"Lily. Lily.  Wake up."

Lily stirred restlessly at the hand on her shoulder, and habitually rolled away.  The hand followed, and for a panic-filled moment, she thought she was back with Voldemort.  Her heart began racing and a lump started forming in her throat.  Dozens of faces of the cruel men who didn't care in the least what happened to her flashed in front of her eyes instead of someone who cared very much.

James backed away when he saw her eyes fly open and stare blindly for a moment.  "Lily?  Is something wrong?"

She lay back down against her pillows and sighed.  "It's you."

"Umm, yes it is.  You need to get up now.  I have packed most of Celeste's things, but I need your help, too.  Are you okay? 

Lily mentally laughed at the thought; she hadn't been okay for years.  "Why are you packing her things?" she asked instead.

"She's being released from the hospital," he said quietly, leaving a huge 'and' hanging in the air.

"Then why would she need her things?  Is…Isn't she coming home?"

James shook his head, noticing the way her grip on the duvet tightened.  "She will be taken to an orphanage for assumed magical children while she awaits adoption."

"Adoption?" Lily asked with an incredulous tone.  Celeste had a mother; she didn't need to be adopted.

"I'll explain as you get her things, we have got to hurry.  Time is of the essence if you want to regain custody."

Lily didn't argue on this point.  She extricated herself from the smothering bedclothes and started racing around the flat, gathering the last few things James's hadn't thought to get and getting herself ready.  James sat in her bedroom, his voice adjusting to the distance between them, explaining the situation.  "You relinquished your legal custody when you confessed that you were neither her mother nor technically related.  The Blacks laughed in the face of the MCO representative when they were asked if they desired to take care of Celeste.  Sirius was officially disowned, so he can't be her legal guardian either.  He checked for you.  They've requested that you bring her all of her things to make the transition easier for her."

Lily came to a stop with several duffel bags stuffed full in her arms.  She stared at him with wide, questioning eyes.

"As soon as you give them her things, you and I are going to the adoption liaison headquarters to file for adoption immediately.  Then, we are going to hope desperately that there isn't anyone on the list ahead of us that want a three year-old."

"May I inquire as to why you're saying us?"

"Don't wear sweats." James started pawing through her closet, aggravating her more than a little, and then tossed her a set of lavender robes.  "We'll have to give a good impression there.  Do you still have your wedding ring?"

"James, what is going on?  Tell me!"

"I will, on the way.  You don't seem to realize the longer we spend fooling around here, the more our chance of getting Celeste back is dwindling.  Hurry."

She did hurry, shelling her clothes and redoing her hair at a record pace, the mirror giving her suggestions all the while.  Lily was very conscious of James's eyes on her back as she pulled both her wedding and engagement ring from the drawer of her nightstand.  "Here."

"I don't want them; wear them."  James shrunk all the cartons and bags filled with Celeste's belongings, noticing the number was about triple of Lily's own things, and put them in his pockets.  "Apparate to the hospital."

As soon as they both landed safely, James took her hand and led her through to some desk where they handed over Celeste's things.  "Do I get to see her?"

"No, you don't.  The center is across the lot around to the side.  We'll walk, and I'll explain how this is going to work.  Lily, to get Celeste back, you're going to have to get through the entire legal haze of an adoption.  One of the many snags in this situation is that they very, very seldom allow a single parent adopt a magical child.  We're notoriously hard to raise, you know how well my parents did.  If there is any couple at all who shows interest in adopting a toddler, they will have first priority over you.  I know things have changed between us, you're different, I remarried, but if you want Celeste, it's our only option."

"What is?  Pretend to be married?" Lily asked, feeling the bottom of her stomach drop out.

"Pretending won't be necessary, Lily.  We are married.  Now we just have to act like it.  Before you shudder, it's just in front of other people.  Speaking of marriage, guess what I got in the owl post this morning," he said lightly.

"Bills?"

"Divorce papers.  Imagine that, would you?"

Lily winced at the sharp tone in his voice, and his hand tightened on hers after opening the door for her.  "I-."

"Remember, it's for Celeste, Lily."

Within twenty minutes, they were seated in the office of one of many adoption counselors.  She was a relatively young woman, but she had shrewd eyes, ones that looked as if they could bore straight into your mind.  She stood up and offered her hand to shaking when they walked it, announcing "I'm Corina Bryson.  It's a pleasure to meet you two.  James and Lily Potter I see.  I must say this is interesting.  There are a few questions I have to ask for your profile if you don't mind."

James nodded but Lily jumped as he took her hand, and for a long moment she felt her heart pound at the sudden touch.

"First of all, are the two of you financially capable of caring for a child?  Wait, that's a silly question, isn't it?  Moving on, are there any severe problems in your relationship that should be resolved before you care for a child?"

Besides the fact we're practically strangers?  "None at all," James answered confidently.

The questions continued for about thirty minutes until she asked them what age group and sex they wanted, and of course, they gave an immediate response. 

"That will be all we have for you today.  Of course, there is extensive paperwork to be filled out, and there will be several more interviews.  There will be a random home inspection sometime within the next two weeks, but I think you two can pass.  Lucky for you, there are only seven couples waiting ahead of you, so it shouldn't be too long."

Lily's heart plummeted at the mention of seven and James saw it.

"There was actually a particular child we were hoping to adopt."

"Oh really?  Who?"

"Her name is Celeste.  I'm sure you know of our rather abnormal circumstances.  She was the child Lily…"

"Brought back with her?  I'm aware of the situation; however, there is an excellent chance that the couples ahead of you won't be as sympathetic as I am, especially considering that you two can have a child naturally."

"But won't you be getting other children rather soon?" Lily asked in a quiet voice that betrayed her desperation.

"We could, but then again, we might not.  These people are all as specific in their requests, and there are really not that many magical orphans.  Very seldom do witches give their children up completely; they generally give them to family members to raise.  There is nearly always a pre-appointed guardian for those children whose parents both die."

Corina must have seen Lily's face fall, because she continued, "These people all know a certain sense of loss and disappointment when it comes to children.  There is a good chance they will understand and relinquish their place on the list.  That's all I have for the two of you today other than a personal off-record suggestion:  Mr. Potter, this situation won't work out well if it doesn't at least appear that you live with Mrs. Potter."

She winked at them once and started shuffling her papers, signifying the apparent end of the meeting.

James and Lily didn't speak to each other as they left.  They wordlessly wandered to a small restaurant where they settled into a corner booth similar to every other booth the two of them had ever sat at together.  Even after they had ordered the silence continued, both of them watching the other warily, stirring their water and fiddling with the straw wrappers.

It was finally Lily who spoke first. 

"Why are you doing this?  I was serious when I told you when I don't want a relationship.  I'm not ready for that again."

"I'll wait."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm the one waiting and not you."

"I don't think you realize this could be a very long wait."

"You're doing a lot of negative thinking, but if I remember correctly, that is my department.  I'm willing to wait for a very long time, you're worth it.  You're the best part of my life."

"I hate to say it, but you don't have a lot to compare with it, James."

"Thanks for your shot of confidence there, babe."

Lily rolled her eyes and sighed.  "You didn't answer my question."

"Only because you added another comment that needed addressing.  I can see that you want Celeste back desperately, and I'm just trying to make you happy, that's all."

"James, that's not a good idea.  It's really a-."

"I've got a new one, then.  You and I will do whatever we need to do to get Celeste back, and in the mean time, we will try to get used to each other again.  I won't make any presumptions or make inappropriate remarks, and if thinks aren't working out for us by the time you get Celeste, I'll sign the divorce papers as soon as it's safe."  James lifted her hand in his.  "Just give us a second chance."

"Third," Lily murmured with a small smile.  "It would be our third chance.  Remember how we-."

"I remember.  So will you agree to it?"

"I'm not sleeping in the same bed as you."

"I wouldn't expect you to."

"Or cooking."

"I don't want you to."

"You know I'm not very tidy."

"Like a pack rat."

"Then why?"

"I'll get to see you in the morning when you get your first cup of coffee and when you get soap in your eyes and when you trip over a pair of my shoes.  I'll do anything you want me to have that again."

"Then leave me alone."

*~*~*

End of chapter, yahoo!  I'm behind, I know, I know, I know.