Chapter Text
Sesshoumaru watched as his mate paced the living room, mumbling to herself as she rehearsed what she'd say when everyone arrived. "You do realize Inuyasha is not liable to hear you the moment he sees you," he reminded her.
Kagome shot him a scathing glare over her shoulder. "I'm allowed to be nervous! I haven't seen him in—in..." She bit her lip. "It's been a while, okay?"
"He will just be glad to see you." Sesshoumaru did his best to reassure her.
"Am I that obvious?"
He quirked a brow. "An avalanche would be subtler."
"You're supposed to be supportive!" she wailed, punching him in the chest. "This is a big deal!"
He chucked as he pulled her into a hug. "Did I not pay for the family trip you wished for upon his arrival?"
"I told you you weren't allowed to hold that over my head anymore," she grumbled as she leaned against him, taking solace in his embrace.
"Then perhaps you refer to how you wish to thank me when we return—" They both turned at the sound of gagging from the front door.
"Fuck, get a room." Inuyasha seemed annoyed, but he looked pleased to see them. Kagome's arms tightened around Sesshoumaru for a moment, allowing him to give her a reassuring squeeze before she bolted toward his brother. Inuyasha's arms closed around her immediately, pulling her into a tight hug as his mate approached them.
"Leaving me with the luggage so you get first dibs is a low-blow, mutt-face," Kouga said from behind him.
"Keh. You're always going on about being stronger since you're full-blooded." Inuyasha snorted. "Are you saying a little thing like luggage is too much for you?"
"It ain't just the luggage—" Three pairs of hands grabbed onto the hanyou's arms, trying to pull him out of the way of the door.
"Hey!" Inuyasha protested. "I saw her first!"
"You had your turn, Daddy!" The triplets all clamoured to greet their new aunt, not the least bit exhausted by the flight despite their parents' hopes. Kagome landed on the ground in a tangle of limbs and giggles, tiny claws pulling at her hair to inspect her ears.
"Oi! You're gonna break her!" Inuyasha barked at his kids.
Three mouths instantly turned down into a pout, and Kagome grinned and pulled them into a hug. "It's alright."
Silver ears twitched. "Don't coddle them, dammit."
Kouga dropped their bags inside the doorway, then bumped his mate's hip. "Isn't that why we brought them in the first place?"
Kagome hid a smile as Kouga tweaked his mate's ear affectionately. It made her happy to see them both so content together, even after all this time. She disentangled herself from the triplets, pushing them towards Sesshoumaru before scrambling to her feet and pulling them into a fierce hug. "I missed you," she said, sniffling and already on the urge of all-out tears.
Kouga wrapped his arms around both of them, only squeezing tighter at the sight of Inuyasha's panicked look. "The feeling's mutual, Kags."
Inuyasha still looked unsure as to what to do next, but he relaxed slightly, letting her tears soak his shoulder.
"So," Kouga said as soon as she pulled back, "you and that dog, eh?"
Kagome sniffed but nodded, then poked him in the chest. "I could ask the same thing about you."
Kouga, however, didn't so much as blink. "Like he was gonna put me off for long." He smirked. "I'm good at it."
Inuyasha cursed under his breath, trying to shove Kouga away. "Don't start in on that shit again!"
The wolf rolled his eyes, then looked at the triplets and whined loudly, "Daddy's pretending not to love me again!" Inuyasha barely had a moment before they pounced.
"No!" The triplets were all over their father, tugging and pulling as they demanded he love Kouga more.
Kagome smiled as Kouga winked. "Works every time." He gave her another quick hug, arm tightening around her shoulders. "It's good to see you."
She chuckled as she swatted him gently. "You've gotten more devious since last I saw you."
He shrugged a shoulder. "Not really. I'm just focusing it on someone else this time." He gave her a full grin, fangs glinting before he leaned over and grabbed all three children. "Come on, let's show your auntie the new trick you learned over the weekend." Kagome took an instinctive step back just seconds before the triplets descended upon her once more.
Inuyasha grumbled as he got to his feet, glaring at his brother. "If you tell me they're cute, I'll beat your ass."
Kagome chuckled as the triplets attempted to show off their latest jiujitsu moves. They were cute, but right now, she had other priorities.
"She doin' okay?" Inuyasha asked, rubbing the back of his head.
Sesshoumaru gave his brother an irritated look. "She does not regret her choice."
Inuyasha stared at him for a moment before rolling his eyes. "Not that idiot. I couldn't change her mind even if I wanted to." The two brothers watched as the triplets forced Kagome to copy their positions, only to correct her after the fact. "I meant the attack. Any more nightmares?"
Sesshoumaru let out a small sigh. "Upon occasion, though she rarely speaks of it."
"Is it something we need to worry about?" he asked, stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets. "You didn't let the bastard live, did ya?"
Sesshoumaru quirked a brow. "Do you think me a fool? I would not endanger my mate a second time."
Inuyasha snorted. "Just checkin'. I was tempted to ask you to revive him so I could tear him a new one all over again." His ears twitched. "I never trusted him."
Sesshoumaru sniffed. "There was nothing left to revive."
"Good." The rest of his response was cut off by one of the triplets barreling into his knees, tiny claws dragging him into their game. Sesshoumaru chuckled as Inuyasha was forced into a mock fight with all three of the triplets at once, all eager to demonstrate moves for Kagome.
"I should not be surprised they enjoy showing off, considering their parentage," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Kagome smiled as she snuggled into him. "They're adorable," she said with a look in her eye that told him she was picturing their own future children.
"Indeed. Though I would advise against having such a large litter on the first go."
Kagome's eyes widened. "Do multiples run in your family?"
His lips pulled back into a seductive smirk. "I suppose you will have to find out."
"It would be karma if you get stuck with four kids at once," she said, pursing her lips even as a small smile threatened to give her away.
A soft kiss was placed on her temple. "I will accept the chaos that comes with it as long as they are ours," he said.
"It's not fair when you say things like that." She huffed good-naturedly,
"I always strive to keep you on your toes, mate." A chuckle escaped his lips at her narrowed gaze. "But I am also used to using any and all strategies to ensure victory."
"Well, that sounds ominous," she jested, lightly swatting his arm.
"Never to you," he said, tone serious, though there was a slight smile on his lips.
They were granted a few moments of reprieve before the triplets noticed they were two adults short, quickly dragging them back into the throng of their game, laughter echoing throughout the house.
Finally, her family was complete once more.