Happy New Years guys ^^

Can't believe I started this story a year ago... and in a year it's become so popular ^^ So thank you to all of you!

The family was quiet in the morning, their bodies adjusting to the warmth under the covers, the demon feeling the most relaxed he had in years.

That is, until their son decided to wake up.

"GET UP!"

Both parents jolted from their sleep, the brown and amber eyes snapping open to a very exuberant and healthy little boy.

"Getupgetupgetup!" Akihiko bounced, Rin groaning as she rolled over to look at her clock.

"Akihiko," his mother murmured, her finger pointed at the clock, "what time is it?"

"Um…" the boy shuffled to look over her shoulder at the digital clock, "e-eight?"

"No," the young woman told him kindly, "it's missing a dash. So what is it?"

"Um… six?"

"Uh-huh," Rin nodded, "what's the rule?"

"Don't wake up mommy before eight," Akihiko mumbled, his ears dropping slightly and his face pulling into a pout before he lit up, "but, six looks a lot like eight! So it's okay!"

"No, honey, it isn't," the young woman murmured, "let mommy sleep."

"But moooooooom-"

"Akihiko," Sesshomaru interrupted, his voice still full of sleep, "you know the rules."

"But they're not your rules!" Akihiko pointed out, his body shuffling over to shake his father, "get up daddy!"

"Akihiko…"

"Pleeease daddy?"

Sesshomaru opened is amber eyes to look at the pouting face, the boy's hands on his arm as he shook him gently.

"Alright… alright," the demon sighed, "I'll be down in a few minutes… can you go and wait for me?"

"YAAAAY!"

Rin groaned softly at the exuberance her son displayed while his feet pattered over the carpeted hallways to the living room.

"We're gonna have to bring him in to get rid of one cast only to put on a new one," she muttered, her body shuffling under the comforter.

"Mmm," Sesshomaru hummed, his body sighing deeply, "I guess I have to get up."

"No, you know you have to get up."

"You're as cheeky as your son," the demon muttered.

"No. Your son isn't cheeky; he's a smartass."

"What's the difference," Sesshomaru asked, a small smile on his lips as he enjoyed their banter.

"Being cheeky is cute; being a smartass is just annoying."

Smirking at her sarcastic comment, the demon conceded into rolling over, his feet touching the floor while the hyperactive feet pattered towards the room, the eared head poking into the room, his amber eyes searching for his father.

"I'm coming," the demon whispered, the door shutting behind him to allow Rin a few more precious minutes of sleep.

"Sleep well?"

His son turned to look up at his father, his lips smiling as he nodded vigorously.

"Did you?" Akihiko laughed.

"Best I had in years," Sesshomaru murmured truthfully as he ran his fingers through his son's hair.

Giggling, Akihiko moved towards the kitchen.

"What do you want for breakfast?" the demon asked, his eyes wandering around the cabinets.

"Cereal!" the boy laughed, the finger to his father's lips making him quiet down, "cereal," he repeated in a whisper.

"Okay," Sesshomaru murmured, "where does your mother keep the cereal?"

"That one!" Akihiko announced, his finger pointing towards the cabinet, the demon reaching in to grab two boxes and, upon his son's instructions, filled the bowl with the right cereal.

"Now, Akihiko," the demon started, "do you know where your mommy keeps the tea?"

"Didn't you make it last night?"

"That was decaffeinated," Sesshomaru explained, "but adults drink different things in the morning to wake up."

"Is that the not decaffeinated stuff?" the boy's nose crinkled at the words.

"It's called caffeinated," his father murmured, "so yes, you would be right."

"Umm," the hand that wasn't clutching his spoon touched his lips, "I think it's in the small can above the teapot…"

"Thank you," Sesshomaru smiled to his son, his body moving over to grab the can of teabags.

"Daddy…"

Long silver hair turned to look at his son, his long fingers pulling back from flicking on the kettle.

"Do you… do you need to go away?" Akihiko asked nervously, his eyes searching his father's for answers.

The drooping ears seemed to hurt his heart, Sesshomaru moving over kiss the crown of white hair.

"Just for a bit," his father murmured honestly, "okay?"

"You'll be back… right?"

Sesshomaru looked down at his son, the amber eyes looking hopefully up at his father with his ears still lowered in dejection.

"I will," the demon promised as he lowered his body for the boy, Akihiko hugging him tightly in response, "I'll need to talk to your mother about it though, but I will come back, okay?"

"Kay," Akihiko mumbled, his lips pulling in a smile that his father cherished.

Now happier, the boy tucked into his breakfast, his father finishing with the tea just in time for his mother to walk down the stairs to join her small family for breakfast.

"Momfy!"

"Chew and swallow before you speak honey," Rin told him, her body moving over to touch her hand to his forehead, "how are you feeling?"

"Good!" the boy chirped, "cast is itchy…"

"It's coming off today," his mother smiled warmly, "okay?"

Nodding, the young woman moved towards the demon, Sesshomaru extending her cup of tea to her.

"Thank you," she nodded to him, her hands clasping her mug.

"I thought you were going to sleep a few more minutes," Sesshomaru murmured.

"I was," Rin admitted, "but once I wake up, it's hard to go back to sleep," her eyes flickering to her son, "are you finished Akihiko?"

"Mmhm!"

"So why don't you go get dressed?" his mother murmured, her hands taking the bowl away from her son who hopped off the chair and moved to his room.

"Rin…"

"I heard," she nodded, her shoulders sagging as she sighed softly, "you will be back right?"

"Of course," he started, "it won't happen again."

"I've already told you what happens if it does," Rin told him without a hint of malice, "I just don't want you hurting my baby."

"I won't hurt you or my son," Sesshomaru promised, "I couldn't."

Her deep chocolate eyes searched his amber, her heart fluttering at the intensity he had.

"I'll make up the guest bedroom for you," she murmured quietly, "and I'll be taking him to the hospital at two. We'll be home around four."

"I'd take it that's when you want me home by?" he asked, his lips pulled into a smirk.

"That's when your son would like to see you," Rin told him sincerely, "please?"

"I only need to visit the office quickly and grab a few clothes from my apartment," the demon informed her, "I will be fast."

"Alright," she nodded, her eyes flickering to the pattering feet, her lips pulling into a smile as she laughed lightly. "Akihiko!"

Sesshomaru turned to look at his son, his own face smiling as his boy looked up at him with pitiful eyes, his shirt half on with the cast arm next to his neck.

"It got stuck," the boy mumbled as his mother moved over to help him, her hand moving his through the armhole.

"Goofball," his mother whispered, her finger touching his nose while her lips pressed to his temples. "It's coming off today, okay?"

"Kay," he giggled, his eyes glancing to his father.

"So, Akihiko," Sesshomaru started, "I'm going to go away for a bit, but I'll come back later, I promise."

"Okay…"

"You're daddy's gonna stay over for a bit," Rin murmured, "while we all figure this out."

"Kay," the boy seemed to slowly perk up, his arms wrapping around her waist while his father's hands ran through his hair.

"You're heading off then?" the young woman asked, her eyes flickering to look up at him.

"Unfortunately," Sesshomaru nodded, "I'll be back, Akihiko."

The boy nodded, his body slipping out of his mother's arms to hug his father.

"Bye daddy," Akihiko murmured.

"I'll be back Akihiko," the demon felt a smile pull on his lips.

Rin let her son walk with his father to the front door a smile on her lips as she felt her own heart warm at the idea that he was coming back for them.

"How do you feel?" Rin asked as she walked out the hospital door with her son in tow, his hand in hers with the other holding his cast.

"Better," Akihiko nodded, his eyes looking down to the cast, "this is kinda cool!"

"It was nice of the doctor to let you keep it," his mother commented softly, her hand digging through her pocket for her car keys.

"Yeah!" the boy giggled, "think daddy will like it?"

"I think he'd like to see it off your arm," Rin murmured quietly as the car door opened for her boy, "right, in you go."

"Kay!"

His mother smiled as he climbed into his car seat, the child liking to do as much on his own as he could.

"Alright," she sighed softly as her son was buckled in, "comfy?"

"Uh-huh," Akihiko seemed to bounce in his seat.

"You must be looking forward to going home," Rin smiled.

"Well… yeah," his fingers fiddled with the cast, "I mean… daddy promised to come back… right?"

"Who would say no to you," the young woman asked as she kissed him on the forehead.

Akihiko chatted indecisively during the ride home, his legs kicking in the seat in anticipation.

"Now Akihiko," Rin told him as she opened the door, "I don't want you waiting by the window."

"Why not?" the boy whined.

"Because a watched pot never boils," the young woman murmured softly, "and I don't know when he's coming back so I don't want you to feel disappointment when he doesn't drive up right away, okay?"

"But-"

"He'll come back," Rin surprised herself at her words as she smiled to her son, "okay?"

Though her son had nodded, his actions were more difficult to deter. After calling him away from the window three times, Rin had to pull him upstairs with her as she prepared the guest bedroom for his father.

"But why can't I wait downstairs?" Akihiko whined, his body leaning on the made-up bed.

"Because you promised me you wouldn't," Rin murmured as she eased the pillow into the cover, "and what have I told you about whining?"

"I'm not-"

"Do you need to have a time out?" she asked sternly, knowing her son only acted like this when he was tired.

"No," he mumbled, his ears drooping, "sorry mommy…"

"Okay," Rin kissed him on the forehead while the pillow was fluffed before she let him relax on it, "I just don't like it when you're cranky."

"Sorry," he pouted, "I just want daddy to come back."

"He promised you," she assured him, "just give him time."

Akihiko nodded, his ears perking up as yet another car drove past their house.

"Re-lax!" Rin told him, her fingers running over his ears, her chastisement all for naught when the knuckles rapped on her door.

"He's here!"

His mother sighed as the bed covers were kicked over, her hands smoothing the ruffled covers before she moved down to the first floor. Turning to the laughing boy as he stood by the door, the child bounced on the balls of his feet in excitement, his hand reaching for the doorknob

"Akihiko…" Rin put her finger to her lips, "it… might not be him, okay? So calm down."

"It's him," the boy giggled, his mother smiling as he touched his ear, "I know it."

The young woman shook her head as she pulled open the door to reveal Akihiko's prediction, the demon standing with a bag over his shoulder and a soft smile on his lips.

"Daddy!"

Rin smiled as her son wrapped his arms around the demon's legs, his face set in a wide and happy grin.

"Akihiko," Sesshomaru asked softly, "can I come inside first?"

Remaining by his father's legs, Akihiko waited for the door to shut behind his father before he was scooped up in the strong arms.

"Miss me?" the demon grinned as the arms wrapped around his neck, his son pressing them closer together.

"Mhm," Akihiko hummed happily, "yeah!"

Sesshomaru chuckled lightly as he squeezed the boy tighter before he bent to put his child down on the floor, the feet kicking until they touched on the wood.

"I see you got your arm back," Sesshomaru noted, the boy becoming more excited at the news.

"Yeah! And they let me keep the cast too!" he bounced on the balls of his feet, "wanna see it?"

"I'd love too," the demon murmured, "why don't you go get it for me."

At the words, the boy ran from the halls to grab his cast, Rin smiling warmly as she turned to the demon.

"How'd it go?" Sesshomaru asked.

"He was fine," Rin shrugged, "the doctors were kind and got the job done quickly."

"That's good," the demon murmured as their child ran towards him with the cast in his hand.

"Here!"

"That's cool Akihiko," Sesshomaru smiled down at his son, "can you show me to my room?"

The boy nodded vigorously, his hand taking his father's and leading him up the stairs, Akihiko chatting invectively as the demon unpacked his belongings.

"Akihiko," the demon murmured, "I've got something for you."

Perking up at the words, his child, who was now seated on the bed, leaned towards him, his amber eyes eager for the book his father handed out to him.

"It's a puzzle book," Sesshomaru explained, "ever heard of Sudoku?"

At the shaking of the boy's head, his father continued.

"It's a puzzle where you fill in the nine squares with number from one to nine," the demon continued, "but there can't be the same number horizontally or vertically."

"So…" Sesshomaru watched as his son's mind spun as he digested the information, "you'd end up with different combinations of nine numbers… right?"

"That's right," his hands rubbed his son's back, "it's a numbers puzzle, no words or letters."

Akihiko seemed to light up as he looked from the book to his father, his arms flinging around the waist.

"Now, I'll help you with the first one," Sesshomaru told him, "but after dinner okay?"

Nodding vigorously, the boy leapt off the bed to run down the hall, most likely to show his mother his new gift.

Following his son, Sesshomaru moved towards the kitchen, his stomach hungering for Rin's cooking the he had missed over the years.

"That's really kind of him, Akihiko," Rin told her boy, "and you'll listen to him when he helps you right?"

"Uh-huh!"

The demon rounded the corner to see Rin dividing her time between dinner preparation and her son.

"Would you like some help with dinner?"

Rin turned from the vegetables she was chopping to the demon standing behind her, his amber eyes watching her movements.

"Oh, no, I'm fine," she shook her head, "I'm… sure Akihiko wants to play with you…"

"I do! I do!"

"Can I talk to your mother first?" Sesshomaru asked, "are you okay with doing something by yourself for a bit?"

"Can I play with my Legos?"

"Only if you pick them up," Rin called after his retreating back.

Looking from the cauliflower to Sesshomaru, the young woman sighed softly, her knife resting on the wooden cutting board.

"About?" Rin asked, her body leaning against the countertop with her arms over her chest.

"What we're going to do with Akihiko-"

"I have already told you," she interrupted, her eyes narrowing sternly, "I am not giving up that child."

"I'm not asking you too," Sesshomaru murmured softly, "and I don't want you to either."

"I don't want to hand him back and forth like we're a divorced couple," Rin admitted quietly, "not after… all this," she sucked in a deep breath, "but-"

"You still don't trust me," he finished, "I understand."

"But I did promise you that we… we could work it out… for our son's sake."

Sesshomaru looked up at her, knowing that he had a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Rin," he started, "I… I may have told you this before, but I do, truly, love you," his feet took a few steps towards her, his hands rising to touch her arms, "I will do whatever I can to make you believe my sincerity."

Her jaw tightened as she looked up to him, her fingers slowly rising to cover his.

"I want your mother to meet Akihiko," Rin told him, "I want her to meet her grandson. And apologize to me."

Soo? Reviews?

and have a great new year guys ^^