Wow you guys' responses were overwhelming & I want to thank each & every one of you for being so forgiving & reviewing a story that hadn't been updated in damn near two years. That took a lot of patience & I appreciate it more than y'all know. Now that I have the time I plan on updating every Thursday or at the very least every week. I'm still open to recommendations & constructive criticism so don't hesitate to let me know! Onwards!

Sesshomaru's birthday was tomorrow. This last minute idea had Sango worried because Sesshomaru did not make it a secret that he didn't expected it to be anything less than perfect.

"If it is not, there will be consequences…" he murmured in her ear.

But now, Sango stood back & looked at her handiwork. Just a few finishing touches & it would come pretty close to perfect. The main thing was getting a venue & once she had that everything else seemed to fall into place: the caterer confirmed his appointment tomorrow & he'd already been paid (because she knew him from when they had a baby shower when she was pregnant with Rin & she knew his food was just amazing), the décor was 98% done & in place, everything Inuyasha wanted included was in (Sesshomaru didn't particularly care, he just didn't want any little games that included people touching him).

As she wiped her forehead, the door opened & Miroku walked in. His eyes got big as he looked around, his mouth opening slightly in awe. "Wow, Sango. This is amazing"

"You really think so? It's not too much?" she asked, wringing her hands together.

"What? No this is amazing! They're going to love it" the young man said & hugged his lady close, "You're amazing, Sango"

She giggled, blushing furiously. If Miroku loved it, Inuyasha was sure to follow & then he could convince Sesshomaru in case the inuyoukai had doubts.

.

..

…

"A gender reveal party?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. Go to Party City & get one of those big balloons & fill it with blue or pink confetti"

Dr. Robbins laughed. "While I am flattered you want to include me on this, I'm kinda too busy for all of that, Mr. Inuyasha"

"Look, I want us both to be surprised & none of my friends know how to keep a secret so they definitely can't do it"

"Well what about co-workers? Maybe your parents…?"

The hanyou took several deep breaths. "No. Just…never mind"

He started walking away & Dr. Robbins would've let him if it wasn't for those cute freaking ears drooping like the saddest puppy. "Wait! Wait, Mr. Inuyasha"

Inuyasha stopped, keeping his back turned to hide his smirk.

Dr. Robbins sighed, deflating. "Alright. I'll do it. When is it?"

He turned to her & smiled. "Tomorrow at three in the afternoon. That's right after Sessh's nap so he'll be good & ready to eat by then"

The doctor chuckled behind a fist. "Yes, sir. I'll be there with the confetti filled balloon"

"Thanks, doc. Means a lot to us" Inuyasha said, flashing her a dazzling smile before walking off.

Dr. Robbins exhaled slowly after he left. Boy, if that baby takes after either parent, they were going to be absolutely gorgeous.

…

..

.

Sesshomaru roused from his nap & was immediately aware of the large body close to him. He reached out & recognized the muscled chest under his fingertips. He heard a rumbling, appreciative growl under the muscle, which flexed.

"You slept ok?" Inuyasha asked, voice husky with sleep.

Sesshomaru distracted his body from responding to the sound of that voice by stretching & yawning. "Well enough. I am in no hurry to get up from this bed though"

"You know we have to eventually. From the way my son is kicking you're gonna have to go to the bathroom soon & by the time you come out you're gonna want something to eat so that means I'll have to get up & whip up something from the kit-"

"Yasha, I have a question for you"

The hanyou smirked, closing his eyes. "What's up, mama?"

"Are you gay in general or just gay for me?"

The question took Inuyasha so much by surprised he laughed out loud & sat up a bit on his elbows to look down at his mate. "What?!"

Sesshomaru opened his eyes & glared up at him. "You heard me the first time"

"Where the hell is that question coming from? Why does it matter?"

"Can you just answer the question?"

Inuyasha laughed again & shook his head. "I'm only gay for you, babe"

The silver haired beauty nodded once as if that satisfied him & slowly got out of bed, his swollen belly making it difficult. "Good. Now I have to use the bathroom. If you would be so kind & make me some bacon & hash browns, I would greatly appreciate it"

The inuhanyou grinned, watching the once proud Western lord waddle to the bathroom. Sometimes he wondered what Sesshomaru was getting at when he asked certain questions, especially when he didn't explain what made him ask it in the first place. In this case there was probably absolutely no point in wondering why. It was just one of those things you had to overlook before you got a headache.

Inuyasha picked up his phone & brought up Miroku's name. "Hey, how's it comin' along?"

A few minutes later, Miroku responded with, "Good! It looks great! She rented out the country club, you know, the one down the street from Publix? The only thing she has to do is finish putting up the last of the decorations"

"Send me a pic"

Inuyasha got up to start on a late breakfast for his mate but kept an ear out for a response. Lately, he'd really started to like cooking & actually looked forward to it. He didn't cook a whole lot, just enough to get them through the day or two days at the most, but regardless, it made him feel good to contribute so Sesshomaru could rest as much as possible.

Miroku responded, "No can do. She wants you guys to be surprised"

A slither of dread snaked its way down the hanyou's spine. "Look you know how Sesshomaru gets when shit ain't perfect. Just send a pic to me & then I'll trash it. I don't want Sessh to go to jail for murder"

"Lol you two will love it. If not, I'll babysit for you guys anytime you want"

"Not a bad idea. You're on. & Godspeed for Sango"

"If I get any bigger I'm getting a c-section" Sesshomaru grumbled, hand on his hip, "I'm sick of this"

"Sick of what, exactly?" Inuyasha asked & started placing the cooked food on plates.

"Of not being able to see my dick, for one!"

The hanyou threw his head back & cackled at that. He knew that wasn't a laughing matter but hearing Sesshomaru using words like "dick" was always funny. "Well you don't have too much longer. I'll take a picture of it for ya if ya want"

The inuyoukai grunted in an annoyed fashion & sat at the dining room table. Inuyasha finished portioning out the food & brought the plates over, one for him, one for his mate, & he sat to enjoy it. They ate in mostly silence, besides the sound of forks hitting the plates & hums of pleasure. Inuyasha was done before Sesshomaru, who always savored his food, so he pushed his plate back & put his elbows up on the table, looking at his mate expectantly. Sesshomaru looked at him & slowed his chewing, raising an eyebrow.

"What made you ask me if I'm just gay in general?" Inuyasha asked in a low voice.

The demon took his time answering. "I know I was your first…experience with a man so…I was curious"

"But after all these years?"

Sesshomaru shrugged one shoulder & looked down at his food. When he said nothing else, Inuyasha let the subject drop. Maybe he'll explain it one day. "Well, anyway, Sango's almost done decorating. I want a picture but Miroku refused to send me even one picture"

"He knows you'll show me & that will ruin the surprise of seeing it in person"

"Ok yeah but I don't wanna have to clean up the scene of a crime because it wasn't decorated to your liking"

The hanyou didn't miss the very coy smile on his mate's face.

"Wow. Can't believe you're going to be-"

Sesshomaru shot him a warning glare.

"Uh…one year older. You d-don't look a day over…however old you were when we ran away from your dad's castle"

"Those were good times…"

"Says the guy who was an absolute thorn in my side when it came to hunting!"

They shared a laugh & reflected on how far they've come. They had lived through a time when it was illegal to be with someone of the same gender, then it was legal but frowned upon & now they were present for a time when it was embraced. They've watched the humans rage war with demons, watched them make peace, then stood by as they raged war with other humans. The land went from forests & small villages to concrete jungles with noise & smoke. & it seemed only a few years ago when the dragon's stormed his father's castle….

Inuyasha gently picked up Sesshomaru's hand that had been lying on the table & rubbed his thumb across the back of it, smirking. "We've been through a lot, huh?"

Sesshomaru gave a very small smile that lit his eyes up like fireworks. "Yes. We have"

For a moment, the hanyou imagined a ring on the silver haired beauty's ring finger. The doorbell rang & the inuhanyou let his mate's hand go to go answer the door. Koga stood there, looking very nervous with a slight man standing behind him, looking just as nervous.

Inuyasha offered a lifted eyebrow. "Uh…sup Koga?"

"I couldn't wait till tomorrow" the wolf said as if that explained everything, "Tomorrow will be too busy so…I figured, ya know…why not today?"

The hanyou scratched his head, his eyes darting between his frenemy & the guy with him. "Um…who the hell is this though?"

"Oh! Oh, t-this is Ginta. Ginta, this is Inuyasha"

"Hi" Ginta said, his voice soft.

"Hey, nice to meet you & all but…" the hanyou prompted, starting to lose patience.

"T-t-this is the g-guy I was tellin' ya bout…you know…the one who needs to be jumped into the gang & shit?" Koga murmured.

"Jump?! You never said you were in a gang!" Ginta squeaked.

"What is all this noise about?"

Three sets of eyes turned towards an annoyed, very pregnant youkai whose facial expression was no where near pleasant.

"H-h-hey, Sessh…" Koga stuttered, paling.

"This is Koga's boo thing, Ginta" Inuyasha said, gesturing to the smaller demon who looked like he was ready to bolt.

Sesshomaru nodded then looked at Koga. "Surprised to see you here. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

The ookami shifted several times & swallowed, causing his Adam's apple to bob like a buoy in water. He wrung his hands together so hard it was a wonder his didn't peel his skin off. "I…uh…I was tellin' Inuyasha I w-w-wanted…you to…to, uh…the last time we all hung out—"

"He wanted to introduce you to Ginta & then get your blessing for their relationship" Inuyasha explained, "You might as well come in. Knowing you, it's going to take you forever to spit out whatever you need to say & I don't want Sessh standing that long"

They group migrated to the living room when Inuyasha offered his hand to help Sesshomaru sit. The inuyoukai gave him a nasty look, the side of his lip lifted in a snarl, & he turned his nose up at the help. The hanyou only chuckled. It was usually better to just let his mate have his way (sometimes anyway). Koga & Ginta sat on the loveseat, both still looking very nervous.

"Now explain why you're here" Inuyasha said slowly, sitting himself.

The ookami took a deep breath. "Remember when we were at Buffalo Wild Wings & Shippo said the guy I'm…d-dating needed to pass inspection by all of you?"

"He does?" Sesshomaru murmured.

"Yeah I remember" the hanyou answered before turning to the silver haired beauty, "He should. We can't just let any ol' body come in our circle. They gotta be legit"

"W-well…here…here he is" Koga said in a trembling voice & gestured towards Ginta with shaking hands.

"Why are you so nervous? You act as if we're going to shoot both of you if we don't approve" Sesshomaru said.

"He's intimidated introducing a new flame to the old flame" Inuyasha explained.

"Flame? But we've never-"

"I didn't think it was going to be that serious" Ginta spoke up in a soft voice, "I've just heard so much about you guys, I feel like I know y'all"

"Whoa red flag" Inuyasha said, holding his hands up, "Let's get one thing straight: you do not know us"

"Hey, man-" Koga started.

"You, shut the fuck up. This ain't anything personal, Ginta, we just protect our circle, is all. You hurt Koga, we hurt you. Ya got that?"

Ginta nodded quickly, sweating dripping down his face.

Inuyasha glared at him a little longer before he smiled. "I'm just fuckin' with ya. Nice to meet you, man"

"Welcome to the group" Sesshomaru muttered, standing, "I'm going to go piss"

"You guys play too much…." Koga grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

…

..

.

After Koga & Ginta left, Sesshomaru was content to lay in bed. Inuyasha noticed he was grimacing a lot throughout the day & he figured the baby must be pretty active so he grabbed some snacks & joined his mate.

"They added Coco to Netflix last week. We should watch it again" the hanyou stated, going through the recently added shows & movies.

"Yasha, we've seen that three or four times already" the silver haired beauty complained, "Maybe we should watch something else"

"Look I ain't watching no Barbie bullshit just cause you think our baby is a girl"

"It's called Bratz, Yasha!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Either way it's boring & predictable. Don't you wanna see Mulan or Hercules? Look even Pocahontas is on here"

"We haven't seen Mulan in quite some time"

"Alright, let's get down to business…"

The inuhanyou waited patiently for a moment & grinned when he noticed his mate's jaw clenching & unclenching. "To defeat…the Huns" he finally murmured & Inuyasha laughed before pressing play.

They watched in mostly silence (except when there was a song which Inuyasha had to sing along with very loudly which caused Sesshomaru to roll his eyes to the ceiling in a silent cry for help). Sesshomaru leaned against the headboard, one hand on his stomach. The baby was restless, moving from side to side & trying to kick his ribs out of place.

"You don't like Daddy's singing either, do you?" the inuyoukai murmured, tapping his stomach firmly in hopes of making the kicking stop.

"My boy loves my singing" Inuyasha interjected & kissed the swollen stomach, "You're gonna be singing the pants off of your crush in no time"

"She most certainly will not. God forbid she takes after you with your brash & obnoxious behavior"

"My brash & obnoxious behavior got me in ya pants though didn't it?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. He'd never admit that it indeed did.

Inuyasha stroked his mate's belly slowly & tried his best to imagine what the child will look like. Will he have thick hair? Will she have a moon on her forehead? Will the child grow to be tall? What color will their eyes be? Suddenly the hanyou was overcome with excitement; he couldn't wait to meet their child. There was so much to show them, so much for them to learn. He closed his eyes & said a silent prayer to the one they lost, hoping that child could somehow feel the love Inuyasha & Sesshomaru still had for it. No child could ever replace it.

"What are you thinking about?" Sesshomaru murmured, placing his hand over Inuyasha's.

Inuyasha stared at him for a moment before grinning & placing another kiss on his mate's belly. "Forever".