Sonic, Amy, Dash, and the secretary stare. Rouge chuckles. "You hedgehogs look shocked."

There was only nodding, and Shadow smiles. "Can we have the paperwork please?"

The secretary goes to get the papers, and Amy speaks. "Wait a minute. Why are you two adopting him?"

Rouge smiles. "It's taken this long to wear Shadow down, Amy."

Shadow nods. "We decided that we didn't want to have another child, and wound up at the option of adopting Samuel. Since he was orphaned when Sally died, Rouge used her charms to finally convince me to adopt him."

The secretary returns and gives Shadow the papers. "You have our deepest thanks, Shadow and Rouge."

She leaves, and Shadow sits down. Rouge gets a pen and gives it to him. The black hedgehog begins filling out the paperwork and the white bat calls Chris and Helen, explaining that she and Shadow were adopting Samuel.

After the call ends, Rouge sighs. "Well, they're disappointed, but they're very happy he's getting out of here."

Shadow turns in the paperwork, and then Sonic pulls Rouge and Shadow to one side. "Before she died, Sally made me promise her that I'd find Samuel a good home. My request is this: Please treat Samuel like he was your own son, and don't make me a liar. I don't want Sally's ghost haunting me."

Rouge nods and Shadow puts a hand on Sonic's left shoulder. "You have our word, Sonic."

The cobalt speedster smiles and thanks them. Shadow gets Samuel from the play room, takes Rouge's hand, and then the new family vanishes in a flash of green light. Sonic rejoins Amy and Dash.

Amy smiles at him. "Happy now?"

Sonic sighs. "We'll have to see. It's too early to tell yet."

Taking Amy's hand, Sonic escorts his wife and son to Tails' house to tell them the good news.

-The Prower Residence-

A solid knock is heard. Cream opens the door and smiles when she sees the hedgehog family. "Hey there. Come on in. Miles is expecting you."

Sonic chuckles, then Dash speeds by to play with the Prower triplets. Tails enters the living room and smiles at Sonic and Amy. "I'm glad you're here guys. I have something to discuss with you."

Amy chuckles. "Strangely enough, so do we."

Cream gets the drinks as Tails sits in front of the hedgehog couple. "Well, let's hear what you have to share."

The royal blue hero smiles at his orange little brother. "Well, Ames and I actually just got back from the adoption agency."

Tails nods at his older brother. "How did that go?"

The sakura hedgehog smiles. "Samuel has been adopted."

Cream smiles at her husband, then gives the hedgehogs a confused look. "If it wasn't you, then who was it?"

Sonic takes a breath. "Well, it wasn't Chris and Helen either."

This shocks the fox and rabbit, and Tails asks the obvious question. "Who adopted Samuel then?"

Amy sighed. "Shadow and Rouge did."

Tails and Cream feel their jaws drop. Tails' ocean blue eyes meet Cream's chocolate eyes, then they look into Sonic and Amy's green eyes.

Sonic chuckles. "I almost wish we were making this up."

Cream speaks again. "Why would they want to adopt Samuel?"

Amy shrugs. "I guess they got lonely not having a small child around the house."

Sonic frowns now. "I don't know if that counts as me keeping my promise to Sally."

Tails gave Sonic a quizzical look. "What promise?"

Amy entwined her hand with Sonic's hand. "Sonikku promised Sally that Samuel would wind up in a good home."

Talks and Cream nod, then Sonic speaks again. "I have my doubts about Shadow and Rouge adopting Samuel though."

Cream nods. "I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but Rouge has helped Shadow with his emotions. The addition of a child, biological or not, only helps more."

Tails, Amy, and Sonic nod. The orange fox gives his wife a wink, then turns to the pink and blue hedgehogs. "Now to my discussion."

Sonic and Amy sweat drop. Tails was highly intelligent, and no one but Cream knew what he was truly capable of.

The fox smiles. "I've thought about this a lot, and I've decided to test you. Sibling rivalry, you know?"

Everyone nods, and Tails continues. "Sonic, I think I'm better in bed than you are."

Amy and Cream immediately object, because that was what happened at Amy's bachelorette party between Rouge and Tikal.

Tails laughs. "Like I said, sibling rivalry."

Sonic nods, thinking. "I see. Are you sure you want to do this?"

The twin tailed fox nodded. "Yes. However, you can't knowingly do this. I'll admit that Cream was in heat that night."

Amy sighs. "This is unnecessary Tails. I know Cream says you're the best in bed. I know Sonic is the best in bed. Let's just leave it there."

Tails chuckles. "That's why it's a challenge, Amy. Perhaps it is unnecessary, but only one can be the best."

Sonic speaks up now. "I refuse the challenge. Not because I'm scared, but because I also feel it's unnecessary."

Tails nods. "Well, will you think about it?"

The royal blue hedgehog looks at his rose-pink wife. She frowns, then Sonic turns back to Tails. "No guarantees, Tails. Both of us feel it's unnecessary, and this shouldn't even be challenged. Even Cream disagrees with this idea."

The rabbit sighs and gives Tails' right hand a squeeze. "He's right Miles. I think Amy has a very good point. You satisfy me, and he satisfies her. That should be the end of it."

Tails gets a sheet of paper and writes something down. "These are mine and Cream's numbers, in case you change your minds."

Amy takes the paper and doesn't even look at it. Cream gets out a few games, and Sonic and Amy help them set up the game table. Every so often, either Dash or the Prower triplets would call their parents or need some diaper changing. Before they knew it, four hours had gone by.

After stretching out their stiff muscles, Sonic and Amy get Dash from upstairs, say goodbye to the Prower family, then vanish in a flash of blue light.

One of the triplets looks at Tails. "Dada, how he do that?"

Tails smiles and sits on the couch. One triplet sits on his lap. Cream takes the other two triplets and joins her husband. Tails then enters Story Time Mode. "It all started a few years ago…."

-The Hedgehog Residence-

A flash of blue light radiates in the living room, then the hedgehog family appears. Amy heads to the kitchen to make dinner. "Sonic, what do you and Dash want for dinner?"

Sonic looks at his bluish-purple son. "What are you hungry for, buddy?"

The answer is almost immediate. "Steak."

Sonic laughs and answers Amy. "Dash is in the mood for steak, and I think that's a good idea."

Amy nods and begins making the steak. 25 minutes goes by, and Amy makes the announcement. "Dinner's ready!"

Sonic and Dash enter the kitchen, and Sonic kisses Amy on the left cheek. "Thanks babe."

Blushing, the rose-pink hedgehog joins her cerulean husband and bluish-purple son in the dining room. After saying grace, the hedgehog family begins eating.

Dash is done first and gives Amy's right leg a hug. "Thank you Mommy."

Amy smiles. "You're welcome Dash."

The 4 year old hedgehog runs upstairs to play again as Sonic and Amy keep eating. In a few minutes, Sonic goes upstairs to get Dash ready for bed.

Sonic winds up playing with Dash for 45 minutes, then they're interrupted by Amy. "Bedtime, Dash."

The green eyes of the small hedgehog look at Sonic, who nods his head. "She's right, son. You'll need your rest to grow big and strong."

Dash nods, and after changing into his pajamas, climbs into bed. "Goodnight Mommy and Daddy. I love you."

Sonic and Amy smile. "Goodnight Dash. We love you too."

Sonic goes downstairs and locks the door. After he turns off the lights, Sonic joins Amy in their room. Both hedgehogs undress and climb into bed.

Amy lays on top of Sonic, her head on his chest. "How long has it been since we slept like this, Sonikku?"

Sonic chuckles. "Too long. We need to sleep this way more often, baby."

Amy giggles, and nuzzles Sonic's chest. "I agree, but now it's bedtime."

Sonic kisses the top of Amy's head. "Goodnight Amy. I love you."

Amy kisses Sonic back. "Goodnight Sonic. I love you too."

Soon the two hedgehogs are asleep, smiles on their faces.