Sonic let out a shaky sigh as he hits the send button on his wrist communicator so Shadow would receive his urgent message, by the end of the night they were going to be parents. Their baby boy was finally coming "This is really it, huh kiddo? You're actually going to be out here with me and your dad, I guess you finally got tired of being in such a cramped space. Can't say I blame ya, I don't like tight spaces either. Don't worry though, you'll be out of there in no time" The blue hedgehog smiles softly as he paces around the living room, both hands cradling his round belly. A sudden bright flash of green light interrupts Sonic's anxious pacing as Shadow appears in the room via Chaos Control and is at his side in an instant, taking the pregnant hedgehog's hands in his own and gently squeezing them.
"I just got your message, are you okay? How are you feeling now? Do you need anything? Whatever you want or need, just say the word and I'll make it happen. Everything is going to be okay, I'm here now. I've got you, Sonic" Shadow rambles on nervously as he looks Sonic over, taking in every little detail of his appearance and actions to assess what kind of condition he was in.
"I'm fine, Shads. I just realized that it was starting for real a few minutes ago when my water broke, I wanted to make sure it wasn't another false alarm before calling you away from your mission with Rouge and Omega. I know you said that this mission was an important one so I didn't want to distract you unless I really needed you to come home" Sonic chuckles softly and brings their joined hands up to his mouth so he can kiss Shadow's knuckles, the gesture typically helped to calm the darker hedgehog down when he got too worked up by his own thoughts. Shadow had been taking his role as a father-to-be very seriously ever since the pair had discovered that they were expecting their first child, he had been doting, attentive, and more affectionate towards Sonic, making sure that the blue hedgehog was comfortable and well cared for throughout the entire pregnancy.
"I appreciate that you were being considerate of my work but you and our son will always come first in my eyes, you're both far more important than any assignment could ever be. Rouge and Omega understand, they can handle this one without me. You need me more right now" Shadow replies, his demeanor becoming more relaxed now that he had made sure that Sonic and the baby were really alright and he was back home where he could keep an eye on them to make sure that they stayed that way. He gently guides Sonic into the bathroom so the two of them could relax and cuddle in the tub while they were still able to, the blue hedgehog would need all the rest he could get before things started to get more intense "Let's get you cleaned up before all that mess dries in your fur, a hot bath might help your back pain too, at least a for little while. Do you want to use my lavender soap? I remember you saying that you liked how it smelled last time I used it"
"That sounds nice" Sonic nods with a small smile as he takes a seat on the closed toilet lid while he watched as Shadow filled the bathtub with hot water and a copious amount of lavender scented suds "This is really it, isn't it? We're really going to be parents, we're going to have a little baby to take care of for the rest of our lives..." The blue hedgehog says softly, his voice holding a tone of both anxiety and excitement for what was to come. Of course he already loved this baby more than he could put into words, there was no doubt about that, he was more concerned that he might not be a good enough parent for him. That he wouldn't be able to be the parent that his and Shadow's son deserved to be raised by.
"It is. We've been waiting for this day for months and now it's finally happening, I'm so happy that I'm going to get to raise our child with you. You're going to be an amazing dad, you already have been ever since we found out that you were pregnant. You've been doing such a great job taking care of our son and yourself, I'm proud of you. We're in this together, I've got you. We've got each other, just like always" Shadow assures Sonic as he takes the blue hedgehog's hands in his own and flashes one of his rare genuine smiles, a gesture that only a select few people had the privilege of seeing. Sonic felt lucky every time he got to see that handsome smile. Shadow presses a gentle kiss to Sonic's cheek as he helps him settle into the bathtub, the pregnant hedgehog's back resting against his fluffy chest as they relax in the steaming water together. Shadow wraps his arms around Sonic and begins to gently rub soap across the tight surface of his husband's belly, massaging the floral scented suds into his soft fur to help him relax.
"I love you, Shads. So much. You always know exactly what to say to put me at ease" Sonic smiles softly for a moment before his body tenses up in Shadow's arms and he hunches forward, biting back a pained groan and panting quietly through clenched teeth until the contraction passes after about a minute and his muscles relax again as he lets out a tired sigh "Ah...damn...th-that was a rough one...oof...I'm okay though" He looks back at Shadow over his shoulder and gives him a strained smile as he catches his breath, settling back against his husband's fluffy chest "I think they might be getting closer together too, the last one happened right before I sent you that message" He tells Shadow as the other hedgehog resumes gently massaging soap into his soft belly fur to help ease away any lingering pain or discomfort.
"That wasn't very long ago, seems like it won't be much longer before you'll be ready to start pushing. I'll start timing them after the next contraction" Shadow says, assuring Sonic that he would handle keeping track of how his labor was progressing "Do you want to stay here in the tub or do you want to get settled in somewhere else? I can set up a comfortable spot for you on our bed if you'd prefer that instead" He offers as he presses gentle kisses to Sonic's shoulders and the backs of his ears "I'll help you with whatever you need, or even if you just want something I'll do what I can to give it to you" Shadow tells Sonic as he gently washes the soap out of the pregnant hedgehog's belly fur by gently pouring handfuls of water over it and rubbing the suds away.
"I wanna stay here, this is nice. I am kinda thirsty though, can you go get me some ice water please?" Sonic replies with a soft smile on his face as his body relaxes under Shadow's gentle touch. The darker hedgehog responds with a soft hum and a nod before he carefully gets out of the tub, making sure not to bump into Sonic as his feet touch the small rug beside the bathtub and he grabs a towel to dry himself off. Shadow turns back to look at Sonic for a moment to make sure that he was okay before making his way into the kitchen to get Sonic some water, towel still wrapped around his body. Black and red striped hands grasp a plastic cup and bring it down out of the overhead cupboard, holding it against the lever in the refrigerator door to fill it with ice. The sound of the ice cubes clinking against the cup drowned out his anxious thoughts, giving him something to focus on other than every possible complication his racing mind could conjure up. Thinking like that wasn't going to help Sonic or their son, if anything it was a distraction that increased the likelihood of him making a mistake and causing something to go wrong himself, he had to think about the positives instead. Think of encouraging things to say to Sonic, something that would keep his spirits up and help him fight through the immense pain that he was experiencing. He had to stay positive for Sonic's sake, just like the blue hedgehog had done for him countless times since they had first met. Sonic had always been there for him whenever he needed a light to guide him out of the dark so he wouldn't end up being consumed in it.
"Shadow?" Sonic's voice calling out to him pulls the darker hedgehog out of his thoughts and he makes his way back into the bathroom, the glass of ice water still clutched in his lightly trembling hand as he returns to his husband's side to find that the blue hedgehog was attempting to unplug the drain stopper to let the water out of the bath "The water got cold and I can't reach the drain" He explains, a light blush dusting his muzzle as he chuckles sheepishly. Shadow shakes his head and smiles fondly as he kneels down beside the tub and unplugs the drain for Sonic, watching the water as it swirls down the drain "Hey, Shads? Can you bring me to bed? I think I'll be more comfortable there, especially if this is still going to drag on for awhile" Sonic requests as he starts to shiver lightly now that the water had soaked into his fur and was beginning to cool, allowing a slight chill to settle into his skin.
"Of course, love. Whatever you need" Shadow replies as he wraps a dry towel around his husband's body and gently lifts him out of the now empty bathtub to carry him to their bed only to stop right beside it to soothe him through yet another painful contraction before carefully laying the blue hedgehog down on the soft pillows and blankets, his heart breaking at the pained whimper Sonic made as he was settled into bed "You're okay, I'm right here. I've got you, Sonic. Try to get some rest, okay?" He whispers softly, running his fingers through Sonic's damp quills in an attempt to comfort him and give him something to focus on other than the pain. As he continued to stroke his husband's head Shadow began to hum quietly, filling the room with a soft but steady melody alongside Sonic's shaky breaths and whimpers. The pair stayed that way for the next few hours, save for Sonic shifting about on the bed in a futile attempt to find a comfortable position that would allow him to get some sleep.
It was well into the night when Sonic finally felt something change, an almost primal urge suddenly jolted him out of the restless sleep he had managed to fall into, every muscle in his body was screaming at him to bare down and push as hard as he could. Something was finally happening. The blue hedgehog sits up in bed with a low groan, his eyes squeezed shut as he tightly grasps Shadow's hand in his own, the action waking the darker hedgehog as well "Sonic? What's wrong? Are you feeling anything different now?" Shadow asks softly, his voice still slightly rough with sleep and a look of concern in his eyes as he gently rubs Sonic's tense shoulder with his free hand.
"I-I...I think...I have to push, there's alot of pressure now..." Sonic grunts out through clenched teeth as he manages to crack one eye open just enough to meet Shadow's worried gaze, carefully shifting his position to turn over onto his side, fully facing his husband now. Shadow gently lifts up one of Sonic's legs to place a pillow between his knees so he would be more comfortable while they waited for the pain to fade enough for the darker hedgehog to safely examine his husband and check to see how his labor was progressing while causing minimum discomfort, the last thing he wanted was to cause Sonic any unnecessary pain.
"It looks like you're ready so go for it whenever you feel like you need to. Remember, only ten seconds at a time so you don't get worn out too quickly, use the gaps between each contraction to rest and catch your breath. You can do this, I've got you. I'm right here" Shadow instructs after he finishes examining Sonic and wipes his hands clean on a spare towel that he had grabbed from the stack he set down on the bed beside him where they would be easy to reach quickly if needed.
"Okay...okay, I can do this. I-I've got this...it's almost over now, time to see our baby boy" Sonic exhales anxiously and gives Shadow a small smile before wincing and clutching at his stomach "Ngh...here we go..." The blue hedgehog takes a deep breath and bares down as hard as he can while his husband coaches him through the push by counting to ten and letting him know when to stop and catch his breath. Finally being able to do something instead of just laying back and letting things progress on their own brought a strange sense of relief despite his efforts also causing more pain than he had ever experienced in his life. Fighting alien overlords, robot doppelgangers, and literal gods had absolutely nothing on this. Not even taking on the Titans of The Starfall Isles and becoming corrupted by cyber energy could compare to what he was feeling right now. The blue hedgehog flops back against the pile of pillows behind him with a sharp gasp when his husband counts to ten, his chest heaving as he catches his breath.
"That was fantastic, love. Keep going just like that and our little boy will be here in your arms in no time. You're doing so well" Shadow purrs affectionately as he gently dabs at Sonic's face with a cool cloth to wash away the sweat that was already starting to cause his disheveled fur and quills to cling to his skin, hopefully bringing him some form of relief to focus on instead of the pain. Shadow's heart ached with sympathy at how exhausted Sonic already looked with his flushed skin peeking through sweat slicked fur and his normally perky ears drooping limply on his head, but even though dark bags stood out beneath bright emerald eyes they had still somehow retained their usual defiant spark despite everything his body was enduring. The strength and resolve behind those eyes left the darker hedgehog feeling both stunned and immensely proud of his husband "You're absolutely incredible" He breathes out in quiet awe, causing a tired smile to spread across Sonic's face as he just barely hears Shadow's whispered praise. The blue hedgehog begins to purr weakly at the affection he was receiving, pressing his forehead against the cloth being held in Shadow's hand.
"I'm so glad you're here with me, Shads. I don't think I could handle this without you here by my side, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing" Sonic sighs softly and brings his hand up to take Shadow's in his own, lacing their fingers together before his body tenses and his grip tightens around his husband's hand. He tucks his chin down against his chest and lurches forward to curl around his taut stomach and bare down as hard as he could, his body running almost entirely on instinct alone as it worked to guide his child out into the world. It felt like his entire body had been engulfed in white hot fire so intense it made his head pound and his limbs go numb, a ragged cry tearing from his throat when the pain reached it's peak for ten agonizing seconds before dulling back down to a more manageable level and leaving him breathless.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here with you and our baby. Making sure that you both get through this as smoothly as possible is the only thing I want to do right now" Shadow replies as he dabs away the sweat and tears from his husband's face. Seeing Sonic like this was both heartbreaking and terrifying, but also inspiring. Despite everything this pregnancy had put him through he still carried on with a determined smile on his face. He had carried on for the sake of Shadow and their son, his love for them kept him going even when it felt like he was dying. He held on and kept going for his family, to give them a chance to be happy together. And Shadow loved him so much for it. He loved that stubborn, brave hedgehog with every fragment of his heart and soul. A sudden change draws Shadow's attention downward and he gasps in excitement "I'm starting to see him, love. You're doing it! I'm so, so proud of you" The darker hedgehog tearfully grins at his husband, receiving an exhausted but equally excited smile from the blue hedgehog in return.
"That...That's good...not much longer now..." Sonic says between panted breaths that made his chest shudder, that signature smile of his only leaving his flushed face when he doubles over in pain yet again as his brief moment of rest comes to an abrupt end. The blue hedgehog cries out as he bares down this time, now beginning to feel a burning sensation down below as the hoglet's head emerged. He drops back against the pillows behind him with a sharp gasp, eyes squeezed shut as he caught his breath and tried to regain his bearings through the wave of dizziness that had crashed down on him. A grounding coolness gently brushed across his sweat soaked face and chest as Shadow's comforting voice filled his ears and gave him something to focus on other than pain and exhaustion, while Sonic's hazy mind didn't quite register his husband's words the sound of the darker hedgehog's voice and his soothing tone kept him anchored in the moment and gave him the strength to keep on fighting for their son and for the future of their little family.
"There you go, that's it. Keep going just like that, you're almost done. All that's left now are his shoulders, love. You can do it, I've got you" Shadow softly murmurs to his husband as he gazes down at their tiny hoglet, delicately cradling their head in his free hand as if the little one was made of glass and would break if handled too roughly. This was it, not much longer now. Not much longer until Sonic could finally get the rest he desperately needed, not much longer until both him and the baby would finally be okay.
Sonic groans weakly and cracks one eye open for a moment before swiftly shutting it again when he finds that his vision was spinning and swaying, leaving him feeling dizzy and nauseous. At least his hearing was beginning to sharpen just enough for him to make out what Shadow was saying to him now, although the other hedgehog's voice was still slightly muffled as if he were speaking underwater his words could now be understood. This was it. He was in the final stretch now, literally. At least that's what it felt like to the blue hedgehog as he bared down once more. Everything from his chest down felt like it was on fire and every muscle felt as if it was being pulled apart far beyond it's natural limits, the pressure growing more and more until...it all suddenly stops...the noise, the pain, everything suddenly came to a jarring stop. A strangely numb feeling of calm engulfs Sonic, chilling him to the bone like ice and sapping away his remaining strength as his sight blurred even more and darkness crept in at the edges of his already impaired vision. Maybe a quick power nap would help him feel better, that actually sounded really nice right now, he was feeling really tired all of a sudden...resting for just a moment wouldn't do any harm, right...?
~
The bedroom was quiet that evening, peaceful even as Sonic finally regained consciousness hours later. The first thing he noticed upon waking up was the presence of a hand gently holding onto his own and a light weight that caused the mattress to dip slightly at his side, his eyes slowly fluttering open to see a blurry black and red mass that was no doubt Shadow. A few sluggish blinks to clear his vision revealed that Sonic's guess was right, Shadow sat in a chair beside the bed with his head resting on the mattress as he slept. The darker hedgehog still had slightly damp tear streaks running down his cheeks and his usually neatly groomed quills were completely disheveled, despite the state he was in Shadow's hand was still delicately grasping onto Sonic's as if he were afraid to let go even in sleep. A soft sound drew Sonic's attention away from his sleeping husband, his gaze landing on a bassinet that stood next to the bed as he carefully sits up to take a look inside it. His arms shook as he forced himself to sit upright, his weakened body screaming at him to lay down and rest while his mind screamed for him to check on his newborn. With a frustrated groan Sonic flops back against the pillows that had been arranged behind him, the motion startling Shadow awake.
Shadow's head shoots up from the mattress and his gaze snaps around the room before finally landing on Sonic, his posture visibly sagging with relief as he carefully gathers the blue hedgehog into his arms "You're awake. I was starting to think that you...n-never mind, how are you feeling? You were passed out for awhile there" He whispers softly, his voice wavering slightly before he manages to steady himself. Seeing Sonic suddenly collapse had left him deeply shaken, the sight of the blue hedgehog laying that motionless for so long felt...wrong. He never wanted to see his bright and energetic husband like that ever again.
"Mostly just tired and a little weak but I'm okay, Shads. I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon" Sonic replies, returning Shadow's embrace when he notices the hesitation in his husband's voice. The two of them stay like that for a moment until the peaceful silence is broken by a needy whine rising from inside the bassinet, drawing their attention to their newborn son. Sonic attempts to sit up and look into the bassinet again, this time with Shadow's help. Tears begin to drip down Sonic's face when he lays eyes on his hoglet for the first time "Oh, Shadow...he's perfect, I can't believe that he's finally here" He grins tearfully as Shadow helps him lay back against the stack of pillows so he can safely hold the baby in his tired arms. The hoglet blindly sniffs at the air as he's settled against Sonic's chest, letting out a happy little squeak when he recognizes the sound of Sonic's heartbeat. He buries his nose into the short fur on Sonic's chest to learn his scent, little tail wagging excitedly as Sonic rests a hand on his back. Sonic nuzzles his cheek against the top of the hoglet's head, taking in the feeling of his son's soft baby fluff and that soft newborn smell. Shadow sits on the bed beside his family and carefully wraps his arms around both of them, gently shifting Sonic onto his lap to hold them more securely.
"I love you both so much. I don't know what I would have done if I lost either one of you, I almost thought I had...you two are my entire world. You two and any other hoglets that we may have in the future" Shadow purrs lovingly as he pecks gentle kisses onto Sonic's shoulders, his tail thumping against the pillows behind them as he gently strokes their newborn's soft baby fur with the hand that wasn't wrapped around Sonic's waist.
"You're already thinking about having more babies? It hasn't even been a full day, Shads. How about you get pregnant with the next one, then we'll see if you still want more" Sonic laughs as he relaxes back in Shadow's arms, their baby boy still held protectively to his chest. The blue hedgehog sighs happily and shuts his eyes, taking a moment to just enjoy the presence of his little family. All the pain and stress of the past few months melted away in that moment, he would do it all again in a heartbeat for his little hoglet. The baby boy yawns softly as he dozes off in the safe embrace of his parents, blissfully unaware of the world around him and the possible challenges the future may hold.
"Don't worry, Silver. We've got you...no matter what. We've got you"
