A Long Nine Months

3: A Set of Uncles

"You ready?" James asked, peering intently into Lily's eyes, their hands clasped between them.

"Ready as I'll ever be," she grinned.

James nodded and let go of one hand so that they could walk into the living room together, side by side.

"OI! Hurry it up in there!" Sirius called with feigned annoyance.

"Calm down, Padfoot!" James replied, laughing as he and Lily entered the room.

"Well you're the ones who invited us and told us to wait here. The least you could do it tell us why," Sirius shot back, an eyebrow raised. He was, of course, wearing his typical leather jacket, his black hair falling in smooth waves to his shoulders. He was sitting in the middle of the couch, lounging against the cushions with a casual ease.

Remus rolled his eyes at his friends and continued to wait patiently on one side of the couch, balancing a cup of tea with one hand on the armrest. Peter was on the other side of Sirius, leaning forward anxiously, per usual, like he was about to jump to his feet at any second.

James and Lily stood in front of their friends, James clearly relaxed with his hands in his pockets and enjoying the suspenseful torture he was putting Sirius through. Lily smiled warmly at them, but wrung her hands together nervously.

"I see you made yourself at home," James smirked, nodding to the mug of tea in Remus's hand that he did not have when he arrived.

Remus shrugged unabashedly. "I didn't know how long you'd be. You don't really have a reputation of punctuality."

"Speaking of which," Sirius interjected. "Can we get on with it?"

James raised an eyebrow and turned to his wife. "Lily?" he urged.

"Right." She took a deep breath and glanced at each of the three wizards on the couch. "I... er... we have something to tell you."

"We figured as much," Remus commented dryly.

Lily ignored his comment and pushed forward. "It involves James and I, but I suppose it also involves all of you, that's why we're telling you now even though it's still pretty early on in the... er... process."

She glanced up at James for support and shut her eyes, ready to just tear off the bandaid.

"You're leaving James!?" Sirius blurted out.

Lily's eyes snapped open and James sent him a piercing glare.

"I always knew you were too good for him. No offense, Prongs," Remus smirked.

"What? No--" Lily started to say.

"Thanks Moony. I appreciate the support," James said at the same time, rolling his eyes.

"My pleasure," Remus said with a modest shrug.

"Wait, won't that make Order meetings a bit... y'know, awkward?" Peter chimed in.

Sirius gave a bark of laughter and slapped him on the back. "Don't worry, Wormy. Lily isn't leaving James yet. They haven't done the paperwork so they still have time to sort it all out."

"I am not leaving James!" Lily shouted, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes dramatically.

The Marauders grinned back at her with expressions that said 'duh' written all over their faces. But, Sirius couldn't help but poke the dragon, so to speak.

He gasped impressively. "James... You're leaving Lily!?"

James snorted and picked up a pillow from the nearest chair to chuck at his head.