(Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or any of the characters, all credit goes to Sega. Please support the official release).

Chapter 3: Being an Expectant "Mom"

"Amy, can we please take a break? We've been power walking for hours!"

Knuckles was now four more weeks into his pregnancy, his belly having grown to the size of a standard beach ball in that time. He was enjoying staying at Vanilla's house where he was properly cared for and had no worries.

Well...almost no worries, because Amy had taken it upon her to start a daily exercise regimen to make sure Knuckles kept off any excess baby weight. The two were currently power walking through Station Square park, but with his stomach being as big and heavy as it was, Knuckles was already very exhausted after just an hour and a half.

Amy turned to face him, "No rest for the wicked, Knuckles. Exercise is important in any pregnancy. You'll want to be strong and healthy for your babies", she said.

Knuckles couldn't take much movement as he slowly made his way over to the nearest bench and sat down, he was still breathing heavily with exhaustion.

"Amy, please. No more, I can't take anymore. I'm so tired, I just wanna go home and lie down. Please, Amy, just let me go home!", he said.

Knuckles was beginning to get emotional and even started crying, it was then that Amy realized that maybe she was pushing him a little too hard. This was his first pregnancy, and also strenuous exercise wasn't good for someone so heavily pregnant to be doing since it could potentially harm the baby.

So, finally relenting, Amy called up Vector to come and help her take Knuckles back to Vanilla's house. When they got there, Vanilla thanked Vector while scolding Amy and then proceeded to help Knuckles get undressed and into the bath.

Knuckles basked in the rejuvenating feeling his bath gave him, his tired and sore muscles finally relaxing. He looked down at his own swollen belly, feeling affection towards his unborn children.

"You little guys are quite the hassle, you make things so difficult for me. But you know what? I still love you so much", he said.

After he finished taking a bath, he dried off and put on the clothes Vanilla left for him on the sink, which was a pair of underwear and a long sweater that she had made herself. Knuckles slipped it on and then made his way over to the living room where he sat on the couch.

He spotted the TV remote on the coffee table, so he strained himself to reach over and grab it. He turned on the TV to see it was on the news channel.

"...and in other news, G.U.N. has finally apprehended an infamous diamond cartel rumored to have been illegally smuggling all sorts of rare jewels through an underground Black Market trade"

Knuckles smiled as he watched on screen as Shadow shoved one of the cartel members into the back of an armored G.U.N. truck.

"We've received word that the gang will be shipped off to Prison Island, where they will be held until their trial. Live from downtown Station Square, I'm Scarlet Garcia and this has been the news"

Knuckles then changed the channel, the TV changed to a kids show about a talking sea sponge so he decided to watch that. Just then, Cream and Cheese came in from playing outside. They spotted Knuckles sitting on the couch and smiled at him, "Hello, Mr. Knuckles! Did you have fun on your walk with Amy?", said Cream.

Knuckles gave her a lopsided smile, "Yeah I guess, but I think I'm going to do yoga with Espio from now on. Amy's exercises are just too much for me", he said as he rubbed his belly. Cheese smiled and floated over to Knuckles, landing on his belly.

"Cheese is really excited to meet your babies, he said he wants them to see the Chao Garden", said Cream.

Cheese nuzzled Knuckles stomach before he suddenly let out a squeak and flew off, "Oh my, Cheese said he felt something. Something bumped him!", said Cream.

Knuckles let out a small laugh, "It's okay, Cream. That was babies, they were just kicking. In fact, I can feel them kicking right now. I think they can hear us", he said.

A bright smile formed on Cream's face as she ran over and placed a hand on his belly, "Hello in there, babies! My name is Cream, you can't see me yet but I know we're gonna be great friends when you're born. I'll give you my old dollies to play with", she said.

She was met by a soft kick to her hand which made her and Knuckles giggle, "Sounds like they appreciate the offer", he said.

Cream nodded in agreement as she and Cheese sat down next to Knuckles to watch TV with him.

[Time Skip]

"Now reach up, reach for the sun. Feel your chi paths clearing..."

The next day, Knuckles was in Vanilla's backyard doing yoga stretches with Espio. He was enjoying himself much more than he was jogging with Amy, the yoga wasn't so much of a strain on his body.

Not to mention it required limited movement.

"Thanks a lot for doing this with me, Espio. This is so much better than power walking", said Knuckles.

He and Espio then laid on their backs whilst stretching their legs up in the air, "Not a problem. Your stomach has already grown exponentially despite being pregnant for less than a month, your mobility is becoming limited.

"Not only that, but I can only imagine how much it must hurt your back carrying all that weight around. Jogging isn't the best exercise for you right now, these yoga stretches will work wonders in clearing your mind and strengthening your body", said Espio.

After doing more yoga stretches for about two hours, Knuckles finally got tired and decided he was done for the day. Just then, a beeping sound came from Espio's wrist. Tails had made everyone wristband communicators so that they could contact one another to trade shifts guarding the Master Emerald.

"Hey, Espio. It's me, Silver. My shifts over, it's your turn to guard the Master Emerald now"

"Got it, I'll be right over", said Espio.

"You guys have really been taking this job seriously, huh?", said Knuckles.

Espio gave him a smile, "Of course, anything for our friend. You're in no condition to guard it yourself, so we will do it for you. Now, I'm going to go get Vanilla so she can help you inside. It looks like it's about to rain", he said.

He then walked away and soon, Vanilla came over and helped Knuckles into the house just as it began raining. She helped Knuckles get to the bathroom so he could take a bath and then brought him back to his room so he could lie down.

"You sure you're not hungry, deary? I'm making a delicious vegetable stew with some steamed leek buns", said Vanilla.

"That sounds great, but no thanks. I'm not hungry right now, just tired. I'd like to take a nap, but I wouldn't mind having that for dinner at least", said Knuckles.

Vanilla smiled, "Alright, then I'll come and wake you up for dinner. Enjoy your nap, sweetie", she said as she left the room.

Knuckles made himself comfortable under the blankets, he looked at the Maria doll that sat by his pillow. He picked it up and spotted the red and black quill tied to it, he smiled as he thought of Shadow. He hadn't seen him lately since he was so busy with work.

And while his friends were taking time to hang out with him in between guarding the Master Emerald, Knuckles was still feeling lonely without his lover near him. He held the doll close to his chest as he drifted off to sleep.

[Dream Sequence]

When Knuckles opened his eyes, he found himself laying upright in a bed surrounded by a bright light. And in his arms were four tiny bundles, he gasped when he saw them.

"My...my babies!", he whispered.

He couldn't make out what they looked like because they were silhouetted, but he could hear them cooing. He could feel their tiny hands pawing at his chest, he even felt one of them trying to suckle him.

Knuckles felt tears come to his eyes as he hugged them, "My precious little babies!", he said happily.

"Our precious babies"

Knuckles looked up when he heard the familiar voice, he saw Shadow standing next to his bedside. Against the light, he looked like a stunning angel. He reached to cup one of Knuckles' cheeks before pulling him into a kiss.

When they broke the kiss, Knuckles saw that the scene had changed. Shadow was now standing before him, wearing a dashing tuxedo; he looked down to see he was wearing a wedding dress. All around them, their friends sat in pews wearing fancy outfits and smiling.

Knuckles watched as Shadow slipped a ring on his finger, "My beautiful bride...", the hedgehog muttered. They shared another kiss before the scene changed again; this time, Knuckles was standing in a kitchen preparing dinner.

All around him, four small silhouettes were running around, giggling and playing. He realized it was his future unborn children, slightly older and playing with one another in the their home.

Just then, the sound of a door opening and closing could be heard.

"I'm home!", called out Shadow's voice.

"It's Daddy!"

"He's home!"

"Daddy's home"

"Hi, Daddy!"

Knuckles turned off the stove and walked over to the hall by the front door, there stood Shadow in his G.U.N. issued jacket, bending down to say hello to his children.

"Welcome home, babe", said Knuckles.

Shadow smiled as he walked over and gave him a kiss, "Great to be home, love. I'm gonna go have a shower before dinner, why don't the little ones help you set the table?", he said.

The scene them transitioned to after dinner time, Knuckles was washing the dishes while Shadow crawled around on all fours on the floor; he was making horse noises as all four children rode on his back, laughing and cheering.

Then, Knuckles and Shadow gave the children baths and put them all to bed with a bedtime story. The two them made their way to their room, laid on the bed and began to kiss each other passionately. Just when they were about to start making love, the scene transitioned again.

This time, Knuckles found himself without clothing and standing before the Master Emerald. He walked over to put his hand on it, his belly bumping the large gem. The Master Emerald then began glowing in a soft green light, a warmth began to radiate from the gem and traveled into Knuckles' body.

He felt the warmth spread all over his body, filling him with a sense of peace and calm. Just then, his body was suddenly pulled into the Master Emerald. Knuckles opened his eyes to find himself in a beautiful landscape.

Up above, the sky seemed endless and layered with colors from the bright blue of daytime blending into the oranges, pinks, and lavenders of late afternoon and twilight on top. And above those colors came the deep purples and blue-blacks of night sprinkled with stars. Lush tropical flowers bloomed all around a wide-open field of verdant grass with freshwater springs ringed around a small shrine.

Several Chao of all varieties were fluttering around the flowers and playing in the springs.

Knuckles took in the scenery with a mystified expression on his face, "This place...it's absolutely breathtaking!", he muttered.

"Indeed it is, I'm glad you like it"

Knuckles turned around and was greeted by a familiar orange-furred echidna girl dressed in tribal garb with a golden band around her head.

"Tikal? Is that you?", asked Knuckles as he held out his hand.

Tikal stepped forward and took him by the hand, "Yes, my friend. It is wonderful to see you again, and I am very happy for you. We both are", she said.

Just then, a water puddle formed on the ground before it sprang up and began to take shape. It transformed into a familiar looking translucent entity that Knuckles was all too familiar with.

"Chaos...", he whispered.

The watery god walked over to the red echidna, gazing at him with yellow eyes that seemed to hold joy within them. Chaos then knelt down in front of Knuckles, placing his large hands on his belly. Then, he began to nuzzle his gelatinous face into the soft fur of Knuckles' stomach.

The red echidna blushed as he felt very flustered by the gesture, he looked up at Tikal. "What is he doing? This is so strange", he said.

Tikal giggled, "Not at all, Chaos is expressing the joy he feels at the fact that you are with child. He's happy and proud of you, and simply wishes to show affection to your unborn children", she explained.

Knuckles was surprised for a moment, but then he remembered that when not angry, Chaos was actually a peaceful God. He cared for small creatures such as the Chao, so it made sense that he'd take a liking to Knuckles' unborn children.

Chaos then stood up and walked around Knuckles, gently rubbing his lower back. "What's he doing now?", asked Knuckles.

"He senses that the pregnancy is putting a lot of strain on your body. If you'll allow him, Chaos wishes to alleviate some of that strain for you", said Tikal.

Knuckles couldn't deny that having the weight of his large belly was causing his back muscles to hurt a lot, not to mention his legs and ankles. So he agreed to let Chaos help ease his tension. Chaos guided Knuckles over to a nearby pond, Tikal following close behind.

Chaos then lifted him up into his arms and lowered the both of them into the pond, he positioned Knuckles so that he was sitting on his lap and placed his hands on his belly. Chaos' hands began glowing in a soft blue light as he gently ran them across Knuckles' belly, applying liberal amounts of pressure here and there.

He also did the same to Knuckles' back and thighs, easing the built up tension in his overworked muscles. Knuckles gave a sigh of relief, it felt as though he was getting a massage by the world's most skilled masseuse.

Well...it was a literal god massaging him, so he supposed that made sense.

Tikal sat down on the edge of the pond, watching the display with a smile. "I've been watching your friends outside, they've been working hard protecting the Master Emerald in your place. They help each other, bring each other food and other necessities if needed and they take their roles seriously.

"I am very grateful to them for all they've been doing, that is a level of comradery and selflessness that I wish my grandfather and the other members of my tribe held", she said.

Knuckles looked away in shame before letting out a mirthless laugh, "You know...it's funny. In the past, I did things on my own and that was just how I liked it. I didn't need anyone else to get by. But sometimes... I wondered how things would've been if I hadn't been given this responsibility. Why was I chosen for this duty? Perhaps it's karma...

"Thousands of years ago, my ancestors attempted to steal a power that wasn't theirs. And they paid the price for their greed. I suppose having to guard the Master Emerald is just a way for me to right their wrongs, but I haven't done a very good job of it.

"I mean...how many times have I let Eggman trick me into stealing it? I've let the Master Emerald be stolen, shattered...that whole incident with Chaos...Station Square was flooded! So many people lost their homes, their jobs, maybe even their lives!

"All because I'm a stupid idiot who fell for the obvious lies of a madman! I bet Pachacamac and everyone else is turning over in their graves, laughing at what a shameful disgrace I am! I bet my own parents are turning over in their graves, laughing at what a shameful disgrace I am!"

Knuckles then began crying, feeling ashamed of himself for being a proper guardian to the Master Emerald, given all the times Eggman had tricked him and stolen it. Not to mention the times it was shattered into pieces and the incident with Perfect Chaos.

He felt like a complete incompetent fool for being so easily tricked, and knowing his friends were doing a better job of protecting it than him made him feel even worse about himself.

Sensing his distress, Chaos turned Knuckles around and pulled him into a hug, his gelatinous body giving off a soothing warmth that calmed his sobbing. Tikal walked over and reached out to touch his shoulder.

"Oh Knuckles, you're not an idiot and you are definitely not a shameful disgrace. You are just a bit naive and gullible, but do you know something, that is our ancestors' fault, not yours. Perhaps if they had not angered Chaos, they would still be here.

"And you wouldn't have had to grow up completely isolated and alone, lacking any social interaction and thus never learning who to trust. You have been an excellent guardian, not perfect since you've made mistakes but you also worked hard to fix them.

"And you are also a great hero in your own right. How many have you helped since meeting your friends? You are strong, brave and compassionate, Knuckles. You never back down from a challenge and are always willing to help others.

"Don't ever doubt yourself, Knuckles. You are a great guardian, a great friend and soon, you will be a great parent. Never forget that", she said.

Knuckles looked down at his swollen belly, watching Chaos running his hands across it. Tikal was right, despite his mistakes he did do a good job guarding the Master Emerald and he was a hero. If not for his friends, he probably never would've even met Shadow.

His life was great, and even if it didn't start out that way, he wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. Especially not when he was soon going to be blessed with four beautiful children.

"Tikal...Chaos, thank you. Thank you both so much", he whispered.

Just then, the landscape became engulfed in a bright white light.

[End of Dream Sequence]

Knuckles let out a soft yawn as he woke up, he felt swaddled in a comfortable warmth that he didn't want to escape from. He wanted to bask in it forever.

"Good morning, beautiful"

He slowly opened his eyes upon hearing a familiar voice, Shadow was in the bed with him. The reason he felt so warm was because he was in Shadow's arms, laying against his chest, just like he was with Chaos in his dream.

"Morning? I thought I went to bed in the afternoon, isn't it dinner time?", Knuckles asked in confusion.

"Vanilla was going to wake you up for dinner but she said you were in such a deep sleep and looked so peaceful that she didn't want to disturb you. So she put your dinner away and said you could have it for breakfast if you want", said Shadow.

Knuckles sighed as he snuggled into Shadow's chest, nuzzling his chest fur and breathing in his strong and spicy scent.

"I came over here during the night to see you, I decided to lie down next to you since you wouldn't be waking up any time soon. I heard you mumbling in your sleep, you were even crying a little. You okay?", said Shadow.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just...having a weird dream, you don't need to worry about me", said Knuckles.

Shadow hummed before planting a kiss on his forehead, "Well alright then, if you say so. I heard from Cream that the babies were kicking, is it true?", he said.

Knuckles laughed, "Yeah. They seemed very lively and strong, they take after you", he said.

Shadow smirked, "Don't sell yourself short, you're pretty strong yourself as well", he said. He then pulled away to get a good look at Knuckles, he was wearing a set of purple maternity pajamas that felt silky to the touch. The shirt was bunched up a bit, revealing his round belly. Shadow stared at him, eyes filled with love and adoration.

"You are so stunning~", he said a he left a trail of kisses all over his lover's belly.

"So radiant~", Shadow then kissed over the soft fur on his neck.

"So beautiful~", then his lips slid onto Knuckles' with practiced ease, and as the soft and passionate kiss began, the red echidna couldn't believe his heart could be filled with this much joy and love.

Knuckles was left breathless as the kiss ended, his hands balled into his lover's chest fur to try and keep him close. Shadow's hands roamed his body, feeling the way he trembled and leaned into every touch, feeling the smooth fabric that covered his body.

Shadow's right hand then slowly lowered itself towards Knuckles' lower abdomen, sliding in just under the hem of his pajama pants.

"Shads, wait! We can't do...that, not now. Amy told me that kind of activity isn't safe for the babies", Knuckles said in concern.

A small laugh left his dark lover and his red eyes showed his amusement and reassurance. "I know that, I have no intention of doing anything that would harm my children", Shadow said as his dark fingers grabbed a hold of Knuckles' pants and underwear, and sliding them down towards his ankles.

"I just wanted to…have a little fun, safely of course~"

He fully pulled the pants and underwear down, revealing Knuckles' hardening member. Once the clothes had been pulled down to his ankles, Shadow leaned back to admire the view.

"You're so beautiful~", he said.

Knuckles shivered as the cool air of the room became more apparent, his member standing at attention, his back pressed to the bed, his cheeks flushed and his eyes never leaving Shadow's.

"Do you really think I'm beautiful?", his voice was a whisper, a little part of him couldn't believe that he was anywhere near beautiful, but hearing such sweet words made him feel invincible and he craved to hear more.

Shadow returned to Knuckles' body, his hand taking the echidna's member into it and squeezing softly, the moan of kneed that left his lover's soft lips encouraged him to start stroking.

"Yes~! You are the most beautiful Mobian-No! The most beautiful being I have ever come across in all my life. Sometimes, I wonder if I truly deserve to have you in my life~"

His lips found the soft fur of Knuckles' neck once again and began to kiss and lick over it, his hand keeping a strong and fast pace as he stroked Knuckles' member.

Knuckles whined at both the touch of his lover's hand and the words leaving his mouth, he clung to Shadow to steady himself and pulled him closer, his head tilted to let him kiss and lick more of his neck, his eyes fluttering shut as he moaned out Shadow's name.

The black and red hedgehog took more of the neck that had been offered to him. His hand didn't stop as he kissed Knuckles' lips once more. "If I was offered all the wealth and power in the world, I'd reject it. You're worth more than all of that meaningless material nonsense~", said Shadow.

He trailed kisses over Knuckles' cheeks, then trailed kisses back down to his neck, leaving a hickey under red fur and listening to the moans and cries of bliss that left Knuckles' lips.

Knuckles couldn't take much more, the soft touch, the love, every word that left Shadow's mouth, it was all so perfect and he couldn't control himself as he came into Shadow's hand, crying out of bliss and overstimulation. His body shook and if it wasn't for the fact that he was on a bed, he would've fallen over.

His lover had him up in his arms before he could even blink. "You're all right my love~", said Shadow. He helped slid his pants and underwear back on before laying down on the bed and moving next to him.

"I will always be here for you...always, Knuckles."

Knuckles knew that in this moment looking into each other's eyes, in the safety of their little sanctuary, Shadow meant every single word he had spoken. A soft smile now rested on Knuckles' lips as he cuddled closer to Shadow.

His eyes heavy with sleep as a warm hand began stroking his dreadlocks, slowly lulling him to sleep.

"I love you...", he whispered as he finally dozed off.

"I love you too", whispered Shadow.

[To be continued...]