Yeah, so, this chapter is kind of just filler. Tells you how they planned it and how they got to Sonic's home; not very exciting at all. But it picks up later! It picks up later… ;)

Thanks to everyone who's read so far and to my two reviewers:

jakeroo123 – Well, I've always kind of seen some puppy love between Tails and Cream, and they seem to match each other fairly well. But the statement was really more of a joke on Sonic's part since he knows about the crush (of whatever magnitude the reader wants to make it) Tails has on Cream. And as for your second comment, well, define 'weird'…

Storm337 – Heh heh, well, for once, I am actually updating SOON! And about your prediction…eh…no, not really? This story is more oriented around friends and family, without much action and adventure and fights. Although there is this certain family friend…mmhmm…mmm…good ideas…good ideas coming…I'll see what I can do about Shadow's inhibitor rings ;)

Chapter 2: Location

Shadow chuckled silently at Sonic's comically shocked face before becoming annoyed at his counterpart's ridiculous reaction:

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!" Sonic was hopping up and down in the snow, shouting and punctuating each word with a repetitive fist pump.

"I can still change my mind and say 'no,' you know," Shadow said, not bothering to raise his voice as he continued to glare at his counterpart.

Sonic immediately deflated at Shadow's remark before walking back to the bench and resuming his seat.

"Alright," the hero said, fragments of his cheerful mood returning as he talked. "It's a week-long celebration. We leave four days before Christmas, December 21st, and then get back the day after Christmas. Come to my and Tails's house in Mystic Ruins at, say, eight o'clock in the morning, and we'll head off then. Got it?"

Shadow's eyeridges were furrowed. "You didn't tell me this thing would last for five days."

Sonic shrugged. "Eh, when you haven't talked with your family in a year, they fly by."

"Do I have to come for the whole celebration?" Shadow asked, not looking forward to spending so much time with the crazy faker and his potentially crazier relatives.

"Yep," Sonic nodded, smiling. "Why? Can't handle it…?" he taunted.

Shadow hmphed and turned away. "GUN may have an issue with the length."

"Then tell them to hush up, it's family business," Sonic advised sagely. Shadow twisted his head to look at him, red eyes just slightly wider than usual at the suggestion, but Sonic noticed anyway, even if he did misinterpret the meaning behind it. "What? If they let Rouge take week-long vacations for her personal treasure hunting fetish, then they've gotta give you a week off for this."

As it was, GUN did give Shadow the week off, the Commander not even asking after Shadow's reason for doing so.

Although he did seem to smile when Shadow informed him that he would be gone for the week, but that could have been a trick of the light that illuminated the Commander's face.

And Rouge and Omega weren't much better. All he had said was that he was spending Christmas with the faker (he'd be darned if he told them why), and suddenly the two of them started treating him like he was their little boy being sent off to his first day of school. Rouge was constantly puttering around him, pausing in her decorating to shower him with helpful hints on how to pack and how to behave (i.e. 'Try not to lose your temper and throw a Chaos Blast, okay, hon?') until he was on the verge of ripping his fur out. Omega was, if possible, even WORSE because he kept on repeating what Rouge told him and explaining how Shadow, an organic creature whose life was centered around the social unit, should enjoy himself at his friendly rival's party, where the customary pleasantries of the holiday that organics loved so much would ensue.

So December 21st found Shadow the Hedgehog wide awake with his suitcase in his hand and his Chaos Emerald out. He had left his gifts to his teammates under their usual tree and a letter on the table addressed to them so that he wouldn't have to go through their mothering one more time.

He stared thoughtfully down at the blue Emerald. It was early, about five in the morning since he wanted to get out of there before his teammates woke up, but undoubtedly too early to arrive at Sonic's house.

On the other hand, the forest around Sonic's house was empty…

A soft whisper of "Chaos Control" haunted the room, and with a flash of white light, the dark hedgehog disappeared.

He reappeared right beside the adopted-brothers' house and immediately headed into the foliage surrounding it, deciding to wait just within earshot where he would hear if they stepped outside.

A loud crash resounded around him, followed by a number of groggy words and cries for help.

Or if they were having troubles packing. Late, as usual. Shadow shook his head.

Once the sun had risen, Shadow decided it was time for him to enter the scene. Especially as he saw Sonic carrying a heavy-looking gadget to a little pile of other…stuff Tails had built that sat in the middle of the road right in front of their house.

Oh, no, that wasn't because of any helpful intentions, however.

"SHADOW!" Sonic shrieked, jumping about two feet into the air and nearly losing his grip and falling under the weight of his cargo when his rival Chaos Controlled to stand behind him.

"Sonic," Shadow acknowledged, hard-pressed to keep the smirk off his lips.

"Ack…dangit," Sonic muttered under his breath as he desperately tried to hold onto the slipping object before throwing it at Shadow. "Here, dump this with all the other stuff." In a flash of blue, he leaned through the doorway to the house, head buried inside. "Hey, Tails! Don't we have enough stuff?"

"One sec, Sonic," came the voice of the straining fox as he haphazardly walked up the steps from his laboratory carrying yet another…item. Shadow half-dropped the one he had been holding off to the side, a little roughly, but still without letting it break or anything.

"Manic wanted to check this out," the two-tailed fox explained as he continued to carry the heavy thing until Sonic relieved him of it and huffed over to Shadow.

He turned towards his adoptive little brother. "Please tell me this is it," he mock-pleaded, hands held in front of him in a praying gesture.

Tails swatted him playfully. "Oh, hush."

"Ah!" Sonic announced, now beginning to ham it up. "The cruelty you subject me to!"

"Hedgehog," Shadow interrupted, his annoyed tone conveying his meaning.

"Right," Sonic said, dropping the act and regaining his cheerful attitude. "So, everybody got everything?" He shot a look at Tails. "Although I wonder why I ask. Sheesh, is there anything left in your workshop?"

"Eh heh," Tails chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand.

"What about you, hedgehog?" Shadow asked, raising an eyeridge at Sonic's lack of suitcases.

"Oh, Mom just told me to bring the usual," Sonic brushed off. "Which is just, you know, this." He gestured to himself before striking a pose that made Tails good-naturedly roll his eyes and Shadow take his usual irritated stance before he noticed the small, guitar-shaped medallion hanging from Sonic's neck by a red string. Had he missed anything else…?

"And you." Shadow directed his scrutiny towards Tails, who flinched when he was addressed. "I don't see you with a suitcase either."

"Oh, well, Mom told us not to bring any extra gloves or anything," Tails informed him, stuttering a little. "She keeps an extra stash for us both for whenever we visit."

"Which is always just around the holidays," Sonic jutted in, "but hey, if it floats her boat." Here he shrugged. "And who knows, maybe we will get the chance to go there some other time, right, buddy?" he asked, nudging his fox friend.

Shadow simply looked at them, glad he had a mask to cover his surprise. "I see," he said finally, feeling like the odd one out for doing the usual thing people did when taking a vacation. Although if he had had his choice, he wouldn't have packed so many extra clothes.

In short, he was never listening to Rouge's advice again. Especially if it had anything to do with a certain wild blue hedgehog.

Then Shadow himself shrugged just as Sonic had. "It's probably a good thing for you two anyway. You have enough to carry as is, and I am not helping." He nearly growled the last part, making sure he was clear.

The duo in front of him shared a look. "Uh…Shads? We're not carrying anything," Sonic began, pulling the white Chaos Emerald out of his quills.

"…Just how far away is your home?" Shadow asked in a tone with the temperature of frozen carbon dioxide. When he didn't get an answer, he really did growl. "Sonic, where is your home that you have to Chaos Control to get to?"

"Chillax, Shads," Sonic hurried to assuage him. "It's just on the other side of Mobius, it's not like it's in another dimension or anything." Seeing Shadow's discontented expression, he added, "And I'm sure you have your own Chaos Emerald, so if you need to come back, then you can just use that."

Tails shuffled nervously as a Battle of Staring ensued until Shadow, still giving Sonic a warning look, said, "Fine."

Sonic blinked, a smile quickly spreading across his face. "Alright! Okay, guys, hold onto me!" He stepped into the middle of the pile of junk (in Shadow's opinion), and beckoned them in. "Everyone cool?" He received a smile, a glare, and two nods.

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

A third flash of bright white, and the trio and their heap were gone, leaving behind an empty road and dormant house that wouldn't see anyone for a week.