AN: Us again... another chapter already... aren't you guys lucky? Anyone who is confused... This chapter starts out July 31st and ticks over about midway through to August 1... not sure if anyone mentions that... But the child is born August first.

Chapter 3

July 31st, 1981

Rose was sitting in a hospital on her uncle Sirius' lap, crying. "Mummy will be out in a sec," he tries to soothe the weeping girl.

Meanwhile, Lily Potter was giving birth to a second child.

James was doing his best to soothe his wife while wincing as his daughter's cry echo through the door.

Lily is trying her best not to scream, for her daughter. "James Potter, I bloody HATE YOU." she hisses. "WHY DID I AGREE TO THIS?"

"Well, you didn't exactly agree sweetheart," his tone is dry. "But I didn't hear you complaining at the time..."

She glares, then gasps and holds to his hand tighter. "Poor Rosie..." she whispers, hearing the cries.

James gently pats her hand. "Do you want me to go check on her?"

Lily sighs. "I don't want you to leave me..." she whimpers in pain. The baby was going to be there soon... The healer was just pissing her off.

He settles into the chair beside the bed, kissing her tense fingertips. "I won't leave you love, promise." He turns away as the Healer checks on progress. She re-emerges, face expressionless and informs them that it might be a while although walking would help.

Lily glares at the healer and growls. "My baby is coming. I can bloody FEEL IT. IT IS BLOODY PAINFUL. SO GET IT THE FUCK OUT OF ME ALREADY!" She momentarily forgets about Rose outside, in too much pain to stop herself from swearing.

The Healer sighs. "Mrs. Potter, I'm sure it feels like your baby is coming any second however you're only about three centimetres dilated and your baby won't start coming until at least seven. Trust me, walking will hasten the process." Throughout this speech James is soothingly rubbing his wife's arm and speaks up. "Let's do what the Healer said love... We can check on Rose at the same time?"

She sighs. "Fine." is mumbled and she leans on James. "Help me up?"

"Of course love." James helps her get to her feet, offering her his arm to lean on.

She stands shakingly, leaning heavily on her husband.

James wraps his other arm around his wife's waist, supporting her weight.

She winces and starts walking, moving slowly towards the door. "Sorry for what I said, James... I love you..."

He presses a kiss to the top of her head. "It's not your fault love, you're in pain, it's understandable... and I love you too." He opens the door with one hand, keeping the other arm firmly wrapped around his wife's waist. "Freedom," he jokes and Rose looks up at the sound of his voice and stops crying, reaching out from her Uncle's lap.

Lily smiles at her husband, then at her baby girl, picking her up. "Hello, Rosie." she kisses her nose and looks up at Sirius. "Thanks..." she then turns to Remus. "Thanks for taking care of both of the kids." she jokes.

Remus smiles gently at her. "Yours was a pleasure... That one however..." he jerks a thumb at Sirius, "he's a nightmare... I suggest taking him back." Remus jokes. Sirius pouts. James chuckles softly and Rose babbles happily, reaching for her mother's bright hair.

Lily grins at Remus, then at the one-year-old girl. "You like Mummy's hair? Your hair is going to be like that one day..." she plays with her daughter's hair, which was tied back into two tiny piggy tails.

James smiles at mother and daughter, Merlin they looked adorable together. Rosie was the spitting image of her mother with her father's eyes. He wondered if their son would look like him or his mother.

Lily grinned, though it was forced. "Remus... Take Rose for me?" she manages. "James..."

James is at her side instantly, holding her up and murmuring, "It's okay, I've got you, I'm here..."

She almost screams on the spot, whimpering instead. "Get me a healer... I need a healer."

"Okay love, alright. We'll go back..." He throws an apologetic look over his shoulder at Remus and Sirius and helps Lily back to the room. "Just... Wait there!" It's a stupid thing to say, where would she go? and he rushes off to grab a Healer.

Lily screams in pain. "Get it out!" she screams to the healer who had just walked in. "GET IT BLOODY OUT OF ME!"

The Healer pats Lily's knee gently. "Easy dear," she soothes. "Let's just have a peek..." She checks and smiles softly at the young woman in the bed. "Not long now dear."

She is scowling and gripping tightly to her husband's hand.

James winces but keeps his hand still.

Lily screams again. "Get... It... OUT!" well... It was less painful than Rose... but still painful. Lily Potter just got aggressive when in pain.

He does his best to calm her down, as the Healer tells her she can start pushing with the next contraction.

About half an hour later, an exhausted Lily had finally let go of her husband's hand. She looked up at the healer expectantly.

"It's a boy, congratulations." The Healer informs them with a smile.

Lily beams and looks to her husband, watching his expression. "A boy..." she echoes.

James is stunned. "A son?" He gasps out finally. "A boy? Really?"

Lily grins and kisses his cheek. "Yes, a boy."

James' eyes fill with tears and he gazes down at his son. His hand shaking slightly, he reaches out and gently touches the soft cheek of the baby boy nestled in his mother's arms.

Lily kisses the baby on the forehead. "Harry." she states. "Harry James Potter."

"James?" He chokes out. "Really?"

"Really." Her tired smile is directed at him and she holds Harry out cautiously. "Take him..."

He plucked his son from his wife's arms, gazing down into the sleeping face with wonder. Gently he touched the soft black fuzz on the child's head. "He's amazing..."

"He's ours." she says fondly, stroking his cheek.

Cradling his son carefully, James leans down and presses a kiss to the top of his wife's head. "Sleep well love," he says softly and heads out to show off Harry to their friends.

Lily nods and slowly drifts off.

James leaves the room and shows off his son to his friends and then crouches down to let his daughter meet her brother. The girl giggles at the baby, reaching out and gently pats his face. James smiles "This is your brother Rosie... His name is Harry." "Hawwy!" Rose parrots happily and the boy opens his eyes. James catches his breath. Bright emerald green eyes met hazel as brother and sister locked eyes for the first time.