Hey! Updated and awesome! (at least I think so) alright time to figure out which gender Shadow and Iggy's little baby is!! I'm excited and I wrote it!

I have another poll set up so I NEED! NEED! NEED! NEED! you guys to vote... like A-SAP!! Oh and review... PLEEAASSEE!! 'Cause it'll make me haappppyyy!! :)

Chapter 14

(Fang's POV)

It's been two months since the wedding and let me tell you they've been interesting.

Iggy and Shadow did go on a honeymoon thing, but it wasn't really anything. They went to Florida for 5 days, and who knows that kind of shenanigans they got into then. They came back tanned and Shadow was definitely more round around the middle when we saw her.

Shadow is like a whale now; it's hilarious to watch her walk even. Except if you say anything about it, and I mean anything, Iggy gives you a death look. Although when Iggy's not around, which is hardly ever, and you say something about it Shadow usually laughs and makes her own jokes about her humongous stomach.

They went to do another ultrasound thing today. Shadow's excited because Mrs. Martinez practically guarantees that they'll be able to see it and tell which gender it is.

The rooms are now permanently been switched around. Gazzy sleeps in our room and Max sleeps with Angel and Nudge.

That didn't go down too well let me tell you. For one thing, Sorrow and I don't really have enough room in our room for three people to sleep comfortably. I mean we were pushing it with two and now you can't even move properly without smacking someone or stepping on something. The girls are having a little trouble too, see Angel and Nudge like to talk at night and Max is prepared to gag them if they keep it up.

Now you'd think that we could hold up the argument that Max and I get the other room, but no, our parents are now on a strict watch to make sure no 'funny business' goes down between the couples. Once again, thank you Iggy and Shadow for making my life just a little more complicated. Seriously, you can't kiss people in our houses anymore without there being some sort of Spanish Inquisition afterwards.

So either someone gets their own room or Angel and Gazzy share, but they think it's awkward to have a boy and a girl share a room, even though they're related.

At this point I'm prepared to sleep on the couch.

I was sitting at the kitchen table at my dad's house, thinking about the past. Close calls and smiling faces all molded into each other. I felt as if the whole world was pressing down on me. I thought about Shadow. I put my elbows on the table and let my head sink into my hands. I ran my hands through my hair and was silent as I thought about everything.

I didn't even hear him sit down, nor did I hear him come into the room. "Are you okay?" my father asked.

I took a deep breath, "Not entirely," I muttered.

He put his arm around me and pulled me over until I was resting my head on his shoulder. "What's troubling you Fang?" I wasn't used to this sort of thing, but I didn't say anything. I could get why people liked to be comforted, it was kind of nice.

I sighed, "I don't know… I don't know why I can't love that stupid kid, I know I don't hate the kid but I just can't love him or her."

I felt him nod, "Its okay Fang, you'll love him or her sooner or later. I probably shouldn't say this but when your mom was pregnant with Shadow and you I didn't love you two." I frowned, how was this going to help? I pulled away slightly.

"Hey, hey, just listen to me, okay?" He asked and I nodded. "I didn't love you two, yet," He stressed the word before continuing, "Because you made my life complicated. I thought everything would change for the worst after you two were born, I'd have to leave school and work and take care of you two. I was worried because I didn't love you and if I had to be your father and not love you how was that going to work? I already knew Elizabeth loved you two so what would she say if I didn't? Everyone kept reassuring me, telling me that I would eventually, but I wasn't sure if I believed them," He paused and I thought that over for a little.

"When you were born Elizabeth made me hold you while she 'popped the other out,'" he chuckled, "Those were her exact words actually. Anyways, while I was holding you everything changed, just like I thought, but it was for the better. I was prepared to quit school and work and take care of all of you at the drop of a hat. I was prepared to do anything for you guys."

"But… mom gave us up…" I muttered feeling kind of confused, but I felt really comforted by his story as well.

"Yes," He said nodded, "We actually had a huge fight over it. She wanted you two as well, but her mom wouldn't support her. I said I would support her, but she wouldn't let me. She said she wouldn't be the reason I dropped out…. Anyways, point is we had to give you two up, but everyday I would remember you're little face and it would drive me. At the beginning I had a hard time, but I reasoned that if I worked hard and was smart that one day when you were older, I thought you might come looking for us when you were like 30 or whatever, like I did with my real parents, than I could have something to show for myself. I could say that I worked hard and was willing to keep you two, but at the time I just wasn't able to."

I smiled, "Oh ya, you're adopted," I chuckled, I usually forgot about that.

He nodded, "So… you see, it wasn't what other people said that made me love you two, it was simply… you. You don't have to love the kid now, once you see his or her little face you'll love him or her."

I smiled, now I knew why Sorrow liked to be comforted when he was feeling sad. There was something about that just made you feel like it was all just was taken off your chest. "Thanks dad," I said smiling.

"No problem Cole," He muttered ruffling my hair.

"Why do you call me Cole?" I asked him with a smile.

"Well… it's your name…" he said as if it was obvious, "If you like Fang better I'll call you that, I was under the impression that you didn't mind."

"I don't… I was just wondering if you had a different reason."

"Well… Cole means swarthy, coal-like… etc. So I guess it just fits… I mean when I think about Cole I think about that little baby with dark eyes and really dark brown hair. When I think Fang I think about how you are now," He said.

I smiled and sighed. I felt so relieved. I didn't have to love the kid, yet. I believed my dad and if he believed that I would love the kid after it came out than I'd just have to wait for him or her to come on out.

I heard the door slam open and I jumped slightly, "We're back!" Shadow yelled.

"With good news!" Iggy added.

I smiled, "Well we better go see what gender the little chaos bringer is," Dad said and I followed him to the door.

Iggy, Shadow and Mrs. Martinez stood there and Shadow suddenly thrust a black and white picture at me. "Behold! Your niece," she said grinning and I took the little picture from her.

I looked down at the black photograph; you could see a white outline of where she was. Her body was mostly a huge blob, but her head was easy to see. I smiled at her little nose poking out of her circular head. I could guess where her lips and eyes would be and I grinned. There was a little white splotch where I would guess would be her cheekbones. She was beautiful.

I felt a little overwhelmed looking at the little picture. I glanced at Shadow's stomach, it was kind of hard to believe that this little beautiful baby was inside of her, but it was. I smiled and handed the photo back to Shadow. "She's beautiful," I told her. I noticed that the others had assembled down here and were all waiting to see the picture.

"I know, right?" Shadow said smiling brilliantly. "Here you guys," She said handing it to Max and they passed it around.

"Told you," Dad whispered in my ear and I smiled.

"So did you pick a name for her?" Max asked.

Shadow looked at Iggy, "Well… we haven't really thought about it." She said smiling slightly, "Although we probably should now."

I smiled; I couldn't take my eyes off of her stomach, even though I was only starting to like the little girl inside of her, I couldn't wait to meet her. Suddenly I wanted to know her name… I wanted to know what colour hair and eyes she had. I wanted to know her and be her uncle and babysit her when Iggy and Shadow went places without her and do everything a good uncle could, and should, be.

Over the next few days things quieted down a little. We were all excited for Shadow and Iggy but Mrs. Martinez said that Shadow should get a lot of rest and relaxation. Stress wasn't good for her so we helped as much as we could.

It was morning and I was just starting to wake up when someone elbowed my leg a little too close to the groin than I would like, "Sorry," someone muttered, I didn't even bother to try and figure out who it was.

Sorrow and Gazzy were moving around again and Gazzy suddenly muttered, "Ow," he probably stepped on something.

Sorrow said, "Wh-whoa," and there was a bunch of stumbling and the sound of someone falling over onto a bed.

I finally opened my eyes; their movements had succeeded to fully awake my mind. That's what happens when you spend years on the run, too much movement and noise instantly wakes you.

I sat up and looked around our room. Gazzy's bed and had been sandwiched between Sorrow's and mine. Gazzy was trying to slide out of the room through the door that didn't even open fully and Sorrow was trying to get to his dresser but he'd fallen over onto his bed because he didn't have enough room to put his feet.

I sighed; I rolled over to see what time it was. "Why the hell are you two up at 9:30 am?" I grumbled.

"Cartoons," Gazzy answered and right after Sorrow said, "Food."

I rolled my eyes and started to get up. I was happy it was summer and even happier that I was done high school. College was going to be interesting though, my school career prep councilor kept getting on my case because I didn't really know what I wanted to do for college. There was nothing really that I wanted to do with my life… I just wanted to live and not be hunted down by the school… and apparently that wasn't a course in college.

I thought about what I wanted to do with my life as I got changed. It was weird; lately I hadn't been wearing that bracelet I let Shadow borrow during her wedding. I kind of felt like it belonged to her, maybe I should give it to her after all, I thought with a shrug. I took it with me downstairs.

Shadow was sitting at the kitchen table with her hand on her stomach. She had a kind of mesmerized look on her face as she kept it there. I threw the bracelet down on the table just a little away from her bowl of cereal. She seemed to snap out of it, "Why'd you just throw this at me?" She asked.

I shrugged, "You can have it…" I said.

"Really?" she asked with an excited look.

"Ya," I answered pouring myself a bowl of cereal.

"No… I can't… it's yours, you bought it and… it's yours!" She said shaking her head.

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, doesn't matter, I was thinking I would buy an all black one anyways," I said shrugged and giving her a knowing smile, "Or maybe one with silver studs… I don't know… but I guess if you don't want it…"

"Oh alright, I'll have it… jeez," She muttered as if she was giving in but I saw the little smile on her face as she snatched it up and put it on her wrist. She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing slightly, "But really? I mean… seriously… I can have it?"

I rolled my eyes, "Shadow, they're like literally 10 bucks."

She grinned, "Well okay… hey, do you want to feel something cool?" She asked me her eyes wide and excited.

"What?" I asked sitting down and pouring milk into my bowl.

She took my hand and placed it on her stomach. "Just wait…" She said and we were totally quiet. I raised an eyebrow at Shadow and was about to ask her what this was about but then I felt the slightest tap from under her skin.

She grinned, "See, she kicked," she said but then I shushed her. We waited and the little girl kicked again a few more times.

Now I knew why she had had that dazed look on her face before, she was feeling the little girl in her kicking.

"You know, she actually kicks rather hard…" Shadow muttered and winced slightly as she kicked again.

"Huh… really?" I asked my hand still on the top of her stomach.

"Ya… she first kicked last night and it surprised the crap out of me… Iggy was so worried," She giggled, "'Cause I was saying it hurt… which it kind of does mind you, but at least I know she'll be like you… a fighter," Shadow said clicking her tongue and shaking her head as if it was a bad thing.

I gave her a look and grinned when I felt my niece kick again. "Is that bad?" I asked her with a smirk.

She suddenly burst out laughing and I felt the smallest kick against her stomach, "Alright, alright I'll quiet down… and yes," she said chuckling. "Having one of you is hard enough; I don't need two of you."

I rolled my eyes, "I think if she was like me than that would be a good thing," I said defensively.

"Well of course you think that… trust me… even Sorrow wouldn't want another of you," She said looking like she was trying to not laugh again.

I gave her a look and the baby kicked again. I wonder if I, or Pain, can read her mind… I thought randomly.

Hey interesting idea! I'll see, he suddenly interrupted in my head. I rolled my eyes, Pain reminded me of a child sometimes.

I heard the most interesting thing then, there were no 'thoughts' but it was like I was hearing everything as if it was under water. I kept hearing Shadow's loud laugh over and over again, as if it was ringing in my ears. I didn't know how I knew it, or why I knew it, but it felt like a happy thought.

Shadow looked at me waving her hand over my face, "Hey, crazy brother, what's up?" She asked.

"I can hear her, Pain can hear her thoughts," I said and I could hear our voices echo under the water, again the thoughts felt happy. They were not words that could be heard and she didn't understand them, but she could understand the pitch and the tone. You could tell whose voice was whose but not what we were saying and even if I understood the slightest hint of a word she did not.

"What?" Shadow said a smile brightening across her face.

"She likes our voices… and your laughter… and…" I paused listening, my eyebrows pulled together in concentration. I could hear Iggy's voice replaying over and over again, I could pick out the word goodnight or something to that effect, but other than that it was all the sounds of his voice rising and falling. There was a different feeling to this thought. It was kind of like wanting… she wanted Iggy and she was getting frustrated. I felt two hard kicks on Shadow's stomach.

"Ow… stop that," She muttered rubbing her stomach in a circular pattern.

"She wants Iggy," I chuckled.

"Oh… maybe that's why she's been so restless with the kicking… Iggy!" She suddenly screamed and I could hear the surprise and alarm from the girl's thoughts.

"Don't surprise her stupid," I scolded Shadow.

She swiftly turned to me and smacked me over the back of my head, "The baby could have heard that!" she hissed, "You want to teach her bad words before she's even out here?" She practically growled. "Oh, and don't tell me how to take care of my daughter," She said sticking her chin up and placing her hands on her hips.

I sniggered; it had to be one of the funniest things I'd ever seen. The baby was confused by our conversation and I wanted to soothe her and tell her it was okay not to understand…. That's when I realized that I could.

"Hey, should I talk to her?" I asked my eyes widening with excitement.

"What?" Shadow asked in confusion as Iggy ran into the room.

"What's wrong?" he immediately asked.

"Nice moves Flash, I could be in labor now and you would have missed it," Shadow said shaking her head at her husband.

Iggy made the mature move as an adult, and as a husband and a father, to stick his tongue out at her. "What did you want?" he asked calmly since he realized that she was okay.

"I didn't want you, the baby did," Shadow said pointing at her stomach.

Iggy looked at me, "Is being delusional a symptom of being pregnant?" he asked with a slight smile and Shadow glared at him.

"No, really, I read her mind… she really wanted you. She's been kicking like crazy," I said nodding.

"You read her mind?" Iggy asked slowly and I nodded.

"Ya… I was just about to talk to her before you came in." I said and focused back on the baby. She was happy, almost ecstatic, that she could hear Iggy, she knew he was close.

Iggy stared at me, "Sure… if you can."

I closed my eyes; this would probably be weird and complicated. Pain, try to get into her mind as much as possible, but don't hurt her or anything… last thing I need is Shadow biting my head off for injuring her child. I though to him.

Awesome! This is going to be so cool! He said his voice louder in my head.

Hey, quiet down, I grumbled, I don't want to like… frighten her.

Aww Fang finally loves… what's her name? They haven't picked have they yet. Pain said and I shushed him. Okay talk away!

I heard the baby, just replaying Iggy's voice go up and down a few octaves for a moment.

Hey, I sent… it was almost a whisper.

I had my hand on Shadow's stomach and I felt the kick of surprise in response to my voice. She'd probably never heard a clearer voice.

Her mind replayed the word over and over again, I heard my muffled voice mixed in a few times, she knew who I was at least.

Ya, it's me… I'm your uncle Fang, I thought to her in a quiet voice. This time she didn't jump, merely replayed the words over.

I took a deep breath, I know this will make no sense to you, but only a while ago I didn't like you. You made my life annoying. You made my life hard. I paused and I heard her replay my voice, just listening to its kind of sad tone. It was something she hadn't heard before, the low sad tone.

Sometimes people are stupid, you'll find out soon enough living with your mom, I chuckled; she was constantly replaying my voice, but listening to the new words I was saying too. Don't worry though little baby, I like you now. I saw your little face and I knew you weren't bad. You're a good little girl, and I promise that I will protect you from whatever bad things come our way, which they no doubt will, 'cause they always do.

I decided that this sad talk was probably too much for the little baby so I went to something a little easier for her to handle.

I thought of Shadow's face and her laugh, I tried to capture it as clearly as possible as I sent it, that's your mother, you're inside her. I was 95 sure she didn't understand a thing I was saying to her, but she thought of her voice and the picture and she seemed to try and connect the two. I could hear her frustration building up. She kicked again, this time in annoyance.

I smiled, well, she'd get it sooner or later, Goodbye little baby, I'll see you on the outside world…. I love you. Strangely enough, in that exact moment, I meant it, I meant everything I said. I breathed deeply and smiled, I had finally gotten over whatever problem I had and I meant it.

The most interesting thing happened then, out of all the words I'd said, 'I love you' had suddenly caught her attention and she was replaying those words over and over again, at a faster speed than the others. I almost felt like she knew what I meant by them, but she couldn't, she was, after all, only a baby.

"I told you she'd be a fighter when she got out," Shadow said as I opened my eyes. "What did you say to her anyways?"

I shrugged, "Just tried to make her understand who you were. She couldn't really get it so she got annoyed and kicked you."

Shadow smiled, "Aww thanks Fang, but she's not even out yet, I'm pretty sure I can wait for her to figure out who I am."

I nodded, in the back of my mind I could still hear her thoughts, and they were consumed with the three words I'd said.

"That was absolutely adorable Fang," Angel giggled from the doorway.

I rolled my eyes as Iggy and Shadow looked over to her. I shook my head and put a finger to my lips to tell her to keep it quiet. She nodded nondescriptly and grinned before turning and leaving.

I wondered if the little baby would remember our little talk later. Well, time will tell I guess.

A/N: So I made a poll for what names Shadow and Iggy's little baby girl is going to have... because I can't decide... btw if you guys have any ideas I'll add them to the poll but I have a few... not saying they're any good, but I have a few.