Wow... Is it me, or has it been like FOREVER since I last updated this story? Do you guys hate me? PLEASE DON'T! I mean, you have every right to hate me for making you wait soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long for an update, but please, please, PLEASE don't hate me! I've really been trying. My computer has a virus and I haven't been able to get on for the past two weeks. Anyway, I've kept you waiting long enough, so here's your chapter. Pleae enjoy and don't forget to review.

Chapter 8

Enter Team Dark

Shadow sat quietly in his room. It was dark and he was thinking. "This Machine" was playing in the background and his head bobbed slightly to the rhythm.

'I wonder what Robotnik wants with that chao. Speaking of which, where is that thing?'

Shadow opened his eyes to peer into the darkness of his room. He couldn't remember seeing the chao since they had brought it home. Maybe it was with Rouge. He reached his hand up to turn his stereo up and closed his eyes again. He was beginning to drift into sleep until he heard the faint sound of his door being opened. He arched an eyebrow in the direction of the door from his bed.

"Rouge, that you?"

A faint fluttering sound could be heard coming toward him.

"What is it? I'm kind of busy."

The sound only got closer.

"Rouge, if you don't want anything, than leave."

The fluttering stopped abruptly. Shadow reached toward the light switch, clearly becoming annoyed with Rouge's silence. He was even beginning to question if it was Rouge. He was automatically on the defensive and ready to strike at a split second. He flipped the switch and...

"CHAO!"

"AAHHH!" He fell right off his bed in utter surprise, legs tangled in his sheet, and in the cutest, most helpless looking position any Shadow fan-girl can imagine. (A/N: If you're wondering, yes, I am a Shadow lover and I am imagining him in this position right this second). He propped himself up on his elbows and stared at his attacker. It was that chao! He had been scared off of his bed by a chao! He was furious at himself and got up immediately, only to fall forward on his bed. He sweatdropped in anger.

Cheese landed on Shadow's back and began to chew on one of his quills. Shadow abruptly stood up, sending Cheese flying, but all he did was hover to a stop.

Once Shadow had himself untangled, he turned off his music and walked out of the room. Unbeknown to him, Cheese had latched onto his quill again and was chewing away.

Shadow walked into the living room where Rouge was sitting on the chair reading a Seventeen magazine, and Omega was plugged into the wall, recharging.

"Hey, Shadow," Rouge said from behind her magazine. "You ok? I thought I heard you scream." She lowered the magazine.

"You did. I'm fine, I just fell," Shadow said, monotonously.

"Oh. Ok. Have you seen the chao? Eggman said he was coming by to pick it up tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! Well why did he have us go through all the trouble of getting it so early?"

"Good question. Maybe his memory is starting to go. He's not exactly a spring chicken, y'know." Rouge went back to her magazine as Shadow sat next to her on the couch.

As he sat back to try to get his nap, both Rouge and Shadow heard a slight squeak. He sat up and tried again. The same squeak came.

"What was that?" He asked.

"I don't' know. Are you sitting on a loose spring?"

"I don't think so." Shadow sat up and Rouge looked behind his back.

"Oh! I think I found the 'spring'," She said. She then pulled Cheese off of Shadow's quill and showed him to Shadow.

"You!" Shadow growled and grabbed for Cheese, but Rouge pulled him away.

"Shadow, don't you dare! He's just a defenseless chao," Rouge said as she hugged Cheese to her chest protectively, inadvertently suffocating the small thing somewhat. (A/N: What's this? Rouge has a motherly side! OMG! Lol.)

"Why do you insist on protecting that thing when we could air-mail it to Robotnik right now?"

"Oh c'mon, Shadow. It's cute," Rouge said holding Cheese at arms length, "and I'm sure he wouldn't hurt a fly; I actually kind of hate to give him to Eggman."

Cheese just looked at Rouge with a look that told the world that he was totally oblivious to what was happening.

"Do you know what he wants it for?" Shadow prodded.

"I know just as much as you do: which is nothing," Rouge said as she put Cheese on the floor. He then began to wonder around and, upon coming to Shadow's shoe, found it very interesting. He began to sniff it, much to Shadow's discomfort.

"What is it doing?" He asked.

"I don't know," Rouge said from behind her magazine once again. "He can't hurt anything. Those shoes are practically indestructible."

"I know. It's just... weird."

"What is?"

"I mean, he's like a baby human."

"You don't like babies?"

"I didn't say that. It's just that a baby human can be very annoying."

"How so?" Rouge asked as she put she magazine down.

"Well for one thing, all they do is cry. They cry when they're hungry, when they're thirsty..."

"Because that's all they know how to do! And they're curious. That's why they wander around so much and get into so many things."

"I still don't like them."

"Well, Shadow, babies are harmless and defenseless. They can't hurt anything, and neither can this chao. Now, hush-up and feed it. Eggman's coming in the morning, and I don't want him dead from malnourishment."

Shadow sat staring at the chao as Rouge got up and left the room.

"Well, I guess it's just you and me," He said to Cheese who bounced around his feet joyously. "Alright..." He sighed. "I'll feed you."

Both of them left and went towards the kitchen.

I know...kind of short for such a long wait. Like I said, please don't hate me and give me a little time. I'm a little dusty on this fic, but I'm going to update myself and try to have another chapter in the works ASAP. Thanks for bring so faithful! Love you all! And don't forget to review!