Chapter 10

Shadows(POV)

Things been tough when we brought Shad home with all the feeding, cleaning him, and taking keeping an eye on him. Me and Tikal really had a tough schedule with him. Tikal really seemed exhausted the first couple of days so I offered to do her share for a bit. But we couldn't of been more happier having him in our lives.

4 Months Later

"Come here Shad try to come to mommy." Tikal calling him to try to crawl to her.

Shad quickly started crawling to his him with a few giggles.

"Your so cute you know that." She happily picked him up and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "Let me put you down I bet you want to play with your toys.

Shad just giggled and clapped as a response.

"My guest that's a yes. Shadow why don't play with him for a bit while I get his lunch ready."

"Yeah hand him over." As she handed him over to me. "Come on lets go to your room."

I started making my way upstairs to where his room was located.

There were practically loads of toys on the ground that you might step on some if your not careful, a perfectly build baby crib and a bunch of decorations filled with Winnie the Pooh posters, and other Disney decoration. "I cant help but feel embarrass being here."

The only thing came from Shad was him laughing.

"Yeah keep laughing when you get older you'll feel ashamed that this was ever your room." I said jokingly as I set him down nicely to the floor and saw playing with his toys.

I went to the closet to see if there was anything else for him to play until I saw something that looked really familiar. "Cant believe your mother actually saved this after all these years." Amazed to see the Spyro doll I won for her when I first met her. "Hard to believe its still in good condition. I guest Shad would like it." As I placed it in front of him.

Shad crawled to the giant Spyro doll and started examining it carefully, He seemed to like it as he got on its tail and started climbing his way up behind its back almost halfway to its head until I got a hold of him.

"Ok this is where I have to stop you. If you fall who knows what your mom might do to me if I just let you fall."

Shad just started sucking his thumb as a response.

"Why do I even bother you cant understand a word I'm saying."

I smelled something that was something so familiar that was coming from Shad along with him giggling.

"Dam how can a little guy like you bring up such a strong smell like this."

*Giggles*

"Keep laughing if me and your mother ever decide to have another kid I'm going to make sure that your going to clean its diaper up from time to time. I said being half serious and half jokingly.

He stook his tongue out and started spewing hid saliva all over my face.

"Your so going to get when you're a little bit older." As I placed him on his back on the sofa along with a pair of diapers, baby wipes, and baby powder. "This is going to be messy and brutal."

After that horrible experience it was finally over…..for now.

"Shadow lunch is ready bring Shad down so I can feed him." I head Tikal yelling from downstairs.

"Good timing I don't need to know what else you might do that might leave traumatize. Any way lets go down to your mother." As I picked Shad up and headed out of his room and made our way to the kitchen.

"Great you're here place him here so he can be next to me." She told me pointing towards the baby chair.

Did what I was told and took a seat next to him and Tikal on the other side. "You know while I was in Shad's room I checked out the closet and I noticed a certain doll that I remember I got for you a long time ago."

"Oh yeah that purple dragon you won for me at when we went to Twinkle Park. What about it?" As she started feeding Shad some baby food.

"Its just that I cant believe that you saved it after all this time. I thought it fell apart or something because well it was getting old."

"It was falling apart but I was able to knit it back in place and wash it so it can seem as good as like when you first gave it to me. Besides why wouldn't I have still kept it, its something I cherish it was when we first met."

"Guest it was good thing you kept it, Shad really seemed to like playing with it."

"Well if he really likes it then he can have it. Wouldn't you like that Shad sweety?"

He simply replied with a nod and a little giggle.

"Oh by the way Shadow I need you to look after Shad for a bit." She asked a bit sweetly.

Didn't like how this was turning out. " Can I ask why?"

"Me and Rouge are going to pick up a few things for Cloud and Shad."

"What exactly are you going to buy?" I asked a suspiciously. "Just baby stuff like formula, diapers, cloths and toys. So you don't mind right?" Ass she started giving me that innocent look. "Fine I'll look after him but you owe me." I sigh in defeat. "Thank you Shadow. She quickly came over and hugged me. "I'm about to leave soon so I should get ready."

She started rushing upstairs

"What is it about her that always gets to me." I wondered and at the same time I heard Shad whining about wanting to get off his chair. "Ok I hear you." I picked him up and handled him with care. "You have certainly been a handful today."

All he did was suck his thumb and stare at the ceiling amously.

"Okay Shadow I'm leaving make sure that Shad takes a nap." Tikal came down and started to approach us. "Bye sweety don't give daddy a hard time and I'll make sure to buy you something nice" She gave him a peck on his forehead.

"Be sure to make it back safely."

"Don't worry I will so I'll see you two later." As she made her lips touch mines that only lasted a few seconds.

Before I knew she walked out the front door and I was alone with the baby.

"If I know your mother and Rouge correctly they're going to take their time." I predicted. "What do you suppose we do now."

*Yawns* and started rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah I guest a nap is good right about now." I agreed and started heading up stairs to Shads

"You've had tons of energy but now I guest you just ran out." As I tucked him in bed nicely.

Shad let out a big yawn and started moving side to side until he was completely asleep.

"Maybe now I can some rest for myself." Left out the room and went to the next door on the left with was mines and Tikal's room. "Peace and quiet just the way I like it. I should take this opportunity before Shad wakes up.

I laid down on my bed nice and slowly and closed my eyes that drifted me into sleep.

Moments later I heard a knock coming from the front door. "*Yawn* Who the hell can that be?" Made myself get up and started walking downstairs to the door. "I didn't expect for you to come." I answered the door only to realize it was Knuckles with his son Cloud in his arms.

"Just thought of visiting. So your not doing anything important at this moment right?" Knuckles asked

"Not at all but be quiet I think Shad is still asleep."

He stepped inside and we took a seat at the living room while Knuckles laid Cloud on the floor carefully seeing him chew on his rubber toy.

"So is his teeth like finally coming out?" I asked seeing him chew all rough..

"Just the his two front rows but with just those he was able to completely tear off a lot of his rubber toys. that's why Rouge decided to go to the store because of Cloud ripping up his toys."

"Wow the only thing that Shad been giving trouble is when I have to clean his diaper. I said disgustingly. "I cant believe how hard my life is now doing missions for G.U.N, being there for Tikal and trying to be a good father. I don't know what's harder all that or back when I was being hunted down."

"Its hard for me too Shadow. Being a husband, father and guardian of a powerful gem is exhausting." As he picked up Cloud and settled him on his lap. "But I don't regret anything its nice having a family being there for you it's a lot better that being alone for the rest of your life."

"Your right if it wasn't for Shad and Tikal, I probably would still be sulking over my past. Which remind I wonder if he's awake already."

I rose up and headed upstairs to his room.

"I guest your finally awake then." I entered and saw Shad in his crib playing with his rattle. "Come on let me get you of there. Knuckles and Cloud are here visiting."

He happily started bouncing meaning he wanted to and see them.

"Ok I get it." I reached down and scooped him up. "Don't start bouncing now or else I'm going to lose my grip and drop you then I'll really get it from your mom.

We headed back downstairs to meet up with the two echidnas.

"Well how are you doing today Shad." Knuckles greeted him upon seeing us approach them.

I laid him down on the floor and he started crawling towards where Cloud was.

Hard to believe its only been four months since he was born. I said reminiscing that day. "He cried so much when we brought him home me and Tikal barely have gotten and good sleep."

"Lets not forget me, Rouge and Cloud also, we don't live that far from you guys. We also woke up from his crying." Knuckles said complainingly. "Its not like your kid was any better we heard him cry numerous times and lets not forget you and Rouge's arguments. Hard to believe that hasn't change at all." I brought up. "That's what happens in a marriage sometimes and also it helps out get a little action when…"

I knew completely what he was going to say and I wasn't going to let him finish it. "Alright I get no need to explain that since we got two babies here."

"Its not like they can understand us."

I looked down only seeing both Cloud and Shad fighting over a rattle.

"Alright you two break it up." As I separated them. "When are Tikal and Rouge getting back its already been a few hours."

With perfect time I heard the front door open. "Wow I didn't see that coming." Knuckles felt surprise. "Well you two took a long time."

"We had to buy stuff for the babies so don't start getting mad." Said Tikal as she and Rouge came to the living room with huge plastic bags in each hand.

Shad and Cloud happily started crawling towards their mothers.

"Hi hon I hope you behave well for daddy while I was away." Rouge said as she picked up cloud and giving him a hug.

"Come here shad I really missed you." As Tikal picked picked him up and gave him a peck on the forehead. "I got you a lot of nice stuff that you might like." "To bad its coming out of my pocket." I muttered quietly. "Did you say something Shadow?"

"It was nothing important so how was your day?"

"It was great maybe you boys should come with us next time." Rouge replied

"With the way you two take your time deciding on what to buy no thanks I'll just stay at home and take care of Cloud like always." Knuckles objected to the whole idea.

We later heard yawns which was coming from both babies.

"We should get going Knuckie it seems its time for Cloud to go to bed." Rouge announced

"Yeah I guest your right." knuckles agreed as he and his family went to the door. "We'll see guys later take care."

With that I was finally alone with my family.

"I'll take him to his room." I got Shad from Tikal's arms. "Ok but make sure you tuck him in nicely."

"It sounds like you don't think I can do it." I said jokingly

"I'm just saying."

"Whatever" As I started heading upstairs to Shad's room.

"Finally this day is over. Maybe this time I can get some rest with no disturbance." I walked into the room and started heading to the crib. "Now don't start crying tonight I need my rest." As I laid him down gently on a pillow and put a nice blanket over his body.

He led out a big yawn and automatically went to sleep.

"Who would of thought that the only thing that would even come close to getting me exhausted was a baby. Oh well your lucky that you got a dad that loves you no matter how much hard work you be giving him sometimes."

"Sleep tight now." I said smiling as I made my exit and led him rest so the next day he can wake up and experience another day in this world.

All I gotta say is my heart wasnt really put into this chapter so I'm sorry if it wasn't good, I've been slacking off a bit but I do promise the next chapter will be better its already being written and gotta say there will be a some unexpected things and there will be heart put into it.

So until next time PEACE OUT!