Chapter 1: Surprise

[Day 1]

Shadow was furious, "Damn it. How hard can this be?" Shadow said as he threw his pencil across the room. He sat at his seat looking at the thousands of papers that laid out on the table. In one motion, he swept all the papers off the table, making the lab now covered with blue prints. "Why must it be my children that are useless…" Shadow said to himself. Shadow went over to the other side of the lab table to see several vials of blood. He was down to the last drops of Rouge's and his blood. In some of the vials there were substances that if combined would complete the project, but Shadow didn't know what substance to use.

There was a faint knock at the door. Rouge popped her head in, "Dinner will be done in seven minutes." Shadow had no response. His mind kept racing on what could happen if he were to mess up. What monster would he create if he did.

What Shadow wanted was a strong, and intelligent boy. One that could rule by Shadow's side.

Shadow shook his head. I need to focus. He thought. He walked around and picked up every piece of paper and placed the pile on the lab table. He spent several hours wondering what kind of genes would his new son would have.

Now, four in the morning, Shadow was starting to fall asleep. He rested his head on his arms as he slouched in his chair. Just a small nap will do. He said as he slowly closed his eyes.

[Day 2]

As he awoke, his eyesight turned from a blur to perfectly clear. With his head still lying on the table, he looked over to the test tubes, which one of them had a small white ball inside. He shot up, went over to the test tubes, and carefully held the test tube with the white ball. He held it up to the light to verify that there was something was actually inside the tube. Surely there was. The door slightly open, it was Rouge, "How come you didn't come down for dinner last night." She said as she came in with breakfast.

Shadow walked over to Rouge with the tube in hand and said, "Here is our new son!"

"Shadow. What are you talking about?" Rouge questioned.

"My little project I've been working on all week. He will be perfect."

"Whatever makes you happy Shadow." Rouge said as she placed his breakfast on the table near the stacks of paper. "What's his name going to be?"

"Will. For that the power of the will is the strongest ability to have." Said Shadow. "Let's eats downstairs for breakfast." He took the tray and lead the way out of the lab. Suddenly, a sound of crashing glass filled the room. Shadow turned around to see the tube that had his new son was shattered. A flash of white past Shadow's peripheral vision. He looked to his left and saw small white quills poking out of the side of the cabinet.

He carefully walked over to see a tiny white hedgehog sitting on the floor looking up at him. "Da da!"

"Oh Shadow," Rouge began, "She's adorable!"

"She!?" Shadow said surprisingly. "I had all the measurements of all the substances to make sure that… she was supposed to be a he."

"Shadow, it's okay. She's perfect the way she is." Rouge said as she held the new child.

"Rouge, she's a mistake. I wanted a boy." Shadow said coldly.

"Please don't be like that." Rouge pleaded.

"I don't need to have another whiny daughter." He said as he was about to walk out the door to go back into his lab.

"You know what? Fine. Keep yourself out of one another of your children's lives. It's not like you've done it before." Rouge said as she held the screaming baby who was reaching towards her father, tears running down her face.

Shadow turned away from the door. He walked straight up to Rouge, "You know damn right that I don't make mistakes."

"Shadow everyone makes mistakes, no one in this world is perfect." Rouge said as she bounced the baby in her arms.

"I was made perfect. I don't want to see that in my house" and with that Shadow left the room.

Rouge screamed slammed door, "SHE is not an IT Shadow!" Rouge cradled the crying baby in her hands. Then suddenly She felt that the she had gotten heavier. "Are... Are you growing?" The little one was still crying for her father. "I know Will… Willow. He is… just being himself."

[Later that Day]

Shadow, still confused on what had happened, walked over to his large computer and opened his security camera footage. He looked at the video of himself falling asleep over and over again. All that was shown was that he had fallen asleep and the vials of blood had fallen into the incomplete substance.

Shadow reviewed the video many times, over and over 's. He then leaned forward in his chair to look closer to the screen. He saw a small, dark blur next to the test tubes just before they fell. He was furious, but yet, he felt reassurance that it was not he who had made the mistake.

Shadow's comfort turned to anger. He knew something was up but wasn't quite sure what. His suspicion got the better of him and lead him out of his lab.

His long strides down the hallway showed that he was deep in thought. He opened the door to go into his warm living room to see Rouge holding the small child, who was whimpering in her sleep. "I believe I said to get rid of the baby?" He said.

"It's not your choice." Rouge said calmly while rocking the small toddler back and forth in her arms.

Shadow closed the door behind him. His eyes went from Rouge to the child. "It's huge." He said in amazement. Rouge ignored him.

Rouge, still not looking at Shadow, "Her name is Willow." She looked over at him in curiosity. "Why all of a sudden are you interested in my daughter?"

"None of our children have never grown this fast before. Aren't you worried?"

"What do you mean?" Rouge asked.

"At this rate..." Shadow began, "She'll be dead in a couple of days."
Rouge showed no expression. The room fell silent until Rouge looked over to shadow and asked, "What should we do?"

"All that can be done is to give her a good life, I suppose. I am interested as to how she can already talk." Shadow said as he crossed his arms.

Rouge cuddled Willow, "This is horrible..." Rouge was in deep thought. She then looked up at Shadow. "Here, take Willow. I have a horrible headache." Rouge handed off Willow to Shadow to hold.

"Okay, but only for a minute. Then you..."Shadow looked over to see Rouge had fallen asleep.

There was complete silence.

Then Shadow felt something grab his arm. He looked down to see Willow's small white hand resting on his arm while she had a small smile on her face. Willow then snuggled in closer to Shadow as he held her. While still carrying Willow, Shadow went over to Rouge and covered her with a light blue blanket. Shadow then left with Willow leaving Rouge in solitude.

Shadow entered his lab with Willow in one arm. She looked up at him with happiness. Shadow then sat down in his chair in front of the large computer. Willow nestled in closer to her father and quickly fell asleep. "Man, I don't know how Rouge complains, this is easy." Shadow said aloud to himself. He kicked up his legs, slouched in the chair, and fell asleep with Willow in his arms.