Chapter 2 - Giving

So much for 'daily' I apologize for the lateness but hopefully the chapter will make up for it. :3

Enjoy and thank you BlackTails25, Shadow Commando and Joe the Hedgehog for reviewing XD

Shadow suddenly reappeared in front of Sonic a few seconds later. They were outside a small toy shop on the edge of Mobius. Even from outside, Shadow could hear children squealing and laughing; it filled him with dread.

"Hey, Shadow, you're just in time for Christmas shopping," Sonic chirped.
"Why do I have to do this anyway?"
"A little girl, called Emily, really wants to see you. She's a big fan but well... She's going through a tough time. I think seeing you would keep her hopes up."

Shadow looked at the shop and at a nearby coffee shop. "Nice thought- but kids never like me."
"Then use these muscles on your face and smile." Sonic smirked.
"I'm going to get a coffee," he grumbled.
"Oh no you don't. You can get a coffee later- The shops going to close in a while, so come on!"

With that, Sonic dragged Shadow inside.

"I hate you right now," Shadow muttered with his arms crossed. As he had presumed, the children were everywhere- screaming in delight at the sight of new toys and parents fighting for the last toy on the shelf.
"Aww, come on, Shadow. Don't be like that. As soon as we get some stuff for the kids we can go."
"Fine... Five minutes! After that I'm going for a coffee."

Sonic grinned "We'll be a little longer than five minutes, Shadow. You've obviously never been shopping before."
"Exactly and this is why," Shadow said, dodging a giant stuffed teddy that ended up getting thrown in the air.
Shadow said nothing for a while. Sonic could tell he was very annoyed; he couldn't resist a chuckle.
"Let's get this over with," he eventually sighed.

Over an hour later, Shadow was going to scream in frustration. He was carrying all of the toys whilst Sonic continued to pile more on.
"Sonic, how are you going to pay for- ugh... all this?" Shadow asked, being interrupted by another heavy toy landing on top of the pile.
"Me and The Orphanage raise a lot of money throughout the year. Then I get the presents with it," Sonic explained, a high level of pride and joy in his voice.
"Uh huh," Shadow mumbled, since a nod would not have been seen.

"Come on, I think that's everything we need."
Shadow was about to agree when he spotted something hidden on the bottom shelf. "Sonic, what's that?"
"Huh?"
"There on the bottom shelf." Shadow pointed with his foot, trying not to fall over.

Sonic crouched down to investigate. "Well what do you know, it's a music box... Hey, I bet Emily would love this!" he smiled, opening the box to reveal a ballerina, spinning to a peaceful song.
Shadow sighed. "Keep hold of it. Might as well buy it- you've bought everything else in the shop!"

Sonic chuckled and looked at the pile of toys. "There's not many... Right?"
"Would you like to carry this?!" Shadow said casually
Sonic quickly walked away, holding back a grin. "Let's go pay."
"I thought so..."

"Ok, so how much are we out by?" Sonic asked awkwardly.
"£40," the shopkeeper reported.
"Uhh, can I pay you back later?"
"Afraid not.
"Aww, come on! It's for the kids at the orphanage. I'm here every year... Help me out," Sonic begged but the shop keeper refused.

Shadow growled in annoyance. "Wait here. CHAOS CONTROL!"
"Shadow?!" Sonic called, but he was already gone. "Heh, this is awkward..."
Shadow reappeared a moment later and clamped his hand on Sonic's shoulder. Sonic dived in the air in surprise.

"Here's the rest of the money," Shadow said, resisting a sneer as he slammed a few notes in the shopkeepers hand.
Shadow and Sonic put the bags onto the few sleds they had bought and headed out.

"Never again," Shadow exclaimed.
"Yeah, He's never that grumpy," Sonic remarked, sitting on the edge of the sled.
It had been snowing all day, leaving the ground covered in about ten centimeters of snow. Underneath the snow was a thick sheet of ice. The ground had become a death trap for everyone.

"Well, I'm getting a coffee... Want one?"
Sonic was amazed to hear he was being offered one. "Can you repeat the question? I could've sworn you were offering me a coffee."
"You heard right, Faker," Shadow scowled.
"Are you ok? I think you're getting a case of Christmas Spirit."

Shadow glared in reply.

"Ok, a chocolate, if you don't mind?"
"I do mind, but I'll get you one anyway. However, that means you owe me £45 instead of £40."
"But it costs like £1.80?" Sonic questioned.
"I want some profit out of this chaos- other than a headache."
"Fine," Sonic sighed with a grin.

Shadow headed over to the stall to get the drinks.

Sonic leaned back a little as he guarded the toys. He looked around at the peaceful town. The southern part of Mobius was usually the fullest, but today it was quite empty. It was nice and quiet, which Sonic was grateful for- since it kept Shadow's mood lighter.
Smiling, Sonic watched two children that were deep in a snowball fight. Sonic yelped out as he had to duck to avoid one of them.

"Careful, you two," he called.
"Sorry, Sonic. Sean's got terrible aim," a pink hedgehog apologized.
"I do not! Abigail is worse," Sean, a blue fox, protested. He grabbed a snowball and hitting her in the shoulder.
"Hey!" Abigail exclaimed.

Sonic laughed as the two were soon deep in the fight again.
Shadow carefully made his way over to Sonic, making sure he avoided ice and snowballs.

"Here," Shadow said, offering Sonic the cup.
"Thanks, Shadow," Sonic exclaimed, standing up and taking it.
"We'd best get going." Shadow said after a while.
Sonic nodded.

"Hey, Sonic. Can we go to the hill with you guys? We wanna try out our new sleds."
Shadow wasn't impressed. "Another little 'tradition' of yours?" he scolded.
"Uh... yeah," Sonic winced.

"Pleeeaaassseee," the children begged in unison.
"You go with them, I'll get another coffee and wait here- just don't take forever," Shadow said.
"You sure?" Sonic asked.
"Yes, I could do with the peace." Shadow replied gruffly.

"Yay!" the children exclaimed.

Sonic grinned at Shadow before allowing Sean and Abigail to drag him around the corner and to the hill. "He's such a big kid." Shadow smirked, before taking a swig of his coffee.