Chapter Eight:
Youkai and Hanyou
Madeline stepped out of the shower and wrapped a large towel around her hair. She dried her body with a separate towel and admired the slight swell of her belly. Upon drying, she pulled on a pair of shorts and a band t-shirt (Nine Inch Nails, her favorite band). Madeline gently combed her thigh-length hair, then bound it loosely halfway down her back.
It was a warm evening in mid-July. Madeline was four months pregnant. Her routine check ups with Dr. Franklin assured the proud parents-to-be that the baby was healthy and all was well.
Madeline walked out of the bathroom and ventured into the living room where Sesshomaru was sipping a 7-Up (since the incident at the drive-in, he has learned to like soda and will treat himself to one on occasion) while he searched for a movie to watch. Madeline sat on the couch and observed him looking over the movie shelves repeatedly. She urged him to put in Labyrinth. "Sesshy, please, I love that movie."
"Very well, little one," he pulled the movie off the shelf, "I can deny you nothing." He put the movie in the DVD player and sat down next to Madeline, letting her cuddle up to him.
The movie was rolling, and when the main character, Sarah, turned the lights off in her baby brother's room and said, "I wish the goblins would come and take you away. Right now," Sesshomaru said, "I wish it was that simple."
"What do you mean?" Madeline asked, "Don't you even remotely get along with your brother?"
"No! I despise that filthy little half-breed!"
Madeline's eyes grew wide in shock, then narrow with anger. She exclaimed, "What?" but never waited for an answer. She shoved Sesshomaru hard and he fell to the floor. She stood and stormed off, grabbing her car keys and heading for the door.
"Madeline!" he shouted, easily catching up to her, "Madeline! Wait! Where do you think you are going?"
"Away from you!"
"I forbid it!"
"Forbid all you want, but I will not tolerate that attitude, Sesshomaru!"
"What attitude?"
"Filthy little half-breed to quote you directly," she glared at him.
Sesshomaru realized what had just happened. "I forgot you were human. I didn't mean to offend you . . ."
She cut him off, still furious, "Have you forgotten that our child will be half-demon? Will your own child will be a 'filthy little half-breed' in your eyes? I know you forgot that I was human. You think of me as a person. You need to start thinking of your own brother that way, too! You need to let go of this foolish belief, this demon-pride crap, Sesshomaru, or you will lose me and your child!" she screamed angrily.
At those words Madeline saw something that made her gasp: Tears welling up in her mate's eyes. Sesshomaru dropped to his knees before her, burying his face in her barely showing belly, and wrapped his arm around her thighs. "I'm sorry. Oh my dear one, how I have wronged you. How I have wronged our child! Our beautiful child. Forgive me. Please forgive me for my horrible behavior. I swear to you. I swear on my life, my honor, and all that I am, my ways have changed. I swear to you that I will never utter another word about another living being because of their blood," tears from his golden eyes stained the belly of her shirt, "Oh, my Madeline, please forgive me." He was begging her.
Begging.
Even Madeline was shocked to see this much emotion from her mate, the proud, powerful Demon Lord. She made to kneel in front of him with tears welling up in her eyes as well. She kissed the crescent on his brow as she descended, causing tears from her cheeks to spill over onto his. "I forgive you, my dearest love and lord. But make one promise to me. Swear to me that you will do as I ask."
"Anything. You have only to ask."
She looked him square in his amber eyes, "Swear to me that when we return that you will make amends with your brother and have peace with him. After all, he is this child's uncle."
He didn't break eye contact or even hesitate, "I swear I will make peace with InuYasha," then his eyebrows perked up, "Did you just say when 'we' return?"
"Yes."
"You intend to return with me, for good?"
"Yes. I cannot expect you to remain here. I cannot bear the child here. Doctors here would kind of ask a lot of questions of a child born with fangs and claws, or a purple crescent on their brow," she smiled at him and continued, "Sesshomaru, you cannot stay here. I cannot go on without you. My place is with you."
He sighed, "I fear the well may not return before the child's birth."
"It will," she spoke softly, "I don't know how I know. But I do."
"I trust you, little one," he kissed her lovingly.
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August came with sweltering heat and many complaints from Madeline and Sesshomaru. Especially when the Central Air went on the fritz.
"How do you live with this crippling heat?" Sesshomaru growled as Madeline came in the door.
"Hey, I was out in it! Here," she handed him a bag, "I bought you some shorts and tank tops. That repair man had better make it out here this afternoon or I'm going to buy a new air conditioner! Damn Central Air!"
Sesshomaru went to the bathroom and peeled off his kimono. He put on a pair of blue jean shorts and a gray, sport-cut tank top. As he gathered his kimono and put it in the clothes hamper, he heard the phone ring. Madeline answered as he walked out of the bathroom.
"Hello . . . Hi Dr. Franklin . . . Oh!" she looked at the clock, "Yes. Yes we'll be there soon! Thank you!" and she set the receiver in the cradle to charge.
"Was that the doctor? Is something wrong?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No, not at all! In fact it's good news. Someone cancelled their appointment for today and she knows how anxiously you've been awaiting the ultra sound, so she wanted to know if we could be down there in twenty minutes."
Sesshomaru's face lit up, "You mean I can see the babe today?"
"Yes!"
"Well, let's go!"
After a brief air-conditioned car ride they arrived at the doctor's office. They didn't have a chance to sit down because Dr. Franklin met them at the receptionist's counter. "I have the equipment ready to go. Are you excited, young man?" the doctor smiled at the eager father.
"Very," he confirmed.
She led them into the sonograph room and had Madeline lay down on the exam table. "Pull your shirt up over your belly, dear," the doctor said as she put on exam gloves and grabbed the jelly that would be rubbed on Madeline's stomach.
Dr. Franklin applied some of the clear jelly and pressed the transducer to Madeline's pregnant belly. Immediately, strange blurred images appeared on the screen. Dr. Franklin moved the transducer around until she blurted, "Oh! We have a head!" and she chuckled. The doctor took a capped pen and used it as a pointer on the screen showing them the head, eyes, mouth, and nose. Sesshomaru was awestruck. "This is my child," he said as he touched the screen and outlined the mouth, nose and eyes. Dr. Franklin prodded about just a little while longer and showed them their child's arms and hands. She made a few print outs of the face, but could not see what sex the child would be.
Dr. Franklin then shut off the sonograph equipment and turned on another machine.
Sesshomaru was curious, "What is that?"
Dr. Franklin held up another transducer, "This is the heart monitor. It will allow us to hear the baby's heart beat." She placed the transducer to Madeline's belly, and after placing it on the appropriate spot, Madeline and Sesshomaru heard the strong heartbeat of their healthy child. And Sesshomaru looked to his mate, overcome with love and joy for the first time in his life.
