I do not own the anime.

Sesshomaru's heart soared to see the midwife touch his wife's belly and smile. She was supposed to be the best in the field, if she believed his child was healthy it probably was. Still he told her "Melissa has a history of miscarriage." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Granny's stricken face, no one had told her.

"Where you home when they happened?"

"I am her second husband. This is the first we have conceived together."

She nodded then turned to Melissa with a reassuring smile. "There is a tendency to blame the mother for a failed pregnancy, but it can't always be the woman, can it? Sometimes there is a problem with the father. I have seen many childless widows become mothers when they remarry over the years. This pregnancy is strong!"

Melissa nodded in agreement but did not look up. She was not convinced. She felt terrified and helpless. She wanted this baby. She loved it so much already, but she was so scared of hurting again. She burst into tears. She couldn't handle losing another baby!

"Try to be calm little mama. Your breakfast is here, eat a good meal and take some time to calm down. Later we will talk about your losses. It won't be easy for you, In fact it will be very painful, but if we find a common thread, besides the father, that might be responsible we can work from there. However I truly believe there is no danger to this pregnancy."

The midwife paused on her way out to examine the breakfast tray. "Oh my, so much food! Don't try to eat all of it, Mama, only eat what you think you can keep down."

"Does she not need extra nourishment for the child?" Sesshomaru asked.

"At this stage babies aren't the size of a grain of rice, how much food do you think they need? No, liquids are more important. With all the vomiting it is easy to become dehydrated, make sure you drink, Mama. Water, tea, soup... I would limit sake however, overindulgence can make the baby unhealthy. I am going to speak with the kitchens about your dietary needs, eat and relax for now. Come along Sissy." The old woman ambled out after her 'big' sister and shut the door.

Sesshomaru moved toward his wife, but Granny got to her first, scooping her up in to a hug. "Oh my poor little cub! My poor Rissachan! Why didn't you tell me?"

"She did not want you to fuss over her. It is not something she wishes to be reminded of, to that end you will treat her as you always have." Sesshomaru informed the big mama bear. He then excused all the staff and sat with her as she picked at her food, urging her to eat more. He disisted when she told him she felt like throwing up, but encouraged her to finish her soup.

They were sharing an embrace when the midwife and her ancient younger sister returned. They both turned to her so they stood side by side. Sesshomaru kept one arm around her and could feel her trembling at the thought of reliving her miscarriages. Then she placed a hand on her belly and took a deep breath, this was for the baby.

The little midwife smiled and greeted them both then addressed Sesshomaru, "My lord, I must ask you to step out in the hall for a moment."

"I would rather not." Sesshomaru replied, tightening his arm around her.

"I appreciate that, my lord, but I must ask a question that many women find easiest to answer without a man in the room."

Sesshomaru looked to Melissa and she nodded in approval. "You will call me back into the room once you have questioned her."

"As soon as I am sure it is appropriate to call you back in." Once he was in the hall and the door was shut the midwife turned to Melissa, "Do you want your husband in here?"

"What?"

"You are my patient, your comfort is my priority. It is apparent that he cares deeply for you and would not harm you for the world. However some women feel their husband is an unnecessary distraction, others feel uncomfortable discussing their body infront of any other person. On the other hand many women find their husband to be a source of strength and comfort. Do you want your husband beside you or should he remain in the hall?"

"Beside me."

"Sissy, please bring Sesshomarusama back in to his wife." Once he was back they sat down together on cushions and Shimo heated some water for tea.

"The first thing I need to know, my lady, is how many miscarriages have you had?"

"Four." Melissa whispered, her heart already breaking.

"All by your first husband?" Crying Melissa nodded yes. "I will need you to tell me about each one. What happened in the days prior, daily habits, unusual occurrences, violence in the home..."

Haruame watch closely as Melissa stiffened ever so slightly. Sesshomaru placed a comforting hand over hers, "Her first husband was a violent man."

"Was he violent with you while you were pregnant?"

"Not always."

She frowned, "Well lets start at the beginning. How long after the wedding night did it take you to conceive?"

"Right away. I got pregnant on honeymoon. We went to Jamaica! I didn't know until we get home. I did things in Jamaica drank to much, smoke weed... I stop as soon as I know!"

"Many women do. How far along do you think you were you when you lost the child?"

"Two months. I start bleeding, go to the hospital. Doctors not able to find baby's heartbeat." She began to cry, hard. The midwife asked how log it took to expel the child and between sobs she was forced to explain it hadn't been expelled on it's own. They had dilated her and scraped the body from her womb.

Haruame frowned as she listen but said nothing. She asked Melissa to back track and describe her activities that day. She had made breakfast and packed a lunch for Josh then puttered around the house. Near the end of the day she'd drunk an herbal tea. Haruame asked her what was in it, but she couldn't remember, only that it was store bought and should have been safe.

"Do not drink any herbs without my approval until after you have given birth and weaned the baby. When was the next one?"

"Nearly 3 months later."

"You should not even have been trying to conceive so soon! Your body didn't have time to heal." The young midwife replied in shock.

"I want to wait! Doctors tell us to wait! Josh... Josh..." She couldn't finish, she buried her face ito Sesshomaru's chest.

"It sounds as though Josh was a selfish and cruel man to put you through that." She replied darkly. She turned and whispered something to her sister who began to mix herbs together While Sesshomaru calmed his precious wife.

"Tell me about the third loss, start with your routine that morning."

Melissa took a deep breath and began to describe her day, right down to the O.J. she had drank at breakfast. She described puttering around the house, cleaning and straightening up, then trying to keep lunch down before becoming exhausted and taking a nap. She had overslept and been late starting dinner, but it didn't matter because Josh had been extremely late coming home.

She stopped then continued, "Josh was very late. I try to keep dinner warm. It burned."

She stopped and wrapped her arms around herself. She closed her eyes and leaned against Sesshomaru for strength as she continued. "Josh, not happy dinner burned. Big argument happened."

"Did he hit you?"

She was still for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Not my belly though, face."

"Did the blow knock you down?"

"Yes." Melissa replied after a moment of thought. "Then he pick me up, push me hard against wall. He tell me I no good, can't have babies or cook. Only good for one thing. He forced me over table..." She fell silent, sobbing against Sesshomaru's chest.

"That is enough!"

"I have one more question. Was the fourth loss preceded by violence?"

"Yes." She cried against her husband's chest.

Haruame turned to Shimo and accepted a bowl of herbal tea that she passed to Melissa. "Drink this, it will calm your nerves, though it may make you drowsy. I want you to listen to me. We will never know what caused your first miscarriage, it was nothing you did wrong. Many women live less than wholesome lives and have healthy babies, others do everything right and do not. It just happens.

The second one happened because your body had not healed enough to carry it. You were told to wait for a reason and your husband would not allow it. The second is his fault. The third and fourth you did not miscarry, they were beaten out of you. Your first husband killed them, it was no failing of your body but his character.

Now, I have to examine your body, but it can wait until tomorrow. Sesshomaru is right, you have been through enough for today and you have given me no reason to fear your baby is in immediate danger. Drink, then you may want to take a nap."

Haruame then turned her attention to Sesshomaru, "My lord, I have some herbs I will need to grow while I am here for your wife and child. Would you be so kind as to show me to the gardens?"

He had Granny sent in before he would leave Melissa's side. He lingered long enough to inform Granny that Melissa had been sedated and see that his wife was comfortable before leading Haruame and Shimo into the hall.

Hoshii was waiting in the hallway "Is Mommy up yet?"

"Melissa has had a rough morning, I believe she wishes to lay back down, you will have to entertain yourself for a while."

"Can I tell her good morning?"

"If you are brief."

She threw her arms around Melissa's neck, "Good morning Mommy." then she pressed her cheek against Melissa's belly "Good morning baby brother or sister."

Melissa smiled at her sweet little girl and greeted her warmly. She stifled a yawn. "Are you sleepy Mommy?"

"A little."

"You should go to sleep." Hoshii told her pointing at the futon that had been left out. Melissa nodded and laid down and as soon as she did Hoshii pulled the covers over her and kissed her cheek. "Have a good nap Mommy, I'll keep Daddy company.

The midwife closed the door behind Hoshii and turned to Sesshomaru, "She's under a lot of stress, that isn't good for her or the child. Try to keep her calm if you can. The pregnancy is in no danger that I can see right now, but keeping her calm and happy will go a long way to keeping them healthy."

"Her husband killed three of their children. Is it possible he is in someway responsible for the first as well?"

"It is possible. It bothers me some that she cannot remember what was in the herbal tea she drank. Some herbs that are safe for adults can cause harm to a developing baby. It bothers me more that her body did not naturally expel the deceased child."

"Is that uncommon?" Sesshomaru asked.

"It does happen. I can sense the aura of a young life, but how would humans detect a heartbeat in something so small?"

"Do you believe it was alive then?"

"I don't know enough about their medicine to judge that." she replied. she thought for a moment then added, "They did the best they could with the information they had. The mother's health must come first." Sesshomaru agreed and showed her to the gardens

Melissa was trying to read a poem to occupy her mind when Haruame arrived to examine her the next day. Sesshomaru was beside her reading a very boring official document while Granny, Jaken, and Yuki gossiped in a corner near their lord and lady. She and Shimo set their basket of tools down and Shimo began laying out Melissa's bedding.

"Ume, you are her primary lady in waiting, correct? I need you to stay as a witness that I don't do anything inappropriate. I need to ask everyone else to leave." Haruame said to the group then turned to Melissa, "My lady, you are wearing to much silk. You can put on a yukata, if you want, but I need you to take off those kimonos."

Granny moved the help Melissa change and Haruame turned to Sesshomaru, "My lord, I need you to step outside as well."

"She is my wife, I have seen her body before."

"Of course my lord, the issue is I need to examine her most private parts closely and it could trigger your protective instincts. I need you to step outside." Sesshomaru stood his ground and refused to move.

"My lord, if you remain here I will have to take measures to insure you can not attack me." He repeated that he would not leave and stood his ground. "Then you leave me no choice."

She turned to Shimo who had taken a cloth wrapped box out of the basket. She lifted the contents and Sesshomaru's eyes widened. "Do not dare to-"

Before he could finish the order the beads had disappeared from her hands and reappeared around his neck. "Remove these beads!" he demanded.

"Of course my lord, Once the baby is born and I leave your mother's employment I will no doubt need them for the next stubborn papa."

"You will remove them at once!"

"But that would defeat the purpose of putting them on you. Now, little mama, do you plan to employ a wet nurse or nurse your child yourself?"

Sesshomaru seized the beads and pulled with all his might, but they remained around his neck. He tried again, they remained in movable. Suddenly he paused in his futile attempts "What do you think you are doing?!"

"I am examining your wife's breasts to make sure they are healthy and well shaped for the baby to nurse from. I can't feel any disease little mama, and your nipples will be easy for a baby to latch to."

She then placed her hands on Melissa's belly. "Such strong energy! I think maybe... Yes, definatly!" She muttered. She grinned up at them, "How much do you want to know? Some parents want to know everything, others want surprises."

"How much can you tell from the aura?"

"A lot actually, number, species, sex..."

"Healthy?" Melissa asked.

"Very."

"That is all I want to know." She replied slowly. She didn't want to grow anymore attached to her child. Not until it was able to live.

Haruame hummed a little song as she measured Melissa's waist and belly with ribbons, making marks to track the growth on them. Then her sister handed her a hot towel from their basket to clean her hands with. "Ok, Mama, I need to check Inside you. This won't be pleasant but it is important. I need you to open your legs and try to relax."

Sesshomaru, busy trying once again to remove the beads, did not hear her. He saw where her hand disappeared to and leapt to his feet with a feral growl of rage.

"Down boy." Haruame told him, without looking up. His entire body was immobilized, then the beads glowed brightly as an irresistible force pulled him face first into the tatami flooring. When he was able to pry himself up she was cleaning her hand with the towel again. "Perfect. If everything goes as it should you'll be able to deliver just fine, your pelvis is perfect for it."

She then went over the do's and don't's of daily life with them. Activities, diets, acceptable treatments for nausea. Shimo pack up and they began to leave.

"There is one matter you did not address." Sesshomaru told her.

"And what area is that?"

Sesshomaru hesitated, he wasn't used to talking bout this with anyone but Melissa. "There is the matter of... the Marital bed..."

"Well I wouldn't choke her out or stand her on her head, but use your common sense and I see no reason you can't have sex if she's up to it."