Once they arrived back home, Shadow gently carried Sonic into their bedroom, his arms securely wrapped around the trembling blue blur. Sonic’s sobs had quieted to soft sniffles, but Shadow could still feel the weight of his heartbreak pressing against him. Carefully, he laid Sonic down on their bed, pulling the covers over him before leaning down to place a tender kiss on his muzzle.
“I’ll be in the living room if you need me, sweetie,” Shadow murmured, his voice gentle yet firm, hoping to reassure his beloved.
Sonic let out a small sniffle, nodding his head before resting it against the pillow beneath him. His quills shifted slightly as he curled up, seeking comfort in the warmth of the blankets.
Shadow sighed, his heart aching at the sight of Sonic’s distress. He lingered for a moment, watching over him before reluctantly stepping out of the room. As he settled onto the couch in the living room, he pulled out his phone, determination flickering in his crimson eyes. He refused to let this setback be the end of their dream.
For the next hour, Shadow tirelessly searched for adoption agencies, scrolling through countless websites, reading policies, and making notes of potential leads. But each time he found one that seemed promising, his hopes were dashed upon discovering their restrictions.
Why is this so difficult?
Just as frustration threatened to take hold, his ear twitched at the sound of his phone ringing. Glancing at the screen, his expression softened as he saw his mother’s name appear.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he answered.
"Hello, Mother. How are you?"
"Hello, sweetie~! I’m doing really good, thank you. How are things with you and Sonic?"
Shadow sighed, glancing toward the bedroom door.
"Well… Sonic and I have been contacting a lot of adoption agencies lately. We both feel that we’re ready to raise a family together."
"Oh my goodness, really~?! How exciting~! Have you found any good agencies yet, sweetie?"
"We visited an orphanage today, and there were so many adorable infants there. The problem is… they don’t accept male couples. And many local agencies don’t accept us either."
"Oh, sweetheart… I’m so sorry to hear that. I can’t believe that nowhere accepts you! Surely there must be an agency that supports gay couples?"
"I don’t know, Mother… I’ve tried all of the local ones. Sonic’s really upset about the whole thing, and I don’t know what else to do…"
There was a brief pause before his mother spoke again, her voice filled with warmth and encouragement.
"How about looking into surrogate mothers? I hear that it’s quite common for gay couples to try that."
Shadow blinked, sitting up straighter. He hadn’t considered that option before.
"I never thought of that… I’ll talk to Sonic about it later."
"Go and give him lots of cuddles, sweetie… he sounds like he needs them right now."
Shadow’s gaze softened as he glanced toward the bedroom again.
"I will, Mother… and thank you for the suggestion."
"You’re welcome, sweetheart. I better get going now, but I would definitely recommend looking into some surrogate mother options. I certainly would love to be a grandmother, after all~"
Shadow chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
"Don’t worry, I’m sure you will be a grandmother very soon. I’ll let you know how we get on."
"Okay, sweetie! Now go and give Sonic lots of cuddles, okay~?"
"I will. See you soon, Mother."
"Goodbye, sweetie, I love you~"
"I love you too, Mother. See you later…"
As the call ended, Shadow exhaled deeply, feeling a newfound sense of hope. He stood up, stretching slightly before making his way to the bedroom. Peeking inside, he noticed Sonic had finally drifted off to sleep, his breathing soft and steady.
Shadow approached the bed quietly, sitting down beside Sonic. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out, gently stroking his quills in a soothing manner.
“Hello, my love… are you okay?” he whispered.
Sonic stirred, stretching his arms above his head before rubbing his eyes. He blinked up at Shadow, his emerald gaze still slightly puffy from crying.
“Mnn… I must have slept longer than I thought,” he murmured.
Shadow frowned slightly, noticing the redness in Sonic’s eyes. Without a word, he reached out and gently wiped away the lingering tears before pulling him into a warm embrace.
“It’s okay. You rest as much as you need to, darling,” Shadow reassured him.
Sonic sniffled, leaning against Shadow’s chest, seeking comfort in his presence.
“Who were you talking to just now?” he asked softly.
“Oh, it was my Mother. She called to ask how we were doing… and she suggested something that could help us.”
Sonic’s ears perked up slightly, his curiosity piqued. “R-really?”
“Yes. She suggested a surrogate, and there are apparently a few companies around that support gay couples looking to have a baby through a surrogate mother.”
Sonic’s eyes widened, a spark of hope igniting within them. “S-so, there’s still a chance…?”
Shadow nodded, his grip tightening around Sonic. “Yes. We can’t give up hope yet, my love. There’s still a chance that we can have a child.”
Suddenly, without warning, Sonic launched himself at Shadow, wrapping his arms tightly around him. A joyful laugh escaped his lips as he nuzzled his cheek against Shadow’s chest, his tail wagging furiously.
Shadow chuckled, holding Sonic close, his own heart swelling with happiness. He pressed a tender kiss to the top of Sonic’s head, his voice filled with conviction.
“We will have a child, Sonic… I promise you.”
Sonic pulled back slightly, his emerald eyes shimmering with emotion. Without hesitation, he leaned in, pressing his lips against Shadow’s in a deep, loving kiss. Shadow melted into it, his arms wrapping securely around Sonic’s waist as he returned the gesture with equal passion.
The kiss lingered, filled with unspoken promises and renewed hope. When they finally pulled away, Sonic rested his forehead against Shadow’s, a wide grin stretching across his muzzle.
“Now, how about we start looking for some surrogate mothers, hm?” Shadow suggested.
Sonic’s tail wagged even faster as he practically bounced in place. “Hell yes~! Let’s go right now! Come on!”
Shadow laughed, shaking his head fondly as he allowed Sonic to drag him toward the living room, their hearts lighter than they had been in days.
