A few days after Sally's death, Sonic walks into his house. He's been visiting with Chris and Helen Thorndike about possibly adopting Samuel. Dash runs over and laughs as Sonic sweeps him up into the air. Amy meets the two male hedgehogs as they played a tickling game.

The sakura hedgehog's jade green eyes sparkle at Sonic's affections toward his son, and she fiddled with the hem of her green shirt. 'Maybe adopting Samuel wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.'

Sonic finishes with Dash and kisses Amy. "Everything okay babe?"

Amy nods. "I was just thinking… Maybe adopting Samuel isn't such a bad idea."

Sonic smiles. "I'm glad you're warming up to the idea. However, Chris and Helen are also thinking about adopting him."

Amy nods. "Not that you're a bad parent, but I think Chris and Helen would make great parents for him."

Sonic put Dash down, and he sped off to play with his toys. The pink and blue hedgehogs smiled as they heard the bluish-purple hedgehog going "Vroom!" as he played with some of his toy cars.

Amy's jade eyes look into Sonic's emerald eyes. "My love, when would you like to try for our second child?"

Sonic took a hold of Amy's blue jeans, giving her ample rear a squeeze. "I think we can try after the whole ordeal with Samuel is over."

Amy squeals in delight when Sonic squeezes her backside, then nuzzles him tenderly. "I think that's fine, my very sexy husband."

The hedgehogs kiss and go upstairs to play with Dash. She didn't mention it, but Amy was nearing peak fertility, and she was hoping Sonic would catch on to it before the day came.

-The next day-

Sonic wakes up around 9 AM. The emerald green eyes look over Amy, snuggled close to him. He smiled as he thought over the past 3½ years. 'I can't believe it's been three and a half years since Ames and I got married. I'll admit that we've had our ups and downs, but overall things are perfect. I hope she comes around to adopting Samuel.'

Sonic goes to get out of bed, but a gentle grip keeps him from leaving. The blue blur looks behind him and finds Amy holding onto his left arm. "Don't go. Please?"

Sonic melts to those sparkling green eyes, and rolls back into bed. Amy giggles as she feels Sonic's strong arms wrap around her. "Much better."

Sonic nuzzles his rose-pink wife, making her sigh with happiness. "Do you have to go anywhere Sonikku?"

He nods. "I was planning to go see Chris and Helen again today."

Amy nods. "I'm coming along, right?"

Sonic chuckles. "Of course, baby. Why would you think I wouldn't want you along?"

Amy nuzzles Sonic's strong chest. "Well, I know you're concerned about Samuel, and I'll admit that I'm starting to warm up to the idea, but we have Dash. Besides, what if we have another child later on?"

Sonic lifts Amy's head so that her green eyes look into his emerald eyes. "I understand what you're saying sweetheart, but remember that I promised Sally he'd get a good home."

The sakura hedgehog sighs. "I admire your strength to make good on your promises, but I don't know if we can handle three kids."

Her blue stud thinks for a second. "Tell you what. After we visit Chris and Helen we'll go to the adoption agency. Okay?"

Amy nods. "Okay my love."

Sonic and Amy get up, shower, and get dressed. Once Dash is ready, the three hedgehogs walk to Chris and Helen Thorndike's house.

-The Thorndike Residence-

Sonic, Amy Rose, and Dash walk up to the lavish Thorndike Residence. Sonic rings the doorbell, and Chris answers. Now 25, he'd become very wealthy from scientific advances in the medical field.

Chris smiles at the hedgehog family. "Hello again Sonic. Hello to Amy and Dash as well. It's nice to see you all again. Please come inside."

Sonic and Amy carry Dash into the living room. Helen comes in a few seconds later. Giving the three hedgehogs a glance, the blonde 24 year old looks to her husband. "You never said we were having visitors."

Chris chuckles. "I believe I mentioned it before bed last night."

Helen giggles. "Of course. I apologize Christopher."

Dash runs over to her, and Helen picks him up. "Goodness you're heavy. How old is he, Sonic?"

The royal blue hedgehog chuckles. "He's four years old, Helen."

Dash asks Helen to take him for a ride, and Helen rolls out of the room with the bluish-purple hedgehog laughing all the way.

Chris gets a few glasses of tea and rejoins Sonic and Amy. "Well, I guess we should get down to business."

Amy sits next to Sonic and he puts an arm around her. Chris' blue eyes look into the green eyes of the hedgehog couple. "We've been to see Samuel at the adoption agency. He's a cute kid. Looks a decent amount like you Sonic, but with brown fur. Anyway, it turns out that Helen and I aren't the only ones who may want to adopt him."

Amy gives Chris a confused look. "Who else could there be?"

The 25 year old scientist shrugged. "They wouldn't say. Apparently the other couple requested they remain anonymous."

Sonic nodded. "Interesting. Well, I'd be more than willing to take him."

Amy looks at her husband. "Now wait a minute. What about me?"

Sonic frowned. "You said yourself that it didn't sound like a bad idea."

The pink hedgehog nodded. "Yes, but I'm still trying to think ahead, Sonic. That's something you don't seem to be doing right now."

The blue hero chuckled. "You seem to be forgetting that I promised Sally he'd get a good home. Neither one of us said it would be our home he'd be in. Believe me, I understand your concerns Amy. They haven't just gone in one ear and out the other."

Chris finally had enough. "Stop arguing! You're losing focus."

Sonic and Amy stared at him, and he continued. "Either way, we all need to keep our heads clear. Helen and I talk about this night after night. We'd love to have a child, and we'd love to have Samuel, but we don't argue."

Helen comes back in, Dash still giggling on her lap. "If it helps, maybe you should spend some time with Samuel."

Amy gets Dash, and Sonic shakes Chris' hand. "We'll do that right now. Thank you."

After hugging Helen, the three hedgehogs go to the adoption agency.

-Station Square Adoption Center-

Sonic, Amy Rose, and Dash walk into the adoption center. The secretary smiles. "Hello. How may I help you?"

Sonic nods. "We'd like to see Samuel, please."

The secretary nodded and escorted the hedgehog family to the play room. There the green eyes of the three hedgehogs watch Samuel play with the others.

The secretary sighs. "He's been asking for his mother several times a day."

Sonic frowns and whispers that Sally had died in prison almost a week ago. Shaking her head, the woman looked at the three year old squirrelhog. "I would take him, but with two families in a battle for him, I'd never win."

The phone rang and in a few seconds the secretary's mood lightened immensely. Rejoining the hedgehogs, she wipes a few tears from her eyes. "Well, the battle is over. Two people are on their way now."

Sonic gives Amy a look, then turns back to the woman. "What if we wanted to adopt Samuel?"

The secretary shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you're too late."

Sonic frowned. "Why can't we adopt him?"

A deep voice is heard from behind the group. "You can't, because we are."

Sonic turns around and is shocked by who he sees. "Shadow and Rouge?"

The black hedgehog and white bat nod, then Shadow speaks again. "We're here to take Samuel home."