Chapter 25

Encore

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~One Month Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sesshomaru! Stop eating all the food!" Kagome yelled, turning around from the stove where she had boiling water going for pasta salad. She had been cooking all morning for their housewarming party.

Sesshomaru and her had bought a 3-bedroom single story ranch style house that was four thousand square feet. She had protested in saying it was too big, but he had counter-argued that he was big and needed plenty of space to 'pad around' as a big dog. They had closed on the house 5 days ago and it was now their first weekend in the home with most of it unpacked and just a few things left in the boxes. Sesshomaru was upset with her incessant need to have everyone over to celebrate them being home. His idea of celebrating was marking their territories in every room on every surface with their combined scents.

"But I am hungry." He stated in a slight pout, that made Kagome laugh at his childish look.

"I have too much to do inside this house, and you need to be grilling right now mister!" she said pointing at the door in which he had just entered. "You just want to be in here because you are trying to run away from your family."

Looking out the door he saw his father and Izayoi conversing with Kagome's mother while Inuyasha and her brother were arguing about the distance they could throw a stick. Kikyo was on the ground laying next to Rin while both girls were playing with a ball making each other laugh. So much had changed within a month.

Kikyo had proved to Inutaisho that she was almost finished with school and working hard to get a bigger place to be a full-time mother to Rin. Inuyasha had tried to get back together with Kikyo but she had been dating a guy she had met while in nursing school, it was too early to tell if the relationship would last but Kikyo seemed happy for now. It was still awkward between Inuyasha and everyone due to the complications of everything, but he was on his own now in a studio apartment not far from his dad's work.

Sesshomaru looked back to Kagome pleading for a reason to stay in the house. "Is there nothing I can do here?" He asked seeing if there was any way of getting out of this at all.

Kagome froze for a moment wondering if she should share the news with Sesshomaru or not. Deciding that since nothing was coming from it, there was no harm. "Fine there is one thing. Go to our bathroom and look at the test and tell me what it says."

Test? What test? Sesshomaru tried to think back to a test that could not have been completed in class? Why did she take it to the bathroom to read it? Still not completely sure he used his demon speed to their bathroom and looked at the sink where there was a small stick laying. Walking closer to it he saw that it said 'not pregnant' on it. The blood from his face drained as he sat on the toilet holding the pregnancy stick in his hand. She thought she was pregnant? She took a test thinking they were going to bring in a child to this world? Why was he so upset that it was negative? She had stated many times that she wasn't ready for children… Did this mean that she was ready now?

Sauntering back into the kitchen she was waiting for him with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"You are not pregnant with a pup?" he questioned softly.

"No," she stated moving closer to him. "You seem upset by this…?"

"I…. I always want you swollen with our pup…" he could not find the words to finish.

"Look," she said gently, "You know I want children; I really do…but I want to be married first, and I want to finish school and start my career first. I am a woman with goals, and I want us to be successful." She stated pulling him into her arms.

He didn't say anything as he accepted her embrace. He smiled at her to let her know he understood. "I will be in the yard."

"I will bring the food out, we are ready to eat." she said, grabbing some bowls.

As she brought out some of the food, her mother and Izayoi stood up and entered the kitchen grabbing more food to set the table. Sesshomaru sat at the head of the table with everyone falling in line getting ready to eat.

Kagome stood up with a cup in her hand, she cleared her throat.

" I have something to say." she reached her empty hand to Sesshomaru's shoulder because there is no way he would do any of this.

"Thank you everyone for being here today." she said looking at Inuyasha specifically because she knew this was probably hardest on him. "My mate and I appreciate everything that has been done for us, we love each and every one of you. This was never easy, and there were difficulties at every turn. This was something that we all had to fight to have in our lives…. But in the end it was all worth it, and we want everyone to know that we have everything to look forward to together in the future. And once again, Thank you!" Kagome finished with a tear making its way down her cheek.

A clearing of a masculine throat was heard, as Kagome sat down in her spot next to Sesshomaru. Everyone's eyebrows raised as they turned their attention to Inutaisho.

"Yes, father?" Sesshomaru asked after he didn't say anything.

"I think we all would like to know…" he said looking at his wife in particular, "When we can finally expect grandpups from you two?!" he all but demanded.

Laughter erupted from everyone at the table all for different reasons. Then shouting from Inuyasha, while Kikyo rolled her eyes. Kagome laughed hardest at the complete unknown to everyone besides her and Sesshomaru with their understanding of when they will have kids. Kagome's mother looked hopeful along with Izayoi, while Sesshomaru looked annoyed and wanted this whole ordeal over with. However, in the end, they were all family. All tied together by this thing we call life, no not everything was perfect but somehow with this, everyone knew it would all be alright.

Authors Note: I am sorry for the long-awaited finish to this story. We had life happen, computers dying, copies lost. Motivation to fix what was lost gone. I finally with this quarantine had a new lease on the chapter. Not sure how close it was to my original plan… But chapter one of my new story will be out tomorrow. Big thanks to my sister! Without her this wouldn't be possible! She edited and helped me come up with ideas. Again, thank you, Be on the look for my new Story will be titled Queen! Chapter 1 tomorrow!