A/N: Here is the preview for the continuing story! I really couldn't help myself and wanted to keep writing for James/Imogen and Lily/Lorcan. Below is just a portion of the first chapter of the story posted (you can find it on my profile page!) Feel free to follow along with that, or the other story I started that's H/G :)

The Empty Crib—Preview

Imogen wrung out a piece of cloth soaked in the milky white potion. James pressed his hand onto the top of the table, twisting his arm so the cut that ran from the middle of his bicep and down the side of his torso could be seen easily. Imogen laid the bit of cloth across the portion by his ribs and James sucked in air, growling as it stung. She paused looking down at him. "You should have let me take care of it," she said, her voice tight.

James knew she was right. His supervisor had already chewed him out over it as well. One of the reasons he'd been hired for the international task force was because of Imogen. His superiors had made that very clear. Part of their job was to integrate themselves into the lives of those they were investigating—something that was made easier with a wife and a seemingly mundane life. Moreover, Imogen's ability to perform magic without a wand allowed her to do things no one else could.

James was the real problem. When he was on assignment on his own, he was fine. When Imogen was there, he had a hard time concentrating. His worst fears cycled through his mind every moment. And even though he knew it wasn't always the right choice, he'd stand in front of her and risk his own life before seeing even a scratch on Imogen. Today he'd ignored everything else, the only thought was to get next to her. To make sure she wasn't targeted. And yet he knew she'd had better control over the situation than he did. "I'm sorry," James said after she adjusted another strip of fabric over the cut.

"Just don't do it again," Imogen said. She turned to get another strip and James reached out, grabbing her hand, pulling her into him. She leaned down, wrapping her hands around his neck, kissing him carefully. She straddled his lap, sitting as he reached up and brushed her white blond hair back. "I… I've been meaning to tell you something. I keep waiting for a good time, but there's never a good time."

James hummed in response, kissing her collarbone, making a trail along her skin, following the neckline of her camisole.

"James… I'm pregnant," Imogen said.

James stopped, pulling back and looking at her. She smiled widely as his heart pounded and a million feelings bubbled up inside of him. "And you still went today," he said, the earlier fear mixing with anger taking over anything else.

Imogen placed a hand on each side of his face. "Please, don't go back to that," she said. "You know I wouldn't have been anywhere near there if there was any danger suspected."

"You should have left. As soon as that started—"

"Okay, so you get to be protective of me and be sliced open when I have it perfectly under control, but when curses start flying at you I'm not allowed any weakness of that sort?"

They looked at each other and James's jaw tensed as he swallowed. "You're right," he said, a smile finally taking over at the thought of a baby. Their baby. James pulled her down into another kiss. "Okay… okay, so… what's next?"

Imogen laughed as James pulled her closer to him. She turned, summoning the bowl and continuing to coat the cut on James while sitting straddled on his lap, his free hand moving up and down her thigh. "Well, let's see," Imogen said. "The baby grows, I eat strange things… I get ridiculously fat, but you insist I haven't—"

"That's not what I mean," James said. "Gen, we can't keep doing this with a baby. I'll talk to my dad. I'll bet there somewhere for me in the Auror Department."

"Not unless you're going to be happy there," Imogen said seriously.

"Of course I'll be—"

"James, you love this job," Imogen said. "Don't act like you don't."

He took in a deep breath. She'd just covered the last of the cut. He thought about this. Yes, he loved what he did. He loved being part of something important, but he could do that back home too. Besides, if today was any indication, he needed to find a position that didn't put Imogen at risk. The thought of their baby at risk as well as her… James wouldn't be able to sleep ever again.

He couldn't help but remember nearly two months ago and an assignment in Scotland. James and his team were investigating reports of dark magic, assisted by a husband and wife not much older than him. They tried to convince the wife to go spend time with her sister in France, but she refused to leave her husband. In the end, they were held and she died from excessive use of the Cruciatus Curse before they could get through the defenses. He'd evaluated a lot after the incident—Imogen's involvement on the top of that list, but also the need to appreciate what was in front of him.

"I do," he said. James moved his hands to the sides of the camisole folding up the fabric until her stomach was exposed. A prominent scar on her right side was the only thing that marred her perfect skin. He leaned down kissing her belly. He lifted his eyes up to her. "But I love you more."

Imogen beamed as they spoke over other things, other plans. They talked about when they would tell everyone else and where they could live and whether they thought they might have a boy or girl.

"When can you tell?" James asked.

"I looked it up, and it's not for a few months," she said.

He pressed a hand on her stomach and she covered his hand with her own. "I don't think I've ever been more happy," he whispered.

Imogen leaned down, catching his lips again.

Imogen had rounded out at seven months, breathing heavy as she opened a box.

"I've got that," Lily said, pulling the box from her. "It's why I'm here. You just tell me where things go."

Imogen let out a frustrated sigh. James kissed the top of her head as he passed with other boxes to take to the living room. "I think we're putting the pots in the bottom cupboard," Imogen said and Lily unloaded the box, following directions.

Lily finished the Quidditch season two weeks before and had been planning for a while to help James and Imogen move into their new home in London and stay with them until after her nephew was born. James and Imogen were kind enough to pretend that this was a great favor, though they all knew the favor was on behalf of Lily.

After six seasons as seeker for The Holyhead Harpies Lily was at a completely loss for what to do with her life. She had three months to decide whether or not she'd go on for a seventh season, but unless she wanted to Captain the team (which she did not), she would just be in the same position next year. She'd toyed with the idea of being a correspondent like her mum, but in truth she hated writing, even when it was about Quidditch. Even worse was the prospect of another two to three years of people questioning whether she was right for the job or if she received it because of who her mother was. No, that was an experience she never wished to repeat again. Then there was everything to figure out about Lorcan… something she didn't want to even begin to think about. She had enough savings to last a while, especially since Imogen and James refused to take any rent.

"Er, there's a random…" Lily pulled up a silky and slinky piece of green lingerie, raising an eyebrow.

Imogen snatched it from her. "Not that it will ever fit again," she said, pushing herself up from the ground awkwardly.

"I'm just hoping it's not an indication of whether or not I can trust the sanitation of your cooking."

"You're safe for a while," Imogen retorted. She walked back towards the master bedroom as Lily stood with a stack of plates to put in the kitchen.

They continued to unpack for the next several hours, getting through a good portion of the kitchen boxes. Imogen, despite her insistence that she was perfectly capable of doing more than Lily and James were letting her, sank into the couch saying she just needed a couple minutes. James sat so she had her legs draped onto him. He massaged her swollen feet and within ten minutes she was asleep.

"Merlin, it took long enough to get her to do that," James said, carefully standing and adjusting Imogen, covering her with a throw blanket.

"Why doesn't she use her magic to unpack?" Lily asked.

"The longer the pregnancy goes on, the more using her casting exhausts her. And… she keeps misplacing her wand. Can I make you something for lunch, Lil?"

"That's okay," Lily said. "I told Aunt Lina and Uncle George I'd come see them. I can grab something at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Alright," James said, grabbing an apple. "I have to go in for a briefing this afternoon, so it will just be you and Imogen."

"You know I probably can't keep her from overworking all on my own right?" Lily said.

"She'll be fine," James said. "Just as long as we can mostly keep her from the major work."

Lily worked through another box, sorting through the things that were more obvious before heading out and to Diagon Alley. She apparated to the main road and spent a nice long visit with her aunt and uncle. They took her out to a different restaurant for lunch and she excused herself after an hour there. "I need to make a run to Quidditch Quality Supply, and hopefully get back before Imogen over does herself," Lily said.

"Well don't be a stranger," Angelina said, hugging Lily, then giving her a kiss on the cheek. "It's nice to have you so close again."

Lily smiled and hugged her uncle, then made her way through the streets. She made it to the shop, grabbing a broom servicing kit and a practice snitch that had gotten good reviews and wanted to try for herself.

"Think you'll be selected for the World Cup again next year?" Gromel, the owner of the shop and a familiar face, asked innocently.

Lily was used to chatting up predictions and thoughts with Gromel. She just wasn't much in the mood for thinking of the future anymore. "There's some pretty great new blood," she replied diplomatically.

"I don't know," Gromel said. "England's always done well when they had you."

Lily tried to give him a smile. "Well, we'll see."

She grabbed the bag and thanked Gromel again, grabbing a bulletin calling for the creation of local community Quidditch teams. Someone about to come in opened the door for her. "Thanks," she said.

"Lily?"

She looked up and stopped in her tracks. There, grinning at her, was Lorcan Scamander. "Oh, hi," she said. Her heart pounded. She hadn't seen him in almost a year. Not since the last time she told him she didn't want to hold him back from dating other women, if he wanted.

Lily had been saying that for years. The first year after her graduation, when she was put on reserve for the Harpies, they carried on a long distant relationship. They'd done that when she was at Hogwarts her last year, so it wasn't much of a stretch. Then Lorcan was busy with all sorts of research, working part time as an assistant for the Department of Mysteries. He'd also started an informal project, researching Gypsy clans and trying to correct misconceptions Wizards had about them. It was an effort that was probably still ongoing, but Lorcan was made for such work. He was trustworthy and patient and won over almost every Gypsy clan that let him even talk with them. Last Lily knew he was working on a book, sorting through what he could and couldn't share with the Wizarding World. A lesser man would have used whatever he'd learned for how it would benefit him. Not Lorcan. It's why they all trusted him. He would never divulge their closely held secrets to the world.

Still, with Lorcan engrossed in his studies and Lily trying to prove herself on the field, they spent several years on and off. She'd all but move in with him during off seasons, but during the year Lily insisted over and over that it wasn't fair to either of them to hold out when they saw each other so little. Lorcan would visit when he could, coming to see her play, which almost always ended in a night at her flat with little talking and no sleep.

Then last year, she started on the same idea. He needed to feel free to see other people. It wasn't fair to him, when Lily had no idea when she would be done and they lived too far apart for any of this to make sense.

"It doesn't have to make sense," Lorcan told her, obviously frustrated with the conversation. "I love you and I want to be with you."