*Sonic's POV*
4 years have passed since Shadow and I started dating. 2 years of being married, and today, she was 2 weeks old. Shadow was currently holding her, looking down at her as if his life depended on it.

"She's not going to go anywhere, Shadz." I softly laughed as I walked to him and sat beside him, then looked down at Maria. "To think this little girl is going to become the Maria we met."

"I -" Shadow was interrupted when there was a knock on the door. I looked in that direction and stood up again.

"I got it." I said softly and went to open the door. "Yes?" I asked as I opened it, then completely froze and took a step back when I saw who was knocking.

"Hey, dad!" My eyes widened, and I was instantly hugged by Maria.

Silver took a step inside the house and softly laughed at us. "She'd been asking none stop to come visit. I had to wait until it was the right time to come. The time Sonic and Shadow from the future remember seeing her again to nor alter the timeline." He explained. I hugged back Maria, then pulled away and glanced at Shadow, who looked shocked as well. He placed our Maria down on her crib, then walked to us and hugged Maria tightly.

"What is going on? How? What?" I quickly asked.

"Apparently! You and Daddy lied to me!" Maria explained as she hugged and then pulled away from Shadow. "You knew all along that this was going to happen. It WAS supposed to happen. When I disappeared, I just went back to my timeline. It was restored how it had always been. I WAS supposed to come here and help the two of you get together. That's what happened in my timeline. Even Silver wasn't aware of it until my parents explained it all to him after I came back."

"Wait so." Shadow shook his head. "Everything that happened. It was supposed to have happened that way? You weren't supposed to know you were the reason we got together?"

"Exactly." Silver nodded. "You're going to go through the same thing in your future. Having to lie to Maria about how you two got together and mark this exact same date for her to give back to and meet up with the two of you again. If that makes sense."

"A little confused, but I think I know what you mean." I softly laughed and quickly turned around when I heard my Maria start crying. I walked to her , grabbed her bottle, and then started feeding her.

"Awe, I was so tiny!" Maria jumped in spot in excitement at seeing her past version.

"And a menace." Silver mumbled. "Good luck in her terrible twos." He laughed.

Suddenly there was a light beeping noise, Maria and Silver looked at each other then nodded. "It's time for me to go back home."

"We will see you soon." Shadow smiled at Maria and hugged her again.

"I'm still going to date that guy you hate, by the way." She stuck out her tongue at Shadow when she pulled away.

"Over my dead body." Shadow rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"That's not fair. You're immortal." She laughed. I passed Maria to Shadow, then hugged future Maria tightly and kissed her forehead.

"We will always protect you, you best know Shadow, and I will do anything to make sure no one ever hurts you. We will see you soon, Maria." I pulled away and smiled happily. "We love you so much."

Maria let a few tears roll down her muzzle, and she nodded. "I love you two as well. You're the best parents I could have." With that said, Silver and her left, leaving Shadow and I alone again with our Maria in his arms.

The feeling of peace washing over us, finally knowing that Maria was okay. She had a home in the future, a good home where we both loved and protected her.

And soon, we will get to see her again.

THE END
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I meant to publish this chapter a week after this book was finished. I just completely forgot about it, lol

Hope you like this