âCâmon Haz, just try it?,â James crouched by the high chair to be face to face with his baby son, brandishing a spoonful of mashed sweet potato.
He took a bite of it himself, âMmm sooo yummy! Now, aaaaaaââ, he opened his own mouth exaggeratedly, but Harry only turned his head away.
Lily stood behind him with her hands on her hips, âThe pamphlet says he should be ready for solid food by now,â She frowned, âHere, let me try.â
Harry reacted the same way, only this time he took a chunk of Lilyâs hair and tried to chew on that instead.
The two of them stood there, stumped. Staring at their son and his bib with little ducks all over, as he peered around obliviously.
This had been hard. Being parents that is. Neither of them ever expected to end up here so soon, and in the beginning theyâd been positively terrified.
James was aware even 6 months later, just how young they were. They withstood the late nights and messes and tears together, but they still didnât know what on Earth they were doing half the time.
From the corner of his eye, he watched Lily set the little cup of baby food next to Harry, as her shoulderâs slumped in a great sigh.
Her eyes were rimmed in dark circles, her hair had tangles and bits of spit up stuck to it. Wasnât often you saw Lily look so defeated.
âDâyou.. Are we going to be shit at this?â, she said quietly, âHarry deserves a mum that knows what toââ.
James elbowed her shoulder before he could finish, âYou? Youâre a brilliant mum! Iâm the oneââ,
âBut youâve got so much moreââ, A gentle hand was clapped over her mouth. James shook his head.
âLils, yesterday I literally got peed on, mid-diaper change,â Reluctant laughter bubbled up from Lilyâs spot now between his arms, âSure, we arenât exactly experts but.. Me and you. We got this, yeah?â.
Lily squirmed against his chest, flushing slightly, âYeah.. Yeah I suppose, Potter,â
James swayed her side-to-side, ââPotterâ now? You wound me,â
A fond smile grew onto her lips, and she leant in to kiss him. James let his arms wrap around her waist, as hers came up to his neck, and just for a moment they didnât feel so lost.
James grinned against her, placing once last kiss on her cheek, before Lilyâs gaze drifted back to the high chair and she gasped.
âYes!â, She pumped her fist in the air, before pushing James towards the living room, âGet the camera!â. Harry looked up confusedly, mouth full of sweet potato and hands smeared with orange mush.
When James rushed back into the kitchen, camera in hand, his heart nearly burst in his chest.
There Lily was, face-splitting smile, pressing her nose into their sonâs hair, as he smacked his little fists joyfully on the table.
He was the luckiest man alive. And that picture would stay above their fireplace for years to come. Because in the end it turned out, theyâd be okay.
