Rouge's morning was sluggish when the alarm clock went off at 6am. She'd had a restless night, needing her husband to spoon her throughout just to stay asleep. Of course she would have trouble resting when she had to wake up early; it was a burden of her nocturnality, bringing on a bout of insomnia whenever her preferred schedule was challenged. It took Shadow nearly dragging her out of bed to make sure the bat got up and stayed up.

He made breakfast while she dressed herself, and Rouge committed to doing some stretches in an effort to set her mindset for the day. They would still have a job to do after their checkups, so she couldn't afford to be off-kilter. After devouring Shadow's refined recipe of chocolate chip pancakes, the couple met Omega in the garage, where he was finishing up his power cycle. And when he stepped off the charger, Rouge looked over the small dents in his metal casing, placing a hand on him and running her fingers over the divots.

"Forgot to buff these out last night," she commented, then looked up into his glowing red eyes. "You should ask G.U.N to fix that for you when we get there."

"I will not hesitate," he replied as they approached their work vehicle. "Perhaps an upgrade is in order."

"Good luck with that," muttered Shadow, somewhat sarcastically. "You know how stingy G.U.N is with upgrading anything."

"Well, if they have something better to spare, maybe we can convince them," Rouge said, her attention still on Omega. "After all, they'll only have you to help out once we go on vacation. It'd be better if they could give you some extra reinforcement or something."

Omega's eyes flicked back and forth as he assured, "I will use that to my advantage."

They drove to their military headquarters, and Rouge rattled off some ideas for their vacation on the way. No matter what, she wanted to be able to relax as much as possible while away from work, so she leaned towards the idea of tropical island getaways and comfortable resort stays. Shadow had suggestions of his own, particularly fond of the idea that they escape to a snowy cabin where they could be completely alone; and he entertained the thought of visiting a ski lodge near such a place for some fun.

They couldn't pin down a definite decision before reaching their destination, so they tabled the conversation for another time before clocking in to get their checkups done. The trio split into separate rooms with their own physicians, planning to get their new assignment afterwards. After a few basic questions following her last appointment, Rouge's physical went as well as it always did, showing her health and physique to be in good standing. She sat waiting on the examination table after getting her blood drawn, and when the doctor reentered the room, she prepared herself to leave.

"All done, Doc?" she asked. "Can I go now?"

"Not yet, agent." The redheaded lady clicked the pen in her hand and hovered it over the clipboard cradled in her arm. "Last questions before I release you: Is there anything we should be on the lookout for while we're running your tests? Did anything strange happen lately that we need to know about in case they come back abnormal?"

Rouge hummed to herself, then said thoughtfully, "Well, I did try drinking last night and… couldn't."

"What do you mean? What kind of drink?"

"Alcoholic – a margarita. I had it in front of me, but when I tried to drink it…" She shrugged. "I don't know, I just felt this weird disgust, like I didn't want it."

The human nodded and wrote down her statement while Rouge added, "It could be nothing, really, I just thought it was a little strange. Otherwise, I've been right as rain!"

"No vomiting; frequent headaches; unusual pain in the body?"

"Nope! My self-care routine does wonders."

"Alright, then that's all I need," said the overlander, clicking her pen again to stash it in her breast pocket. "You're dismissed! I'll give you the health report later when we get the results back."

"Thanks, Doctor," Rouge chimed sweetly, then hopped off the table and left the room to meet up with her teammates.

Shadow was waiting for her in the hallway. His checkups were always the fastest. He greeted his wife with a kiss and asked, "How did it go?"

"Just fine. But I'm feeling a little antsy." Stepping past him, she tugged on his hand. "Let's go put in our vacation request while we wait for Omega. We need this break locked in ASAP!"

Standing idly in another hallway, the couple were waiting outside the Robotics Ward for Omega to finish getting checked out. Rouge tried to catch if he was getting any upgrades by pressing her ear to the door, but she could hear nothing besides the whirr of construction and beeping of electronics. She would've gladly walked right in if she had the clearance, but for the time being, they had to be patient while their firepower got fixed up. When he came out, turquoise eyes scanned over his metal shell, and she noted the impressive gleam across his crimson chest.

"Look at that, they even gave you a polish!" she said in her signature charming tone. "Not a dent in sight. But what? No upgrades?"

"Upgrades are 'out of the budget'," answered Omega. His partners were the only ones who could sense annoyance in his robotic voice. "They offered an extra layer of reinforced steel for my casing instead."

Shadow replied, "That figures. But it's better than nothing. Now that these pesky checkups are finished, let's get our assignment. I'd rather not waste time today."

The bat ran a hand over his back as they began walking to Tower's office, soothing her beloved on the way to meet with their boss. And when they entered the old man's workspace, they saw the President standing near the desk, apparently awaiting their arrival.

"Mr. President!" Rouge said, her eyes widening a bit. "What a surprise! What brings you here, darling?"

"An important job," he told her, regarding the group of three while Commander Tower sat quietly behind his desk. "I'm going to be addressing the attack on Westopolis today, and I'll need an escort. Then I'll need you all to bodyguard for me while I speak to the townspeople. The Secret Service will be there, of course, but we could always use the extra security."

Tower then spoke, "We want you in a prime position to protect the President and the citizens if Robotnik sends another army following the last one."

"Easy enough," Shadow responded with a nod. "That's all we're tasked with today?"

"For now," answered the commander. "If it goes well, you'll be home by sundown."

"Sounds good to me," Rouge blurted, then directed her attention to the president again. "No offense, Mr. President, but did you need to come all this way for that?"

He let out a breathy chuckle. "I had some other business, as well." Then he turned to Commander Tower. "Namely, trying once again to convince my loyal commander that he's well-deserving of retirement at this point."

The older human shook his head while Rouge said, "Oh! Well, in that case, I approve. I was just telling him the same thing yesterday!"

Stern eyes flicked between them. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm still damn good at my job, and I've hardly found someone I trust to take my place." He assured the president, "When I'm ready to go, you'll be the first to know."

His superior gave him an understanding nod, accepting the stubborn man's stance, then trailed his gaze among Team Dark. "I'm scheduled to make my appearance in two hours. I'll be waiting in the limo outside."

"That gives you all one hour," Tower informed them. "I want you to gear up for this job. Every bit of protection counts."

"Yes, sir," Shadow answered for all of them.

He and Rouge offered a salute as they were dismissed, and the three fighters left to prepare themselves for their mission.

After covering themselves in thicker clothing – concealing bulletproof vests and protective padding – the Mobians led the way to where their president waited, being guided by his human bodyguards into a black van parked in front of the limo. Once Team Dark were all loaded inside with their weapons of choice, the drive began from Central City to Westopolis.

"Be on high alert, boys," Rouge commented, adjusting her black leather jacket before buttoning it. "We do this mission perfectly and we get to go home early!"

Shadow straightened his posture a bit, his wife's words adding a little fuel to his fire. "And won't that be nice; now that I'm ready for a sabbatical, I think I'm feeling the stress of this job."

Rouge tilted her head towards him, her brows curving upwards. "Not that I want you to be stressed, but I'm glad you're seeing how important a vacation is now." She planted a sweet peck on his cheek and then thoughtfully wiped the lip gloss off his skin. "Honey, by the time our break is over, you'll feel invincible."

"I like the sound of that," he said in a buttery smooth tone, taking her hand to hold.

"Speaking of, I think that's an argument for us to stay at a fabulous resort!" Pretty teal eyes regarded him with mischief. "You'll get to be pampered by professionals. Mud baths, massages, face masks – everything the Ultimate Lifeform could need to keep his coat shiny and his skin flawless."

A breathy chuckle left her beau's lips. "All good points. You might be selling me on this idea."

Rouge flashed a charming grin and squeezed his arm in a quick hug, meanwhile Omega chimed in, "I will require photographs of your time away. I must see what is so enjoyable about doing nothing."

"You aren't meatbags like us," said the bat teasingly. "Of course you won't get it, but our muscles need to relax every once in a while!" Then she felt up Shadow's bicep and added, "Even the perfect ones."

He smiled, and she reveled in the knowledge that she'd made his day better.

When they arrived at the town hall of Westopolis, Team Dark stood outside the building while the president prepared for his speech. Many of the city's residents were gathered for his appearance, along with the local news; they were denied any initial comment and were stopped from getting near the president. Shadow and Rouge stood stoically at the front of the group, armed but refraining from holding their guns, and sweeping their gazes across the crowd from behind dark sunglasses. Omega was behind them, blocking the center of the building's steps.

They stood waiting until the president returned, fortunately not seeing any signs of the crowd getting rowdy – even though Rouge could spot bits of destruction in the distance from the day before. There was also no sign of Eggman or his drones, at least not yet. His technology had gotten a little better in the last decade or so, but the bat also suspected his mind may be on its way out. The last time he made a physical appearance, he seemed madder than before, in a way that hindered him. Since then, he'd only been sending robots to cause trouble.

It made their job easier, not having to deal with the Doctor. But the overlanders still demanded answers and reassurance when there was an attack. Thus, the president sought to ease their anger and worries, however temporarily. He descended the steps and approached the outdoor podium to address the crowd, surrounded by his human guards and protected at his front by the skilled trio. They kept their eyes on the people and the area around them, looking for any signs of danger.

"Citizens of Westopolis," the man began, his voice carrying across the open space, "I've come to speak on the horrible attack that took place here yesterday. Dr. Robotnik's vile actions continue to put good people in jeopardy, while he uses his machines to destroy homes built by hardworking townsmen. I know you're all continuously worried for the state of our world with his presence still threatening us."

He took a pause, preparing for the next part of his speech while the spattering of humans mumbled and grumbled to each other. Shadow silently noted a few denizens who looked angrier than the rest, but so far they made no move to cause a scene. The President continued, "I have personally worked with our military forces to consider a solution to this ongoing problem. Unfortunately, we've yet to find a fix that doesn't risk putting our people in more danger. Confronting Robotnik is a delicate subject, and a task that is not to be taken lightly. So, I ask that you please remain patient in these trying times, and know that we are still working to make life safer for you all."

A light rumble of disagreements rose from the crowd, prompting the suited human to put his arms out, beckoning them to quiet down. "In the meantime, we will provide resources, shelter, and supplies to those affected by the attack. You have my word that the G.U.N will take care of you under my orders. We're also putting the city under protective watch, in case of another threat. As it stands, we offer our condolences for the trials you're facing and the interruption to your livelihoods. We will do what we can to make it right."

The people once again started to speak in a jumble of voices, but their cacophony was ignored when the President started to step away from the podium, punctuating his speech with, "Thank you for your time."

Team Dark continued to face the audience as their superior was led once again toward the town hall by his Secret Service, the three of them lagging behind to keep the citizens at bay until the president was back inside the building. Shadow and Rouge kept calm and quiet in the face of the press, who threw questions at them in the absence of their leader. It took a monotone request from Omega to make them back off, his cold delivery striking discomfort into them even as his statement was neutral.

"All citizens remain patient. Insolence is discouraged. Remain calm."

They waited again until the president left the town hall to directly address the men and women holding cameras and microphones, and guarded him more closely while he answered their questions.

After finishing their job, Team Dark was given a ride back to their headquarters. But before they went inside, the President rolled down his window to see them off.

"I have to thank you all for guarding me today and keeping the people safe," he said with a grateful nod. "Even though Dr. Eggman didn't show himself or his robots, your presence was invaluable."

Rouge piped up, "Any time, Mr. President. But, Eggman is best dealt with sooner rather than later. You don't want your citizens revolting because you still haven't found a way to bring him down."

The man sighed. "There's no simple strategy for that. Believe me, we've been working on it for a decade. But we do what we can in the meantime."

"Sure," Shadow cut in, "but don't expect us to always be around to save everyone."

"He's right," his wife agreed. "In fact, we have plans to take a vacation very soon. So once we're gone, we'll be unreachable if something happens."

"I'll keep that in mind. Still, I appreciate the work you did today. You three are the best agents we've ever had."

"We know, sir," Rouge replied with a wink. "But thanks!"

The human's eyes flicked between them and he offered another nod – this time in farewell – before rolling up the window. The trio returned to their building, where they stripped themselves of their gear and met with Commander Tower for the mission report.

With a hint of surprise in his old voice, he asked, "Everything went smoothly?"

"Yes, sir," Shadow answered. "The crowd was manageable. And we saw no sign of Dr. Eggman or his pawns."

A grumbly sigh escaped him as he signed his name at the bottom of a page. "We don't get many of those. The President should consider himself lucky no one tried pulling anything, considering the state of that city."

"I'm sure he does," Rouge responded, then shared a glance with her husband. "He's probably seen some wack-jobs in his time."

"I'll let you have this little respite," said Tower, grabbing an ink stamp to press onto the paper. "No more jobs for today." His eyes then trailed up to the lady's. "But before you go, Rouge, you're needed in Medical. Meet with your doctor; apparently she's got some news for you."

One white eyebrow quirked above her blue-painted lid, curiosity and an air of concern entering her expression. "Really? Did she say anything else?"

"No," he answered dully. "But I wouldn't worry. If it was serious, you would've been sent in sooner. Just stop by on your way out."

She paused for a beat, then said, "Alright. Thanks, Commander."

He dismissed them with a quick salute, then returned to his paperwork. Once they were out of his office, and before heading to the Medical Ward, Omega spoke up, "While you are preoccupied, I will return to request an upgrade again. Perhaps I can convince them if I persist."

Shadow approved with a nod. "We'll meet you outside when it's time to go home."

They parted ways and the hedgehog walked with his woman to the doctor's office. "You're not worried, are you?"

"Me?" Rouge said, then swatted the air. "Of course not. You heard Tower; it can't be anything serious."

"Good." When they reached the office, he gave her a kiss. "I'll be out here."

Rouge walked into the large empty waiting room, then knocked on the second door, soon leaning in and making eye contact with the human woman. "Hi, Doctor. Tower said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, come in." She grabbed her clipboard from the counter as the bat entered, closing the door behind her. "It's about your blood test – it came back different from what we're used to."

"Bad different?" Rouge asked, crossing her arms.

"No, not bad. But…" Her expression was pensive. "You might want to steel yourself, agent."

White brows furled a bit before the doctor said, "The test came back showing that you're pregnant."

Rouge's eyebrows strained together even more, curving upwards as disbelief spread through her. Gloved hands clutched her arms a little tighter, and her mouth slowly opened to mutter, "What?"

"I know it's unexpected. Take all the time you need to process."

"Are you sure?" she asked immediately. "How high is the chance it's a mistake?"

The doctor's mouth pinched and she answered, "Very low. With our technology, it's almost infallible. Now, we will need to do further testing anyway to confirm it; especially with your line of work, the chances of it being a false positive are too important to ignore."

Standing in shock, but trying to hold her composure, Rouge swallowed back a wave of anxiety. She could feel her heart rate rising as the overlander continued, "For now, you can go home. Unwind, give yourself a chance to relax, and try not to stress over this. We'll do more tests if you want to come in tomorrow."

After a pause, the spy nodded. "Sure. Even if it's a .01 chance of being wrong, I want to know as soon as possible."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow. And if you experience any symptoms before you come in, try to keep in mind the time and severity. It'll help us to accommodate you through this."

Having lost her luster, Rouge's voice was quieter when she said, "Alright… Thank you, Doctor."

"You're welcome. Have a good night."

The bat let herself out of the office, choosing to sit in one of the waiting room chairs for a moment. She had to process this information and collect herself before meeting up with Shadow.

'Crap… What will Shadow think?' she mused nervously.

She had no idea how he would react when she gave him the news. He'd certainly become softer since marrying her, but overall, his personality hadn't changed in ten years. He could surprise her by being content – or even excited – to be a dad, but it was perhaps more likely that he would be upset at this unplanned development. They weren't prepared for this responsibility yet, even after half a decade of marriage. Their relationship had always been about taking things slow, as they felt they had all the time in the world to take fresh steps when it was right for them. Now the next step was bringing itself to them, and if they didn't raise their feet, they would fall.

Rouge also didn't want to burden her beau with a brand new thing right now; a new life, a new mouth to feed, another soul entering their lives and taking up their time. It wasn't something she opposed, but the two of them hadn't been trying for an addition to their family, and that alone made the reality of it daunting. She had to imagine they were ready for it, but how could she be sure? Her stomach was flipping with anxious emotions, and when she put her hands to her middle, she felt like she was cradling her future child already.

It freaked her out a little bit, coaxing Rouge to take in and let out a few deep breaths to ward off the budding stress. She wouldn't deal with it right this second. She didn't want to. Especially because the minute she told Shadow what was going on, things would change. He would change, in one way or another, and she would become someone else. She wanted to control when she became a new kind of woman, at least.

A mother, she acknowledged silently. She was going to be a mother.