OMG!! I wonder what will happen. Read on to find out… Today's song is "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles copyright Sony BMG. I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed this story: DemonofLight69696 and an unknown person and whoever else!! Gracias! Also, I think there might be a really short, miniscule, size of a baby sea-monkey love-scene in this chapter but I don't know if it would get an M-rating…? It's not even that serious. Yep that's what I'm feeling… OK on with the story-
This Little Light of Mine
Chapter 3: Gone
"Hello?" The voice sounded indistinct through the phone but he knew it was her.
"Hey."
"Oh, Shadow. It's good to hear from you."
"Yeah, I haven't heard from you in a while."
"So how's being an honest man been treatin' ya?"
"Frankly, Rouge, it's awful."
She giggled. "I guess the wedding present didn't work out."
"It was alright."
"I know you didn't just call me after ignoring me for six years just to make idle chitchat."
"You know me so well…" he smirked. "I have a favor to ask of you."
It was extremely dark outside when Shadow had woken up. He figured he fell asleep at his desk again, since his eyes were sore and his head was throbbing. The entire house was silent. It had to have been only 10 pm. Even Iridessa had retired to the master bedroom. He, too, was tired but there was no way in hell that he was going to share a bed with her after what just happened.
Slowly, he made his way to the den where he would probably wind up sleeping for the night. The plush red couch and soft matching down-pillows were enough to cure even the most restless person's insomnia. He had fallen asleep quickly. Sadly, it wouldn't last.
Head under water and you tell me
To breathe easy for a while
Breathing gets harder
Even I know that
Shadow's eyes fluttered open to the hazy form of a hedgehog sitting on top of him. The only things he could make out clearly were her piercing golden eyes and the outline of her curvy figure.
Made room for me
It's too soon to see
If I'm happy in your hands
I'm usually hard to hold on to
She leaned down against him and their lips touched for the longest time. She continued to plant kisses all down his body. He didn't really know what was going on but it felt good to him. Like something he already knew. It was the touch of the woman he loved… or maybe, it was just his mind. Yeah, that's it, Shadow thought. I'm just a little delirious right now. This is what I want myself to see: The family that I always dreamed of having.
She sat up closer to his head and nuzzled his soft neck. It just felt so real.
The dark hedgehog smirked. "What the hell kind of crazy dream is this?" Shadow mumbled.
The female leaned closer to his ear and whispered to him. "This isn't a dream, Baby."
Blank stares at blank pages
No easy way to say this
You mean well but you make this hard on me
"But it feels so-" The woman put one of her perfectly manicured fingers to her husband's lips.
"I know. It feels good, doesn't it?"
Did it? Did he really like what she did for him enough to forgive and forget? Hell no! This is exactly what she wanted. She wanted for him to give in like he did for all those years. New Shadow would've just said yes like an obedient little man, but old Shadow… well he just didn't know what the old him would've done. He did have an idea, though.
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you ask for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or breakin' this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
All you have is leaving
I'm gon' need a better reason
To write you a love song today
The dark hedgehog lifted himself and his wife from the couch, practically bending her backwards in the process. He opened his eyes and looked straight into hers. "If you think, even for one second, that trying to seduce me will make me forgive you, you're not as intelligent as I thought you were." He stood from the seat and stretched.
She sat for a few seconds before replying. "What the hell did you just say to me?!"
"In plainer terms, I'm saying that you're acting like a mindless slut and that I'm still angry at you."
I learned the hard way
That they all say
The things you wanna hear
"Baby, don't say that." Iridessa stood from where Shadow moved her. "I'm sorry, Shadow but the girl is dead. That happened before I was even born. That was 75 years ago. You shouldn't hold a grudge that long." She cupped his face into her soft hands. "Besides, I'm the only one you should care about."
He swatted her hands away. "You just have no shame." The dark hedgehog stepped back towards the stairs.
My heavy heart sinks deep down under
You and your twisted words
Your help just hurts
You are not what I thought you were
Hello to high and dry
"Don't turn your back on me!" She yelled after him. "Shadow!?"
He ignored her shrill voice and continued up the stairs.
"Oh my God! What is it going to take for you to know I'm sorry!?"
This time, he did stop. He had the perfect answer to her question. "Do you want the truth, Iridessa, or do you want me to lie to you?"
Convinced me to please you
Made me think that I need this too
I'm trying' to let you hear me as I am
"Whatever makes you feel better…" She said. There was a bit too much sincerity in her light soprano voice. The actress had taken her place on stage.
"If you want the truth, Hell would have to freeze over, twice, before I forgive you for all the things you've said."
"What? Rice?" Iridessa spoke as if she had no clue what he was talking about. "Shadow, you know I can't cook."
All Shadow could do was roll his eyes at her last comment. Either she wasn't the intelligent, kind-hearted woman he thought she was, or she really thought he was stupid.
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you ask for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or breakin' this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
All you have is leavin'
I'm gon' need a better reason
To write you a love song today
The door of Light's room creaked open slowly and a pair of bright red eyes peered inside. After all that yelling, Shadow felt the need to check on his young son.
The boy's room was completely quiet except for the soft chimes coming from the nightlight. It shined a dim color on the blue walls of his bedroom. His floor lamp stood in one corner and the television was across from the bed. His Diego backpack was thrown on the floor and his homework was sitting on the small dresser next to his closet. He even had his own bathroom, decorated like an African safari. That's all he would ever talk about since he saw the Lion King on Broadway and Shadow just had to be sure his kid got what he wanted.
Promise me you'll leave the light on
To help me see
Daylight my guide gone
He tip-toed into the room slowly, trying not to awaken the sleeping child. Then, he slid in to the large bed and cuddled next to his angel.
'Cause I believe there's a way
You can love me because I say
The little boy started to stir in his blankets. "Daddy, is that you?" Light turned to face the older adult, his bright orbs looking into his father's ruby irises.
Shadow just shushed him and pulled him closer. "Yes. It's just me. But it's really late now so I need you to go to sleep now, okay." When did he become such a doting father?
"Okay," Light whispered. "Good night, Dad."
"Sweet dreams, Light."
I won't write you a love song
'Cause you ask for it
'Cause you need one, you see
Lying next to his child made Shadow think again about his plans. What would happen to Light when Shadow went on this little soul-search of his? Surely he couldn't leave him here. Shadow wouldn't wish Iridessa on anyone… but she had to go and he'd be damned if Light were to be put in a foster home just because she didn't want to take care of him.
"I guess you're coming with me then."
"Where're we going, Dad?"
"I'm not sure exactly, but I know it's far away from here."
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or breakin' this
Is that why you wanted a love song
'Cause you ask for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or breakin' this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
"Hey, wake up!" a voice called to the yellow hedgehog. Amber eyes met rubies as Iridessa sat up in the King-sized bed.
"What is it now, Shadow?" She spoke, she was still weary.
The black hedgehog held up a large suitcase in front of her.
"You're going on a business trip?
"No Iridessa," he sat down on the bed next to her. "You're going on a trip."
If your heart is nowhere in it
I don't want it for a minute
"What exactly do you mean?" There was no pseudo- feeling in her voice. She was genuinely confused.
"I mean that our relationship is over." He looked straight into her amber eyes. The face that she had on now was the one he fell in love with, the real her, not the mask that she wore on a daily basis. "We're through."
Iridessa looked from Shadow to the comforter she slept under and chuckled to herself. There was a plastered smile on her muzzle. The actress had put on another mask. "Oh, Shadow! And people said you had no sense of humor."
"You just don't get it do you?" He shook his head.
"So explain it to me," she spoke, her eyes narrowing into a glare.
Shadow leaned in a bit closer and spoke slowly. "I'm leaving you, Iridessa. Light is coming with me."
"You can keep the little bastard, I just want my stuff."
"That's just it, Iridessa, you have no stuff. Everything in this house is mine and I plan on selling it."
"Well, where am I supposed to go?"
"You're going back to your parents' house. I need you to pack up whatever clothes you're taking." He rose from the bed. "Now, I have some things I need to finalize and I don't expect to see you here when I get back."
Babe, I'll walk the seven seas
When I believe that there's a reason
To write you a love song today
"Hey Dad?"
"Yes?" Shadow answered the boy sitting at the bottom of the stairs.
"What's going to happen to us?"
Shadow smiled. "Well, I'm going back to my old secret agent job."
"You are?" Light asked. "Can I be an agent, too?"
"Sure, why not."
"Oh, and we're moving in with a friend of mine. She's really nice and I bet you two will be great friends."
"Okay, let's go!" Light stomped. "Why are we just standing around?" Light grabbed his father and dragged him to the car. Before he got in, though, he took one last look at his so-called "mother."
She was pacing back and forth, probably talking to grandpa about Dad's decision. For a minute or so, she looked right at Light.
He smiled the smile that she gave him: the devilish troublemaker-face, and waved at her. She quickly closed the blinds. Serves her right, too! He thought. What could he say, he loved sticking it to the adults, but this time, he was eating it up.