Small air shoed feet rushed quickly after a bright orange ball that belonged to a small black hedgehog with bright crimson streaks on his quills and body along with wide emerald eyes and a patch of white chest fur. The ball kept bouncing out of his grasp and far ahead of him due to the speed and power the child contained as he each time hit the ball a bit too hard. That's when it went 'flying' past a couple of bushes and he had to fetch it, hoping he'd find it easily. But then, just as he had followed the fun device, a large frightened high-pitched shreak filled the afternoon sky as the young hedgehog boy came face to face with a blown up decoration of a old green witch! The sudden frightened shock sent him onto the ground as he curled up into a small ball with small tears gathering in the corners of his eyes! That thing was the scariest thing he ever saw!

Being in ear shot at the time, the pink female instantly knew that sound was from her son! "Dark?!" she called with a hint of fear in her voice as she rushed around to the front of her home "Dark honey?!"

The boy was along side the bushes outlining the lawn that seperated the front lawn from the neighbor's. He was still in the fetal position, where whimpers could be heard, as he was to frozen with fear to move!

As no reply was given, the pink hedge-girl instantly felt fear grip her heart "Dark please!" she called out once more, her eyes tearing up. If there was no answer, she would call up Shadow and demand he come and find him then ignore his sarcasm.

With his mouth twitching now, he was able to form words: "Mama!" He cried out as his whole body was now regaining movement. Tears were gushing from his giant green eyes as he rushed out of the bushes in search of his mother! He wasnted comforting-safe-love!

Seeing her little boy run out from the bushes, she rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him "Sweetie, sweetie..." she soothed "Whats the matter?" she asked kissing his head as she sank to the grass to hug him closely

Dark didn't hesitate to snuggle into his mother's warm and body as he grasped the fabric of her dressed tightly-spilling tears on it. "Big scary green thing! With sharp fingers and teeth and big scary smile!" Is what he replied in a whimper. Just remembering it made him even more scared!

Blinking slightly the female pointed to the house "Get inside sweetie..." she wasn't sure if it was what she thought it might be, but she was taking no chances. her son might be in danger "If you get scared, call Uncle Sonic..."

"But what about you...? What if tries to eat you or something...?" The smaller hedgehog didn't wanna leave his mother out alone with that THING out there!

A small smile came to her face "Dark, please," she urged, "I'll be fine..."

This small helpless look came to his face as he gave her pleading puppy dog eyes. "Okay..." Was what he said really silently before heading inside like he was told. Though he still worried about her...!

Smiling, a determined look came to the pink females face as she travelled through the bush her son had come from. and as she peered trough she stumbled back at the sudden thing in her face. and fell on her butt only to peer at the sky with a giggle

Meanwhile, while he was forced inside the house, Dark sat near the nearest window and kept his eyes upon the front yard being ready to rush out there if his mother needed any rescuing!

Sitting up she heard a scoff and saw her child's father looking down at her with a scowl "Hey Shadow~ Come to save me from the 'Wicked Witch'?" she giggled, earning a scoff

"Rose, I have no idea why you were so startled..." he stated with a small sneer

In seeing his father outside the area where that decoration had frightened him, Dark didn't think twice about rushing out the door yelling: "Daddy! Is mama okay? That scary green thing didn't eat her did it?!"

Crimson eyes merely glanced at the form rushing to him and curled his lip up slightly "No," was all he said, looking back down to his feet where the pink hedgehog was giggling to herself

"Mama! You're all right!" Exclaimed the boy as he rushed to her side, but then hid his face against her at seeing the thing that had got him scared in the first place! Tiny black ears flattened against his head as his tail quivered in fright. That thing was so scary!

A soothing sound came from Amy as she held him tightly "Dark, take a closer look..."

He shook his head automatically to her words! There was no way he was gonna get any closer to that... whatever it was!

Growling at the small boy, Shadow plucked him fromhis mothers grasp "Boy..." he stated, looking him in the eye

"Uh-huh?" Is what he asked shyly, his eyes real wide and pleading with his lips pouted out.

A small smirk came to his face as he quickly zoomed forward and held him to see the 'scary thing' "Look at it..."

Dark didn't like that one bit! He was shaking by that point...! "But I don't wanna look at it..." Is what he whimpered to his father.

"If you want to be strong like me, you will have too" he stated, still holding onto the boy, and hearing Amy approaching

"But it's scary...!" Was his protest, though he wanted to be strong as his father mentioned. "And what if it tries to eat more or something...?"

"It's not... interested in anything of the sort," he stated with a snort "You have five seconds before I leave you,"

About that time, the boy swallowed hard as he kept his gaze upon the witch decoration, but then... about a few seconds of gazing up at it... He was gone! Rushing right out of his father's grasp! And away from the bushes! Not thinking twice about staying there! Especially where his father had held him!

"Little brat..." the black male snorted and folded his arms just as Amy rounded the corner

The mini life form kind of felt bad, because not only was he not brave like his father, but that thing was still around! A small whimper escaped his lips as he sat upon the ground right in front of the front door.

In seeing her child was no longer with the father, a panicked look came to her features until the male pointed out the direction he had run off too and then sent a small Chaos Spear to destroy the witch "Shadow!!!"

"Hmph" was all he responded as he walked away from his 'family'

Tears were now gathering in his eyes and he was rubbing them away with his tiny gloved hands. More whimpers now turning into small sobs and sniffles were forming on his lips.

The pink female smirked as she saw him walking away "Dark, Daddy killed the monster for us~"

"Really?!" Was the response she got as his head shot up from it's lowered crying point. Did his daddy really do that for him after he couldn't stand up to it?!

"Yuh-huh, come and look," she lifted bit of green that was left, she was so going to have to grovel to her neighbours

With that little reassurance of his father vanquishing the monster that had inhabited the front yard, Dark rushed back over there to have a wide grin stretch across his face! His father had taken care of it! He saved them all!

Amy smiled and pointed to the retreating figure "And now he's walking away..."

A gasp escaped his lips! He had to thank him! So he rushed off towards him! "Daddy!" Hollered the boy getting close to his form.

Turning at the parental term, he noticed the smirk on the females face. He had definitely been spending to much time around her... "What."

Just when the older male stopped, his son launged at him encasing him in a hug. "Thank you soooo much for getting rid of that big monster thing!" He exclaimed snuggling against his fur. But then his ears lowered. "I'm sorry I'm not as brave as you... I wish I was..."

Getting the boy by the scruff of the neck, he placed him on the floor with a small scowl "I don't care," he stated

"But I'll practice getting brave that way I can get rid of more monsters on my own!" Was the ressuring tone of the boy as his eyes lite up and his fists clenched in excitement. "But I'll still love you and want you around though...!"

"I'm sure you will," was what the ruby eyed male stated passively, turning to walk away again

"Um... can you stay for a while...? I might not need you to rescue me from any more scary monsters, but I would like it you could just play with me..." That was the question he asked hesitantly as he reached out and grabbed one of Shadow's bigger gloved hands. "Please...?"

"You have your mother," was all he said as he paused, waiting to be released so he could leave. He didn't know what compelled him to visit there in the first place...

"I know, but I wanna play with you..." Dark admitted not wanting to let go of his father's hand.

"Damn it..." he muttered and snatched his hand away, stalking back towards the beaming mother

At first, when his father snatched his hand away and turned towards the house, the boy was blinking in silence, but then, after a few seconds of that, he squealed happily rushing on ahead to be side-by-side with his daddy. "Thank you daddy!"

"Thank you Shadow," Amy whispered to him as she reached him, thats when an annoyed shout came as the neighbour exited his home. "Please take Dark inside..." she smiled and turned to explain what had happened

"You heard your mother..." the darm male stated, picking the boy up and throwing him over his shoulder*

Before he could say anything, Dark had been put into this place upon his father's shoulder.

As he left the pink female to deal with the now calming rodent over his decorations, the dark male placed the smaller mini-him on the ground

"What's mama doing over there?" The mini Shadow asked being curious as well as nosey.

"Having a discussion about what has just transpired on his lawn..." he stated taking a seat on the sofa

His mind swirled at all the words he couldn't understand. "Are you talking about the monster? Cause if so then the man should be happy that you go rid of it! That way it wasn't gonna scare or eat him neither!"

"Yes." he said and tried not to let the boy into asking his questions

With a wide grin, he went to a different subject. "So what do you like to play daddy? We can't play with my ball cause I lost it when I ran into the monster, but we can do other stuff!" Is what he changed the subject to. His little tail wagging so happily.

"No" was replied instantly "Wait for your mother to return..."

"Oh! You probably want her to play with us too! That'll be so much fun!" Squealed the crimson streaked boy as he sat there next to his father bouncing in anticipation of his mother's return!

"Stop squirming," he smirked slightly in his boredom "Try to be quiet until she arrives"

"Okay!" Dark chirped trying to keep a still pose, but then decided to snuggle up against his father muttering a small three lettered affectionate sentence to him. By then he was still completely.

Rolling his eyes, he looked out of the wondow to see the rose female smiling as she walked back towards the house. Finally!

A sigh of contentment was heaved from the boy's mouth as his ears flattened against his head and his tail swayed happily. His daddy was so warm and fluffy!

The pink female walked into her home to find the scene and squeed slightly at the adorable pose they were in, well... her son was in

Dark hadn't even notice his mother come in as he snuggled even more into black fur and sighed once more. He was so content right now!

"Boy!" Shadow snapped, nudging his attention towards his beaming mother

That made him jump up from against his father at hearing that! But then, when he saw his mother, rushed off of the sofa and towards his mother's arm.