The next day, Shadow got up and had breakfast as usual, but this time, he did it with a smile on his face, knowing that he'd helped foster peace and good will in Emerald City. Being with Rouge and Hope helped matters, too. After freshening up, he went to his room and was about to turn his computer on when he heard knocking on his door.

"Come in," said Shadow.

The door opened, and Rouge entered, wearing a serious look on her face.

"Hello, Rouge. Why so serious?"

"Shaddy, we have to talk."

Shadow hopped out of his chair. "Is this about what I think this is going to be about?"

Rouge put a hand on her hip. "And what do you think it's going to be about?"

Shadow crossed his arms. "Well, why don't you go first and either confirm or disprove my suspicions?"

"Very well. Before we begin, I just want to remind you that I still love you and you're still my little Shaddy baby. Having said that, I'm saddened and hurt by the fact that you took the law into your own hands."

Shadow uncrossed his arms and spread them to the sides, palms up. "And what was I supposed to do? Let those scumbags ply their terrible trades? A woman was about to be raped, for Christ's sake!"

"Look, I don't want women to be raped any more than you do, but the police exist for a reason! They would've caught those crooks sooner or later!"

"And then the courts would've rotated them out because of a plea bargain, technicality or some other crap that the justice system likes to pull nowadays! Then they would've gone back to doing what they were doing before!"

"You don't know that! Maybe they would've realized the error of their ways and straightened out! Oh, and on a similar note, did you REALLY have to shoot unarmed people with a machine gun?"

"So now you're going to bring THAT up!? Look, all I know is that those people were pouring salt into the wound of racism! I'll admit that I felt bad for them after the fact, but who knows what they would've gone on to!?"

"Shaddy, listen to yourself! It's not like you to be so dismissive nowadays! All I'm trying to do is keep you out of prison!"

Shadow stared at Rouge and noticed she was forming tears in her eyes. In the past, he would've had no trifle with such things, but Rouge meant a lot to him. He sighed.

"Rouge…I'm sorry. I know you want what's best for me, and believe me, I stopped killing after that video that Hope played about the aftermath of June Ave. If there's anything else you need me to do, just tell me and I'll gladly do it."

"Shaddy…!"

Rouge smiled and gave Shadow a big hug, and he gladly returned it. Even if Rouge had been hurt by the fact that he acted as a vigilante, she knew things were going to be all right given that he agreed to bend to her whims. After what seemed like an eternity, they let go.

"There is one thing I'd like you to do for me…" said Rouge.

"Name it."

"Please, hand your revolver and ammunition to me."

"Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn't dream of doing so, but since I love and trust you, I'll gladly do so."

"Good boy!" Rouge ruffled the quills on the top of Shadow's head.

Shadow walked to the bed and pulled his Model 29 out from underneath his pillow before grabbing the remaining boxes of .44 Magnum ammo and the speedloaders. He handed both to Rouge.

"Just be careful; those bullets have had plutonium cyanide added to them," said Shadow.

Rouge chuckled. "Have I ever NOT been careful with guns before?"

"Clearly, you've never handled poison bullets before."

"Maybe not, but I'm convinced I'll be all right!"

"Hmph. Any other gems for me?"

"Yes. I'm changing the access code for the armory/firing range as well. You'll need to ask Omega before you can get in, and I'm ordering him to watch that room to make sure you don't sneak out with any guns, OK?"

"The only reason I'm even letting you do this is because you mean A LOT to me and I'd be really sad if I could never see you again."

Rouge giggled. "Shaddy, you're too kind!"

Rouge put down Shadow's Model 29 and .44 Magnum ammo and gave him another hug. He smiled again, knowing that he was going to be with Rouge and Hope for many more good years.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.