Rouges head jerked towards her echidna. His eyes were open and he was grinning weakly, looking tired as he barely held his head off of the floor. Without thinking, Rouge tackled him, with Seth still in her arms. Of course the sudden movement caused the new born to cry. Knuckles looked up at Rouge and grinned. He looked at his son, squealing in Rouges arms, and began to laugh. Rouge couldn't help but smile to and soon joined in. The three of them lay, together on the floor, laughing and crying, when the door of the ward was pushed open once more.

" Rouge, we need to take your son now, he needs to be buhuuuh!" said a nurse, jumping when she heard a babies cry and saw both Rouge and Knuckles on the floor, laughing there heads off. She looked around in confusion " What's going on? Why are you on the floor?". Rouge , feeling to overwhelmed to respond, simply picked up her screaming son and moved him so he was in the nurses view. " It's... A miracle!" she said in astonishment.

" No, you just aren't very good doctors" joked Knuckles, still grinning stupidly. The nurse didn't know what to do, so she simply responded

" Do, do you want me to send your friends in?". Knuckles looked at Rouge, implying that it was her decision to make. When he received a nod, he answered the nurse and she wandered out, looking dazed.

Seth continued to cry , that is , until Rouge took hold of him properly , cuddling it gently. Soon after the crying stooped and the baby opened its eyes , which were violet. Knuckles crawled on all fours and sat down beside Rouge on the tiled floor, taking his first proper glances at his son. Rouge felt amazing . She was a mother. Knuckles had a child , something he never thought he would have. Siberia was right , it was worth the pain , to hold your baby son in your arms for the first time.

" Knuckles" said Rouge, suddenly feeling curios as to what had happened " What did you do? You stopped breathing and I couldn't feel a pulse". Knuckles grinned, looking extremely pleased with himself and happy that the child was alive and , as far as they could tell, perfectly healthy.

" The emerald does have it's uses you know. While I was outside with Sonic and Amy, it contacted me telepathically. It knew a way to revive him, but it had to be around ten minuets before it died. I hoped that Seth had died soon before you had him, and I was right" he stopped, timidly reaching out to feel his sons tiny head. Seth looked up at him, unsure for a few seconds, before it's eyes drifted closed and it feel asleep. " But to revive Seth is had to join us as one through the chaos energy we both posses, so I could get his heart working. But too hearts do not work in one body, so I had to stop mine for a few seconds and hope that it started up again". Rouge felt even more grateful know that she knew Knuckles knew the risks involved in what he did. She asked to more, as Knuckles was becoming more ingrossed in his son with every second that passed. The bat stood and Knuckles mimicked her movement. She turned to him and held out Seth, placing him in his fathers arms and getting back onto the bed. Knuckles couldn't hold it any longer. A tear slid down his cheek.

" Knuckles, are you all right?" Said Rouge, when she realised he was crying.

" I'm sorry Rouge" he said in a shaky voice " Its just , he's so beautiful". Rouge felt tears come to her own eyes and she said happily
" I know , its just... Perfect" she said , lost for words . She looked down at her son , who was still staring at Knuckles . The echidna looked down , completely blown away by his child. It was amazing , a symbol of their love. He gently stroked his sons tiny chest , which made him babble happily. He sighed , so this is what its like to be a father. It was the best feeling in the world and he wouldn't trade it in for anything. Suddenly , his son reached up with its tiny hand and placed it on his fathers guardian symbol. Knuckles gasped lightly , his son smiled , staring up at him with youthful eyes.

For a few more minuets , Knuckles simply held his son , feeling never before felt emotions sweep through him. His son yawned and Rouge watched protectively. But Knuckles would never hurt his son , his baby , and he would make sure none else did either.

Feeling as if the baby should be with its mother , Knuckles handed back the baby to Rouge , where it curled up against her and closed its eyes.

Knuckles left the room , going to tell everyone that it was a boy and letting each one of them visit.

"KNUCKLES!" Screamed Sonic a little dramatically as he came out from the doors. He rushed up, Shadow at his side and the rest not far behind.

" What happened? The room went all light, then we heard some crying and someone screaming no! Then the nurse came out saying ' I can't believe it! It's a miracle!' What the hells going on?". Knuckles grinned and said with a huge smirk on his face

" Let's just say your not the only one who can heal using chaos powers". Sonic's eyes exploded wide open

" But bringing someone back from the dead? That's just extreme". Knuckles was about to answer when the rest of the gang decided they wanted their share in conversation

" How is Rouge?" asked Shadow in concern.

" What is it!" Yelled Charmy, buzzing over their heads.

" Is it a bat?" Yelled Sonic over the noise

" An echidna?" Added Vector

" Is it ok ?" said Siberia in a concerned voice. Knuckles closed his eyes, too many questions, too fast . He raised his hand bellowed

" SHUTUP!". The room feel silent. Knucles sighed and Sonic said anciosly

" Well Knuckles, bat , or echidna?". Knuckles grinned and said

" Both" . Sonic raised and eyebrow and said

" Huh?"

" Why don't you come and see?". Sonic grinned himself as the echidna led him and Amy into the room.

" Oh my gosh" said Amy when she saw Seth laying there, now asleep, Rouges eyes were closed as well, although they were unsure if she was asleep or not. Sonic grinned stupidly and said

" Yep, that's defiantly your kid, only someone like you could create something so weird looking"

" Hey, that's insulting, it's my child too" said Rouge, making Sonic jump. She opened her eyes and smiled. Sonic clutched his heart

" Man! Rouge! You gave me a heart attack".

" Are you ok Rouge?" Said Amy in concern. Rouge nodded wearily and said

" I'm really tired and... My stomach is aching like hell" she said, almost sounding like the pain was still with her. Knuckles watched in concern, he had no idea she was still in pain. " But, it was really worth it in the end" finished Rouge, smiling up at Knuckles. He grinned again and stroked his sons head, cupping his chin in the base of his hand.

" Hey! He's got your knuckles!" Said Sonic , pointing to the little bumps on the child's fingers.

" Yeah I know, I'm glad though, It should mean he can defend himself" he leaned closer to his kid. " Coz I don't want anything to happen to you, no I don't, no I don't- "said Knuckles in a dopy voice.

" Uh , Knuckles, we're still here" said Sonic, a bemused expression on his face. The echidna stopped and jerked away, embarrassed because Sonic had seen his softer side. Sonic folded his arms and grinned

" Ya know Knux, if your gonna' start pulling stupid faces every time you talk to your kid, I'm gonna have to carry a camera round with me, the press all pay a fortune for 'see the worlds toughest echidna pull dopy faces' article" he joked. Knuckles blushed even more.

Next in came Siberia and Shadow. Siberia smiled kindly when she saw the three and said to Rouge

" How do you feel?". Rouge said what she had said for Amy. This made Siberia smile with understanding. Meanwhile, Shadow was bent over the baby, examining it.

" Hmmmmmm, an interesting little creature" he said, bending over the babies knuckles. Suddenly Seth opened his eyes and looked Shadow in the face. They stared at each other for a while, not moving. But then, Shadow backed away frightened looking. " That baby has the most creepy stare" he said, his eyes wide. Siberia laughed and leaned into him. It was so strange to see his former girlfriend sitting in a hospital bed with her own child and the red echidna he had only recently gotten to know next to her, the father.

" Well, looks like it is your kid after all. I never doughted you for a second Rouge" said Vector, adressing Knuckles and Rouge.

" Pfft, yeah right" said Espio, rolling his eyes. Vector ignored him and said

" I can't believe you've got a little boy Knuckles! I thought you'd be on that crappy island for the rest of your life!". Rouge gave him a sour look and said

" 'That crappy island' happens to be paradise on earth!". Vector shuffled , his eyes darting around in their sockets as he looked embarrassed.

" Naw! What I mean is, that emerald that keeps you trapped on the island just to guard it's worthless life!" Said Vector in triumph, thinking he had got a valuable point in his argument.

" That emerald is what revived Seth in the first place. If I hadn't been guarding it all this time Seth would have died!" Said Knuckles, feeling he should defend the emerald after what it had done for him and Rouge. Vector flushed with embarrassment.

" Well, er , but!..." He threw his hands in the air in an angry gesture " I can't win with you smartarsses around!" . His wife Seringetti giggled and said affectionately

" I love it when you get frustrated, you look so sexy!". Vector blushed.

" Somehow the words 'Vector' and 'Sexy' just don't go together" said Espio, smirking. Charmy buzzed overhead and said

" Yeah, but 'Vector' and 'Stupid' do!". Everyone but Vector and Seth broke into laughter, although Espio's a lot lighter than Knuckles ungracious bawling.

A while later they took Seth to the baby room and Rouge had falling asleep. Knuckles watched sympathetically , she must have gone through so much for him and for that he was extremely grateful. He went back to Shadow and Siberia apartment and simply sat in the spare room , his thoughts in his new son. He sighed . Seth . His little boy. The realisation hadn't quite sunk in yet and he kept laughing as he imagined his child calling him dad. Right now , he thought to himself , I have everything I could possibly want.

After a few days Rouge and his new son Seth had come home. He felt a rush of happiness sweep through him as Rouge entered the door, carrying his new child. One of his little ear quivered slightly as Rouge laid him down into his cot. Knuckles walked over, laying eyes on his son for the first time in a few days where he was cuddled up in his blanket. Knuckles sighed. Although he didn't even know his son, he loved him already. His child which he would never let anyone hurt. His baby. He watched lovingly as his son yawned, making a slight sighing noise as it did so. A tear slid down Knuckles face. He turned to Rouge and hugged her, feeling even closer than ever now they had a child together. The miracle that lay in front of them.

Rouge broke the hug and walked out, leaving Knuckles alone with his son for the first time. He bent down , taking in every detail of the tiny creature that was part of him, admiring how much he looked just like the both of them. No deformities, no disabilities, nothing but perfect , innocent , youth. Knuckles smiled and reached to his guardian symbol, leaving his hand there for a few seconds before gently placing it on his sons bare chest. The traced the invisible ring shape with his finger before removing his hand and gently stroking his son's delicate head. His son opened his eyes and looked directly into Knuckles own. Those beautiful purple eyes, eyes that had come from him, almost certainly.
Then he removed his hand drawing back and making sure his whole body was covered and that he was not cold. He then stroked his head soothingly once more , leaving the room while his son watched. Only when he left , did the Bachidna close its eyes.

He contacted the master emerald with his thoughts.

' Thank you master, thank you for this great gift'

' Guardian, you have waited for long enough without any kind of reward for your loyal services. Helping the bat you call ' Rouge' to conceive a child from you was simple, but now you must train him , train him in the ways of the guardian and maybe one day he will be as powerful as you are now' it whispered quietly in his mind. Then with that it was gone. Knuckles had only known that morning that the emerald helped to mix his and Rouges DNA together to create his son, but he had already accepted it and thanked the emerald a hundred times over.

Seth, child of guardian and thief, of bat and of echidna. The little creature , with a future as amazing as it's outstanding creation.

THE END- or is it? Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun!

AUTHORS NOTES

Hey guys. I'd just like to thanks all of you who have stuck with this story from the every beginning, even through deletion and loosing half of it and getting a new computer and hte internet bugging up. Just to let you know there is DEFIANTLY a sequel. The first chapter will be coming soon and some of the issues that this story left open will be covered, as well as some more new arrivals and an old freind, or should I say foe? Look out for ' Robonics discovery', the same of the sequel , to find out where this fic goes from here. Until then, watch my profile and ill see you all soon!

And now a few messages to my loyal readers

GameFreak38- I'd just like to say thankyou for your continuous reviews and comments. If there was anyone review I could count on seeing, yours was always one of them. Thanks a bunch, hoped you enjoyed this little tale and I hope you stick around for the sequal!

CJ the Cheetah- Thanks for reveiwing CJ. Im sorry for slightly tacking your idea but I tried to make it as different as possible. I worked not to copy your names of the children ( I have to admit I had my eye on the name shade for a while) and I hope you don't think I am copying. I hope you read the sequal.

Gameorama91- Thanks for reading. Hope you like the ending and the sequal!

ultimateSUfanUltimateSUfan- Knuckles i alive! Yah!

Nightfire5309- Hey. Like the new name! Thanks for reading this story! Your review was a nice read and I always apriciate them. Please take a look at the sequal. If you want to...

lugia flyhight- I like the story you recommended, it was good and different. Thanks for adding me to your favourites!

Zorrzvixen10187798- I am pleased to announce that you were on of the most loyal people in this fic, reviewing almost every chapter! Thanks a bunch!

superviolist- Your brother is the coolest person ever! I love the name Seth! Tell him he has a great name! Oh and thanks for reading too!

hammy ham ham- Yes it did! I love surprises! Once again thanks for reading. Your comments have always been interesting if a little odd, but who cares right? Oddness if a funny thing. As well as randomness.

Knux-and-rouge-fan- Everything I ok! Please read the rest! And look out for the sequal.

Echidna Girl- Hey! The baby is described in the next chapter! Keep reading! Anyway thanks for much for reading my story, now please hurry up and update yours!

Knuckles Echidna72- wow, i've converted someone! Yah! Im sorry if I made you sad but all my stories end happily, or at least this one does. Can't wait for you to update yours!

Liz-Sakura- Opps, thanks for the tipes and sorry about the spacing im having trouble with my new pc. Anyway thanks for reveiwing so much, your reviews were always a laugh! I know romance isn't your thing but could you please stick around for the sequal!