Disclaimer: I am not Rumiko Takashi…Though I'm sure that if I was I wouldn't be sitting here writing FANfiction…that is how you know that I am not her…unless of course she is a fan of herself…which if that's the case then that's just weird. Therefore, if I am a FAN then I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters or plot. Only the plot of this story. Thank you. *bows*

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 24- A Husband and Father

Kagome was steamed big time. She decided she should take a nice shower and cool off a bit.

Stepping into the bathroom she closed the door, undressed, turned the shower on and climbed in.

"What's wrong with his head anyway?" she asked herself.

'Last time he acted like this was when I forgot our…oh no."

She almost jumped right out of the shower but decided she might as well get clean first while she was there.

She hurriedly washed then jumped out and got dressed. She felt ashamed of herself for not giving him a chance to talk.

'He's probably so mad at me now.' She crept furtively across the house and into the bedroom then stopped.

Inuyasha had fallen asleep on the bed. Kagome sighed and walked silently over to the bed. She kneeled down on the floor and kissed his cheek, pushing his hair out of the way.

"I'm sorry sweetie." She whispered quietly.

"I hope you'll forgive me when you wake up.

She was just about to stand up and sneak out when she felt his hand wrap around her wrist and pull her onto the bed.

"Apology accepted."

She smiled as he pulled her under the covers and sat up with her in his lap, the blankets around them.

Inuyasha put his head on her shoulder and started to kiss her neck.

"I have something for you."

Kagome's eyes widened.

"Oh Inuyasha. Don't. I have nothing for you…well…actually…now that I think about it…I do. But it's at him in the feudal era. Can you wait until then? I don't deserve anything now after how I treated you earlier."

Inuyasha shook his head.

"'Fraid not."

"Why?"

"Cause I've been waiting so long already."

Kagome sighed and leaned into his chest as he presented the box to her.

She gasped and looked at him.

"Inu…yasha…"

"Open it."

She gulped and pried open the box with her finger.

She almost started crying and was at a loss for words when she saw what was inside.

"It's the ring I never gave you. I didn't have the money before."

Kagome snapped the box shut and threw her arms around his neck, knocking him backward onto the bed.

She put her forehead against his so they were nose to nose.

"It's beautiful…"

Inuyasha smiled slightly.

"I love you." said Kagome.

Inuyasha put his hands on her waist and stared into her eyes.

"I love you too Kagome. More than you'll ever know."

~*~*~

Suki watched Kuno sleep.

'He's amazing. Simply amazing. How on earth can there be something so perfect and pure? I don't even care how he got here any more.'

"You're mine and that's all that matters huh?" she whispered, stroking his arm with the back of her fingernail.

~*~*~

"Inuyasha? Do you have any idea how many times I've tried to imagine life without you?" Kagome asked.

Inuyasha shook his head.

"Nope. Why would you do that anyway?" though he really had no right to ask. He himself had done that numerous times. He had even imagined himself with Kikyo so he was guilty as charged.

"It's not because I don't love you. It just makes me think about how dependent I am of you now."

"Is that a bad thing?" Inuyasha wondered, an innocent expression playing across his features.

"Well no. But if something were to happen to you it would be."

"I see. Y'know Kagome…I've gotten pretty dependant on you too lately."

"Really? Whatda you mean?"

"Like, for taking care of the kids and stuff. If something were to happen to you then I would have to take care of them including the baby…and there ain't not way I'm gonna--" he said, making motions with his hands.

Kagome laughed.

"I see what you mean."

She snuggled to his chest.

"We think about each other a lot don't we?" Inuyasha confirmed.

Kagome nodded and listened put her head to his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

Kuneau started crying loudly and moved around in her crib. The tender moment was abruptly brought to an end.

"Inuyasha. I need to get up so I can get her formula from the kitchen. I'm going to try to wean her."

Inuyasha blinked.

"Already?"

"Yeah. Being a mother's tiring ya know. Besides. That way YOU can help feed her too."

Inuyasha smiled as she left the room. He listened to Kuneau's pitiful baby wails and gave in, going over to the crib and picking her up. He cradled her gently in his arms as she calmed down. He hummed a tuneless song and that seemed to help a bit too.

Kagome came back with a bottle but didn't let her presence be known. She watched him from the doorway. She loved watching him interact with the babies and this one held a special place in his heart.

Kagome listened. She had never heard him hum or even sing. This was a side she'd never seen of him. His irenic side. She didn't know he had one.

His abiding love for her and her children left her astounded and amazed. It was probably his most developed attribute and of course the one she loved most…along with his dog-ears. She noticed Kuneau had fallen asleep in Inuyasha's arms and she looked at the unneeded bottle, set it down quietly on the desk, and left the room.

~*~*~Sorry it was a bit shorter than last time. That was the best place to stop it. But hey…I hope you guys are happy cause I've cranked out the last THREE chapters in a mere…*looks at the clock that now says 3:15* um…two and half-hours. *bows* 'Till next time! Sayonara minna-sama! ~*~*~