Chapter 5: Artic Chills and Warm Memories

As the heli went deeper in the South Pole, Rouge got colder. She was under Knuckles and three thick blankets, still shivering.

Knux could feel her cool temperature. "Still cold?" he asked.

"Y-Yeah." she stuttered.

He pressed his body firmly against hers, giving her more warmth. She still shook under him. He then locked his warm, moist lips with her cold ones. No matter the temperature, he loved kissing her. She was vulnerable, so deepening the kiss was easy for him this time. She felt her temperature rise as his kisses grew deeper. His tongue nearly touched her throat, making her lose breath and break away. She was dazed. All she could see was his eyes full of concern.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Whaa? Oh yeah." she babbled.

He laughed as he got off her. He snuck towards the door hoping she wouldn't notice.

"Hey! Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked, back to normal.

He didn't want to remember the bet he lost, but he knew she wouldn't forget it. "Aw, c'mon! It's cold!" he whined.

"You haven't complained since now. I love you, but I love your suffering even more!" she exclaimed.

He mumbled to himself as he changed in the bathroom. When he emerged, Rouge couldn't help but roll on the floor laughing. The top of her jumpsuit was hanging over his chest, but the rest fit pretty well.

"I'll wear the pants, but the top's gotta go! I could catch snow in this!" he complained.

"Hey, that's your problem!" she said while rising to her feet.

"I'll fix it!" He grabbed the top part and ripped it from the seams easily.

"Hey!" she screamed and pushed him on the bed. They stared for a moment, and then he leaned in for a kiss. She pulled back and said, "Not til I win and have you begging for mercy."

"Which reminds me! Loser gets to do whatever the winner wants for the night."

"That shouldn't be hard." she commented.

"Oh, but I like it hard, if you know what I mean."

"Sure thing, loser."

They left the bedroom and looked out at the landscape. Ice and snow was scattered everywhere. Icy ponds and lakes glittered the area around a big ice cave. The chilly landscape gave Knux an even cooler idea.

"Let's take a thrill
In the Artic Chill
Used to be a hotspot, but now the cold could kill
Makes ya wanna sit back enjoy the ice
And do what I like you begin to shine
Sure I beez watchin' that gem all the time
But I gotta do it, it always stays outta line
But for now, I'm gonna just chill and live
While I stay the protecta of the emeralds and gems!"

"Hmmm..not bad!" Rouge complimented.

"Yeah, you know what's up!" he said, still in the groove.

"Actually, you're goin' down cause you're gonna lose!" she joked.

"Hmmm, talkin' to yourself again?" he asked sarcastically.

"We'll see who's joking when we get back up here!" she shouted.

"May the best sexy show-off win!" Knux shouted back. The heli landed in the snow and before you knew it, Knux and Rouge were off to find the emerald pieces.

Knux didn't have a problem with the icy cold environment. He had been in extremely low temperatures in a few heroic quests for Eggman. Rouge didn't have it that easy.

She was dressed in a leather jumpsuit with black boots, which still made her cold. She was lucky enough to get her foot stuck in an ice pond three times and successfully finding a frozen emerald the third time.

She skated gracefully over a large, icy lake. She reached out to grasp the emerald piece near her, in which she succeeded. The problem was that she got caught off-guard by it and fell on her butt, causing the ice to break around her. Before she could escape, the ice separated, making her plunge into the icy water.

She struggled to rise to the surface, but an unknown force was pushing her down. As she sank lower, the pressure got to her more. Her head throbbed and she could barely see. She had to close her eyes as a result. Her body temperature started dropping rapidly. She kicked and flailed her arms under the icy water until she caught something on her foot. Her temperature warmed up and she could now swim to the surface.

She started walking and heard a crunching sound under her boot. Under it was some broken ice and a large, dark purple gem core.

The color of the core reminded her of her lover's eyes. It also reminded her of something else. It was something short in her past that had disappeared. She couldn't put her finger on it yet.

A rush of mysterious power filled her body. The world around her grew dark and so did her thoughts. She realized what the gem reminded her of. Him. Before she could put it all together, she a voice behind her, beckoning her to come with him. She obeyed until another familiar voice played with her ears. The dark feeling washed away in a split second and she was back to reality. She saw Knux run over to her with victory in his eyes.

"What happened, Rouge? Ice got your tongue?" he teased.

"Huh?" she asked, confused.

"I won!" he exclaimed.

She now remembered what they were doing here. She looked in her left hand and saw two emerald shards. In her other hand laid the mysterious gem core. She quickly put it out of her sight.

"Whatcha hidin'? Embarassed at how bad you lost?" he teased. He took a good look at her. She was soaking wet and ice started forming on her body. Her wings were half frozen as her eyes were half closed in semi- drowsiness. He dropped the act instantly and got worried. "Are you okay, Rouge?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine." she answered quickly.

"You're half frozen!" he scolded as he wrapped his warm arms around her. "You're colder than I am!"

"I took a plunge, so sue me!" she shouted, pushing him away.

"Don't lie! You hate the cold! You fell in, didn't you?" he asked, not phased by the anger in her words.

"So what if I did?" she snapped again.
"What's up with you?" he retorted.

"I'm okay! Why won't you believe me?" she yelled.

"You were complaining about the cold ten minutes ago," he stated.

"And?"

"I care about you, Rouge. What's wrong with that?" he asked with anger.

"Just because I had sex with you doesn't make you my mother! Leave me alone!" She stomped off towards the heli.

Knux was so confused at her that he didn't see her hand enclosed in an amethyst glow.

???

By the time she got back to the heli, the glow faded and she stood there, dazed at the last few minutes that passed. She hadn't pushed him away since the night he saved her life. She had no clue on how that got the best of her. It was like she was under control. The mixed feelings bothered her so much that it gave her a blow to the head. She laid on the bed and eventually fell asleep.

Darkness surrounded her, encasing her in cold feelings and guilt. A big, black space could be seen around her. She walked around, scared and slightly vulnerable. Her footsteps echoed through the empty space. She could sense another's presence.

Soon enough, a voice could be heard loud and clear. It sounded smooth and relaxing, but at the same time it was dark and cold. It sounded so familiar to her.

"Soon you will be mine.forever.Just wait.you won't be able to get away this time."

His laughter echoed in her mind repeatedly. She saw a flash of scarlet and she was instantly awake. A dark figure stood before her with his face in the shadows. His arms were crossed and his gloves reflected off the dim candlelight.

"You thought you could get away.but you never will.you'll see.

He disappeared in a flash of green light. His words stuck in her mind and it scared her to death. Was this her imagination or was his message very convincing?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sweet, calming smell. She knew the scent too well. She opened her eyes and saw ten orchids by her bed and Knux lying on his back at the foot of the bed, watching her.

She was speechless. "Knuckles, I--"

"It's okay. I deserved it, but you deserve the best." he said in a relaxing tone.

She rolled over and joined him on his left side. "Guess a flashback of my old self, huh? Surprised you didn't run away this time."

He turned to her, brushing a dreadlock away from his face. "Can't get rid of me that easy."

"So, you weren't after the emerald? You were after me?" she asked.

"Well, no, not at first. After I saved your life, I felt something for you. I thought it would never get out. I was so used to keeping things to myself, since I was alone most of my life. Having a best friend and a lover wasn't in my job description," he confessed.

"No wonder we're connected. I feel the same way," she agreed.

"So, you have no regrets at all?" he asked with doubt.

"Of course not! I confessed first. I wasn't expecting what happened, but I liked the unpredictable of the situation."

"Whatever I dreamed about last night was probably my old self trying to come out again. I'm not gonna let it get in the way anymore. It almost cost me something so precious and beautiful." he confessed, looking into her eyes, which were close to tears.

She couldn't speak. She had never heard anything so beautiful in her life. Her eyes spilled tears of joy down her face. He wrapped his arms around her in a loving embrace. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "I love you, Rouge. I wouldn't be able to leave if I tried." he spoke softly in her ear.

She was flying. A feeling of unexplainable happiness and freedom washed over her after he spoke. She could never recall having a feeling so strong.

He spoke his mind. His thoughts, hopes, and dreams had all came true that night. Now he was in love for the first time. No matter how much his mind doubted it, his constantly beating heart spoke the truth.

They held each other for hours, gazing at each other's mesmerizing eyes. Neither were letting go anytime soon.