Yay ^^ Got an update. Don't worry! More are on the way I promise you!

Enjoy!

Hands straightened out the coffee table back to its original position, her vacuum cleaner since put away from cleaning the floor of her living room, her chores basically finished for the day. Brown eyes flickered to look up to the demon and his son in the kitchen, Sesshomaru's long fingers pointing to the drawings his son produced.

Unfortunately, since Akihiko had overheard them talking about Sesshomaru's mother visiting, the boy had been too excited at the aspect of meeting his grandmother that Rin couldn't send him away to InuTaisho while they had their confrontation. Though she hoped it wouldn't be much of a confrontation.

"Mommy!"

Rin felt her lips pull into a smile at the sight of her child running towards her with open arms.

"Mommy! Mommy come see what I drawed!" Akihiko bounced, his hand tugging at hers to join him at the kitchen table.

"I thought you were showing daddy," Rin smiled down at him, her hand tugged by his while his lips pulled into a pout.

"But I want you to see too!" the boy asked, "please?"

"Alright, Alright," the young woman giggled, "I'm coming."

Since Rin had let the demon move in, Akihiko had tried to make the two of them do more things together, and, though his mother was still hesitant, she did her best to be kind to his father, something she found was becoming easier by the day.

"Akihiko," his father brought his son's attention to him, "I'll be back in a moment."

"Where you going?"

"Just to my room for something," Sesshomaru murmured, "I'll be right back okay?"

"Kay!" the boy smiled, his arms around the demon's legs as he hugged him tightly as he always did when his father had returned from work.

The demon had kept his promise, staying with them over the course of the week. At first it was awkward, Rin's feeling conflicted as he sat across from her at the dinner table for the first time in forever, Akihiko commanding most of the other's attention with his inquiries.

Slowly, as Rin watched Sesshomaru become the good father she knew he would be, reading Akihiko bedtime stories, thankfully not spoiling him with toys and games but doing his best to balance his work and his small family, she felt herself growing back into the young woman she was with him, though more hesitant.

Rin found smiling came even easier for her as it did her son, Akihiko evidently loving having both his parents together again. Even the time his parents took reading was more enjoyable with the temptation of the puzzles the dog demon gave him, all of them always engaging despite his frustration when he wrote his numbers backwards.

And now, even as Rin looked on at the picture of the three of them, she found that the knife Sesshomaru had left in her heart wasn't hurting as terribly as it used too.

"Rin?"

Sesshomaru descended the stairs slowly, his eye searching when he couldn't find her in the kitchen with her son, the orbs resting on the desk Rin used for her editing work and Akihiko had promptly informed him was a no-touch area, a bright colour edging him on.

Curious, the demon reached to touch the pamphlet on the desk, his eyes trailing over the heading of the proud and prestigious-looking elementary school.

"Sesshomaru?"

He turned to look at her as she approached him from Akihiko's room, his amber eyes watching hers notice the paper his fingers were touching.

"Oh…"

"My apologies," Sesshomaru murmured, "I just got… I'm sorry."

Rin swallowed thickly, her body moving over to gather the papers slowly.

"It's alright," she found herself admitting, "I… uh… I left them out from last night…"

"Have you… decided where he will be going?"

"Not yet," Rin sighed softly, "he's got kindergarten first and… it's just… harder than it should be."

"How come?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Akihiko doesn't want to go to school for gifted kids, says he wants to be normal kid," her shoulders sagged as she sighed, "and, I want him to be happy but at the same time, I know he's got the brains to go wherever he wants."

"If money is your concern-"

"No!"

Rin blushed lightly at her outburst, her throat swallowing thickly.

"I-It's not…" she searched for her answer, "I don't want you thinking that's why I want you around Akihiko."

"I don't," Sesshomaru told her honestly, "in our two years together, you never asked for anything. Everything I gave you was a gift," he grinned, "and you always begged me not to spend that much on you."

"I didn't want you to think that was why I was with you," Rin murmured, "still don't."

"I know that," the demon nodded, "actually, I wanted to talk to you about setting up a trust fund for Akihiko."

Surprised brown eyes turned to look up at him, her jaw slightly slacked.

"O-Oh," the young woman stammered, "right…"

"I don't have any of his information and since I'm not his… legal guardian," the demon felt a twinge of pain at the word, "I'll need your permission."

"Of course," Rin nodded, "I-I have a small university fund going for him now…"

"It could be transferred to his trust if you wish," Sesshomaru suggested, "or it could stay as is, it's your decision."

Before she could answer, the doorbell interrupted her, their son running from his room with excitement in his face and chanting "she's here! She's here!".

"You know," the demon murmured as the young woman groaned quietly, "he might be the first person who's that excited to see my mother."

"I just hope it stays like that," Rin admitted quietly, "and that she doesn't say anything… well…"

"It's my mother," Sesshomaru muttered, "she just might."

Calling softly to him, Akihiko pouted as he moved away from the door to his mother while Sesshomaru opened the door to the proud demon, her head held high and amber eyes cool.

"Hello Sesshomaru," she nodded to her son as he stepped aside to let her in, her eyes flickering to the young woman who stood with her hand over her smiling son's chest, "and hello again, Rin, how have you been?"

"Hello InuKimi," Rin replied coolly, "I've been well thanks."

Nodding once more, the amber orbs flickered to the little boy in her arms, his face smiling broadly as he looked up to her.

"And who is this?"

Before either Sesshomaru or Rin could respond, the child decided to answer her question himself.

"I'm Akihiko!" he chirped, "I'm your grandkid!"

All three adult seemed to be in shock at the words, InuKimi the one taken aback the most. Her eyes wide, she then turned to her own son.

"Akihiko," Rin whispered, her boy's attention turned towards her.

"Wha?"

"Come here," she murmured, her hand tugging him towards the kitchen while InuKimi started a heated discussion with Sesshomaru.

"How long have you known about this!?" the demon hissed, her son standing his ground.

"About a month now," Sesshomaru informed her.

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

"Probably because you told me to break it off with her and threatened to ruin her life," he snapped back.

"But you were perfectly fine letting me be blindsided just now-"

"Don't start," Sesshomaru shook his head, "Akihiko's ears are sensitive; he'll hear us."

"His mother is arguing with him," InuKimi pointed out, "something you never do with a child!"

"No, Rin should run her home like the ruthless dictator you were," the demon murmured, the elder taken aback at his words, "listen. Just sit down-"

"I'm not staying long," she interrupted, "not now."

Her son held his tongue as the half-demon returned with his mother, the elder demon led to the leather chair in the living room.

"I've put the kettle on to boil," Rin murmured, the boy looking sour at the scolding he had just received.

"I won't be staying long," InuKimi reiterated, Akihiko's face changing into surprise at the words.

"Huh?" he asked, "why not?"

"I just won't," she informed the child smartly, her legs crossed over one another.

"Oh," the ears seemed to falter, "can… can I sit with you?"

"I'd rather you didn't," InuKimi said quickly, the eager face falling as fast as it blossomed.

"Akihiko," Rin murmured, "wh-why don't you wait in your room-"

"I wanna wait here!" the boy told her defiantly, his body moving to sit by his father, "you said I could!"

"I know I did," Rin murmured, "but please, don't argue with me."

"But-"

"I'm not asking you anymore, I'm telling you," the young woman informed her son, "now."

Pouting, the boy took once last glance to his grandmother before slipping towards his room, the door shutting softly behind him.

"I suppose you want me to apologize," InuKimi started, her eyes calm as she looked over the other two.

"For starters," Rin nodded, "both to me and my son."

The amber orbs searched Rin's chocolate ones, her throat swallowing thickly.

"Well… I won't."

The words from his mother's mouth were no surprise to Sesshomaru, though they were a disappointment.

"I don't regret my decision," the demon woman continued, "you have a son; you must understand what it means to want the best for him!"

"I wouldn't ruin my son's happiness for my own!" Rin protested.

"I didn't-"

"You knew my feelings for her," Sesshomaru interjected, "I made them clear to you."

"Pardon me for thinking you could've done better," InuKimi murmured, the young woman torn between snapping at her and smacking her.

"You think that even now," the demon whispered, "even after you've met my son?"

"A son you didn't know about-"

"Because I had to break it off with Rin," Sesshomaru interrupted, "if I had known she was pregnant, I wouldn't have done such a stupid thing."

"Are you blaming me-"

"It was my fault entirely," he murmured, "but you cannot sit there and think that there is someone who is better for me than her. Not after meeting my son that she raised on her own for four years."

InuKimi sucked in a deep breath.

"And if I do?"

"Is it because Akihiko is a half-demon?" Rin asked, her tone dangerous.

"Perhaps," the woman spoke slowly, the anger evident on the younger's face, her retort silenced by a sharp inhale of breath.

Sesshomaru's eyes turned to his son as Rin's did, the eared head bowed as his lower lip seemed to tremble while fat tears pooled in his eyes, his hand clutching the doorframe he half-concealed himself behind.

"Akihiko?"

Without a word, their child disappeared back into his room, the door slamming behind him.

"Akihiko!?"

Both demons watched as the young woman chased after her son, her form nearly disappearing behind the door before she suddenly rounded on the demon woman.

"I want you out of my house!" Rin snarled, her chest huffing in her clearly visible fury.

"Wh-What-"

"My son is now sobbing because you told him he's not good enough for his FATHER!" the young woman screamed at her, "NOW GET OUT!"

Both demons flinched at the volume of her voice, Sesshomaru taken aback before he glared at his elder.

"Mother!"

The elder seemed slightly taken aback by her son's anger, his eyes narrowing dangerously and the muscle in his jaw twitching.

"I merely spoke my mind-"

"With your grandson present-"

"I didn't think he'd take it horribly-"

Rin, whether fortunately or unfortunately, was too busy tending to her crying boy to listen to their fighting.

"Akihiko, tell me what's wrong," the young woman asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Why am I not good enough?" the boy asked as fat tears ran down his face, his nose sniffing.

"Oh honey," Rin whispered, "you are, you are… shhh…"

"But-But-But she said-"

"She's wrong," his mother told her, "she's so very very wrong."

"But she said…" he whimpered, her head snuggling into her chest as her arms brought him closer.

"You should know that not what everyone says is true," Rin whispered, her hand running over his back in a soothing motion.

"Mommy…"

"Your daddy wants you more than anything," the young woman told her, "he's willing to fight for you," her lips lowered to his head, "Akihiko, please don't listen to her."

Both flinched at the sound of the door slamming shutting behind the demon woman.

"Akihiko-"

Sesshomaru slipped into the boy's bedroom to see the child curled into her waist, his hands around her as he sobbed openly.

"Akihiko," the demon whispered, his heart hurting at the pain in his small son.

Peeking to look out at his father, the boy sniffled, his mother's arms comforting as he snuggled closer to her.

"Please don't listen to what my mother said," Sesshomaru murmured, his hands reaching to run through the white locks, "she was wrong."

"Why'd she say it though!?"

"I… I don't know," his father whispered, "I just wish she didn't."

The demon's guilt was overwhelming as the demon ran his finger over the white cup that held his tea. Akihiko seemed to deflate after his mother had left in a huff, the boy wanting to do nothing more that curl up into a ball. It was Rin who asked if they could have time alone, something Sesshomaru reluctantly agreed too.

His mother should never have let those words fall from her mouth, and he should have never let his son listen to her.

Long white hair turned to the sound of the opening and shutting door, the young woman sighing deeply as she stepped towards the living room, her body collapsing on the couch.

"How is he?"

Rin looked up to the demon, her hand rubbing her tired eyes.

"He's asleep," she murmured, "finally."

"Was he still upset?" Sesshomaru asked as she took a seat beside the demon, her body lounging on the back of the couch.

"Yeah," Rin sighed quietly, "poor thing."

His eyebrow raised slightly, the demon looked over the young woman, her fingers running through her hair as she looked tormented.

"Rin-"

"I'm sorry," she murmured, "it's just… five years and it's all undone in one week," she sighed deeply, "spent all this time alone and making Akihiko happy and then…"

"Then what?"

She swallowed thickly.

"I should've just sent him to someone else's kicking and screaming. It would be less hurtful than this," Rin sighed deeply, "I didn't think this was going to happen," the young woman whispered, her arms around the pillow, "I didn't think Akihiko would get so hurt-"

"My mother shouldn't have said what she did," Sesshomaru whispered, "I didn't think she would."

"Still," her finger pressed under her eye as she wiped away her tears, "it was my choice. It's my fault that he's upset."

"No, it's not," the demon murmured, "it's not, Rin."

"I told him it was okay to stay here…"

"I invited her over," Sesshomaru pointed out.

"Why's everything gone so wrong?" Rin whispered, her fingers running through her black locks.

To her question the demon didn't answer, knowing that the reason was purely his stupid pride.

"Why didn't you come back?"

The soft voice caught Sesshomaru off guard, his head turning to look at the young woman whose eyes met his.

"Rin-"

"No," she shook her head, "you tell me here and now why you didn't call me back even after a year. If you don't, you can leave."

Surprised, Sesshomaru searched his mind for an answer, knowing Rin was serious and clearly had had enough.

Without a word, the demon pulled out his wallet, his fingers reaching in to pull out a small, white square. Unfurling it, Sesshomaru passed it to the young woman, her brown eyes curious as she looked over the picture.

"I… had hired a Private investigator to find you, since you moved," he swallowed, seemingly ashamed, "my phone… my ex-fiancée kept harassing me so I needed to change numbers. When I couldn't find you, I had someone else do it," his head nodded to the picture, "he took that."

Chocolate orbs flickered to the picture once more, her eyes trailing over the sight of her hugging the young man tightly, her face in bliss.

"I figured you had moved on," Sesshomaru continued quietly, "and wouldn't want me back in your life."

The young woman surprised him, her jaw tightening as she stood, her hand flicking the picture to the coffee table, her fingers gripping her scalp as she moved around the room.

"Do you need to be right!?" Rin snapped, "do you have this incisive need to be absolutely right about everything!?"

"Wh-What-"

"That was my cousin!" Rin explained exasperatedly, "you never met him because he lives in America and he and I weren't that close though I know I've mentioned him to you! He came over to see Akihiko that week," her brown eyes narrowed at him, "would it honestly kill you to just ask someone something!?"

Sesshomaru was stunned into silence, his eyes watching the young woman glare down at him, her throat swallowed thickly, her shoulders sagging as she sighed deeply.

"I just… I don't know," she all but flopped back to the couch, her forehead in her fingers, "I don't know anymore."

"Rin-"

"Did what I say not mean anything to you?!" the young woman asked quietly, "I told you countless times how much I love you," she swallowed thickly.

"I-I wanted you to find happiness with someone that you deserved," Sesshomaru whispered, "but… it killed me to think you had found someone and after how I acted, it shouldn't have surprised me… so no, I didn't ask you because I wanted to keep away from your happiness; I had ruined it one too many times."

Shaking her head, Rin felt tears bloom in her eyes as she swallowed thickly.

"Rin-"

"I'm just so frustrated," she admitted quietly, "everything's so screwed up," her brown eyes looked to her son's bedroom door, "and it's toxic for Akihiko."

Both sat in silence, Sesshomaru wishing he had gone to talk to her, that he had listened to his heart when he heard Rin tell him she loved him. True, she would have snapped, but the damage wouldn't have festered like the rancid wound it was.

He had a question that tempted him, his mind digesting the news and feeling his heart lighten at her words.

"R-Rin," Sesshomaru chose his words carefully, "I understand that you were unable to trust anyone after me," he swallowed thickly, ignoring the pain in the truth of his words, "but… was that the only reason you didn't find someone else?"

She studied him carefully, her breathing controlled and her face unreadable.

"I had to dedicate all my time to Akihiko," the young woman whispered, "so… that was part of the reason…"

"Part of it?"

Rin sucked in a deep breath.

"You want to know if I still love you," Rin stated more than asked, Sesshomaru not moving as she gathered her thoughts, "you gave me two wonderful years," the young woman started, fighting the tears threating to bloom, "you made me feel like I was the only one you saw, you gave me Akihiko," she sucked in a deep breath, "I tried to forget how much… how I truly loved you," her throat swallowed thickly, "but I couldn't… I can't."

"Rin…"

"To answer your question, I-I still have those feelings for you," the young woman confessed, "but-"

A hand on her arm stopped her, the amber eyes searching her before he leaned towards her, his other hand slipping over her cheek. Slowly, her eyes fluttered closed as his did, his lips only just brushing over hers.

Confused at the kiss that never came, the young woman looked to the demon who pulled slowly away from her, his eyes focusing on the slowly opening door, Rin looking at the little boy that wordlessly shuffled over to them.

"I thought you were asleep," Rin murmured as she adjusted to look at him, "you need to go back to bed."

Silently, Akihiko slipped between them, his body nestled with his head on his mother's chest.

"Akihiko-"

"Is she coming back?"

The whisper made both of his parents glance to each other before back down to their clearly saddened son.

"Not if I can help it," Sesshomaru murmured, his hands running over the soft locks.

"Why is she like that?" the boy pressed.

"That's just who my mother is," the demon whispered, "and I'm so sorry she said those things…"

"Do you think that?"

Both of his parents looked down at their son in surprise before the demon pulled the boy to his lap.

"You," his lips gently touched while his eyes flickered to the young woman, "and your mother are the best things for me. It doesn't matter what my mother tells me."

"So you won't leave us?"

"Of course not," Sesshomaru whispered, "please don't think that, Akihiko."

Akihiko's red-rimmed eyes stared blankly at the couch before his mother ran her fingers through his white locks.

"I'm sorry sweetheart," Rin apologized to her son, her lips pressing to his temples, "I'm so sorry," she gently cupped his cheek, "I didn't think this was going to happen."

"This is my fault Akihiko," Sesshomaru murmured, his hands holding his son closer to him, "don't blame your mother for this." The boy sniffled in response, his back rubbed with tenderness. "Oh Akihiko, I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I never wanted to hurt you again."

His head turned to look up at his father, his face soft.

"You didn't," the boy mumbled, "she did…"

"I shouldn't have let her," his father told him.

"Are you… are you gonna see her again?" Akihiko asked worriedly.

"Oh no," Sesshomaru murmured, "not after that."

Seemingly relieved, the boy sighed as he rested his head to his father's chest.

"Do I have to call her grandma?"

Chuckling, the demon pulled his child up in his arms.

"Not if you don't want to," his father told him, "now come on, back to bed."

Nodding, the boy looked at his mother over his father's shoulder, her fingers running through his hair before she kissed him goodnight.

"I love you Akihiko," Rin smiled up at him, "goodnight."

"Night mommy!" her son finally grinned, "love you."

Kissing her boy once more, the young woman turned and made her way up the stairs, clearly exhausted from the day.

"Daddy?"

The demon looked down at the child he was tucking into bed.

"Are you still worrying over what my mother said?" Sesshomaru asked him, his fingers running through the strands as his mother did.

"Kinda…"

"Well don't," the demon smiled warmly, "what about my father? He likes you."

"Yeah," the boy smiled slowly, his amber eyes meeting his father's before his arms slipped around his father's neck and squeezed him tight, "I love you daddy…"

"I love you too," Sesshomaru whispered, his own arms tightening around the boy, "if nothing else, don't forget that, okay? No matter what anyone says, I love you."

"Kay…"

"Now, go to bed," his father told him, his body standing from the side of the boy's bed.

Nodding once more, the boy rolled over, the demon shutting the door behind him, hoping and praying that things for them might slowly become better for all three of them.

Sooo? What do you think? Good? Bad? Reviews please!