Black Petaled Rose

Bonus Chapter: Maria...

by: Project Shadow and The Clover of Damnation

Dark enters the room rubbing his sleepy eyes. Then he says: "Mama, I had a strange dream..." He says with a yawn towards his mother not realizing his father was in the room.

Amy's ears perked up and she patted the sofa next to her with a smile "What was strange about it honey?"

The boy rushed over to the couch taking a seat next to her snuggling against her. "Well," His crimson eyes peered up at her. "I was running, and running beside me was this real pretty human girl. She had long yellow hair and blue eyes and a blue dress. There were these bad guys chasing us...then she looked at me with a sad look before I saw white and heard a strange noise..." Explained the boy with an upset tire tone.

Emerald eyes quickly passed to the other occupant of the room before she hugged her little boy close to her. "Shhh... It's okay,"

Shadow on the other hand had a frown on his face.

"But I'm afraid she got hurt! That noise sounded like what those robots shoot at us..." He said sadly whining a bit. "I didn't get to know her name..."

Amy was about to say something when a deeper voice cut through her "Her name," he paused and decided to stay silent again. The boy didn't need to know

Ruby orbs opened up looking over to his father. "Her name...? You know it...?" He asked so innocently and naiively waiting for Shadow to tell to him.

"I know her name, yes..." the older male spoke in a calmer, almost soft tone, but not saying anything else

The boy got from out of his mother's arms walking over to his father placing his hands upon his father's arm. Those ruby eyes peered up at him. "Can you tell me? I'm sure she had a really pretty name..."

Shadow looked down to the small child and shook his head to rid himself of these newly returned memories "Maria..."

Those eyes light up at the revealing of the human maiden's name. His small gloved hands seized one of his daddy's large ones as a smile formed on his lips. "I'm sorry...if you lost her..." Is what he said to him as though the name triggered Shadow's memories to him. A kiss was placed onto it.

Lost in his memories for a moment, the older male squeezed the smaller hand back softly.

Shadow merely sat there, not moving, his own memories floating around in his head.

"Are you all right, daddy? Dark asked noticing that his father seemed dazed out.

Blinking, the older male shook his head slightly and nodded mutely. He then began to wonder to himself about the reason why his son had dreamt such things...

The boy only peered up at him with a loving wide smile. "That's good..." And he squeezed the hand back that gave his small ones that. "I love you daddy..." He cooed softly with so much love gleaming in his ruby orbs.

Glancing down to the boy, with eyes of the same color, he still said nothing, but he gave a slight inclination of his head to show the child he had heard him.

That's when a delicate transparent apricot hand was sat upon the older male's shoulder. "And to think Shadow...when that sweet little boy first showed up, you thought he was a fake nuisance, but now...see how much he loves you...? Me being in his dream was of a reason, so he could know of your pain and to heal it. Don't reject him. Love him, as he loves you..."

Onyx furred ears automatically lowered and his eyes slowly turned to the hand that was upon his shoulder. Following the arm, his eyes widened and softened slightly "Maria..."

"Yes, it is me...but be sure to listen to what I offer. I might be gone, but you've got someone who can replace that void in your heart. That is why you have the boy, and that pink hedgehog girl. Let them inside and you'll be able to live a better tomorrow..." She said to him drawing her free hand up to his cheek caressing it.

"I'll take of daddy, I promise Maria..." Spoke Dark who could see the human maiden speaking so softly and lovingly to his father. "I will take extra care of him. I love my daddy..."

His crimson eyes stared back at her pretty face as her hand touched his cheek, then at hearing the voice of his son; he passed his gaze to him. Bringing the boy up onto his lap, he looked over his shoulder "I understand Maria..." he said sadly, he really missed her, no matter who had come and 'replaced' her... She would always be a part of him.

She only smiled at the both giving the life form a kiss on the cheek before giving Dark a gentle caressing hand on his cheek. "That's reassuring. I love the both of you, and I hope to see an even better relationship out of you two..." And with that, she had faded away...

Shadow almost lost his self restraint and barely managed to keep his hands where they were to stop himself from reaching out for her. Looking back down to Dark, he looked away and his ears lowered.

Dark didn't say a word as he nuzzled against his father hugging him as to be holding him. "I love you daddy..." Were the delicate soothing words he spoke giving him a smile past closed eyes.

A gloved hand rested on the top of the young boys head and ruffled his quills, not saying anything more about it

A small sigh of content only escaped his lips as he sat in his spot not moving.

The young pink female simply sat watching the scene, a happy smile on her face. But she felt left out!

Dark then realized that his mother was in the room, and he decided that she needed to be in their little 'love fest' so he pulled on Shadow's hand getting up from off his lap.

At feeling his hand being pulled, the older male sat and resisted the strength of the little boy. One sign of affection was enough him today.

The boy only frowned before rushing over to his mama pulling on her hand. "Come sit with us mama!" He pleaded to her with those wide crimson eyes.

Amy couldn't help but giggle and nod at her little boy’s actions "Okay sweetie," she smiled and proceeded to get up.

Dark then got behind her and speed her over to Shadow making her fall on him.

A huge blush spread across the pink females muzzle and as her head began to rise to apologize, her nose touched his! The blush deepened in color and she just stared at the ebony male under her.

The crimson eyes of the male, who was being used as a bed, stared into the eyes that were in front of his and then looked to her blush. A smirk came to his face as he spoke "Would you mind?"

Dark then jumped in between them giggling. "There! Now mama doesn't feel left out!" Is what he announced happily.

In having the small form now between them, Amy shifted to she was not directly in Shadow's face and rested her arm around him and one around her son, a happy smile added to the fading blush.

"I love you mama," Then he gazed up at Shadow with a smile equal to his mother's. "I love you daddy."

"I love you too sweetheart." the rose female cooed back to the small boy, moving forwards to place a kiss on his head.

That made his smile widen as he hugged her.

In seeing that he was being used for a seat, the onyx male simply watched the interaction between mother and son, not knowing entirely what to do...

Dark then whispered into Amy's ear: "Let's hug daddy together..."

A happy squeal emitted from the smiling lips of the boy's mother "Okay! On three?"

He nodded.

"One, two, three... Go!" Amy then threw her arms around the onyx male’s neck with a happy giggle.

Dark did the same accidentally using a bit of his strength doing so.

A small grunt of unhappiness fell from the onyx male as he felt the double assault and he sighed defeatedly, letting the contact happen.

"There! Now you will feel a whole lot better!" Remarked Dark smiling up at his daddy.

Amy stayed against the dark males shoulder, completely content and smiling down to their son.