#flluffy

James sighed, hearing the door slam upstairs.

He didn’t know if it was the sweltering heat or the fact that today was the 27th of July, meaning Lily was two weeks overdue and hating every second of it.

Don’t get him wrong, James loved pregnant Lily, he loved how he would find her sometimes curled up on the couch in a world of her own just cradling the bump, or how sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night, to hear her chatting away to their unborn child about all manner of things, like how to wind Sirius up about getting grey hair prematurely.

But on days like today when everything he did made Lily burst into tears or burn with anger, he couldn’t help but long for his old wife, where even when her temper was at its hottest he could calm her down with a famous Potter smirk and a kiss.

Their latest argument, if you could call it that (James personally thought it took two to argue and he certainly hadn’t been foolish enough to answer back) was about how nothing would fit her, and how apparently she could tell that he was thinking he had married a white whale, and even with James protests about how beautiful she was and that any change her body made was amazing because she was carrying their baby, Lily was having none of it. Continuing to rant on about how the sofa didn’t match the curtains in the living room and the baby’s nursery had been painted white which wasn’t good enough, because she’s read that baby’s eyes develop to see colours in the first month, and how would their baby do that without any colour in the nursery and this was all James's fault and he would have to fix it or their baby would never see colour. But that wasn’t the worst of the rant, the worst was when she had begun crying profusely “WE ARE TRAPPED IN THIS TINY HOUSE SO A MADMAN WON'T MURDER OUR BABY”, she had exclaimed before turning to rush (very slowly waddle) back upstairs.

Now remember, as was mentioned James loved pregnant Lily, but right now he needed five minutes to go over the facts

1. She’s two weeks overdue and very uncomfortable.

2. She had horrible morning sickness in her first trimester.

3. She had her whole body change and now she doesn’t fit in any of her old clothes.

4. She hasn’t slept the last few nights, due to the baby kicking all hours.

5. They’d been trapped in this house for about six months now, and even he could admit as much as keeping Lily and the baby safe was his main priority, it also drove him insane at times.

6. She is the love of his life.

So he can live with it, he can appreciate all the good things he has and he can deal with a slightly temperamental Lily for a few more days. Just a few more days and their baby would be here.

Letting out another sigh and running his hand through his unruly hair, he came up with his master plan to woo his wife, to make her feel special and beautiful again.

Operation: LOVE LILY DAY

Getting to work quickly he headed up the stairs noticing the door to the nursery had been shut, quietly placing his ear to the door he could hear Lily pottering around in there, she was definitely in the nesting phase. Smiling to himself he turned on his heel and headed towards their bedroom.

He knew it was in there somewhere, riffling through the mountain of clothes Lily had in the back of the wardrobe that she hasn’t bothered to hang back up. “AHA” James cried, hopefully not loudly enough to gain Lily’s attention, as he grabbed the mystery item from the wardrobe.

He laid a dark purple maxi dress that complimented Lily's vibrant hair perfectly, across the bed. It was a beautiful dress, Lily’s favourite in fact but she hadn’t been able to wear it this summer. However, James had always been a whizz at Transfiguration at Hogwarts, how hard would it be to make the dress more maternity friendly?

A couple of hours later not only was James starving but his plan had come together perfectly; let’s hope it stays that way.

“Lily, Love” he called as he began the stairs “Lily?”

“Yes?” he heard her respond from inside the nursery.

He swung the door open to see her in the rocking chair he had just installed earlier that morning, with an open book in her lap, rubbing her belly absentmindedly.

“You’re late!” He suddenly exclaimed, checking his wrist as if he was wearing a watch.

“It’s half five Lily, your late.” James put his hands on his hips, as he watched the confusion fall across his wife’s face.

“For what James?” Lily mumbled, utterly confused as she closed her book and made a move to stand, extending her hands out for his help.

“While our date of course” He laughed as he pulled her up from the chair.

Lily still confused, brushed her hair back from her face, before eyeing up her husband, who she realised had got changed and was now wearing his white dinner shirt and black jeans.

“What are you talking about, what date? We can’t leave the house and even if we could I can’t waddle to the kitchen never mind somewhere else.”

“How about the garden? Think you could manage that Evans” James asked grabbing hold of Lily’s hand and pulling her closer to him, as he waited for a response.

“It’s Potter,” she said brushing the lint off his shirt, still slightly unsure what was exactly happening but feeling in a better mood than this morning, so she was happy to go along with her husband’s antics.

“What?” James mused, loving the feeling of having his wife in his arms, despite the large baby bump separating them.

“My name” Lily whispered, “You called me Evans.”

“Your damn right it is Potter” James growled, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.

“So Mrs Potter, can I persuade you to join me at chateau potter?”

“Sure” Lily laughed “but erm for the record, chateau means castle James and you said we were going to the garden,” Lily explained,  before patting James on the chest and pushing out of his arms, heading for the stairs.

“Well it sounded fancy in my head” James exclaimed, chasing after his wife.

Catching up with Lily at the top of the stairs he grabbed her arm, spinning her around. “Hold up Mrs, you have to get changed, chateau Potter has a strict dress code.”

“Do I have to?” she whined, looking down at the old worn quidditch t-shirt that belonged to James and some checked pyjama bottoms that miraculously still fit her. “These are the only things that fit me, please don’t make me go through the embarrassment.”

“Don’t you worry my dear” James said as he turned Lily toward their bedroom, “Operation Love Lily Day has it all covered.”

“Operation love Lily what?” she cried as she desperately tried to turn back towards the stairs.

“Hush now, I have time constraints, Chateau Potter closes at ten, so get dressed and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He mumbled patting her on the bum as she entered their room and giving her a cheeky wink, and before Lily could even say anything he had disappeared down the stairs humming to himself as he went.

Lily took a deep breath as she reached the bottom step, it infuriated her how long it took her to do things these days. It had taken at least fifteen minutes to put that bloody dress on, but she had to admit James had done a very good job, the dress made her feel normal again, more herself instead of an elephant.

She didn’t mean to take everything out on James but so much was happening at once, everything was about to change and it all felt so lonely at times, without her parents, her friends, without the safe home that was Hogwarts. She knew James tried his best but he was the only one here, there was no one else to share her frustrations with so it had to be him.

Turning down the hallway she could see him sitting in the kitchen, drumming his fingers against the table, clearly waiting for her.

His eyes lit up the moment they saw her, they always did, didn’t matter if she was in jeans and a t-shirt or all dressed up for a ball, she was perfect to him.

“Nice job with dress” Lily murmured as she waddled closer to him.

“I hope you know how to change it back though for when I’m not pregnant, it’s one of my favourites.”

“I’m sure we can figure something out” James laughed as he welcomed her into his open arms.“I could just get you pregnant again, this one is gonna need siblings.” He mumbled running his hand along her bump.

“Hold your horses their mate, one baby at a time James” Lily cried before her face broke into a grin. She loved the idea of a big family, especially with this goofball, but she definitely wasn’t ready for her own Quidditch team, at least not while the war was on.

“Okay, Okay” James held his hands up in defeat before turning towards the back door. “Now my darling wife, are you ready for our date?”

Lily giggled and nodded as James offered his arm out for her to take, before trying to navigate their way through the single back door without breaking apart.

“Oh, James” Lily cried, her hand instantly going to her mouth as she gazed at the view in front of her. Strings of fireflies immobilized in the air lit up the garden, and she could just make out the tartan blanket lying down at the bottom of the garden beside the flower beds. Lily could see from here that James had laid out all her favourite foods, including pineapple which she had recently become obsessed with in the last two weeks because it was said to bring on labour. How had he done all this without her noticing? Her eyes began to tear up. Damn these hormones, damn her adorably sweet husband.

“Do you like it?” James whispered looking nervous as he rocked back and forth on his feet.

“It’s perfect” Lily sighed, turning to James her eyes meeting his. “Whatever did I do to deserve you?”

“A question I ask myself daily my dear.” He mumbled pulling her in and pressing a kiss to her forehead before turning them toward the picnic he had laid out.

“Shall we?”

“I can’t remember the last time we had a date.” Lily mused as she laid down beside James on the blanket, placing her head on his chest, as his arm wrapped around her back and came to rest on her bump.

They’d spent the last half an hour eating, both of them had been starving. Lily couldn’t remember the last time she hadn't been hungry, she’s pretty sure all this baby does is eat, definitely got that from their father.

“I know.” He nods still chewing. “I would say we should make more time to, but I’m pretty sure all our time is about to be taken up.” James laughs, as he rubs circles over the bump.

“I have a rule, a date rule” James announces suddenly, while they’re both looking up at the stars/fireflies.

“Go on” Lily urged, looking up at her husband and tightening her grip on him, trying to savour this moment.

“For the rest of this date, no talk about the baby, as much as I’m excited, it’s never gonna be me and you again, this date is ours.” He whispers, still looking up at the sky before tilting his head down to meet his wife’s eyes.

God, he hopes the baby has her eyes.

“And no talking about the war either” He continues, reaching out to brush the few strands of hair that have fallen out of her braid behind her ear. “Just me and you”

“Well I hate to break this to you sweetheart” Lily mumbles, leaning into his touch, “But we don’t have much else going on, what else would we talk about.”

James sighs; he wants to be with Lily, without the pressures and worries that everyday life now brings.“Okay, I’ve got an idea” James exclaims after a few moments of silence.Lily just grins back at him, urging him to continue.

“Tell stories, but not to just your usual stories, family traditions, you know the ones you did with your family you want to continue with ours.”

“Isn’t that talking about the baby?” Lily questions “Breaking your own rule Potter.”

“No, no this is about us, about family stories.” He exclaims, as he pulls Lily closer until their about an inch apart and he can feel her breath on his skin. “Your stories that will one day be our stories” he whispers before catching his lips with hers.

“Okay,” Lily grins, pressing another peck to his lips.“But let’s come up with new ones as well, ones that are just our family’s traditions.”

James nodded licking his lips, instantly missing the feeling of his wife’s lips against his. Why had he suggested they talk again? They definitely had better things to do.

“So let’s start with all the major holidays” Lily exclaimed sitting up and clapping her hands together “and then maybe any random ones we have we can talk about after.”

James smirked, you had to love his wife, she didn’t do anything half-arsed.

“So for Christmas, I’m thinking……………….

Hours later. with the blanket rolled up under his arms, a million life plans made and the fireflies set free, James grabbed hold of a sleepy Lily’s hand and headed back towards the house.

“So Potter, how was the date?” He asked as he guided her up the footpath.

“Alright,” Lily mumbled, stifling a yawn.

“Alright?” James exclaimed “Just alright?” He stopped abruptly, causing Lily to crash into him.

“I mean he didn’t bring me flowers and everyone knows you should bring flowers on a date and at the end all I got was a peck on the lips,” Lily smirked, she suddenly seemed much less tired, her eyes twinkling with that look that James knew only too well.

He is pretty sure that look is what caused them to be in the situation anyway.

That look is trouble.

James grins, dropping the blanket beside the path and bending down to pick up a handful of daisies.

“Let me change that for you, can’t have anyone leaving chateau Potter unsatisfied.” He says grinning, as he hands her the daisies.

“As for the other problem, well I can definitely change that.” He declares as he lifts Lily up bridal style, and she clings on for dear life laughing as he carries her inside.

Lucky James likes trouble and it is Operation: LOVE LILY DAY after all.

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Here it is, my first ever one-shot or fanfiction for that matter, at least on this platform anyway. I'm obsessed with Jily fanfiction and I know how precious it is to people so I hope I did it justice. Please leave comments good or bad (preferably if they are bad they're constructive) I was gonna include some of the traditions but I thought maybe if anyone liked this they could send in some request or traditions of their own they could see Lily and James doing and maybe I'll write some AU one-shot of their future family traditions.

Thank you for Reading

DEADROO again