Essex, England
"Prongs, just give me a ring." Sirius left yet another message on James' phone. Himself, Poppy and Fleamont sat in Fleamont's car scanning the area for his best friend.
"We could be driving around all night, I don't know where to start." Fleamont sighed.
"You know more than me, Monty. This is virgin territory to me." Poppy said.
"What about Lucy, should we try her place?"
"I dunno where she lives." Sirius shrugged. "I don't even know her surname."
"How come?"
"I've only met her twice. Once at Prongs' Grandma's funeral and once when she was washing cars with the Brownies."
***
Essex, England
"I've put the kettle on." Euphemia entered the living room where Remus, Lily and Lyall were all sat. "I'm going to have a brandy though."
"I know what you mean, do you have any port?" Lyall asked.
"I think so," Euphemia turned to Remus, "What about you, love?"
"I'll have a dry sherry."
"Is there any alcohol in Bailey's?" Lily asked as she examined the bottle on the coffee table.
"Only a bit, it's mainly cream." Remus shrugged.
"If you want my advice," Lily put the bottle back on the table and turned to Euphemia, "I wouldn't."
"Fair play, I'll stick to the tea." Lily got up and made for the door.
"I'll do it my love, you sit down." Euphemia fussed.
"You're alright, Effie. I need to take my mind off the fact that I'm pregnant by a man I can't stand. No offence."
"None taken." Euphemia stared after Lily as she entered the kitchen before returning to the drinks in front of her. "The poor girl." She sighed as she placed the tray down on the coffee table. "What is she going to do? I mean, I love my little prince to pieces, but he's not father material. I mean, not yet."
"Have you thought about what you're going to do, love?" Lyall asked as Lily returned to her seat. "Where are you going to live? You can't carry on where you are."
"Where do you live?" Euphemia asked.
"She lives with a band."
"What?"
"They're called The Distance." Remus said. "Three of them were in Catatonia and then the little Welsh one from Hear'Say."
"That is no place to bring up a child my love."
"I know, but what can I do? Richard said I can go there but Judy won't have it after what happened last time."
"What happened last time?"
"What it was, Effie, I was their nanny."
"Oh right."
"He'd come home after a morning's work. Judy would be straight on the booze and me and Rich, we'd make love."
***
Essex, England
"It's the one off the Mayfair Road."
"Gotcha."
"I've only been to a drive through once in my life." Poppy sighed. Sirius and Fleamont shared a look before laughing. Fleamont stopped the car in front of the first window.
"Yes please?"
"Is Reggie in?"
"Yeah, hang on a minute." The girl turned around, "REGGIE!" Regulus appeared and smiled at his brother who was leaning across Fleamont.
"Alright Siri, Monty?" Poppy put the back window down.
"Hello, I'm Poppy."
"Poppy, this is Regulus, Sirius' brother." Fleamont explained.
"Hello Regulus."
"Call me Reggie, everyone else does."
"Have you seen Prongs?"
"No, why?"
"It's a long story but we can't find him."
"Right."
"You ain't seen him at all?"
"Nah, I haven't spoken to him in weeks."
"Right, cheers, we'll keep looking."
"Have you tried the driving range?"
"Why would he be there?"
"When we were together he told me he goes there a lot to clear his head."
"Thanks!"
***
Essex, England
"Course you can."
"Really?"
"Makes sense to me." Euphemia said as she handed Lyall another drink.
"Look, Rem's room is empty now. Why let it go to waste? Just till you get back on your feet. Till the baby is born."
"You don't want to be on your own, darling." Euphemia sighed. "That's the last thing you want when you're going into childbirth."
"What do you think, Rem?"
"What's that?" Remus looked up from his phone.
"We were just saying that it makes sense for Lily to move in with me."
"Where's she gonna stay?"
"In your old room."
"But that's my bedroom! Where are me and Sirius gonna sleep?"
"You'll have to stay at Poppy's, love."
"I don't wanna stay at Poppy's. If I'm coming home, then I want to come home."
"But this is your home now, Rem. You can't expect me to keep an empty room going in case you want to pop in on a whim."
"This isn't my home, it's Monty and Effie's."
"And yours now, darling."
"It's not! It never will be! It's just a room in a house, that's all."
"Charming." Euphemia shook her head.
"There's no need to be rude!" Lyall scolded.
"I'm being rude? You're kicking me out!"
***
Essex, England
Sirius, Fleamont and Poppy all stood and watched in silence as James hit the golf ball perfectly off the tee.
"Shame you can't hit them like that when you're actually playing, isn't it?" Sirius chuckled as he walked over. James sighed and turned to face his friend.
"I'm sorry about before. It's not your fault, I just didn't know what to say."
"It's okay. How are you feeling?"
"I dunno how I'm feeling, it's ridiculous."
"You've gotta come back, mate. You've gotta talk to her."
"What am I going to say? I can't be a dad, look at me. I can barely look after myself let alone someone else. What am I going to do? I don't know anything about nappies or burping or umbilical cords."
"No one knows those things, son." Fleamont walked over, hands in his pockets.
"Eh?"
"That's the point, it's a learning curve for everyone."
"I haven't got anything though."
"Listen, the night Effie gave birth to you, I was petrified. That night I couldn't sleep, I just couldn't see how I was going to bring up a little boy. You realise, everyone feels that way, no one is ready. Yeah, it was easier for me and your mum because we were married, but you and Lily will be okay. You'll make mistakes but you'll get there."
"Come back with us Prongs. Do the right thing."
***
Essex, England
"Effie?" Euphemia and Lily stopped drying up and looked over to where Remus and Lyall were stood. "I'm sorry about what I said about your house not being my home. It's not really but it is. I'm sorry."
"That's alright my love."
"So what about the room?" Lily asked.
"The room is yours, Lil." Lyall nodded. "Isn't it Rem?"
"Yeah. You can have it. Dad's getting an airbed for when we come down."
"Tidy." A car horn sounded from outside.
"Oh, here they are." Euphemia placed the tea towel she was holding down on the counter and hurried off to open the door.
"We found him at the driving range." Fleamont said as the group made their way into the living room, leaving Remus and Sirius stood in the hallway.
"Guess what."
"What?"
"Dad says Lily can move into my room and when we visit, we have to sleep on an airbed."
"That's alright, isn't it?" Sirius put his arm around Remus.
"You're not bothered?"
"We can stay at Poppy's, can't we?"
"But it's my bedroom. Don't you think it's out of order?"
"Not really. This is your home now, baby. Here with me." Sirius placed a kiss on Remus' cheek.
"Yeah, I guess." James stepped inside and closed the front door.
"C'mon, let's go through." The three of them entered the living room. Remus sat down in the armchair and Sirius sat on his lap. James sighed before going over to where Lily was sat on the sofa. He got down on one knee and took Lily's hand in his.
"Lily, will you-"
"What are you doing?" Sirius sighed.
"What?"
"What're you playing at?"
"What do you mean? You said I had to do the right thing."
"He didn't mean propose." Fleamont shook his head at his son.
"You said it was easier because you and mum were married. You really think I want to be married?"
"I don't want to marry you; I'd have said no." Lily said.
"Why? I'm a catch."
"You're not everyone's cup of tea, darling." Euphemia muttered.
"Maybe we should leave you two alone, y'know to talk." Fleamont said.
"What's there to say?"
"I'll have you know; I'm having this baby. I don't want you involved though."
"No way. If I'm having a baby then no one is going to stop me seeing it. I'll do whatever it takes." Lily sighed. "If I'm going to be a dad, I'm gonna be a proper dad."
***
Essex, England
"See you, Poppy." Remus sighed.
"Now now, no tears. We're only a phone call away." Poppy gave Remus a quick hug before climbing into the car.
"When do you think you'll next be down?" Lyall asked.
"I dunno. Two weeks maybe?"
"That's something to look forward to, isn't it?" Remus nodded, tears escaping his eyes. "No need to cry."
"It just doesn't feel right. It feels like I should be coming with you. Coming home."
"But this is your home now."
"I mean Lily's having a baby and I'm not even there. It just feels wrong."
"Now listen, it just feels funny because it's all new. Give it a few days and you'll have forgotten all about us."
"No I won't."
"Rem, this is a whole new chapter in your life, a brand new start. You've got a cracking husband; he'll look after you. Of course it's going to be strange to start with, but it'll soon fall into place." Remus smiled. "C'mere." Lyall pulled Remus into a hug. "You'll never know how much I'm going to miss you." Lyall let go and Sirius put his arm around Remus. "No more tears now." Lyall smiled at the couple.
"I'll look after him." Sirius pulled Remus closer.
"I know you will." Lyall nodded before climbing into the car next to Poppy.
