Let Me Help You

James walked up the garden path of Lily's parents house, he had been there loads of times but he was as nervous as he had been the first time he had met her parents.

He had just gotten out of hospital an hour ago, but he was desperate to see Lily and Harry again. He hadn't been able to get Lily out of his head since they had been interupted at the hospital. He had spent the past few months wallowing and pining after her, it had been the worst night of his life when she had walked out. He hadn't dated anyone since she had left, he knew that she probably hadn't seen anyone either since she had been pregnant but what terrified him now was that she might start dating now that Harry was born. What if she wanted a divorce, he couldn't divorce her, he couldn't watch her go out with someone else. What if she got married again? Harry would have a step father and he would just be the guy that visited once a week.

James rang the doorbell and Mrs Evans answered the door.

"Oh hello, James dear, I didn't know Lily was expecting you" she said

"Uh she's not I thought I'd surprise her" said James

"Oh well then, come in, but I warn you it's utter madness"

James went inside and immediately had to duck as a suitcase came flying down the stairs.

"Lily stop that, what if Harry had been at the bottom of the stairs?" Mrs Evans shouted upstairs

"That would be hard, since he's upstairs with me" Lily shouted down, "Who was at the door?"

"James" Mrs Evans shouted then she said to James, "Go on up, she's packing and it's complete chaos up there"

"Thanks" said James then he headed up the stairs

James made his way into Lily's bedroom, he had remembered where it was from all the times they had snuck upstairs when they were at school.

"Hi, is it safe to come in here?" he said peeking his head round the door

"Oh hi, um that depends on how brave you are" said Lily

"I'll risk it" he said coming into the room.

"When did you get out? You better not have discharged yourself cause I'll march you right back to that hospital if you have. You better not keel over on me" said Lily

"Didn't know you cared that much?" teased James

"I don't, I just need your help carrying the heavy boxes" said Lily

"Where are you going?"

"I found a house just outside Hogsmade. So I'm moving out again. I actually never realised how many pairs of shoes I own"

"Oh it didn't take long to find somewhere. And yes you do have an extraordinary amount of shoes"

"I know the guy that owns the house, he trained as a healer with me and he's going on a 5 year course on tropical diseases so I'm renting the place" explained Lily

"Okay, where's my beautiful son?" asked James

Lily just pointed to the crib and then James noticed that Harry was asleep in it.

"Well while I'm here, how can I be useful?" said James

"Um could you take the boxes in the next room downstairs?"

"Sure" then James left to take the boxes downstairs.

"Whew I'm exhausted" said James later that night flopping down on the sofa in Lily's new house.

"You wimp, all you had to do was carry a few boxes" said Lily flopping down beside him.

"A few, woman do you know how much stuff you have? I had to lug boxes around all day, while all you did was point to the room I had to put them in"

"Delegating is far more tiring than manual labour and I had to carry Harry about all day"

"Yeah cause he's so heavy" said James, Lily just laughed, "I've missed you, you know"

"I've missed you too"

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? Why didn't you come back?" James blurted out before he could stop himself

Lily sat up and James regretted asking that, she was pulling away from him.

"I just... I was confused our marriage was crumbling, I was pregnant and I didn't want Harry to be born into a war zone. It was easier to stay away" said Lily getting up and walking over to the window, "I knew you were going to start asking me things like that"

"I'm sorry, but... I just wondered we just to tell each other everything."

"I know, but you have to admit the last few months weren't great, all we did was argue. I think you spent most nights on the couch"

"I guess" sighed James, "there were good times though"

"Of course there was, we were happy for so long, but in the end..."

James got up and walked over to where Lily stood looking out the window.

"Do you think that was the end?" he asked

Lily didn't turn round.

"Why? Don't you?" she said

"No, I don't think there will ever be an 'end' for us" he said

Just then Harry started screaming upstairs, ruining any moment that may have come.