1A/N: Okay, so I did a lot of arguing in my head over this 'cause it's such a Mary Sue idea, but I was copying and pasting to someone who reads it who I now feel sorry for doing that because now she's read most the chapter and probably thinks it's boring as hell for the first portion but, I love her anyway, she's like a sister to me, and the way it affected her made me feel better about it and now here it is. It's still really controversial on my part, 'cause I wanted to do it, but I didn't and I'm still not sure if I like the idea. If I at some point change my mind for any reasons coughbadreviewscough cough Then I plan to rewrite it differently with a whole new outlook. I love all my reviewers and mostly write for your reading pleasure, please, PLEASE, tell me if this was the wrong path to take so I can change it. As I said, I'm willing to change it and I'm still really iffy with this chapter. (Ask the people who heard me complain and contemplate about it for hours on end nods)

Chapter 13: Your Guardian Angel's Always Nearby

Shadow awoke in a cold sweat and looked at Sonic. He was sound asleep next to him and he could hear Knuckles softly snoring in the living room. He placed his hand over his heart and looked at the ceiling a moment. He had, had a nightmare, and it left him completely bewildered and scared. Shadow gently shut his eyes and he saw the images again, the image of Sonic weeping with both the twins beside him. There was no sound, he just watched the lips closely as Sonic's mouth moved. 'You both look so much like your mom. I wish he was here to see you.'

"Baby, what's wrong ?" Shadow's eyes shot open as Sonic's palm touched his cheek. He gently pressed his cheek further into Sonic's hand before clinging to Sonic and softly sobbing. "Shadow?" Sonic sleepily wrapped his arms around Shadow trying to get the sleep out of his brain to comprehend what was going on with is lover. "Shadow, did you have a nightmare?" Shadow nodded looking up at Sonic and then nuzzling his face into tan fur to wipe the tears away. "Aww, baby." Sonic held Shadow tighter, his new fatherly and husbandly instincts kicking in at the same time.

Sonic soothingly rubbed Shadow's back and played with a few quills as Shadow tried to calm down. "The twins and you... and, something happened because I wasn't there and," Shadow sputtered and began to choke on his words as he sobbed and held tighter to Sonic. "It was... I have a feeling..." Shadow couldn't complete the sentence and settled for just being held as Sonic took care of him.

"Shh, It's alright Shadow, I'm here." Sonic sat up and pulled Shadow onto his lap so he was straddling him. He pulled Shadow close to him and held one of his hands while letting the other drape on the bed on the opposite side. His hand idly traced circles on Shadow's back as Shadow sniffled and occasionally hiccuped with his head rested on Sonic's chest.

Shadow slowly drifted off to sleep and Sonic sighed wondering what Shadow had actually been trying to say. He replayed the words in his small brain until the pieces all came together and he looked at his boyfriend. "Aw Shadow." He studied the actual quite angelic features of Shadow's face. Shadow had eyelashes that barely brushed his cheeks when his eyes were closed . Rounded cheekbones with a peach fuzz tan muzzle and a nose much like Sonic's.

"If he's not glaring you down, he's actually very gentle and cuddly lookin'," Sonic looked up at Knuckles staring in the doorway. Knuckles smiled impishly before sitting on the edge of the bed. "He alright?" Sonic nodded stiffly before looking back to Shadow. "What's on your mind Sonic?" Knuckles studied Sonic for a moment as his muscles tightened in his arms and shoulders then untightened.

"Not much really. Why Shadow would have a dream he," Sonic looked at the quilt and wrapped his arm tighter around Shadow, "died. And what you two were talking about at the hospital." Knuckles met his friend's gaze for a moment. Sonic was worried. His ears were bent back, his eyes had this soft slowly distancing look and his mouth was plastered in a neutral line.

"It was something about me and a crush I have, he was telling me he knew and I should go for it." Knuckles nodded only half lying and met Sonic's emerald eyes again. He felt he could fall into the depths of them; stare for eternity. He heard a voice but before he could register what it was saying, it was done talking. "Come again?"

"I said, are you thinking of her again? You're all googly eyed." Sonic had that smug smirk on his face. Knuckles smiled meekly before nodding absently.

'You could say that,' he thought to himself. He watched as Shadow crawled up to a more comfortable position. His head now laid in the crook of Sonic's neck and their legs were slightly entangled. He envied Shadow at the moment and slowly climbed to a sitting position leaning against the headboard to stare at the dresser across the room. He slowly shut his eyes and let his mind wander.

He was surprised when one of the first things his mind conjured up was the time he'd entered in on Shadow and Sonic. His brows crinkled as Shadow's form went blurry and the next image surprised him. He saw himself laying there with Sonic's head between his legs. Red fingers entwined deeply into sapphire quills. He shook his head ridding himself of the image.

The next one he saw was the hospital one. Just, he walked to Knuckles and handed the small girl to him. When he pulled back the blanket, he saw a tiny blue and red echidna. Knuckles smiled as his mind mused what you'd call their babies. 'Hedgie-chidna's,' he thought letting a big grin spread across his face.

Sonic stared oddly at his best friend concentrating on the facial expressions of the echidna. It was interesting to watch his face go from pleasured to loving to happy as hell. "You thinking about her again? 'Cause.. The bathroom's down the hall; second door on the right."

Knuckles opened his eyes slowly and looked over at Sonic. 'Yeah, I was thinking about him again,' he thought while softly laughing. He got off the bed as Shadow snuggled closer to Sonic and that loving look bloomed all over his face. The life that had drained away came back and Sonic's fingers fiddled with the messy quills. "I'ma go back out to the couch, 'night." Sonic nodded towards him as Knuckles quietly left the room.

Sonic laid Shadow next to him gently pulling the covers up over him. He smiled and played with a few quills before laying back down and staring at Shadow a moment. Something felt off but he shook his head passing it off as paranoia and laid his head on Shadow's chest pulling him close. Sonic figured he had his right to be weak for just this moment.

When morning came Sonic felt something cold against his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes to see the black fur in front of him. He smiled and moved his head from Shadow's stomach and leaned up kissing his love. "Shadow...wake up honey." Sonic waited a few moments before letting his brows furrow in slight frustration. Shadow usually was awake before him, and if he wasn't usually woke up when Sonic tried to wake him the first time. He passed it off as exhaustion and crawled out of bed letting his lips curl into a small smile.

Knuckles watched as Sonic entered the dining room and smiled. "I made coffee already." Knuckles held up his cup with one hand as Sonic nodded. When Sonic re-entered the dining room with a cup with beagles on the side Knuckles grinned and nodded towards the cup and Sonic furrowed his eyebrows while taking a sip. Knuckles laughed and pointed at the cup again and Sonic looked at it with a smile.

"It's Shadow's, don't think I've gone really soft because my lover just had twins Knuckles the Echidna." Knuckles laughed drinking from the plain blue cup. "Speaking of Shadow, I'm going to try to wake him up again. Or at least cover him up, he was cold this morning."

Knuckles nodded and watched Sonic exit the room. He looked at the cup and shook his head before going over to sit where Sonic was. He stared at Sonic's coffee for a moment studying the cup. "Cute," he murmured before looking around the room and taking a quick sip from the side Sonic had. He grinned, the unique taste of Sonic made the caffeinated drink all the better.

"Shadow, honey, wake up," Sonic gently shook Shadow. That had to wake him up. When it didn't Sonic sighed and stared at Shadow a moment. His eyes widened as he realized Shadow's chest wasn't moving. "Shadow!... Shadow! C'mon! Wake up!" He panicked shaking Shadow a little harder. When that didn't work, Sonic placed his ear against Shadow's chest all the while holding his breath and tears. The tears slipped down his cheeks as it became apparent the heartbeat was absent.

"Sonic, what's going on?" Knuckles entered the room watching as drops of crystal snaked down his friends face falling on the white tuft of Shadow's chest. "Sonic? What's wrong? Is it Shadow?" Knuckles' heart sank as the pain etched in Sonic's features deepened.

"He's... Knuckles, He's... Shadow's..." Sonic sobbed throwing his arms around Shadow and pulling the cold body to his. "Wake up," Sonic wept putting Shadow's head in the crook of his neck and cradling the body against his. He rocked back and forth placing a hand behind Shadow's head. "Shadow, you have to wake up!"

Knuckles stared at the scene letting tears stain his face as it all sunk in. "Sonic..." He walked to his best friend and carefully untangled Shadow from Sonic's grasp. He laid Shadow down on the bed and stared at his best friend wringing his hands and rocking back and forth on the edge of the bed. "Come on Sonic." Knuckles walked over grabbing Sonic's wrist and carefully pulled him to his feet and led him to the twin's room. "Watch them alright?" Knuckles smiled softly trying to distract his best friend.

Sonic nodded numbly reaching his arms out and picking Naomi up. He cradled the baby in his arms holding her close as if she too would soon leave him. Knuckles hung his head sadly before leaving the room and picking up the telephone. He dialed 9-1-1 and spoke to the operator explaining the situation trying not to loose his cool and let out the sadness that had taken over his body. When she said they'd send an ambulance he nodded and let out a sob hanging the phone up.

Knuckles walked to the front door opening the storm door so the paramedics could just enter instead of having to wait. He then walked to the twin's room to see Sonic sitting on the floor holding the twins tightly. As he got closer, he noticed Sonic was cuddling them and whispering to himself more than them that everything was gonna be okay. He smiled and sat beside Sonic quietly listening. "Everything's gonna be alright... right Knuckles?" Knuckles jumped when he heard his name.

He looked at Sonic's tear stained face and let a few of his tears out. He wasn't used to this, he wouldn't get used to this. "Yeah, everything's gonna be fine Sonic." He nodded trying to smile reassuringly, but realized he couldn't bring his face into a smile. Sonic's lips trembled and the normally happy hedgie began to sob.

"I broke my promise." Knuckles looked at Sonic a moment wondering what he was talking about. "I said I'd be strong, told him I'd be there for him, I said I'd take his place in hell if that's what I had to do. I let my guard down one moment, and the powers beyond took him from me. They... took him." Knuckles' eyes widened slightly, Sonic was blaming himself for his lover's unexpected death.

"Sonic, that's not true, it probably had something to do with giving birth to the twins. Something probably wasn't right." He shakily reached over not too sure how to comfort Sonic. "He probably didn't even know anything was wrong, and did you see his face? At least he wasn't in pain Sonic. He went peacefully." This only rose a few choked sobs from his friend.

Knuckles listened intently as Sonic tried to say something, but the only word he got from the sentence was "Gone." He sighed and lowered his arms because he felt like an idiot just sitting there with his arms out. He looked over to see his friend finally settling down and carefully took the two babies from his arms and set them back in the crib. When he looked back Sonic was staring across the room like a zombie. He sighed and sat down next to Sonic as they both watched as some paramedics walked past the door. When they carried Shadow out on a stretcher Sonic raced after them.

"NO! YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM FROM ME!" Knuckles ran after him grabbing him and hugged him tight as Sonic squirmed. "LET ME GO! SHADOW! KNUCKLES, LET ME GO!" Knuckles closed his eyes and hugged Sonic tighter and Sonic gave up as the ambulance left. Knuckles slowly opened his eyes to see Sonic sobbing. He looked apologetically at him for a moment before yelping as arms were thrown around him and Sonic's head found it's way to his shoulder. "Thank you."

Knuckles moved his arms and wrapped them around Sonic's shoulders. "It's gonna be okay Sonic, I promise." Sonic's arms shifted to around his waist and he felt a sudden possessiveness of him. He gulped inwardly wondering what Sonic's mind was saying to him.

"Knuckles, will you stay for a while, I'd appreciate some help. I can't raise twins on my own." Sonic looked up removing his arms from Knuckles waist and felt Knuckles' arms loosen, but not fall as he nodded.

4 years later

"DAD! Uncle Knuckles is here!" Sonic poked his head out from the kitchen to look at his two four-year-old children as they ceased watching Dora the Explorer to stare at the door. Once the door was open he stared at the three hedgehogs watching him. A long silence passed before the two kids looked at each other then back at the red echidna. "UNCLE KNUCKLES!" They darted off the couch to hug his legs as Knuckles tried to stable himself so he wouldn't drop the groceries.

"Aw, I told you, you didn't have to get those Knuckle-head." Sonic walked to Knuckles taking the bags and taking them to the kitchen. Knuckles shrugged then picked the two tiny hedgehogs up setting them over his shoulders as they squealed. He carried them to the kitchen and watched as Sonic dried his hands and began putting the groceries away.

"Uncle Knuckles! No fair! You're stronger!" Shawn laughed as he tried to find his Uncle's weakness. Naomi watched pretending to be unamused then twisted a little and bit her Uncle's finger. He yelped a little and set the kids down.

"If she isn't a mini Shadow." Knuckles looked at Sonic realizing he had accidentally let the word slip. Both the twins looked at each other confused for a moment before Naomi walked over and stood by Sonic's leg. She looked up at her dad's still form and felt a drop of water hit her nose.

"Daddy... is he talking about mommy?" Sonic looked down at her with tears rolling down his cheeks. He kneeled down and pulled her close to him.

"Yeah, he is Naomi. You always ask me why your mother isn't here, and I guess it's time I tell you. C'mere Shawn." Knuckles watched as Sonic pulled his children close and spoke softly to them. "We lost your mom the morning after you were born. There was something wrong with his body. I want you both to know, if he was here right now, he'd love you both very much. Alright?" The twins nodded as they watched the tears roll down their dad's face. "Okay, now go play."

The twins smiled as a grin spread across Sonic's face before they ran off to play with Shawn's Army men. "You handled that really well Sonic, I figured you wouldn't do it till they were older." Sonic looked at Knuckles and smiled.

"Yeah, well, it wasn't as easy as it looked. I uh, have to go take my pill, you mind finishing cutting that for me?" Knuckles nodded as he watched Sonic walk to the bathroom to take his depression pills. He walked over to the cutting board that was out and stared at the carrot Sonic had been cutting. Every piece was cut perfectly until the last piece. It had half of the piece missing. He sighed and cut the rest off before continuing the work.

"Hey Sonic, what's for dinner?" He looked behind him as Sonic re-entered through the hallway entrance to the kitchen. He looked back at Sonic to notice the wet quills and reading glasses he hadn't even known Sonic had until this very moment. "Glasses?"

"Well, I have to read in the cook-book don't I?" Sonic rolled his eyes teasingly. "And I am making beef stew. You're a guest in this house, I don't expect you to cook, now go... entertain the kids or something." Knuckles looked at Sonic with a grin on his face.

"Some best friend you are," He walked over and lightly flicked Sonic's ear before leaving the kitchen. He walked into the living room turning the DVD off and flipping to TNT to catch Law and Order. He watched for a few moments then leaned back on the couch to stare through the dining room door into the kitchen at the counter where Sonic was working. He smiled watching Sonic hustle around the kitchen to make a meal.

"DINNER'S DONE!" Knuckles got up and watched as the two little hedgehogs raced each other into the dining room. He hadn't eaten Sonic's cooking in three months and was happy to have a good meal when Sonic placed the bowl of soup in front of him. He had to admit, Sonic was pretty good at cooking. He wondered why only Shadow cooked while he was living and they had been together, but didn't dare ask for the safety of his best friends emotional state.