Today was a special day. It was Hermione's birthday and she would turn twenty-two, but nobody knew it. The people who knew where five hundred years apart from her, and if that wasn't enough, seas and continents lay between them as well. Her friends here didn't know about her birthday because she had not told them. On one hand, she didn't want to tell them, for it would make her seem self-centred, while on the other hand, she wanted to because she felt so lonely. She missed her magical family so much; she missed her parents, who she hadn't talked to in over four years, and she also missed the magical world. To feel the magic, to use it freely; she missed it all. She just wanted to see a familiar face from her time, and not the one from her nightmares! However, she knew that wasn't possible because they weren't even born yet. Today was one of her very bad days. She sighed heavily and wanted to cry. She wasn't sure if holding it in was a good idea, but she didn't want to bawl her eyes out in the middle of the village in bright daylight.

The last bad day had been two weeks ago when Lord Sesshomaru had visited. And it had turned to being not so bad in the end. When she had woken up the next day, she thought that she had dreamed, at least until Rin had told her that Sesshomaru had brought her back in his arms. She was really surprised when she had calmed down from her panic attack and found herself surrounded by the demon lord purring reassuringly and then even wiping away her tears. She knew he wanted to ask her a lot more but had sensed her unwillingness and accepted it.

The first few days she was blushing at these thoughts. Fortunately, she had it under better control now or in her pessimistic mood at the moment – when she was feeling just too depressed. She sighed again and began crushing the herbs Rin had handed her.

HxS

Rin was looking sadly at her newest friend and teacher. Hermione hadn't been in a good mood today, and Rin knew why. Hermione didn't know, but Rin sometimes also had nightmares and woke up in the night. She dreamed of her now faceless family who had died by wolfs and her own death. When that happened she often went to Hermione and lay beside her, sometimes even falling asleep again. The nights when Rin witnessed Hermione having her nightmares, she would hold her until her teacher would calm down and be able to sleep again. However, Rin also heard Hermione talking and screaming in her sleep often. She had learned some things through this talking and mumbling even if she did it in another language. And since Rin always woke up before her friend would, Hermione didn't know about it. Rin suspected that Hermione's nightmares were like hers – memories, not only bad dreams.

Through the mumbling of last night Rin knew that today was Hermione's birthday. She just didn't know what that was and why it made her friend sad. So, while she was gathering some herbs for Hermione she also went to Kagome to ask her about birthdays. Kagome had explained it to her and had asked why she wanted to know. Rin told her that today was Hermione's birthday, but that she was all sad and looked so lonely. The priestess had also explained to her that Hermione did miss her family very much on that day because usually they would probably celebrate it together. Kagome had then told Rin to keep a secret and that they would prepare a birthday celebration for Hermione, but it had to be a surprise.

Rin wanted to tell Hermione, so that she would smile happily at her again, not giving her only the forced smiles like now, but she had promised Kagome not to tell and to keep Hermione distracted for a while.

She now sighed heavily as well. Rin thought that it would be great if Lord Sesshomaru would come to the party. That's how Kagome had called it, or at least she thought she did. However, it probably would not happen since Lord Sesshomaru did not know about it. Rin was very glad that Lord Sesshomaru seemed to like Hermione. He had talked to her a lot, for his normal self at least, and had also followed her when Jaken was mean to her. He had even brought her back in his arms. Rin knew Hermione had started to like the demon lord as well, even if she herself didn't know it yet probably. She hoped they would continue liking each other – maybe as much as Kagome and Inuyasha or as much as Sango and Miroku. Then she would gain a mother and some siblings as well since she saw Lord Sesshomaru as a father figure. That would be great!

Maybe she would ask Shippo for help the next time she saw him, for he had always the best ideas and was her best friend.

Now, how to distract her friend and teacher, and perhaps future mother?

HxS

Hermione was still in a bad mood. She had to restrain herself from letting out her frustration and sadness on little Rin or the other villagers. The little girl was holding her hand now and dragging her to Kagome's place for dinner. She wasn't really hungry and didn't want to be around people because she didn't want to dampen the others mood with her miserable one. Nevertheless, she couldn't say no to Rin's puppy dog eyes, so now they were on their way to the hut.

When they arrived there Hermione knocked on the door like always before opening the door and stepping inside. However, what was different this time was that all her friends were standing in front of her and calling 'happy birthday' while Shippo did some of his fox magic and let it rain confetti. She was frozen on the spot, being too surprise to react in any other way, then she gape at them with wide eyes and open mouth. A tugging on her hand pulled her out of her stupor.

With a whisper she asked: "How…?"

Kagome came to her first and gave her a big hug.

"Rin heard you say it in your sleep and asked me about what it meant, so we planned this little celebration. Why didn't you tell us?"

Hermione didn't know what to do. Ask Rin how she could hear her when she had had her silencing charm up? Or break down in tears in front of her friends because she was so touched? Before she could decide, tears were already running down her cheeks, and she was sobbing on Kagome's shoulder. She had felt so incredibly lonely and hadn't known what to do, not wanting to intrude on these peoples. But that had been a mistake since it had only made her more miserable. She knew now that these people were her friends and that she could count on them. They couldn't replace her friends and family back in her time – she would always miss them no matter what – however, she knew that they would want her to be happy and make new friends. It hurt not knowing if she would ever see them again, but with these people it would become bearable.

"You guys… Thank you so much! I needed that," she said to her new friends who were looking at her with understanding smiles, or in case of Inuyasha and Miroku with uncomfortable looks, before they realised that she wasn't crying anymore. Hermione wiped her tears away and went to hug everybody. She held on to Rin the longest, whispering her thanks into the little girl's ear.

They then sat down and enjoyed the dinner while talking together. Some were speaking about their birthday, and even Hermione told them about a few of hers. Even though retelling them made her cry, she, as well as the others, were having a good time. After dinner they even ate cake that Kagome had managed to bake somehow. She also got some presents: a new kimono, some simple jewellery, some brushes, ink, paper, a scroll about some herbs and their use, and a talisman against nightmares. She had thanked them all profusely, knowing their gifts weren't exactly cheap, and they had put thoughts into choosing them.

The adults drank a bit of sake while the children drank tea, and after they had realised it was becoming late, Rin, Hermione and Lady Kaede went back to their hut. Hermione told Rin to sleep next to her since the girl would probably end up there anyway. Rin was very happy and hugged her tightly. Both fell asleep holding each other.

A very bad day had turned in to a very happy day.

AN: Thank you for your support! I hope you continue liking the story! I am always thankful for your feedback. If everything works as planed I will post another chapter tomorrow. So, look forward to it!

This story is now betaed by Pyo-Kiyo, I am very grateful for her help. Thank you so so much.

Thanks, and enjoy.