December 11

This morning we were sitting on the couch while Inuyasha gave me a back massage. I was feeling so awful today. My back and my feet were sore, the baby was continuously putting more and more pressure on my pelvis, and I was having contractions but it was more of the same contractions I've been having for weeks, not the strong, close together ones Sango said I would feel when I was going into labor.

As nervous as I still was about going into labor, I was ready for the baby to be born and I could tell it was ready to come out as well.

"Is this helping, love?" Inuyasha asked. He had been worried about me all day and doing everything he could to make me feel better.

"Yes. Thank you, Yasha. I really appreciate this." The way he worked his hands up and down my back really was helping. I'd probably have been going crazy otherwise.

"It's the least I can do. You're like this because of me after all. You've been so uncomfortable for the past few weeks and you're all stressed out about the baby coming. I feel terrible."

"It's okay. The baby will be here very soon and we'll both feel a lot better then."

All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. Inuyasha went to get it and Shippo ran into the house looking panicked.

"What's the matter, Shippo?" I asked.

Shippo sat on the couch next to me. "I played a prank on Sesshomaru and now he's going to kill me!"

"Why the hell did you do that?" Inuyasha asked.

"I thought it would be funny. He was going to visit Rin and I used my fox magic on him. But then he saw me and he looked like he was going to murder me. So I ran for my life but I'm sure he's going to come find me."

I patted his head. "You know Sesshomaru isn't going to do anything to you."

"And if he does, it serves you right," Inuyasha added.

"Would you feel better if I made you lunch?"

"Sure!" Shippo said.

I was about to stand up but Inuyasha put his hand on my shoulder. "You sit and rest. I'll make lunch."

"It's not going to be as good if you make lunch," Shippo said.

"What's that supposed to mean? I can make lunch."

"Yeah, but Kagome's food is special."

"Keh! I'll show you. I can make lunch just as good as Kagome. Besides, I'll have to cook lunch for my child one day and I don't think they'd complain."

"We'll see about that."

Shippo and I stayed on the couch and played a few rounds of Uno while Inuyasha made lunch.

"Lunch is ready," Inuyasha said, bringing plates over to us. "What do you think?" he said to Shippo as he started to eat.

"It's pretty good," Shippo admitted.

"Told ya!"

"Kagome's is better, but I guess yours won't make your kid throw up."

"Why you little…!"

"Inuyasha, Shippo is just joking," I said. "Right, Shippo?"

Shippo hesitated for a moment but then sighed. "Yes."

"Whatever," Inuyasha said as he started to eat his lunch.

We finished lunch and continued to talk. I grimaced as a contraction ripped through me.

Inuyasha became concerned and put his arm around me. "Sweetheart, is everything okay?"

"I'm fine. It's not time yet."

He looked visibly relieved.

"When is the baby due?" Shippo asked.

"Should be any day now," I replied.

"Are you ready?"

I sighed. "I'm more than ready. I'm kinda tired of being pregnant. I'm ready to hold the baby and I want my body back."

"Maybe we can try to induce labor," Shippo suggested.

"Please don't," Inuyasha said wearily.

"How would we do that anyway?" I said to Shippo.

"Maybe I can scare it out of you."

"That's not going to work, stupid," Inuyasha grumbled.

"It might."

I laughed a bit. "Shippo, you're not going to be able to scare me…"

All of a sudden he turned into his pink bubble form and growled at me. I actually was kind of startled.

"Ah!" I exclaimed.

"Stop it, Shippo!" Inuyasha exclaimed. He tried to hit Shippo but he jumped out of the way.

"Did it work?" Shippo asked.

"No, I'm not feeling anything different," I replied.

"I'll try it again."

Then Inuyasha grabbed him by the tail. "Would you stop?! The baby will come when it's ready."

Then there was another knock on the door.

"That's Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said before he even got up.

"Oh no! Hide me!" Shippo exclaimed as he hid under the blanket that was on the couch.

Sure enough, Sesshomaru came into the house.

"What's up?" Inuyasha asked.

"Do you know where Shippo is?"

"No idea."

Of course, Sesshomaru could smell him and glanced in the direction of the small lump on the couch.

"I think you're lying to me," he said.

Shippo poked his head out of the blanket. "It was an accident, Sesshomaru! I didn't mean to!"

Sesshomaru still looked mad so I stepped in to defend Shippo. "Don't take it so hard, Sesshomaru. Shippo was just playing with you. He won't do it again."

"Yeah, I won't!"

"Exactly, and only I can punish Shippo anyway," Inuyasha said.

It looked like Shippo was up to another trick. With Inuyasha facing Sesshomaru and not us, Shippo quietly transformed into me and crept over to Inuyasha's side. He then tapped him on the shoulder.

"Inuyasha, I think the baby is coming now," Shippo said in a high voice to imitate me.

Inuyasha looked extremely confused but he also went into full-blown panic mode. "What?! Honey, are you sure?!"

I started laughing. "Come on, Shippo. Stop messing with Inuyasha, he's stressed out enough as it is."

Inuyasha turned around to find me still sitting on the couch then he glared at Shippo. "Damn you, Shippo! Stop doing that!"

He punched Shippo in the head and he turned back into his normal self. Then Shippo ran and Inuyasha began to chase him around the house.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru looked kind of satisfied that Shippo was at least being beaten up by someone. He then turned to leave. "I'll see you later."

I would have tried to stop them, but I was too tired so I just watched and laughed until the two of them calmed down.