Summery: Kenshin and Kaoru are happily married and ready to start their own family. But when a shadow from Kenshin's past comes back their bright futures no longer look so promising. K&K. Not for Tomoe fans.

Disclaimer: It is quite obvious that I don't own any of this, otherwise I would be rich.

Kenshin looked at the sky from where he stood. It was a clear night and the moon was full, casting pale light upon him. Kenshin glanced back at Kaoru. She slept peacefully, her belly protruded from underneath the blanket and her chest rose evenly when she would breath. Soundlessly Kenshin approached his wife and gently placed a hand upon her stomach. Kaoru was six months pregnant and she was just beginning to show, and Kenshin was excited to become a father with the one woman he loved most.

"Kaoru," Kenshin whispered her name into the humid night air. She stirred a bit, and then nestled back down into the futon. Kenshin smiled down. She was beautiful; her midnight tresses were unbound, spreading around her body like a halo. Her eyelashes contrasted greatly with her milky skin. But her soul was what made Kenshin love her. She was different from any other woman he had met, and many beautiful women had wanted their ways with him. But Kaoru had managed to pin him down, captivating him with her innocence, pureness, and love. She would make a wonderful mother.

"Tomoe," a shadow fell across Kenshin's face as he spoke. Weeks ago she had showed up at the dojo, claiming that Kenshin hadn't killed her and that she still loved him. Kaoru had been devastated. She was still kind and polite to his former wife, but Kenshin knew of her fear that she harbored within her. What if he fell in love again with his old wife? What if he left her? Kenshin shook his head, clearing his thoughts away.

"I'll never leave you Koishi," Kenshin had assured her before, trapping her in a fierce hug. But he couldn't lie, he still had feelings for his former wife, and seeing her now as beautiful as ever didn't help the situation. Kaoru had been afraid to tell Kenshin of her pregnancy. In the end, Megumi told him. This hurt Kenshin in more than one way.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kenshin demanded. "Why did Megumi have to tell me? What are you so afraid of Koishi?"

"You don't understand!" Kaoru had cried before him as she tried to explain. Her small body had huddled up into a tight ball. "I don't want to pin you down; I don't want to force you to stay with me because of a child!"

"Kaoru," Kenshin had tried to come closer to her, to wrap her in his arms and comfort her.

"I want you to stay because you love me," Kaoru had cutely wiped her eyes as she stared intently at him. "I don't want to trap you with this child." Kenshin once again shook his head, clearing away the awful memory. He hated to see Kaoru cry, especially when he was the cause. He once again glanced down at his wife's peaceful face. New worry lines had begun to crease around her mouth and nose. Kenshin softly reached down and tenderly traced his finger alongside Kaoru's mouth and nose, a small attempt to make the worry lines go away.

"I love you," Kenshin leaned over kissed Kaoru's temple, holding himself erect for a moment, before releasing her.

"Kenshin," Kaoru whispered in her sleep. Her hand snuck out and latched onto his. Kenshin felt a smile grow on his face. Gently, Kenshin crept back into bed with his wife and pulled her closer to him. She easily fit next to his body, like a puzzle piece falling into place. Her head fit perfectly on his chest and she draped her arms over his chest, a half hug. Kenshin smiled as he wrapped his arms around Kaoru's waist and pulled and as close to him as possible. One of his hands trailed up and down her back while his other remained around her waist, acting as a firm yet gentle band encasing her body. Another memory assaulted Kenshin as he closed his eyes and settled back in his bed. The night, or the night he presumed, Kaoru had been impregnated. She had been beautiful, opening up her body to him, allowing him to take what he wanted, what he needed. Her cries were forever etched into his mind. He loved it, loved her. He loved the way her slim body arched up against his, the way her back would curve when they were near release. He loved it when she huddled up against his body, her silent way of begging him for more. He loved the feel of her bare back underneath his hand, the way when he rubbed her back she would crush her naked body against his. And Kenshin wanted more. But ever since Tomoe had returned Kaoru had been very reluctant, and Kenshin was not one to push. Soon, they had stopped all together. Even now Kenshin craved her, but he refused to let himself give in to instincts. He loved her to much to force her into something, even if it was something she enjoyed. Maybe when their child was born, things could return to normal.

"Maybe Tomoe will leave," Kenshin thought, but even that thought made him sad. His heart was split in two, and even though he had made his mind up to stay with

Kaoru, he wanted Tomoe. Half of him cursed her, wanted her to leave for the sake of his new family. The other half of him wanted her near; just so he could watch and make sure she was safe. The whole situation was hurting Kaoru.

"Kenshin," Megumi had hissed a warning. "She can't handle this. Her hormones are raging and she needs a stable environment. This is not what I call stable!" She was right, Kenshin knew this. And he tried his very best to offer Kaoru a stabile environment, but it wasn't enough. He didn't sooth her enough, didn't rub her shoulders enough. He was too busy trying to keep both women happy to completely concentrate on Kaoru. Tomoe certainly wasn't making this any easier. Even Kenshin had to admit that she was trying to lure him away from Kaoru, and it wasn't easy to sooth Kaoru on a subject that they both knew was true. Of course, Kaoru never yelled, never fought or argued. But he could tell she knew. Her eyes were down cast and her happy aura was almost completely gone. Her shoulders would tense every time Tomoe would try something and her fists would involuntarily clench. Normally, Kaoru would get up and leave, her small shoulders shaking with in held sobs. And Kenshin hated himself, hated himself for murdering her spirit. At night she would huddle away from him, refusing to touch him at all. Kenshin could almost read her thoughts, and they were all doubts.

"I'll never leave you," Kenshin had whispered to Kaoru one night as he wrapped his arms around her waist form behind and pulled her close to him. "You or our child." This had only caused her to cry. But at least she had touched him. She turned towards him and buried her face into his chest and sobbed. Kenshin did his best to sooth her, rubbing his hands up and down her back, he whispered the sweetest things he could think of into her ear. Finally she fell asleep, collapsed against his chest.

"Kaoru," Kenshin whispered her name again, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. Kenshin then proceeded to count backwards from a hundred. He wanted her now, more than anything. He wanted to take her, make her his own. Convince her completely that he would never leave her. Hold her so close that neither of them would be able to tell whose body belonged to whom.

"Things will get better," Kenshin assured his sleeping wife. "I promise."

How's that? This is my first fan fiction so please go easy on me.