Chapter 39

Kagome looked around the living room once more. Blue and pink decorations almost burned her eyes, but she loved it. Reaching up, she started to adjust the streamer that was uneven on the wall. She was too short, meaning she was standing in a chair to reach it.

She and Miroku had gone to her four-month checkup a few days prior. The ultrasound technician had given them an envelope that contained the gender of the baby, and they had given that to Sango and Naomi who planned a gender reveal.

Today they would learn what they were having. Kagome was both excited and nervous. She would be okay with either a boy or a girl, but that didn't stop the fluttering in her belly. She couldn't explain it, but something about finally knowing made it more real.

She was having a baby. There was a life growing inside of her. She knew she was pregnant from the moment the doctor first told her. The knowledge was there, and yet, finding out her baby's gender, it just did something. Made her understand the baby growing inside of her on a deeper level.

"What are you doing?" Izayoi's shrill and panicked voice startled Kagome, causing her to rip down the streamer she had been trying to fix.

"It was uneven. I wanted to fix it?" Kagome looked at the thin paper in her hands, almost pouting that she had ripped it. She had just wanted to feel useful, but no one would let her do anything. She was pregnant, not an invalid.

"You're on a chair, Kagome!" Izayoi rushed over to her, helping Kagome to step down carefully. Once safe, Izayoi calmed visibly, and then looked over Kagome. "I'm sorry. I know we are all smothering, especially Miroku, but we all care about you and that baby. We love you and want you safe."

"I know." Kagome blinked away her tears, willing her hormones not to show up at that moment. She didn't have crying outbursts often, but when she did, she had a hard time stopping. "I just feel so useless. I feel like I could go sit in a corner, and no one would even notice."

"That's not true, Dear. We want you with us, to celebrate the youngest member of our family." Izayoi placed a hand on Kagome's swelling belly. The bump could still be hidden by clothing, but it was visible should she lift her shirt. Miroku almost always had his hand on her belly and felt their baby. "We just don't want you over doing it and getting tired or hurt."

Kagome nodded her head, wiping at her eyes to try and keep the tears at bay. Her nose and cheeks were red from the efforts. Izayoi hugged her, patting her back, and Kagome took comfort in the soothing hug. Miroku chose that moment to walk in with his brothers, all three covered in gender reveal decorations.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Miroku threw his pile of decorations on InuYasha and rushed over to Kagome. He turned her to him, checking her over and placed his large hand over her belly.

"I'm okay. Just an emotional moment." Kagome held up the streamer, and Miroku looked at it, raising an eyebrow. "Can you fix this for me?" She pointed to the wall where she broke the streamer from and smiled at him.

"Yep." It was a goner. The streamer was ruined, and he would have to replace the entire strand. Like hell he was going to tell her that. "InuYasha will help me fix it." Miroku ignored InuYasha's curse, leaning down to kiss Kagome's temple. "In the meantime, why don't you help Izayoi with the food? I'm sure someone needs to taste test it."

Kagome lit up suddenly, looking to Izayoi for confirmation. The older woman nodded, giving Kagome a grin and holding out her arms. She winked at Miroku without Kagome seeing, knowing that he had created a diversion so he could replace the streamer without Kagome's knowledge.

An hour later, and the entire house had been set up for the gender reveal. To Miroku's relief, Kagome didn't notice the new streamer, or at least didn't mention it. Guests began to show up, mostly just the girls from the bar, and a few family friends.

Another knock on the door had Touga walking to it and opening it. His smile faded as he met the gaze of Aito Sato. "More bad news?"

"No. Thankfully. Kagome invited me." Aito was silently pleading with Touga to let him in. He wanted to get to know his daughter and son. "I know you think of her as your own. I can see it when you look at her, and the way you look at me. I won't step on your toes. I won't try and take her away. I just…. I want…"

"Touga, we talked about this." Izayoi placed a hand on Touga's shoulder, making him look at her. They shared a silent conversation, and Touga sighed, looking back to Aito.

Nodding in acceptance, Touga opened the door wider, letting the man enter. Aito thanked him, and then made his way to the other party guest. He was introduced by Kagome, who though was awkward and unsure, still told everyone that he was her father.

Touga wasn't there for that. He remained in the kitchen, snacking on food and keeping himself busy. It wasn't like he knew Kagome for years, but she had such an open heart that he fell into it just like everybody else did. He truly did think of her as his daughter. Even had she not married his son; he would still think the same.

Now Aito was coming in. Touga couldn't really compete with him. He had shared memories with Kagome. He had been there for her childhood, shared blood with her. That was something Touga could never touch. A part of him didn't even want to. Who was he, to break something like that up?

"Touga?" Kagome had moved silently into the room, filling her plate with finger foods for the third time. "Are you okay? You are normally the most social among us." She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but to return the smile.

"I am fine. Just hungry." He heard laughter from the other room, one that he didn't recognize. That told him it was Aito, and he was fitting in just fine. Why did that make him so angry? "I see Aito has found his place."

Kagome leaned back to watch Aito talk and joke with Souta. She smiled, looking back up to Touga who was pouting as he stuffed something else in his mouth. Setting her plate on the table, she leaned over, wrapping an arm around his waist and hugging him. "Aito had his reasons for not coming after me. I can understand why he didn't, and even respect him for it, but still, he chose to walk away in the end. Would you have done that?"

"Of course not. You may have been confused at first, but you would have gotten over it. Just as you have. So why waste the years?" Touga shrugged his shoulders, still careful of how he moved with Kagome so close. She was a lot better with him touching her, but he never pushed it. He didn't want to back track.

"I know. You would have fought for your children. No matter what. I will always be closer to you than I am Aito. I can promise you though, my heart is big enough for the both of you." She looked up to him, seeing his intense eyes. Slowly he wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.

"Thank you, Kagome. I am glad Miroku found you so long ago." Touga let her go as Miroku walked in, smiling as he saw the two of them.

"I am glad I found her too." Miroku pulled her to him, kissing her passionately. Touga rolled his eyes, turning back to the food. He didn't have to worry about grandchildren. Miroku and Kagome would provide him with plenty.

When Miroku pulled away, he placed a hand on her back. "I think everyone is waiting impatiently to find out what our little one is. I am anxious myself as well." Miroku was relaxed and happy. There were no thoughts of Kouga, no worry of the upcoming danger. He was able to focus on his wife and child.

"I am ready to know as well." Kagome looked to Touga, who quickly stuffed a sausage ball in his mouth. "Are you ready to learn if you are going to have a grandson or a granddaughter?"

Wiping his hands on his clothing, he nodded enthusiastically. The three of them made their way to the living room where Naomi was holding a large black balloon. Kagome went to stand beside her, grabbing the string as Sango handed Miroku a pin to pop the balloon with.

"It's self-explanatory, but since it is Miroku…" Sango chuckled, ignoring Miroku's glare. "Just pop the balloon on the count of three, and everyone will know what you are having."

Kagome nodded, looking up to her husband. Both Izayoi and Sesshomaru had their cameras out, one taking photos, the other recording everything. The countdown started, and Miroku grabbed Kagome's hand. The one holding the balloon. They were both nervous, but excited.

When the group reached three, Miroku popped the balloon, causing blue confetti to fall on both of them. Immediately, he picked up Kagome, spinning her around as he kissed her. The family cheered, welcoming the newest son.

…

Sesshomaru set down his phone, looking at his father with a grim face. He had just received the call, the one that they all had been dreading. Aito Sato had been found guilty. He wasn't looking at jail time, but he would never be a judge again.

His career was gone and forgotten.

He protected his daughter, and he paid the price for it.

"So, what now?" Miroku leaned forward, his hand running through Kagome's hair. It was late in the evening. The gender reveal had come and gone. They finished cleaning, and then sat down to rest. Kagome laid her head in Miroku's lap, and then passed out. She was still sleeping soundly, dead to the world. Miroku was glad for it.

"Now, we do nothing." Touga looked at Kagome, worry in his gaze. "There is nothing we can do. Sesshomaru and I will be questioned as well. You proposed marriage to her right after she was divorced. She became pregnant while still married to Kouga. Separated or not, she cheated on him, and we ignored that fact because we accepted her as a part of the family. We were too close, just like Sato."

"Kouga has asked for a retrial. We need to prepare for him to win. You and Kagome are already legally married, the law can do nothing about that. However, they can erase his sentencing, the evidence we collected, and the restraining order." Sesshomaru had his hands to his chin, his elbows on his knees.

"My wife and son are in danger, and there is nothing we can do about it?" Miroku looked away, a hand subconsciously going to rest over his son protectively.

"All of us will protect them." Touga's tone made Miroku look at him. "You are in danger as well. Kouga will go after Kagome, but it would not surprise me if he went after you. He still thinks Kagome is his, and you have touched her. We all know she belongs to you, that she chose you, but Kouga has not accepted that."

"We protect everyone from this point on. We go no where alone." Sesshomaru looked at his brother, seeing the fear flowing through Miroku. "We will keep her and my nephew safe, Little Brother. We promise it."