Interlude….

8 months later…

It was a cold, damp night in the forests of Rome and the echidnas rested as Amy was sleeping, having flashbacks of her fallen lover and savior.

Flashback…

"NO, SILVER! No, No, No!" She cried as tears began to swell up in her eyes.
"Silver, please, don't leave me and your baby."

"Amy, don't worry over me."
"Silver, stay with us, please. I love you."

"Amy, I love you and I will see you sooner than you think."
As Amy held his hand, his grip began to weaken and weaken and before she knew it…Silver…was…gone.

End of Flashback…

Amy wakes up and feels sharp pains. She then realizes that her water broke and that she was going to have the baby. She moans and groans is agonizing pain, so she calls Julie-Su for help. She hears her calls and rushes to her aid.

"Amy, are you alright?"
"Yes, but -moan- the baby is on the way."

"OK, Amy. Now I want you to take slow, deep breaths and stay calm, not matter how much pain."

Amy nods and tries to calm down. Julie-Su knew how to give birth and was in action, so she then calls Knuckles and says,

"Knuckles, get water and build a tent, but fast, please. Amy can't hold on."

The male echidna nodded and frantically ran to the river to fetch water and build the tent quick.
"Julie, what do I use for the water?"
"Um…use your helmet."
"OK."

As Knuckles gets the water and builds the tent, Amy moans and groans in pain.

Hours later…

"OK Amy, push with all your strength. Knuckles, boil the water and stay out of the tent."

"Alright, don't worry Amy, you'll be ok." Knuckles replied as he left the tent.

"Ok, now 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…and stop."

Amy breathes out and after hours of labor and just 20 minutes of pushing. As she pushed again, she began to feel faint.

"Ok Amy, last one, then, your baby will see the light." Amy nods weakly.

"OK…and 1…2…3…4…5…6…7"
Then loud cries were made, the baby was born. Julie-Su quickly grabs the little hoglet, and is the first to welcome him.
(Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets)

"Ciao, bambino! Oh siete così sveglio!"
(Hello, Baby! Oh, you are so cute!)

But when she turns to see Amy, she had fainted.
"Amy…Amy…AMY! Knuckles, help me! Amy fainted, bring me cold water, now!"

Knuckles rushes in and without a thought, he dumps the water on Amy.

"KNUCKLES, WHAT THE FU-"
Then, they hear Amy groaning and looking around.
"Julie, where's my baby?" Amy asked weakly.

The female echidna immediately hands the baby hedgehog. Her baby is the spitting image of Silver, with her green eyes. Amy sheds small tears of joy and nuzzles her baby as he yawns a cute yawn.

"Oh Amy, he's so cute. What will you name him?"
"Hmm…" Amy thought for a moment and then thought of a good name for her son. She then answers softly,

"Matteo, after the gospel of Matthew. Silver would read it to the baby every night when he was alive."
(Matteo, Italian for Matthew.)

"Matteo, our future Re."
"Yes, -yawns- Silver would be proud."

Julie-Su smiles and Knuckles randomly says, "I get to be the godfather!"

Amy couldn't help but giggle. "Don't worry Knuckles, you'll be for sure and Julie-Su as the godmother. But I can't believe this child, this baby, he's mine."

Julie-Su replies, "Me either, but he's here."
"I hope, when Matteo is older, maybe three or four years old, we can truly take Scourge down and having Matteo take the crown."

"Yes, that would be good for all of Italia."

"Sure, um, I think I want some alone time, with my baby."
"Sure Amy. Come along Knuckles."

"Aw, come now. I want to see the kid."
"You'll see him later, now let's go."

"-sigh- ok then." Knuckles replied as he follows Julie-Su out the tent, leaving Amy and Matteo at peace.

As Amy breastfeeds Matteo, she looks at him in utter joy as a new mother.

"Well, little one, you are truly the spitting image of your father. I hope you are ready for a life of adventure."

Her baby then stops feeding and looks at his mother. He yawns and snuggles against his mother's arms and sleeps soundly. Amy rocks her baby to sleep and lightly kisses her baby goodnight.

"-yawn- Goodnight, Matteo, sweet dreams."

Amy then closes her eyes and prays in her mind…

Silver, wherever you are, know that your son is born. I hope you are proud to have such a cute baby.

Then a ghostly voice said, "My love, I am happy and proud."

That voice belonged to the French mercenary, who is now a phantom. He walks towards Amy and kisses her passionately and rubs his son's head gently with joy.

"I will now give you a part of me, for I will place some of my soul, in our son. Now tell me, what is his name?"

Amy softly spoke, "Matteo. Matteo the Hedgehog."

"Matteo, after the Gospel of Matteo." Silver replied happily, for she respected Silver's views of Religion. He places his hand on his son's and begins the transfer. He then says,

"Amy, this will not be said to anyone. It will be a special moment between us. I am also here to give you a message. You will no longer be alone. Someone worthy will come your way. So then you will have a lover, protector and a friend."

"Silver, do you know who?"
"A very special someone, Amy Rose. Good luck and take good care of him."

"Thank you, Riccio."

"I love you and remember me when you can." Silver replied as he disappears. Amy sighs and says, "I'll need all the luck I can get. –yawn-."

Amy then falls asleep, with her baby in her arms, snuggling against her chest. Julie-Su and Knuckles get back in and see Amy asleep, along with the baby. They walk over and Julie-Su ajusts the baby in Amy's arms so he won't fall, and says, "Welcome, Babmino."

--

Back at the Palace, Shadow visits the church in the abbey in a hooded robe and kneels before God as Ave Maria is being played. He prays to him...

Lord, forgive me for forsaking you, but I never ask for much. I am here on a mission, for the fatherfiure in my life. I am to secretly marry his daughter. Yes I am in love with her and I know her feelings for me are strong as well, but my Lord, I beg of you to help me find my rose and reunite me with her. She never deserved so much suffering. This is all I ask for, it is to reunite me and Rose again. I will never forsake you again, and I will keep my word, for I keep my honor as a knight. Thank you. In nome del padre, del figlio e del fantasma santo. Amen
(Translation: In the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost, Amen.)

He then looks at a portait of Amy and says to himself, "When I see you again, Amy. I will love you like no other creature can or will. My love for you is stronger than any hedgehog or creature in this realm. I will fufill your father's wish, of seeing you happy and making Italia great. Ivano...Amy I will not let you down."

Chapter 7 coming at cha!