A/N: I just want to let you guys know that I have slipped up on several occasions and accidentally used the baby's pronoun gender several times. I've changed them back, but hopefully I didn't miss one. I want the baby's gender to be a surprise, so hopefully I've caught all the s/he's… (ha-ha, that still doesn't tell you which one it is). Thank you to everyone who is reviewing and I promise to catch up with all of my replies soon. I need some sleep; aside from a two hour nap, I've not slept in the past day and a half.

Disc.: We know what I created and what I didn't.

Auld Lang Syne

Lily held the box in her right hand; her wand in her left. She hated riding the Knight bus, but it was the easiest thing she could think of traveling without a fireplace or having one connected to the floo network. The bus ride would be jostling to say the least, though the newest driver did seem to handle the triple-decker bus a little more carefully on her more recent trips on the bus. She found her seat quickly; her overnight back removed and placed at her feet on the floor. She planned on staying the night at Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron's house, not wanting to deal with the inebriated witches and wizards on her way home. The WWN had been running air adverts all week discouraging FWI, and while she hoped no one was stupid enough to fly while intoxicated, she knew folks had to get home some way.

The houses never seemed to change in Lily's old neighborhood, which was a little comforting. She always knew what to expect. She stepped off the bus in front of the house, snow clinging to her boots. She grinned as she looked at her aunt and uncle's home. It looked like an iced ginger bread house, one that had been attacked by pink and silver ribbons and streamers. Lily huffed her way up to the front door, finding it weird to ring the doorbell to a door that, as a small girl, she'd just walk right in. Hermione was there, embracing Lily and almost knocking the box from her arms.

"How was the ride?" Hermione asked. Lily grinned.

"It was good," Lily said as she regained control over the box. She handed it to Hermione as she stepped inside the door and began to disrobe from her heavy parka and her boots, tossing her bag aside where it wouldn't get trampled. Under her winter wear, she was wearing a simple pair of black pants and a button up top. She already had her eye on a few of Rose's cute outfits that Rose would shortly no longer be able to fit into.

"Lily!" Rose cheered as she wrapped her arm around her in a loose sideways hug. The girls laughed, their bellies preventing a more proper hug. "You have to see this living room."

Lily walked into the Weasley's living room to see that it honestly looked as if the house had been attacked by a maniac wielding pink everything. It looked so girly and lacy. Lily glanced at her father, who was talking with Uncle Ron. He smiled at her and Lily left Rose's side to talk to her father. He was sportingly donning a tiara as were all of the other party guests.

"They tricked us, I want you to know," Ron grumbled as he jabbed his tiara with his finger. Lily giggled.

"How so?" Lily asked.

"They told us that this would be a New Years Eve party as well, tricked us into wearing these silly tiaras, and then George applied a sticking charm to all of them without warning us and now, we have these darn tiara's stuck!" Ron implored. George chuckled as he walked by.

"Another successful prank," George chuckled again.

"Here you go, George," Harry said quickly, snapping a spare one on George's head. Lily laughed as George caught his reflection in the mirror.

"I make pink tiaras look good," George commented. He turned to Lily. "How are you, Lily? Staying out of trouble?"

"What fun is that?" Lily said grinning. George laughed and held out a tiara for her. Lily took it and proudly placed it on her head. Rose walked up next to them; her own special tiara looked more like a crown. Rose and Lily laughed.

"That's my girl," he laughed again. "See, good to see someone willing to have a little fun."

"Always, Uncle George," Lily said grinning.

"We'll have to think of something fun and spectacular for your baby shower," George said. Lily's smile faltered.

"I'm not planning on having a baby shower," Lily said shaking her head.

"You have to!" Rose said. "You know Grandma Weasley isn't going to let you escape pregnancy without one."

"No, I'm not," Grandma Weasley said as she flitted by the two girls. "Now George, I hope these tiaras aren't permanent."

"No, no. I couldn't very well sell permanently sticking tiaras," George said. "They'll fall off in about twelve hours."

"Great," Grandma Weasley said as she patted his cheek. "My clever little boy."

"Very funny, Mum," George said grinning.

More and more party guests arrived and Lily sat back, watching. She hadn't been in Gryffindor, so she didn't know many of Rose's friends from school. The house was pretty full when Rose's coworkers started to arrive. Shale and Nina slid between several people, finding Lily tucked in a corner nibbling on some crackers and cheese. Shale hugged her, careful not to squeeze Lily too tightly. Nina was beaming.

"We're pregnant!" Nina blurted out to Lily, causing the girl to drop her cracker and to cheer excitedly for her two friends.

"Wow, how far along are you?" Lily asked.

"About eight weeks," Nina said grinning.

"Oh, wow guys. Congratulations," Lily grinned back. She looked at Shale. He was grinning and beaming at his wife, his arm wrapped around her protectively. The simple look they shared emitted the warm glow of love and Lily felt a knot form in her throat.

"We're truly blessed," Shale said. He looked at Lily. "Since we have you to thank for hooking us up, we want to know if you'd be willing to be our baby's Godmother."

"Me?" Lily choked out. Tears welled up in her eyes and she and Nina hugged again.

"Does that mean yes? I don't speak crying pregnant woman," Shale asked. Lily and Nina both laughed, dabbing tissues at their eyes.

"Yes, of course," Lily said. "I'd be honored."

"Thank you," Shale said hugging Lily again. He held her a little firmer than before, longer, as he added in a whisper. "Thank you for everything, Lily. If it wasn't for you, I'd not have Nina and I'd not be on my way to fatherhood."

"You're welcome," Lily whispered back and they parted. She grinned as she looked at Nina.

"Do you mind if I?" Nina asked as she stretched her hand out towards Lily's watermelon belly. Lily laughed.

"Most people don't ask," Lily said grinning. "Please, go ahead."

Shale and Nina both placed their hands on Lily's stomach. They smiled as Bean did its acrobatics and crazy ninja stunts on the inside. Lily could feel them on the inside and the out; she could feel more of motions the bigger her baby got. The two retrieved their hands and looked at Lily in awe. Shale glanced at Nina and headed off to get something to eat at Nina's nod.

"How are you doing this?" Nina asked quietly in a non-prying way. "All of this on your own?"

"It's been ok, really," Lily said. It had been, aside from being terribly lonely. Sure she had Rose and Marshall to fall back on but that could only hold her off so long.

"If you ever need anything, you'll let me know, right?" Nina asked. Lily nodded with a smile.

"Of course," Lily said knowing full well she'd not. She had great friends, but it wasn't fair to constantly lean on others.

"Lily," Damon said as he came up holding a plate of some random food. Lily smiled though it was a strained sort of way.

"Hello Damon," Lily said. Nina had already begun edging away. "I'll catch up with you later Nina."

"I look forward to it," Nina said as she disappeared into the crowd.

"You look like you're doing pretty well," Damon said as he cast a critical eye at Lily. "Are you sleeping?"

"As much as the next twenty-four week pregnant woman," Lily said smiling weakly.

"Well, pregnancy suits you," Damon said. Lily scoffed. "No, seriously Lily. You've always been a very beautiful girl, but pending motherhood is fitting on you."

"Thanks, I think," Lily said laughing. Damon grinned and held the plate out to her.

"Want some?" he asked. Lily looked at the treats and reached for a brownie.

"Not that," Damon said shaking his head. "Has fire whiskey in it."

"Oh, thanks," Lily said as she pulled back. "What would you recommend?"

"Carrot cake," Damon said. "That way you're at least getting some vegetables."

"Thanks," Lily said rolling her eyes as she took the carrot cake and took a bite. She swallowed it. "How's Scorpius?" Damon looked at her in surprise, obviously thrown off by her question.

"Um, he's… ok…" Damon said. "He and Rose had to do some peer mediation thing. He apologized profusely to Rose and things are back to normal at work."

"Is he away?" Lily asked. She blushed at the question, wondering why suddenly she was asking so many questions about him all of a sudden. Damon looked at her with the same question in his eyes.

"No, he's here," Damon said. Lily looked at him, frowning in confusion.

"Here?" she asked. "Here-here?

"Yeah, all of the D.A.A. was invited to the baby shower-New Years Eve party," Damon said. Lily's eyes went wide.

"He's here?" Lily asked almost in a panic. Damon touched her shoulder, looking into her eyes deeply.

"Calm down, Lily," Damon told her. "Everyone already told him not to approach you. He's the one who messed up here, not you. You seek him out when you're ready. He promised to let you come to him in your own time, on your own terms."

"I'm ok," Lily promised. "I'm not afraid of him. I just don't know what to say."

"Time heals all," Damon said as he glanced up from his plate and looked at someone across the room. Lily's gaze traveled to the person Damon was looking at. Her eyes landed on Scorpius.

"I don't think enough time has passed," Lily mumbled as she looked away.

"Like I said, in your own time," Damon said as he nodded once and headed away from Lily. She was suddenly tired and knew that Aunt Hermione had prepared the small bedroom upstairs for Lily to use. Lily went to head towards the stairs, but was blocked by well meaning people, wanting to chat and touch Bean. The room became stifling hot with all of the extra bodies and Lily slipped out the side door, through the garage and out the rear door of the garage, crashing right into someone hard as her foot hit a bit of ice just outside the door. She fell back towards the cement of the garage floor, only to be caught.

"Are you ok?" Scorpius asked in concern as he kept his arms around her to right her.

"Yes," Lily said tersely. He hesitated before releasing her.

"Um," Scorpius said as he moved away from her. "I doubt you came out here looking for me. I'll leave you be."

"You don't have to go," Lily said suddenly. They both looked surprised by her suddenness. Lily's face flushed slightly.

"Are you sure?" Scorpius asked. Lily nodded once as she leaned against the side of the house. The door was now closed, the space between them just three feet. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Lily said.

"You look good," Scorpius said. "Are you cold?"

"Quite the opposite," Lily said. "It was too hot in there. All of those people."

"Understandable," he said. He looked at his hands. "I apologized to Rose about my behavior."

"That was the right thing to do," Lily admitted. "Rose has been nothing but good. You do know she was the one who talked me out of ending the pregnancy, right?"

"I didn't know that," Scorpius said after a moment. He exhaled in defeat. "I guess I need to really make it up to her, since I have her to thank for that."

"Yeah, if it wasn't for Rose, I wouldn't have Bean," Lily said as her hand caressed her stomach. Scorpius watched for a moment.

"May I?" he asked hesitantly as his eyes remained fixated at her blossoming stomach. His eyes flickered up to hers, pleading.

"Sure," Lily said in her own quiet hesitation. She watched him carefully walk towards her. Lily could see his uncertainty and his hesitation as he stood less than a few feet away. He out stretched his hand slowly. His finger tips brushed the fabric of her shirt before he placed his hand solidly against her stomach. Bean was still.

"I… I don't feel anything," Scorpius said. Lily frowned slightly.

"Marshall talks to Bean to get the ninja-ing started," Lily suggested. Scorpius made a displeased face at the mention of Marshall but lowered his head a little, directing his voice toward the baby's home.

"Um… hello baby," Scorpius said. "Um. Hope the weather's nice in there and Lily's taking care of you good." The two waited, and yet Bean didn't stir.

"Maybe Bean is sleeping," Lily suggested as he withdrew his hand. "They do that, I hear, sleep and wake and what not."

"I guess you and I really need to take a bit of time and sit down, you know, to talk about things. Properly, like we should have done in the beginning," Scorpius said. Lily nodded.

"I wanted to," Lily reminded him gently.

"I know," Scorpius said. He opened his mouth to say something but a commotion on the inside of the house drew Scorpius and Lily's curiosity. The two headed back inside to see the house in chaotic uproar. Scorpius snagged Damon as he rushed past them.

"What's going on?" Lily asked quickly as she glanced around.

"Rose went to sit down and instead, she broke her water," Damon said gleefully. Lily's eyes shot open wide.

"Lily Luna Potter! I'm going to kill you for this!" Rose could be clearly heard. Lily laughed and pushed forward to her panting cousin. "You did this to me!"

"Hey, I didn't get you pregnant!" Lily laughed. Rose glowered at her.

"No, but you thought it'd be so damn funny if I went into labor tonight," Rose groaned.

"Well, at least the nursery's done, right?" Lily teased lightly as everyone moved out of their way. "You want me to come with you?"

"No room in the car," Billy said in panic. Rose grabbed Lily's shirt.

"Look, you wished this on me, you'd better not leave me with these people," Rose growled. Scorpius touched Rose's shoulder.

"I'll drive her there," Scorpius promised. Rose looked at Lily, suddenly more concerned for her cousin than her sharp labor pains.

"It's ok, Rose," Lily promised. "I'll be there shortly."

Lily and the others watched as Rose, Ron, Hermione, and Billy left in a hurry. The roar of talking and laughing around them was nearly deafening as the spilled out into the streets. It was Uncle George that thought they should take the tiara party on the road and have a right good introduction to Baby Meyers there at the hospital. In threes and fours, the cars were suddenly packed with people and food, intending on heading to the hospital.

Scorpius touched Lily's arm, causing her to turn and look up at him. He held her coat for her and a set of keys. The two headed to his two passenger car and Lily smirked. He was no more capable of hauling their baby around than she was. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks as he silently opened the door for her. The little black car was speedy as Scorpius drove it to the hospital, finding only one parking spot on the far side of the parking deck.

"Lily," Scorpius said quietly as Lily moved to get out of the car. She let her hand fall away from the latch, looking at him.

"Yes?" Lily said quietly.

"I am so sorry I hurt and disappointed you," Scorpius said quietly. "I should have been a better man for you."

"I…" Lily said as she looked at him. She didn't know what to say. She felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins and she suddenly felt the urge, a pull, to kiss him. She could pretend all she wanted that she was still angry and bitter about the situation, and a part of her was, but deep down, she just wanted to have a family. She secretly wondered if she might want to be married, might want to be Scorpius' wife. She shook her head a second.

"I know, words can't make up for what I said and did, only actions," Scorpius said with a sigh. "Look, let's get in here, watch your cousin have her baby, and then we can talk some more. We both need to talk about this rationally."

"Ok," Lily said quietly as she climbed free of the car. She looked at him over the roof of the car smirking. "You know, I have always been rational about this situation."

"I highly doubt that," Scorpius teased as the two of them walked side by side toward the entrance of the hospital. Their hands bumped a few times, their fingers ice cold from the snowy air, but Lily couldn't help but think that it reminded her of a distant time, so long ago, where she and Scorpius had walked much this same way.

Tabitha Grace was beautiful. Plain and simple, she was adorable even though she was a little battle worn from her birth. Lily looked at Rose cradling the infant in her arm and Lily couldn't believe there could ever be a stronger love than a mother with her newborn infant in her arms. Rose had eyes for no other person. Lily couldn't help the happy tears that welled up in her eyes. Five weeks early, Tabitha was a little on the small size, hovering in the mid six pounds zone, but was perfectly healthy. Lily laughed when she realized that everyone was still wearing their tiaras, the twelve hours having not quite passed. Tabitha Grace Meyers was born at twelve oh three in the morning, New Years Day.

"Let me give you a lift home," Scorpius said to Lily as the girl swayed slightly in exhaustion. Lily looked up at him in surprise, certain that he would have left by then. "It'll give us a chance to talk."

"I don't think we can resolve all of our issues in one night, Scorpius," Lily told him. He laughed quietly.

"No, I doubt we could, but maybe a start if nothing else," he said. He looked at her expectantly. "So, a ride?"

"Sure, but I left my bag at my aunt and uncle's house," Lily said quietly.

"I'll send someone to get it for you," Scorpius said. Lily sighed and nodded, consenting to the ride home. Within a few minutes, the two were back in the small, black car and were cruising towards Lily's apartment. Scorpius glanced at Lily as they entered Blevins. "You live in Blevins?"

"Yeah," Lily said as she continued to stare out the windshield. She pointed to a building that butted up against the small park. Scorpius parked and Lily invited him up to talk.

Scorpius' eyes scanned the small but clean apartment. Lily excused herself to change quickly. She returned shortly after, dressed in short and a tee shirt. The tiara was still perched on her head and Scorpius couldn't help but grin.

"Twelve hours my ass," Lily grumbled as she sat down on the opposite end of the futon from Scorpius. She tucked her leg under her and turned to look at him.

"Where is the baby going to sleep?" Scorpius asked. Lily stood and gestured for him to follow her. Scorpius complied and found himself unexpectedly in her room.

"I was thinking of getting a portable crib and putting it up against this wall here," Lily said. Scorpius quickly measured the space in his mind, knowing anything she put in there would be a tight squeeze.

"You know, since this baby is a Malfoy, you're more than welcome to use the Malfoy family cradle," Scorpius said quietly. "It would fit in that space perfectly and would give you a few months before you needed to get a crib of any kind."

"That's very generous of you," Lily said as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the space she had cleared.

"Maybe you remember what it looks like? Dark cherry wood. I know it has some linens," Scorpius said. "I could have my grandmother get them together."

"That'd be nice," Lily said honestly. Scorpius stood against the wall, looking at her.

"Do you know what you're having?" Scorpius asked.

"No," Lily said shaking her head. "But we do need to talk about that. During the ultrasound, they found a problem with the baby's heart. They think it might be sign of some sort of chromosomal issue."

"Might? Can't they do some further testing?" Scorpius asked curiously. Lily shuddered slightly.

"Yeah, a giant needle being rammed through me towards my baby," Lily said as she poked her stomach dramatically with her finger. "I declined it, so you know. I decided that it didn't matter to me if my baby wasn't perfect, Bean is perfect to me."

"I see," Scorpius said quietly.

"Don't worry," Lily said ruefully. "I don't plan on tarnishing the Malfoy name. I'm giving Bean my last name."

"Potter? But Bean's a Malfoy," Scorpius protested vehemently. "Bean is just as much my child as yours."

"Look, I'm trying to do what is going to be easiest on Bean," Lily said with a hint of annoyance.

"I don't know what you think, but I intend to be a very big part of my child's life," Scorpius said angrily. "Damaged goods or not, Bean is my baby too."

"You… you want to be a part of the baby's life?" Lily asked quietly after a large space of time passed in silence between them. "Even if our child isn't perfect, healthy, and whole?"

"Yes," Scorpius said forcibly. "I love our baby."

Bean kicked enthusiastically, the rippling movement visible through Lily's shirt. Scorpius looked at it in awe.

"Is that Bean?" Scorpius said as he closed the distance between him and Lily. Lily looked down and nodded, amazed that Bean was dancing around so much to be able to see the movements through her skin and shirt. Scorpius kneeled before Lily, his hands pressed against Lily's belly.

"I think Bean likes you," Lily breathed as Scorpius pressed his cheek against Lily's stomach.

"Hello, Bean," Scorpius said quietly. Bean hesitated. "I'm your daddy and I will be here for you, no matter what. I love you."

Bean went wild, kicking and dancing around inside of Lily. Scorpius looked up at Lily in awe. Lily smiled at him, exhausted. She shifted from one foot to the other. Scorpius stood.

"I'm tired, but feel free to keep talking to our baby," Lily said as she pulled back the covers on her bed and climbed underneath. "Just make sure you lock up when you leave. Two taps on the lock."

"Mind if I sit on the bed next to you?" Scorpius asked. Lily's eyes were already closed and she made a noncommittal wave of her hand as Scorpius flipped out the light. He kicked off his shoes and climbed into the bed next to Lily. He rested his face against Lily's belly gently, murmuring nonsense to the baby that lived within her. After a few minutes, he was aware that Lily's breathing had become deep and rhythmic. He glanced up at her, the slightest light from the moon lighting the room just enough for Scorpius to see that Lily was very much asleep. He reached up, touching her cheek with his fingers before removing the tiara from her head. He silently tossed it onto the night stand and pressed his face against her belly again.

"Bean, are you awake?" Scorpius asked. As if answering him, Bean kicked. "I love your mother. We have to figure out a way to prove it to her though. Any ideas?" The baby kicked a few times then stopped. Scorpius chuckled and kissed Lily's belly before rising out of the bed. He slipped his shoes on and headed out of Lily's bedroom. He was tempted to sleep on the futon so that he could be here in the morning when she woke, but he had something he needed to do. He closed Lily's apartment door and tapped the lock twice before heading downstairs and getting into his car. With a roar of the engine, Scorpius pulled away from the curb and drove like a mad man on a mission away from Blevins and straight to Malfoy Manor.