BlueMoon Goddess: Since the last chapter was pretty short I decided to go ahead and upload the next chapter sooner, so enjoy!

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.

Kagome sat at Zebrano veneer dining table on the enclosed deck at the Takahashi estate with her mother-in-law. It was Sunday and Inuyasha was supposed to have met her here for lunch. That was over an hour ago. So now she was finished eating, well, picking at her chicken salad and was more than ready to leave. In the wee hours of the morning, she'd come to a conclusion, Inuyasha Takahashi would rather be successful in business then be married to her. Kagome didn't consider herself a demanding woman her age did, a loving and attentive husband, a house and kids. She hadn't asked Inuyasha for anything out of the ordinary. She simply wanted her husband to be a willing participant in their marriage, in this pregnancy.

Inuyasha, apparently, was not up for that challenge. His hours were longer, his calls less frequent, his appearances almost nonexistent. Sure, he'd courted her for almost a month, just like she'd told him she wanted. Maybe she should've specified that the courting had to last the duration of the marriage. Maybe she should've given him a detailed report of what she expected from her husband on a daily basis.

The Makoto deal was important to him, important to his company, and she respected that. But she didn't have to accept it. There was no reason for Inuyasha to be taking all the meetings with Makoto and enduring all the man's insecurities. He paid people to do just that. The fact that he chose to deal with this client and this account totally on his own was, in essence, his choice of his job over her. Again.

Since they'd argued at the penthouse and she'd almost passed out from the sharp pain in her stomach, she and Inuyasha hadn't spoken about business. School was closed today, so she had agreed to the lunch at his mother's. Inuyasha had it on his schedule, Kagome knew this because she'd seen it on the calendar he kept on the computer at home and she knew that Izayoi would've called the office to confirm. And yet, he wasn't here. There was no doubt in her mind that his absence had something to do with work.

Kagome's head hurt as she questioned herself. Was she being unreasonable? Was she simply overly emotional because of the pregnancy? Or was Inuyasha really choosing business over her? And, how long was she supposed to endure this treatment? Would he be like this with their child?

This back-and-forth, on-and-off was just too much for her right now. She simply didn't have the energy to be angry or hurt any longer. What she knew without a doubt was that she needed more than Inuyasha was willing to give. And if he couldn't give it then she would simply do without, on a more permanent basis.

"When you're ready to talk, I'm here to listen." Izayoi said, interrupting Kagome's thoughts.

Her calm, attentive voice had Kagome looking up into Izayoi's dark eyes. Izayoi was a beautiful woman with flawless skin. Her hair seemed to be a shade darker than ebony that reached further down her back. She wore an expensive yet tasteful pantsuit in a peach color that accentuated her soft features.

And she was onto Kagome.

For the last hour Kagome had tried to keep up general conversation. She hadn't seen Izayoi since the funeral, which was itself out of the ordinary. When she and Inuyasha had first been married, she'd visited her in-laws at least once a week, usually for the family dinners they had on Sundays. But over the years those dinners had dwindled. Still, she'd continued to visit and call. She and Izayoi had a good relationship up until she left Inuyasha. She had in a sense left the entire Takahashi family because there was no way she could be around them and not see or think about Inuyasha. She had no idea how she was going to do it this time, especially with a baby connecting them.

"I'm sorry Izayoi. I was just daydreaming."

Nodding and touching a finger to her chin, Izayoi only stared at her. "You haven't called me Izayoi in years. In fact, I don't think you've ever called me by my name."

Damn. Just as she suspected, Izayoi knew something was up. "My mind is someplace else, mom."

Izayoi laughed. The full rich sound was a surprise to Kagome. In time she'd been there today, Izayoi had barely smiled. Instead, she'd looked pensive and worried. Kagome had simply chalked that up to continued grief.

"And you must think that my brain is someplace else also. Now I've known you since Inuyasha brought you home to meet us for the first time. You're a gifted teacher and a good wife to my son. What you are not is a liar, so please don't insult my intelligence again."

She said it in that cool, serious manner Izayoi had about her. She spoke that way when she meant business. Funny how her eyes remained subtle and her lips spread in a natural smile as she did so.

Kagome took a deep breath as she thought about just how much she was going to tell her mother-in-law. The lies on everybody's part needed to stop now.

"I'm worried." She stared to say, then stopped because she wasn't sure how to say the rest.

"You're worried about my son."

It was a statement and not a question. Kagome's stomach clenched and she decided all this drama really wasn't worth the discomfort.

"Inuyasha and I are separated, mom. I mean, we were separated. Earlier this year I left him and got my own apartment. I couldn't stay away when I heard about dad's death. But Inuyasha and I still didn't reconcile."

Izayoi only nodded. "And now?"

Her hands were shaking, so Kagome propped her elbows up on the table and dropped her head. "A few weeks ago we ran into each other and we decided to give our marriage another try." She lifted her head then and looked Izayoi directly in the eye. "It's not working."

"I see." Izayoi let her hands fall into her lap. "So what now? Divorce? Counseling? What's your next move?"

Kagome didn't know whose side Izayoi was on. Her head was throbbing and she was steadily growing nauseous. She didn't want to be sitting here talking about this. She wanted to go home, to crawl into her bed and let this sickness pass her by. But Izayoi expected an answer. "The reason that Inuyasha and I decided to reconcile a few weeks ago was because he found out that we were going to have a baby."

Izayoi's eyes brightened. "A baby?" She whispered, her hands immediately coming up to take hold of Kagome's. "You're having a baby?"

Kagome couldn't hide a shaky smile. "Yes, ma'am. I'm almost four months pregnant."

"I'm going to be a grandmother." Izayoi's eyes watered.

"But Inuyasha and I can't stay together." Kagome said hurriedly before Izayoi got swept away by the baby news.

"Tell me what's the problem between you two, I know it's not another man because I can see clearly how much you still love him. And I know I taught him better than to cheat on his wife."

Kagome shook her head. "No, it's not another man or another woman. I wish it were that simple."

Taking her hand from Izayoi's, she picked up her glass and sipped the iced tea slowly. "Inuyasha's only focused on work. That's all he does, all the time. In the beginning I thought it was okay, because we were newly married and he wanted to make our lifestyle as comfortable as possible. I told him it didn't matter to me as long as we were together but you know how stubborn he is."

Izayoi chuckled. "Just like his father."

There was a wistfulness to that statement that Kagome couldn't miss. "After a while it just became too much. He was rarely at home and when he was, he was distant and distracted. I planned vacations and he canceled them. I tried to talk to him and he yelled that he was doing this for us. I got fed up and I left. Then I saw him again and…and I got pregnant. I wanted it to work between us. I really did and I thought Inuyasha did too. He said he was going to work on it. But we're right back where we started. I just can't do this anymore, mom."

"Okay, calm down. No need getting yourself and my grandchild upset." Izayoi said, standing from her chair. "Come with me. You need some air."

Kagome stood and followed her out onto the veranda. It was chilly outside, but the sun was high in the sky, giving off minimal heat in its wake.

"Just take a few deep breaths. We won't stay out here long. But you've lost all your color and you look like you are about to fall onto the floor." Izayoi wrapped an arm around Kagome's shoulders, rubbing them up and down and encouraged her to take deep breaths.

Kagome inhaled and exhaled until her pulse was steady and her queasiness subsided just a little. "I don't want half a marriage."

"And you shouldn't have to settle for one. I don't know what's wrong with that boy. No, that's not right, I know exactly what's wrong with him. He's just like his father."

Kagome grinned. "You said that already."

"I mean this in a bad way. When Inutaisho and I were first married, his one goal was to prove to me that he could take care of me just as good as my father had. Since my family came from money as well, Inutaisho felt he had to compete. He had to work extra hard to keep me living in that lifestyle. I didn't care one way or the other as long as we were together. But he insisted. Inutaisho always had to be good at business. He always had to prove that he was the provider for his family. Inuyasha is just like him in that regard. All his life, Inuyasha has been fighting to prove himself, either to his father or to his older brother, or even to himself. He's been running this race for so long I don't think he even knows how to stop."

Kagome opened her mouth to speak but Izayoi silenced her with a look.

"But he has to stop. He's a good man but not because he can make a million dollars in a year. Not because he can schmooze billionaires into investing their money with him. He's a good man because he loves his wife and he wants to do right by her. That's what he needs to focus on. Not business." Izayoi's voice rattled with indignation.

"I don't know how to make him see that."

"It's not your job to keep showing him. He needs to come to his senses on his own. Or by me knocking him upside his head." She said, tossing Kagome a playful look. "Whichever one comes first."

Kagome laughed. "Thank you for understanding."

"Of course I understand. I told you I lived this same dilemma."

"How did you survive it? How did you stay with him?"

"I got pregnant with Inuyasha. And that one act slowed Inutaisho down until all he could do was eat, sleep and dream about that baby. Then when he was born, Inutaisho could not have been happier, more content."

It was Kagome's turn to comfort now. She put a hand on Izayoi's. "I know you miss him. I miss him too. This has been really hard on you and yet you can stand here and help me through this troubling time. You're an amazing woman."

"No. I'm just human. We have our ups and our downs but we've got to keep living." Izayoi kissed Kagome on the forehead then touched a hand to the slight bump of her stomach. "Now I want you to go home and get some rest. Your number-one priority is to take care of my grandchild. You do whatever you need to do to keep yourself calm and healthy and let Inuyasha get himself together on his own. You can't fix him, do you understand me? You can't fix this marriage by yourself."

Kagome nodded. "I understand." And she did. It was now Inuyasha's turn to figure out what he wanted. She wasn't giving him an ultimatum. She was making a choice. For herself and for her child.

"Dammit!" Inuyasha roared. He had just walked through every room of the penthouse and noticed that all of Kagome's stuff was once again gone.

The last few days had been rough for him and he'd known they weren't much easier on her. But he was trying, he really was. Once he had Makoto situated he would be able to focus solely on Kagome and the baby. He just needed her to bear with him a little while longer.

Obviously, she hadn't been able to do that. For a spilt second he was angry with her for being so childish and walking out again. How many times was she going to run away from their issues? He couldn't keep chasing her and bringing her back. If she didn't want to be here, then he couldn't make her stay.

But damn, he wanted his wife back.

Inuyasha dropped down onto the couch and rested his head in his hands. It shouldn't be this hard. Men had families and ran businesses every day. His father had done it quite successfully. So why couldn't he? Without another thought, he picked up the phone and dialed Kagome's cell. When she didn't answer, he left her a message to call him immediately. A few minutes later, he realized he'd used the wrong words. So he called her back and simply said. "I love you."

But was his love enough? Clearly not. Kagome had to know how he felt about her, just like she had to know how too important his work was to him. And still she was gone.

The next morning, the minute Inuyasha got to work, he called Kagome's cell, only to receive her voice mail again. Then he did something he rarely ever did. He called the school and left a message with the secretary for her to call him as soon as possible. He sat and waited in his office all day, not taking any calls unless they were from her. Three times Marsha had come into his office to inquire if everything was all right. He remembered grumbling something at her and waiting for her to once again leave him alone.

Finally it was after five and he was sitting in his chair staring out his office window. From there he could see the building where his penthouse was. He should get up and go home, except the penthouse wasn't really a home anymore. Without Kagome, it was simply four walls and a roof.

He'd spent the day in a whirlpool of self-pity and wondered if he'd be able to snap out of it this time.

"So this is what it looks like?"

Inuyasha turned in his chair the moment he heard the familiar voice. Sesshomaru and Rin walked into his office.

"This is what, what looks like?" He asked, nowhere near in the mood for them.

Sesshomaru took a seat across from Inuyasha's desk. "A man who drove his wife away for a, what's this, a third time?"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled, glancing with irritation in Rin's direction.

"Oh, don't clam up on my account." Rin said, coming to sit on the corner of Inuyasha's desk. "Kagome told me all about it when we had lunch a few weeks ago. And when I called her yesterday, she broke down again. You know, if you weren't my brother-in-law, I'd smack you."

"Where is she? How's she doing?" Inuyasha implored, ignoring everything else his sister-in-law had said.

"She's a mess. Sort of like you."

"Hmph, I can't believe that you could graduate at the top of your class and still be this stupid." Sesshomaru commented.

Rin moved to sit in the other chair near her husband. "Come on Sesshomaru. We said we were going to come over and try to talk some sense into him, not berate him."

Sesshomaru crossed his arms and glared at Inuyasha. "That's what he needs. He needs to be brought down a peg or two so he can stop thinking this world revolves around him and what he wants."

"I need my wife." Inuyasha said pointedly.

"Then you should have done what you needed to do to keep her." Sesshomaru stated, simply.

Inuyasha leaped from his chair to pace along the other side of his office. "What are you two really doing here?"

"You missed lunch. I wanted to see how my brother-in-law was doing since I haven't seen you since the funeral." Rin said. She went to stand in front of Inuyasha and put her hands on his shoulders. "You know what you need to do to get Kagome back, we talked about this before."

"Maybe if you slow down enough to enjoy your success, you would not be in this predicament to begin with." Sesshomaru said.

"That's easy for you to say." Inuyasha grumbled.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Success has always come so easy to you. You're the oldest. Hell, now you're even walking in father's footsteps directly as the head of his company. I've had to fight tooth and nail just to prove that I'm a fraction as good as you and father were."

"What is this nonsense you're talking about? Like I said earlier, you graduated top in your class even if you did go somewhere I would not. You can turn one million dollars into one hundred million faster than anyone can shower and shave. You are more levelheaded and conscientious now than father ever hoped you would be."

Inuyasha shook his head. "I am not like you and the old man. I don't have those same goals. But I want to make a way for my wife and our family on my own. I don't want to live off Takahashi money."

"Oh please, you doubled your trust fund when you were just an intern at that bank." Rin added. "You have more money of your own than Sesshomaru and I combined. There's no way you could ever be accused of living off Takahashi money."

"You know what I realized when father died?" Sesshomaru asked.

"What?"

"You cannot take it with you. No matter how much money father had made in his lifetime, we did not bury it with him. When all is said and done, all we have are the memories we make. The time we spend with our families creating lasting memories and happy moments, that is all that is important. All the rest of this stuff is superficial."

"Sesshomaru's right. It's materialistic and selfish." Rin added. "What you and Kagome have is real and it's growing in the form of my niece or nephew that she's carrying."

Inuyasha looked over to Rin. "She told you about the baby?"

"Yeah, she told me. You sure didn't. Inuyasha, you should've been ecstatic to find out you were having a baby."

"I was…I mean, I am."

"Then why didn't you tell all of us immediately? Why aren't you out buying baby stuff and looking for a house and making plans? Why are you sitting in this office day in and out trying to make another dollar to add to the millions you already have? What are you trying to prove?"

That's the question Inuyasha had been asking himself all day long. What was he trying to prove and who was he trying to prove it to? He turned away from them, taking a deep, steadying breath before admitting. "All of this is for nothing if I don't have her in my life."

"She doesn't need all of this, Inuyasha, she just needs you." Rin said.

Inuyasha was struggling for his next words when his cell rang. He sighed, not wanting to deal with business at this moment.

"Aren't you going to answer that?" Sesshomaru answered.

"I'll get it and tell those money-hungry stuffed shirts you work with to get a life." Rin quipped.

Sesshomaru tossed her a warning glare. "That's not professional."

She smiled. "No, but I'll bet it's effective."

The phone was still chirping over Rin and Sesshomaru's comments and Inuyasha pulled it out of the case on his hip. He looked down to an unfamiliar number on the caller ID and decided to go ahead and answer it.

"Inuyasha Takahashi."

"Mr. Takahashi, this is Nurse Brock. I'm calling from Washington Hospital to let you know that your wife was just admitted."

All air drained from Inuyasha's lungs as the woman's words registered in his mind. In the next second, he was running from the office with Rin and Sesshomaru hot on his heels.

BlueMoon Goddess: Yep I'm going to end it here. Well Kagome moved out of the penthouse and now she's in the hospital. Hopefully the baby will be ok, just have to wait until the next chapter to find out. Until next time! ^_^