Prompt: (food/drink) eggnog

Godparents

"We have some exciting news for you." Lily stood next to the Christmas tree, James by her side with an arm around her shoulders. They both had big smiles on their faces. "We waited to make sure everything was going well first, but now we think it's safe to tell you."

"We're going to have a baby!" James burst out, unable to hold it in any longer.

Marlene and Sirius looked at each other dumbstruck for a moment. But only a moment. Marlene squealed excitedly and jumped up from her seat on the couch, grabbing Lily for a tight hug.

"Congrats mate." Sirius smiled broadly, standing and shaking his best friend's hand before hugging him. "You'll make a great dad."

"I hope so," James replied as Sirius released him. "I'm just not sure the world is prepared for this." They both laughed.

"Between Dad and Uncle Sirius," Marlene commented, sitting on the couch once more, "we're all doomed if it's a boy."

Lily sat next to her, taking her hand. "Actually," she said, looking as if she had another big secret, "James and I have discussed something. We want to give you each a very special gift tonight. We don't want you to just be Aunt Marlene and Uncle Sirius."

"We were hoping," James said, looking from Marlene to Sirius, "that'd you be godparents."

Sirius and Marlene left the Potters' home a few hours later, Sirius agreeing to accompany Marlene to her own flat as they really didn't live all that far from each other. They walked silently through the lightly falling snow, each lost in their own thoughts about the night's big revelations.

"I can't believe they want us to be godparents." Sirius finally broke the silence.

"Yes, I can't believe they actually want you to have an influence on the poor kid." Marlene laughed as Sirius playfully pushed her away from him.

He stuck his tongue out at her. "So the kid will be a mischievous troublemaker who likes to read all the time. Could be mistaken for the parents' influence as well as ours."

Marlene stopped walking, the smile dropping from her face. "I just hope...we never have to..."

Sirius turned back and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know," he said quietly. "I don't want to raise their child because it means they won't be here to see it grow up. It just wouldn't be right." He looked down at the ground and when he looked back up, he was smiling. "Cheer up, Mar. It's Christmas Eve."

Marlene returned the smile and continued walking. "Are you in a hurry to get home?" she asked, taking his hand. "I've got a bottle of eggnog that's begging to be shared. The adults only kind of eggnog." She wiggled her eyebrows at him and laughed. "Consider it another part of your gift. You get to enjoy a good drink and good company."

Sirius kept himself from looking down at their clasped hands, his mind racing. Marlene was one of his very best friends. This whole godparents business had him thinking about things. The war wasn't getting any nearer to a conclusion and he wasn't getting any younger. Maybe it was time to find what James and Lily had. He might even find that with her. What could it hurt to try?

He squeezed her hand. "I couldn't think of a better way to spend my Christmas Eve."