Sorry it took so long to post this. It has been a long two months. A neighbor died and his house went on the market, I bought it. Right after it went under contract my Nana died and I had to travel out of state. Came back and moved into my new house only to find it infested with scorpions. Ours aren't deadly, but damn! Been busy as a one legged man trying to kick another in the ass. I would appreciate reviews, they make me feel happy.

Sesshomaru watched his wife hum happily as she rubbed her belly by the palace gate. His mother was taking her on an outing to a temple where she could celebrate the halfway point of her pregnancy by praying for a safe delivery. She had named the baby Ray.

They had agreed to use the name for their first daughter or second son, whichever came first. Melissa was certain they would have a daughter first. It certainly sounded that way from the woman she'd described meeting who had her face and his eyes.

Melissa was a little nervous as she was helped up on the dragon, a teal one with only one head. She'd only ever flown in her husbands arms, but Kimiko would be flying close to her in case she lost her balance. The temple she was taking her was very close, they would basicly fly in a spiral down to it.

"There is a barrier on this temple." Kimiko told Melissa as she helped her down from the dragon. "I could enter it, but I would be uncomfortable. There is something I need to buy in town anyway. I will meet you back here at noon."

Melissa didn't mind being left alone to explore. The temple was beautiful and the energy was calm and peaceful. It even seemed to sooth her nausea, which was nice since she was one of those lucky women who get to be sick the entire pregnancy.

Other mothers were there, praying to the goddess and writing their prayers on papers they then tied in the trees. Melissa just watched for a while and inquired as to the Goddess's name. She wrote a prayer for Ray to be healthy and strong and tied it in the trees, then lit some incense and knelt before the Idol.

As she knelt with her head bowed she felt an odd jabbing inside her, like someone had just poked her with a finger inside her belly. It didn't hurt, but the suddenness of it caused her to gasp and grab her belly. A woman kneeling nearby smiled at her. Melissa jumped to her feet, bowed to the statue one last time, and ran to find her mother in law. It was nearly noon, Kimiko had finished her shopping and was waiting patiently with a package wrapped like a gift fixed to the saddle.

"Baby move!" Melissa shouted excitedly as she reached The dragon. "I feel! Quick kick! Here!" She jabbered, her excitment causing her to speak in broken Japanese. She indicated the place a bit high on her bump where she'd felt it.

Kimiko smiled, "To experience the quickening at a temple where you are praying for a healthy baby must be a good omen."

"Quickening?"

"The first movments felt by the mother. Melissa, today is important not just in that it is the half way point. today marks the day you can no longer miscarry. Your pregnancy can only end in childbirth." She informed her as she handed her the gift. "Ume will help you put this on. It is time for lunch now, before you get sick. Melissa nodded and, with help, clamoured on to the dragon. Eating to much made her feel sicker, but so did not eating enough.

Melissa expected to take to the sky, but they stayed on the ground and went into town for lunch. Leaving the dragon on the outskirts so as to not draw attention they wandered from stall to stall after their meal and looked around a bit. It was nice to get out of the palace once in a while and next to Sesshomaru her mother-in-law was the best protection she could have. All in all it was a nice day, and she arrive home in good spirits, anxious to tell her husband about the quickening. Only Sesshomaru was hunting with Kin.

She spent the rest of the day with Hoshii while Granny and Yuki stood watch. She helped the child with her writing, something she also needed to practice. Then they made a dinner of leaves and pebbles for Hoshii's doll. It was only after she'd tucked Hoshii in that she remembered she had a gift to open.

It was an new obi. "It is traditional for the mother-in-law to buy her daughter-in-law a maternity obi." Granny explained as she wrapped it snuggly around Melissa's middle. "The obis your husband gives you are lovely, but they are meant to raise his blood pressure when he undresses you. This obi will keep your womb warm and help support it's weight as it continues to grow."

"Granny, was I late going to the temple?" Melissa asked as she caressed her belly through the thick fabric.

"Do you really expect such an important trip would be delayed?" Granny asked sternly.

"No. Just... Other the women's bellies looked small, mine is so big!"

"Every pregnancy is different, you're giving your baby plenty of room to grow."

"But what if she is too big? What if I can't push her out? No C-sections here!"

"Haruame has expressed no such concern. If she did we might decide to administer castor oil a few weeks early, but it is best for the baby to stay in there as long as possible. You'll do fine."

"In my world if a woman can't have her baby normal way the healers giver her a medicine to block pain and cut her belly to get baby out. Promise if I can't have her you will make Haruame get her out."

"Rissachan, we don't have pain medicines that strong. Nor would you likly survive being cut open like that. We don't have the medical knowledge of your people." Granny informed her.

Melissa met her eyes. I know. If she doesn't come out when I go into labor we both will die. If I can't get her out, make sure someone does."

When Sesshomaru returned that night, later than he expected, he was surprised to see Granny outside his chamber chatting with the guards. Why wasn't she in the room with Melissa? Granny turned and spotted him, saw the question in his eyes. "Welcome home, my little lord. Your wife desired privacy tonight. I checked the room and the courtyard before allowing her this small indulgence. She will be glad that you have finally made it home."

Sesshomaru dismissed the old bear then slipped into his chambers. He could tell immediatly why Melissa wanted privacy, she wanted sexual release, and with Sesshomaru gone so long she had taken matters into her own hands. She was concealed by a privacy screen, but he could hear her heavy pants and soft moans, could smell her wetness. He silently placed his armor on the stand and stripped as he walked toward her.

He stepped around the screen and paused to admire her, his lovely wife. Her face was flushed. Her eyes were closed and her full lips parted to allow her gasping pants.

One hand caressed her large dark nippled breasts, perfect, gorgeous, even with the blue marbling of vessles circulating extra blood to them. His eyes travled down the length of her body, her firm round tummy was already huge. She had a handful of tiny pink stripes she hadn't spotted yet forming on the underside. Her other hand was nestled between her legs, two fingers danced between her folds driving her to exstacy!

He was torn between wanting to join her and wanting to just watch her. Her moans began to raise in pitch and she arched her back, breathing heavier. He was so hard watching her. He very nearly came when she orgasmed "Melissa."

Her eyes snapped open and she stared up at her husband, somewhat embarassed, until he asked "May I join you?"

She smiled and opened her legs for him. Her body was wet and ready and he lost no time driving himself as deep in her as deep as he could. She felt amazing! All that mattered was pounding into his sweet hot wife. He did not notice the storm that had been brewing finally came into thunderous being. Nor was he aware of tiny feet in the hallway.

What he heard as his seed flowed into his wife was the shoji door open, followed by a blood curdling scream. Hoshii dashed forward and grabbed his arm, attempting to pull him off Melissa, "No! No Daddy, don't hurt mommy!"

Next the guards were in the room, apologizing profusely and trying not to see Melissa's nakedness as they wrangled the panicked youngster out of the room. then the shoji slid shut again and they could hear the guards trying to calm Hoshii but not knowing what to tell her about what she just saw. Sesshomaru stood and grabbed his hakama.

"Sesshomaru. She thinks you hurt me. I will go bring her." She stood with a little help and put on her yukata. He heard the guards apologizing profusely once more and his wife's gentle assurance that they were not in trouble, they didn't know.

Then she reentered the room with the confused and unhappy child. Hoshii's expression change from fear and confusion to shock and utter disgust as her parents calmly explained the facts of life.

"That's disgusting!" She exclaimed as they concluded their explination of what she'd seen.

"It is how children are made. It is called sex." Sesshomaru replied. Honestly he had just learned a lot himself. He knew how to make a baby, but had no idea just what occurred once the sperm entered the woman. Melissa, on the other hand, had a wealth of knowledge on the subject.

" Then I don't want to have babies!" Hoshii replied.

"You may feel differently when you are older, however that is entirly up to you. You are my daughter but you cannot be my heir, this being the case you are not obligated to produce an heir of your own." Sesshomaru replied.

Hoshii was quiet and thoughtful for a long moment before stating "That's how babies are made."

"Yes."

"But mommy already has a baby in her womb."

"Yes."

"So then... Mommy is having two babies!"

"What?" Sesshomaru was taken aback.

"Mommy already had a baby in her womb and you just put another in, Mommy is having two babies."

"It doesn't work like that. Once a woman has started to make one baby she cannot concieve another until she has given birth."

"Sango had two at once."

"They were concieved at the same time. Once a woman has one growing in her however she cannot concieve another."

"Why not?"

"Because it would not have time to become strong before birth."

"Oh. Then why did you have sex?"

He hesitated. She thought sex was gross, and that was convenient as she didn't need to be thinking about boys at her age. The longer she didn't want sex the better, he didn't want to tell her it felt good. "Practice."

"Practice? Are you bad at it?"

"No."

Melissa recovered from her tears of laughter. "No, he is very good. He practice a lot to be good."

"Not every act of sex results in a pregnancy. As you just heard from your mother certain conditions must be met within the woman before a child is concieved. as it is difficult to know when the conditions are right having lots of sex increases the chances of pregnancy, so I must keep in practice."

"Now get to bed. Your aunt and uncle will be arriving in the morning."