool dark flat, a brush of sleep might do him good.

Back at the hospital, the rest sat around, their goofiness over, as they discussed the little one. Harry, who lay in his mother's loving arms, unaware of the laughter around him. James eyes hardly moved from the child. Lily's secure and warm embrace made quite the sight.

"So," Remus asked Lily, awaiting her answer.

"So what, Moony?"

"So why 'Harry'?"

"Because she was describing James in her delusion." Sirius supplied before either of the parents could answer. He mimicked a high feminine voice. "Hairy, where's hairy?"

"Altair!" A Potter seemed to growl. "Can't you control him?"

Ava, along with everyone else in the room, broke into laughter at the thought. Sirius grinned a wicked grin, although very cunning. "He's a crafty one."

"I liked the name." James shrugged

"And what would you name your child?" Lily asked Remus, who shrugged with surprised look. Looking to Ava, she quickly looked away seeing her dubious face, turning finally to Sirius. "and you?"

"A star name of course." He leaned back as he considered. He had a strange tone rolling through his voice. "Castor and Pollux, perhaps, Luv?" he shot a look to Ava.

Ava had half her attention on the conversation at hand, and the other half fiddling with pouring herself a glass of water. Seeing his eyes fall to her, she dropped her half full glass into her lap. "What?"

Lily burst into laughter. James hid his strong snicker behind his hand, and Remus eyed her, interested in her answer. Sirius' eyes remained trained on her, the same questioning look on her face. Anyone but Ava could see he was just playing her.

"Name our two Castor and Pollux?" he took a hit again. "Pastor and Collux?"

"What? Two?" Ava still stunned. "What?"

"Three? Four? You want more?" Sirius smiled his clever smile at her stunned and paling face.

Ava mouth tried to form the words as she groped about. Unaware of the others, she was completely blindsided. Her friends' laughter finally caught up to her as she realized her chair, and she, felt soaked. She heaved a sigh of relief, having realized his jest, as her accent echoed through her words. "Bastard."

Sirius' face lost its façade of fact and broke into a smirk that even made her laugh at herself. He had been stringing her the whole time. Imagine, the two of them having children, she laughed as did he, both having the same thought.

He walked over to where she stood up to set a towel on the wet chair, as she pulled out her wand to fix her jeans. He took her wand from her hand eyeing her backside. "Let me." She took her wand back saying the same to him.

"Ah, you put up with so much from me, Black." He laughed at her, waiting to see if she notice what he called her. He looked over his shoulder and saw his friends silently laughing as he tormented his beloved mage.

She turned to him, trying to gouge if he had said the words she thought he said, which he gave no sign as he eyed her back his look asking after he dryness. She let it go thinking she had been delirious, unknowing of the game Sirius had set in motion with their friends.

..--..--

Now that Harry had taken his first breath of air, and wasn't as completely dependent on his mother's well-being, James broke the news to Lily that they were being watched and targeted. He felt she needed to know as soon as possible now that she wasn't at such a risk. Considering, she took it better than he thought, which wasn't that big of a compliment. Elsewhere, Alice was just as unnerved. With Ava as her constant companion, when James was unable to do so himself, Lily discussed the particulars at length.

"We still possess the eastern front on Charlton Bank." Lily considered seep in thought as she walked along, Harry in her arms asleep, Ava at her side. "James tells me it will hold for months."

Ava nodded politely, trying not to say anything. It had to be rough for Lily to have this hanging over her head. Not that she was in denial, but Lily seemed to be taking it in a rather unorthodox manner. She had remained calm after the initial shock and outbursts, now she was keeping her head about her. Dale had bitched to high heaven when Ava had to tell him she needed part-time status for a while. She felt the urgency to watch over her friend and child more thoroughly when she was acting so, so un-Lilyesque.

"It will be sometime before the viper strikes." Lily began before cutting to the chase. "Go back to work Aves."

"What?" Ava shook her head, as her attention had been caught by Lily's abruptness.

"Look," she turned to her friend while she rocked Harry back and forth, smiling down at him. "I know what you're playing at and it's not required."

"Lils," she started.

"Aves?" Lily questioned right back.

"Your more important." Ava cut the crap and jumped in.

"We must maintain some normalcy." Lily told her earnestly. Truthfully, with Ava always with her, it did draw some attention to them. "There is no imminent threat, and you are stressing over nothing."

"Lily, just because you have meditated and hit a zone," Ava started, quite working herself up, which was more like Lily and less like Ava.

"-Altair." Lily said in a forceful manner that one could see she would use on Harry's teenage years some day. "I will not have you wasted on me and my watch."

"Why-"

"Ava," Lily sighed, sitting down on a bench along the sidewalk. "We are being watched yes. If you, and James, and Sirius, and Remus, and Peter are always on top of me, they'll know that we know."

"What?" Ava tilted her head as if it would help her understand Lily's vague and abstract point.

"They aren't going to do anything yet, and you, your presence, their worry are going to drive me mad."

"Lily," Ava picked up her own grave tone. "This is a serious matter and must be taken seriously."

"I'm not taking it lightly," Lily laughed. "You are important to the Order, and need not be wasted watching me when you are needed elsewhere."

"I choose to be here." Ava's voice pursued.

"And I relieve you."

"It's not that easy." Now Ava laughed with a less than amused smile.

"Ava, you are needed to A) keep the state of normalcy," Lily began to tick off points to her on one hand. "B) manufacture whatever blasted contraption of toy James thinks he needs now, C) alleviate Sirius' stress D) accompany Remus' moonlit nights, E) juggle your own wants, needs, days. You have more on your plate to worry about rather than add me to it."

"Lily, I-" Ava was stunned to see her friend worried after her, considering she had her own troubles.

Lily shook her hand to stop her friend. "Luv, when the hounds of hell are calling at our door, you'll be there I know. Things won't get worse for a while yet, nor will they get better for some time. So take a little time, and go on about your business and spin those eaters' heads around in confusion."

Ava sighed as she accepted what Lily told her. Lily wanted her to be the decoy basically, to hold up the illusion, the charade that they were still in the dark about the enemy's ideas. Since she was so close to the Potters, she and everyone else were being watched as well. Dale would be pleased to put her back on active duty, and the eaters would still think they had something over the heads of the Order.

"Good woman," Lily nodded to her, knowing she had turned the current. Ava would let Lily have her way, it was hard not to-she could be a formidable opponent in a disagreement. "Black."

Ava's eyes darted to Lily's amused face. Lily couldn't help but grin at Ava's surprised look that melted into a glare to scare the gods. Thumping her on the back, Lily wrapped Ava in a hug and slid her little baby Harry into Ava's arms.

..--..--..--

Fortunately, what Lily had said did have some truth to the matter. The deatheaters were not as ready to act as they like it to seem. Sadly, that did not stop the darkness from mounting or the rumors from flying. Swapped in work, Ava found herself with overtime as she created, built, welded, constructed, made everything for the various Aurors that came in. Her heart broke nearly in half as she heard of her friends cut down in the line of duty, and her worries turned to Sirius, who ventured out and came back bruised and bloodied. Slander and lies dogged Sirius footsteps, though everyone that knew him brushed it off. Something felt poised to happen.

Even though that Lily knew she and her family where at risk, she did not back down from her normal life. She would not be daunted.

"Black, you made it!" Lily called to Ava who walked up from behind her, a wryly grin on her face. Lily nodded to her. "Altair."

"Better." Ava nodded back. She had managed to wrangle a lunch break out of Dale as he leveled his glare on her as she left him with his new gawky assistant, one she was covertly training to replace her.

"I have a surprise for you, luv." Lily grinned as she pushed Harry's stroller along the parkside walk. "Turn around."

Ava shot her a sideways glance, wondering at her friend's odd atmosphere. With a raised eyebrow she turned around to see Sirius standing there, who quickly wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, picking her up and spinning her around. She hadn't seen him in a month as they had run themselves ragged on the Order's demands.

Lily took a moment to fuss over Harry over to the side while she let her friends have a private moment. Ava's head lay on Sirius shoulder, his arms protectively around her. They spoke quietly to each other for a moment, forgetting everything and everyone else around them. Picking her head up, he lent his head downward as their foreheads met. She had thought he was in Gloucestershire, or the Ukraine, on some unfathomable task. He grinned down at her.

"Luv."

"Luv yourself." She grinned back, hugging him again. "Not that it matters, but why for London?"

"Had something to do here." he brought his hands behind his head as he couldn't take his eyes away from her beautiful and still surprised face. "has something to do with your red-headed friend over there."

"Lily," they walked over to where Lily was rummaging through her bag, which she set under the bench once she sat down when her friend walked over. "You devil."

"I'm your guardian angel, what are you talking about?" Lily grinned. She had Harry tucked up onto her lap, bouncing her legs slightly. "Honestly, just got tired of hearing the two of you bitch and moan. One is hard enough, but hearing the same thing from two different sides?" she shrugged. Both Sirius and Ava had pined for the other, and poor Lily had to bear the natter. "Sounded like ickle school puppies."

Ava turned to Lily, a question dancing in her mind. "How did you know he was in?" she looked between the two of them.

"She was the reason I was in actually." Sirius answered for her, turning as he spoke to give Lily a quick glance before turning back to his lovely consort. "She and James made a request of me."

Ava tilt her head to the side as an eyebrow crept up. Lily smiled and stood up handing Harry to Sirius. "Hold your godson, Black, my arms are cramped."

Sirius took Harry, but managed to watch Ava's face as she scanned what Lily had said and finally realized what it meant. When her face broke into a grin, Sirius mirrored it gently swinging Harry about. Her hand gave Sirius' face a slight stroke, brushing over his handsome cheekbones. She gave Harry a similar touch on his cheek before turning to Lily. Before she could say anything she was swooped into a hug by Lily who shook her about.

"Well done." Ava congratulated both after Lily let her loose. "Where's James?"

"Right here, Luv." He came up from behind her, making her jump around, which he got quite a kick out of-not to mention Sirius, Harry, and Lily.

"You," she snaked a finger at man.

Lily dragged Ava away from Sirius' side, whom Ava kept a close eye on-missing him terribly over the past few weeks. Walking along down the path, Lily steered Ava to the pond where they watched the ducks flapping about. Biting her lip, Lily wasn't quite sure how to tell her friend about the baptism and why they were rushed. She wanted her to know if it had been up to her, she would have had her there.

"Easy on yourself." Ava glanced at Lily from the side, then turned to face her. "I'm sure you have your reasons."

"No," Lily flushed, slightly embarrassed that Ava had guessed at what she was debating over. "I wanted to have you there, have you be his godmother." Lily struggled to find the right thing to say.

"Lils," Ava laughed, patting her friend on the shoulder. "It's me."

"I know, I know." Lily nodded. She knew Ava didn't take it personally. 'It was me' meant that she was always Lily's friend and the rest didn't matter. Still Lily felt a need to explain. "It was rushed, spur of the moment really. Sirius and James where in a meeting and James just dragged Sirius along."

"I understand. The normalcy issue and all." Ava laughed slightly, Lily nodded. Ava had to stay on task so those watching her didn't think something was up with her close friends, who had others watching them as well. Everyone gathered together in a serious manner with Harry might look suspicious.

"Yeh, and you were at work," Lily shrugged. "It just worked out that way. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Ava encouraged her to let it go. "That's a lot of responsibility…possibly too much. Anyhow, Sirius is better for it. He has a magic about him, that kind of," she gestured about, "magic." Seemed to be the right word for it.

"Enchantment." Lily supplied her own word for it. Sirius was an enchanter of sorts. Charisma, allure, magnetism.

"We can' tell him of course," Ava gave Lily a grave and solemn gaze.

Lily laughed at the thought. "And encourage that all ready over inflated ego?"

The two laughed at the thought all the way back to where the two dark haired friends stood together with the tot. Sirius eyed his soul mate suspiciously; James bounced his kid around oblivious to the girls' laughter. Lily lifted Harry out of his father's arms and put him in his carriage intending to go for a walk. Looking slightly put out and affronted, James ran to catch up with her, Sirius and Ava falling in step behind with silent laughter. The wind mercifully hid what they couldn't suppress.

Stopping in a patch of sun, Lily hummed a little song as the rest sat down on the grass. Looking up at the sky, Ava could see the clouds threaten the sun as they overwhelmed the beam of sunlight and the sky slowly clouded over. She fell back and rested her eyes, trying to blank her mind instead of dwell on the things she had to finish. Lily peeked over and saw her friend off in another world, with a slight wave she got James and Sirius attention.

"Aves," Lily called sweetly, feeling bad for disturbing her pensive friend. James jarred Ava and she opened one eye to look up at Lily. "Do you think Harry takes after James more?"

Ava stood up and dusted the grass off herself before taking a look into the buggy. She considered him for a moment before answering her fervent friend. "I confess, I see you both in him."

"See," she smiled as she pointed to the little baby. "He has your eyes, yet James' myopic look." James gave a grunt. "James' hair growing in." she touched Harry's growing mane. The wind paused just for the moment.

Falling into a slight reverie, Ava caught herself pondering the little boy's future. He had no idea of what was happening about him, would he? When would James and Lily tell him? His parents had rebelled against The Villain, as it were, Voldemort over and over again. The future of this little one held so much anxiety, she found herself lost in contemplation. Ava's eyes focused on something beyond looking down at the carriage her mind elsewhere.

CLICK! The sound brought her out of her trance as she slowly looked up at its source. The wind, picking up again, blew her hair about her gently, giving her the most photogenic look of her life as she stared into the soul of the muggle camera Lily held. Click! She couldn't help but smile that Lily had finally gotten her way and tricked her into a picture. Her eyes fell downcast as the coy smile crept to her face. Click!

Lily was thrilled to have gotten the two beautiful shots of Ava looking as 'Ava' as ever. The first when she regarded Harry. In the second shot Lily had caught the very essence of Ava. Mystery. Striking. Exclusive. The third she almost screamed out loud with joy to have caught Ava on film with a smile! Not wanting to chance the gods anymore, she set the camera away. If she where to really have pushed her luck, she would have had a wizarding camera, but that would have been too much especially around all these muggles.

"I win." Lily said simply before handing the camera back to Sirius who grinned guiltily and put it back in Harry's baby bag. James just grinned at her, taking his bit for having a part in it all.

"Of course." Ava mused in a sardonic voice as she leveled a gaze off of James onto Sirius. His normal grin returned as he took a step towards her, arms out. She caught his arms and pushed them to his side and turned her cheek up to him, which he obligingly kissed.

Feeling her wrap her arms around him, Sirius closed his eyes and felt her warmth and love pour over him and he reveled in it. Soon this war would be over and they could rest from this nerve-racking and rather traumatic series of unyielding stress and pressure. To have lost so many people…they all felt the loss. Sirius took comfort in thanking his lucky stars, both of theirs, that he had the love of his life intertwined in his arms and hers.

: Cute, yeah… more to come.