A/N: I am back! This is the sequel for I'll Be There For You. You can read this fic without having read the first one, but I would recommend that you read the other one first. I believe that it will help make this story clearer.
Chapter 1: Envy
Kagome sighed as she glanced at the clock. 'Damn, I still have twenty minutes until lunch. I wonder if Sango and Ayame would be terribly upset if I backed out today.' The petite woman tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she continued to type. 'I can't back out; we have met for lunch every month since we all got married. Besides, Ayame is due any day now,' Kagome thought sadly to herself.
It had been six years since Inuyasha had told her about their soul connection. A lot had happened in that time. They, along with their friends Sango, Ayame, Koga and Miroku, had all graduated from college and gotten married. Koga and Ayame had been married for a few months before they separated, only to get back together a year later. Sango and Miroku married and they now have a little boy, Kanaye, who was turning 2 in a couple of months. Kagome and Inuyasha married, and had been trying to start a family of their own for the past year and a half with no luck.
Kagome gave herself a mental shake. 'Snap out of it girl! Don't let their happiness get you down.' Sighing again, she finished typing her article and saved it before collecting her purse and heading to the lobby. Passing the receptionist, Kagome waved and called out, "I'll be back in about an hour, Mai." Mai waved and Kagome headed down the street.
The little café where the three women met for lunch each month was only a few blocks from Kagome's building. When she got there, Kagome saw that Sango and Ayame had beaten her there. They stood and hugged her in greeting.
"Hi Kagome," a very pregnant Ayame said as she took her seat, "I am glad that you made it."
"Hi guys, I am glad too. I was half afraid that I would not make my deadline and wind up working through lunch. Ayame, how are you doing? You look ready to pop." The red haired woman smiled ruefully.
"I wish. The doctors say I still have 3 weeks to go, but I hope that it is much sooner than that."
Sango chuckled. "I know what you mean. I swear I was ready by the time I hit my sixth month with Kanaye." She smiled and turned to Kagome. "How are things going with you, Kagome?"
"Things are pretty much the same. The editor keeps telling me that I'll be getting my own column when they finish designing the new layout for the paper, but he has been saying that for months." The three women commiserated over bosses who never seemed to follow through.
When the waiter came for their orders, Kagome and Sango ordered salads, but Ayame ordered a salad, a bowl of soup, a turkey sandwich and a hamburger. Kagome and Sango both tried to conceal their snickers with little success. "Geez Ayame, order enough food?" Sango teased.
"Yeah, well I am eating for 3 you know" she laughed as she patted her stomach.
"I don't see how you can manage it with twins. I felt like I was constantly grazing with Kanaye."
Ayame giggled and leaned forward, gesturing the other two to do the same. "I'll tell you a secret," she whispered. "This is actually my second lunch. I grabbed a bite on my way over. Koga says that it is a good thing he manages that grocery store, otherwise there'd be no food in our house," she finished with a twinkle in her eyes. The three friends shared a laugh as their food arrived. Abandoning conversation for food, the table fell quiet as they focused on eating.
Kagome and Sango watched as Ayame finished off her lunch with a slice of cherry pie. Sipping their tea, Sango and Ayame talked about the pregnancy and the upcoming birth; Kagome sat quietly, trying not to feel left out.
"Did Miroku become overly protective of you when you were pregnant?"
Sango nodded. "He tried to, but when he threw a fit about me walking up the stairs at the clinic, I told him to either tone it down, or I would tone it down for him. Needless to say, he calmed down a lot."
Ayame sighed. "I wish I could do that with Koga. He is driving me crazy! He always wants to know where I am going, how long I'll be there and who I am with. If I am more than 5 minutes late returning, he calls to find out where I am. If I show any sign of discomfort, he asks if I am okay, or if it is time. I mean, it is all so sweet that he is protecting me and all, but I am feeling smothered." Kagome heard the frustration in her voice and reached over to give Ayame a hug. The frustrated woman broke down and started to cry softly in Kagome's arms.
"Just tell yourself that it is only for a few weeks longer. Then, once the babies are born, if Koga continues to be an ass, you can come stay with Inuyasha and me for a while." Kagome reached into her purse and handed Ayame a kleenex. She accepted it with a watery smile.
Sango grinned at her. "If you like, I can "talk" to him for you." That evoked a giggle from the pregnant woman. She knew what Sango meant by "talk" and didn't think that Koga would survive the conversation.
"Thanks guys. What would I do without you?" Ayame was interrupted by her cell phone ringing. Noticing who was calling, she muttered "speak of the devil," before she answered. "Hello dear. We are just finishing lunch. I am sorry I lost track of the time. I'll be home in 15 minutes. I'll call you when I get there. Yes, I know you love me, I love you too. Bye dear." (A/N: this is only Ayame's side of the conversation. Use your imagination for Koga's side lol).
Ayame hung up and looked apologetically at her friends. "Well, I have received my orders. I'll talk to you all soon." The three women stood and hugged each other, making promises to call later in the week. Paying for their lunches, the friends went their separate ways.
Kagome sighed for the umpteenth time as she walked back towards her office building. 'I wish I was the one who was pregnant. It doesn't seem fair that Inuyasha and I are having as much difficulty getting there when Ayame and Sango both said that their pregnancies were an accident.' She was jolted from her thoughts by her cell phone going off. Taking it from her purse, she saw that it was Inuyasha. Flipping it open, she answered, "Hello."
"What's wrong, angel?" Inuyasha's voice was filled with concern.
"Nothing much. I just finished lunch with Sango and Ayame."
"Nothing much? Is it the same thing as before?" Kagome's eyes filled with tears.
"Yeah. I am sorry. I didn't want to disturb you…"
"Its okay, Kagome. You know that the connection we share lets me feel your strong emotions. I was between classes and wanted to check up on you. You do know that we could always call that doctor Kaede recommended." Kagome smiled sadly. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to see a doctor in order to become pregnant.
"Not right now. Maybe if we haven't had any luck by the first of the year." Kagome could hear Inuyasha's sigh.
"Okay, if you're sure." A bell rang in the background. "I've gotta go babe, my next class of kids have shown up. Smile for me and I'll see you this evening. I love you, angel."
"I love you too, darling. I'll see you tonight. Bye." Kagome hung up and entered the building she had approached while talking to go back to work.
Inuyasha entered the classroom and settled down his class of high school juniors. He hoped that Kagome would be okay. He wished that she'd talk to a doctor, or at least talk to Sango and Ayame about her concerns, but she felt that it was too personal of a problem to be shared among friends, much less strangers. 'I think I'll call Kaede later and see what she suggests.' Inuyasha cleared his throat, "All right class, pass up your homework and open your books to page 276."
TBC
A/N: I hope that you all will enjoy this story. I am looking for someone who is willing to be my beta for this and for I'll Be There For You. Please let me know in a review if you are interested. Make sure to leave a way for me to contact you as well. As always, Read, Enjoy, and Review!