I am sorry for the long delay. 2020 has been a hell of a year. And I am an essential worker so my stress levels... so, sorry for the delay. Please read and review.

Melissa and Sesshomaru were just finishing breakfast when they got the word that their visitors had arrive. They arrived at the gate as Inuyasha was helping Kagome get off Kilala. The women greeted each other warmly then Kagome handed Melissa a wrapped package of preserved fruits while Inuyasha handed Sesshomaru a box. "I thought you and your mom probably don't eat fruit so I brought you these, Kagome makes them for me and Shippo. She won't touch them so Merissa probably won't either but we like them. Kagome calls them dog biscuits."

Shippo and Hoshii briefly greeted their respective aunts and uncles then quickly ran off to play while the adults and little Izyoi went to the gardens to catch up, followed closely by Granny and Melissa's guards.

"I thought you were only a couple of weeks ahead of me." Kagome stated looking at Melissa's big belly once they had caught up and tea had been served.

"I know. I am so huge!" Melissa replied holding her expanding tummy tenderly.

"I was surprised how big she's gotten too." Inuyasha stated. "I hope the kid isn't to big for her to have."

Kagome stared at Inuyasha aghast, shocked that he would say such a thing. Melissa went pale, that was her own worry. Sesshomaru's eyes widened with shock, such a horrible thought had never occured to him!

"Sit!" Kagome yell instinctivly and Inuyasha flinched, but the beads were no longer around his neck.

Next thing he knew he was face down on the ground, Granny had smacked him in the back of the head. "Did your mother teach you nothing before she went? You don't say such things in the presence of pregnant women, fool!"

Granny then turned to Melissa, "Rissachan you have the best midwife in the country, with centuries of experience delivering youkai and hanyou babies. If she thought that the child would be to large to pass through your birth canal She would instruct you on the care of a premature infant and induce you early, but she has not. She says your pregnancy is right on track and everything is as she would expect. Trust her."

Melissa nodded to the old mama bear, but she still felt a knot of anxiety in her chest. Was her baby to big? Would she be unable to deliver it? She had made her wishes clear what was to be done in that case and been assured by Haruami that everything was fine.

"So what's for lunch?" Kagome asked to change the subject and lighten the mood. Talk of the food being prepared soon led to a discussion about cravings and foods from the future that were missed.

"I would love to have some icecream." Melissa lamented, "I missed it even before I was pregnant."

"I know what you mean." Kagome replied. "It was my number one craving with Izyoai too!"

"What is this iced cream?" Sesshomaru asked

"It is a frozen treat from our time made from sweetened, frozen milk, often flavored with fruit or candy. It's delicious!" Kagome explained.

"It's alright, but it messed my stomache up." Inuyasha put in.

"Women in your time make sweets for adults from their milk?"

"No, not breastmilk. It's made from cows milk. Milk is a large part of the diet to the west." Kagome explained then she and Melissa continued talking about food cravings and aversions. Sesshomaru was mildly surprised to learn Melissa's adversian to fish was by no means unique

late in the morning Granny insisted they all get moving, sitting still to long was not good for the women, it was time for Melissa's stretches anyway. Kagome went with them. Sesshomaru excused himself to find Jaken for an important errand then to handle some business, leaving Inuyasha alone to entertain himself. He decided to go to the dojo and ran into Kin who challenged him to a duel then invited him to join that afternoons hunting party.

They all met back up before dinner. After dinner Melissa suggested to Kagome they practice their English together. Speaking happily in English the girls would find reasons to mention their husbands names and giggle. Sesshomaru was used to his wife's mischief, but it irked Inuyasha and anything that irked Inuyasha was fine by him.

"It's time for bed, Hoshii." Sesshomaru announced spotting the child's attempt to hide a yawn.

"But Daddy, I don't want to go to bed." Hoshii replied as he stood and approached her. "Just a little longer. Please?" She begged pulling on his sleeve. the neckline of his kimono slipped. He hastlity tried to fix it and conceal the beads.

"What is that!?" Inuyasha yelled his eyes alight with glee. He jumped up and grabbed the beads his brother was attempting to hide for a closer look and barely dodged his poison claws. Kagome stood, reaching into her sleeve and approached her husband, her proximity to him preventing Sesshomaru from attacking again.

"What's the trigger word Merissa? Is it sit? Or maybe play dead?" Inuyasha was so busy laughing at his brother that he didn't notice Kagome's movements until a familiar weight settled around his neck. "The fuck? Kagome, get these things off of me!"

Kagome turned to Melissa, "Thanks for the heads up."

Fuming Inuyasha stomped off and Sesshomaru carried Hoshii to bed. Shippo decided on his own to turn in for the night while the women continued visiting. Sesshomaru did not return from taking Hoshii to bed, but Melissa hadn't expected him too, the beads being exposed had hurt his ego. When she returned to their chamber she noticed the door to the garden slightly ajar and went out to find him brooding in the garden.

"Mother has a task for me, to meet with some allies. It will be a short journey, I would be surprised if it lasts a week." He told her as she drew even with him. "She wants me to take Inuyasha. She claims it is neccesary for him to learn the finer points of diplomacy and that it will give you and Kagome a chance to socialize uninhibited by his temper."

"He won't go." Melissa replied.

"Mother plans to enlist Kagome in encouraging him that this trip will be good for him. Or at least in his best interst."

That was how Sesshomaru and Inuyashsa both found themselves travling past a small village on the way back 4 days later. When the sounds of women and children screaming and men fighting reached their ears Inuysha took off towards the sound, his role as a protector driving him to action. Sesshomaru walked toward the sounds at a more leisurely pace, guided by curiosity. He knew his fine Kimono and weapons would lure the bandits away from the village, and that he would be forced to kill them in self defense, but it wasnt as if he actually wanted to help. He was just curious. That's what he told himself anyway.

Just as he was entering the fray a number of girls and small children ran into a stable, seeking a place to hide. A bandit followed them and Sesshomaru desided to also go into the stable. He heard the sounds of a scuffle and a boy's pained groan and the thud of a small body, then the bandit came out dragging a beautiful young girl, his intentions clear. Sesshomaru killed him and she ran back into the stable, followed by more bandits. He and inuyasha were hot on their heels as she huddled in the back with her younger siblings, an unconscious young boy lay on the ground infront of them.

Inuyasha stopped short, this smellit couldn't be! Sesshomaru half glanced at his brother and decided he should kill the bandits while Inuyasha processed what their noses told them. The boy stirred, then looked up with a face that was all to familiar. He grabbed a stick laying by him as he pushed himself to his feet and faced them. the boy held his stick like a sword and faced them, his face determined.

"It's ok kid, we're the good guys." Inuyasha told him. Sesshomaru gave a small sniff of derision at being classified as a 'good guy' before the two brothers left. They quickly finished off the rest of the bandits, the ones who didn't run anyway. As they left the town Inuyasha saw the boy watching them from the stable.

They walked in silence for a while then inuyasha rubbed his head. "Damn! I mean I guess there had to be one somewhere... damn!"

"Will you tell the monk?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Miroku deserves to know, but Sango is not going to like this!"

"That boy is 7 or 8, he was obviously concieved before they were wed, likly before they even met."

Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru as though he were a fool for a moment then replied "You've been married long enough to know women make no sense! Sango goes apeshit everytime Miroku's past comes up. This, well, this is going to be a huge mess. Dunno how I'm going to tell them about the kid."

"If I may make a suggestion?"

"Shoot."

"Your wife seems more talented in handling delicate matters. Tell her about the boy and let her tell Miroku he has another son."

They walked on in silence for a long time. "He isn't going to turn back on his own, is he?" Inuyasha asked finally.

"It appears not, and if we allow him to follow to much further he may become lost. they both stopped and turned, looking at the thick brush down the trail.

"We know you're there, get over here." Inuyasha demanded. There was a long pause then the boy emerged from the bushes and meekly approached them. "Well what do you want?"

"I saw you fighting off those guys. I was wondering... I want to learn how to fight."

"No." Inuyasha replied turning to go.

"I can pay you!" The boy held out a few small coins. "I know it's not much, but I can make up the rest in chores. I can gather wood, catch fish, fetch water, you wouldnt have to do a thing. Just teach me to fight."

"Go home kid." Inuyasha replied, his back still to the boy.

"I don't have one." The boy replied softly. "The head man was letting me sleep in the stable in exchange for watching his horses. The bandits took his two best horses. I couldnt stop them. He won't let me tend them anymore when he finds out I was to weak to protect them. I need to learn to fight."

Inuyasha turned to look at him now. He took in the patches, the dirt. The small wirey frame. "Is there a river near by? A fish dinner sounds good."

"Yes sir, there is." The boy replied "I'll be back with your fish soon sir."

They watched the boy disappear into the distance. "I can't leave him, Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru said nothing but settled himself down under a tree to wait for the boy to return.

Upon returning they left the boy to play with Hoshii while they quietly discussed what to do. Kagome was sure Miroku and Sango would take him, but Sesshomaru and Melissa decided that if for any reason they couldn't they would keep him. The decision was made not to tell him they knew who his father was until Kagome spoke to Miroku.

Later that night Sesshomaru lay in bed with Melissa in his arms. She was asleep buy his mind was to full to rest. He knew Miroku would take the boy but he found himself making plans how to train the boy and teach him lessons the child had missed out on all those years without a father. A small part of him hoped Miroku wouldn't take the boy. He realized now, he wanted a son. He loved his girls, and would love Ray with the same intensity, but what man didn't want a son?

He felt a sharp jab from within Melissa's belly against his hand and she shifted in her sleep. She needed rest. He moved so that his cheek was next to her belly. "Be still, Your mother is sleeping." It was silly, to think a fetus could understand his words, but sometimes Melissa's voice seemed to soothe the child. He chuckled silently at his foolishness and leaned his face against her warm skin.

Then he realised, he could hear his child's heart beat like this. He heard Melissa's steady pulse, and a quick, almost frantic pattering of a tiny heart. His own heart exploded in wonder and joy and he pressed his cheek a little more firmly against her, accidently waking her. "I can hear our child." He explained with excitment as she began to stroke his other ear. "I can hear her heart beating!"

But it was odd. It sounded out of time with it's self. It was a steady beating, but somehow out of time. Did the womb echo? It sounded like... He sat up like he was struck by lightening when understanding hit him. He stared at her belly, scarcly breathing.

"Sesshomau?" his wife asked softly. He glaced at her breifly then stared at her belly again. "Two." he breathed.

"Huh?"

He took a shaky breath and tore his eyes from her belly to meet her bewildered gaze. "There are two hearts beating in your womb!"