Chapter 2

"I grew up in the lower class parts of Mobotropolis. My family and I lived in a rundown apartment; it wasn't much but it felt good to have a home. My family was pretty happy…at least that's what I thought…I guess my parents never argued in front of me and my sister…until that one day" Rouge narrated.

"How dare you sneak out to gamble again?!" a woman's voice yelled.

"I told ya, I can get us the money!" said a man's voice. A black bat walked downstairs frustrated at his situation. His name was Max, he was Rouge's father and a gambling addict. He was a tall lanky bat with black fur, dark blue eyes, and a gray muzzle.

The angry woman followed Max downstairs. "You say that over and over again, but you never do! If you keep this up, you'll get this family kicked out of the apartment!" she yelled. The woman's name was Noir ,who was Rouge's mother and Max's wife. She was a beautiful white bat with teal eyes and a tan muzzle like her daughter. However, she was chubby yet curvy and had very large breasts; she also had a mole on her cheek.

Also downstairs was a young Rouge the Bat, who was five years old. She was in her pjs; her parents were unaware that she was around because they were too busy arguing. The bat felt curious but also scared because the yelling, she never understood marital problems and gambling addiction.

"I'm telling you though, I got this! Get off my back, woman!" Max yelled.

At this point, Noir felt like she was at her limit. "No, I had enough of the foolishness, you are aware that you have a wife and two daughters?! You're going to kick us out if you continue this! What kind of man are you?!" she said.

Max sighed, feeling defeated. "You know what, I don't need this from you." he said, grabbing his trench coat and fedora. Noir rolled her eyes and turned away from him, crossing her arms.

Rouge went up to her father and tugged on his coat. "Daddy, where are you going?" she asked, feeling frightened.

Max kneeled down to her level and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm just going to get some milk.." he lied, before kissing her daughter's forehead. "You and your sister be safe." He said, leaving the apartment.

"But he never returned with the milk…"

Rouge turned around and faced her mother, who looked sad, frustrated, alone and confused.

"Momma, what's wrong..?" she asked. Noir picked up her daughter and hugged her tight.

"It's nothing, baby." She answered. "Mommy's just tired is all."

"Momma?" a voice called from upstairs. Another young white bat came downstairs. She was identical to Rouge but had a mole on her cheek so the twins could be told apart. The girl's name was Merah, Rouge's sister.

"Hello, dear." Noir greeted, catching her second daughters in her arms. "Not tired?" Merah shook her head no, with a big goofy grin.

"Hey, I was with mommy first!" Rouge yelled.

"Too bad!" Merah yelled back.

"Hey hey hey!" Noir interrupted, the girls immediately stopped. "You both can share mommy." She said with a wink.

"Mommy, Christmas is coming up. Will we have a big party like other families?" Rouge asked.

Noir sighed sadly, "Sweetheart, I'mma be honest…we can't afford one…" she said.

"But momma, I wanna have a big party. You always say this." defended Rouge.

"Yeah, mom!" Merah added.

"Oh babies…I'm so sorry but that's how it is…" Noir said, before putting them down. "We can still have a good Christmas…"

"Okay, momma.." Rouge said, with her head.

"Eventually mom got a job working in laundry. She worked long hours to provide for the family ever since my dad left. My sister and I were teased at school because we couldn't afford the best stuff like clothes or toys. Despite me and her always competing…we had to stay together in that school..it was harsh…cruel…"Rouge narrated. "That's why expensive things were important to me…and so was giving them to my beautiful girls…"

Shadow placed a hand on Rouge's hand, feeling sympathy. "Rouge…I had no idea…" he said.

Rouge gave a small smile. "Don't worry about it, Shad." She said, trying to hold back crying. "When I was in high school, that's when I started stealing…I stole things from school, snacks from the store…I was a pretty bad shoplifter back then…but I also remember always going to the library to research different jewels." She said with a brighter smile. "That's when I found out about the chaos emeralds..ever since then I was determined to find those things."

"Oh yeah, you couldn't keep your hands off them." Shadow said before sipping his beer.

Rouge giggled, "but then I was stuck being a GUN Agent." She whined. "But….spending all that money…I feel just like my father…"

"Rouge, you're not like your father. Know why? Cause you're not leavin' the family,especially me." He said with a cocky smirk. The fresh hot tacos were served to the couple.

"Would you like anything else? Any refills? " the waitress asked.

"Hmmmm….nah we're fine." Rouge said, smiling at her husband. Shadow returned the smile, appreciating the sight of his beautiful, sexy wife. They both started to eat the tacos, savoring the flavors.

"You know…I feel kinda closer to you..you know?" Rouge spoke.

"Yea.." Shadow replied. "I'm..glad you told me."

"Guess we're no longer pathetic huh?" Rouge joked.

Shadow smirked. "We never were, Rouge. We never were."

Next week…

"Shadow, do you have everything you need? Your guns and stuff?" Rouge asked.

"Yes, Rouge. Now I gotta get going or I'll be late for the mission." Shadow replied, picking up a briefcase.

"But did you say bye to the girls?"

"Yes, Rouge."

"Just makin' sure, hon." Rouge said, before the couple exchanged a kiss.

Shadow gave a small smirk with his red eyes staring into her beautiful teal eyes. "Thanks…See ya." He said.

Shadow left the house; Rouge sighed knowing that it's going to be lonely without him. She headed upstairs to rest after a morning of nothing but cleaning. Suddenly she found a small but wide maroon box on her pillow when she was about to lay down.

"What's this?" Rouge asked, picking up the box. She opened it and it revealed the beautiful diamond necklace from the mall that she saw. "Oh my…" she gasped, watching it shine in the box. The box also had a small piece of paper that said "Love: Shadow". The white bat blushed deeply and smiled lovingly at the gesture her husband made. She knew Shadow was a good guy, despite not being the friendliest and outgoing guy around, but she loved him just the way he was. She placed it around her neck and admired her reflection with that beautiful jewelry complementing her neck. This was something that she'd always cherish.

"Wonder how he could afford this…" Rouge thought.

….

"That damn necklace better be worth these extra missions." Shadow said, before shooting some enemy robots with his machine gun.

The End