Short chapter, but I wanted to update it so you guys know I'm not dead. I am 100% planning to finish this story. I'm also updating my other stories soon, probably also with short chapters.

Sonic rubbed his belly gently, trying to calm the kicking of his child, who had been very active all morning. In the kitchen, Rouge was making a quick lunch for herself and her charge (Sonic). She'd been talked into keeping an eye on the blue mother while Shadow was at work. The fainting spells hadn't yet passed, so the G.U.N. agent was a little more than just reluctant to leave the pregnant hero home alone.

"You're lucky I like you two so much." Rouge huffed jokingly, entering with a plate of sandwiches and a big 2-liter soda, which Sonic eyed greedily, "So, how's my god-kid?" she smiled as she sat next to him. She liked to call the unborn child 'her god-kid' despite the blue male having not yet made the decision.

"Practicing his robot-fighting skills on my bladder, that's how he is." he smarted at her, grabbing a sandwich and biting into it, savoring the taste, "You should make sandwiches for a living, I think you'd get rich."

"Pfft." she scoffed at his teasing words, "I only spent 15 minutes on them. It's not anything fancy."

The speedster rolled his eyes, "Please, I know of restaurant chains who spend half that amount of time on sandwiches and their CEO lives like a friggin' king." he laughed, turning to the T.V. where his most recent movie obsession was showing.

"Well, that's because he has restaurants in nearly 10 different zones." Rouge argued, finishing her own sandwich.

"Well he had to have started out small, right?" Sonic argued back. The bat just rolled her eyes and dug into the food again. Sonic himself grabbed a second sandwich, pushing half of it in his mouth as his round stomach rumbled softly. The newborn within shifted, causing a small bit of discomfort to it's mother, but ultimately settled as it too gained the much needed nourishment which was vital to it's growth.

Sonic absentmindedly rubbed his belly after finishing his meal, his eyes drifting around as he fought to stay awake. The weight of a full belly was making him drowsy, but he wanted to still be awake once Shadow got home. Rouge was in the kitchen, cleaning up the dishes. Briefly, the blue speedster wanted to get up and help her, but sleep had dug it's claws into his mind and had no intention of letting him go. He had very nearly fallen asleep when he heard the front door open. Sonic cracked his eyes open and peered around, his vision still blurry. He sat up and peered over the back of the couch, glad to see his mate had returned.

Shadow was holding a briefcase in one hand, and some documents in the other. He seemed really stressed by whatever was written on the paper.

"Are you okay Shads?" The dark male didn't hear him, slipping off his coat and depositing his briefcase near the door. "Shads?"

"Er, yes?" Shadow looked up at him questioningly, "What was that?"

"Are you okay? You seem kinda stressed."

Shadow rubbed his wrist in an uncomfortable fashion before responding, "G.U.N. is asking about you, Tower specifically. He's trying to claim the baby as his property due to the fact that it's mine. I'm not sure how he found out about the baby, but he's not the only one who knows."

"But I'm a free citizen, he can't claim our kid!" Sonic cried, suddenly very distressed, arms coming about to clutch his belly in a protective manner.

"No, he can't, but he's trying all the same." the agent handed the papers to his mate, frowning, "He wants you to come in for testing." The blue mother took the papers nervously, as though they might bite him should he move too quickly.

Sonic the Hedgehog, It has come to our understanding that your hermaphroditism has enabled you to undergo the act of reproduction with our Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow. Because he belongs to us, so does the offspring. We are the only ones certified to handle the Ultimate Lifeform or it's offspring, and as you are underage and ill-equipped to raise it, we require you to sign the offspring over to us. We have a date set aside 3 days from now, Oct. 10th, where you will report to the G.U.N. base located in Hillside Isle for testing. You will also sign an agreement once there which legally binds you to surrender the offspring to our care.

Tower, Commander of G.U.N.

"They don't even refer to the baby as a child..." Sonic breathed, horrified. Surrender his baby? In three days? "I-I'm not d-doing this… I can't..." Sonic threw the papers aside, shaking. The thin sheets floated away and settled beneath the chairs of the table. "Shadow I won't do it."

"I didn't think you would." Shadow stated calmly, coming to sit next to his mate on the couch. "I've talked with your friends, they've agreed to help us. In fact, Knuckles announced he wants us to stay with him until further notice. Apparently, the Master Emerald has the ability to tamper with machines and scanners and such. It's an obvious hiding spot, but it comes with perks you can't deny." he murmured soothingly, wrapping his strong arms around his distressed lover. "They can't take the baby if they can't find it."