Chapter 16

"Lily are you home?" James yelled after he had apparated in front of their door to their home and tapped the lock to the door to let himself in. The house seemed empty and this worried James, today Lily wasn't suppose to have any classes.

"Lily!" James yelled as he felt a lump forming in his throat and then James looked down to the floor and saw white rose petals littered all over the floor. There were petals everywhere, and that was when he heard a noise in the kitchen.

James walked into the kitchen as Lily yelled, "I'm in here James!"

"My, my." That arrogant smirk that use to drive Lily insane was smirking at her now and as she turned around she chuckled but rolled those lovely eyes at him.

"Well you are home early."

"Good thing," James said walking behind Lily and wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling close to her as she was trying to tune him out before she burnt their dinner. "Since when you do you cook in that sexy lingerie?"

"Since Sirius isn't here."

"Who said I'm not here you horny little teenagers?" A bark like chuckle filled the room and Lily screamed as she tried to cover herself. James flicked his wand and Lily had her bathrobe over her.

"What are you doing here!" James yelled in outrage, not because he was mad at his friend but he had liked where things were going.

Sirius knew that James was just outraged because he and Lily weren't shagging all over the food, "I live here."

"He's got a point James," Lily chuckled as she pulled her bathrobe as close to her as possible.

"It's okay Prongs," Sirius chuckled. "I like this."

"I don't," James growled.

"I'll be moving out soon."

"What!" Lily and James yelled and they looked stunned.

"Yup," Sirius nodded. "It's time."

"But you can't push this," Lily said walking up to their friend and forgot to how she had felt outraged in Sirius seeing her in her lingerie.

"I'm not pushing anything. I need to move on and you guys need your privacy, obviously."

Both Lily and James blushed at this.

"You guys have been at it like dogs," Sirius laughed manically like his dog animagus form. "Cassidy wouldn't want me sulking like I have been and besides I finally found a flat."

"You're moving out!" Both Lily and James yelled again together.

"I need to."

"No," Lily said shaking her head and turning to James to get some back up. "You don't need to do anything, you need to heal."

"I know," Sirius nodded. "But I can't heal here, I see too many things of her here."

"You can't forget her mate, she was your first love." James spoke this time.

"You are right and I don't ever want to forget her. Cassidy was my first love and I will never love another woman again. But I see too many things that are her here, too many memories. And if I am to try and move on with my life, this isn't helping me at all. I will be okay, and I will be here all the time I swear."

"You better stop by every night for dinner," Lily interrupted. "Merlin knows you can't cook…"

"Merlin knows I wouldn't miss your cooking for anything," Sirius said smiling from ear to ear.

"Good," Lily smiled.

"I move out tomorrow."

"What!" This was now the third time James and Lily had an outburst together.

"Lily starting to say the same things that Prongs is, isn't a really good idea." Sirius pointed out, "There are many times he says really stupid things."

"Stuff it Padfoot."

"You can't move out tomorrow!" Lily said ignoring both men.

"Yes I can," Sirius nodded. "And I am. Also I have a date to the Ministry ball in two weeks."

"You what!" Yup, you've got it they yelled this again together.

"I've got a date to the Ministry Ball, Amelia Bones. Pretty things she is, graduated with us…you must remember her."

"Of course we remember her," Lily hissed. "What about Cassidy?"

"She wouldn't want me to grieve her for the rest of my life, I have to move on."

"I know that," Lily nodded. "I am glad you are moving one, honestly I am. You don't think it's too soon though?"

"I'm not going to shag her on the date," Sirius smirked. "Amelia knows how much Cassidy meant to me and she knows that I recently lost her. Hell Amelia was engaged to a Muggleborn who recently was murdered in a random killing. We are both hurting and neither of had someone to go to the Ministry Ball. I saw her and hadn't seen her since graduation and we began talking. She asked me how Cassidy was doing and I told her and she apologized and then that's when she told me about the bloke she'd been with. Then we both began to talk about how weird it would be to go alone. That's when I suggested we go as friends only."

"Oh," Lily blinked and nodded. "Well I am glad that you will be going and with a friend."

"Me too," Sirius said smiling from ear to ear. "I am going to go upstairs and start packing. I will move all of my things tomorrow after dinner. You know shrink them all to fit in my pockets and then move after dinner. Is that alright?"

"Of course," Lily nodded. "But you really don't have too…"

"I know," Sirius nodded. "I want to. I'll see you guys later," Sirius said getting up to go pack.

"It's going to be weird here without Sirius," Lily said looking up and looking at James.

"Yeah it will be," James nodded. "But in a way it will be nice that it will be just the two of us."

"What do you mean?"

"Like we won't be…er…interrupted like earlier."

Lily blushed at James's comment and he just chuckled at his wife. "I should go and get some clothes on."

"Okay," James nodded and flicked his wand to Lily's favorite pair of jeans and the blouse that James absolutely loved on her.

"That's better."

"No, I prefer you the other way."

"I bet you do," Lily said rolling her eyes at him. "I am going to ask Sirius if he wants to join us for dinner."

"What about it cooking?"

"It's in the oven…"

"The what!"

Lily giggled, "The box right in front of you with the light on."

James ran over to the oven and his eyes got very wide, "Our food cooks in here!"

"What will I do with you?" Lily muttered as she walked out of the kitchen and was making her way through the living room and up the stairs.

Lily knocked on the door and she heard Sirius's response, "Come in."

"Hey."

"Hey Lils, what are you doing up here?"

"Wanted to know if you wanted to join us for dinner since you are home now?"

"Not if you guys are going to keep at what you were doing when you didn't think I was in the room."

Lily blushed at this and tried to cover herself up, then she remember that thank Merlin James had gotten her some different clothes to put on. "No," Lily said shoving Sirius off of his bed with a loud, 'clunk.'

"Gah Lils!" Sirius yelled outraged, "I just might have to come eat dinner with you guys if you keep beating up on me. Do you have enough for four people?"

"Four?"

"Yeah," Sirius nodded. "I was suppose to have dinner with Amelia and I couldn't just abandon her."

"Oh," Lily said and nodded her head. "If Amelia wants to, but if not you guys can go ahead and go out."

"I think Amelia will be fine with it, I'll just apparate to her flat and be back. Thanks Lils."

"Sure," Lily nodded and walked out of the guestroom and back downstairs to find James.

James was still gazing at the oven when Lily came back in the room and she sat herself down in one of the kitchen tables, "Lily what's wrong?"

Lily was staring down at the kitchen table and didn't respond to James's question.

"Lily?" James asked as he kneeled down beside the seat that Lily was occupying, "What's wrong love? Lily?"

"Huh!" Lily said almost jumping out of the chair and she turned to see a very worried James Potter staring up at her.

James took the seat beside Lily and pulled it as close to Lily as possible, "What's wrong love?"

"Set the table for four."

"Four? Love, I know that Sirius eats a lot…"

"No," Lily said shaking her head and now actually looking at James. "Please set the table for four, our good china."

"Since when is Sirius worth your mother's good china?"

"Since he is bringing Amelia to dinner."

"What!" James asked as he was waiting for Lily to yell, 'April Fools'!

"Yeah," Lily nodded. "That was basically my response."

"Do we have enough food for four?"

"Yes."

"Are you okay?"

"I guess," Lily said shrugging. "I mean we couldn't expect him to not go out with girls, we knew that he would move on."

"Yeah but you are thinking why is he moving on so soon."

"No I'm not," Lily said lying through her teeth. "Cassidy died in August we are at almost in November know."

"Lily."

"Fine!" Lily yelled, "My friend has only been dead two months and the man that supposedly loved her more than life itself has already moved on! He is already with another woman!"

"Lily, don't you want Sirius to be happy?"

"NO!"

"What!"

"I mean," Lily sobbed. "Not yet. I'm not happy yet so he shouldn't be."

"I thought we were happy?"

Lily crawled into James's lap and rested her head on his chest, "We are. I mean I am still upset about Cassidy's death…"

"I promise you Sirius is too. Sirius wouldn't lie to us, they are only friends."

"How do you know?" Lily asked looking up at her husband.

"Because I can still see the hurt in his eyes anytime anyone mentions her name. I still see him looking at the front door and expecting her to stroll in yelling, 'April Fools!' and start giggling that laugh we all loved. Amelia and Sirius are just friends, besides I remember reading in the paper about a month ago about Amelia's fiancée dying."

"But what happens if thing progress with them?"

"Then we will just have to accept it. I know it's harder for you because…"

"I'll just get over it," Lily said drying her face and at that moment the oven went off.

James screeched like a little girl which got Lily laughing manically, "What in Merlin's name was that!" James asked as he held Lily closer to him.

"You obviously have to be in the kitchen with me more often, that's the oven telling me that dinner is ready."

"Oh," James nodded and took his death grip off of his wife so she could get their dinner out of the oven.

James set the table as Lily walked behind him and put all of the food on the plates. At that moment Lily and James heard two distinctive 'pop's and James turned to Lily, "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," Lily nodded and gave a smirk that James didn't trust.

The dinner didn't end up being a total disaster as James could have sworn it would have been, but James could feel Lily not being too friendly towards Amelia. As Amelia never knew Lily all that much in school bought Lily's act.

"Well I guess I'll see you guys at the Ministry Ball," Amelia said smiling at the Potters. "Thanks for a wonderful evening. Dinner was fabulous Lily."

"Thank you," Lily said politely.

"I better get home, it's getting late."

"I'll follow you home, just to make sure you are alright." Sirius offered.

"It's okay Sirius, really there is no need." Amelia said blushing and shaking her head.

"No really, it's fine." Sirius turned to Lily and James, "I'll be back to finish packing."

The two left and Lily turned to James, "I'm going to bed."

"You don't get off that easy," James said chasing after her to their bedroom. "I happen to sleep in the same room as you!"

"Get away with what?" Lily asked as James closed their bedroom door and she began to undress and get in her night clothes.

"I know you don't like her."

"She's okay."

"You were pleasant."

"I know," Lily said putting on an unconvincing smile. "I am a wonderful hostess."

"You were cold towards her."

"I was not!"

"You hate her because Sirius is with her."

"So what if I am, James!" Lily said throwing herself down in their bed and was trying to go to sleep, she had an early class tomorrow.

"You are lucky that Sirius and Amelia bought that act."

"I honestly don't care James and I refuse us to get in a fight over that hussy."

"Ah ha!" James yelled enthusiastically as he crawled in bed beside Lily, "You agree with me now! You don't like her!"

"No I don't, now shut up." Lily said but not in a mean way, in a way saying, 'I'm sleepy and we need to go to bed.'

James pulled Lily close and she turned over so she could snuggle up to him.

When James was almost asleep he felt Lily shaking, "What's the matter?"

"I'm sorry," her voice was a bit shaky. "Don't leave me."

"What!" James asked totally awake now and he had to slip his glasses back on because Lily was totally blurry without his glasses on. "Why would you say that?"

"After our last fight and…"

"Were we fighting?"

"I didn't think so, but…"

"Okay," James nodded and took his glasses off and kissed her forehead while pulling her close to him again. "I love you and I will never leave you. Now get some sleep, love. We both have to get up early tomorrow. Love you."

"I love you too," Lily Potter fell asleep that night with a big smile on her face.

Two weeks later, Lily Potter was trying to hurry up and finish getting ready for the Ministry Ball. James had told Lily that he wanted to leave the house at ten minutes before six and it was now five minutes before six.

"Lily!" James yelled from upstairs.

"Almost done!" Lily lied as she was fighting with her hair to work with her.

"We need to leave in five minutes!"

"James leave me alone!" Lily yelled, his badgering her really wasn't helping her move any faster.

Lily had on a set of green dress robes that matched her eyes perfectly and made her red hair look magnificent, well the color of her hair. Lily was trying to get her mid-back length of her hair to curl just right.

Lily said the charm to make her hair pop just right, and she kept messing it up. Thank Merlin, Lily was already dressed and makeup on.

Five minutes later, James was yelling at her again.

"Lily!"

"Quit badgering me! I have to look perfect and my hair is being a total arse!"

"Lily it starts in five minutes…"

"I bloody know when it starts!" Lily yelled down the stairs and her frustrated husband threw himself down on their sofa.

Two minutes later, Lily smiled at her reflection, her hair finally did what she wanted it to do. Lily ran down the stairs as James was just about to yell at her again and being surprised to see James right there, she let out a little squeal.

"Finally!" James sighed, but then he looked at Lily again. "Wow."

"It is not amazing that I am done," Lily said harshly.

"No it's not that," James shook his head. "You look beautiful."

Lily blushed at this and smiled at James, "You look handsome."

"Let's go."

"Yes, lets."

The Ministry Ball was small for a Wizarding event, but it was still quite big for Lily. There were suppose to be everyone from the ministry and their date. Lily remembered Gabriella saying that she would be presenting something tonight that would change both Remus and her life and now curiosity began to bug Lily, she needed to find Gabriella.

"Lily?" Lily turned around to see Alice.

"Alice!" Lily smiled as the two friends hugged and smiled at one another.

"It's been so long!"

"I know," Alice nodded. "It's been so hard to come over all the time with Auror training…"

"I know, every night James is totally exhausted."

"Us too. By the way how is your Healer school coming along?"

"Good," Lily smiled.

"I need to tell you and Gabby something," Alice spoke up and for the first time Lily realized that Alice was absolutely glowing.

"Okay," Lily nodded. "I haven't seen Gabby all night and tonight is suppose to be really important for…"

"Gabriella!" Alice yelled and many people, including Gabriella turned around.

"Allie! Lils!" Gabriella Martinez ran across the room and hugged her two best friends. "I have been looking all over the place for you guys!"

"Where's Remus?" Lily asked.

"He went looking for Frank and the rest of the Marauders."

"Good," Alice said with a big grin across her face. "I need to talk to the two of you, alone."

Lily and Gabriella nodded to Alice's comment and they followed Alice to the ladies room. Once they got in the ladies room Alice looked under all of the stalls to make sure no one else was in the room.

"Lock the door," Alice said as she looked under the last stall.

"What?" Gabriella asked.

"Lock the door," Alice repeated.

Lily pointed her wand to the door and turned to Alice, "Okay spill."

"Okay," Alice nodded and took Gabriella's hand in her right hand and Lily's hand in her left hand. Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When Alice opened up her big blue eyes and looked into her two best friends straight in the eyes, "I'm a month pregnant!"

"What!" Lily and Gabriella yelled.

"I'm pregnant!"

"What!" James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus all yelled at the same time.

Frank was smiling from ear to ear, totally proud. "Alice is pregnant," he repeated.

"Congrats!" James said smiling at his friend and patting him on the back.

"I'm happy for you!" Remus said smiling.

"Well done!" Sirius laughed in a bark like laugh and started raising his eyebrows in a suggestive way.

"Er…a good way to get it on?" Peter chuckled until everyone looked at him oddly, "What?"

"You are disgusting Wormtail," Sirius said rolling his eyes.

"I'm so happy for you!" Gabriella said engulfing her best friend in a tight hug.

"Me too!" Lily said joining her two best friends in a hug, "I so happy for you and Frank! Your going to be a mummy!"

There was someone one beating on the bathroom door that reminded the girls that they had locked everyone out of it. Lily waved her wand and the bathroom door was unlocked and the woman that walked in was none other than Amelia Bones.

"Hello Amelia," Alice said as her friends broke apart.

"Should I come back later?"

"No it's okay," Alice said shaking her head. "We were just leaving."

The girls began to leave and Amelia spoke up, "Nice to see you again Lily."

"You too," Lily nodded as the girls walked out to leave Amelia in the loo alone.

"What was that about?" Gabriella asked as the girls were back at the party.

Lily sighed, "Amelia came by the house the other night and had dinner with James, Sirius, and I."

"Why?" Alice asked as her total blondeness totally kicked in. Then again it looked as if Gabriella was clueless too.

"Amelia is Sirius's date tonight."

"What!" Gabriella and Alice yelled at the same time, attracting attention around them.

"That was my response."