Here is it, the end of both stories. I had someone ask if I was going to do a continuation of this, and probably not. This wraps everything up so I don't really see the need, but thank you for loving this story that much :D Now that this is done, I will refocus on "Long Time Coming" and "To Take Shelter" so for those that like Hiei/Kagome crossovers, both of those are being worked on now. Thank you so much to KairaB for giving me this idea and being supportive through everything, and to all my readers and reviewers! Ya'll made this so worth it!

A year, that's how much time had passed since she had been set free. Even now as Kagome sat back in the hammock, watching as her new family talked and laughed, she couldn't believe how fast things had changed. She now lived in a section of the Taisho mansion with Sesshoumaru, which was so much bigger than anything she had lived in before. She felt alive, and appreciated. She had been a wilting rose, destined to fall apart and be lost to the wind. Or so she had thought, until Him. Glancing over to her mate, she still couldn't help but smile. He had been there for her in the darkest time, as well as the best. In pain he had healed her, in sorrow he had uplifted her, and in despair he had held her. He had been and was still, her guardian angel despite his blood. When she had been a small sad child, he had befriended her and had never allowed her to run from him. For that she was thankful, because without him she might have died before her teen years. He gave her reason, and he was still giving her purpose. She still had bad days, nightmares, and she still had a tendency to look over her shoulder. Even though her tormenters had finally been convicted, and put in prison in another state, she still had her personal devils to deal with. But he made it easier, for she had never once feared him.

The day was bright and warm, a light breeze caressed her flesh and tempted her to close her eyes. To relish in her happiness, with her mate's family surrounding her she felt safe. She had been accepted instantly, no one cared that she was a miko, and she rarely used her powers anymore. She finally had a family, a loving family. It was the best feeling in the world, and nothing could ruin it. Using her foot to gently swing the hammock, she continued to watch as children ran around, and the adults talked and laughed with each other. Sesshoumaru was standing over by the pool, talking to his brother. While she hadn't known he had a half-brother, at least not until they had mated, she couldn't help but chuckle at the two. They never got along, and even now they seemed to be arguing. Inuyasha had been the only one to give her trouble, but that was just his nature. Now they were truly like siblings, constantly harassing each other. Then there was Rin, Inuyasha's adopted daughter. She was around seven, and it hit Kagome hard how much she reminded her of herself at that age. Quiet, standoffish, and reserved. It made Kagome worry until Inuyasha and Sessh had explained she had been orphaned, and had been in some bad foster homes. It broke her heart, and she had instantly bonded with the girl.

Then, there was InuTaisho. He had been the one that had confused the hell of her, considering that he had always seemed against her in every way. Until the day that Sessh had brought her over to his father's house, it was the same day he had pulled her away from her parents.

~Flashback~

"Sessh, he hates me. Why are we going to his house?" Kagome asked as they drove over to his father's house. It made her stomach do flip flops, he had never really talked to her much. She had never understood why, other than the fact that he was their landlord. It had never made any sense, but she had learned to just steer clear of him.

"You'll see Kags, just calm down." Sessh replied. He knew this was going to be a hard conversation, but it was necessary.

"Sometimes I don't like you." She mumbled. Which he just smirked in response.

They pulled up to the Taisho mansion, parked the car, and then stepped out. It had been a couple of years since she had been there, but it was still as gorgeous as she remembered. Following Sesshoumaru up the stairs, then into the parlor, Kagome was greeted instantly by InuTaisho. She steeled herself for whatever he might say, but the hug he pulled her into wasn't part of it. She tensed, and her eyes bugged out. He had never touched her, let alone hug her, so it shocked her more than Sesshoumaru's confession. After a brief minute, he pulled back and looked down into her startled eyes.

"Come, we have much to discuss." He said. Leading them down the corridor and into his study, a room that Kagome had never been in. She was spooked, so much was different and she didn't know how to take it. But with Sessh at her side, practically leading her, she took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Once they were seated, surrounded by hundreds of books, InuTaisho started to speak. "Have you told her anything?" he asked his son.

"No, father. I thought it better she heard it from you." He replied. Kagome was thoroughly confused, and beginning to get a headache.

"Very well. This is not going to be easy, Kagome." He started while looking her in the eye. "I suppose I should start from the beginning. When I first met your father, I knew what and how he was. I didn't know he had a daughter at the time, so I didn't care that he was renting from me. It wasn't until Sesshoumaru came home one day and told me about you, that I realized the situation. I know it seemed I didn't care about your situation, and I don't blame you for fearing or hating me for it. Though, I had my reasons."

"Reasons?" Kagome cut in. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she saw him raise a hand.

"Please, let me finish. Then you can yell all you want." When she stiffly nodded, he continued. "I knew Sesshoumaru was watching you, so you were safe enough for the time being. To be truthful I didn't know the extent of the problem until you ended up in the hospital, and I confronted your father then." He looked up to see a stunned expression on her face, no one had known at the time that he had confronted Naraku.

"But what about before that?" she asked.

"Sadly, my hands were tied. When Naraku and I had drawn up the lease, there had been a section stating that only under dire circumstances would the landlord intervene in the personal life of the tenant. It had sent a red flag up, but I had opted to ignore it. In essence I had tied my own hands, and while I know it might have seemed that your situation would've counted as dire, sadly it wasn't bad enough. I hate saying that because I know what you went through, but by law it wasn't enough. That's why I had held Sesshoumaru back as well, by letting Naraku get away with it, he would stay in the house. By you staying, Sesshoumaru could at least keep an eye on you. Though, you being hospitalized was cause for me to talk to him. I threatened hell on earth for him if it happened again, and I almost was able to pull you out then. But the social worker took his story, and I was refused."

"You tried?" she whispered.

"Yes, I fought the system. But even with all the evidence that was against him, he weaseled out of it. He then threatened to abolish the lease, and leave. I refused, told him that I would not interfere again as long as you weren't admitted into the hospital or severely injured again. He agreed, mainly because he didn't want the headache of another lease then the one he had. So, things went on. I kept telling Sesshoumaru no when he requested to step in, it wasn't easy. I didn't want you there any more than he did. But I could also see how Sesshoumaru felt about you, so I knew that once he was settled that things would work out."

"And college?" she asked.

"That, wasn't an easy decision. And I think that all that is necessary to know is that, you weren't as alone as you thought you were." He said with a knowing look to Kagome, conveying that he had been watching her the whole time. It also said that there were things he had no intentions of telling her, but still it bothered her.

"I…I don't know what to think." She said while shaking her head. He had known, the entire time. Had wanted to help, tried even, and she had never known.

"I didn't know either, until after I graduated college. He told me everything before I came to get you." Sessh said. The first thing he had said the whole time, though he had been holding her hand through it all. He squeezed her hand, and she looked over to him. "All that matters now, is that you are no longer there. You are here." With another squeeze he smirked at her, and she cried.

~End Flashback~

It had taken her some time to come to terms with that conversation, but now she loved InuTaisho like he was her own dad. He was more of one then she could've asked for, and she was grateful. Her life was so much different than it had been, and seeing the joy that surrounded her now she knew what peace was. She had been worried about finding a job and getting herself out of that hell, but her knight in shining armor saved her. It was an amazing feeling.

Later that night, after all the guests had left, and most of the mess had been cleaned up. Kagome stood in front of her mirror brushing her hair, and she smiled when two arms came to circle her waist. She had thought she knew how caring and gentle Sesshoumaru could be before they mated, but he had proven her wrong. He had shown her passion like she had never known, didn't even know could exist, and most of the time it was simply by holding her like this.

"I love you." She whispered. His grasp tightened slightly, pulling her back against his chiseled chest.

"And I you, mate." He purred into her ear. It caused a shiver to run down her spine, and she smiled again. Turning slightly to face him, her black spaghetti strap shirt twisted slightly, exposing a little of her midriff.

"When did you first know?" she asked. She felt his hand slide down her side, to rest on her hip. The other gently caressed her cheek, and she had to fight to keep her eyes open.

"Shortly after we became friends." He replied.

"We were kids though?" she said while getting a confused look.

"You were, I technically was not." He replied with a smirk.

"I never knew."

"I know."

(Warning! Lemon Alert, I know finally lol)

He leaned down and touched his lips to hers, basking in the smell of her spiked arousal and the velvet of her skin. Even after a year, it still felt like the first time. Gripping her hips, he pulled her flush to his body, then picked her up and walked over to their bed. Never breaking the kiss, he lovingly sat her down on the edge of the bed. Kneeling between her legs, with his arms around her he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips. Instantly she moaned and allowed him entry, burying her fingers into his hair and pulling him closer still. Kagome couldn't get enough, he was just so intoxicating. She felt his fingertips trace her sides, then the swell of her hips, and she moaned again when she felt them glide down her thighs. Her short shorts giving him plenty of access to her long legs, something they were both grateful for.

"Lay back." She heard him whisper, and with another kiss, did as requested. The moment her head landed on the mattress, her shorts were around her ankles. She knew what he was going to do, but the thought still sent a thrill of desire through her body. He was sinful in his ministrations, and she loved every minute of it. She had been afraid of intercourse at first, but with time he had shown her what it was supposed to be like. Loving, exotic, sensual, pleasurable, and enjoyable. An experience that brought two souls together, binding them as one. Kagome was brought out of her thoughts by the feel of his tongue running up her inner thighs, and she bucked. His hands were already in place to hold her, because he knew how she would jerk and squirm. When he reached the apex of her pelvis, he growled lightly. Not only did she smell divine, but he knew the vibrations would affect her as well. She shivered, and gasped. He was purposely being slow, because he knew it drove her nuts.

"Sessh…" she breathed. He answered her with a long, slow lick up her feminine core. The taste of her, and the sound of her moan caused a certain appendage to twitch, but he held back. He loved doing this, and he wanted to drive his mate to begging. Hearing it from her lips, the sounds, the pleading, and the gasps served to ignite his fire further. As he slowly, slipped his tongue past her folds, and into her sheath, he groaned himself with pleasure. She tasted exquisite, and every time it just got better.

Kagome was in heaven, it felt so good. He stroked and wiggled inside her, and she was lost. Lost to the sheer pleasure that was Sesshoumaru, and she didn't want to be found. Tingles were running up her spine, causing her to squirm and twitch. Her fingers scratched and scraped at his scalp and she gasped and moaned his name. When he pulled back slightly, she whined in need, only to scream when he latched onto her clit and sucked. Kagome bowed her back from the assault, while begging him not to stop. Over and over he licked and pressed into her, switching from her clit to her opening. She could feel the coil getting tighter and tighter, until she went rigid and screamed her release. Lights danced behind her eyes, and her heart threatened to beat out of her body.

Breathing heavily, she watched as her handsome mate slid up her body to lay light kisses all over her face. She was so wrapped up in the moment, she didn't even realize when he had moved her to the center of the bed. Or when he had stripped the rest of her clothing off of her. Not until she felt his skin meet hers did she realize this, and then she moaned low from the sheer heat of his body. A body she had never thought she would get to feel in such an intimate way. He fit so perfectly between her legs, like she had been made just for him. She could feel his girth against her thigh, and she playfully rubbed against him. Drawing a moan from him, and then a short, sharp thrust from his hips. Not enough to enter her, but enough to make her gasp in return.

"Two can play." He said as he nibbled down her throat, and to her collarbone where his mark rested. Giving it a good hard suck, caused her to buck her hips against him again.

"You don't play fair though." She replied.

"Have I ever?"

"No."

Her single word came out breathy as his hand once again glided down her hip to the back of her knee, pulling so that her leg rested against his hip. Allowing him to press even closer, teasing her entrance with the head of his member.

"Say it…" he purred into her ear. He pressed in just slightly, then pulled back out.

"Sessh, please…"

"Say it Kagome." He pressed in again, just a little deeper, than pulled back. Teasing her, and causing her body to tremble in need.

"Yours, Sesshoumaru. Only yours." she breathed.

With one fluid motion, he sheathed himself within her and they both hummed in ecstasy. Without missing a beat he began to rock back and forth, causing a friction that made them both cry out. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper with every thrust. Her nails raked down his back, and her back bowed. Brushing her soft breasts against his sculpted chest, making her aching nipples peak. Sesshoumaru leaned forward and took one in his mouth, lavishing it with love and affection while grinding against his mate's dripping core.

"Harder!" she begged. Sesshoumaru was only too happy to oblige, speeding up instantly. Causing the headboard to rock and start hitting the wall, and flesh could be heard against flesh. Kagome's cries were echoed by Sesshoumaru's growls. Then without warning he grabbed her and leaned back, letting her hover over him. It took her a minute to realize what happened. Then she began to move again, this time getting an even deeper penetration than before. The sight of her on top him, riding him, was euphoric to Sesshoumaru. While most males didn't like being in a submissive position, he found he didn't mind it. It not only allowed for great sensations, but it gave Kagome a feeling of power, something she had never had before. It was worth it in so many ways.

Kagome could feel it coming, as could Sesshoumaru. With his hands on her ass, he started to thrust up into her. Meeting her movements each time, his hand cock hitting a very sensitive part of her. With one final thrust up with his hips, they both fell over into the abyss. Screaming and growling their pleasure for the whole mansion to hear.

(End Lemon)

Breathing hard, Kagome snuggled into Sessh's chest. Content, and satisfied. Her body was still trembling, and yet she barely noticed. She loved listening to his heart, it was soothing in so many ways. They laid like that for who knows how long, just basking in the love and wonder of each other.

"Sessh?"

"Hm?"

"Would you have loved me if I hadn't been such a tragic story?" she asked. She had wondered this for a while, because it had been her home life that had drawn them together. She didn't know if she hadn't been such a mess, if he would've have noticed her at all.

"Kagome, I would've loved you no matter your circumstances."

"Even if I was ugly?" she asked while looking up at him.

"You could never be ugly." He said. He then rolled them over to where he was partially laying on her, kissing her face gently.

"What about if I get fat?" she asked smiling.

"You have never been that either, though, you might be filling out soon." He said. Which he could then smell her confusion, and couldn't help but smirk in his usual way.

"Huh?"

"You, my love, are with pup." He said.

The End. Thank you!