A/N: I'd like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms here on FanFiction! It doesn't matter if you're a biological mom or not; what really matters is that you love a child enough to care for them! Anyways, let's get on with this story...
It was a sunny Sunday in May, and Rouge the Bat was in her bedroom at her mansion, playing a game of Tetris on her iPhone. Though she usually worked a long week as a G.U.N. agent, the organization did observe certain holidays, and consequently, she had a day off today. She didn't really feel like doing much in particular, but that was OK with her. As long as she got a day off from having to do paperwork – which is what a good portion of her job entailed – she'd be content. Then, she heard knocking on her door, and she paused the game.
"Come in," said Rouge.
The door opened, and in stepped Shadow the Hedgehog, who – contrary to his usual disposition – was smiling.
"Hey, Rouge!"
"Hey, Shaddy!" Just then, Rouge frowned and narrowed his eyes. "Wait…are you actually smiling?"
"Why, of course! Today's such a nice day, isn't it?"
Rouge crossed her arms. "Shaddy…did you shake all my cans of root beer so they'd spray me in the face when I opened one?"
Shadow chuckled. "No, that would be cruel of me. Besides, I have no good reason to do that to you."
"Are you sure?"
"My dear Rouge, would I be so low as to do such a mean thing to you?"
Rouge stroked her chin. "Eh…I guess not." Her smile returned. "Although I gotta admit, that smile looks really nice on you!"
"Thank you!"
"Now tell me: what are you so happy about today?"
"OK, I'll explain." Shadow's smile weakened, but not totally. "You do know that today is Mother's Day, right?"
Rouge nodded. "Uh-huh."
"Well…you see…being artificially created in a lab, I never had a real mother. Considering everything you've done for me, you're the closest person I've ever had to a mother, and I wanted to show you how grateful I am for all you've done for me." Shadow's smile brightened some more.
Rouge clasped her hands together and held them next to her head. "Awww…you're so sweet! Do show me!"
"OK, just stay right there and I'll have it out shortly."
Rouge did as she was told, while Shadow briefly went outside her room to fetch her gift. Having been Shadow's partner for so long, and knowing how far he'd come as a person, she had faith that whatever he brought her, she was going to enjoy it. Shortly after he'd exited, Shadow came back out with a rather large present wrapped in purple wrapping paper with pink stripes, which had a little card that said "TO THE BEST MOMMY EVER, FROM YOUR LITTLE SHADDY BABY". He handed it to her.
"Ooh, this should be nice!" said Rouge. "Why don't I take it over here and open it?"
Rouge took the gift over to a little table where she usually worked on various craft projects. After setting it down, she wasted no time in opening it. It turned out to be a fruit basket with a bottle of Martinelli's sparkling cider. Rouge gasped when she saw it.
"Shaddy, how did you know I loved fruit baskets!?"
Shadow shrugged. "I guess a little birdie told me."
"Still, the fact that you went out of your way to get that is so SWEET! I love you!"
Rouge gave Shadow a big hug, which he gladly returned. In the past, Shadow would not have been so keen to have Rouge hug him, but deep down inside, he'd always been crying out for somebody to care for him, and even if he didn't see her as a romantic partner, he was immensely grateful that she was by his side when no one else was. Truly, it was a grand honor for him to be "her little Shaddy baby", and he wanted that to last forever and ever. The fact that Rouge was so soft, warm and cuddly helped, too.
Rouge found Shadow's touch to be heavenly, too. Even more than that, what she really enjoyed about hugging him was that in spite of his usual cold as ice nature, he was a really good person deep down inside, and she was more than happy to give him the affection and caring he deserved. Granted, part of her wanted to cry, but more so out of pure joy than out of feeling sorry for what he went through. Overall, she couldn't think of any better person to play "mommy" to. Eventually, Rouge let go.
"I love you too, Rouge."
"Really, you've been such a good boy! If there's anything else I can do for you, just name it!"
"Actually, I was hoping to go out to dinner with you today…"
Rouge gasped. "Oh, you're just too sweet! Mind if I pick where we go?"
Shadow gave a thumbs up. "Not at all!"
Shadow and Rouge ended up going to a barbecue joint called Johnny's Smokehouse, located in the Kingsborough neighborhood in the City Center borough of Emerald City. Décor consisted of cherrywood tables and chairs, LED lighting and random pictures of Emerald City in the past. As for the musical selection, the sound system was playing classic rock, the current selection being "Stay With Me" by Rod Stewart and the Faces. Shadow kept smiling as he sat with Rouge.
"Rouge, this is why I enjoy eating out with you:" said Shadow. "Your eyes look that much more beautiful when I look into them."
"Awww…you're too nice, Shaddy!"
"That was because you actually listened to me when no one else would and stayed by my side even when the whole world seemed to be against me."
"Why not? I knew from the first time I saw you that deep down inside, you were the sweetest, most caring hedgie that any mommy would be proud to call her own! By the way, that shade of red looks really handsome on you!"
Shadow smiled awkwardly and blushed. "Oh, thank you!"
Rouge giggled. "Oh, you're so cute when you blush!"
"Um…you wouldn't be trying to make me cry…would you?"
"What? No! I'm just teasing you!"
Shadow giggled. "Ah, I should only have known!"
Soon enough, Shadow and Rouge's waitress – a lavender bear – came out with their food. Shadow had ordered a Super Smokehouse combo with ribs that had the house BBQ sauce, a BBQ grilled chicken breast, sweet potato fries and macaroni & cheese. As for Rouge, she got the Emerald City Chicken, which was a grilled chicken breast with BBQ sauce, bacon and caramelized onions. Hers came with regular fries and collard greens. After the waitress left, Rouge was about to dig in when Shadow extended his hands towards her.
"Rouge, would you please join me in prayer?"
Rouge put down her fork and knife. "Oh…of course!"
And so, Rouge joined hands with Shadow, and they bowed their heads.
"God, if you exist, thank you for bringing us together for this meal and thank you for providing us with the food to make it possible," said Shadow. "May this continue for as long as we live. Amen."
After the prayer concluded, Shadow and Rouge dug into their food. As far as both of them were concerned, spending time with each other made the food taste that much better.
"So, did you want to do anything else with me after this?" asked Rouge.
Shadow nodded. "Yes, as a matter of fact…"
"Name it!"
"I want to go to the observation deck of Emerald Tower with you and watch the sunset."
"You got it!"
After they'd finished their supper, which Shadow paid for, him and Rouge went to Emerald Tower, which was not only the tallest building in Emerald City, but the whole world. As they stood more than 2,000 feet in the air on the tower's observation deck, they smiled as they reflected on their day.
"Shaddy, thanks again for treating me on this day! I'll remember it for the rest of my life!"
"You're welcome, Rouge! You brought light into the darkness of my life, so it was only fair for me to return the favor!"
"Hey, you did more than return it!"
"Well…I am your little Shaddy baby, after all."
"And the best one ever! By the way, did you notice that the moon's already out?"
"No. Where is it?"
"Over there!"
Rouge pointed to the moon, which was just visible above the gradient of the sunset-lit sky.
"Oh, that's…Rouge, what…WHOA!"
Shadow flailed around a bit as Rouge wrapped her arms around him and flew towards the moon with him. However, as the initial shock wore off, he smiled as he flew higher and higher, knowing that he'd made the day of the one person who mattered so much to him in the wake of his release from suspended animation.
Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.