As Sonic soon discovers, he is spending more time with Shadow than he ever had before. In fact, Shadow does everything Sonic wants to do: go watch a movie, a trip to the park, the gym, and the pool, since Sonic isn’t as afraid when Shadow is there to save him. One day, Sonic is saved from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich he was just about to eat, because he is allergic to peanuts. Shadow takes it as far away as possible and comes back to soothe the sad hedgie for making that mistake. Shadow gets used to the feeling of Sonic cuddling him and the kicking inside Sonic’s tummy. This is a dream come true for Sonic, finally being able to be close to him.
Out in the sidelines, Rouge watches, not amused.
Meanwhile, Knuckles paces back and forth on the altar of Angel Island. Things seem to have gone back to normal after the Master Emerald had been returned. However, things weren’t as normal for Knuckles as thoughts of Eris race through his mind.
“It’s been a week,” he told himself. “I hope she’ll come back safe.”
He collapses on his knees.
“For the love of God, what happened that night?”
He remembers when she had kissed him.
“That was so uncalled for, but I keep thinking about it... and her... Eris... she is pretty.”
“Who’s pretty?”
“AAH!” Knuckles yelped as he gets on his feet.
To his surprise, there she is.
“Did I interrupt something?” she wondered.
“N-no,” Knuckles blushed. “I-i-it’s just th-that-“
”Are you okay?”
Knuckles almost loses it.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It’s just not my day! Please don’t kill me if I say it’s because of you!”
Instead of frowning, Eris smirks.
“Me?”
Time stops for Knuckles.
‘Oh hell. I shouldn’t have said that.’
However, Eris plants another kiss on Knuckles’ lips. It has the same effect as the first. Knuckles just stand there.
Eris breaks away.
“Feeling better now?”
Knuckles’ face is as red as his body.
“Uhhhhhhhhh...”
“You’re acting like you don’t have any experience with women.”
“That’s because I don’t,” Knuckles confessed. “Nor do I understand them.”
Eris moves up to his cheek.
“I can give you experience.”
“Wh-what are you-“
Eris places a fingertip on his lips.
“Just do what I do. You’re bound to like it.”
She kisses him again.
‘Just do what she does.’
Slowly, Knuckles returns the kiss. The next thing he knew, his body is taking control of his actions. His arms wrap around her as she massages his shoulders. In the midst of this, soft purrs come from the femme feline.
Back in Patches Town, Shadow carries Sonic into the room where the Ultra Sound will begin.
“Really Shadow,” Sonic blushed. “You don’t have to carry me.”
“You said you were feeling tired,” Shadow recalled.
“Yeah, but I’m getting big faster than an average pregnancy. Don’t I feel heavy?”
“No,” Shadow denied.
“How long has it been? Thirteen weeks? Fourteen weeks?”
“You ask too many questions,” Shadow chuckled as he set him on the bed.
“Welcome back,” Seren smiled.
“It’s great to see you again,” Shadow replied.
“I’m happy to say my schedule won’t be as busy for a while.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“Are there any problems you want to put to attention?”
“Other than the morning sickness acting up again, he’s just fine.”
“I see.”
Seren takes out her notes.
“It seems as though Kublicon pregnancy trimesters are on a seven week scale.”
Sonic blinks.
“Really?”
“That’s what it says,”
Sonic stares at the ceiling.
“That means I’ll have a child in no time.”
“I’ll take care of you both,” Shadow promised.
“I know,” Sonic smiled.
There is a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Seren said.
An average, pre-teen girl with hair and eyes like Seren stands in the doorway.
“Mom?”
Seren’s face shines with joy.
“Haley! Hi!”
They embrace.
“How was Grandma’s?”
“It was fun, but I really missed you mom.”
“Me too honey.”
She turns to Sonic.
“I don’t think you’ve met her yet. This is my daughter, Haley.”
Sonic stares at her.
“Your daughter?”
She nods.
Sonic realizes how similar they look, almost like sisters.
“Um.. If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
“Well...”
Seren gives a cocky smile.
“I hate to admit it, but I’m only twenty-six.”
“Really?”
Seren nods.
“It’s a long, dramatic story, but it was all worth it in the end. I never forgot that moment when I first knew I was having her.”
She drifts off into a story.
“I was fourteen when I became pregnant. I was afraid of what everyone would thing, but I was always the one to take responsibility for my actions. My parents supported me, and I had a best friend who was with me all the way.”
She pauses.
“But it was still tough. The father left me before Haley was born. He felt he wasn’t ready to completely grow up and take on so much responsibility. He went to someone else. It was hard without the dad around, but when I looked into Haley’s eyes for the first time, I knew that I had set my path just right.”
She smiles at Sonic.
“That’s how I became to be a nurse for teenagers who are pregnant, as well as GUN agents. My goal is to help those who are going through what I went through and to save lives as much as I can... And you’re lucky to have the guy around.”
Sonic stares in amazement.
“Wow.”
“Amazing woman,” Shadow remarked. “Isn’t she?”
“Yeah...”
Seren gets the device out.
“Let’s begin, shall we?”
Both Sonic and Shadow nod.