Knuckles, Does not like sand, it's course, it's rough and it gets absolutely everywhere, in his shoes, in his quills, in his gloves somehow, only serving to compound his frustration was how hot Shamar was the heat was dam right oppressive, it made Sandopolis Zone seem like Ice Cap Zone.

Rouge had her own frustration, not so much with the weather mind you, but with the echidna she was traveling with, back in empire city he had basically told her he liked her, not in those words but she didn't have to be a genius to read between the lines of what he'd said, but now he seems to have lost his nerve, he was avoiding the topic, everytime she tried to bring it up he'd either pretend he hadn't heard, change the subject or avoid the conversation entirely. She'd almost find it cute if it was annoying her so much.

"Do you think Espio, Charmy, and Vector would like these?" Knuckles asked, trying to make conversation, Rouge looked to the stall Knuckles had pointed out, some sort of silk blanket she didn't really care.

It really ticked her off that he could just talk to her normally like he hasn't said anything. " I don't really know him all that well, but I'm sure they'd appreciate that you thought of them."

"Yeah you're probably right about that" Even though Knuckles wanted to get it right, he didn't want to get all three of them the same thing, he'd feel like he wasn't trying and he still needed to get Mighty and Ray something for watching after the emerald.

"I already got most of my souvenirs back in Empire City, so I'll help you while we're here." Rouge offered while also bringing up Empire City, so her asking about what he'd said wouldn't come completely out of the blue

"Well, I've picked some stuff up for Sonic, Tails, and Amy, but I still need to get something for Might and Ray as well as the Chaotix and maybe something for Cream." He wasn't even halfway done, and this trip was almost over. Why had he let himself get sidetracked!?

Rouge was more annoyed that this was what he was focusing on instead of her. What an insensitive jerk! "Okay, Knuckles, I'll help you pick out souvenirs for people, but after that, we will talk about what you said to me in Empire City." Rouge commanded in an authoritative tone that let him know there would be no arguing with her. Knuckles simply nodded in response he knew it wasn't fair for him to avoid it.

"Good, now you mentioned cream, and I think she'd just love this dress, the one with the flowers on it. She really likes flowers." Rouge began, quickly taking charge. She was a lot better at this sort of thing than he was. "As for the Chaotix, you know them better than I do, so what sort of things do they like?"

The Pair looked around Shamar's markets for the next hour or so until Knuckles was reasonably satisfied with what he had gotten everyone.

For Cream the dress Rouge had pointed out as well as some perfume for Vanilla, he'd gotten Vector some sort of decorative glass bottle, for Charmy a key chain in the shape of one of the statues, Espio had been a little harder to shop for the guy never seemed to want anything eventually he'd settled on a bracelet that Rouge said would suit the ninja and finally he got Mighty and Ray hats seeing as they decided to make fun of his.

Which meant he had an awkward conversation in store for him. "I'll just take this stuff back to my hotel room, and then we can talk, okay?" Knuckles asked, but Rouge seemed sceptical.

"I'll come with you. You're not delaying this any longer than you already have." Rouge stated firmly as they headed to the room once Knuckles and put everything away he paused to try and think of what to say.

"You've got some nerve, you know!?" Rouge scolded before he even had an opportunity to talk, Knuckles flinched a little, but he couldn't exactly complain. "You say something like that and then just avoid talking about it! You didn't stop to consider how that would make me feel!?"

"I'm… I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry. I've been avoiding the topic. " Knuckles began meekly, not daring to meet her gaze. "Actually, I want to avoid the topic now as well." Knuckles felt guilty for even thinking about it. "I shouldn't have told you that I loved you. It was stupid."

….

"Wait a minute…" You didn't say that!" Rouge exclaimed as Knuckles flushed red. Telling her he loved her was way more embarrassing than just saying he'd want her to be his girlfriend. How could he salvage this?

"W-well, either way, it was a mistake. I shouldn't have said it!" Knuckles stammered. He really wanted to leave, but he had a feeling she wouldn't let him. Beyond that, he knew he shouldn't. If he did, he'd regret it for the rest of his life.

"How exactly is that a mistake?" Rouge really seemed to be losing her temper; he couldn't remember ever seeing her like this.

"Well, it'll make things awkward between us if you don't feel the same!" She couldn't, right? Now, with someone like him, He was short tempered, Combative, and not at all handsome she could do better.

"And who says I don't!?" Rouge snapped before taking a hold of one of his hands. "I'm sorry, I know I'm cornering you right now, but I'm really trying my best here, so hear me out."

"Her hands are shaking. Could it be that she's just as scared as I am?"

"I love you, Knuckles, and I want to be with you," Rouge stated clearly she was nervous, of course, but she had to get this off her chest.

"Why me of all people?" Was all he could think

"I love how you're so needlessly shy when it comes to romance."

"She could do so much better," a voice in the back of his mind nagged

"I love how you get so competitive and try your best at everything."

"Is this really okay?" He still had a hard time believing this.

Rouge quietly leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, figuring any more than that would probably cause him to faint at this moment. "And on top of all that, you're pretty handsome, Knucklehead."

Knuckles looked at her for a moment, trying to think of what he should say. Anything! But he was drawing a blank. "I suppose I should at least say it properly, I love you to Rouge."

"I know." Rouge replied with a cocky smirk. Admittedly, her casual demeanour helped him calm down.

Knuckles pulled Rouge into a tight hug, and even though he was mindful not to squeeze too hard, he felt relief wash over him. How worried he was about making things awkward between them just seemed stupid now.

So I'm finally back to writing this. Sorry about vanishing like that. Stuff happened