Chapter 1.
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The room was bliss, not a spot of dust, jewelry boxes could be seen on the indigo modern dresser. The jewelry boxes varied in colors, but all were a magnificent sight. A bed in the center of the room, silk bed sheets wrapped around a familiar bat. An alarm clock could be seen on the nightstand positioned on the left side of the bed. The clock flickered, the time reading "6:00 am". A high-pitched voice began to speak from the alarm clock.

"Goooood morning all tiz out there, we crib'n this sight..." "Greg are you trying this cracker gangsta phase again?" "..No dogg, homie G you can't foo-"

Rouge slammed the snooze button down with her fist. "Can't a lady get her beauty sleep! Bunch of--" Rouge began to mutter her insult and turned back onto her opposite side, still wrapped in the silk sheets. She made the wrap tighter, not wanting to leave the bed, she was too comfortable too, and besides, it was a Saturday after all.

6:08am

Rouge entered her bathroom stretching out. "Wait till I get my hands on him.. Now I can't get back to sleep!" she threatened under her breath. She continued to the sink, grabbing her toothbrush, and the toothpaste.

Meanwhile Shadow sat on the couch, in the living room, his arms rested on the back edge of the couch, bent so his hands weren't seen if you looked at him from the front. His legs were crossed, and his eyes were closed, but he was very well awake.

Rouge walked from the hallway and into the living room.

Shadow spoke, beginning to cross his arms, "I had a reason for the awakening" shadow said in his natural serious tone, he opened one eye and looked at her from across the room.

Rouge looked back, "Well you better have one, it's a Saturday ya know? This girl needs her beauty sleep" Rouge put her hands on her hips and returned the stare.

Shadow closed his eye, "Hmph" He pushed himself from the couch, and walked into the kitchen, resting one hand on the entrance wall. "Consider this a thank you present".

Rouge followed him into the kitchen, as soon as she walked in, her jaw dropped. The glass table was covered in plates of food, not only was it covered with food, but it looked professional. Omelets full of vibrant vegetables, cheese, and pancakes stacked high, with syrup by its side as well as sliced fresh fruit kept on the same plate, surrounding the pancakes. Fresh baked cinnamon rolls, covered in sweet icing, steaming in its plate from its warmth. Even a loaf of banana bread was in sight. Rouge's eyes melted at the exquisiteness of the food. "Its simply looks mouth-watering.." she said nearly drooling. "Shadow.. you made all this?" she asked, turning her head at him.

Shadow leaned against the kitchen wall, with his arms crossed. "Yeah" he responded, again in his serious tone. Giving something to someone as a thank you wasn't something he was too used to. This was different for him.

Rouge smirked "Well lets see if it tastes as good as it looks" She sat down and grabbed a fork and knife, and began cutting a pancake, she then slid it into her mouth, and gulped it down quickly.
"It's delicious!" she exclaimed, stuffing her face with the food on the plate.

Shadow couldn't help but smile at her attitude change. Rouge perked her head up looking at him.

"Aren't you eating anything?" She asked.
"Not hungry" Shadow replied, starting to walk out of the room.
"Suit yourself" Rouge shrugged and continued eating her meal.

Shadow sat back onto the couch, and grabbed the TV remote. Shadow turned the big screen TV on, and flipped through channels to find something interesting. One channel was about car insurance, another full of infomercials. Shadow flipped to a channel where the president was in view, giving a speech about repairing destroyed cities during the black arms attack, and about sonic coming to the rescue as well as shadow. Shadow was humored by the big deal people made about it; but then also annoyed about it. He didn't want his life criticized or labeled by the media. He didn't want to be known as a hero, or Sonic's twin, but just as, Shadow the Hedgehog.
In a matter of minutes Rouge was finished with all the food, this astonished Shadow.
"You finished all that..?" Shadow said shocked, seeing that all the plates were nearly empty, only crumbs could be seen on them.
"What can i say, i have a healthy appetite. But it simply goes right through me!" Rouge giggled.
A sweet mark dripped from shadow's forehead, as he knew that her statement wasn't true. "..Heh" he said putting the dishes into the sink, and washing his hands.
"Hey, where in the world did you learn to cook like that?" Rouge asked, curious.
Shadow wiped his hands with a dishtowel, looking up at the ceiling.
"..Long time ago, never mind.." Shadow began to look down, tossing the dishtowel by the sink.
"..she was a good teacher.. Shadow" rouge said, realizing how he learned how to cook so well.
Shadow walked back to the couch and sat down, crossing his arms, deep in thought.

Flash back
Maria grabbed a container of pancake paste from the cupboard. It wasn't a box; it was in a container made of material similar to toothpaste's. It was already wet as soon as it was squeezed out of the container; milk already mixed into it, as well as eggs.
"You know shadow, if we made this from scratch, it would taste so much better" Maria said thoughtfully.
Shadow walked up to her, wondering what she meant.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Grandpa says that all of these mixes have a lot of chemicals in them. It holds back how they could really taste. But it sure makes it last a long time" Maria replied with a smile.
"Hehe really," Shadow said, a smirk crossing across his face.
"Shadow, just you and me, I'll teach you how to make them, maybe a lot of things, " Maria said getting excited to finally cook with someone.
"Maria.. I don't know, food preparation isn't exactly my pastime." Shadow responded.
"Don't worry it'll be fun" Maria giggled, "The best part is, you can taste whatever we cook."
"Fine, I'll do it for you Maria, just don't tell the professor." Shadow said, facing Maria.
"I won't Shadow, Here"
Maria handed shadow a spoon.
"Hmm?" Shadow looked at the spoon.
Maria playfully put some pancake paste on the tip of shadow's nose; Shadow saw it from his reflection given off by the spoon. Maria laughed, as did Shadow, for it seemed they had all the time in the world.
End flash back