Ch. 20- Wedding Bells and Other Celebrations

Because we're going to the chapel

And we're, gonna get married.
Goin' to the chapel

And we're, gonna get married.
Gee, I really love you

And we're, gonna get married.
Goin' to the chapel of love.
Going to the Chapel- The Crystals

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Things were going well. Christmas came and went and so did dad. He had to go back on his mission, but he promised he'd check in as soon as he could.

Training went on and soon four more months had passed. It had been almost a year since we had started, but it didn't seem that way.

"Okay, so I know I said I was going to save the rest of the money that my Uncle Alphard left me, but I just couldn't resist," Sirius said one night as he walked in the door. It was just me and I'd been reading.

"Resist what?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"C'mon, you gotta see it!" He said, excitedly, grabbing my hand and pulling me after him.

"Sirius, what did you-" I stopped in mid sentence because outside was the most gorgeous motorcycle I'd ever seen. It was a huge black bike, sleek as anything. "Where did you get this?"

"Found it in Diagon Alley when I was there today. This guy was selling it for a pretty decent price and I just couldn't resist." He said, proudly. "Sunshine, it flies!"

"You're joking."

"No! I'm totally serious. It's amazing!" He exclaimed. "You want to try it out?" He added after a second.

"Sirius are you completely insane?" I burst out and he took a step back. "You buy a flying motorcycle and you think I won't want to try it out?" I added, walking over to the bike and climbing up on it. "Just so long as I can drive."

"Now we're talking!" He said, a grin breaking out across his face as he climbed on behind me.

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Lily and James had set the wedding for a month after training ended. Of course, their parents were planning most of it, but it was just easier to have it after than try to fit it in the already strict schedule. So, it was that late that summer when they were married.

"Joie, pinch me, is it really my wedding day?" Lily asked that morning.

"Yeah, it really is." I replied, nodding. "Relax, I mean, if there was any guy in the world least likely of bailing on you at your wedding it would be James." I added, and she laughed.

"You're right."

We spent the whole morning preparing everything for the day. I had to go pick up the dress and make sure the flower people weren't going to mess up. The thing was, Lily and James agreed to have half the wedding done by magic and half the muggle way. I personally thought that they were just making it harder on themselves, but whatever, it was their wedding.

"Hey, Sunshine," I heard a low voice whisper from somewhere to my right. I looked around and saw Sirius standing in the shadows. "How's the bride holding up?"

"Fairly well, considering." I replied, walking over to stand next to him. "I mean, she keeps fretting over everything, but at least she isn't second guessing herself on her decision."

"Well, good, because James is a train wreck." Sirius said, shaking his head. "Every five minutes he goes into this big rant about how he's too young and what if Lily doesn't want him. I can't talk sense into him."

"Well, just as long as he's standing at the end of the aisle when Lily comes out." I said, laughing.

When the time came even I was starting to get butterflies in my stomach. But I somehow thought it was more because of how gorgeous Lily looked than the actual fact of her getting married. She had a long, sweeping, off the shoulders white dress and a long veil to match. She had done her hair up in a French twist, with two curls framing her face and a lily stuck in one side. And, of course, she was glowing. As she turned around to face me, I was speechless at how good she looked. I could only imagine what James' reaction would be like.

"Do I look okay?" She asked, smiling nervously.

"Okay? Lily, you look amazing!" I exclaimed, giving her a hug.

The bridesmaid's dresses that she had picked out where beautiful, as well. They were a light periwinkle blue, spaghetti strap, and they were simple. Which was what the main appeal to me was. There were two other bridesmaids besides me, but I was the maid-of-honor. Sirius was James' best man, which given that they were practically each other's twin didn't surprise anyone.

"Nervous?" Sirius asked me, as we lined up.

"Not at all- I mean, it's just our best friend's wedding and things are going to be somewhat different after this." I said, shrugging. "Not nervous at all." I added, shaking my head.

"Then relax." He whispered, as the music started up. "Everything's going to be fine."

We walked down the aisle, behind Remus and Peter and the other two bridesmaids. I guess I was kind of nervous. But it was an excited nervous. As Sirius and I reached the end of the aisle, I looked up and saw James. He was standing there, looking calm, but I knew he was train wreck on the inside. I gave him a reassuring smile, one that he returned.

The music stopped for a moment and then started up again. Everyone stood and faced the back. Lily and Mr. Evans appeared and started making their way down the aisle. I glanced at James and he was staring at Lily. Lily had this big, goofy sort of smile on her face. When Mr. Evans handed her off to James, they couldn't have looked happier. It was perfect.

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After the wedding and the reception James and Lily headed off to Italy for their honeymoon. Sirius and I said our good-byes to everyone and headed home ourselves. Seeing Lily and James getting married had got me thinking. Sirius and I had been dating for about two years. Could I spend the rest of my life with Sirius? Could I honestly be happy with him? Could I grow old with him? Yes, I really could.

When we got home, Sirius went into the bedroom and started changing. I walked into the bedroom and turned him around. He looked at me confused for a second, but I barely noticed as I placed a kiss on his lips. Although we had never talked about it, the subject of sex kind of hung around us. Sirius had never said or even tried to imply anything about it. He had never tried to pressure me into it- he was waiting until I was ready and now I was.

I pulled him towards me as I walked backwards to the bed. I was undoing his shirt as he was taking off my dress. As soon as we both totally undressed, I pulled him back to me and tumbled onto the bed. He broke apart from me.

"Are you sure you're ready?" He asked, his voice breathless. I just looked at him for a minute before I nodded.

"I'm sure."

Sirius was completely different from the way Jon had been. He was gentle, as though he were afraid that he might break me. He was wonderful and amazing and I just couldn't find the right words to describe what I felt. We were both breathless, but satisfied by the time we were done.

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Lily and James came back a week and a half later. They started looking for a house to move into and found the perfect one in Godric's hollow. It was a small two story with a wrap around porch and nice little yard and in a quiet little neighborhood of witches and wizards.

"Hey guys," Remus said, walking in. "Busy day yet?"

"Nah, it's been pretty quiet." I replied, looking up from the reports I was filling out. It had been about two months since Lily and James had came back and we were all working.

"Hey, Moony, where ya been?" Sirius asked, walking down by our cubicles.

"Oh, just here and there. I just finished filing this report. I had to go check out some activity up north. Turns out it was just a couple of kids messing around with daddy's things." He replied, looking up at Sirius. "So now daddy's getting arrested and there's an investigation that's going to start."

"Wow, that's kinda funny." I said, with a laugh, shaking my head.

"Yeah," Sirius said, his voice flat. I looked between him and Remus. They seemed to be sizing each other up, but I had no idea why.

"Hey, we got something brewing up in northern France." James said, poking his head in. "Let's go."

We all got up and followed James. When we got to the place, we found ourselves in a small village. The Dark Mark was floating above it. Sirius and I exchanged a glance and we all plowed on. Wands at the ready, we searched the village for any sign of life. There was nothing. I thought that was strange. Sure, it was small, but there should have at least been bodies. Just as I thought this, I turned the corner and the sight I saw made my stomach churn. There, in a ditch, were the bodies of the villagers. Some of them were burnt, some had body parts missing and some just a blank expression on their faces.

"You guys, something doesn't feel right," I heard James say. "It's way too quiet. Where is everybody?"

"Right here," I said, my voice cracking. I heard the guys come up behind me and then stop. "We're too late."

"Those sick bastards." Sirius said, quietly.

I don't know how long we stood there, but it felt like an eternity. James went to go get help, while Remus stayed with the bodies. Sirius and I headed back to the ministry to file the reports.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked, as we worked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said, not looking up.

"You sure?" He pressed on, his voice concerned. "I mean, that was pretty overwhelming." He added.

He was right. I mean, we'd been doing this for a few months, but I'd never come across so many dead bodies. Somehow that had made the siruation so much more real. This wasn't just some crazy wizard who'd gone out and killed a few people. He was a dangerous lunatic. It blew my mind that someone could do that. I couldn't get the image out of my mind. All of those people- they had families. There could have been someone that wasn't there who was going to come back and find everyone gone.

"Joie?" I heard Sirius say. I looked up at him.

"What kind of person could do that?" I asked, my voice wavering. "How could someone just kill that many people so thoughtlessly?"

"I don't know." He said, shaking his head. "I just don't know."

When we finished, Sirius said he needed to check something out and then we headed home. We sat on the couch, not saying anything, for a long time. It was killing me. This silence, but I didn't know what to say. When Sirius finally did start talking, though, I wished that I could have the silence back.

"Hey, uh, Sunshine, I think we need to talk about Moony." He said, somewhat hesitant.

"What about him?" I asked, turning my head to look at him.

"I think he might a spy," He said, and I just looked at him. "A spy for Voldemort."

"Remus? A spy for Voldemort?" I said, incredulously. "Sirius, are you completely nuts?"

"No, I'm not." He said, sounding offended. "Look, there are things that are really suspicious about him lately."

"Like what?" I asked, skeptically.

"Like the fact that he's always late for work. And it's always big amounts of time." Sirius started. "And the excuses he comes up with aren't even valid. Take, for example, the story he gave us today. I checked it out and there definitely isn't anything going on- no investigation, no case, no nothing. There should've been some sort of record- he said he filed it."

"Sirius, maybe it's a cover story." I said, shaking my head. "I mean, he could be on some undercover case."

"I dunno. But lately I think it's something more than that." He said, with a shrug.

I didn't reply. Remus a spy? That was positively absurd. I mean, Remus was one of the nicest and loyal people I'd ever met. I didn't think he would betray us. I didn't think he would turn spy, especially not for Voldemort. But then again, anything's possible I guess.

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"Hey, you guys, I have an announcement to make." Lily said. We were all just hanging out at James and Lily's place. "I'm, well, I'm pregnant!" She said, quickly.

"Pregnant?" Sirius said, eyes getting wide. She nodded excitedly.

"Oh my god, Lils! That's amazing!" I exclaimed, jumping up and hugging her.

"Wait, you're-I'm…I'm going to be a father?' James asked, a sort of shocked amazement in his voice.

"Yes, James, we're going to have a baby!" Lily said, beaming at her husband. She turned back to me, but before anything else happened we heard a thunk. We turned back around and found James on the floor.

"Oh Merlin! He fainted!" Sirius said, laughing.

"Sirius, it's not funny!" I said, smacking him over the head.

"Ouch! That hurt!" He said, rubbing his head, but I wasn't really paying attention to him.

"James, honey, c'mon, wake up." Lily said, tapping him lightly on the face. He started stirring after a couple of minutes.

"Ah," He said, sitting up slowly. "What happened? The last thing I remember is Lily saying she's pregnant, but I must've heard wrong."

"No, James, you didn't hear wrong. I am pregnant." She said, softly. "We're going to have a baby."

"But, what if I'm not ready?" He said, looking away from her. "What if I make a horrible father and screw up our kid's life?"

"You won't." Lily said, turning his face towards her.

"How do you know?"

"James, you're going to make a great father. You know why?" She said and he shook his head. "Because you'll love them too much to mess up."

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A/N: okay, so I am going to try the whole author's note at the end thing because I think people just skip over it when it's at the beginning. First off, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry that I didn't update sooner...I honestly meant to and I know that authors say that and what not, but I am truly sorry for making you guys wait. But I have been juggling college and work and other stuff lately so it's been kinda hectic. Anyways, only TWO more chapters left! And I'm working on the sequel, but I'm kinda at a road block for the beginning. So we'll have to see how long it takes for me to think it's decent enough. I'm also starting a new fic, which I am really really excited for, I had the idea for an orignal fic, but it works for a fanfic as well. So there's a couple of things that are coming up. anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, not the best, but necessary. I think the last two chapters will be better- they should have quite a bit going on, so yeah. and I will try to update sooner. okay, well, that's enough of me rambling about why I'm such a bad updater and so on.

remember, reviews make the updates faster- most of the time hehe. :p