There was silence. The bats eyes stared, fixed, onto the lavish, sparkling ring that any girl would have been delighted to receive. But to her, it shocked her to the core. She hadn't realised Shadow was that serious. Was she even old enough to marry? What would Knuckles say? Did she even like Shadow enough to marry him? This moment was supposed to be one of the most special in her life, yet it felt, rushed, empty, meaningless. She was supposed to feel a warm rush of love for the person who had offered her his hand in her heart, but, all she felt was a sickly swirl of uncertainties well up in her stomach.

The feeling grew, a sour taste leaking into the corners of her mouth. Rouge realised what was happening and felt her throat clench in a gag. She dared not risk open her mouth and answer Shadows question, knowing she would probably spray him with vomit if she did. So she simply turned and ran, away from Shadow and his dreaded question and to the nearest toilet.

Meanwhile, Knuckles stood at the base of what he used to guard so loyally, thinking things through. Was it really true that this seemingly harmless object could invade his dreams and injure him without even touching him? He approached it, laying a hand on it's surface. It's touch was warm under his glove, almost as if it was begging him to return to his duty, the duty he was born for. But he knew he never would, he had Rouge, they had each others virginity, and they were happy. At least, when the emerald wasn't interfering.

The echidnas thoughts travelled to the other creature in his dream, the one who was fighting for Knuckles against the horrible creature that was his minds portrayal of the master emerald, or perhaps what the emerald really would look like with a physical body. Perhaps this creature was real in this existence too? His guardian angel of sorts? He wondered what other power could infiltrate his dreams like it had. He knew no other power like that like the master emerald, but perhaps there was one and it was on his side, this could only be a good thing.

But then there was it's warning about Rouge. How could she not bring him happiness? So far, almost everything she had done had bought him happiness, if not it fulfilled his sexual desire. How could such a kind hearted creature harm him like that?

Until Rouge did wrong, Knuckles decided he would the warning of his dream-dwelling alter ego. For all he knew it was his imagination playing tricks on him again.

Rouge felt energy less as she washed her face, rubbing her tired eyes with the waters soothing freshness. Grabbing a paper towel from the restaurants bathroom, she wiped away the stray vomit that had stuck to her face, groaning as she felt the feeling still there. She kept feeling nautious now and the time for a normal illness to be sustained was passing. She relaxed on the toilet seat, not using it, but simply resting. Leaning her head back, she sighed, feeling some relief from not having to stand anymore. But the uneasy feeling inside her was still there, and her thoughts travelled to the night almost two months ago when her and Knuckles had and encounter like no other. She felt shame that she had perhaps fallen pregnant again, knowing she would have to be more careful about these things in the future. She knew for sure it wasn't Shadows, he at least had the intelligence to had use protection when they had sex. She groaned and thought ' Great, first a marriage proposal and now this, what more could I need?'. This sought of thing was supposed to make her happy, but that was because those kind of people only had one partner. But Rouge had never been one to stick to one person, flitting in between people, finding she didn't really like any of them. Deep down she was just looking for ' The one'. Shadow just wasn't that one, but Knuckles, he had potential. But then again, most other guys she dated had potential, before they found out she was cheating. And what will he think of it if I am pregnant? Rouge thought, shuddering at his imagined response.

After a few more minuets rest, Rouge decided to find out if what she suspected was true first of all, not wanting to announce something and have it turn out not true.

Shadows trudged through the rain. Night had fallen. The sky's bright shine no longer helping him to see the bright side of his life. To him, it was the end. Rouge hadn't even had the decency to give him and answer. Obviously he didn't deserve such luxuries. He tried to think back to a point which he must have upset her, done something wrong which caused her to say no. Perhaps it was too soon? Or perhaps he was just to damn moody!

In anger at himself, he threw the ring away from him. The thousands of pounds worth of money simply gone like that. But Shadow didn't care if it was wasted.

' Perhaps I am meant to be a solitary creature. Perhaps it is not my fate to experience the happiness of friendship or love. Any time I had a true friend, they have been taken away form me. First Maria, and now this' He thought to himself, his thoughts sinking further and further into depression as the rain soaked through his thin layer of fur. A tear joined the rain drops that swam down his face, dripping down his chin and onto his tuft of white chest fur. For hours he wondered, his unplanned path reflecting the direction of his life.

That was until, he passed a small, podgy building, standing bunched together with a bunch of homes that were little more than shacks. He must have wondered to the outskirts of the city, where it's wealth no longer sustained the buildings beauty. The building sold alcohol. ' Why not?' Shadow thought, knowing he had nothing else left to live for, set forth into the pub.

Knuckles arrived back at Rouges club two days after he had left to find some answers. When he had , he told Rouge that he was going to destroy the master emerald, a commitment that said how he had left his old life behind for good. And in his mind when he left, he saw himself smashing it, leaving his old life forever, living with Rouge until he died. He seemed so certain of himself when he arrived. But when he lifted his fist, ready to strike, he just couldn't bear to bring the crushing blow down. The object that he had guarded all of his life, he couldn't just waste those years. Yet, the emerald was trying to harm him. Why did he hesitate?

Confused, Knuckles made his way back to Rouges club.

When he arrived mid-afternoon, the place was quite. So quite in fact, that Knuckles thought that perhaps Rouge wasn't even there. But then the sound of soft, regular breathing reached his sensitive ears, he realised the bat was in her bedroom. Knuckles smiled, glad to be reunited with his loved one and quietly made his way into her the room.

Rouge didn't seem to notice him approach. She was knelt in front of the forbidden box that Knuckles had once regretted to explore, her back to the doorway, her head bent down to look at something.

Curious, Knuckles crept round the corner, still not noticed by Rouge, wondering what she could be looking at that was so important that it made her temporarily deaf. He found out what it was soon after. The colour drained from his face was he inched his view ever sideways of the bat. Held in her hands, her blue ears staring intently at it, gripping it so hard Knuckles thought it would break, was a pregnancy test. Knuckles realised why Rouge was so zoned out, the clear, unreadable liquid in it's centre was changing colour, indicating the result.

Rouge took a deep breath, shuddering unsteadily as she gripped the test. Knuckles was frozen. One thought went through his head, one that kept repeating over and over again. 'Oh shit'. His heart beat galloped as the liquid swirled, slowly shifting, changing, making up it's mind. He felt dizzy, a sick feeling developing in his stomach. If this test came out positive, that would make Knuckles a father, to an illegitimate child, at the age of 19. Some how this thoughts sent his head spiralling out of control. Perhaps later he would think of the implications of his crime, but at this moment, all his minds attention was on the little stick held in his lovers hands. And just when Knuckles thought he began to see a result, Rouge moved one finger slightly, leaving her own view free but blocking Knuckles. He shifted as far as he could possibly go, dying to see what was happening, the little object that meant so much for his future.

But the result for Rouge had obviously arrived, as a expression of chaotic feelings seemed to melt her face. Trembling , she threw the test to the side, throwing herself of the floor and dashing into the on sweet bathroom. From behind it Knuckles heard soft sobs and gasp.

From her reaction, he could guess the colour easily. But his mind didn't want to believe it. Rouge was upset because she loved him so much and wasn't pregnant, his mind said to itself, although Knuckles hardly believed it. For a few minuets he stood frozen, eying the object from a distance, it's side rolled so he still couldn't see it. He seemed to think if he never saw the result, then he would never have to face the consequences.

He managed to build up the courage to move and slowly inched his way over to the round tube, squashing his eyes shut and picking it up with his first two fingers, holding it far away from him. He froze again, in a weird mime position, before creaking his eyes open, sneaking a shot at the colour.

He didn't believe what he saw, slamming his eyes shut. He looked again a few minuets later, seeing the same result. His heart pounded, his legs felt weak, he growled and threw the test across the room, where is rolled unnoticed on the floor, it's blue colouring clearly showing against the red carpet.

Knuckles had a lot to think about...

Authors notes

I keep forgetting to update. Sorry! Anyway, this may be going in a direction for knuxouge, but dont worry shadouge fans, shadow might have a chance for love yet!