TRIGGER WARNINGS: Strong Language, Teen Pregnancy, Mentions of Teen Drinking & Smoking,

APRIL 1978 - HOGWARTS GROUNDS

"I'm pregnant." Lily Evans announced quietly to her boyfriend as they stood facing each other near the edge of the Black Lake.

James' eyes widened in shock at her words and he was rendered speechless by this unexpected revelation.

He was frozen.

Was that his heart dropping?

James felt like he might be sick from the sensation. He remained motionless and speechless only blinking stupidly at his girlfriend of half a year who nervously stared back.

Lily's world had come to a sudden, unpleasant halt that morning after learning that she was carrying another life inside of her. Normally when a woman reaches this milestone it's after marriage, an established career, and financial stability; at least that's what Lily was raised to believe and had structured her future around. She always knew she wanted more out of life than to just be someone's wife or mother. It's not that she looked down on the lifestyle, after all her own mother had devoted herself to raising her two daughters and she was the strongest, smartest person Lily knew. It was simply that she knew what she wanted. Lily had envisioned herself graduating in June and moving into the flat that James and Sirius had leased in Diagon Alley. Her plan was to start the Healer training program at St. Mungo's, a prestigious five-year program she had recently been accepted to, while James and Sirius attend Auror training. However, the most important job would be their contributions to the war efforts and to the Order.

That was what Lily had envisioned when imagining her life after Hogwarts; becoming a teen parent had definitely not been a part of it.

The rest of the day had been a blur, Lily spent a greater part of the morning being sick in the dormitory lavatory not knowing if it was due to morning sickness or the mental breakdown she was experiencing. She barely made it in time to Charms, her first class of the day, however, she wished she had skived instead as she found it completely pointless to concentrate on today's lecture on conjuring large furniture. Her mind just kept returning to her current predicament.

She knew James well enough to know what he would offer to do- what he viewed, as the right thing; marriage. Lily couldn't bring herself to contemplate the thought of a shotgun wedding, that scenario involved everyone knowing that she had gotten up the duff at eighteen before even leaving school! Petunia's smug face had come to her mind and tried not to imagine the reaction of a certain Slytherin with whom she had once shared her progressive ideas, future plans, and goals.

Lily's lack of focus and interaction had not gone unnoticed by her boyfriend who sat next to her and who had failed several times to make her smile with his usual charm and jokes. So he passed her a note asking what was wrong and she had written back simply stating to meet her at "their spot" after dinner; the oak tree near the edge of the Black Lake where they now stood with the chilly spring winds blowing against them.

She had to tell him.

She couldn't be alone in this and he did have a right to know.

"W-What?" James blurted stupidly unable to think of anything else.

Lily turned away from him crossing her arms over herself, "I'm pregnant," she repeated dishearteningly.

James could only stare at the back of her head. For the first time in his life, well as far as he could remember, he was truly speechless and without a clue on how to react much less what to say.

Lily was pregnant!

Pregnant with his kid!

They were still kids themselves, regardless of being of age! Nothing had prepared him for this situation.

"When did you find out?" He asked recalling her unusual and withdrawn behavior earlier that day.

The redhead turned to face her handsome, athletic boyfriend and could no longer contain herself as she finally allowed the tears to flow.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go! What were they going to do?

She knew that despite her fear she would have this baby. Adoption and abortion were not options for her; she could never go through with either but they were too young and, clearly, too stupid to be responsible for themselves. How could they possibly be trusted to raise a baby?! Then another terrible thought entered her mind, what if this was the end of them? Up until now, Lily was certain James would offer to marry her without realizing that he also had the option to leave.

"This morning," she replied focusing on the present. "I'm a few weeks in, I think. I can't know for certain until I've seen Madam Pomfrey."

James said nothing as he was still recovering from the shock of this life-changing revelation.

How could she be pregnant?! They had only recently taken their relationship to the next level. They had been careful casting the proper contraceptive charm before each time...well, except that one time.

It had been a few weeks back after Gryffindor's nail-biting victory over Slytherin. The match had been brutal; both teams playing to secure a spot at the final match of the year for a chance at the Cup.

In the end, James had broken the tie seconds before the Gryffindor Seeker caught the snitch. Lily had run down to the pitch, where the team had descended to celébrate, and thrown herself in Jame's arms kissing him in front of the entire school.

That night the couple had stepped out of the victory party inside the Gryffindor common room, brandy bottle in hand, to take refuge in the Astronomy Tower. They were high and tipsy, courtesy of Sirius and Peter who had taken a quick excursion into Hogsmeade earlier. After an hour of celebrating with their mates, Lily and James claimed their own bottle and took off for some privacy away from the intoxicated and deafening celebration.

One moment they were snogging, then one touch led to another, and the two drunk teens gave in to their raging adolescent lust. It had been hot, passionate, and risky but being Head Boy and Girl they were quick as they feared being discovered by Filch or Mrs. Norris. So, in their haste and overwhelming desire for each other, the contraceptive charm had been forgotten. Overtaken by wicked hangovers the next morning, they had reassured each other that nothing would come out of this one time.

"I should have just gone to Pomfrey and asked for an emergency contraceptive potion!" Lily exclaimed angrily more to herself than to him. "But I just had to save myself from the embarrassment," she chuckled softly shaking her head in self-disappointment.

Perhaps it was the hormones, the fear, or the anger at their recklessness, or perhaps a combination of it all but Lily could no longer control herself. She pulled James by the front of his coat and sobbed into his muscular chest, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne to soothe her.

It was then that James snapped back to reality. He was scared; there was no denying that. However, he also knew that he was in love with Lily and although this baby was unexpected it was still half him and half of her.

So they would do things in reverse! There was nothing wrong with that because he loved the girl standing in front of him with every fiber of his being. James had been planning on proposing after graduation anyway. Obviously, he had envisioned their engagement to be longer, a year at most, but with a baby on the way, they would have to marry right after graduation. James didn't care what others would say or if they would judge and gossip. He knew he wanted to be with Lily forever. No one had ever made him want to genuinely be a better person.

"Hey, hey," James whispered soothingly as he tenderly lifted Lily's chin to look at him. "We'll take care of this, Lils."

Lily pushed away casting him an angry look, "I'm not getting an abortion! I already considered it and I'm not doing it! I can't! I'll raise this baby myself if I have to —..."

"Whoa, Evans, let me bloody finish!" interrupted James stepping over to her and taking a hold of her hands.

"I wouldn't ask that of you unless that's what you wanted," James assured gently. "And I would never walk out on my own kid! I'm actually slightly offended that you'd think I could be such a wanker to leave you to raise our child!" he playfully teased before continuing, "What I meant is we'll take care of this baby. Our baby."

Lily stared into Jame's eyes, her heart pounding against her chest despite knowing that he would do this.

"Marry me, Lily Evans?"

Lily shook her head as more tears streamed down her flushed cheeks, "No," she choked out pulling her hands away and ignoring the surprised but crestfallen look on her boyfriend's face. "You're only asking me because you feel obligated. Because it's the 'right thing' to do."

"It is the right thing…for us!" James exclaimed, desperate to reassure his girlfriend of his intentions. "Lily, I love you and I know you love me too," he said taking her face into his hands and bringing her close to his own. He looked into those beautiful emerald eyes, "I fancied you for so long, Evans. This term couldn't have been more amazing! I couldn't believe my luck when you finally gave me a chance much less when you agreed to be my girlfriend! These months with you proved it was more than worth all the effort and rejection because... I'm in love with you! You're it for me, Lily! I can't imagine living my life without you in it. I don't want anyone else but you- and our baby," He placed a hand over her flat stomach where their baby safely resided.

Lily's heart soared but did he really mean it? Sure, James had matured over the last year and a half but she never expected him to be fully on board to start a family and settle down at such a young age. Did he truly know what he was getting himself into?

"What about money?" she asked as she stepped away from James. "A baby needs milk, clothing, and diapers. What about us? How can we pay rent, care for a baby, and feed ourselves? I'll have to drop out of the training program and get a job." Now her predicament was really hitting her.

"Lily, don't take this the wrong way now but I'm bloody loaded," James smiled. She couldn't help but laughingly scoff at him. "Really, Evans, you bagged yourself an excellent catch!"

She laughed weakly, "James, I-…"

"Lily, we can make this work!" James insisted, desperate on getting her to understand that this was what he wanted not out of obligation but pure love. This baby, their baby meant to world to him. "I have enough money to take care of the three of us and I know my parents will insist on helping us out with the baby so we can still attend our training programs. The Healer program isn't just limited to the childless and recent graduates. All sorts of witches and wizards from different backgrounds and ages are accepted all the time. I'm sure they can make accommodations for Slughorn's star student." He smiled before continuing, "We'll still move into the flat like we planned. There's a third bedroom we had thought of making into a weight room but that can be the baby's room now. Sirius won't mind and if he does, we'll tell him to bugger off or we'll find our own place."

Lily gave a small smile feeling a little more assured but, nonetheless, frightened. In order for any of this to happen, they first had to tell their parents and the Hogwarts faculty; it was inevitable as Lily needed proper prenatal care moving forward. She dreaded thinking about what the rest of the school would say about her. This could cost her the Head Girl position!

"I don't want anyone to know apart from those who need to know," she stated.

"No one else will know," assured James although if it was up to him he'd happily tell the world. "We can tell the lads, right? You know they wouldn't breathe a word to anyone."

She nodded not doubting James' friends, the Marauders were more like brothers and no strangers to keeping secrets. Besides, she could use Remus' support as well as that of her closest friends now more than ever to get through these last two months of school.

"Blimey," James exclaimed softly running a hand through his messy hair. He took her hands in his own again and gave her that crooked grin she had grown to love, "I'm gunna be a dad!" He said with so much happiness and excitement in his tone and face.

Lily smiled back as they both looked lovingly into each other's eyes.

"So what do you say, Evans. Will you marry me?"

She had stopped crying. Her boyfriend's reassuring words had given her comfort, relief, and hope. All doubt about her relationship had been obliterated.

He was sincere.

He wanted her and this baby forever and now she knew that she felt the same about him.

They were in this together and no one else mattered but the three of them.

They were going to be okay, she believed it now.

"Yes."