Epilogue

When James Potter heard the cry of his first child and watched as it was carried to a small table to be weighed and cleaned he knew that his heart had been stolen forever. Still holding on to Holly's hand he let the tears fall freely as he kissed her head and waited for the healers to bring the child back to them. After a few minutes one of them brought the bundle over, wrapped in a pure white blanket and said, "Mr and Mrs Potter, would you like to meet your daughter?"

"It's…it's a girl?" James croaked through his tears and the healer nodded back at him with a smile.

"Is that okay?" Holly asked in a tired voice.

"What?" James asked turning to look at his wife in bemusement as the baby was passed to her.

"You were hoping for a boy," Holly replied as she gazed down at her daughter, "a son to carry on your name."

"I was just hoping for a baby! Merlin Holly, I never cared whether it was a girl or a boy; I just wanted it to be healthy and beautiful," he blustered. Dropping a kiss on her forehead he pushed back the edges of the towel which were covering the baby's face so he could look at her for the very first time, "and that's just what we got," he murmured. "She has your eyes," he went on smiling and gazing at the blue sapphires staring curiously back up at him. She had stopped crying as soon as she was in her mother's arms and was just staring up at the two of them as if she already knew who they were. "Thank you Darling," he added as a couple of stray tears fell from his cheeks and onto the baby's face. "She's beautiful," he finished while Holly chuckled and wiped away the splotches.

James knew at that moment, while he was gazing at his daughter's unblinking eyes, that she would be able to wrap him around her little finger the way Lily had always done with their father. Until now he had never understood the special bond that had existed between the two of them which was completely different to the one he had with his father; but now he did. He would do anything for this little girl because he already loved her so much.

"Do you have a name for this little one?" the healer asked as she came across with a small band to put around her arm. "I just need to weigh her," she continued carefully taking her out of Holly's arms, "and then she's all yours!"

"I don't know," James said in answer to her question, "we have a short list but we were waiting to see which one suited the baby…her…when she was born."

"You choose James," Holly whispered holding up her hand and stroking his arm; he had followed the moving child and healer with his eyes and she chuckled softly at him.

"What?" he asked turning back to look at her with a confused expression.

"Her name," Holly giggled, "you choose one; I like them all and I think you ought to be the one who picks it."

"Me?" James almost shrieked, "You're the one who's done all the hard work!"

"But she's your daughter too," she murmured, "whatever you decide James, I will love it…because I love you."

"Are you sure?" he said waiting for a short nod which she gave as the healer brought the white bundle back to them both and handed her to James. "I think she looks like…" he whispered gazing down into her scrunched up face, "…an Isabella."

"Isabella Potter," Holly stated, "James I love it!"

"And I love you," James replied looking from the baby to his wife and back again before leaning over to kiss her softly on the lips with Isabella between them; the bundle squirmed as she was gently squeezed and the two of them laughed, "I think she's going to rule the roost now! Thank you for giving her to me," he added with another smile as he dropped onto the edge of the bed beside his wife.

"I couldn't have done it without you!" Holly chuckled reaching up to touch his hand.

"Oh and my part was so difficult!" he laughed raucously.

"It couldn't have been done without you! Even if it was a bit of a mistake at the time!"

"No Holly," he replied gently, "not a mistake, a little miracle!"

"She's seven pounds two ounces," the healer interrupted as she walked over to fasten the small band around the baby's wrist which now bore the name Isabella Potter, "and perfectly healthy, you can both go home tomorrow morning," she smiled.

"Thank you," James replied for them both as she walked away and left them alone in the room with their first born child.

They both looked at her in awe for a few minutes and then Holly whispered, "Go on," and looked up at him.

"What?"

"Go on," she repeated with a grin nudging his elbow, "take her."

"Take her where?" he asked again with a bemused expression.

"Take her to meet the clan! I know they're all out there in the waiting room! I'm not that naïve you know!" she laughed as he suddenly began to look sheepish.

"I…I…" he stuttered. Though he had insisted that they needn't be there his parents, grandparents, brothers, sister and closest cousins had all apparated to St Mungos during the last twelve hours since Holly had gone into labour and were all waiting expectantly in a room down the hall. James had tried to hide it all from Holly as he did not want her to have anything else to think about but his multitude of toilet visits had eventually become a little suspicious and she had sensed that his huge and loving family were somewhere nearby.

"James, I don't mind," she chuckled, "why you thought you needed to hide it from me anyway is beyond me. I love that they care so much! So go, let them meet the new member of the Potter annex! But don't bring them near me until I've had a shower!"

"I love you Holly Potter," he beamed proudly, "and I love you too Isabella Potter," he added looking down at her again and then gently kissing Holly once more before heading out of the delivery room with his baby girl in his arms and down the corridor to where the Weasley clan were waiting patiently.

Holly watched him go and chuckled to herself as she remembered the day she had met Rose Weasley on her first day at Hogwarts; as she had got to know her better over the subsequent seven years she had always secretly envied her enormous family who were so close and loving. Fancying the unobtainable James Potter was something that most girls at school had done and even after bedding him she had never imagined she would actually become a member of that family she had always been jealous of. And now, not only was she a member of the wonderful family, she had also added a baby of her own to it and she felt happier than she had ever thought it possible to be.

As the door to the waiting room slowly opened everyone inside held their breath and watched James saunter in looking exceptionally proud. "Everybody," he began, "meet Isabella." They all sighed, squealed and laughed as they crowded round James and his bundle so they could coo at the tiny child who looked back like she already knew them all. James positively beamed as they passed his baby girl from one person to another and commented on how beautiful she was and how proud he must be.

"How's Holly?" his mother asked when she had finally relinquished hold of her first grandchild to her own mother.

"Tired," he answered with a smile, "but happy," he added.

"You go and look after her son," his father chipped in, "look after your family, we are so proud of you both."

"Thank you," he replied as Molly passed the new life back to him, "and don't worry, I intend to spend the rest of my life looking after this perfect miracle!

Hope you liked! Know the epilogue was a bit fluffy but I like fluff!!! There is another episode of james if anyone is interested? Please review!