CANNONBALL ⇒ jegulus

TWENTY ONE

Lily welcomes them with a wide grin and open arms as she shoves them both into one of her tightly warm hugs. "God, the boys are back in town!" She cries.

"Two of the boys, silly," James corrects with a smile. "How've you been, Evans? Didn't miss us too much, did you?"

Lily smirks, nudging James. "Oh, y'know," She rolls her jade eyes. "When I'm not sobbing my eyes out and clutching all of your belongings with a tough grip, I try to keep you all in mind," She jokes.

Regulus smiles before the soft sound of meowing has him wandering wordlessly into Lily's living room. "Oh, my girl," He breaks out in a grin as he spots Manon curled in all of her grey coated glory on the arm of Lily's violet sofa.

Manon meows loudly at the sight of him and climbs to her feet. "You've missed me too then, eh, girl?" Regulus smiles at her before wrapping her up in his arms, holding her close and gently to his chest. "Auntie Lily been good to you then?"

"The best," Lily answers as she and James follow him into the living room. She strokes Manon's head before, "We watch all the soaps together, y'know, she isn't too keen on Ross Geller, I can't say I disagree," Lily laughs softly.

James reaches out to stroke Manon's chin with that fond smile of his. "Hey, betcha missed your mum, didn't you," He muses.

"Speaking of mums, how are you, Reg? Everything going well?" Lily asks as she gestures for them to take a seat. "Baby good, mummy good?" She guides them to a sofa, Manon still cradled against her owning, purring contently.

Regulus nods. "Everything's fine, Lil," He replies before reaching into his jean jacket pocket. "We came back for an appointment, here, sprog updated," He grins, handing her the sonogram he had retrieved from his pocket.

Lily gazes in awe, a small gasp escaping her mouth. "Oh, wow! Baby's really growin' in there, eh?" Her fingers ghost over the small outline of the miniscule baby growing inside of Regulus.

Regulus hums. "Mmh, they're getting big, alright," He places a hand to the growing curve of his bump while the other hand holds Manon to his chest.

"Morning sickness easing off, is it?"

Regulus nods with a soft smile as he peppers the top of Manon's head with a kiss. "Yeah, I'm good now," He answers. "Just a few cramps here and there, they're called 'growing pains ' and they suck," He huffs with a playful smirk.

Lily smiles sympathetically. "Well, I hope this one is taking good care of you then, eh, James?" She nudges James playfully. "You been good to him then?"

James seems to perk up with a hum. "Obviously, Lily, m'not harboring a silent death wish," He rolls his eyes. "Sirius would kill me," He adds. "Anyways, Sirius aside, 'course m'as good as I can be to Reg, regardless of if his brother will put me six feet under or not," James clarifies with a wink.

"Oh, come off it. He's been brilliant, Lil, really. Perfect dad material," Regulus claims.

James blushes slightly but he smiles nonetheless. "Well what can I say? I try, mmh?" He says bashfully.

Regulus rolls his eyes, stroking Manon softly as she cuddles closer to the warmth of his chest, her green eyes closing as she purs lightly. "Don't be so modest," Regulus teases.

"Don't be so sarcastic with me then, mate," James counters with a smirk playing on his curved lips.

But what James Potter is unaware of is how brillainr Regulus Black really thinks he is. He meant it. Every single word.

"You're covered in cat hairs,"

"Yeah, James, cats shed, idiot," Regulus states the obvious. Or what he had naively assumed to have been obvious information to everyone except James Potter.