Field Dressing

Amy clutched her purse almost defensively again her chest as she trailed Aphelion and Meridian Kintobor through the ridiculously elegant and sparsely populated restaurant. She still didn’t completely understand exactly how she came to be here, but Aphelion’s manner of speaking was strangely compelling.

“Eclipse wanted to apologize for ambushing you at the coffee shop downtown and Shadow said you wanted to have new dress for Irena’s party tomorrow, therefore Meri is taking you shopping. I am also coming. You’ll want a coat because it is cold today and comfortable shoes because Meri is going to make you stand in front of a mirror for long periods of time. I’ll be waiting for you in the car.”

Amy’s mind was still recovering from being so thoroughly derailed from what she’d been thinking about, that she changed into some jeans and grabbed her new coat. Shadow’s scent still clung to it, surrounding her in a comforting warmth. Between that and his scarf, Amy could almost pretend he was with her, just out of sight.

Soon she was in the back of a very nice sedan, Meridian beside her as Aphelion drove, her hands rigidly at ten and two on the steering wheel.

“We’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” Meridian, having removed her mask once she entered the vehicle, smiled, making small talk. “Right, Aph?”

“Yes.” The red hedgehog answered simply. Her words had a brusque, clipped ending, their abrupt termination always creating a minor pause as Amy waited for a continuation that never came.

“O-oh, that’s nice.” Amy tried to smile in return, still feeling awkward, but the brown hedgehog’s warmth was infectious. She found herself settling gently into a pleasant conversation about a range of soft, easy topics: Amy’s photography, how Meridian’s children excelled at their school, how Amy’s family was doing, Meridian’s family’s recent trip to their ski chalet…

Before Amy knew it, they had arrived at a tall department store in the City center with many, large, detailed window displays running along its Neo-Renaissance façade.

“Did you remember to get reservations?” Meridian asked as Aphelion handed her keys to the valet in the underground parking garage.

“Yes.” Aphelion answered, striding away.

“I should think it wouldn’t be busy, yes?” Meridan continued, as a uniformed man held the door open for them and tipped his hat. “Maybe we don’t need reservations.” Amy thanked the man as she passed and he smiled at her.

Leading them up an escalator to the ground floor, Aphelion said, “I arranged a reservation.”

Merdian turned to Amy as they rose, explaining through her mask, “Aph does all our planning, you know.” Nope. Amy did not know, but she nodded anyway. They exited the escalator.

“Oh, that must be hard with a large family.” Amy commented absently as her head whipped back and forth. The display floor was large, and each section had few racks, but garments that were there were all gorgeously staged. A large staff of sales associates speckled the space and every one the trio of hedgehogs came within five meters of inclined their head and greeted the Kintobor ladies by name.

Amy found her face heating under the weight of so many eyes. She’d crawl out of her own skin if so many people called her by name like that. The two ladies seemed unphased. Aphelion acknowledged the attention with curt nods of her own, but Meridian strode through the space like she owned the place.

Which…did she own the place? With how vast the Kintobor corporate entity was, there was a chance right? Amy swallowed.

She’d heard of this department store before, but she’d never been inside. There was no way in hell she could afford anything they sold. They were in the dead center of the city surrounded by tall skyscrapers. Breathing the air here wasn’t even free, because Amy was pretty sure she’d be turned away at the door if she’d approached the place alone.

They passed briefly by what looked to be the street front entrance. Large autumnal themed displays towered from floor to ceiling: gourds, wicher baskets, piles of pine cones, and garlands of colorful leaves. All the décor couldn’t keep her eye from the corner of the elaborate front door. There were the usual pairs of Os and A, displayed for all to see in stained glass. Even the mandates dictating Amy’s presence had to be beautiful.

No one blinked an eye at Meridian in her beautiful scent mask. Maybe they thought Aphelion was her Alpha, but, more like, they just didn’t care, not when Meridian was here to spend money. Amy felt extremely underdressed as she followed the pair like a lost puppy. At least everyone probably assumed she was a Beta, if they thought about her at all.

“I am very skilled at all forms of planning or organization and I enjoy both. Sixth floor.” The ladies continued to banter as they rose in an elevator (one that, holy shit, had an attendant to press the buttons for them!).

“She’s spoiled us so.” The corners of Meridian’s eyes crinkled in an amiable smile, “Clip and I are nearly helpless now in the face of such demanding tasks such as making a grocery list or ordering dinner for delivery.” Her words had a sardonic padding.

Aphelion gave her a sour expression. “I can’t help but suspect you are mocking me.”

Merdian went up on her tip toes, pulled down her mask, and gave her wife a peck on the cheek. “Only lightly.” Aphelion smiled, but didn’t reply.

The sixth floor contained more clothing displays, but also an entire restaurant. Amy frowned. Not a café, not a cafeteria, an entire fancy, pantsy, sit-your-butt-down restaurant. The ladies didn’t break stride as they entered, like they’d been here many times before…which was probably the case.

God, Amy felt like such a third wheel. She bit her lip. Maybe she should never have agreed to this.

Sensing Amy’s unverbalized inquiry, Meridian slowed to make stride with Amy. “We always have luncheon first whenever we visit Traks.” She explained. “C'est une tradition familiale!”

“Your usual table, madams.” The hostess presented the four top in a prime location.

Meridian quickly sat in the chair a waiter had pulled out for her. Aphelion stopped, her eyes scrutinizing the table carefully.

“No.” Aphelion said.

Meridian sighed. “Aph, it’s fine.” She lifted her arms to allow the waiter to place her napkin in her lap.

“This is the table we use for the summer.” Aphelion stated. “Now that the equinox has passed, the sun is going to be at a lower position. At this hour, at least two of us will be experiencing direct sunlight at eye level. That is unpleasant.” She looked up, casting her analytical gaze over the dining room. “We will sit over there.” She indicated a table near a wall of windows, but conveniently in the shadow of an adjoining skyscraper.

There was a beat where the waiter and hostess looked back and forth between the ladies Kintobor (but not Amy, thank goodness). With a resigned sigh, Meridian stood. “We’d like to relocate, please.”

“Of course, ma’am.” The hostess nodded vigorously and motioned to escort them to their new table.

By the time they had arrived at the small square table, the fourth place setting had been removed by a proactive waiter. Meridian stopped a few feet short, but Aphelion strode forth.

Unconcerned with her audience, Aphelion gripped the edge of the table, lifted it slightly, and rotated the whole thing a few degrees clockwise. Gently placing the table down, she then began to make small adjustments to all the plates and cutlery. Anything with flat edges had to align with the table’s.

Amy had never seen anything like it in her life. She had second-hand mortification just watching Aphelion work. What was even happening right now?

“I’m sorry about this.” Meridian smiled with her eyes at the staff members watching. No one except Amy appeared to surprised. “Aph is nervous.”

“I am not nervous.” Aphelion said sharply, as she made sure every decorative plate was the same distance from its respective table edge.

“Aph wants everything to be perfect.” Meridian tried to explain again. The brown hedgehog seemed to have a desire to explain her wife’s eccentricities. As smothered by everything as Amy felt, having Meridian act as translator was welcome. Amy felt vastly out of her depth, but at least she had a guide to the dark, murky waters.

“Perfection doesn’t exist.” Aphelion countered, circling the table and examining her work. “But this is close enough.” She sat down. Meridian sighed again and approached. As she moved to sit, Aphelion stopped her with a hand. “That is Amy’s seat.” Meridian froze and straightened.

Amy blushed. “I can sit anywhere.” She really didn’t want to be the cause of any arguments. “It’s really no big deal.”

“Dear…” A slight tang of irritation was pickling Meridian’s sweet voice.

“Amy has never been here.” Aphelion stated the obvious. “The view of Fifth Avenue is interesting.”

Meridian’s ears perked and she looked through the window that Amy’s alleged seat fully faced. “Ah, now I understand.” She moved aside, pulling the chair out for Amy.

Amy obediently sat and then flinched when the waiter took the napkin tented over her plate and laid it in her lap. “Thank you.” She said in a small voice.

Her eyes shifted forward and her breath caught.

Through the large window, she could see down a long and straight street that cut a bold swathe right through the heart of the city center. Two wide lanes of cars and taxis was split down the center by long planters bursting with decorative, seasonal plants in bloom. The sidewalks were alive with milling streams of people of all kinds, rushing this way and that to tune of their busy lives.

Aphelion hadn’t been kidding. The view of 5^th Avenue was interesting and so straight that Amy felt she could see for miles. So many people…Amy wished she had brought her camera.

Her sightseeing was interrupted by a menu being offered to her. With a smile, Amy took it and scanned the contents. The first thing she noticed was that there were no prices listed. She frowned, confused. Turning the menu over, Amy found it blank. “I can’t tell how much everything is.”

Aphelion opened her mouth, but Meridian, who’d removed her mask, quickly raised her hand. “It’s our treat, dear. Order whatever you like.”

Frowning, Amy looked over the menu and ended up ordering another salad, which she again thought had to be the cheapest thing available. Even when he wasn’t with her, Amy was getting fed just by virtue of being the object of Shadow’s attention.

Though, really, the more she thoughts about it, would it really be any different if their roles were reversed? If Amy brough Shadow back home to Green Hill. Her family would be stuffing him even more fervently, albeit with home cooked meals. Amy tried to think of Nicole and the Kintobor ladies’ generosity like that. Just as something you did for family.

Merdian kept the conversation going just as well as she had during the drive here. Their food arrived in short order and Amy realized Aphelion hadn’t said anything in a while.

“So, how did you meet Eclipse?” Amy asked the red hedgehog.

“He and I met at a planning meeting for our wedding.” Aphelion answered, hardly looking up from her systematic consumption of her meal.

Amy choked. “I’m sorry, what?”

Aphelion hummed ambivalently and placed her fork down, perfectly parallel to her plate. “Ours was an arranged union, a business decision between my parents and Black Kintobor. He wanted access to the output of my father’s computer chip manufacturing facilities. He agreed because I, as a fourth daughter with very little claim on my family’s assets, would have been otherwise difficult to marry off due to my atypical personality.”

“I- I wouldn’t say you’re a-atypical.” Amy stuttered, a knee-jerk reaction, Aphelion’s candor getting the best of her again.

Meridian covered her mouth, clearly repressing laughter.

Aphelion cocked a brow, unimpressed, but continued. “Clip was a very shy. I found him very endearing. We have since fallen in love.” She returned her attention to her pasta as if there wasn’t anything more to say on the matter.

“Oh…That’s…good…” Amy wasn’t sure how to respond, she glanced at Meridian, who continued to fight her giggles. “I mean, that’s great given how things…” Seriously, what was she supposed to say to that?

Change the subject, apparently. “You mentioned Black. That’s Shadow and Eclipse’s father, right?” Amy asked.

Instead of answering what Amy had thought was a simple question, Aphelion turned to Meridian, her ears gaining a worried tilt.

All the warmth faded from Meridian’s brunette face. “Right…Black.” Her eyes fell and her hands balled together, fingers clutching one another on the table before her. Amy’s ear twitched as she began to hear a soft whine that she knew, somehow, was coming from Meridian. “There’s something you understand about that man.”

Amy tilted her head. She remembered the imposing man in the painting of Shadow’s family and Rouge’s serious warning…And now Meridian’s signs of distress. She felt the urge to leave her seat and hug the whining Omega. The impulse was so sudden and strange Amy blinked in confusion.

“He is not a normal man.” Aphelion grimaced.

“He’s the devil.” Meridian hissed, the whine taking on a sharper note. Her sudden vehemence startled Amy. The Devil? Her heart rate was slowly climbing. Aphelion seemed unaffected by Meridian’s whine. Could she not hear it?

Aphelion’s hand reached out and covered Meridian’s, giving her worrying digits a visible squeeze. “Meri…you don’t have to do this now.”

“Yes, I do.” Meridian shook her head. “If I don’t, I might not have the courage later.” Her eyes rose to Amy’s and there was chilling ferocity contained within. “Whatever comes, whatever circumstances you find yourself in, remember this, Amy,” Meridian’s eyes shimmered, “you must never allow yourself to be alone in a room with Black Kintobor.”

Amy’s brows flew up in shock at the implication. “W-wah?” She verbalized, dumbstruck. “What do you mean? What happened?” The strange noise Meridian was making was not helping Amy remain calm.

The older woman looked down and shook her head. “Just don’t be alone with him.”

Amy’s mind reeled and landed on a thought that filled her with a surprising amount of indignation. An Alpha touching another Alpha’s Claimed Omega? “D-does Eclipse know?”

“No!” Merdian exclaimed desperately, her distress so strong Amy could smell it now. “And you mustn’t tell him!”

Brow crumpling in confusion, the corner of Amy’s lip curled in disgusted. Was Meridian seriously implying she’d been...hurt in some way by her father-in-law, but to keep her husband, her Alpha, ignorant?

Amy had to be missing something. Maybe Amy was jumping to conclusions? “Why not? If- I mean, how am I supposed to take a warning like that except that Black had…” They were still in a restaurant and Amy found herself not wanting to say the words out loud. Assaulted? Raped?

Meridian bit her lip and looked down, her whine slowing and taking on a mournful tone. Aphelion’s free hand grasped her wife’s shoulder. “I don’t want him to die.” Came her strangled answer.

Amy frowned. “W-what?”

“If Eclipse ever found out,” Aphelion began to explain calmly, “he would not be able to maintain a rational mindset. He would confront Black.” She swallowed, frowning deeply. “Black does not tolerate insubordination or challenge to his authority. For such a slight, Black would kill Eclipse.”

Her heart pounding in her chest, Amy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “He would kill his own son?”

Aphelion did not hesitate in answering, “Yes.”

Amy stared, in shock. Her heart pounded in its cage, but she felt a shiver run through her. The Devil.

“I don’t want him to die, so, please, Amy, you must swear to me you won’t tell him or Shadow.” Meridian leaned forward, pulling out of Aphelion’s hold. “And swear you’ll never allow yourself to be in the same situation as I was. Never be alone with that man.” The whine was desperate, begging for Amy to understand.

Amy frowned. “I-I-“

“Swear to me, please.”

Amy shook her head. “How can you ask me to swear something like that when I don’t know the whole story?” Amy looked between the two women. Her eyes landed on Aphelion. Perhaps the woman’s bold-faced candor could come in handy.

“Nice try, but I cannot tell this story, nor would I betray Meri’s trust if I could.” Aphelion said flatly. Amy blushed. Was she really that easy to read? “I’ve never been told all the details. But I know my wife and I know Black Kintobor. You would do well to heed Meri’s warning, Amy.”

“All you have to know is that Black is a very bad and dangerous man.” Meridian swallowed. Aphelion leaned over and rubbed her back. The whine faded and Amy found it easier to think. “I-I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

Amy swallowed, “I swear.” She needed to ask Shadow about this…But how could she and not set off the exact series of events that Meridian feared? There was so much she didn’t know about him or his past or his family. She frowned.

“Thank you.” Meridian’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m sorry.” She huffed, dabbing her eyes with her napkin. “We’re supposed to be having a nice time, and I’ve gone and ruined the mood.”

Luckily, they were saved by the arrival of dessert…or rather Meridian and Aphelion’s dessert. Amy had felt too self-conscious about the cost of her meal and only order a salad. Her mouth watered though, when a large slice of tiramisu was placed in front of each lady.

When the waiter departed, Aphelion picked up her plate and reached over the table to place it before Amy. “Oh, no, I couldn’t-“ She protested meekly.

“You wanted this.” Aphelion said, leaving the plate. “They have the third best tiramisu in the city according to the City Times.”

Amy looked at Meridian, but she was already enjoying the delight, her eye pinched closed and a bit of cream on the tip of her nose. Aphelion took her napkin and wiped the smudge off. Meridian jumped, her eyes popping open, and she gave Aphelion glare with mock heat.

Looking down at the elegantly plated, perfect looking square of tiramisu, Amy decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and took a bite. And holy shit was it about the best thing she’d ever had in her mouth.

Not long after, Amy found herself being pushed into a changing room clutching a dress that she ‘shouldn’t worry about the size’ for because ‘we’ll get it tailored overnight’. Acquiring the garment had been a whirlwind of activity with Meridian conducting a choir of saleswomen across several floors of the department store while Amy and Aphelion trailed the party.

Amy hung up the dress on a hook. It was…was that puce? A detailed lace decorated the bodice and ran down the skirt in a swathe that curved around where her hips would be. She was certain her quills would shred the delicate thing if she even got close to it.

She wasn’t sure about the style either. Strapless and very form fitting, it had to be one of the most revealing things she’d ever wiggled into. “Let me know if you need any help pulling up the zipper!” Meridian called through the door in a chipper voice underlined with a soft purr. Resigned, Amy undressed and wormed her way into the tight sheath.

It fit perfectly. “Holy crap.” Amy mumbled as she looked down at herself. She hadn’t thought she’d like it, but the colors did elegantly accent the more saturated hues of her pink fur. It hugged her every curve, accentuating her figure, but didn’t pinch or squeeze.

“How is it? Let me see!” Meridian asked excitedly. The small brown hedgehog certainly seemed to have a passion for fashion.

Not without a lot of little trepidation, Amy stepped out into the larger part of the private fitting room that contained an alcove lined with floor to ceiling mirrors and much better lighting. Before she could make it to the mirror, Meridian was looking her over from head to toe, her chest emitting a low, slow purr that Amy found soothing. The sound made it a lot easier for Amy to resist shrinking to an invisible point under the much more stylish woman’s scrutiny.

“You have such lovely fur and it really brings out- Oh.” Meridian said, purr ceasing and her eyes landing on Amy’s shoulder. Suddenly self-conscious, Amy covered her shoulder above her unbroken Claim gland with a hand.

“That one is a bad choice.” Aphelion said from a small sofa, a flute of champaign in her hand (where the hell did that come from?). “You need to keep your shoulders covered.” She told Amy. Her eyes turned to Meridian, who still looked at Amy’s shoulder, her brow furrowed. “Or else Irena will ask questions.”

“B-bien sur.” Meridian stammered. “I’m sorry, Amy, I just thought…Well, Eclipse had said that…Well, that Shadow had…” Her brown cheeks were taking on a russet hue. “I had assumed Shadow had Claimed you.”

Amy bit her lip, her hand still covering the unblemished spot on her shoulder everyone expected Shadow’s mark to be. How much had he been talking about Amy to his family? These ladies seemed surprised that she was Unclaimed, which meant they knew that she and Shadow had…Oh god. Amy’s face heated.

Aphelion was right. Amy had to keep her shoulders covered because the lack of a mark would raise questions as to why. Was she really even with Shadow if he hadn’t Claimed her? Was she just a fling? Or maybe she was a whore…

A light touch on her arm brought Amy back to the present. “Is everything alright? You were looking distant.” Meridian smiled softly as she purred soothingly again. She really reminded Amy of Mrs. Vanilla a lot.

“Yes,” Amy tried to give a reassuring smile, “I’m fine.”

“No, you are apprehensive.” Aphelion called her ass out.

“Aph, too much.” Meridian said sharply, rounding on her wife.

“I’m sorry.” Aphelion apologized immediately. “I’m not supposed to scare you off, but I’m also not sure what that means.” She scowled. “Frankly I don’t see how I am any more frightening than Shadow, of all people.”

“You’re making Amy uncomfortable.” Meridian huffed.

“Oh.” Aphelion didn’t sound like she’d gained any new information. Still, she turned to Amy and said, “I’m sorry, Amy. I hadn’t meant to.”

“It’s okay.” Amy frowned. “Do you…not get along with Shadow?”

Aphelion’s brow lifted. “I did not say that. We have a wonderful relationship.”

Merdian laughed. “You want to know what happens when they are alone together?” Her eyes twinkled. “Silence.”

“There is nothing wrong with appreciating an amenable quiet.” Aphelion huffed. “You should be trying on clothing, rather than picking at me.”

“Did you take off your modesty slip?” Meridian asked Amy.

Amy frowned. “I don’t own one.”

Meridian’s brow rose slightly and then she went to the entrance of the large dressing room, outside which a small group of sales associates tried to stay out of sight. “We need a right-handed Omega modesty slip. Size small.” She told them. One woman moved away quickly.

Yet another example of how bad of an Omega Amy was, she didn’t own a modesty slip or claim cover or whatever you wanted to call it. An asymmetrical garment similar to a skin-tight crop mixed with a sports bra, the modesty slip’s only purpose was to cover an Omega’s claim mark. A handy bit of cloth that generally went with any outfit.

Once retrieved, it was passed to Meridian who handed it to Amy. “This is just a temporary one. We’ll get you one that will hold Shadow scent better.”

“Oh…I hadn’t even thought of that.” That’d be nice, actually.

Meridian leaned in and spoke softly. “That way, you can have him with you more covertly.”

Amy’s face flushed and she glanced to the side, where her coat and scarf lay with her and Meridian’s purses. “I didn’t think- I’m sorry. It’s not that bad, is it?”

“It’s fine. Betas generally can’t pick up on that sort of thing.” Meridian chuckled. “I’m just surprised your Omega friends haven’t told you already. It’s a bit of a faux paw.”

“I…don’t have any Omega friends.” Amy admitted. Just this morning she’d have counted Orion as one, but now she wasn’t so sure about that. He was clearly on a whole different planet, let along the same page as Amy.

Meridian straightened, her brow rising in surprise before lowering into a soft, concerned frown. “I see. That explains a lot actually.”

“I don’t have any Omegas in my family, so I guess I never really learned.” Amy felt compelled to explain herself. “I just tried to live like a Beta until I met Shadow.”

“Understandable.” Aphelion added and both Omegas turned to her. “Melding one’s actions and presentation to that of the majority of the population is a valid way to conduct oneself.”

Meridian puffed out her cheeks. “Well, you don’t have to pretend anymore.” She purred loudly. How could Aphelion not hear that? “I will guide you into the wonderful world of being an Omega.” Amy tried her absolute best not to laugh in Meridian’s face.

Luckily, the brown hedgehog had started riffling through the rack of clothes she had brought from the display floor and missed Amy’s pained grimace. “In the meantime, your shoulders are no one’s business.”

Amy was handed a new dress and pushed into the smaller changing room again.

The strapless dress came off and the new one (which was much easier to get into) replaced it. She exited the room. Meridian’s eyes lit up at the sight of her and Amy was ushered into the mirrored alcove.

Amy’s breath evacuated as she beheld herself in the mirror. “Wow...” She whispered.

The pale green, symmetrical A-line dress ended right above her knees. A large silken bow, green edged with a slight pink, bloomed at the center of the neckline, giving her modest breast the illusion of more volume. Though sleeveless, her shoulders were fully covered, and a small, cute ruffle outlined the transition from the garment to her upper arms. The skirt draped well over her hips and a light chiffon layer, studded with small, pale strawberries, tented slightly outward, as if alluding to some larger cache of ruffles and lace.

“Now don’t you look lovely? We just need a pair of matching gloves and you’re all ready for tomorrow.” Meridian smiled warmly. “Aph? What do you think?”

“The composition is very visually appealing.”

Meridian rolled her eyes. “I asked you what you thought.”

“I think that the combination of Amy’s physique and the drape, shape, and color of the dress are very visually appealing.” Aphelion repeated.

Meridian huffed and Amy giggled. “Well, I think this is a keeper, eh?”

“It’s gorgeous.” Amy sighed. She wasn’t completely convinced that she was actually looking at herself and not some sort of hallucination. Some vision of world that never was.

“Wonderful.” Meridian clapped. “Pop on out of it and let’s start on the next ensemble.”

Amy’s eyes went wide. “Next one?” After everything she’d been through to find this dress? They weren’t done? “But I only need one dress.”

“Only one dress?” Meridian laughed. “Oh, you’re too funny, Amy.”

Amy had to endure the whole process twice more before Meridian began to tire of treating Amy like a dress-up doll. The advice for comfortable shoes held out until Meridian had her trying a parade of high heels and wedges. It was quickly discovered that Amy was incapable of walking in much of a heel. Sensible (if extravagantly ornate) flats it was.

She’d managed to glance at the tag on one of the dresses and Amy shrieked at the price. How could a dress cost that much!? Aphelion had had Amy sit down and one of the sales ladies brought her a cold water bottle. Meridian told her not to worry about the cost of anything, that this was all their treat, but Amy’s head still swam.

Meridian, undaunted by Amy’s sudden case of the vapors, used the brief time Amy was off her feet to go over a selection of silken gloves, because, of course, Amy’s cheap cotton ones simply would not do.

Finally, Amy slumped into the armchair beside Aphelion, a herd of shopping bags surrounding her like a flock of sheep.

Aphelion eyed Amy and hummed. “I’ll go get the car started.”

“Oh no, no, no, no.” Meridian smiled down at her with a wolfish smirk. “Now, for you, love.”

“No.” Aphelion’s face hardened and her ears pinned back. “No, Meridian. I have an outfit.”

“Yes, but Irena has already seen you in it.” Meridian’s smile did not faulter.

“I like the clothes I already possess.” Aphelion’s frown deepened.

“Yes, I understand, but she’ll needle Clip about not providing for us properly.”

Aphelion scowled at that. “Nothing tight. Soft. No wool. I don’t care it’ll be outside. I’ll wear a coat.”

“Bien sur, no wool.” Meridian confirmed. “I’ll pick out two, bring them here, and let you choose. You don’t even have to get up.”

Aphelion physically relaxed. “Oh. Okay.”

Meridian turned to Amy as she dawned her scent mask. “Accompany me, perhaps? Two sets of eyes are better than one and there is a lot of territory to cover here.”

“Um, right.” Amy suppressed a groan as she rose to her feet. Shopping was exhausting, but she’d never seen herself so beautiful before. Meridian’s passion made the whole experience pretty fun as well. Amy just had to not think about how three outfits cost more than a month’s rent.

Outside the dressing room, Meridian dismissed the cloud of sales folk and set off, making a beeline across the display floor. Amy followed like a duckling to her mother. Down a floor, the diminutive Omega stopped at a specific rack and began leafing through it.

“I feel like you don’t need me at all.”

“No, I’m sorry, dear.” Meridian turned and gave her a meek smile. “You’re right. Aph just needs some alone time. She doesn’t like shopping…at least not in public. She is plenty good with ordering anything off the internet. Normally, I only get her to shop with me once a season and we’d already done our fall shopping.”

“Oh…” Aphelion was here because of Amy then…”I’m sorry.”

Meridian stopped searching and turned to Amy. “Oh, honey, don’t be. Aph is a grown woman and if she didn’t want to be here, she wouldn’t be. She wanted to meet you.”

Something in Amy’s stomach twisted. “Really?”

“More than one thing can be true, Amy.” Meridian returned to her search. “She can not want to shop and want to meet you at the same time. It was up to her to choose which was more important. Family is about compromising the self with la famille. Ah!” She pulled a dress from the rack that looked more tablecloth than anything else.

Compromise. Amy couldn’t disagree at all, given how she and Shadow were slowly sorting out their rules of engagement on the fly.

But she couldn’t quiet shake the feeling that Aphelion and Meridian were doing exactly what Shadow wanted to do so badly: shower Amy in affection until she was completely buried…or, consumed, more like. Trapped. The bags and bags sitting in the fitting room for her felt like weights holding Amy down. She loved the clothes and appreciated the effort and generosity, but…

“What do you think of this?” Meridian pulled Amy out of her thoughts as she held out a second billowing dress that began as pale blue at one shoulder, brightened to deep oranges and red at the middle, and darkened into a deep midnight blue studded with flecks of silver along the hem. “Aph would wear a nightgown if I’d let her, but this will do.”

“It’s beautiful.” Amy felt the soft fabric. “Cotton?”

“Linen, dear.”

“Right.” Amy answered flatly, a memory of something Shadow said floating back at her.

Meridian smiled. “Feel free to find something you think will look good on her. She’s rather open-minded about fashion, believe it or not, so long as she feels comfortable and covered. She has seven pairs of identical slacks, you know.” Amy didn’t think she owned seven pairs of pants, let alone seven of the same type.

Absently, Amy looked through the racks around them. Every single garment was unique and gorgeous. Delicate patterns screen dyed on natural fibers, millions of tiny beads sewn into intricate designs, ruffles of heavy silk, tulle, and velvet. It was like a zoo for clothes.

Amy didn’t even know where to begin picking out something for the fiery red hedgehog.

So, she started talking. “How…” Amy wasn’t sure how to frame her question, but she was positivity burning up with curiosity, “does it work…the three of you?”

Meridian laughed, her browsing uninterrupted. “How can three people love each other without dissolving into a puddle of anger, resentment, and jealously, you mean?”

“I didn’t really mean it like that…” It was unnerving how disarmingly perceptive Aphelion and Meridian were. Were all older women like this? Amy’s only points of reference were Rouge and her own family…so based on the evidence, everyone older than Amy certainly knew gobs more than her.

“I’m just having a go at you dear. It’s a perfectly legitimate question and I don’t mind at all. Despite the Pack Family being seen as aspirational by society at large, there’s a lot of misunderstanding of the dynamics. And the answer isn’t very satisfying, I’m afraid. Work.” Meridian explained. “The hard work of trusting your partner over your negative emotions. The hard work of bearing your softest vulnerabilities. The hard work of never giving up. And talking.” Meridian smiled. “Lots and lots and lots of talking.”

Amy snorted. “The answer is always talking, isn’t it?”

“We are social creatures. It’s impossible to know the heart and mind of another person, not truly, at least. So, we have to spend our lives trying to convey the impossible with words and actions. Some of us are better than others. For instance, if you haven’t noticed, Aphelion is gifted with extraordinary candor and almost no sense of tact.”

“Yes,” Amy grinned, “I might have noticed something like that. But she’s also really sweet, I think.” Amy was going to have dreams about that tiramisu.

Meridian chortled. “She has an almost unnatural talent at knowing what you need in the moment and bringing it to you. I don’t mean this in a derogatory manner, but she reminds me of a service animal leading the blind or detecting seizures.”

“But,” Meridian continued, “back to your question, I will say that it doesn’t hurt that Aphelion doesn’t have a jealous bone in her body and that Eclipse is always ravenous for love and attention.”

Amy quirked a brow. “And you…”

“Me? Well, I just want everyone to be happy and healthy…for everyone to live in harmony. It’s a cliché, I know. The sappy, lovy-dovy Omega, but for me it’s true. I don’t know your history, but relationships can be complicated. Two becoming one is actually two becoming three. Or six, in our case. The more people, the more connections.” Meridian smiled again. “The more love.”

More love. “And you don’t worry that you loving one of them more than the other?” Did loving Shadow decrease the love Amy had for Sonic? For her family? Would she have to trade her love of Shadow for loving her children?

“Not even a little. The same as when we were blessed with our children. Love is boundless and will fill all the space you give it in your heart.” Her smile dimmed. “But unconditional love is meaningless if it crumbles in the face of adverse conditions. Sometimes it is hard to love, but that is what makes love so precious.”

Sometimes it’s hard to love…

Meridian tilted her head, unaware of Amy’s deep thoughts, and gave her a sly smile. “And the sex is quite good as well.”

Amy flushed, at a loss for words.

Meridian cackled so hard her eyes glistened. She folded the two dresses over her arm. “Come on. We’ve given Aph enough of a break.”

A few hours later, the trio had retired to the living room at Shadow’s home. An offhand comment Amy had made about wanting to see pictures of the Kintobor children had turned into a full multimedia presentation. Aphelion worked her tablet, that had been linked to massive flat-screen television that descended out of the ceiling.

While Meridian made them tea (from where, Amy certainly did not know), Aphelion treated her to a detail timeline of all of their children, starting from right after birth (during birthing videography was being loaded, but Meridian snipped that in the bud – thank god).

The sight of bald, blind little hoglets stoked a warmth in Amy. She wanted to touch them, to hold them. What sorts of small noises would a hoglet make when it called out for her? How would it smell and taste as she gently groomed it? When its eyes finally opened to the world, what color would they be? Amy…wanted to find out.

Vanta was a toddler and Nox was taking his first steps on screen when Amy’s ear flicked and her attention was drawn to the sounds of arrival once more. “Wrap it up, dear.” Merdian told Aphelion. “The boys are home.”

Though caged safely within her chest, Amy’s heart soared. Her tail wagged in anticipation. She’d been speaking and texting with Shadow every day, but nothing compared to his physical presence. She craved his scent and to see softness of his face when he smiled. It was all she could do not to stand and race to the foyer once again.

Her patience was quickly rewarded as Shadow and Eclipse appeared.

Amy rounded the couch and, in an effort to wrap her arms around him, ran into Shadow, who released a pained oomph and retreated a step. She looked up, her brow knitted with concern, and she released him. “What’s wrong?” She looked him over. Shadow’s quills were a bit out of sorts, but his scent was far closer to normal than it had been at the beginning of the week.

“I’ve been rather active today.” He explained. “That’s all.” Shadow smiled at her warmly, but the expression faded into bashfulness. “I forgot to text you about Aph and Meri coming over. I’m so very sorry. I can’t imagine your surprise. It’s all my fault.”

Amy smiled, all sins forgiven. “It’s okay. It was a nice surprise for once.”

“We took well care of her.” Meridian explained before embracing her husband. “You smell terrible.” She told him, wrinkling her nose.

“Je t'aime aussi.” The younger Kintobor leaned forward and quickly pecked Meridian’s cheek. His attention turned to Shadow. “Tomorrow, then?” Eclipse asked, brow arched, extending his hand.

“Tomorrow.” Shadow answered, grasping the offered appendage and pulling his brother into a brief embrace. With a pat on the back, they parted.

Eclipse took up the handles of the numerous shopping bags that the women had lined up on the dining table. Amy’s had been securely placed at the top of the stairs. “On peut avoir une femme heureuse ou un portefeuille bien garni, mais pas les deux.” He smirked.

Amy’s ears perked. She recognized some of those words! She’d been fussing away at a language learning app a few minutes a day the whole week and, though she felt she hadn’t made any progress, she knew that une femme meant a wife. Damn did she feel accomplished in that moment.

Meridian crossed her arms over her chest. “En revanche, on peut très bien avoir une femme malheureuse et un portefeuille vide.”

“I’ll be in the car.” Aphelion walked past them all, squeezing Eclipse’s hand as she passed.

Shadow chuckled and Amy smiled, though she had effectively zero understanding of what was funny. But in time, she would. Amy was determined to learn Avalonia and surprise Shadow with her terrible pronunciation one day. She couldn’t give him gifts like those he gave her, but she could give him what she did have: her time, even when he wasn’t with her.

The ménage à trois left, leaving Amy and Shadow alone together.