Sirius' paced up and down the corridor in Saint Mungos, his feet pounding against the floor, like his heart was pounding against his chest.
This wasn't happening to him, it was all a bad dream. He would wake up and find Emma lying next to him, their third child still growing healthily inside her.
He closed his eyes, hoping that when he opened them again he wouldn't still be there, but it didn't work. He was still in the same, small pokey corridor, still pacing up and down in front of the door to the room which Emma was inside.
It was starting to get late, but he wasn't tired, he wouldn't sleep until he knew that Emma and the baby were alright.
He had been at Lily and James' house when an owl arrived from the hospital, it carried a note telling him that he needed to get there as soon as he could and he would be further informed when he arrived at the hospital.
He had then gone into a panic and flapped around like a headless chicken before James has stunned him to calm him. Then Lily had brought him around and escorted him to the hospital leaving James with the children.
As he paced back and forth his mind was racing, different things zooming in and out of his head, making him unable to focus on one. This was probably a good thing.
It felt like there was a large wait in his stomach, pulling all his insides in and restricting his breathing some what.
"Sirius sit down, you'll wear a hole in the floor." Lily said walking down the corridor with two cups of piping hot tea. She handed one to him and steered him into a chair.
They sat next to each other in silence, each sipping their mug of coffee.
"Sirius stop jiggling your leg, you're spilling your drink." Lily said trying to hold his leg still.
"I can't help it," Sirius said and he stood up and started pacing again. "What's taking them so long?"
"They're probably just making sure she's alright," Lily said trying t comfort him, "Making her comfortable before they let us in to see her."
Sirius did not think this was true, but then again he had a tendency to think the worst in these kind of situations.
"Yes, she has to be comfortable." He said convincing himself more then anyone else.
Lily frowned, she had never really seen Sirius like this before, "Don't worry so much, if something had happened they would have told us." She said in a soft comforting voice.
Sirius nodded, "But I can't help imagine what would happen if-"
"There's no point in thinking like that." Lily cut across him, "you'll drive yourself mad."
Sirius opened his mouth to speak again but then the door opened and a healer walking out in Lime Green robes.
"How is she?" Lily asked.
"Is she going to be OK?" Sirius asked. "How's the baby?" He could barley breath now, and the wait in his stomach seemed to get heavier.
"Calm down, calm down." The healer said, "she's fine, and so is the baby."
The wait in Sirius' stomach seemed to left immediately and a smile of relief broke across his face.
"You're sure she's alright?" He asked making sure.
"I'm positive, you can go and see her in a few minutes." He said.
"Thank God," Lily said and she put a hand on Sirius' shoulder.
About five minutes later the Healer appeared again and told them that they could go and see her.
Sirius almost jumped off his chair and into the room with Lily following.
"Oh God, don't you ever do that to me again." Sirius said when he saw Emma lying in the bed and he threw his arms around her.
"Ur hello to you too!" She said hugging him back.
"This is no time for jokes, you had me worried sick." Sirius said scolding her like he was her mother. "I thought I was going to lose you."
Emma smiled at him, "well you haven't lost me, so stop acting like an old woman!" She said.
"I can't help it, I just love you so much." Sirius said and Lily turned away as they started kissing, and wondered whether she should leave the room and come back.
"How's the baby?" Sirius asked putting his ear to Emma's bump as if to hear something that would tell him it was alright.
"It's fine, thank goodness," Emma said and tears started to well up in her eyes. "I can't image what I would have done if something happened to it."
"Don't cry," Sirius said pulling her into another embrace.
"I can't help it," Emma said sobbing into Sirius' robes.
Lily turned around, thinking it safe now to look again. She moved to the other side of Emma's bed and clasped her hand.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Lily said, "don't beat your self up about it."
"How can I not, everyone was telling me to slow down, but I just didn't listen." Emma said pulling away from Sirius. "I could have-" But she couldn't say it and she broke down into tears.
Lily and Sirius looked at each other hopelessly, how did they tell her that it wasn't her fault?
"Emma," Lily said trying to calm her, "Emma. Emma. EMMA!" She finally shouted and Emma fell silent. "Stop crying, it's not your fault."
"But I could have prevented this," She said, her voice now small.
"You didn't know this was going to happen, how could you have prevented it?" Lily said, "All that matters is that you and the baby are alright."
Emma looked at Sirius and he smiled reassuringly.
"I just feel guilty," Emma said calming slightly, she had been worried that everyone would blame her.
"Well you shouldn't," Sirius said, "we're just glad that you're both OK."
"What actually happened?" Lily asked perching on the side of Emma's bed.
Emma paused for a moment to think before saying, "Well I was clearing out the potions store room, where we keep all the potions." She said, "And I thought I felt the baby kicking, but it didn't feel normal. I remember it just hurting, a lot, then I grabbed onto one of the shelves for support, and it gave way. All the bottles came crashing down around my ears, and I must have slipped because I don't remember anything after that."
The door then opened and the Healer came back into the room. "How are you feeling?" He asked closing the door behind him and looking at Emma.
"Fine," she said, "just a bit shaken I suppose."
"That's to be expected," he said, "I think we'll keep you in over night and you should be able to go home some time tomorrow if all is well."
"What exactly happened to her?" Sirius asked.
"We think it was just her body telling her to slow down," the healer said making a few notes on a board above her bed.
"So there will be no lasting damage of anything?" Sirius asked.
"No, no, not if she just relaxes and doesn't overexert herself." The Healer said and he smiled at Sirius before he left the room.
"Right, when you get home, you're not going to leave your bed until after the baby's born." Sirius said.
Emma rolled her eyes and her and Lily shared an exasperated look.
The next day Emma's parents came to see her as well as Jess who came in on her lunch break.
"When are you going home?" Jess asked.
"Later today I think," Emma said, "but I'm dreading going home a little."
"Why?" Jess asked, "you don't like being here do you?"
"No, it's not that, it's just that Sirius is going to drive me crazy, he said he won't let me out of my bed until the baby's born."
Jess laughed slightly, "He means well," she said.
"I know, I know, but he can't half be pain in the arse sometimes." Emma said, "but he's a very nice pain in the arse."
Jess started laughing and Lily came into the room with some drinks.
"What's so funny?" She asked.
"Oh nothing, Emma's just telling me about this very nice pain in the arse that she has." Jess said taking the drink Lily handed her.
Lily just gave her a strange look but didn't ask any questions.
"Anyway," Lily said, "Jess what were you saying about your parents?"
"Oh yea," Jess said. "Remus invited my parents over for dinner on Saturday night."
"What? Why?" Emma asked, "They hate him!"
"Exactly," jess said, "That's what I said, but he said that he wants to make peace."
"If your dad lets him," Lily said, "But it's a nice thought."
"Yes it is, but my father can be stubborn when he wants to be, and I've never know him to back down before." jess said frowning, "It's going to be a disaster."
"I might be different, I mean he must want his daughter back, and if accepting Remus is the only way to do that then he'll have to." Lily said.
"Yes, but I think he'd be more understanding if we were still only girlfriend and boyfriend." Jess said, "Then he'd just think that we'd break up and Remus would go away, but now we're married…"
"You have told your parents that you're married haven't you?" Emma asked.
"I haven't seemed to get round to doing that," Jess said.
"You're not making it easy for yourself." Emma said, "I think they're going to be a little hurt that you didn't even tell them you were married."
"I know, I know, that's why I'm dreading it." Jess said.
"Well rather you then me," Emma said.
"Oh thanks for the support." Jess said and Emma just smiled.
"Any time."
Jess stood in front of her bedroom mirror checking her appearance.
"You look beautiful," Remus said coming into the room.
"You have to say that," Jess said looking at him through the mirror, "you're my husband."
"I have to say it, but I don't have to mean it," Remus said and he kissed her on the head before leaving the room.
Jess smiled broadly despite feeling sick to the stomach with nerves, "how did I end up with you?"
"I was the only one who'd have you!" Remus joked and Jess hit him on the arm. "Ouch!"
"Serves you right," Jess said sticking her tongue out.
"Well you know-" Remus started but he was cut off by the sound of the door bell ringing through the flat.
Remus looked at Jess, "go and answer it then," He said.
"Why me?"
"Because they're your parents."
"But they're your guests."
"Just answer the door," Remus finally said.
Jess admitted defeat and went to the door, she put her hand on the door handle and took a deep breath before pulling it open.
On the door step stood Mr. And Mrs. Brown, Jess' mum and dad.
Her mum smiled, "Jessica, Oh Jessica I've missed you so much." She said and she pulled Jess in to a rib cracking hug.
"Hello Mum," Jess replied, she was glad to see her mum again. Her mum had not said anything bad about Remus, not that she had heard anyway.
When her mum released her Jess just looked at her dad before stepping aside to let them in.
"How've you been?" Jess asked showing them into the living room.
"Good, good, Charlotte's pregnant again." Her mum said.
"I know," Jess said, "I do still keep in contact with Charlotte and Emma."
"Oh, they never said," Mrs. Brown said taking a seat.
"I suppose they didn't want to upset you." Jess said, "I'll be backing a minute." She said and she left the room.
"How's it going?" Remus asked.
"Could be worse." Jess said, "Is the food nearly ready? I want to have an excuse not to talk to them."
Remus half smiled and half frowned, "It'll probably be a few more minutes."
"Right," Jess said and she went back into the living room, she sat there with her parents, her mum trying to engage her in small talk while her father look out the window not saying a word.
"Dinners ready." Remus said popping his head in the door and withdrawing it quickly as Mr. Brown looked as if he might throw something at him.
They filed into the kitchen and took seats at the table where four plates of piping hot food sat.
"This looks lovely Remus," Mrs. Brown said and she looked at her husband to say something but he didn't.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Remus spoke.
"Mr. Brown, I know you don't exactly approve of me, but-" He said.
"Don't approve, damn right I don't approve." Jess' dad said speaking for the first time. "My youngest daughter is shacked up with a werewolf and you expect me to approve?"
"Darling I think that-" Mrs. Brown said trying to calm him but he ignored her.
"My daughter is in constant danger because of you and you think that-"
"That's enough Dad!" Jess shouted, "I've had enough, I'm not a baby, I can look after my self."
"I only have your best interests at heart, I-"
"No you don't, because if you did you'd be happy for me. I've found someone who I love and someone who I'm spending the rest of my life with, and if you really cared about me you'd accept that and be happy for me."
A ringing silence met these words.
"Remus is a good man, better then most others, he kind and sweet and he loves me." Jess said. "And it hurts that you wouldn't trust me to make the right decision, it hurts that you don't trust me to know what I'm doing."
"It's not that-"
"No let me finish," Jess said. "I thought you'd understand that Remus must be special if, despite his faults, I was willing to fall out with my parents for him, and," Jess took a deep breath, "Marry him."
"Marry?" Mrs. Brown repeated her mouth slightly open.
"Yes marry," Jess said and she showed her parents her gold wedding ring.
"When did this happen?" Mrs. Brown asked.
"Over a year ago." Jess said, "and we didn't tell you because we knew you'd be mad, but I don't care anymore." She looked her father straight in the eye. "I love Remus and he love me, and you either accept that or you don't, and if you don't then you may as well forget all about me, because I'm sticking with Remus no matter what you say."
Mr. Brown didn't say anything to this, he just kept looking into Jess' eyes.
"Well you must love him if you'd get into this much of a state over him." He said, his expression softening a little. Then he turned to Remus, "You and me are going for a little walk." He said and he stood up and gestured for Remus to follow.
Remus stood up as well, he squeezed Jess' hand before leaving the room and following Mr. Brown out of the flat and into the street below.
It was a cold evening and Remus wished he had taken his cloak with him now as he shivered slightly.
"I love my daughter very much." Mr. Brown said, "I love all my daughters, but Jess is my youngest so I suppose I'm more protective over her."
"I understand that," Remus said.
"And now, thinking about it, I suppose I was a little unfair to you the first time we met." Mr. Brown said, and emus thought of how hard it must be for him to do this. "I didn't give you a chance, didn't get to know you properly-"
"There's no need to apologise," Remus said stopping him from going any further. "I get it all the time, people find out that I'm a werewolf and they don't care what I'm like they just think I must be dangerous and write me off. I get it all the time."
"Yes well, I should have known better, Jess was right, if she loved you, despite your little problem, then I should have respected her decision. There must be something good about you if my Jess loves you this much I suppose I'm just trying to say, no hard feelings eh?"
"Sure," Remus said and he shook Mr. Browns hand.
"Well, I suppose I had better get to know you better, seeing as you are my son-in-law now."
Remus smiled, and he walked on with Jess' father telling him all about himself.
I just thought I've leave a quick note telling you that I'm going on holiday on Monday (to Miami! I'm really excited!) for 10 days so there won't be any updates for a while. I might get another chapter up before I go away but I'm not sure.
I was going to be really mean and leave you with another cliff hanger, but I didn't have the heart!