Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Babbysitter Affair ❯ The Drama ( Chapter 7 )

 

The Babysitter Affair

Chapter 7

 

-

 

Once the four of them entered the house, Akai and Amethyst were the first ones to cheer happily and chase the other up the steps. “Last one to the kitchen is a rotten egg!” Akai proclaimed as he took off, cutting through the living room.

“Hey no fair, you cheated!!” Amethyst whined, quickly taking off after his brother.

Watching the two act as wild 2 year olds should, Shadow half-smiled and turned to Rouge. Instead of smiling, a small hint of pain flickered across her features.

But just as quickly as it arrived, it dissolved into a faint smile as if nothing had happened.

Concerned, Shadow stepped closer to her, his eyes lingering across her shoulders as if he could see the stress and weight she carried upon them.

“Rouge…” he called softly, touching her arm.

He felt her body react to the sudden contact and she flinched.

Choosing to ignore the loud rants and squeals of her two rambunctious sons from overwhelming her ears, Rouge slightly turned to her friend and tried to force a smile.

“I'm sorry…you still want to talk don't you…?”

Almost not believing the sudden child-like sounding question, Shadow casually blinked and nodded. “…That was the idea…”

Laughing lightly, Rouge turned away from him and proceeded to head up the steps to the Living Room. Scrutinizing her carefully, Shadow's eyes narrowed. So many years could change a person so much---Before she married that echidna, she was never this sporadic.

In the back of her mind, Rouge knew she was being watched, but pretended not to notice as she tossed her keys on a coffee table and briskly walked past a sofa.

“Say, Shadow? Could you give me a few minutes?”

Heading up the stairs, Shadow shrugged. “I haven't got anything else that I needed to do. I'm here for you, Rouge…”

Hearing this, eagerly Rouge turned to Shadow with a candid smile. “I knew you would understand me…! We'll talk in a little bit, allright? I'm gonna go hop in the shower and get some things off my mind.”

Shadow smiled faintly. “Do whatever it is you need to, Rouge. I'll still be here.”

“…Why didn't I marry you instead…!” Rouge chuckled jokingly to herself for only her ears to hear, but Shadow picked up on it and his attention darted back to hers.

“What did you say..?”

“Uhmm…” she faltered, biting her lip, ”Hey! I said we'll talk later! Don't go changing the subject!”

Shadow's brows lowered, as did his eyes. “Uh huh….”

“I-in the meantime, why don't you get yourself familiar with the boys and after I get out the shower, then we can talk!” Rouge continued, poorly trying to cover up her embarrassment with carelessness. It wasn't working. Shadow could see straight through her—as always. “But…” Rouge added, “now that I know where Knuckles is, I get the feeling he won't be back for a while…”

Shadow smirked faintly at that.

The image of Amy talking the poor guy's ears off and her clinging to him to not let her go inched a smug smile across Shadow's lips. “Heh heh heh you couldn't be more right about that.”

“Huh?” Rouge questioned, suddenly appearing sincere. “What was that for? Are you hiding something Shadow?”

Not wanting to lie to her, Shadow had to find another way to get his point across.

“…Let's just say, I hope he paid the gas bill before he ended up at Sonic's.”

Rouge blinked. “Huh? What's that supposed to mean?? “ Then she giggled. “I still can't believe you LIVE with those two. Has Sonic annoyed you yet?”

“Why do you think I'm hardly ever there?” he half-lied. Yeah, Sonic annoying him was ONE of the reasons he stayed away from his place a lot, but it wasn't the main reason. That reason was standing right in front of him with a welcoming glint in her eyes and feathery smile dressed across her lips.

Because of his choice to leave her and nearly drop out of her life, Shadow became haunted with his own shame that he created. It took him this long to even bring himself to look at her the way he did years ago.

He almost couldn't believe he purposely let it go because of guilt and remorse. He let her go all because he was unable to settle his feelings…

Feeling a sudden uncomfortable lump in his throat, Shadow swallowed and his eyes aimlessly traveled down to her hand—her left hand.

Seeing the two extravagant rocks she wore atop those golden bands made him sick to his stomach.

Those embellishments that shouldn't even be there from the one that gave them to her. Rouge deserved better commitment and better in general than what she had.

Still laughing, Rouge's contentment had simmered down to a faint chuckle—until she saw Shadow's hands sudden curl into taut fists.

Feeling as if she did something wrong, she earnestly spoke out about it. “Shadow are you okay? Was it something I--?”

“You're fine Rouge…” `In more ways than you realize…' he added mentally. “I just…need some time to myself to think, as do you…” he concluded, forcing a small smile.

Rouge could see straight through that façade and placed her hands on her haunches. “Right. Like I said, we'll talk later, but Shadow, don't ever think or feel that you have to lie to me. You of all people should know that!”

“I do know that, Rouge. You always had to tell me that… Remember?”

“And why do you think that is?! Anyway, give me a couple minutes okay Shadow? I'll be back.”

He nodded and casually watched her every move. “Take as much time as you need. I'm not leaving until we can deal with your situation, Rouge.”

Every fear and horrible feeling she ever had since the moment she stepped foot in her house melt away from those words, Rouge giggled happily and hugged Shadow genuinely. “Thanks Shadow…!!”

Shadow said nothing in reply, but `hmphed' lightly as he eagerly but delicately hugged her back.

Her hair was just as soft as it was years ago, if not softer---and still carried the same intoxicating scent of fruit and flowers. Closing his eyes, he dwelled in the flowery scent for a moment, then began moving his arms from around her the second she started doing the same.

“You know…” she began, slightly pulling away, “I always thought you were too good to be true…”

This caught Shadow off guard, but instead of appearing as surprised as he felt, he played it coolly. Scoffing, Shadow playfully glared at her. “Then why didn't you marry me…”

Rouge blinked. He said it with such a straight tone, she couldn't tell if he were joking or not.

He wasn't.

“Uhm..”

“Just take your shower, Rouge. “ he smirked, then plopped down on one of the sofas.

Watching him curiously, Rouge made a note to herself to keep a close watchful eye on him. “Yeah… be right back” she added and exited quickly down the hall.

Out the corner of his eye, Shadow watched her with an unknown emotion wavering within them.

Disregarding the thought of snooping around the house to get more information, Shadow shook his head and relaxed against the comforting cushions of the sofa.

He decided to give her the space she requested.

Trailing his gaze elsewhere towards the kitchen doorway, he caught glimpse of the top of the head of a very curious echidna child.

Chuckling to himself, he motioned for them both to come over. ”It's allright. Come on over here.”

“Aw crap he saw us!” Akai groused in a raspy whisper.

“Awww I'm gonna tell mooommyyy!” Amethyst teased.

“No don't tell!”

“I'll tell her if there's a problem, now come on over here.” Shadow remarked, motioning for them to follow.

Hesitantly, Akai began to take a step then he stopped. “Why should we listen tuh you?”

“Cuz mommy said so that's why!” Amethyst reminded his brother.

“So? Daddy didn't say so.”

“Daddy's not here! And mommy knows this person really goodly!” Amethyst protested in a cute voice.

`Really goodly'? Shadow couldn't help but chuckle and pushed himself up from the couch.

“That's right. Your mother and I have been very good friends for a long time.”

Akai stepped back on the defensive. “How come she never talked about you?”

“Shhh cuz daddy was here!” Amethyst shushed.

“So what!”

Slightly annoyed with his brother, the violet and pink echidna sighed and walked up to Shadow.

“Hewwo. My name is Amafist. I'm 2 and uh half and this—“ he continued, pointing towards his hot-headed sibling “that's my brother Akai. He's cwazy.”

“I am not!” Akai boasted and stomped his way next to his brother in a huff.

“Hi I'm Akai. How do you do….” He muttered emotionlessly, adverting his eyes rudely.

Shadow watched the red puggle with mild surprise then he shook his head. Knuckles may not have physically been standing in the room, but part of his spirit was definitely inside of this “ecstatic” bundle of “joy”.

It may have been years, but Shadow remembered very well how Knuckles was.

Placing that thought aside for now, Shadow smiled faintly at them. “...So…what do you boys like to do…?”

“Oooh ooh! Tuh eat!” Amethyst spoke up cheerfully, waving his hand in the air as if waiting to be called on.

Akai glanced at his brother, silently scowling at his enthusiasm in front of this stranger, then returned his eyes back to Shadow.

Shadow stared at him right back. “Well? Akai, I know there's something you like… What is it?”

A small frown played across Akai's mouth and he stepped upto Shadow. “…My daddy an' I wish he was here!” And with that, he pushed past Shadow and dropped on the sofa with his arms crossed.

Amethyst and Shadow both watched the child in awe, then exchanged glances.

“That's ok.” Amethyst stated. “Akai always gets like this around stwanguhs”

Shadow chuckled and patted the small echidna on the head. “ My name is Shadow, and I'm definitely no stranger. Anyway, would you like to play a game until your mother gets back?”

The boy's eyes lit up with instant enthusiasm. “YEAH!!”

It was cute, he was getting excited about a game he didn't even know what it was yet.

“I didn't even tell you what kind of game it is yet!” Shadow laughed. “Well, it's simple. All you have to do is…” he whispered in Amethyst's ear.

And as if he were killing two birds with one stone, Shadow glanced up over at Akai and noticed him staring intently at them.

Looks like his little plan was working.

It wasn't long before Akai's little voice rang out “Hey I wanna play too!”

Chuckling, Shadow glanced to Amethyst and the two of them shook their heads.

“No way, you left cuz daddy's not here! Now you want to play? That isn't fair!”

“This is my house and I can do as I pwease!” Akai boasted—stealing that line from his father from hearing it so much.

And Shadow picked that up immediately. Looking down at Amethyst, he shrugged. “Well, what do you want to do, Amethyst? Should we let him play?”

The smallish echidna put a hand to his chin and rubbed it thoughtfully—just like In the movies.

“Weeelllllll”

“Plleeaaase?” Akai pleaded cutely, which was rare.

“Wellll okay!” Amethyst gave in.

Shadow blinked. “That's it? Oh well. Allright then. Well, now that both of you are playing now, this makes this game much easier. Now here's how you play…”

 

-

 

“Can I talk to you…talk for two…” Rouge sang lyrically to herself while basking in the steaminess of the shower. This was exactly what she needed to relax and get her mind off of earlier that morning. She knew Knuckles was upto something that he knew she wouldn't be too fond of when she found out. She knew he was upto no good a couple years after they got married. He had been going to see Sonic a lot more often around then and she wondered why.

“…Let you know… I care for you…”

For some reason, that song lingered in her mind the minute she stepped in the shower. Not that she was complaining, it had been years since she sang like this.

“Stay strong…press on…”

Every high note and pitch she executed beautifully. Why did she feel this way all of a sudden? Rouge had been so into her singing, she had almost forgotten she wasn't the only one in the house.

“Mommy's singin' again!!” She heard Akai shout from down the hall.

That boy…

The sole smile she carried across her lips soon began to fade. Everytime she thought of Akai or saw him, she also saw and thought of Knuckles. And although he was her husband and she felt for him, he was the last person she wanted to be thinking about while trying to relax right now.

At least Shadow was out there with the boys.

Shadow… She had to thank him for putting up with her and the boys. She knew they were a handful.

“…Shadow…”

They really needed to talk… Granted, he was there to help her, but for him to just show up in her life again like that after walking out on her wedding day?

In all honesty, she wanted Shadow to stay there. Not just to support her, but, she wanted to see if Shadow would ever be the one to say the very words she was too afraid to.

`I object!'

But it never happened. She saw him walk in those doors, and then leave out, so why didn't she stop him? She wanted to run to him—hug him closely while she shed her tears of bittersweet happiness.

Of course that only brought about that reoccurring question that bounded into her head ever so often.

`Why did you marry Knuckles?'

“… …”

Finishing up in the shower, Rouge turned off the faucets and grabbed her robe. Tying it tightly around her, she ran a hand through her drenched locks and opened the door.

 

--

 

Back over at Sonic's…

“Allright, I'm, listenin.” Sonic confirmed, sitting on the couch next to Knuckles.

With Amy still unconsciously draped across his lap, Knuckles sighed and let his eyes glaze over her.

Taking note of his friend's hesitation, Sonic raised his brows in an inquisitive manner. “Hmm?”

Saying nothing for a few moments, Knuckles exhaled deeply then slowly shook his head. `...I guess I owe you an apology, Amy' he silently apologized and slipped his broad arms beneath her knees and under her back.

Sonic watched his friend with curious eyes as he stood to his feet with Amy cradled gingerly in his arms.

Before Sonic could utter a question, Knuckles turned slightly to him and cocked his head towards Amy's room upstairs. “I'm just going to take her up there so she won't have to hear any of this.”

“Uh allright Knuckles. Is your story that scandalous to hear?” Sonic mused, the lazy attempt of him trying to make a joke clear in his voice.

Knuckles frowned and started heading upstairs. “No…but it's pretty damn close. I'll tell you the whole story I promise!” he called over his shoulder.

Watching him go, Sonic's lips curved into a slight smile and he chuckled to himself.

Resting deeply in Knuckles' arms, Amy shifted a little as he took slow and steady steps up two flights of stairs. Her low breathing barely made a sound, even though she was breathing through her mouth.

Soon, Knuckles approached Amy's door and without making too much of a move, he gently slipped Amy over his shoulder and turned the knob.

Once inside, his eyes immediately wandered around the room—taking in all the sights and colors of her room that he had once etched into his brain. He knew where everything was, he could tell when something was moved, anything. Becoming enveloped in the nostalgia, Knuckles slowly closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

Her room even smelled the same—a zesty blend of sweet peaches and oranges.

Releasing his breath, Knuckles smiled faintly and carried Amy over to her pink and red bed.

Laying her delicately on the velvety fabric, he gently moved her arms to her sides on the bed. Taking a step back, his eyes studied her intently as she slept and his smile flickered into something more.

Sitting next to her on the cool bedsheets, Knuckles lightly glid a mitt across her face and led it into her peppy bangs.

Even after all these years, she still insisted on keeping them wildly in her face.

He chuckled.

“…Amy…you're still crazy…and cute as ever…” he whispered, smiling broadly.

As if she could feel him caressing her, a faint curve tickled across her lips and her breathing relaxed even more.

“…Knuckles…” she murmured, still in her slumber.

Shocked that she spoke of him as she slept, Knuckles' violet eyes widened, but soon relaxed.

“Yeah…I still dream about you too sometimes. … I'm glad you like the boys, but, because I've gotten so attached to you is another reason why I chose to leave this town, Amy…” Knuckles spoke to her, as if she were wide awake and listening.

“…I never wanted it to turn out this way…but its for the better…Since I'm married to Rouge I've got to treat her like the wife she is to me…even if I can talk to you about anything…”

“Mmm…” was Amy's drowsy reply as she shifted her weight in her sleep to on her side.

A small smile crept across his lips as he beheld her and he sighed. “...But you know what… I just can't…let you go, Amy…”

--

 

The second Rouge stepped out of the bathroom, her eyes met directly with Shadow's, who was being held in an arm and head lock by the boys.

“Rouge…” he spoke without realizing and the second he did, the boys glanced her way, then quickly turned away.

“EWWWWWWWWWW MOMMY'S NAKED!” Akai shouted, covering his eyes.

“She is not! She's in her robe!!” The everso politically correct Amethyst corrected.

“She's still naked! Eww!” Akai continued on.

Blinking in utter shock and surprise at her children's “maturity” for 2 year olds, Rouge bit her lip and looked to Shadow to see what his response would be.

Instead of responding, he leaned down to whisper something in both boys' ears and right after, they gave him an odd look.

Smiling, Shadow nodded, and the boys stared at their mother then charged at her to see who could hug her first.

“I'm hugging mommy first!!” Akai shouted, nearly tackling Rouge.

“Ahhh Watch it Akai!!” she cried, spreading her wings to regain her balance. And of course, Amethyst was right behind his brother, throwing his arms around Rouge. “Mommy!!”

“Ahhh! Shadow help!” Rouge shrieked playfully. Laughing, Shadow casually walked over to them and pulled the boys off of her.

“Allright, that's enough! I think your mother knows how much you love her.”

“That's right! Especially when one of you almost knocked me down!! Akai!!” Rouge grinned, pointing a finger at her son.

Playfully, the red puggle double blinked and pointed innocently to his nose. “Who me?”

“YES you! Now, it's getting late, so say goodnight to Mr. Shadow and get in bed!”

“Okay! `Night Mistuh Shadow!” Amethyst chimed and gave him a small hug before heading down the steps to his room.

“Yeah, night.” Akai waved and ran down the steps as well.

Shaking her head with her hands on her hips, Rouge couldn't believe how much those two had grown. Amethyst was respectful and just while Akai was-- well wild.

“Those two will probably never change…” Rouge sighed, looking to Shadow.

And if he didn't know any better, he could have sworn her eyes were smiling at him.

Just what was going on in that mind of hers?

“Well anyway, now that they're in bed, we can finally do what we came here to do…”

Shadow said nothing at first, but raised an eyebrow. “Did you really have to say it like that?”

“Did anyone ask for you to have your mind in the gutter, Shadow?” Rouge playfully retorted with a smirk.

“That was--!”

“Ah ah ahh Shadow!” she giggled with a wink and slipped a finger under his chin. “Got you” she whispered with a wink.

Utterly dumbfounded, Shadow couldn't believe at how brazen and flirtatious Rouge had become—even more than when they had first met. She had never been flirtatious around him before though…he thought she carried too much respect for him to do that.

See what a few years with someone could do to a person?

Oh well!

“…You do realize you're still wearing a robe, right?” he asked quietly.

“Of course I know. This is my house Shadow. I could walk around in the buff if I wanted.”

“…You wouldn't dare…”

Rouge laughed. “Don't worry! I won't. But anyway, let's get this over with…” she trailed off, her tone suddenly losing its chipper sound. Sincerely, she looked up at Shadow and slid her arms around him in a gentle hug. “Thanks for staying here Shadow. You really didn't have to…”

“I know, Rouge…” he replied, raising a hand to brush through her hair, but hesitated a few times before finally doing it. “I'll stay with you as long as you need me to…”

This was exactly what Rouge needed to hear and her exuberant façade faded and truthful tears kissed her cheeks.

“I needed you, and you came to my rescue…again…” she murmured into his shoulder.

Gently pulling her away so he could understand the next words she spoke, Shadow looked at her. “…What did you say Rouge?”

Uncomfortable that he had heard her say something, Rouge slowly moved her head from side to side as if to write it off as nothing. “Just, thank you for being here Shadow. It really means a lot to me. ... I just want to be able to get some sleep tonight after what happened earlier today…”

Watching her appear so candid in front of him, Shadow realized the other reason he couldn't face her on her wedding day. The pure and honest looks and expressions she had once only shown to him, had been eagerly shown to another male--and he couldn't take that.

Lightly rubbing her shoulders, Shadow gave her a comforting squeeze then gently took her hand.

“Come on…let's go have this talk. I don't know what happened previously in this house, but I already know that it's caused you to cry enough… So let's get this over with so we don't see you shed anymore tears tonight…” Shadow reassured quietly, brushing at the glistening streaks her tears left behind.

Shutting her eyes to nuzzle into his embrace, Rouge cupped her hands over his and couldn't help but bear more warm tears from the sincerity of his affection.

“…I hope so…” she spoke in a wavering voice. “I can't stand to be a wreck right now.”

“Neither can I…” Shadow mused with a smirk.

Smiling faintly, Rouge punched him in the arm playfully then hugged him again, tightly this time.

“Oh Shadow, I knew you would understand! Thank you! I've missed you so much!”

“Yeah… I know Rouge…we can talk about that too. But could we do it soon? I'm starting to get tired.” He declared with a yawn.

“Haha, yeah… come on…” she continued, taking him by the hand and leading him down the hall to the master bedroom.

 

--

 

“What is he doing up there?” Sonic pondered, while standing in the kitchen. He had treated himself to some refreshing Kool-Aid while he waited for Knuckles to come back downstairs. Quickly becoming restless, Sonic's thoughts traveled elsewhere as his eyes fell on the phone near the kitchen table.

Cognitively, he reminded himself to contact both Rouge and Shadow later.

Why where they together in the first place? Did Shadow regret what happened 4 years ago that much?

Half-smiling, Sonic shook his head. “There's been too much drama going on…!”

Heading out of the kitchen with a quart-sized pitcher of kool-aid in hand, Sonic trailed his eyes upto the stairs and was about to head up them, when he heard Knuckles' heavy footsteps bounding down them.

Seeing Sonic standing there waiting for him, Knuckles paused mid-step and stared at him. “Is it that serious, Sonic?”

The hedgehog nodded. “You bet it is! So…tell me...oh kool-aid?” he asked, offering the pitcher to Knuckles, but the older male curled his lip in disgust at the gesture and pushed the pitcher away.

“I know you drank out of it already, so why would you even ask me?!”

Sonic exuberantly shrugged. “Because I could always make more? Anyway, I usually don't act like I know about these things around here, but Amy's been on an emotional roller coaster since she saw you a couple weeks ago. At first she seemed extremely happy—her face was always lit up and she carried this amazing smile all the time… But then, a few nights ago, she came down here moping and constantly asking for you. So, I wanna know, what did you do to her man…?”

Knuckles sighed. The big question finally hit home.

Feeling as if all the weight from his relationships with Amy and Rouge slam back down on his shoulders, Knuckles growled in annoyance and ran a mitt through his dreads.

“…Listen…” he began in a deep voice that almost sounded regretful, “Amy and I…have been talking, but nothing serious, you know? We've just become really close friends.”

Sonic's expression quickly formed into pure disgust at those words, but he allowed Knuckles to continue.

“The thing is, Rouge and I…aren't doing very well…and haven't been since the day we got married actually. She's tried to keep that from me, but I can see right through it—all the fake smiles she's given me and lied to my face about her wanting to start a family with me. Nothing but bull…”

Hearing this, a wave of understanding drifted over Sonic's features. The dramatic pieces of the puzzle were finally beginning to form together.

“So why didn't you…you know…?”

“Sign for a divorce? No. Rouge and I can work this out. I KNOW she feels something for me. And no matter how miniscule that feeling may be, I'd be damned if I let any chances to improve our relationship pass right by me. She's my wife, I want to keep it that way.”

“Uh huh…” Sonic nodded, listening intently. “Wow, that's a pretty bold statement, Knuckles.”

“It had better be! I'm a married man with children! I had BETTER sound BOLD!” he grinned.

“Haha, yeah you're right. So…how does any of that tie in with Amy?”

Knuckles narrowed his eyes at Sonic jokingly. “You never give up, do you...”

“Nope! Especially when the cause of all this drama is standing right in front of me in my own house! …You're gonna have to start helping me pay the mortgage, if you don't hurry up and tell me!”

“Allright allright! Damn. Four years didn't give you much, did it?”

“Obviously not. Doesn't bother me.” Sonic smirked and took a swig of his kool-aid.

Watching him, Knuckles raised a brow and made a face. “…Right… Anyway, with Amy…last night, we were on the phone and I told her that Rouge and I had talked about moving… Needless to say she didn't take that very well.”

“I know…” Sonic replied, wiping his mouth with a finger.

“You do? What she told you?”

Sonic shook his head. “No…And frankly, she didn't have to. I could see it all over her face earlier. She was devastated… She could barely answer a simple question!”

“Damn…”

“Yeah, exactly! So what are you going to do? …I really wouldn't want to see Amy so upset all the time…especially with you being the cause of that.” Sonic groused with a hint of repugnance to his voice.

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. Was Sonic actually showing that he cared? It seems as if he actually developed some feelings for her.

Well, it was about time!

Chuckling inwardly, Knuckles kept that little tidbit to himself and strolled over to the couch.

Exhaustion finally wrought its toll on him and he dropped into the cushions of the fabric.

“Ahhhh! Man! What time is it?” Knuckles asked, folding his arms behind his head.

Luckily for him, by doing so, he missed the baleful expression flickering across Sonic's face.

The reason Amy had been acting so strangely was because of Knuckles…and he was taking the situation lightly like this?!

Sonic's eyes narrowed at his friend for a moment, then he casually redirected his vision to one of the clocks on the wall. “It's half past 11. You wanna call it a night and stay here for a while?” he asked, mentally kicking himself for doing so.

Such are the habits of being a good host. Then again, he could study the behavior between Knuckles and Amy a lot closer to understand what was really going on between them that way.

Glancing up at the clock himself, then getting comfortable on the couch, Knuckles chuckled. “Yeah, sure why not. Haven't got anything else to do right now or tomorrow.”

“What? Don't you have a job to goto?”

“Nope!” Knuckles grinned.

“What! What'd you do get fired?”

Looking up at the exasperated hedgehog casually through one eye, Knuckles frowned. “I quit.”

“What! The heck you do that for?!” Sonic demanded, heading over to the couch and sitting down. “You didn't tell Rouge, did you?”

“Hmph. I did…and she damn near neutered me for it!” he reflected with an unsettling grimace.

“Wait…” Sonic started, setting the pitcher down on the carpet. “I gotta set my kool-aid aside for this. Did you tell her you actually quit or that you got fired?”

Knuckles sighed. “I told her…that I was fired, so she would at least be a little sympathetic and show some care and concern for once! But no. She thought I was ch—“ He had to stop himself. He didn't know how Sonic would react to being told that Rouge thought that he was cheating on her. With him being over to visit Amy so much, Sonic would have put to and two together and accused Knuckles of the same thing Rouge did.

But Knuckles wasn't cheating—he just got a little side-tracked. His own wife refused to get to know him better when he tried his hardest to please her and be there for her, so he looked elsewhere and that's when Amy came along…

It didn't take much for the two to start talking right off the bat about their lives—both dealing with loves that never returned their feelings the way they wanted them to.

And if he remembered correctly, one of the times he came over to visit, Sonic wasn't home and he and Amy had a long talk—even tickled the other. But nothing went any further than that.

Both of them were curious about going further, but neither had the courage to voice that curiosity.

Also on that day, Knuckles remembered telling Amy about Rouge wanting a baby girl and how life was at the house with two infants when the kids weren't being babysat. Amy began to sympathize even though she had no children of her own and said she'd make something for him to help he and Rouge out.

Soon after, he fell into a light sleep on the couch downstairs. Half awake, he heard her come down the steps and felt something being placed in his hair. He would have protested, but his mind had drifted off into a deeper sleep.

Remembering all of that now, Knuckles realized how much in common he and Amy really had. And what about what she told him earlier about him making the wrong choice? Everyone made mistakes, right?

“I just don't understand it…” Knuckles murmured to himself.

“I'll say!” Sonic agreed, grabbing up his pitcher and taking a swig from it. “I've been watching you stare off into space for almost a whole minute!

“Well who told you to wait?!”

Shaking his head, Sonic chuckled and turned out the light in the living room. “Goodnight, man.”

“Yeah…” Knuckles half-frowned. “Goodnight…”

 

--

 

Back at Rouge's, she and Shadow were still engaged in their talk about her encounter with Knuckles earlier that day. But Rouge had become very sleepy within the few hours that they talked and wanted to change clothes for bed.

“It's not a problem, I'll just wait for you.” Shadow offered, getting up from her bed and walking over to her door.

“Oh, hey Shadow?”

“Yes?” he asked with a suave tone in his voice as he turned to face her.

Biting her lip, she tried to choose the right words to ask. “If it isn't too much trouble, could you help me find a new sitter for the boys? Since Knuckles is out of work and `missing in action', I'll have to do all the dirty work around here again…”

All the dirty work? New sitter?

Hearing this sparked an idea in Shadow's mind and a dashing smile played across his lips with the likes Rouge had never seen before.

`…He's handsome…' she thought, watching him closely as he walked over to her.

“Don't worry Rouge, I'll help you. But we can talk more about that tomorrow. But for now, I'll take care of the boys for you, allright?”

She could hardly believe what she just heard. Shadow was offering to step in to be the boys' babysitter? Just like that?

“Do you mean that Shadow?”

Nodding, he smiled warmly to her. “Absolutely. I told you that I would help you in any way that I could, Rouge. So finding a babysitter is one less thing for you to concern yourself about. now.”

Beaming broadly at her friend, Rouge reached up and threw her arms around his neck. “You have no idea how much this means to me, Shadow!”

Chuckling, he hugged her back and looked her in the eyes. “Oh…I do.”

Blushing lightly, Rouge laughed a little and tilted her head to the side in thought. “You know, it's funny… Whenever I'm out looking for something…I always end up finding you…”

“Yeah…ironic isn't it?”

“Maybe a bit too ironic. Maybe it's a sign…?”

“A sign of what?”

Rouge pouted playfully at his answer and pushed him out the door. “Get out already and let me change!”

“Allright allright! It's not like you gave me much choice!” Shadow joked and waited patiently outside her closed door while she changed into her pajamas. It crossed his mind that she would try something, but then he perished the thought.

Seconds later, she opened her door and whispered for him to come in.

Stepping inside, the first thing Shadow noticed was the lamp on her nightstand dimly lit.

Then his eyes trailed over to the bed and found it to be very intricately decorated and made up. But the thought of her and Knuckles making love on that bed seeped into his mind and he shuddered uncomfortably.

And Rouge noticed. “Shadow?”

“Yeah...?” he asked almost immediately.

“Where did you want to sleep?”

“Is the couch okay?”

Rouge bit her lip thoughtfully and shook her head. “Not a good choice…!”

“Somewhere on the floor?”

“That's not a good one either…!”

What could be so wrong with sleeping on the floor or the couch?

Shadow parted his lips to speak, but them withheld his words as he thought for a moment. Then the answer hit him square in the face.

Since this was Knuckles' house too, and the two of them already seemed `in their prime', then exactly what portion of the house hadn't been claimed to possibly relieve their sexual tension? He had to ask.

“…Rouge…I hate to ask but… what place in this house HAVEN'T you and …Knuckles...” he shuddered as he voiced that name, “been…intimate…on…?”

Rouge exhaled loudly and ran her hand through her hair as an attempt to mask her discomfort.

“Well, …that doesn't leave very many choices.”

He cringed. “In addition to the floor and the couch being out, what else are?”

The moment those words left his lips, he was left feeling stinging regret for each one of them once he heard her answer.

“…The kitchen, the dining room, the hallway, the walls, the Master Emerald is definitely out, up against the front door, the bathroom, the bathtub, the ceiling…”

“The ceiling?! Okay stop…just….stop! I can't stand to imagine any of this anymore!” Shadow cried, slapping a hand across his forehead and rubbing his temples.

“How about the kids' room…wait don't answer that. PLEASE don't answer that… uh..” he spun around, and noticed there was a closet behind him.

Looking back at her with an almost desperate expression of finding SOMEPLACE to sleep for the night, Shadow stepped over to her and took her by the hand.

“Please tell me, you didn't…copulate in there…Please…”

“Well uh…no, we...”

“Good enough answer for me!” Shadow decided and quickly became nestled in the comfort of the piles of silky fabrics stuffed in the closet.

Watching him get himself comfortable, Rouge couldn't help but laugh and turned off the light. Getting situated in her bed, she pulled the covers upto her shoulders and nuzzled deeper into them.

“Mmmm goodnight Shadow…Thanks for listening to me.”

There was the sound of constant movement from the closet as Shadow changed his position and laid on his back. Actually, he did that just so he could watch her.

“You're welcome Rouge.” He whispered. Then his eyes narrowed. He wanted to continue to watch her while she slept, but he didn't want to invade her privacy in the process. Letting a few minutes go by, Shadow leaned forward and lightly grabbed the knob on the closet door. Slowly, he began to pull it shut when a faint sound made him pause.

Listening intently, he heard it again…the soft whisper of his name in Rouge's sleep.

Needless to say he was flattered, but what else could that mean?

Smiling faintly to himself, he let the thought of possibilities run through his mind before he placed them aside.

“…Goodnight, Rouge.” Was the last few words he whispered before closing the closet door and drifting off to sleep.

----

 

--The song that Rouge was singing in the shower was “I Care for You” by Aaliyah

--Shadow's `joke' about Knuckles paying the gas bill before he left was a bad attempt at saying Knuckles had have better taken care of his manly responsibilities in his house before he ran off to be with Amy.

-Compared to the rest of the main chars in this story, Amy is still considered a minor. If she wasn't, who knows what could have become of her and Knuckles.

-A puggle is a baby echidna (thanx to Akari for that)

 

-Mel