"Hiya."
"Are you still asleep?"
"No."
"How come?"
"Well, I'm up. I've been to the shop, got a paper, some milk. It's a lush day, innit?"
"I know. It's bakin'. And there's the Elvis convention. The island's going to be packed. What you up to today then?"
"Dunno - might pop down and see you later."
"Aw, that'll be nice. Make sure you text before you come though, so I can take my break."
"Hang on a minute. Effie and Monty Just pulled up outside the house."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh my god, maybe your nan has died."
"Which one? They're all dead."
"Are they? And mine are."
"I'll call you back."
***
Barry Island, Wales
"Yoo-hoo! Surprise!"
"What're you doing here?"
"Oh, that's a nice welcome." Euphemia pulled Sirius into a hug.
"Hiya, mate." Fleamont said as he got out the car.
"Hiya."
"No, it's just...well, it's just a surprise, that's all."
"That's because we wanted to surprise you!"
"Needless to say, this was Effie's idea."
"It wasn't actually. It was Phil and Ruth's. They saw the weather last night and said it was going to be nice and asked if we wanted to spend the day on Barry Beach."
"Are they following you down?"
"No." Fleamont made a face. "They had a row at three this morning. They're not speaking."
"Ruth threw him out. He slept in the shed."
"Monty! Effie! Sirius! I'm up here!" They looked across the road at Poppy's house. She stood in the upstairs window waving. "Hello!"
"Hiya!"
"There I was, having a bath, when the phone goes. It's Rosmerta. She says Sirius' family have just pulled up outside Lyall's. I told her not to be daft but lo and behold, she was right! And there you are."
"Here we are!" Euphemia smiled.
"Wait there, I'll get dressed. I'm in a towel."
"Well, that's a fiver I owe Rosmerta." Minerva muttered as she left her house.
"Hiya Minerva." They greeted her.
"She just emailed and said it was you. I bet her five quid it wasn't but here you are! She's made a twat of me." Euphemia laughed. "I'll tell you something else, Lyall's in for a shock."
The front door opened and Lyall stepped out. "Rosmerta just text me! She said you were here!"
"I know! It's a surprise!" Lyall hugged Euphemia and shook Fleamont's hand.
"We fancied a day on the beach."
"That sounds lovely. Can we join you?"
"Lyall, we would love it. We've got everything in the car - windbreaks, lilos, body-boards!"
"Are you coming Minnie?" Fleamont asked.
"I haven't been down the island for years."
"Well, all the more reason to come."
"Well, why not. Chips and a bag of doughnuts, I'm your girl. I'll have to dig out my bikini." Euphemia started to laugh loudly. "Joking I am, Sirius. A one-piece it is."
"Sorry about that." Poppy jogged across the road wearing a bath robe.
"You were quick."
"Oh, I'm only halfway through, Effie. I've not even talcumed yet. Now, I hear we're going down the beach."
"How'd you hear that?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Rosmerta."
"You're coming, aren't you?" Lyall asked.
"Of course, but I was thinking about little baby Harry. He'd love it down there."
"He would! What's the latest with Lily and Severus?"
"We don't really know. We've not heard a peep."
"Let me exfoliate. I'll pop down the van, see how the land lies."
***
Barry Island, Wales
The party got out of the car and Remus jogged over. "Hiya."
"Hiya." He pulled Sirius into a hug. "Aw, you look so lush."
"What do you mean?"
"Just watchin' you then, from the kiosk, smilin'. It's been so long since I seen you proper smilin'."
"Oh."
"Hiya, Rem!" Euphemia came over and hugged Remus tightly. "We're on the island. Can you believe it? First time!"
"I know. What d'you think?" Remus said as they broke apart.
"It's nice but I suppose that's because the sun is shining."
"Hiya love." Lyall hugged Remus. "You going to come down on your break?"
"Definitely. Where you goin'?"
"Probably in the middle."
"See you later love." The group headed down onto the beach. Lily walked over carrying Harry whilst Poppy pushed the pram.
"Hiya, where's Sev?"
"Rem, we're not mentioning Severus today." Poppy explained. "Today is a Severus-free zone."
"Is it still bad?"
"The atmosphere in that caravan is what I can only describe as - well, I can't describe it."
"So Sev isn't coming then?" Sirius asked as he put his arm around Remus.
"Oh, Sirius, what happened to this Severus-free zone?" Lily muttered before stalking off.
"Oh, Rem!" Marco called from the kiosk.
"Sorry Marco!"
"Come on! I got seven Elvises here, all gasping for a cappuccino!" Remus gave Sirius a quick kiss.
"Right, I'll see you later."
"See ya." Sirius' phone started to ring. "Alright mate?"
"Padfoot! Guess where I am?"
"Where?"
"Guess."
"Where?"
"No, guess."
"Where?"
"Guess."
"Upton Park."
"Wrong! I'm in my car."
"Oh yeah? Where you going?" Sirius and Poppy started to make their way towards the crowded beach.
"Guess."
"Prongs, just tell me where you are!"
"Okay, I've just crossed a big bridge. I paid five pound forty for the privilege. I'm currently coming off the M4, onto the A48, heading westbound, straight towards the isle of Barry."
"You're coming down here?!"
"Where I know for a fact my best friend's husband's at work all day, leaving him, aka you, sat at home watching porn."
"Prongs!" James laughed down the phone. "So you're on your way here now?"
"Yeah! We're gonna go to the beach. I want to be the first person to take my son to the seaside and walk him on the sand."
"The only problem is, he's already on the beach. We all are. Monty and Effie, everyone. It was a bit impromptu."
"What? Is Severus there?"
"No, hang on." Sirius turned to Poppy. "Is Severus coming?"
"We don't know. He's gone to get gas."
"He's gone to get gas." Sirius repeated to James.
"Oh, in that case, look, I'm not going to bother. I'll just turn around. It's probably for the best."
"Yeah, probably."
"No! Why's it for the best? I'm trying to see my son! Stop trying to stop me!"
"I'm not!"
"Don't then! I'll see you in a bit! Bye!"
"See ya." James hung up and Sirius put his phone away as they joined the group on the beach.
"This is a beautiful beach!" Fleamont said as he battled with a windbreak.
"I'm glad you said that Monty." Poppy said as she dragged the pram across the sand. "We're very proud of our beaches in Barry. Aren't we, Lyall?"
"Oh, yes. I prefer it to Porthcawl."
"Now, now." Poppy chuckled. "The thing is Monty, I've got a lot of happy memories of this beach. Some of the best times of my childhood. We used to come over for the day from Swansea."
Fleamont took off his shirt and Euphemia cheered.
"Give it a rest." He laughed as he chucked his shirt at his wife.
"Oh, Monty, you been workin' out?" Lily asked as she lifted her sunglasses. "Nice frame."
"Cheers. I do my best."
"I bet you do."
"Hey Effie, I imagine you're a satisfied customer!" Minerva chuckled.
"Minnie!" Lyall laughed.
"I've got no complaints - put it that way." Euphemia said as she leaned back in her chair.
"I'll get some drinks. What's everyone want?" Sirius asked the group.
"Just get a mixture. A few cans of pop."
"I'll have an Irn-Bru." Lily said as she placed a cigarette in her mouth.
"What if they ain't got Irn-Bru?"
"Go somewhere that has."
"Okay. Anyone else?"
"I'll have a tea, Sirius. Or a Shandy Bass. Either's fine." Minerva said as she sat down in a foldable chair.
"Should we get a little juice for Harry?" Lyall said as he bounced the baby up and down.
"Yeah." Lily nodded.
"I'll get these." Minerva handed Sirius a twenty pound note.
***
Barry Island, Wales
Sirius headed over to the kiosk and Remus smiled. "Yes sir, can I help you?"
"I'd like some drinks please. Lots of cans. And a snog, a full snog and a cuddle." Remus leant across the counter and kissed Sirius.
"Aw, are you missin' me?"
"I am actually, yeah."
"I'll be down in a bit now." Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Hey, guess what I was thinkin' this morning?"
"What?"
"We should go on holiday. You know, just get away from it all."
"Yeah, maybe."
"I just think we're a bit preoccupied with everything. You know, havin' a baby, not havin' a baby. Maybe we just need to be on our own for a bit." Sirius leaned in and kissed Remus once more.
"Padfoot! This is amazing!" Sirius and Remus broke apart. "There's a fair! Why have we never been here before?" James walked over wearing a rubber ring. "Ghost train, dodgems-"
"Log flumes." Remus supplied.
"Log flumes! We've gotta go on them! Where's Harry? Where's everyone?"
"Down on the right, just after the steps."
"I'll see you down there."
"You want a drink?"
"Yeah, I'll have an Irn-Bru."
"Okay." James disappeared down onto the beach.
***
Barry Island, Wales
Sirius entered the kitchen where Remus was stood.
"What's up?"
"I just haven't seen you today. Not properly. I fancied a little cwtch."
Sirius kissed Remus before pulling him in for a hug.
"Rem?"
"Mhm."
"I think we should set a date."
"What?" Remus pulled away.
"Say, the end of the year, not do anything until then."
"How d'you mean?"
"Well, if Dora is pregnant by the end of the year, we'll look into adoption." Remus smiled.
"Okay." Sirius allowed Remus to pull him into another hug.
