Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

An update! An update! Praise the Lord and pass your ammunition, I updated! So sorry it took so long, but my mind is finally back to work on lots of stories. I hope this is worth the wait for all of you readers!

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.

Almost three months had passed since Leslie had accepted Sesshomaru's proposal – they had married less than a week later in a small, private ceremony. She had refused to move out of her house, and – after a heated argument – Sesshomaru had relented and allowed her to keep her job as well.

As a result from the demon child growing inside her, Leslie was showing more sooner than human women usually do, but reveled in her unexpected motherhood. Kagome was a great help to her during the first few months, and Sesshomaru took immense pride in his mate, who was glowing with the inner light of the first motherhood.

"Are you sure it's only three months?" Kagura asked in surprise, as Leslie arrived for work one morning. The young woman's stomach was by no means fat, but rounded out in a pleasantly-plump way, making her condition more than obvious.

"Yes, I am," Leslie nodded, flushing a little. Her co-worker wasn't the first to question the date of the child's conception, and Leslie had been frightened at first to discover she was pregnant with a demon child. Kagome, although she hadn't been pregnant yet, knew a great deal about it from Inuyasha and Koga, and was constantly there to help her out.

"It's going to be a big one, then," Kagura commented with a smile. "I remember when my mother was pregnant with Kanna – she barely looked pregnant at all, Kanna was such a small baby!"

Leslie laughed with Kagura, and strode off as usual to get her work done. She had ceased working full days once the full effects of the pregnancy hit her, and spent her evenings relaxing or sleeping, the effort of carrying a demon child draining her energy quickly.

"Oh, Kagome, what are you doing here?" Leslie asked blankly, coming home early that afternoon. "I thought you'd be at work, after all."

"I took a day," she shrugged, her curly raven hair in a ponytail. "After all, Inuyasha and I are getting married in a bit, right? I need lots of time to plan!"

"It's going to be a big wedding, then?" Leslie looked at the bridal magazines spread out around her table curiously, barely feeling the twinge of jealousy. Sesshomaru had been more than willing to put up with the fuss of a large marriage, but Leslie had decided on a small ceremony, wanting a more intimate atmosphere.

"Not really, but Sango's is!" Kagome grinned. "I was wondering if you could help me out with some stuff for decorations."

"Of course!" Leslie nodded agreeably, and the two women set to work on their self-appointed task of wedding planning, taking delight in the small details.

"Where's Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked later that evening, as Leslie began to make dinner for them.

"Oh, he had to go to Japan for a while to settle some things with the land and business," Leslie said absently, but Kagome glanced sharply at her friend.

"Do you want to stay with Inuyasha and I until he gets back?" she offered, but Leslie shook her head.

"Thanks, Kagome, but I'm fine, really," she protested, seeing her friend's doubtful expression. "I'm not very sick in the mornings anymore, and Inuyasha and Kagura keep an eye on me at work. I'm feeling a lot better, to be honest."

"If you're sure – but if you need anything, don't hesitate to call, no matter what time it is," Kagome added. Leslie laughed while nodding, and sat down as they waited for the food to cook.

"I promise, Kagome," she agreed, and then turned serious. "But Kagome – thank you so much for everything you've done for me. If you hadn't had been there, I'm not sure what I would have done."

"It was nothing," Kagome said, waving her hand in embarrassment, but Leslie shook her head in protest.

"It was everything to me, it really was," she insisted. "I would have been terrified if you hadn't had been there to help me along the way, Kagome. I just wanted to let you know."

"That's what friends are for," Kagome nodded with a smile, and Leslie's hand moved to her swollen abdomen gently, her aura radiating excitement and love for her absent mate and unborn child.

"What's the matter, Kagome?" Inuyasha grumbled, as she shook him awake later that night. "It's…damn early."

"I have a strange feeling, Inuyasha," she persisted in shaking him until he sat up sleepily, and eyed her.

"Is it your powers?"

"Yes," she nodded, her eyes filled with concern. "I'm sensing something, but I'm not sure what it is. I think something's the matter with Leslie, Inuyasha."

"I'll go," he said immediately, swinging his legs out of the bed and searching for a shirt to put on.

"Who on earth is it…? Could Sesshomaru have locked himself out again?" Leslie mumbled, her mind clouded by sleep. She finished tying her robe around herself as she unlocked the door, and opened it, shivering as a blast of cold air hit her.

"Miss Peyton, a pleasure to see you again. Or I suppose it's Mrs. Taisho now, isn't it?" a soft voice asked mockingly. Her brain took a moment to register who was at her door at such an hour, and she gasped.

"Onigumo?" she realized, and moved to close the door. He was quicker than her though, and blocked it with his foot. Pushing it open, he let himself in and looked around as he closed the door.

"I see that your husband isn't home," he chuckled, and a wave of dread seeped through her. Unknown to her, a demon child felt every emotion it's mother did, and the sudden terror awakened the child's instinctive instincts to protect, and her hand flew to her stomach as she felt the baby kick.

"Get out," she whispered, but he merely smirked at her.

"That's no way to treat someone who came by to see you, is it?" he asked quietly. Leslie's mouth moved, but she found herself unable to form words. He took her by the arm, and held her against him tightly. "I came to finish what we started last time," he murmured, making no effort to hide his blatant lust.

Leslie suddenly found her power of speech again, and let out a scream so shrill it caused him to push her away in surprise. She fell against the back of the couch, and braced herself against it. She felt a sudden surge of power pour through her, and took strength in the fact that she had a child to protect.

"You little bitch," Onigumo growled, and advanced toward her. He had barely taken a few steps before the door flew open, and a figure leaped onto him, pinning the man to the ground.

"Bastard," the other man grunted, his long black hair in a braid down his back. Leslie caught a flash of red from the man's eyes as he hauled Onigumo to his feet, and backed up again as her rescuer leered at Onigumo. "I'll leave you alive for Sesshomaru to deal with," he told the man, and heaved him out the door. "If you even think of coming near this woman before then, I'll kill you myself, understand?"

Onigumo didn't even look back as he took off, rushing into his car. The man watched in satisfaction as the tires squealed on the pavement as the car flew down the street, and then slammed the door shut. Turning to Leslie, she realized it was Hiten, her neighbor. She realized he was a demon, and could only gaze at him in shock.

"I was up, and saw someone pull into the driveway," he said by way of an apology. "I started to come over to see if you were okay, and heard you scream. I hope you don't mind my bursting in."

"O-of course not!" Leslie exclaimed, and shook her head. "I can't tell you how grateful I am, Hiten. I don't know what would have happened…"

"That baby would've protected you," he said, gesturing to her abdomen as she trailed off. Seeing her confused look, he expanded. "Unborn demon children are able to channel their powers through their mothers. Something would have happened, I'm sure. Still, I'd rather it not have happened."

"What's the matter?" Inuyasha demanded, bursting in. Seeing the other demon, he blinked. "Hiten? What the hell's going on?"

Leslie proceeded to explain, and Inuyasha growled angrily.

"Sesshomaru'll have a field day," he muttered, and then turned to Hiten. "We owe you one, Hiten. I'll let Sesshomaru know – she's coming home with me now."

"Sure," he nodded, and waved as he left the house. Leslie looked at Inuyasha, who appeared both annoyed and pissed off.

"I said you're coming home with me, so get dressed and bring some clothes, and we'll take your car," he ordered. She nodded, and hurried off without argument.

"What were you thinking, letting that bastard in?" Inuyasha demanded, and Leslie stared out the window. "You're lucky Hiten was there – Sesshomaru asked him to keep an eye on him before he left, you know."

"He did?" she blinked, and turned to face her brother-in-law.

"He didn't tell you?" he asked in surprise. 'What, you think he'd leave you all alone without someone to watch you?"

Leslie merely shrugged, and heaved a sigh before turning back to the window again. Inuyasha grunted, and returned to driving in silence, relieved that Kagome would soon be able to deal with his moody sister-in-law.

"You miss him a lot, don't you?" Kagome asked gently, sitting on the guest bed with Leslie. Her friend glanced at her, and nodded.

"I do – ever since we were married, it seems that he's always gone away on business," she said suddenly. "Sometimes I wonder if he still loves me, or if he just married me so he would break the curse."

"He didn't," Kagome said firmly. "Sesshomaru isn't the type – trust me, I know. I think he…well, maybe he's just caught up in business. Now that he has an heir and mate to provide for, he's certainly worried about the lands and contracts."

"I suppose…" Leslie shrugged, and turned to the wall. "I'm kinda tired, Kagome. If you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep. I still have to get to work tomorrow."

"Inuyasha'll take you with him, then," Kagome agreed, and stood up. She planted a rather motherly kiss on her sister-in-law's forehead before she turned the light off, leaving the young woman alone in the dark, her hand resting on her belly protectively.

"Feel okay?" Inuyasha asked in the car, as they headed toward work. She nodded silently and he grunted, her scent of loneliness wafting strongly off of her. "You know, you can always stay with Kagome and I until he gets back. You don't have to stay in that house alone all the time."

"I know," she shrugged. "But that's my home. I wouldn't feel right leaving."

"If you say so," he mumbled and returned to staring out at the road in front of them. "Stupid brother of mine, acting like this. Can't he see that she needs him now? And since when did I become the caring brother-in-law?"

"Hey there, kitty," Leslie grinned and scooped up her kitten, which had grown in the months she had him. "Miss me?"

His meow made her laugh and she strode into the kitchen, still holding him. She had bought an automatic cat feeder about a month ago so she wouldn't have to bend over so much, and she placed him on the floor in front of it, making a mental note to get more later.

"Sometimes it feels like I'm still in this house alone," she said out loud, her statement punctuated by a sigh. "At least I didn't miss anyone before," she continued talking to herself as she began to make some pasta for herself. Sitting down as she waited for the water to boil, Leslie opened up a book she had started a week ago and lost herself in the story.

"Oh!" she snapped out of it when she realized the water was boiling over, and rushed over to the stove to continue cooking. Several minutes later she began her early dinner, glancing out the window every so often.

"I guess it's time for both our beds," she yawned several hours later, noticing the clock barely read seven. "I'll end up waking up in the middle of the night, you know," she informed her stomach, striding to the bedroom. Slipping on her nightgown she stretched lazily on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"The bed feels too big," she thought, rolling over on her side and finding Mozart staring her in the face. "Yes, you count for something," she laughed, seeing his offended look. "Just don't climb on me and we'll keep this our little secret."

She winked at her pet conspiratorially as she pulled the covers up around them, snuggling into the pillow as she closed her eyes and welcomed the approaching sleep.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me a bastard the moment I picked up my phone," Sesshomaru said calmly.

"Why shouldn't I? That's what you are, after all."

"And why am I a bastard now, or am I supposed to know?"

"If don't know, you're a stupid jackass as well."

"You're very lucky you're not telling me this to my face."

"You've been gone almost two months now," Inuyasha informed him. "Haven't you thought about how that affects your pregnant wife? She gets more nervous every time Kagome or I see her and she's had to deal with busy-bodies asking about the dates ever since she started to show so much. I guess someone didn't tell, did they?"

"Is she all right?" Sesshomaru asked sharply, but his half-brother merely snorted.

"As her yourself, dumbass. She's your wife, and you haven't even called."

"I didn't want to bother her with the time difference."

"Whatever – I really only care because she's Kagome friend. I bet you didn't know that Onigumo made a move last night, did you? Lucky for you Hiten showed up before I made it, 'cause I would've been too late."

"That's what I'm paying for him," Sesshomaru said coolly, his heart having leapt into his throat at the mention of Onigumo.

"I hope you're planning on coming home soon. Leslie's really lonely, and this pregnancy is freaking her out worse than she lets on – not that I can blame her. Here she's three months pregnant, with her husband missing for two of those months."

"I would appreciate if you didn't comment on any of that."

"Too bad – if you'd get your ass back home there wouldn't be anything for me to comment on."

"Good-bye, Inuyasha."

"Hope you have nightmares, jerkoff."

Inuyasha wisely hung up before Sesshomaru could do more than sputter for a few seconds, and leaned back in his chair holding the phone away from him in amazement. He had often fought with his brother, but never over the phone. And definitely not over something like this.

"If something doesn't happen soon I'm gonna become a doting old uncle with a walker," Inuyasha grumbled. Unknown to him, Kagome had heard the entire conversation, and suddenly hugged him from behind.

"Ya know, there are times I think I really love you."

"Yeah, yeah, very funny," he growled, half-teasing. "I guess you're all right."

"You guess?"

"Eh…well, how about probably?"

"I suppose that's fine," she grinned, resting her chin on the top of his head, her arms around his shoulders. "You think he'll come home?"

"If he doesn't, I'll hire a damn divorce attorney for her and see how fast he can get his ass in gear then," Inuyasha snapped.

It's kinda fun to write Inuyasha like that! And don't get pissed at me about Sesshomaru! He still loves her and all that, but he's Sesshomaru, after all. And pretty damn busy, after being a dog for so many centuries. But don't worry, everything will work out! I like happy endings, after all. Please review!