9 Weeks
They stared at the picture of their-
"It looks like a tadpole."
"James!"
"A cute tadpole," he assured.
She nudged him, a little smile on her face as she leaned into him, her head against his shoulder. They'd just come out of their appointment with Doctor Bodine and were now sitting in a cafe booth waiting for their lunch to be brought out to them.
"That's our little alien," she said, pride filling her voice. "He's our baby."
"He, huh?" James teased, his lips at her temple as his arm snaked around her.
"It's just a feeling I get," she shrugged. "This time next year, we'll be parents."
"August ninth. I can't believe our baby is going to be born on a Tuesday."
"You have something against Tuesdays now?"
"They're boring. Nothing interesting ever happens on a Tuesday. It's just the day you live through to get to Wednesday where you can finally say you're halfway through the week."
"At least this means you can still play at Tomorrowland and make it back to London with plenty of time to spare."
He shifted. "Lil, I don't know…"
"What's not to know?"
"Babies can come early and you'd be so pregnant, I don't want to leave you alone."
"Mary and Marlene will-"
"But I'm the dad. It should be me. I'd never forgive myself if I missed something or—"
"Hey," she said softly, her fingers lacing into his. "You're not going to miss anything. You'll go to Belgium, play your set, and come straight back to me and I promise I'll still be pregnant."
"I still don't like it."
"You will when you get the best of both worlds."
"Don't quote Hannah Montana at me."
They ate lunch in much the same manner whilst they browsed through properties on their phones when James said, "maybe we shouldn't get a flat."
"Er, what? Neither of our places can fit a baby on account of our room mates unless you're suggesting we off them? Sirius' room would make a great nursery. Marlene's room too, come to think of it."
"What? No, I'm not saying we should stay put, I'm saying, we should be looking for something like this," and he angled his screen to her.
"Four bedrooms!" Lily's eyes almost bulged. "What on earth would we do with four bedrooms?"
"Well, one for you and me. One for our little alien. And the other two for potential."
Lily snorted. It was times like this when she wished Sirius were around to take the mickey out of him properly.
"Potential? Care to elaborate on that?"
"You're an all important lawyer, you could use an office." Okay, that wasn't a half bad idea. "And it never hurts to have a guest bedroom. We never know when Sirius will finally burn through all his Black inheritance so it's good to have somewhere our friends can crash." Okay, another not half bad idea. "And, well, you know, being an only child got kind of boring a lot of the time — at least before Sirius came along — so I've been thinking, it'd be good to have more than one so we'd need room to have more."
"Hmm, we haven't even had the first one and you're already after a second."
"Not after it exactly but, well, we're having one and we're buying a place and, well this is the time to think about this kind of stuff, right? Because we don't want to settle into a place only to find it's too small and have to do it all over again."
"Right, so we're thinking about how many kids we want so we can decide between a house and a flat. I assume you know how many you want?"
"Right," James agreed. "I'd like at least two."
"Well, then, it's got to be three."
"Three?"
"Having only one sibling didn't work for me or for Sirius all that well. Being an only child wasn't particularly fun for you or for Mary. So that leaves Marlene."
"Marlene," James repeated.
"She has two siblings and they all love each other to bits and they're all well-adjusted and everything. So…"
"So, three's the magic number then," James grinned.
"How mad is our agent going to be on Saturday when we tell her we want to look at houses?"
"I reckon she'll be thrilled. She wants us to have a kid more than we want to have a kid. Every property she's taken us to it's 'second bedroom is a bit small but perfect for children' or 'nice big bathtub, good for kids'. She doesn't even know we're pregnant."
Lily laughed with a shake of her head but they switched focus from flats to houses and they were still searching long after they arrived back at Lily's flat, roping in Mary and Marlene for opinions and tie-breakers on questionable houses.
"We should have them close in age," Lily whispered, when it was just the two of them laying in her bed with the lights off.
"Hmm?"
"Our three to-be kids … they should be close in age so they can be friends."
James kissed her gently. "So if this one's a boy, what does your gut tell you about our two hypotheticals?"
"Girls," she said without hesitation.
12 Weeks
Lily didn't know why she was so nervous to be sitting in James' parents living room. She'd met them many times since that first time, had even spent Christmas Day with them and she could honestly say she adored them. They were funny and warm and they'd welcomed her into their family without reservations. Euphemia sent Lily recipes she should try and had even invited Lily over one Sunday to make dolmades because Lily had loved them so much.
"Don't let her fool you," James said, "she takes it personally when someone says they don't enjoy cooking. I was practically raised in the kitchen. I could cook eggs by the time I was nine."
"Thank god you were else our child would probably survive off of frozen food."
James winced. "Please don't mention frozen food around mum."
And Fleamont was just as welcoming but he was different to Euphemia, who — like her son — was all big gestures and noise and laughter. Fleamont liked to give Netflix recommendations and showed Lily interesting books in the Potter library. Where Euphemia was funny in the way she told stories, Fleamont was funny in wit and his way with words.
So Lily could say she'd come to know her boyfriend's parents quite well over the last two months — she had even begun to pick up on some Greek — and yet she was nervous sitting opposite them now with Euphemia's famous hot chocolate cupped in her hands.
James squeezed her knee before clearing his throat.
"So, mum, dad — Lily and I actually have some news-"
"Ah, you bought a place?" Euphemia interrupted.
"Not quite, I mean we've put an offer but we haven't heard back yet but that's getting off track that's not the news."
"Ah! Eisaste engaged?"
"Mum."
"You've decided to get a dog? Oxi," she gasped, "a gata. How did Sirius take that?"
"Do you want to tell the story?" James asked his mum with a raised brow.
"Ante, paratame."
"What's your news?" Fleamont asked.
"Well, we're, Lily and I that is, we're having a baby," James announced.
Silence. Lily almost squirmed under it and the only thing keeping her grounded was James' grip on her knee. And then-
"Oh my god!"
And a whole lot of Greek that Lily did not understand but she got the general vibe that it was happy. Very, very happy. Fleamont stood with his wife, hugging James and, "you just make sure you don't follow your mum's family tradition of naming kids after the grandparents. You let my name die with me."
James laughed, "well, dad, your name wouldn't fly in the church anyways. No Name Day."
"You're, tha vaftisies to moro stin elliniki ekklisia?" his mum asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, mum, we're christening the baby. Lily and I have already talked about it."
"Oh, Lilitsa mou," Euphemia pulled Lily up and into a hug. Lily patted Euphemia comfortingly. "If you need anything, prepies —you call. Anything: food, advice, shopping. Even if — oxi, especially if James is out of town, you call me for anything."
"Thank you, Effie, that really means a lot," Lily leaned back smiling, her eyes slightly teary.
This was all in stark contrast to the next night, having dinner at Petunia and Vernon's house in Surrey. Turning into the street James had said, "Jesus, promise me we'll never live in a cookie cutter suburb like this."
Lily had advised they not tell them until towards the end of the main course. That way they could cut and run quickly after dessert with minimal pain if things got… well, how things normally got with Petunia and Vernon. Because of this, the first half of dinner went pretty well. Lily and Petunia actually reminisced over some childhood memories — before things had gotten a bit backwards between them — but time was quickly running out and Lily knew she'd have to break the relative peace of the evening.
So with most of the food on her plate already eaten, Lily set her knife and fork down and said, "James and I actually have some news we wanted to share with you."
"Oh?" Petunia asked, barely looking up from her plate.
James gave Lily a reassuring nod.
"We, um, well, we-"
"Spit it out, Lily, you know I hate it when you beat around the bush."
"We're pregnant," Lily blurted, flushing. "Um, I'm twelve weeks along, due early August so, um, our kids will be close in age, isn't that nice?"
"You're pregnant?" Petunia spluttered. "B-but you've only been dating a few months-"
"Five," James corrected.
"You can't have a baby with someone you barely know!"
"Well, I can't just make myself not be pregnant, Tuney. This might not have been planned but we're really excited and-"
"How could you get yourself into this situation?"
"Irresponsible is what it is," Vernon inputted. "At your age, to be a single mother-"
"Hi, I'm James, Lily's boyfriend, and father of her child. Just in case you forgot," he cut in coolly. "She won't be a single mother."
"Oh, please, you'll be gallivanting across the globe playing your little shows no doubt seducing other women whilst Lily will be stuck with the baby-"
"Petunia!" Lily said thickly.
"Lily, do you know how much more difficult it will be to date when you have a child?"
"No man is going to want to raise somebody else's kid," Vernon said. "And is he even good for child support?"
"Are you good for child support?" James fired back calmly.
"We're married," Petunia informed him condescendingly. "And Vernon has a very good job. You — you play silly shows and probably blow all your money on drugs and alcohol!"
"Petunia! I've heard enough and I've had enough. I," she looked at James. "Ceramics."
He nodded and also stood. "Dinner was lovely but I think it best Lily and I head out."
Petunia levelled him with a stare. "I want to talk to my sister."
"Lily?" James looked at her.
"Home. Please."
"Lily!" Petunia said outraged. "I'm your sister! I'm only concerned for you!"
"I didn't ask for you to be 'concerned' and I certainly didn't ask for you to insult my boyfriend and imply he would cheat on me! If you can't even fake happiness — I've told you before, I'm done taking shit from you. If you can't be happy for me, that's on you but I'm done, just done at putting up with it," Lily declared. "The criticism, the judgement, the insults! I'm done with all of it. I'm having a baby with James. We're committed to each other and this baby. We're happy about it! That's all you need to be concerned about. Call me when you can muster a 'congratulations' for your baby sister. You know, I thought we were really starting to turn a corner."
"Lily! I'm only expressing my opinions and thoughts just as I expect you would for me."
Lily glared at Petunia. "Fine, you want to hear my 'opinion' and 'concerns' on your life?"
"By all means," Petunia nodded.
"Fine. I think you live in the most boring suburb in all of Britain. Landfills have more personality than this place. Sharon is a terrible name for a child. You say 'Sharon' and all I think about is Kath & Kim. Your house looks like it was staged for a cheesy commercial promoting mediocre laundry detergent. You were a certified bridezilla from the moment you got engaged. You never know when to keep your mouth shut. You care too much about appearances and let me let you in on a secret, nobody fucking cares. Nobody cares if the hydrangeas bloom. Nobody cares if there's a crease in your dress. Nobody cares about the drills that Vernon sells! Nobody cares!" Lily reiterated, pronouncing the last bit slowly.
"And yes, it was too much to ask all your friends and family fly to Paris for your wedding — you don't even like Paris! And yes, it was shitty of you to ask me to be your bridesmaid only to rescind the offer. And, you know what, you are a total Karen any time you don't get your way at a store and, quite frankly, it's embarrassing. Grow up. Not everything can always go your way and not everybody has to bend to your every need." Lily took a deep breath. "Happy?"
Petunia sat tight lipped and still as a rock, her eyes staring straight ahead.
"That's been my life as long as I can remember. Are you still so sure you want me to share my every criticism on your life with you?" Lily breathed out.
"I think you should go," Vernon finally said.
"Happy to," Lily bit back.
She sat between James' legs all night, laying on his chest the rest of the night as she cried and ranted and raged. And ate an exuberant amount of ice-cream.
"I don't get why she can never just be happy for me."
"She's a cow," was James' response and Lily could tell, this time he fully believed it when he said it.
22 Weeks
"All right, ready?" Marlene called. "Say 'welcome home, Bubba!'"
Lily turned to the camera, a big smile on her face, one hand in James' hair — who was kneeling in front of her, cupping her bump, his lips kissing it — and her other hand on her hip as they stood on the doorstep of their brand-new house in South Hackney. Marlene clicked the shutter — several times — before declaring it okay for them to move, just in time for Sirius and Peter who were each holding a box of James and Lily's things.
"Where do you want them, Mickey?"
"Everything in the front living room," Lily requested before turning to James, "you should go help them unload."
"You sure you don't want me to carry you in? Tradition and all," James grinned and she laughed.
"Go help your mates haul boxes in, you sap."
Their friends helped them set up their new house. James and the boys assembled furniture whilst Lily and the girls unpacked the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry. By night, a lot of the house was set up though the fact that their couches weren't going to arrive for another few weeks was noticeable when they all sat on the floor of the living room eating pizza.
Late at night, Lily stood in the doorway of what would be the baby's room as James brought up a box of clothes that had been forgotten in Remus' car. He set it down in the walkway and slipped his hands around her, she leaned her head back to kiss him.
"What are you thinking about?" he murmured against her temple.
"When the baby's born, we still won't have known each other for even a year."
"Shy by about three weeks," James agreed, his hands coming around her. "Who'd have thought we'd be here when I spilled that drink on you?"
She laughed. "Definitely not me. All I could think about when we first met is how much I wanted you to shag me."
She turned in his arms, looping her own around his neck as she pushed up to kiss him.
"Come on, Miss Evans. Time to break the new bed in," he murmured against her lips and then she let out a shout of laughter as he literally knocked her off her feet and carried her into their bedroom.
25 Weeks
The doorbell rang at the ungodly hour of eight in the morning — on a Saturday! — and Lily groaned. With James in America until tomorrow and having done overtime this week for a case, well, her plans for Saturday had consisted of sleeping in and not much else. But the doorbell rang its high pitched shrill and she found herself blindly shoving her feet into her slides and rushing down the stairs — lest the post finally decided to bring her the stuff she ordered from Zara three weeks ago.
Considering all of the above, it was a shock when she came face to face with not a post man but her sister. Her very immaculately dressed sister for eight in the morning on a Saturday. She was dressed in cream trousers and a light pink blouse with a cream jacket on top. This was in stark contrast to Lily who was dressed, well, in James' shirt that she still had from the very first night they met and her Adidas slides and well, not much else.
"Petunia?" she asked blearily. "What on earth are you doing here? How did you even know where I lived?"
"You won't return any of my calls," Petunia said.
"Do you blame me?"
"Perhaps not, but do you blame me for being caught off guard by your news?"
"I can blame you for your reaction. And I do."
"I know. Are you going to let me in then or do you like your neighbours seeing you dressed this way?"
Lily opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Come in. James is out of town so it's just us."
"Oh?" Petunia stepped into the house and Lily closed the door.
"He's in America. They had a set at Coachella. This way," Lily gestured for Petunia to follow as Lily walked down the stairs, leading to the kitchen. "Tea?"
"Yes, please."
Lily set about making tea as Petunia looked around and eventually took a seat at the round dining table.
"When will he be back?"
"Tomorrow actually. His set was two days ago. How's Vernon?"
"Fine," Petunia allowed. "He's putting too many hours into work if you ask me, but he says it's manageable and could lead to a promotion which will help once the baby comes. This is a nice place."
"Thank you, James and I like it." Lily tapped her finger against the counter as she waited for the water to boil, wishing it would hurry up already. "So how did you know where to find me?"
"The photo you posted on Instagram about three weeks ago when you moved in. Checked it against properties sold in London until I found a match."
"Wonderful," Lily muttered, pouring the hot water into mugs. She should've known better. Of course, her sister would see a photo from Instagram and be able to use her innate investigative skills to figure out where she lived. She had to admire the dedication though. This may be the most effort Petunia has ever put into their relationship since they were twelve.
"Have you told James' family?"
"Well, we hardly could have kept it secret this long," Lily passed Petunia her mug before sitting at the table. "We told his parents the same weekend we told you and his brother knew from a few weeks before that — hard to keep it secret from him since they lived together and work together and there were arrangements that needed to be made."
Lily's stomach grumbled for food so she stood again, walking over to the pantry in search of biscuits.
"He won't — you won't be alone when the baby comes?" Petunia asked, true concern filling her voice now. "You mentioned he travels for work."
Lily's eyes landed on the container of koulourakia that James' mum had made for Easter. She quickly set a few on a plate before coming back to the table and setting the plate down.
"Try some," she told Petunia. "They're a traditional Greek biscuit that James' mum makes and they're to die for. And no, I won't be alone. James' last gig is on the thirtieth of July and he'll be back in London on the thirty-first. I'm due on the ninth."
"That's cutting it fine," she noted.
"Yes, well, this festival he's playing at is a huge deal so I couldn't let him pass up on it. If he had it his way, he'd have cancelled all his shows in July."
"What about you? Will you be going on maternity leave?"
"Yes, of course. Starting from the second week in July for twelve months."
"We should meet more regularly then — playdates for the babies. I hear it's good for babies to interact with other infants."
Lily sighed, exhausted from all this pretence. "Petunia, why did you come today?"
"I suppose to apologise though you know I've never been very good at that." Something they could agree on. "You have to understand, we were in quite a bit of shock. That was only our second time meeting James and then you just sprung it on us that you were having a baby and, you know, Vernon and I don't really understand what he does for work and how serious your relationship is so we were concerned for you."
"Petunia, I'm going to make something very clear to you," Lily said slowly. "Just because mine and James' relationship doesn't look like yours or fit into your standards doesn't mean we aren't committed because we are. I mean, we bought a house together. We're having a baby. He'll be in my life no matter what from now on and I need you to make an effort with him for me."
"I know, I know, and you're absolutely right, I just, I know I never agreed all that much about you studying law and becoming a lawyer but that is the path you've chosen for yourself and you make good money, right? As a lawyer?"
"It's pretty decent, yes," Lily allowed.
"I just — he's not taking advantage of you financially, is he?"
Lily couldn't help it. She laughed.
"Well?" Petunia asked, a frustrated frown on her face.
"I am going to say this once and then you promise to never ask about mine and James' financials ever again, agreed?" Petunia nodded. "James is most certainly not taking advantage of me financially. His family is very, very wealthy as in he grew up in a country house mansion, went to private schools and has a trust fund. His parents own a company, I'm sure you've heard of it, SleekEazy's." Lily didn't pause for the way Petunia's mouth dropped open. "Yes, that SleekEazy's and without all of that, James makes a lot of money from what he does — a lot more than I make that's for sure. So you need to stop implying that he's a lowlife with no money and no morals. Ever since I met him he's been all in with me. We've been all in with each other. Even when I told him about the baby, it was — he," Lily smiled softly, "he didn't hesitate, Tuney, he was all in. He's a good man."
"Okay," Petunia nodded, a smile — slightly strained — graced her face. "Okay, I'll, um, I'll do better next time."
Lily nodded, "okay then."
"Are you going to apologise for anything you said?" Petunia raised her brow.
"Absolutely not. You asked to hear it so I gave it to you. Don't ask if you don't want to know."
Petunia sniffed. "The Karen thing was a bit far though, Lily."
And Lily couldn't help it, she laughed.
30 Weeks
"Hercules," Lily suggested with a deadpan, her legs draped over his on the couch they shared. "Megara. Aphrodite! Oh, no, no, I got it … Persephone!"
"See I was thinking something more along the lines of Sophia or Nicolas."
"Boo!" Lily threw a grape at him. "I think Hercules Potter sounds great."
"You know, if I wasn't so sure you were joking, I'd be making plans to kidnap the baby and save it from your terrible names."
Lily laughed lightly and then with a deadpan, "no but seriously, what about Agamemnon?"
"I hate you," James declared and Lily sidled up to him, her arms around his neck, a peck on his cheek and said, "nah, you don't."
His arms snaked around her waist, pulling her onto his lap and said, "nah, I don't," his lips pressing against hers. "Can I tell you a secret?" he whispered.
"Yes," she breathed out, her mouth brushing against his.
"I don't want to leave. For the first time I don't want to spend my summer travelling through Europe and playing music." His arms tightened around her, "I want to be here with you."
Lily smiled softly, her fingers stroking his hair softly, fighting down the urge to say "yes, I want you to stay too. The house feels too big when you're gone. Cancel your tour. Stay with me." He was leaving in only four days and as that dreaded Tuesday loomed closer, day by day, minute by minute, the urge to unpack his suitcase and lock him in their bedroom grew.
"You'll be back before you know it," she said softly, reassuringly. She didn't know if either of them believed it. "Just promise you won't get seduced by birds in see-through shirts and forget about me."
"Forget about you? Never," he promised, his fingers curling under her chin as he stared into her eyes.
"James, can I tell you a secret?"
"'Course."
"I'm like really dreading Petunia's baby shower tomorrow."
"I can call you with a fake emergency halfway through to get you out."
"Tempting," Lily laughed.
"What about Matthew?" James asked.
"Who the fuck is Matthew?"
"Possibly our baby, if it's a boy-"
"It is a boy and that most certainly won't be his name."
"You don't know it's a boy," James protested. "You could be wrong."
"Ha, funny joke. I bet your Playstation 5 on it."
"Now that's just mean, now I need you to be right for the sake of my beloved Carla."
"Personally, I think Perseus Potter has a ring to it."
"I'll divorce you if you name our kid that."
"We're not even married."
"I know, that'd break a record if we got divorced before we even got married, right?"
"Honey, when we get married, divorce is not going to be an option."
"Yeah, because we'll have already been divorced."
"No, because I'd never sign the papers in the first place. You know, unless you name our kid 'Matthew'."
39 Weeks
Lily walked into the guest bedroom and flicked the light on. Marlene shot up like a pin, hand to her chest. Mary pulled the covers over her head. With James and Sirius' set at Tomorrowland being the night before they'd come over to watch on the live link the boys' team had given them and they'd had a girls night — pizza, 2000s rom-coms, and a lot of junk food.
"Jesus, Lil, it's four in the morning," Marlene huffed, her shoulders slumping.
"I think my waters just broke."
Marlene raised a brow. "You're not due for another ten days. You've probably just peed your pants."
"I — what?" Lily laughed nervously.
"She said that you've probably pissed yourself," Mary groaned. "Can we go back to sleep?"
"You can't control your bladder these days," Marlene reasoned.
"I think I know what peeing feels like! My waters have broken," Lily insisted. "Do you think something's wrong? Why's the baby coming early?" Her arms snaked around her belly as though through sheer will she could make sure her little alien would be okay. Anxiety started setting in. She didn't know what to do.
Marlene got out of bed — finally — and walked over to Lily, resting her hands on her shoulders. "Hey, calm down. If you are in labour, everything is going to be fine."
And then she felt it. The sharp but quick pain. She winced.
"What?" Marlene asked.
"I think — I think that was a contraction. Marlene, I'm scared. I want James."
"Hey," Marlene cupped her face, "you're going to be fine. We'll call James and let's call your doctor. Mary, Jesus Christ, get up! It's happening!"
Marlene fussed over Lily, helping her change into a fresh nightgown and changing Lily's bedsheets whilst Mary attempted to call James. Meanwhile, Lily breathed through contractions. Contractions that were becoming far too close together for Lily's liking and far too quickly. It had only been two hours since her waters broke and they were already about seven minutes apart and the pain got worse every time.
"I want to go to the hospital," Lily demanded.
"It's not time yet," Marlene soothed. "Your doctor said only once your contractions are five minutes apart."
"Fuck my doctor! This hurts!" Lily shouted as another contraction hit her and she leaned against the dresser trying to breathe through it.
"Are you remembering your breathing?"
"If you mention breathing to me one more fucking time," Lily threatened.
"Okay, okay."
"Anything with James?" Lily asked desperately.
"Nothing. Neither of them are answering their phones," Mary sighed. "But he's still got time. I'm sure as soon as he wakes up he'll check his phone and he'll be on the first flight out."
Another hour and a half passed with Marlene dutifully timing Lily's contractions and Mary ringing James and Sirius' phones every ten minutes with no luck.
"Jesus Christ, are they sleeping or dead?" Mary cursed.
"It's time," Marlene declared.
"What?"
"Time for the hospital. Your contractions are five minutes apart. Where's your hospital bag?"
"I — are you sure it's time? We haven't — James is still — I'm not ready!"
"Hey, we're with you," Mary's hand closed arounds Lily.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Lily said. "James was supposed to be here. Oh god, he can't miss this! Try him again, Mary!"
"Lily, I've tried so many times that I think his phone has died. It's going straight to voicemail. They're clearly still asleep and can't hear their phones."
"Call the hotel," Marlene suggested. "They can get you through on the room phone, and it should be loud enough to wake them."
"Right, okay," Mary nodded. "Lils, what hotel?"
"I don't — I can't remember. His itinerary should be in the kitchen drawer. Bottom one in a blue folder."
"I'm on it." Mary left Lily's room.
"Hospital bag, Lils?"
"In the baby's room." Marlene went to stand but Lily grabbed her arm. "Marls, I'm having a baby."
"You're having a baby," Marlene agreed.
"James can't miss this," Lily whispered desperately.
"He's still got plenty of time to get his butt here. It's all going to be fine," Marlene swore, squeezing Lily's hand.
Lily was changed into a clean dress, Marlene had Lily's bag, and the three of them were almost out the door when Mary exclaimed, "James? Jesus Christ, about fucking time! We've been trying to call for four hours! … Yes, it's Mary! Look, you gotta get your butt back to London ASAP. It's happening. Lily's in labour! … fuck's sake, wake him up! … yes … yes, we're on our way to the hospital like right now. Literally getting out the door now …"
"Let me speak to him," Lily demanded, holding out her hand for Mary's phone. "James?" Lily asked pressing the phone to her ear.
"Lily, what's happening? Are you okay?"
"Our little alien is coming," she said quietly. "James, I need you."
"I know, I know. Fuck! I'm co — Bloody hell, Sirius! Get the fuck up, Lily's in labour! — I'm coming. I promise. Just try to hold on for me, yeah? You promised you'd still be pregnant when I got back."
Lily nodded. "Please get here soon."
"Lily, it's going to be okay but I gotta go so I can start packing and organise a flight. I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I'll see you soon."
Author's Note: I just want to say thank you for reading and for leaving reviews! Next chapter will be the last one! 3