Chapter Two : Hidden Devil

As he was making his way back to his room, Sabre met Athair; the brown echidna looked disappointed.

"Knuckles and Rouge can't come. They're waiting for Rouge's parents, they should be arriving anytime now" Athair's face lit up with a big grin. "But Blade is allowed to go with us as long as he doesn't come back home too late!"

Sabre nodded, making a mental note to go fetch his third-son.

"When are we going? Today?" Athair asked with hope filled eyes.

"I don't think so, Father. It's a little too late, now. Judging by the leaflet, the park is huge. It would take an entire day to see everything, so I suggest we leave early tomorrow morning…"

"Goody! I'll go ask Spectre! If we're leaving early we might as well ask Blade to stay overnight at Haven!"

The flying echidna floated down the corridor, all the while calling his fourth-father cheerfully. Sabre shook his head, smiling gently at his father's behaviour. He was always the first one react when it came to fun.

XXXXXXX

Locke was driving one of Haven vehicles on the road. He was going to Knuckles' house, near the limits of Echidnapolis. In the passenger seat, Sabre was nervously fidgeting with his seatbelt.

"Calm down, Father" Locke said. "I'm not driving that fast"

"Speak for yourself" he grumbled.

Sabre had never been fond of driving, or even being in a car for that matter. They were always going too fast for his liking, and he went paranoid whenever he stepped in a vehicle. Whereas his son loved driving and speed. That, he wouldn't even try to understand.

"We're here" Locke announced, stopping the vehicle.

Releasing a relieved sigh, Sabre undid his seatbelt and hopped off the car.

They were in front of a middle sized house, isolated from the others. It had two floors, and was cream coloured. Locke and Sabre walked on the stone covered path that led to the front door. The scientist then rang the doorbell.

Seconds later, very bored looking Knuckles opened the door. His face lit up suddenly when he saw Locke and Sabre.

"Hello son. How are things?" Locke greeted.

"The same since two hours ago" the Guardian sighed.

"I take it Rouge's parents has arrived"

"You guessed right. Man, I never knew family discussions could be so dull!"

"Well, why don't you come with us?" Sabre kindly proposed.

"No, thanks, Grandfather. I'd really like to, but Rouge would object"

"Well, it would be rude of you to-" Locke began, immediately cut off by a cheerful cry : "Grandfathers!"

A red ball came running down the stairs, laughing all the way. Five years-old Blade jumped and caught Locke in a hug. The echidna smiled and returned the embrace.

"Hello there, little one"

Blade let go of his second-father, and smiled brightly upon seeing Sabre.

"Grandfather Sabre!"

The young one threw himself on the surprised red one. He gave him a huge hug, tugging gently at the blue tunics. Sabre grinned and picked his third-son up.

"Hello Blade. Hey, it has only been what? A week and a half? Surely you didn't miss me that much"

"Yes I did" he chirped. He settled enough in Sabre's arms, and took his monocle off.

"Blade…" Knuckles warned. "What did I tell you about playing with your Third-father's monocle?"

The little echidna sighed.

"The same thing you said when I played with Grandfather Spectre's visor: Must. Not. Touch"

"It's all right, Second-son" Sabre said, keeping one eye closed. "He's not doing any harm"

"That would be the last straw! Anyway, are you sure it's going to be okay?" Knuckles asked then, only half joking.

"Don't worry, your son will be returned to you in one piece" Locke sighed.

"Actually, I was wondering if you would be able to stand the terrible kid one entire day!" the red Guardian laughed. At his father's words, Blade pouted and hugged Sabre once again, hiding his face in his spines.

"Knuckles" a voice came from the living room; Rouge's. "Is everything okay? I heard a shout earlier"

"Don't worry, everything's all right!" he yelled back, before adding under his breath. "Please don't let them come here, please don't…"

Footsteps were heard coming from the living room; just his luck…

"Go, now!" Knuckles urged them. "Quick, before they see you! Then they'll want to talk to you, to get to know you, to ask questions! For your sake, and mine, please get out!"

Nodding, Sabre put Blade down on the ground, and the three echidnas ran to the vehicle. And as Locke was pulling it on the road again, they heard Knuckles say: "Oh, too bad, they're already gone!". Locke chuckled under his breath.

"Seems like Knuckles doesn't like Rouge's parents, doesn't it?"

"Sure he likes them! But Dad says they talk too much!" Blade cheerfully answered.

Sabre laughed heartily and ruffled the boy's head. "Well, little one. Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"As ever! I can't wait!"

"Glad to hear it. I can swear sometimes you look so much like your fourth-father: always ready to have fun"

XXXXXXX

The door to the elevator bay shot open and Blade came running in the corridor.

"Blade!" Sabre called. "Be careful! Watch where you're going!"

The young one turned his head toward his third-father, and as he did so he bumped into something. The 'something' being Spectre.

"Hey, watch out, down there" the dark one said, smiling.

"Sorry, Eighth-father" Blade apologized.

Spectre patted the boy's head, messing up the fur there. As young as he was, Blade knew when to show respect; Knuckles had done a great job in raising him.

"Little one!" a voice rang.

"Grandfather Athair!" Blade cried while running in the brown echidna's direction. Athair picked him up, and gave him a big bear hug. "I missed you, little angel"

"So did I, Grandfather"

"Would you look at that" a very tired looking Thunderhawk grumbled. "He saw him last week and he says he missed him…"

"I missed you too, Grandfather Thunderhawk" Blade grinned.

The lavender echidna found himself grinning back, revealing a few shiny teeth. He couldn't stay angry at the youngling for too long, even when it was a mere joke. "That's better"

"See, Sabre?" mused Sojourner. "You survived the trip, didn't you?" He knew about his third-son's fear of driving and speed. He often teased him about that, and today was no exception. Sabre opened his mouth, an answer ready, when a loud bang was heard. They all turned toward the noise: flying Blade around, Athair had managed to knock Spectre down as the dark one dodged his fourth and eighth-sons' antics.

Spectre lay down on the ground, groaning while holding his visor covered head. Sabre shook his head, sighing.

"I did survive the trip. But will we survive a day with those two?"

XXXXXXX

Okay, so maybe the word madness in the summary was too strong. Let's say, innocent craziness. Well, here's the second chapter! Third's coming out soon!