Inuyasha followed Kagome down the steps of the church. "Kagome wait. You can't take Rin with you. You don't have a car seat. She can ride in the limo without one but not in your car. You know that." Kagome sighed in defeat. She let Inuyasha take the now sleeping girl from her arms. "Inuyasha, I want you to know I intend to be here for Rin. I am not going anywhere whether you like it or not."

Inuyasha smiled and said "I would like nothing more." Kagome huffed at him and continued down the steps and over to Sango's car. "Sango do you think we could take a detour on the way to Inuyasha's parents house?" Sango smiled "Of course anything you need. I am here for you." Kagome leaned her head against the cool window. "Good because I want to go to Sesshomaru's house for a moment."

Pulling up to the gate outside Sesshomaru's house Kagome gave Sango the code to open the gate and gain entrance. Pulling up to the house Sango parked right outside the door. "Are you sure you want to do this Kagome?" "Yeah Sango I think I need to. But if it's ok can I go inside alone." Sango smiled. "You know I will be right outside if you need anything."

Pulling the key out of her purse she placed it in the lock and let herself in. Moving over to the alarm system she put in the code to stop it from going off due to her intrusion. Looking around the front hall she noticed flowers covered every table and corner. She remembered the time she stood in this hall telling Inuyasha to leave her alone and give her a chance with Sesshomaru. Then how Sesshomaru asked her if she had really meant everything she had said and how she had told him that she did. But none of that really mattered now.

She made her way up the steps and to his room. It looked exactly the same as if waiting for him to waltz in from a long day and make himself at home. Sitting in the leather chair in front of his fireplace she caught a slight hint of his scent. That gave her an idea. She moved into his bathroom looking at the counter she saw the prize she was seeking. On a silver tray in the corner of the counter neatly arranged she saw his shaving cream, after shave and his cologne.

She carefully picked up each one individually, opened it and smelled the contents inside. It was unmistakably him. Putting the bottles back in there same spot she moved back into his room. Lying down on his bed she pulled his pillow to her hugging it tight to her chest. For the hundredth time in the last few days she began to cry only this time it was a soul cleansing guttural cry. It racked through her body uncontrollably. She was shaking and howling unable to stop herself. The wailing went on for several minutes as she let out all of the pain from the last few days escape her.

Her tears slowed and her breathing calmed down to and occasional hiccup. Speaking to her herself she said "Oh Sesshomaru I am so sorry. You deserved so much more than me. My indecision over Inuyasha. I Should have loved you more. I can only hope that you knew you were loved. I did love you. I am so sorry. I wish I had told you just once." She thought about the last time he had made loved to her. How much love she had felt from him. She knew he was not holding back in any way and how much that had meant to her.

She wished she had not left his house that day and broken his heart. He was so nice to her about it but she knew it hurt him a little. If only she had stayed maybe none of this would ever have happened. But she didn't and now because of that choice she and Rin were alone. 'No, Rin and I will always have each other.' She realized she had better clean herself up and get over to the Takahashi's. She needed Rin to know she would always be there.

Moving into the bathroom she cleaned the mascara from her face and reapplied some of her makeup. She didn't want to scare Rin. She had to appear fine. Turning to leave the room she headed for the bedroom door. She stopped just short of the door and turned back to the bathroom. Reentering the room she walked up to the counter and picked up a glass bottle from the silver tray. Smiling she clutched it to her chest. Then slipped it into her purse. She kept smiling as she left the mansion knowing she had a perfect reminder of the man she once had loved.

Sango and Kagome arrived at the mansion only to find they had to park a block away. The street out front and the expansive driveway winding up the mansion was littered with cars. People coming to pay respects to a fine man. A doctor, savior, lover and friend. Kagome couldn't help the slight smile that crossed her face. "Wow, so many people to celebrate the life of Sesshomaru." she said, still beaming from ear to ear.

"Kagome, what happened to you at Sesshomaru's place. You have been almost giddy since you came out." Sango gave her a serious look. "You know, I just realized Sesshomaru was really good to me. He made me smile and feel loved. He loved Rin and I am going to remember that. Rin has been around sadness, anger and depression for days. Understandable, but depressing to a little girl all the same. Sesshomaru would never want that for his little Rin. So for the love of Sesshomaru and for Rin I am not going to cry, mope or be sad around her if I can help it. She needs to know everything will be ok."

Kagome wound through the crowd of people hoping to find Inuyasha's parents. Finding them both standing in the study next to the fireplace a crowd of people around sharing stories and giving condolences. She slid her way up to the front and gave a soft smile to the couple. "Mr and Mrs. Takahashi I am so sorry for your loss. Sesshomaru was so important to me. I am so sad that I will never get to know where our relationship was going to take us. If it is alright with you though I would like to stay in Rin's life as long as I can."

Izayoi reached out and grabbed Kagome pulling her into a hug. "I am so sorry Kagome. Please know Mr. Takahashi and I would love you to come around and spend time with Rin. You know it's funny though, I always thought you would have ended up with our other son." She let her go and gave her a soft sad smile. " Kagome you are welcome in our home day or night." Inutaisho also gave her a sweet sad smile. "Where is Rin?"

"Oh she is up in her room still asleep. I am so glad, she doesn't need to be all around this. Would you like to go and check on her?" Kagome smiled and said "sure." She made her way up the stairs to the room her Grandparents kept for her. Opening the door she saw that Rin was curled up asleep so she quietly began to back out of the room. "Kagome?" Looking around the dimly lit room she saw Inuyasha sitting in a big yellow chair in the corner. "Please don't go, please come and talk to me." he begged.

Kagome came in and sat in one of Rin's little play chairs next to him. She sighed and looked up at him. "Look, Inuyasha I don't want to hear about you and Kikyo. I don't want to hear about how you and I can be friends. Frankly, I don't want to discuss anything other than the reason we are here today. Understand?"

Inuyasha took in a deep breath and shakily released it.

"Kagome, I am so sorry for everything. My stupidity caused all of it. If I had just let Kikyo go as soon as she started to treat me wrong none of this would have happened. You and I would still be friends, my brother would still be alive and Rin wouldn't be an orphan again. I never meant for any of this to happen. I have such enormous guilt. You can't even begin to understand how bad I feel. I should be dead not him. He didn't have anything to do with any of this. His only failure was having me as a brother."

Kagome had never really thought about the fact that Inuyasha would blame himself for everything. I mean it made sense. After all he was the main player in the whole story. But surely he had to realize in the end no one was to blame except Naraku. It was all his evil plan that drug their lives into it. Inuyasha didn't fall into it knowingly. Suddenly she felt the familiar pang in her gut. The one that always consoled him. The one that always needed to make him feel better. She let out a deep sigh knowing this was her calling in life. Being there for Inuyasha. Even if he loved someone else she couldn't escape it.

"This was not your fault, do you understand? You didn't knowingly cause any of this. The only thing you have to be guilty of is your undying love of Kikyo. You shouldn't have to feel guilty because some bastard used that love against you. Granted it would have been great had you realized it sooner. But being blinded by love is not the worst thing a person could do. You never would have chosen to hurt anyone on your own. Naraku did it all Inuyasha. He used us and hurt us all. Please try and let the guilt go. It's not helping you and it's certainly not going to help Rin. Sesshomaru made his choices because of love. Love of you, me, your father and Rin. Don't sully his memory by moping over your own guilt. He would want you want to make it up to him be there as love and happiness for Rin. She was the most important thing in his life never forget that."

She reached up to touch his face but he reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her up into his lap. Squeezing her close to his chest. He silently began to cry. She pulled herself away from him and put her hand on his face. "Inuyasha, you have a choice. Either you can hate yourself forever and ruin the lives of everyone around you or you can decide from this moment on to become the kind of person that would make your brother proud." She smiled and wiped the tear from his cheek.

"How is it after everything you are the only one who can kick my ass back into gear? I know you said that you weren't going to discuss anything else today but.. I really needed you to know Kikyo and I were only discussing how she was going to take the jewel to a temple in the mountains for protection and then she is leaving for a long time. She was just discussing that fact that she hoped her and I could remain friends."

Kagome felt a tug on her shirt and looked down to see Rin. Rin quietly gestured that she wanted up in Kagome's lap and she happily complied. Inuyasha pulled the two girls close to him and whispered "I love you both so much." Rin giggled and kissed each one of them on the cheek. "I love you two too." Kagome smiled and said "me too." Rin giggled and for a moment Inuyasha knew Sesshomaru was pleased. All he wanted was for his loved ones to be happy and for the first time in days they were.

18 months later…

Inuyasha came barreling in the door yelling "WHERE IS MY BIRTHDAY GIRL, WHERE IS MY BIRTHDAY GIRL?" Rin came running into the room "Here I am Uncle Yasha, here I am." and she through herself into his waiting arms. Then her face turned into a pout. "Your late. The party had to wait because you weren't here. Aunt Kagome said we couldn't start without you." Inuyasha just chuckled and said "Oh please forgive me princess Rin. I had to stop by the store to pick up the present I ordered for you." He said with a huge grin.

"My present? What is it Uncle Yasha? What is it? Tell me please, please, PLEASE!" She clasped her hands together and gave her best pleading puppy dog eyes. "Ok, ok it's out front near the car." Just as he went to open the door he heard Kagome's voice behind him. "Inuyasha we have a house full of guests waiting for a birthday party but the birthday girl is not there." Inuyasha and Rin gave her big pouty faces. "Come on she can see her present after we get the party started."

"Alright, alright will be right there." after Kagome walked away Inuyasha turned and put Rin up to the window on the side of the door. "Can you see it kitten?" Rin gasped. "It's a bike, you got me a bike." Inuyasha quickly put his hand over Rin's mouth. "Ssh. You gotta be quiet and act surprised when you see it later. Ok?" Rin nodded and Inuyasha set her dowm. Taking her hand he started to lead her into the kitchen. "Well, lets go have a birthday party."

They both came into the room and everyone started singing "Happy birthday to you." Rin let go of Inuyasha's hand and ran over to be with the other children. Inuyasha made his way over to Kagome and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He whispered in her ear "This is a pretty nice party, wife. You are going to make a perfect mommy." Then he rubbed her slightly protruding belly and snuggled into her neck. "Well, thank you very much husband and may I say you are showing definite signs of being a great dad. However, you shouldn't have showed her the bike."

Inuyasha's jaw dropped. "How did you know I did that?" Kagome gently laughed. "I have mommy senses now. Besides you can't keep a secret to save your life. Especially from Rin. She whips out the puppy dog eye's and you are putty in her hands. I hope you are able to be a little tougher on our own children so I don't have to be the bad guy all the time." He slid around her and stood next to her letting his grip on her go. "I can be tough." he pouted. Kagome turned and pushed the bangs out of his eyes. "Oh never mind sweetheart. You are a great dad to Rin and you will be a great dad to our child."

She kissed him on the cheek and went to put more food on the table. She saw her friend Sango leaning against the table. She smiled as she saw the Lawyer Miroku approaching her. Kagome watched and listened as Miroku spoke to Sango.

"So, how do you know Rin?" He smiled and leaned against the table next to her.

"Kagome is my best friend and I brought my little brother with me. You?"

"I was Inuyasha's Lawyer once, but turned out he didn't need me after all so we ended up becoming friends instead. I also came with my nephew Shippo."

The two continued to watch the children play in front of them. "So you like kids?" Miroku asked taking her hand in his.

"Yeah, I always figured I would end up having a few one day. Maybe 3 or 4." She smiled feeling a little uncomfortable with having a conversation like this with a complete stranger.

"Wanna have mine?" A slap could be heard throughout the entire room. So loud in fact that the children stopped what they were doing for a moment.

Kagome smiled.

Little did they know that slap would be the beginning of a beautiful relationship…..

THE END

AN: Welp, I guess that's all folks. Thank you for reading, reviewing and adding my story to favorites and alerts. This truly has been a fun experience and I can't thank you enough for coming along with me.

Whatever beliefs you have I hope your holidays are merry and bright and your New Year totally kicks ass.