Authors note: Wow it feels great to know people actually want more of this story! I'll keep it coming for you folks. If anybody would want to make any suggestions, or for more of a character, feel free to ask.

Chapter 4- You just keep me hanging on

ROUGE

"Oh my god is he alright?" Espio ran over to his fallen friend. Knuckles lay face down on the ground. Tails ran over too and turned Knuckles over. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing.

"I think he's just unconscious" he said with precision. "He'll be fine, I don't think anything is broken" he said as he felt his ribs.

"Jeez how much did you give him Sonic?" Rouge had slight concern in her voice. Then she saw her. That pink Echidna bitch. Her purple and pink lined hair was messy and untamed. Julie looked down at Knuckles with sadness, and quickly turned back and ran into her room. She didn't sense the glaring eyes of Rouge from below. What's her deal? Why isn't she helping her boyfriend? That stupid cunt! She ran to Knuckles, but Fredricks had already picked him up.

"Somebody should watch over the young man while he's out possibly" Fredricks suggested. A little blood dripped from a cut on the top of Knuckles head. "I sugges-" he was cut off, and there was another crash. Sonic jumped from the stairs on top of Shadow.

"Hey who invited the faker?" he laughed and jabbed Shadow in the ribs.

"Get off of me you insolent drunken fool" Shadow hurled Sonic off of him and smashed him through the wooden coffee table.

"Ahh jeez Shadow can't you take a joke!" Sonic tried getting up for a second but decided to just stay in the rubble. Shadow didn't respond, but he did lend a hand to Sonic. Rouge was even surprised by this.

"That's more like it compadre" Sonic smiled. "It's good seeing you dude! Have a drink man! The party has just started. He motioned to the empty bottle in his hand and frowned.

"I'm not too sure that's the best idea" Tails hesitantly spoke.

"Aw what's a matter foxy, don't you ever get a little frisky?" Rouge flirted, but Tails only blushed.

"Fredricks!" Sonic hailed.

"Yes sir?" Fredricks smiled.

"We're going to need a lot of liquor, and potato chips" he commanded.

"Very good sir" Fredricks placed Knuckles down on to the empty couch.

Rouge looked down at the red Echidna. What a moron. What a poor little fool. How I pity him… but yet. She sat down by his laying head and gave it a gentle rub. He looked peaceful, but dead. I'll just have to take care of you later big red.

"Go tell the others they are more than welcome to party with us!" Sonic yelled as Fredricks went to the kitchen. Tails, Espio, and Mighty all smiled. Hopefully this would clear the air of the awkward flow going on.

The cold wind howled from beyond the windows. Snow began to come down by the pound each second. The sun had set and an owl hooted as the moon hid behind the clouds of snow.

KNUCKLES

He awoke to the sound of laughter and delight. There were no lights on, only a flickering fireplace keeping the living room a light. His vision was a blur, but he could see people sitting in a circle by the fireplace.

"He's finally awake" Mighty laughed. "You're just in time for the real fun"

"Where am I?" Knuckles rubbed his eyes, he could feel the drunkenness on his breathe, but his head had a bump and a bandage. He sniffed the air. "Do you have what I think you have?" he began to grin wide.

"You know me better than most people. Now pop a seat over by your friend Amy and we'll light this bong. Relax already" he motioned towards the empty space beside Amy. There was Sally sitting right next to her she seemed a little more relaxed, but could tell something was up. Julie was there as well. She did her best not to look Knuckles directly in the eyes, He wanted to talk to her, but didn't have it in his heart to tell her how he felt. They all had been drinking it seemed. On the other side of the room he could hear Sonic and Shadow shouting about some drinking contest. Tails was actually participating it seemed as he sat beside Mighty. Espio was laying back and Mina sat looking so excited next to him. Knuckles didn't know what to say, so he just sat beside Amy.

"That's it buddy. Alright so we got two people new to this and we got a whole lot of seasoned veterans. We'll have the new people go first because I am so generous" Mighty handed the huge blue bong to Tails who looked a little nervous, and studied the device. "Ok you're going to want to put your thumb here. I'll light it for you. That's it just like that. Now suck in now. Suck suck suck. Hold it in your mouth" he motioned to his chest "and just breathe that sweet air all in and out. Tails coughed his lungs out as a huge cloud a smoke came out his mouth. "Oh god!" Tails said with a choke.

"Bravo Tails! Wait to show how it's done" Mina who had never touched the stuff in her life went next.

"Alright let's see what I can come up with" she sucked in as Mighty lit the bong, she breathed in and held it for about twice as long as Tails and exhaled over Mighty's face. "Wow this girl knows what she is doing!" Knuckles dazed out until he was up, he couldn't even think. After that though everybody went around and enjoyed themselves. Only Amy refused, but nobody protested.

SEVEN CIRLCES AROUND

Knuckles looked at his hands in amazement. It was like he never noticed how big they were. There was a mass of giggling going on between Sally and Julie Su. He did his best to ignore it so he stood up, and examined his companions. His good pal Mighty just lay on the floor with the smile of the joker on his face. Espio meditated in the corner, as he usually did when at inner peace.

Tails on the other hand looked like a completely different person. He watched as he talked to Rouge with so much confidence.

"You said something about being frisky?" Tails lade his head on Rouge's breast and sighed. Knuckles laughed to him silently. This is so messed up.

"You're just too cute" Rouge said with a sigh and gave him a knuckle sandwich. He walked away from the dopes and began his search for food. His tongue was a desert that needed nourishment. He stumbled and did his best not to fall. When he arrived at the fridge Mina was already there invading it. He looked at her outfit, just a comfy sweater and fuzzy pants to keep her warm.

"Hey is there anything sweet in there?" he said with wonder in his voice.

Mina gave him a smile and looked into his eyes. "Just me!" she said and made a cute little face. She took out a jar of mayo and a block of ham. This is going to be the best sandwich ever. She jumped with glee. They didn't know each other at all. Knuckles didn't know she was Sonic's ex-girlfriend, but he knew she was beautiful.

"You're so pretty" he stumbled. She was halfway through biting the block of meat when she heard.

"Aw you're sweet" her mouth was full and she licked the jar of mayonnaise in her high state. "You've got to try this. It's almost as good as orange juice she moved the jar to his face and stuck her tongue out.

"Jeez this really is your first time being high" he licked the jar and tasted the mayonnaise. It did taste 10 times better than usual. "What the hell did Mighty put in this weed?"

"I don't know, but I just feel like going wild she said" her purple hair lay long over her shoulders. Her eyes gleamed and glossed over Knuckles's frame. Knuckles smiled a confident drunken high grin.

"Wild like what?" she mearly laughed when he said that. She bit her lip and placed Knuckles arm on her side and held his other hand.

"Like dance!" she said with a laugh and moved close to Knuckles and began to spin him around. He smiled and they twirled.

"You two should really get a room" a voice came from the doorway.

"Oh hey there" Mina said with a laugh. "You must be Rouge! I'm Mina"

"Looks like we could make a Knuckles sandwich she smiled mischievously and placed her arms around his free side.

"Yeah we can" she smiled innocently. Knuckles blushed lightly as they squeezed him tight till he chuckled.

"How about we all go upstairs?" Rouge said with a grin. Knuckles heart pounded in his chest. They could feel it too.

"Yeah let's go!" Mina cheered. "Let me just bring the ham and maybe get some mustard, or orange juice!"

"I uh uh uh-" he stuttered and cleared his throat. "Upstairs sounds nice" he stumbled as Rouge held his hand.

"Excellent" Rouge pulled them both by the arms to the stair case. Mina smiled with an armful of food in one hand, and Knuckles tried to keep up. He kept blanking out and finding himself in different places. He only had one thing on his mind. Mina better not drop that food.

TO BE CONTIUNED