Time Heals All Things

Chapter Twenty Four: Family Matters..

An Extra long chapter dedicated to all those who have read this story and helped it reach the 3k mark... I honestly never thought that many of you would like a story based around middle-age, thanks for proving me wrong...
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  Shadow took yet another deep inhale of breath looking over the plates of finger sandwiches and volovants, tartlets and large deli platter that he had been working on before setting them down on the island worktop to form a type of buffet style lunch. He wondered vaguely if this would be deemed acceptable for the Queen of Mobius before mentally reminding himself of what Sonic had said, his family were here as just that, family.

"May I help you in any way?" A polite female voice said from behind him making the teenage looking male turn around to find an unknown magenta-furred female hedgehog with pink quills styled into a kind of elegant pixie cut. She looked almost like a female Sonic and though she did not sport the same facial lines he had it was obvious she was of a similar age.

"Oh. No.. It's fine, everything is ready." Shadow replied after a moment of silence, realising that this must be Sonia. Her soft brown eyes looked around the table of foods with interest.

"It all looks so wonderful. You made all this yourself?" Sonia asked curiously, flashing the black and red hedgehog a small smile. "Sonic did tell you that I'm-"

"Vegetarian. Yes, he did mention that. I have laid a few options out for you too." Shadow nodded with a slight smirk back.

"Is it true what my brother says? That you sleep with a loaded glock forty-three in your quills.." The mauve furred female hedgehog added in a sultry tone kinking an eye-ridge.

"I keep the safety on." Shadow responded, his smirk widening playfully as he whipped the gun out of his quills.

"Aren't you afraid you'll blow you're own head off if you forget to put the safety on?" The middle-aged female tilted her head curiously.

"I never forget." Shadow said in a smooth confident voice and this made Sonia flush a little and fan herself with her fingers.

"Goodness.." She murmured narrowing her eyes in admiration towards the black and red hedgehog who merely stowed his gun away in his quills then began getting the tea and coffee tray ready. Sonia had been married and divorced twice already but her older brother had neglected to tell her just how handsome his housemate was. He looked so young that it was hard to believe that he was older than their mother.

"I notice that you arrived here on a pink and silver Zasuki motorcycle, that's a classic isn't it?" Shadow spoke conversationally as he picked up the large tray with tea and coffee with ease and began to carry it through.

"Yes. I've had it as long was a part of the Freedom Fighters. I couldn't part with it as it has too much sentimental value." Sonia replied walking with the black and red hedgehog into the large lounge where Sonic was standing opposite his mother Aleena and brother Scourge. All three looked around the moment Sonia and Shadow arrived together and the black and red hedgehog set the tray down on the coffee table. Before Shadow could offer to pour the tea out Sonic spoke first.

"Mom, this is Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Lifeform I was telling you about. Shadow this is my mom Queen Aleena." Sonic introduced them, unnecessarily gesturing to the lilac furred aging female hedgehog with grey quills and light facial lines.