Mother Knows Best

Chapter Thirteen

Daylight seeped through the curtains of Shadow's bedroom window. The beams of sun irritated Shadow as he slowly woke up in the morning glow. He frowned at the fact that it was early, and it was morning. He then observed that the sleeping form of Kiera was burrowed into his chest. His arms cocooned her in his grasp.

His frown shifted to a smile as Kiera snuggled more into his chest. It seemed to Shadow that he wanted to hold her forever. He felt at peace and was entirely happy being with Kiera. Shadow didn't want to let her go or wanted her to leave but, sadly, she had to.

Kiera will be going back to Yukon River to Tails and we both will have to live through that goodbye again. Shadow thought as he sighed. He took in any time he had left with her. His nose caught a soft and elegant smell. He inhaled – of what he found to be – Kiera's scent and perfume.

God, she smells beautiful. How can she be so perfect? He thought as he nuzzled his face against her neck. Kiera shuddered awake as she felt his weight against her. Her eyes fluttered open and found Shadow hugging her to him. She blushed lightly at the sight of their limbs intertwining.

Kiera met Shadow's eyes as he lifted his head up from her shoulder. He gave her a smile. "Morning, beautiful."

She grinned. "Good morning, handsome. In a good mood?"

Shadow nodded. "Of course, I am. I woke up to you." Kiera thought honestly that with every moment she was with him she began to believe that she was falling for him deeper and deeper.

She liked that thought. "What a charmer." Kiera teased with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Shadow raked his fingers through her hair.

"Always, and only for you, love." Her heart fluttered.

What is this man doing to me? She thought, questioning herself. "Are you okay?" Kiera heard Shadow suddenly ask her.

"Yes." Deep down she knew that was a lie. She wasn't exactly okay but being with him made her feel 'okay'.

"Are you sure?" Shadow probed, to him she seemed to be there but be not really there. Kiera nodded.

"Yes. Now, kiss me, please?" He grinned, and leaned in to capture her lips with his own. Kiera met him half way. The two of them kissed passionately for what seemed seconds but were actually minutes.

Oxygen was never on their side, and the two of them broke apart. Shadow smiled at her. "What was that for?" He asked.

"I needed it." Shadow hugged Kiera to him once again. He buried is face into her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. Kiera held him close to her, enjoying him and his affection towards her. Kiera savoured the sweet and short time she had with him, and he did the same.

Shadow looked over at Kiera. He smiled at her. "What would you like to do on this fine day?" He asked her.

Kiera took a moment to think about what he was saying, but then recalled something that Shadow said. "I thought you were going to show me around the city?"

Shadow quickly nodded, now remembering that he said that he was going to show her all the hot spots and around his favourite spots in Mobius. "Of course."

Kiera began to trace his shoulder and chest muscles through his shirt he slept in. she wasn't looking up at him but she could tell what his expression would be and was. Kiera knew that Shadow was watching her caress every line and curve of his toned muscles.

Shadow shuddered and a shiver zig-zagged down the curve of his spine. Kiera just being there made his insides melt, and now her fingertips ghosting across his muscles in his chest and shoulders was more than intoxicating.

Kiera finally looked up at Shadow, noticing how much he was enjoying her touch and caress. "When do we start?" Shadow blinked and was shook and stricken back into reality.

"What?" He asked confused, breathing in and out deeply.

Kiera gave him a look full of innocence and purity. "You said you were going to show me around Mobius, so, when do we start?" That little vixen, he thought, she distracts me with just a mere touch of her fingers and teases me with the single thought of doing something more with her. Shadow groaned and cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look straight up at him.

"You just love to tease me, don't you?" He spoke with heavy frustration.

Kiera smirked lightly, with a glint of a mischievous nature in her dark auburn orbs. "You love it, really." Shadow grinned and covered her lips with his own. Kiera slipped her arms around his neck, melting into his affectionate and passionate kiss.

Shadow had taken Kiera out of his apartment and out to show her his favourite places and spots in Mobius. He had shown her the hot spots of Mobius around his area and apartment first. He had shown her Green Hill Zone, Emerald Hill Zone, and Twinkle Park. Shadow was saving Angel Island for last on the 'sight-seeing' list.

He thought that she would appreciate and like the beauty of the nature and scenery of Angel Island. Also, Knuckles would be there anyway, to watch the Master Emerald. Shadow had also thought that it would be nice to have a great chat with him and have him meet Kiera – as he had told Knuckles all about her once he got back from Yukon River.

Kiera had interlocked their arms together, and Shadow pulled her softly closer to him while exiting Twinkle Park and walking slowly to Angel Island. Kiera looked to her right, and up at Shadow. She gave him a smile. "So, where to next?" She asked softly.

He glanced at her, and returned her smile. "To Angel Island, and I thought I could take you to dinner at my favourite restaurant." Kiera liked the thought of that suggestion, as she could tell that she would hungry soon.

She nodded. "That would be lovely, Shadow." He was glad that accepted and agreed with his offer and suggestion. He didn't know when Kiera would be leaving for Yukon River, and he didn't want to know. He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible and not have the countdown clock taking away his time with Kiera.

It didn't take them long to get to Angel Island. Kiera twirled herself and looked at the beautiful scenery of Angel Island. Shadow smiled at her as she did so. "It's gorgeous." Kiera grinned happily.

"I'm glad you think so." Kiera hastily turned, as did Shadow, and met the face of Knuckles.

"You must be Kiera, right?" Kiera nodded slowly.

Knuckles smiled at her and Shadow. "I'm Knuckles, Shadow has mentioned you, well, a lot." Shadow flushed as his cheeks heated up at that, and shuffled his feet. Kiera also blushed at the fact that Shadow has told her to his friends.

"It's very nice to meet you, Knuckles." She shook his hand, and he reciprocated.

"I wouldn't have thought that Shadow would have told his friends about me."

Knuckles smiled. "Who wouldn't tell his mates that he has a beautiful woman on his arm?" Kiera smiled, and giggled. She felt a kiss on her cheek from Shadow and blushed.

"And with each passing moment she gets more gorgeous." Shadow smirked against her cheek, before kissing it softly once more. Kiera blushed much more deeply at his affectionate kisses and way of words.

"You have gone soft, haven't you?" Shadow heard Knuckles say, and he chuckled.

"Only for her. I can still kick Sonic's ass, if I wanted to." Kiera gently hits him, giving him a look.

"Love, I won't kick his ass, okay? Is it alright if I don't do it in front of you?" Shadow asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Kiera rolled her eyes, and smiled slyly at him. "Yes."

Knuckles laughed. "Well, Shadow, looks like you have a keeper if she is willing to let you beat the crap out of Sonic."

Shadow smirked at that. "Obviously." Kiera blushed at that, and shuffled her feet. The two of them followed Knuckles, and sat down in front of the Master Emerald. Kiera sat in between the two men, but closer to Shadow than to Knuckles.

"What brings you up to Angel Island, Shadow?" Knuckles asked him.

"I was showing Kiera around Mobius, and I saved the best for last."

Knuckles smiled. "Thanks." He motioned the couple to sit down in front of the Master Emerald. Kiera sat beside Shadow as he sat a metre beside Knuckles. Knuckles smiled at the two of them.

"So, how did you two love birds meet?" He said. Kiera smiled lightly.

"I met her as Omega, Rouge, and I ran into some trouble on our last mission. We went to Tails' new place to get help with his repairs, and that's when I met her." Shadow said with a smile as he took a hold of Kiera's hand.

"Love at first sight, then? How Romeo and Juliet of you two." Shadow chuckled.

"You could say that." Kiera then spoke up.

"I hope we don't kill ourselves though." The three of them went into a barrel of laughter.

"No, but, seriously." She said.

Knuckles and Shadow chuckled at that. They both enjoyed her humour. "Just to let you two know, Rouge came by yesterday. She wasn't very happy." Kiera became silent, she didn't want Rouge to be upset because of her, and Kiera knew it was because of her. Shadow lightly squeezed her hand, reassuringly.

"What did she say?" Kiera asked softly. "

Nothing worth repeating, but I can say that she wants you gone…from Mobius, specifically." Knuckles said, sighing sadly. He had grown quite fond of Kiera, he even considered her one of his friends.

"Oh…" Kiera said near to a whisper.

"You have no need to worry, Kiera. She wouldn't do anything to hurt you physically," Knuckles reassured her. Kiera glanced at Shadow then back to Knuckles.

"What about emotionally?" He smiled sadly and softly at her.

"That depends on how you take it." He replied.

"I wouldn't let her hurt you, Kiera, I promise." Shadow swore, as he tilted her chip up to look up at him. Kiera smiled sadly at him, she nodded.

"I know, Shadow." Kiera gave him a chaste and soft kiss.

The two of then spent a few hours speaking and chatting with Knuckles until it was time for them to go out to dinner. They left Knuckles and Angel Island, and set off to the restaurant, Sempre Con Amore (Always, With Love). Shadow and Kiera ate and chatted, and shared love and laughter with each other but their joyous night came to an end as it was too late to even find your mobile phone in the blackness.

Shadow walked with Kiera back to his apartment, as they entered Shadow asked her a question. "What movie would you like to watch? – if you want to, of course." He turned to her with a smile, but he soon lost that smile as he saw the saddened expression on her face.

"What's wrong, Kiera?" He asked softly as he took a step closer to her.

"I can't stay, Shadow…" Kiera whispered out sadly.

Shadow stood in his spot. He finally came to his senses. Kiera has to go back to Yukon River and back to Tails. Her family and home. She doesn't have a home here, in Mobius. She can't stay, she has Tails. She's his 'mother' but I don't want her to go. I don't want her to leave me, again. It hurt the first time, before we were officially together. How will it feel this time around? My heart is telling me to go with her, but my brain is telling me I have to stay. For my job, and friends. But I love her. Shadow thought to himself. Kiera looked at his face, she wanted to cry at his sad and distraught expression. She hated that she made him feel that way. She didn't want to leave but she had to. "I-I'm sorry, Shadow." She stuttered slightly. She was very close to tears.

Shadow stepped forward, and encased her in a tight and comforting hug. It was highly needed, and wanted. Kiera snaked her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. Shadow wrapped his favourite jacket around her shoulders. Kiera looked up at him with a sad, questioning look. "Take this with you, it will be my second reason to visit you in Yukon River."

Kiera blushed lightly at his statement. "What was the first?"

"I can't live without you."