After Sesshoumaru had finished recovering from his five days of being unconscious, they decided to return to Kagome's time and home so that they could tell about their children. Kagome's family was pretty upset when they saw Sesshoumaru fall over and when he could not be roused by anyone. They understood the need to take Sesshoumaru back to the castle of the west for recovery.

When Sesshoumaru and Kagome returned, they were fully armed. They were not taking any chances this time. Both wore their raiment and their armor. Their raiment was the same, they were nearly copies of each other, but their armor was now different. Kagome wore armor similar to that which Sesshoumaru had worn up until a few days ago, but Sesshoumaru now wore the armor of his father. It was heavy, and he felt the weight of it, not just the actual weight, but the weight of the responsibility of wearing it. He knew now that he had finally understood what his father was talking about the last time he saw him. He had someone to protect.

Sesshoumaru wore the new armor and carried Toukijin, Tenseiga, and Zeninusayuu. Underneath the shoulder armor, he wore the heirloom pelts that belonged to father. He practically bristled; and he clanked when he walked. Kagome carried her bow and arrows, the Tessuiga, and her dagger, which Sesshoumaru practically begged her to carry. Now that Kikyou was dead, she saw no need for the dagger, but she still did as he requested. She had her armor altered to protect her slight bulge for her pups, and she was ready to go. She also now wore an heirloom pelt, the one that had fitted over Sesshoumaru's shoulder for over three hundred years, he had given it to her, and she had been honored to wear it. They would give it to their firstborn pup, which was going to be strange, seeing as how they would be twins. She knew that she was going to have to stop fighting soon. Only three months between conception and birth for inu pups! That was amazing, and she felt the clock ticking. They must defeat Naraku now! Otherwise, she would be useless.

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Kagome pulled Rin, Shippou, and Sesshoumaru through the well with her. Her grandfather did not try to purify them with sacred sutras, and Kagome did not feel as sick as she had the first two times she had as she went through the well, but she still did not feel all that healthy, either. Sesshoumaru saw his mate having problems and caught her as she was about to fall in the courtyard of the shrine. He knew this would have to be the last trip through the well for some time, if his mate was getting this sick from it. She roused quickly and looked up into Sesshoumaru's eyes, and smiled.

"You are always there to catch me, aren't you?"

Sesshoumaru gave her a fang-bearing grin, "I think that half of the time, you fall so that I will catch you."

Kagome giggled, and the quartet of inuyoukai walked into the Higurashi home.

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Kagome's mother was thrilled to see her and the rest of her family back so soon. She asked about Sesshoumaru's health, and was told that none of them really understood what had happened, but that he was back to full health and more able to protect his family.

Souta spoke first. "Sis, last time you were here, you spoke of children. Please, explain."

Sesshoumaru took this first one. "Rin, the young female, and Shippou, the young male, are our adopted children. Rin was human, and had traveled with me for five years. Shippou was a kitsune, a fox youkai, and had traveled with Kagome for five years. Both were orphans. After Kagome and I were mated, she was told by Midoriko that she had the power to change both into Inuyoukai, which is what Kagome and I are, if that is what they desired."

Shippou spoke. "I was afraid that my mother would forget me now that she was an inu taiyoukai, but she did not, she made me what she was so I could have a true family again. I am so thankful. And now I have a sister too!"

Rin smiled, and looked at Lord Sesshoumaru. "I never wanted to leave my lord, so when I was told that I could be their daughter, and have a long life like a youkai, I was so happy!"

Noa Higurashi patted Kagome's hand. "My little girl has turned into such a compassionate woman. I am so proud of you!"

Kagome and Sesshoumaru exchanged a look. "There is more, if you would hear."

Grandfather Higurashi nodded his head, "Tell us all of it."

Sesshoumaru said very simply, "Kagome is expecting my pups."

Noa Higurashi fainted again.

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Kagome made tea while her grandfather, Souta, and the children revived her mother. Kagome was smiling that small smile that all pregnant women have when they think about their babies (or pups). The thought of them being born, the thought of holding them, nuzzling them, nursing them…she smiled this smile as she set tea out.

"You really are, aren't you?" Her mother asked. "I remember that smile. You are having babies, errr….pups."

"Yes, twins."

Kagome's mother sighed with a smile, "Twins, how lovely"

"The problem is," Kagome started, "that inu pups only take three months from conception to birth, so I will be having them very soon, so I will not be able to return for awhile."

Souta looked at Sesshoumaru, "You aren't going to let her fight when she is huge, are you?"

Sesshoumaru said, "Your sister will always be the most beautiful woman or taiyoukai ever born, to me, but she will not fight when she is too heavy with pup. It could endanger her, or the pups, and that is not allowed."

Kagome's mother expected some argument from her daughter, but all she saw was determination. "We must find Naraku now, so that I will be useful to all of you!"

None that knew her were surprised at her vehemence. Kagome was a passionate woman and wanted to help out in any way she could. They also knew that the evil hanyou, Naraku, would stop at nothing to gain control of Japan, and later, the world.

"You must calm down, my love" Sesshoumaru said, moving behind her. He nuzzled her by their mating mark and a low, soft growl, that could be felt more than heard, started coming from his chest, going through her back and calming her every muscle.

"Daddy," Rin said, "You're purring!"

Sesshoumaru looked at her darkly. "Daughter, dogs do not purr. This is merely a low growl that calms. It is often used to soothe upset mates, children, and pups."

Shippou and Rin started chanting, "Daddy is a kitty, daddy is a kitty, purr, purr, purr!" Souta looked like he wanted to join in the fun, but a look from his own mother told him silence might be wiser.

Kagome continued to be totally passive in Sesshoumaru's arms, as that soothing feeling and noise calmed her and the pups. He picked her up, and sat down with her in his arms.

Grandfather and Mrs. Higurashi went into the living room and beckoned Sesshoumaru to follow with Kagome in his arms. When they were all settled, Grandfather Higurashi started talking. "You must take your family home. The rest of us appreciate the visits, but it is not healthy for Kagome, and the health of your babies, err, pups, is paramount. We appreciate the visits, truly, but you must go. Something is happening, even here. I know that I am not a powerful priest, but Noa is a miko, and she has felt something. Please, return to the past, to the west, do what you can. We understand how important this is. That is why we allowed Kagome to leave school when this took too much time; this is why we had no problem with her not returning for three years. This problem will change everything in the past and the future if not taken care of."

Grandfather got up on his wobbly legs and gave Kagome a kiss right on the crescent moon on her forehead, and it began to glow. She fell asleep, but the miko powers were coming off her in waves, but not hurting Sesshoumaru or the children. Even Noa Higurashi could feel it. She gasped. Souta came in with the children, fresh from running around the shrine, and they were all concerned to see Kagome in Sesshoumaru's arms.

"Daddy," Rin asked, "What happened to Mommy?"

"She is merely sleeping."

Souta, Rin, and Shippou were all relieved. Shippou and Rin hugged and bowed to all the Higurashi's. The called Noa Grandmother. The called Grandfather Great-Grandfather, and they called Souta uncle. They were all tearing up, but all hid it well. Kagome was waking, and said goodbye to her family. Her family kissed her goodbye and wished her good luck, and each put a hand on her growing baby bulge. Her and her mother cried the most, and hugged each other the tightest. Kagome promised to return after the pups were born and the threat to everyone was taken care of.

Sesshoumaru bowed to Kagome's family, and exchanged embraces and handshakes with them. He promised to take care of Kagome, the pups, and the children, and with that, they were off to the old well house. None of them noticed anything odd. Things would have gone much better if they had…

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A/N: Sorry it took so long for the update. I will try to do better.