In His Arms

All previous disclaimers apply.

Author’s Note: This is it, everyone! The very end. Thanks so much to all who have stuck with this story. I’m sad to see it go, but I’m also glad it’s finished. I hope you have all enjoyed it as much as I have! Till next time! T.H.


“It shouldn’t be much longer now, my lord,” Miyuki smiled, her eyes tired, but joyful, as she closed the door behind herself and bowed low to her lord. She kept her eyes down until she was certain that she would be able to control her facial expression when she looked at Sesshomaru. He was looking more haggard than she had ever seen, his clothing in disarray and his hair mussed from running his hands through it too many times. His face was pale and drawn and she wondered if all demons whose mates were in labor looked the same way.

“She is fine?” he asked, his voice revealing what he was trying to hide with his stoic face. It was not unheard of that a woman die in childbirth. The Dragon’s own human mate had almost died trying to give birth to a hanyou child.

“She’s doing beautifully,” Miyuki assured him, “Pups won’t be rushed, my lord. But, she’s young and strong. She’s the one trying to keep Akina and Etsu from panicking. There’s pain, but she’s bearing up like a warrior.”

“Of course,” Sesshomaru couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice. It was the hardest thing for any demon to wait outside the room while his much loved mate went through labor, but it was impossible for a male to be in the room with her at the same time. A demon’s beast would not discern between pain that could be presented and labor pain and might be driven insane by it, potentially hurting those helping with the birthing and his mate at the same time. So, he stayed in the hall, on an uncomfortable chair, waiting for it to be over so that he could see his mate and hold his pups for the first time. He was comforted slightly by the fact that all of the concubines, the slayer, and the Wolf’s mate were all in the room with Kagome, keeping her company, taking her mind off the pain. In the early hours of the delivery he had heard them all laughing, even, though as the labor intensified it was not nearly as uninhibited as it had been.

“How are your children, my lord?” Miyuki tried to keep his mind off of what could possibly go wrong, though she had no doubts that nothing would.

“Inuyasha, the monk, and the Wolf are entertaining them,” his eyes went back to the door.

“My lord, the labor is about to reach it’s most intense. I think it would be best if you would go see to them as well. I will send someone as soon as the birthing is over.”

He knew it would be best, so did not argue, but stood, crossed to the door and set his hand lightly against it, pulsing love to Kagome. He felt her response, a pulse of love and reassurance, before he walked away from the door and toward the other end of the castle where his adopted children were busy quietly making toys for their new brother and sister. Rin was sewing together a small doll while Shippou was putting the finishing touches on a small wooden boat. The three men watching them looked exhausted and it made Sesshomaru wonder how long it had been that the children had actually been quiet and calm. The image of three adult men chasing his young made him smirk a little. When they saw him the children jumped to their feet.

“Nothing yet,” he assured them as they ran to him, “Almost. Soon.”

“Why does it take so long?” Rin huffed.

“Pups won’t be rushed,” Sesshomaru repeated what Miyuki had told him and sat down so that his children could crawl into his lap and show him what they had made for the new babies. He saw the other three smirking at him, playing the proud papa, but a growl and glare were enough to wipe the smirks off of their faces and have them looking elsewhere. He lost track of time as they waited. His children kept him amused, arguing over what the babies should be named. He realized they had effectively cured him of his nervousness for Kagome merely being who they were. The nervousness came back full force when Etsu came into the room, her face flushed, tired, and radiant.

“She did wonderfully, my lord,” Etsu said automatically, “Come meet your new pups!”

Sesshomaru picked his children up in his arms and moved as fast as the hallways would allow back to the other side of the castle where the women and the midwives waited, lining the hall, to congratulate their lord on the additions to his family. He nodded at them all, wanting nothing more than to get to his mate. He slowed just a little when he noticed Inuyasha move to Akina and take the former concubine into his arms. His eyebrow went up when Akina stood on her toes and pressed her mouth firmly to his brothers. The dazed, happy look in Inuyasha’s eye when she finally pulled away and let her head rest on his chest left no doubt in Sesshomaru’s mind that soon his brother would be mated and there would be one less lady in the castle. Good. Then perhaps Inuyasha would not feel the need to be around so much. Sesshomaru felt that he and his brother had behaved admirably since the battle with Naraku, but it didn’t mean that he wanted Inuyasha in the castle for the rest of his life.

The monk and the slayer spoke quietly, both of them smiling as the slayer told her husband the Kagome was wonderful and the monk placed his hand to her stomach where their own child was growing. Idly, Sesshomaru wondered whether he would be expected to entertain the monk and keep his mind off of the fact that his wife was giving birth when her time came. He knew Kagome would want to be by the slayer’s side, but the monk was not a friend of his. He decided not to worry about it as he went through the door and saw his mate, sitting quietly on the bed she had asked be built for her before her time came. She had been very pregnant at the time and he had not been able to deny her anything. Though, it had been a reasonable request and she had not demanded ridiculous things as he had been warned some pregnant women were wont to do. No, she had simply gotten sweeter, more affectionate as her time neared until he was ready to do anything to make sure that she was happy. Inuyasha and the Wolf had told him more than once that he would have fallen all over himself if Kagome’s eyes were even to show a hint of tears and he had not been able to deny it.

She looked as sweet and beautiful now as she ever had. Her hair had been brushed and braided, her face scrubbed. She was cooing to the squirming bundles in her arms, but looked up when he came into the room and set their children on the floor. They all waited until she looked up at them.

“Hello, my love, my sweethearts. Come meet our babies.” The children ran to her automatically even as he was closing the door behind him. He turned to warn them to be gentle, but found that they had slowed and were climbing onto the bed carefully to join her in looking at the pups.

“They have ears like Inuyasha!” Shippou giggled as Sesshomaru crossed the room and sat on the bed with them. Kagome nodded, laughing quietly, before she allowed Sesshomaru to reach for one of the pups.

“Your daughter, my lord,” She smiled like the sun.

“Her name?” Sesshomaru asked as he took the pup and looked down at her, a love he had never expected filling his chest. Just minutes old and he would kill for his pups, die for them. He smiled down at the little one, looking up at him intelligently through his own golden eyes. He laid her on the bed and unwrapped her, taking stock of her deep black hair, counting her fingers, her toes. Shippou perched at his shoulder, looking on as well, smiling at his youngest sister.

“Hotaru,” Kagome answered his question about the girl’s name on a yawn.

“Shippou, Rin,” Sesshomaru wrapped Hotaru in her blanket once more, “Your mother is tired. Come, kiss her goodnight, and the babies. You’ll see them tomorrow.”

“Yes, Papa,” Both children answered in unison and did as they were told, kissing their mother and the babies, then placing the toys they had made in the bassinet where the babies would sleep for the next few months.

Sesshomaru couldn’t help the smile as they ran from the room, giggling, ready to tell everyone they saw about their new babies. He sighed in content as he place Hotaru in the bassinet and she closed her eyes to sleep. Kagome handed him the other pup and he felt an automatic tug on his heart, almost painful, when the little male’s tiny hand wrapped around his finger automatically.

“Your son, Arashi, my lord,” Kagome smiled, watching contentedly as her mate went through the same routine as he had gone through with their daughter, unwrapping him, examining his fingers and toes, then wrapping him again and placing him in the bassinet. Black hair and golden eyes, just like his sister. As soon as the pups were settled Sesshomaru turned to help Kagome lay down on her side. When she was comfortable, he laid down behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her close, taking in the sweet scent of her hair.

“Have I pleased, my lord mate?” she asked, even as she was falling asleep.

“Very much, my lady love,” he answered, kissing her neck gently.

“I love you, Sesshomaru.”

“And I love you, my Kagome.”

He felt the moment she fell asleep and allowed himself to relax against her. He had never dreamed that something like this would be possible for someone like him. He had never imagined that one day he would be laying in a bed in the middle of the day with his mate, a human, while their new pups, hanyou pups, slept quietly in a bassinet and never want to have to move. He kissed Kagome’s hair and closed his eyes, thankful now for having caught her scent on a night when all he had been expecting was a rut with a willing female. His lands were safe, his mate was beautiful and strong, she and his four children filled his heart as he had never wanted and now could never imagine living without. He was happy, he realized, a small smile on his face, as he allowed himself to drift to sleep.