Epilogue

Three days later, Shadow and Rouge stood in the graveyard looking at a tiny grave, it had in fact been the same spot where Rouge had built the memorial for Shadow, but now that had been removed and Mariah's little grave sat in it's place.

There stood a small statue of an angel bat girl holding a rose and a butterfly on her outstretched hand, and on the plaque in front of it read a message:

Born into the this world only to fly back to Heaven

Mariah the Bat

Precious Daughter

We're thinking of you always

You'll never leave our hearts

Sleep tight little princess

Love mummy and daddy

Shadow squeezed Rouge's hand as they stared at it, it had been laid with flowers and messages from the sonic team and the Chaotix, and Cream had even placed a small white bear on the grave.

Rouge's tears fell as she looked at the tiny statue, "I don't understand it" whispered Rouge "why did she have to die?" Shadow shook his head, "it's my fault" he whispered "I shouldn't have disappeared in the first place; I should never have done what I did" his mind went back to when he had slaughtered the people who held him prisoner as he had escaped.

Rouge looked up and nuzzled her head against his, "please don't say that Shad" she whispered, "please don't blame yourself" Shadow squeezed his eyes shut, "I should have been there" he whispered "with you the whole way, then maybe things would have been different"

Rouge reached up her hand and stroked Shadow's cheek comfortingly, "you were brave Shadow" she whispered tracing the scar on his eye, "my brave dark hero" she looked down at Mariah's grave. Her tears fell again as she remembered how peaceful the little bat looked, comfortable in her father's arms as she had slipped away from their lives.

"Only less than three hours old" she whispered, "just a tiny fragile delicate child, taken too soon, too soon, only lived a short while to fly back to heaven" she looked at Shadow who slowly placed a teddy bear on the grave next to the statue, he then held up a small piece of paper with a message:

'I know that wherever you are, it is a happy place, hopefully you will meet those you knew me and they will look after you well and love you as much as they did me, you were a joy to me and your mother until you were taken from us too soon, one day we will join you and we'll be a family completed, Goodbye my precious child, and sleep tight'

Shadow then stood up, more tears falling, "I know our baby girl is happy" he whispered as he stood next to Rouge, "she will never know the unhappiness or cruelty we knew, she's in heaven….along with Maria, the Professor and Molly, they are looking after her"

Rouge rested her head on Shadow's shoulder feeling a little comforted by his words, but still heartbroken at Mariah's passing, she looked at the statue again as tears flowed from her eyes. "Only for a couple of hours Mariah" she whispered "you were in our lives, but now you're gone…there is a gap….only you could fill that gap" she looked down at Angel who curled up in her arms sleeping"

"When your big brother is older Mariah" she whispered "I will tell him about you" she kissed Angel's forehead "I'll make sure you're never forgotten, never, you'll never leave my heart…soul…or my life…my precious princess….be at peace" she placed a red rose in the teddy bear's hand.

Shadow then wrapped his arm around Rouge, "she's at peace Rouge" he whispered "come…" he whispered "let's go home" Rouge nodded "ok" she whispered, Shadow then slowly lead her out of the graveyard.

THE END

So Shadow came home and was reunited with Rouge and Angel, yet they suffered a loss, rest in peace little Mariah.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it.

Now I'm gonna start Behind Blue Eyes which stars The Deadly Six from Beauty's Imprisonment! I'm making this a Christmas fic, so watch this space!

Love Bloodryane666