(I DON'T OWN SHADOW! SEGA DOES! SO STOP BOTHERING ME!)

"I'm uh, Cream."

Cream was eleven now and had obviously lost a teeny bit of her innocence.

"Sorry, we're not usually like this. I'm Tails."

Tails was a bit sweaty from fighting.

"I'm Stella."

She hopped out of my arms and sat down on the couch.

"I'm thirsty. Who's up for shakes?"

I called.

"ME!"

The ship vibrated.

Tails, Stella, and Cream played volleyball with a beach ball.

"Ah, love the moolat'e in the mornin'"

I said finishing my last bit of cappuccino.

"But it's 5 min. 'till 6 p.m."

Knux glanced down at his watch.

"Shh! She doesn't need to know that! Let her live in her own world. That's what the therapist said!"

Shadow whispered and then started to laugh.

"Watch out!"

Cream called.

The beach ball slammed straight into Shadow's head.

"Agh!"

He grimaced and lurched forward dropping his shake.

"Shadow!"

When Shadow looked up his face was mere centimeters away from mine.

"Maria? Could you get our ball?"

I couldn't hear them.

At that moment all I knew was Shadow.

Shadow touched my cheek.

"Maria..."

I touched Shadow's lips.

"Shadow..."

Every exhale he made filled my lungs.

"Maria?"

Cream looked at me awkwardly.

"Maria!"

Knux sounded a bit panicked.

I snapped out of it.

"Oh, yeah ball right."

I got the ball and served it to Cream.

I looked back at Shadow, my heart was racing.

"Um... are you okay?"

I didn't know what else to say.

"I could be better."

Shadow replied hesitantly.

I gave Knux a worried glance.

Knux sent one back in reply.

"What did you just almost do?"

Knux whispered.

"I don't know but part of me wishes I had done it."

I glanced downwards.

Stella called a timeout and came over to sit next to me.

"What was up with that?"

She seemed worried.

"Nothing, I just, caught in the moment that's it. I was caught in the moment."

My excuse was lame but she took it.

"Did you get that?"

Cream whispered to Tails.

My ear twitched.

"Yeah, it's all on tape."

Tails smiled.

He turned and saw me.

He turned completely white and ran off.

"So, you had to look something up on the computer?"

I decided changing the subject was the best.

"Yeah, I'd better leave."

I didn't want him to leave.

"Y-you don't have to, if you don't want!"

I cried.

"Desperate much?"

Jwan entered the room.

"Jwan!"

I stood up.

"Hey, Tails wants to see you!"

Cream looked a bit mischievous.

"Be back."

Jwan winked.

"Uh, well, see ya."

Shadow smiled at me.

'No wait!'

'Come back!'

'Let me do that over!'

'Don't leave!'

I almost followed Shadow out the door.

"It's like every time he walks away he's never coming back."

I whispered to myself.

"Don't go."

I said plopping into my seat.

"It's alright."

Stella said pulling on my arm.

"I'll go check up on him."

I smiled as she left.

"What does she mean by that?"

Knux said.

"Wait up! I'll help!"

Cream rushed off down the hallway.

(With Cream & Stella)

They peeked into Shadow's room.

The lights were off and Green Day was turned up so loud the floor was shaking.

They tiptoed into the room.

Shadow's computer read:

Okay, she's here, what do I do?

There was a pause.

Then letters popped up.

Well, has anything happened yet?

Not really, I got smacked in the head with a beach ball and I almost… kissed her.

You almost kissed her! You call that not really!

I'm sorry! I can't do this. Kiss her I mean. She's never kissed anyone before. I don't want to offend her.

Well, when you almost kissed her what did she do?

She touched my lips, why?

Dude, she totally digs you! Go for it! Tell her you love her!

What? No way! I'm logging off. Later, Dad.

"Dad?" The two thought.

"Black Doom!" Cream gasped.

Shadow's ear twitched but he didn't turn around.

He then opened up the case file.

They snuck out of the room and ran straight to me.

"What'd he do?"

I said curiously.

"He was talking…"

Stella said breathlessly.

"To Black Doom!"

Cream finished for her.

"How do you know?"

I asked.

"He called him dad."

Cream was obviously as confused as I was.

I began to fade.

My power over all elements makes me turn into darkness when I'm confused.

"What did he talk to him about?"

My fur was vanishing before my very eyes.

"You."

Stella said.

I was completely gone at that point.

"I'll ask no more questions."

The air seemed to be talking.

"Best left that way."

Cream giggled.

I became visible.

"Hi Maria."

Haley walked in.

"15. You're so grown up. It makes me feel old."

I was stunned.

She was the most beautiful echidna I'd ever seen.

I can remember Tikal calling me and Dad rushing me to the hospital to see Tikal's niece.

I never really realized she'd been growing up.

I definitely didn't think she'd look like this.

"Good, you are old."

Haley saw a bent up cup and melting shake all over the floor.

"How'd that happen?"

Jwan had just gotten back.

"Go to Tails, he'll tell ya."

Haley left.

"So you're just gonna leave that on the floor?"

Jwan stared down at the mess.

"Yeah, pretty much."

I muttered.

"'Kay."

Jwan took the seat next to mine.

"So things are going fine between you and Shadow, I presume?"

"Ask his dad."

I was uncomfortable with Shadow telling aliens about me.

"Who?"

Jwan wasn't following.

"Black Doom."

I wasn't looking at anything in particular but wherever I had been looking, my head was fixed in that position.

"The alien dude?"

Jwan leaned back in her chair.

"Uh huh. Apparently Shadow's biological father."

"So you mean to tell me you're in love with the spawn of aliens!"

I gave her a disgusted look.

"I didn't say anything of the sort!"

"Heh."

Jwan smiled.

If it had been a manga she'd be the one with the tear drop on her head.

"I'm not alien spawn."

I fell out of my chair.

"You scared the heck out of me!"

I fixed my hair and got back in my seat.

Shadow stifled a laugh.