Chapter Nine
The Second Date
Meanwhile Rouge was walking through the park with Knuckles, as they walked Knuckles listened as Rouge talked non-stop about Shadow. "When we were fighting the Metarex" said Rouge, "he never left my side, we fought to the end…we kept close to each other, determined to not let the other die, he risked his life many times to save mine"
Knuckles nodded "as we all almost died trying to save the galaxy from those monsters" he said "I still can't forget Dark Oak and those creatures" Rouge nodded, "yet none of us were as brave as Shadow" she whispered "that brave hedgehog…" she looked up at the sky, it was a bright blue and not a cloud was visible.
Knuckles nodded again, "if he were still alive" said Rouge as a tear appeared, "if he was with us, if he had survived, I would have requested a reward for him…." Knuckles then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "he would be happy to know that we're safe" said Knuckles "and he wouldn't have wanted you to get sad" Rouge nodded, "yeah…" she said "I suppose"
She then looked down at her stomach, she placed a hand on it, even though it was a few days since she found out she was pregnant, she wondered how Shadow would have taken it, whether he would be pleased, or shocked. "If only you were here Shad" she whispered "knowing I was having a baby, I dunno how you'd act, but I would hope you'd be proud"
"Rouge?" then Knuckles brought her back down to earth, "Rouge?" Rouge turned to look at him, he was pointing towards a male seagull who was selling ice-cream under a tree. "You wanna have an ice-cream?" he asked. "Oh" said Rouge, "yes please" Knuckles smiled and walked over to the seagull, he then bought two chocolate and vanilla swirls for them both.
"Seems appropriate eh?" chuckled Knuckles as he licked his ice-cream, "a hot baking day and a large creamy ice-cream each?" Rouge smiled "sure is" she said as she licked her ice-cream "thank you Knuckles" she walked along with him and licked her ice-cream, Knuckles began to walk closer to her, as he did, Rouge felt a little uncomfortable, but she smiled anyway.
After a while, they came to the Mobotropolis Park Café, as they walked over, Rouge saw many families, they seemed to be making use of the lovely weather, there were a couple of Mobians sitting on an outside table with a pram whilst two older children were playing tag.
Another couple were sitting nearby; the father was feeding a toddler in a high chair whilst the mother was cradling a newborn in her arms. Rouge again began to think about her baby growing inside her and wondered what life would be like without Shadow, that was if he was dead.
"Even thought my brain tells me you're gone, my heart is telling me you're still out there, still alive, maybe trying to find a way back to us, back to Mobius, back to Mobotropolis, back to me" she looked across to Knuckles who was looking for a free table. "If Shadow really is gone…" she bit her lip at those words that came from her head "maybe Knuckles could help? Maybe he could take care of me, and the baby?"
"Here's a table" said Knuckles, pointing to a table where there were some roses growing on a fence next to it. Rouge smiled and walked over, Knuckles then picked up the menus and handed Rouge one. "What do you fancy?" he asked. Rouge scanned down the menu and decided to have a chicken salad. Knuckles nodded at her and went inside the café leaving Rouge with her thoughts about Shadow.
Poor Rouge, pregnant, depressed and with mixed feelings...and will she tell someone soon? Find out!
