CHAPTER 46

Later on that night, Rouge was sitting on the sofa in the quiet living room of the house reading a book. She suddenly heard the door open and then close. She figured that Shadow had just gotten back after working a few hours later at the Chaotix. She took her eyes away from the pages of the book and turned to the hedgehog stepping into the room. "You're finally back?"

He made a small nod, "Yeah."

She noticed how he was acting and had thought that something must was on his mind. "…That's good." She closed the book she was reading and stood from the sofa. "I'm pretty tired. I'll see you upstairs." Before she could walk towards the stairs, he had called out to her.

"Rouge, can we talk for a minute?"

She suddenly began to get nervous. What could he possibly want to talk about? Whatever it was, she knew it wouldn't be good. She and him had walked over to the sofa and sat down with each other.

While he focused his attention on her, he gently held her hand. He sighed before he started to speak, "Rouge, I know you had your heart set on this baby thing but…"

Her heart raced. What made him want to suddenly bring up the subject of a baby? Could he have perhaps heard something from Tonya or maybe someone else?

"…I think we should stop focusing on having one."

Was her ears deceiving her? He was actually giving up on trying to make a family with her. Even though she herself was beginning to embrace the idea, it still hurt to know that Shadow had given up on it as well. She lightly bit her lip as she tried to not show any sad emotions to make the moment between them any more painful than it already was. She made a small nod, "…Yeah I think so too."

He could clearly see the hurt in her eyes and it hurt him to see her so heartbroken. "I'm sorry, hun. I just think this is best for the both of us."

She again made a small nod, "You're right." She felt his hand lightly caress hers.

"…Are you going to be okay?"

She tried to force a small smile to let him know that she wasn't as disappointed than she really was. "Of course. I'll be fine."

Even her fake smile didn't fool him. He could tell by the tone of her voice that she was not completely okay. He leaned over to her and hugged her.

The longer she had hugged him, the more she had wanted to break down and cry all over again. She pulled away from him before she really had began to cry. "…I'm going to bed."

He made a nod and watched her quickly stand from the sofa and practically rushed upstairs. He knew from her actions that she was trying to keep him from seeing her cry.

This was all hard for him as well, but even he had to realize that the two would probably never have a child of their own.

A few days had passed until finally it was the night of Charmy's going away party. All of the detectives and other friends of his were at the Chaotix to show their love and support for Charmy.

Everyone was out in the lobby drinking, dancing to music, and socializing with each other. They were dressed in formal wear.

Charmy was at the drink table drinking punch and talking with the other detectives.

Tikal had handed Charmy a gift bag. "Here, Charmy! This is from all of us!"

The shocked bee took the bag in excitement. "Aw! You guys! You got me something?"

Tonya made a warm smile, "Oh we decided to get you a little something."

When Charmy had opened the bag, he took out a pair of new goggles. An exited look had formed on his face. "New goggles? I love them!" He looked around at the group of detectives in happiness. "Thank you! For the party and everything! I love you guys!" He was startled when Rouge had suddenly hugged him.

The bat woman hugged the bee tightly while she appeared off balance. "We love you too, Charmy! We're gonna miss you, cutie!"

The detectives made an uneasy look as they witnessed Rouge's odd behavior.

Nails and Tikal knew from Rouge's actions and tone of her voice, that she was drunk.

Charmy nervously looked over to the drunken bat woman. "…Uh…Rouge?" He was scarred to even move because he didn't want her to fall along with him. "Are you okay?"

She laughed obnoxiously while she still hugged him. "I'm fantastic!"

He had then saw Espio pull her away from him.

Rouge practically fell onto the chameleon while she tried to keep her balance. "Good catch, Espio!" She shouted while laughing.

While he held her, he could definitely smell the reek off alcohol on her breath. "Yeah", he spoke in an annoyed tone. "You're definitely drunk."

She playfully smacked his shoulder. "Oh, Espio! I'm just having fun!"

"Yeah", he spoke bitterly. "Too much fun."

Tonya confronted the two and shifted her eyes over to Espio. "What's wrong with her?"

Espio held her by her wrist to make sure she didn't go off anywhere. "She's fucking drunk."

Tonya could barely believe that Rouge was acting the way she was. She knew that it would be on rare occasions that she would even catch her drunk. "Where's Shadow?"

Espio looked around until he spotted him standing in the far corner of the room talking with Margaret. "I see him."

"No! I'm mad at him!" Rouge had tried to walk off, but Espio had pulled her back.

"Of course you are", he spoke in a careless tone. "Let's go have a chat with him." He began to lead her over to the hedgehog.

With him leaning against the wall and a cup full of alcohol in his hand, Shadow was talking to Margaret who was standing in front of him.

Margaret took a sip from the cup she had in her hand and focused her attention to him. "You know I never got a chance to actually thank you for your help with Charmy. Without you, I don't know what would've happened to him…you're not that much of a pain in the ass if Charmy can put up with you."

"Wow you're actually being nice to me?" He spoke with a sly smile.

She formed a smirk, "Don't get too used to it."

He made a small smile until he had saw Rouge practically fall on him. "Rouge?"

She hugged the hedgehog while she giggled. "Hey, Shad baby! I missed you!"

Margaret's eyes widened as she witnessed how Rouge was acting. She knew right then and there she was completely intoxicated. She decided it was best to leave him alone with her. "Remember, hedgehog. Tomorrow morning."

He turned to her and nodded, "Got it."

When Rouge saw Margaret walk away, she turned back Shadow. "What was that about?"

"I told her I'd take Charmy to the airport tomorrow."

"Oh my God! Charmy's going somewhere? Where?"

Before he could reply to her, he turned to an annoyed chameleon who was standing in front of him.

"Shadow! Control your drunk wife!

He sighed heavily, "Sorry Es, you know she's not normally like this. She's just kinda depressed about the…um…" He began to spell it out so she couldn't fully understand what he was talking about, "B-A-B-Y."

Rouge leaned her head on his shoulder. "What? Stop speaking in rhymes and crap! You're confusing me!"

Espio gave him an uneasy look. "Dude, she's wasted."

"I know. I think I'll take her home."

"Okay good luck."

After when he saw him walk away, he took her by her hand. "Come on, Rouge. We're going home."

"What? Why?"

"Cause you're drunk."

She jerked her hand from his and angrily confronted him. "Well I wouldn't be drinking if it weren't for you!"

He made an uneasy look as he noticed her voice getting louder and everyone looking in their direction. "Rouge, lower the volume. You're starting to make a scene."

She pointed to herself. "What? I'm making a scene? I can't believe you're treating me like this! I thought you loved me!"

"What? I do love you!"

A calming smile had then appeared on her face. "Aw you do?" She leaned over to him and hugged him. "I love you too, Shad!"

He stood in the middle of the room hugging her with an uneasy look. "Oh my fucking God", he murmured. "You are tore up woman."

Tonya watched at how Rouge was acting towards Shadow and couldn't help but to chuckle. She turned to Espio who stood beside her. "I'm sorry, but this is funny. Usually Shadow's the drunk one. It's hilarious when their roles are reversed."

Even Espio had to agree that it was quite interesting to see Rouge drunk when Shadow wasn't.

Shadow pulled Rouge off of his body and attempted to escort her out. "Okay we're leaving." He once again felt Rouge break out of his grip. He turned to her in aggravation. "Rouge, you're drunk! We're going home!"

"God! You're acting like such a dick!" She yelled angrily. "Do you enjoy making me feel like crap?"

"Rouge!"

"No! I'm sick of this! I'm sick of you treating me like crap! And I'm sick of you not wanting to have a baby with me! And I'm sick of…" She paused as she suddenly began to feel nauseas.

Shadow had noticed her strange behavior and began to get concerned. "…Rouge?"

She held her stomach and suddenly bent over in front of him.

His eyes shot open as he felt a sudden rush of something wet all over his pants and shoes.

Everyone's mouths dropped as they all witnessed Rouge vomiting on Shadow.

He stood there like a statue as he felt way too disgusted to even move. "…Oh…my…fucking God!"

Rouge slowly rose her head up from the floor while still holding her stomach. "…I don't feel so well." She suddenly once again kneeled over and puked onto the floor.

Shadow wanted to burst out in anger after she had vomited on him again. "Yeah um no shit!" He took her by her arm. "We're leaving! Now!"

After when Shadow practically dragged Rouge out, Charmy turned to everyone's silent and shocked expressions. He formed an uneasy smile. "So…who wants cake?"

In The Next Chapter…The last chapter!

Shadow: Vector would be proud…

Charmy: I appreciate everything you've done for me, Shadow…

Nails: Haha! You were tore up last night!

Rouge: Yeah right. I made a total ass of myself…

Nails: Um, Rouge? I think you should take a look at this…