Shadow walked over to the window and looked out, hoping against all hope that the figure upstairs didn't hear the argument between the friends below. Where was the Tornado Mach II? Shouldn't it be here by now?

"Hey Sonic," Shadow asked, hoping to pass the time. "Any favorite childhood memories?"

Sonic laughed to himself at the very thoughts. "I remember...one time I was playing a joke on Antoine in Knothole Village. I know I wasn't a kid at the time, but it's still really funny. Anyway, I snuck into his room one night and let loose a spider collection I had been gathering for a while. Then I ran straight to my room to wait for the results."

"So?" Shadow asked, getting very impatient.

"Well, these were special spiders. They were famous for making three feet wide webs in just hours. These little guys had about eight whole hours to get working!"

"And?" Shadow was starting to get interested.

"Around seven o'clock, I was up bright and early and ready to go, which is really unusual for me. I usually try to sleep in. Anyway, I was hanging around Antoine's room, unfortunately without a straight face, so Sally got the drift that something was wrong."

Sonic paused for dramatic effect, much to the annoyance of Shadow.

"When she tried to ask, she was very rudely interrupted...I'll just say that Antoine is arachnophobic." Sonic giggled.

Shadow couldn't help but laugh to himself. He could just imagine the fox screaming his head off at the sight of all those spider webs clinging to his ceilings and walls.

"Now that I've revealed my past, how about a little of yours?"

Shadow just stared at Sonic. He couldn't talk about his past! He might start crying!

"How about later..."

"Nope. Now. I promise I won't tell another soul. Maybe I can help too; you said you lost some important people because you were stupid. If I hadn't taken that bogus order I'd still have at least my uncle and dog!"

Shadow sighed. There was no way around this...

So he began to tell his past, choking every now and then from the pain of it all. Sonic found himself speechless while listening, almost as if the story of Shadow's past wanted to be heard so badly it wouldn't let Sonic speak.

By the end of the tale, Shadow was sobbing, sitting on the bed next to Sonic. Sonic sat up the best he could and placed a hand on Shadow's shoulder, whispering, "Hey, we're friends now, remember? It's all going to be okay..."

Shadow tried to respond, but Sonic wouldn't let him. "You know about your mistakes, and your past, better than I ever could. You know your abilities and talents, gifts as well as curses, and even I have faults I could live without. Just do me one favor, okay?"

Shadow breathed a shuddering breath as he tried to reply. "What?"

"Please try not to kill yourself this time."

Shadow smiled. "Sure."