Our Path Is Set for The Rest of Our Lives... It is Only The Beginning

Our Path Is Set for The Rest of Our Lives...It is Only The Beginning

James walked into his bedroom followed closely by his wife, Lily. They had just decided to turn in after a long night with Sirius, which included dinner, brandy and firewhiskey. Sirius had drunk himself to the point of no return and James had to fly the motorcycle, which Sirius had enchanted, with him slumped over the back all the way to Sirius' flat in Acton and after parking it outside, he apparated home.

James loosened the collar of his navy blue oxford shirt and unbuckled his belt with the Potter crest. He sat on the edge of the bed, which creaked as he shifted from side to side to remove his shoes and socks. He sat for a while in silence and his brown eyes watched Lily change her clothes. The pale moonlight came in through the window at the side and he noticed how her silk nighty slipped on to her body over the curves of her figure. As if sensing his eyes on her body, Lily turned to face him. Her face had a serious expression and her emerald eyes shone brighter than usual. She tied her hair in a messy bun, never breaking eye contact. She made her way over to him and rested her hands on his shoulders as she straddled his legs. James wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. He placed his lips on the side of her neck and just sat there unmoving, feeling her pulse vibrate against his lips.

"James," she called out to him softly.

James raised his head and kissed her lips before answering.

"What?"

Lily sighed and turned away. James' brow furrowed in bemusement and he tilted her head so he could see her face. He gasped when he saw pools of tears shining in her eyes. He stared at her in silence, even when the first tear ran down her cheek, leaving a path of wetness; he just brushed it away with his thumb, without saying anything.

"What's wrong dear?" he asked with concern. "Tell me what is upsetting my flower when she was so happy earlier."

Lily choked back a sob and closed her eyes causing more tears to run down her cheeks. James bit his lip worriedly and ran his hands gently up and down her back. The silky feel of her nighty against his calloused hands made him sigh deeply. His hands moved upwards and toward her front. They gently grazed her breasts and he felt a shiver pass through her. He noticed that her nipples had hardened, but now was not the time to act upon these feelings. His hands rested on her shoulders and he gently massaged them while she cried. Eventually, when she stopped crying, James gathered her in an embrace and held her slightly quivering body against him. He kissed her forehead and brushed her auburn locks away from her neck and shoulders. They remained like this for a while, then soon enough, Lily's silent tears had stopped and she straightened up to look James in the eye.

"Where do you see us ten years from now?" she asked him quietly. Her eyes were slightly puffy from crying.

James frowned in thought, and then his face broke out in a smile. "I see us in this very room. We've just got ready for bed and our children come running in. We all lie on this bed and watch the telly for a bit. Then they fall asleep and we fix them up so they're well covered and comfortable. We crawl in beside them and we all spend the night together as a family."

Lily watched him intently the whole time as he spoke, her green eyes darting all over his face. She seemed to be listening, yet, she had this faraway look in her eyes, and when he smiled at a thought, she would smile in return.

"Sounds wonderful," she said breathlessly.

James blushed, but the redness in his cheeks quickly faded.

"But why were you crying Lily?" James asked earnestly.

Lily's smile was sad and panic clutched his heart at once.

"Wha-What is it?" he stammered. "Tell me Lily."

Lily fiddled with her wedding band nervously, then inhaled deeply.

"I'm pregnant."

So many emotions coursed through James at once. The main one was fear, but as soon as he gathered his wits about him, he realized that this was a happy moment for him. His face broke out into a wide grin and he stood up quickly, catching Lily, who was still on his lap, before she hit the ground. He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face in her neck, inhaling her lavender wash scent. Then not long after, tears of his own were making their way down his cheeks. Only they were for happiness. He straightened and grasped Lily by her upper arms.

"I am a proud father and that's the most wonderful news I have ever heard in my entire life and I love you so much," he said while leaning forward to place his lips against hers.

Lily gaped at him and said, "What about Voldemort? If he finds out, he will definitely come after us James. It is in Sybil's prophecy! And in any case, is this the world we want to raise our child in?"

James sighed and rested his palm against her flat stomach. "Lily, Lily, this is the only world we know and no matter how bad it gets, life must go on and we have each other and our love."

Lily stood on her toes and tilted her head to kiss her husband. His hands rested on the small of her back and she arched her back a bit as she ran her fingers through his thick black hair, finally stopping at the back of his neck, where her fingers intertwined. James broke the kiss with a sigh and opened his eyes to have his heart warmed at the spark in Lily's eyes and the smile on her face.

"I'm sorry James," she whispered. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what got into me."

"Shh," James cooed, and then continued, "you're scared. That is nothing to be ashamed of. But I promise I'll be right here when you need me."

"I always need you James."

James took her hand and led her towards the bed. They got in and she spooned herself against him. After a few moments of silence, while listening to each other breathe, James spoke.

"I will always be here for you."

Lily turned over and wrapped her arm and leg over him and closed her eyes. He noticed her eyes moving underneath her eyelids. After all the crying, he figured it might take a while for her to fall asleep. So he tried to relax and comfort her by singing. His voice was so soft and deep as he sang Unchained Melody.

Just before she drifted off into a deep slumber, Lily mumbled, "I love you and our child and no matter how scared I am, my love will always be strong."

The End