"Celeste, do you have Professor Figg's list?" Lily asked, lifting the little girl into a shopping cart at the supermarket. Lily's former teacher had made a list of the essential items any person needed in their kitchen.
"Yes, Mummy." Celeste stared around the store in curiosity, "They have everything here, don't they?"
"Just about," Lily agreed, giving a polite smile to the greeter. Celeste was occupied by looking at pictures on the food boxes and reading the small words that she knew.
"Are you really coming to dinner tonight, then, Lily?"
Lily jumped at the voice behind her, but she refused to turn around. Instead, she walked on in silence, filling a produce bag with apples.
"Of course, why would I expect you to answer me, Lily?"
"Hello, Mister James," Celeste said soberly.
"Hello, Celeste, nice to see you again. Same to you, Lily."
Both carts continued in their caravan to the pasta aisle, Lily wordlessly grabbing a package of spaghetti.
"I'm curious to know how many tricks you have left up your sleeve, Lily," James kept stressing her name, reason unknown to Lily. "Or shall I say Mrs. Potter, considering you're still married to me?"
"Mummy?" Celeste looked blown out of her little world.
"So, are you two coming to dinner tonight, Celeste?" James asked, trying a different route after hitting one point.
"Dinner?"
"Penelope slid a note under your door asking you two to dinner. She doesn't know who lives next door to us yet." James tried to ignore the stares they were receiving from fellow customers.
"Are we going, Mummy? I want to go."
"No."
"Come on, Lily, you can't avoid me forever. Especially if Celeste is my child."
Lily swung her cart around so abruptly James ran into it as she was taking Celeste out. She narrowed her eyes at him over the barrier, and hissed her only words to him, "James, leave Celeste and me alone." Lily started walking away quickly, Celeste looking behind them in shock. She started tapping Lily on the shoulder when James began following them, not stopping when they left the store.
"I just want to talk to you! How am I supposed to know what's going on? I need some help here!"
Lily shook her head, but ignored him and continued walking, the crowd moving out of her way admirably.
James followed for about three blocks before his intelligence caught up with his body. He suddenly stopped, and quickly walked back to the supermarket, knowing this was heading to a bad place. He would be toast if he didn't at least bring home the requested groceries, because of course, Penelope would find out that he had chased his other wife down the road.
"Why did I do that?" James groaned out loud, deciding this was an awful mess.
*~*~*
"I don't understand why they haven't come yet! I slid the note right under the door, it couldn't have been missed," Penelope said in frustration, slamming things around the kitchen. "All this hard work down the drain! They couldn't even RSVP!"'
"Oh the horrors," James murmured, holding the newspaper higher so his face couldn't be seen. "Maybe they weren't home."
"You're right!" she said enthusiastically.
"I am?" James asked, hoping this wouldn't dig his grave any deeper.
"Of course! They probably weren't home in time to reply, so they thought it would be polite not to come."
Somehow, James didn't think that was what happened. "Listen, Penny, they probably didn't come because they want to be by themselves. Maybe it's some newlyweds who want to keep to themselves for a few more days, why don't we just leave them alone. Or something."
"James, don't get all dark and growly on me now. I'll just go over and ask them to come."
"No! Don't! I mean, why don't we stay home just the two of us. We can have a romantic evening. Maybe go for a stroll in the park." James grabbed her shoulders to keep her from leaving.
"I think not. Your romantic evenings always end up with a discussion as to why we should have children now rather than later."
"Well, since you mention it, neither of us is getting younger…"
Penelope waved her hand in dismissal. "I'm only twenty-six, I've got years left. I don't see the hurry."
James shook his head, knowing the argument wasn't worth it. She wouldn't see the hurry; then again, she hadn't seen what he had. Nobody had, come to think of it. "Fine. I'll just adopt."
"Without me?"
"Without you," James confirmed.
"I'd like to see that happen. Well, I'm going over there now, would you mind combing your hair for company?"
"I'm sure they won't mind," he mumbled. James's bird gave a mournful cry from the corner. "Yes, it's a very bad situation indeed."
*~*~*
"Hello? Anyone home?" Penelope pounded on the door of Lily's apartment for several minutes, and continued until Lily stepped up behind her and opened the door. "Excuse me?"
Lily smiled and raised her eyebrows.
Celeste, of course, took care of the situation. "Are you trying to rob us?"
"Er, no. I just came to invite you to dinner. I left a note, but I guess you didn't get it."
"We haven't been home yet today. We had to go get some stuff. Mummy had to get a new wand, and we bought some new clothes, and…stuff," Celeste finished quietly when Lily looked at her sternly.
"My husband and I would love to have you two. And anybody that lives with you," Penelope smiled brightly.
"I really don't think so. Thank you for offering though."
"We insist, you're more than welcome."
"I really don't think it's appropriate." Lily knew she had to end this once and for all. She extended her hand and looked directly ahead, "I'm Lily. Lily Evans, but you may know me as Potter."
*~*~*
"JAMES POTTER!" Penelope screamed, slamming the door to their flat, ready to murder her husband.
"Yes, Penny?"
She lunged, and started swinging while yelling. "You made me look like a fool, you dolt! Have you no common sense whatsoever? You KNEW she lived next door, but you still let me go over there! And why the hell didn't you TELL me she lived there? You blasted idiot!"
"I-"
"Don't talk to me! She introduced herself as polite as can be, offering to shake my hand! Now I look like some evil hussy who stole her husband, because she's everyone's hero right now!"
"And she saw it! Of course I was surprised, so there's no telling how dumb I looked." Penny screamed again. "How could you do that to me?"
"I-"
"I SAID DON'T TALK TO ME!"
"Well don't ask me a question you don't expect me to answer. And don't talk to me until you're ready to have a rational conversation. I refuse to argue with someone who is acting worse than the toddler next door," James said coolly, turning toward his study and solace.
Penelope grabbed his arm to turn him towards her. "Don't walk away from me. James, stop, I-"
James continued walking and slammed the door.
*~*~*
"Please go away!" Lily shouted when somebody started knocking on her door again. She really couldn't handle anything else today.
"Lily? It's me, Sirius! I just wanted to check on you."
She groaned. More people to talk to. However, she did owe him. "Hi, Sirius," Lily forced a smile.
"Lily!" Sirius hugged her tightly, and after a bit she returned it. "Brilliant to see you again. Nice to know you're speaking nowadays."
"Only to a select few."
"Could I treat you to dinner?"
"I really don't think so, but thank you. I appreciate the thought."
"Celeste is welcome to come."
"Mummy! Please! Don't make me eat what you cook!"
Lily turned to glare at Celeste, who was trying her best to look angelic.
"That settles it. Let's go."
*~*~*
This was difficult to write, I couldn't come up with anything I liked. I think this is passable though. Thanks to NattyNatterz for beta-ing this chapter, it was highly appreciated.
Happy Memorial Day weekend to all!
To my reviewers: You guys broke 200, yahoo, I'm excited! I'll try to get something out soon for you. I'm going to work on WDBTN first, though, I love the part I'm at. Extreme moodiness from James is always great in my opinion. Eleanor, mooncancer, Bambi, Lilybird, Céline, KeeperOfTheMoon, Stefanorkle, hpankiki, reader, JazzyNStu, Kelly, torifire126, Clare, unicornjewel, Kristen, everblue3, Sea, punkchicloser6078, Ashley, Nicole Christine Potter, ljpottafreak, luv-jinxy, laughoutloud