Alright! Third chappie! Finally. So let's see now, I hope I can continue on this story school is starting soon TT if not then I'll type on my spare time, hopefully. I don't even know what to do with this chapter so let's see where it takes u and me! NO FLAMEZ! MUCH APPREACIATED ESPECIALLY KNUXBAT!

Bitter Rivalry

Chapter 4: I Won't Say I'm In Love!

Recap:

Shadow began to throw things around the room in his drunken rage.

He ripped apart the seat covers and the drapes. And he even broke a few chairs before collapsing to his knees.

He calmed down for a bit and began to ponder about what Amy had told him just hours before.

Even though she was his brother's girlfriend she was always special to Shadow.

She wasn't like Fiona or Rouge actually. Amy had an aura about her that caught everyone's attention.

'Damn you Sonic…you're one lucky bastard to have a girl like that' he roared in his mind as began to once again smash and break things while cussing.

It had been two days since Rouge had been mauled by Knuckles. Her body had healed completely, but for some reason she couldn't pull herself away from the speakeasy.

Knuckles and she had started rough; they both had been walking on diamonds in each other's presence.

But now, they actually enjoyed each others company.

"Hey Knux? What do you wanna do today?" Rouge asked him, a gloved hand rubbing around the top of her drink while she sat at one of the stools near the bar.

Knuckles made no reply, he was thinking.

Rouge smiled and looked away, 'he does look cute when he's thinking'.

She turned back towards him, watching him as he would rub the bottom of his chin. While one arm crossed his body, the other making slight movements.

Rouge looked him over, taking in his black tank top that exposed his masculine arms, his baggy jeans accompanied by some expensive shoes, and especially his red dread locks.

He had let her touch his dread locks once, they were soft and smooth and they made her all bubbly inside.

She began to giggle slightly, placing a hand to her mouth to try and suppress it.

Knuckles turned abruptly to her, eyes questioning, face confused.

But then he smiled.

He watched her smile at him and continues to giggle, and he liked her giggling.

He scanned her shapely body, looking at her hourglass curves, her always white boots and gloves, the black corset that clung to her body, the light blue Capri's, and her beautiful sapphire eyes.

He grunted and turned away, arms across his chest and a blush redder than his fur.

They stayed like that for awhile, him looking away and blushing furiously while she sat, legs crossed and hands on her hips looking at him.

"Whassamatter Knuxie?" she teased as he turned around swiftly, embarrassed.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" he yelled, she held a finger to her ear.

"Don't yell at me! You know I have sensitive ears! IDIOT!" she roared as she smacked him on the head.

"OW!" he cried out in pain.

The magical moment was gone. sigh…they never get along do they?

"Are you two fighting again?" Amy chuckled as she walked in carrying a load of towels.

"NO!" they both cried in unison, and then there was glaring.

Amy quickly placed the towel neatly on the floor and sprinted over.

"Oh stop it! Both of you!" Amy cried as she managed to push herself between them.

"He started it!" Rouge blamed as Knuckles turned back around, in his famous angry, 'Mess with me or DIE' position.

"Listen…can you guys at least not bring down the house when I'm gone. I'm taking Cream & Cheese out for a little bit of shopping…can I trust you two to get along?" Amy questioned as they solemnly nodded.

"Alright…I'll catch you two later" Amy called to them as she grabbed her keys, purse, and cell then left.

Cream & Cheese followed I believe this is the first time that I've used them in a sentence! and waved to Rouge and Knuckles.

"CHAO, CHAO!" cheese called loudly as she waved her little arms and fluttered out.

"BYE, BYE! LOVEBIRDS! Wait….uhh…! BYE, BYE! KNUXIE AND BAT GIRL!" cream laughed out as she bounced off.

"HEY!" growled Knuckles, but it was too late they were already out of sight.

"Well…we have the house to ourselves now…" Rouge whispered in his ear, teasing him.

"We could always go out of the house" he added, grabbing a trench coat and heading out.

"Fine! HEY! Wait up!" she called as she quickly swung a jacket off the coat hanger and bolted after him.

Shadow had been looking for Rouge for the past 2 days. He even got every to make a search party. But he didn't know that Rouge was at his brother's speakeasy.

Shadow landed on a roof, nearly slipping from the ice that lay caked on its surface.

He scanned the area for anything similar to a bat, but to no avail.

He sighed and took a seat, resting his head on his hands he looked out to the rising sun.

'Rouge' he muttered in his mind.

He did love her, he truly did. But the pressure of keeping up his business and the alcohol didn't help.

So Shadow had decided to remain sober. Yup that's right, he went cold turkey.

'I'm doing this all for her…my one woman in the world' shadow sighed at the thought. He did like his alcohol.

'But she is more important than alcohol. She's my health, my dream. And I will find her. If not…I will search for her until hell freezes over' he thought bitterly as he got up and began to continue looking.

Amy was driving steadily along, with Cream & Cheese bouncing around in the back excitedly. The car pulled into a lot, and they all stepped out.

Shadow saw their car and followed them to Walgreen's.

Amy felt a pair of eyes burning into the back of her head, but she pretended not to notice.

Shadow made his way into the store and followed them to the toy area.

Even though Cream & Cheese were grown up they're like…17 in this story they still liked to play with dolls n' such.

Amy watched them contentedly, she had even forgotten about the eyes that were intently watching.

Suddenly she felt a white gloved hand pulled her backwards.

Shadow grasped Amy and pulled her close to him; she struggled a bit then realized who it was.

He made a gesture that said 'Scream and I'll kill you'.

He pulled her to the side and released her. She stumbled back, but regained.

"I need some answers" he muttered as she shrugged.

"You could have just asked me without grabbing" she coldly remarked.

Shadow turned away, a hurt look on his face.

"…Sorry" Amy mumbled as he turned back around to face her.

"No…it's ok…I'm used to it" he sighed as she patted him on the shoulder and sat on a pile of boxes.

"Sit…and let's talk" she said as he took a seat and folded his hands together.

"Well…it's about Rouge".

Knuckles and Rouge walked along the streets, the snow falling slowly onto them.

They managed to make their way to an amusement park, and went to purchase the tickets.

They got in, the riding bracelets strapped to their wrists and cutting into their skin.

Knuckles looked around for a ride, and his gaze stopped at a wild spinning one.

'Naw…she wouldn't want to go on that one' he scolded as he felt something or more like someone! grab his arm tightly.

Rouge had her arm entwined with his, as she pointed with her other arm to the same spinning ride.

"Let's go on that one!" she pleaded as Knuckles nodded.

They walked over and flashed the bracelets to the ticket man.

They were seated and the bar placed snuggly over them.

"You sure you're old enough for this ride?" Knuckles teased her he's like…20-ish?

"You sure you won't break some thing?" Rouge countered back as he turned away, a sour look on his face. she's like 20-ish too

The ride started and went up and around slowly, until finally becoming faster and faster until they could only see blurs of Mobians around them.

It finally stopped and they stumbled off, dizzy from the spinning action.

So they rode a couple of rides, until Knuckles felt him stomach growl with immense hunger.

He touched his stomach lightly with his gloved hand with the silver knuckle bands. they actually let him in with those!

"Let's eat something" he muttered as she nodded and pointed to a booth.

Rouge waited for Knuckles to come back at a table, while Knuckles walked off to the booth.

He began to order when he felt some hand on his shoulder.

He spur around, his dukes ready, only to come face to face with Sonic.

"WHOA! WATCH IT!" Sonic yelled as he jumped out of the way. Knuckles knew that Sonic had the fastest reflexes in the world.

"What are you doing here Sonic?" he grunted as he turned back around to get the food.

"Well I'm here for my cousin" Sonic mumbled as he pointed to a littler hedgehog behind him. The looked exactly the same except the other was exceptionally smaller.

"Oh…well see ya" mumbled Knuckles as he began to make his way back to the table area.

When he was a good distance away he heard Sonic call, "Hey Knux! What are you here for?"

He turned back around and stopped. He couldn't tell Sonic the truth, that he was taking Rouge out for a day of fun. Sonic would get all bossy and defensive.

So, he lied.

"I…uh…just wanted a little free time to myself…that's all" he muttered as Sonic walked up to him, his cousin gripping his hand.

"What?"

"I just wanted some time to myself…that's all" he replied as he was about to turn away.

"Hey man if you don't wanna tell me about the girl then that's ok" Sonic mumbled.

Did he know!

"What….What girl?" Knuckles stated defensively.

"You know…like you're here because you're on a date" Sonic chuckled and winked at him.

"Well uhh—"

"Don't need to say anything more buddy! I've noticed it since 2 days ago…you've been quite happy and you don't frown as much…Yup! You've met a girl and you're in Love!" Sonic proudly stated as he elbowed Knuckles, almost making him drop his food.

"I am NOT in love!" He roared as the food tray shook from his rage.

"Right…right…you take care of that girl and I wanna meet her too!" Sonic called as Knuckles quickly walked away.

'In love…me! Psht! Please! I would never fall in love with that bat girl!' he cursed to himself as he sat down at the table.

'Besides…we're just friends…nothing more than that…' He repeatedly began to say to himself, trying to over come his heart with his mind.

'He looks a bit flustered' Rouge thought as Knuckles took a seat at the table and sighed.

"Something wrong?" she asked, hoping to get an answer.

"Huh? Uh…no nothing's wrong. I…I'm just really hungry" he stated with a 'fake' grin, hoping to fool her.

Apparently it worked.

"Alright…then I guess we shouldn't ride the coasters anymore…you might get sick" she mumbled as she took a bite of a hotdog.

Knuckles sighed, and then looked at the food.

'I guess I have to keep up my bluff' he inwardly groaned, usually he didn't eat much because he had to keep in shape.

But he soon began.

Rouge couldn't help but watch him eat, as she nibbled a bit herself.

He was picking up pace, carefully inserting it into his mouth and gulping.

He also made sure not to spill or make any crumbs.

He was about to place his half eaten hamburger inside when he stopped, Rouge hadn't really touched her food.

Knuckles offered some to her but she declined. He blushed afterwards because he practically ate everything by himself.

"How 'bout we go down to the game booths?" He asked, as she squealed in delight.

"YEA! And I'll kick your ass too!" she teased as he grinned back at her.

They both took notice that now, they were holding hands.

"What do you mean it's about Rouge?" Amy questioned, a bit of suspicion behind her words.

"Well…she hasn't been home in awhile and I was wondering if you knew where she went off to?" Shadow admitted, fidgeting with his fingers as he sat.

Amy thought about it for a few minutes.

She could tell him that Rouge was with Knuckles, but that would be no fun. He would just ruin their little date.

She could lie to him and say that Rouge hadn't come by the speakeasy at all, but she didn't really like to lie to her friends.

'I'll tell him half of a lie, that way I won't feel as bad' she resolved as she turned back to Shadow.

She noticed his red eyes, bags hanging from them, and a worn look captured on his face.

"I seen Rouge" she uttered; she felt his angry gaze land on her.

"When!? WHERE!?" he practically roared as passerby's stopped to stare.

"She…she came by the speakeasy one day just to see me…then she left" Amy spilled out, suddenly biting on her tongue to refrain from revealing more.

"I see…" Shadow sighed as he slumped back down onto the boxes. This really just wasn't his day.

"I'm sorry Shadow…I'll keep an eye out for her ok?" Amy reassured as he brushed her off.

"Leave me be…before I beat you" he growled as Amy ran off without another word.

Amy ran through the isles, finally locating Cream & Cheese still in the toy area.

"AMY! WHERE YA BEEN!" Cream groaned as Amy shrugged.

"I was uh…out doing girl stuff" she simply replied as Cream smiled.

"Ok…I understand".

Amy sighed, and looked back. She could only see a black blur quickly zooming out of the store.

"I'm sorry Shadow…but I can't let you hurt Rouge any longer" She barely whispered, a single tear falling from her eye.

"Come on Amy! We're gonna go pay for this stuff! Hurry up!" Cream yelled as Cheese nodded with her.

"I—I'm coming!" Amy yelled back.

She then turned to look back.

Then left.

Rouge was amazed at Knuckles luck. He had won her a large pile of doll from mostly every single game that she challenged him to.

"Hey sir! Step up and test your strength! You'll win a prize if you hit the bell on the top!" the vendor called to him, drawing him in.

"Alright…Stand back Rouge! Let me show you how a man does it!" he gloated as he picked up the mallet with one hand and swung down hard.

With that one swift motion, the bell was stuck and cracked.

"Aww shoot…sorry 'bout that" Knuckles apologized as he rubbed the back of his head.

"That's…impossible…" the vendor muttered in disbelief and anger.

"DO it again!" a child called, Knuckles simply turned and looked at the vendor.

"Can I try again?"

"Sure…it was probably just luck" he muttered as Knuckles brought the hammer back down again.

Unfortunately for this vendor, he wouldn't have a bell anymore and he also wouldn't have any more prizes.

Since every one realized how good Knuckles was at the game, they demanded him to keep at it.

Pretty soon, he had every single one of the prizes. even down to the last petite snake.

The bell was bust, and so was the vendor.

"Take it! Take it all! WAAAAAA!" he cried as he shoved the prizes into his hands.

"Hey! What am I gonna do with all these!?" he yelled, holding them out and shaking them vigorously.

"I have a suggestion" Rouge piped up, as she pointed to the crowd behind them.

"Shoots" he mumbled as he began to pass them around.

Soon everyone had one and had cleared the scene.

"That was nice of you" she teased as he just shrugged.

"I can be nice…it just doesn't show up sometimes" he stuttered, he really wasn't an open person.

"Aww…so little Knuxie can be a man too! I gues underneath that hardcore exterior there's just a soft fleshy echidna all along!" she chuckled at the remark.

He felt his heart twinge with pain.

"ARG! Why do you insult me and everyone around you! Do you enjoy causing people to hate each other! Do you like the satisfaction it gives you! HUH! DO YOU! ...You know I try to open up to you…n' you rip up the conversation and it rips up my heart too…" he started loudly but then his voice sunk low hoarse at the end.

He turned and began to walk away.

With his head down, and hands in his jean pockets, he strode briskly down the gravel.

'Now I gone and done it' she scolded as she began to rush after him trying to call him back.

"Knuckles!"

'I didn't notice that Knuckles had such emotions…I…I should treat him bettor or I could lose him as a friend…no…He's not a friend…he's more than that……' She berated, still desperately trying to reach him.

"Please Knuckles! Wait!"

"Why should I!" he hissed as he stopped abruptly, she banged into him afterwards.

"Why should I listen to some crap that doesn't even mean anything to you!" he grunted as he turned back around.

"I'm sorry! I went too far!" she pleaded, her eyes stirred with tears.

"Go home Rouge" he snarled indifferently as he stalked off again.

Rouge stood in the middle of it all, she didn't care anymore, she didn't care that people were staring at them as if they were trying to kill each other; all she cared about was Knuckles.

"KNUCKLES!!" she cried as loud as she could, her screech seeming to echo amongst the world.

She saw his blurry form stop for a few moments, and then continue on.

'I can't look back…if I look back I'll regret leaving her' he cursed in his mind as he gritted his teeth and pushed back his tears.

Rouge fell, her knee's hit the ground and she just sat.

Tears fell from her beautiful and radiant eyes, and her makeup began to smear.

There was nothing she could do, but go home.

So she picked herself up, and scooted out. She didn't even care at the stares she was receiving.

Back at The Saint Maria's

Rouge walked in, tired and beaten.

Her face was still wet with tears, and her makeup wasn't even on her face anymore.

She made her way to the bar, dropping her items on the floor without a damn.

She sat down, poured herself a glass and gulped it down.

She still felt hurt.

She gulped down another.

Then another.

The pain was slowly dissipating, she could feel it.

'Why'

Was all she could ask herself, but no answers came.

She toyed with the cup, stroking the rim and staring off into a daze.

And she poured up more and more

Slowly but surely, she felt numb.

Rouge stumbled towards the bedroom, undressed and laid down.

She smelt of booze and salt, but she didn't care.

Her thoughts wandered back to what happened previously.

Suddenly she began to cry viciously.

She knew why.

She knew what she did.

She knew that what she did hurt him and herself.

She knew her heart was shattered, and she helped it do so.

After some time her loud crying stopped.

Then she silently cried herself to sleep.

Knuckles stormed into the motel, in a confused angry state.

He knew Amy was home, but he didn't want to talk to her right now.

He just needed some time alone.

He needed to sort out what his brain was saying, and what his heart was telling him.

Brain: "She's not worth it! A WOMAN's not worth it Knuckles! She hurt you and she insults you! You have nothing to regret!"

Heart: "But you care for her Knuckles! You tended to her wounds! She opened up to you! She felt that she could trust you!"

Brain: "She's a woman! You never let any woman take control of your life! It's your motto! You can't just let her waltz in here and boss you around 'cause she thinks she's hot shit! Well it's NOT worth it!"

Heart: "She is worth it! She has deep feelings for you! Something you may never find again! She didn't mean what she said and she wanted to apologize! Hear her out! You've heard her out before!"

Brain: "Forget her! She already has a boyfriend! You can find any woman you please! She's just trying to play with your emotions! Trying to make you weak! You've become soft Knuckles! You're letting a woman walk all over you!!"

Heart: "Listen to her! Why is now suddenly different! You took her insults and playful banter before! You were fine with it! You overreacted…you need to go see her to apologize! Don't let this chance slip away Knuckles or you'll never see her ever again!!"

"SHUT UP!!!!!!" he roared as he clutched his head, stumbling about and crashing into things. wow his mind and heart really declare war against each other ya

He leaned on a chair for support, shaking his head slowly, trying to sort out the noise.

"Knuckles?" Amy called as she quickly walked over to him.

"Knuckles what's wrong!" she panicked as he pushed her away.

"What's wrong!? WHAT'S WRONG! EVERYTHING IS WRONG IN THIS GODFORSAKEN WORLD! I HATE EVERYONE AND EVERYONE HATES ME!" he roared as he smacked the chair away from him. some one has some mental instability

"I don't hate you! Rouge doesn't HATE you!" Amy tried to reason.

"DON'T LIE TO ME! I KNOW SHE HATES ME! EVERYTIME I SEE HER SHE MAKES A SNIDE COMMENT AND IT JUST PISSES ME OFF! THAT'S WHY TODAY I JUST EXPLODED IN HER FACE JUST SO SHE CAN FINALLY COME TO A REALIZATION ON HOW GODDAMN HURTFUL HER WORDS CAN BE!" Knuckles yelled as he continued to break and smash items.

"That's not true! And you know it's not true! God! Don't be blind Knuckles! She really likes you!" Amy retorted as she gripped his wrists to make him stop.

"LET GO OF ME!" he yelled-sobbed as he suddenly crumpled to the floor.

Where's Cream & Cheese you say? Cream & Cheese decided that they better stay upstairs when they heard all of the noise

Knuckles collapsed, tired and sobbing.

Amy stroked his head, trying to comfort him.

"She has a boyfriend already! How can she love someone like me!" he said between sobs, Amy rolled her eyes.

"There, there…shush now…I need to tell you something important" she soothed as he quickly shut up.

"About her boyfriend, Shadow, she doesn't love him anymore. He's become abusive, and violent…and it doesn't help that he drinks" Amy guiltily admitted.

"The night you two met, she was telling me that she was going to dump Shadow if she could. She also had talked to me before the team even broke up. She talked about how he was changing and how he would sometimes hit her…and every time she would have to make up an excuse for coming into work with a cut on her face or bruises on her arms. It tore my heart up to see her like that, so I was happy when the two of you met each other…she finally found someone who could defend her, be her shield you know…" Amy rambled.

Knuckles sat silently, taking in every single word that Amy spat out.

"She…really gets beaten" he mumbled, his stomach turned with disgust.

"Yes…she usually came into the house every day with a new bruise or scratch" Amy sighed; she regretted not stopping Shadow earlier.

"Why doesn't she just run away" he stated as he sat up and looked Amy straight into her eyes.

"She can't…she's too afraid of him" Amy choked out.

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier? It would have stopped me from doing what I did!" Knuckles asked while his voice tinted with sadness.

"I'm…I'm sorry" she managed to whisper before hugging Knuckles.

Knuckles understood. He realized that she felt bad about not helping Rouge in the first place.

She had secretly counted on Knuckles to bring Rouge back up from the depths of pain and suffering.

And what did he do? He rubbed it right back into her face.

Suddenly the door opened and the both of them froze.

Sonic stood in the door way, his fists clenched tightly.

"You BASTARD!" he roared as he suddenly tackled Knuckles to the ground, knocking the wind out of him.

"NO! SONIC! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Amy yelled as she tried to pull him off.

With a sudden swift movement he slapped her.

She stumbled back, holding her right cheek from Sonic's backhand.

He had gotten up and off of Knuckles and proceeded to advance on her.

"You slut! How could you! I loved you! And you cheat on me! With my best friend too!" Sonic growled as he turned to look at Knuckles in the last bit.

"Sonic! You don't understand!" Knuckles managed to breathe out as he shakily got up to his feet.

"NO! I understand perfectly now! The secrecy, the attitude! It all makes sense!" Sonic seethed as he suddenly made his way towards his room.

"Sonic…" Amy whispered to him, she was beginning to choke with tears.

"Leave me alone Amy…Go cry me a river and I'll help you drown in it" Sonic hissed as he slammed the door behind him.

Silence. Utterly dead and cold.

Amy sank to the floor, tears falling from her beautiful face.

Knuckles didn't know what to do, so he began to bang his fists on the table because of all the frustration, sadness, and anger.

He pounded his fists so hard that he broke the table, and broke his hand.

"OUCH! SON OF A--!" He cried as he gripped his left hand in pain.

Amy quickly brushed aside all the matters at hand and rushed over to aid him, no matter if her heart was broken.

They wrapped it up with splints and then tried to convince Sonic that it was a misunderstanding.

But he wouldn't listen. Sonic just sat on his bed and ignored them, blocking out their voices with the help of an MP3 player.

"Amy this isn't working! He's not listening!" Knuckles screamed as he turned back around and flung a few chairs.

"Calm down Knuckles! Maybe he just needs some time to himself!" Amy reassured, but her heart still ached from his words.

"Fine…we'll just wait until he come out from that hell hole he calls 'My room'" Knuckles grunted as he picked up a chair and sat on it, arms folded.

Amy sighed and sat down as well, this was going to take awhile.

Rouge felt someone's hand etch its way up her side.

Her eyes flashed open and she sat up to stare into Shadow's eyes.

"Hey…you don't look too good" he softly murmured to her as he stroked her face.

She didn't need this right now; she just wanted to be alone to die.

"Leave me alone" she sobbed. But he refused to leave her side.

She could smell more beer on him, and the booze was talking to her, not Shadow.

"Aw baby…please…you know I'm concerned about you" he tried to be sweet, but she could tell that he was lying.

"Cut the crap Shadow! You were just concerned about my body!" she hissed at him, as she placed herself back down and pulled up the covers.

"Baby…come on" he tried to sound hurt, but soon a smile crept up his face.

"I know what cheers you up…a little bit of you-know-what hits the spot every time" he smirked as he placed a hand on her thighs.

She pushed him off and got out of the bed, crossing her arms.

"Hey now…what's with this entire attitude? Huh?" he hiccupped as she turned about to face him.

"Shadow…I'm calling our relationship off…right now" she held no tone of sympathy or sadness, she wanted him out.

Shadow sat silent, a confused look crossed his face for a brief second only to be replaced by rage.

"What" he said.

"I'm calling it off!" she retorted back.

"YOU…are mine!" he demanded as he writhed out and snatched her arm.

He squeezed hard, and Rouge panicked.

"YOU HEAR ME! YOU ARE MINE! I OWN YOU! YOU'D BE NOTHING WITHOUT ME! YOU HEAR ME! NOTHING!!" he roared as shook her then he flung her against the wall.

She regained and swiftly eblowed him in the stomach. Then she quickly grabbed her cell and shut herself into the bathroom.

Shadow began to pound on the door, flying cuss words and the sort. Rouge sat on the other side, praying that the door wouldn't break.

She fumbled through her addresses and quickly stopped at one.

'He said he would be there in my time of need…that time is now!' she thought as she dialed the number and pushed it to her ear.

Knuckles was still on the chair, but he was asleep.

Amy continued to plead with Sonic, but soon gave up and fell asleep outside of his door.

His phone began to ring; a loud and raucous song began to play.

Knuckles jolted awake and looked at the number.

It listed as 'Private Caller'.

"Who the hell" he muttered as he answered it.

"Hello?"

"Knuckles!"

"Rouge! Wha--! Why are you calling me!?"

"Please Knuckles! Listen I'm sorry! (Loud banging and yelling the background) I just wanted to say that I'm truly deeply sorry!"

(In the background a 'Rouge! Who are you talking to!!' was heard)

"Shadow! Leave me alone! I'm done being your slave and sex toy! Leave me be!"

(Loud repeated banging sounds, but they are slower than fists punching on the door)

"Oh my god…he's flinging himself against the door…"

"Rouge! Rouge! Listen to me!"

"Knuckles! I'm sorry! I--!!! (A crack is heard along with screaming, the phone drops down)

"No! Shadow! Please!"

"Rouge!! ROUGE!!"

"click". Then silence.

Amy had awoken up to Knuckles yelling into his phone.

"I have to go Amy! I have to save Rouge!" Knuckles gushed out as he quickly bolted out the door.

He ran through the snow and cold in only shoes, a tank top, and shorts.

He didn't care that it was ass freezing cold out, he needed to get to The Saint Maria as fast as he could.

Rouge was pinned flat beneath Shadow, his hand held her wrists down while he groped with her clothing.

"You asked for this Rouge! Not me!" he spat in her ear as he ripped off her clothes.

He soon got down on her and began to insert himself into her over and over and over.

She cried, whimpered, screamed, and sobbed as he continued his onslaught.

'Anyone! Please! Help me!' she prayed as a loud BAM! Was heard.

Knuckles broke his way through and heard her screams.

He kicked down the bedroom door and ripped Shadow off.

He pinned him to the way and furiously beat the living crap out of him.

Rouge tucked herself into a ball, listening to the yells and screams from Shadow.

For some reason, she felt wonderful.

Knuckles was done with Shadow, for he was a heap of mass bleeding to death on the floor.

He quickly walked over to Rouge and wrapped her up in the blanket.

"It's ok Rouge…it's gonna be ok" he reassured her as she clung to his chest as he picked her up and flew out the door with great speed.

'This is not over yet…echidna' Shadow bitterly thought as he pulled himself off the floor and to the phone.

Knuckles rushed back to the speakeasy, to home, as fast as he could.

He held Rouge tight in his arms, refusing to let go or die.

Rouge clutched to him, like a new born clinging to warmth.

They made it back and he stormed in.

"Amy! Amy! I need help!" he desperately called.

Amy rushed over and helped him to his room, all the while Sonic watched guiltily.

Rouge found herself in Knuckles's bed once again and curled up.

Knuckles locked the door and went to her, giving her a giant hug.

"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have left you alone" he sobbed as she lightly touched his arms that wrapped around her.

"It's ok…I'll be fine" she comforted as he stopped and backed off.

He turned and wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, he couldn't show weakness.

"It's ok Knuckles…I'm fine" she reassured as she slowly touched his shoulder.

He turned to stare into her sapphire eyes once more, like he did earlier.

"Rouge…" he mumbled, grabbing her chin softly.

She pulled away; she didn't want any male contact right now. Shadow still found a way to hurt her.

Knuckles understood, he realized that it would take some time before she would let another man feel her again.

But he could wait, and he never would leave her alone again.

WHEW!! THIS ONE WAS LOOOOONNNGGG! Goodness I wonder how you people even do it! AUGH! FINGER CRAMP! T-T…I hope I'll still be able to type. Well anyway I hope you guys like this chapter, I really didn't know what to do but I finally figured out something ok I guess. Really angsty and full of emotion I think. No flamez.

Next time on Bitter Rivalries!

"I'm coming for you echidna…you messed with the worst foe you'll ever meet!!"