I love to bake!

A little note; I know that Christmas is not a holiday mentioned in either the Inuyasha or Naruto universes; neither is Thanksgiving or Halloween. Regardless of religious affiliation, they are part of mainstream culture in the secular world, and in this AU. I'm leaving the holidays as secular events, because this is not a story delving into the theological implications of belief systems; it is a just-for-fun story taking advantage of the scenarios presented when celebrating holidays, as well as to mark time as this group of friends makes their way through the calendar. Whatever you do or do not celebrate, I wish you well and happy! There is always room for friends at my table, and respect for the readers that come to my works. A sincere welcome and thank you to all.

Now. About those cookies...!

Dogs Playing Poker
Saturday, December 5th

Ayame called up Kagome the day after Thanksgiving.

"The kids had so much fun with the pumpkins it was all they talked about while they were with the family," Ayame laughed.

"It was a big topic of discussion for us, too," Kagome agreed.

"Well, I was thinking," Ayame went on. "We don't really have much open time before Christmas. The kids' Christmas pageant is early this year on the 12th, and I know all of our older ones are in it. Then the weekend after that is the parade, and we leave the next day to go see my family and won't be back until after Christmas."

"I can't believe how fast the time is going," Kagome lamented looking at her calendar.

"Well, we definitely want to see you guys," Ayame smiled. "What do you say to getting together next Saturday?"

"On the fifth?" her friend asked, tapping a finger on the date.

"Yeah."

Kagome looked at the family calendar and the kids' calendar and her planner and her phone. Then she sent a text to Sango doing the same. Her phone chirped merrily, and she smiled.

"Looks clear!" she announced happily.

"Perfect!" Ayame scribbled on her own calendar. "It's our turn to host you guys. What do you say to cookies?"

And that was how everyone found themselves at the Ōkami house for an ugly-sweater-baking-decorating-cookies-any-and-all-winter-holiday party (with poker for the guys, of course.)

The evening involved a ton of uneven gingerbread men, crookedly iced Christmas trees, lopsided snowmen, and a huge, heaping helping of laughter.

Sesshomaru had been forced into a horrendous zip-up sweater by his daughter, and then into an equally horrendous apron by his niece. The sweater was unceremoniously abandoned on the back of his chair while he worked with sleeves turned up and placed sprinkles on the cut out cookies per his niece's instructions. When she declared their work to be satisfactory, he helped her take the tray to the kitchen where Hana and Kagome manned the ovens. He traded the decorated unbaked cookies for several batches of baked cookies, and brought them out to the shark pit disguised as a table of children, and left Ayame, Rin, Tenten, and Tsume to deal with the kids.

Christmas music filled the air as he returned to the poker table.

"No sweater, no chips," Kouga smirked, and they all watched with amusement as Sesshomaru exchanged the apron for the gloriously tasteless garment.

"Satisfied?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It's not like you are alone, man," Kiba chuckled. "If it makes you feel any better, my mom made mine."

"When you were kids?" Sota asked.

"Like, last week," Kiba grinned.

The other guys gave grunts of laughter.

Sesshomaru looked at the dog in the middle of Kiba's sweater (the same one he had seen on Tsume, and a similar one on Tenten's) and decided not to be too hard on himself.

He looked to see if Hana had one as well. She didn't. But she did match her son. He watched as she hid a yawn behind her hand, and stretched her arms over her head. She leaned back over to see what her son was doing, as well as to help the other children.

"So what are everyone's plans for Christmas?" Kiba asked.

"Mom and gramps will come into town," Souta offered, picking up a card. "Granny Kaede, too. We'll spend Christmas at Kagome and Inuyasha's." He looked over to Sesshomaru. "You guys coming over on Christmas day?"

"I don't plan on doing anything differently this year," Sesshomaru replied. "Rin and I shall spend Christmas Eve together, and then join the rest of you."

"Same here." Miroku tossed a chip in. "Well, same as in we aren't doing anything different. We'll all be home. Sango is too close to her due date to go too far."

"When's she due again?" Kouga asked.

"January 11th," he sighed. "But two of her last 3 pregnancies were twins, and they tend to come early, so it is hard to tell with her."

"What about the middle boy?" Kiba asked.

Miroku grimaced.

"Ten days late."

"You'd better talk to Tsume, then," Kiba leaned back in his chair. "She's got a great track record of helping girls get labor started."

Miroku eyed Kiba skeptically. "Do I even want to know?"

"Ask her," he shrugged.

"Hey boys," Ayame came over to the group. "You need anything?"

"I'm just getting up for a stretch," Miroku put his cards down. "I'll… check on the kids," he said, and headed over to the den, where he proceeded to approach Tsume.

"Might as well take a break," Kouga put his cards down, and they all pushed away from the table. Sesshomaru stood and crossed to look out of the window. The skies were grey and heavy with snow clouds.

He saw her reflection in the large pane of glass, as she stared out of it absently, eyes scanning the skies.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

He half turned to her, but she continued looking out at the winter skies.

"Nothing important," he said distantly, before turning his attention back to the horizon, and letting the silence fill the air between them.

She didn't appear to mind, though, and she stood a moment longer.

"I just wanted to see the sky," she murmured. "I'll leave you to your peace." And with that, she returned to the kitchen. He watched her go, but she seemed distracted. Not long after, she was fishing something out of her bag, and trying not to yawn.

"You are tired," he said, startling her.

"I'm pregnant," she shrugged. "Par for the course."

"Why don't you go home?" he asked.

"My son is having a wonderful time," she said, pulling a bottle of eye drops out of her bag and unscrewing the cap. She dropped two drops in each eye and blinked rapidly before putting it back. "There is no way I will take a day like this from him. Not when-" she bit off her own words.

"Happiness is a gift," she said, redirecting the conversation. "You have to appreciate it while you have it. I won't take a small happiness like this from him just because I am tired."

She zipped her purse shut and sucked in a big breath before letting it out in a puff of air. "I think I can have my one cup of coffee for the day, now," she smiled crookedly. "Shall I put the kettle on for tea?"

"No. Thank you."

She nodded and headed back toward the others, pausing to kiss the top of her son's head.

He watched her chat to Tenten as she made her one cup of coffee, and from her sister-in-law's face, he was guessing they were reprising his earlier conversation.

He quietly moved to the kitchen to make his tea.

"You are exhausted," Tenten crossed her arms. "He is fine with us. Go rest, and we will bring him home the minute he asks us to."

"I am fine," Hana said firmly, "and I will stay here and be with my son."

"I can go with you," Tenten offered. "You don't have to be alone; I can even pick up while you nap. Whatever works, but you really need to rest, Hana."

"Thank you," Hana said, reaching for the cream. "I appreciate your concern for me."

"But?" Tenten arched an eyebrow.

"But I am fine," she said, "and I will stay here and be with my son."

Tenten sighed.

"Why are all Inuzukas so freaking stubborn?" she muttered. "Alright, Sis," she kissed her cheek. "I get it."

"Thank you," she said, stirring her coffee and putting the lid on. She took a long sip and closed her eyes with a contented sigh.

When she opened them, she saw Sesshomaru calmly sipping his tea.

"Changed your mind?" she asked with a smile.

"It does happen occasionally," he said. "It is more that I like doing things on my terms."

"I can understand that," she chuckled and sipped her drink.

"Is what your Sister-in-law said true?" He asked her calmly. "Are all Inuzukas stubborn?"

"Incredibly," she said, meeting his eyes. "Every single one of us."

"Is that wise?" he asked, flicking his eyes down to her abdomen and back.

"The coffee?" she asked.

"Neglecting your obvious need to rest."

"Is that your concern?" she countered, but without malice.

"No," he said simply, "but it is still a valid question."

"It seems to me," she said thoughtfully, leaning her hip against the counter, "that you do not particularly care for these get-togethers. You enjoy winning at poker, but if I had to make a guess, you come here so that Rin can be here. Is that a fair statement?"

"It is not wholly inaccurate," he allowed, waiting to see where she was taking her line of logic.

"You attend these functions," she continued, "but you are under no obligation to attend or to stay. Rin is old enough to be here without a parent, and she is welcomed and loved by all of us. She isn't a burden at all, and any one of us would gladly pick her up or drop her off, just so that we could enjoy her company. I understand there is a Jaken that could also ferry her back and forth with no question. Is that also correct?"

"I cannot disagree with anything you've said thus far," he sipped his tea, "but I am curious as to what your point is."

"Simple. You don't come here to be happy. You don't even come here to make Rin happy." She said easily. "You come here for one, simple reason."

He raised his eyebrows to her.

"And that would be?"

"You come here to see Rin being happy."

He continued to hold her gaze, but did not respond.

"We give our children everything we can," she said gently, "but one of the greatest gifts they give us is their happiness; the blessing of seeing them be happy."

Her voice grew thicker.

"My son recently lost his father," she said plainly. "He is too young to understand everything that happened, but he does know that his father is gone, and everything is different. I have seen that little face unhappy far too many times in the last few months. But today," she looked over to where the children were laughing and playing. "Today he isn't a boy without a father. Today he is just a kid who is laughing and having fun. Short of a medical emergency, I can't think of anything more deserving of my time and attention."

"Mama, Mama!" Her son cried, racing over to her. "Mama, come play with us!"

Her smile was bright, and she grinned down to her son. "I'd love to," she said warmly. "I'll go to the restroom and come right over. What are we playing?"

"Lots of stuff," he beamed. "Starting with tag."

"Perfect," she smiled back. "I'll go right now," she flicked the spout on her cup closed, and put it on the counter, before leaning over to kiss his head.

"Hurry up," he said with a bashful smile before running back to friends.

Sesshomaru watched it all with very little expression.

She turned back to him. "Perhaps it is unwise," she allowed. "But I am fine," she smiled, "and I will stay here and be with my son."

With that, she left the room.

He didn't wait for her return. He quietly placed her travel mug on the table next to where she was sitting, being 'Base.'

When she met his eyes, she saw no censure, but she did see an understanding that had not been there before.

"You'll need this," he glanced at the mug, and then walked away.

She wordlessly took the warm drink, and settled back to watch her son, and to bask in the pure joy of the children.

So sorry; wasn't able to get online yesterday to actually post. Good thing I had it lined up in the queue!

Take care, friends!

- GL