[ c o n t a c t ]

[misterprongs]

i solemnly swear that i am up to no good.

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[theshabbiestofmen]

So

Lily's here.

[Surely this constitutes an Emergency Marauder's Meeting.]

[misterprongs]

[ augh.

normally, james is a fan of marauder meetings, but not this time. ]

I know.

[ he's not quite as thrilled as he thought he would be. ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

I'll keep it all a secret as long as you'd like. But I think you ought to talk to her about it. Eventually.

[misterprongs]

[ it takes about ten minutes for the next text to come through. ]

I don't know if I want to.

[ telling her something like that would only make her feel pressured, or pushed into a future she may not even want right now. james doesn't want to do that to her. ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

Yeah.

[God knows he can understand that. Right now Lily has nothing but disgust for James, and to suddenly have him tell her that they're married, that they have a child . . .]

You all right?

[misterprongs]

No.

[ -- which is a mite too honest, so james sends another message, to clarify. ]

I'm happy she's here, which is terrible of me, but I have no bloody idea what to do, or how to talk to her.

I want her to be on the Paisley, but she's not going to listen.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Might be better to keep her separate. She'll be fine on her ship, we're both only a moment away if she needs help-- and she's more than capable of holding her own.

[He rubs his face-- and then gives up, clambering out of bed and coming into James' room. He offers his friend half a smile, uncertain and tired.]

Suppose we can hope for Sirius next, eh?

[misterprongs]

[ james looks up at the door opening and sighs, pushing himself over on his bed so remus has room to sit. he had wanted to be alone, but if remus had been in james' position, james would've come visit too. he can hardly be upset over it. ]

I hope so.

[ tiredly, as he rests his head against the back wall. it's selfish to want that, truly, but james misses him so much. peter, too. the group just isn't the same, and james knows sirius would have some stupid remark that would instantly put him at ease.

of course it'll work out, mate, you always work everything out. everything just magically falls into place, 'cause you're james potter. ]

... I know I can be a git, and I shouldn't have...

[ james trails off into a slight frown, because pride interrupts his ability to truly regret what he's done to severus (the racist, voldemort-supporting, slimy git), but ... ]

I really do love her.

[theshabbiestofmen]

I know.

[He says it simply but honestly. He knows, because he's spent ages with them, from the first time they got together to their engagement and beyond. James Potter would die for Lily Evans, never mind his son.]

I've seen it. Believe me, that's not . . .

[He wrinkles his nose.]

It works out. Believe me, it does. She's as happy at your wedding as you are.

[misterprongs]

[ he exhales, puffing out his cheeks a bit. he's been told that, and deep down, he knows that. but it doesn't help now, and it doesn't help that james knows that, but lily doesn't, and he can't possibly tell lily that, because that would hardly be fair -- ]

I still can't tell her any of that.

[ tiredly ]

I'm not holding something like that over her head, it wouldn't be fair. Or right.

[ which leaves him in an awkward predicament, but better him than her ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

I know. It would be . . . I know. You're right.

[He rubs a hand over his face, exhaling harshly, and scoots a little closer to him on the bed.]

I'm sorry. This can't be easy for you.

[misterprongs]

[ james offers him a wry smile. ]

'course I'm right, I'm always right.

[ it's said airily, though with a lot less spark than usual. he's tired, and upset, and he kind of just wants to take a nap and sleep off this funk, but he'll get over it. he's just having a bad moment now. things could be worse. ]

I'll be fine.

[ that much is said with certainty, and james looks over at remus, with a faint smile. ]

Could be worse.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[They could all be from fifth year, he thinks idly. That would be far worse; fifth year was shit for everyone. Remus offers a slight smile in return.]

Want me to stay or leave?

[misterprongs]

You can stay.

[ with a casual shrug, letting his eyes move to the ceiling. ]

I'm going to be fine, Moony, really.

[ as he glances over at his friend ]

It's just a bad day, I'll be fine tomorrow.

[theshabbiestofmen]

I know. I don't think you're going to fall apart.

[He returns his glance, frank.]

But that doesn't mean you're all right.

[misterprongs]

[ he purses his lips at remus' expression before sighing. ]

Yeah, I suppose.

[ he fiddles with the end of his sleeve, plucking at a loose thread. ]

I guess I just thought I'd be happier about it.

[theshabbiestofmen]

It'd be easier if she were from the same time as you.

[He glances over at the wall, giving James some measure of privacy.]

It's got to be difficult, having her dislike you all over again. I mean-- god, you two'd just worked it out when you're from.

[misterprongs]

[ it does. and it hurts, in a way james hasn't really moved into dealing with yet. he loves lily, beyond sense and reason, but she isn't there yet. and she might not be for quite some time, but ... ]

I'm patient.

[ it's said finally, closing his eyes as he settles back against the wall. ]

She'll come around. I've just got to be patient.

[theshabbiestofmen]

She will. She did once, and she will again.

[A beat.]

If it's any consolation, you two are disgustingly domestic in the future.

[misterprongs]

{ there's a soft huff of laughter, at that. ]

I'd treat her like a queen if she'd let me.

[ as he lets out a sigh, but he does look cheered at that. ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

You do, in fact. And she returns the favor-- honestly, you two are splendid partners.

[This seems to be working, so he plunges on.]

You live in Godric's Hollow-- you've a little cottage together, the two of you. You even have a cat, whom Padfoot gets along with oddly well. She hates me-- the cat, obviously, not Lily-- but I put up with her for the sake of you two. You got-- for his first birthday, you got Harry a little broom, and you thought you'd have to fight with Lily to let Harry use it, but she was even more enthusiastic about it, if possible.

[misterprongs]

[ it mollifies james, hearing nice stories of the future. he knows there's a heavy burden to bear, and that voldemort is at their heels, but these stories give him a sense of peace.

though -- ]

I wouldn't get a bloody cat if Padfoot didn't get along with it.

[ indicating that sirius was probably the one who picked out the damn thing the bastard ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

Course you wouldn't.

[Because, quite frankly, Sirius comes second in priorities only to Lily, and even then the margin is narrow.]

I don't-- do you want to hear more about Harry?

[Because while Remus loves the boy, he understands how it might be nervewracking for James.]

[misterprongs]

[ sirius is, indeed, in a central point in james' life, and james adores him beyond sense and reason. it's a problem.

hearing stories about harry is nervewracking, in a way -- it's so far removed from his life right at this moment, parenthood -- but the thought that he has something so... nice, and perfect, in his future makes all of the trouble now far worth it. ]

Sure.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Well, he's a year and change when I'm from. He can walk, but not well, which means he has an alarming tendency to run into walls. Lots of babbling-- you tell me he said his first word, but I don't think he did, frankly, because no baby can say dad at age one and a bit, but I'm hardly about to argue. He's clever, though-- he looks just like you, as I said, except with Lily's eyes, which hopefully means he won't be half so myopic. He has a stuffed dragon he carries everywhere, and he's smacked his way through nearly all Sirius' precious records, something that's earned him no amount of dirty gazes.