*Sonic's POV *
"Are you crying?" Jet raised a brow and walked closer to me. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"Oh Shut up. What are you doing here?" I cleaned my tears.
"Wave told me about your situation so I came to see how you were doing."
"You're worried about me?" I smirked making him tense lightly.
"Where are the kids?" He glanced around not seeing them around me. "They hiding or something?"
"They're with Shadow." I answered making him slowly nod.
"Right. Wave told me he was back." He rubbed the back of his head and looked away. "Does that mean...?"
"I had already given you your answer." I started walking in direction to the garden as he followed.
"You're not wearing the ring anymore though, what happened?" He said as he caught up to me and walked beside me.
"Nothing." I answered calmly not wanting to talk about it.
"Come on. It's me, you can talk to me." He wasn't wrong, I trusted Jet, a lot. He was there for me when Shadow disappeared and helped me a lot with the kids. He was the one that got me back to my family, snapped me back to reality. But he had also confessed he liked me.
"I just don't want to right now." I sighed and sat down by the water fountain. I shouldn't be out here right now, it wasn't the time.
"Okay. I understand." He said then got a bit closer to me, I didn't move. "I heard about G.U.N., heard your mother is trying to get them to drop Shadow and Shade. Is it true?" I nodded. "They're still trying to take Shade away from you?"
"They won't budge. But we are close, though I am willing to do anything to keep them safe."
"So you still love him?" He asked and I stayed quiet. "It's okay, you can be honest with me."
"No. I dont." I answered then shook my head. "I-"
"Kids!" I tensed up when Jet shouted and turned to look at Shadow and the kids close to us. Shadow had his arms crossed and suddenly I realized how wrong this situation looked, Jet sitting so close beside me and him acting so comfortably with the kids. And if Shadow heard what I said then that was even worse.
"I wasn't aware you were here." Shadow said, his tone cold like he used to be before. He heard me. "I'll leave them with you." He walked away, the kids talking with Jet and hugging him.
*Shadow's POV *
I went into the room and slammed the door close then went to take a shower.
So that's why Sonic wouldn't give me a proper answer, he was seeing someone else. He was seeing Jet, and the kids liked him, they were comfortable with him. Was it safe to have the kids around him? Did Sonic trust him? Were they dating? Was that why Sonic couldn't look at me?
It had been over a decade, of course Sonic was seeing someone else. That would explain a lot. Of course Sonic was, how stupid was I to think he was actually considering being with me?
I sat down on the floor of the shower and let the water run as I got in my head.
Maybe it isn't so bad to have the kids with him. Sonic seemed calm around him and open to him, it's a fact their relationship was healthier than ours ever was. Maybe I should just let him leave and be happy with someone else. He made it clear he wouldn't keep the kids away from me anyways so I shouldn't worry about that.
This would mean I was officially giving up on Sonic but that didn't mean I didn't love him anymore. I just want him to be happy, to be safe and he was neither of those when I was around. Maybe it was time that I move on.
I knew it would for sure help Sonic heal, it would help him be happy, it would keep the kids happy. Even though they wanted us together, I would have to sit down with them and explain that it would be for the best. I should leave. I shouldn't stay in the castle.
Maybe if I just give in to work for G.U.N. maybe then they will give it up and leave me and Shade alone. If I just go back to working with them they would end this.
I sighed and got off the shower then dried myself off. I knew Aleena was currently talking to the commander and knew Rouge was there as well as witness but even with them there, I was not ready to go back.
I chaos controlled outside the commanders office and took in a deep breathe then walked in without even knocking since I heard shouting inside.
"Shadow?" Aleena said once I walked in.
"Hun? What are you doing here?" I ignored them and took a step closer to the commanders desk, he watched my every move.
"I will work for you again but you have to leave my kids out of this." I said, glaring at him, he didn't budge.
"Your kid is just as powerful as you are, project. We need the two of you here to keep you in check."
"Shadow." Aleena touched my shoulder making me tense, I was not used to touch anymore, not after what Eggman and G.U.N. did. "Let me take care of this." I shook my head and looked at her, making her realize this was serious.
"That's the only way you will have me here. You leave my kids out of this."
"And you can't hurt him." Aleena added. "Treated like any other agent here. He's just like us."
"He was created."
"He's just. Like. Us." Aleena said sternly. The room fell silent for a while as the commander thought about what to do.
"Fine." He pulled out a badge then placed it in front of me. "Welcome back, Shadow."
