DaddyKnux

"Summer, come back here!" Knuckles the echidna, not for the first time was running frantically after the speedy five year old girl. The large dangerous open space of Freedom Headquarters with its machines, cargo crates and high drops wasn't a safe running track. It was a lethal playground for children.

The child had climbed three flights of steps to the green sector. Fearlessly she bounded across the metal panelling that formed bridges from one platform to another. The smell of oil and grease filled the air and the engineers were busy building weapons and transports for the next mission far below.

"I just want to visit Uncle Tails." She pleaded stopping several metres away. She knew she was in trouble but was being as stubborn as a five year old can be. She wanted her own way but the harsh glare from Knuckles made her whole body shrink. She could feel the tips of her ears drooping with guilt. She'd broken the rules and gone off on her own. Worst still she hadn't stayed on the ground floor but wandered off to the floors above.

"Summer, you are coming home right now. It's dangerous up here."

The hedgehog bit her lip, looking longingly at the ramp to the fourth floor and then back to the red dreaded guardian with his arms crossed – he was pretty angry. Narrowing her eyes she turned and fled up the ramp. Curiosity and the potential thrill of a new place were too much for the adventurous little girl. Adrenalin was pumping through her small body as she continued to climb the next stair case which wound itself around a tower.

The spiral construction was where Tails would be busy designing his next invention and drawing up diagrams. He liked to be separated from everyone when he was researching. Once he had finished this process he would work day and night with the engineers to build his new creations and test them out. Summer had seen one or two of Uncle Tails' gadgets and thought they were 'very cool'.

The female hedgehog knew she was a fast runner, too fast she admitted sometimes. She snatched a glance over her shoulder and saw Knuckles gaining on her rapidly. He was red faced and yelling something but amongst the steam valves and turning cogs she couldn't hear. She tripped over her own feet and rolled into a ball. The grey and brown walls of Freedom Headquarters spun around and around. She hadn't performed this trick before and the lack of control was frightening her. She bounced off the central column and flew towards the spiral's edge. She threw her arms out and screamed.

She'd managed somehow to get a clumsy hold of the spiral edge. Looking down she could see her short legs dangling pathetically and the gigantic drop below. The next platform was too far down to let go and drop she'd be a hedgehog pancake.

Knuckles, was petrified. Summer had gone into a super sonic spin and tumbled over the edge. He blamed himself keeping the child cooped up in small living quarters wasn't fair. She should be allowed outside to play in the sunshine but of course he knew that was impossible. Instead he forced himself to focus on rescuing the kid. They could do the whole lecture thing later.

"I'm coming Summer, hold on!"

Monday 23rd April 10.10 am

Dear diary,

Sorry what happened to Mobius again? I'm so confused it's been so long since I've been outside I don't remember what a tree looks like anymore! Nine years to the day when Robotnik got serious, that's right. Something must have snapped in that brain of his and he suddenly got nasty. It wasn't enough to launch badniks and battle droids anymore he must have got bored of losing!

I hate being squashed in this hell hole the living quarters are a joke. There's hardly enough room to swing Blaze in here let alone actually live, it's the size of a box. Still I've tried to brighten the place up a little, painted the walls and put up a few pictures. Vanilla has even given me a lilac bed spread which works a treat. It was really kind of her especially since Cream still hasn't settled down even after all this time. She's supposed to be fourteen now isn't she? God I feel old!

Sonic and Tails are still thick as thieves planning to take down one of Robotnik's main factories. I'm worried about them they're completely obsessed in their work. I know it's important and our futures depend on the Freedom Fighter missions succeeding but if they keep burning the wax at both ends something bad might happen. When Tails isn't building he's designing some contraption or other. When Sonic isn't giving out instructions he's training. I see him everyday running circuits around the base pushing himself so hard. I might have a chat with him later about it.

Opps! 10.30 I better go, Zack will be waiting for me in the mess another date – joy (!)

Love and hugs x

Knuckles left the medical room in a daze. In his arms three tiny pink hoglets wrapped in a cotton blanket and behind him Tails, Cream, Cheese and Vanilla.

"You better stay with us for a little while." Vanilla had said gently to the echidna. Knuckles hadn't argued he was terrified and did as he was told.

They reached room 525 and unlocked the door. Immediately Vanilla set to work warming some milk in a pan and Cream played hostess with tea and biscuits. The room was quite small, in the centre was a grey plastic table, magnolia coloured sofa and a radio. In the left hand corner was a double bed and to the right the kitchenette where Vanilla was bustling around. The other door as Knuckles already knew would probably lead to the bathroom.

Tails looked drained he'd allowed himself to cry this time. He sat forward on the sofa and kept rubbing his temples.

"This is crap." He muttered to himself.

Knuckles looked down at the triplets they were tiny and their eyes hadn't even opened yet. They whimpered and shivered under the blanket. Two girls and a boy had been born. Their skins were bright pink and they didn't have a single hair between them.

"Do they have names?" Cream asked placing a cup of tea on the table in front of him.

"Yeah… they have that at least. The eldest one is called Summer, the younger girl is Rosie and this little guy is Sonic junior," Knuckles choked on the last name a sudden lump had leapt into his throat, "I really can't do this."

"Here you go they're probably hungry," Vanilla distracted him by placing a feeding syringe into his left hand. "They're too small for a bottle so you need to squeeze the plunger slowly and let them drink at their own pace ok? They'll need a regular feed at least every one and a half hours so it's going to be a long night. Cream can you make up a couple of extra beds? We'll need to have a look for that old alarm clock too…"

After two weeks Knuckles took the hoglets back to his own 'temporary' living quarters. Their spines had begun to harden now and the colour pigment of their skin had begun to change also. They were moving around a lot more exploring their new surroundings which gave the tired echidna endless trouble. Tails had knocked together a crib for the new arrivals and Cream had added some colourful paintings she'd done herself.

Knuckles placed the triplets into the crib and sat down wearily. Three blinking pairs of eyes stared back at him expectantly one pair mint green the others emerald green. He couldn't believe how much the critters had already grown. Sonic was a light sky blue in colour but he had his mother's eyes. Rosie was dark pink but her sister Summer was quite different. It was July and Summer's skin was indeed an electric yellow, her spikes were jagged and sharp compared to the smooth curved spines of her siblings. Knuckles sighed heavily.

"I'm not cut out for this…"

Summer began to cry, her tears were huge for such a small baby and were filling up the crib! Sonic and Rosie joined in and soon there was a chorus of wailing harmonies echoing around the room. Knuckles tried to shush them but this only resulted in louder screams and more sobbing. He scooped them up, sat back down and instantly the crying ceased.

Summer climbed up the echidna's arms and hid under his dreadlocks. Every time the yellow hedgehog was upset she'd hide under his dreadlocks and nuzzle his cheek. It was a ridiculous and childish habit that Knuckles promised himself he'd put a stop to but, with feeding, changing and sleeping routines there simply hadn't been time. Sonic and Rosie placed their heads on his chest and gurgled with content.

Knuckles didn't understand. Vanilla would make a much better parent for the hoglets than he would. She however, when completely satisfied that the echidna had got the hang of basic baby rearing skills had sent him back to room 34 with his new family.

"They wouldn't settle," She'd said simply, "They'd miss you too much. Can't you see you've already formed a bond with them?"

Tails and Cream had agreed instantly - what was it that they could see but he couldn't?

He placed the triplets back into the crib. After checking they had fallen asleep he set the alarm, found the coldest spot in the room and lay down. He closed his eyes and hoped for at least an hours sleep. Five minutes later he could feel something tickling him under the arms. He opened one amethyst coloured eye in shock. Summer, Sonic and Rosie had climbed out of bed and curled up beside him.

"Listen guys…" He began, taking the hoglets back to the crib, "I sleep on the floor like this because it's what I'm used to. You've got a nice warm bed that Uncle Tails built especially for you. Now please stay in it!"

The three hoglets looked back at him blinking. Knuckles went back to sleep.

Minutes later and to Knuckles' outrage the three cheeky hedgehogs were curled up beside him once more. Again the echidna took them back to the crib.

"You have no idea how stubborn I can be you know. You won't win," He said firmly, "Now stay."

After the seventh attempt Knuckles was exhausted all three of the young hedgehogs had refused to stay in the crib.

"Fine have it your way, sleep on the cold floor with me but only for tonight – you get me?"

The hoglets settled and Knuckles finally drifted off into a deep sleep. Then the alarm went off – it was feeding time.