"Where've you been? I've been calling."
"I'm sorry. I was just in the shower."
"Why haven't you left yet?"
"I'm just leaving now. It's only eight thirty."
"Well, don't be long. I just want to see you, that's all."
"I'm on my way."
***
Barry Island, Wales
Remus entered the living room and hugged Lily.
"Oh, Lil! It's all so exciting, isn't it dad?" Remus asked Lyall as he released Lily.
"What's that, love?"
"Good morning, one and all." Poppy entered the kitchen through the back door. "Especially the blushing bride."
"Alright Poppy? Right. We ready then?"
"Madam, your carriage awaits. Or should I say Picasso?" Remus smiled at Poppy.
"There you are love." Lyall handed Lily an omelette.
"Cheers Lyall."
"Oh, Lil, it's gonna be immense." Remus grinned at his best friend. "Are you excited?"
"I am, yeah." Lily nodded. "I feels very emotional." She lifted Harry in his car seat. "Come on, Poppy, let's hit the road." Poppy saluted.
***
Motorway
Sirius looked to his right and smiled as he saw James. They both put their windows down.
"ALRIGHT?!" He called. He could see James talking but couldn't hear a thing. He shook his head. James made a phone motion and Sirius put his window back up. Moments later his phone rang and he accepted the call through the Bluetooth. "Padfoot!"
"Alright?"
"You stopping at Leigh Delamere?"
"I wasn't going to."
"Where you stopping?"
"I don't normally. I go straight through."
"What, not even at Chieveley? You don't stop at Chieveley?"
"No."
"Chieveley's the best. It's insane."
"I've never been."
"It's great! I took Lucy there for dinner once."
"And you wonder why she left you!"
"Come on. Stop at Leigh Delamere. You'll get to see Harry."
"Okay. Just for five minutes."
"See you in a bit."
***
Leigh Delamere Services
Sirius pulled into the parking space opposite James and got out of his car.
"Hello James."
"Alright Poppy?"
"How are you?" She asked as she hugged him. "What a treat." She pulled away and hugged Sirius.
"We just passed each other on the motorway. How are you, Lil?" Sirius asked as Lily walked over carrying Harry.
"Tidy." She nodded.
"We had a lovely run down." Poppy grinned. Sirius' phone started to ring and he accepted the call.
"Where are you?" Remus asked.
"I just stopped at Leigh Delamere. I saw Prongs and thought-"
"You better not take ages."
"I'll be literally five minutes and then I'm heading off again."
"Get going soon."
"Okay."
"I love you."
"Love you too." Sirius hung up and dropped his phone in his pocket.
"I've got a couple of changes of clothes in there for him." Lily handed James a bag. "And his special blanket."
"Oh, you've got your special NuNu blanket!" James tickled Harry who giggled.
"He's not been sleeping well the last few nights, you may want to stay with him till he gets off."
"Yeah, course."
"What are you gonna do with him?" Lily asked and she handed the car seat over.
"Oh, just hang out and stuff. Me and Reggie are gonna take him to Jungle Jim's. We're gonna have fun, aren't we?" Harry giggled again. "Come on then little fella. Come have a holiday with your daddy, eh?"
"We'll be back next week."
"We'll be fine you know. We'll be fine together."
"I know."
"Well, all the best for today. You've got god weather for it." Lily nodded. "I've got you something, actually, in the car." James held Harry out to Poppy. "Sorry - Poppy , will you take..." James opened his car door and grabbed a badly wrapped present and a card from the passenger seat. "It's not anything big or nothing. It's just..." He handed the present to Lily.
"Oh, cheers." She tore open the wrapping paper. Sirius looked over her shoulder at the framed photo of Lily and Harry on the beach. "Thanks." Lily smiled. "I ain't got one of just me and him."
"Look, when you get back, we'll work out some kind of routine, you know? A bit more structure to everything now that you and Severus are getting married."
"He's not replacing you or nothing, you know - Severus."
"I never thought he was."
"No. There's only one of you, isn't there?" James shrugged. Lily held out her hand and James shook it.
"Have a good one." James took the baby from Poppy. "Cheers Poppy."
"Right, Sirius, see you there. Lil, let's get you home and get you married."
Lily and Poppy climbed into the Picasso.
"You alright mate?" Sirius asked as they watched the car pull away.
"Yeah, I'm good. I'm gonna get a tea. Do you want-"
"No, I can't. I've really got to get back." Sirius' phone started to ring once more. "Babe, I'm just getting in the care right now."
"Go on." James whispered. Sirius nodded and got into his car.
"You said you wouldn't be long."
"I know. I really was only five minutes."
"Just hurry up and get back."
"Yeah, okay, but I don't see what the rush is. We've got loads of times. Lily's only just left."
