Chapter 10: Tidings of Comfort and Joy
~God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our savior, was born on Christmas day, to save us all from Satan's power, when we all gone astray, oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, oh tidings of comfort and joy.~
Shadow was beginning to feel less and less enthusiastic about Christmas. It wasn't that he hated the season; in fact he liked snow because he had never really seen anything like it before. He remembered the holidays aboard the ARK. Professor Gerald would dress up in a Santa Claus outfit and give his workers a vacation so they could spend time with their families. Then, he'd set up a beautiful tree and tell the Nativity Story around a fire. He remembered when Maria was afraid that Santa wouldn't make it to the ARK but Gerald would assure her that he would. Those moments made Shadow smile wistfully but now he was happy that he had someone to share the season with.
Lately, Miriam was becoming more and more joyful and less timid. Shadow actually found it charming that a fifteen year old girl was acting like a little girl. She would dance around the house and sing songs of joy, peace, and love on Christmas. For once, Shadow actually relaxed and let his worries slip away. It was better that there was no blue hedgehog making his life hell or that there was no work. Shadow was calm and at peace and no one could darken his days.
As Shadow lounged on one of the couches, the doorbell rang. Shadow looked around for a second. Miriam was upstairs cleaning her room; her mother was in the kitchen cooking; and her father was upstairs doing some work. Seeing as no one could answer the door, Shadow decided to do it. When he got to the door, he heard the muffled voices of carolers. A grin of joy stretched on Shadow's face.
"Ah, Christmas carolers," he said happily to himself, reaching over to open the door.
When he opened the door, he recognized the singing person right away.
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!"
There with a huge grin on his face was Sonic the Hedgehog wearing a Santa-like outfit. The blue hedgehog stopped in mid-chorus and waved at Shadow. The grin on Shadow's face now turned into a lockjaw and his shoulders and back tensed up with irritation. So much for a nice, quiet day.
"What are you doing here, hedgehog?" was Shadow's lieu of a greeting.
The threatening tone in Shadow's voice did nothing to Sonic. "I—well, we, actually—came to pay you and lovely Miriam a visit," answered Sonic, his grin now sheepish.
"We who?" asked Shadow, fearing for the answer.
Sonic stepped aside and pretty much everyone was there. Amy stood with Cream and Tails while Knuckles, Rouge, and the Team Chaotix waved gleefully. This was not what Shadow had in mind when he wanted some time away. Shadow pictured spending his afternoon with Miriam and drinking hot chocolate, not with the blue hedgehog who bugged him to no end. The black-and-red hedgehog's mouth fell open but no sound came out. He was honestly speechless, something he had never been before.
Then, they all walked past him to go into Miriam's house.
"Hi, Shadow," said Amy in a greeting as she passed the hedgehog.
"Hey, hedgehog," said the Team Chaotix in unison as they passed him.
"Nice to see you again, Mister Shadow," said Cream cutely as she and Cheese walked past him.
"Hiya, Shadow," said Tails softly as he passed Shadow to join the others in the living room.
"'Sup," said Knuckles, walking past the dark hedgehog.
"Hi, tall, dark, and moody," was Rouge's greeting as she walked past him.
Sonic gave him a wink and a thumbs-up before going to join his friends.
Shadow stood there in the cold air for a few seconds, trying to process what just happened. How did they find him? Oh, wait that was easy; Rouge probably blabbed it to Sonic. They were really trying his blood pressure, weren't they? So much for a nice, quiet, peaceful day. With a growled curse, Shadow went back inside and shut the door behind him. God help him.
He went into the living room and saw the Sonic Team sitting on all of the couches. He felt his eye twitching and he had to do all he could not to scream at them. Christmas was a time of goodwill and peace, not arguing and violence.
"Hey, Shady-baby," said Sonic, snapping Shadow out of his reverie, "where's your girlfriend? Is she home?"
"Of course she's home, faker," replied Shadow in a harsher tone than he intended. "I wouldn't come into her home when she's not here. Not only is that rude, it's stalking."
"Shadow," he started at the sound of his beloved's voice, "who's here?"
Miriam came down the stairs and smiled when she saw Sonic and his friends. "Oh, hello, everyone," she said kindly, lighting up. "Shadow, why didn't you tell me the others were coming over?"
"Believe me," said Shadow stiffly, "I had no idea that they were coming."
"Hello, Miriam," said Sonic, grinning like a maniac. "Our boy Shadow here didn't tell us where you lived so we had to find out for ourselves. Isn't a shame that the mood-machine didn't say anything to his friends?"
"Sonic," the black hedgehog ground out, "you, in particular, are not my friend. If anything, you're the annoying bane of my existence that lives to only raise my blood pressure."
Sonic made a fake pouting face and he whined mockingly. "Miriam," he complained to the girl half-heartedly, "your boyfriend hurt my feelings. Aren't you going to say anything?"
Miriam arched an eyebrow and smirked just like her boyfriend would. "Stop, no, Shadow, don't," she said in a dry voice, not sounding the least bit concerned for Sonic.
Sonic let out a sound a wounded dog would make and continued whimpering and whining until Shadow smacked him on the back of the head.
"Shut up, Blue Hedgehog," growled Shadow, giving the blue guy a harsh glare. "Stop whining, you're giving me a headache."
"Now, Shadow," said Tails reasonably, "it is Christmas, and…"
"Frankly, Fox-boy, I don't give a damn," was Shadow's snappy comeback.
"Aw, come on, Shadow," said Miriam, jumping to Tails' rescue, "they're just having a little fun."
"There's a difference between fun and irritation," replied Shadow moodily, crossing his arms over his chest.
Miriam smiled lovingly, trying to calm Shadow. "Hey, everyone, let's sing carols," she volunteered. "I'll start."
In a voice that was a bit unstable and off-tempo, she started singing Tidings of Comfort and Joy.
God rest ye merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our savior,
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan's power,
When we all gone astray…
Everyone joined her in the chorus, sounding like a church choir.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy…
Shadow took Miriam's hand in his and sang the next verse with her.
From God our heavenly Father,
A blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds,
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born,
The Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy…
While they sang, Cream went over to Miriam and sat on her lap. Miriam smiled and gently stroked Cream's fur. Shadow gave Miriam a gentle look. It made his ruby eyes look like cranberry sauce. The girl gave Shadow a soft smile and resumed singing.
And when they came to Bethlehem,
Where our dear Savior lay,
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay,
His mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray…
Everyone else joined her and Shadow once again.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy…
Finally, Miriam sang the last verse herself, sounding stronger and steadier.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood,
Each other now embrace,
This holy tide of Christmas,
All other doth deface…
For the last chorus, everyone sang joyfully, holding hands and smiling.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Everyone fell silent and began to watch the fire burn on the logs. Cream fell asleep in Miriam's arms and Tails was resting his head on Sonic's shoulder. Knuckles' head was resting on Rouge's lap and Team Chaotix were resting against each other. Amy had her head on Sonic's shoulder and she seemed a lot quieter than she usually did. While watching the kindles on the logs, everyone fell asleep, feeling the calm and joy of Christmas inside their souls. There were tidings of comfort and joy, indeed.
A/N: Sorry for the late update! Look on my page for the reasons why. Next will be the Christmas Eve and Day chapter! Leave nice comments!