Authors note- Yeah I don't know if this is still a TEEN rating, so view discretion is advised. Warning: a very emotional chapter. So yeah.

Chapter 5 – My loneliness is killing me

KNUCKLES

They were in his room, the three of them in perfect harmony. Mina sat on the floor and munched on the food mindlessly. Cheez-Its lay scattered all over her knees. Rouge made sure the door was locked and shoved Knuckles on to the bed happily. He fell with grace and looked up at the ceiling. The light above him illuminated the room until CLICK, she turned it out.

"Mina why don't you come up on the bed with us" she pat the soft red cushion in the dark. Knuckles felt her jump beside them. He felt a hand stroke his head. His heart fluttered nervously.

"Mmm that feels nice" Mina said soothingly. Rouge must have been petting her too.

"You can pet me too" she spoke sweetly. Knuckles felt Mina's hand feel his chest and neck. His muscles were keeping Mina in awe. Knuckles lifted his hands and placed one on Mina's breast and the other on Rouge's thigh. He the soft and roundness of Mina, and she giggled. Rouge had silky smooth skin; he kept moving his hand up and up her thigh. When did she take her pants off? He thought with shock.

"Oooo Knux" her hand went down to his thigh so they were even "want me to take these pants off" Mina's hand stopped moving, and tightened around Knuckles arm. He heard her sniffle and felt a tear fall on his hand.

"Mina are you okay?" he spoke with kindness.

"I just" she sniffled and broke into tears. "I –I-I –I'm sorry now I'm ruining the fun for everybody" she sobbed. Knuckles frowned and gave Mina a big hug. "Thank you. I just haven't been with anybody in a long time. I've been so lonely!" she rubbed her face in Knuckles chest.

"I know how you feel. Ever since Julie broke up with me" he hesitated for a moment but continued, "I've felt so utterly alone on this planet. I feel like I'm nothing. I lay in bed at night alone. I feel like I'm just a worthless and meant to be by myself. I don't want to be alone" tears rolled down his face. Rouge even looked like she was about to cry. She placed a hand on Knuckles and lowered her head.

Mina raised her head though and looked into Knuckles violet eyes in the darkness. Then her lips attacked him. She kissed all over his face and squeezed him so tight. Then pushed him down again onto the bed and pulled his shirt off. She kissed down his chest, starting to unzip his pants.

"Hey girl, save some for the rest of us" Rouge said with a little frustration. Knuckles lay back as Rouge licked his face. He moved his mouth towards hers and they met for the first time. His hand went through her hair and their tongues danced around in each other's mouths. Knuckles felt Mina's mouth below him swirl, and he let out a moan. "I'll take him first" Rouge motioned for Mina to move up" Mina smiled and kissed Knuckles from below as she switched places with Rouge. Mina lay beside Knuckles and kissed his cheek.

"Tell me what you want?" she looked hypnotized and had drool slip down her mouth.

"I just want what you want" she smiled when he said that and went off the bed to undress. Rouge took Knuckles hands in hers now fully naked above him. "Knuckles" she said with desire flowing off her lips "I want to go all the way right now"

"I want you Rouge" he said low and pulled her close to him. When he entered her she let out a high pitched sound of delight.

"I'm in love with you Knuckles" his eyes went wide, and she gave out another whine.

SONIC

"Shadow, why don't you like any of us" Sonic jested with a smirk. Shadow sat crossed arm beside the fire. Julie sat next to him cross legged. Amy lay on the floor on Shadow's other side. Sally and Mighty sat next to Sonic, and Espio could be heard humming in the distance.

"You know nothing Sonic" he said with a cold tone.

"I know some things. I know how to save the world. And I know that we all need each other" he gave Sally a smile, which she did not give back. "Come on Sally don't look at me like that"

"It's just you never tell any of us how you feel about anything Sonic. You just run a long and do your thing, but you never tell me about your feelings. You're so hard to read" she wasn't yelling, just telling it how it was. Sonic didn't seem mad by this.

"Sometimes actions speak louder than words" Mighty suggested.

"Yeah Sal-" Sonic blurted

"No I want to hear your own words Sonic"

"This is lame, I'm out of here" Sonic got up

"Wait I know how to resolve this" Espio spoke quietly, but had a fierce tone. "You can't just put Sonic on the spot like this. Let's all reveal something about how we feel about one another. Only then will we have a clear conscious" they all thought for a second, but all nodded in agreement.

"That's fair" Sonic said with a nod. "Who goes first?"

"I will" Espio stood up in the dark silence. "My concern is about you Julie" he pointed towards the pink echidna. She stood her ground though.

"What is it Espio. We've been on good terms since we've met, and I think I know what your problem is, but I don't want to be talking about my personal life in from of everybody" anger sharpened her words, but Espio remained calm.

"Your love life concerns Knuckles and Knuckles is a big part of my life. He's my best friend" he retorted. Mighty gave out a cough. "I mean one of my best friends. He founded the chaotix and ever since you and him split he's been more remote and lonesome than ever" Julie opened her mouth, but he lifted his hand. "I'm not asking you to tell us what you did with that other person, but I'm asking you to talk to Knuckles about it. It's eating him up inside like a plague"

"Espio knows his shit" Mighty said with bleakness. "We love you guys, and we just want you to clear the air" Julie sat back down and looked down at the ground in anger and sadness. There was silence in the air that was broken by Shadow's voice.

"When love is natural and real between two people they can overcome any obstacle" Shadow spoke in a low hum, but was hit by everybody.

"Shadow I didn't know you understood these citations so well" Amy said with awe.

"Sally address your problem with Sonic" Shadow spoke blunt. Sally sighed and stood up and took off her blue jacket. He boots made her look a foot taller than everybody else. Everybody waited for her address.

"Sonic. I feel that you don't have the same feelings for me that I have for you. You don't want to date me anymore" she sounded hurt, but remained strong. "I don't know what your problem is that you have with me, so just tell me it now, so I won't be tortured by it any longer". Sonic stood up when she finished, and another silence creped over the circle. Then he put his hands in hers and spoke.

"It's not that I don't want to date you" he paused. "I just, consider myself married to my work. To my fight against all the threats that may harm you and my friends. I need to protect not just you, but all of you. I know you all don't need me too, but I need too. I can't imagine my life without any of you, and I realize that now. Sally I don't want you to be waiting out for me every night. I don't want you to be there if one day I'm not there anymore. I want to spare you the pain for if I die someday" he gave Sally a gentle kiss on her head. She was nearly shaking now, so he opened her arms, and let her walk into them.

"I'd rather live with the pain in me every day, then to have you ignore me ever again" she cried out.

"Then I won't" he said with a choke.

"Now that was real" Mighty nodded in approval.

"I'll go next" Sonic still sat with Sally in his arms. "Shadow I got one for you, but its not really a problem, just a question"

"What is it you moron" he sighed and closed his eyes.

"Do you think you'll ever love somebody like you did Maria" this opened Shadow's eyes, and his mouth was open as well.

"I-I-I don't think I will. Maria showed me what's beautiful about life. She is why I protect this planet" he got up from his seat, and walked to the front door.

"Shadow where are you going" Amy retorted.

"I just need to be alone"

"Just because Maria is gone doesn't mean you have to be alone, she ran over to him, and took his hand. He removed it.

"She isn't gone" he moved her hand away gently and slammed the door behind him.

TO BE CONTINUED