Chapter 36

Kagome hugged the envelopes to her chest, counting for the fiftieth time. Miroku chuckled, gently taking them from her and leaning down to kiss her temple. "We have enough." They were finally telling their family about the baby after a long two weeks.

Miroku was happy to finally be able to reveal this secret. Keeping it to himself had been almost impossible. It was even harder not to place his hand on her belly any chance he could get. Keeping his affection for his baby hidden had been just as hard, if not worse, than keeping the baby a secret. Miroku was relieved that in just a few short hours, he can move and speak freely.

"Are you sure? What if we forgot someone?" Kagome looked up at him, eyes nervous. She didn't know why she was nervous. She knew everyone would be happy about the newest edition to the family, but that didn't mean her stomach wasn't trying to roll.

"Calm down, Love. Everything will be just fine. I promise." He smirked, placing a hand on her back and then opening the door, letting her enter the Taisho manor. They immediately walked to the living room, hearing everyone laughing there.

"Miroku! Kagome!" Izayoi stood up, coming up to hug them both happily.

"You act like you didn't know we were coming?" Miroku hugged his mother back and handed his father the envelopes. "That is for a game a little later. Can you put them somewhere safe please?"

"A game?" Touga looked at the envelopes and Miroku raised an eyebrow. His father's curiosity would be the death of him. Seeing his sons look, Touga sighed and then placed the envelopes on an end table for safe keeping.

"Come, sit down. We were already playing a game when you two arrived." Izayoi dragged Kagome and Miroku to the floor, causing them to sit down around the coffee table.

"If you could call it a game." Sesshomaru grumbled, wincing as Naomi scolded him with a wave of her hand and pout. He still found her adorable, even when he was being reprimanded.

"It's would you rather." Touga sat back down on the couch, smiling as Miroku pulled Kagome into his lap. "Izayoi was desperate to play it."

"It sounded fun, and it passes the time until dinner is ready." Izayoi glared at her husband playfully, and then turned back to her son and daughter. "Would you two like to join?"

"Sure. Then if there is time, we can play the game Kagome and I brought." Miroku rested his chin on Kagome's shoulder as he felt her stiffening. She was still nervous about telling his family, and he could understand. This was big news, and it didn't matter that they knew how it was going to go.

"It's my turn. Would you rather…." Sango paused for a moment, thinking. "Stay at home all day, take care of the kids, and let your significant other work, or vice versa."

Every single male in that room immediately said work. Sango agreed with them while Naomi, Izayoi, and Kagome chose to stay home. Sango rolled her eyes at Izayoi and Kagome. "I shouldn't have asked you two. Izayoi is living proof of her answer, and we all know how Kagome feels about babies."

Kagome blushed, and Miroku smirked. "I'll go next. Perhaps a question a bit harder. Would you rather… lose an arm, or never have sex again?" Everyone agreed that they would rather lose an arm except Sango who was rolling her eyes at InuYasha's horrified look.

"What? I need both arms to bartend." She shrugged her shoulders as they all laughed and InuYasha grumbled. "Your turn Kagome."

"Would you rather lose the ability to read or to speak?" Kagome spouted out her normal go to question. A pillow connected with her face, and she looked at a deadpanned Naomi. "Sorry. I guess we know your answer."

Naomi rolled her eyes but smiled. She wasn't sensitive about not being able to speak, and often made jokes about it. She was comfortable with her disability, plus she was surrounded by family that didn't judge her for it.

Miroku grabbed the pillow, his face tight. "No pillow throwing. Someone could get hurt."

"It's a fucking pillow." InuYasha scoffed, taking a sip of his drink.

Miroku blushed, looking down at Kagome who was smirking. He really had become overprotective, even more than normal, but she didn't mind. To her, it just showed how much he cared about her and the baby. He didn't want anything to happen to either of them. Not even from a pillow.

"Can we move on to another game?" Sesshomaru asked, boredom in his tone. He really was not a fan of would you rather.

"I vote yes." Touga grabbed the envelopes, handing them to Miroku. "Explain the rules."

"It's easy, and a game we made up." Miroku set down the envelopes on the coffee table between everyone. "You will each grab a single envelope. One of them contains a surprise but none of us know which one it is. The lucky winner gets the surprise."

"So, we just grab one? What is the surprise?" InuYasha leaned forward, taking an envelope from the stack, causing everyone else to do the same.

The truth was each envelope contained the surprise. An ultrasound of the baby. However, none of them knew that, so when they tore it open, they would all be getting a surprise. To Miroku and Kagome, it was the perfect way to tell them of the baby.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if he told you." Souta was flipping over the envelope, trying to see through it. It was colored blue, and thick. No one would be making any accurate guesses.

"On the count of three-"

"Wait, what about you two?" Izayoi noticed that Miroku and Kagome didn't have an envelope to open. Mothering as she was, she wanted to make sure they were able to have fun as well.

"We know what the surprise is. It would defeat the purpose. Don't worry, we will enjoy watching you all open the envelops." Kagome gave her customary smile, and Izayoi nodded.

"One…two…" Miroku stood, pulling Kagome up with him. He knew how this was about to go. "Three."

Everyone started tearing into their envelopes, Naomi getting to hers first. She started jumping up and down, clapping her hands wildly. Sango was next, letting out a squeal of delight, and beginning to jump with Naomi, both of them clutching each other's hands.

Izayoi let out a sob, one hand covering her face, the other holding the ultrasound to her heart. Souta was stunned, while Sesshomaru held a proud smirk. InuYasha began to cuss excitedly, and Touga yelled the loudest out of them all. Everyone officially knew of the newest member.

"Kagome." Izayoi stood, yanking Kagome from Miroku and hugging her tightly. Kagome had tears in her eyes as she smiled. Izayoi wiped at her own, looking at Kagome's belly. "How far along are you?"

"Almost thirteen weeks."

"You're already in the second trimester?" Izayoi held out a hand, looking at Kagome for permission. When Kagome nodded, she placed her hand over Kagome's belly and let out another happy sob. She knew this day would be coming eventually, but she hadn't realized it would be so soon. She wasn't complaining one bit. Miroku walked up to them, and Izayoi wrapped her arms around him. "My baby is having a baby."

"He ain't no baby anymore." Touga smacked Miroku on the back, grinning from ear to ear.

"Is that what it takes to become a man?" Sesshomaru was leaning back on the couch, the ultrasound in one hand, his phone in another as he tried to take a photo of it. He was going to be an uncle, and he wanted to tell everyone. Of course, he wouldn't have anything to do with the kid until it was older, preferably when it could talk and use the bathroom itself, but still.

"All of you are surprised?" InuYasha rolled his eyes. "It's not like he could fucking stay off of her. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner."

Naomi clapped her hands together, getting everyone's attention. She made a comment that had Kagome picking up the pillow and throwing it at her. Naomi smiled wildly as she ducked, letting the pillow hit Sesshomaru. She deserved getting a pillow thrown at her for commenting that Kagome was still married to one man when she ended up pregnant by another.

"I cannot help that I am attracted to my wife, InuYasha. I do not apologize for it." Miroku held up his head, his hand lacing through Kagome's. Touga walked up to Kagome, slowly holding his hands out. She smiled and moved in to hug him. It was getting easier for her to handle Touga touching her.

"You have made me one happy old man." Touga let her go, cupping her face with a tender smile. He turned to his other sons with a playful smirk. "The youngest of my boys is already starting his family. When are you two going to start working on yours?"

Both Sesshomaru and InuYasha shared a look of panic, neither of them ready for that step yet. Touga busted out laughing, making both boys glare at Miroku who took a step back. They blamed him for Touga putting them on the spot. If he and Kagome hadn't gotten pregnant, Touga never would have started on them.

"It seems I need to run." Miroku kissed Kagome on the cheek, then took off, InuYasha and Sesshomaru running after him. Touga chuckled, claiming he was going to stop the boys from fighting, but he walked a bit too slow for that to be his true intention.

"We have so much planning to do." Sango ran forward with Naomi, the girls surrounding Kagome. "We have to get the nursery ready and have a baby shower."

"We have time." Izayoi calmed the girls, giving Kagome a chance to breathe. "First, we make sure Kagome stays healthy and doesn't over do it. Do you still plan to work dear?"

"Yea. At least until I start showing. I'm not sure how the customers would feel about a pregnant bartender." She laughed, a hand over her belly and rubbing tenderly.

"Good. I'm sure Miroku can find something else for you to do if you still wish to work. Though, He would probably rather you stayed home." Izayoi led Kagome to the couch, sitting down next to her while Sango and Naomi sat on the floor, looking up at them.

"I will stay home once the baby is born. I was still thinking about doing online schooling though. It's something I can do while taking care of the baby. I want to get certified in being a trauma and grief counselor. That way, I can help any new girls that come into Safe Haven." Kagome had been thinking about that idea for a while now but wasn't sure if it was something she should do.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Now you know, if you ever need a babysitter, I will do it. I don't care what I have planned, I will cancel it to take care of my grandbaby." Izayoi once more placed her hand on Kagome's belly, smiling tenderly. "I am so glad Miroku found you, Kagome. You have brought a light into this family that wasn't there before." She looked to the other two girls smiling at them. "All three of you. I finally have my daughters."