The family just got bigger.

Shadow had been assisted to a more comfortable area of the comet to give birth in a calm safe environment. That was over five hours ago and he was in more agonising pain from contractions now. Eclipse had got Sonic seconds after Shadows waters broke and Sonic was currently kneeling down with Shadows upper half resting on his lap. Sonic didn't seem too bothered his legs were going numb and tingly for he was far to busy trying to comfort his husband. Jamie and Sapphire were also aboard the Black Comet and were being watched by Black Dooms third eyes while Black Doom himself was with Shadow. The moment Sonic, Jamie and Sapphire was chaos controlled to the Black Comet by Eclipse Black Doom vanished then reappeared with a scared looking hedgehog midwife that was assigned to Shadows care months ago. It didn't take her long to go into nurse mode and began to monitor Shadows progress and help him through this.

"Oh why cant I just give birth at a damn hospital like I did with Jamie!?" Shadow shouted out in pain as he rode out a contraction.

"Well you were going to be chaos controlled to the hospital but you said the magical words of, what if we don't get there and end up some place else because of all the stress? So yeah, you're having our twins here." Sonic factually said with a grin down at Shadow who just glared back with anger mixed with pain.

"You are doing very well sweetheart." Crystal softly said as she was kneeling beside Shadow and holding his hand, trying to distract Shadow from feeling the contraction of muscles.

"That is so amazing." Eclipse said as he was kneeling beside the midwife and looking where she was.

"Stop damn well looking down there Eclipse!" Shadow shouted with embarrassment, his muzzle was going red with not just anger.

"Sorry but this is all just so fascinating and strange." Eclipse said as he looked up at his labouring brother.

"Yeah I kind of wouldn't mind if you would stop looking down there too." Sonic semi seriously said with a deep frown at Eclipse.

"Alright but I wanna see what happens when they come out." Eclipse casually said as he stood up and moved to stand next to his father, who was floating on the other side of Shadow.

"Shadow you are almost fully dilated so, as I am sure you know, push when you get the urge to." Shadows midwife softly said as she glanced up at Shadow.

"O-ok." Shadow said through tightly clenched teeth as he was hit by a wave of agonising pain shooting all around his lower body.

"This will be all over soon ok love." Sonic calmly said as he lent his head down and gave Shadow a kiss on the head.

"You know you have a low pain thresh hold brother, considering you are supposed to be the Ultimate Lifeform and all that." Eclipse casually said as he kept looked at his brother.

"How about you go through this and see how much it fucking hurts!" Shadow shouted with rage while glaring daggers at his brother.

"Shadow, what have I told you about using such language?" Black Doom seriously said as he gave Shadow a frowning expression.

"Oh who bloody cares about my language right now?" Shadow growled as he glared up at his father then hissed from another wave, making him shut his eyes tightly.

Elsewhere…

"Cheer up Saffy, mum will be fine ok." Jamie said with a reassuring tone as he and Sapphire wondered around with Dooms eye following them.

"Mama is in a lot of pain, I can feel his distress and it hurts." Sapphire whispered as she looked down with sadness, her eyes filling up with tears.

"You're in pain?" Jamie asked with concern while looking down at his sister.

"Emotional pain Jamie not physical pain." Sapphire softly said as she moved her eyes to look back at her brother.

"Your mother is doing well children, why don't you do something to keep your minds occupied." Black Doom said through his third eyes.

Jamie and Sapphire exchanged looks and soon began to grin at one another.

"Hide and seek, grandpa Dooms eye is it!" Jamie called out then took his sisters hand and ran off.

"Saffy make sure you block him so he cannot find us so easily ok." Jamie said as he dragged his sister alone and both getting further away from their grandfathers attachable eye.

"Ok." Sapphire said with a more cheerful tone and was now smiling.

Back to the birth…

"Ah damn this shit. Sonic if you dare convince me to have any more then chaos as my witness I will end you!" Shadow shouted with frustration, pain, anger and promise.

"Believe me when I say we are not having any more after the twins." Sonic sighed as he did his best to comfort his husband in his hours of need.

"Erm we have a problem." Black Doom said with a hint of nervousness.

"Yes we do, this is taking too long." Shadow grunted as he was not getting any urges to push yet like he thought he would by now.

"Well there is that and I can't find Jamie and Sapphire." Black Doom said with more anxiousness when we was now being glared at by not only Shadow but Sonic as well.

"You had one chaos damn job dad, keep an eye on the kids like literary an eye on them!" Shadow shouted with burning rage in his eyes.

"Cant you sense them or something?" Sonic asked with anger but way less than Shadow was displaying.

"I am being blocked. I will go and search for them." Black Doom muttered then vanished.

"I will help and do not worry Shadow, you just concentrate in birthing your babies." Crystal said with a sigh as she stood up then rushed off.

"Ahh ok, ok I want to push now!" Shadow called out then pushed hard.

"Ok feeling gone now." Shadow grunted as he was becoming out of breath.

"Can I look down there now?" Eclipse asked with hope while looking at both Sonic and a slightly tired and sweaty looking Shadow.

"NO!" Both hedgehogs shouted then Shadow grunted again and pushed.

"Wow, such strong replies." Eclipse said with slight shock for he didn't think they would be that aggressive when answering.

"That's it Shadow just keep pushing, your opening is getting wider which means one of your daughters are on its way." The midwife said as she kept her eyes in between Shadows legs, a clean soft towel at the ready in her hands with a few more beside her.

Shadow pushed again very hard but yet to give birth to one of his children inside of him.

"Oh come out of there already." Shadow seriously said with firm eyes at his bump.

"That's telling them love." Sonic teased with a grin.

"Ahh, hey quit kicking and damn well come out!" Shadow growled as he was being kicked from inside and there was a lot of movement going on too.

"Somehow I don't think…" Sonic began then stopped as Shadow made pushing noises then cried out as one was coming.

"That's it, I see the head keep pushing Shadow." The midwife said with a smile and was all ready to assist the baby out.

"Y-you were saying?" Shadow said as he pushed some more, sounding a little smug but mostly pain was in his voice.

"Can I see now?" Eclipse asked as he inched closer towards the midwife.

"Oh I don't care!" Shadow called out as he shut his eyes and pushed one last time to birth one.

Eclipse wasted no time and kneeled down beside the midwife. He soon gasped with wide eyes as a head was quickly coming then as soon as it was out the midwife gently held it and pulled the rest of the baby out.

"Oh my god!" Eclipse said loudly in horror as the midwife got to work rubbing the crying baby down to get some of the birth juices off her.

After getting as much as she could off the baby, she cut the cord with her scissors then wrapped the baby up in a clean towel. She then snapped Eclipse out of it by passing him the baby to hold as all were still occupied with delivering the other baby.

"Push when you are ready Shadow." The midwife instructed and was ready with another clean towel.

"Babies are so small, I forgotten just how small they are." Eclipse said as he carefully stood up and walked to Shadows side then sat crossed legged near Shadows head.

"And loud as well." Eclipse added with a grin down at the crying baby in his arms.

Meanwhile…

"Shh he is coming." Jamie whispered as he and Sapphire were hiding together up on a floating platform and looking down at the floor.

Sapphire put a hand over her mouth to quieten her giggling as they watched Black Doom float into this area and going down the path below. He was looking all around and didn't even think of looking up for his grandchildren.

"Have you found them yet Doomie?" Crystal called out as she came running in from the opposite direction.

"Negative, I have my eye looking on the other side of the comet but nothing. It is as if they vanished from here completely." Black Doom replied as they met up in the middle and standing in front of the other.

"Lets just hope they know to stay away from the toxic pools." Crystal said with worry that maybe they were messing about near one as they spoke.

Back at the birth…

"Ah shit!" Shadow cried out as he began to push again.

"Damn it child stop being so stubborn and get out of there now!" Shadow firmly said as the pain was dying down for the time being.

"Isn't the second one supposed to be easier?" Sonic asked as he looked at the midwife opposite him and Shadow.

"What is she doing anyway, like holding onto my intestines or something?" Shadow growled out in frustration.

"She being our daughter, I wouldn't put it passed her babe." Sonic said with a grin while stroking the fur on top of Shadows head.

"It is yes, unless complications have arisen." The midwife answered with a worried look that maybe those complications might be a reality here.

"Well at least her sister is content now." Eclipse casually said as he smiled down at the sleeping baby in his arms.

"Ok get ready, here comes a big one." Shadow said with a pained expression then cried out as he pushed.

"Yes keep going Shadow she is almost here." The midwife said with a relieved smile then got ready to assist the baby out once more.

Shadow pushed a couple more times then the head finally broke free. Once again the midwife gently pulled the rest out then got to work with her next task. Shadow breathed out a breathless sigh and began to relax as the pain subsided a little, well to more manageable levels. The baby was wrapped in a clean towel then passed over to Shadow to hold.

"They are gorgeous and look exactly the same." Sonic whispered with a proud smile as his looked from one to the other.

Both girls had the same shade of blue fur as their father and eyes were a sunset orange with a tint of yellow. As Sonic stated they both looked exactly alike which may prove a challenge with telling them apart.

"Oh god." Shadow suddenly said with wide eyes as the pains he was feeling worsened and the urge to push something baby like out started.

"What is it love?" Sonic asked with worry as he looked down at his husbands face.

"I need to push again." Shadow hissed as he tried to concentrate in pushing.

"Eclipse you might want to multitask for us." Sonic said with concern as he gently took his daughter from Shadow and carefully placed it in Eclipses arms with his other daughter.

Meanwhile…

"Hurry up Saffy they are catching up!" Jamie called out as he ran, with his sister not that far behind him.

They were eventually spotted, after Sapphire sneezed, and now they were on the run from grandpa Doom and Crystal. What they didn't know was they were running in the direction their parents and uncle were with the midwife.

"Stop this game at once." Black Doom spoke through his third eye, that was floating beside Jamie and keeping to his speeds.

"No wait, don't go in there!" Crystal called out as she watched the two rush into the area where the birthing was happening and was now hoping it was all over with and the children wont see anything traumatising.

Jamie skidded to a stop, making Sapphire do the same and both were meters away from their mother pushing and crying out in pain while their father did his best to keep calm and support Shadow.

"What the hell is going on, why do I want to keep pushing!?" Shadow shouted as he pushed again.

"Mama." Sapphire tearfully said as she began to cry from the scene before her, really not liking to see her mother in pain.

"What the…what are you both doing in here?" Sonic said as he turned his head to his left and saw his two children looking sad mixed with horrified.

"I see a head!" The midwife said with shock as she watched a small head start to come out.

"WHAT!" Shadow shouted as he momentary stopped all actions from shock at what he had heard.

"Triplets, how the hell did that get missed!?" Shadow shouted with anger but that was short-lived as he had to push again.

"Oh boy." Sonic whispered as he was still in shock at this news and was looking a little panicked upon having three babies to look after instead of the two.

"Ok you two, come with us." Crystal said as she stopped beside Jamie and Sapphire then guided them out of the area.

"That's is just one more push Shadow." The midwife said as she kept eyes on the baby almost out and got the spare towel ready.

"You both are so going to struggle." Eclipse said with a look of innocence while he looked at his exhausted brother pushing.

"Yeah well it all comes with the territory I guess." Sonic whispered as his eyes were glued to what was happening at the midwife's end.

No less than fifteen more seconds of pushing the baby was out and strangely silent compared to its sisters who cried upon arriving. This was making both Shadow and Sonic very worried as they looked ahead and watched the midwife do her bit. Then a few extra seconds passed and a weak cry hit everyone's ears.

"You also have a son but he is a bit on the small side compared to his sisters. I think it would be best to take a hospital trip when you are ready Shadow." The midwife said with a small concerning frown as she got scissors ready to cut the cord.

"Sonic." Shadow said with a tired tone while glancing up at his husband.

"Yeah?" Sonic replied while looking down at Shadow with some worry in his eyes.

"Take them to the hospital with Eclipse, I will be down in half an hour or so with Jamie and Saffy." Shadow calmly said with a lazy smile at Sonic.

"Yeah sure." Sonic replied with a small frown as he didn't want to leave his husband in this state but knew he had to.

"Ok there he is." The midwife said as she gently passed Shadow his son in which Shadow took carefully.

"He is tiny, almost half the size." Shadow whispered with a smile at his youngest.

"Aw he looks just like ya Shads, you have a mini you babe." Sonic softly said with a warm smile as he watched his son weakly moved around in Shadows arms trying to get warm as there was no more clean towels available.

"Shh, that's right I am nice and warm for you." Shadow softly said in a gentle voice as he cuddled his son closer so he could share his body heat with him.

An hour later…

Everyone was still at the hospital with Black Doom and Crystal looking after Sapphire and Jamie in the family room. Shadow was made to rest in a bed which came with no complaints from Shadow for he was still feeling wiped out after birthing three plus the afterbirth that eventually came out five minutes after his son was brought into the world. Sonic and Eclipse were together waiting in the waiting room within the baby unit where the triplets were having a further examination to make sure they were healthy.

"Got names yet?" Eclipse asked as he sensed Sonic needed a distraction.

"Huh? Oh, only girls names. Amber and Annabel, Shadow picked Amber for he said he can feel that she was an Amber. How he could I have no clue but I was not going to argue with him while all hormonal ya know." Sonic said with a faint smile while looking at Eclipse, appreciating the little distraction from worry of his son.

"Yeah I totally understand that but luckily for the entire universe he will never be having more babies so no more hormonal mood swings." Eclipse lightly laughed and was somewhat glad of that.

"Sonic." A nurse called as she approached him and Eclipse then stopped beside the two with a smile.

"Your daughters are doing wonderfully, they are very healthy and feeding nicely. As for your son, he is a little under developed, underweight, quite weak and not feeding as well as his sisters. He is in an incubator to keep him warm and we would like to keep him in for a few days to monitor him. We are going to have him in intensive care during his stay but please do not worry, he isn't in any life threatening danger." The nurse sincerely said to Sonic.

"Right thank you, knowing Shadow he will want to stay here with him so I'll take my family home once he and our son are settled." Sonic said as he did well to stop himself from tearing up with fear and worry.

"Please follow me and I will take you to your children." The nurse softly said then led the way with both Sonic and Eclipse following her.

Fifteen minutes later Shadow was awake and out of bed. He left the room and went on the hunt for his family, eventually finding them in the family room. He walked in with a smile then very quickly noticed the lack of his youngest son.

"Sonic where is our son?" Shadow asked with a frown on his muzzle now as he stopped walking when he reached his husband sitting on one of the chairs.

"Ok don't over react babe but they need him in for a few night to monitor him. He is alright in general but under developed, underweight and a bit weak right now. He is struggling to feed at the moment and can't regulate his body temperature as well as his sisters can. He isn't in any danger and in intensive care during his stay." Sonic explained all that he was told and tried to stay strong when he witnessed Shadow show very upset features.

"I'll be back soon, I am going to make sure he is alright." Shadow said in a chocked up voice and looked on the verge of tears as yes he was overreacting and thinking the worst.

"Can we go see our brother mama?" Sapphire asked sweetly with a sad look at her mother.

"Yeah can we?" Jamie asked as he was looking concerned for he had an understanding things were not alright with his brother.

"Yeah come on." Shadow replied with a warm smile and if he had to be honest, he didn't want to go alone.

Two days later…

"Yes Sonic he is doing much better and the doctors reckon he will be strong enough to go home in a couple of more days. How are you coping on your end?" Shadow asked with a smile while on the phone to Sonic outside of the intensive care unit.

"Tiring, busy and loud. I am just glad Eclipse volunteered to stay and help, he is surprising very good with them." Sonic said with a tired sigh and was missing Shadow and his son a lot.

"He can step up when he wants to I guess, and what about Jamie and Saffy, they doing alright?" Shadow asked with some worry in his voice.

"Jamie is doing great and has been helping out a lot with like feeding and stuff. Saffy, well, is missing you a lot and wants to come see you and Shade." Sonic said with a hint of sadness for yesterday night he had to calm Sapphire down from a crying fit for her mother.

"I'll get dad to pick her up and bring her to me. So we are actually going to call our son Shade? You do know Eclipse was joking about the name." Shadow replied and was still a little unsure about the name.

"I don't know Shads, he looks exactly like you. Ok not exactly like you for the red in his fur is a more softer shade of red but pretty damn close to your image babe. I think the name is perfect and I know you do too." Sonic confidently said while grinning down the phone.

"Confident cocky little, I hate it when you do that." Shadow replied with a small frown as he rolled his eyes.

"Do what? Know what you think and feel about something. Yep that is called love babe, that shows how much I love you and how much I pay attention to you as a person." Sonic cheerfully said with a lot of meaning in his words.

"Yeah love you too." Shadow chuckled softly and was now smiling.

"Oh I almost forgot, a couple of hours ago the hospital security escorted out a reporter trying to get pictures of Shade for the front page. Some people are just too desperate to get the latest news that they don't consider anyone's privacy." Shadow said with a hint of annoyance as he told his husband what went down hours ago.

"Typical, you can't even stay at the hospital in peace with our son without someone trying to snap a shot for the newspaper. Why they cannot wait until you and Shade come out in a few days time I do not know." Sonic said with an unhappy tone while frowning.

"They probably think I will chaos control home and not walk out of those doors. I have to go now but dad will come pick Saffy up as soon as I tell him too ok. I will keep you updated and I want you to not worry. He is doing very well ok." Shadow calmly said with a smile down the phone, he looking forward to some company that wasn't hospital staff for only close family members were allowed in intensive care with him and Shade.

"Ok love and I will talk to you this evening when the kids are settled. Bye and love you." Sonic softly said as he smiled.

"Love you too, bye." Shadow replied then hung up and put his phone into his dressing gown pocket, that Sonic had dropped off for him along with his phone and charger, then made his way to be by his sons side.

Shadow walked in and over to the comfy fabric chair positioned next to his sons incubator. He smiled warmly at his son as he slept peacefully. Shadow then closed his eyes and contacted his father to ask if he could bring Sapphire to him, getting through straight away. After an update, and reassurance that all was fine, the telepathic line was cut and Shadow opened his eyes.

"You are getting a visitor Shade, your sister Sapphire wants to see us." Shadow softly said as he looked at his sleeping son.

Ten minutes later Sapphire rushed into the room and threw herself at her mother, who was still in the chair relaxing. Shadow brought her up to sit on his lap and gave her much needed cuddles. Black Dooms eye floated in next then stopped in front of Shadow, stealing a glance at Shade who was still fast asleep.

"They wouldn't allow my physical form in here due to lack of space which is very understandable." Black Doom spoke through his third eyes and was now looking right at Shadow.

"Thank you for bringing Saffy here dad, you staying for a bit or do you need to get back?" Shadow calmly asked as he kept firm arms around his daughter.

"I am able to stay my son and it was not a problem although on the way here someone was being escorted out of the building with a camera around his neck." Black Doom said with a calm voice through his eye.

"What again? Some people are so desperate, the guy got escorted out hours ago and…" Shadow groaned with a roll of his eyes then stopped talking as Shade woke up and was weakly crying.

"Is he alright mama? He sound very different compared to Amber and Annabel." Sapphire asked as she moved her head and looked down at her crying brother.

"He is just a little hungry and still a little weak, would you like to feed him sweetheart?" Shadow softly said with a warm smile down at his daughter then received an eager happy nod from Sapphire.

A couple of minutes later…

"That's it Saffy, remember to always support his head." Shadow calmly said as he stood next to his fathers eyes and in front of his daughter sitting in the chair with Shade resting on her lap feeding from a small bottle Sapphire was giving him.

"I know mama, daddy let me feed Amber this morning as he changed Annabel's poopy nappy and uncle Eclipse was helping me." Sapphire brightly said with a cheerful smile while looking down at her slowly feeding baby brother.

"Shadow you have visitors waiting in the family room down the hall. I will stay and help with your son until you come back." A human nurse softly said as she walked in and stood near the door.

"Right thank you, I wont be long ok so be a good girl and help the nurse look after Shade for me." Shadow replied to the nurse with a smile then spoke softly to his daughter, getting a nod as a reply.

Shadow calmly walked out and left the room, going left towards the family room where his visitors were waiting for him. When he entered he smiled and took a seat on the sofa opposite Amy and Rouge, who were on a sofa together.

"How are you both doing hun?" Rouge asked with a soft smile and was dying to see the baby in person but knew she couldn't right now.

"We are doing well, Shade should be strong enough to come home in a couple of days time. How's the restaurant, any trouble from Eggman trying to get in yet?" Shadow replied with a smirk of amusement when mentioning the Dr.

"Is he still trying to get a table at the restaurant?" Amy asked as she looked at Rouge for an answer.

"He tried and failed two days ago and yes Amy he seems desperate to come in to eat. I did tell him he can have a take out but he wants to sit in and eat." Rouge answered both with amusement in her voice.

"Wow he has guts knowing he could get arrested." Amy said with some shock in her voice.

"Maybe, just to get rid of him, we can have him in after hours when I am back to work. If he doesn't like that offer then screw him." Shadow said with a small frown now as he didn't want Eggman going into the restaurant and driving away customers.

"Next time he sneaks in wearing an obvious disguise I will tell him that offer. I will also tell him it is a one time deal and will not be offered again." Rouge semi seriously said as, like Shadow, didn't like the Dr coming in and scaring off paying customers.

"Changing the subject here but I have some news for you Shadow." Amy cheerfully said with a smile at Shadow.

"Yeah did the reporter guy that keeps sneaking in get arrested or something?" Shadow asked with a curious raised brow and was hoping Amy was going to say that.

"Say what now?" Amy asked with some surprise, not knowing a guy keeps trying to take a photo of Shade for the front page.

"Oh some guy keeps coming here and trying to get a picture of Shade for the front cover but he keeps failing and being escorted out by security. Back to your news now." Shadow smirked as he and Amy locked eyes.

"Wow, people are so inconsiderate. Yes anyway we all pitched in and helped with getting a few baby things for little Shade so when you both come home he has clothes to wear, some blue blankets to cuddle up in and a baby basket to sleep in. Before you say we all wanted to do this for you all." Amy happily said with a very cheerful expression at Shadow.

"Yeah hun and we also got more powered milk, nappies and some extra bottles too." Rouge grinned as she added to what everyone got for Shade.

"Thank you, that is a huge help. I was beginning to grow concerned for when I do bring him home with not having what we needed for him." Shadow said with gratitude and was feeling relieved he doesn't have to be concerned over this any more.

(Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you all think so far, I would love to read your thoughts. The next one will be up soon enough so until then…)