Mother Knows Best

Chapter Twelve

Shadow and Kiera quickly ate through the microwaved macaroni and cheese, and they both washed their dishes together. They both smiled at the distant memory of when they first cleaned the dished with each other back in Yukon River. Shadow and Kiera's hearts and thoughts were still swirling at the fact that they both confessed their love for each other, and now, they sat on his sofa in silence.

Shadow turned to Kiera. "Would you like to watch a movie?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." He nodded and flicked through his Netflix and picked a random action film.

"Is Captain America: The First Avenger okay?" Shadow asked softly.

"It's perfectly fine." He selected the movie and the two of them sat side by side as the title credits for the movie appeared on screen. Kiera had snuggled up to Shadow during the beginning of the film, and Shadow enveloped her into his arms and grasp. He held her softly while watching the film. He had to admit, he could get really used to this.

It was nearly an hour into the film when the two of them dozed off into a light sleep on the sofa. Kiera was curled into Shadow's side as he was holding her close, encasing her in his arms. Their own body heat was enough to set them into drifting for a light nap. Shadow groaned as he woke up from his light sleep to the sound of the ending credits rolling down the screen with Captain America's star spangled theme song was playing along with it.

Shadow stretched himself out but in a way not to disturb Kiera's slumber. He glanced at Kiera – who was fast asleep on his chest – and he smiled down at her lovingly. He thought the sight of her was just too cute and precious, and the fact that she just looked so peaceful when she slept. He didn't want to wake her up from her slumber but he had to move them to somewhere more comfortable and sufficient to sleep.

He softly and gently shook Kiera awake. She whined and groaned at waking up so fast.

"Nooo…" Kiera mumbled and burying her face into Shadow's shoulder.

"I know, love, but I think you'll be more comfortable in pyjamas and a bed than this hard sofa." Shadow countered as he rose up to his feet with Kiera latching onto him.

He managed to manoeuvre her and pick her up in a bridal style like fashion. "Fine…" Kiera mumbled again, still hiding her face into him, wanting more warmth and comfort.

"Whoa, wow, you're light, Kiera."

"Or you're just really strong." Kiera muttered. Shadow chuckled at her complaining, he found it quite cute. He carried Kiera all the way to his bedroom. Shadow softly and gently set Kiera on the edge of his bed.

"Do you have any pyjamas or would you like some shorts and a jumper of mine?" He asked Kiera, and she nodded.

"I would like some, thank you, Shadow." Shadow nodded and stalked to his wardrobe and swiftly picked out some red shorts and a dark grey non-zip, hooded jumper.

He returned to Kiera with the shorts and hoodie, and handed them to her. "The bathroom is right over there, for you to change."

Kiera nodded and took a hold of the clothing. Shadow watched Kiera sleepily walk to the room he pointed to. Shadow took this time to change out of the newly-creased clothing he was into his own comfortable pyjamas for the night. Once he changed, he sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Kiera to finish.

As Kiera entered the bathroom, she turned on the light and she met her own reflection. She stared at herself for a moment and soon shook off any negative emotion she was feeling. She shimmied out of her jeans and t-shirt, along with her socks and shoes. Once she had put the red shorts that Shadow provided her with on, she caught her reflection once again.

She stared sadly at the stitches that were still waved in and out of her flesh around her abdomen. Kiera hated how it looked, and how she knew that it would definitely scar her stomach. She didn't want to a nasty and disgusting scar on her body in a place where most people would see it.

Kiera sighed and turned away from her reflection. She pulled the dark grey hoodie over her head and dragged it down her torso. Kiera rolled her eyes and scoffed to herself at how Shadow's jumper just drowned her completely. She shook her head, and left his bathroom and shutting off the light behind her. "I think it's too big, Shadow..."

Shadow looked up at her – as he was staring at his hands in his lap – and immediately tried to mask his laughter and his heated cheeks at the sight of his jumper drowning her and the sight of her long, bare legs. He couldn't even see the red shorts that he had given her under the dark grey hoodie. "Oh, wow, don't you look…" Shadow attempted to think of a word to describe her but there were none that could.

"Shut up…" Kiera murmured as she walked over to Shadow. He chuckled and snaked his arms around her waist, and pulled her down on top of him and into his lap. Kiera blushed slightly at his action but wrapped her arms around his neck. Shadow leant backwards and fell onto his back dragging Kiera with him.

She fell on top of him softly, her hair in front of her face. Shadow removed his left hand from Kiera's waist and travelled to her face. He softly caressed her forehead and cheeks as he moved her hair from in front of her face. "There, beautiful as ever, love."

Kiera's cheeks flushed at what he said but soon shook off the fluttery feeling in her stomach. "Thank you." She rested herself on top of him as he softly rubbed and massaged the small of her back.

"Do you have any family?" Kiera became confused, and anxiety and a nervous feeling pulsed through her.

"Other than Tails?" She countered, wondering and concerned on where this conversation was going.

"Yeah, other than Tails." Kiera hid her nervousness about having the 'family' conversation.

"I had a family. I don't anymore." She kept it as simple as she could, and she wished he would just drop it but she knew if she wanted this relationship to work that he would have to know things about her she would only tell Tails, her only family now. Shadow glanced at her with a sad expression.

"What happened?" Kiera repulsed the feeling to push him away and went for the truth and honesty with him.

"They were killed, all of them." Shadow tightened his arms around her, he felt incredibly sorry for her. He knew all too well what it was like to lose any kind of family.

"I'm sorry, Kiera." She nodded, and raked her fingers softly through his hair. "It's not your fault, Shadow, there's no need to be sorry."

"What were your family like?" He probed gingerly, hoping not to upset her in anyway.

"They were loving, kind, and annoying at times but that's what you get when you're the only girl – aside from your mother – in the midst of seven brothers plus one more on the way." Shadow's eyes widened, seven brothers and one more on the way?! One more on the way. One more on the way. Oh. My. God. He thought in horror.

"Your mother…" Kiera nodded.

"She was killed while six months pregnant." Kiera spoke near to a whisper, she told Tails this and he hugged and said he was sorry for her losses the hell out of her. She was used to the condolences from Tails, and from Shadow now.

"I'm so sorry for your family, Kiera, no one should lose their family like that." Kiera didn't respond but only snuggled and hid her face into his chest. He understood her silence, and held her closely while stroking and massaging her back.

The two of them soon fell into a deep slumber as soon as Shadow turned off his bedside lamp. The dark room felt cool against their heated bodies as their limbs were intertwined with each other. The late hours of the night soon passed into the early hours of the morning.

Kiera had woken up in between that time. She had felt dehydrated when she woke up, so she untangled herself from Shadow and left his bed and headed for the kitchen across the apartment. Kiera found herself a glass and filled it with tap water.

She leant backwards against the kitchen side, and took a sip of her water. After taking a gulp of the water, her thoughts travelled to what she told Shadow a few hours earlier. He was supportive of her, and didn't 'freak' out once she told him that she had no family and that they were killed. She didn't spill or tell him about all the gory details, or who had done it, or the fact of that same person that killed her family tried to kill her months before and failed.

He doesn't judge me, or fault me. He doesn't let anyone hurt or insult me, even if it is or was his friend. He wants to be with me, and he enjoys being with me. I told me he fell in love with me, all by himself and not because he had to – because he wanted to. What is this man doing to me? Kiera thought to herself as she cradled the glass in her hand. She took another few sips and gulps of the water. There are so many things that will go wrong with this relationship. Some he knows about, some he doesn't. Shadow might pull away from me because of Rouge, or because of Lorenzo and Alistair trying to end me and my family. I don't want this relationship that he and I have to end. I don't want Rouge being heartbroken and jealous, and I don't want Lorenzo and Alistair out to kill me. I didn't want any of this, it just…happened, and I wouldn't change it for anything – well, maybe about Lorenzo and Rouge but being with Shadow was the best choice I ever made. Kiera finished her glass of water and placed in on the side of the kitchen counter. She smiled to herself, and stalked back to Shadow's bedroom.