James had prepared everything. The food, the china, the tablecloths, the flowers, and the candles. He had even checked that he had the rings about 20 times. Everything should go according to plan. They will sit down and have a meal, reminisce over their relationship, share a couple laughs, eat some dessert and then James will slide down to one knee and ask a very important question. Easy. James has faced down an angry werewolf dozens of times in his life, he could get through a simple proposal.
He had told Lily and Regulus they could come downstairs when he sent a patronus. He had banished them to their bedroom so he could set up what he had said was a welcome home dinner for Reg. He had returned home from his final year at Hogwarts a few months ago and things had finally settled down enough for the three of them to celebrate. And by settling down he simply meant Sirius had stopped coming over multiple times a day to see his brother. Remus was just as guilty, trying to spend as much time with Lily and Regulus together as he could.
After explaining his plan, he finally convinced the two to leave them all alone for the weekend. Their excitement about a possible engagement was enough to get them to back off.
James checked over everything one more time and then decided to forgo the patronus and go get them himself. James made his way to the second floor and quietly knocked on the door before pushing in. The sight before him made his heart warm. Lily had her back up against the headboard of their bed and Regulus was laying down with his head on her stomach. Lily was running her hands through his hair as Regulus hummed a quiet tune in the direction of her stomach.
The three of them had just found out a mere three days ago. Lily was four weeks into her first pregnancy. The initial reaction from all of them had been panic. They were all so young and still trying to establish their careers, especially Regulus who was only 5 months out of school. Luckily he had already been taken under Fleamont’s wing and was working for James’s dad as an apprentice. Lily however was still in training at St. Mungos to be a healer. They were all crossing their fingers that she could finish her required training before they all had to take time off for the new baby.
But now after the panic had passed, the three of them were starting to feel the rush of excitement at the idea of growing their family. It was still a secret between the three of them and James figured they could tell everyone along with the news of their engagement. Well if everything went well tonight at least. James realized how it looked, Lily gets pregnant and all of a sudden he's proposing. But he swears that he has had this planned since the day they picked Reg up from the platform. He and Lily had been nervous all day, but the second James saw Lily run forward and embrace Regulus he knew he wanted to promise himself to them forever.
James cleared his throat softly to try and get their attention. Both looked up and gave him soft smiles. “As absolutely adorable as this is, dinner is ready.”
Regulus groaned and tightened his hold around Lily’s waist then buried his head into her lap. Lily laughed and gave James a sympathetic look. “I think someone got a tad too comfortable. My fault I suppose. Although I do have to agree. I think you should put a stasis charm on the food and come and join us.”
Regulus’s head popped up at her suggestion. “I say, Lily, you are a genius. James. Stasis charm then bed. Now.”
James wanted to be annoyed. He had spent a long time getting dinner ready but looking at the two of them he supposed he could push it back a bit. “Fine. Half hour tops then we are enjoying the meal I put together.” Lily and Regulus barely acknowledged his response to their demands and retreated back into the little world they had created.
James rolled his eyes and made his way downstairs. He cast a quick stasis charm and blew out all the candles. He didn’t want Regulus’s menace of cat to knock any of the china off so he levitated all of back into the cabinet next to the dining table. He figured it would take less than 5 minutes to put it all back again. James then went over to his chair where he had hidden the ring box. He picked it up and let out a long sigh. He should have known the two of them wouldn’t fully cooperate with his plans. They never have, and they probably never will. He absolutely adored them for it. James put the ring box into his pocket and made his way back up the stairs of their cottage.
Lily had moved down off the headboard and was laying on her back with Regulus’s head on her chest. She was rubbing his back as he held his arms tight around her.
“Any room for me?” James asked as he made his way over to the bed. As he crawled up Lily held her other arm open for him. James laid his head next to Regulus and felt Lily’s hand wind its way through his unruly hair. They laid there all together wrapped up in the silence and warmth until James felt himself start to fall asleep.
—-----
“Do you think we should wake him up?”
“No, let him sleep. He has been so stressed lately, he probably needed it.”
“Any idea what’s been eating at him? I thought everything was going well with the team?”
“Oh you didn’t figure it out?”
“Figure what out Lily?”
“James is planning on proposing tonight. He’s been freaking out for months now.”
“WHAT?” Regulus’s reaction led to James feeling even more awake now than before. Lily knew? This whole time he had been trying to hide everything from them and she had read him like an open book.
“Reg sshhh. Don’t wake him. And yes love, I'm sure he was planning on it tonight. But he was freaking out so much I figured we could help him relax a bit before. I didn’t know he would fall asleep.”
“So he’s really going to ask? It better not be because you are pregnant because that is just tacky. Single but committed adults can easily raise a kid.”
James felt a laugh form in Lily’s chest. “Don’t worry. He has had this plan for a while now. I found the rings 2 months ago. I think the timing with the pregnancy was just a coincidence.”
“Okay we should definitely wake him up now. I would very much like to be proposed to now.”
“Oh he’s already awake. Has been for several minutes now. Isn’t that right James?’
James felt slight shame over getting caught eavesdropping but that all faded when he opened his eyes and saw the two loves of his life looking eagerly at him. They all sat up and faced one another. James knew what they were waiting for but even after practicing his speech over and over, he couldn't find any words to exit his mouth.
Lily grabbed his hands and gave an encouraging smile. ‘Don’t think about it love. Just say whatever you are feeling.”
Oh Lily. His rock. James sometimes had a hard time getting what was inside his head out into existence. But Lily was always so patient and helpful. “Lily. From the day I saw you, I knew I was going to love you. At the time I didn’t know if it was going to be platonic or romantic but I knew I would love you with everything in me.” James then turned to Regulus. Regulus, the man who drove him to have confidence in himself and never back down from what he deserved.
“Regulus, the day I met you I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to love you. I was always so hesitant. But the day you held me before that quidditch match and told me I was destined for it, I knew there was no stopping the love that had been building behind a self made dam. The dam broke that day and I knew it would continue to flow for all time.”
Lily and Regulus were both looking at him with tears in their eyes. Regulus quickly wiped his away before they could fall. “Dammit I always said I would never cry at the sappy shit. This is ridiculous. Get on with it Potter.”
James laughed then realized he had tears of his own running down his face. “Okay bossy. Give me a moment. This is a big deal.”
“I thought we all agreed that I was the boss in this relationship.” Lily said with a smirk on her face. “Although really James, we know you love us. Just ask already. I’m ready to say yes.”
‘Well if you two are so eager, get off the bed and stand up. I plan on doing this properly.” James moved off the bed and knelt on the floor. Lily and Regulus quickly got off the bed and stood in front of him. James took a deep breath before he asked the question he had been preparing for. He got the box out of his pocket and held it open. Inside were two gold rings with small diamonds across the top.
‘Lily Evans. Regulus Black. Will you do me the great honor of allowing me to become your husband and marry me?
Suddenly James was tackled to the floor onto his back by the two of them. He felt them both lay kisses all over his face.
“Okay okay can you give me a proper response now?” Both Lily and Regulus pulled back from where they were laying on James. They both looked at each other and Regulus gave a small nod. Lily looked down at James and said the word James had been waiting for for months now.
“Yes.”