Jayde the Hedgehog • By Your Side [3]

27: Sleep Tight✔️

Music: Fairy Tail (Remix) - Kalesptik

21:16: Luna and Alester's home

Jayde sat on top of her parent's roof, looking up at the night sky. She didn't realise how much she had missed home until she returned today. Everything just seemed to be perfect. Her old town, old home, even her bedroom had stayed the same. There was always a sense of hope and security at home, and it still seemed to be here.

"Are you happy you came home?" her ears turned in the direction of the voice, but she knew it well enough to not turn around.

"I'm glad I did, Shades." She whispered, feeling him sit down next to her. Rubies stared at her peaceful face as she stared into the darkness above and he could only smile. Jayde deserved this break. She hadn't seen her parents in years, and even if this wasn't the best time, she still deserved to be happy at this time. Jayde crossed her legs with a sigh, fiddling with her fingers, "After Jayden was gone, I never expected myself to come back," She started, "I was so full of anger and pain, thinking that it was all my fault. I thought that if I came back, it would bring it all back but instead it didn't."

Shadow spoke up, "It helped you put the past behind you." Azure eyes met crimson and she smiled and nodded, "It feels better knowing you've faced the past." He mumbled.

Jayde knew that Shadow knew how it felt and she'd never say he didn't again because that was far from true. What he said was right, it does feel better knowing she had faced her past and put it behind her. But she frowned, "It still doesn't change the fact that I was a coward and ran when all along I knew that my family and friends wouldn't blame me. And as soon as I ran, there was no turning back."

Shadow looked at her and put an arm around her, "The past is in the past, you can't change it and even if you could something worse would've come from it. You just need to accept and carry on."

Cobalt eyes stared at the stars, "Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if I had never left. I would've never had this amazing adventure I've been on. I would've never met such amazing Mobians."

"And I would've never met you." The Ultimate Lifeform mumbled, nuzzling into her neck. Jayde chuckled at this and squirmed, turning to face him. Her hands went to the sides of his muzzle and made him pull a funny face.

The female laughed slightly, "No, I would've never met you."

Shadow grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him, "Everything's better with you, Renee. You make everything brighter."

Jayde smirked, "Aw, the Ultimate Lifeform's going mushy on me. Where's that tough demeanor gone?"

The ebony hedgehog chuckled and rested his chin on her head as they both looked back up at the sky, "He's only here when you're not around." Jayde grinned to herself and cuddled herself closer to Shadow.

21:40: Luna and Alester's home

Shadow silently jumped down with a sleeping Protector in his arms before walking into the house. As he looks around, he saw Rouge and Knuckles asleep on the sofa together; Luna and Alester having a conversation at the kitchen table and the remaining Mobians played a board game on the floor. Sonic grinned, "Aw, Shads, did she fall asleep on you?" The ebony male rolled his orbs at the cobalt hero before walking into the kitchen area. The parents looked up from their seats and smiled at the scene of Jayde cradled in his arms.

"Third door on the left," Luna softly spoke, already knowing what he was going to ask. Shadow nodded before walking down the stairs.

After finding the door, the Ultimate Lifeform pushed it silently with his foot, walking into the light blue painted room. Dark curtains blew against the faint wind from the open skylight, which caused the female to shiver slightly, burying her face into Shadow's chest fur. He set her down on her black bedding, about to leave until Jayde gently grasped his wrist to stop him, "Don't leave..." she mumbled, still partially asleep. The male smiled slightly at her as she continued to tug him, before kicking off his shoes and lying down next to her. Jayde smiled and cuddled into him, leaving the hedgehog to wrap his arms around her.

"Goodnight, Renee." He mumbled into her quills before closing his eyes and soon falling into the darkness.

Not too long after, Alester walked down the stairs. He yawned, clicking his back, ready for a long night's rest, until small snores caught his attention. Hazel eyes glanced to his daughter's room before quietly pushing open the door and taking a look.

Alester smiled when he saw the two hedgehogs sleeping. He noticed Shadow's ear twitching at the faintest sound of the floorboard as Luna walked towards her husband. She looked in, a smile prying on her lips – her baby was truly growing up. Throughout all her younger years, Jayde had always said she'd never want a boyfriend, and here she was now. But Alester now understood something. From the conversation with the ebony hedgehog earlier, and that small twitch of his ear, he knew that what Shadow said was pure honesty – he really would protect Jayde no matter what.