Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, its characters, or 'Quade's Babies' by Brenda Jackson which this story is based on.
Summary: Inuyasha's one-night affair with Kagome leaves him bewitched, but he never even learned her last name. Almost eleven months later, driven by one incriminating photo, he finally tracks her down. And discovers two little babies who look just like him.
Inuyasha's mouth dropped open in shock. He had seen the size of her stomach and although his friend Miroku had joked at the possibility she was carrying more than one baby, Inuyasha had dismissed it, assuming the baby was just a big one. She'd given birth to twins…Takahashi twins. The first in his generation of Takahashi's. He couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Is there something that you find amusing?" Kagome asked in a somewhat annoyed tone. He glanced over at her. She looked as if she was ready to throw something at him. He could just imagine how hard it would be to give birth to one baby. But two…
He shrugged his shoulders. "No." He said, quickly wiping the smile off his face. "Are they okay?"
The anger eased from her eyes somewhat with his question of concern. "Yes. They were born eight weeks premature and had to remain in the hospital for almost three weeks, but now they're fine."
"I want to see them." He said, wanting to make sure for himself.
From the look that suddenly appeared in her eyes he could tell his brisk and authoritarian tone hadn't helped matters, but at the moment he didn't care. If he had fathered babies, he wanted to see them. She said they were okay, but he wanted to see them for himself.
"No."
Now it was his eyes that were narrowing. "No?"
"That's what I said."
He stared at her. She was trying to be difficult. The look on her face was proof of that. He was used to his orders being followed. He was in charge of his own division for goodness sakes. But still, had he requested something of her that was so complex?
"Is there a reason why I can't see them?"
"Yes. They're asleep."
He studied her. "Is there a reason you can't wake them up?"
For a single minute she looked like she wanted to hit him over the head with something again. "Yes. It will interfere with their sleep pattern. If I disturb their sleep now, they will stay up later tonight and I would like to get a good night's sleep."
"Fine, I won't wake them but I want to see them."
"No."
"Yes."
Tension sizzled between them and finally through gritted teeth Kagome said. "Fine…but you better not wake them."
"I said I wouldn't." Inuyasha said in a furious growl. People used anger to mask a lot of things, even hard-cast lust like he was feeling now. Just the thought that she had given birth to his children made him want to reach out and pull her into his arms and kiss the pout right off her lips. That would only be the start…
"You better not wake them. Now follow me."
She turned and he couldn't help but smile as he followed her down a long hallway. Damn, she was feisty. She hadn't been that night in his hotel room. That time she'd been passionate, seductive and very accommodating. He shook his head in disbelief. He was a father. Not that he planned on being one, but now that was beside the point. So what was the point?
He dismissed the question and glanced ahead at Kagome, more specifically her shapely ass. He was partial to that part of a woman's anatomy and even with her clothes on he could vividly recall her naked behind. He had liked it, especially the way it was curved and how it had felt beneath the heat of his body. It had been a sex position he had introduced her to and a position she had enjoyed just as much as he had.
Kagome stopped at a door and whirled around and glared at him, making him wonder if she'd read his thoughts. "You didn't ask, but I'll tell you anyway." She all but snapped. "I have a son and a daughter."
The sex of the babies didn't matter to him. All that mattered was that they were his. "We have a son and a daughter." He corrected her.
She stared at him, actually glared at him, some more. "You don't seem surprised that I gave birth to twins."
He shrugged. "Not really." He said softly, trying to follow her lead and keep his voice down. "Multiple births run in my family. On my mother's side that is."
The look of surprise on her face was priceless and reminded him of just how little they knew of each other. "You didn't mention it that night." Kagome all but accused.
"I had no reason to do so. If I recall, we didn't do much talking."
At that instant, by the look in her eyes, he knew his words were forcing her to remember. Then just as quickly he watched as she schooled her features to reflect casual indifference. "I don't remember." She said with deliberate coolness.
Inuyasha smiled. She was lying and they both knew it. However, if she wanted to pretend she didn't remember anything about that night then he would let her.
"And although you haven't even asked me what their names are, I'm going to tell you anyway." She said in a tone that implied she was still annoyed with him. "My daughter's name is Kairi and my son's name is Micah."
He nodded. They were nice names.
"There's something you should know about Micah."
He lifted a brow. Concerned. "What?"
"He sometimes develops a bad disposition, especially when he's hungry. And he always wants to be the center of attention."
"Typical Takahashi."
"They were born Higurashi's."
He let out an aggravated sigh. "Only because I wasn't here to make things otherwise. I'm here now."
He could feel the tension once again sizzling through them. "Meaning?" She asked.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Meaning, since you have confirmed the babies are mine that will entail a number of things."
"Like what?"
He saw a flicker of defiance in her eyes and knew whatever "a number of things" were she would put up a fight. "I'd rather not discuss them now. I just want to see the twins."
Inuyasha had a feeling Kagome was a woman who was used to calling the shots and didn't appreciate his entrance into her life. Well, that was too damn bad. Babies had been the product of their one night of sexual lust and although becoming a father had been the last thing on his mind, that very thing had happened. And just like he'd told her and would again tell her just in case she hadn't gotten it, he took responsibility for his actions, no matter what they were. That code of ethics had been drilled into his head by his father from day one and it would be his responsibility to teach that same code to his son and daughter.
'A son and daughter.' He inhaled deeply at the thought. What on earth was he supposed to do with babies? He liked kids well enough, but had never intended to have any of his own. He could just imagine his family's reaction when he told them. His mother would go crazy. Izayoi was determined to get grandkids out of him and his brother.
"Remember, you aren't to wake them."
Her words intruded in on his thoughts. "I don't need to be reminded Kagome."
She rolled her eyes and opened the bedroom door. He followed her in and glanced around. There were several painted animals on the walls and he immediately recognized the theme. Jungle. He then sniffed the air. The room even smelled like a nursery. The scent of baby powder, oil and lotion lingered in the air.
Inuyasha's attention then came to rest to the two white baby cribs and he suddenly swallowed when he fully realized what this moment meant. Something akin to panic surged through his veins. He was used to just looking after himself and for the past few years, he had done a pretty damn good job of doing so considering all the times he traveled and hours he sometimes took for his job. Now he would be responsible for others, namely two babies that were his. He had a feeling being a father was going to be one hell of a challenge.
He glanced over at Kagome. She was going to be a challenge too. There was a lot about her that he didn't know, but one thing he did know was that she had chosen to bring his babies into the world instead of not doing so. Women these days had other options and considering everything, he was glad of the decision she had made. He let out a long sigh and slowly followed Kagome over to the first crib.
"This is Kairi." Kagome said as a way of introduction. "She's the youngest and weighed the least when she was born. Because she weighed less than three pounds at birth, she had to stay in the hospital's special care baby unit two weeks longer than Micah."
Inuyasha glanced down at the baby covered by a pink blanket and his breath caught in his chest. He held his hands tightly by his sides, tempted to reach out and touch her, just to see if she was real. Her little head was covered by silver hair and she seemed to be sleeping so peacefully. She was such a fragile little thing. He silently vowed that one day under his love and protection she would grow up to have incredible strength and would never have to worry about anything.
"And this is Micah." Kagome whispered.
He glanced up to see that she had moved to the other crib. He took a couple of steps to stand beside her to glance down at the sleeping baby but blinked. His son definitely wasn't a small baby. He could probably make two babies.
"Like I said, he likes to eat." Kagome said and he could hear the amusement in her voice. "He was born weighing almost four pounds and now he's almost eight."
"What do you feed them?"
"Breast milk."
Inuyasha's gaze immediately went to her chest and saw the outline of her breasts pressed against the blouse she was wearing. His heart thudded at the memory that was so fresh in his mind of when his mouth had captured a hardened nipple between his lips and how he had indulged in a little breast time himself by sucking on her breasts the same way a baby would. He also remembered just how much she had enjoyed the little by play.
"I take it he was born first." He decided to say, placing his gaze back on his son and away from Kagome.
"Yes, and when he gets older, I'm going to depend on him to look after his Kairi. Look after her, but not boss her around." Kagome said softly.
He lifted a brow and smiled. "Do I hear a little resentment in your voice? Did your brother boss you around?"
She smiled back and moved away from the crib toward the door. When they were outside in the hall she said. "I have a brother but he's younger and I'm older. But when I was younger I did use to boss him around. But even so I have three best friends who are like sisters to me and they are bossy, although they're convinced being that way is for my own good."
For some reason the thought pleased him that she had good friends looking out for her. He bet she had been a beautiful child. She'd certainly grown up to be a beautiful woman. He could imagine all the men who'd come calling.
"So what do you think?"
He glanced over at her as they walked back toward the living room. "About what?"
She stopped walking. "Not about what, but about who." She said, more than a little annoyed. "What do you think of Kairi and Micah?"
He shrugged, not sure he could fully explain to her or anyone just how he was feeling at that moment. He decided to try. "I never planned to get married or have children. My chosen career took me all over the country and would have been hell on a family."
"But do you like children?" She asked him.
"What's there not to like? To be totally honest, I've never been around a child for a long period of time. If you're trying to find out how I feel about them rather than what I think of them, then I would have to say that as strange as it may seem, I feel attached to them already. Seeing them in there, knowing they are a part of me, something the two of us created…I can't help but be overcome by it all. And just to think they are dependent on us makes me—"
"They aren't dependent on you Inuyasha. I'm not asking you for anything."
He stared at her for a long moment before he spoke. "You don't have to ask. They're mine Kagome and I claim them as mine. For me, that means everything."
He could tell that his words bothered her for some reason and she proved him right when she said in a frosty tone. "I think we need to talk."
"Evidently we do. Lead the way."
She did and he followed, getting the chance to ogle her ass once again.
"Are we going to talk or are you going to wear out your carpet?"
Kagome finally stopped pacing and glanced over at Inuyasha. Then she wished that she hadn't. He had taken the wingback chair in the room with his long legs stretched out in front of him. His T-shirt fit his body like a glove and showed off his broad shoulders. Then there were the handsome contours of his face that could still turn her on, basically tilt her world to the side of the irrational. It had been so easy for him to get to her that night. On several occasions since then her body had longed for his, distinctively craving for all the things she had experienced in his arms and in his bed. To say he had left a mark on her in more ways than one would be an understatement.
She knew they needed to talk, but she wanted to express her words carefully. He was the father of her babies and they both knew it, however, she wanted him to understand that Micah and Kairi were just that, her babies. What he'd said earlier about claiming them as his bothered her because the last thing she wanted was for him to consider exercising any type of legal rights. Any thoughts of claiming them might give him even more ideas.
'What if he tried to dictate where she and the twins lived? Especially about what they did and what part he felt he should play in their lives?' She wondered.
"I'm waiting."
She glared at Inuyasha. If he was trying to get on her last nerve then he was succeeding. Pursing her lips, she fought the urge to give him a smart-ass comeback. She needed to feel him out and couldn't waste her energy on anything other than that. "Why did you say that a Takahashi's responsibility meant everything? It's like your family lives by a certain code of ethics or something. Please explain that to me."
Kagome's pulse jumped a few notches and she drew in a deep breath when Inuyasha shifted in his seat to another position. The air surrounding them seemed to stir and she became besieged by a blanket of desire just from his body movement. Her senses went on alert and she thought it wasn't good to react this way toward him. But she couldn't help it. She was honing in on him, remembering how he looked in a pair of black boxers and at the same time recalling just how he looked when he had taken them off.
"I'll gladly explain it." He said, interrupting her thoughts and making Kagome so very grateful he wasn't aware of her attraction to him. More than anything, she had to stay in control.
"You mentioned I didn't appear surprised about the multiple births and I told you I wasn't because multiple births run from my mother's side. What I didn't add was that I was also a twin. However my sibling died during the second trimester of my mother's pregnancy. Also on my mother's side my great-grandparents had a set of twins. On top of that, my great-uncle fathered triplets."
"That many multiple births in one family?" She said, amazed.
"Possibly more according to my mother. She's convinced someone appeared in the national newspaper earlier this year when his wife gave birth to quadruplets is related to us. She's now into this genealogy thing, trying to find a connection."
After a brief pause, he said. "Now to get back to your question, very early, when I began snuffing after girls, my father instilled in me and my older brother one rule. We were raised to take responsibility for our actions, no matter what."
Kagome sighed deeply. "But that's just it. I don't need you taking responsibility."
"Doesn't matter."
She could see he would be difficult. Either way, she didn't need him or any man sacrificing themselves for her and her babies. Getting pregnant hadn't been intentional on her part, just like she knew getting her pregnant hadn't been his intention. It was an accident. It happened and she could live with it mainly because the results, Kairi and Micah, had captured her heart the moment she had been told she was pregnant.
"Does that explain things to you Kagome?"
Yes, it did, but she was still unsure how to deal with him. He was looking at her with dark, piercing eyes. He was waiting for a response. She had a feeling that he was a man who did whatever he wanted to do, someone who was used to being in control. In the few relationships she had been involved in, she had tried avoiding men like him, men with the ability to overrule her heart, as well as her head. Keeping her senses intact wouldn't be easy with him, but she was determined to do so.
"Yes." Kagome finally responded. "Although I think you're getting a little carried away."
He lifted a brow. "Carried away how?"
"While I can understand and appreciate you wanting to take responsibility for your part in my pregnancy, as well as acknowledging you fathered my babies, all I'm saying is that you don't have to take it any further than that."
Inuyasha stared at her and a part of Kagome actually felt the heat of his gaze on certain parts of her. "That's very generous of you." He said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "But you have no idea just how far I plan to take things."
No, she didn't and that's what bothered her the most. She knew she couldn't deny him the legal right he had to be a part of the twin's life. It would be a total waste of her time to try to fight him on the matter. She'd heard more than one account of where the courts sided with a father. But still, she would do anything and everything to make sure being a father wasn't just a passing fancy for him, a novelty he was enjoying at the moment but one that would wear off later.
Deciding it was time for her to probe further, she said. "So tell me…how far do you plan to take things?"
"All the way to the altar."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. And given the nature of our situation I recommend that we proceed immediately."
Panic ripped through her. "And do what?" She all but stammered.
His response was quick, without a moment's hesitation. "Get married. What else?"