Judas, Chapter 7: Rumors

Amy's well into Month 9 of her pregnancy, and she's getting big. She is bigger than Rouge. The boys—notably Sonic—are both concerned and excited. Sonic constantly complains of "needles in his sneakers", and barely sleeps anymore. Now that Amy could end her term any day…he fears he may not be confident enough to support her and the baby!

Both hedgehogs were on the phone today. Amy was sitting in the kitchen with the corded phone wrapped around one foot and at her ear. She was so big, she couldn't even cross her legs anymore! Sonic, by contrast, was pacing with a cell phone in the bedroom. Boy and girl were both talking to those they had come to go to for advice, and someone to chat with, since the pregnancy.

Amy and Rouge were talking about Rio. "How is he?" Amy asked with a laugh. "Still a troublemaker?"

Rouge laughed, too. "Oh, but he is a sweet doll! Scares the crap out of his father, though…Rio! Get out of the rafters this instant or your G.U.N. membership will expire!" An exasperated "Awwww, mom!" Echoed from the other line.

"Wow. He's that mature already?"

"I grew fast, too, honey. It's part of the genes."

Amy smiled to herself. "Anyway, you were saying about him scaring Knuckles?"

"Oh! Yes that's right! Well, he has learned that if he hangs down from the ceiling, or from likewise high places, he can scare the crap out of his father. However, he knows very well he won't get me that easily. So far, I'm a challenge." Rouge and Amy giggled in characteristic femininity. "So, how are you, darling? Any trouble with the babe?"

"Babes, Rouge. I'm having twins."

Rouge gasped. "You're lying!"

"100% truth!"

"Awww! Amy, my dear, that's wonderful! Oh! No wonder Sonic's been looking sickly lately!" Rouge sighed in a motherly manner as she administered a playful smack to her son at her heels. "Go play, Rio. Mommy's on the phone."

Amy sighed in worry, tracing grooves in the wooden table with the tip of her pink painted nail. "Yeah. I'm doing all right, it's Sonic I fear for. He doesn't eat much, if anything, and spending his time pacing and running in circles around the house."

"What's he doing now?"

"Talking with tails in the bedroom. I wouldn't be surprised if his tummy's making him suffer, either. He's refused to eat a full meal for a good seven months!"

"Have you tried the old staple? He'd never turn down one of those babies if he's really hankering for a--"

"Rouge, I've tried it. A million different ways. The most I got was once he licked the chili. He won't eat, and it scares me to death!" Tears were coming to Amy's eyes. Her whole body was shaking, now.

"All right, all right dear, shhh," Rouge soothed, wishing she were really there to give the pink hedgie a much-needed hug. "Jostling the baby is bad for you. Men handle pregnancies different than women, and in their own ways. Knuckles never ceased asking me about the baby for the whole nine months. He never let up except if he was asleep!"

"Really?" Amy sniffled, blowing her nose into a tissue.

"Honest as I can be, babe. Sonic's probably got a case of the nerves. A healthy conversation with his brother should even out his appetite, no problem. You might wanna defrost the hot dogs."

Amy laughed, and they went on to other subjects.

Meanwhile, as I (and Amy, for those of you who chose to ignore me) had told you, Sonic was talking with Tails via cell phone in the bedroom.

"I swear, man, I dunno who put these needles in my shoes, man! Fuckin' bitch this pregnancy is!" Sonic flopped down on the bed with a frustrated growl. He was a wreck. His figure was getting thinner by the hour, his feet ached him, and all his muscles moaned and groaned because he was continuously tense. To put the cherry on the sundae, he was tired as hell. It was strenuous to go for a morning jog, even! He hated to admit it, but he was exhausted!

"I see," Tails sighed thoughtfully on the other line. "Maybe you should see a doctor, Sonic."

"Oh, don't talk about me. I am not carrying twins, man!"

"She seems to be handling it better than you, Sonic. Listen to me. I've analyzed your symptoms. The exhaustion, the needles, the aching muscles, all of that. Even your little temper."

"What?!" Sonic snarled, rising with superb speed. "Who told you, dammit! I'll wring their fuckin necks, I'll fuck them up the ass, bitch aint NOBODY tells on motherfuckin Sonic the Hedgehog! What fucking temper?! Tell me WHAT FUCKIN TEMPER, man?!" Tails burst into laughter, which made Sonic's burning fire of a rage rise up in a torrent of flames. He had to insist to his hand that crushing the cell phone in a rage was not sexy at all, and would not impress Amy. Gods, that took a lot. The pain in his stomach was enough to make him want to cry. His body shook with suppressed sobs. "What's so funny?" He begged in a subdued tone.

Tails gasped, and Sonic could tell he was pressing a hand over his heart, trying to regain oxygen. "Well…" he panted breathlessly. "THAT, that right there, THAT was "the temper". Sonic, I'm surprised at you. You know how nasty you get when your stomach's achy."

"Unguhhhh…" Sonic fell back into the bed again, blinding himself with his free hand. "Gods, you're right, man. I—I let it get out of hand. My gods, my dear gods, I'm sorry, buddy. Sorry, sorry. Oooooohhh," He couldn't keep back the moan of anguish that came next as his belly thundered like a storm.

"You sound awful, big bro." Tails cooed in a typically loving, little brother attitude. "Want my diagnosis?"

"Sure. Lay the fuck on me." Sonic gurgled.

"I want you to make sure Amy keeps doin what she's doin. The kids are fine. And I want you, you, to go into that kitchen, fall on your knees, and beg her for a warm meal. You got that?"

"Mmmm," Sonic licked his lips and moved his hand in a rhythmic circle over his tummy. "Oh, does that tempt the empty belly! You have no idea how much I'm starving right now." He admitted with a hard laugh.

"I really don't, bro." Tails shook his head with a smile. "Now, I'm heading over to Cream's for a lunch date. I suggest you make one with your beautiful girl. And don't work her too hard." He added in a scolding manner.

"Don't worry about that. I'll go easy on her." He sniffed longingly. Sonic the Hedgehog had never felt so weak. That smell was pulling his appetite into perspective. Ow. "Love her timing, by the way. Gotta go, little bro."

"See you soon, Sonic. Love ya.

"Say hi to Cream for me."

"Will do." Tails hung up.

Sonic got up off the bed and stretched out until be felt his hunger evenly distributed throughout his body. He then went to greet his heavily pregnant wife, and the scrumptious lunch of foot-long chilidogs she'd prepared for him.