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[theshabbiestofmen]

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[heorot]

[ your face can never hurt from grinning too much you're just unpracticed. goodness, moony ]

My presents? [ feign shock, feign shock, and then he just breaks into a wider grin. ] You shouldn't have, Moony. But you're definitely right, Lily would have our heads if we opened everything. She's going to want us out there for all the festivities soon.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Well. I won't be sorry to get this early, I'll be honest.

[Carefully, almost reverently, he sets the books aside.]

I like this-- us all living together, I mean. It was a fantastic idea.

[heorot]

[ he watches the way remus carries the books, and he's somewhere between being exsasperated because they're not breakable, mate and being excited he likes them so much. but then remus talks about living together and james just about cheers, with how happy he is. ]

Isn't it? It's like being back in the Gryffindor Tower, only much better.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Except with your son around.

[A beat. He adds (slightly cautiously):]

He's so-- I worry about him a little. He's so serious. I mean, god knows he has every right to be, and he's perfectly charming, I don't-- this isn't a criticism, I just-- I worry a little.

[heorot]

[ give it to james potter for taking that whole timey whimey bit in stride. ]

Serious is putting it lightly, mate. I worry he doesn't even remember how to have fun. [ but then he shrugs, leaning forward on his knees a little. ] But I think it'd be good for him, with us all here. From what I can tell he didn't get a lot of chances to do this sorta thing.

[ and then a small smile. he's so glad you were worried about criticizing his son. ]

You knew him as a baby back home, yeah?

[theshabbiestofmen]

Aggressively drooly and intent on playing, yes.

[He returns that smile.]

I have to say, I'm a bit sorry you were brought from before the birth. Watching you stress over Lily in the hospital was quite a sight-- tiring, admittedly, but still amusing in retrospect.

[heorot]

[ he snorts. ]

Knowing him now I honestly can't even imagine that.

[ but then he just laughs, running his hand through his hair a bit at the idea of lily pregnant and hormonal and oh good godric. ]

That's a terrifying thought, honestly. I can't imagine I got much sleep- or you, or Sirius, or anyone for that matter.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Honestly, we were fine with it. It was you who stressed; we personally fully believed in Lily and Saint Mungo's.

[He flashes him a grin.]

It was worth it, though. Harry was a lovely baby, he really was. I took a picture and everything.

[heorot]

Of course I was stressed! Have you honestly thought about pregnancy before, Moony? With all my trust in Lily and Saint Mungo's it's enough to give me nightmares even now.

[ but then james sobers a little, the smile still there but a little more serious. ]

Do you... [ is it weird to ask about it? he's going to anyway. ] Do you have it? Here?

[theshabbiestofmen]

[His mouth twitches, but he gets up, going to his bookshelf.]

I do, yes.

[It's in Saint Mungo's, clearly. Lily is fast asleep, her red hair damp from sweat, her face pale. James is in the bed with her, curled protectively around her-- and Harry, not more than a day old, is resting on his mother's chest, his cheek pressed against her. His eyes are wide open; he stares up at James, who looks down at his son. His expression is equal parts awed and adoring; carefully, he rubs a finger over Harry's cheek.]

There y'are.

[heorot]

[ remus' movement is enough for james to freeze - thinking maybe, just maybe - before he affirms it. he has the picture. his eyes follow remus all the way to the bookshelf, and then all the way back, his chest tightening just a little at the idea of it. it's the future, sure, and maybe he shouldn't be looking at all, but he's taken over by an overwhelming need to see that he can't help it.

so when remus holds out the picture to him, james takes it, giving him a quick smile for thanks before he even looks down. and that's when he sees it, an image that is so real even if he's never lived it, playing out in front of him like it could have been his memory. or will be his memory. james isn't sure if time stops or he just stops breathing because there's a span of something there where james is pretty sure he doesn't exist outside of that picture. of seeing lily, stunning lily, and then there's him and he's there and then there's harry. so small, so vulnerable, looking up at what james knows is him even if he feels a sudden, painful, sense of jealousy at the figure in his spot.

and then, after what feels like an eternity, he lets himself exhale- a single word hanging somewhere in there. ]

Merlin.