After about an hour of holding one another Shadow found himself about ready to drift back to sleep, until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Sandy must have actually drifted off because the sound caused her to jump slightly.
"Breakfast startin' ta get cold!" Sandy's mother shouted through the door.
Sandy got up and make her way to her clothing so she could start to dress. "We'll be right out!" She called back.
Shadow watched her dress up, as she was oblivious to the fact his eyes were so intently focused on her. That was until she turned to face him causing her to smirk as he seemed to shift nervously as he got caught gawking at her.
"Ya best hurry up and get a shower in before Randy eats up what's left of our meal." She walked over before bending down and kissing his forehead. "I'll try to fight him off until yer ready ta join us." She smiled down at him before happily heading out of the room.
The rest of the second day at Sandy's childhood home played out pretty much as Shadow expected. The more her parents got to know Shadow the less happy they seemed with their daughter's choice in men. He didn't put out any extra effort in to appease them, and that seemed to make them even more annoyed. He thought it was ridiculous that they were hoping for some man to come into their home, and lie about who he was, while kissing their ass, just to get their approval.
The two older squirrels seemed almost oblivious to the fact of how happy Sandy was with him. Or maybe it was that they didn't think that happiness would last? He wasn't sure, and didn't really care so long as it didn't bring any ill will onto his bride. He tried to keep his distance from everyone but Sandy. However, Randy made sure to jump in and bother him now and then just to keep him extremely annoyed. He'd never met anyone, other than Randy, in his life that seemed to get a huge kick out of pissing off everyone around them.
The next day started out giving him far less stress, as much of her family, and friends, arrived to help out with setting up for the wedding. He was introduced to many people, but they luckily came and went very fast. Everyone was so caught up on setting things up after introductions he found himself happily tending to some mundane tasks alone. At least for a short while.
"Howdy, stranger!" Randy yelled out happily causing Shadow to dropped the chairs he was about to unfold. "Looks like you could use some help with them slippery things." Randy chuckled to himself as Shadow bent down and retrieved the chair that escaped his grasp.
"I've got it." Shadow stated plainly as he unfolded the chair and set it out before turning back to grab another.
"Nah." Randy protested as he grabbed a chair put it down to start another row. "I really think ya need some help hiding over here."
Shadow stopped for a moment and faced Randy, keeping his blank face. Randy continued to grin back at his almost-brother-in-law. The male squirrel then took a seat on the second chair he sat down keeping his focus on the hedgehog.
"They are mah family, so I think I have more right ta hide from 'em than you do."
Shadow let out a sigh and went back to setting up chairs as Randy started talking about random topics that the older male really held no interest in. All in all, Shadow was happy it was Randy bothering him right now and not one of Sandy's other family members. The two men didn't get along all that well, but so far he was his closest thing to an ally besides his fiancé.
"Good to see you two lads working so hard." Called out a female voice, that luckily caused Randy to shut up.
Shadow noticed the British accent and stopped what he was doing to great his main handler. "Mei." He nodded in her direction to give acknowledgement of her arrival.
"Well, hey there pretty lady!" Randy laughed before letting out a small whistle of approval. "What brings yer lovely self here before da big day?"
Shadow was starting to get use to Randy's lame attempts at flirting with his boss. He found himself shocked that Mei put up with Randy's mouth, but after a while he became even more surprised when he started to notice Mei getting a kick out of the redneck's attempt at impressing her.
"I just figured I should make sure that the groom didn't end up getting cold feet." The blue cat smiled at Shadow causing him to roll his eyes and start setting down chairs again.
"I'm sorry ta hear that, cause after the bachelor party I put together there ain't no way he's gonna agree to settling down. We're gonna burn down da town!" Randy winked at her getting a light smile in response.
"I'm not going." Shadow informed the male squirrel as he kept setting out the last of the chairs.
"That's fine. We'll all have more fun without yer moody ass." Randy's grin grew larger as he stood up and walked towards Mei.
"Hardly a bachelor party without the groom." Mei informed Randy as she started to grin back at him.
"Hmmm. I guess yer right. Maybe I should just ferget the whole thing and look ta spend some quality time elsewhere." Randy's laugh became forced and heavy.
Shadow looked up at the two people near him before his mind was blown. Mei blushed and pushes Randy away playfully on his chest. The squirrel who was just slightly shorter than her moved in closer to her and started whispering conversation that she soon willfully engaged in causing them both to blush and sway awkwardly. "Holy shit." Shadow stated out loud causing both Randy, and Mei, to look at him in surprise. "You two are screwing around." Shadow looked at Mei in disappointment. He always held respect for her, but now… knowing she was letting that dumb fuck touch her he found his faith in her falling.
"What?!" Randy laughed nervously… as his face started to turn red, due to the fact they'd been found out.
"So, Mei is the woman your mother brought up that you're in love with…" Shadow mused outload to himself. This caused Randy's face to turn even more red than before and Mei to look at him with worry.
"I just said I liked her! Mah ma is the one that said love not me!" Randy looked at Mei pleadingly still red as a beet in his face. "I um…" Randy held his head in shame after meeting Mei's gaze for 10 seconds.
"I better find Sandy." Mei forced a smile to the two men and then turned around quickly to take her leave.
"Why the hell did ya say that?!" Randy looked at Shadow angry as he yelled.
"I just can't believe she's letting you f-"
"Fuck you!" Randy shouted. "I knew full well she is too good fer me, and that's why I agreed that we were just friends with benefits… And that I wouldn't say anything ta anyone." Randy sat back down now very upset. "I really like her, but I know-" He stopped himself and then let his chin fall down to his chest. "I wanted to pretend just a little while longer…. That I could have a woman like that. Really have her."
Shadow watched Randy wipe at his face, likely wiping away stray tears. He felt a bit sad for his brother-in-law. He always looked down on him, as most others likely did too, and he finally found a woman that made him feel good, but…. "Randy." Shadow breathed deeply as he looked away from him to the floor to his side. "If Mei doesn't want anyone to know about you two now… then she isn't interested in you. You need to move on, and find someone that isn't embarrassed of you."
"Embarrassed?!" Randy looked up at Shadow now with tears really flowing down his face.
"Randy, As thick as you are you aren't that dumb." Shadow looked at him apologetically… truly feeling bad for the other man. "Stop the lie. I know better than most." The hedgehog adjusted the last few chairs he had put out before placing his hand on Randy's shoulder and gripping down tight. "You're an addict and still alive and fighting, so I know you're strong. Now it's time to man up. If not for you than Sandy."
Randy finally looked up and Shadow and smiled as he wiped the last of his tears away. "I'm doing it fer you, ya faggit." Randy stood up and then punched Shadow in the chest playfully before walking off.
Shadow now let a small grin take over his lips. Maybe he and Randy could end up being friends after all.