Chapter Three

''Aweaee!'

Eggman opened his eyes blinking a bit to adjust to the sunlight beaming through the window located in his room. His glasses were missing from his face, illuminating his dark black eyes and red irises. Someone must have taken his glasses off once he had fallen asleep. It couldn't have been the care bots, because they wouldn't dare touch their creator without permission.

"Eeeoooh!"

Eggman looked over to his right and saw little Ivo wearing his glasses and babbling his usual baby talk. Before he could go and lecture him, he chuckled loudly at the little hedgie. He looked absolutely adorable with them on, and it'd be a shame if someone was to take them off of him.

"Give Da-…I mean give me the glasses back, Ivo." He almost let the word 'Daddy' slip. He certinately was not going to use cute pet names to be referred as. If he was going to call him something, it outta be 'Sir', 'Master', or just 'Eggman.' Never would he allow Ivo Jr. to call him 'Daddy'. It wasn't only a softie name, but it was annoying too. How would anyone ever enjoy that kind of name?

Ivo's face brightened as he lifted up the glasses in his tiny fist, waving it proudly. It was one of the first times that Eggman had seen any progress in the child's strength.

"Well now," Eggman said gently taking his glasses and putting them on. "It seems as although someone is starting to get very strong." Ivo just smiled and crawled over on top of Eggman's arm. The doctor stifled a quick laugh and quickly plucked off the young one.

"Am I a jungle gym now?" He asked half laughing. Ivo Jr. didn't respond as he was too busy giggling and trying to reach for Eggman's bushy mustache. He looked down and noticed he forgot to groom it when he had awoken.

"Oh well it seems as if I need to brush my mustache throughouly. Then we can begin our usual day, eh Ivo?" Ivo smiled and nodded and Eggman pulled him back down to his arms and held him close. They both smiled and looked at each other happily. Eggman finally felt happy for just once in his miserable, narcissistic life.

*The Great Forest*

Sonic had just woken up after his pleasurable night, his back right against the tree. His soft, blue fur gently swished in the wind as the smell of rain started to fill his nose. The sky was getting darker, blocking out most of the sunlight. Sonic yawned and quickly stretched, getting up and looking around his surroundings. If he was correct he would be half way through the Great Forest at this point. No reason in going back just yet. Plus, he needed to find Eggman and have a discussion with him. Sonic didn't know if Eggman was using a mind control device, or he gave him some kind of drug, or what. Maybe he could even ask Eggman why he was falling for the large overlander. Sonic couldn't find a reasonable explanation alone, so he needed someone's help or advice for temporary comfort.

Suddenly, rain drops started to plop onto the hedgehog, getting his muzzle and quills wet. He knew he had to leave now if he wanted to get there before it started to get too bad out from the storm or a flash flood occurred. The blissful green grass below him started to expand from the sudden rain fall, absorbing most of the downfall. So before he could get anymore wet, he ran straight off towards New Megaopolis in hopes of getting to Eggman.

On the way there, he started to notice feral woodland creatures gathering their food and young, preparing for the storm. It looked like a big storm and many of the animals were probably convinced there was a flood to come. Sonic had stopped abruptly once he came to a mother fox and her cub struggling to get to safety as the rain started to pour down on the two, making their pelts stick to their skin.

"Don't worry," Sonic softly reassured the mother as he grabbed the small fox kit and started to run towards a cave nearby where the mother was most likely trying to get to. He placed the fox inside and waited for the mother as she padded in briskly over to her kit. With a slight purr and a lick to Sonic's arm, she thanked him. Sonic smiled and watched as she then walked over to her kit and started to dry him off. Sonic couldn't help but watch as the mother protected her little one once he had been there a bit too long. Nodding, he made his way out and started to run again.

But it only got much worse out. Mud started to fly out from under Sonic's sneakers as he ran, making a very dangerous and slippery travel. But being the persistent hedgehog he is, Sonic continued on, determined to get to the doctor one way or another. He finally made it to the outskirts of the city when he had seen robots lining the outside of the city with legionnaires. If he was going to get in, he would have to act innocent and play dumb. So being the smart hedgehog he was, Sonic tripped himself down a mudslide near the gorge entering into the robot lined city. He slid right down into the lien of them and acted like he was in danger.

"Oh no," he gasped as the robots looked down at him.

SURRENDER HEDGEHOG! PRIORITY ONE!

"Never!" He hissed, throwing a sissy fit. He started to flail his arms and legs in an attempt to make it look like a scene. It was working though, since they had grabbed him and started to drag him inside the base. He was pretty muddy and banged up a bit from the fall, but otherwise, he was well and ready.

He started to look around as he was being dragged against his will. The blue hedgehog had noticed many cells in the hallway, lined up in a row. Very few things filled them; accept for the occasional bad robots or broken ones. At the very end was a large door titled 'LEGIONIZATION ROOM'. The robots stopped before the door, nearly giving Sonic a heart attack. But thankfully, they turned left and dragged him down a set of sturdier cells which contained more chains and restraints inside. Sonic gulped, half excited and half fearful.

The robot who had been mostly restraining Sonic brought him into the last cell in the row and placed him inside. It reached up, mindlessly grabbing the wrist shackles. Sonic's heart quickened.

"What're you doing…?" He asked watching the robot snap them on his wrists. It didn't respond and continued to place two more on his ankles. Sonic was able to sit with them, moving his hands freely, but they were still attached to the cinderblock wall.

"Why aren't you answering my question?" Sonic snapped at the robot. But still, the robot only turned around and silently shut the cell door's bars behind it. After a quick nod to the other bot, they both made their way to set off for the doctor to explain how they had captured Sonic, hedgehog, priority one.

Sonic gulped and watched them leave. He then started to get flooded back with the thought of Eggman once again. He relaxed back and closed his eyes, trying to remember the way he had been stroked by the doctor's touch. He blushed a bit and started to sigh deeply. Sonic breathed in peacefully, not even affected by the fact he was in a cell in Eggman's base. Maybe the thought of Eggman coming in and starting to stroke him tenderly gave him a reassuring feeling.

Eggman had just spoken with his guard robots when he learned that Sonic was in a nearby cell.

"Is this true?" The doctor asked while Ivo Jr. wriggled in his arms drinking from his bottle. The robots nodded and bowed respectively.

"Yes, okay then. Orbot and Cubot!" Eggman turned around to see two of his trusty lackey-bots standing behind him awaiting their orders. He couldn't help but crack a smile at how well they obeyed him.

"Take Ivo and watch him until I am back." The two robots nodded. "And don't let a THING happen to him! You here?"

"Yes sir!"

"Yehs sir!" Cubot added in with his western cowboy accent. Eggman did never get to fixing that, but oh well. It'll do for now. He quickly handed Ivo to them and started to make his way out into the hall way towards the imprisonment center. For some reason he felt a bit excited to greet Sonic, on the other hand he was irritated at the time he decided to show up. Drowned in current thoughts, he mindlessly made his way back to Sonic's cell and walked in, half ashamed and half worried.

Sonic heard the footsteps coming in the cell and looked up to see the doctor standing before him. The both of them were silent and just gazed at one another. It's been a while since they had both made contact this close, and for now, it wasn't a loathing moment. The way Eggman looked at Sonic made him turn his head in embarrassment before either of them spoke. Sonic could feel Eggman's eyes just burning a hole in his heart. He knew he was going to tell him something that will obviously set the hedgehog off in a full worry.

"Sonic, we need to discuss some things-"

"I know. That's why I came here directly."

The two just stared back at each other, their eyes meeting. Sonic's heart started to race and his head was spinning. Exactly how, was he going to explain his passion for the doctor? He didn't think of that before and suddenly went quiet. Nothing he would say would sound right, and he would probably end up shocking or even disturbing Eggman. But if he was going to let Eggman know what he was feeling, he better tell him and now.

"Eggman, I recently…well lately I-…I guess you can say that…"

"What is it? Spit it out!" Eggman was becoming hesitant from waiting so long. He was feeling a bit anxious and worried. What if Cubot or Orbot came this way with Ivo? How would he ever explain the young child to Sonic? He wasn't nessicarrily going to just say, 'Oh yeah this is your son, but you never saw him before because he was genetically made from both of our DNA. Oh and by the way…-'Eggman shook the thought away and focused on what Sonic was saying to him.

"I've been having feelings for you lately," the blue hedgehog started. "Like serious feelings."

"Like….affection?" Eggman asked curiously. Sonic looked up and half nodded.

"How…how did you know?"

"You're blushing so much; I could've mistaken you for Knuckles!"

Sonic felt hot with embarrassment as he realized he probably was blushing like mad.

"Well I- Yes- Guess so…basically yeah." He didn't know what to say next because right now he was covering his face with his hands totally embarrassed. If there was a crowd nearby, they were surely laughing by now. So far he had done nothing but be a total shame ass if he'd ever seen one. Sonic was already starting to think things too hard on himself, causing him to hyperventilate.

"Sheesh, calm down, Sonic! I'm not going to eat you or anything. I understand what you're going through because; I too, have found affection for another object. But, I think mine might differ from your affection." Did Eggman just admit he was having affection for a living, breathing thing? Was that even possible? Was he dreaming once again?

Sonic breathed in and out shakingly, try to calm himself from all the pressure weighted on his shoulders. He removed his hands from his face and looked up at the doctor. For once since the two had met, Sonic started observe his figure, gathering the spiteful things on the large doctor. His frame was wide, but his legs slender. That's probably why he could always run so fast. Then he moved his head up a bit more to observe Eggman's bushy mustache. How well groomed it is, he thought silently to himself. He must try and take pride in his looks.

"Are you checking me out, hedgehog?" Eggman teased after Sonic had been too quiet. The hedgehog quickly moved his head up to meet Eggman's eyes and blushed slightly more.

"N-No, just umm…I don't know." Sonic was getting that embarrassing feeling back again, but he couldn't take his eyes away for some reason. It was like he was in Eggman's own glamour. It wasn't that he hated it, but he felt a bit uncomfortable. What if Eggman was angry at him for staring him down?

"Sonic, you have no reason to be fearful or embarrassed of me. I'm not going to hurt you-"

"Why?" Sonic interrupted a loud. "Why aren't you taking advantage of the moment right now and torturing me for information? Why aren't you getting me ready to be legionized or worse yet, why aren't you trying to kill me?" Eggman was shocked at the questions.

"Well I….I don't feel like hurting you at the moment."

"But why?"

"Because- …Because I…I have someone for you to meet." Eggman was going to finally let him see their son whether Sonic liked it or not. Before Sonic could respond, Eggman had pulled back his glove on his wrist and fidgeted with a wristwatch looking device.

"Cubot, Orbot, bring in Ivo please, cell #34."

Without any hesitation, Cubot and Orbot quickly followed his orders and had soon arrived out the cell door. Sonic was too distracted to notice what they were holding in a small blanket. He was too busy watching Eggman to care about anything else at the moment. Just the way Eggman has spoken to the robots got him a bit excited, even maybe turned on. But if it wasn't that, it was when he had taken the small blanket and held it gently.

Sonic snapped back in to reality once Eggman had bent down in front of him. What exactly is he doing and what the hell is in that blanket? Sonic asked. He sniffed curiously as Eggman held out the blanket to him. That's when he smelled hedgehog, a young one too, and he gave an odd look towards the doctor.

"What the hell is that?" He asked as Eggman took off the blanket revealing a small sleeping hedgie. Sonic's eyes widened as he saw its soft baby powder blue fur and its small peach tummy and muzzle. What exactly was he seeing?

"This is Ivo Jr. He's our son. Wait-"

Sonic gave him the most confusing, shocked, terrified face he ever made. Their son? What is he on?

"Let me explain," He said smoothing back Ivo's bent quills from sleeping curled up in a blanket. "Ivo was supposed to be my planned son made from my DNA. A clone, you can say. Do you remember the large green tube that contained green liquid?" Sonic nodded, astonished.

"Well when you had fallen inside, your fur fell off a bit and dropped inside, mixing your DNA with my already altered DNA. Thus, creating this little hedgehog." Eggman smiled a bit and looked at Sonic's now shocked expression. He could see Sonic was absolutely confused and he stifled a bit of a chuckle.

"I know, it's confusing, but if you don't think about it too hard, it makes sense. Here, would you like to hold him?" Sonic didn't know how to react. He could only stare at the small hedgehog in Eggman's arms.

"Well are you going to answer?"

"O-okay." Sonic watched as Eggman gently handed him over to Sonic. As soon as Sonic took the baby into his arms, emotions flooded his mind. This was his supposed child, and he had no idea about it, nor was he interested at the moment. Was this what it was like when a mother or father had just received a baby and didn't feel ready? Sonic didn't know what to do except cry. So he freely let the tears flow out and he placed the baby on the floor away from him. Ivo started to wake, confused at what was happening. The small hedgehog yawned and looked up at the sobbing Sonic.

"Sonic, please it's not to make you upset! I didn't think that-"

"GET IT AWAY FROM ME! I don't want a stupid kid!"

Ivo Jr. felt absolutely hurt by those words. He might have been little and couldn't understand vocabulary what-so-ever, but he could tell by Sonic's emotions he was angry. Angry at him. Angry at his father.

"Sonic, I didn't intend to make you angry about it, look I'll have Orbot and Cubot take him back, okay?" Eggman attempted to rest his hand on Sonic's shoulder, only to get hissed at.

"This is all your fault! When did you plan on letting me know about this, huh? Get your damn hands away from me you jerk!" Eggman didn't quite understand why Sonic was so upset. He was just happy and curious not even five minutes ago, thrilled at the thought of Eggman touching him. But now, he was angry and upset all because of Ivo. Eggman started to feel a bit angry himself at the infant, looking a bit angrily at the odd creation. Everything was so quickly ruined; he should've never showed him to Sonic.

"Awwa?" Ivo said looking up at his idol, Eggman. Eggman just stared blankly at the young hedgehog, knowing he was feeling that remorse for keeping him alive. Why did he have to be made? None of this would've happened if he would've gotten rid of him the moment he was released from the tube. Sonic still continued to cry in frustration.

"I want these off! I want out and now!" Sonic screamed at Eggman. "Let me go!" Eggman felt so, so upset at this moment. He was so close to having Sonic as a rival; no, more of a friend and Ivo had just ruined all of the chances of that. Anger boiled up in Eggman and he left the cell, without Ivo.

He slammed the door shut and walked to his room, tears in his eyes.