A/N: Thanks to those who asked if I was feeling better. I am :-). I had crushed my hand and wrist under a box at work and couldn't use it that well for a few days. Its all better now!

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Chapter 32: Have You Someone to Protect?

Screams broke through the silence of the palace of the Lord of the West. Surely every demon in the palace heard the young girl screaming. But, it was not screams that anyone could help. Not even Lord Sesshoumaru. He was not even allowed within the room.

Rin was in labor. And, it'd shocked him when the human midwife shooed him out of the room. Nobody told the lord what to do, and he'd momentarily growled at her. But, he had brought the human woman here for Rin as he himself knew nothing about how to birth a human child.

It had already been four months since the pair had visited Inuyasha and his mate. Sesshoumaru had heard of his niece missing, but he refused to leave his own pregnant mate. But when he got the news of her return, he was quite overjoyed. The once ice cold lord was actually happy. And, the way he showed his happiness was by sending gifts to his niece and her mate. He'd sent quite a few fine kimono to her. He'd called it a late congratulations to the couple. It was customary for Lords of the lands to send gifts when another Lord had mated, or for other occasions.

And then it'd been another three months since he'd heard of his nieces return home. Things in the lands were pretty calm, and he was expecting his first child. It was probably the one time the great Lord actually was quite nervous. He'd never been a father, nor did he ever imagine himself to be a father.

Sitting there on a chair in the hallway, Sesshoumaru thought of the final words he'd heard from his father, the final conversation he'd had with him.

Leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, closing his eyes halfway.

"Supreme Conquest? Tell me, Sesshoumaru...have you someone to protect?"

His fathers words rang through his head as he thought to himself. The words he'd given in response rang through, as well.

"Protect? The answer is no. I, Sesshoumaru, have no need of such..."

Closing his eyes all the way, squeezing them shut at the sound of Rin's screams from their bed chambers breaking through his thoughts. He'd once thought he had no one to protect, no such need of anyone to protect at all. At one point he had believed his words he'd offered his father. He had meant them for a long time. Until those years ago when he met Rin in the forest. Something about the child captivated him. And now, she was his mate, birthing his child.

Sitting up again, he looked at the room, a growl ripping at his throat as he heard yet another scream come from the human girls lips. His innate need to protect her tore at his heart, a heart he never believed he possessed. It was the heart that drove his father to run after the human mother of Inuyasha, running to his death.

But now, he had not only one life to protect, but two. The second being one he'd made with a human, a hanyou child. Never had he thought he would sire a hanyou child. He'd always thought if he ever mated, it'd be for political reasons, to birth an heir that was a full blooded demon. That had been the reason his own parents had mated, it was a political arrangement to produce him. And only later did his father fall in love with a human woman.

Now, many years later, he could see his fathers reasoning. He understood what his father had been trying to teach him, and understood why he'd asked if he had anyone to protect. It was like it all clicked within his head when Rin informed him that he would be a father.

His piercing golden eyes glared up at the door at the sound of another scream, growling deeper. "Should she be in that much pain...?" he asked.

It was his servant Jaken who answered. "Yes m'lord. Human births are much more painful than demon ones, Lord."

Jaken was there with his lord, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newest heir to the west. He'd marveled at how much the girl Rin had softened not only himself, but his lord. Though Lord Sesshoumaru was only soft when it came to Rin. And he did not show it in public. Jaken rarely ever seen the look of concern in his lords eyes the way they looked now.

Rin had already been in labor for several hours, and it tore at Sesshoumaru to hear her pain and not even be allowed within the room with her. A few times he considered going inside regardless on what the human midwife had said. He'd even wondered if he should have gotten his brothers miko mate to help with the birthing. He doubted this human woman he'd brought had any idea how protective demon men were of their mates. At least Kagome, he believed, would have let him be at Rins side.

Of course, it was not customary for the man to be within the birthing room.

After several more hours, the sun was beginning to set, and he was beginning to grow tired of hearing the screams without putting a stop to them. But, not once did Rin curse him for pupping her as he'd heard other human women said during the birthing process. Not once did he hear a cross word utter from his sweet Rin's mouth. She'd yelled to the Kami, screamed, but no cross words came from her.

And then, when he finally heard the small cries of an infant fill the air, he stood up from his position. Giving it a few more minutes before he stepped up to the door and pushing it to slide open. Looking into the room, he saw his Rin laying on their futon, a soft sheen of sweat on her delicate human skin. Infant cries filled the room, as the midwife was cleaning the infant off.

His golden eyes glanced from his mate to the human woman. Stepping over to her, he looked down at them. The woman had a wooden bucket of water there that she used to clean the infant off with. Almost feeling his stare, the woman looked up at him. "Its a boy, my lord."

Nodding to her as he looked at the infant she held. The small child had already long black locks, pointed demon ears, and his eyes were closed. He noticed the child did not have the dog ears of his brother, and he was almost relieved for that.

The human woman wrapped the child in a blanket and walked over to the futon, kneeling down and offering the child to Rin.

Gently Rin shifted, opening her eyes slowly and moving to take the child. A smile crossed her lips as she looked at her son. "Oh look at you.." she said. Looking up at Sesshoumaru. "Lord Sesshoumaru...come see your son." she said to him.

Stepping up close to the futon, moving to kneel down next to them, he looked down at his son slowly, watching his face. It was surreal to him. He had a hanyou son.

Rin's eyes looked up at Sesshoumaru, smiling to him. "What will he be called, my lord?" she asked.

"InuTaisho shall be the childs name." he declared, looking from his child and up to his mate.

"InuTaisho..." she said happily, looking down at the baby. Reaching her finger up to let the boy take ahold of her pointer finger. "I like it, InuTaisho." she said, leaning down and kissing his forehead slowly.

Realization hit her as she looked up at Sesshoumaru. "Wasn't your fathers name Inu no Taisho?" she asked curiously.

"Yes." he said.

Nodding slowly. "Its a perfect name, My lord." Rin said to him. Leaning up to him and kissing his cheek gently before sitting back a little, looking down at the baby.

He looked down at his mate and son, giving a small nod. "It is. As is he." he told her. Resting one hand on Rin's shoulder, he looked to his mates face. "Just like his mother." he told her. He rarely said things like that. Even though she'd softened him, he rarely spoke his feelings.

She smiled happily, shifting on the futon. "Lay with us, my lord. Please?" she asked.

And, how could he deny her that request? She'd spent the entire day in pain and labor to bring his child into the world. Even on a normal day he could not deny her any of her hearts desires. So, today he definitely couldn't.

Slowly moving to lay on his side next to her, helping her lay back a little. He wasn't wearing his armor since he'd been within the palace, so he didn't worry about it. Resting his elbow down, his cheek resting in his hand as he looked at them. Moving his free hand over, running the back of his finger along the infants cheek.

At his touch, InuTaisho slowly stopped crying, sniffling and opening his eyes. Revealing that he had his fathers brilliant golden eyes, even the same shape as Sesshoumaru's, even with soft purple lines just above his eyelids and a singular purple stripe on each cheek. They weren't jagged like Inuyasha's was when he transformed, and he only had one on each cheek instead of two like Sesshoumaru had.

A rare smile crossed his lips as he watched his son open his eyes for the first time.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

InuTaisho was a pretty good baby. When he'd been born was probably the most the child cried so far within his first month of life. He'd whine and fuss when he needed something. And Sesshoumaru saw to it that nobody spoke ill of his child, or his mate. People were pretty afraid of him to begin with, so they didn't say a word for fear of the daiyoukai lord finding out.

Sesshoumaru was protective of the two of them. And they hadn't left the palace since Rin had given birth. And Rin was itching to get out of the house. She wanted to go somewhere, she'd been locked within the palace and surrounding walls for months. She practically begged Sesshoumaru to take her and InuTaisho to see Tamako, Kouga, Inuyasha and Kagome. When he'd finally given in, she was so excited. But, Sesshoumaru insisted it would only be for a day trip.

He'd had Ah-Un prepared for their departure. And they'd left in the morning.

They were at the village a few hours later. InuTaisho barely fussed the entire way, and Rin was there to soothe him if he did. She was absolutely in love with her infant son, and it showed.

When Ah-Un set down on the ground, Sesshoumaru moved to take Rin's hand, helping her step off of Ah-Un. "Thank you, my lord." she said happily, looking up at him.

Nodding to her, he let her hand go and walked just behind her towards the hut that belonged to his half brother. He was not comfortable outside of the palace walls with his mate caring for their very young pup. He had enemies, and he knew now that he had a family, that they were his weakness. He knew the possibilities of enemies attacking his pup and mate to get to him. And he would die before he'd allow that to happen.

When they walked up to the hut, they actually found it empty, making Rin pout a little.

"We came here for them not to be home?" Sesshoumaru thought out loud, growling softly in annoyance.

Rin smiled with a soft giggle. "Oh Lord Sesshoumaru, calm down. We could go by the den, Tamako lives there now with Kouga. And I really want to see her."

"No."

She pouted a little. "Why not?" she asked.

"I am not taking my pup to a wolf den. No." he told her, looking down at her.

Pouting more to him, looking up at him. "It will be fine my lord. Its Tamako. She and her mate are the leaders of the den. It will be fine. Please?" she asked, pouting cutely to him.

The pout got to him. Kami he was getting soft. "Fine." he said.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

So, Sesshoumaru took her to the wolf den. Ah-Un landed again and he helped her out, looking up at the various wolves outside of the den, letting out a sigh. He was not comfortable with this, not at all.

Rin smiled as she held their son carefully, shifting him in her arms and walking up to the den slowly, glancing at one of the wolves. "Hello. Is Tamako in?"

The female wolf looked up at Rin and nodded. "Yes, she's inside. And you are?"

"Oh, I'm Rin, and this is Lord Sesshoumaru. Tamako is my friend. Could we go see her?" she asked.

The female nodded. "Oh, Rin, yes of course." she said. People knew who Tamako's friends were. Standing up, the woman led Rin and Sesshoumaru into the den and towards Tamako and Kouga's quarters.

From outside the door, they could even hear Tamako and Kouga arguing.

"I'm fine Kouga! Gods, I can do it by myself." Tamako said with a growl.

"No, you can't." he yelled back.

"Kami! Would you give me space. I'm not dead." she said.

The female wolf moved and knocked on the door. "Kouga, Tamako? There is someone here to see you, Tamako."

Hearing them, Tamako nodded. "Alright, send them in. We're good." she said.

The female stepped to one side and nodded to them to go in. Rin moved to open the door, but Sesshoumaru beat her to it. Sesshoumaru stepped forward, opening the door and letting her walk in first.

Rin walked in, smiling a little. "Tamako-chan!" she said, looking at the couple.

Tamako was sitting on her and Kouga's bed, though she was still fully dressed in her usual kimono. Looking up at them, Tamako smiled happily. "Rinchan!" she said happily. Seeing the infant in her arms, she blinked. "Ohhh you had the baby!" she said.

Shifting to push herself up, but Kouga took her hand to help her stand, and she shot him a look. "I can stand by myself." she snapped. She usually wasn't this snappy.

"I'm just trying to help." he said.

Rin didn't completely get it, but when Tamako stood up, she saw why. A small baby bump showed in her kimono. It made Rin smile happily. "Look at you, Tamako-chan. You're going to have a baby?" she asked.

Nodding a little, she looked at Rin. "Uh huh. Was Uncle Sesshy as clingy and hovery? I mean, I'm only three months, barely, and Kouga won't leave me alone." she said.

Rin giggled and nodded. "Yes, he was. Still is." she told her friend.

Kouga growled a little, looking at Tamako. "Hey! Remember what happened last time you were pupped? And with Kyora still out on the loose, I am not taking any chances with you carrying my pup." he insisted.

And she nodded a little, looking up at him. "I know koi. I can't help it okay?"

"Yeah yeah, women and their hormones." Kouga said. He looked at Sesshoumaru slowly. "Hey. Why don't we leave the girls to do their girl talk or whatever?" he asked.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "No."

Glancing at him, Rin smiled a little. "Lord Sesshoumaru, we will be fine. I promise you." she said to him before looking at Tamako. Walking closer to her, she smiled a little. "Isn't he perfect?" she asked her friend.

Tamako looked at the baby in Rins arms, smiling happily. "Oohh he's so adorable. Whats his name?"

"InuTaisho." she said, looking down at her son slowly.

"Ohh like grandpa?" she asked, looking to see Rin nodding. "Can I hold him?"

"Of course!" she said. Carefully moving InuTaisho into Tamako's arms.

Tamako shifted him, smiling a little as she looked down at him. "Oohh he's so adorable." she said slowly. When she'd taken InuTaisho, Sesshoumaru flinched just a little, but not too noticeable.

Slowly Tamako walked to the small couch they had in the room. Carefully shifting to sit herself down, looking down at InuTaisho, rubbing his back slowly as she held her little cousin in her arms. She couldn't wait for her pup to be there. She'd been so excited to start a family when she'd come back. She'd practically attacked Kouga that first night back in their den.

And then the day she told Kouga about the pup. It'd been a lot happier than the first time. She'd been a lot more sure of herself.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:{FLASHBACK}:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Kouga and Tamako had decided to start a family. It'd only been a month since she'd been back, and it seemed like they were always having sex, she was always pulling him off to one side or back into their bedroom.

She was so excited at the prospect of having a family. Kyora had not even shown up within the last month. They thought maybe he believed she was still gone through the well. And that was all good for them. Gave them time to plan their family, make sure she was safe.

So, by the time she figured out that she was pregnant, she'd been so happy. And it was just time to tell Kouga. He was out on a hunt, he still went on those whenever he got the chance, and she never minded it. But today, she was eagerly awaiting his return from his hunt, impatiently almost.

Sitting by the front of the den, a sigh coming from her lips. But, when she heard the men coming back, a smile spread across her lips, looking up towards them as they walked in, Kouga leading the pack.

Standing up, she ran up to him, smiling and leaning to kiss him slowly, taking his hand. "Mm, Kougaaa, come with me. Now." she said.

Kissing her back, he chuckled at her. "Babe, chill. I just got home. Seesh don't need to jump my bones as soon as I walk through the door." he replied.

Rolling her eyes a little, she still smiled. "Mmm...I think there is. Besides, you shouldn't complain about too much sex y'know. I could stop..."

"Don't you dare." he said. Pulling his hand and kissing her again softly. "I'll be there in a minute, okay?" he asked.

She pouted up to him. "A minute?"

"Mmhm, a minute. Wait." he said. Standing up straight and looking back at the wolves that walked in with him, shouting orders to them about various things. The animals they'd caught needed to be skinned and cleaned so the meat could be cooked. And he also assigned the next round of patrols before he was finished, walking off with Tamako to their bedroom.

Once they got into their room, he smiled, moving his arms around her waist and pulling her up to his chest. Leaning in and kissing her slowly, deeply.

She moved her arms around his neck and returned his deep kiss, letting out a soft moan as she leaned up to him. Though she groaned as she leaned back from the kiss. "Mm, koi, come here, talk to me first. I promise you'll get some, just talk to me." she said.

Stepping back from him, taking his hand and pulling him over to their couch. When he sat down, she moved to sit on his lap, straddling his waist and looking at him.

"Talk? And you sit on me like that? Damn." he joked, smiling as he leaned back, his hands loosely resting against her outer thighs. "Whats it you want to talk about?" he asked.

Sitting up on his lap, her arms around his neck. Reaching up, she untied the tie holding his hair up, watching as his black locks fell down from the pony tail and over his shoulders. She loved when he had his hair down, and she always took it down when she got the chance. Slipping her fingers along his shoulders gently and leaning up close to him.

"Mm...just that I had to tell you that I'm pregnant. Or pupped. Or whatever it is you want to call it." she told him.

Hearing her words, his eyes widened for a moment before they softened, grinning and looking up at her. "Really?" he asked. Leaning up, his lips claimed hers slowly, bringing her up close to him.

Kissing him back again before she leaned from it, resting her forehead against his. "Really."

Slowly his fingers moved up her outer thighs, over her hips and to her waist. One hand moved to rest against her stomach gently. "Thats amazing. And this time, I swear to you...I will keep you safe, no matter what it takes. You and our pup..." he said.

She sat up a little on his lap, smiling and nodding. "I know."

Looking down at her stomach, his hand resting against it. Slowly he leaned down to kiss just by his hand. "Hear that? Daddy's going to keep you safe. Forever." he said to her stomach.

Him talking to her stomach made her giggle a little. "Babe, the pup isn't even that big yet, it can't hear you."

"Yeah well, its half demon. So it can."

"Well...would it be half demon or full demon?" she asked curiously, looking at him. "I mean, my youkai blood takes over during sex. I'm a half demon even though my dad was half. Its his demonic blood that made me a half demon instead of just a quarter demon. So...would our pup be a full fledged demon?" she asked.

He shrugged slowly. "Our pup will be perfect. Half demon, full fledged demon, it does not matter. He or she will be perfect because they're ours." he said, looking up at her face. "I love you. You've given me everything in the world. Thank you..." he whispered softly, his hand still on her stomach.

Smiling, she leaned and kissed his top lip gently. "Mm, I should thank you. You gave me a pup. But, you're right. Our pup will be perfect in every way."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: