When James returned from his mission there life truly got set into motion. Lily's pregnancy seemed to elapse quickly one she went on maternity leave. While she was glad to not have to deal with aggravating clients, she found herself becoming increasingly bored. As a result she filled her time once again being the unofficial Healer for the Order and once again brewing potions in her kitchen.

She and Alice spent quite a bit of time together, delighted in the fact that their boys would be born within days of each other. While they talked they discussed the future. With a few sentences time would evaporate as they looked ahead a year, then two, then five, and then eleven. Never once in these conversations would they mention the war other than an off the cuff comment about where their husbands happened to be that day.

"I wonder which one will be younger." Lily laid a hand on her stomach.

"Whichever one is more eager to get out." Alice smiled. "Frank told me that you and James will be moving any day."

"We'll have an actual house soon enough." Lily shook her head, biting her lips to hide a frown that started to cross her face. "I don't want to leave here, though." She looked around her apartment, not necessarily bad, but exactly luxurious. Still it had become her home over this short span of time and everywhere she turned there seemed to be a memory tucked into a nook or cranny.

"I understand. Frank's parents want us to move. They want us to be closer to them and give your kid a life with lots of fresh air and big back yards. Right now, though, I can't bear the thought of leaving everyone. I like the idea that you are down the hall and Remus is downstairs. It's just like another layer of security."

"Exactly, I don't know how Molly lives out in the middle of nowhere with all those kids."

"Have you seen Ron?" Alice interjected and began talking about the newest addition to the Weasley family that was a few months old. Rumor had it that he wasn't going to be the last. "We'll have to arrange play dates when all of our boys get older."

"I don't think it's sunk in yet." Lily bit her lip once more. "That we're both going to be having children in the middle of all of this."

"Are you going back to work?" Alice questioned.

"I'm on maternity leave, but between working with the the Order and being with James…" She rolled her eyes. "Having this baby will be like having a second James, at least when he gets older."

"I can't imagine how Molly does it. Frank babysat for them this afternoon. They haven't got a moment of peace in a while. Especially since Gideon and Fabian…" Alice didn't finish the rest of her thought, thinking about the twins was hard for any of the Order members. It felt too sudden for them to go. It made everyone painfully aware of the fact how fragile they really were.

Before Lily responded, someone knocked at the door. The both of them didn't have time to get up or reply when a baritone voice called out, "It's Frank." Lily reached for her wand said the incantation to unlock and open the door. They heard the door followed by the sound of his footsteps. "Hullo," he called out. "Don't get up for me." Upon entering the kitchen, he immediately walked over and gave Alice a kiss on the cheek.

"Do you want to some tea?" Lily questioned, knowing that she should probably eat something as Alice came right as she was finishing up a potion, immediately before she was going to take a break.

"I'll do it," he offered.

"In case you forgot, I'm a witch." Lily moved her wand and whispered the incantation. In a few seconds there was a kettle full of water on the stove heating up and a box of biscuits along with a plate flying towards the table. "Have you seen James? He promised he would be home early."

"He went to Hogwarts to meet with Dumbledore, something urgent came up," Frank explained as the tea kettle whistled. He did the honors of making the tea while Lily floated a few cups over to the table.

"What?" Lily asked as she poured three cups of tea once Frank was finished. Alice was uninterested as she stirred in a bit of milk and placed a few biscuits on the saucer.

"It's nothing, really," he answered, his eyes flitting over to his wife.

Lily clenched her cup tightly in response, setting it down a bit too harshly on the table. Alice looked up and frowned. "Tell us."

"Right now, it's nothing," Frank said. "Now, do you want to hear about the Weasley boys?" He added half a spoonful of sugar and took a large drink before he set the cup down and began to relay a tale. He told them all about how Percy tried to get everyone under control while he was fixing lunch and the twins managed to sabotage his plans with a prank that seemed much too elaborate for their young age. Then he talked about Bill's collection of puzzles and Charlie's collection of dragon things. Of course he mentioned Ron, whom he only got to see for a few minutes because managing five boys from aged three to ten was hard enough without a three month old.

They finished their tea slowly as conversation passed easily between them. When Lily started clearing dishes she noticed Frank's eyes flickering towards the clock. "You two can leave," she said and then turned towards to Frank to look him in the eyes. "You must be exhausted and I will be fine."

She saw the reluctance in his eyes. Frank had not changed a bit from when she first met in at Hogwarts. He was still impossibly kind and protective, almost overly so.

"Remus will be stopping by soon and James..." She didn't know how to finish the statement. He might have just taken a short trip to Hogwarts, but these days nothing was guaranteed.

"Let's go. We all have things that need to done," Alice told her husband. "Thank you for having me, next time come over to my flat."

"Will do." Lily leaned back in her chair while Frank helped Alice to her feet. In a matter of moments they were gone and she was alone again. Reluctantly she got to her feet and huffed. Being pregnant was not something she enjoyed, the extra weight was unbearable at times, especially when she was trying to get things done.

She was glad that James was not here to lecture her on being unsafe while conducting her potions, honestly the man thought she was breakable. Studying one of the vials in her hand she hoped that it was right. Her potion making skills were a bit rusty and she had to practice on easier mixtures before attempting one so difficult and dangerous.

By the time she heard a knock on the door, Lily was sprawled out on the couch potion book in hand. Charles had kindly sent her the newest addition of it as he had connections, especially now that she was frequently brewing healing potions for the Order.

"Lily, it is Remus, can I come in?"

She lifted her wand and in a few moments her door swung open and in walked the lanky young man. However, Remus hadn't looked young in years. Today he looked particularly ragged with dark circles under his eyes, mussed up hair, and clothed in threadbare attire despite the offers of both James and Sirius to help him out.

"Don't get up," he said immediately, his eyes resting on a very pregnant Lily. He hadn't seen her in almost a month and in that time she seemed to have double in size.

"Being pregnant does not render me incapable of walking." With those words she got to her feet, but Remus rushed to her side to help steady her. She looked up at him and flash backed to all those months ago. Of course Remus would be particularly skittish when she was pregnant, Lily couldn't blame him. "Thank you, though. Now come on." She led him to the kitchen where she pulled the wooden stand with seven identical vials all lined up.

"You didn't…" Remus took a step back, his eyes wide with terror. "Merlin, Lily...If James found out…"

"You won't tell him," she urged. "Please, it is supposed to make it easier. I know you can't make the potion, the ingredients are dangerous for you."

"You could have been killed."

In the vials Wolfsbane potion looked innocuous. Lily and Remus knew, however, that it was anything but. If you stirred it too much or added half a smidge less than needed it could easily explode or produce noxious fumes…

"I wasn't though." The potion was a relatively new invention. It cost a small fortune to buy from a Healer. If you could make it yourself you would save some money, but the ingredients were still expensive.

"Lily…" Remus shook in front of her, wide eyes blinking rapidly. If it was anyone else experiencing the emotion that he felt, they would have cried, not Remus though.

"You deserve it. It will help, you can maintain your humanity even during the transformation." She walked forward, set the potion vials safely on the table before embracing him. It was awkward with her stomach, but she managed it. Remus curled himself around her, resting his head on her shoulder as she touched his hair that was fine and soft.

"Thank you..." He gave her a hug that was tight, but not overly so. "I see why Padfoot calls you Lovely Lily...You are so beautiful, inside and out." At that he pulled away, almost fumbling as he took a step backward. "I will miss you most of all."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm leaving, I probably shouldn't take the potion, but you can probably sell it on the black market."

"Leaving? I'm nearly nine months pregnant! James and I are moving, I want you at dinner the first night in my new house. I want my son to meet the Marauders, all of you. You're supposed to be there to hold him at the hospital…" Lily started to breath heavily. Her hand clenching tightly as she stumbled backwards to lean against the counter.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine…" She breathed a sigh of relief. "The Healer said that I could get contractions before labor that aren't related."

"Perhaps I should get you to-"

"No, I had them about a week ago and women came in to the clinic came in with them all the time. This isn't the real deal. Now, distract me because another one might happen."

"How?"
"Tell me why you are leaving."

"It's a long story." He swallowed harshly and looked at his feet before staring up at her. "Sirius and I had a bit of a falling out, but nothing you need to worry about. Dumbledore wants me on a mission out of the country."

"I need you."

A small smile played at the corner of his lips as he shook his head. "No, you don't. You need James depending on the day, but not me. Don't doubt yourself Lily, you are so powerful."

She tried to blink away tears, but they pushed harder the more she tried to keep them from falling. "I want you to be the Godfather..."

"No." He shook his head more vigorously. "James said the same thing to me, but Sirius is the better choice."

"But-"

"I would never be able to have custody of your baby if anything happened to the two of you. Besides, if Sirius lost James…" Remus didn't finish the statement, because Lily knew where he was going. Everytime Sirius lost someone it was like a piece of his soul died with him. Taking care of someone, being responsible for the last piece of James left on this planet would tether him down. Remus would always come back to help, but Sirius would be so lost in grief…

"You're right…" She tensed again and bit down on her lip, another contraction. She looked up at the ceiling and then back at Remus. "Can't you wait to leave though?"

He shook his head and took her in, realizing that this may be the last time he sees her. The two of them had been through so much, she had been his refuge when her parents died and the relationship she had with James was on thin ice. He remembers her when he exited the floo that summer after their fifth year, when they were on prefect duty together, when she invited him to Slughorn's party, the Christmas balls, that night when the prank with Severus went awry, the conversation in the library, the day she got married, the day Agatha died...All these memories that only the two of them shared…

"No."

She was more relaxed now, the contraction had passed and she was no longer in pain. "At least take the potions, I don't want James to know. He'll get this angry look on his face, leave the room, slam a door, and then come back a few minutes later looking like he kicked a puppy…"

"I can do that."

Lily stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him again. The warmth and positive energy she had seeming to surround him, as if the love she felt for him could keep him safe. "Goodbye, Remus Lupin." Her face scrunched together when she pulled away, by now there were tears dripping down her face.

"Goodbye, Lily Potter." He clenched his eyes shut and grabbed the vials before silently leaving the room.

Lily found herself attempting to sleep in a cold, empty bed. She wrapped the Gryffindor blanket around herself tightly, the one that had been in James' bedroom, but even that did not comfort her. Exasperated and desperate for sleep she walked over to the dresser and dug through the clothes that had not yet been packed. She located one of James' shirt and exchanged it for the nightgown she wore. It was not only her thoughts that were keeping her awake, but the heat as well.

Sleep evaded her and she became alert when she heard the front door open followed by footsteps. James found her sitting in the middle of the bed, staring up at him.

"Lily, you should be sleeping." His voice was tired, in the dark she couldn't see much, but she didn't have the energy to do wandless magic and it was a long reach to grab her wand on the nightstand. She strained her eyes to watch him strip down to only a thin white t-shirt and boxers before crawling on the bed next to her. He pulled her arm gently and she leaned back to stare up at him.

"Why is Remus leaving?"

"What are you talking about?"

"He left today." Her voice was monotone and she looked straight ahead. James touched her face and encouraged her to look at him.

"Merlin…I...It is a long story."

"Why won't you tell me anything? What happened today? You were supposed to be home hours ago…"

"I'm sorry, Godric, Lily...I'm sorry…" He turned to her and tried to envelope her in his arms but she pushed away. Immediately, she regretted the action. James' eyes were filled with tears, he looked so weary, like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"I need to know what is happening…" She leaned forward and pressed a kiss on his forehead, then his jaw, and finally his lips.

"Give him time, I'll tell in the morning, everything...I just need one more night of...this…" He kissed her again. Ever since they found she was pregnant the second time he treated her like a refuge, hid things from her in an attempt to have a place that war didn't touch.