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It was a late spring evening, Sirius was accompanying Lily, James, and the newest addition to the marauder family, Harry. James was behind the stroller pushing Harry along the well-walked path in the park. Sirius and James were talking back and forth about god knows what, while Lily had busied herself by looking at the blooming flowers and the brightly coloured trees. Little Harry loved to go for walks in this park because there was so much to see around him, the tree’s, the birds, the people, everything was interesting for a baby who was experiencing the world for the first time.
As they walked along the path, a woman emerged in the distance, heading towards them. Her face was adorned with a warm, generous smile that seemed to radiate positivity. She exuded an aura of warmth, the kind that made anyone crossing her path feel an instant sense of comfort and security.
“Oh your son, he’s such a cutie,” she said, bending down to catch Harry's eye. When he saw her Harry giggled at her. This just made everyone smile more. “What’s his name?”
Since James was the one pushing the stroller he talked first. “Oh well thank you, this is Harry,” he said, gesturing to the happy little baby in the stroller.
“Aww little Harry,” the woman said, her voice and expression laced with kindness. She was still bent down closer to Harry’s eye line, “well I just had to come over and tell your two fathers how cute you are.” James and Sirius were a little shocked that she thought that, considering Lily was also walking with them. Lily had moved to stand slightly behind James and was trying very hard to keep a straight face.
“Oh no, we aren't”- “oh dear don’t worry about it. Love is love you know. And Harry doesn’t look any less loved because of having two fathers. You guys look brilliant together.” The woman politely cut James off.
Sirius tried to speak up, “but we aren’t-” “Yes, aren't they cute,” Lily said, now having moved to stand beside the two men. “I’m so happy to be their friend,” she said, with the biggest smile on her face. The woman turned to Lily, still smiling.
“Oh it’s so lovely that you have a supporting friend,” she looked at her watch. “Well, I have to go but it was lovely meeting you. Bye little Harry.” She waved to Harry who beamed back up at her.” She walked past them and continued down the path. Lily turned with a smug grin on her face.
“Well as a friend of Harry’s parents, I guess I’m not needed anymore. I’ll be going.” She started to walk away, which caused James to panic slightly.
“Wait wait Lils. Wasn’t that crazy,” James said, looking around as if it would make more sense or there was a hidden camera in the tree or something. “Why do you think she thought that me and Sirius were Harry’s parents when you were right there?”
“Oh, I have a few guesses as to why,” Lily said, as she realized that the man she married was not that observant.
“I mean yeah,” Sirius said, laughing slightly, “it’s clear to anyone we’re just best friends.”
“Do you wanna think for a minute about what you guys call each other?” Lily asked, an expression of incredulity and disbelief painted her features.
“I don’t know,” James started, “pads, padfoot. Things like that, normal.”
“Did you forget you were just calling Sirius your husband before the lady came over?” Lily asked, “maybe that’s why she thought you were married.” She was still smiling ear to ear, like this was the funniest thing ever.
“I mean we are married,” Sirius tried to reason, “James is my longest relationship.”
“I mean yeah exactly,” James nodded along with Sirius. They had been friends since their first year at Hogwarts, the pair loved each other like brothers.
“Yeah okay let me just take out the list,” Lily said, slightly more menacing than she thought it would come out. “I’ve been keeping in my head since seventh year, of your nicknames for him.” Clearly, she had been sitting on this for a long time. “So, we have husband, which is a classic, Padzie, Padzie Muffin, Schmootzeepoo, Lover, Googly Bear, my love, Wifey.”
“But you’re my only Lily flower,” James said, sweet James, he thought that Lily was hurt by these names but she always knew that this was a part of James and Sirius’s relationship, which she found sweet.
“Hmm and how about BAE and boyfriend and babe and love of my life and light of my life and black the snack.” She just kept going and she thought it was hilarious.
“Hey, we’re fighting the patriarchy,” Sirius said, now understanding that Lily thought this was funny and she wasn't hurt. “Guys should be able to express their love for one another.”
“And you sure are doing that,” and she continued with the list, “lover boy, hubby, my star.” She paused and looked at the men, James who still thought that Lily was upset was trying to think of a way to convince her. “I can think of a few reasons why she might have thought you’re husbands.”
“Don’t be annoyed, Lily love,” James said, trying to not piss her off.
“Oh I’m not, I just know this is how it is,” Lily said, lightly laughing. “I would just like people to know that it is not Sirius staying up all night nursing Harry to sleep. Thank you.”
“Oh of course, Lils,” Sirius said, totally understanding where she was coming from with that. It takes a lot of work to raise a little baby and when people don’t understand that or they blow over it, like it’s nothing, it’s frustrating. “I mean you can push his carriage now, if you want.”
“That being said, no, you guys should keep pushing his carriage and we’re gonna see how many times people mistake you as being husbands. And I’m gonna tally it up and see if I win my bet with Remus,” Lily said, full of confidence that she would win the bet.
“You guys betted on this?” James asked, knowing that his wife and Remus would constantly make this joke about how James and Sirius were married.
“Yep and I’m going to win,” Lily said with a big smirk on her face. She continued walking down the path, leaving James and Sirius. They looked at each other and shook their heads, finding it so funny that their partners betted on things like this.