I hope everyone is doing okay! I know school has started for everyone, and you guys are busy with that or with work. Though I am surprised that there are a lot of people of around the world who still remember Sonic Boom, so thank you for reading this story! Now this chapter will focus on the dinner between our favorite couple along with Earl & Emily. Hope you all like it!

"Since when do you like to wear clothes?" Shadow questioned, watching Sonic fix his outfit in front of the mirror.

Sonic, wearing a brown velvet coat with two dark buttons on the bottom, fixed his sleeves while checking his reflection. "I don't. I'm wearing this so I can make a good impression on our first dinner date."

"How is it even a date?"

"The two of us are going to be having dinner at Earl & Emily's house."

"And?"

"It's just us 4 adults."

"Correction: 3 adults and 1 teenager."

"Aren't you around the same age as me?"

"I'm actually much older than you."

"Like what? 18? 19? 20?"

"I prefer not to say."

Sonic shrugged. "As long as you're secretly not an old geezer, then our relationship is legal."

Shadow scoffed, letting himself relax on the couch as he held Shion in his arms. Today, he and Sonic will be arriving at Earl & Emily's house for a dinner event they were invited to. Shadow isn't sure if it counts as a date or not, but either way, Sonic had better be truthful on what they were like. He does like to read books, and if what Sonic said about Emily is true, then he'll be able to have a good conversation with an intelligent person.

The dinner will be held at Earl & Emily's home, which isn't too far from here. It's mostly a walking distance to the village and they were also provided an address. Right now, its 5:30 p.m. and the dinner event isn't until 6:00 p.m. Luckily, they're both fast so they can easily get there on time in less than 3 seconds.

He felt a tiny hand touching his chest fur, knowing it was Shion doing that. It doesn't surprise Shadow since his chest fur is very soft, which is why the little pup loves to cuddle with him. Unfortunately, Sonic was able to feel that chest fur and would always comment on how soft it is whenever they're close while sleeping. He does wonder why Sonic doesn't have chest fur like him. It's possible all hedgehogs are born with different features.

Then, 2 articles of clothing hung in front of him, causing him to snap out of his thoughts and saw Sonic holding them by their hangers. "What is it now?"

"Which coat do you want to wear? The black one with golden buttons," Sonic lifted his left arm to show the long black overcoat hung by a hanger. "Or do you want the red velvet coat with pockets included?" Sonic lifted his right arm to show the long red coat hung by its hanger.

Shadow arched his eyebrow in confusion. "Why would I wear one of them?"

"For the dinner event. We gotta look our best since this will be our first dinner date with another couple," Sonic explained. "And don't worry, these coats are comfortable. We don't even have to wear any pants."

"Tell me you're not serious."

"Oh, I am serious. Like how I'm serious with chili dogs."

"That's not a good analogy."

"Does it matter? But anyways, which color do you like the best?"

"I don't need a coat, Sonic. The nights aren't that cold."

"True, but I don't want you to get sick."

"I'm the Ultimate Lifeform. I never get sick."

"Whatever you say," Sonic showed the coats to Shion. "Shooting star, do you wanna pick papa's coat? Which one do you like the best?"

Shion cooed, looking at his mama and the fancy coats. He reached his hand out, wanting to touch them. Sonic smiled as he lifted his right arm. "The red velvet coat wins!"

"I'm perfectly fine. I don't need to wear this coat," Shadow said.

"Pretty please? I want this first date to be special for the both of us," Sonic pouted, giving him the puppy dog look. "Please do this for me and Shion?"

Shadow looked away, hiding his blushing face. He never knew Sonic could pull a look like that, and seeing Shion's cute face doesn't help either. However, this will be their first night out together without Shion or Sonic's pesky friends. Their neutral relationship is already growing, but at a steady pace. As long as they don't go too fast, then it wouldn't be that bad.

Sighing, Shadow looked back at Sonic. "Give me the red velvet coat."

Sonic cheered, handing Shadow the red velvet coat as he placed the black coat on a chair. He picked up Shion from Shadow's arms, holding him close as he kissed his head. "My handsome little dude, your aunties and uncles are gonna be here soon to babysit you. Mama and papa are going to a dinner event for our date, so try not to give your aunts and uncles a hard time, okay?"

Shion cooed, snuggled against Sonic while clutching onto his brown neckerchief scarf. Sonic stroked his quills, keeping him calm as he watched Shadow put on the red velvet coat. Once Shadow was done adjusting the sleeves, Sonic wolf whistled. "Looking good, Shads."

"Luckily, you have my size right," Shadow straightened his coat. "I never thought you would own these fancy clothing. I thought you don't wear clothes?"

"They were gifts from a long time ago. I only wear them in case I'm forced to go to a fancy event filled with snobby people."

"You went to a fancy party?"

"One time when Sticks was nominated for an award. But today, I'm wearing this fancy coat for the person I love."

"Remember, we're taking it slow."

"I know, but I still like to flirt with you."

A knock on the door prevented Shadow from retorting, as Sonic rushed over and opened the door, glad to see his friends. "You're right on time! We just got done getting ready."

Sonic led them in, and Amy noticed his appearance. "You still kept that brown velvet coat?"

"Yup! I gotta make a good impression on the dinner date at Earl's house."

"And Shadow is wearing a red velvet coat?"

"Shion picked it out for him."

Knuckles gave him a thumbs up. "Nice choice, little man."

Sticks looked around. "Are you sure there's no one around who will eavesdrop on us? I don't want anyone to read my thoughts or steal my brain."

"No one around. Its only gonna be you, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and Shion," Sonic showed them the fridge, as he opened the fridge door to show them the milk bottles. "I already prepared Shion's milk. You just need to heat them up at the right temperature, check if it's warm and not hot nor cold, and then give the bottle to him."

He then pointed to the changing station. "There are some fresh diapers and other essentials in case he needs a diaper change." He pointed to the bathroom. "If he ends up making a mess on his onesie, you can give him a bath. His towels are in there along with the baby soap and shampoo set. You can find his onesies in the drawers where the changing station is."

"We'll make sure he goes to bed on time before you two return home," Tails assured him.

"Don't forget to check and burp him whenever he's done drinking his milk before he goes to bed," Sonic added, gently bouncing Shion in his arms. "You can use the white rags, so he doesn't spit up on your shoulder once you burp him."

"Don't worry. All of us helped in raising Shion," Amy held her hands out. "Now let me hold the little angel, please."

Sonic kissed Shion's cheek, then carefully handed him to Amy. "If he starts crying, he's usually soothed by Shadow's cuddles, my humming, or with the music box. The music box is located on the night stand next to my bed."

He then pointed to his communicator. "Contact me if there's an emergency. Shadow & I will get here as fast as we can."

Shadow appeared next to Sonic, glaring at Amy and the rest of the gang. "All of you better treat him well. If there's a small scratch on him, you'll face my wrath."

Knuckles pointed to himself. "Including me?"

"All of you," Shadow snarled. "Heed my warning carefully."

Sonic looked at the clock. "Time for us to leave right about now. We'll be back soon in a couple of hours." He went over to Shion, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. "Shooting star, mama and papa will be back soon. Your aunts and uncles are gonna be the ones taking care of you for tonight. And yes, you get to play with your Uncle Tails' fluffy tails."

Kissing his head again while Shadow stroked his head, they both waved goodbye to the rest of the Sonic gang, leaving the shack as the others waved back. Shion whimpered, not wanting them to go as he reached out to them. Amy softly shushed him, rocking him back and forth. "Don't cry, Shion. We're gonna have lots of fun together!"

"That's right! Luckily, your favorite uncle is here to entertain you!" Knuckles pointed to himself.

"We'll get a head start on how to avoid the government," Sticks added.

Tails brought a book out. "We'll also entertain you with a story. I know how much you love stories." He then looked at the list Sonic gave him. "Now what's the first thing on the agenda at this hour?"

Sonic looked at the house, and then at his paper. "This is the place. House #156 on Rabbit Road."

Shadow studied the house, built as a 1 story modest home made from wood and lumber. The outside didn't appear shabby, and the house appeared quite big. Hopefully, the inside is clean and decent. Daylight is still out, so the sun hasn't set yet. Thanks to their speed, they arrived on time.

He glanced down at the present wrapped in blue wrapping paper with a bow on top. "I'm surprised you got them a gift before we left."

"Gotta make a good impression."

"What about that flower you placed in my pocket?"

"The flower reminded me of you."

"A Hyacinth?"

"It smelled like lavender, and you mentioned before that you love the scent of it."

"I'm surprised you remembered that detail."

"Did I impress you?"

"Almost."

Sonic knocked on the door, and stepped back when it opened a few minutes later, revealing Earl. "Right on time, Bob! Come on in!"

Leaving the door wide open, Sonic & Shadow stepped inside. Surprisingly, the inside nearly reminded them of Amy's home, but a little different. The wallpaper is colored light brown, the furniture is spread out so there is enough room to walk around, and they could smell something good cooking at the kitchen area.

There was a long hallway that led to another area, probably the bedroom or something else. Either way, Sonic & Shadow didn't pay attention to it as they saw Emily approaching them, wearing a sky-blue maternity dress that matched her eyes. "Welcome to our home, you two. Thank you for coming."

"Oh no. Thank you for inviting us," Sonic bowed like a gentleman. "We appreciate you two inviting us into your humble abode."

"No need to be formal, Bob. We're all friends here," Earl smiled at him, and patted his back.

Emily smiled, as she noticed Shadow. "You must be Shadow the Hedgehog. Sonic told us so much about you."

Shadow arched his eyebrow at Sonic, then looked at Emily. "He has?"

"Oh yes. He would always talk about how sweet you are to him, and how you and your baby love to bond by cuddling."

"In conclusion, embarrassing stuff about me?"

"There's nothing to be embarrassed out. I find it sweet that you're an affectionate father."

Shadow looked away, preventing himself from blushing in embarrassment as he held the present out. "Just accept this gift from the both of us."

"A present? How thoughtful of you."

Emily ushered them over to the living room, where the dining table is. "You can leave the present on the coffee table or anywhere you like. Dinner is almost ready, so feel free to wait or have a tour of the home."

"Then let me finish preparing the food, darling. Go ahead and give our guests the tour of our dazzling house," Earl suggested.

"Are you sure, dear? I can-

"Nonsense! I can't let my sweetie pie and little pie get exhausted from all that cooking! I'll have the food done faster than a weasel peasel who does the hoidy toidy at a dance off!"

Shadow looked at Sonic in disbelief, while Sonic shrugged his shoulders in confusion. He forgot to tell Shadow that Earl has a strange vocabulary, but he wasn't that bad of a person. Plus, Earl has a good heart and always lends a hand towards others. That would probably be another reason why Emily loves Earl so much.

Emily giggled, clasping her hands together. "You're such a sweetheart, my sugar cookie. Just remember to be careful of any fallen objects resting on the high shelves."

"Don't you worry! This time, I'll wear my construction hat!" Earl placed his yellow construction hat on. "Now my head is safe from any injury!"

As Earl hurried to the kitchen to get the food ready, Emily gave Sonic & Shadow the whole tour of their home. The hallway led to some rooms, mostly the bedrooms, guest rooms, and bathrooms. However, one room that caught Shadow's attention is Emily's office, where it had a giant bookcase filled with books along with a sofa and coffee table near it. Not far is a computer chair with a desk, computer, printer, speakers, and other computer parts.

Emily pointed to the frames attached to the wall. "These are my certificates from the university I attended not too long ago."

Sonic studied them. "The same private university where you previously worked as a teacher?"

"Correct. I graduated at the top of my class with honors, and became a history professor at the University of Notre Dame."

"Notre Dame?"

"A private university in Indiana. I enjoyed working there before moving here."

"Why exactly did you move to Hedgehog Village?"

"I once came here to visit my grandparents who lived around here, which is when I first met Earl."

"Was it when Earl got hit with a horseshoe?"

"Something like that," Emily smiled a little. "You'll learn the full story over dinner. Right now, I believe your mate is highly interested in those novels."

Sonic glanced over to see Shadow studying each and every book titles where they are stacked in alphabetical order in the bookshelf. "I did told Shadow you loved books a lot. He really likes to read."

"Ah, a fellow bookworm. I'm delighted to hear there is someone who enjoys reading like I do," Emily happily clasped her hands together. "Are there any particular books your husband likes?"

"Space and astronomy," Shadow answered, turning his head to look at her. "I noticed most of your books are either about those or about history."

"An excellent choice! I used to see the stars at night with my telescope when I was a little girl," Emily happily sighs. "I still remember the names of every constellation."

"Really? Which ones do you like?"

"There are so many. I remembered Orion, Corvus, Auriga, Eridanus, Hydra, Lyra, Pisces, Ursa Minor…"

While both Emily & Shadow listed the constellations and what they like about them, Sonic quietly left so they can continue their discussion and headed towards where Earl is. Surprisingly, Earl is standing well with no signs that he got hit with a horseshoe, and he was whistling a tune while adding seasoning to the food.

Earl noticed him, giving him a friendly wave. "Hey there, Bob. Has my sweet pea finished the tour?"

Sonic nodded. "She has. Right now, she and Shadow are discussing about constellations."

"I remember that part. She told me so much about them on our first date."

"Now I'm curious on how you two first met and fell in love."

"I'll tell you all about it during dinner. If you don't mind, I do need an extra hand in here."

"Sure thing!"

A spread filled with delicious food made their taste buds salivate, as they all sat at the table and enjoyed the homecooked dinner made by both Earl & Emily. Sonic complimented on how yummy the food is, while Earl praised Emily on how amazing her food is. Emily giggled, her cheeks blushing red as she gazed at Earl with adoration in her eyes. "My dear Earl, you were the one who created this amazing spread. It's you who should be praised for making this meal extravagant."

"Pumpkin, your gentle hands made this food extra delicious."

"Sweetie, we have guests here. Let's not embarrass them."

"Oh, I'm sure they won't mind. I know Bob has a bunch of cute nicknames for his spouse."

Sonic turned red, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "O-Only a couple, but not that cute since we usually give cute nicknames to our baby."

Shadow sipped on his glass of water. "Sonic is the only one who comes up with them. I prefer formal nicknames."

"What sort of formal nicknames?" Emily asked with curiosity.

"Blue boy, Fox, Pinky, Echidna, Badger," Shadow listed. "For Shion, I call him my pup or my little miracle."

"Awww, you do have a big heart for your little boy!" Sonic gave him a side hug. "See! My Shadow has truly changed when Shion came into this world! Isn't he wonderful!?"

"Well I'll be! I don't know why those willy wonkers in the village are so scared of him?" Earl replied. "He's much tamer than a moose who would yonder near the field during a hoedown against a boot snake!"

"And much calmer like the ocean who is at peace when the moon shows up to sing a beautiful melody like a siren at night," Emily added.

"You are absolutely right!" Sonic hugged Shadow, trying to curb his rage. "Shadow is definitely like nighttime! He created the stars and moon to guide us in the dark, and he makes everything appear beautiful! Why, I couldn't stop gazing at his gorgeous red eyes!"

"That's how I felt when I first met Emily," Earl happily sighs as he gazed at her. "Her stunning sky-blue eyes made me wonder how I can win this beautiful angel's heart."

"Then please tell us the story of how you two first met! We really want to know!" Sonic pleaded, hoping the story will distract Shadow from what happened earlier.

"We'd be happy to, Bob! It all started at the excavation site."

Earl wiped the sweat off his forehead with his forearm, sighing in relief as he finished with his shift. Working at Cliff's Excavation Site can be a hassle, but the pay his boss provided isn't too bad. Plus, they get free food, shelter, and medical care. It's better than having to work at the old factory where his dad formerly worked.

Growing up on the island wasn't that bad. Most of his friends had moved away after growing up since they wanted to reside in the big city, advance their education, or find nicer jobs with more options on where to shop or dine. As for Earl, he preferred the tranquility and peaceful atmosphere where you can see so many amazing sites on every part of the island.

"Lunch break, everyone!" one of his workers rang the bell.

Dusting his hands to get rid of any dirt on his gloves, he and a few of his co-workers left the mines they were currently in, covering their eyes as they felt the sun hitting them. Once they adjusted to the sun's light, they went to get their lunches from their cubbies. When Cliff picked up his lunch box, he noticed Cliff talking to a group of young people, ones he recalled are college students here for an internship.

Before he could get a better look at them, something hit him at the side of his head, causing him to collapse. As his head hit the ground, he groaned softly, and his ears were ringing a little. He did hear someone say, 'Sorry Earl!', but couldn't get it since he's still seeing stars. Luckily, he didn't black out, but his eyes were in a daze. Blinking them a few times, he noticed something else besides the sky and clouds.

There was a person, and her eyes reminded him of the clear blue skies. Or like the ocean whenever he goes to the beach. "H-Hello, pretty angel…"

The person blushed a little, as she and a few others looked him over. "Are you alright? You took a major hit from that flying horseshoe."

He tried to say something, but his words came out as gibberish. Soon, he felt a couple of people lift him up, and carried him over to a different location. The next thing he remembered is waking up at Doc Ginger's tent, where she was busy examining him from head to toe. Once she gave him some medicine to clear his headache, she then checked his vital signs.

"Follow my finger, young man," Doc Ginger ordered him.

Earl did what he was told, as the doctor continued to examine him. She then asked him some questions about how he was feeling right now, what he was doing before he got hit, and if there is any pain right now. He answered her truthfully, as she wrote them down on her notes before she looked at him again.

"Thanks to your construction hat, you only have a minor concussion. Without it, there would've been trauma to your head. I highly recommend you take it easy and do not stress yourself. We don't want to increase the risk of a brain injury," Doc Ginger explained.

Earl gave her a thumbs up, sitting up from the bed. "Will do, Doc! I'll be more careful than an antelope who crosses the frizzle dizzle while avoiding the babooshka shuffle."

"Are you still in pain right now? Your vocabulary seems off."

Before she could ask him more, the flap of the tent was opened to reveal a female anthropomorphic squirrel with familiar sky-blue eyes and long brown hair braided over her shoulder. She even wore an archaeology outfit in order to protect herself from the humid weather, which is getting a little warmer in Earl's opinion.

"Pardon me for the intrusion, but is the young man all right?" she asked.

"He is, dearie. And who might you be?" Doc Ginger questioned.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Emily Surrell. I'm studying teaching at Notre Dame University, and I'm here on an internship with my group to see which teaching field suits me."

"A future teacher? Why, we definitely need more teachers for our school here," Doc Ginger smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, dearie."

"Same to you, doctor," Emily looked at Earl, sighing in relief. "I'm glad you're not injured, sir. I hope you're doing all right."

Earl blushed, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "I-I am. T-Thank you for your concern, madam."

"You can call me Emily. I don't mind."

"I-If you say so, E-Emily."

"What about you? What's your name?"

"After I introduced myself to her, she asked me questions about my likes, dislikes, and why I was working at the excavation site. She didn't mind listening to me, and thought my vocabulary is adorable," Earl gushed.

Emily giggled. "Even though I was supposed to pay attention to how the workers are using their archaeological skills to find rare artifacts and relics, my mind would usually ponder over Earl. In my mind, he is the cutest guy I have ever met."

"I offered to give her the whole tour of the excavation site, along with having lunch with me."

"Not just lunch, but also dinner and breakfast. It was nice talking to someone who was interested in my hobbies."

"And I liked how she listened to how my day had been and if I was careful in avoiding those horseshoes."

"The more we spent time together, the more I started to fall in love with Earl. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last that long because my internship was about to end soon."

"Even though she had to go back to the city, I didn't hesitate to confess and promised to wait for her whenever she's done with her studies."

"I too confessed, and we both agreed to complete our dreams first before we reunited with each other. Luckily, I was able to finish and graduate early with my Teaching degree, pass the test to get my license, and move to Seaside Island where I can be with my Earl."

"I not only took her out on the most romantic dates, but also proposed to her at one of her favorite sites on the island!"

"We got married near the beach, created a home here in the village, and will soon become parents to our little one," Emily caressed her belly. "I can't wait for our baby to come out and see what the world is like."

"Me too, darling," Earl kissed the side of her head.

Sonic smiled at the sight, forgetting that he's still hugging Shadow. As for Shadow, he carefully removed Sonic's arms so he wouldn't be squeezed to death. Earl & Emily's love story is too sweet, but they have been nice to him. However, he wished they would tone it down on the lovey dovey part. He knows they love each other a lot, but they didn't have to be like that in front of them.

"My guess is you two had gotten together because of a horseshoe, correct?" Shadow concluded.

Earl chuckled a little. "You could say that."

"Consider yourself lucky. Horseshoes are a symbol of luck. They're a symbol of protection, and if you hung them at your home, you attract good fortune for yourself and for your family who reside inside. If you have an iron horseshoe, it is believed to have magical powers to expel evil."

"Well, golly! I didn't know! Are you a professor as well?"

"No. My profession is quite different."

Emily gazed at Sonic. "What about you, Sonic? Is there any profession you're interested in?"

Sonic thought about it. "Can being a hero count?"

"It can. There are a variety of options if you choose to retire or switch to an easier profession."

"Working at the warehouse and being a delivery boy at Meh Burger wasn't too bad for me. I can get things done in less than 3 minutes."

Shadow tsked a little. "Sonic, I thought Meh Burger is considered one of the most dangerous places to visit?"

"It still is. Ingesting their d-grade beef can make you sick."

"Then why were you a delivery boy if it's dangerous?"

"Their delivery service was terrible. I made a bet that I can deliver the food in 3 minutes or less."

"And?"

"I was compensated with chili dogs, which was great at first. But the agreement didn't agree with me later on, so I chose to quit."

"Smart choice. For now, choose the warehouse since they don't have toxic food."

Sonic snorted. "Trust me, Shadow. I decided to never eat there while I'm nursing Shion. I don't want him to get sick from Meh Burger."

Earl scratched the side of his head. "I sometimes eat there for lunch, and I never get sick. Do I need to go to a doctor?"

Emily patted his arm. "There's nothing to worry about. You mentioned that your stomach is made of steel, right?"

"It sure is! Its stronger than an ox pulling a wagon on a hot summer-

As Earl rambled on about his meaning, Sonic nervously chuckles while patting Shadow's back, who was pinching the bridge of his nose and uttering curses under his breath. Shadow wasn't sure who is worse: Eggman or Earl. Besides his choice of vocabulary, he doesn't hound Shadow nor get into his space. He was mostly friendly, and nearly reminded him of Sonic since they're both too nice for their own good.

Sonic waved goodbye at them, holding a medium aluminum foil tray in his hands. "Thanks for inviting us over! The food was great!"

"Thank you for coming," Emily smiled, waving back. "Let's have another dinner event next time."

"Good idea! I'll host it at my house soon! We can wait until after you fully recover from childbirth."

"That could work!"

Earl waved. "Goodbye Bob! Goodbye Shadow! You two have a splendid night!"

"Thanks, Earl!" Sonic gave them another wave, and left with Shadow.

Once they heard the door close behind them, they were already walking away from the house. Nighttime had already fallen, and the village is filled with silence. There wasn't anyone around at this hour, which is a huge relief for Shadow since he isn't comfortable with large crowds. Plus, nighttime is one of his favorites since he can see the stars well at night.

"See, Shadow? I told you Earl & Emily are a nice couple," Sonic teased. "They even gave us some blackberry cobbler to munch on for dessert."

Shadow rolled his eyes. "Their sweetness sickens me."

"They're a friendly, kind couple. It's in their nature."

"I couldn't understand what the idiot is saying."

"Hey, lay off on Earl! He has a good heart, and would never insult anyone!"

"Then what was he calling me!?"

Sonic opened his mouth, but then closed it as he started to think. "He mentioned you were much tamer than a moose, since moose's can be aggressive." He snapped his fingers. "Emily also said you were calm like the moon who soothes the raging tides. It's obvious they like you."

Shadow rolled his eyes, but then recalled something. "Did I really created the moon and stars to guide everyone in the dark and provide beauty to them?"

His lips stretched into a smirk, as he stared at Sonic. "And what about my gorgeous red eyes?"

Sonic turned red, gulping as he felt Shadow's heated stare. "W-Well, you and I are like day and night. I'm energetic as the sun, while you're calm as the moon. You can blend well in the dark, which makes it tough to find you." He looked away, still blushing red. "T-The stars and moon are not the only ones I like to gaze at night."

His emerald eyes flickered over to Shadow, then back to the ground. "Y-You definitely have really nice red eyes. I-I mean it as a compliment! I-It's not like I compare them to a ruby or jasper since your eyes shine brightly than any other gem!"

He nearly yelped when he saw Shadow suddenly standing too close to him, causing him to take a small step back. "W-What I mean is that they reminded me of red roses! Yeah! They're like roses!"

Smirking, Shadow folded his arms as he leaned forward until their noses nearly touched. "Tell me, Sonic. Are my eyes like rubies or roses?"

"L-Like a ruby rose!"

"There's no such thing as a ruby rose."

"T-Then a crystal rose?"

"You're stalling. I want the truth, Sonic. What do my eyes really remind you of?"

Sonic closed his eyes, looking away as his face felt hot. "S-Shadow, w-we need to go back home now! S-Shion's waiting for us!"

"We still have time," Shadow nearly cooed, grabbing Sonic's chin and turning his head for him to open his eyes and look. "Just give me an honest answer, Sonic."

He leaned slowly, causing their noses to touch. Sonic closed his eyes shut, still blushing as he felt Shadow's hot breath fanning against his face. Just when he was about to feel Shadow's lips against his, Sonic's communicator started to ring loudly. Silently thanking whoever had called him at the right moment before he could faint, Sonic took a step back to regain his breathing and pressed his communicator. "Sonic speaking."

"Hey Sonic! How's the dinner date?"

"Hey Tails, and the dinner date is going really well."

"That's great! Also, are you and Shadow on your way home right now?"

"We are. We'll be home real soon."

"By walking or running?"

"Walking. Why do you ask?"

"Oh no particular reason at all! Just wanted to know heh heh!"

Sonic raised his eyebrow when he heard some noises in the background, along with the voice of Knuckles groaning in agony. "What's going on at my shack? Is someone dying in there?"

"It's nothing! Knuckles is just- Wait! Sticks! Don't give Knuckles that!"

The call ended, causing Sonic to look at Shadow in confusion. "Maybe we should-

"See if they caused damage to the house and kill them for it? Then yes, let's do that," Shadow answered. "But after this, you still need to tell me your answer."

Grabbing Sonic's wrist, he chaos controlled them both, causing them to appear inside Sonic's shack. What they saw not only astonished them, but also confused them. "Why is Knuckles tied up on the chair?"

Tails jumped back, surprised to see them. "Y-You two came back early!?"

Sonic looked around. "Where's Shion?"

As on cue, Amy came out of the bathroom with Shion in her arms. "He's all clean! I was able to find a pair of cute onesies with rubber duckies on them for him to change in before he sleeps."

She then saw Sonic & Shadow. "Oh! You two are early!"

"Right on time! Help me give Knuckles this medicine so he'll be cured!" Sticks held a wooden bowl out, filled with a liquid soup that's colored green.

"Okay, what the heck is going on!? And why is the kitchen a mess!?" Sonic gestured to his messy kitchen that had food splattered along with some dirty dishes in the sink.

"More importantly, why is the echidna acting like a rabid animal!?" Shadow pointed to Knuckles, who is thrashing in his restraints and trying to get out.

Tails groaned in agony. "To make it a quick summary, Knuckles accidentally drank one of Shion's milk bottles, and ended up drinking a couple more of them. We had to stop him from drinking all the bottles, so Sticks and I had to knock him out and tie him up tightly on the chair with ropes and chains. Now, she made some medicine that can help prevent him from drinking Shion's milk."

"Made from the forest that keeps us safe from the supernatural," Sticks scooped up some medicine in a spoon, and shoved it in Knuckles' mouth. "Now help me give him this medicine! He needs to drink all of it so the medicine can kick in!"

Amy sighs. "I was in the bathroom giving Shion his bath when the commotion started. I distracted Shion so he wouldn't get scared from the loud noises outside. Luckily, he had been a good little angel and was distracted with his bath toys."

"Oh thank god!" Sonic sighed in relief, but then paled when he recalled what Tails said. "Tails, did you just say Knuckles accidentally drank one of Shion's milk bottles from the fridge?"

Tails nodded. "I'm afraid so."

Sonic sped over to the kitchen, placed the aluminum tray on the counter, and opened the door to see there were only a couple of milk bottles left in the fridge, while the rest were empty and laying on the floor. He looked at Knuckles, back at the bottles, and then sped over to where Knuckles is and slapped the back of his head. "What the heck, man!? Those milk bottles were for Shion! How did you accidentally drink one of them!?"

"Ow! That hurt!" Knuckles grimaced when he was given another spoon-fed of medicine. "I was thirsty, and you were out of grape juice!"

"Then get water from the tap!"

"I wanted a fresh glass of milk, so I figured you used a bottle of milk to make Shion's bottle, and thought it wouldn't hurt to borrow one of his milk bottles."

"Those milk bottles did not came from a glass of cow's milk!"

"Then what's it made out of? Is it goat's milk?"

Sonic closed his mouth, hugging his arms as he looked away in embarrassment. "I-It's his iron-fortified formula! A-A combo of water and formula so it can taste like milk!"

"Really? There was a creamy flavor and-

A punch to his face caused Knuckles to remain quiet, making him go unconscious as his nose started to bleed and teeth were broken. Everyone took a step back, as they saw Shadow reel his fist in as his eyes glowed red in rage. Taking some deep breaths to calm himself down, he went over to where Amy is, scooped up Shion from her arms, and held him close as he felt his rage wash away from Shion's hug.

Shadow turned his head to glare at the others. "You 3 take the echidna out right now before I actually kill him."

Gulping at seeing his enraged expression, Amy and the others quickly left the house, dragging Knuckles with them as the chair scraped against the wooden floors. Once they closed the door behind them, Shadow looked at Shion, relieved that there were no marks on him. "I am not gonna leave you alone with that echidna. Thankfully, you're not aware of what happened tonight."

Shion cooed, snuggling against Shadow as Shadow cradled him in his arms. He then turned around to find Sonic sitting on one of the spare chairs next to the dining table. "Your echidna friend is an idiot."

"He is banned from my kitchen," Sonic covered his face in shame. "I can't believe Knuckles drank Shion's milk bottles."

"That insolent fool dare tries to steal our pup's food!"

"Not only that, but the milk he drank is my breast milk! And he even tried to describe it!"

"I'm killing that echidna!"

"Shadow, no! As much as I want to see Knuckles getting his butt kicked by the both of us, we can't actually kill him. All we can do is yell at him."

"His biggest mistake is not knowing our pup's milk was your milk!"

"We can kill Knuckles another time. Right now, I gotta get this mess cleaned up first."

Using his super speed, Sonic was able to clean his kitchen in the nick of time, making sure everything is spotless and that there were no more dirty dishes left in the sink or ground. He then started to sterilize the bottles he cleaned, making sure there is no spot or anything on it. "I'll pump out more milk for Shion tomorrow. Right now, I think I wanna call it a night."

He turned his head to place his hand up to prevent Shadow from speaking. "Also, my answer is still the same. You have gorgeous crimson eyes that remind me of rubies and roses. I can never stop staring at them, and I also wanted to do this before our date ended."

Sonic sped over until he stopped in front of Shadow, and kissed his cheek. "I know it's not a proper kiss, but you're holding Shion in your arms, and I figured we can have a real kiss until you're ready." He then pecked Shadow's nose. "By the way, you and Shion share the same cute nose."

As Sonic picked up Shion from Shadow's arms and kissed his cheeks while cooing over him, Shadow remained frozen from where he stood, feeling his face getting hot as he touched the spots where Sonic kissed him. He didn't know why he wanted to kiss Sonic on the lips, but he wanted to hear Sonic praise him more. Hearing how much he loved his red eyes made him feel strangely happy, and he even thought his nose is cute?

He silently sighed as he saw Sonic tending to Shion, who was giggling from getting nuzzled by his mama. Shadow wished his friends didn't interrupt their sinful moment, though Shadow wasn't sure if kissing his former rival is considered sinful or naughty. Either way, he needs to think this over on how genuine his feelings for Sonic are.

But tomorrow, he's still gonna kill that echidna.

There we go! Done! Now, my classes are gonna start soon so I'm gonna be really busy! You'll have to wait until I have time to update the next chapter! In the meantime, please review and comment!