Finally managed to get this chapter written... You wouldn't believe how many times my computer erased this chapter, making me start over... And over... And over... But it's finally getting posted, so I'm just glad to finally be able to release it.

Thanks to all of my reviewers!

Here we are...

Chapter Four: Her Tears

She looked like a ghost - well, except perhaps without the pale complexion that ghosts are said to have. Her skin was darker, covered in burns from the sun. Her fur was the same bright white, her eyes the same lovely aqua... And her eyes were glimmering, wet with tears... Almost exactly the same way I'd last seen the poor dear.

"Almost a year. Has nothing changed, dear?"

Rouge's eyes flickered, trying to blink back the tears, and she shook her head before whispering, "Nine months... twelve days... And everything... Everything has... changed..." A single tear streamed down her face as the words left her mouth. Then the sobs began.

It was the end of the world. As far as she was concerned, it was, at least. I knew. It always was at that age. Her sobs tugged at the strings of my heart because I'd been there, in her place, before... Complete heartbreak.

I shut the door behind her, gently guiding the poor bat to the living room. Her cries echoed off the walls of the house. I heard footsteps upstairs as Cream rushed to the stairwell, her voice both wearied and worried. "Mother, are you alright?" She peered through the railing on the staircase then gasped, "Miss Rouge!"

Amy's footsteps weren't far behind, and both of the girls were downstairs in an instant. Cream hurried over toward us, asking no questions but giving Rouge a hug.

I smiled sadly at my daughter's sweet innocence. Cream still believed that a simple hug could change anything, could make anything alright. I silently wished that she would never have to learn differently.

Amy kept her distance from us, at first. I knew very well that she was still angry at Rouge for the white bat's behavior so many months ago, during the incident at our last little get-together. She was one to hold a grudge, but she was obviously struggling with herself in that moment, trying to decide between her anger and her instinct to help. Her compassionate nature overcame her anger, though, and it was only a moment before she asked, "What happened?"

I led Rouge to the couch, and she sat down, curling her knees up to her body, hiding her face. Cream hopped lightly onto the couch next to her, voice chiming, "It'll be okay..."

I dismissed myself to the kitchen to make the girls some drinks. The clock on the stove read "4:57 AM". I took four glasses from the cabinet, then removed the milk jug from the refrigerator. I poured two glasses of water and two glasses of milk before returning to the living room.

Amy had joined Cream's side on the couch, next to Rouge, but I noticed that the crying hadn't slowed at all. I set the glasses on the coffee table in front of the girls, but they didn't move from their positions on the couch at all. I sat down slowly in the chair and watched them.

Amy looked over at me before asking, "Vanilla, what time is it?"

I smiled slightly, trying not to add to the sadness of the room. "Almost five o' clock..."

"Do you think we should call someone?"

"Perhaps so..."

"I mean, I know Sonic'll still be asleep, but Tails is probably awake..."

I nodded, getting up from my seat, but, as soon as I stood, the phone rang.

Amy blinked. "That's odd..."

I crossed the room and picked up the cordless phone. "Hello?"

I was surprised to hear Tails' voice on the other line. "Vanilla, this is Tails."

"Oh, hello, Tails... We were actually..."

His voice cut me off, "Can you turn the news channel on? It's important!"

The urgent tone of his voice alarmed me, and I picked the television remote up, flipping the channels until it stopped on the news. A reporter on the screen was speaking rapidly, but the headline caught my attention: "Sixteen Missing Mobians Found Dead".

I gasped, staring at the screen, and the girls - all three - looked up. Cream just watched the screen blankly, listening to the reporter, and Amy looked to be in shock.

I could hear the reporter's words more clearly as she slowed down in her speech, "...all lying on the floor of the old abandoned warehouse, eyes still open. None of the bodies have any visible wounds, but autopsies are planned to go into progress immediately. Cause of death cannot be determined until then, but the police believe foul play may be involved..."

Rouge just gazed at the screen, almost mesmerized, as tears continued to slide down her face...

:O Sixteen Mobians? Dead? What's going on...?

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