(Hello readers and welcome to the next instalment of this here related series. I thank you for still having an interest and please leave a review. Now on with the chapter…)

This is going to be hard.

Sonic was growing nervous as he had yet to tell Shadow who was on there way to visit. It has been a little over a week now and he still couldn't bring himself to break the news. This was mostly because he knew Shadow will not take it well. He has had plenty of opportunities to sit his husband down and tell him but every time he simply couldn't get the words to leave his mouth.

"You do need to tell him Sonic before he finds out and discovers you knew about this." Tails calmly said as he and Sonic were up his kitchen table having tea.

"I know I do bro but I just don't know how to start. The guy wont get here for at least two months, maybe longer than that, so I have time." Sonic sighed as he lent back with his mug in both hands, looking down into the light brown liquid he barely touched.

"The longer you wait to tell Shadow Dark Flame is coming to visit the harder it will be. I would also make a suggestion to not have the kids around when you do tell Shadow, it will save having them…" Tails said with a smile but had to stop as he was interrupted.

"Oh damn it all, Saffy will have a bad reaction and so will Jamie. They will think there mother is going to be taken away again. Saffy spent weeks stuck beside Shadow constantly after we got Shadow back and played up so much when she had to go to school. I really don't think she truly got over that and when she finds out who is coming, well lets just say we will have trouble from her." Sonic groaned as this had only occurred to him and now his task is even more harder.

"Do the kids have to know? I mean Dark Flame wont be coming down to visit and staying aboard the Black Comet right?" Tails said as he tried to ease his brothers stresses over this subject, able to see Sonic was indeed getting a tad worked up.

"Tails my kids have access to that hive mind thingy, well Amber and Annabel don't yet, so they will find out. Also we do not know how long the jerk is staying for and we can't stop the kids from visiting their grandparents and uncle for however long he is here for. They will find it suspicious that Doom, Eclipse and Crystal are always coming down and they will ask questions or look through the link thingy to get answers." Sonic stressed with worry in his eyes as he looked back at Tails.

"Then I do not know what else to suggest for you to do just don't have the kids in earshot when sitting Shadow down to tell him the news." Tails shrugged as he really didn't have anything to solve Sonics little dilemma.

"What I need is more information like how long is the jerk staying for and if he is coming alone or not." Sonic frowned as he hoped it was going to be a very short visit, he finally starting on his tea.

"Then you need to talk to Black Doom, he seems to have all the information." Tails said with a smile then finished the last of his drink.

"Yeah and that will cause no suspicion when I ask Shadow to call his father so I can speak with him alone." Sonic rolled his eyes while sounding very sarcastic.

"Don't you have Eclipses' phone number, he does still have that phone Shadow got for him right?" Tails grinned as he watched Sonic widen his eyes in realisation to there being someone else to ask for Black Doom.

"I do and he does, you are a genius bro." Sonic happily said as he felt a portion of his troubles will be disappearing very soon.

"Naturally of course Sonic, so call him and get this over with." Tails chuckled at his brothers reaction to his words then stood up with his mug to rinse out.

Sonic nodded then placed his mug down. He lifted his communicator and pressed a button to get all his contacts up. He scrolled until Eclipses' name was on the screen. He pressed the name then a dialling tone happened.

"Yo what's up Sonic?" Eclipse was heard through the communicator with a curious tone.

"I need a favour, can you take me to see Black Doom?" Sonic asked with a grin as he grabbed his mug then downed the last of his tea.

"Yeah, you want to see dad now or later?" Eclipse asked as he was getting even more curious to why Sonic wanted to see his father.

"I suppose now would be more appropriate, I am at Tails' in the kitchen. See you in a sec yeah." Sonic happily said then cut the line, knowing Eclipse will be here in well under a minute.

"Have to say you are looking more happier than when you arrived an hour ago Sonic." Tails said as he walked over to the table and took the empty mug to rinse out.

"Yeah, I feel much happier now." Sonic replied as he watched his little brother turn the tap on.

"Ok I am here and a hello to you Tails." Eclipse appeared beside the table near Sonic.

"Hi, Eclipse. It is good to see you." Tails replied with a smile while placing the mug he rinsed onto the draining board.

"Right then, it was great seeing you Tails and thanks for the tea. Come on Eclipse lets get going." Sonic brightly said with a cheerful look while standing up.

"What is this all about?" Eclipse asked as he watched Sonic push the chair in then stand close to him.

"You will find out, bye Tails. I will come by again soon." Sonic said with a smile.

"Bye guys and see you later in the week." Tails replied as he looked at Sonic and Eclipse then watched them vanish in a bright light.

Eclipse and Sonic appeared aboard the Black Comet and Eclipse led the way to Black Doom. They didn't have to go too far within the Comet until they found Black Doom, who was with Black Death chatting in their language.

"Dad Sonic wants to talk to you." Eclipse announced as they approached, making the conversation stop.

"I know what this is about, do you wish to go somewhere private to talk Sonic?" Doom calmly said after his son and Sonic were in front of him and Death.

"That all depends if everyone here knows." Sonic grinned up at Doom.

"Know what?" Eclipse asked with a puzzled look up at his father, really wanting to be in the loop with this supposed secret his father was keeping.

"No one knows yet, I assume Shadow is in the dark also?" Doom chuckled and was waiting to say something after Sonic has told Shadow.

"Yeah he is, I am having a little trouble with telling him Dark Flame is coming in a couple of months." Sonic sighed as he was now starting to get that anxious feeling again.

"Say what now?" Eclipse said in shock as he glanced at Sonic.

"Ah yes Dark Flame, I remember when he was a mere fledging. So he is coming for a visit, that would be nice." Black Death calmly said and was completely unaware of what happened years ago.

"No it wont be." Sonic grumbled with a small frown at Death.

"He visited with his father a few years back and grew quite the attachment towards Shadow, an unhealthy attachment." Doom lightly put it.

"More like a damn obsession towards Shads and kidnapped Shadow while pregnant with the triplets. He was going to force Shadow to be with him and no one else." Sonic growled as the memories came flooding back and now they were stuck inside of his head.

"So that was why they had to leave early, I assumed they were called back for some big emergency." Eclipse said with a small frown and was not all that happy someone did that to his big brother.

"Yes my child but I have been assured that he has changed for the better by Dark Ember." Doom calmly said and never showed any worry or concerns over this visit.

"How do you know Dark Ember isn't lying or that Dark Flame is faking being over Shadow?" Sonic asked and was in no way going to trust the Black Arms jerk that tried to take his husband away.

"If there was any indications that Flame was faking being over Shadow then Ember would not allow his son to come here. Ember has no shame in getting inside of his sons head and checking to see if Shadow is on Flames mind in that way still. He is very confident his son is no longer obsessing over Shadow and there are no secret plans to kidnap my son either." Doom confidently said for he was very sure Dark Flame no longer wanted to be with Shadow.

"So they have their own hive mind link thingy and that means there are no secrets. Ok I am starting to feel a little better with this visit but I wont have him alone with Shadow." Sonic said with a more relieved expression but was sounding very serious.

"That is understandable but you have to remember Shadow might come here without you to see him. I, of course, will inform you if that happens and will not leave them alone while here together. I do not want any conflicts with other Black Arms or a war breaking out between myself and Ember." Doom semi seriously said with a determined look in his eyes to keep this promise.

"If that happened Mobius will be caught in the crossfire and everyone down there will suffer before they perish." Black Death calmly said with a frowned expression.

"I take it Ember is just as big as you were when you first came here." Sonic said with an unimpressed expression at Doom and Death.

"We never stopped being dangerous or mighty Sonic but I understand what you mean. Yes he has a huge army and other Black Arms follow him, they will join the war and fight against us regardless to the fact we all get alone well." Doom explained with a deep frowned expression, not wanting any of that to happen.

"Right. I will leave that part for you to share with Shadow, I have the more challenging part to share." Sonic said with a serious look at Doom.

"How long is Dark Flame staying for exactly, you never said?" Sonic asked as he wanted to move on and get the answers he came here for.

"Two weeks, maybe three." Doom answered as he and Sonic locked eyes.

"Great now things are more of a challenge. How the hell am I going to make sure Shadow doesn't like start a war by killing Flame?" Sonic groaned as he threw his hands up in the air, unable to find a solution to this.

"You are totally right, shopping on Nesscar is very different to Mobius." Becky said as she and Crystal walked into the area everyone was.

"My lovely Becky we have a problem if we cannot stop my bad tempered brother from starting a war!" Eclipse dramatically said as he watched his partner and somewhat step-mum join the group.

"Excuse me?" Becky tilted her head in puzzlement and was looking quite confused.

"What have we missed while we were shopping on Nesscar?" Crystal asked and was not looking all that impressed with what Eclipse had said.

"Do you remember Dark Flame my love?" Doom softly asked as he and Crystal locked eyes.

"Yes and I also recall he was getting a little too close with Shadow." Crystal replied and was still not looking happy.

"That is an understatement, he kidnapped Shadow while he was carrying my children and wanted Shadow to be his." Sonic said with a hint of anger as once again he was reminded of that moment.

"He did what now?" Becky said with shock at hearing what happened.

"Do not be concerned my beautiful vixen, I will keep you safe and out of harms way." Eclipse promised with a loving smile at Becky.

"Uh-huh, you are acting like war has broken out and on its way here." Becky raised a brow as she looked back at her boyfriend.

"Anyway Dark Flame is coming for a visit in a couple of months time, on his way actually, and we are not sure how Shadow will react to this news." Doom explained the little situation they were in.

"And why did you say he can come visit for?" Crystal asked with some anger in her eyes at her partner.

"That is exactly what I asked and only got, he's changed, as my answer." Sonic grumbled with arms crossed and looking up at Black Doom for a better answer than that.

"He feels regretful for what he did and wants to make amends, he wants to start over so to speak." Doom calmly answers while keeping eyes locked on Crystal.

"I suppose everyone deserves a second chance but the first sign of him getting too close to Shadow then he is going home." Crystal seriously said with a look that told Doom she will also not be happy with him either.

"Understandable and when Flame arrives I will be giving him some rules and warnings." Doom replied with a slight look of nervousness for he was well aware his partner can be very frightening when she becomes angered enough.

"Good well me and Becky are going to have a nice coffee at the mall, we will see you later bye." Crystal happily said with a satisfied smile at Doom.

"If you need us for anything then don't be too scared to interrupt our girl time." Becky winked as she looked at Eclipse then Crystal teleported them both down to the mall for that coffee.

"I am so not bothering them." Eclipse said with a chuckle, he would rather not get on his partners moody side.

A couple of hours later…

"Ok Sonic you can do this. Just go home, sit Shadow down and tell him." Sonic thought as he was back and running around to help with his nerves, only it wasn't helping all that much.

"Oh why can't Doom tell Shadow, why does it have to be me for?" Sonic thought with worry as he slowed down so he was no longer running at top speeds since he was close to his home now.

"Lets just get this over with." Sonic muttered as he slowed right down to a jog.

Sonic sighed deeply as he began to walk to the front door then stood in front of it. He reached out to open the door but froze as the door was being opened. Sonic smiled nervously as he saw his husband then mentally took in a very deep breath to calm himself down.

"And you are standing there because?" Shadow asked with a raised brow in question to why his husband was not making any moves to come in, he wasn't exactly blocking the entrances to stop Sonic.

"You busy?" Sonic asked as he did well to hide his anxiousness.

"Am I busy you ask. Well considering I am at home alone with our kids I would say yes I am." Shadow said with a grin as he lent against the door frame with arms crossed while locking eyes with Sonic.

"Get your brother to watch them because you are now busy with something else." Sonic said as he wanted to tell Shadow this news away from the kids.

"Oh, is that so well I better give him a call then." Shadow smirked with amusement and wondered what his husband had planned for almost two o'clock in the afternoon.

"Eclipse Sonic needs you to baby-sit the kids, he wants to take me somewhere apparently." Shadow called to his brother as he kept eyes on Sonic.

"Uncle Eclipse at your service brother." Eclipse appeared next to Sonic while saluting at Shadow.

"Thanks Eclipse, we wont be long ok." Sonic said with a nervous smile as he watched Eclipse and Shadow swap places.

"Do not worry about a single thing, I have everything covered." Eclipse winked then closed the door.

"Lets have a race to the lakeside babe, the first one there gets to chuck the loser into the lake." Sonic said as he and Shadow turned around and walked away from the house together.

"So you finally want to learn how to swim huh? Being thrown into a lake will not teach you how you know." Shadow teased while glancing at his husband.

"I have you know Shads, I wont be the one in that lake, you will be." Sonic grinned as he spoke then shot off at top speed.

"Even with that head start I will win this." Shadow muttered with an amused smirk then ran off fast, his skates activating when he reached high speeds.

Shadow caught up with Sonic within seconds and kept to Sonics pace most of the way. As soon as that lake was up ahead Shadow shot forward and made it first. Sonic deeply frowned as he lost and stopped in front of Shadow. He wasn't happy he lost and was hoping Shadow wouldn't throw him into the lake.

"Oh relax my love, there will be no swimming lessons today." Shadow said with a grin and was feeling amused by Sonics grumpy look to losing this race.

"I want a rematch, you clearly cheated somehow." Sonic mumbled as he looked away.

"Sure Sonic and this has nothing to do with you getting older." Shadow thought as he rolled his eyes.

"So why did you want to bring me out here for?" Shadow asked as he decided his husband needed a distraction from that loss.

"Well babe, I thought the calm relaxing scenery would be a nice change." Sonic said as he quickly lost his grumpy look and was back to feeling nervous while looking back at Shadow.

"What is it that you need to tell me?" Shadow asked with a deep sigh and just knew Sonic had news to share that was not going to be good.

"What makes you think I have something to tell you?" Sonic asked with a raised brow.

"First, you ask my brother to baby-it the kids out of the blue. Second, you take me here to a relaxing place. Third, you are starting to look nervous as if what you have to tell me will make me mad. Whatever it is I am sure I will not react the way you think ok." Shadow answered with a grin and knew he was right.

"Believe me what I have to tell you will have you blow your top." Sonic thought as he nervously smiled at his husband.

"I really do not know how to tell you this in a nice way so I am just going to come out and say it. Your dad is allowing Dark Flame to visit the Black Comet." Sonic said then took a couple of steps backwards so he wasn't so close to Shadow.

"Ok when is he coming?" Shadow asked calmly as he smiled at Sonic and not looking mad.

"I was expecting more rage and anger than this. I do not know what is worse, a calm Shadow or a super pissed off one." Sonic thought as he swallowed hard.

"In a couple of months from now." Sonic answered as he was still expecting Shadow to blow a fuse any second now.

"Right, well thank you for telling me Sonic." Shadow said with his smile still on his muzzle.

"Are you ok?" Sonic asked and was still on edge a little.

"No and now I have to go to the Black Comet." Shadow said with a scary sweet tone and chaos controlled to his fathers home.

"This will not end well." Sonic muttered with worry then decided to run home as fast as he could to relive Eclipse from baby sitting duties in case Eclipse was needed to help defuse Shadows rage.

Shadow appeared exactly where his father was but any anger he was going to display stayed inside as his children were also here with Eclipse. He forced a smile as all looked over at him then he walked forwards to join his family.

"Shadow, what a pleasant surprise." Doom calmly said with a slight devious look at his son.

"He knew I was coming to blow my top and got Eclipse to bring my kids here to prevent that. Cleaver dad but you are not free from my wrath for what you allowed." Shadow thought as he stopped by his family and kept that forced smile on his face.

"Eclipse I do hope you left a note for Sonic to tell him you have brought our children up here." Shadow pleasantly said as he looked at his brother.

"Of course, I had Jamie write it as we got ready." Eclipse smiled back with a wink at his brother.

"Yeah, left the note on the fridge. It says, gone to the Black Comet to save grandpa Doom from mums wrath." Jamie said with amusement as he looked at his mother.

"Right." Shadow dryly said and wondered if his children knew why he was going to have it out with their grandfather.

"Why you mad at grandpa Doom mama?" Sapphire asked sweetly as she smiled up at her mother.

"Good, they do not know and hopefully I can keep this from them for as long as possible. If I am very lucky they will never know." Shadow thought with inner hope his children will never find out Dark Flame is coming.

"Yeah, we want to know why you are mad." Amber said with a grin.

"I am not mad." Shadow calmly said as he looked at his children with serious eyes.

"I am outraged." Shadow thought as he kept his serious look in place.

"Then why are you here and not with dad?" Jamie asked with a devious grin, he knew his mother was mad about something or his uncle would not have told him to write those words on that note.

"Remember mama, you mustn't lie." Sapphire said as she too grinned a little deviously at her mother, she able to feel anger coming from her mother and knew he was mad.

"Sometimes I wish my off spring took solely after their father and gained nothing from me and my alien side." Shadow thought and remained silent which was not helping his case at all.

"Mama." Shade softly called with a smile up at his mother.

"Oh god he knows." Shadow thought as he looked back at Shade.

"Yes Shade, what is it?" Shadow asked softly back.

"Who Dark Flame?" Shade innocently asked and knew this being was hated by his mother, he could feel that, but also curious to know.

"He is a big jerk and stole mama away." Sapphire said with anger in her voice while also looking annoyed that that name was mentioned.

"Oh my chaos he is coming back isn't he?" Jamie said with wide eyes as he figured out why his mother was mad at his grandfather.

"He has changed and not the same as he was back then. He wishes to make amends and start over. His father would not have allowed him to come here if he had sinister intentions." Doom calmly said as he could feel the tension rising.

"I suppose everyone does deserve a second chance." Shadow said with a small frown and was not going to once drop his guard while Dark Flame was around.

"Mum has a point but I will so kick his ass if he dares to get too close to any of us." Jamie seriously said with promise.

"He will not get close or be left alone. I will be keeping my eye on him and his movements so if I suspect any foul play then I will sort it out personally." Doom seriously said and was giving his son a firm look.

"Remember brother, you cannot kill him or war will break out and that will mean the end of everything." Eclipse factually said with a grin at Shadow.

"War, what do you mean war?" Shadow asked with a raised brow at his brother, not understanding how causing harm to Dark Flame would cause a war to happen.

"If you attack Dark Flame without being provoked or have a very good reason to then his father will declare war. Dark Ember has a huge army and a fan base consisting of other Black Arms family groups. He will have way more back up than we will and they will destroy the planet along with the Black Comet. So brother, do not start a damn war ok." Eclipse explained with a deadly serious look.

"I am not going to start a war and I will not do anything to him ok. I will hear what he has to say only so chill." Shadow casually said with a grin at Eclipse.

"Daddy has to be with you when you go speak to Dark Flame." Sapphire said with a hint of fear in her voice.

"I do not need your father there, I can handle it myself ok." Shadow calmly said with a small smile but could tell his daughter was going to keep insisting Sonic attended the meet up too.

"Not sure you get a vote mum." Jamie seriously said as he crossed his arms and gave his mother a semi firm look.

"It would be wise to have Sonic there with you as you and Dark Flame chat." Doom calmly said and was feeling quite amused with witnessing his grandchildren ganging up on Shadow.

Meanwhile…

"So that is where they all went. I say good luck to them." Sonic said as he finished reading the note he found after scouting the house for his kids and Eclipse.

"Well I know they will be a while." Sonic thought as he left the kitchen and approached the front door only to stop half way to it.

"Who the hell is knocking on the door?" Sonic muttered to himself as he stared at the front door, it being knocked on again.

Sonic approached the door and slowly reached out to open it. When the door was opened he gave a surprised expression at who was standing there. Sonic was shocked for he hadn't seen this person for a long time and was now wondering why he was standing here at his front door grinning at him.

"Mighty, it is good to see you, it has been years." Sonic said as he was trying to recover from the shock at seeing Mighty standing there before him.

"Yeah, been travelling. So, you going to invite me in?" Mighty said with a hint of amusement at seeing Sonic looked shocked with seeing him.

"Yeah, sure. Come on in." Sonic said with a grin as he stepped to the side to let his old friend into his home.

"Travelling you say, go anywhere nice?" Sonic asked as he closed the door and turned to face Mighty.

"Oh you know went here, went there. Nothing special really." Mighty casually said with a shrug.

"What have you been up to, I heard you are married with kids now." Mighty said with a grin as he was motioned to follow Sonic into the living room.

"Yeah best decision I ever made." Sonic happily said with a bright smile as he and Mighty sat on the sofa together.

"Who's the lucky lady, anyone I know?" Mighty asked with a teasing look at Sonic.

"Oh wow, you really have been living under a rock and off the radar." Sonic thought as he gave Mighty a slightly nervous look.

"Well no lady but I am sure you will like my husband." Sonic said with an anxious laugh while running fingers through his quills.

"Husband and you both adopted?" Mighty raised a brow and was not expecting this news.

"Not exactly. You see Shadow…" Sonic went to share but was stopped from continuing.

"Shadow as in the guy who almost destroyed the damn planet twice?" Mighty asked with a small frown and wondered why the hell Sonic would choose Shadow to be with.

"So you know who Shadow is then?" Sonic asked with a small frown and hoped his friend will not get upset with his choice to be with Shadow.

"I know a little about him, not much but enough to know he is dangerous." Mighty seriously said with a deep frown.

"Shadow is not dangerous, ok maybe he can be but only when provoked." Sonic said with a nervous look in his eyes.

"Hey it is your life I suppose. Say, I don't suppose you could help me out?" Mighty asked with a grin at Sonic.

"Yeah sure, what's up?" Sonic replied and hoped it wasn't going to be anything unruly.

"I need a place to stay and I thought why not ask my good friend Sonic. I haven't seen you in so long and it would be a great opportunity to catch up. So what do you say?" Mighty said with a slight desperate look for a yes.

"I would need to run it by Shadow first." Sonic said as he was unsure if he should allow Mighty to stay with him and his family for a few days.

"So you need permission from Mr Ultimate Lifeform? It is clear on who wears the trousers in your marriage." Mighty teased with a slightly devious look at Sonic, grinning with amusement with what he had just said.

"Hey wait just a sec here. I do not need to get permission from my husband." Sonic said with a small frown and felt a little offended by Mighty's statement.

"Great so where do I call home in here?" Mighty said with his grin widening.

"Oh boy, I hope Shadow is ok with this." Sonic thought as he had a feeling things were going to go very wrong very quickly.

(Another chapter done and thanks for reading. I hope it was a good read and please review if you have the time to. Until the next update…)