I am sorry that I haven't been able to update for a while. Mini Me made a rather dramatic entrance into the world and things have been rougher than I anticipated. We are both fine now. Is it really any less womanly to lay awake and conscious in an O.R. while doctors cut into your guts to get a baby you created out? And hey, I got sent home with some awesome drugs.

Sesshomaru sat in the dark house and watched his little family. He alone was awake in the house. Inuyasha was outside and the women and children were all asleep. Under the circumstances he would not allow Melissa to turn down Kagome's hospitality, even if that meant he would have to sleep in the village.

Melissa and Hoshii were both curled under the blanket Melissa had kept on her lap all evening at Hoshii's insistence. Sesshomaru's eyes were drawn repeatedly to her flat belly, his child was in there! He was filled with a strange combination of joy and fear. He placed his hand gently against her belly. "Be strong."

He felt a strong need to be outside, to move. He stood and left the house. She would be safe, he wouldn't go far, he would not leave town. He stood outside Inuyasha's house and stared up at the moon.

She was pregnant. How had he missed it?! Had he pushed her to hard? Let her do to much? She had been carrying Hoshii for hours at a time, walking for miles without asking to rest. He should have made her take it easy, should have carried her. If only he had known.

"Their smell changes slowly, you kinda get used to it before it gets strong enough to notice." Inuyasha stated walking toward him and glancing at the moon. "I couldn't smell Kagome was pregnant while I was around her all the time. Me and Miroku had to go to another town a few days away and it got stronger while I was gone. Melissa's scent aint real strong yet so I don't guess she's been pregnant very long."

"She was not yet certain of the pregnancy." Sesshomaru confirmed. Inuyasha fell silent and looked up at the moon for a moment then turned to walk away. He was alone with his thoughts for a moment then heard his wife beginning to fret in her sleep. He went in to wake her before terror overtook her sleep.

The next morning Hoshii wasted no time finding Rin to inform her that she was going to be a big sister too. She then told everyone she met about the baby growing in her mother's belly so that by noon everyone in the village was congratulating the little family on their new addition. Melissa faked a smile and accepted their congratulations and well wishes, but Sesshomaru wasn't fooled, she was terrified.

Kohaku provided a welcome distraction by mid afternoon, returning to the village with two large baskets of preserved vegetables strapped behind him on Ah'Un's back. After many happy greetings Sesshomaru and Kohaku entered Kohaku's house together while the girls helped Kagome fix dinner.

They joined the group as dinner being served and Sesshomaru told Rin she would be a married woman before he and Melissa left town. Rin squealed for joy and threw herself into Kohaku's arms. Kohaku glanced nervously at Sesshomaru, but Sesshomaru turned away and consoled himself in the fact he would not have to give another daughter away for about a decade.

After dinner Sesshomaru, Rin, and Kohaku discussed when the wedding should take place. He was not eager to give Rin to Kohaku, but he was worried about Melissa, he wanted to get her home so she could be cared for by the best midwives available. True Kagome and Keade were fine midwives, but he wanted to be sure she had the best in the land, and at the palace she would also have servants to help with Hoshii. Plus it was getting cooler and he wanted Melissa home before the snows came.

They decided on one week, most of the big plans had already been made and Rin wanted a simple wedding. While the younger people decorated for the wedding Keade and a few helpers prepared foods for the feast and enlisted Hoshii as their taste tester. By the time she went to bed the day before the wedding little Hoshii looked as though she were the one expecting a child.

Sesshomaru sat up the whole night brooding while everyone else, his brother included, slept. He might have brooded the entire day except that Melissa awoke violently ill, and the ginger did little to help. No one else seemed bothered by her misery and Keade even went so far as to call it a good sign, but he went from broody to protective.

He would not allow her to help in anyway that required physical exertion. He wouldn't let her lift anything heavier than a soup bowl. Not that she had much time to help between bouts of puking.

They stayed for the ceremony, but Melissa and Sesshomaru left the party early. They let Hoshii stay in Kagome's care to enjoy the festivities. Melissa was asleep when Kagome entered the house with the sleeping child in her arms, Inuyasha followed with Izayoi in his. Hoshii stirred, half opened her eyes and reached out her arms for Sesshomaru. He set her by her mother and she continued to cling to his hand as she snuggled against Melissa.

They left the next day and Sango let them borrow Kilala so that Melissa and Hoshii would not have to walk so much but they could still make good time. Kilala was ridden mostly by Hoshii and Jaken however. Being as tired as she was Sesshomaru carried Melissa often to be sure she didn't fall. Whether she rode or was carried she needed to land several times.

Once Sesshomaru was flying a bit to high when she clamped her hand over her mouth and pointed to the ground. He began to descend immediately but they were still several feet from the ground when Melissa could no longer deny the need to vomit. She became extremely upset but Sesshomaru calmly pointed out that there was a stream nearby, they washed up then she and Hoshii sat by the fire to be warm while he hunted.

Even having to stop several times a day for Melissa to be sick they found the palace in half a week. Thy were greeted by Granny, who whisked Melissa and Hoshii away, and his mother. Sesshomaru watched his little family be shepherded off for a bath and snack then turn back to his mother, "You knew she was pregnant."

"It occured to me after you left that you might not b able to smell it yet. I have sent for the midwife who attended me, she may be here as early as tomorrow morning." She walked toward her chambers as she spoke and he walked at her side.

"Her speech had been improving, but it seems to have regressed." Kimiko observed as she closed her chamber doors behind them.

"She had been under a great deal of stress."

"This is true. But I would have expected her to make more of an effort to speak properly once it was over. A mother is a child's first teacher. Or does she not intend to keep it?"

"Of course she intends to keep our child!" Sesshomaru replied.

"And if it is not yours?" Kimiko asked. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in horror, that terrible thought hadn't even occurred to him. "It is a possibility that must be considered." she stated gently but firmly.

"The child is mine, regardless of whose blood it carries. Melissa will love our child, she would not hold another's crimes against her own baby."

"In any event it may be wise to alert the staff that she was attacked and violated against her will."

"That is not something she would wish to be widely known."

"If she bares a human child they may come to believe she is guilty of adultery."

Sesshomaru's stomach sank. The usual punishment for adultery was death. If they came to believe she was unfaithful to him he would be expected to order her execution. If he did not she would likely be assasinated to protect the family's honor.

Kimiko was quiet for a moment, thinking hard then said "If we tell the staff she was violated some may believe we are covering an affair out of affection for her. It will reduce the likelihood of assassination if she bares a human child, but it will raise suspicion unnecessarily if it is of your blood."

"It is not necessary to make a decision tonight. I wish to speak with her about how important it will be for your children to be well spoken." They left the chambers and not another word was spoken about what to tell the staff.

Once they put little Hoshii to bed and retired to their quarters Sesshomaru pushed Melissa against a wall and kissed her passionately. They hadn't been alone together in many days and her smell was driving him crazy! He began kissing down her neck and ripped off her Kimono as she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body against his. He scooped her up and carried her to bed, making out the whole way. He laid her down and his hands traveled up and down her nude body as they kissed as though their lives depended on it.

He began to move over her then suddenly stopped. He glanced at her belly then met her eyes, "Is this safe?"

"Safe?" She asked breathlessly, raising herself to kiss him again. He returned her fevered kiss and began once again stroking his hands up and down her body then stopped again. He began to rub her belly. "We won't hurt the child?"

"No."

He stared down at her for a long time. "I want you my dearest, but given the circumstances perhaps I should not enter you until the midwife has approved of it. I don't want to take a chance. She will be here tomorrow."

Melissa nodded in agreement and he laid beside her, though they continued to kiss and fondle each other. Then Sesshomaru began to kiss down her body. He was afraid to enter her, but that did not mean they could not please each other in other ways. Once he was between her thighs he took a moment to inhale her fragrance then began to kiss her womanhood as passionately as he had kissed her lips.

He wrapped his arms around her thighs and she dug her fingers into his hair as he lapped and sucked at her. She began to moan then cry his name, driving him on. Her body began to tremble and she thrashed her head side to side as waves of ecstasy washed over her. Then he kissed back up her body and held her in his arms as she trembled in the afterglow.

Once she recovered her senses she smiled and kissed down his body until she reached his throbbing manhood. She smiled coyly and began to gently lick his head as she looked up into his eyes. "Love, please!" He moaned and she slid her lips down over his head and began to bob up and down the shaft.

Pleasure began to build in his body, he was almost at the point of release. Then suddenly Melissa stopped. He opened his eyes to see her with a hand clamped over her mouth. She looked around frantically and grabbed the bucket Granny had had placed by the bed earlier.

While he knew it was their child and not his manhood that made her ill it was still quite a kick to the ego. When she finished puking she apologized tearfully and he held her and assured her it was alright. She fell asleep curled up in his lap while he licked her forehead.

Around dawn he laid her down so that he could go outside. She stirred sleepily and opened her eyes. "I am mearly stepping outside, go back to sleep, dear." He told her and she nodded and complied. When he came back in Granny was brushing Melissa's hair while she sat in bed.

Granny looked up from her task while Yuki hovered protectively near the door. "The midwife will be up momentarily, there is not much sense in her getting dressed yet. H nodded in agreement and watch them for a long moment.

As he stepped into the hallway his eye was drawn to two females moving toward him. The taller one was ancient. Her face was deeply lined and as weathered as old tree bark. Her hair, pulled into a tight bun was as white and thin as late December, her liver spotted scalp was visible in places. Her long fingers were like twigs and her eyes were clouded with age.

Beside her walked a girl who looked 11 or 12. Her mint green hair was pulled into two ponytails and adorned with peach blossoms. Her eyes were like blades of new spring grass and her kimono was robin egg blue and peach blossom pink.

When they reached him the girl looked up at him, cocked her head to one side and smiled. "Why, Sesshomaru, you've grown into your head."

He was so taken aback that he did not answer as she passed him and they entered the room he had just left. She knelt down by Melissa's bed and introduced herself. "I am Haruame, this is my younger sister Shimo." The young girl told her, "I am your midwife."

She reached out and placed a hand on Melissa's belly. "Oh! It seems I am here under false pretenses, I was led to believe there may be a problem with this pregnancy." She stated with a smile.