Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

...

Month 9 part 1

Flashback

With the speeches done and the new couple about to start their first dance together, Sango got up from her seat and went to Miroku's side.

He smiled and took the hand that she placed on his shoulder.

She leaned down and whispered in his ear.

Miroku's jaw dropped and his eyes got wide and he turned and looked at her in disbelief.

He stood up and pulled her to a corner of the reception hall where they had a little bit of privacy. "You took a pregnancy test?"

"Yeah." Sango nodded.

Miroku waited but she didn't speak again, her eyes on Sesshomaru who was gliding with Rin across the dance floor. Rin looked like a princess.

"Well?" Miroku said dragging Sango out of her thoughts. "What was it?"

"It was..." Sango hesitated when she looked him in the eye. In the blue depths was an emotion she didn't know. "Negative." she said at last.

Miroku let out a deep breath and the emotion in his eyes faded. Sango was confused because the look hadn't been panic. "You're sure?" She nodded slowly.

"Alright. Thanks for telling me." he said and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry, I-" she started but he cut her off.

"It's okay, Sango. It's not your fault." He kissed her lips then returned to the wedding party leaving Sango behind.

Normal

"Sango, that's a lie!" Kagome looked at her best friend. "That test was positive."

"I know." Sango moaned pitifully, hugging a pillow to her chest. Miroku was at work and Sango asked Kagome over.

Kagome, wanting to hear what Miroku had said to the big news, was shocked to hear her friends story,

"You lied to him." Kagome said sitting down next to her, her own stomach enlarged to the point that it looked like she was going to pop any minute. "How long do you think you can keep this one secret?"

"I didn't mean to it just sort of...came out." Sango said. "I just couldn't say it."

"What do you thinks going to happen?" Kagome asked. "Please don't say you think he'll abandon you."

"Of course not!" Sango said. "But I just couldn't do it! And what did he mean 'it's not your fault'? What does thatmean, Kagome?"

Kagome shrugged. "He's your boyfriend." she said as Kirara jumped onto the couch and climbed into Sango's lap.

Sango groaned as she pet the cute cat's ears.

"Why couldn't you just say it?" Kagome asked.

"Hey, it's not that easy." Sango said. "Unlike you, I didn't plan this. It's a lot different when it's not what you want."

"You don't want the baby?"

'No! I mean, yes, I do, I didn't mean that. Of course I want it, I just didn't plan on getting it so soon." Sango started biting her thumbnail, a habit of hers when she got nervous.

"Then the first thing you need to do is talk to Miroku." Kagome said. "He needs to know. He has the right to know."

Sango moaned again. "How could I possibly do that?"

"Well do it quickly because you need to get to the doctor and it will be better if Miroku is there with you." Kagome said firmly.


"Relax, Kagome, breath, everything will be fine!" Inuyasha said in a panic.

"Inuyasha..."

"Keep your legs elevated, remember to breath. Remember what the teacher said, breathing is key!"

"Inuyasha."

"How can you be so calm at a time like this!" He demanded nearly pulling out his hair.

"A time like what?" Kagome asked looking up at him from her position on her couch. "I had a stomach cramp. Just because I say 'ow' and grab my stomach does not mean I'm having contractions. You're son is just trying to be a soccer star."

That last sentence did it's job as Kagome knew it would. Inuyasha's brain was full of visions of his son being a great soccer star, ruling on the field, getting close to a thousand points per game.

"Relax, Inuyasha. I'm pretty sure we'll know when I go into labor." she said changing the channel on the TV. It amazed her that even with over a thousand channels in a house this large with the greatest cable hookup she could still find absolutely nothing to watch.

"How?" Inuyasha asked sitting next to her and placing a hand over his son's place in her stomach.

"Well, my water breaking will be a definite clear sign." Kagome smiled at him.

"Kagome, I've seen the movies! It just looks like you peed yourself." Inuyasha protested.

"Okay, 1: It does not and 2: I promise I will know. Painful contractions are hard to miss." She laid her head on his shoulder "Relax, daddy. I don't want you to freak out until I say it's time to freak out. Promise?"

"Kagome-"

"Promise?"

He sighed. "I promise. I just can't help myself."

Kagome laughed. "Don't worry. And just think about your son."

"Yeah." He said slowly, a stupid smiled appearing on his face. "I'm having a son."

Kagome laughed again and leaned against his chest.


"What is it?" Kagome asked, smiling wide.

Inuyasha had come home that day and had immediately put a blind fold over her eyes.

"It's a secret." he said happily. "Stairs start here."

He was standing behind her, his hand on her shoulders, guiding her and her arms were outstretched, reaching because she couldn't see.

"Are you going to tell me what the surprise is?" she asked having a pretty good idea.

"No!" he said leading her carefully up the steps."Top of the steps...now!"

Kagome placed her foot on the second level and he turned her to the right and started leading her down the hallway.

"Are you having fun?" Kagome asked laughing.

"Actually, yes." he said a little surprise in his voice. "I didn't think I would have this much fun."

"Well, you won't be saying that when Inumaru screams at 2 o'clock in the morning. or when I'm cranky because I'm net getting any sleep because I need to feed him."

"Don't ruin my happiness, Kagome." Inuyasha said, smiling wider. "Okay, stop."

She did as he bid and he left her. She heard a door opening, then her hands were in his and he was leading her forward.

"Watch your step." he said, his voice laced with excitement.

"How?" Kagome laughed but he didn't answer.

"Okay, stop...right...here." She did so and he left her again.

"Ready?'

"Yes." Kagome said looking around though she couldn't see yet.

"Okay."

She waited but nothing happened.

"Inuyasha?"

"Sorry, I'm just...excited. Okay, here we go."

He removed the blindfold and for a moment the sudden light burned her eyes.

Then they adjusted and she gasped.

The last time she had seen Inumaru's room it had been barely half-finished. There had been paint splattered tarp on the ground and the only furniture was a bucket of white paint.

Now it was different. The wallpaper had been successfully hung, blue background with cute little smiling crocodiles traveled halfway down the wall. The other half was a light colored wood paneling that connected to the wood floor with a white baseboard. The majority of the floor was taken up by a plush, water colored, rug. There was a white crib with a crocodile stuffed animal smiling at her through white velvet teeth. What toys that were too big to put on the toy shelves or in the two toy boxes were on the floor. She recognized a lot of her bridal shower gifts and, when she turned to see the closet, there were tiny outfits hanging there. They started out tiny, mostly footies, then started getting larger for when he would begin growing.

There were still bubbles in the wallpaper and she could still see the rip he had tried to cover with a cute little crocodile painting, and there was a couple of paint drops on the floor but...

"It's perfect." she whispered.

"It's not much." Inuyasha said scratching the back of his head, his cheeks tinted pink in embarrassment.

"It's perfect." she repeated louder. "I love it."

"We'll have to change it when he grows up, he might like a different room..." He trailed off, uncomfortable, afraid of being judged.

Kagome walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled up at him over her big belly. "He's too young right now to see all the love you put in this room. But as he grows, he'll feel it. When he's too old for cute crocodile wallpaper we'll redo it in a style he picks, as a family."

"Family." he repeated. "I like the sound of that."

"You should, that's what we'll be soon."

"It's what we already are." he whispered rubbing his hand on the curve of her stomach.

She placed her hand on his and they both smiled when Inumaru kicked them.

"I love you, too."

For a moment, Kagome was sure the moment had given her a hallucination.

With the sun coming through the window casting a magical glow on the room, their hands on their son and their son proving just how alive and well he was; she thought it was an illusion her brain had given her.

But when she looked up at Inuyasha, surprise painted on her face, she saw surprise on his too. Just like her, he hadn't meant to say it. He hadn't even really thought of saying it. There was something magical in the room, a force neither of them could fight.

Kagome had known long ago, not just before he had finished the room. Maybe it was the life she carried. She had felt, seen, fell in love with their son long before he had so she had been ready to love him.

Inuyasha hadn't believed, not for the longest time. The sonograms hadn't done anything but she him a black and white object on top of a black and white background that might have been vaguely humanoid. He had to have felt him, with his won hands, to actually understand he was there. Only then had he been able to open his heart to the love Kagome had already accepted.

They hadn't done things out of order at all. By most standards, yes they had, but in hindsight, they wouldn't have really been able to fall in love without their son being there first.

So he was surprised he said it, but like Kagome, he didn't want to take them back.

"I love you." he said in a stronger voice that was still surprised, like he still couldn't believe the words were escaping his lips.

"Inuyasha..."

"I'm not good at pretty speeches, so don't expect one. I wasn't lying when I told Sesshomaru at his wedding that speeches aren't my thing. But I can say I love you." He moved his hand from her belly to her face and kissed her softly.

Kagome let out a strangled breath.

There had been a fist clenched around her heart that she hadn't noticed before. It had been the fear of rejection, despite everything they had gone through she had still been afraid he wouldn't return her love. But now it was releasing its grasp on her, letting her free.

"Oh, Inuyasha." she put her head on his chest and took in a deep breath, it felt like the first time she had breathed in a month.

He held her for a moment, enjoying the feel of their son between them.

"I think we should have, like, three or four more." he said at last making her laugh.


"Sango, you have to tell him!" Kagome said at last.

They were at Shikon, the ladies room, because there was no better place for a private conversation.

Kagome had wanted to go out so Inuyasha had taken her here, to their favorite restaurant. Sango and Miroku had shown up there as well.

Sango had still looked worried and Miroku had too because he had no idea what was bothering her. Sango wanted to kiss him so bad because he wasn't asking. He knew something was wrong but he was letting her take her time in telling him. He knew because her nail was bitten down nearly to nothing.

"I know." Sango said her hand on her stomach. "But how do you even begin that conversation?"

"It would have been easier had you told him the truth in the first place." Kagome pointed out kindly as she washed her hands.

"I know. I'm still kicking my own ass for that one." Sango looked at herself in the mirror.

"You can't wait too long." Kagome said putting a hand on her friends shoulder. "You'll start showing before you know it and he'll only buy 'I'm just putting on weight' for a while. Especially since you work out like it's your religion."

Sango sighed. "And I need to go to the doctor, I know." She took in a deep breath and straightened her back. "Okay. I'm going to tell him."

"That's my girl." Kagome smiled.

"Will you stay with me." Sango begged grabbing her hand and pleading with her eyes.

Kagome laughed softly. "Of course."

"I knid of wish Rin were still here." Sango said looking at herself in the mirror. "She would definitely be helpful."

Kagome laughed. "Yeah. I can just hear her now."

"What do you mean you haven't told him! Sango, stop being such a big wimp and speak up! What's the worst that could happen? And even if the worst does happen me and Kagome will raise him with you and Inumaru will have a little play mate. And besides that, Miroku is the greatest guy on the planet, next to my Sesshy of course, so the worst won't happen. So buck up soldier and go talk to that man!"

Both girls laughed at the speech they could just about hear Rin saying.

"Alright. I just have to do it quick. Like ripping off a bandage." Sango said taking another fortifying breath. "It will be fine. It will be fine." She repeated to herself.

"Let's go." Kagome said grabbing her friends hand.

Kagome led her from the bathroom, Sango's hand hot and sweaty from nerves, and back to their table. When Sango had seen Kagome was here she had immediatly requested her friend's presence. Maybe she knew Kagome could convince her. Well, Kagome and Rin's disembodied voice.

Miroku smiled at them and pretended to not notice Sango's shadowed look.

"Hey girls, we were just about to send a search party." he laughed. Inuyasha was next to him. He looked at Sango's expression then Kagome. She shook her head, almost imperceptibly and he didn't say anything.

"Sit, I think the food will be here soon." Miroku smiled at them when they hesitated.

"Sango?" Kagome looked at her friend.

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

Knowing he was finally about to get the answer to the question he had been longing to ask, Miroku kept his mouth shut and looked at the two women.

"Sango." Kagome said pulling her friend forward.

"You can do it, girl!" Rin's voice urged her in her mind.

"Miroku, you..." she seemed to be trying to look at everything but his face. "Do you remember when I told you about the pregnancy test?"

"Yes." he said slowly wondering where this was going.

"Well, I...I uh..." she looked at Kagome who nodded.

"Go on." she encouraged.

"I...I lied."

"You lied?" Miroku repeated, confused. You didn't take a pregnancy test?'

Inuyasha was looking back and forth, confused but not stupid enough to interrupt.

"No, no I took the test." Sango assured him. "I mean I lied about...about the results."

She said the last part so quietly Miroku wasn't sure he heard her right.

"You...You said it was...negative?"

"Yeah." she was looking at the ceiling now, biting her bottom lip.

"And you lied. Meaning..." He knew what it meant but he had to hear her say it.

"It was..." She brought her hand up to her mouth, about to begin chewing on her nail but she clenched it into a fist right before she could and lowered it again. "It...was..." she took a deep breath.

Why was this so damned hard to say? It was one word, a word she had used many times in the past.

"Positive." she whispered at last.

"Sango, you-" Miroku started but was cut off.

Kagome gasped and looked down in shock.

Despite what she had said to Inuyasha, she was sure her water breaking would look like she had peed herself.

She was dead wrong.

Both men jumped totheir feet and Sango jumped back as a waterfall fell from her dress and splashed onto the floor.