Chapter eleven

Secrets and final farewells

It was no secret that Professor Gerald was under a lot of stress from his superiors down on the planet Earth and those stress levels he was under made him do some unorthodox things. Take the other day for instance, Gerald was in the middle of doing a strength test on Shadow and had made the poor hedgehog carry him all around the ARK so he could do his check ups on all the other scientists work at the same time. Turns out Shadow was able to withstand his weight during that two hour long test and probably would have lasted longer if needed be.

"Oh I do hope he doesn't make me carry him again." Shadow thought as he slowly made his way down the corridor towards his creators personal study, like instructed to do a few minutes ago.

Shadow reached the door quicker than he wanted and took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly before gently knocking on the door with a forced smile on his muzzle. When Shadow didn't get an answer after thirty seconds, as that was the maximum time anyone had to wait outside Gerald's study after knocking, he grew concerned. Shadow frowned and grabbing the handle, turning it with caution then pushing the door open. He peeped his head inside first before opening the door wider.

"Professor?" Shadow called out as he walked in and pushed the door up a little behind him.

Gerald was slumped in his chair in front of his desk and fast asleep. Shadow raised a brow as he walked over and stood in front of him on the other side of the desk. He was feeling a little confused as to why his father would ask for his presence if he was fast asleep in his study.

"Professor you wanted to see me, is everything alright?" Shadow asked as he tilted his head when Gerald lifted his head up a little but had his eyes closed and remained asleep.

"Shadow it is so good to see you, how have you been?" Gerald softly said with a warm smile on his face as he replied in his sleep.

"Erm fine Professor, you saw me no more than an hour and a half hours ago. Are you sure you are alright?" Shadow answered as he was getting a little confused as he was sure Gerald was asleep and as far as he knew, people don't communicate so fluently while they slept.

"Please call me dad Shadow and all is well. How are you coping my son?" Gerald softly chuckled as he spoke back.

"Coping? What do you mean professor erm sorry dad?" Shadow asked as he was definitely getting worried that his creator was on the verge of a break down or something.

Shadow knew Gerald was under a lot of stress and he also was aware how that much stress could make others think and feel. With that in mind Shadow made a mental note to tread carefully and watch what he said so not to upset the man.

"I mean how are you coping with your loss, it is not easy losing someone close. I am always here for you if you ever want to talk about it." Gerald sincerely said with a somewhat sad expression while keeping his eyes closed with sleep.

"Coping with my loss, what loss?" Shadow asked with a troubled expression and he was officially damn right confused, he cannot remember losing anyone close.

"You can soldier on all you want but I can see it, I see you miss him very much and I'm deeply sorry. If it was in my power I would bring him back for you." Gerald sighed with deep sadness.

"O-k. Right well is that all you wanted me for dad or was there something else?" Shadow rolled his eyes with a shake of his head, deciding that Gerald must be dreaming and he was in it somehow.

"Grandpa you asked to see me? Oh Shadow he wanted to see you too?" Maria came in then smiled when she saw Shadow.

"You might want to close the door Maria, I fear the Professor has lost it." Shadow turned his head to watch Maria walk in.

"Lost it?" Maria questioned as she did go back and closed the door then went to stand next to Shadow.

"Dad Shadow call me dad. I haven't lost anything you have and hello my dear I am very glad Shadow has you to comfort him over his loss." Gerald said as he remained asleep.

"See what I mean." Shadow dryly said with a deep frown and looking at the professor as he spoke then back up at Maria.

Maria was now looking confused and turned her head to give Shadow a what's-going-on look.

"I think he is either dreaming or having a mental break down. He thinks I have lost someone very close to me. As far as I am aware I haven't lost anyone." Shadow whispered to Maria with high concern in his eyes.

"Grandpa Shadow hasn't lost anyone." Maria sighed as she looked at her grandfather with, too, concern.

"Yes he has and he misses him dearly, I see it every day I look into his eyes." Gerald matter-of-fact said as he spoke back to his granddaughter.

"Yep he is having a breakdown alright." Maria shook her head as she lightly slapped a hand to her forehead in despair.

"Oh no Shadow, it will be fine, I had no idea it was effecting you to that degree. We must sort out therapy for you my boy." Gerald gasped in horror as he thought Maria was talking about Shadow.

"I haven't lost anyone so wake up already, you are freaking us both out." Shadow slightly shouted with annoyance, as he was really freaking out a little.

"How can you say that about Little Kevin?" Gerald said with a disbelieving gasp then he dropped his head and began to snore loudly.

"Little Kevin?" Shadow tilted his head with a raised brow, looking at a now very asleep Gerald snoring at his desk.

"Oh I get it, you don't remember do you Shadow? Well it was about nine months ago since you last saw him I suppose." Maria said in realisation, grinned over at Shadow.

"Clearly I do not, care to enlighten me." Shadow dryly said with crossed arms and waiting to be told who this Little Kevin is.

"You know Little Kevin, he's a stuffed animal we gave you a couple of days after you were born." Maria giggled as Shadows eyes went wide.

"Oh no he died?" Shadow shouted out in horror as this was very new information, holding his head with both hands with fear and sadness in his wide panicked eyes, the memory of Little Kevin was coming back to him.

"What? What the…Shadow, Maria what are you doing in here?" Gerald jumped up as he was awakened by Shadows cry of horror, now standing on his feet with a panicked expression at the two children.

"Little Kevin, d-died?" Shadow asked his creator with a distort look, arms and hands at his side now.

"N-no of course not Shadow, remember he is on vacation." Gerald nervously said as he lied to his hedgehog son.

"Well tell him to come off it, it's been nine months." Shadow seriously said with crossed arms at Gerald.

"Oh boy…how do I tell him I accidentally spilt burning acid on that stuffed bear then made up that lie to stop the upset. I swore he forgot all about him, well consciously forgot about him." Gerald thought as he tried to rat his brains to reply to Shadow without making things worse.

"I erm…I will call the teddy bear resort as soon as I get a moment to do so ok." Gerald anxiously said as he waited for an answer from an unhappy Shadow.

"…Fine just don't forget to say he is missed and wanted back home." Shadow grinned as he was much more happier now.

"Thank chaos for his child-like innocents and he still believes that place exists." Gerald thought as he smiled brightly with a nod at Shadow.

Maria was frowned at her Grandfather with crossed arms as she believed Shadow should be told the truth and the only reason she hasn't told Shadow was Gerald made her promise to play along until he could find a way to break the news to Shadow in a gentle manner. Since Shadow somewhat forgot and stopped asking on a daily basis, Gerald and Maria forgot about the bear too. Well until now that is.

"Grandpa don't you think it is about time something was said about Little Kevin?" Maria firmly said with a serious expression in her eyes at her grandfather, making the old man gulp in fear of the way she looked.

"Alright what has Little Kevin done? I will have some firm words to tell him when he gets back." Shadow frowned as he gave a look of annoyance while staring at Gerald for an answer.

"Huh…Shadow please take a seat, there is something I need to tell you about Little Kevin." Gerald sighed as he motioned for his creation to sit in the chair opposite his desk.

"Why am I suddenly getting the feeling something bad has happened?" Shadow said with a slightly sad voice as he took that seat, Maria taking the one next to him.

"Do you remember just over two months after your awakening you left Little Kevin in the chemical lab?" Gerald said with a huge amount of guilt in his eyes as he and Shadow looked at one another.

"Yeah he wanted to do an experiment so I left him to it because I'm not allowed to touch the chemicals unsupervised…why?" Shadow raised a brow as he replied.

"Well you see I went in there to do some chemicals tests with dangerous chemicals and I really did mean to move him out of the way before starting. I had an accident in there and spilled burning acid on Little Kevin…h-he began to bubble and I'm so sorry but he didn't make it." Gerald said with even more guilt in his features as Shadow stared at him with watery eyes and mouth open in horror.

"I was going to try and get a replacement before you found out so I made up that teddy spa resort so you wouldn't find out before I got that replacement. You soon forgot about him then I forgot to get a replacement. I'm just terribly sorry Shadow I did not mean to melt him in the lab." Gerald concluded his side of events with deep regret for what happened to Shadows stuffed bear.

"Y-you lied to me and you have the damn cheek to punish me for lying to you. The nerve professor, the damn nerve of you." Shadow slightly growled as he tried to stop his tears from falling or collecting more than they already have in his eyes.

"What did you do to his dead body?" Shadow asked with anger in his tone and a heartbroken expression in his eyes and facial expression.

"I-I put it in the furnace. I'm dreadfully sorry Shadow but he was never real to begin with and made of stuffing, thread and fake fur…he never felt a thing." Gerald whispered as he swallowed a lump in his throat.

"He was real to me." Shadow shouted out as his tears finally fell out of his eyes, standing up firmly with tightly clenched fists.

"Chaos control…" Shadow cried out then vanished in a blinding light.

Maria gasped at Shadows sudden disappearance and looked at her grandfather with wide eyes. They both did not expect Shadow to have this reaction or vanish using his chaos powers in front of Maria.

"I suppose I need to do some more explaining to you Maria." Gerald sighed with displeasure.

"Yes I think you had." Maria frowned as she did not like secrets kept from her by her family.

With Shadow half an hour later…

"I know it is childish to behave in such a way but is it wrong of me to feel sad over a stuffed toy?" Shadow asked as he looked up at Jason with sad watery eyes, they both sat in the empty cafeteria together.

"Shadow you are barely one years old now and it is perfectly normal to have attachments to objects. You took Little Kevin to almost every place you went, you hardly ever left him alone or unattended. Accidents happen and I remember Gerald trying so hard to find an exact replica to give to you. He feels terrible about what happened and is full of regret." Jason sincerely said with a soft look in his eyes at Shadow.

"But was it ok for him to lie to me though, should I punish him for lying like he does to me?" Shadow frowned as he was starting to get a little angry at his human creator now, unsure what to do.

"No Shadow, he only lied to you because he knew how upset you would become and he was only trying to protect you from it. It's like when you lied to him about that little horror movie night you and Maria had, you lied to protect Maria from getting into trouble. Gerald was only doing the same thing but under different circumstances and events." Jason grinned as he could see Shadow understood where he was coming from.

"Oh right so the professor really isn't to blame and I suppose I should have said no to Little Kevin in the first place. I should have warned him of the dangers on playing about with chemicals in that lab and put mini protective clothing on him too." Shadow sighed sadly as now he was blaming himself for the 'death' of Little Kevin.

"Why don't we give Little Kevin a proper send off, say a good bye to him." Jason suggested as he could see Shadow was once again getting really upset.

"L-like a funeral for him?" Shadow replied as he tried to stop himself from breaking down again.

Jason smiled gently and nodded, making Shadow smiled back sadly, liking this idea very much.

An hour later…

"I cannot believe we are doing this." Michael complained in a whispered tone in Jason's ear as he was forced to attend this teddy bear funeral and come in a black suit.

"Oh quit complaining, this is for Shadow alright." Jason rolled his eyes with a small frown as he whispered back.

Gerald was also present with Maria and both wearing clothes to suit the mood of this funeral. Gerald had on one of his black business suits and Maria had on a dark grey dress and borrowed one of the female scientists fancy looking grey hat with a small netted black veil attached at the front. Shadow was standing a little in front and in-between Gerald and Maria, having Jason and Michael standing a little away from them at the side. Shadow held a single red rose in his hands, that Gerald had found for him in one of the staff rooms, and looking down with a sad yet sincere expression, eyes closed in peace. They were standing in front of the furnace where Gerald had burned the body of Little Kevin.

"Little Kevin you were the best companion a created being could ever have asked for. You were always there for me no matter what was going on in your life. You never once judged me with anything I told you and were always happy to see me as I was with you." Shadow softly said with a slight crackle of his voice as he tried to not cry and sob at saying his final good byes.

"Yeah that's because he always had that goofy smile stitched on his face." Michael quietly whispered in Jason's ear, grinning a little as he spoke.

"Shush, you were a kid once too ya know. Need I remind you of Mr Snuffles?" Jason replied in a hissed whisper as he nudged Michael for being disrespectful upon Shadows feelings.

"Mr Snuffles…" Michael whispered sadly then covered his face as he sobbed a little.

"Wow Little Kevin was a big importance to Michael too." Maria thought as she glanced at the grown man sobbing in his hands and having Jason side hug him in reassurance, unaware of the real reason.

"I can only hope you weren't in too much pain upon your passing and I know you are now in a far better place with all your teddy bear friends that have met their untimely demise too. You will be greatly missed and always remembered…well unless I come down with amnesia or forget again but still, you will always be apart of me forever no matter what." Shadow finished off with a faint smile as he opened his eyes and looked at the killer furnace in front of him.

Gerald moved towards the furnace and opened the door for Shadow to place the rose inside. Shadow walked forwards and stood there while looking at the flames, he then looked down at the rose in his hands with a smile.

"Good bye Little Kevin." Shadow whispered then threw the rose into the flames and watched it shrivel and burn to nothing.

Gerald closed the door and gave Shadow a very sorry expression to what he did. Shadow smiled back up in a forgiving fashion.

"Now that is all done with, what are we going to do now?" Shadow happily said with a wider smile at Gerald, who was a little taken back with his creations sudden change in mood.

"Er maybe we should go grab some lunch since it is almost one o'clock." Gerald said with a slightly nervous smile as he watched Shadow nodded happily then took the lead out of the area, leaving everyone staring at him as he walked away.

"Seriously, we have this funeral and he is like it never happened." Michael said with a slightly annoyed tone and crossed arms, looking over at the entrance to the room.

"Mr Snuffles." Jason teased with a wicked grin at Michael, knowing all about Michaels childhood stuffed cat.

"Oh shut up, I was way younger than Shadow and an actual child." Michael pouted with a deep yet very sad frown.

"You were ten." Jason rolled his eyes with a shake of his head.

"Still a child." Michael muttered and turned away from Jason.

"Lets go and get lunch and move on from all of this." Gerald cleared his throat and spoke in a semi serious tone then walked out with everyone following him.

(Here is the latest one-shot and I do hope you enjoyed reading also I do hope you will review too. Everyone has had that one stuffed toy that they would have with them at all times and Shadow was no exception in this chap, I know I did as a small child. I had a cat black and white that I called Toby…anyway thanks for reading, until the next instalment to my one-shot series…)