Knuckles awoke the next morning at 7:00 sharp. He stretched and yawned as he sat on the edge of the bed. The first thing he noticed after that was that he was alone. Rouge's bed looked like it hadn't been slept in. Could she have ditched him? If so…

"Oh no," said Knuckles worriedly.

Knuckles hopped out of the bed and ran over to the suitcase that he had brought with him. He anxiously threw all his clothes out of the suitcase and pulled out the large black box that was at the bottom. He opened it to find his Master Emerald still there. Knuckles breathed a sigh of relief.

"Still there," he said.

Knuckles neatly folded up his clothes and put them back in his suitcase except for the clothes that he was about to put on. Knuckles took them into the bathroom, where he put them on after brushing his teeth and showering. He came out in his Sean John tee and some matching blue jeans. Rouge still was not there.

"I wonder where she could have gone. If she's abandoned me, I'll…"

"You'll do what?" asked a familiar voice.

Knuckles turned around and a smirking Rouge stood there with a duffle bag in her hand. Knuckles backed up a little after feeling that Rouge was crowding his space.

"Where have you been?" he asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

Rouge opened the duffle bag and poured its contents onto Knuckles' bed.

"Just tying up loose ends. I left last night to meet my contact. I told you that he'd deliver," replied Rouge.

Knuckles just stared at the wad of cash that lay before him. Stacks of hundreds covered the bed.

"That's 100,000," said Rouge.

Staring at this money just made him nostalgic. He remembered what he used to do before he had a daughter. Besides helping Sonic save the world from time to time, he spent the rest of his time with his childhood friends who had become real lowlifes because of bad upbringing. He soon became pressured into being grimy right along with them. The bad thing was that he actually liked it until the arrival of Lara-Su.

"That's a good start. Let's hope that we can get twice that on our next job," said Knuckles.

"Well, unless you want to hit a bank or something, we're just going to have to ease our way up," said Rouge.

"I only have five days left to get the money. I wasted one day finding you, and the second day passed by yesterday. I have no time to ease my way through," explained Knuckles.

"Don't worry. Five days is plenty of time. We just have to get moving," said Rouge. "First things first. I'm hungry. Let's go down and get some breakfast."

Knuckles and Rouge sat in a Denny's in a corner booth. Knuckles had eggs, toast, bacon, and sausage links, and Rouge had a pancake platter with sausages. Rouge sat back and watched Knuckles use his hands to eat all his food. He made loud slurping noises and ate with haste. After Knuckles had finished his bacon and eggs, he noticed Rouge looking at him.

"Is there anything wrong with your food?" he asked.

"No, but I'll tell you what's bothering me. Your table manners are appalling. You have grease and eggs all over your hands and mouth," she replied.

"That's what napkins are for, Rouge," said Knuckles, taking a napkin and cleaning his mouth.

"Still, the food is not going anywhere," said Rouge.

Knuckles ignored Rouge's testy remarks. He looked out of the window and looked at the bright sun. He remembered taking Lara-Su to school every morning. It didn't make any difference what the weather was like. Knuckles always escorted her everyday and picked her up. Some days, he would stand alone in the rain until school was over and his only pride and joy was back beside him.

"Knuckles!" yelled Rouge in a louder voice than usual.

"Huh?" he said after being pulled from his daydream.

"You okay. I didn't mean to make you mad or anything," she said.

"You didn't. I was just thinking about some things. We really need to hit some place big today. The jewelry store was a good start, but we need to get more money at once," said Knuckles.

"Well, do you have anything in mind?" asked Rouge.

"I want to keep a low profile but still be able to get a lot of money at the same time," said Knuckles. "I know. Station Square Savings and Loans. They have a back door that we can use to escape very quickly and without being seen if possible."

"Listen to you. First, you surprise me with the glass cutter, and now you know how to make out a good plan. What's your secret? I thought that you were as dense as that rock you guard," teased Rouge.

"Like I said, we all have our secrets," replied Knuckles.

"Well, why keep your partner in the dark?"

"I thought you liked the dark," said Knuckles with a smirk.

Rouge looked on at Knuckles as he smirked and began to blush.

"My, he's cute when he smirks," she thought.

"Just tell me what I want to know and quite messing around," demanded Rouge.

"Very well. My past is something that I like to keep to myself. When I think back, I sometimes hate myself for some of the things I did. Frankly, I don't see how you do it so well."

"Very simple. I practice avoiding the spotlight," said Rouge.

"Well, Magic, the crew, and I were anything but out of the spotlight.

(Flashback)

Magic, Knuckles, and King all stood in the front of a liquor store in Station Square. King stood out front while Knuckles and Magic went inside. Magic and Knuckles both had red bandanas over their mouths. Magic walked up to the counter and revealed a pistol.

"Alright, give us all the money or forfeit your life," said Magic.

"Don't shoot!" said the cashier. He opened the register and put his hands up in the air.

Knuckles ran behind the register and filled a plastic bag with all the money that he could. Magic grabbed him a 40 oz. off of the shelf. Then, he and Knuckles ran out of the store. Stream and Big Blue were both waiting in the getaway car that was at the end of the block. Stream and Big Blue drove up next to them. They all jumped in and sped off.

"Whoo!" said Magic with glee. "How much money did we get, Knuckles?"

"I count about six hundred dollars here," said Knuckles.

"Boys, which one of you can say that you made one hundred twenty dollars in a minute before?" asked Magic.

"I know I can't," said Stream.

"Why should you get a cut, anyway? You didn't do shit," said King.

"Hey, the family looks out for its own. It shares everything with all of the members because it realizes how important each one is; therefore, shut the hell up, King," said Magic.

Big Blue made cigarette smoke rings as he drove. Magic opened up the 40 oz. that he swiped from the store.

"Do you want a swig of this, Knuckles?" asked Magic.

"No. I'm about to go see Julie-Su. Big Blue, would you drop me off at her house?"

Big Blue simply nodded and continued driving. He didn't talk much unless it was with his fists, but when he did speak, everybody else shut up.

After a twenty minute drive, Knuckles arrives at Julie-Su's house. The rest of his buddies went off to drink and smoke. Knuckles walked up the steps that led to her porch and knocked on the door. Ten seconds later, the love of Knuckles' life answered the door.

"Hey, baby. How are you doing?" greeted Julie-Su. She gave Knuckles a sweet kiss before inviting him inside.

"I've been okay. I've been hanging out with the guys," explained Knuckles.

"Actually, I'm glad that you're here. I have some news for you," said Julie-Su.

Knuckles wrapped his big bulging arms around her waist. "I hope that it's good news."

"Well, it all depends on how you take it," said Julie-Su.

She took his arms from around her, which told him that something very troubling was on her mind. He led her to her couch and sat down next to her.

"What's the news?" he asked with a very concerned look.

"You know how I've been feeling sick these past few days? Well, I came from the doctor's yesterday and found out why I'm so sick. Knuckles, you're going to be a father," said Julie-Su. "I'm already two months into it."

"Baby, is this some kind of a joke? I thought that you were taking your pills," said a very disturbed Knuckles.

"I was, but I guess that there was a slip-up," she said.

Knuckles sighed. "I'm not ready to be a dad. Hell, I'm only sixteen," said Knuckles.

"I know. I'm not ready either, but it looks like we're going to have to do it," said Julie-Su.

Knuckles P.O.V.

It took some time for me to accept it, but it finally happened. Julie-Su had our child seven months later and named her Lara-Su. The first time I held her, I thought that I'd never let her go. The way that she wiggled in my arms, the warmth of her body, the innocence I saw in her, and the precious way she smiled at me made me take a bow on my life to protect her with it.

The minute I left my new child and her mother at the hospital, I went to find Magic and my friends. They were all hanging out at Magic's crib in downtown Station Square. I walked in, unsure of how to tell the guys that I had known most of my life that I didn't want anything more to do with their illegal activities. I knocked on the door and Stream answered.

"Knuckles! Come on in. We've been looking for you. Magic's got a new plan that he wants to put into action," Stream told me when he opened the door.

I walked into the living room. It was really dirty. They were good friends at the time, but they never cleaned up after themselves. Clothes and food containers were scattered across the floor and in every corner. The guys didn't seem like they even knew how terrible the place looked.

"Ah, Knuckles, you're just the echidna I wanted to see. I have big plans for us," said Magic.

"How so?" I asked.

"We've done well so far with our robberies of the neighborhood stores, but I think that our game needs to be stepped up. I figured out a way to get us all paid. We'll do a bank heist and take it for all it's worth. With a squad like this, it'll be a cinch," said Magic.

"I'm down," said King.

"Me too," Stream nodded.

Big Blue simply nodded his head. Then, they all turned to me, but I remained silent.

"Well, are you in or not? We really need you, homie," said Magic.

"Magic, there's something I need to say. Now, I've been loyal to all you for most of my life, but now I find that I must establish new loyalties with my new daughter and her mother," I said.

As I looked at Magic, I could see rage in his eyes as well as a sense of hurt and betrayal.

"After all that we've been through, you're just going to abandon us for some bitch?"

"That 'bitch' gave birth to my child. From the moment I saw her looking at me, I made a vow to give her what I never had. A father," I said.

Magic just stood there for a moment, looking at me like the traitor that he thought me to be. "What about family?"

"I have a new family now. We can still be friends, but I can't risk being taken from my daughter," I said.

Magic pushed me. "Man, fuck you. We don't need any traitors in this family. Go on back to your bitch and brat."

I walked out of that door and out of their lives for what I thought was for good. They went along with Magic's plan, but it failed miserably. Not only did they not get out with any cash, but Magic was arrested during the escape. He was charged with attempted robbery. He must have gotten out on parole or on good behavior. Anyway, I went on to live life with my daughter and my baby's mother. I built the small house on my floating island, and they moved in with me; however, on Lara-Su's third birthday, I found a note from Julie-Su. It read:

Dear Knuckles:

I love you and Lara-Su with all my heart, but I feel that I haven't loved myself enough. I spend all my time dealing with you and Lara-Su; so I never had a chance to live for myself. There are many things in this world that I want to see and do, but I can't as long as I have you two around. I've made my decision. By the time you read this, I will be long gone. Take care of our daughter and protect her always.

-Julie-Su.

(End Flashback) Normal P.O.V.

"Since then, it's just been me and Lara-Su. It was hard at first, but I always bested every challenge that stood in our way until now," said Knuckles.

Rouge looked across the table and saw a tear forming in the corner of his eye. She passed him a napkin, which he gladly accepted.

"I have a question. Why'd you tell me all of this?" asked Rouge.

"I don't know. Something told me that you would understand me more than any of the others would," said Knuckles.

Rouge gave Knuckles a warm smile before grabbing him by the hand.

"Come on. Let's go," she said.

"Where are we going?" asked Knuckles.

"Have you forgotten already? We have a job to do," said Rouge with glee.

"Oh, yeah. Let's get to it," said Knuckles.

He generously left a tip on the table and left with his partner in crime.

Now, it's time for a good news/bad news.

Bad news: I leave for college on the sixteenth; so I might not have much time to write. Maybe, I will.

Good news: I have a laptop; so if I have time at college, I'll continue the story. I'll see how many chapters I can get done before then, okay.

As always, R &R

ICY KNUCKLES