AN: I expected more rewiews than I got. In fact, if memory serves only HD reviewed. Well, I would like to thank her, and apoligize to her. I was expecting to update long before this, just as soon as I got a few more reviews, but they never came.

Sesshomaru's Bear

As the months past my stomach began to grow with the presence of a child. Though it was getting increasingly hard to move around, I still did my best to do my regular duties, like cooking. I got pretty good at it.

My husband was constantly telling me not to overexert myself; that someone else could do the cooking, but his stomach gave him away every time by making hungry growls in protest. Though the last stages of my pregnancy, he forbid me to cook, though it must have killed him inside. I didn't like it at first, but it soon became a relief not to stand on my feet.

One day, not long after I had been released from my kitchen duties, I found myself wandering through the castle, and happened to wander by Sesshomaru's room. Though he appeared as a child to those who didn't know him, his room would have given him away. It was a simple room that bore not a sign of a child's bearings, except for one, old, brown, raggedy teddy bear that rested on the hard wooden floor.

It was so old that its color was faded; it had but eye, and a small hole in the back where the stuffing was coming out. When I later asked my husband about it, he told me that right before Sesshomaru's mother had gone into the battle that had claimed her life, she had given him that teddy bear, so it mint a lot to him, but it was starting to smell with its age.

After a day of thought, I suggested to my husband that he and Sesshomaru go into the woods and kind of explore around a bit, get to know each other. I told him that it would be a good experience for Sesshomaru, not to mention that they could get to know each other. They had lived in the same castle all their lives, yet Sesshomaru and his father knew absolutely nothing of each other. This would be a good time for them to do the father-son thing. It would be good for everyone, but I, of course, wouldn't be able to go, being with child and all.

My husband thought it was a marvelous idea and Sesshomaru agreed. After a few preparations they were ready to set off, but before they did, my husband pulled me into one of the many extra rooms and said, "I know you well, my dear wife, and you're up to something I don't know what it is, but I'm sure it has great meaning to you. I wish you luck." He gently kissed my lips.

Then they went off into the woods. The second they were out of sight, I raced into Sesshomaru's room and carefully picked up the bear and began my work. The first thing I had to do was replace the old stuffing. Then I had to wash it. That got rid of all the stains and it no longer smelled worse than an outhouse, and lastly, I sowed on a new eye to replace the one long lost. I took the bear back to Sesshomaru's room.

It was only then that I felt the repercussions of my work. I had been working so hard that I had failed to notice how tired I had become, and I began to fall forward, but never felt the impact, as I fell unconscious before ever hitting the ground.

I do not know how long I slept. It felt like minutes, but it must have been hours, because when I had went into Sesshomaru's room the sunlight had been shining brightly, but when Cama awoke me, it was pitch black outside.

Cama's face reviled her relief, before it turned to a slight anger. "Do you know what your shenanigans have done now? The whole palace is in an uproar looking for you! You've been gone for hours! Do you mean to tell me that you were here asleep the whole time? Everyone's searching for you! They think you were either taken by a human hater or giving birth!"

She grabbed my hand and half pulled me, half dragged me to the main rooms. When we arrived it the greatest relief I'd ever had, because I was afraid that if she pulled me one inch further, my arm would have had difficulties staying in its socket.

"I found her!" Cama yelled so loud that I found myself wondering if there was anyone in a five mile radius who couldn't hear her.

We were instantly surrounded by maids, cooks, servants, and practically everyone else in the palace. Surrounded by all those people, I tried to maintain the dignity of a lord's wife, but found I could not, as I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I awoke to see the faces of my husband and son staring down at me. Once again, I had no idea how long I had been asleep. I tried to sit up, but was instantly paralyzed with pain, and my husband's gentle but firm hand appeared on my shoulder and pushed my body back down.

I stared up at them weakly, until I was able to remember the fruits of my labor. "Sesshomaru, there's something for you in your room."

He waited for his father's nod of approval before heading out the door. I wanted so much to see Sesshomaru's face when he saw my surprise, that I found myself desperately fighting off the heavy cloud of sleep that once again threatened to overwhelm me.

His returning trip was a slow one and I was beginning to go down hill in my desperate fight. Just when I was going to be overcome by sleep, Sesshomaru appeared in the doorway, clutching the teddy bear. His eyes held great emotion in them, the likes of which I had never seen from him before. "It looks just like… just like… it did when my mother first gave it to me. I don't know what to say. Thank you… Mother."

His voice was also filled with this great emotion that I didn't know what to say. It was clear that he didn't either, but for once, he followed his heart and wrapped his arms around me, though it was difficult since I was still lying down. I felt tears of joy come to my eyes. I rose up enough to kiss his forehead, despite the pain, but quickly fell back down, and instantly fell unconscious to this world.