Disclaimer — Everything recognisable is JK's.

Prompts: (genre) tragedy, (word) devotion, (quote) "The rain comes and sounds like you."

A/N: ...or the world when they did defy him thrice, but they didn't win thrice.

Word count: 332

Falling and Failing

"I would have given you the world."

"It isn't yours to give. And any world without either of them is not a world I would want to live in, anyway."

"I know. That's why I came here to apologise."

"For what?"

.

The rain comes and sounds like you. The soft breeze that blows through the window, the big one in the kitchen you never let me draw curtains on, feels like you. I see you in the way his nose twists to the left when he laughs his little laughter.

I miss you.

He misses you, too, I think, even though he hasn't known you. Sirius brought him a giant stag plushie that looks suspiciously familiar, and Peter taught him how to say 'Prongs'—it's pon for now, and I think it would have brought that lopsided smile on your face every time you heard it—and Remus charmed it to trot.

You can't find the little guy without it, ever.

I honestly… the devotion your—our—friends show to this little, broken, family is beautiful, but I feel like I'm falling, sometimes. Falling, and failing.

I need you, James.

I wish you were here.

.

"Lily! Peter, take Lily and go!"

A scream tore out of her lips. A name. A plea to her husband, to come back, even as Peter apparated her to the little cottage they had just bought. They landed in the living room, and the next moment, her knees were buckling.

Peter led her to the sofa, and as she sat down, she felt the baby kicking. Tears fell down on the giant T-shirt of James' that she wore—none of her clothes, even the baggy robes, fit her anymore.

Going to the Order meeting, even after that little warning, had been a mistake. She could just pray, now, though.

Her hand came up to caress her round belly, seeking comfort. "Daddy will be home soon, little one."

Even to her own ears, the words felt hollow, and too much of a lie.