A/N: I really need to get my ass back to work :/
Shadow could hear his two children arguing, on the other side of the front door as he knocked. The bickering continued as he waited about a minute before a destressed Sandy finally opened it looking quite tired. She smiled at him apologetically as she held the small girl she had with Static. After she moved aside for him to enter her home the fighting of their two children became much louder causing Shadow to cringe.
"Hey!" Shadow belted out loudly causing the older children to go silent.
"Thank ya." Sandy whispered to him as she took a sigh of relief and rocked the three-year-old girl in her arms."
"Dada Shadow!" A young voiced squealed before the three-year-old, purple furred, squirrel ran into the living area and attached himself to Shadow's leg.
The tall hedgehog bent down and patted Sandy and Static's son on the head to appease the young boy. Since as far back as he could remember the small boy had taken an interest in him, which to his great joy, caused much irritated from Static. Giving that Both Tex and Wes referred to both Static and him as dad the young boy decided he too was going to have two dads. Small Blaze had even called Shadow da-da before Static, something that Sandy swore him to secrecy on as it'd likely give her current husband a heart attack. He figured he'd let the cat out of the bag as he gave the boy's wedding toast, as at that age Static would at least die of the heart attack.
"I brought my half of the school supple bill in cash. I hope you don't mind." Shadow started to dig into his pocket and pulled out a pile of folded bills.
"That's perfect. Honestly, I ain't too sure when I'll be able ta make it to the bank again… Not with Elisabeth sick an-" Sandy stopped at the sound of a large crash from the other room. She then quickly made her way into the living area, Shadow following behind, to see her two older children glaring at one another with one of the tall living room lamps on the floor next to their studying table.
The younger girl in Sandy's arms started to cry softly as she stopped soothing her to take in the destruction her older siblings had caused instead of doing their homework as told.
"What is going on?" Shadow demanded causing his two children to step into line almost military style.
"I needed more light!" Wes admitted while looking away from his father with guilt.
"No, you didn't!" Tex protested as she looked at her brother annoyed. "He didn't want me to see!"
"See what?" Shadow growled looking from one child to the other.
"Anything!" Tex whined.
"Stop that!" Shadow's tone was still holding his authority.
Both kids looked down ashamed as he continued to look down at then projecting his judgement. "Get back to work." He demanded before turning his attention back to Sandy. Young Blaze jumped on the couch next to his older sibling studying so he could play warden as the two adults in the house were looking away.
Shadow finally handed his late payment to Sandy. She accepted and tossed it on the counter as she walked into the kitchen with Shadow still following her. The female then sat down at the table and continued to try to sooth her sick child. "Thanks, Shadow." She let out a half laugh. "I still hate that ya have to see me lose control of things like that."
"Two kids is a lot… four kids is insane." He then took a seat next to her.
"Ya always did say I was crazy." She smiled for a moment more before the child in her arms started to fuss again.
"Flu?" Shadow questioned.
"Ear infection, and I can't get her ta take tha medicine fer the pain. She just spits it out."
"Shouldn't Static be here helping you? It's past six." Shadow looked up at the clock on the wall.
"He's been busy all week entertaining some highfalutin clients. He hasn't been home 'til after midnight all week, and likely won't be until they leave Sunday." She frowned as she looked down at her sick daughter.
"But it's the first week of school, and you have a sick child…" Shadow trailed off as he saw Sandy's face become angry.
"His pa's out sick after his surgery so he says he's gotta take care of everything. Honestly, even before those blowhards came ta town, he had rarely been home. Not fer the past month." Sandy looked up at her ex-husband a little embarrassed. "Sorry! Didn't mean ta vent at ya like that."
A snicker escaped Shadows lips. "That is hardly you venting, Sandy." He continued to smile as his comment got her to smile again. "How about I help you with the kids?"
"Oh I wouldn't ask ya ta do that!"
"I can help the kids with their homework while you try to get that one situated. They are my children too, after all."
Sandy reluctantly nodded her head in approval. So, Shadow stood up and made his way back to the living room to see his two children mostly studying and only semi harassing each other. They both looked up with worry as he entered the room, but quickly relaxed once he took a seat on the carpet next to them. He was tall enough that he could see easily what they both were doing on their short work table.
"What are you working on? He asked getting both children to happily start talking about their school projects to him. Shadow keep a straight face as he listened to his children beam about their school work and what they were working on at the moment. He rarely got to have these types of discussions with them as he had them mainly on weekend or in the summer. Sure, they told him about their work, but now he finally got to assist them with it. It felt nice. And the fact they seemed happy to have him help felt even better.