Disclaimer – Mine? You kidding?

A/N – Written for Christa Winters as part of the Drabble Challenge (which seemed to go horribly, horribly wrong, as most of my replies weren't, actually, drabbles). Her request: Bunnie/Knux. What I want? Fluffage, massive fluffage. And it made sense to use a universe I'd already created, so ... here we are.

Apron Strings

© Scribbler, April 2006.

Sonic threw questions at Bunnie with the speed of raindrops hitting the ground in a thunderstorm. "Got everything? Want a hand? Can I carry that? Can't you stay a little longer? You'll come back often, right?"

"I'm fine, Sugar-hog." Bunnie hoisted her knapsack onto her back as she walked. Dulcy had already taken the majority of her things to Angel Island, though Rotor promised that he'd have his experimental matter transporters up and running 'before they knew it', and he was sure the beta model wouldn't incinerate what it transported, so if she ever wanted to come back in a hurry…

Though Bunnie knew the other Freedom Fighters didn't think she was making a mistake (well, apart from Sonic, that was), she also knew that they were worried about her decision. Knothole absorbed creatures like a sponge, forever swelling with new huts, new homes, new members. She was the first to leave it of her own volition.

Everyone was waiting in the meadow. They'd decided not to advertise Bunnie's departure to the non-Freedom Fighter residents. It'd been her idea – she hated goodbyes, and this was going to be hard enough as it was. Seeing Antoine rush towards her, she felt the second lump of the day rise in her throat – the first having been fought down when she closed the door onher hut; the place she use to share with Sally when they were lost little kits mewling for their parents and the Mobotropolis they used to know.

"Bunnie," Antoine said, clasping her hand. She made sure it was the flesh one. Old habits died hard. "Ah, I am not being goodly with farewells."

"It's okay, Sugar-twan."

"You will not be forgetting us?"

"Landsakes, it ain't like I'm leavin' forever. I'll still be workin' with y'all."

"We know," said Rotor as he approached, "but it just won't be the same. You know." Without pause or permission he embraced her, disregarding her shock and the fact that he was touching her metal arm.

"Yeah. Reckon I do," Bunnie murmured over his shoulder.

As predicted, the goodbyes were hard. Tails cried a little, until Sonic told him to buck up, and Knuckles rolled his eyes. He wasn't good at lavish shows of emotion, as she'd learned, but this was still hard for him, ifin a different way than it was for her. He was convinced Knothole would now hate him for stealing her away, to which she'd told him that she was a modern girl with a mind of her own, and she'd thank everyone to remember that. She wasn't some damsel, and was quite capable of making her own decisions.

And mistakes, if it came to that, but she was sure (hopeful) it wouldn't. She loved Knuckles, deeply and resoundingly. She loved him like she'd never loved any other beast, and was quite willing to do this - to start a new life with him, one that hinged on their own terms and nobody else's.

Still, he and Sonic attempted to out-glare each other throughout all the hugging and tearful leave-taking.

"You're sure you'll be all right?" Sally's blue eyes were serious. She looked older than Bunnie could ever remember seeing her.

"Sure I'm sure. But if I ain't, I know where to holler. Y'all ain't getting' rid of me that easy."

Sally's smile was small and wan, but it was still a smile.

"Ready to go?" Knuckles asked. He was blinking a lot, evidently having dried out his eyes in his contest with Sonic, who was also blinking rapidly.

"As I'll ever be." Bunnie climbed aboard Dulcy and gave him a hand up, careful not to use too much force and accidentally fling him right over the other side of the dragon's back, as she'd done in earlier days. When they were comfortably seated, she patted between Dulcy's shoulder blades in a practised signal. "All present an' correct, captain."

Dulcy flexed her wings, but said nothing. She'd get a private goodbye once they were landed (and had recovered from the landing).

The Freedom Fighters ran beside them, and then carried on running, waving frantically as they lifted off. Dulcy circled a few times, allowing Bunnie to wave her good arm sore. Then they powered away towards the horizon.

Bunnie brushed a stray tear from her cheek. Before she put her hand down, Knuckles reached around her to squeeze it. "This is hard for you." He said it like he was trying to understand, even though he couldn't really. He'd lived alone for most of his life.

"Yeah. But it's worth it."

She felt his smile radiating into the back of her neck, and it dissolved the lump in her throat completely.

FINIS.