A/N: Keep voting, if you haven't. The new character needs a name (and by choosing a name, you're choosing its gender). This character will really change the dynamics between Lily and Scorpius, so choose wisely.

Disc.: The Standard "I didn't create the world" blanket statement.

Happy Early Birthday Lily

Lily was waiting there when Scorpius got home, sitting on his couch. She was wearing a black skirt, a tight shirt, her legs were crossed, and her black dress shoes swinging back and forth. She was holding a book, it was open across her lap. Scorpius walked in, yawning slightly as he dropped his bag on the table by the front door. He walked into the room, his face tired and weary. He looked at her, his eyes blinking a few times if he thought that perhaps she was a hallucination. He had been prone to think she was there with him from time to time, when he was most tired.

"Lily?" he asked uncertainly as he blinked a few more times.

"Hey, Scorpius," Lily said quietly as she remained sitting on his sofa. She glanced around. "I like what you've done to the place. I didn't want to hang out in the guest unit. Hope you don't mind, James' key let me in."

"I don't mind," he said quietly. He rushed across the room, barely able to contain himself as he pulled her up off the couch. The book slipped to the floor with a thud as he tangled his fingers in her hair and drew her up against his body. They were wordless for some time, letting their mouths speak soundlessly the language of their long-denied-passionate bodies.

"Oh, come on," groaned James as he dropped his bag on the floor by the front hall table. "She's my sister."

"Like you don't like a little lip action from time to time with that witch down in payroll?" Damon asked as he too dropped his bag. Lily pulled back, grinning at the two of them.

"Thanks for letting Dad borrow the key for me," Lily said as she placed the key on the coffee table.

"No problem," James said. "Are you coming to the house to see our new little niece, Tina?"

"Yes, of course," Lily said. She had heard that James had willing surrendered his room at the house for Albus and Kate to turn Albus' old room into a nursery for tiny Tina. It was the best situation for all of them, and Lily knew that the minute that she found a place, she'd relinquish her room to them so Kate and Albus could just cut through to the baby's room. Lily turned to Scorpius. "Are you up to coming with me?"

"Sure," Scorpius said yawning. "Let me shower and change, then I'll be ready."

"Are you sure? You look really tired," Lily said. Scorpius shrugged.

"I'll be alright," he assured her.

"Ok, later, I want to talk to you about something important, ok?" Lily said. She looked to her now sleeping brother and sighed. "Alone."

"Ok," Scorpius said slowly as he looked at her warily. "Let me take a shower and we'll go visit your new niece. Tonight we can talk."

"Sound good," Lily said smiling as she ignored the soft snores of James lounged out on the couch.

"Is… is it anything I need to be worried about?" Scorpius asked hesitantly. "You're not like pregnant or dumping me or anything."

"No! Of course not!" Lily said sharply. Scorpius winced.

"Just checking," he said as he retreated to his bedroom. Lily glanced at her brother, smirking. He looked as tired and weary as Scorpius had. Lily headed into the kitchen, following Damon. He smiled at her, handing her a can of soda.

"We drink our weight in this stuff," Damon said. Lily smiled, popping the tab on it and taking a sip. She peeked into the refrigerator, frowning.

"You guys eat a lot of crap, don't you?" Lily asked. Damon shrugged.

"There's not much time left in the day to cook a balanced meal," Damon said quietly. Lily raised an eyebrow but didn't push it.

"So, training is going well, then?" Lily asked. Damon sighed.

"You know none of us can talk about anything," Damon said unenthusiastically. Lily shrugged, grinning.

"Well, you can't blame me for wanting to know," Lily said.

"No, I can't," Damon said grinning weakly. "You're not going to break up with him, are you?"

"Why would I?" Lily asked.

"I just over heard Harry talking to Draco about your new situation and you think it's hard now, never seeing each other and you're pretty much available to him whenever he can get a chance, which is nearly never," Damon said. "It's going to be ten times worse when you are just as busy as he is."

"Hard or not, that part doesn't last forever," Lily said. She thought a moment, deciding to change the subject. "Are you running off to marry anyone?"

"No," Damon said with such finality that Lily didn't say anything more. She took her cue to leave him alone in the kitchen and headed back to the living room, retrieving her book and starting to read it. She didn't realize how deep she had gotten into the story until Scorpius touched her knee.

"Studying hard?" he asked. Lily shook her head.

"I've already passed my N.E.W.T.s, actually. I scored perfect scores," Lily said. Scorpius looked at her in surprise.

"I thought that they didn't administer the test until a few weeks after Easter," Scorpius said confused. "Did they change things?"

"No," Lily said. "I took it early. It's actually kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh, good, you're ready," James yawned loudly as he stretched. "Let's get going."

"We can talk later," Lily assured Scorpius as the three of them left the apartment, Damon already snoozing in one of the chairs.

Lily wasn't surprised that the house looked no different than when she had left for school, aside for the obvious things. There were spit up clothes everywhere. Lily glanced at James as Albus came downstairs looking rather frantic. He was holding a screaming little thing wrapped in pink, its face bright red. Kate was sobbing upstairs as loudly as the baby. Scorpius plopped himself on the couch, not saying anything. James joined him. Neither even glanced at Harry who was warming a bottle in a pan. Albus tried to talk over Tina's screams.

"Hey, Lily! How are you?!" Albus yelled. The noise caused Tina to cry harder.

"Bottle?!" Harry yelled as he held the warmed milk bottle to Albus. Albus took it, trying to feed Tina, who screamed louder, her face turning a rich puce color.

"It's no good," Albus yelled handing Harry the bottle back in defeat as Kate wandered downstairs. "She's already eaten."

Lily looked around at her family. Everyone looked so tired and frustrated, and this baby was screaming bloody murder. Lily felt helpless. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know anything about babies, other than what she read but everyone looked like they were about to drop dead from exhaustion, whether it be from work or the baby. Lily held her arms out to Albus wordlessly. Albus looked at her in bewilderment, knowing Lily was not a baby person, but he relinquished the squalling beast over immediately. He was too frustrated and tired to care.

Lily did the quick physical check, diaper and feeding, the infant still crying hard. She glanced around the room until she found a baby blanket. She unfolded the blanket and placed Tina in the middle of it, wrapping her up tight like a burrito. The baby was still crying but not nearly as hard as she had been. Lily picked her up and carried her to the piano. She didn't know anything about babies, but she knew music was soothing. She took off her sweat shirt and used it to tie the baby firmly against her chest, the baby's face resting against the exposed skin over her breast bone, her tank top not holding the heat to her body.

Lily began to play quietly, the notes slow and deliberate as she softly sung along. Lily had always felt awkward singing lullabies, but she felt natural singing and playing for her niece. She moved from one song to another, never hesitating and never stopping. For a good hour, she played and sung quietly, not noticing as the room became still and quiet. The crying had stopped and Lily dared to look down at her niece, certain that the child had finally cried herself out. Lily smiled in surprise to see the two week old infant staring up at her with the brightest green eyes that Lily could have ever hoped to have seen if her own family hadn't had them. Tina blinked and watched Lily, listening to her play and sing.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that her brothers, sister in law, and father were all fast asleep. Exhaustion had finally claimed them as their slaves and they had all nodded off where they sat, some in rather awkward positions. Lily was surprised to see Scorpius much wider awake than when they had arrived and watching her with such intensity that it made Lily blush slightly.

"What?" Lily asked quietly as she continued to play.

"I thought you didn't like kids," Scorpius said in a similarly quiet voice.

"I never said I didn't like them," Lily replied as she headed into yet another lullaby she knew. "I just said that I didn't want to be a mother."

"Why?" Scorpius asked as he watched her intently. "You're very good at it."

"Correction," Lily said as she played. "I'm very good at playing the piano and I am not sleep deprived."

"Still," Scorpius said.

"Kids aren't in my future," Lily said quietly. "I'm too career-oriented to worry about whether there is someone there to feed or care for my offspring."

"Well, for what it's worth," Scorpius said shrugging. "I think you'd make a wonderful mother."

"I get one baby to stop crying and you think I'd make a wonderful mother," Lily smirked.

"That baby hasn't stopped crying since she was born, aside for a few gulps of milk here and there," Scorpius said as he picked up the bottle and handed it to Lily. "That's why she's so runty."

"Tina's not runty," Lily said in quiet defensiveness as she offered the baby the bottle. Tina greedily downed the bottle and Lily burped her. She had stopped playing, untied the baby from her sweater and sat in the rocking chair that her mother and father had rocked her, Albus, and James in as babies.

"I know for a fact that no one's been able to get her to eat more than a sip at a time," Scorpius said quietly. "They were afraid that she has been starving and the Healers were clueless as to what to do since vitality potions have to be drunk and the baby wouldn't."

"Beginner's luck," Lily assured him as she continued to rock Tina.

"Goes to show you how great you will be as a Healer," Scorpius said as he came and sat on the small table next to her.

"Speaking of," Lily said quietly. She watched as Tina's eyes began to flutter slightly. "I took my N.E.W.T.s early so that I can start the WHI in about a week. They've decided that I would make an excellent candidate for their newly developed accelerated program."

"What about traveling?" Scorpius said frowning.

"I can do it after I get my training in, Score," Lily said as she looked away from Tina's face and looked at Scorpius' face. "That way you can be with me."

"Your training is only a few years long, why are you rushing it?" Scorpius asked.

"It's not a few years, just a year, and I'm not," Lily promised quietly. "I'm ready to get my real life started, and anyways, this is an excellent opportunity."

"I don't doubt that, but your dad's struggling a bit to afford training and housing for everyone as it is," Scorpius said quietly. "Don't you think he might need a little warning before you start, too?"

"My dad's not struggling," Lily defended. "And no one needs to worry about me."

"Because you think I'm going to pay for it?" Scorpius said as he got a little angry.

"No," Lily said sharply. "I'd never ask you to."

"I'll do it, you know," Scorpius said sighing. "I just don't want you to give up your chance at a youthful travel."

"I'm not asking you to do anything, Scorpius," Lily said annoyed. She fought to keep her temper in check. "I already have a sponsor who has graciously funded my education. I just need your help to find a small apartment to rent. Obviously I was mistaken to think that you would not only be happy to help, but that you'd be happy for me."

"I am happy for you," Scorpius said quickly, his tone softening to a sweet regretful tone. "I just don't want you to have any regrets."

"I never wanted to travel, Scorpius. I already told you that," Lily said quietly as she continued to rock the baby.

"I know, I hoped though," Scorpius said quietly. "The idea of you being in London alone on your own right now scares me."

"S-scares you? Why?" Lily asked uncertainly. Scorpius looked away quickly.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just don't know that I like you living off on your own," Scorpius said shrugging noncommittally. "Why not stay in the guest unit?"

"It's too small," Lily said. "Anyways, where will your guests stay? I'd be much happier having my own apartment. I just hoped you'd come along with me when you can while I look. I don't want to end up leasing in a bad neighborhood."

"I can do that," Scorpius said quietly. He smiled at Lily, his eyes dropping to the face of the baby. "She's asleep."

"I can feel that," Lily murmured as she continued to rock her.

"Tell me you never once thought about being a mother and wife," Scorpius challenged. Lily laughed ruefully.

"I thought about it once," Lily admitted. She openly smirked at Scorpius. "Then I woke up screaming."

"Be serious," Scorpius said. Lily shook her head.

"I'm not cut out to be a mother or a wife," Lily told him. Scorpius sighed.

"I disagree, but I'm not going to try and convince you," Scorpius said. "Not tonight."

"I guess I'm staying the night," Lily said as she looked around. "These people are dead to the world and I can't very well leave my niece in their care like this."

"I'll stay with you," Scorpius said. "Your dad knows we're together. It's not like we'll be doing anything but sleeping."

"Too tired to apparate home, huh?" Lily teased as Scorpius yawned.

"Yeah," he admitted. Lily carried the baby up the stairs, wondering if she should risk laying her in the crib. She decided against it, not wanting to risk waking her family downstairs. She climbed onto her bed, Scorpius next to her. Lily fell asleep with Tina's little face pressed against her heart.

Lily had to admit she was terrified when she woke that next morning to find Tina not in her arms or even on the bed next to her. Lily sat up franticly searching the bedding as Scorpius walked in, wearing just a white sleeveless undershirt. He was carrying Tina, a bottle securely in her mouth. Lily sighed in relief as Scorpius climbed back into bed with Lily. Neither of them talked as Scorpius repeated Lily's actions from the night before. The three fell back to sleep quite naturally and they were found that way, almost as if they were a little family, the next morning by Albus and Kate. The two were thankful for the night of solid sleep and begged Lily to come and visit often.

"Of course she will," Scorpius committed for Lily as the two readied to leave. Harry even looked more relaxed and rested.

"Go figure," James said good-naturedly. "The one of us who doesn't want a family is the one of us who seems to be naturally inclined to be great at it."

"Very funny, James," Lily said. She let the meaning flood over her. He grinned as she realized what he meant. "You want to be a dad?"

"And a husband," James said grinning. "I'm well on my way. I've already asked Maggie to marry me."

"Who's Maggie?" Lily asked as she embraced her brother in congratulations.

"She works in payroll," James said grinning. Lily laughed.

"I guess the rumors are panning out to be true," Lily said shrugging. "All of the future Aurors are getting married in droves." Everyone tensed at what Lily thought was supposed to be a light poke of fun. She looked at them with unshielded surprise.

"We should be going," Scorpius said quickly. "You have an apartment to find before you start your training."

"You guys do realize that I won't remain in the dark about this forever," Lily threatened lightly as she gathered her stuff.

"Please, Lily," Harry practically begged. His eyes were filled with pain and sadness. "Don't push this."

"Fine," Lily said in a huff as she and Scorpius left. Scorpius didn't say anything. Instead the two spent the better part of the day looking at apartments. He sighed.

"Look, Lily, if I tell you something, will you keep it quiet?" Scorpius asked. Lily looked at him in surprise.

"Yes, of course," she said.

"Promise, no matter what you won't breathe a word," he asked.

"Yes, yes, of course," Lily said nodding.

"I want you to do me a favor," he said quietly. Lily looked at him in confusion. "Promise me you will."

"Depends on what it is," Lily retorted quietly.

"I want you to live in the building, just for a year," Scorpius said quietly as his eyes scanned the street.

"What does this have to do with anything?" Lily asked.

"I can't tell you much, actually I shouldn't tell you anything, but I love you and am really worried about you and your safety," Scorpius said in a hushed tone. "If your dad knew, he'd kill me and kick me out of the program."

"I won't tell," Lily promised.

"And you'll stay in the apartment?" he asked. Lily hesitated.

"I guess, yes," Lily said. "Even though it's too small."

"I'll work on that," Scorpius said. "I already have been. I just figured I'd have more time than I do. I'll explain that later. Look, Lils, there's danger everywhere, but lately our government has been pissing off the governments of some pretty angry folks. There's been intelligence that the werewolves and the trolls have teamed up with the vampires to overthrow the ministry. They don't think they should have to hide from the muggles anymore."

"How is that dangerous?" Lily asked.

"They're attacking and killing innocent witches and wizards, as well as muggles alike. Outside of their normal hunting grounds," Scorpius said quietly. "I can't tell you anymore than that. I shouldn't have told you that much, but the thought of you getting hurt trumps my duty as an Auror. Please, though, don't tell anyone."

"I won't," Lily said as she hugged him. "It's why you guys have been so tired. Running double shifts?"

"And triples, occasionally," he said.

"Sounds very wearing," Lily said as she patted his back. Scorpius pulled back and nodded.

"I love it, though," he said. He grinned. "So now that I have you agreeing to stay in the small unit for the time being, we don't have to go apartment hunting. Do you want to go do something?"

"You look dead on your feet, Score," Lily said carefully. "Maybe we can just hang out back at your place and watch a movie."

"Ok, sounds good," he said nodding as he draped his arm around her shoulders. He kissed her lightly and the two headed back towards Scorpius' apartment.

Scorpius looked up at her sleepily as Lily dressed early. She had been spending the night with Scorpius on the nights that he wasn't working or training, sneaking out just before dawn so not to get caught by James. A few times she had passed Damon in the hallway or in the living room, but he didn't say anything about it, just laughed quietly and continued to mind his own business. Typically, Scorpius and Lily just slept. Exhaustion washed over him from the hours he kept.

"Where are you going?" Scorpius asked quietly. "James is on a double and won't be home until noon."

"I have to meet with Madame Fuchsine," Lily reminded him. "I told you about it a few days ago. I have to have noontime tea with her."

"Sorry, Lils," Scorpius groaned. "I must have forgotten."

"It's ok," Lily said shaking her head. He started to get out of bed.

"I was kind of hoping you'd stay a bit longer," he said quietly as a excited glint sparkled in his eyes. "It's been a while since we've been together, and I want to give you a present."

"Tempting," Lily said as she abandoned her shoes and climbed back into bed with him.

"Which part?" Scorpius teased as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hmm," Lily pondered as Scorpius kissed her neck. "Both."

"Ok, how about us now, present afterwards, and then you can head off to noontime tea," Scorpius breathed. Lily laughed as pulled back a little.

"No, I want my present now," Lily said giggling as she held out her hands. She bounced slightly on her knees, excited.

"I don't have it here, not really," Scorpius said. Lily pouted, crossing her arms playfully.

"Awe, and I really wanted it," Lily said. Scorpius pulled her down into his arms. They kissed a bit before he climbed out of bed.

"Let's go get your gift," Scorpius said.

"Ok, ok," Lily said grinning. "Let me just get my shoes on and we can head out. I think my purse is around here somewhere."

"You won't need it," Scorpius said grinning. He took a confused looking Lily by the hand, leading her across the apartment.

"Where are we going?" Lily asked curiously.

"Don't be mad," Scorpius said quietly. "I got you something that I know you are going to love, though I think you will be a little annoyed at me first."

"Ok," Lily said slowly as Scorpius grabbed his keys. She looked at him raising an eyebrow at him.

"Trust me," Scorpius said as he opened the door. Barefoot, the two of them headed out in the hall way and padded down past the small guest unit.

"Where are we going?" Lily asked.

"To your new home," Scorpius said as he stopped at the unit 4A. Lily raised an eyebrow.

"I thought we talked about me staying in the small unit," Lily said.

"You said it was too small," Scorpius said as he slipped the key in the lock. "And this was supposed to be your birthday gift. So… Happy Early Birthday, Lils."

Lily stood there with her mouth hanging open as Scorpius pushed opened the door for her. He stood behind her as the room spanned out in front of her. Lily's eyes looked around. She looked at him, wide eyed and Scorpius smiled at her. The room was perfect. In the middle of the room was the piano that she had always dreamed of in front of the wall of windows that would let in the afternoon sunlight; it was the center focal piece for all of the furniture in the room.

"Scorpius, it's too much," Lily breathed.

"But you like it, no?" he asked. Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.

"I love it," she said as she pulled him into the apartment.

Lily stepped out of the shower, walking across the floor in her very own apartment. She laughed as Scorpius watched her slide her underwear over her hips and pulled her dress on over her body. He watched her with a grin from her bed. She brushed her hair into a neat pony tail and slipped her dress shoes on. He kissed her.

"Aren't you glad I moved all of your stuff while you were sleeping?" Scorpius asked as Lily touched her locket.

"Yes," Lily said as she smiled.

"You like it don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I love it," Lily said. She laughed. "I'm not sure that I need three rooms, personally, but hey, I love my birthday gift."

"I'm sure that you will make due," Scorpius said with playful morose. "Thankfully, I had the foresight to move some of my belongings in for when I spend the night."

"If you ever have a chance to be here when I am here," Lily teased lightly. "Classes start up for me in a few days."

"We'll make this work, Lils," Scorpius promised as Lily grabbed her purse.

"I know," Lily said smiling. She kissed him again. "We will make this work."