False Hope
She'd been crying. He always knew when she'd been crying, right from the start. There was something lifeless in her eyes, no matter how well she reapplied her makeup. In fact, today that was what had given it away. Since they'd had Harry she hadn't had time to even use lip balm in the cold weather, so when she'd got foundation, blusher and mascara on it was obvious there was something she was trying to hide.
"What's wrong?" he murmured, sliding his arms round her waist from behind, needing to hug her. She didn't reply to begin with, just stayed standing next to the cot, one of her arms clasping his. "Lily." His voice was still quiet, laced with concern. "C'mon."
She let him tug her out of the room, before wrapping her arms around his neck, and burying her face in his shoulder. He gently stroked her hair, as silent tears stained his shirt. It felt like she cried for all eternity, while he whispered comforts to her. It hurt him, physically hurt him, to see her like this, wishing he could put an end to her pain.
When she eventually pulled back, her eyes were red, and it was if her whole face had crumpled in on itself. James loved his wife with all his heart, but he couldn't say truthfully that she was pretty when she cried. "What if it's not enough?" she whispered, focusing on the tearstain on his shirt, not bringing herself to meet his eyes. "What if he still finds us? What will he do to Harry?"
"It's going to be okay," he promised, hoping that it was true.
"What if it's not?" She looked like she was about to cry again, but she managed to hold it together. "What if…what if…" She never finished that sentence, because she was biting her bottom lip and desperately looking up in an attempt to not cry.
"Lily, I promise you, Sirius would never tell anyone where we were." James held her close for a second before she drew back.
"Maybe Sirius isn't the best person to be the secret keeper," she murmured.
"What?" James was affronted, offended that she didn't trust his best friend, their son's godfather, until she hastily continued.
"No, I know he would never tell, but-" She stopped and took a deep breath. "He's such an obvious person. Him and Remus. I just think maybe…" She paused.
"Peter would be better," he finished for her. "Will you be happier if we switch?"
She nodded. "I think so. I mean, we don't see him as often now, do we? It's not as obvious."
He smiled, tousling her hair. "I'll speak to Sirius tomorrow."
"Thank you." She hugged him with a rising sense of hope.