Hey, guys! Sorry about my hiatus. Now that I'm done with school for the summer, I'll be updating more often.

Enjoy!


Shadow sits at Sky's bedside, marveling at the infant in his arms and the two in hers. He's about bursting with pride at not only his children, but his wife who worked so hard to carry them and then birth them. The three babies are small, but healthy. They're identical, with black fur and gray stripes on their quills, tiny gray patches of chest fur, and stunning blue eyes. The first-born is Night, the second Ash, and the third Cinder. They are all only minutes apart. The nurses tied different-colored bands around the babies' ankles to make it easier to tell them apart. Shadow is holding Ash right now, and Alyson peers over his shoulder.

"All three of them are coming home with us?" she keeps asking, her eyes wide.

"Yes, dear," Sky answers weakly. "All three."

"That seems like a lotta work," Alyson mutters, hopping down from her perch and crossing her arms, going to sit in Lorina's lap. "I don't want three brothers."

"Well, that's what you get," Shadow tells her. "You're going to have to deal with it."

Boston places his hand on the black hedgehog's shoulder, kneeling down beside him. "Good job, Shadow. You've given me three healthy boys! I can't wait to train them… I'm going to teach them how to use the Chaos Blade, fight…"

"Daddy, there's no need for them to be trained," Sky reminds him. "Eggman hasn't attacked in years, and Sonic could handle it anyway." Boston frowns and lifts Night from his daughter's arms.

"But, that would be such a waste of good training." He pouts uncharacteristically, lifting the child and holding him up to his face. "I'm sure you would love to learn to fight, wouldn't you?" he coos, touching the baby's nose with his finger and making him sneeze. "This one is going to be a good fighter, aren't you, Cinder?"

"That one's Night, Dad," Sky corrects, rolling her eyes. "And we discussed this."

"Honestly," Lorina scolds, pushing Alyson off her lap and, ignoring the whimpering, stomps over to Boston. "Only you would think of training first." She takes Night from her ex-mate, cradling him in her arms lovingly. "Babies need love and care, first and foremost."

"If I recall, I gave most of the love and care," Boston growls, taking the tiny hedgehog away from her. "I raised them after all."

"Could you not?" Sky snaps, nodding at Terry to take the now-fussy babe away from the quarrelling grandparents. "If you can't get along, leave. I can't take you two when you're being this negative."

Lorina and Boston both look as though they're about to protest, but the look their daughter gives them makes them back down. The two, still bickering, exit the room, with Cloud following close behind, attempting to mediate.

"I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm their mother instead of their daughter," Sky grumbles, shifting Cinder closer to her chest. He latches on to suckle. Sky holds his head steady, making soft noises at him. "So, Terry, I'm clear to go home tomorrow morning, right?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, definitely. The babies look really healthy, so we don't have to watch them anymore." She smiles down at Night, who is comfortably sleeping in her arms. "They're gorgeous, Sky, really."

Pleasure rushes through Shadow at the young rabbit's words. His kids are beautiful. He cuddles Ash to his chest, and is met with a gentle purring as the tiny hedgehog burrows into his fur. "I love you," he whispers, kissing his child's forehead gently. "I love you and your mommy and your sister and your brothers."

Alyson finds her way back over and climbs on the bed next to her mother. "What's he doing?" she asks curiously, staring at Cinder as he feeds.

"He's eating," Sky explains with a smile. "You used to do this too, when you were a baby."

"Really?" Alyson screws up her face in disgust. "That's gross!"

"All babies do it. Your babies will do it."

Alyson sticks out her tongue. "No, they won't." She curls up next to her mother. Shadow watches his daughter out of the corner of his eye, worried that she'll rile the silver hedgehog up. Surprisingly, she goes straight to sleep. Terry, seeing that the entire family is suffering from the same tiredness, places Night in his respective crib.

"I'll leave you all to it. I have rounds to make," she says with a smile, bowing out of the room. The door clicks quietly behind her, leaving the family alone.

Cinder stops feeding and falls asleep in his mother's arms. Sky shifts him to one arm and drags his crib over to place him in. Shadow stands up and puts Ash in his own plastic crib. He reaches out to take Sky's hand, exhaustion sweeping over him as he gazes down at his children.

Sky collapses on her bed, praying that her children would rest long enough for her to get a quick nap. Shadow is working, and Alyson is at day care, so she has to take care of all three triplets on her own. If it's not one child, it's one of the others. Most of the time, they cry out of jealousy. Although, notably, it's usually Night and Cinder fighting for attention. Ash could care less. He usually sleeps through the commotion. And, when Shadow gets home, he'll just curl up on his father's chest fur and sleep some more.

Cinder is the most active of the three six-month-olds, often beating on the bars of his crib and crooning. Night usually responds by making a loud noise, maybe in an attempt to silence his younger brother. But, when that doesn't work, he cries, alerting his parents that Cinder didn't do what he wanted.

Sky has to hand it to her oldest daughter, though. Alyson is really trying to be helpful with the babies. The tired mother often finds her in the nursery, singing to her brothers, which they love. The three of them will clap with happiness at their sister, babbling and gurgling. Sky would sing to them as well, although she doesn't usually get the same reaction. Instead, she earns herself a giggle, and then they promptly fall asleep.

But, no matter how much they trouble her, Sky loves her children. She worked hard for them. Mobians typically don't have more than one offspring, unless the birth produces a set of multiples. The fact that Sky produced triplets was extremely rare.

Sky is just closing her eyes to sleep when a small whimper emits from the nursery. Not now… please… she begs silently. The whimpering persists, and the tired mother heaves herself from the bed to trudge to the other room. Surprisingly, Ash is crying. Night and Cinder are still sleeping peacefully, bundled together beneath the same blanket. Sky lifts the baby from the crib, holding him to her chest. Ash tries to burrow, but pouts upon finding that there's no fluffy patch to put his face in. He blinks up at his mother, his bright blue eyes tearfully reflecting his disappointment. Sky takes him into the living room and sits on the couch. She strokes the gray streak in the middle of his forehead, making him purr and gurgle with delight. He bats at the older hedgehog's hand, smiling widely and revealing his tiny fangs.

"Why do you let your brothers get all the attention, huh?" Sky murmurs, smiling down at her son. "You're just as cute and loveable as they are." She nuzzles his neck adoringly, licking his jaw gently. Sky tickles his belly, kissing his cheek and licking him behind the ears. Ash giggles happily, waving his arms excitedly. The front door opens, and Sky's husband walks through, with their daughter in tow. Alyson runs up excitedly.

"Mommy!" she greets her, kissing her cheek.

"Hi, sweetie, how was your day?" Sky kisses her daughter's cheek and then her husband's lips.

"Good. I learned how to make bracelets, see?" The little girl holds up her wrist, showing off an armful of bracelets.

"Very nice." Sky looks to her dark mate. "You?"

"Same old," Shadow answers, flopping down on the couch next to her. "Are the other two asleep?" He reaches over to stroke Ash under the chin. Ash reaches out to his father, and when he takes him, nuzzles into Shadow's chest fur.

Sky nods. "Surprisingly. I didn't know Ash was capable of staying awake for more than five minutes for feeding time."

"No kidding."

Alyson climbs up onto the couch, spreading herself over Sky's lap. She blinks up at her mother with limpid blue-green eyes. "Momma, can we have pizza tonight?" she begs.

Sky frowns down at her slightly, remembering the baked chicken and vegetables she already prepared. "Why? Don't you like what I cook?"

"We never have pizza," Alyson whines. "Whenever I go to Uncle Sonic and Aunt Amy's, we have pizza, and I like it."

"Pizza isn't good for you, my darling," Sky reminds her.

"But it tastes so good. How could it be bad?" Alyson drapes her arm over her eyes dramatically. "I love it, Momma." She turns over to look at her father, blinking at him with her famous Bambi-eyes. "Please, Daddy? Please?"

Sky looks at her husband over the girl's head, shaking her head, knowing that Shadow has a hard time resisting his daughter's gaze. He loves her so much, he would do anything for her.

"Well, your mother doesn't want to…" Shadow says slowly, shifting Ash to his other arm. Ash is sucking on his thumb, his eyes drooping "And, she's already cooked."

Alyson pokes out her bottom lip. "But I want pizza."

"Tomorrow, Aly. Tomorrow," Shadow promises, getting up and carrying Ash into the nursery. He returns empty-handed and settles down on the couch again. Alyson clambers onto his lap to snuggle into his stomach. Shadow strokes her quills, adoration in his eyes.

"Alyson Maria…" Sky sighs, running her fingers through her bangs. "I would think that Amy wouldn't even suggest pizza, let alone feed it to you. She's such a health nut."

"Obviously, it's Sonic's doing," Shadow mutters, wrapping his arms around the small white hedgehop and squeezing her tightly, making her squeal.

"Yeah, you're right," Sky mutters, leaning back and closing her eyes. She begins to doze off, falling into a deep sleep. She doesn't even feel her mate and daughter leave the couch. Thankfully, she doesn't dream, but rests peacefully. Shadow gently shakes her awake after a few hours.

"Wake up, my love," he murmurs, running his hand across her ear. "It's time to eat."

Sky opens her eyes, sticky with sleep, and sits up, stretching up with a yawn. "Okay. Thanks." Shadow presses his lips against hers, clearly hungry for her touch. "Mmm, are you okay?"

"When was the last time we spent any alone time together?" Shadow whispers. "I miss you."

"We haven't spent any type of time together since before the triplets were born, you know that," Sky answers with a laugh. "And, who would babysit these children for us to have a date?"

Shadow frowns. "Point taken." He helps his mate to her feet. "But you need a break. I want to take you out, like we used to." He nips at her ear gently, breathing in her scent. His arms coil around her waist, hands resting on her hips. "You smell… intoxicating."

"Oh, please, I probably smell like baby vomit and sweat."

"No, you smell nice, like vanilla."

"Speaking of vanilla, I made a cake," Sky tells him cheerfully, worming her way out of his grip and dragging him into the kitchen. Alyson is already seated in her chair, strumming on her tiny guitar and singing to her brothers, who are in their high chairs. Night and Cinder are giggling and clapping, while Ash is just watching in fascination. Shadow has laid out the food on the table, including the baby food. Shadow has a habit of doing things like this, feeling guilty for leaving Sky there alone while he's at work.

Sky sits down in front of the triplets, while Shadow ladles food on plates. Alyson puts down her guitar on the table.

"Not on the table, sweetie," Sky warns, unscrewing the cap off a jar of pureed carrots. Cinder slams his fists down on the table, shrieking loudly at the sight of food. Sky rolls her eyes at him. "Aren't you fat enough, little Cindie?" She sticks a baby spoon in the jar and feeds it to her youngest son.

"I wish you wouldn't call him that," Shadow sighs as Cinder smacks his lips, carrots dribbling down his chin. Shadow pulls up a chair next to her and begins feeding Night and Ash at the same time. Night doesn't have much of a taste for the sweet potatoes, as the couple finds out when he slaps the spoon out of his father's hand. Shadow frowns and takes the spoon to the sink.

"Night, you aren't old enough to have an opinion," Shadow scolds. Night just glares at him, pursing his lips. "C'mon. Eat the sweet potatoes." Night just clamps down on his father's hand. Shadow shakes him off with a frown. "What's the matter with you?"

"Just give him the carrots. Here," Sky tells him, trading the carrots for the potatoes. But, when she tries to feed it to Cinder, he spits it back out, making a face. "Oh? You don't like them either?"

"I don't like sweet potatoes either, Mommy," Alyson pipes up, her voice muffled by mashed potatoes. "They're gross."

Sky takes a deep breath, screwing the top back on the sweet potatoes. "Did Ash like them?"

"Hard to tell. I don't think his face can show disgust," Shadow replies with a small smile, scraping the orange substance off Ash's chin and putting it back in his mouth. Night reaches out to get his father's attention, calling out in frustration. "He loves anything and everything."

Sky resorts to feeding Cinder mashed potatoes from her plate, which he loves. Seeing Cinder being fed something different, Night protests. Ash turns away from Shadow and babbles something to his older brother. Night babbles something back. Cinder leans over his high chair table and shouts something at his brother. Sky leans back, confused.

"When did they start doing that?" she asks her husband, lifting an eyebrow.

"Beats me," Shadow replies, reaching for his own food and taking a bite of chicken. He feeds Night a bit of his mashed potatoes, which the baby accepts happily. After Cinder has his fill, Sky moves to help Shadow with Ash, who blinks up at his mother expectantly. Sky plops some more mashed potatoes on her plate and begins feeling it to the boy. He laughs and claps his hands. Sky taps him on the nose.

"I think you're my favorite," Sky teases, feeding him some more. He just giggles in response. "I love my little Ash, huh?" Ash touches her face and smiles some more. "He's the cutest."

"They're identical," Shadow snorts. "They're all cute."

"Actually, biologically speaking, the first zygote can't have split three ways. Ash is different than the other two. He has a mole on his cheek, see?" Sky points to the tell-tale mole, which has darkened as Ash has gotten older. "And, his fur is a tad lighter than Night and Cinder's."

"Really? How can you tell?"

"I'm his mother. I can just tell."


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That's all for today! Muffin out!