Chapter Text
It was a boy. His tiny wings were shriveled, like a blouse in need of an iron. His face was squashed, and his fur was a slimy, bloody mess. Still, a single tear slipped down the hedgehog’s face as he gazed upon his youngest child. He was perfect.
The doctor stepped in to deal with the afterbirth, allowing Shadow to return to his wife. The hedgehog placed their newborn son on her chest. “This lovely bat right here is your mom.”
“Oh...he-hello there, baby boy!” Rouge’s voice cracked on the last words. Her eyes sparkled as she turned to look at her husband. The tiny bat continued to squirm inside the towel he was wrapped in. Briefly, he blinked his eyes open, revealing jade green irises.
Rouge gave the hedgehog a weak smile. “Shadow, this the most amazing thing you’ve ever done for me.”
Shadow wrapped one arm around his wife and gazed upon the tiny new being they created. That he delivered. He was still in disbelief over the latter part. He knew he wanted to be there when their second child was born. But he wound up doing a hell of a lot more than he anticipated. The doctor even asked him if he’d considered a job in obstetrics. This would certainly be quite the story to tell his son as he got older.
“DON’T FORGET. I CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD!” Omega boasted before proceeding to wrap his arms around his found family.
Pretty soon, all of Team Dark were huddled together, fawning over their newest addition. Shadow was beaming. Who would’ve thought Rouge releasing me from that pod twenty years ago would result in something so beautiful?
That’s when his son began to cry again and claw at his wife’s chest. Realizing what he wanted, the bat exposed one of her enlarged breasts, which the baby immediately latched onto. She gently stroked the top of his head as he eagerly gulped down his milk.
“Welcome to the world, my precious little gemstone.” No sooner had Rouge said those words did she freeze with a sudden realization. “That’s what we should name him!”
“Gemstone?” Shadow cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. I did say she could name this one. He wasn’t one to judge since “Maria” wasn’t exactly the most original name for his daughter. Plus, Rouge’s options for jewel-related baby names immediately shrunk when they learned they were having a boy. Well, it’s not the worst name in the world.
Noticing her husband’s expression, Rouge gave him a knowing smirk. “We could just call him Gem for short.”
“Gem the Bat…” Shadow carefully mouthed each word. Soon, each one rolled off his tongue with ease. “It’s perfect.”
It really was. Gem the Bat. Our precious Gem. Our beautiful boy.
When Gem was six hours old, Shadow stood outside Rouge’s hospital room, tapping his foot. Any minute now, Omega would be stomping down the hall with Maria following close behind.
Although the hedgehog called her school twenty minutes after the baby’s birth, he didn’t want his daughter getting off early to come and visit. It was partially because Rouge dozed off the second her son was lifted from her arms by the doctor. Obviously, the labor sapped her of all her energy. And, as it turned out, Gem was much larger than the average newborn bat. No wonder Rouge was so uncomfortable during the last month of her pregnancy, Shadow thought, feeling a pang of guilt in his chest.
Rouge’s much-needed nap also gave Shadow a bit of quality time with this new being he helped create. A nurse showed him how to bathe, change, dress, and swaddle the tiny bat; all stuff the hedgehog was a bit rusty on after thirteen years. Omega even got a chance to hold his nephew. Albeit, not until several towels were wrapped around one of his arm canons.
“HE LOOKS LIKE A DARKER GRAY VERSION OF MARIA BUT WITH ROUGE’S EYES,” the E-series robot observed.
It was true, right down to the tufts of gray and red fur that stuck out on his forehead. Shadow’s heart was warmed, thinking about how his children had just as much of their mom in them as they did him.
Now, Gem was back with his mother, and all Shadow could do was wait.
“Dad!” Maria shouted, nearly tackled her poor father to the ground.
Luckily, years of G.U.N. training prepared him for these sorts of sudden attacks. Shadow stayed firmly planted on his feet. “How was school?”
“The same ole stuff,” Maria mumbled. Clearly, that algebra quiz was the last thing she had on her mind.“How’s mom?”
“SHE’S BEEN WORRYING ABOUT ROUGE SINCE BEFORE SHE EVEN GOT HERE,” Omega said as he went to stand in the doorway.
Shadow felt a tug at his heartstrings. The poor thing hadn’t been this worried about her mother in seven years (when Rouge came down with a nasty case of pneumonia.) Before saying anything else, the hedgehog pulled the young bat into a comforting embrace. “Your mom is going to be just fine. The doctor says she and the baby will be able to come home sometime tomorrow.”
“The baby…” Maria gulped, breaking from her father’s hug. For a brief second, she’d forgotten why Rouge was at the hospital in the first place. Suddenly, it dawned on her that the faceless thing she’d felt squirming and kicking inside her mother’s belly was actually here.
“Come with me.” The hedgehog led his oldest child into the room. Both father and daughter’s hearts pounded in sync. “There’s someone in that room who’s dying to meet you.”
When they entered the room, they saw Rouge sitting upright in the hospital bed, holding a clean blue bundle close to her chest. Maybe he was biased, but Shadow could’ve sworn his wife had grown more and more stunning in the hours after she’d given birth. She’d probably laugh if he said anything like that, citing her tangled hair, baggy eyes, and the extra thirty-five pounds she’d gained over the past nine months. But all of that seemed so significant to the glow she emitted when she smiled.
As soon as Maria approached her mother’s bedside, the bat gave her daughter a quick peck on the cheek. Then she removed some of the blankets covering the baby’s face.
“Gem, look, it’s your big sister.”
“...Is that seriously his name?” Maria gave her father the same look he gave Rouge when she first thought of the name.
The hedgehog lightly chuckled. “Your mom picked it.”
Their daughter simply responded with a shrug. Then she leaned in closer to get a closer look at her new baby brother. “H-hey there, Gem. I-I-I’m Maria.”
Gem stared at his sister with wide-open jade eyes. He was too young to smile, so he made some happy gurgling noises instead.
The mother bat was filled to the brim with joy, finally seeing her two children together. “Would you like to hold him?”
Maria froze and frantically sputtered a few syllables. Just when it looked like she was about to step away, Rouge lightly touched her hand. “Don’t be nervous, sweetheart. He won’t bite.”
“WELL, NOT UNTIL HE GETS HIS TEETH.” Omega quipped. Shadow looked about, ready to elbow him in the chest.
Shaking her head, Rouge handed Gem to Shadow, who sat down on the side of the bed. “Here,” he patted the nearby empty spot on the mattress. “I’ll help you.”
Still somewhat apprehensive, Maria sat down and allowed her father to place the tiny, fragile bundle in her outstretched arms.
“Just be sure to support his head,” Shadow gently nudged the baby closer to the crook of the preteen’s elbow, “like this.”
Once he was sure Maria got the hang of things, Shadow rushed back to his wife’s side and took her hand. Both watched with great intent as their son grabbed their daughter’s pinky finger.
“Hehe...he’s kinda cute.” Maria giggled.
Suddenly, Gem yawned and snuggled against his sister’s chest. Shadow could practically pinpoint the moment his daughter’s heart melted.
“Omigosh…I-I will never let anything bad happen to you, ever!” The young bat nuzzled her brother’s tiny nose. Happy tears freely flowed down her face.
Shadow and Rouge both felt a wave of relief wash over them. Maria had been an only child for most of her life. They didn’t expect her to take the new baby’s arrival particularly well. But seeing their daughter lovingly cradle her little brother in her arms made all their fears go away.
Maria and Omega soon became absorbed in conversation, telling Gem about everything they’d teach him how to do as he grew up. Rouge leaned her head against her husband’s shoulder and gave him an adoring look. “Thank you for making this the happiest day of my life,” she whispered.
No words were needed. The couple simply lost themselves in a long passionate kiss.
Team Dark's newest member has arrived!
Gemstone the Bat
Born September 5 at 9:35 a.m.
Weighing 4 lbs, 9 oz
Measuring 8.5 inches
With love from,
Shadow, Rouge, Omega, and Maria