"Do you think she's really not going to let James be part of the baby's life?" Remus asked Sirius
"I dunno, but I sure as hell want to know," replied Sirius
"That makes two of us," said James miserably as he came into Sirius' office carrying his invisibility cloak, "here you wanted to borrow this."
"Yeah, thanks," said Sirius, "have you seen her today?"
James nodded.
"Still won't sign?" said Remus.
James shook his head, "I can't, I can't just sign her away with a flick of my quill, I just can't do it."
"Uh she's coming, quick James under the cloak" said Sirius.
Before James could ask why, Sirius had thrown the cloak over him and pushed him under the desk.
"Hey, Lils," said Sirius pleasantly, "we were just talking about you."
"Oh, saying good things I hope," said Lily.
"Actually we were talking about the baby," said Remus.
"I am not calling them Sirius Junior"
"Awww come on, why not?" whined Sirius.
"Actually we were wondering about … James" said Remus carefully
"What about him?"
"You're not really going to keep him from the baby, are you?" asked Sirius.
"Do you really think I could? James has wanted to be a father for so long. I'd actually physically have to drag him away"
"So…so…you're not…" stuttered Sirius
"No, I'm not a child needs both parents and James will be a great dad"
"Whoa, I'm confused," said Sirius
"Why?" asked Lily
"Y-you said … we thought"
"I know but I don't want to deprive my baby of its father and no matter what, he's the father and I can't ever change that"
"Oh, okay, so… why?"
"Dunno, to hurt him, make him suffer" said Lily, "anyway, Siri you said you wanted to see a picture, so here." Lily handed Sirius a sonogram picture.
"There's two here" said Sirius
"The other one is for James, under the desk" said Lily, "Did you really think I wouldn't know you were there, even under that damn cloak?"
James stood up and took off the cloak,
"Sorry, I…" said James
"Whatever. Are you going to sign the papers?"
"No"
"Come on, I already said…"
"I know and thank you so much you have no idea how much it means to me. But I'm not giving up on you."
"Don't push it. Learn to know when you're fighting a losing battle" said Lily then she turned and left.
James watched her go and then turned to Remus and Sirius.
"Did you hear that? Maybe it's not hopeless after all. I'm going to be a dad" he said excitedly, "Gimmie the picture of MY baby"
Sirius handed James the sonogram picture, amused by the expression on James' face.
"Wow look, a little person, my baby. Lily's baby, it's beautiful, our baby" said James.
"Yeah, whatever, just don't stuff it up or I might not be so forgiving," said Sirius
"I won't. I'm going to make it up to her" said James
"Don't get your hopes up, she's still…" said Remus.
"I know, but it's a start it's definitely a start" said James still staring at the picture.