Hi guys I'm finally back with an update yaay. I know people might think I gave up on my stories but honestly I've just been lacking in motivation. But now we've got some free time so I'm back at it.

I hope you enjoy the chapter, it may tug on the heartstrings.

A week had passed since that day at the market place, and today was special. Today was Sonic's big date with the girl he had met, his first time leaving the house without Shadow next to him, and the first time going to a crowded public cinema.

Or so it should have been.

Shadow screwed the lid in the hot water bottle after filling it up, placed it into a soft toy bear that was designed to fit the bottle inside and brought it to the living room.

He handed to warm bear over to Sonic, who was lying along the sofa. He took it slowly, hand shaking as he had to force himself to use it, before holding it tight to his chest. The action caused the duvet that was covering him to slip, so Shadow lifted it back up and tucked it around him as best as he could, he then made sure the pillow was still comfortable enough for the kid.

"Do you think she'll be mad at me?" Sonic's voice croaked as his eyes lowered sadly.

With a soft smile Shadow took a seat on the floor next to him, resting his arm on the duvet. "No. She was pleasant on the phone. She said she understood and hoped you felt better" he explained again.

Sonic wasn't convinced though, "I should have rang her myself... or I should have just gone. Why am I such a coward?" he winced, holding the warm bear to his face in an attempt to hide from the world. However, Shadow gently pulled it away and with his thumb wiped at the blue hedgehog's eyes before they had a chance to tear up again.

"It was too much for you. I know you wanted to go and I'm glad you finally got some motivation to try, but I'm not going to force you anymore. You'll know when you're ready, and if you want me there with you, I will be."

Sonic smiled gratefully, sighing as the agent pulled his hand away and stood up off the floor. His eyes followed at man as he did, all he could focus on was the scar that was left on the side of his mussel. Shadow had incredible healing powers, more then Sonic realised to begin with, but this scar still lingered from his outburst over a week ago, when Shadow pushed him to cook food. He felt ashamed as he thought back to that day, utterly humiliated that he got that upset over something so basic and slicing vegetables that he lashed out with the knife and cut Shadow. It wasn't the fact he couldn't do it though, it was everything else that lead up to that moment, the fact Shadow kept going on and on and on and he felt it all boil to the point he wanted to scream and cry and run away again. Shadow had refused to talk about it afterwards, but he still acted cold towards him. Sonic knew that this life was just one big fantasy, Shadow was going to ship him off the moment the court case was finished. Sonic pushed him so far and made his life a misery, of course he wouldn't want him anymore. Lately though, this past week... Shadow had changed.

When they came home from the market place Sonic was on cloud nine, smiling at his amazing experience of talking to a girl for the first time, Shadow even seemed happy for him. Then the phone rang, and Shadow answered saying it was Rouge. He had taken the call somewhere private, but was gone for the better part of two hours.

He didn't know if it was because he felt happier and was willing to try a bit harder after meeting Amy, or if Rouge had said something and threatened him into it, but Shadow was acting different. He was being patient, not forcing Sonic to do things anymore. He was no longer lashing out, no longer snapping with harsh words, but he was being kinder then usual, not controlling or anything like that. He was opening up himself emotionally, letting Sonic get his anger and grief out into the open without yelling at him in return. Shadow was going as far as to place his arms around in an embrace if he should need it, despite how obvious it was to both of them that such an action made him uncomfortable.

At first Sonic didn't know why this was happening, if this was a ploy to lure him into a false sense of security or if maybe Shadow was dying. But he soon figured it out, why he was acting the way he was.

It was because Shadow was going to get rid of him soon. It was the only thing that made sense to him. Shadow would tell him soon that he was going to have to move out to a new foster family or join that military G.U.N program and he was being nice to soften the blow.

It hurt so deeply because he wanted to stay. Despite every argument, every physical blow, Sonic wanted to stay with Shadow in this middle class house because it made him feel safe, it made him feel secure and not scared that someone was going to burst into his room at night and try to kill him. For the first time in two years he was finally able to sleep soundly at night in a comfy bed, knowing that someone was close by who would protect him. He didn't want to leave, the thought alone made his eyes sting, though he tried to hide it. He wanted to stay with Shadow... he wanted more then anything to have Shadow be his dad. It was a horrible thing to wish, but he wished it so badly. Sonic wanted to have the impossible, for Shadow to be the one who made him, for Shadow to be the one who raise him and care for him all these years and for his real family to have never of known him. They were happier without him now, no doubt they would have wished the same thing for him. Because at least if he had been Shadow's biological son, the black hedgehog would have had no choice but to care for him now, regardless if he hated him or not.

But he wasn't his son, nor was he obligated to care for him, and Sonic hated that fact more then anything in the world.

He thought that if he tried harder, perhaps Shadow would let him stay, perhaps if Sonic showed he was willing to listen and do as he was told then everything would change and Shadow would want him. But the more eager he was to try, and the less Shadow was willing to push him, he felt like nothing had been achieved. Shadow was giving up on him, he didn't care anymore if Sonic failed or not, because soon he wouldn't be his problem.

Thinking on that thought alone, Sonic felt his lips start to quiver, so he turned his face away to hide it. Today was supposed to be special. He wanted to go see Amy but not only that, he wanted to show Shadow that he wasn't a burden, that he wouldn't have to tend to him every day anymore and that he could grow on his own. He gave no sign to Shadow that he was afraid, no matter how many times the older hedgehog asked if he was sure he wanted to do this. But every time Sonic claimed he was, he was ready to go out on his own on a date. He had dressed up in a nice jumper, one sleeve pinned so as to not let it be in the way, he made sure his face was washed and his quills brushed smoothly. He made it to the car without a problem, Shadow taking his place behind the wheel.

Unfortunately, it was when the engine started that nerves got the better of him, and he couldn't hide the anxiety anymore. Sonic threw up over the dashboard, down his nice clothes and onto the car chair. He hated himself so much in the moment, hearing Shadow groan in annoyance, snapping for the first time that week that he shouldn't have forced himself, before quickly regaining composure, getting out of the car and helping Sonic back into the house as he wept in shame.

Shadow cleaned him up and made him rest on the sofa, cleaned out his car and then rang Amy to let her know the date will have to be cancelled.

He clutched the bear in his hand tightly, letting the warm ease the knots in his stomach. All he had to do was meet up with Amy and sit in a cinema for two hours and he couldn't even do that! He wanted to prove to Shadow he wasn't a burden, and instead he showed the opposite. He was nothing but a failer. He hated himself so much!

Shadow kneeled down in front of the fire place, using the pole to poke at the wood keeping the flames burning. He could hear from behind the sounds of ridged breathing as he knew Sonic was wallowing in self pity. He couldn't understand why the boy pushed himself so much today, why he would even accept such an offer when only a week ago he was hiding in his room to refuse to go outside. What was going through his head confused him so much, was it all just for this girl?

Standing back up, Shadow walked over to Sonic again, noticing him hide his face away, probably trying not to let his emotions show again. Best thing would be to distract him, and fortunately he had something he needed to discuss anyway. So he sat down on the other end of the sofa, making Sonic move his feet before letting the boy rest them back down against his leg. He reached over to the side draw and pulled out a file, flicking through the papers as he thought about what he would say.

"I know you probably don't want to go through this now, but unfortunately we have to at some point, and seeing as your night just opened up I think now is a good time."

Sonic pulled his face up away from the stuffed animal, raising his brow slightly. His eyes laid upon the folder however, and all he could do was release a defeated sigh. After throwing up in his car and making him clean it, he couldn't really say no to Shadow at this point.

"Fine" he tiredly agreed, awkwardly sitting himself up a bit more with struggle, "What do I have to know?"

Shadow handed him some papers. "The court case is in two weeks now, Rouge hasn't been able to give me the full list of evidence she's managed to collect but she's provided me with everything regarding you. By some miracle she's found two other witnesses, but they're the ignorant co-partners Eggman has either scammed in the past or blackmailed. You're the only one who was on the inside of his organisation so you'll still have to testify" he explained. Sonic merely sighed.

"Anyway, this is Breezy" Shadow handed the paper over to Sonic, which had a picture of the woman in topic. "She's Eggman's attorney. Unfortunately she and Eggman have a good standing together, she's managed to get him off free a few times in the past or cut a deal so he doesn't face jail."

"How? After everything Eggman has done, how is she doing that?" at this information Sonic looked visibly worried. Shadow was quick to reassure him, "Because we didn't have you. I knew what Eggman was doing because Maria had family that worked for him, that was how my original investigation started. However, despite what I saw, or what she told me, there was never any solid proof to back it up. We knew Eggman stole millions but it was set up so the money couldn't be traced to him. Whenever we caught his robots, they self destructed. Breezy is good at coming up with excuses and making good claims sound implausible. But thankfully with you we have a chance. You were there, we have the robotic arm as evidence to back up your claim, we have the footage of when we captured you and of you being escorted to Eggmans base, not to mention him being at the lair when you met him. There is no way Breezy can twist this, even she knows this is a dead case."

"Really?"

"Apparently, that's what Rouge said anyway" Shadow shrugged, knowing that his gossiping partner might not have been the most reliable source.

"So this is what will happen, our lawyer will ask call you to the podium, the records have kept your name as Miles Prower due to your age and for personal protection reasons so you wont have to worry about them accusing you of false identity. So first of all..."

Shadow went through everything that they needed to, explaining all procedures and the orders in which things would go, which surprising to him Sonic knew already. It took the better part of an hour cover everything that they needed to go through, and by the end there was only one document left to go through. As Shadow held it in his hands however, he felt a slight chill run through him as nerves started to build within him for the first time in years. This didn't have anything to do with the case, so for now he put the papers behind him to deal with later, but he knew he would have to discuss this matter sooner then later, and ideally now was the best time to do it.

"So, do you feel confident in what you have to do?" Shadow asked, trying to put the document out of his mind. However Sonic only shook his head, eyes drooping low as his brows arched. He hadn't spoken much, just listened as Shadow explained what was going to happen, but that still didn't stop him noticing the pained torment the kid was obviously feeling as it showed externally. Sonic was unusually quiet, probably exhausted to add on to his many troubles.

"I guess you're still pretty scared aren't you?" he mused aloud. Sonic nodded his head, still looking low.

Pressing his lips firmly together, Shadow thought for a moment. Neither of them had eaten, and the kid had mentally prepared himself to leave the house. Shadow reached his hand out to Sonic's forehead and felt it for a moment before moving his hand down to the neck, he was still warm but the temperature had gone a good amount and he was no longer looking pale from feeling sick.

"If you're feeling up for it how about going out to a restaurant, I imagine that's something you haven't done in a while".

Sonic looked up, a slight confusion read on his face, "You mean go out?" he asked timidly.

"Well I don't have a restaurant inside. Doesn't have to be fancy, and I'll be by your side so you'll be safe" Shadow reassured, though truthfully he himself just really wanted to go out to eat for a change, sick of being in the house as much as he has been lately. But he wasn't about to bully this kid more then he had done in the past, "If you don't feel well enough for it however then forget about it."

Sonic cringed, feeling a level of irritation from the older hedgehog and feeling guilty from being the cause of it, "N-no I-I... I can go... I'll go" he whispered with a forced smile, though it just looked sad. Shadow wasn't going to let the opportunity go however. Sonic had been cleaned up and fortunately didn't smell of vomit, and he had been changed into a mustard coloured jumper, the empty sleeve on the right hanging loosely. A prosthetic arm was in the works for the speedster, but it wouldn't be functioning, it would just be there to fill out the sleeves of his clothes and help reduce the amount of stares he often received. Sadly though it was going to take time as he still wasn't recovered enough to wear one, and the prosthetic limb had to be customised to match his opposite arm, as well as fit along the missing parts of the breast plate. On some good news however, he was told the fake limb would be ready in time for the court case. It was the only thing that day that Sonic was looking forward too.

Shadow stood up from the sofa, pulling the duvet away from Sonic who now felt a chill on his legs from the exposure, then helped the blue hedgehog to sit up right. He went and got their shoes from the rack, and after helping Sonic put his on first, Shadow put his own on.

There was still an iffy smell in the car, so for that reason they kept the windows down and endured the cold.

The restaurant Shadow had chosen wasn't what Sonic had expected, especially as the older hedgehog said it wouldn't have been fancy. Clearly their standards were vastly different.

Both hedgehog's walked in to fine dining Italian cuisine restaurant, with an industrial indoor outdoor decoration to furnish it and a live band playing music on a small stage in the corner. They were loud enough to be heard, not loud enough to be deafening.

Sonic already regretted agreeing to this, he did everything but hold onto Shadow's hand like a child seeking assurance. He felt uncomfortable in a place like this, feeling too under dressed and too lower class, but part of him knew he was over thinking the issue. There were other people here who dressed casually and were either out with their friends and family, and so far no one was staring and pointing him out, although he did hide behind Shadow for the most part.

They waited by the door until a waiter came and took them over to a table for two. They both sat opposite while menus were passed to them. Sonic noticed the waiter jump a little when catching a glimpse of his missing arm, presumably just noticing the fact, before quickly composing himself and giving the blue boy a big sympathetic smile. He took their drink orders and finally left them in peace.

Sonic started rubbing at his missing limb, face downcast as the insecurities built up inside. Shadow had his nose in the menu looking for his meal, but looked up long enough to notice.

"What's the problem?" he asked before looking back to the menu. At first all Sonic could manage was a sigh before he could find the words. "I'm just... not feeling great. Can we go home?" he asked with no hope in his voice. Sure enough the other hedgehog delivered, "We've already ordered drinks, we're not going home."

Sonic slumped in his chair.

"Come on, pick something to eat" Shadow said, closing his menu after settling on what he was going to have. Sonic shook his head though "I'm not that hungry" he answered.

Normally Shadow would have started to yell at him for being stubborn, but no, not today. Instead he called over the waiter.

"What can I get you both?"

"A calzone for me and a medium meat feast pizza for him" Shadow ordered, causing Sonic to open his mouth in annoyance but too shy to attempt to cancel the order. He didn't even want pizza, he wanted the meat balls.

The waiter walked away and Shadow sat trying and failing not to smirk at his little victory.

"I wont eat it" Sonic said stubbornly.

"Yes you will, you're hungry and you wont be able to resist the smell of it."

"I hate you."

Shadow laughed to himself, enjoying the moment while it lasted, doing so seemed to help Sonic ease up also, looking less tense.

Truthfully though, Shadow didn't know if that was going to last long. Tucked up into his quills he had the last document from before folded and ready to go when the time was right. But when was the time going to be right? His hand reached back and started brushing against the corners of the paper, nerves now uncharacteristicly getting to him.

"Sonic..." he pondered his next words carefully, the blue boy gave him his full attention.

"Do you... Do you know what you want to do after the court case?"

For a moment Sonic felt his breath catch in his throat, and his stomach was ready to lurch again. His hand immediately trembled and he felt eye contact to be impossible now. This was it. This is how Shadow planned on telling him he had to leave. He was ready to hear it, he didn't want to.

Yet while he thought all of this in his mind, Shadow could only see the build up of distress that mostly confused him.

"W-what do y-you mean?" Sonic managed to asked, playing ignorant for now. He wasn't ready for this.

Shadow played along, but suspicions began to rise. Did Sonic already know what he was about to say? "I mean where do you want to go? Have you thought of where you want to live?"

Within just those words tears ran down the boys face, only for him to quickly wipe them away aggressively, hoping no one would have seen. He breathed deeply, trying everything to stop another set to fall in public again. "I-I... I-I have to go to the bathroom" Sonic quickly said, standing up in an attempt to leave. However Shadow was quick enough to grab his arm, "Sit down. We're talking about this now" he spoke firmly, also intimidating in the way he sounded, but quiet enough not to cause a scene. Doing as he was told, Sonic sat back down, taking a moment to grab the napkin from the table and hold it against his face, forcing himself to get a small control on his emotions and the grief of losing everything once again. He wasn't ready for this.

Giving the hedgehog the time he needed, Shadow pulled the documents from his quills and placed them on his lap, ready for when he needed them.

Sonic inhaled a final trembling breath before he threw the napkin back down on the table and rubbed his face until it was red, but at least for now the tears were gone. "Shadow... can I ask you something first?"

"Of course."

"Why have you been so nice to me lately?" the question felt so unnatural for either of them to hear, leaving both uncomfortable the longer it was left unanswered. But Sonic continued, saving Shadow with time to think. "It's just... the past week, you've been different. You haven't yelled at me, or hit me, or shove me around, a-and I don't understand why."

Shadow felt his shoulders fall low, a guilt wave through him which he never normally felt. He had been a jerk, he knew that from the start, yet it all seemed so normal for Sonic to be treated like that. If anything the boy sounded afraid, as if not doing the stuff he listed was the bad thing. At this point he knew he had to be honest. "Truthfully, I didn't realise how bad I was acting towards you, until I got a phone call from Rouge last week. I told her what happened after she saw the scar on my cheek, she had rang me to say that I needed to change my attitude towards you or else there was no way I would get approval for..." he stopped, looked away and kept his lips firmly shut, too apprehensive to say anymore.

But to Sonic it all made sense, "They were going to offer you a promotion or something, weren't they? That's why you had to be nicer to me" he whispered brokenly, his chest growing heavy with the weight of a grief stricken heart. He wasn't ready to hear these words, the words telling him to leave, yet he had no choice anymore, what was the point in running away now?

"No, no nothing like that. Sonic, do you think I'm just using you?" Shadow asked, almost panicked by the sudden unexpected conclusion.

"Aren't you? That's what it's always been about isn't it? You'll look after me until Eggman is captured and then after his trial you'll send me off to where ever will have me?" his lips trembled as he spoke, and Shadow knew he was fighting back tears that were seconds away from falling. His stomach sank from the words he heard, was this what Sonic was feeling this whole time. Did he really think so little of his care that he thought of himself as a burden... is that how Shadow made him feel this whole time?

"Sonic I..."

"No! Please don't. I get it, I've done nothing but make your life miserable, I know you don't want me... and it hurts" a quiet sob broke through, refusing to be stifled, "B-but it's not your fault, I know that, I just... please don't send me to that military school! I can't... I can't do it, I can't..." he buried his face into his arm, weeping as quietly as force himself to be.

Shadow looked around, people were starting to stare and he knew he had to solve this as quickly as he could. The agent, holding back tears of his own, held Sonic's arm and pulled it away from his face. "Look at me" he ordered, when Sonic refused to do so he spoke up again, firmer this time "Look at me now!"

With red puffy eyes, Sonic finally did as he was told. Without saying a word Shadow passed the document from his lap over to the young teen, letting it sit in front of him.

Sonic didn't understand it, but he knew he had to read it. It only upset him more when he realised how much he struggled to unfold the paper and hold it in a way he could read it without it folding back over.

Eventually enough for his eyes to glaze over the words, half heartedly reading and not caring anymore. But then a certain word caught his eyes, and suddenly the world came to a stop. An audible gasp escaped from his lips and the room he was in became silent to his ears.

With eyes widened and jaw agape, Sonic trembled as he looked up the older hedgehog that sat in front of him. His heart pounding in his chest. "I don't... I don't understand..." he sputtered.

Shadow sighed, placing his hands on the table as if he was in the office questioning a witness.

"They're adoption papers. I thought that, once this is over, if you were adamant you didn't want to go back to your family and the military was too much for you, then you could stay with me... Legally. By adopting you, no one could claim any rights to you and you wouldn't have to worry about being taken away for any reason, but it was only if that's what you wanted, I don't want you calling me dad or anything..." Shadow couldn't say anymore. He had been cut off through his explanation abruptly. An arm was thrown around his neck, while a face was buried into his shoulder. Sobs echoed loudly as tears almost drenched him, yet Shadow didn't care. He placed his hand on the boys back, rubbing it lightly as he let Sonic hold onto him. He knew people were staring, how could anyone not? It was embarrassing and the waiter who held their food looked unsure if he should go over or not, but Shadow wasn't going to let this be a problem. Sonic had felt unwanted for so long, he could only imagine the things he was feeling at this moment. Shadow had been so afraid Sonic would refuse him, tell him where to shove those papers and cause him feelings of rejection and humiliation that he kept putting it off. But now? Now Sonic wouldn't let him go, and the smile on the boys tear covered face made him wished he had been brave enough to this sooner. Sonic looked at him with so much gratitude, so much relief and happiness. He was finally wanted.

He was finally wanted.