AN: I hope you guys have a happy new year! As I said in the last chapter the story is nearing a close. I think there will only be two chapters left after this, maybe three. Remember reviews are always welcomed!

Lily paced down the hallway as the clock ticked midnight. She had checked on Harry fifteen minutes ago and didn't want to wake him, yet she wanted to hold her son in his arms. James was gone, had been gone for the past two days on a mission that was supposed to be simple and only take a few hours max. It had been manageable, her fear. It wasn't like the first time she was gone, or even like when she was pregnant. He had sent her a patronus and an Order member owled her to make sure she was alright. She was until she got the news.

Neville had been in the Potter's care for three days, long enough for James to cement the idea in his mind that they should have another child. Lily had to admit that Harry seemed to like the company, but another child could not happen for quite some time. There was no way she could make it through another pregnancy now. That being said it was a weight off her shoulders when the Longbottom's came to collect him. Neither party had heard anything about Alice or Frank. Until today.

It had been four days since Neville had left when there was knock at the door. Athena, a friend that she'd only seen in passing a few times since Gideon's death. She was visibly shaken and that surprised Lily. Now, she worked at St. Mungo's at Emergency desk. Partly because she didn't seen any need to going to school like her parents had wanted and partly because the auror needed someone at St. Mungo's. It was surprising how many Death Eater's were stupid enough to show up there.

Nonetheless Lily let her in and ushered her towards the kitchen for a cup of tea. She was glad that it survived James' neglect when he haphazardly attempted to make tea for Alice. At that she shook her head and sat down at the table across from Athena, using her wand to do the rest.

"I'm happy to see you, it's been so long." At that she swished her wands and teacups along with saucers and milk flew to the table. "I just put Harry down for a nap, but if you're-"

"Lily stop," Athena said, her tone was firm and scarily serious. This wasn't the Gryffindor girl that was infamous for flirting with Ravenclaw boys, or even the girl that was giddy with nervous excitement when she left her parents. "I came to you, because I thought you'd like to hear it from me."

Lily raised her eyebrows as the kettle whistled and did a quick spell to quiet it and prepare the tea. "What?" she asked, her tone was shaky because she knew exactly what her friend was going to say. "Alice and Frank are dead, aren't they?"

"I wish." Her tone was bitter and her hands clenched into tight fists, but her eyes didn't even water. "They tortured them to the point of insanity, but they're still alive." Her face arranged itself into a sneer.

After that only a few words were exchanged. Tea was poured, but after stirring in milk to their respective cups they let it sit on the table between them. Eventually, Athena looked down at her watch and mumbled some excuse. Lily walked her to the door, suddenly wishing not to be left alone.

It also is the reason she can't sleep. Everytime she closes her eyes she thinks of James being tortured like Frank and Alice. She doesn't want to be alone but the only person in this house is Harry. Resigned, she headed back to the bedroom where she left the door ajar. Then, she pulled the Gryffindor blanket out of the trunk at the foot of the bed and curled up on her side of the bed.

Almost an hour later James stumbled through the front door. He doesn't know what time or whether he came home extremely late or extremely early. One thing he does know is that Lily should be sleeping and so should Harry. Still he wanders to the nursery first thing and sees his son. "Hey buddy," he whispers softly and leans over to pick him up. By some miracle he doesn't wake up, must have inherited that from him because Lily can wake up at a pin drop if she isn't exhausted. "Godric, I missed you." He pressed a kiss on his head, inhaling the soft smell. Lily must have given him a bath tonight, Merlin knows he needs one. Two days of traipsing through the woods, hiding and fighting Death Eater's he was sure that he smelled a little ripe. Even so, his son seemed perfectly content to be pressed against his chest.

After a few minutes elapsed he kissed him once more before putting him back in the crib and heading to his bedroom. He smiled when he saw Lily curled up on the bed and carefully stripped, letting his dirty clothes fall to the ground. Once dressed in pajamas he walked over to his side of the bed and curled against Lily. He expected to her even breaths, but her body shifted. Lily hardly ever moved during her sleep unless the two of them had fallen asleep in an odd position. Then he heard the little sounds leave her mouth. Sounds of panic.

He swallowed harshly and laid an arm over her waist, searching for her hand. Both of them were balled up in the covers. Carefully he looked over her shoulder and saw her face glistening, tears. "Lily flower," he whispered softly, moving his hand up to rest on her upper. He murmured the endearment a few more times before she rolled over and her eyes lit up.

"You're here." She sat up and looked at him.

"Made it home, alive, in one piece even," he teased.

Lily's face darkened slightly as she reached up to touch his hair, brush it out of his face. "Did you hear?" she murmured.

"About what?"

"Alice and Frank, they're at St. Mungo's and alive, but...They were tortured to the point of insanity, shells of people apparently." She managed a smile as she looked at him but it was brittle. "When you didn't come home and after that warning from Sev-Snape…"

"I'm fine," he said and at that embraced Lily tightly, kissing her deeply.

For a second she could push things out of her mind, try to compartmentalize. She laid a hand on his shoulder and kissed back just as hard. When his hands started to wander further downward, one resting on her hip and the other on her leg, she pulled away from him. "Not now." The words came out a little breathless, but she still conveyed that she was serious.

James gave her a smirk. "Sorry, I just wanted a jumpstart on Harry's sibling."

Lily bit her lip and laid back down on the bed, rolling on her side to face away from him. James sighed and pressed his chest against her back, crooking his legs into the same position as hers and laying one arm over her waist. She threaded her fingers through his and eventually sleep came to them.

Harry's first birthday was a welcome distraction for the Potter's. After Frank and Alice time passed quickly, it was all a blur. Attacks were more sporadic, but more violent, it was like they were trying to distract the Order. James and Lily probably would not have celebrated Christmas if it was not for Harry. It was a hard time for the both of them. After her parent's death she found a family at the Potter house and they had made that first Christmas actually bearable. Now, there would be no ball, no morning with Agatha and Charles, no Marauder's downstairs…

"Lily, do you need help?" James called out.

Lily pulled herself out of her thoughts when put the candle in the middle of the little cake and lit it using her wand. She carried into living and room and smiled at the sight. Sirius was laying on the floor eyes focused on Harry attempting to rip off the paper of his present. James sat cross legged behind him, beaming with pride.

"I decided to bring the cake in here." She set it down on the coffee table before sitting on the couch and reaching for a camera situated on the side table. When the broom was out she watched him be put on it and start to fly around. "He's a natural, like his dad and his uncle." She snapped a few pictures, smile widening.

"I don't know if he'll be a chaser," Sirius said. "Maybe a seeker, his flying is better than your's Lil!" Sirius exclaimed.

Lily narrowed her eyes. She did not want to think back to flying lessons her first year. They had been a disaster and a half, the only class that she had been in danger of getting a failing score from. Still she would allow the awful memory to be brought up, because Sirius was so...happy.

It was strange. She hadn't seen him this carefree and light in years. Marlene had to be doing it. Sirius always did better when he had someone to protect. While he would never ask for help, he'd be the first one to offer someone assistance. She supposed it was his new way of coping. It was much better than getting himself drunk or disappearing or becoming hostile.

"I think we should have some cake." She lifted her wand and the plates came flying along with forks. She had already cut the cake because James taught her from his own experience that summoning knives was never a good thing. It was how they almost lost their deposit from the flat because knives were surprisingly difficult to get out of walls.

The cake was a hit with all three boys, but Harry had the least amount of frosting on his face at the end of it. James and Sirius had started some sort of food fight and Lily whisked Harry away, taking the cake with her. She cleaned him up and put away the cake. "Did you enjoy your birthday?" she questioned. "I quite like that broom, but it can't all be about Quidditch. That's why I got those books you know, because knew your father and uncle were going to give you toys." She swayed back and forth and giggled. "I'll read one to you tonight, it's called The Three Brothers. The story is a wizard fairy tale, but don't worry I'll read you muggle fairy tales too."

"Sorry to interrupt your stimulating conversation, but I have to leave." Sirius walked into the kitchen and gave Lily a one armed hug before kissing her on the forehead. "Goodbye, Harry, happy birthday, buddy."

"Where are you going?"

"Important business," Sirius said with a smirk crossing his face. "I can't tell you, it's going to be a surprise for everyone. Even Prongs," he said.

"A surprise involving Marlene?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "You're like Moony, can't get anything passed you."

Lily attempted to keep the smile pinned to her face, but at the mention of Remus her heart fell. For Sirius to be mentioning him they must have made up, somehow. All she knew was that he was on some sort of secret mission for the Order, but she had a sneaking suspicion it involved werewolves.

"He's coming back, you know. Soon, at least that's what Dumbledore told me. Three months tops." Sirius placed another kiss, this time on her temple and ruffled Harry's hair. "I'll see you soon."

"Yeah." Lily watched him leave and then James came in the kitchen. That was enough to distract as she put Harry down and attempted to clean her husband's face. He gave her a teasing look so instead of a damp rag she began to kiss it away. The episode would have went on longer as James twisted Lily around and pushed her against the counter. She was about ready to hop up on it and wrap her legs around him when they realized they had an audience. "We're terrible parents," Lily groaned.

"He wasn't even paying attention to us, he was playing with the toys you gave him when you were baking the cake earlier." James crosses the kitchen and scoops up there son. Lily just shakes her head a smile crossing her face.

"Having another kid terrifies me, but I think I'd like our family to grow in the future."

James just looked at her in such a way that she knew he meant yes.