Chapter Three

"What a nice relaxing day this has been, we so need to do this again very soon." Rouge sighed out in contentment as she slouched on the sofa at gone seven in the evening.

The two had only just finished the takeout pizza Shadow went and got from a pizza joint, they would have got delivery but due to being so far away and in the middle of a woodland area it was not an option. That of course lead to a conversation of maybe Shadow moving a little more closer to town but that was very quickly dropped. Shadow did not want to live near crowed areas and was happy living where he was. That and it would cost a lot to relocate, he was given this place by GUN and didnt have to pay a penny. So yes Shadow was happy living here and had no future plans in moving home.

"Yeah we are so doing this again, we still have two more seasons to catch up on and that will require a whole day, more pizza and plenty of snacks to binge on." Shadow said with a light chuckle as even he had to agree it was a rather relaxing day.

"So the question now is, one more episodes before bed or call it a night?" Rouge grinned as she knew she wasn't ready to go to bed yet and she could also tell Shadow wasn't either.

"I suppose one more episode wouldn't hurt, it's only an hour long." Shadow smirked as he replied, glancing at Rouge as he spoke back.

"Agreed now let's keep watching." Rouge said then pressed play for the next episode in the series they were watching.

Of course that one episode turned into three before they finally called it a night. They were both now in their rooms and had just got ready to get into bed. Shadow sat on the edge and got one of his pills out of the pot, downing it without a drink again. He placed the pot on the side table near his clock and get comfortable in bed. He closed his eyes and waited for the pill to start working. Well until he realised he left the lamp on and had to open them to find the switch to kill the dim glow of the lamp.

"Ok now to get comfy again." Shadow thought as he moved about and found a very comfortable position on his side facing the door to his room, that was once again left open for just in case.

Shadow closed his eyes and once again waited for the magic to happen...

"Shadow wake up, I have some very exciting news." Maria's voice filled Shadow's ears and so he slowly opened his eyes.

He found himself snuggled in his bed up on ARK and looked right at a very happy Maria standing next to his bed.

"Maria, what is it?" Shadow asked as he slowly sat up and kept his eyes on his very best friend.

"The test results are back and I'm cured Shadow, I am finally cured. Isn't this just wonderful, we can finally pack up and leave together just like we planned." Maria explained with high excitement.

"This...this is brilliant news Maria I am very happy for you." Shadow said as he slowly began to smile softly back at Maria.

"Grandpa said he just needs to file one last report then start packing up. A shuttle will be sent to pick us all up and take us down to the planet. He also get permission to take you with us so you are going to be staying with us both. I am just so happy it almost feels unreal." Maria said as she was starting to get a little teary from the good news she was told.

"I am actually allowed to leave with you and the professor? Seriously they are letting me stay with you both?" Shadow asked with huge shock, unable to even begin to understand why he was suddenly feeling so excited over a dream that wasn't real.

"Yes, grandpa is even going to file papers so you have citizenship, we can all put this place behind us and live our lives without fear of you being taken away." Maria replied with joy, smiling brightly down at Shadow.

"I'm going to be a citizen and no longer labelled as an experiment. Seems like both of us are receiving good news. I cannot wait to leave and explore the planet with you, live in a house with a garden and do normal things other people do." Shadow happily said and was feeling so happy by this news, getting a little lost in this dream and almost forgetting it was only that, a dream.

"Come on you two the shuttle will be arriving in one hour and we need to be ready in the docking bay for it. I also have more news for you, you have been granted citizenship Shadow and are officially a member of society. When we get down to the planet we just need to sort out our new accommodations then we can move into our new home." Gerald appeared in the doorway and announced the news in a soft yet cheerful voice.

"So basically I am now a free hedgehog and can do whatever I want without fear of being locked up? I can lay in, in the mornings, go to places without an escort and just live a life away from the labs and GUN?" Shadow asked with pure happiness shining in his eyes as he looked over at his creator, smiling brightly as he spoke of a few things he wasn't allowed to do up here.

"That is right Shadow, you are now free and can sleep in late if you want to, take a wonder alone if you desire and no longer do you have to be tested on or made to fight. Your life is yours now and no one else's." Gerald confirmed with a grin at Shadow.

"I don't care if this is only a dream that my mind concocted, this feels amazing and I am just so happy. I haven't been this happy since before the ARK was shut down." Shadow thought as he just smiled back with joy.

"So you both better get sorted and take whatever you need with you. You have one hour to get to the docking bay and I will see you both there." Gerald said gently then turned and walked away.

"I'm going to start packing up my things, you should get up and ready to leave Shadow. Oh this is the second best day of my life." Maria said as she smiled down at Shadow with excitement still on her features.

"Yeah and what's your first best day?" Shadow questioned with a curious raised brow.

"Meeting you of course Shadow, you are my very best friend and the day I met you was the best ever. You mean a whole lot to me Shadow and always will. I better get packing, I don't want to miss the shuttle, see you when I'm done then we can walk there together." Maria sweetly said then rushed off to her soon to be old bedroom.

"And you mean a whole lot to me too Maria." Shadow whispered as he sat up in his bed feeling happy and content that all his dreams were coming true...

Shadow groaned as he was waking up. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked a couple of time so he could read his clock.

"Huh eight o'clock again." Shadow muttered with a small smile, he rather enjoyed having these lay ins.

"My dreams seem so real just lately, feel so real, as if I am there and experiencing all of it as and when things happen. I must keep reminding myself they are just dreams, even if they are based on a life I have always wanted but could never have." Shadow thought as he lazily got out of bed with a yard, stretched up high before relaxing.

"It's funny how dreams seem so much better than the reality you are forced to face." Shadow thought as he threw on his gown then walked out of his room, feeling a little depressed for some unknown reason.

"Morning Rouge." Shadow muttered as he slowly entered the kitchen and towards the freshly brewed coffee in a pot.

"Morning hun, sleep well?" Rouge asked with a soft voice while watching Shadow pour himself coffee.

"Yeah, I slept very well, kind of feeling a little bummed out I woke up actually." Shadow replied with a slight hint of sadness in his tone then joined Rouge up the table.

"Yeah any particular reason why?" Rouge questioned with a small frown, knowing Shadow slept throughout the night peacefully and was a little confused why the hedgehog sounded depressed and sad.

"I don't know, I was just having a nice dream for once and I guess I wasn't ready to wake up from it." Shadow grumbled as he stared inside of his mug at the black coffee.

"Yeah nice dreams can make you feel like that sometimes and I can understand why you are disappointed in waking up from one. You have had nothing but nightmares of the trauma you were forced to witness every night since you gained back your memories. So yeah I can totally understand, at least you are starting to have good dreams and I am confident you are not going to have any more nightmares. So with that said I am going to be returning home later but please call me if you need me for anything ok." Rouge sincerely said with a look of understanding at Shadow.

"I will and so far no side effects to report as of yet." Shadow said and soon began to perk up then made a start on his coffee.