Shadow scribbled in his journal, the pen scratching sharply across the page.

“Team Sonic finally captured Eggman—as Sonic insists on calling him. It’s been nine years since then. Now Tails is training under me, apparently for the company’s ‘best interests…’” Shadow muttered while writing.

“Shadow!” Tails called from the desk behind him.

Shadow closed his journal and walked over, arms folded, confused.

“…Sup?” he asked, trying—unsuccessfully—to sound casual. He still wasn’t used to Tails working directly with him.

Tails grinned. “Who are you, Sonic now? Anyway, I’ve got a few questions about your time on the ARK.”

Shadow narrowed his eyes. “This wouldn’t happen to be about my birthday, would it?”

“Rouge is obsessed with it for some reason,” he added with a roll of his eyes.

“It is actually!” Tails said, tail swishing in excitement. “But—uh—um… what did Maria’s dress look like?”

Shadow froze. It had been a long time since someone had said her name out loud in front of him. Without speaking, he reached into a drawer and handed Tails an old photo: Maria and Shadow standing together, gazing out at the stars.

Tails nodded quietly and immediately began searching for fabrics on his computer.

---

The next morning, Shadow woke to a swarm of messages telling him to stay home for the next few days.

Naturally, he ignored them.

While putting on his uniform boots, his phone buzzed.

Sonic.

The last person he wanted to talk to.

“What is it, Sonic!?” Shadow hissed.

“A mass text was a bad idea,” Sonic replied, sounding like he was reading off a script. “We’re planning something for your birthday, so… could you just… not leave your house for like four days?”

“Four days?! I have work! What do you expect me to—” Shadow slammed his fist on the kitchen table.

“We already took care of that, Shadow! It’s a vacation. You’ll live,” Sonic said in a chipper tone that somehow made everything worse.

“I literally said I don’t want a—”

Shadow stopped as he noticed a small figure at the top of the stairs.

A little girl.

His daughter.

Her legs and left eye shimmered metallic silver; the rest of her was perfectly organic.

“You know what? Fine. Do whatever you want,” Shadow muttered, hanging up.

He scooped her into his arms. “Looks like Daddy’s staying home for a while,” he said softly.

Neo Metal Sonic clanked halfway down the stairs, barely awake. “What was that about?”

“Sonic and his friends paying me not to work for four days,” Shadow said. “They’re probably planning a heist.”

Neo Metal laughed and gently took their daughter, already helping her with her backpack.

“Well, little one has school. Entertain yourself for three hours.”

He walked toward the door. “Okay, love you, bye!”

Shadow stood there alone, unsure what to do with unstructured time—and waiting for his husband to return.

---

An hour later, his phone buzzed again. Tails calling. The audio was muted.

“What do you want, blue boy?” Shadow grumbled.

Silence.

“Let me finish my novelas in peace,” he snapped.

The call hung up.

Shadow shrugged and went back to his show.

---

Two hours later, the front door opened. Neo Metal Sonic came in holding their daughter in both arms.

Shadow jumped to his feet. “What happened? I thought you were taking her to school.”

“Everything is under control,” Neo Metal said, though annoyance tinged his voice. “But… we might need a new school.”

He sent their daughter upstairs to play, then collapsed beside Shadow on the couch, letting out a very dramatic sigh while clinging to Shadow’s arm.

“So,” Shadow said carefully, “what happened exactly?”

“Several students and teachers were bullying Maya,” Neo Metal said, laying across Shadow’s lap like a metallic cat. “And not because I’m a killing machine built by Eggman—like I assumed.”

Shadow stiffened. “Then for what?”

“For being mute. And for having two dads.”

Shadow’s expression darkened instantly. “Who were the teachers?” His voice dropped dangerously low.

He stood, grabbed his black leather jacket, and the simmering rage practically radiated off him. His teeth clenched, and a low, animalistic growl escaped him—one he didn’t even know he could make.

Neo Metal tried to stop him, but Shadow put on his helmet.

“We’re switching schools anyway,” Shadow said. “And it’s after hours.”

He revved the motorcycle and shot off before Neo Metal could argue.

Neo Metal immediately called Sonic and Tails.

---

Shadow waited outside the school for six hours.

Mr. Moxx finally left the building, heading to his car.

Shadow followed him home—just close enough to make him sweat.

When Moxx parked and got out, Shadow stepped off the bike and removed his helmet. Scars from countless battles jagged across his face, including one across his eye from a mission as a Zone Cop.

He growled again—low, deep, primal.

Shadow moved fast, pinning Mr. Moxx against his front door with both hands slammed beside him, claws digging into the wood.

“What do you want!? Is this a robbery!?” Moxx yelped.

“You mocked my daughter for not speaking in class,” Shadow snarled. “She’s mute, you—”

“SHADOW!!!”

Sonic sprinted in, shouting to break things up.

Shadow didn’t flinch. “I’m not the unstable emo teen you remember, Sonic.”

He stepped back and raised his hands. “I never touched him. It’s after hours for him—and after hours for me. No harm, no foul.”

Sonic dragged Shadow back to the motorcycle and made sure he got home, though Shadow teleported inside before Sonic could follow.

---

Shadow kissed Neo Metal and Maya, lifting the little girl into his arms.

“You’re sleeping with Daddy tonight, okay?” he whispered, tucking her between them in bed.

“Shadow?” Neo Metal asked quietly—worried, but relieved he was home.

“We’ll talk in the morning,” Shadow murmured. “I’m not going anywhere for the next three days anyway.”

Neo Metal kissed him, and the three of them drifted into a deep, safe sleep.