June 11

Sango and I had one of our special girls' day outs today. Our husbands were back home looking after the children and it gave us time to go off on our own and have fun. We went to get manicures and pedicures, then we went to a tea house.

"So your first trimester is almost over," Sango said as we were heading back to our village. "How does it feel?"

"It's so amazing to think that I've gotten this far already," I said happily. "I can't wait for what comes next."

"Like the intense cravings, the back aches, and the contractions?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of feeling the baby kicking and having my stomach grow."

Sango giggled a bit. "Feeling the baby kick is one of the best feelings in the world. I actually miss it."

"Plus we're going to start decorating our nursery soon. I'm really looking forward to that part too." For now, the extra room in our house was just a guest room. I was beyond excited to start turning it into a room for the baby.

"That's exciting too. Have you thought of a name yet?"

"We've thrown a few around but we haven't picked anything yet."

"Oh well, the name can take a while. We came up with Midori and Mieko a week before they were born. Shinichi was easy, he's named after Miroku's father."

"That's sweet, I didn't know that."

"It was something we had talked about when we had the girls actually. Anything else you're excited for?"

"Well, me and Yasha's anniversary is coming up."

"Ooh, fun. What are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure, we haven't decided yet."

"The first anniversary is special, so enjoy it. Although the third anniversary is also fun. For me and Miroku's anniversary a couple months ago, I don't think we left the bed the entire time."

That made me laugh. I was sure me and Inuyasha would be the same way.

Before I could say anything more, I spotted Shippo up ahead. He was sitting on a rock at the top of a hill looking sad again. I pointed him out to Sango and we went over to him.

"Hey, Shippo," I said as we sat on either side of him. "What's going on?"

"I still haven't talked to Michiko," he said.

We glanced over to where he was looking at some kids playing at the bottom of the hill.

"Which one is she?" Sango asked.

Shippo pointed to a girl with long black hair tied into a ponytail with a pink ribbon. She also wore a pink dress. "Isn't she the most beautiful girl in the world?"

"She's lovely," Sango replied. "But why didn't you tell her?"

"I guess I was just too nervous to. I don't want her to shoot me down."

"And what if she doesn't?" I said.

"Well...I guess that could happen too…"

We noticed Michiko separate from the group to sit by herself.

"She's all alone," Sango said to him. "There's no better time than now."

"You think so?"

We both nodded and gave him an encouraging thumbs up.

"I'll do it!" Shippo said.

"Go Shippo!" Sango and I said.

We sat there and watched as he approached Michiko.

"Do you really think he's going to do it?" Sango asked me.

I nodded. "I think he's ready."

"Oh to be young and in love," she said wistfully.

We watched as Shippo talked with Michiko for a moment. He must have told her because her face suddenly lit up with happiness. Then, to our surprise, she kissed him.

"Yay!" I exclaimed.

"He finally did it!" Sango said happily.

"They're going to be so happy together." I stood up and grabbed Sango's hand. "Come on, we have to tell Miroku and Inuyasha!"

So we continued on our way back to her house. All the while I was excited to tell our husband's that Shippo had finally asked out the girl he likes. But when I got inside I froze in my tracks.

Miroku was making dinner. Meanwhile, Inuyasha was sitting on the couch with the kids reading them a story. Midori and Mieko were on each side of him leaning into him, looking intently at the pages in the book. Meanwhile, Shinichi sat on Inuyasha's lap. One hand held the book and the other arm was around the baby who was on the verge of falling asleep.

It was the cutest sight I had ever seen in my life!

"The end," Inuyasha said at the end of the story.

"Read another one," Mieko said.

"Okay, you girls go pick out a story."

The twins jumped off the couch. Inuyasha still held Shinichi. He rubbed the top of his shaggy black hair and hugged him. "You getting sleepy kiddo? I'm sure those girls wore you out, didn't they?"

Then Inuyasha looked up at me but his face morphed into a look of confusion. "Why are you staring at me like that, honey?"

I could hardly think of what to say. I was just picturing Inuyasha holding our child that way and it made my heart completely melt.

"That, my friend," Miroku said as he came over to us, "is the face of a woman who has just fallen even more in love with you."