Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, as it is the property of the wonderful JKR

Chapter 22

Lena set down her pen and chewed her lip nervously as she glanced at the clock.

Just after midnight, and James wasn't back yet.

She'd been in their bedroom since Remus left, answering letters, and thus had long since answered her letters for the rest of the week.

Sighing, she swung her legs out of the bed, went to fetch a book from the bookcase in the living room, and made her way back to the safety and comfort of her bed, all the while saying quick prayers to all and any Gods that James and Sirius would come home safely.

It was an extra two hours when Lena heard a noise.

The front door bursting open.

She quickly grabbed her wand and made for the hallway - hoping it was James, but knowing she had to be on her toes with all that was going on in these times.

When she saw a rather tired looking James standing before her, she sighed with relief, discarding her wand, and throwing her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

' Thank God you're back,' she breathed,' you were longer today. Sirius is alright? '

' Fine,' James assured her,' he sends his best - says he'll call around tomorrow. And you know you're supposed to ask the security queston when I come back in to the house.'

Lena rolled her eyes,' Oh, please. A Death Eater could have forced the answer out of you before killing you and stealing your hair for the potion, it's ridiculous.'

James shrugged,' I know, but it's that best we have. And that's the ministry for you. '

' You're later than usual,' she commented, as she took his coat, and sat down on the sofa to talk to him.

' I know,' he agreed,' there was a bit of trouble with some muggles who might have seen Sirius and I performing magic. But we made great care to cover it up, and it's alright now.'

She narrowed her eyes at him,' Why were you doing magic in an area were muggles were, anyway?.... Oh, never mind, where you and Sirius are concerned, it's bound to be trouble.' Her last words were followed by a yawn,' I'll make you a drink.'

' You know you don't have to stay up all this time for me,' James remimded her as she busied herself making him a drink.

She turned back to look at him - rather sternly - and told him,' If I want to wait for you, then I will. You know I'll always be waiting up. '

James didn't answer this comment.

Lena turned back a moment later and handed him a cup of tea.

As she handed it to him, her fingers grazing his, she took a deep breath and told him, ' We need to talk. '

He raised his eyebrows as they sat down next to each other on the sofa, ' Sounds serious,' he said with a smile, trying to be joking.

' It is,' she said simply,' but before I tell you - I love you and I don't want this to ruin things betwen us.'

He frowned, setting the mug down on the carpet at a distance safe enough enough that he wouldn't accidently kick it over and took her hand, ' What's going on? ' he asked.

She met his hazel eyes and hoped that he would be alright with it,' I'm pregnant,' she announced.

He immediately broke out in to a great beam, ' Are you sure? ' he asked.

She nodded mutely, her own lips curving up in to a smile,' Almost three months gone. '

' Well,' James proclaimed,' that's great - absolutely brilliant! '

' It is? ' Lena asked carefully.

James frowned, a little confused,' Isn't it? Don't you want this? '

She sighed,' No, I do, but with the war and everything - '

' Ah,' James nodded,' it's dangerous. '

' Is it a sensible time to start raising a family? ' she asked, more to herself than to him.

He answered regardless,' If we're being honest, then no - it's not a great time, but that doesn't mean we can't do it, does it? Molly and Arthur have one. Alice is pregnant - she's early, too, isn't she - about as far gone as you are? '

' I know,' she agreed,' I'm just scared - really scared. I worry about you, and Sirius, and Lauren, and Remus, and Maria, and Molly, and Arthur, and little Ron, and Alice, and Frank, and their baby ... ' she ranted on, listing the names of all of her friends, ' and having a baby to worry about too ... someone who relies completely on me, on us. '

' It'll be alright,' James told her.

She didn't appear to be listening as she continued,' But ... but what if I'm a rubbish parent. What if I can't do it. What if ... if I turn out to be like my mother? '

Here James cut her off by raising his palms up and making shhhhing noises, ' Shh,' he soothed,' shhh shhh shhh ... Now - you are not your mother. Your mother is an evil bag with no heart. You are not. Just think about it, eh ... in about 6 months, we'll have a gorgeous little boy or girl ... a child. And that child is going to love you more than anyone or anything, and you're going to love him or her so much, too. You'll be fine ... we'll be fine. '

Looking in to his eyes, those eyes which she loved so much, those eyes which she adored, she saw the hope and the happiness there, and smiled as she cuddled up to him.

' How do you do it, Jamie? ' she asked, using the name she rarely ever called him, no one rarely ever called him, ' how do you make me feel at ease like that? '

He shrugged,' I'm magic, now come on, let's get to bed. '

She nodded, following him out of the room and in to their bedroom, shutting the other doors behind her.

As she clambered in to bed, her husband said,' That's it - James junior needs his rest. '

She laughed,' He? What if it's a girl? '

' Nah,' he dismissed,' it's a boy. '

She threw her pen at him like a dart.