As Kagome got ready for bed that night, she couldn't stop thinking of what had happened at dinner. All things considered, the meal was pretty normal. That is until Rin dropped a spoon full of the gooey 4 cheese pasta into her lap when she wasn't looking. Kagome had suppressed a giggle as the girl picked up the noodles with her fingers and gave the offensive things a little glare for not going where they were supposed to. Once the few noodles were safely in a napkin, her hands were then covered in the orange cheese sauce. Picking up a clean napkin and trying to clean her hands, the paper square only made matters worse by spreading the mess. Kagome could no longer contain her laughter. Indignant, the child scooped up a spoonful of the greasy, cheesy, orange deliciousness, and flicked it at Kagome. Of course, Kagome had to defend her honor and thus was required to retaliate with a spoonful of her own, which landed right in Rin's raven locks. A minor food fight ensued, and when both girls noticed Sesshomaru's deliberate attempts at quietly trying to eat his own food, enemies were suddenly allies as they both grinned at each other and took aim at the poor unassuming taiyoukai. Needless to say, they all three needed baths by the end of the meal, and so did the dining room.

After her shower, Kagome had cleaned up the mess from dinner, and as she was walking back to her room, she caught sight of the proud youkai tucking his little girl into bed. The scene was both heartwarming, and heart-wrenching all at the same time. Watching the two interact this afternoon, Kagome felt just a little jealous. Her father left when she was younger than Rin. The memories she had with her father, even those were not as sweet as what she witnessed today. Walking back to her room, Kagome wondered bitterly what her life might have been like had her father never left in the first place. Perhaps she might have met Sesshomaru under happier circumstances.

Slipping into the oversized button up shirt that she assumed Sesshomaru had left on her bed for her, she dropped the soiled green and white dress into the wicker laundry basket by the door before crawling under the covers and trying to get to sleep. Unfortunately, the sleep she sought was harder to grab ahold of than she wished. Kagome turned this way and that, trying to get comfortable, eventually settling on her side and counting the little dips in the textured paint on the wall. After what felt like hours, but in actuality was only about 5 minutes, sleep finally settled its dark wings around her shoulders, drawing her to the warmth and comfort of the nothingness.

...

After changing out of his cheese stained shirt and tucking Rin into bed, Sesshomaru made his way out to the dining room only to find that Kagome must have already cleaned up. Walking to the kitchen, he found the counters cleared and the dishwasher already loaded and running. Smiling appreciatively, he headed back to his room to take a nice hot shower before bed.

One of the many things which Sesshomaru appreciated about modern technology was running water. There were a few thing that he did not appreciate quite as much, such as the thickly polluted air of the cities, but there were ways to get away from most of that, if one knew where to go. Hot showers though... A good hot spring was relaxing, sure, but nothing beats the rhythmic pitter-patter of hot water against ones back to relax the mind and soothe the muscles after a long day. That, and, as a demon with a sharp nose, he also appreciated the human's modern standards of cleanliness, though he could do without the strong perfumes and colognes.

After he was showered and in his flannel pajama pants and loose tee that he typically wore to bed, he peeked through the door separating his room from Kagome's, mostly to ease his restless beast, and to assure himself that she was indeed sleeping. Stalking silently into the room, he found her sprawled carelessly on the bed, the blankets flung carelessly to the foot of the mattress.

Shaking his head bemusedly at her, he pulled the blankets up and tucked them under her chin. He brushed her ebony hair from her face, his molten gold eyes making out her features perfectly in the dark room. Her expression was so unguarded in sleep. It was reassuring to see her face without the undertones of mistrust and pain that seemed to permanently haunt her features.

They had only spent a week or two together, but the bond was growing ever stronger, and even though their conversations had been few and far between, he felt the beginnings of something warm growing in his chest whenever he looked at the girl. It was only a spark, just a minuscule little thing, but sparks have been known to start wildfires under the right conditions. Giving one last look at the sleeping young woman before shutting the door and slipping into his own bed, he thought he felt the spark bloom into a small flame. Still, it wasn't much, but it was a start.

...

Kagome woke with a start, breathing hard and sweat dripping down her face. It was that nightmare again. She hadn't had one since Sesshomaru saved her. She knew they would come back eventually, but she had hoped she might have more time, but alas, life was ever her cruel mistress.

Closing her eyes tightly, she saw their judgemental faces. in the silence of the room, she could still hear their taunting words. Opening her eyes was no help, her room was pitch black. Coming to a reckless and rather hasty decision, Kagome sat up and crawled out of her bed. With he mind still foggy with sleep, and desperate to escape the lurking nightmares, Kagome remembered Sesshomaru's words from earlier today. "A Mate's touch has many benefits..."

Padding over to the door, she opened it into his room and walked straight to his bed. Feeling for the edge of the blanket, she hesitated only a moment before she quietly borrowed under them, tentatively reaching for his hand. she found an arm and followed it to a hand which closed over hers as soon as their fingers touched. Being careful to let only their fingers touch, she settled herself and closed her eyes, letting sleep once again claim her.

...

Sesshomaru woke to the sound of his door opening quietly. He lay still, pretending to still be asleep. He assumed that it was Rin seeking comfort after one of her rare nightmares and that she would just crawl into bed and go back to sleep. He was mildly surprised because Rin hadn't had a nightmare in 2 years.

He felt the mattress dip, and suddenly realized that the female crawling into his bed was too large to be Rin, and this scent belonged to Kagome, not Rin. Maintaining his silent facade, he felt and listened to Kagome settle herself under his covers. He felt a searching hand grab hold of his forearm and slide down to grasp his hand. He smiled and closed his hand around hers, lacing their fingers together. Listening to her, he waited for her breathing to slow until he was sure she was asleep once again. He could smell the remnants of fear and despair on her and assumed that it must have been a nightmare. He would have laughed at the coincidence, had his mate not been trying to sleep right next to him.

The fates must think him a more gentle and patient man than anyone who had ever met him, knew him to be. First the fragile Rin, and now Kagome. Maybe he just had an odd penchant for strays, who knows. Whatever the case, Sesshomaru turned and leaned over the vulnerable woman. Kissing her raven hair, he lay back down and slipped back into his own sleep.

For the first time since their meeting, the two fated soulmates peacefully shared a bed together, and neither were disturbed by their nightmares.

AN. Hey guys, sorry this is a little late, and it is so much shorter than I wanted this chapter to be. Oh well, I'll make the next one better. This chapter was mostly fluff and filler anyway. I am in the process of developing the next chapter so please have patience with me. Sorry.

Thanks again to everyone who has been leaving comments and reviews. Votes and saves are very much appreciated, I love hearing from all of you.

Cassie