TELLING THE FAMILY

"Honey, are you ready yet? I said we'd be there at 7" James shouted to Lily.

"I'm just coming"

Lily came into the living room, wearing a little black evening dress, with a shawl over her shoulders, and her red curly hair down over her shoulders.

"wow, you look...amazing" he said when he saw her.

"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself. Clean shaven, your mother will be pleased" said Lily.

James went over and slipped his arm around his wife's waist and said softly into her ear,

"I love you" then he moved his hand so that it was over her stomach, "I can't wait til we have our baby and there's no'one else I could ever imagine being the mother of my children"

"Well I should hope not" said Lily leaning into James, "Are we apparating there yet?"

"It's up to you, we can either floo there or I can apparate you there with me"

"There isn't any medical proof that apparation affects a pregnancy"

"I'm not prepared to risk it, you and the baby are the most precious things in the world to me and I'm not about to let anything happen to either of you." said James before apparating to his parent's house with Lily in his arms.

When they arrived most of the other guest were already there.

"How are we going to tell them with everyone here?"Lily whispered to James.

"Don't worry we'll take them aside before dinner and tell them" James whispered back.

"James, Lily hi" said Mrs Potter spotting them.

"Hi Mum" said James hugging his mother and kissing her on the cheek.

"Hi Celia" said Lily, hugging Mrs Potter.

"Lily dear, you look as lovely as ever" said Mrs Potter.

"Thank you"

"And James you look very smart, I see Lily managed to get you to shave,"

James just smiled, he decided it would be better not to tell his mother that it was Lily that liked him to have some stubble.

"Ah James, Lily glad you could make it. James, come and see Hubert's mobile felytone" said James' father, coming over, "Lily lovely to see you, you look sensational"

"Thank you, it's lovely to see you both" said Lily

"How did Hubert get a felytone?" James asked his father.

"His nephew is a muggle and he got it for him. Are you coming to see it" said Mr Potter

James looked eagerly at Lily.

"Yes on you go, have fun" said Lily, "oh and it's a telephone"

"You're the best" said James then he kissed Lily on the cheek and followed his father.

A little while later, James went to find Lily. He found her in the drawing room talking to his mother and some other old women he was related to in some way. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her, but then he spotted what was in her hand. He went over to her.

"Hello, ladies do you mind if I borrow my wife for a few minutes" he asked flashing a smile at the old ladies.

Without waiting for an answer, James led Lily away by the arm. When they were out of earshot of everyone else, he snatched the glass out of Lily's hand.

"Lillian Rose Potter, you better have a damn good reason, for having a half empty glass of champagne in your hand" he said

"Well James Thomas Potter, I think if you take a sip of the substance in the glass you will see that I have done nothing wrong"

James glared at Lily then took a large swig out of the glass.

"Fizzy apple juice" he said

"Yes" smirked Lily, "did you really think I would drink while I'm pregnant?"

"Um, no but this morning you..." stuttered James, who was fully aware how easily Lily could lose her temper or get upset especially now that she was pregnant.

"Awwww you're adorable when you're nervous" said Lily then she kissed James, "I know I was annoyed this morning but I would never do anything to harm this baby, our baby"

"I know, I'm sorry" said James pulling Lily into a hug.

"C'mon" said James pulling back, "lets go and tell my parents and then we can tell the world. That is, if you're sure you don't want to tell your family?"

"I'm sure" said Lily, "You're my family"

"And you're mine, just don't tell my mother, she still likes to think she's the only woman in my life"

"Come on" laughed Lily taking James' hand.

"Uh mum, dad can we talk to you for a moment" said James after he and Lily had finally tracked down his parents.

"Okay dear" said Mrs Potter.

"What's the matter? Divorce already?" said Mrs Henderson, one of Mr and Mrs Potter's friends, "because my daughter, Isabella, is available, I've always thought you two would make a lovely couple"

"No, no Mrs Henderson, we just want a word with my parents" said James, who could sense Lily's temper rising.

They weren't even out the door when Mrs Henderson said loudly,

"It's a pity, my Isabella's much prettier than that Lily girl. She and James would be much better suited, both from good pureblood families"

Lily spun round, but before she could say anything, James put his hand on her shoulder and spun her back round,

"Just let it go, she's not worth it" he said

"Excuse me Susan, but you appear to have forgotten your manners, when you are in my homeyou will treat my daughter in law with respect" said Mrs Potter icily, "and as for your Isabella, from what I hear she's not too picky about who she dates, well dates is probably not the right word, sleeps with is more accurate"

"Mum" said James shocked yet impressed.

"Come on, you said you want to talk to me and your father" said Mrs Potter, then she turned and left the room, motioning for James and Lily to follow.

The four of them went into the study, Mrs and Mr Potter sat down on the leather armchairs, James and Lily sat on the sofa opposite.

"Well, what did you want to tell us?" said Mr Potter.

"Are you sick?" asked Mrs Potter fearfully

"No, no we're both fine. It's good news" James assured his mother, "We're pregnant"

"Oh congradualations" said Mr Potter getting up and shaking his son's hand.

"I knew it. I was right" squealed Mrs Potter rushing over and pulling Lily into a hug.

"How did you know?" said Lily amused by Mrs Potter's excitement.

"I bet it was Sirius" said James.

"No I just knew. I knew as soon as I saw you both earlier, you were glowing and James you couldn't keep the smile off your face" babbled Mrs Potter then she grabbed James and hugged him as if he was a little boy, "I can't believe it my baby is going to be a daddy, I'm going to be a granny"

"Yeah and you'll be a great one" said James hugging his mother back.

"Oh I'm so excited a new baby, when is it due?"

"Phew, I'm exhausted" said James flopping down on the sofa. He had just apparated back home from his parents house with Lily.

"Mmmmm I know me too. I can't believe you left me with all thoses old women telling me about the miracle of birth" moaned Lily as she curled up on the sofa with James, "they were also telling me that I should do things the 'proper' way, when I'm giving birth, no pain killers and not letting you see me or the baby until we're cleaned up"

"What?" choked out James, "You're not going to do that, are you?"

"You wish, you got me into this condition you're damn well going to be there for the birth. As for painkillers, I'll be taking anything they've got, I've heard how painful labour is"

"I'm glad, I don't want to miss a minute of it"

"Well I wouldn't mind missing out the really painful parts" said Lily jokingly but James could hear the fear in her voice.

"You're not really that scared are you"

"terrified"

"awww sweetheart" said James pulling Lily in closer to him, "I wish there was something I could say or do... I won't let anything happen to you or the baby"

"I know you won't, I'm just being silly, women have babies all the time. It still scares me shitless though"

James didn't know what to say to her, he couldn't lie and tell her that it wouldn't hurt. All he could do was hold her and try to make her feel better about it"

"It'll be worth it though" said Lily then she looked up and put her hand on James' cheek and pulled him into a passionate kiss.