Sometimes I Forget

SPLAT!

A chunky mass of green and orange flew through the air before colliding rather unceremoniously with the wall. A sigh set about an eruption of giggles from the baby in the high chair - the source of the flying mush.

"Nice aim, mate!" The bespectacled man with unruly hair perched on the kitchen counter beside the baby reached over and ruffled the tot's hair. "One day, you're gonna be quite the Chaser!"

"James!" the red-haired woman beside him scolded, setting down the small spoon she'd been using to feed the baby and rising from her seat to stem the mess of carrot and pea mash now trickling down the wall. "Don't encourage him! I'd rather not have him training to be a Quidditch star in my kitchen!"

"Come off it, Lily! The little bloke's got it in his blood, dontcha chap? Harry Potter: Gryffindor Team Captain. You have to admit, it has a nice ring to it!" James beamed, tickling the little baby and releasing another round of giggles.

As Lily finished mopping up the mess, she glanced up at the boys sitting at the table. James had taken up the bowl of baby food and was now attempting to feed a disgruntled Harry. His mouth was set in a tight line of stubbornness, and Lily couldn't help to laugh at the sight.

James glanced up at her. "What?"

"Oh, nothing," Lily dismissed, taking up James' previous spot on the glossy counter, eyes flicking to the old floral wallpaper on the opposite wall. "It's just that I've seen that look on your face more times than I can count," she commented with a grin, glancing back at her husband to see his reaction.

The man looked scandalized. "Me? Stubborn? I can't imagine where you would ever get that from."

"'Evans, will you go out with me?'" she mocked, face screwed up in desperation. "'Come on, just one date! Go out with me, Evans!'"

James rolled his eyes, attempting to coax another spoonful of the unappetizing substance into Harry's mouth before giving up as the baby shook his head and let out a shriek of contempt. Getting to his feet, he pecked her on the cheek as he carried the bowl and spoon to the sink. "Well, I got you in the end, didn't I?"

"Yes, but only because you were driving me barmy!" she snorted defensively.

"Ah, but you can't say it wasn't effective!" he countered, pointing his wand at the dishes so that they began to scrub themselves before turning to where Lily sat and placing his hands on the cool stone on either side of her. "Though I know you wanted me from the very beginning."

Lily laughed at the smug look on her husband's face as she cup his face in her hands. "Hmm. I suppose that's true. After all, I'm here, aren't I?"

James shrugged and Lily dropped her hands as he looked up at the ceiling, his face full of doubt. "But I may never know if it was just my charm. I have that effect on women."

Lily rolled her eyes before grabbing the collar of James' shirt and pressing her lips to his in aggravation. She couldn't help but smile as she pulled away and saw him looking utterly befuddled. "You may be a cocky bugger, but you're my cocky bugger."

Tousling his dark hair in an attempt to act cool about the situation, James shrugged as he readjusted his glasses. "I think I can live with that," he said breathlessly before leaning back in to kiss her, only to be interrupted by a soft snore. Looking up, the couple were jolted back to reality by the sight of a rather sleepy looking baby, his head down on the tray of his high chair.

Rather reluctantly, Lily hopped down from the counter and lifted the tot gently from his makeshift bed. She then carried him through the little kitchen, through the entryway and up the staircase. She padded down the carpeted hallway where she turned  to open a door, only to see James had already turned the handle. He smiled down at her as he pushed the door to the nursery open and flicked on the light, stepping back and gesturing as if to say, "After you!"

Lily laid the infant into his crib carefully so as not to wake him. She caressed his cheek lovingly and kissed his forehead. Above her head, James had set the little mobile above the crib into motion. Stars and planets whirled around as the baby slept, his face full of the peace of dreamers.

A hand reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind the young woman's ear, her pale skin tingling at the touch. She looked up and saw James staring at her in awe.

"What?" she asked a little self-consciously, red flooding her cheeks.

James shook his head slowly. "Sometimes I forget how much I love you, and when it all comes sweeping back, I fall arse over elbow all over again."

Looking away, embarrassed, Lily muttered, "Oh, shut it." James merely shrugged and looked down at Harry.

Lily couldn't help but wonder how he'd known exactly how she felt about him.