Thank you to all that reviewed.

Volcanic: I hope this was soon enough for an up date lol.

Legolas19:- glad you liked and continue to do so.

Chapter 11

Knuckles was seriously going to hurt someone, two names came to his head both beginning with S. The Two hedgehogs had become mother hens not letting him do anything and it was totally pissing him off. He looked up from his place on the ground where he was sat watching Sonic and Shadow trying to build a hut, he cringed as Sonic hit his thumb with a hammer.

"And why can't we live in the cave I call home" stated Knuckles frustrated.

"so we can have different rooms" stated Sonic

"Why?" asked Knuckles rubbing his stomach.

"When the children get older, they will need their own rooms" said Sonic as if it was obvious.

"Fine…..Wait a minutes ..they?" snapped Knuckles

"yeah, we have to have more than one" said Sonic "brothers and sisters"

"you can bloody carry them then" Knuckles pointed out before he struggled up, they lump had grown quiet big and he had 4 months left, he had only gone 2 months and he was this big. He took one more look at the mess the hedgehogs had made before storming back to the Emerald cave. On the way he noticed that the two hadn't followed him, he sighed before changing direction finally some time alone. He came to the lake that he loved to swim in, taking a quick look round he took his trainers off and gloves, before walking into the water so it came to his chest as he sat down, the lake was clear turquoise and surrounded by the forest, the noises that came from the trees and bushes soon relaxed and calmed the Echidna, taking a deep breath he relaxed letting the water surround him.

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A plane engine could be heard causing Sonic and Shadow to look up from their work, they could see the tornado land with Tails and Amy in it. The pink hedgehog marched towards the two male hedgehogs glaring at each of them.

"Where have you been?" she yelled.

"Here" Said Shadow shrugging.

"we where worried" she snapped putting her hand on her hips.

"I told you that we would be here" said Sonic smiling.

"yes to talk to Knuckles, not to stay on holiday" said Amy glaring.

"Not a holiday" said Shadow "we decided to stay here"

"Why?" demanded Amy.

"I think we should all be here to explain" said Sonic putting down his tools.

"I'll get red" said Shadow before he set off to the cave. Sonic lead Amy and Tails to a clearing where they could share out the lunch that they had made.

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Shadow entered the cave looking around for Knuckles but couldn't see him.

"Knuckles?" he called but got no answer, closing his eyes he focus on the bond he could feel that Knuckles was relaxed, his eyes opened and he noticed a trail to where Knuckles loved to go. Smiling he followed the trail coming to the lake to see Knuckles curled up in the sun, fast asleep.

Shadow made his way over to where they Echidna was asleep, he knelt beside him and brushed his paw through the red quills, Knuckles shifted before settling back to sleep. Sighing Shadow picked him up bridal style and walked back to where he could sense Sonic. The Black hedgehog entered the clearing and sat with Knuckles, who was still asleep in his lap.

Amy and Tails looked wide eyed, their mouths falling open when Sonic sat next to them and rested his head on Shadows shoulder.

"As you can guess. We're in a relationship" stated Shadow looked down when he heard a moan from Knuckles before the violet eyes opened.

"you awake then" smiled Sonic "you can meet our guests now" Knuckles shot up and looked at Amy and Tails, he blushed.

"hey" he mumbled as he stood up and sat alone.

"hey Knux, you've put on weight" burst out Amy, Knuckles glared at her and opened his mouth to retort but Shadow stood quickly and put a hand over his mouth.

"Children are present" he reminded, Knuckles glared harder at him and opened his mouth so one of his canines where over Shadows paws.

"you bite and you'll not sit for a week" threatened Shadow before moving his hand as Knuckles growled.

"Knuckles hasn't gained weight in the fat way" stated Sonic "he's pregnant"

"he's what!" yelled Amy as she stood up.

"I'm pregnant Pinky" snapped Knuckles as he got up to level with her. "with their child"

"Impossible you're a man"

"No really, I didn't notice" replied Knuckles sarcastically.

"sit down" ordered Sonic sternly, making everyone sit down. "apparently the Echidna race has no females so males have been given the gift to carry children"

"so you really are pregnant but you said their child" said Amy shocked.

"Another Echidna thing, the child can have more than one father" said Shadow. Tails stood and walked to Knuckles reaching forwards to the lump, next thing he knew he was on his back.

"Oh shit" cursed Knuckles as he sat next to Tails "are you alright?"

Tails shook himself as he sat up. "I'm fine, whoa that was fast" he grinned "never saw you move"

"sorry dude, just reaction" explained the Echidna as he helped the Fox stand.

"I should have asked" pointed out Tails indicating the questions. Knuckles sat back down and nodded letting the two-tailed fix run his fingers over the lump.

"wow" beamed the young fox as his hand traced the lump, Amy followed her eyes softening slightly.

"May I?" she asked Knuckles, he agreed warily but held himself still as she did the same as Tails. "I think Doctor Sarah should look him over" she said.

"Not in this life time" said Knuckles backing off "I don't want a doctor prodding me"

"I was thinking of taking him to see her anyway" said Sonic, Knuckles glowered at him backing away. Shadow stood behind him stopping Knuckles from going any further.

"I'll come with you" he said turning Knuckles to face him, once the Echidna was faced away from Amy and Tails, he let his terror show in his eyes. Shadow lent forwards resting his forehead on Knuckles looking into his eyes, as he spoke through the bond.

I'll be there the whole time. I trust this Doctor, she saved my life and Sonics. If you don't like her then we'll try again

Knuckles nodded as a paw stroked his hair soothing him, he put his head on Shadow's shoulder and hugged him, suddenly feeling the urge for a hug, Shadow imminently returned it as he glanced at Sonic as they had their own conversation. Amy looked at the hedgehog that she had once loved, yeah in her heart she always knew that Sonic would not end up with her but she never thought it would be with a bitchy Echidna and the once enemy, but she saw how they acted around one another and realised that there was a deep bond, smiling she has the perfect idea to make them recognised as having a commitment, now to make them go for it.

"so when's the big day?" she asked looking at the three.

"In 4 months" said Knuckles

"so you need your commitment service before its born" she started

"You what?" asked the Red Echidna, Sonic and Shadow looked at Amy.

"Commitment Service, but that's marriage" said Sonic

"and your having a child, if you marry you will be next of kin, equal in property and financial agreements, and it states your love for one another also it tells the others that you're all off the market" stated the Pink Hedgehog beaming.

Sonic shrugged "its an excuse for everyone to dress up"

"Why do we need to say we are off the market?" asked Knuckles moving away from Shadow.

"it's a way of promising you to each other" said Amy rolling her eyes "also people will know that you belong to someone else"

Knuckles looked at Sonic and he could see the glint in the Blue hedgehogs eyes.

"Do you want this?" he asked looking at the hedgehogs "I am unaccustomed to the ritual"

"you just announces that you promises of certain things to a loved one, usually a man and woman and only two people" said Shadow.

"how did your kind commit?" asked Sonic looking at the Echidna interested.

"I remember my fathers both wore a piece of jewellery that they had made for each other, my bearer had a neck piece while my sire had a bracelet." said Knuckles as he strained to remember.

"well you could mix of the cultures" suggested Tails.

"Brilliant Idea" beamed Amy "you'll have to do the traditions of both races, it will be brilliant"

Shadow rolled his eyes, he didn't mind that he was going to marry Knuckles or Sonic, it was more the fact that it would be such a big show. Sonic was dragged away by Amy to more plans and stuff leaving Tails with Knuckles and Shadow, they moved to where Sonic and Shadow had decided to build a house, The two tailed fox looked at the pile of wood.

"do you want help?" he said looking at the mess.

"can you do one of your miracles" said Knuckles sighing "Sonic wants this thing and if my child is going to live in there I want it to be safe"

"of course" smiled Tails as he got a pad out of no-where and sat down. "what would you like?"

Shadow sat opposite him and listed the thins that Sonic had listed off to him about his dream house. Tails smiled as he wrote the list seeing what was possible and what wasn't.

The night drew on and Everyone was back at the cave that housed the Emerald eating food that Sonic had made, once again Shadow had gotten Knuckles berries and nuts. Knuckles still had that craving for a chilidogs and usually managed to sneak them without people noticing but now with the amount in the centre of the table he couldn't resist, he reached forwards and snatched on quickly while he thought no-one was watching.

"I thought you where vegetarian" came Shadows voice, Knuckles stopped in mid-bite and grinned.

"craving" he said as he bite into it again.

"I thought cravings where all the time" said Sonic looking at Knuckles confused.

"they are" answered Knuckles before rolling his eyes " alright I confessed I've been taking them when they are first cooked, so you think you've done less than thought"

"so its you, Why didn't you tell me?" said Sonic

Knuckles shrugged "I don't know, its just I don't always want them but it helps the baby grow"

"well next time you want one tell one of us, at least then we can make a balanced meal" said Shadow sternly, his protectiveness showing.

"Yes father" muttered Knuckles, sticking his tongue out at the warning glance he got from Shadow.

"Hormones" smiled Amy "you one minute, down the next"

"I know. Its crap" moaned Knuckles. They continued to talk until it began to get dark and Tails said that he would have to go now before it was too dark for him to see. Waving good bye to the two, the three boys went back into their cave and soon fell asleep in each others arms.