Author's note: thank you for those reading. Any suggestions or comments are greatly accepted. Feedback good or bad is always good to me.

Chapter 3 Paradise lost, Paradise gained

KNUCKLES

He watched his guest sit on his bed. He felt weird seeing Sonic just sit there. He was always running, and he never really saw him look down. He opened his mouth to say something, but the voices from outside came closer. He could hear Amy's glee and Sally's complaints. He could hear Julie Su's boots as they stomped by. He shook his head and rubbed his face.

"It's gonna be an awkward week eh bud? But cheer up man" Sonic whispered and got up. Knuckles watched him observe the room. His green eyes scanned the area, almost like he was checking for minions of Robotnick. "Let's see if there is anything in this mini fridge". The black little box sat across the room; there were two cups and a bucket of ice. "What do we have here" he pulled out a large bottle of vodka. "Let's live as Russians did man"

"I'm not a big drinker"

"Me neither, but it's not like there is a TV in here. A few glasses won't do any harm" Sonic said with a light chuckle. "We'll get this party off the hook man, you could use a pick me up anyway" he poured a glass for him and a much larger one for himself. "I'm not one for awkward silences" he gave Knuckles a big grin.

"Alright man" Knuckles smiled and raised his glass. The two were standing now. "To Julie S-" Sonic put his hand over the glass.

"No man you can't toast to somebody you're mad at. That's no way to get pumped!" he thought for a second. "Here is to you Knuckles" he laughed.

"Well here's to you Sonic" they chuckled.

"No no no no, I insist, to you Knuckles!"

"Whatever man let's just drink this crap already"

"That's the spirit" They chugged their vodkas and coughed and coughed.

"Oh my god this is like fire!" Knuckles spat.

"Pf this is nothing. I bet I can drink more than you can"

"Well what are you wagering my friend?"

"Oh so we're friends now?" Sonic smiled and poured the glasses to the brim. "Let's see, how about whoever drinks the least has to go outside and yell at their ex" Knuckles eyes nearly fell out of his sockets.

"That is messed up. I was going to just lock myself in here for the week" he said seriously.

"Dude! Come on! Where is your sense of adventure? Don't tell me she took your balls from you too?" Sonic grinned, but Knuckles didn't.

"Give me that drink" he chugged it down and felt the fire go down his esophagus, and coughed even louder now.

"That's my boy" Sonic chugged and didn't even cough. He poured the glasses again, and Knuckles could tell he already knew the end of this story…

SEVEN SHOTS LATER

"Dude why do you always fall for Eggman's tricks hahaha" Sonic laughed as his hand spilled the vodka into the cup.

"Oh dude I don't even know man. That was like so long ago"

"I mean I mean did you actually believe him the second time it happened?" he sneered.

"I don't know dude! It was just like I felt people could change" Sonic handed him the glass and the chugged it again. Number Nine. "Guh I- I don't want anymore"

"Dude that means ya got to do something!" he hesitated. "What was it again duding?"

"I don't really even know dude. You want to go down stairs and play darts?"

"Oh dude I'm gonna kick your read little butt at darts" they got up and stumbled to the door. The two drunks walked out the door. Nobody was in the hall which meant that they were either in their rooms or down stairs…

"Why did Julie cheat on you man?" Sonic said in a sad tone and wrapped his arm around his buddy as they walked down the hall to the stairs.

"I just don't know dude! Maybe she just doesn't love me, maybe I miss treated her man!"

"No way man! You're SUCH a great guy. You're a guardian! You're golden pony boy?"

"Aw dude that that means so much. Here give me a hug blue bud" Knuckles hugged Sonic and almost got teary eyed.

"It's all good bro, I'm so happy you're here man"

When they were at the top of the stairs only Mighty and Tails were sitting on the couch talking. They were talking to Shadow and Rouge. When Tails looked above he saw Sonic and smiled. Mighty grinned like he knew exactly what they were doing. Shadow didn't even look, but Rouge gave Knuckles her big icy blue eyes with a soft stare. Her lips gave a silent smile. Knuckles heart pounded.

"Oh hey everybody!" Sonic shouted from the top of the stairs. "Act natural dude" he whispered in Knuckles ear. He started walking down the stairs. Knuckles held the railing and put one foot out to start his decent.

"Knuckles?" Julie Su's voice spoke from behind sounding concerned and a little upset. His grip slipped and he flew tumbling down the stairs. Darkness stole his vision and there was a crash.

TO BE CONTINUED…