Time Heals All Things

Chapter Sixteen: Baby, It's about Preference

   The Baby Boutique was light and airy with large windows and well designed displays with clear signs to indicate where to find certain products. The black and red hedgehog grimaced at all the happy pregnant coupled and new parents with their small newborn kitons that surrounded both him and Rouge who had brought him here to browse for her unborn little one. His sneer twisted into further disgust and his scarlet eyes rolled at the sickeningly sweet lullaby that was pumping through the speaker system.

"Remind me again, why I let you talk me into this?" Shadow grumbled in a low voice to go along with his sneer at the sickly sweet baby store.

"Because I promised you a steaming hot coffee and a couple of freshly baked cinnamon rolls." Rouge responded playfully, linking arms with him and guiding him through the clothes section and towards the buggies and baby furniture.

"Damn! I knew there was something.." Shadow muttered before throwing the five month pregnant female bat a reproachful glance. "Wouldn't Knuckles be better suited to this? I mean, he is the baby's father after all.."

"Knuckles? Pfft.." Rouge snorted into giggles. "He said he would just get Tails to build everything. Besides, he has no sense of style or colour coordination and I don't trust Tails with it either. According to Cream he once tried to-"

"Rouge.." Shadow cut off his pregnant female companion unlinking his arm from hers and raising his hand. "Do you honestly think that I care about the antics of the scruffy fox and his fluffy little wife?" A sardonic smirk twisted his muzzle as his brows arched.

"Alright, alright but you have to admit you do have a flare when it comes to colour and style. Hmh, you know what maternity clothes look good on me.." The female bat winked in a flirty fashion and deliberately gestured to the cute pink dress she was wearing along with the black knitted crop cardigan that showed off her pregnancy bump.

"Careful, you'll ruin my reputation by implying that I'm some camp-handed, pretentious Nancy-boy.." Shadow responded grimly.

"And how is Big Blue by the way?" Rouge chose to add at this moment with raised brows under her long fluffy fringe in a knowing manner.

"He's fine. Healing nicely." Shadow responded looking confused at this question. "He's with your husband, you saw him before we left. How is this the topic of discussion?" He added in a somewhat frustrated tone, failing to see how the subject had suddenly switched onto Sonic the Hedgehog.

"Settle down hon, there's no need to get defensive.." Rouge smiled sweetly then added in a soft coo, "I think you two are very cute."

"Excuse me?" The black hedgehog and red stripes blinked once more, somewhat bemused and amazed by the female bat's ability to take him completely by surprise.

"You don't have to hide it from me Shadow, the chemistry between you two was static when we were leaving." The female bat said quietly as the pair were now stood in front of different styles of baby furniture. "You two couldn't tear your eyes away from each other." She sighed in an admiring fashion reminiscing about their last moments in Shadow's home.

"What? No, it.. it wasn't like that-" Shadow spluttered trying to think up some excuse but could feel his face heat up in embarrassment.

"You don't have to lie Handsome, I think it's great." Rouge cut across him with a supportive smile, rubbing his shoulder as her teal eyes gleamed with deepest sincerity. "He's good for you, he makes you happy and that's all I've ever wanted to see.. And don't worry, Knuckles didn't see anything. He isn't that intuitive."

"I wasn't worried about him. But.. how did you-"

"Know?" Rouge raised both her brows with a light caring smile. "It was obvious to me, I've seen the A.R.K footage of you too. When your with Sonic now you're much more like the Shadow you were with her." She didn't need to say Maria's name, the black and red hedgehog knew exactly who she was referring to and at this an odd gleam of hope shone in those usually closed off red eyes.