Chapter 2

Inuyasha was running through the woods barely landing 'I gotta get there and back before dinner or Kagome will have my head.' He thought as he pushed on. Suddenly there was something blocking his path. 'I know that scent anywhere, Sesshomaru.' He thought skidding to a halt right in front of his older brother.

"Where are you heading, Inuyasha?" He asked coldly. His golden eyes locked with Inuyasha's. His long silver hair blowing in the slight breeze, his arms down at his sides, his left arm had healed and after three and a half years, his body had managed to grow the entire arm back.

"What's it to you?" Inuyasha asked angrily, then took a deep breath, 'Need to get moving.' "Sesshomaru I'm going to visit a grave site, let me by, I made a promise that I wouldn't take very long." He said trying to stay as calm as possible. Sesshomaru wondered what had happened then smelled the change in Inuyasha's scent.

'That miko must have tamed the wild beast.' He thought "Inuyasha why are you leaving your mate and friends and running off alone?" He asked his little brother. Inuyasha looked at him confused. When Inuyasha didn't respond he continued. "I forgot you were raised by the pathetic humans." Sesshomaru glared at Inuyasha. "I can smell it on you; you have taken the miko as a mate. The scent is all over you. Now why have you left your mate behind and run off?" He explained and Inuyasha realized what his brother was explaining.

"What's it matter to you? I have my reasons now move, I made a promise to be back quickly and I'm going to, now get out of my way!" Inuyasha was starting to get angry but before he could do anything to his older brother, he moved to the side.

"Would you like me to relay a message to your mate for you? I am headed there to visit Rin and since I am going there I will pass along a message this once." Inuyasha didn't know what to say, he was not about to tell his brother to tell Kagome what he wanted to say to her. That was all too personal in his opinion, so he settled for a simple answer.

"Tell her I'll be back in time." He looked once more at his older brother then took off again. Sesshomaru began to walk again towards the village, with Jaken following not far behind.

"Me lord, why did you speak to that half breed and offer him a favor?" The small green imp asked.

Sesshomaru looked back and rested his cold golden stare on the imp. "Jaken, it is of no importance to you. I have my reasons." He turned back to the road ahead.

"But me lord he's a half breed." Jaken almost yelled.

"He is the half breed who has been taking care of Rin. That miko and Inuyasha take very good care of her; they treat her like one of their own. Now that he is now mated, it is just a matter of time before he has an heir. I am not destined to have an heir to follow so his children will be the heirs to the western realm." He looked slightly saddened by this and Jaken decided to be quiet for the rest of the trip.

"Rin are you coming? Kagome and Sango are taking us to swim!" Yelled Shippo as he jumped up and down in front of her. He had grown to be as tall as she was. He still had a bushy tail and his legs were that of a fox, but he was growing up and fast.

"Yeah, I'm coming." She told him and turned quickly to go grab everything she needed to swim. Shippo ran to Kagome and hugged her before releasing her and walking beside her, Sango held each of the twins' hands and they waited for Rin to come out with her things. Before she came out, Shippo jumped and became very upset.

"Shippo what's the matter?" Kagome asked hugging him tightly and looking around. Then there was movement in the bushes and the group looked to see Sesshomaru walk out. Just then, Rin came out of the hut and ran to him.

"Sesshomaru!" She yelled and hugged him. She looked up at him and smiled. She had long ago dropped the title 'lord' from his name after living with Kagome and the others so long. "Kagome is taking me swimming. Then we're going to have a picnic, will you be coming?" She said excided. Sesshomaru gave a small smirk that only Rin saw

"No Rin I will not." He replied then looked up to see Kagome. 'Ah, the little miko that claimed my half-brother's heart and soothed his soul.' He thought

"Miko, I have a message that I was asked to pass on to you." He started to walk forward Sango pulled the girls behind her and tried her best to hold them there. Shippo jumped behind Kagome and peeked around her leg. "He said he will come back on time, he hesitated before he told me that. He was thinking of having me tell you something else." he watched for her reaction. She looked at him shocked, her eyes grew wide and slowly a smile grew across her face, she had gotten his meaning. "And I see you know what I speak of."

"Kagome, who is he talking about?" Asked Shippo from behind her. She smiled and turned to look at him.

"Don't worry about it Shippo." She told him and turned to Sango. "Sango, why don't you take the kids down to the river, I'll be there in a minute, I want to ask Sesshomaru something first." She stood she smiled at Sango and turned and walked closer to Sesshomaru. Sango took the kids to the river while Kagome started to talk to Sesshomaru.

"What is it he said? Do you know where he is, or went? Did he say anything else?" She asked and received a light smirk from the cold face

"Calm yourself miko. He wanted to say more but he refused to look weak. From what I gather, he has gone to visit his mother's grave. He gave his word that he would be back by the time you agreed upon. He will be. Do not worry."

"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You hate Inuyasha and hate humans. Why are you acting like this with me?" Kagome asked becoming suspicious.

"Why does it matter?" He was about to walk away to go to the river when he stopped and looked back at the young miko behind him. "Rin has shown me that humans aren't all that bad and my feud with your mate will end, although it will not completely disappear but he will be the one to raise the heirs to the western realm so he cannot die yet. As much as I do not want to see him live happy, our father had asked me to watch over them and I have done a poor job of it. I do owe it to my father to try to care for my brother." With that, he walked back into the woods and disappeared. Once he was gone, Kagome started her way to the river. Happy that Inuyasha had told Sesshomaru to give her a message. She was happy that she was reassured that he was going to come home on time and be safe come that night.

Inuyasha had been running for hours. He had hoped that Sesshomaru would give Kagome the message and leave her alone. He started to slow down and look around him to see a small clearing with two rather large cherry blossom and ume blossom trees standing tall and beautiful about ten feet from a rundown hut. Inuyasha walked into the clearing and looked around, he saw the small river that ran by the hut and the small headstone underneath the two trees next to a small bench. He walked over to the grave and knelt down.

"It's been a long time mother. I am sorry it's taken me so long to come back, but I have been doing a lot of things to help people like you always wanted me to." He looked up into the trees and remembered when his mother would sit on the bench and watch a little Inuyasha climb through the branches of the large trees. She was always worried about him, especially when he tried to play with the village children. The villagers were always so mean, she wished he would be able to have friends and prayed that one day he would find friendship.

"Mother," He continued, "I am sorry it has taken me so long to come back and visit you but I had to defeat someone that was trying to hurt everyone. Naraku had tried to kill my friends and me several times. He needed to be stopped. My friends and me defeated him and now we all live in a small village not too far away. Miroku is a monk, well ex monk now. He married Sango the demon slayer and they have three kids. Their twin daughters, Hanna and Haruko and their son Kanno, are a handful for them so me and Kagome have been helping out. Kagome and I are the godparents of all three." He paused and gave a small smile. "Kagome is from the future, she came through the bone eaters well and saved me countless times. I have fallen in love with her over all the years I have been with her.

"After we killed Naraku she went back to her time for three years and about three months ago she came back to me. I was so sad when she left but she had to, her family needed her. So, I had to leave her there. But she came back, mother, Kagome came back to me." He smiled and looked down at the gravesite. "Since she came back we have been getting closer and I found out that she loves me too. She is the only person who never hated me and always loved me for who I was not what I was. She always stayed by my side no matter what happened." He looked down sadly.

"She even stayed with me when I hurt her. But that all changed ever since I realized I loved her. I never realized how much I love her and missed her until she left for three years." He smiled. "You would like her mother. I couldn't be happier with her. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. I met Sesshomaru on the way here and he had asked why I had left my mate at home, I never thought about the demon side of things, so I guess in a way I already am married. It doesn't matter who things work out, I'm going to have a family. Well I have had one sort of for years. You will be a grandmother soon." He chuckled "But not too soon. Well you could consider yourself one now, I guess. Shippo is a young fox demon that Kagome had taken in years ago. He thinks of Kagome and me as his parents. He called me papa the other day, and once in a while he calls Kagome his mother. It sounds good to me. It's strange hearing that but something feels good about it." He looked at the sky. It was getting late he would have to be leaving in order to make it back to Kagome on time. He looked back to his mother's grave. "Well I better get going mother. I promised Kagome that I would be home before dinner. I have to take Shippo out hunting. I'm teaching him how to take care of himself, so then I can send him out hunting instead of me running around." He grinned and stood up. "Well mother, I'm going to go, maybe next time I'll bring Kagome and Shippo. Good bye mother." He said and then took off to the village.

"Auntie, when uncy gonna be here?" Asked Hanna.

"I don't know sweetie, he said he would be home soon." Kagome said and looked to the forest to try to see where he was.

"Hanna, why don't you take everyone and go play?" Sango said to her daughter.

"Okay mama." The little girl said and ran off. Sango watched as the children went off to play then turned to Kagome.

"Kagome don't worry I'm sure he's fine. He promised he would be back before dinner and nothing is going to keep him away from you. What did Sesshomaru say? You seemed pretty happy after you talked to him." Sango was worried that something happened to Inuyasha or he would come home late. Kagome was always so worried about everyone.

"Nothing much. He said he ran into Inuyasha. They surprisingly didn't fight. He is going to call off the fighting between them, he said that his father had asked for him to look after Inuyasha and his mother and he decided after all these years that he would finally do it." Kagome said as she worked on getting all the equipment out that she would need for dinner. "Sesshomaru said that Inuyasha wanted to tell me something but refused to tell him what it was, he said that Inuyasha would keep his word."

Kagome looked down then turned to look at her friend and smiled before walking over to a large pot to start working on getting the ingredients ready for dinner. Sango smiled at her friend and started to walk away to watch over the children, Miroku and Kanno would not be able to take care of the twins and Shippo along with the village children. Kagome stopped gathering what she needed when she felt a strong arm around her waist that pulled her into a hug.

"They left you to make the food all alone?" Inuyasha said as he kissed her cheek and loosened his grip to allow her to turn around. She smiled and kissed him.

"Yes. Where did you go? You were getting me worried. Sesshomaru stopped by. He told me that you had wanted to tell me something but wouldn't tell him so he could tell me. "She looked at him concerned.

"I went to visit someone. Don't worry so much, you know I can take care of myself. And I did want to tell you that I love you and to stay safe until I got back. But my brother was taking everything too far and I decided I would tell you tonight myself when I got back. Well better yet maybe I should show you." They both laughed as Inuyasha kissed Kagome's neck.

Even since it had only been a day, they could not seem to keep away from the other for long. "Sango was only going to check on Miroku and the kids. She's coming back." She smiled before he kissed her once more and took a step back.

"Well I see you have stayed safe and waited for me. You worry too much you know that?" He saw her little smile and he could not help it. He captured her lips and they kissed until four little children trying to tackle the couple interrupted them. They broke apart to look down at Shippo, Hanna, Haruko, and Kanno laughing. They bent down to pick up the children Inuyasha picked up the girls and Kagome picked up Kano with Shippo still standing with a bright smile at her side.

"Uncy you home!" Haruko yelled and hugged his neck.

"You worry auntie!" Hanna half said half yelled wagging her finger at him then laughed and hugged his neck like her sister, "We miss you Uncy." Inuyasha smiled and hugged them back and looked at Kagome as she was being 'attacked' by the boys.

"I know I worried your auntie, and I'm sorry." He said smiling. Kagome smiled at him making him smirk, letting his fangs peak out from behind his lips. Since she came back, she had seen the change in him. He was more mature when he needed to be. He seemed like he was a normal human guy, especially when the children were around. Kagome set Kanno down so he could go run to his father and mother who were making their way over to their friends.

"So Inuyasha I see you have asked her." Miroku said and clapped his friend on the back before looking at the girls. Sango was confused and Kagome looked at Miroku before realizing just how close she and Inuyasha were standing.

"Miroku, you knew?" Kagome asked then looked to Inuyasha then back to Miroku who smiled at her. She turned to her 'sister', "Sango, I should have told you, but I thought we were going to wait." She gave a quick glare at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha asked me to marry him." She said. She and Sango jumped up and down squealing. Inuyasha covered his ears after quickly putting the two little girls on their own feet. Shippo jumped back and over to Inuyasha's side. The girls laughed and giggled at each other, Inuyasha slowly uncovered his ears.

"Are you two done?" He asked trying to ignore the ringing in his ears. The twins looked up at Inuyasha and giggled, they wanted up so they could play with his ears. He looked down at his two little 'nieces' "No. you two, go play, you can't play with my ears." The girls pouted and did their little puppy dog eyes and looked up at him. "Maybe later, okay?" He said looking down and ruffling their hair before they giggled and took off to go play with Shippo chasing after them. Kagome smiled at how well Inuyasha was with the kids.

"Yeah, I think we are done celebrating for now." Kagome smiled and took Kanno for his father. "Come on lets go see what your sisters and cousin are doing." Kagome said as she carried Kanno and talked to Sango about the wedding.

"So when was it that you asked? You have been gone all day." Miroku asked as he and Inuyasha followed not too far behind the girls. Inuyasha looked at his friend and smiled then back to the road ahead of himself.

"I asked her last night." Inuyasha smiled and whispered sideways to his best friend, trying to keep his voice down "And she did more than just tell me yes." Inuyasha chuckled and Miroku laughed and had the familiar perverted smile across his face and looked at his friend who walked beside him watching his soon to be wife walking with her nephew in her arms.

"So how was it Inuyasha?" Miroku asked perverted and chuckled at Inuyasha as he looked at his friend and smiled.

"What do you think Miroku?" Inuyasha replied and was attacked by three small children. Everyone laughed as the twins and Shippo made their way up Inuyasha, he helped the twins climb to his shoulders were they sat and played with his ears.

-THREE WEEKS LATER-

Inuyasha and Kagome to woke up in each other's arms in their room in Kaede's hut. They could smell her cooking breakfast and Kagome did not feel very well. She looked up at Inuyasha, who smiled down at her.

"Good morning Kagome. Sleep well?" Inuyasha asked leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. All of a sudden, she jumped up and ran out of the hut, Inuyasha sat up confused. And made his way out of the hut to see if Kagome was alright, passing a confused Kaede in the main room. When he got outside, he found her emptying the contents of her stomach in a bush. He walked over to her and slowly rubbed her back trying to face the opposite direction so his sensitive nose would not notice the smell of the sickness.

"Kagome are you alright? What's wrong?" He asked concerned. Once she finished he knelt down and picked her up to take her to Kaede to find out what was wrong. When they walked back, into the hut, Shippo had left to go find the other children and Kaede was cooking breakfast. "Kaede, take a look at Kagome would ya. She's sick." Inuyasha asked the old miko as him set Kagome down on her sleeping pallet as the old miko nodded.

"Inuyasha could ye go get me some more herbs for breakfast while I look at her?" Kaede asked as she walked over to Kagome. Inuyasha nodded and took off for the herbs he got almost every morning. The old woman looked at the young woman who sat before her. "Tell me child, what ails ye?" She asked.

"My stomach is really upset, and I've been so tired lately and I feel so sick when I smelt the food this morning. Kaede, what's going on?" Kagome went through her list of symptoms and waited for Kaede's answer.

"Hmmm, let me examine ye, I think I know what it is but let me make sure first." Kaede said and gathered all the things she needed.

After a few moments, Kaede was finished and told her what she had found.

"I'm what!" Kagome yelled "You can't be serious, I'm pr..Pre…pregnant? Are you sure?" She asked Kaede and she nodded and stood to finish preparing for breakfast. "Kami what am I going to tell Inuyasha, how am I going to tell him? He is going to be so mad. Kami what do I do?" She panicked.

"Kagome, I am sure he will not be mad at all, ye should not worry about what could happen, ye should tell him as soon as possible. Do not worry child." Kaede said as Inuyasha walked into the hut. He handed the herbs to Kaede to start breakfast then turned to Kagome.

"Did you find out what was wrong?" He asked very concerned and watched as Kagome stood and looked to Kaede then back at him after she nodded.

"Inuyasha lets go for a walk I could use some fresh air." She walked over to him and half dragged him out of the hut while Kaede chuckled to herself. Once outside Inuyasha wanted to know what was going on but decided not to press her as he watched her once again run to a nearby bush. Once she was done, she stood and gave a small smile to Inuyasha who looked extremely worried.

"Okay Kagome, tell me. What is wrong? You're sick and you can't hide it from me, so tell me, out with it. What is the matter with you." he looked at her sternly. She just smiled at him and looked away. "Wench!" He warned. She looked at then found the ground more interesting

"Inuyasha…" She began then turned her back to him, he became very upset and confused. "Inuyasha, I'm… I'm…" She could not finish or look at him.

"Kagome what is it, you can tell me anything." Inuyasha said taking a step forward.

"Inuyasha, I'm pregnant!" She blurted out and turned to see Inuyasha staring at her. He could not believe what he just heard. 'Did she just say…?' He was in complete shock until the smell of tears reached his nose. He was pulled out of his shock and looked at Kagome. He took a step forward and put his arms around her and brought her close.

"Kagome what's wrong?" He asked sweetly.

"I knew you wouldn't be happy. This shouldn't have happened yet and it's all my fault and …" She was lost to her tears, as Inuyasha turned her around and pulled her closer.

"Kagome, I am happy. I couldn't be happier. It's just a shock that well that I'm going to be a father, I can't believe it!" He smiled and kissed Kagome with all the love he had. She slowly stopped crying and they parted.

"You aren't made at me? You really want this baby?" She asked with tears drying, she smiled as Inuyasha pulled her closer and kissed her.

"No, I could never be mad at you. I wouldn't want this any other way. I am so happy that your pregnant," He laughed one of his rare laughs, "I'm gonna be a father!" He yelled and spun her around.

"How long does it take for a half demon to be born?" Kagome asked Inuyasha.

"Well demons are two months so if it's a half demon it will be here in about six months and if it's human it will take the normal nine months." He pulled her closer and smiled "You can't believe how happy you made me." He kissed her before almost being knocked over by a red fur ball hitting their side and two little girls at their legs, one on each of their legs.

"Uncy! Auntie!" The twins screamed in unison. As they looked up at them with a big grin across each of their tiny faces.

"Mama! Papa!" Yelled Shippo as he clung to Kagome. The twins were looking at the fox demon, squinted their eyes, and got ready to jump and get to him. Before they could, Inuyasha lifted them up.

"What are you two doing? You're not going after Shippo are you?" He asked looking back and forth between the two innocent faces.

"No." They looked at him and smiled sweetly. Inuyasha didn't believe them and turned to Shippo who was clinging for dear life to the front of Kagome.

"Where's your mama and papa?" Kagome asked. Just as she finished her sentence, Miroku and Sango walked up to them holding the little Kanno. "Good morning Sango, Miroku." She looked at Sango and made a face that told the woman that they needed to go to the hot springs and talk. Sango nodded and went to get her stuff as Kagome let Shippo go with a smile and went to get her things. "Sango and I are going to the hot springs, I'm sure you boys can take care of the kids for a little while." Kagome smiled at Inuyasha looking at the twins, both smiling innocently as they sat looking at Shippo thinking of how they can get him. Shippo was trying to figure out a way to hide from the twins, Kanno was clapping and watching his sisters then looked up at his father, but was no trouble, Miroku would be helping so he didn't need to worry about him going after the girls. Inuyasha looked back to Kagome, smiled, and nodded. She stepped forward and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Make sure they don't get to Shippo and hurt him, please." She told Inuyasha, and then turned to wait for Sango to finish giving Miroku and Kanno and hug and kiss each. When she was done, the girls set off to the hot spring.

"Slay kitsune, slay kitsune!" The twins chanted and started after the little fox child who quickly ran to Inuyasha.

"Papa, papa. Help me!" He yelled as he ran to Inuyasha. Shippo ran behind Inuyasha and peeked from the side as the two girls stopped in front of their uncle.

"Now you heard your auntie. No slaying." He told them and walked over to where Miroku had found a seat under a tree, watching Kanno chase a butterfly, with Shippo not far behind. Inuyasha sat next to him with Shippo between them. "Miroku those two are just like their mother, I hope that one isn't like you." Inuyasha laughed while Miroku looked at him and gave a smirk.

"I'm working on it." He joked. They sat and watched the children play and watched as more and more village children joined the twins in their game of tag. Kanno had waddled back to his father's arms and fallen to sleep while Shippo snuggled into Inuyasha's side and fell asleep, with his father's strong arms around him.

Kagome and Sango were in the hot spring relaxing and talking about their pasts and their futures.

"So do you think you're going to have any more kids Sango?" Kagome asked laughing as Sango made a funny face.

"After the twins I don't think so." She laughed. "I should have stopped with them." Sango and Kagome laughed and talked for hours. "Kagome what was it that you wanted to talk about?" Sango asked about the look Kagome had shot her earlier.

"I didn't want to say it out in the open in front of everyone but, Inuyasha and I are gonna have a baby!" She squealed. Sango looked at her 'sister', smiled, and gave her a hug and they both squealed and laughed.

"Kami Kagome I can't believe it, congratulations. You're going to be a wonderful mother and Inuyasha, he is going to be an awesome father. He was a great help with the twins especially. He was so adorable when he would take over for us so we could sleep." Sango smiled, Inuyasha had changed so much, and he had lost almost all of his roughness if not all of it. He lost most of his will to do anything after Kagome had left. He came back and lost most of his roughness when the twins were born and slowly as he helped with them he lost more and more and then Kanno came and he tried his best to help keep the twins out of the way, then Kagome came back and he completely changed. He became almost soft, he almost never argued with Kagome or anyone for that matter, he never really got angry with Shippo or the kids; he had changed since Kagome had left. "Kagome does he know yet?"

"Yes I told him as soon as I found out." Kagome said remembering him just standing there shocked

"How did he take it? Miroku passed out for about an hour the first time I told him, the second time he screamed ran around the house, and then passed out. It was so funny I couldn't stop laughing. Inuyasha fell out of a tree laughing both times." Kagome and Sango laughed.

"He took it pretty well, I mean I told him and all he did was stare at me until I started to cry. Then he snapped out of it and told me he was happy, and couldn't believe it. My story isn't very funny." Kagome told Sango, and they chuckled.

"Well look who my stories are about." Sango said and the girls burst out laughing. "We better get back, Miroku can't handle the kids for long and there are probably kids from the village joining them. He's probably going crazy by now." She smiled. Kagome and her stood up, got out, dried, and dressed before started back.

"Well it won't be too bad, Inuyasha is there with him. Inuyasha will be able to control the kids." Kagome said as she and Sango made their way back.

"Alright kids it's time to go home for lunch, your mothers are calling. Hanna, Haruko, come on time for lunch." Inuyasha said as he stood up holding the sleeping Kanno in one hand, waking Shippo as he stood. Miroku had gone to make lunch while Inuyasha watched the children since he was the one that everyone listened to when he spoke. The village children went home and the twins settled down in the house as Miroku set out the bowels. Inuyasha set Kanno down on his sleeping pallet and Inuyasha sat by the fire and laid Shippo in his lap. Soon after lunch, the twins went and lay down on their pallet, Inuyasha and Miroku sat talking and waiting for the girls. Not long after, Kagome and Sango walked into the hut and saw the kids asleep and the boy waiting up for them.

"You guys look like you should have gone to bed too." Sango told them with a smile.

"Yeah, you guys look exhausted. Too much play time?" Kagome and Sango giggled, as the men smirked and rolled their eyes.

"Well Kagome, me and Shippo need to head back to Kaede's." Inuyasha said as he stood slowly so as not to wake up the sleeping kit. Kagome smiled and nodded before gathering all of her stuff.

"Besides all the kids are out, we're gonna take Shippo back to his bed." Kagome said. Inuyasha maneuvered the kit so that he could grab the oversized yellow bag, and carry him back to the hut. "See ya guys after the kids get up." Kagome said and the three started back to Kaede's hut. On the way back Kagome and Inuyasha talked about what had happened while they were separate and talking about their past, laughing, and joking. "Say Inuyasha, did you tell Miroku?" Kagome asked, he knew what she was talking about.

"I mentioned it, and I'm sure if he didn't hear or get it, Sango will tell him." He looked at her and smiled, as she looked wide-eyed at him. "I have really good hearing. Remember?" He said and kissed her on the cheek as they walked into the hut and laid Shippo on his sleeping pallet.