A/N: I'm not dead! I've just been posting more fanarts lately on my /insta @quint-doodles if anyones curious. Okay so I don't think I'll make this a complete comic but I'll be posting mini comics possibly on Instagram and deviantart.
*Also, [ Ready, Steady, Go! Is NOT forgotten or abandoned just having some trouble with a story is all.
Chapter 5: Butterfly.
A week later Tails was working on some random device when one of the monitors of the holding cells started beeping.
The fox frowned putting down his things to rush over and see what the problem was. His eyes quickly widened and he smiled excitedly rushing over to his phone calling his brother.
Sonic fell and groaned in pretend pain clutching at his side as a foam sword was swatted at his side while a girl giggled at the hedgehogs theatrics.
"Aahh! I'm dying! You got me ooh!"
"Ya! I got you now Sonic!" Zero yelled out victoriously standing over Sonic with raised arms. Lily giggled besides them.
"You're funny Sonic."
The blue hedgehogs cell phone buzzed in his pocket to a curious little tune. He smiled at the kids before answering with a thumbs up.
"Its Tails, what's up?"
"Sonic! Come quick! It's the hedgehogs, I think ones ready to be extracted!"
Zero and Lily looked at each other curiously watching Sonics face switch from curious to excited. The blue hedgehog jumped up pumping his fist into the air.
"Are you serious Tails? We'll be right over!" Sonic pockets the phone away and looked over at the kids with a grin. He put hands on their shoulders turning them around and pushed them out of the living room rushing them. "Come on, we got to find Silv and Ames fast!"
Cream readied some sterile towels and prepared a bassinet laying a comfortable blanket inside.
She smiled walking over to Tails who was putting on some medical gloves. He smiled at the rabbit looking back at the chamber with the hedgehog fussing about inside. She looked to be kicking and he chuckled fondly thinking she must be like Sonic.
"She must be eager to get her feet on the ground."
The couple laughed but turned their heads hearing loud commotion coming down the stairs. Sonic jumped over the last five steps and sped over to the fox excitedly.
"Did I miss it Tails? Are they already out?"
Tails chuckled at his brother excitement.
"No actually, you're just in time."
The fox went over to a control panel and the liquid within the tank started draining. Sonics eyes were wide as he stood watching as the hedgehog drifted to the bottom of the cell as the water completely drained and Tails pulled down a lever and the glass cell was lifted. Sonic looked on from a short distance as the fox went over and Cream stood beside him as he held out the hedgehog to her and she took up some strange object that looked like a rubber ball with a spout in hand. Sonics head tilted to the side curiously and then suddenly panicked as he watched the rabbit place this object in the childs mouth and it made a suction noise as she squeezed it.
"Wait what are you do-"
As soon as Cream removed the object the child wailed for the first time and Sonics ears folded back not expecting the sudden cry. The rabbit turned with a smile as Tails continued to clean the small hedgehog.
"It's alright Sonic, don't worry."
He nodded letting them finish and the child fussed as they hurried to dry its fur with towels. Amy was holding onto Silver with a dramatic tear streaked face. She sniffled watching as she squeezed her husbands hands. He chuckled besides her as he looked on in fascination. The gray hedgehog reached out a hand tapping Sonics shoulder and he looked over in question at the hedgehog.
"Well, go on."
Green eyes blinked and looked back at the child in his brothers hands. The fox smiled at his brother encouragingly as he lifted the child closer to his chest.
"Come hold her Sonic."
The blue hedgehog gulped suddenly feeling put on the spot and he could feel his hands start to get slightly sweaty with the rising insecurity. He had been excitedly waiting for this moment for days since the rescue took place and now, now he felt scared. Amy nudged his side with a soft giggle.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" He looked at her still deep in thought and she crossed her arms lifting a brow. "If you don't then I will Sonic."
The hedgehog shook his head and jumped in front of the pink hedgehog with spread arms.
"No way Ames!"
The group chuckled and Sonic turned around walking over to Tails who held out the child as he rocked it. Trembling hands reached out inspecting the way Tails was holding the child before he held it himself. His hands felt the warmth of her body even through the blanket and his arms slightly lowered feeling the weight shift in his hands. Sonic held her with one arm and brought his free hand up to stroke the childs face. She had long eyelashes he noted and he chuckled wondering what Shadow would look like with lashes. From beneath the fold of the blanket he could see her little ungloved hand poking out slightly. His finger moved the blanket down and he wiggled his finger over her hand curiously, peach furred like his. The small hand uncurled and tried to wrap around his finger. Green eyes went wide and stared up at his friends to find them all looking at him with smiles. He made a face at them and raised a brow.
"Stop it you creeps, you're freaking me out."
The group laughed watching as he cradled the baby and Amy turned over to Silver with watery eyes.
"Oh Silvy! Lets have another!" The hedgehog sweat dropped besides his wife groaning.
"Aren't Lily and Zero enough for now?"
The pink hedgehog pouted blowing up her cheeks and Silver poked her nose with a laugh, the others laughing along with them.
With help, the group moved upstairs and the girls stayed with the baby while everyone else settled the baby's room. When everything was done the baby was left in her crib and the group of friends sat around the living room enjoying each others company. The TV played softly in the background and everyone had drinks in hand and two bowls of popcorn were being passed around while Lily and Zero were playing some games on their phones on the floor at the coffee table.
The moment was oddly peaceful for a newborn being in the house and Sonic was rather grateful for that fact. He wasn't sure how he would handle a hysterical wailing child, especially on the first night. As the group sat around each other watching the movie Sonic walked away and up the stairs to the second floor.
He paused momentarily frozen in place, each step somehow felt like they had massive weights. The stairway seemingly longer but Sonic swallowed the growing knot in his throat and continued on till he reached the hardwood flooring. The door to the right down the hall was open a crack and a soft light seeped through the opening. Uncertain, he went forth till he reached the door and his hand grasped the knob and exhaled before entering.
Sonic stood wide eyed in the door way. The room, a soft peach hue even in the darkness because of the baby light in the corner. It was odd, this creature was so tiny but he could hear her soft breathing in the silence. He moved closer, fingers holding onto the gate of the crib as he peered into the soft nest of plush blankets. Green eyes moved erratically among the tiny figure wrapped in sheets like a tightly wrapped burrito. The blue hedgehog chuckled at the thought and smiled down at the child as she wiggled and turned her head. Sonic moved a hand down into the crib stroking the girls cheek with his finger gently.
"Huh…"
Sonics expression softened and something inside his chest stirred oddly in a way he had never felt before. He retracted his hand and leaned there on the crib gate for awhile as he watched the little hedgehog sleep in fascination. The fur on her muzzle was peach like his own along with her arms but her fur was a darker midnight blue. He studied her quills humming in thought.
"You look just like him…"
The girl stirred again and stepped back worried he would wake her from her sleep. Behind him the door opened and Tails walked in holding a knowing smile. Sonic chuckled with a shake of his head walking towards his brother and they left the room closing the door behind them.
"Tails! Which way is the front again?"
The fox came out of the kitchen biting a sandwich looking down at his brother on the living room floor. There was baby powder in a mess and the baby was staring around the room oddly as Sonic struggled to figure out the difficulties of a diaper. Tails laughed putting his sandwich down on a napkin and kneeled down besides the blue hedgehog as he pouted childishly.
"Here, give me that… Its not that complicated Sonic, the sticky flaps go on the back so you can stick them to the front. There now, see."
Green eyes watched with awe and when the fox looked over at him he blushed and chuckled sheepishly.
"You're pretty good at this Tails!" The fox scratched the back of his ear nervously.
"Meh, its nothing really. Just research is all. Well that, and there's instructions on the box."
Sonic cleaned up the baby powder and dressed the baby laying her down on a blanket on the carpeted floor of the living room. He smiled down at the child before leaning against the couch tiredly. Tails smiled putting a hand on the blue hedgehogs shoulder in encouragement.
"Don't worry Sonic, because of Eggmans advanced gene modifications, these little guys wont be babies for long."
"What do you mean Tails?" The child gurgled on the drooling with a gummy smile. The fox laughed as Sonic made a face.
"They might have accelerated growth till they reach a certain level of maturity. Something like Shadows case maybe? I don't know, but his physical appearance hasn't changed much, maybe they'll stop growing around Shadows age?"
Sonic waved him off and rested his arms behind his head.
"I'm sure there's loads of time before we get to that phase, for now let just deal with them being babies."
Tails frowned crossing his arms, Sonic lack of concern could be frustrating at times.
"You know this might look great right now but what if next week we find her a full grown teenager in her crib."
The blue hedgehog snorted rolling his eyes at his brother. The fox was obviously irritated, his twin tails waving anxiously behind his back almost made Sonic laugh. Tails would always remain the adorable curious little fox he had met messing with his plane. He smiled fondly causing the fox to tilt his head curiously but Sonic sighed glancing down at the drooling mess.
"I don't see why you're so worried, if they grow up fast isn't that like less problems for us? I don't know Tails, maybe you're thinking into this too much. Just chill out and relax. This should all play out smoothly on it own."
Suddenly the baby started wailing horribly and the guys ears folded back unprepared for the burst of noise. Sonic picked op the child holding it out at arms length as it continued to cry. Tails gave Sonic a look and the hedgehog smiled his cheeky grin.
"You were saying?"
Sonics eyes looked at his brother with a bored expression and the baby cried louder.
On the second day Sonic again found himself staring at the baby in curiosity as it wiggled and drooled on a new set of blankets inside her crib.
It was so strange to look at something so small, it was even weirder to think this tiny creature was partially his and his arch rival Shadow. He smiled as she looked up at him and she made a strange glaring expression that caused him to laugh.
"Yep, you definitely look like Shads alright."
"She's just missing that cute white chest fluff of his…"
Sonic blinked and turned around to see Rouge standing in the door way with her ever present sexy smirk.
"Hey Rouge, I thought you had stuff to do for G.U.N today?" She walked over swaying her hips with every step. She stood over the crib staring at the child fondly.
"Nah, they can wait. I wanted to come by and see this little one again." Sonic smiled as she reached into the crib and took out the girl to rest against her chest.
"Shadows such a prude, how could he possibly think this little hedggie is a monster? She seems pretty harmless to me."
The hedgehog crossed his arms looking away from the two as he spoke.
"Hes worried about what they'll become… After what his life was like, I don't blame him…"
The bat made a face and lifted her head away from the child with a raised brow.
"He's still on with that? He can be a real numb skull sometimes… He'll come around I'm sure of it."
Sonic gave the bat a raised brow but she smiled with a wink as she held onto the baby.
"Ya? And hows that?" She raised the baby rubbing noses with it.
"Shadows a softy at heart, don't let the grumpy, moody exterior fool you blue. We just got to find a way to introduce the two is all."
Sonic sighed with a shake of his head as he leaned on the crib in thought and looked away.
"You say that like it's the easiest thing in the world… But Shadows made his point clear, he wants nothing to do with me or the kids and that's fine. I can raise them on my own, I don't need his help anyways."
Rouge giggled taking a seat in a corner of the baby's room. There was a knowing smile on her face and somehow he felt a little irked by it.
"You know blue, you're too easy read…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"For the fastest thing alive you're pretty slow blue… He's never gonna know how you feel if you don't flat out tell him. You have to remember, he grew up in space with a little girl as his only friend, relationships are not his area of expertise Sonic."
The blue hedgehog was completely red to the face as the bat continued to play with the child innocently in her lap.
"Y-You don't know what you're talking about Rouge. Th-that's not what this is!"
Though Rouge was acting more interested in the child as she made cooing noises.
"Who wants a daddy huh?"
Sonic snorted at the woman. She was completely ignoring him but he could hardly be mad at her. He reached out to the child wiping drool from her face and throw the wipe away in the bin by the door.
"Hilarious Rouge, but come on, be serious. Me and Shads, aint gonna happen."
"Now who's being emo?" He glared at her as she smirked and he sat down on the floor next to the bat playing with the baby on the chair.
"I have a better chance at getting with Vector before Shadow even bats an eye lash my way."
Rouge bust out laughing and Sonic chuckled too besides her despite his supposed mood.
"Eww Sonic, Vector!"
He laughed as the baby started looking scared in the bats arms. He reached out for her and she smiled drooling excitedly with out stretched hands.
"You know I'd never, he's as bad as Knuckles is sometimes and even worse on his best days."
They laughed and the moment again became quiet but comfortable and Rouge leaned forward resting her chin on her hands.
"I'll talk to him, maybe I can get to come around soon and maybe you can take it from there."
"What would I even say?"
"Just act like you always do, you guys have hung out together on a number of occasions and gone on a number of missions with each other, a simple conversation shouldn't be the end of the world Sonic."
He chuckled playing with the baby's fingers.
"Ya guess I am over reacting a little… But If I'm being honest with myself, I really feel like he should be here. I mean She's practically his doesn't that count for anything?"
The bats blue eyes looked down at her friend with a sad smile. She wanted to reach out and console the hedgehog but held the baby closer to his chest, looking down at the child sadly.
"I want him to be here… I mean we got two super kids, how cool is that? Maybe I'm being selfish, but I want this family…"
Rouge smiled and lowered her head with a shake, Shadow was a real idiot. The dark hedgehog had something good here and he was seriously blinded by his stubbornness.
"Don't worry blue we're all here for you."
Sonic smiled at Rouge, the baby was now sleeping soundly against his chest, s small wet drool spot on his shirt felt gross and sticky. It was still taking some getting used to but the bat thankfully saw his discomfort and took the baby placing her in the crib with a gentle smile.
"He'll come around blue…"
They walked out of the room closing the door softly behind them but Sonic still felt uncertain.
"Ya, I hope so too…"