His Boy

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Good Things

"You really think I can do this?" Moony asked as he stared at the two story house in front of him. It was close to the center of town and had a large front yard and porch. A fence sat along the edge of the yard, going all the way around the entirety of the property, but more than any of that, the most prominent detail of the house was neither house nor yard, but the big red SOLD sign plastered onto the For Sale sign sticking out of the little bit of grass that was between the road and sidewalk.

"You can do anything." Sirius beamed, Harry attached to his hip. The walk from the car had been icier than expected, not all of it having melted yet this morning, making it easier to just carry the little boy to the house. "It's yours, either way. We'll need to fix up some parts of it of course. Make it match your needs."

Remus walked up the front walk, a mishmash of flat stones set into the ground with a couple inches of grass between each one. He got to the front porch and looked back at Sirius who smiled and followed after him. They went into the house and Remus coughed at the dust, blinking his eyes rapidly. Looking around he could tell right away that this was going to need some work, but with the right spells and a helping wand…

"This is really happening." Remus laughed, walking from the small foyer. He moved forward into the hallway. He looked around the living room with a smile. "If we take out the wall here, we can make this one big room." He pointed to the wall between the living room and den. "And then the kitchen is right across the hall…" He moved back into the hallway, past a set of stairs and into the kitchen. "We can take out the wall between it and the dining room."

Harry slide down from Sirius's hip, looking around anxiously. He frowned, shaking his head. "Moony, you can't live here! I don't live here!"

Sirius chuckled and lifted Harry back up. "No Harry. Moony lives with us but he's going to start watching babies and kids during the day as a job. Like Miss Nancy, only for little kids."

"Ooooh." Harry smiled, glad that Moony wasn't moving out. That would have made him very sad. He liked his Moony a lot and didn't think it would be good if he lived in another house. "But what will I do after school?"

"The school isn't far from here." Remus explained, crouching down to get on Harry's level. "There'll be other grown ups helping watch all of the kids, so one of us will come and pick you and probably some of your friends up. Then Padfoot will get you when he gets off work. Then at six o'clock…"

"You'll come home for dinner?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Harry nodded. He liked the idea of getting to play with some of his friends from school after school as well. That would be something fun to do. He liked playing by himself sometimes, but normally he would much rather have someone else to hang out with. That was why he loved going to school so much, even though he didn't quite like his uniform.

"Come on, let's look around a big more." Sirius suggested, pointing to the stairs. The three men headed up, reaching the second level. There were three bedrooms up here and a second bathroom, the first being off of the den downstairs. "One of these could be an office. And the others could be rooms for napping."

"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking too." Remus grinned and pulled a pen from his pocket. He scribbled down something on a clipboard he had brought along. "So we'll need places for sleeping. Cribs or playpens in one room, and floor mats in the other. And then when the older kids come from the school the younger ones who need an afternoon nap won't be disturbed so much by the noise. It'll be quieter up here."

"Excellent deduction, my dear Moony."

"I don't always need naps." Harry stated quite proudly as he peeked into one of the empty bedrooms. It was true that he only napped in the afternoon about three times a week now, usually after lunch for about two hours. Just a nice pick me up if he'd had a more tiring morning or hadn't slept well the night before. His napping days were slowly becoming a thing of the past.

Sirius smiled, remembering how he used to put Harry down from a nap at one in the afternoon every day when he had first started taking care of him full time. He had already grown so much it was astonishing. He was about whole inch taller than he had been and his speech was getting better. He wasn't making his 'th' and 'r' as awkwardly (though cutely) spoken as he used to, something Sirius credited to the school. He could read simple words and sentences. And though he was still quite skinny, he had filled out a bit, looking more like James than he had before, his body getting stronger from running around and eating a good balanced diet. But what Sirius loved the most was seeing his precious boy so much more confident and sure of himself than he had been. Harry would rattle on about anything, whether anyone was listening or not and he would ask as many questions as he could in one day. He still was wary of strange adults, but on a much more reasonable level than he had been. He tended to make sure he was close to either Sirius or Remus or Lexie during initial introductions, but he soon warmed up to them, even if he wasn't quite as chatty.

"No you don't. That's because you're getting to be such a big boy."

"I am very big!" Harry laughed gleefully, raising his arms above his head and standing on his tiptoes just to show how big he could be. Sirius laughed and tickled the boy's sides.

"Yes, you are! But you're not too big for me to do this!" Sirius picked Harry up and tossed him into the air. Harry squealed in delight and… didn't come back down. He continued floating upwards until he reached the ceiling, Sirius hadn't tossed him that high, he'd merely given him a tiny boost so he'd just barely leave his hands and then return to them.

"Look! I'm so high!" Harry laughed as he tapped the ceiling with his fingers before gravity appeared to kick in and he floated downwards quickly, but still not as fast as he would have if he'd really been falling. Sirius caught him, grinning wide from ear to ear. It always delighted him when Harry displayed accidental magic. "Again, Paddy!"

Sirius tossed Harry again, watching him float a bit before he returned to the safety of his arms. They spent the rest of the morning at the house, Sirius and Remus discussing different possibilities for it while occasionally giving Harry a gentle toss in the air. By the time they headed for home, they had a very good idea of what the daycare would look like inside and out and Harry was all smiles.

…...

"Here you are!" Lexie smiled as the men tromped into the house, taking off scarves, shoes, and jackets. It wasn't bitter cold anymore, but rather the chilly in-between space that was the beginnings of spring. Harry still got bundled up, but he no longer needed his red snowsuit, though he still had to wear a hat and mittens and boots with his puffy green jacket. "I was just wondering if you were going to be late. I've made up some tea and cocoa to go with lunch."

"Yummy!" Harry beamed, shooting off towards the kitchen, jacket dangling from one arm and coming loose in the living room where it landed on the floor. He loved Lexie's cocoa. It was extra chocolaty and extra marshmallowy and extra whipped creamy with lots of cinnamon and nutmeg on top. And she always added some extra treacle syrup to his.

"Hello, love." Sirius smiled, giving Lexie a quick kiss as he undid his scarf.

"How did it go?" Lexie asked curiously, reaching to undo the buttons of his coat.

Remus tugged off his shoes, setting them on the mat by the door before hanging up his coat. "It went really well. We've got everything planned out for the house itself and then I've just got to decide a few more things. We should be able to have it finished it a couple of weeks."

"It's going to be an excellent daycare." Sirius grinned, tugging off his jacket and hanging it up as well. "One big playroom, a large kitchen and snack area…"

"The foyer has a large closet that we can take the doors off of to make into cubbies and coat hooks. Three bedrooms, one for an office, and two napping rooms. One for the littler ones and one for the three and ups."

"The downstairs bathroom is pretty big. Can probably take out the tub and put in a changing table and a couple of little training potties." Sirius continued as he took off his shoes and headed into the living room. He waved his wand at Harry's jacket, making it float off to it's place on a short hook on the wall next to the one that held Harry's backpack above the basket of hats and mittens.

"It sounds fantastic." Lexie agreed as they headed to the kitchen. Harry was already at the table, spooning his cocoa into his mouth, having already gotten through all of the sugary toppings. Lexie bent down to kiss the top of his head and he turned to grin up at her, his lips surrounded by cocoa while there were drips of it down the front of his shirt. "Did you have a lovely morning, sweetheart?"

"Yeah!" Harry nodded. "Paddy throwed me so high I could touch the roof!"

"Oh my, that is high!" Lexie's eyes widened as she turned to look at Sirius but he quickly rebuffed any worry.

"The ceiling, you mean, Harry. And most of it was accidental magic, I just gave him a boost. He floated down safe every time."

"Oh." Lexie smiled, looking calmer now. "Lily used to do that as well, only I think she would jump from a swing and then float down to land further than she would have normally. At least, if I remember correctly. She said that was one of her first accidental magic experiences. Her mother nearly had a fit."

"My mummy flew too?" Harry asked, looking up from his plate. He had finished his cocoa and was eating away at the celery and cream cheese that sat beside his tuna sandwich. He had yet to try the sandwich though, having never seen one before.

"Oh yes. But only from the swings." Lexie smiled, grabbing up a napkin and wiping the cocoa from his face while he was chewing.

"Otherwise she was dead scared of heights." Sirius laughed, sitting down and picking up his sandwich. "Ooo, tuna and cucumber. That's different."

"Cravings. And it's healthy, so I figured…" Lexie blushed as she took her seat next to Sirius. One long end of the table was pressed against the wall, so it was kept out of the way. Harry always sat at a short end near the kitchen door while Sirius sat next to him. Then Lexie, and then Remus was on the other end.

Harry poked at his sandwich, lifting up a slice of bread to peek underneath it. "It looks funny."

"It's delicious." Sirius assured him, biting into his own sandwich with relish, trying his best to display how good it really was. Tuna wasn't his favorite, but he did like it.

Harry made a face and lifted half his sandwich. He brought it to his mouth and took a bite, feeling the cucumber crunch while the tuna was gooshy. He chewed and swallowed. "It is good!" He devoured the first half of his sandwich and then the second, obviously pretty hungry after such an exciting morning.

"So, anything in particular anyone wants for dinner?" Sirius asked once they were halfway through lunch. "Since we're on the subject of food and it's my night to cook?" He eyed Harry who eyed him back. Sirius waggled his eyebrows. Harry grinned.

"You should go on a date!" Harry stated quickly, his eyes dashing from Sirius to Lexie and back again to see if he'd done well. That eyebrow waggling had been Padfoot's signal, he knew it.

For the past couple of weeks, since Sirius had gotten the ring for Lexie, he and Harry and Remus had been conspiring together while the lady of the house was at work. She'd finished moving in officially last week, all of her things finally being unpacked and Sirius's room getting a slight color make-over to make it less manly and more coupley. On their way home from the future daycare, Harry had been told that today at lunch they were putting their plan into action and then they'd practiced a bit before they'd gotten home.

"A date?" Sirius asked, sounding curious. "I suppose we could all go out for pizza or something instead if you guys want."

"No."

"You don't want to go out?" Sirius pondered, and Harry shook his head.

"Not me. You and Lexie. That's what grown ups do, right?" Harry asked, grinning.

"Harry Potter, turning down pizza. Never thought I'd see the day." Lexie laughed, shaking her head and reaching across the table to ruffle his hair. She looked at Sirius. "It is a nice idea…"

"We haven't been out in a while… Harry, are you sure you don't want to go out for pizza?"

"Yep." Harry nodded and slid from his chair. He grabbed up his cup and plate and carried them over to the sink where he dropped them in, the plastic bouncing slightly. "I'm gonna draw a picture for Hedwig to bring to my Luna-sissy." And then he skipped from the room.

"Well then, I guess that's that." Sirius blinked with a laugh. "Remus, would you mind if we…?"

"Not at all." Remus shook his head. "I'll order in a pizza and you guys go have a good time together. It's been months since you did anything alone."

…...

Later that evening, with Harry and Remus contently partying it up in the playroom with a rowdy game of Go Fish, Sirius and Lexie apparated to London and then strolled along the street. Sirius was happy, and insanely nervous. What if this didn't work? It had to work, right?

"So, why did we have to come all the way to London to go out?" Lexie asked curiously, taking Sirius's hand and leaning against his arm with a small smile.

"More choices. Back home it's either pizza or the diner."

"I like the diner."

"Me too, but I figured something different would be nice, since we've got the chance."

"It was insanely adorable, wasn't it? When Harry suggested we go on a date?"

"Yeah, he's such a good kid." Sirius chuckled and pointed to a restaurant that was all lit up. "Here, this looks good."

"Alright." Lexie nodded, just ready to eat by this point. She was always hungry lately, thanks to this kid in her stomach.

They entered the restaurant and made their way over to the podium. Sirius grinned, peeking over the podium. "I have a reservation under Black."

"Mister Black, good to see you. Right this way,." Harry stated with a cheeky grin, stepping out from behind the podium wearing his little suit with the Snitch bow tie and a napkin draped over one arm. He held a couple of menus half a big as him under his other arm. He giggled excitedly and then started for the dining room.

"What?" Lexie looked confused, rubbing at her eyes for a second. When she opened them again, Harry was gone and a man was in his place, showing them through the busy dining room.

"Something wrong love?" Sirius asked, looking concerned.

"Nothing I just… nothing."

The man led them out of the dining room and up some stairs by the bathrooms. The stairs wound upwards until they reached the second floor and then out onto a balcony where a single table was set up, neither of them seeming to notice the little boy and grown man trailing after them quietly.

"Here you are." The maitre de stated with a soft smile. Sirius pulled out Lexie's chair and she sat down, looking around at the beautiful balcony in awe. There were fairy lights all around, on the bushes and building itself, sparkling in the chill night air.

"Wow, this is… excellent." Lexie looked around curiously, not really sure as to why they were on the balcony or how Sirius had even had a reservation on such short notice. She raised her eyebrows at him but he just shrugged.

"A bottle of your finest non-alcoholic sparking cider please." Sirius smiled.

"Very well then, sir." The man bowed slightly and then left. Sirius and Lexie took to looking at their menus.

"I think maybe I'll get a steak…" Sirius pondered out loud, the dog in him agreeing wholeheartedly to this idea. Shortly after a waiter appeared, a very tiny waiter in a Snitch bowtie.

"Good evening sir and miss, I will be your waiter this evening."

Once again, Lexie stared at Harry in shock, not really sure if she was seeing him now or if her brain was playing tricks on her. She looked at Sirius and then back at the waiter. Harry was gone once again, replaced by a forty-something man with a mustache.

"Are you ready to order or would you like some more time?"

"I'm ready." Lexie nodded, looking at Sirius to be sure he was as well. Perhaps it was her empty stomach making her see all these images of Harry. Or maybe she just missed him.

They ordered their food and the waiter left with a slight bow, leaving them balcony with the menus and his notepad.

"Sirius, have you been seeing anything funny tonight?"

"What do you mean by funny?"

"Just… I think I keep seeing Harry but whenever I look back to make sure, he's not there."

"I think you're just hungry, love." Sirius stated gently, reaching out a hand to pat her own. "Harry's at home safe with Remus. They're probably gorging themselves on peanut butter and jelly by now. I see him too sometimes, when I'm at work. I'm just so used to having him around that…"

"It's difficult to not think he's here." Lexie nodded in understanding. Well, that solved that then. If Sirius saw him as well sometimes, there was no way she was going crazy. It was just a side affect of having been around the little boy on a near constant basis when she wasn't at work.

Their food came a little bit later and they ate, Sirius sneaking food beneath the table when Lexie wasn't looking. Harry munched in silence, nestled up against his godfather's legs, under the tablecloth. He knew it was important to be quiet, though it was very difficult to keep from giggling now and then. Whenever he had to he pressed his face hard against Sirius's calf and muffled the sound. Sirius was happy he was doing so well with their plan. It was funny, how a four year old could be so sneaky when he knew it was very important. That, and he'd been drilled on the plan for over a week. He knew what he was supposed to do.

"This is so nice, Sirius." Lexie smiled, feeling better now that she had eaten. It was quite lovely out on the balcony, even if it was a bit chilly. And so pretty as well… "How did you ever do all of this on such short notice?"

"I called as soon as I found out we'd be eating out. I used to work here during the summers when I was living with the Potters because I felt it'd be unfair for them to have to take total care of me and I needed to buy my schoolbooks. I'm still friends with the owner and he pulled a few strings."

'Oh wow, that's right. I remember you mentioning something about working in a Muggle place over the summer. I always thought it was some sort of diner or something though, not fancy like this."

"It was the first place that needed a dishwasher." Sirius laughed and dropped the last of his steak, seemingly, onto the floor by accident. Instead it landed on Harry's outstretched hand and he gobbled it up, really liking it.

Sirius bent down, pretending to be picking up the piece of steak. Instead, he kissed Harry on top of his head and snatched up a small piece of steak he had dropped on purpose earlier. He set it on his plate and smiled at Lexie, watching as she straightened out her napkin and cutlery, not liking to make it difficult to clean up.

"Would you care for dessert?" The waiter was back, only this time he had decidedly brown hair and no mustache. He was pushing a cart holding different delicious desserts and Lexie stared at him, wide eyed.

"Remus?"

"Pardon?" The waiter looked confused, straightening his hat.

"I would like the chocolate cake." Sirius smiled. "You want any, dear?"

"I… I'll have some of that pie." Lexie blinked, so confused now as to what was going on. The waiter resembled Remus so greatly, but that was impossible. Remus was home, watching Harry.

"Ah, a wonderful choice miss." The waiter smiled and served both cake and pie. As Lexie ate, the dessert cart disappeared and Harry slipped out from under the table after a nudge from Sirius. He strode over to Lexie and tugged at the edge of her dress.

Lexie looked down at Harry, stunned into silence, fork slightly lifted to her mouth. Sirius rose from his seat and moved to lift Harry, shifting down onto one knee, setting Harry to sit down on the one that was still upwards. Harry dug into his pocket, pulling out the little box. He looked up at Sirius who nodded and Harry, grinning, opened the box, holding it up to Lexie.

"Lexie, will you do us… uh.. Do us…"

"The honor." Sirius provided and Harry grinned.

"Do us the honor of spending…" Harry paused again, his line lost as he stared at Lexie, suddenly worried as to what she would say. He rerouted though, as he'd been told to do if he forgot the longer statement and went with the very simple and straight forward instead. "Will you marry us?"

Lexie's fork fell to the stones of the balcony floor and her hands shot to cover her mouth. Harry's green eyes and Sirius's grey shone, both staring at her expectantly, waiting for her answer. She looked at the tiny ring in the box, silver leaves twining around in a circle, three stones set together.

Harry started to get even more worried as she faltered, not answering as silent tears began to well in her eyes and fall down her cheeks. He bit his lip and it quivered slightly, scared of the tears. Tears meant unhappiness, fear… they meant sadness.

"Oh no, Harry don't cry!" Lexie suddenly came out of her shocked stupor and swooped Harry up from Sirius's knee, hugging him tightly.

Harry burst into tears. "You're crying!"

"I'm crying because I'm so happy! These are happy tears!" Lexie reassured him, wiping at his face with the front of her pretty black dress, not caring if she got tears and snot on it. "Of course I'll marry you, of course I will! Oh my goodness… Sirius!"

Sirius burst out laughing, hugging them both tightly, his own eyes filling with happy tears as well. The waiter let out a cry and shot forward from the doorway, moving to hug them as well.

"I told you it would work, Padfoot! I told you she'd say yes!"

"Remus! You were in on this too?"

"Who d'you think helped train Harry?"

"Did I do good?" Harry asked as they all calmed down and the hugging ended. He still clung his little arms around Lexie's neck, glad they hadn't been sad tears.

"Oh Harry, you did perfect." Sirius laughed, ruffling his hair. Harry beamed.

Wooo, finally finished this one. It was a bit tricky but I think it came out alright. Also, last weekend I got a little crazy and decided to draw instead of write. So I drew pictures for the first six chapters of this, and they suck. AND NOW, it's contest time.

Follow the link in my profile to the pictures I drew. Find the hidden name of a future character. The first person to send me a message (not a review or comment, a message, either here or there) containing the hidden name wins. I will write the winner a one shot Harry Potter story of any plot, rating, and characters they wish. ANYTHING. Won by Dracarot!!

As always, I appreciate every single review you guys take the time to give, even if I don't have the chance to respond to every single one. I also appreciate the time it probably has taken to read this far, even though we're not anywhere close to the end yet.

Love always, later alligators,

S.Q.O.

My cat's contribution, although she wanted it right in the middle of the chapter: oi9lo