The Paths of Sin and Redemption

Chapter 11

Mephiles awoke early the next morning, going about his daily routine before making his way down the halls to Silver's room. Upon entering, he saw that Sonic and Shadow were not yet there, and as he gazed upon the small figure that lay in bed, he could see that Silver looked much smaller now--his limp body nearly hidden by the thick sheets that covered him.

Mephiles gently touched his shoulder; it looked wrong to see Silver so fragile and weak. And as he silently left the room to make sure his children were fed this morning, he started to think about what Shadow had said. Silver cared about him, but....it didn't make sense. And other than his brother, Meph could think of no other that would've done that for him. So...why did Silver? Why did he take the potion in the first place if he knew that there was a high possibility of getting himself killed...? The demon just couldn't think of a good reason why. Silver wanted him dead. He was using him for a comfortable life. It really didn't make any sense to him....

Once at the nursery, he let those thoughts flee his mind as he fed his pups the warm goat milk and gently burped each one individually, the first time he was actually being a real father to them.

And with honestly nothing better to do, he brought the babies back to Silver's bedroom and after creating a pile of pillows in a corner by a ceiling high window, Mephiles got comfortable on the floor and let the little ones move around on him--righting them whenever they toppled over from still trying to crawl.

He found it kind of adorable as he attentively watched them; they seemed very active and that was good. They'd grow up strong and powerful at this rate.

He didn't know how long he entertained the company of his children, but he didn't seem to care. He did look up when a soft knock sounded on the bedroom door, however, right before Shadow entered, followed by Sonic.

Mephiles held his daughter in his arms as he sat up, curiously watching them as his guests crowded around Silver.

"Has he woken up yet?" Shadow asked quietly after he and his mate greeted his brother. "No." He answered simply, standing up and taking the children over to crawl around on the bed. The eldest, young Rei, almost instantly managed to crawl/stumbled his way up to his mother's face, gently patting his face with his tiny little hands as he made cute baby noises--not understanding why his mother wouldn't wake up.

Mephiles sighed patiently and gently pulled Rei away. They wouldn't disturb their mother if he had anything to say about it. If Silver was going to pull through this, he'd need no disturbance.

Sonic smiled at how Mephiles managed to try and calm his son when the little ebony male began to cry from being moved away from his mother.

"Let me help," he softly volunteered, instructing a confused/worried/curious Meph to once again lay the crying pup at Silver's side.

"Keep a hand on him till he calms," he told him, having him gently rub the whimpering pup's back where the baby was now curled up with his head on his mother's side. Pretty soon, the little one was falling asleep, shortly joined by his siblings who'd come of their own accord and curled up next to their mommy as well. Soon, all three babies were sleep once more.

"They miss him..." Sonic smiled sadly as they all watched the little ones rest alongside their ill mother.

Mephiles watched as his children had almost immediately flocked to their mother. A child's mind always seemed to focus heavily on the mother as a means of everything that would meet their needs, which truly was interesting to him. The three adults quietly watched as the mother and pups slumbered. Hopefully Silver's maternal instincts would subconsciously urge him to get better and fight the poison.