Kagome paced through the house, trying to remember everything she had to finish before she left to pick up Rin. She needed to finish making Rin's bed with new covers—back to Rin's room, which was a few rooms down the hall from Kagome's room. She needed to get her car keys—onwards toward her room. Then there were the meringues—back to the kitchen.

Kagome ran around for a few more minutes, until she decided she was done, and paid a quick visit to Sesshomaru who was, surprise, in his work room. Kagome had known he was a workaholic, but hadn't, in her wildest dreams, ever thought that he worked this much. The only places Sesshomaru would ever be found at were his work rooms, the gym in the basement, or at his job.

"Hello, Sesshomaru-sama," Kagome announced as she entered his room. He acknowledged her presence with a short nod.

"I'm going to get Rin now."

"Hnn." The silence stretched and Kagome wondered how she should phrase the next question.

"I will have work after lunch, so I was wondering… would you like to have tea today with Rin and I? I'd like to continue having tea together, if you want to." She dared a glance at him and saw he was watching her, his golden gaze steady. "But today, since Rin is coming home, I made some meringues to go with the tea."

Kagome let out a long breath and puffed her bangs. "I know it's not exactly a perfect English tea, but I was hoping you would meet Rin when we have tea together. Or something like that."

Checking her watch, Kagome opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. She couldn't be late picking up Rin, so she'd have to leave now. "Just consider it, please. It'd be nice to have you at tea."

"I will think about it."

Walking around the side of her car, Kagome opened the door so Rin could hop into her booster seat. After a few thwarted attempts, Kagome helped the girl in. before buckling her, Kagome paused for a moment.

"Is that seat getting too big for you?"

Rin twirled a piece of her hair and mumbled her response. "Yeah, my bottom is squished. Sorry."

Patting Rin's head, Kagome crouched down so she was eye level with the little girl. "Sweetie… it's not your fault. You grow. Kids grow. It's completely normal."

Rin sniffed, and Kagome saw how much it affected her. "But, we just got this one. It's pretty and it was," Rin kept her eyes cast downwards and whispered, "expensive."

Kagome kissed Rin's cheek, which now held the faint trail of a tear. It broke her heart to see how their poverty had affected Rin. Rin was a perceptive little girl, and Kagome's stress about their money hadn't escaped her scrutiny. Kids understand more than you'd expect, Kagome thought morosely.

"Don't you worry about that now. We are absolutely fine, and we can buy you a bigger booster seat." Kagome pinched Rin's nose with a smile, and closed the car door.

Popping into the front seat, Kagome ran through a mental checklist and made sure she had everything. Rin, booster seat, buckles must be buckled; everything was set but Kagome was still worried. Everything depended on how Sesshomaru would react to Rin.

Rin reached the front door before Kagome had finished gathering Rin's suitcases, but thankfully waited for Kagome to reach the door before she bounded into the house. In a rush, Kagome left the suitcases in the front hall and ran towards the kitchen. She had to quiet Rin down before Sesshomaru saw her, because he had undoubtedly heard her.

"Rin, wait!" Kagome stumbled into the kitchen as Rin reached for a meringue.

Kagome took Rin by the arm and sat her down at the table. "This is my house, and the same rules apply here as they did at our old house. I'm in charge, and you aren't allowed to run around like a baby."

Rin crossed her arms with a huff and Kagome waited. Slowly, just like all of the women in Kagome's family, Rin took a peek at Kagome and sighed. If given the proper amount of time, she would listen and obey.

"Thank you. Now I'm going to start the tea, and then I'll show you your room." Checking her watch, Kagome said, "It's not time for tea yet, but I'll let you have a meringue once we get back from your room."

As Kagome left the kitchen, she counted the meringues, which were arranged on a plate to look like a flower. Kagome mentally grumbled as she saw that there was one less meringue than when she had placed them. Rin must've swiped one.

Leading Rin down the hallway to her room, Kagome watched as the young hanyou took in her surroundings. Her room was completely purple, and Rin looked as pleased as punch. Kagome hoped that she hadn't gone over the top, but she had wanted Rin to feel as comfortable in her new home as she had in the last. Rin had been good at adapting to new changes over these past months, and Kagome was thankful this streak seemed to be lasting.

Together, they unpacked Rin's suitcases and then returned to the kitchen. Once they arrived, Kagome found Sesshomaru waiting for them. He was leaning against the table with his arms crossed, watching Kagome as intently as she was watching him.

Taking a deep breath, Kagome nudged Rin forward and said, "Hello Sesshomaru-sama. This is my sister, Rin. Rin, this is Sesshomaru-sama, my husband."

Rin took a graceful bow and straightened, trying to act like Kagome. Sesshomaru remained silent and when Kagome began to fidget under his stare, Rin mimicked the action. When it became apparent to Rin that Kagome would continue to act so unlike Kagome, Rin dared a glance at the great demon lord. His golden eyes met hers, and she observed him with keen interest.

Sesshomaru turned to Kagome, "I was under the impression she was only four years of age."

Kagome nodded, and offered an explanation for why Rin looked like a six year old instead of a four year old. "Hanyous grow differently depending on their parentage. Rin's father was of the dark inu-clan, that's why she has dark hair. The hanyous of the dark inu line have always grown fast as children, but begin to grow slowly once they reach puberty. The doctor estimates Rin will start puberty in three years, and then reach full maturity in twenty years. After that, she should live for a few thousand years."

Kagome didn't add that she'd be a middle aged woman by the time Rin looked like she was twenty, and that she probably wouldn't see Rin have her own children, or mate someone, for that matter. Rin's life would start as Kagome's would end, and the sooner Kagome accepted that, the better. Now, at least, Rin would have Sesshomaru. He would live after Kagome died, and he could take care of Rin when she needed help. Kagome didn't want to admit how jealous she was of him for that.

Just as Kagome realized she'd been lost in her thoughts while staring at Sesshomaru, Rin decided she'd had enough of the silence. Performing the flourishing curtsy she had learned in ballet class a long time ago, Rin announced in her most mature voice, "I think it is time for tea."

Kagome rolled her eyes and said, "Oh you do, do you? Well I think, mademoiselle, that you'd better sit down in that chair over there and let me decide when you can get your tea. I know you took one of the meringues already."

Rin's eyes widened, "No! I didn't! I promise, Kagome, I didn't take one! So please, pretty please can I have one?"

Kagome frowned as she found three cups and began to pour the tea into them. Rin wouldn't lie to her, especially not over meringues. "Maybe I counted them wrong…"

"I ate one," Sesshomaru stated.

Kagome twirled around with the cups of tea, but couldn't contain her surprise from gracing her features. Bewildered, because Sesshomaru had taken a meringue without permission? Intrigued, because what made him want one? And pleased, because he seemed to be warming up to her.

Focus, Kagome, she chided herself and brought the plate of goodies to the table. She only had an hour before work, and she wanted Sesshomaru to have a good first impression of Rin. And not that Rin couldn't be trusted to make a good first impression, but because she was a child. Children like Rin were loud and spirited, charming but not in the way an adult was charming. And Sesshomaru didn't seem to be the child-loving type. She simply couldn't take any risks.

Sitting down, Kagome took a sip of her tea. Before she could start a comfortable conversation, Rin blurted, "Sesshomaru-sama, it isn't nice to take things without permission. Kagome was worried about the cookies."

Kagome's eyes widened and she quickly tried to cover up from Rin. "No, sweetie, it's okay. Sesshomaru can eat as many as he wants. And they're meringues, not cookies."

Rin crossed her arms. Kagome rubbed her lips together and tried to assess the damage Rin had created with Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru frowned, displeased with his wife. He couldn't imagine why she had suddenly gone back to playing the meek, eager-to-please formal woman, but he didn't like it.

Woah, Meringues? Sesshomaru ate a meringue? What is the world coming to?! (if you don't know what a meringue is, it's egg whites beat together and then baked. They're really yummy, but be careful! They aren't that good for your pretty figure!)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please RxR! ~Gracie

All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.