Thicker than Water (Marauders Era)

18 December, 1979 - Normal

"We-" James began but Lily smacked his arm and scowled at him.

"I told you we're waiting until everyone's here," she admonished her husband, who wrinkled his nose at her but stayed silent.

"Well I'm thoroughly curious," Lavinia laughed. "Someone tell Peter to hurry up."

Remus snorted behind her and Lavinia's smile widened as she ducked back into the kitchen to check on the roasting vegetables. It was nice to have some joy in the house, nice to have a break from the blanket of stress and anxiety that had seemed to settle over their lives lately. Or Lavinia's life, anyway. Not that she let it show any more than she could help. They all had plenty to be getting on with without her making them deal with the occasional nightmares she'd started having.

"So," she called as she pulled the pan out of the oven to stir its contents slightly. "Does this mysterious announcement that we're not allowed to hear yet warrant pie? Because if it does, I need to know now."

Within moments, James's head had popped round the corner. "Yes, and rhubarb," he informed her before disappearing around the corner again.

Lavinia snorted, tossed the vegetables and put them back in the oven, waving her wand at the cupboard to summon the ingredients for making a pastry. "Lily?" she called.

"Mm?" came the answering hum as Lily came into the room.

"Can I get you to make the pastry? You know I'm rubbish at it," she added, turning from the counter as the ingredients settled themselves down.

"You're not rubbish," Lily protested, but she headed to the counter Lavinia had vacated anyway. "You're just impatient."

"Fair," Lavinia noted, returning to the stove. "But as I don't exactly have time to fix that just now..."

Lily snorted. "I'm already on it," she pointed out with a light laugh.

About ten minutes later, during which Lily and Lavinia chatted amicably, Peter arrived just as the latter pulled the roasted vegetables out of the oven and started shoveling them into a serving bowl.

Almost immediately after the door had closed behind Peter, James was poking his head into the kitchen. "Can we tell them now?" he asked Lily, who was wrapping the finished pastry and putting it in the fridge.

Lily rolled her eyes and shot Lavinia a long suffering sort of look. "Yes, but wait for Vin to be done cooking."

James gave a dramatic sigh, but went to the dining room where Remus was setting the table. Lavinia shook her head slightly, smiling, and poured the finished rhubarb and strawberry pie filling into a container for later. Then she grabbed the bowl of vegetables in one hand and the platter on which she'd put the chicken and rice and headed out to the table where the others were waiting, James fidgeting in his sleep.

"Would I be awful if I made him wait longer?" Lavinia asked, setting the food on the table and flicking her wand at the kitchen lights so they turned off.

Sirius snorted and Lily laughed quietly but James scowled. "Yes," he replied flatly. "Very awful."

"Aw, come on, James," she returned with a false simper. "You know I would never."

"No, you very much would," James countered, nodding with mock gravity.

"Yeah, alright, I definitely would," Lavinia returned, settling herself in the open seat next to Sirius. "But in all fairness, if we were switched right now, you'd be doing the same thing."

"I would not!" he protested, putting a hand on his heart as though she had gravely insulted him.

"Yes you would, honey," Lily pitched in patiently, scooping vegetables onto her plate.