A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the long time it took to update. I started a new fic from the book 'Twilight' and i wanted to get a couple chapters of that going, then this chapter got accidentally deleted from my computer by my sister, so I had to retype it but...anyways this fic should be finished in about two or three more chapters! enjoy!

Kagome sighed as she turned once again into the Takahashi's driveway. It was Christmas night and Izayoi had called Kagome, Sesshomaru, Kagura, and the kids over to have dinner again. Kagome glanced in the rearview mirror at Keitaro and Ami, who sat quietly in the backseat, looking out the windows. Keitaro sighed and crossed his arms over his chest angrily.

" Hey, Keitaro?" Kagome said and he looked up, meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror, " What's wrong?"

Keitaro scowled, " I don't want to see that mean lady. She's a total doorknob!"

Kagome sighed, " She's not a doorknob, Keitaro."

" Mom! She ironed her pajamas yesterday before she went to sleep!" Keitaro exclaimed.

" Okay." Kagome said slowly, " That's a little weird."

The family made their way up to the front door and let themselves in. Keitaro immediatelty went to where Rin was. Kagome saw Rin hand Keitaro a small, pink clutch bag before it disappeared from her sight. Ami walked up and smiled as she and the other two giggled after Rin whispered something to her.

Kagome shook her head and sat next to Sesshomaru on the couch. Everyone but Kikyo was gathered in the living room, talking excitedly about nothing in particular.

" Merry Christmas!" Taisho yelled as he came in with a bottle of wine and a tray of glasses, " Sesshomaru, help me pour!"

A few minutes later, everyone had their glasses filled, besides the kids. Taisho stood up, ' Alright. Here's to another year. There've been some...er...changes but we--"

A high pitched shriek interrupted Taisho, followed by, " Inuyasha!!!"

Inuyasha frowned and stood up as Kikyo came racing into the room. She looked furious.

" Kikyo? What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked, confused.

" Somebody stole my pink makeup case! So now, I have no makeup. I can't be seen like this!" Kikyo cried hystericaly while Kagome glanced at the kids, who were sitting in the corner, looking around innocently...too innocently.

" You look fine." Kagura growled without even looking at her, whincing as Kikyo shrieked once again.

" No, I do not!" Kikyo argued.

" You look like Mommy, but not as pretty." Keitaro piped up from the corner where Ami and Rin were struggling not to laugh.

Everyone stopped what they were doin and looked back and forth between Kagome and Kikyo, seeing a resemblance. Kagome gulped and stood still, nervous under everyone's gazes. Kikyo, however, shook with anger.

" I do NOT!! I DO NOT!! I DO NOT!!" Kikyo stomped her foot and acted like a two year old.

In the corner of the room, Izayoi glanced at her full wine glass before downing it in one gulp. She lowered it from her lips and looked at it again, thinking hard, before standing up and heading for the kitchen.

" Izayoi?" Taisho called, " Where are you going?"

Izayoi didn't even bother turning around. She just held up her wine glass, " I am going to need something much stronger than this."

After about ten minutes, Inuyasha had finally managed to calm Kikyo down. Well, almost. Kikyo was now pouting on the couch, mumbling under her breath. Izayoi had returned and was now on her second, extra strong bloody mary.

" You know, I don't even know why you're making such a big deal about this, " Izayoi took a sip of her drink, " You're still young...ish. When I was your age, I didn't touch makeup."

" That was what? 60 years ago? I hate to break it to you, Grandma, but times have changed, " Kikyo giggled lightly, despite her mood.

Izayoi frowned, " Well, you'll be old one day too. Lets just see who's laughing them."

Kikyo gasped then narrowed her eyes, " Well, it won't be you because you'll be dead."

Taisho, Sesshomaru, Kagura, and Kagome immediately fixed Kikyo with the coldest glares they could muster.

Izayoi simply pursed her lips before forcing a small smile, " Well, aren't you witty. If anyone needs me, I'll be finishing dinner in the kitchen."

Izayoi stood up and was surprised to see Kikyo stand as well. Izayoi raised her eyebrows and stared at Kikyo expectantly.

" What?" Kikyo asked while Izayoi just placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot impatiently, " My Yashie-baby said I could cook."

" What?" Several people gasped.

Keitaro was pale and wore a look of sheer terror, " B-B-But I'm too young to die!"

" I'm not, but I still dont want to!" Taisho added in a serious tone, looking just as frightened as his grandson.

Kikyo glared at the two, " For your information I am a wonderfuly chef!"

" Who was it that told me she could only make small housefires?" Kagome asked, cocking her head to the side.

"I can do anything you can do!" Kikyo stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

" Suuure, you can." Izayou mocked, then held out her hand, " Come on Keitaro. You can keep Grandma company while we make sure Kikyo doesn't burn down the house."

Keitaro giggled and latched onto Izayoi's hand, heading for the kitchen while an angry Kikyo followed.

Two hours later, Keitaro sat at the counter, swinging his legs while he stared intently at Kikyo. He had been finding numerous ways to annoy her, from whistling nonstop to flicking pieces of food at her at certain time intervals.

Kikyo ignored his stare and looked to the gravy, which was bubbling over, " Crap!" Kikyo rushed over and turned down the burner. The gravy bubbled again, splattering Kikyo's shirt. Kikyo shrieked, " Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. This cost three hundred bucks! Crap! Izayoi?!?!"

Izayoi just smirked and took a sip of her tea, " I though you were a wonderful cook, dear?"

Kikyo let out an enraged squeal before snapping her head in Keitaro's direction, " What the hell are you looking at?"

" Don't freak out, but there's this huge, disgusting thing on your neck." Keitaro stated calmly.

Kikyo's eyes widened as she grabbed the nearby toasted and looked at her reflection in its shiney surface, " What? Where?"

" Oh, never mind." Keitaro smiled, " It's just you head."

Kikyo growled, " You...are so...STUPID!"

" And you're a genius." Keitaro rolled his eyes.

" Now, now Keitaro." Izayoi said sternly, shaking her finger at him, " It's not nice to call people names. It hurts their feelings."

Keitaro giggled while Kikyo rounded on Izayoi, " I'll have you know I graduated second out of my class."

Izayoi's eyebrows rose, " Oh, really? And how many were in this class?"

" There were three of us that had to finish up over the summer, " Kikyo stated proudly, her nose high in the air. Kikyo sniffed the air, " You know, Izayoi. It smells terrible in here. You should really learn to clean your house once in a while."

Izayoi seemed unfazed as she took another sip of her tea, "That, my dear, would be the smell of your turkey burning in the oven."

" Don't be ridiculous, I--" Kikyo stopped talking and froze for a minute before rushing over to the oven.

She opened the oven door and jumped back. Smoke billowed out from the oven as Kikyo coughed uncontrollably. Izayoi merely smiled while Keitaro just smirked, shaking his head slowly. Kikyo looked around frantically for a second, begging for help with her eyes. When no one made a move to help her, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

Kikyo took a deep breath, then held it as she hurried to the oven. She reached in and grabbed the turkey, then turned to the counter and set it down.

Keitaro grimaced in disgust, " Do you honestly want me to eat that?"

Kikyo looked from the barely recognizable turkey back to Keitaro, " Do you honestly want to starve?"

" You can't make me eat that!" Keitaro exclaimed.

" Do you really want to try me?" Kikyo said coldly, narrowing her eyes.

Keitaro crossed his arms over his chest and stuck out his lower lip, " Mommy never burnt the turkey."

" Do I look like your mother, kid?" Kikyo placed a hand on her hip.

" Do you want me to tell you the truth?" Keitaro replied looking at Kikyo with hate.

Kikyo scowled as Keitaro jumped off his seat and raced out of the room. She picked up a knife and began to hack away at the turkey, taking out all her frustrations on the poor, unrecognizable bird.

Izayoi smirked, " I can see you don't get along well with kids, huh?"

" Listen," Kikyo snapped, " I never had to deal with kids. When I was little, my parents had me talk to people older than me. I never had to put up with their stupid, annoying little voices."

" Oh, I see." Izayoi said thoughtfully then sighed, " It's lonely at the top, isn't it?"

Kikyo fixed Izayoi with a heated glare, eyeing her with disgust, " To say that you must obviously be from the bottom."

Izayoi sighed and looked up as Inuyasha entered the kitchen. She gave him a soft smile and rolled her eyes before leaving the two.

Inuyasha spotted the turkey and raised and eyebrow, " Uhh, Kikyo? What did you do to dinner?"

Kikyo growled adn threw down the knife, " Ugh. That's it. I quit. I am done trying to impress people!"

Inuyasha stood behind Kikyo and wrapped his arms around Kikyo's waist, drawing her to him, " What do you mean?"

Kikyo leaned back into his chest, " I mean I'm done trying to get your family to like me. No matter what I say and do, they will always compare me to that, that...that b--"

" Kikyo." Inuyasha warned softly.

Kikyo sighed heavily, " Fine. They'll always compare me to her. I mean, what's so special about her? I can be just as funny, just as smart. I'm much...much prettier."

Inuyasha sighed heavily and kissed Kikyo's neck before resting his chin on her shoulder, " Just give them time. I'm sure they'll warm up to you."

" Yea, you're right. What's there to not like about me?" Kikyo smiled before turning her had to the side and kissing Inuyasha passionately.

As the two were lost in their own little world, both failed to notice the sad set of eyes that watched them.

Kagome knew that she had no chance with Inuyasha, not after seeing her competition. She knew it from the time she had first discovered who Kikyo really was. That didn't stop the pang of betrayal from stabbing her heart when she noticed that Inuyasha hadn't defended her against Kikyo. It didn't stop the sadness she felt when Inuyasha hinted that she could easily replace Kagome and it didn't stop the lone tear from traveling down her cheek.

Kagome hastily wiped the tear away. It was foolish of her to think that he had changed, that the past few weeks had meant anything to him. Kagome turned around quickly and headed for the front porch as quickly as she could.

" Kagome?" Izayoi called as Kagome walked past the living room entrance, " Where are you going?"

Kagome smiled weakly, " I-I just need to call Sango. I'll be back in a minute."

Kagome stepped out onto the front porch, pulling the front door closed behind her. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her cell phone, dialing Sango's number. She pressed the phone to her ear and waited patiently for Sango to answer.

" Hi, Auntie 'Gome!" Jiro's voice chirped from the other end of the phone line.

" Hi, Jiro. How ya doing?" Kagome smiled softly.

" Great!" Jiro squealed and Kagome heard Sango laugh in the background, " Mommy and Daddy are all better now because yesterday Daddy gave Mommy jewelry, and candy, and lots and lots of flowers and said sorry!"

Kagome giggled, despite her mood, " Did he have to beg?"

" Yep, he had to beg more than I did to get a new gameboy after I dropped mine in the toilet! He looked like a puppy!" Jiro giggled as Kagome heard who she assumed to be Miroku yell 'Hey'. Jiro stopped giggling, " Mommy's making me give her the phone. Bye!"

" Bye, sweetie." Kagome said softly.

" Kagome? What's going on?" Sango asked, laughter evident in her voice as Jiro laughed in the background.

Kagome took a shakey breath and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She closed it and sniffed, wiping furiously at her eyes.

" Kagome?" Sango asked in alarm, " Are you okay? What's the matter? Where are you? I'll come get you. Did--"

" No, no Sango." Kagome sighed, " I'm fine. I'm just...I can't do this anymore."

" Do what?" Sango asked.

" This. Trying to get him back. I can't do it." Kagome wiped another tear, " I can't compete with her. I'm done. I'm giving him the divorce papers as soon as I can."

" Oh, Kagome." Sango said softly, " Are...are you sure?"

" Yeah." Kagome said softly, then heard Izayoi call her from inside the house, " Um, I should go. I'll call you later."

" Bye." Sango hung up.

Kagome flipped her phone shut and slipped it into her back pocket. She took a deep breath, pulling herself together before she turned and reached for the doorknob.

Kagome entered the house, closing the door behinmd her. She turned back around and ran into a hard, muscular chest.

Kagome jumped with an 'EEP' and looked up into the golden eyes of Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru smirked down at her.

" Sesshomaru, you scared the crap out of me!" Kagome scolded, swatting him on the arm.

" Sorry. Mom was getting a little worried about you." Sesshomaru's smirk fell slowly, " Are...are you okay?"

" Just peachy." Kagome meant to say sarcastically, but her voice broke and a tear escaped.

Sesshomaru immediately enveloped his old friend in a hug, shushing her. He rubbed small, soothing circles on her back as she cried softly into his shirt. The two sat there for a few seconds after Kagome had finished crying. Sesshomaru slowly pulled back, placing his hands on her shoulders and smiling softly at her, " Are you sure?"

" Yea." Kagome said, then snorted in laughter, " Oh, man. I'm sorry."

" Dont be." Sesshomaru wiped the tear trails from her cheek before putting his arm around her shoulders and leading her back into the living room. As they neared the entrance, Sesshomaru leaned down and whispered jokingly into her ear, " By the way, you look like shit."

Kagome laughed, " Oh, please. Stop flattering me. You'll make me blush."

The two entered, laughing. Izayoi stood up in alarm as she saw Kagome's expression, " Kagome?"

" I'm fine, Izayoi." Kagome forced a smile, " Just had to call Sango about some things at the diner, no big deal."

Kagome looked around the room, noticing that Inuyasha and Kikyo had joined them. Kagome raised and eyebrow, " So...how's dinner going?"

Kikyo's face reddened in embarassment as she glared at Kagome, daring her to laugh. Inuyasha cleared his throat, " Well, we thought it would be best if we just ordered a pizza."

Kagome choked back a snort and pressed her lips together as she stiffly walked to a couch and collapsed into it. Immediately, Ami crawled into her lap and buried her head into Kagome's shoulder, yawning. Kagome smiled softly and smoothed Ami's hair down, kissing her on top of her head. Ami smiled contentedly and yawned again. Kagome shook her head slowly and looked up to meet Inuyasha's eyes. For a moment she was lost in his suddnely sad, regretful eyes. Kagome broke the gaze and glanced briefly at Kikyo, who was glaring at her with anger and jealousy. Kagome sighed loudly and threw her head back resting it on the back of the couch.

" You know, Kagome. You need a vacation. When was the last time you had one?" Izayoi asked then stopped Kagome, " And I don't mean taking off work to take care of the kids when they're sick."

Kagome though for a second, " Hmmm, well I guess it was when we went to the beach that one day a few years ago."

Flashback

Kagome stifled a groan as she pulled herself up from the sandy beach. She rested her hands on her stomach, the baby was getting bigger and bigger. Kagome looked to the shore where Sesshomaru, Kagura, and Miroku were waiting for her and Sango. Sango groaned and stretched her back, her stomach much larger than Kagome's.

" When will the pain end?" Sango complained dramatically as the two waddled to where the others were waiting for them to get onto the boat.

Kagome just laughed, " Trust me, it gets worse. Wait til you have to push that thing out of you. It feels like a watermelon i--" Kagome started.

"AACK! Enough Kagome. I try not to think of that." Sango grimaced, " And besides, any pain I feel I will personally inflict on Miroku in the delivery room. I don't care if I break his hand, he will suffer every minute that I do."

Kagome smiled, " Yeah, it's painful, but trust me, it's worth it."

Sango and Kagome continued to make their way down the board walk to board the boat. They were about to lower themselves into the boat when a man in all white stopped them.

" Umm, excuse me? I don't think women of your...um...state should be getting into a boat." The man said nervously.

Sango and Kagome glared. Sango was the first to speak, " Excuse me?"

" Well, you know. It might not be smart for you to go onto this small boat. I mean, you do weigh a considerable amount more th--"

" You bastard!" Sango yelled, but Miroku jumped out of the boat and wrapped his arms around his enraged wife. Oh how he love hormones and mood swings.

Kagome slowly walked towards the man, a glare on her face.

" I-I-I meant no harm. I mean, I was just thinking about your safety and the safety of you unborn child!" The man yelled frantically, " What did I do?"

" You called us fat." Kagome said in a dangerously calm voice, " It's not smart to piss off two severely hormonal pregnant women!"

The man opened his mouth to protest, but was shoved off the pier into the water by Kagome. Kagome smiled and wiped off her hands before making her way back to a laughing group.

End Flashback

Kagura laughed, " Oh, I remember that. That guy wouldn't come near you two for the entire weekend we were there. I think he peed his pants the one time he accidentally bumped into Sango!"

Kagome laughed, " Oh, I don't think he peed his pants. I know he did. I mean, he was wearing all white, it was kind of hard to miss."

Sesshomaru looked thoughtful for a second, then an evil gron slowly spread across his face, " Oh, Kagome? You seem to be forgetting something?"

Kagome frowned, " What?"

" Two words: Las...Vegas." Kagura started laughing the minute the words left her mouth.

Kagome was immediately laughing. Her face reddened from lack of oxygen and tears were rolling down her cheeks. She gasped for breath, " H...How could I have f-forgotten!?!?!"

Inuyasha frowned, " What's so funny?"

Kagome just continued laughing while Sesshomaru joined in as well.

" Seriously, what the hell is so funny?" Kikyo yelled, gaining the attention of Sesshomaru.

Sesshomary took a calming breath before starting the story.

Flashback

Kagome sat at a poker table, doing a little victory dance as she won another round. On her left sat Sango, then Kagura. On her right sat Ayame. Kagome and Sango had just recently given birth. In celebration, the girls left the babies home with Miroku, Izayoi, and Kaori. Kagome was still smiling as she felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around and met the eyes of a very large, slightly balding man. His beady eyes were narrowed angrily at Kagome while his stomach hung out, peeking out from underneath his shirt that looked like it was a size too small.

"Can I help you?" Kagome asked kindly.

" Yea, you can let someone else play." The man responded angrily.

" I was here first, I'll stay if I want to." Kagome rolled her eyes and turned back to the dealer.

" Seriously, get up." The man growled.

" No." Kagome smirked, knowing she was making him angry.

" Listen, bitch. Move your fat ass right now!" The man yelled.

All four girls slowly turned to look at him. Sango spoke first in a dangerously low tone, " What did you just say to her?"

" Hey, her ass isn't usually this big!" Kagura defended Kagome.

" Yea, you're right. Thanks." Kagome turned to the man and narrowed her eyes, " My ass is this big because I just had a baby, you insensitive prick!"

" What's you're excuse?" Ayame added.

" Ya havin' triplets?" Sango grinned as the man sputtered.

" Why you...you" The man was red in the face.

" Excuse me? Is there a problem here?" A security guard asked as he stepped next to the large man.

" Yes, there is officer. Tell this...slut to get her ass out of this chair!" The man pointed at Kagome, " And her friends too!"

Kagome faked a few tears, " How could you say something like that to me? First you threaten my life. Then you try to take my money, and now you call me a whore?"

" WHAT??" The man yelled, eyes wide as the officer began to force him to back away, " Wait! She's lying! I never--"

The man's words were drowned out as he was pushed out of the building. Kagome, Ayame, Sango, and Kagura looked at each other for a second before bursting into laughter.

End Flashback

Inuyasha smiled, picturing how scared that poor, poor man had to be. The pizza had arrived halfway through Sesshomaru's story and was now almost completely gone.

" To make things worse, those four ended up getting completely wasted and ran, no no no skipped through the streets singing 'I Feel Pretty'. To top it all off, they ran into the big man again and he chased them through the streets." Sesshomaru said, slightly shaking his head.

" Why?" Kikyo asked, her face twisting into a confused frown.

" We don't know." Kagome answered quickly, but Sesshomaru shot her a loo, '" Fine. He called me fat again, so Sango held him back while Kagura and I gave him a wedgie and Ayame did his makeup."

Inuyasha was shocked, " What?"

" Well actually, Ayame did his makeup while the three of us held him down, then we gave him a wedgie and ran." Kagura smiled sheepishly while Taisho roared in laughter.

Inuyasha chuckled, trying to picture Kagome drunk, giving a man a wedgie. Suddenly, a yawn interrupted his thoughts.

Kagome looked down and Keitaro, who had yawned from his place by her feet and was now snuggling up to her leg. Ami had already fell into a peaceful slumber in her lap, " Keitaro, don't fall asleep. Wait til Mommy gets you into the car."

" Don't worry about him. I'll carry him for you." Inuyasha offered, standing up despite Kikyo's glare.

Kagome nodded, not looking him in the eyes. She stood and said good night to everyone before silently making her way to her car. She exited the house and walked silently to her car, Inuyasha next to her. Kagome reached the car and opened the door, lowering Ami into her carseat as Inuyasha buckled Keitaro into his seat as well. Kagome straightened out and walked around to the driver's side door. Inuyasha pushed his hands into his pockets and looked around, "So?"

Kagome smiled softly, opening her door, " It's late. I should go. Um...could you...could you come over tomorrow around like 5? I need to talk to you about something?"

Inuyasha looked surprised, then smiled, " Sure. I'll be there."

" Great." Kagome lowered herself into the car, putting the key into the ignition. The engine purred to life as she backed out of the driveway, avoiding Inuyasha's eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek and Kagome hastily wiped it away, hoping that Inuyasha had not seen it...but he had.