A/N:Well, gawsh! That's seventy-two reviews! Thanks so much! IN YOUR FACE, CHILD'S PLAY! YEEAH!... pardon me. Oh, and I did remember what I wanted to say the moment I uploaded chapter eighteen. Blegh :P! I wanted to ask… Do you guys pronounce "Sonamy" like Son (SONic) Amy (AMY)? Because I pronounce it Sonamy… like tsunami :P. Am I going to be proven a loner once again?

--LA

I have this weird habit where-on most chapters-I try to make my initial A/N and disclaimer exactly 100 words. I think I've done it on like four. So, I own –

Plum eyes. Such pretty plum eyes she would have. Just like her father. And she would, most certainly, be a she. Rouge could feel it. The bat sighed dreamily. She wondered momentarily whether Grace was still sulking somewhere in the hotel room. It was quite possible that the fox had left; Rouge had been half-asleep for the past few hours, day dreaming. She heard a door open from behind her. Apparently, the recently unstable fox was only just emerging from her hermit session.

"Come on." She said, sounding quieter than usual, and possibly a bit timid, perhaps even apologetic, marching beside the plush couch. "We need to go to the museum."

Rouge turned her head in surprise. She had expected some sort of over-dramatic insistence that they return to the hospital for an immediate abortion. Perhaps it was simply hormones – and oh, how she resented hormones – but she felt a smile crack across her face, and tears come to her eyes.

"Lead the way."

Grace smiled back, looking relieved. "Listen," she said, sounding reassured, "I'm sorry about how I've been this whole time." Her voice faltered for a moment and she took a seat beside Rouge, who was amazed to see tears in the fox's violet eyes. "It's just…" her voice dropped to a pained whisper, "I can't go back to jail."

Rouge was astonished, and even let her face show it. "I.." She stuttered, completely at a loss for words. Weeks of emotional deadlock, and bam! In five minutes, Grace was pouring her heart out. She was now sobbing loudly.

"Come on," Rouge said loudly, trying to return some of Grace's morale. "We've got to go back to the museum to give that fat guard his rhino tranquilizers."

Grace chuckled and wiped her eye, steadying herself enough to get to her feet again.

"You're right. Let's go, kid." She said, leaving as promptly as if the entire affair had not even happened. Rouge smiled sadly. Well, she certainly had good old Grace back. Whether or not this was a positive thing, however, Rouge was much less sure.

The two women traced the familiar path to the museum, which was to close in half-an-hour. They made their way inside, peering around for the security guard in, as far as they had gathered, all of his usual spots. Unfortunately, however thoroughly they searched, the plump blood hound guard was no where to be seen. Once it felt as though they had passed through the entire ancient building, they finally passed the gift shop, where they noticed the security guard speaking sternly to a short, defiant-looking chipmunk.

"There he is!" Rouge said, grabbing Grace's arm to stop her. Grace froze, and stopped Rouge from marching in.

"Just watch." The fox breathed, restraining the bat.

"Why?" Rouge asked in annoyance. "I can see his coffee cup right there."

Grace only shook her head, refusing to release her partner.

In the gift shop, the defiant youth was glaring up at the dog, who was presently lecturing him angrily.

"Did ye' really think ye' could get away with doin' somethin' that stupid?" he demanded, a tight hold on the young criminal's forearm.

"What are you talking about it?" the young boy asked, though the tone of his voice was one of complete mocking.

"I saw ye' runnin' away." The guard growled, tightening his grip.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ye' know 'zactly what I'm talkin' 'bout." The dog replied angrily, his face reddening for some reason. The rodent pursed his lips, looking like he desperately trying to restrain from bursting out with laughter.

"I have no idea. Really."

The guard glared.

"Listen, mister." He said, tightening his grip ever more, "That's a mighty immature thing t' do."

Rouge was surprised that both of them were so strongly American, as opposed to Indian. The museum must have been a strong tourist attraction. She wondered what hilarious crime he had attempted.

The dog and the chipmunk glared at each other for several minutes before the older spoke again.

"Fine, then. Yer' choice." He released the boy's arm, but it was obvious by his body language that the younger of the pair was far from free to go. "If yeh're that sure yeh're inn'cent, yeh' won't mind me lookin' through yer' bag."

The boy's jaw's clenched, and was that a flash of fear in his eye?

"Be my guest, old man." He sneered. The guard warily took the blue bag, not letting his eyes flit from his suspect for a moment. Very slowly, perhaps for dramatic effect intended for the small crowd which had began to circle around them, the guard picked object after boring object out of the bag. A pencil case, a worn lunch bag… but no incriminating evidence.

"Well, it looks like yeh're clean t'day."

The rodent smiled smugly and turned to leave.

"Wait, wait." The guard said warily, grabbing his shoulder. "I see what cha' got hiding' there in yer' pocket."

Before the chipmunk could slink away, the dog plunged his hand into the younger one's pocket, and withdrew two semispherical, flesh-coloured pieced of plastic. Grace furrowed her brow, but Rouge laughed loudly. There was no way she could fail to recognize those, even though they were jagged at the bases, as if hurriedly cut by a blunt knife.

"How did those get there?" the chipmunk breathed, clearly using all of his restraint to not laugh.

"I'll teach yeh' t' cut the breasts off the cavewomen."

He could hold in his humor no longer. The boy, who couldn't have been older than twelve, collapsed into a fit of laughter, gasping and rolling on the tiled floor.

"Well," Continued the guard, looking irritated at how unperturbed his criminal, who he had caught red handed, was acting. "We'll see how much ye' laugh when the p'lice have their say."

The boy's smile disappeared. However rebellious, however care-free he was, jail was still a terrifying concept for some one that young.

"C'mon." The guard dragged him out of the room roughly by his arm. The horrified look on the poor chipmunk's face made Rouge feel awful for him. She knew all about criminal records, though she had, rather miraculously, managed to avoid her own. Now he, so young, was tainted for life. No college, no proper job, not even a fast-food restaurant would touch him now. His entire life was affected because of some prank. Rouge wondered whether a peer had put him up to it.

"Let's do it now." Grace said, nudging Rouge with her elbow, and entering the gift shop, where the crowd had thinned. The bat hesitated, watching the guard dragging the young boy until they rounded a corner and Grace tore her away. "Come on!"

Grace, however, really had no need for her partner. She leaned down of the pretense of reading the back of a book about Egyptian mummies, and subtly set to tipping in a tiny package of off-white powder into his coffee, which had been set atop one of the displays. Grace brushed her hands off, and straightened up casually, turning back to Rouge, and looking pleased with herself. Rouge pursed her lip. She was currently homing an emotion which was virtually unfamiliar to her, at least at work; apprehension.

The panic was beginning to set in. They were alone; no money, no home, no possessions but those they had brought with them to that visit to the park. They were literally living off of the convertible. And, now reduced to sleeping across them, Gabrielle was beginning to appreciate more and more the extra-plush seats which she had invested in.

The children, who were napping beside one another in the back seats, were unaware of the severity of their situation. The squirrel was nervous to see how Felix, who had virtually never been deprived of anything he wanted, was going to take their current money crisis. Perhaps she had spoiled him a bit.

She sighed, and took to watching the carefree characters marching along the street. They, of course, were unaware of how desperate the three inhabitants of the car were. She dully watched them go by, trying to see any familiar faces. She sighed. A gray raccoon, a yellow deer…

The squirrel yawned to disguise a sob. A pale blue seal, a red echidna…

She blinked, and jumped out of her seat. She strained desperately to think of his name. Knuckles!

"Knuckles!" She cried, squirming to get out of the seat. "Knuckles!"

He looked around in surprise, heavy brow furrowed. "Who's there?" he asked loudly.

"Over here!" she called, getting out of the car and jogging over to him as quickly as she could in such high heels.

"Who are you?" He asked bluntly, turning all the way around to face her.

"I am Gabrielle." She explained hurriedly, glancing back at the sleeping children "You are a friend of Tails, aren't you?"

"Um, yes?" He said. Gabrielle noticed that he was, despite being rather frank, extremely handsome.

"Could you show us where he lives," she asked, trying to speak as politely as she could manage, "Please?"

"I.." He said, looking uncomfortable and avoiding her eyes, "I guess so. Come on."

"No, wait!" She laughed, gesturing towards the vehicle, "We must take the vehicle; my children must come as well, of course."

Knuckles looked impressed at the car which she drove, and for some reason, a bit relieved.

"You've got kids?" He asked, "Sure, I'll show you Tails'."

Gabrielle beamed, and grabbed his hand. He looked exceedingly uncomfortable and tugged it back, walking briskly ahead.

A/N:I really don't like the end of this one :\... It was a bit rushed, 'cause I gotta go take a bath :D! I'm watching Beauty and the Beast right now :)! Am I the only one who adores that show :D? Well, I do. I've got my obsession with Disney. Speaking of movies, I went to see Juno. Awwh gawsh it was so good :)! Go see it, guys :o! AND it had Michael AND George-Michael :D (I'm talking Arrested Development, naturally)! Isn't Michael Cera adorable XD? Hah. I loved the music :P. I'm downloading it as we speak… err, as I type… and you write reviews :). Night everyone!

--LA