1A/N: HA! I'm back y'all...at least for right now. Hopefully my math grade will go up and I'll be back for good. Otherwise no compy for me for all of summer vacation! Okay, Chapter 11 sucked, I know. I ran out of ideas. When I first started it, I had a ton...and then they kinda disappeared along with all hope that my math grade would rise. So Hopefully you'll enjoy chapter 12.

To the person who sent me the anonymous review signed "This story sucks." a) if you don't like the pairing...why'd you click on it in the first place? b) have you nothing better to do then flame something like this? c) yeah, I know they're out of character, but this is fanfiction, it fits here, plus Shadz is pregnant, yeah, he's gonna act a lil weird. d) it's good you don't have anything against gays, but you sure sound like you do. You shouldn't call something gay, it can cause offense to some people that are, in fact, gay. e) you didn't mean to sound rude, but you have completely and thoroughly insulted me. In the sense that I am a bisexual and calling it gay brought offense to me, and I take constructive criticism, but that was NOT constructive, it seems like you went out of your way just to diss my story. I'm sorry for all of you waiting to read this chapter.

Chapter 12: A New Beginning

Sonic squeezed Shadow's hand gently as he received a death grip on his hand. It felt as if his hand was gonna shatter under the pressure of the grip. He looked at Shadow as he pushed again. The doctor kept telling him to push and by now it was kinda urgent and it was starting to make Sonic worry. He felt as if something was going wrong.

Shadow pushed harder each time and was almost out of strength. It turned out there was a small opening under his 'male part' for the babies to come through. It was dilated and everything, it was just the matter of getting the two small hedgehogs out of the small womb Shadow had.

After a while the doctor announced seeing the head of one of the tiny beings. Shadow yelped as it began to exit and he gripped Sonic's hand tighter. "Sonic! I'm gonna kill you!" Sonic swallowed roughly and tried to comfort Shadow.

Shadow pushed twice more and the little one was taken away in a blanket. "Now for the second one Mr. Hedgehog." The doctor knelt back down and stared under the blanket. In the next ten minutes all the happened was Shadow pushing with all his might as Sonic cooed to him and the doctor gave the orders. Finally the other head showed up and began to come out. Shadow man-screamed and Sonic could swear his fingers broke at the sudden pressure placed on his fingers.

The second hedgehog came out relatively slow. Shadow screamed at every movement made. Soon the room was filled with small hedgehog wails. Shadow panted and smiled lazily as he finally relaxed back into the bed. Shadow was wheeled out of the room and switched to a new room and a new bed. As soon as they had him situated they brought the twins in.

Sonic smiled at the fur patterns. The baby girl, Naomi, had blue fur with black stripes that matched Shadow's red markings. She had beautiful red eyes and her quills reminded Sonic of Shadow's quills. The Baby boy, Shawn, was black with blue markings. He had green eyes and his quill pattern resembled Sonic's.

Shadow cuddled them both then handed them to Sonic when he decided he was too sleepy to hold them. Sonic handed them to the nurse when she came back in. She smiled at the two and took the babies to the nursery. Sonic smiled and sat in the chair beside Shadow. He quickly took his scrubs off then reached over and ran a finger along Shadow's cheek. Shadow lightly groaned in his sleep and let a soft sigh leave his lips. Sonic smiled, his lover was exhausted, but it was for a wonderful reason.

When Shadow awoke he stared at Sonic sleeping beside him. He grinned and reached out carefully hovering his finger over Sonic's nose. Sonic's nose twitched and Shadow slightly giggled as he knew the slight tickle sensation Sonic was experiencing. He slowly retracted his hand and sat up pondering about how to further annoy his sleeping partner. He grinned after a moment sitting up further and leaning forward gently blowing on Sonic's ear watching it twitch and Sonic's facial features crinkle.

Shadow leaned over more to blow on the other one as a nurse opened the door causing Shadow to jump and fall straight into Sonic's lap. Sonic's eyes snapped open quickly wrapping his arms around Shadow and catching him. Shadow smiled sheepishly and hugged onto Sonic cutely nuzzling Sonic's neck. "Mr. and Mr. Sonic Hedgehog, the doctor says, because of the odd conditions, and we don't know how different it is for males to have children, when you feel you're both ready, to stop by the nursery and pick up the twins and you're welcome to leave. If anything goes wrong, or something odd happens, come back immediately." Sonic nodded with a smile as Shadow messed with his fur.

"Shadow, you feeling well?" Shadow watched as the nurse left and looked up at his lover smiling sweetly making Sonic smile back lovingly. Shadow stared at Sonic then blushed and placed his head beneath Sonic's chin snuggling closer and messing with the tan fur on Sonic's stomach.

"I'm feeling fine Sonikku, and I really don't like hospitals." Sonic chuckled softly gently running a finger down Shadow's back. "Sonikku, I want to go home, and I promise I'll tell you right away if something feels wrong." Sonic nodded kissing Shadow's forehead gently pulling Shadow closer. Shadow's lips curled into a smile as his eyelids lowered into a relaxed state.

Within ten minutes Sonic and Shadow were making their way down the hall towards the nursery where they, surprisingly, met Knuckles. Knuckles smiled and looked at the lover's connected hands and nodded towards them. "Hey Knux." Sonic smiled happily dropping Shadow's hand and shaking Knuckles hand.

Shadow stared at Knuckles for a moment then hugged him as a woman does an old friend. When he pulled away from Knuckles, he stared curiously as Shadow grinned. "It's good to see you Knuckles!"

Knuckles smiled and walked back over to the nursery window. "Haven't seen'em yet, just got here a few minutes ago." Sonic and Shadow walked over to the window and stood next to him for a moment.

"I'll go get'em, that way you don't have to look at my gorgeous son and daughter through a window." Sonic smirked as Shadow blushed and lowered his eyes lovingly embarrassed. Sonic left the two to stand looking at the infants on the other side of the clear barrier.

"Sonic seems happy, and you seem a little different, somethin' up Shadow?" Shadow looked up with his small blush and loving stare still in place. Knuckles studied him with a small smile on his face as Shadow took his time answering.

"We're just," Shadow paused trying to think of the right wording, "We're... parents now. I thought I'd snap back to normal when they were out of my stomach but I feel more... how to put it," Shadow stopped and stared at his reflection in the window as a nurse entered. She picked up a human infant and Shadow watched as the little girl was carefully wrapped in a pink blanket and carried away from the room. "...more feminine."

Knuckles stared at Shadow for a moment then smiled. "Hey, you wanna be like a woman, I've got no problem with it, I doubt Sonic does either." Shadow smiled laughing softly before stopping completely to stare at Sonic as he maneuvered through a door. Knuckles watched as that motherly loving look came over Shadow's face and turned to see Sonic with two small bundles. Both balanced perfectly in the crook of his arms held possessively against his chest.

Knuckles could almost hear the squeal Shadow wanted to let rip through his throat. He thought maybe he'd do the same thing if it was him in Shadow's shoes. He closed his eyes placing himself in the same position, trying to get a feel for the emotion Shadow wasn't going to express. The scene played out behind his eyelids.

Knuckles stood trying to explain to a friend what it was he was feeling, and his friend said something supportive and kinda stupid. He laughed softly before seeing Sonic– Knuckle's eyes snapped open. Why Sonic? Was it because it had been him exiting the room for Shadow? Knuckles looked at his best friend as he handed the tiny baby girl to Shadow.

He smiled softly before shutting his eyes again and let it get as far. Sonic exited the room with the two small bundles held possessively against him. He felt his heart swell like in The Grinch and felt this deep overwhelming feeling of compassion sweep over him. He felt like he was floating.

When he opened his eyes, Sonic was smiling, "Finally, I thought ya fell asleep standing up Knux!" Knuckles smiled sheepishly as Sonic showed him his and Shadow's twins. He had to admit, they were adorable. Two little hedgehog babies sleeping, one in each parent's arms. They were smaller than echidna babies were and looked fragile as their little ears twitched in their sleep.

"Knuckles, do you want to hold one?" Shadow looked up innocently with that motherly smile on his face. Knuckles nodded slowly as Shadow rearranged the little girl's blankets as he told Knuckles how to hold her. Knuckles listened carefully, and when she was handed to him, he saw the miracle of birth. Naomi opened her eyes and stared at him. Brilliant crimson orbs met purple and Knuckles suddenly wished to be in Shadow's shoes.

Shadow eyed Knuckles carefully and a devious grin bloomed. "Knuckles... will you come here for a moment?" Sonic looked up curiously at Shadow, he didn't like the tone of voice he was using, it was his mischievous one. He began to follow but Shadow looked at him cutely, "Only Knuckle-head Sonikku. I wanna ask him something."

Knuckles ears flattened and he looked back to Sonic for some help but Sonic was trying to make sure they were both visible as they turned a corner. "What's up Shadow?" Knuckles stared nervously at the grin plastered on Shadow's face.

Shadow looked back at Sonic who was trying not to be obvious that he was spying. He giggled some then looked back at Knuckles with an all knowing smile. "You're starting to like Sonikku aren't you!" The whisper was only loud enough to hear and Knuckles mused about how Shadow sounded like a thirteen year old girl.

Naomi looked at the two men wondering what they were talking about but remained still in the stranger's arms as her momma talked with him. "You know, I could hate you for this, but I won't Knuckle-head, because it's very hard not to love him. I hated him at first, but gradually, he got to me, and if it wasn't for eggman hurting me, we wouldn't even be together. If you need to find out your feelings, I promise I won't hurt you too bad. I don't know if I can share though." Shadow eyed Knuckles carefully as Knuckles registered the information.

Knuckles smiled handing the baby back to Shadow and stared for a moment. "Thanks Shadow." Shadow nodded with a small smile on his lips. Just what he wanted, a nanny! Three guys, and a pair of twins. It was a start he guessed.

Sonic watched suspiciously as Knuckles walked towards him. Shadow stood by the wall and slowly started back a couple seconds later tickling Naomi's tummy and talking to her. Sonic smiled softly at his lover but was still not sure what to think of the smiles shared between the two while they'd been around the corner.

The trio slowly made their way to Sonic and Shadow's house switching who was holding what twin almost every five minutes. Knuckles smiled at realizing he had a chance to help parent the two beautiful twins.

End...birth; Begin the miracle of life

A/N: IT'S FINALLY HERE! WE CAN THROW PARTIES AND DRINK FRUIT PUNCH! BECAUSE IT'S FINALLY DONE AND HERE! I love my reviewers very much and would like to fill you in on why this took so long. First I was grounded, and then when I was ungrounded, I started writing and had to go to bed before I finished, so I ran out of ideas, then I was shipped off to my grandfather's house in NE. He doesn't have a compy so I was stuck with a cell phone for communication and almost died of boredom, BUT I'M BACK AND DONE WITH THIS CHAPTER, and that's what matters.