'Sup. Nuff said. R&R, please!
Disclamer: I don't own Sonic
"How do you know?" Shadow said softly. Maria was trembling a little. "I. . . I just do. . . It's so scary to think this way, Shadow. . . I. . . I don't know what's going to happen to me, but I get the feeling it's coming soon. . . And it's going to be gruesome. . ." She held her knees together and sighed. Shadow put his arms around her. "Maria, I promise I won't let you get hurt. Nothing's going to happen to you as long as I'm alive, I can assure you." He held her close and pulled her into a hug. The black hedgehog noticed his wife was crying a bit. He couldn't blame her; she was frightened. Who wouldn't be? Shadow sighed and stroked her back. "It's okay, Maria." "No it's not, Shadow. . ." Maria said, so softly, that Shadow couldn't hear her.
A month past, Maria was taken to the doctor every two weeks. The chaos inside her was only getting worse, and Mona told Shadow that she'd die during birth, or even worse, before then. Mona highly suggested an abortion. Although Shadow wanted to agree, he knew Maria would never accept. He knew how much she'd wanted a family, so he expected nothing less from her. But still. . . He didn't want Maria to die. He lost her once, he wasn't willing to lose her again. It just wouldn't happen. Maria knew that the chaos was growing, but she didn't know Shadow and Mona had talked. When they got home later, maria noticed Shadow looked extremely down. As if he was dragging his feet forward, but not because he was tired, Maria knew better than that. It was because he was hiding something. He always did that. "Shadow, what's wrong?" Maria asked, looking at her husband. Shadow didn't answer. He looked at her fairly medium-sized stomach. And glared at it. Maria tilted her head back a bit, totally taken aback. "Shadow, what's the matter with you?" "Maria. . . Mona and I were talking. . ." Shadow said emotionlessly. The blond fox scowled at her husband. "About?" "An abortion." "What're you talking about?" "What do you think I'm talking about?" Shadow said curtly. Maria was silent. She couldn't believe him. "You're joking, right?!" She demanded (She rarely did that, though). Shadow's glared again. "Since when have I 'joked?'" "Shadow, why would you even consider doing that?! Don't you want him to live?!" "Maria, it's going to kill you if we don't do something." "'It'?! 'IT'?! Shadow, don't you see that he's not a thing?! He's a living creature, just like us!" Maria cried, tears in her eyes. Shadow's eyes widened. "Maria, did you not hear me? It's going to kill you! Kill you! Tell me, have you been able to see your future ever since you got pregnant?" His eyes were darker than usual. Maria was silent. It was true. After they learned about the chaos inside of her, her future had disappeared. Her face must have said it all, because Shadow made a hmph sound. "As I thought." "Shadow, wait," Maria said firmly. Shadow stared at her. "I may not be able to see my future," she began. "But I still see yours. And his. You're living with him, without me." Shadow lifted his head, as if he'd start laughing, but he didn't. "Maria, how do you believe I can live with the thing that killed you? How? I don't think I'd even be able to look at it like it were my child without feeling enraged." He turned his head. Maria sighed, feeling helpless. She placed her hand on the black hedgehog's cheek. "Shadow, please look at me." Shadow turned his head slightly and looked into her sapphire-blue eyes. She's died for me once. . . I won't let her do the same again. . . He turned away from her, and walked out of the house, the door slamming as he left. Maria stood motionless. She was shocked. Shadow. . . She thought. The black hedgehog was outside, running away into the forest. He was panting although he'd barely walked. You need to learn to stop fighting your problems, my dearest Shadow. . . He ran into an open field. The sound of a twig snapping make his ears twitch. I know you can cope without me in your life. . . I know you can raise our child. . . The black hedgehog laid on the green grass and sighed. Stop fighting your problems. . . Face them instead. . . Just like you lived without me the first time. I'll still live within you if I die. . . I promise. . .
When Maria finally walked away from her spot, she went into the bedroom. She laid across the bed, feeling exhausted. It felt like she and Shadow had a huge fight, instead of a mere argument. She sighed, tears streaming down her face.
The next morning, Maria noticed Shadow still wasn't next to her. Guess he never came home. . . The blond fox thought to herself. But why. . . ? Although she was worried, Maria let the subject drop. I should go for a walk. Yeah, that'll make me feel a little better. She got dressed, put on her coat, and went outside. It was snowing a bit outside, despite the fact that it was barely winter. The blond fox walked along the sidewalk, the neighboring houses going by. She walked for a while until she reached a local park: there was a swing-set, a slide connected to a playground, and on the other side, a huge oak tree loomed over, and a wooden bench was underneath it. Maria gave a little smile. Maybe her child would play here once they were born; she had always seen children playing whenever she and Shadow came. She sighed at the thought of Shadow, as she sat on the bench. She was worrying about him. What if he was hurt? No, that was crazy. Shadow was basically indestructible, he couldn't be hurt. Maria still didn't understand why he wanted an abortion so badly. . . Didn't he want to meet their child? She gave a small gasp when she felt something hit her head. Maria looked up and noticed it was snowing. I might as well go home. . . She thought. Shadow might wonder where I am if he's back. She got up and started her way home.
Shadow was sitting on the couch when Maria opened the door. He ears pricked when she saw him. The black hedgehog sensed her presence and turned his head toward her. He gave a little smile. "Hello, my angel," he said smoothly. Maria closed the door and blinked a little. "Hi." She couldn't get any other words out of her mouth. "I. . . You. . . Where were you?" She asked when she finally had her voice back. Shadow raised his eyebrows a bit, as if he were thinking. "Not far. . ." Maria didn't bother to ask any more questions. She walked to the couch and sat next to him, and the second she sat down, Shadow planted a kiss on her lips. "How are you today, Mari?" He asked, eyes half-lidded. "I'm good," Maria answered with a little giggle. He seems happy again. . .
About two months later, Maria and Shadow found out they were expecting twins (A boy and a girl), and she was growing quite a lot, and her belly had become obvious. Shadow was acknowledging this, and grew a bit worried, since the chaos inside of her intensified. He saw Maria sitting on their bed, rubbing her belly. Shadow raised an eyebrow at her. His wife obviously saw him and took his hand, then placed it on her stomach. Shadow was flabbergasted. He wasn't sure wether to take his hand off, or keep it on. Then he felt it. A thump. Maria giggled when she saw her husband's confused face. "They're kicking," she explained. Shadow could only nod. He moved his hand around. A kick came everywhere he touched. "Wow. . ." He said softly. "That's. . . Amazing. . ." He was having second thoughts about an abortion now. They were alive, and they were his children. He wouldn't allow them to die, not anymore. He chuckled and kissed his wife's stomach. Maria gave a little squeal. "Shady, that tickles!" She said, delighted. Shadow laughed and kissed her. Another kick. "Okay, okay, stop, Shady," Maria laughed. "I'm tired, and I know you are too. C'mon, let me sleep." "I'm not tired anymore," Shadow replied, stroking his wife's stomach. "I'm excited." "You. . . You are?" "Yes. I've been blind, Maria, and I apologize." He hugged her, kissing her forehead. Maria smiled. "I'm so glad." "Hmm," the black hedgehog sounded. "You're right, it is pretty late. We should get some rest." Maria laid down at this, stroking her husband's quills. Shadow gave a little growl, lowering his head down to her stomach. He kissed it again, then whispered, "Watch your heads in there. . ." Maria giggled. "Oh, Shadow." "What?" "You're trying to be the seductive Doctor of Love, I can tell." "Haha. Indeed I am." He was now on top of her and was kissing her neck. "But I want to give you all that you need, my angel." I still won't give up on keeping you alive. I'll find a way, somehow. Their mingling moans were all that sounded after his thoughts.