Sesshomaru was following her scent. It was laced with tears and pain. Finally he reached a small clearing, and there sitting on a boulder with Serenity in his arms, was Naraku.

Sesshomaru saw the wound, and all the blood flowing freely from it. Not only that, but she appeared pale. Naraku smirked at him.

"Does this pathetic half-demon belong to you Sesshomaru?" Naraku said smugly. He obviously knew the answer to the question before he asked it.

"Naraku, give her back to me," Sesshomaru said sternly. His eyes were flashing red, but he couldn't do anything with his mate in Naraku's arms.

"Getting angry are we? Good," Naraku said standing. "However, I don't think I will return her just yet."

Naraku took a jewel shard from within his skins and placed it in the gash in her arm. She screamed slightly as the jewel shard absorbed into her skin and healed her.

"Now you can have her back, but I would advise just killing her."

Naraku dropped the girl to the ground and moved away, allowing Sesshomaru to get to her. Sesshomaru looked at her gently before glaring up at the damn half-demon that had done this to her.

"That woman is now under my control and in about nine months she will be forced to seek me out. I want something she has."

Sesshomaru growled at Naraku, causing him to just laugh.

"Don't worry, it isn't her body…although that could be fun too. No, Lord of the Western Lands, you see she carries your heir and I plan to take it from you."

Sesshomaru looked back at the unconscious Serenity with surprise and happiness in his eyes, but not on his face, before looking back at Naraku.

"The only way to stop this is to kill her, and your heir. Enjoy your remaining time together, cause when the pup is born she will be in my castle."

Sesshomaru sent out his poison whip and destroyed Naraku, actually his puppet version he had sent before turning his attention back to Serenity.

The injuries she had were gone, almost non-existent if he hadn't already known she had them before.

Then it hit him. She was pregnant. Why hadn't he smelled the change in her scent? Perhaps it was because she was a half-demon and her body was different than the normal female demon. It would take longer for her to have a pup, but she would be in heat more often.

Then he remembered she wanted to talk to him before and he was busy with InuYasha. That must be what she wanted to talk about.

Sesshomaru lifted her gently into his arms and headed back towards their home. He didn't want to think about anything else than getting his mate and his heir home. Naraku's words remained at the back of his mind.

Entering their bedchamber, Sesshomaru gently placed Serenity on the bed and covered her with the blanket before laying next to her. He didn't care about dirt and grass getting onto the bed, his mind was focused solely on the half-demon carrying his pup.

Serenity eyes flittered open, and at first she didn't know where she was. Did that Naraku guy take her somewhere?

Serenity sat up rapidly as this thought crossed her mind, but a strong arm pulled her back down onto the bed.

Serenity turned to face her attacker, only to look into the golden eyes of her mate.

"Sesshomaru? Is that really you?" Serenity asked placing her hands on his face. Sesshomaru growled before flipping her onto her back and devouring her lips with his own.

Serenity smiled. This was Sesshomaru all right, and she was so happy to see him again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close to her. She was with her mate, not with that filthy Naraku.

Sesshomaru ended the kiss and held Serenity close to him. He inhaled her scent when he finally noticed the small change in her scent. Naraku hadn't lied, she was pregnant.

"What did you want to talk to me about earlier?" Sesshomaru said, not wanting to ruin her moment.

Serenity gasped and turned under his arm to face him.

"I have wonderful news. We're going to have a pup," she exclaimed before pulling him into a hug. Tears of happiness rushed passed her eyes as she held the demon she loved close to her. It was the best experience of her life.

Sesshomaru was also overwhelmed in emotions, despite the fact he already knew the truth. The words Naraku had said rushed back into his memory, but he suppressed them and held tight to Serenity.

No matter what happened, he wouldn't let her or their pup into Naraku's clutches.

The months passed slowly for Sesshomaru. Serenity would often have violent mood swings and he or Rin would be the only ones who could calm her down.

Rin was so excited that she might be an aunt soon. She was so happy about the new addition that she started making flower wreaths for both Sesshomaru and the soon-to-be heir of the Western Lands.

Serenity just knew that it would be a boy, and he would be just as strong and powerful as his father. He would also be just as good-looking; they might have to keep an eye on him.

Sesshomaru also believed it was going to be a boy. With his demon side and his mother's half-human attributes. It would be no contest that this pup would be quite the ruler for the Western Lands. He would be firm and fearsome like his father, but calm enough to make decisions that would benefit all, humans and demons alike.

Approaching the last few months of the pregnancy, Sesshomaru began to ponder Naraku's words. He had said that when the time came, Serenity would be compelled to seek him out, and that the pup would be born in his castle, under his supervision.

That thought alone made Sesshomaru more protective of Serenity.

Serenity didn't mind Sesshomaru being so overprotective. She enjoyed having him around so much. He always worried about her and the pup, even though he would never admit it. She could see it in his eyes every time he looked at her.

"Sesshomaru," Serenity said one day. She was getting quite close to the end of her pregnancy and there was something she had to tell him. She was in love with him and even though he was a demon and didn't believe that he could feel human emotions, like love, she just had to tell him how she felt.

Sesshomaru looked up from the book he was reading. They had been sitting in the study reading, like usual, and it had been quiet for several hours. Rin had long since gone to bed and Jaken was elsewhere in the palace.

"Yes, Serenity," he said placing his book down. His entire attention was on his mate, and his intensity made Serenity fidget a bit.

"I…uh…wanted to tell you…that…" Serenity was so nervous that he would call her stupid, or something. She couldn't bear to hear those words from him.

"Serenity?"

Serenity realized that she had stopped talking. She opened her mouth to say the words, when a strange sensation kicked in. She was going into labor.

"I think it's time," she said quickly as a sudden pain hit her stomach. Sesshomaru was up instantly calling a servant to bring the doctor.

He got back by Serenity's side and held her closely to him. The thoughts of Naraku and his words disappeared into the back of his mind as he held his mate close.

Her arm was starting to glow mysteriously. Sesshomaru looked at the light and then back at his mate. She wasn't just fighting off labor pains now, she was fighting some internal force.

"Sesshomaru…help…" she said gasping. Her eyes were changing from green to black. She was being pulled into darkness.

"Serenity, don't give in," Sesshomaru said holding her even closer, almost like he was afraid that someone would steal her out of his arms.

Serenity gasped as another jolt of pain rushed through her. The pain of labor and this new pain was getting too intense for her to fight. She closed her eyes and relaxed as the pain started to calm down.

Serenity closed her eyes and Sesshomaru pulled her closer to him. Her right hand came and grabbed his shoulder. Her nails were digging painfully into his shoulder. Suddenly she pushed him away from her.

Sesshomaru looked down into her eyes. They were pitch black and looked void of life. She was under some outside control.

She pushed him away and stood. She started toward the doorway to leave, but Sesshomaru wouldn't let her. He jumped in front of her and blocked her way.

"Remove yourself from my path, demon," she said. It was quite demanding and not in a voice he had heard her use before.

"Serenity…"

Her eyes went red as her demon blood took over. She obviously had no control now. Her nails grew longer and she slashed at her mate viciously. Luckily Sesshomaru moved in time and wasn't injured.

Serenity was out the door and gone before Sesshomaru had a chance to stand and give chase.