The sun was just starting to rise when Sonic found himself needing to take a break during his usual early morning jog across the continent, normally he would be almost home by now but his current condition left him tiring out more quickly than he typically would otherwise. Hopefully he could still make it back home before Shadow woke up so he wouldn't receive yet another lecture from his husband about how he shouldn't be wandering so far from home by himself while being nearly nine months pregnant, part of him knew that Shadow was right but the other part of him couldn't stand staying in one place for too long.
He finds a large rock to sit on near a small stream so he could rest his back and legs for a moment before heading back towards the home he shared with his husband and would soon be sharing with their first child. Only one more week to go and they would finally be parents. They both agreed on having a homebirth since neither of them were very fond of hospitals. They made Shadow uneasy due to his past trauma involving being experimented on and seeing his deceased sister bedridden during particularly bad flare ups of her illness, Sonic just didn't feel comfortable being crowded and stared at by strangers or being stuck in a small room while he would be at his most vulnerable. He subconsciously cradles his swollen belly and lightly rubs at a sore spot with his thumb, the baby seemed to favor that spot to practice it's kicking.
Sonic is suddenly startled from his thoughts by a sharp pain that started in his back, wrapping around to the underside of his belly, and finally settling low in his pelvis. The hedgehog is left panting softly to catch his breath, both hands clutching at his belly. He stands up and looks around the small clearing to try and regain his bearings so he could figure out which way he had originally come from so he could backtrack out of the jungle and make his way back home, but everything looked the same no matter which way he looked. Normally his sense of direction was impeccable but now his thoughts were clouded by pain and a growing sense of panic, rendering that skill useless to him. He takes a few uncertain steps towards the edge of the clearing before deciding to just stay were he was so he wouldn't end up even more lost than he already was, the blue hedgehog started pacing around the clearing instead while he thought of what he should do now. He should have listened to Shadow and just stayed closer to home.
The pain soon fades away, allowing Sonic to focus for the time being. He decides to follow the stream, going along with the direction that the water was flowing. He walks through the jungle for a few minutes, taking notice of how thick the foliage was becoming the longer he walked. Just as he turns around to head back towards the clearing he's struck by another sharp pain, this time it was intense enough to bring him to his knees and take his breath away. That definitely wasn't one of the false labor pains he had been experiencing for the past few weeks, that was real. The hedgehog tried to stand when the contraction began to ease up but found himself unable to due to an intense pressure between his legs that became unbearable whenever he tried to get onto his feet, leaving him stuck on all fours as he tried to breathe through the pain. Sonic makes another attempt to stand up after the contraction finally passed, only for the constant pressure he had been feeling to suddenly spike in intensity until he felt a popping sensation and liquid trickling down his legs and soaking the dirt beneath his knees.
"Oh crap..." He whispers in shock. His water just broke and he was stranded alone in the Mystic Ruins jungle. The blue hedgehog managed to get back up onto his feet and started walking again, his legs trembling as he made his way back to the clearing and sat on the same rock he had been resting on before. He could feel another contraction building and he braced himself for the impending pain, still letting out a soft cry when it takes hold. He clenched his teeth and his eyes squeezed shut as the contraction reached it's peak, nearly bringing the hedgehog to tears when he realized that Shadow wasn't there to hold his hand. His husband was definitely awake by now and was most likely looking for him, worried sick about him and their baby. Guilt began to creep up at the back of his mind, Shadow was going to miss the birth of their first child because Sonic just couldn't stay put like he was asked to do. Why didn't he just listen to Shadow? Why couldn't he have just stayed at home where it was safe? No. Stop thinking like that.
Sonic shakes his head to clear the guilty thoughts from his mind, now was not the time to be feeling sorry for himself. He had to focus on making sure his baby came into the world safely. He could think about all of that later after he was back home in his own bed were it was safe and comfortable and he had Shadow by his side again. He suddenly lets out a breath that he hadn't even realized he had been holding, becoming aware of a mass that had settled low in his pelvis. Was he pushing just now? He brings a hand down to feel around for any noticeable changes between his thighs, only to feel his entrance bulging outwards against his palm to accommodate the mass that was his baby.
"Oh wow..." He breathes out softly in wonder, amazed by what his body was capable of. If only he had a mirror so he could see the process as it happened, relying on touch would have to do out here though. He slips both of his gloves off and sets them aside on the rock along with his shoes and socks, he wouldn't be needing them for awhile. Sonic quickly returns his hand to rest gently at his entrance, since he couldn't see his child being born he wanted to feel every second of it instead.
The hedgehog's body tenses up when another contraction hits, causing him to push as hard as he can. His body was acting on instinct now and he had no intentions of fighting that. He grunts loudly from the effort he was putting into the push, his fingers still feeling every little change and shift as it happened. His heart raced when something wet and fluffy began to press against the palm of his hand as his entrance started to stretch and open up to allow his baby to emerge from his body, he shifts his position a bit so his legs were spread farther apart and he was seated on the edge of the rock. Maybe standing up and leaning against the rock would be more comfortable? Sonic carefully scoots forward until he was up on his feet with the rock behind him as some kind of support, as he changed positions his hand remained where it was cupped around his entrance to keep track of how the birth was progressing.
The shift in position seemed to help get things moving along a bit faster, Sonic realizes when he starts to feel his baby's weight pressing down against his entrance. He began to feel more sticky fur becoming exposed as he bared down hard, crying out softly when his baby's head reached full crowning and stayed there even when he stopped pushing to breathe. His entrance was burning and stinging as it stretched tight around the emerging head, his hand shook a bit but stayed right where it was needed to make sure his baby arrived safely. Sonic lets out a shuddering breath and starts rocking his hips back and forth, the motion easing some of his discomfort. He groans softly and gives a gentle but firm push to help keep the birth moving along, feeling more and more of his baby's head squeezing through until he feels a sudden release when it finally comes out into his hand. He gasps sharply and leans heavily on the rock behind him so he doesn't lose his balance and fall, taking a moment to rest and feel everything that was happening. Sonic brings his other hand down to gently brush along his baby's head and face, trying to imagine every detail that he felt as it's tiny nose twitches and it's ears react to his touch.
A tired smile crosses his face and his short tail thumps lightly against the rock as he just takes in the moment and appreciates his first real contact with his baby that wasn't separated by his own skin, he could actually feel it's soft fur and tiny ears against his hands. He wondered what color it's quills would be when they came in, it wouldn't be long until he would be able to find out. Sonic continues gently petting the baby's fur until he feels another contraction starting, letting him know that it was time to push again.
"Heh...alright, kiddo...we're almost there" He chuckles breathlessly as he starts pushing again, putting more force into his efforts now that the baby's shoulders were squeezing their way out. The same burning sensation from before came back even more intense than it had been while the head was crowning, this part definitely wasn't going to be easy. The hedgehog takes a few deep breaths before baring down as hard as he can for as long as he can, grunting loudly and crying out from the effort as one of the baby's shoulders forces it's way out. The other shoulder gets stuck for a few seconds but is soon freed due to the fact that Sonic was still rocking his hips while he pushed, allowing the baby to finally slide out into his waiting hands.
"O-Ohh...hi...hi there, little buddy...heh...we d-did it...you're here..." Sonic grins as he brings the newborn to his chest, cradling him close as he slid down the rock to sit in the grass while his baby cried at the top of his little lungs "You're okay...Daddy is here, I've got you. You're safe" He coos softly, his voice tired and scratchy. He gently rocks the wailing newborn in his arms until he finally settles down and snuggles in close against his parent's warm chest for comfort. Sonic reaches over to grab his discarded gloves and uses them to wipe the baby clean, also taking one of his socks to tie off the umbilical cord before using one of his claws to cut it. He winches and gives one last small push to expel the afterbirth before relaxing back against the rock he had been sitting on all morning.
"We should try finding our way home soon, Daddy needs to rest a little bit first though. Getting you here really wiped me out big time" The new parent chuckles softly, letting his tired eyes slip shut for a moment before he hears a familiar voice shouting his name from somewhere past the trees. His ears perk straight up and he looks around to find the source of the voice, a bright grin crossing his face when he sees a black and red shape break through the tree line.
"Shadow! Over here!" The blue hedgehog calls out and waves to catch his husband's attention, accidentally startling the baby awake and causing him to start crying again "Oh sorry, little bud. My bad, your Papa is here to take us home" He coos at the newborn as Shadow finally arrives at his side, pulling both of them into a relieved hug.
"There you are, I've been looking for you for hours. Are you okay? I-I heard you scream and assumed something happened to you or...the baby...is that...? When did you...?" Shadow rambles before trailing off in stunned confusion when he sees the baby in Sonic's arms, bringing a trembling hand up to gently stroke the newborn's chubby cheek "He's beautiful..." He whispers in awe, already feeling an overwhelming attachment to the tiny hoglet that had settled back to sleep in his husband's arms.
"We're okay, I'm completely exhausted and really sore but we're both okay. He's only came a few minutes ago" Sonic answers his husband's questions, feeling guilty again because of how worried Shadow was about them "I'm sorry for running off so far away without leaving a note or waking you up before I left, I thought I could get home before you woke up. I didn't mean to worry you, or for this to happen out here in the middle of nowhere. I know how much you were looking forward to being the one to deliver our baby..." He apologizes, resting his head on Shadow's shoulder with a soft yawn.
"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad that you two are okay. I'm so sorry that I couldn't find you sooner, you must have been so scared being stuck out here giving birth on your own. It must have been hard. I promised that I would be there to help you through it but I wasn't..." Shadow replies, placing a gentle kiss on Sonic's forehead as he held his family close.
"That's not your fault, I should have listened to you and stayed closer to home or at least let you know where I was going so you could find me easier. It's my fault that you missed the birth of our first kid" Sonic sighs softly as he gently strokes their son's soft white fur and tiny ears "Do you want to hold him? He's been waiting to meet his Papa"
"I'd absolutely love to, but we really should get you both home safe first. I'm sure you want to get cleaned up and settled in somewhere more comfortable. I've been waiting to hold him for nine months, I can wait a little bit longer to make sure you're taken care of" Shadow says as he carefully scoops Sonic up into his arms, giving him a soft smile and another kiss before using Chaos Control to bring his family home where they belonged.
It didn't take long to get Sonic showered and settled comfortably into bed among a pile of soft pillows and blankets, after Shadow made sure to examine him for any possible complications of course. The new parents were now snuggled up to each other while Shadow finally got to hold their son, seeing the darker hedgehog being so careful and loving towards the tiny hoglet was absolutely adorable to Sonic. For the first time in his life the blue hedgehog didn't feel the need to be on the go searching for his next big adventure or fight, he felt perfectly content with the thought of staying here with his family just like this. For once the peace and quiet didn't bore him or leave him wanting something more, it made him feel warm and loved. Sure he would miss running around and being a hero eventually, but for now he was more than happy to just spend time with his husband and baby son. Besides, their son would be able to join his parents on runs and adventures soon anyway. That's what baby carriers were for after all, right?
