BlueMoon Goddess: I know it's been like what seems like forever on this chapter, but I'm still writing other fics and starting on new ones, which I know I shouldn't be doing but I can't help it. Anyway let's get this story on now shall we.
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, its characters, or A.C. Arthur's book 'Second Chance, Baby' which this fic is based on
Summary: Except for one passion filled night after his father's funeral, Inuyasha and Kagome's marriage had been on the rocks for years. Now Kagome's pregnant and unwilling to bring a child into a home with a workaholic, absentee father. She wanted a divorce, but for the sake of their child, Inuyasha demanded she give their marriage a second chance...and he was not a man to be denied.
Inuyasha and Miroku rode in Miroku's Hyundai Genesis through the city streets and got onto the highway that would lead them to the outskirts of the city, where the Takahashi estate was. Inuyasha liked his friend's car but wasn't impressed by its size or new-age technology. He favored the old, tried-and-true vehicles and was looking forward to taking one of his favorite, the vintage teal 1963 Chevrolet Corvette he kept in the garage at the estate, out for a spin. It had been a while since he'd indulged in his only other hobby besides work. In truth, it had been too long.
Inuyasha enjoyed the scenery as Miroku drove. He thought about his wife and their evening together. They must have kissed on that balcony for hours. All he knew for certain was that when he'd finally had to walk her to the door, his body was hard as steel and he was needing her more than he'd ever had in his life. But Kagome had held to her word. She didn't want them to rush things. She wanted the whole dating, courting, and whatever-you-wanted-to-call-it routine all over again. He wasn't really down for the waiting to sleep with her again, especially since they were already legally married and he'd gotten her pregnant, but he knew enough to give her what she wanted in that regard. He was looking at his marriage like a business deal now: it needed to be handled delicately until the final contracts were signed, the "final contracts" being the moment Kagome moved back in with him. That thought made him smile.
"What are you over there smiling about?" Miroku asked. "You must have made another million or something, you look so happy."
Inuyasha cleared his throat and pretended to adjust his seat belt. "No, it's nothing. Just enjoying the scenery."
"Man, you can't see anything but asphalt and cars driving too fast to get to someplace that's probably not all that important. So what's up?"
"It's nothing really. Just that things have been bad for a few months and they're finally starting to look a little better."
"You mean you and Kagome?"
"Why would you say that?" Inuyasha asked. He'd been careful not to let anyone in his family and friends know about his and Kagome's separation. For all they knew, she was just spending more time working and with her family. Her appearance at the funeral had helped tremendously, as both his mother and sister-in-law were happy to see her.
"Come on Inuyasha. I know you and I know when something's bothering you. You were on edge even before you father's death. I assumed it was about Kagome since your business is doing well. Kagome is the only thing you love more than work and your cars."
Inuyasha thought about his friend's words for a moment, searching for and accepting the truth in them. "Things were a little shaky with us for a while. But now we're good."
"Shaky how?" Miroku persisted.
Inuyasha sighed, knowing Miroku could be just as stubborn as him. They weren't going to make the additional twenty minutes of this ride without him telling Miroku all he wanted to know, so there was no need in even trying.
"She left me." Inuyasha said quietly.
"What? She left? Why?"
"I don't really know. I mean, I think I know now. But when it happened, I had no idea."
Miroku shook his head. "That doesn't sound right."
"She left right after the New Year. I came home one day and she was gone. Then the day of the funeral she showed up. I thought things were back to normal, that whatever she'd been going through was fixed. So we slept together."
"But?"
"I didn't say but."
Miroku chuckled. "Still, I know there's one coming."
"But apparently things still weren't okay. She left again. I tried to call her, I left messages at her job and on her cell. I didn't even know where she was staying."
"Did you call her mother and grandfather?"
"No."
"Why?"
"The same reason I didn't tell any of you. I didn't want them to know. Marriage is sacred to Kagome. Her mother and father have been together for a long time until he died and from what she told me her parents had a great relationship. I didn't think Kagome would run to her mother and tell her she was giving up on ours."
"So what's going on now?"
Inuyasha thought for a moment. He rarely went for walks, especially during a weekday when he should've been working. But had he not been coming down that street, had he not glanced inside that store, he wouldn't be feeling as content as he was now. "I saw her yesterday."
Miroku glanced at him, then back at the road. "You did? Where? Did you go to her job like some stalker?"
Inuyasha frowned, offended that his friend would even suggest such a thing. "I wouldn't do that."
"I know you wouldn't. That's why you haven't spoken to or seen your wife in months." Miroku chuckled. "You're too calm to show your emotions that way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just tell me what happened when you saw her."
Inuyasha decided he wanted this conversation over with sooner rather than later, so he dismissed Miroku's comment. "She's pregnant."
"What! It's yours right?"
"Don't fuck with me Miroku, of course it's mine. She is my wife." And if Inuyasha knew one thing about Kagome, it was that she was loyal. She would never step out on him, no matter how bad things were. As long as they were legally married, and this was true for him as well, there would be no sleeping with anybody else.
"I can't tell." Miroku said flippantly.
"All right, what's that supposed to mean? And I want a straight answer."
Miroku shrugged. "I don't have a problem giving you one, my friend. You've been working and working since the day you and Kagome got married. You know why she left? Because she didn't think you'd miss her one way or another."
Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak then quickly shut it.
"Yea, you know I'm right. Kagome's the type of woman that needs attention Inuyasha and you weren't giving it to her. You better be thanking the gods that she's carrying your baby and not some other man's."
"Just because you're driving doesn't mean I won't hit you. Watch what you say about my wife."
Miroku chuckled. "Don't get mad at me. I'm just being real. There's more to life than work. It took me a while to realize that, but I see it clearly now. Kagome wants more than just money in the bank, Inuyasha. She wants the whole fairy tale."
"I know what my wife wants, thank you very much." Inuyasha shifted in his seat. "This all sounds real professional coming from a man who's been running from a serious commitment most of his adult life."
"I'm not downplaying my faults. But I'm wiser now."
"You mean you're Sango-whipped now."
"Whatever." Miroku laughed. "But seriously, I think you really need to think about what I've said and listen to what I'm sure Kagome's saying. She's pregnant now, it's time for you to take your marriage and your family more seriously than your job."
"If I don't work, how do I support my family?"
"Inuyasha, you're not destitute. You have more money than most men twice your age. Besides, it's not all about the money. It's about living your life before it's too late. Don't you want to be there for Kagome and for your child?"
"Of course I do. And I will. That's why I have to work, to make sure they have everything they need all the time."
"I'm betting that all they're going to need is you." Miroku said seriously.
"Thanks for the advice, but I've got this under control."
Miroku shrugged and Inuyasha was glad he was going to let it rest for now.
The day had been long, but the thoughts of Inuyasha had kept Kagome going. She wondered if she'd see him tonight. That was probably too optimistic, seeing as he'd given her all last night. However, the two dozen peach-colored calla lilies he'd had delivered to her this morning said he was at least thinking about her while he was at work. Of course, when she'd called, he'd been out at a meeting, she'd contemplated calling him on his cell but decided against it. They'd been separated for months and yesterday had been pretty emotional for both of them. Although, to his credit, Inuyasha seemed to take the news of the pregnancy a lot better than she would have anticipated. If she wasn't mistaken, he actually looked pleased by the notion that they would be starting a family.
'A family.' She thought as she walked down the steps leading out of the school.
She didn't want to live in the city anymore. The penthouse was too small for a family. Their child would need a yard for a swing, grass to roll and play on. Inuyasha loved their penthouse in the city. Would he be open to moving? Funny how the doubts continued to surface. As much as she wanted to believe that they had a chance that Inuyaha could be the man she needed him to be, doubts still prickled her mind.
Kagome was tired and hungry and sleepy. The first trimester of pregnancy was more than she'd anticipated. Her emotions were out of whack, her energy level had reached an all-time low and she was uncomfortable for the duration of the time she wasn't nauseous or worried. Her mother, who in addition to her grandfather were the only other people who knew about the pregnancy, assured her that this was all the norm. In another couple of weeks, a lot of those symptoms would pass and she'd be on to other issues, like swollen ankles and growing pressure on her bladder.
She was thinking that she'd gladly endure all of this to stare into the eyes of her and Inuyasha's child at the end of nine months, when a car horn caught her attention. She looked up then and noticed the sleek black Mercedes Maybach 62 S sedan. She would recognize that car anywhere because there weren't many people rich enough in Seattle to own one. It was Inuyasha's. Well, it was one of his. That hanyou loved his cars.
This one was for his driver, Ace, whom he used when he was in the city. Inuyasha's other cars, according to him, needed the open road to test their speed, so driving in the city wasn't logical. Instead, he had Ace drive him to and from work and any other meetings he had in the city, or simply to the Takahashi estate where he could pick up one of his other cars.
Her heart danced a little jig as she walked closer, her smile growing with each step. There was a small letdown when Ace came around to open the back door for her and she realized Inuyasha wasn't in the car.
"Good evening Mrs. Takahashi." Ace said with his ready smile and deep dimples.
"Hi Ace." She said, coming up on tiptoe to kiss his weathered cheek. Ace was a big man, tanned skin, laughing eyes, a bald head and two huge hoop earrings in each ear. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you ma'am. It's been far too long." He said, taking her bags from her arm and helping her into the car.
When she settled, she waited for him to get in and asked. "Where's Inuyasha and where are we going?"
Ace only turned to her and smiled. "Just relax. Mr. Takahashi told me to take good care of you. There's some cold water and fruit juice back there and something for you to snack on during the ride."
Kagome sat back against the pearl-gray bucket leather seat, knowing it was pointless to ask Ace anything else. The man was nothing if not loyal and he'd been with Inuyasha for years. So if Inuyasha told him not to tell her where they were going, he'd walk on nails before divulging the information. She smiled as she slid forward in the seat to the minibar mounted on the back of the front seat. Picking up a bottle of orange juice, she surveyed the array of snacks and selected the caramel popcorn. She'd always had a sweet tooth and preferred that to the rice cakes and granola.
'The ride shouldn't be too long.' Kagome thought. Still, after her snack, she sat back in the seat and quickly fell asleep. When she awoke, it was to someone shaking her gently by the shoulders. Which probably wasn't a good thing to do since her stomach was rebelling against the popcorn and orange juice.
"Wake up, sleepyhead." Inuyasha whispered against her ear.
When had he arrived? He must have been waiting for her at whatever their destination was. His voice registered and she struggled to lift her lids. When she'd finally closed them, sleep took her deeply so that it was a chore to wake up. "Hmmm." She tilted her head just a bit and was pleased to meet his lips.
The kiss was gentle, just a brushing of lips, but it stirred her blood just the same and she lifted her arms to drape over his shoulders. "Hi." She said dreamily then pressed her mouth to his again.
"Mmm, hey yourself." Inuyasha said, rubbing a thumb across her cheek. "You fell asleep on that short ride from the school to here."
"Where's here?" She asked groggily.
"Where at the Galleria. I thought you might like to do a little shopping and get some dinner."
He was staring at her as if he hadn't seen her in a very long time.
"Shopping?" She asked, trying to sit up. He was leaning over the console and he backed away a little while she got herself situated upright. "You hate shopping."
"I don't hate it." He said with a smirk. "I just don't see why somebody else can't do it for you."
"You were not brought up to be that uppity. Izayoi only has housekeepers because your father insisted and because Betty is too ornery to leave. Otherwise she would still be scrubbing her own floors." She reached for her purse, opening it to grab her compact. If she looked like she felt, there was no way she was walking around in public without a little patchwork.
"And your mother didn't bring you up to be so vain." He said, reaching for her compact.
Kagome moved it out of his reach and lifted the sponge to dab concealer beneath her eyes. "I look like I haven't slept in ages. My mom would have a fit if I went out in public like this." Finished with the concealer, she pulled out her lip gloss and swiped the stick over her lips. "It's not for glamour, but for normalcy. You have no idea all the changes pregnant women go through."
Inuyasha nodded. "Are you sick much? My secretary says she was ill the entire pregnancy."
Kagome's head snapped in his direction. "You told your secretary about the baby?"
Inuyasha blinked as if confused. "Of course I did. Why, is it a secret?"
"No." She said, shaking her head. "I just didn't think we were announcing it yet."
"Well, I didn't really announce it. I mean, nobody in the family knows, except Miroku. I figured we could tell the others after dinner on Sunday."
Kagome had forgotten about the Sundays she and Inuyasha had had dinner with his family. It seemed so long ago. "Oh." Unsure of what to say next, she placed all her things back in her purse and zipped it shut. His fingers gripped her wrists and her gaze was jerked back to his.
"You're beautiful without lipstick and whatever that other stuff was."
She smiled. "You're biased."
"I love you."
Ace, as astute as always, picked that moment to open the car door. "If you're ready now." He said and reached inside to take Kagome's hand.
She gave it to him and stepped out into the slightly cooler evening air. Inuyasha stepped out of the car behind her, reaching for her hand the moment he was at her side. "If you're too tired, we can just go home."
Home.
How badly she wanted to call the penthouse her home, with him, again. But she wasn't ready for that yet.
"No. I'll be fine. The walking is good for me and you did interrupt my shopping yesterday."
They hadn't bought much, just half of the furniture for the nursery in Neiman Marcus and because they didn't know if it was a boy or a girl, a couple of bags of basic baby wear. Kagome hadn't intended to get much as it was still early in the pregnancy. Some believed it was bad luck to shop too soon. However, Inuyasha was convinced that their lives were changing for the better and wanted to buy whatever she liked.
Her feet were hurting a bit and she was hungry. Inuyasha must have noticed she was getting tired because he choose a quick dinner over a fancy restaurant. They were back in the car after only two and a half hours.
"Let's get you home to bed." He said once she was fastened in with the seat belt.
That sounded like a great idea to her.
Inuyasha watched Kagome in awe as she let her head rest on the back of the seat. She was, just as he'd said, beautiful. More beautiful than he'd ever remembered seeing her. It must have been that baby glow his secretary was telling him about. When he'd planned this evening, he'd wanted to buy anything and everything that would make her smile. Instead, she'd smiled even before they'd gotten into the mall.
That was one of the things he loved about Kagome. She'd never been impressed by material things. Her wants were basic, her needs obtainable. On paper it seemed he was more than capable of pleasing her. But he wanted to do so much more than that. He wanted to take care of her, to make it so that there was never anything that she wanted or needed.
She was tired now, barely keeping her eyes open. As he'd been about to direct Ace to take her to the penthouse, she'd given him an address just at the city limits. She'd not only moved out, she'd moved a good distance away from him. Inuyasha refused to think of that now. This evening had been good. They had been together and things seemed to be on the right path. He wouldn't let anything stop that.
He walked her to her door, noting that the apartment building wasn't the best. Kagome was in no way out of money. Even leaving him, she would still be comfortable financially. So the apartment wasn't the worst, but it wasn't good enough for her.
He couldn't hold his thoughts in any longer. "Why don't we just get your stuff and head back to the penthouse?" He said.
She'd unlocked the door and was just stepping inside when she glanced at him over her shoulder. "I like it here." She said. "For now."
The furniture, he noted as she turned on the lights, was in her customary style of "less is more." Not big pieces but the necessities. A couch, a recliner, a coffee table, a television stand. She had plants all around because she loved flowers and taking care of things that way. On a table in the corner, she had stacks of books, another one of great loves. Kagome read anything and everything, all the time. He'd met her coming from the library and since that time he could personally vouch for her having read over a million books.
"I'm going to get ready for bed, Inuyasha. I have to get up early in the morning." She said, breaking his study of her apartment.
"How long are you planning to work?" He asked.
"As long as I can."
Inuyasha nodded, her answer being what he'd expected to hear. "And how long do you plan on staying away from me?"
"I'm not staying away from you. We just spent another pleasant evening together. One I have to admit I am surprised by."
"Surprised? Why?"
"You haven't had a lot of evenings for me in a long while Inuyasha."
He nodded. "I know. Things have been hectic."
"So you said."
"I'm trying Kagome." He said when it seemed like their conversation was headed down the wrong path.
She stepped to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "I know you are and that's all I can ask."
He cupped her face in his hands. "You can ask me for anything Kagome. You've always had that power over me. Whatever I can do to make things right between us, I will do." He pulled her closer and rubbed his cheek against the top of her head.
"Just pay attention. That's all I ask." She whispered.
Because he loved the feel of her in his arms and because his baser needs for her were growing out of control, Inuyasha lifted her face to his, dropping his lips down to hers, taking her mouth hungrily.
She opened to him willingly, stroking her tongue over his with need to match his own. The kiss grew deeper instantaneously, his hands raking through her hair as hers twined tightly around his neck.
Before he could stop himself, he was backing her toward the couch. When her legs hit the target, he lowered her down, covering her body with his own. He found her lips again, his teeth nipping along their line, his tongue seeking and tangling with hers. They were so perfectly in sync, so one with their needs, that Inuyasha had always been amazed. Kagome hadn't been as outgoing and extroverted as many of the girls they'd gone to school with, but she was well-known and liked for her quiet demeanor and pretty smile. He figured there was more to her than what everyone was seeing. And he'd found it. He'd tapped into that sensual woman that could drive him wild with one kiss. He'd tapped into that sensual woman that could drive him wild with one kiss.
His body roared with need, blood thrumming through his system to rest painfully at his groin. As if she sensed his desire, her legs spread as much as could be allowed on the couch and he slipped between them. Rubbing his erection against her mound was like icing on the cake, hearing her moan his name…like heaven. Cupping her breasts in his palms was another act he'd cherished. Kagome was petite but curved in all the right places. Her breasts, which used to fit perfectly in his palms, now overflowed with heaviness. He thrust between her legs again, wanting, needing to be inside of her quickly.
Beneath him she was panting, her head turning from side to side on one of the couch pillows. He loved when she was hungry for him, when she begged him to make her scream. She was holding on to that request, he could tell. She wanted to be stronger, to tell him to go and feel like she'd conquered some personal rule she'd made for herself. But Inuyasha wanted something else. The buttons on her shirt popped as he pulled the material apart. Her breasts, just as he'd felt in his hands, fairly exploded from her bra. They were so round and so full that his mouth watered simply at the sight. With shaking fingers, he thanked God for the front clasp on her bra and released it. Now that they were free, there was no reason why his mouth couldn't feast on those delicious mounds. Her areolas were huge and round and his arousal grew harder than he thought he could stand.
"Inuyasha." She moaned and arched, offering herself to him.
"Damn." Was all he could manage to say before grasping both breasts, bending his head and taking one stiff nipple between his teeth. She hissed then cursed and every muscle in his body tightened.
"What's the matter? Did I hurt you?"
Looking down at her, Inuyasha watched as she bit her bottom lip, her eyes closed so tightly he thought he'd have to physically help her reopen them. He quickly shifted his weight, wondering if he'd been too heavy on her stomach, on their baby.
"Kagome, talk to me. Are you hurt?"
"It's okay." She said firmly and reached up to touch a hand to his shoulder. "I'm fine."
"What did I do?"
"It's just another pregnancy symptom."
"What?"
"My…ah…my nipples are really sore. They say the tenderness will go away in a few weeks. I guess I hadn't realized how sore they were until you touched them. It's not like I've been touching them myself and−"
"And if you even say something that remotely sounds like another man's been touching them, I'm not going to be held accountable for my actions." He said, moving so that he was sitting up and her feet were in his lap.
Kagome shifted too, pulling her shirt over her exposed breasts as she did. "I wasn't going to say anything like that. Did you think I forgot how possessive you are?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "Possessive is what a boyfriend is. I'm your husband. The thought of another man touching you makes me deadly."
"I would never cheat on you, Inuyasha. Even though we were separated, we were still married. I took our vows very seriously."
He looked at her, saw how intense she'd just gotten. "Past tense? You're not still committed to us?"
She took a deep breath. "I wanted to be. I tried to be, but−"
He took her hands. "Okay, I see the need to reassure you is imperative in making this work. I apologize for not being there as much as you needed me to be and I'm going to honestly work at changing that. I love you and I want you…I want us." He said, dropping a hand over her stomach. "I want us to be together. To be a family."
Tears glistened in her eyes as she said. "I want that too."
"Then that's what we'll have. I told you when we first got married that I'd take care of you and I will. Just give me the chance."
He leaned forward and kissed her again and like clockwork the kiss deepened. His hands were touching her breasts, much softer than he had before and she was making that sweet little sound she did when she was close to erupting.
The room filled with a series of chimes. Kagome jumped and Inuyasha sighed against her mouth. "It's my cell."
"Oh." She said, putting a hand to her chest as it chimed again. "Do you need to answer it?"
For a minute, Inuyasha contemplated. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the phone. Glancing down at the number, he saw that it was Makoto. It was almost nine at night and the investor he wanted on board with him as badly as he wanted to make love to his wife was calling.
"Yeah." He answered tightly. "I'll just be a minute."
As Inuyasha took the call, Kagome felt like she'd stepped under a cool spray of water. Just like that, their mood, the moment of intimacy that they hadn't shared in so long, had been interrupted by a business call. She didn't have to see the number or hear him say it was business, she just knew. Inuyasha was predictable that way. If it were Miroku or Sesshomaru he'd have let them go to voice mail, then listen to the message to see if it was an emergency. If it were a stranger, he would have cursed and thrown the phone across the room. But he'd looked at the number and recognized it. He'd gotten that controlled, focused look in his eyes and he'd taken the call. It was business.
Getting up from the couch, Kagome went into her bedroom. She discarded the shirt that was now of no use to her and riffled through her drawer for a nightgown. She pulled it over her head then stripped off her pants and her shoes. Grabbing her unruly hair into a bundle, she stretched a band around it and looked for her slippers. She found them and returned to the living room, where Inuyasha was just closing his phone.
He turned to her with a puzzled look on his face, clearly not getting her change of attire.
"I'm tired Inuyasha. I'm going to bed." She announced in a voice that was much more stable than she was feeling.
He walked to her, grabbed her around her waist and pulled her close to him. "I'd planned on putting you to bed."
And she probably would've let him, but she now knew in her mind it was too soon. Too soon to jump back into bed with him, to move back into the penthouse, to pick up where they left off. Her leaving him would've all been for nothing if she did. The phone call had brought those facts home.
"That's probably not a good idea just yet."
He frowned. "Is that sore too?"
It took her a moment to figure out what he was talking about and when she did, she slapped him playfully at his chest. "No silly. It's not a good idea because we're taking this reconciliation slowly."
"Kagome." He groaned as he pulled her closer to him so there was no doubt she felt his desire. "I need you."
"I need to get to bed." She said, although her body was screaming, take me now!
Pulling back from her, Inuyasha gave her a look that reminded her just how sexy he was. "You sure I can't convince you?" He asked, licking his full bottom lip.
She moved out of his grasp to the front door, opening it for him. "I'm positive. Good night Inuyasha."
"All right." He said when he stood in the doorway. He turned back to grab her around her waist. "But you can't run forever."
Kagome had to smile. "That line worked when we were in college. We've been married for five years and it's not going to work now. We'll reunite in that way when the time is right."
His hand moved lower to cup her ass. "You know how convincing I can be."
"And you know how stubborn I can be."
He smiled wickedly. "You won't last a week."
Inuyasha was fiercely competitive in all things. "And what do I get if I do?" She challenged.
He lifted a brow. "What do you want?"
"A house for me and my family." She answered simply.
BlueMoon Goddess: Well I didn't give you a lemon, but hey it was a bit of lime, somewhat in this chapter. And it was extra-long so I hope it was worth the wait. The next chapter is already written so I'll have it up this weekend or next, so until the guys!