Author's Note: Ooohh, another chapter. There's not much to say. Although, this one is considerably shorter than the other's. Sorry about that but, not only was it exhausting on my part but it would keep you guys waiting and isn't that the fun part about reading; the suspense! Anyway, yeah, so...enjoy.

All spelling and grammatical errors are completely my fault. Please correct me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic or anyone related. I do own Chelsea.

Chapter 15: And…He's Gone

This was definitely not how they wanted to end their birthday.

Not like this.

Sonic and Silver didn't expect to see their mother run off crying. They had tried to ask what was wrong but it was useless. All they got out of her was a watery, "I'm sorry but we're not watching the movie." And then a loud bang of her bedroom door ended it. Silver had tried numerous times to get her to talk but all she ignored him. Sonic, who obviously knew this was going now where, went to his next resort.

Shadow.

Later he would find out he might as well talk to a brick wall. It was a full blown surprise that the older brother leaned against the wall with his head in his hands and knees, sobbing, something he quite actually never saw. Sonic desperately tried to sooth the young hedgehog but each time he got close a fearsome glare would be sent his way. A glare so cold, he felt his spine shiver. It was like no other glare. This one seemed to mean 'you come close and, I swear, I will kill you.' But, of course, his cold demeanor never stopped the azure hedgehog. So why should he stop now?

"Shadow, please tell me what happened between you and mom. Why are you both crying?" Sonic asked. He sat in front of his sobbing look-alike, praying that he would respond. And as usual, he didn't.

What could he do? No less than a foot away from him was a hedgehog, a hedgehog that was known for his strong stature and stoic attitude, crying his heart out in his lap. Sonic felt a strong pull in his chest as he saw the other's fur matted and damp with tears. "Please tell me? I-Silver and I will help you. We can just bring you to mom and-"

His emerald eyes widened as ruby orbs bored into him. The only thing going through his mind was,

The closet.

Why was he thinking about the closet at such a time? Well, unknown to Shadow and his mother, Sonic and Silver saw what happened. He wasn't sure if his lighter furred brother remembered but, he sure did. He remembered every single detail. He remembered the glare, which was so scary. He remembered when those same ruby irises glistened with so much hate, worry and fright it was unbelievable. He remembered how shadow growled and snarled at Chelsea. He might've not known what was happening but, he remembered. But what did this have to do with anything?

Well, those same emotions were clear and evident in his eyes.

From that day, when they were smaller, he never wanted to see Shadow look like that again. His eyes were so malicious, so devil-like, so…evil. He refused to think his brother was evil. He wasn't! He read the Bible. He believed in God. He accepted Him as his personal savior. He did everything he did. Yeah, everyone messed up but that didn't mean anyone was evil. But it was hard to not think that when he glared at him like this, as if he were the devil himself.

Sonic gasped and jumped back. He panted wildly as Shadow was suddenly in his face, teeth-no, fangs bared. It was like he had changed into a completely different hedgehog. He could no longer find a trace of him. He looked and looked, harder. Refusing to believe what his inner self was screaming.

His eyes are that of a demon. No good. No good.

"Sh-Shadow! Stop. Y-your scaring me." Sonic cautiously backed away.

Shadow growled loudly, fur standing, fangs glistening. His voice was so low yet so dangerous. "Don't you dare bring her face to me you worthless piece of trash."

Why was he acting like such an animal?

"Shadow stop acting like such a-"

"SHUT UP! You will leave me be or you will be sorry!" and with that the crimson striped hedgehog stood up and walked away. His walk looked calm and composed from behind. His fur was back in its place and his quills were swaying side to side, like they usually did. But that cold chilling aurora stayed surrounding him. It was so thick Sonic swore he felt his throat close. His command was so quick, so blunt and so….

evil.

This was all too confusing for Sonic. He was found, frozen, on his spot by Silver who frantically shouted, "Sonic! Sonic! What's wrong with Shadow? He just left the house! I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen. Mom won't listen either. It was like she didn't care. Sonic what's going on!?"

For some reason, that didn't surprise Sonic.

"Something really bad happened Silver. Something really bad. I don't know what happened but, I do know, Shadow won't be coming back for awhile."

Chelsea's P.O.V.

There were just certain times when you question anything and everything you ever knew. Sometimes I question why I was even given the things I was given. I don't understand half of the things God does. I don't know if it's just one big plan he had or I have to be taught something or maybe I was getting punished. I don't know but, right now I really just want everything to stop. This was too much for me to handle.

Why would God give three hedgehogs to me? Someone who was so mean, so impulsive, so impatient, so self-centered. I never think about what I say. I try to hurt your feelings if you hurt mine. I don't understand. I know I shouldn't doubt what God does but, how can I not? I just destroyed one of the most precious relationships in my life. My messed up life.

Oh, Shadow.

For hours I've cried over the ordeal. Every tear I shed was hot and wet. My face was soaked in the salty substance to a point where my face felt hard and tight when it dried. I curled into a tiny ball under the sheets pulling the covers over my shivering form. I buried my face in the pillow soaking it also. My head felt so warm but my body felt like it had been dipped in ice. I gasped for breath loudly, as that was how I cried. I inhaled deeply before exhaling shakily, couching. My hair was in a tangled mess too. But I didn't care.

I deserved it.

I didn't care that I felt as if my head was about to explode because of my pounding headache. I didn't care that my stomach cramped and churned horribly. I definitely didn't care. I wanted to suffer. I deserved to. All I did to my children was make them suffer so, it was only fair that I did too. I didn't deserve forgiveness from my Lord. I have hurt my child so much.

I hurt Shadow so much.

I screamed at him. I cursed at him. I didn't allow him to call me mother or momma. Those big, red eyes, I adored; I turned them down. I declined his heart of the love he desperately needed. I'm the one that ripped him away from myself. I, of course, inflicted unbearable pain on his heart. The way he screamed for my forgiveness made my heart burn with regret.

Why couldn't I think for myself for once?

Why couldn't I just ground him and hug him later. None of this would've happened if I had just punished him like any other mother. All he would've done was stormed off. All of this could've been avoided if I would've just thought for once!

I sobbed violently as the whole scene played in my mind again. Those pictures on his phone seemed so miniscule to me now. Yeah, it was wrong that he looking at the X-rated pictures but children make mistakes. That's how they learn. Why did I have to get so riled up?

For the next half hour or so I continued to cry and blame myself for everything. I sat up, suddenly, and ripped the covers away. I needed to apologize. Not just to Shadow, to all of them. Every day they had to deal with my behavior, which was unacceptable. They should never have to endure such cruelty every day.

I know the MRF were cruel people but they made the ultimate mistake in giving Sonic, Shadow and Silver to me.

Shadow was right. I wasn't a mother. I was a fucking caretaker.

When I got to the door I tore it open causing it to bang harshly on the wall leaving a small dent. But that didn't matter. I deserve to pay for that. I walked down the stairs and because of the dizziness from my headache I fell. I slid a step down or two before I stopped and somehow got to the bottom step. My back and bottom were terribly sore but, that didn't matter. I deserved the pain.

I slightly limped towards the guest room, where I last saw Shadow. When I walked in the room felt cold. As I stepped onto the carpeted flooring my eyes stung with more tears. My heart ached horribly as I could almost see myself and Shadow screaming our lungs out at each other.

"Shadow?" I croaked, my voice almost broken. I sounded horrible.

But instead I heard a higher voice. One, way, too high to be Shadow's. "Mom!? Is that you?"

Oh, it was Silver.

I didn't answer back, finding that I didn't have the strength, so I just followed the voice filled with deep worry yet inconsumable relief. My foot steps were hard and heavy as my feet marched towards the origin of the voice. Right when I got to the entrance of the office large hands gripped my shoulders. My eyes widened in slight surprise and I gasped. Silver worriedly looked at me before embracing me tightly. Still taken aback, I didn't get the chance to return the hug before he backed away, still holding my arms.

"Mom, something happened. Shadow-"

I raised a brow in question at Silver's sentence before it was interrupted by Sonic's. I turned my head towards the azure hedgehog standing at the door and then at my side in less than one second. His green eyes were wide and frantic and this had me slightly worried. "Mom, what happened between you and Shadow?"

My eyes watered terribly at the mention of the fight. I back away from Silvers grip and took my arm in my own hand. I looked to the ground in shame. Why did I have to be so horrible to him?

"It was all my fault. I-I was so mean to him. I promise I didn't mean to hurt his feelings. I pushed him. He had every right to call me that name. I deserved it. Please don't be upset with me. Please." I fell to the ground shivering. My hands hid my face while violent sobs ripped through my throat. I felt a pair of arms envelop me. Without a second thought, I pushed my head deep inside the hedgehog's chest, whoever it might be. Gloved hands patted and rubbed my back soothingly and we just stayed like that until my sobs decreased to sniffles. "It's alright mom. Everything will be alright. But you have to tell us what happened. And try not to cry okay. I'll be here," a voice, which I found to be Sonic's, said calmly. I nodded feeling a bit better from his soothing words. I wrapped my arms around his waist and began telling the horrible story.

At the end of all of it I had hot tears rolling down my cheeks and soaking the cerulean fur. I couldn't hold it in but I managed to hold in any sounds but, it made the pain in my chest ache. I rubbed the spot with a loose fist, hoping to make it go away.

But it didn't.

I saw, through a blurry vision, Silver bite the ends of his gloves and pace the room. I felt Sonic pull me closer as he breathed a "Wow…"

I sniffled, "I'm sorry."

This time, Silver answered, "For what?"

"For everything I do to you guys. I'm always saying something mean or forcing you to do something you don't want to do. I'm not understanding and I'm not fair on you guys. I'm sorry I'm not doing my job as a mother and loving you like you should-"

I widened my eyes as a hand tightly clamped over my mouth. I took the hand away and looked up at Sonic who scowled.

I did it again. I made him angry. What more could I do?

"Please don't be angry at me Sonic."

"How can I not when you talk bull about yourself?"

I sighed and only shook my head. "You wouldn't understand baby."

"Mom," he pleaded but I only turned away.

Suddenly a hearty laugh came out of nowhere. Sonic and I twisted our heads to the side. There, Silver grabbed his sides and doubled over. I would've been upset about it, I mean, what was so funny about this but as soon as the feeling of anger arose, I shot it down. I didn't want to lose him too. I don't think I could take it.

I was about to question his actions but Sonic beat me to it. "What's so funny Silver?"

We waited patiently for him to calm down and answer. When he finished wiping his tears he answered, "Mom."

"How was I funny Silver?" I asked bewildered.

He shook his head and kneeled down beside us. I let go if Sonic so I could face the two properly. Silver's golden hued eyes shimmered with child-like innocence and glimmered with so much happiness. How could they shine like that after I told him all the horrible things I did?

He reached for my hand and held it tightly. "I mean, it's funny how silly you are." I was about to say something before Sonic grabbed my other hand and smiled brightly. "He's right you know. I know both of you said some stuff that wasn't right but that doesn't mean you two meant it."

"Yeah," Silver said, "You both are at fault so you shouldn't beat yourself up about it. And don't you ever say that you're a bad mother or whatever cus' we all know that's not true."

"Yeah you gave us seven bowls of candy for crying out loud. If that's not a good mother than I don't know what it is," Sonic exclaimed. I laughed and let Silver continue.

"Yeah! And those lollipops were the bomb! Anyway, God gave us to you for a reason and I have to say, he made the best decision ever. We love you very much and no matter how much we say we hate you or how much we act like it, we couldn't survive without you. And you have to believe Shadow knows this too. Yeah, he might be mad right now but, I can tell you this, he loves you more than anything. And everyone knows he's the biggest momma's boy out of the three of us no matter how much he says he's not."

"You got that right. Cus' mom babys him so much. Come here Shady, let me give you kiss for that paper cut. Mommy will make that all better," Sonic grinned teasingly.

I smiled brightly and playfully hit the blue hedgehogs shoulder. The three of us laughed genuinely. I wiped away any remaining tears and warmly embraced the two hedgehogs before me. Their arms also enveloped me. I was so grateful to God for blessing me with three wonderful hedgehogs.

"Why did He give me such wonderful children? I love you both very much. You know that right?"

"Aww shucks," Sonic goofily said with a country accent, "Don't be gettin' so sweet on me momma." We laughed and he continued with his normal voice, "But really mom, no problem."

"We love you as much as you love us. Now all we have to do is find Shadow and you two can make up." I heard Silver say. Everything ended well but what did he just say?

I pulled back and smiled in confusion. "What do you mean; all we have to do is find Shadow? Why do we have to find him?" My heart started to race a bit although I didn't know why. What if…no Shadow would never.

But my doubts arose as the two looked to the ground and rubbed the back of their necks. Suddenly, my breathing turned into tiny pants and my eyes looked back and forth waiting for an answer. "Well?" I shouted with a frantic tone.

Sonic looked up worriedly and sighed, defeated. He looked towards Silver who only sighed and shook his head, yes. Why was he saying yes! Wasn't anyone going to answer me?

Emerald and golden orbs focused on me. I looked, expectantly at them with my face forward. Sonic put his hands up cautiously and said, "Mom, you can't freak out ok."

What did he mean; I can't freak out? Was it that bad? My blood started to rush to my heart and I could feel it hammer against my ribs. Did Shadow get hurt? Where was he? Did something happen?

Instead of answering I nodded frantically, wanting to know what the heck was going on!

Silver exhaled deeply before saying the statement that stopped my heart. It made my blood run cold and my body go numb. I would've fainted if it weren't for the shock. Why, why couldn't my life just be simple?

"Shadow went outside and we don't know where he went."

Sonic: Well, that was short.

SunLove: No need to remind me. I'm booked with homework. Stupid school.

Chelsea: Nu uh uh. School is good for you. Don't curse it.

SunLove: You people get on my nerves.

Silver: You better watch out mom. She's a grouchy one.

Chelsea: I've noticed.

SunLove: I'm right here!

Sonic: And nobody cares.

SunLove: Why are you all so mean to me.

Silver: Because you made Shadow cry. And Shadow never cries.

SunLove: I had too. It was part of the story!

Chelsea: Mmmhmm. Yeah, you keep believing that.

Thank you for reading! R&R

~God Bless You~