"What the heck, why's there a lil cub running around or flying around, that looks like a mini you." Shadow heard Sonic ask stunned making Shadow sigh seeing a toddler brown-furred hedgehog female with quills like Shadow's but innocent making Maria giggle at her lil sis getting her to calm down. "Gerald made her but if GUN finds out, they'd put her in status which is bad. She doesn't have a name yet but she adores us." Maria explained to them seeing Maddie finding this sweet seeing the toddler cub curious but hugging Shadow's leg making a warm feeling flow through him making them smirk.
"It's called love, that's the feeling you have around Maria. Maybe you should name her Mei just a suggestion." Sonic told him seeing the toddler cub like that looking up at Shadow smiling which was cute seeing him nod liking that for his sister picking her up gently seeing her rub her lil nose against his making him surprised feeling protextive of her like with Maria making them surprised.
"I guess this is our family now, Mei." he told her unaware Unit was recording this with his camera which Shadow didn't notice making Sonic hope he wouldn't trash Unit like Knuckles seeing Maria go get Mei milk as Gerald had told them Mei was beyond the bottle stage which Shadow was relieved by but she still wore diapers which meant they had to buy more seeibg Mei drinking from the cup Maria had given her gulping then burping making them laugh. They made her a toddler bed in the guest room which was near where Maria and Shadow's room in case she needed them especially Shadow but Shadow was having a lot of feelings and thoughts involving Mei but the others understood.
"Sshhhhh Mei it's alright we're here, and know this place is unfamilar and you miss Grandpa's lab. But living in a lab isn't good trust me." Shadow said to Mei in a gentle tone. It was the middle of the night and Mei had woken up crying so Shadow had gotten up to check on her understanding she wasn't used to here being in Gerald's lab since she'd been created so understood his sister's anxiety which he got rocking her gently then focused as his wings came out making Mei's eyes go wide seeing him wrap them around her in a hug seeing her calming down guessing to her, his wings felt like a blanket but cuddling her was also calming him because he was anxious about Maria starting middle-school which he'd concealed from them.
"I'm anxious about Maria starting big kid school soon, but I've kept it secret, as I don't want her to be worried." Shadow said sniffling feeling her paw wipe them away astounding him. "Thanks Mei, you're not as bad as I thought and I can help you with your powers." he told her unaware Sonic had heard this feeling impressed by Shadow's calming Mei down finding it sweet going back to bed and hoped Shadow was okay. The next morning, the others saw a tired Shadow feeding Mei which Tom found sweet guessing this was a good thing.
"Shadow, did you even sleep last night, as I heard Mei crying." Maria asked seeing Shadow drinking strong coffee guessing the answer was no.