Chapter Twelve
Unfortunately for Shadow the day seemed to drag for him. That might have something to do with being far to eager to get to bed and growing impatient about it too. Both Sonic and Rouge had left his home half an hour ago, leaving him to whatever he wanted to do. It was almost two o'clock and Shadow was starting to lose his mind with how slow the clock was progressing forwards.
"This is insane, why does time move by so slowly when you are waiting for something yet it fly's by when you are having the time of your life, like being in my dreams. They seem to go so quickly and feels like no time at all yet in reality hours and hours go by." Shadow ranted a little as he stared at the clock on the wall in the living room above the TV.
He was slouching on the sofa with his arms crossed and legs stretched out with the ankles crossed. Sighing deeply he removed his gaze from the clock to looking out of the window instead. He half wished Sonic had stayed so he had someone to chat with yet he also wanted some alone time but he desperately wanted to return to his dream world and be with his family.
"I'm sure it would do no harm in having one pill so I could take a nap, right? Or I could call it a day and take two, it's not like I'm going to have any more visitors today anyway." Shadow muttered to himself as he looked out of the window with a look of thought.
"Screw this I'm calling it a day and going to bed." Shadow said then moved to stand up.
He quickly made sure his home was all locked up and secure before running to his bedroom. After a quick teeth brushing and using the toilet Shadow dashed to his curtains, closed them then ran to his bed. He kept his t-shirt on as he sat up in bed and got two pills out. After swallowing them dry he placed the pot back on the side table and moved to lay down. Curling up on his right side and snuggling into his covers Shadow closed his eyes with an excited smile on his muzzle...
"Wake up you two we are here." Gerald's soft voice filled Shadow's ears and he slowly opened his eyes.
He was sitting in the back seat in a car with the belt done up and Maria was in the seat next to him. He looked out of the window and gasped at the sight of the lake side in the slight distance from where his father parked the car.
"Wow look Maria." Shadow said with a soft voice.
"Oh it looks so breathtaking and to think we are staying here for a whole week together." Maria said as she lent over and looked out of the window on Shadow's side.
"Yeah this is going to be one epic family vacation." Shadow excitedly said as he undid his seat belt then opened the car door.
"It sure will be my son. Now come help me with our luggage and Maria could you unlock the front door to our cabin please." Gerald gently said as he stood by the car and watched the two get out then passed the keys over to Maria.
After getting the luggage out of the boot and bringing them into the cabin Gerald left to get lunch sorted as it was gone twelve thirty. Maria and Shadow were checking out the cabin and found their way down into the basement after going everywhere else.
"Look at this Shadow, do you think we can use this basket and have a picnic?" Maria called out as she held a large basket in one hand and held it up slightly.
"Definitely looks big enough, oh we could have it in front of the lake then go swimming." Shadow replied and was very much looking forward to this plan.
"Yes and we can sunbath to dry off, maybe have a power nap at the same time." Maria agreed with equal excitement.
"A power nap would definitely be needed so we have enough energy to do more awesome stuff together." Shadow replied with a grin then the two began to walk up the basement stairs to go show Gerald the basket and tell him of the plan tomorrow.
Today was an unpacking and settling in day with a camp fire in the evening to cook sausages and marshmallows on.
"Dad picnic lunch and swimming tomorrow, how does that sound?" Shadow called out as he and Maria ran into the kitchen area, stopping by the table with Maria holding out the basket to show her grandfather.
Gerald turned his head as he stood in front of the cooker, stirring soup in a pot.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea and something else that is a good plan, a hiking trip in the woods at some point during this weeks stay." Gerald replied with a grin as he witnessed Maria and Shadow's eyes light up.
"We can take pictures of all the things we see and put them in a photo album when we get home." Shadow said with a huge smile on his muzzle.
"Yes and we can label it our family vacation photos too." Maria added as she thought that was a really good idea to store their memories of this trip.
"Excellent idea you two now go wash up, lunch is almost ready." Gerald chuckled then went back to paying attention to the soup.
"Race you to the bathroom Shadow." Maria giggled then ran off.
"Chaos control!" Shadow called out.
"Hey that's cheating!" Maria said when she got to the bathroom and saw Shadow appear.
"No it's not, you never said I couldn't chaos control here." Shadow matter-of-fact said with a smug grin on his muzzle.
"I thought it was obvious and fine next time no teleporting oh and no super speed either. Let's wash so we can go have lunch." Maria rolled her eyes then went all sweet once more.
Shadow nodded and began to remove his gloves, placing them on the side of the bath. He and Maria shared the sink and Maria had filled it up with warm soapy water that graced them both with bubbles.
"Look Maria I have a beard." Shadow said with a smile as he put bubble all over his chin.
"You look so silly Shadow, I want a beard too." Maria laughed then did the same.
"Now who looks silly." Shadow laughed and that made Maria laugh some more.
"Lunch is on the table!" Gerald's voice hit their ears and both quickly finished up, dried their hands and raced back to the kitchen.
"I win!" Maria called out then sat up the table.
"Yeah but you won't next time." Shadow replied to that as he sat up the table.
"Not wearing your gloves Shadow?" Gerald asked with a grin.
"Huh? Oh I forgot put them back on and left them in the bathroom. I'll put them on later." Shadow said as he looked down at his bare hands with a small frown.
"You don't have to wear them all the time if you don't want to." Gerald softly said.
"I don't? I thought it was mandatory that I wear gloves during the day, only take them off when washing my hand and going to bed." Shadow replied with a tilt of his head when looking up at his father.
"Gloves are just fashion to Mobians and it's a way to not look so bear for the male population too. I packed some new t-shirt for you to try on if you don't feel comfortable going out with only your skates on. I think you would like them." Gerald explained gently with a smile at Shadow.
"We could have a fashion show Shadow." Maria said with a hyped up voice and dying to see what Shadow looked like in clothing.
"Yeah ok, that's sounds fun." Shadow smiled happily as he turned his head and looked at Maria.
"Well in that case I'll unpack those tops and the camera for your fashion show." Gerald chuckled with amusement.
"You can take the picture grandpa while I help Shadow in the changing room." Maria sweetly said with a look of joy.
"I expect a modelling contract when we are done and I don't come cheep either. An extra marshmallow or two ought to cover it." Shadow smirked as he placed his terms for his services to this show.
"And how does wearing a dress sound to you Shadow?" Maria teased with a grin.
"...On second thoughts I do charity events for free and I donate those marshmallow payments to Maria." Shadow said with an anxious look at Maria.
"Deal." Maria giggled then all finally began on their lunch of chicken and veg soup with a crusty role each.
Lunch seemed to zoom by for Shadow and now he found himself standing in front of Maria and wearing a deep red t-shirt with a white strip around the rims of the sleeves, it being a centimetre thick.
"You are looking very snazzy Shadow, let's get you to that hedgehog walk and show off your new look." Maria brightly said as she took Shadow's hand and led him out of their shared bedroom.
The cabin only had two bedrooms so Maria and Shadow were sharing.
"And now for your eyes only we have an exclusive piece of amazingly styled t-shirt. Please welcome Shadow wearing this out of this cabin deep red, almost maroon, coloured t-shirt with just a splash of white on the bottom of each sleeve." Maria announced as she and Shadow walked into the sitting room and she lightly pushed Shadow forward to show off his look to Gerald, who was sitting on the long sofa holding a Polaroid camera.
"That fits nicely and matches your stripes." Gerald commented and took a photo of Shadow walking like a professional model, posing a little after he stopped a little in front him.
"I quite like wearing tops, they are very comfortable." Shadow said with a smile and dropped his pose.
"I knew you would like them, ok go try on the next one." Gerald warmly said with a smile.
"Ok we will be right back." Maria said then she and Shadow rushed off to change.
"We need to be quick so not to make our one man audience wait too long." Maria said as she helped to remove the top fast then gave Shadow a different one to try on, which he put on fast.
This one was light blue with a picture of a red chaos emerald on at the front. Shadow looked down at it with a smile and was very much loving this top. Shadows hand was grabbed and now he was being dragged back into the sitting room.
"And this wonder piece will sure to put a smile on any ones face." Maria announced as Shadow began the slow pose walk towards his father, stopping with a dramatic pose.
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant and very stylish too. Looks perfect on you Shadow." Gerald said with a grin as he took a couple more pictures.
"Yes the emerald really brings out the colour of my eyes." Shadow smirked as he spoke, absolutely loving the attention he was receiving right now.
"Ok next top, come on Shadow." Maria called out then Shadow turned and walked away in a fast manner to change.
"Hurry Shadow and put this on." Maria said with a smile as she held out another top for Shadow.
"Ok, it's a shame I cannot simply chaos control out of the tops to save time." Shadow replied as he took off his, at the moment favourite, top and grabbed the one Maria held out for him.
Maria helped a little and stood back to have a quick look at Shadow. The top was a shade of purple and a little on the dark side. It was plane and in Shadow's opinion very soft and comfy, not too in your face and fit nicely on his upper form. Shadow smiled down at himself and was feeling so complete with being here with his family, having fun and just being able to be himself...