A/N: Hope you guys are enjoying the story. Sorry the chapters are so short. ^^;

Chapter 10

Rouge set against the large rock face staring at the ashes of the fire still burning from the night before. Knuckles had no idea how close he was to the truth. 'Looked as if I just saw a ghost huh? Well of course I did since that's what I saw!' Rouge thought to herself as she rested. How could this be happening? As if she didn't have enough on her plate and now this? More importantly what did this mean for Lilly? Would Rouge be able to protect her? 'What if I can't keep her safe? What if it comes to choosing to protect her or the stone? I can't do this on my own...'

"Hey, are you day dreaming again?" Rouge looked up squinting a bit at first because the sun was directly overhead, but then someone blocked it out and she could see Knuckles face clearly. His sudden appearance seemed like the answer to her prayers.

She looked around him. "Where's Lilly?"

"Don't worry, she's right over the rock. I can see her from here." He knelt down to her. "She's safe."

"Knuckles." She looked up at him her eyes were clouded with confusion and hope. "Why did you come?"

Knuckles looked a little taken aback by the question. "What do you mean by asking me that all of a sudden?" He snorted looking a little ticked. "And you call me arrogant."

"I'm sorry." Rouge was still looking up at him her eyes blue as ever.

Knuckles fur seem to bristle with embarrassment. "You should be." He folded his arms and sat down cross legged in front of her. "And I told you before. You owe me an explanation. I want to know what's going on." He felt his words trying to become stuck in his throat. He could only spit up a half truth. "If it were just you I wouldn't be prying, but that little girl is a whole other matter."

"Lilly?" Rouge blinked.

"Yes, she's not your daughter Rouge. Why is she with you? How did she come to be by your side all the time?" He looked seriously at her. "You never mentioned how you got that injury either."

"Lilly's an orphan." Rouge said calmly. Knuckles eyes shifted a little telling Rouge that he had not expected that. "I guess you could say I took her in." That was pretty much the truth, although at first Rouge had not intended to keep Lilly with her forever, but now she couldn't imagine her life without Lilly beside her. "As for the wound, I was shot in the wing by a military copter."

"Why are they after you?" He leaned a little closer obviously listening intently.

"I'm a master thief who doesn't want to be on their leash anymore. What'd you think they would do? Just let me go and say oh thanks for all the help you're free to do whatever you like now." She looked a bit irritated but only because she hated lying to him.

"Well at least that explains the new look and the fur." he said with a sigh. Rouge could of sworn she heard relief in that sigh and it made her ache because she knew it was relief placed on lies.

"What do you think of my new look?" She asked wanting desperately to change the subject.

Knuckles was caught off guard by the question and his cheeks blushed a bit. "Fine, it looks fine." His words were filled with clumsy haste.

"Do I look better in white?" She leaned forward so her forehead almost touched his. His blush became even deeper when her blue eyes met is violet ones. "Or do you like this color more?" She asked softly.

His head suddenly turned to the side and he scrunched his brow as if he were irritated. "As if I would answer some stupid question like that. I don't care what color your fur is. What difference would it make to me?"

Rouge smiled. Her heart felt warm again as she saw his irritation. If nothing else she always knew she could take comfort in his predictable reaction. His mean retorts, his embarrassed expressions, all made her feel warm inside. Then a sad thought pierced her heart like a knife. "Knuckles...when are you going to leave?"

"Um?" Knuckles had a questioning look on his face at first. "Do you want me to leave?" Rouge was quite for a moment, but before she could answer Knuckles was already making his reply. "Never mind it doesn't matter. I am staying whether you like it or not." he crossed his arms once more as if trying to seem like the adult in this situation. "It's obvious that you can't give Lilly adequate protection while you're injured. Until you are completely recovered I shall stay and make sure that she is looked after."

Rouge felt a surge of relief she didn't even have to admit that she wanted him to stay. He would be with her for a little while longer. She felt her heart skip a beat with joy. She looked up at him and in a mocking voice said, "Oh thank you Knuckles, the great guardian has granted us his service. We are so honored."

Knuckles steamed with frustration. "What do you mean by mocking me like that! You are without a doubt the most ungrateful bat to ever walk the planet! I would think you should be seriously thanking me and furthermore..."

Rouge seemed to stop hearing Knuckles rant and she was just smiling as she looked at his face. That irritated and scolding look he gave her, why did it make her heart flutter?