Hey guys, I'm back with another fic. This one centers on Knuckles the Echidna and his past life catching up with the present. Please Review and let me know what you think!

Chapter One: Finding Him

Marrying Julie-Su and starting a family was going to be Knuckles' life once upon a time, but she was taken before that could happen. Six years had passed since the accident that split them up. He searched the world for her and always believed she was still alive, but eventually he had to move on with his life. He reunited with his friends after Sonic's death and they cheered him up, but Knuckles knew he would never truly be happy in life.

Unbeknownst to him, Julie was indeed alive, although her 'saviours' ensured she'd forgotten all about her life with Knuckles.

Alive but still injured, Julie wound up in the care of Serena, the leader of a cult-like following that operated along the eastern shores. Unaware of how she got there, she thought back to being scared, weak and relying on the protection of others. Now, she mastered abilities that transcended self defence. She specialized in hurting people, and she liked it.

Today she was called to meet with Serena and her half-brother Angel in a dark but luminous chamber, waiting for orders as she usually did.

Serena picked up a photo and showed it off. "Do you know this guy?"

Julie looked closely at the youthful echidna for a moment.

"…no."

Angel put his glass of vodka down and scanned her face. "She's telling the truth."

"There's a younger echidna boy out there named Abbott-Jak. We need him to come back here, Julie, This other individual, Knuckles, knows how to get ahold of Jak and so use him to bring the kid here. Can you do that?"

Julie answered without hesitation. "Yes, Countess."

Angel cut in. "After you've got the kid, kill Knuckles and bring proof of death."

Julie-Su took a moment to process this request. "..understood."

"Great. Off you go then. If you need anything, call my lovely brother here and he'll get you sorted."

Julie walked out of Serena's chamber, knowing this assignment would take her all week, maybe longer, to complete.

Once she knew Julie was gone, Serena looked at the photo of Knuckles and Angel scanned her face.

"She's gonna remember him, sis. And once she does, she won't kill him."

"She won't remember a thing. I made sure of that. Just make sure she stays in line, brother."


Down in Central Metropolis, Knuckles had lost his job at a steel mill after his arrest during the fight against the city's local crime boss, Predator Hawk. He, Tails, Manic and Amy took down Hawk's HAZARD syndicate, but after that, Knux was back to slumming in the gutter. His bank account was running low and he needed to satisfy his alcohol addiction.

After speaking to some new friends he met through Manic, Knuckles found himself brawling in underground fight circuits for money. It wasn't the dream job he wanted after high school, but it certainly paid the bills. The more fights he won, the bigger the paycheck.

And if there was one thing Knuckles was good at, it was fighting.

Inside a makeshift steel cage, Knuckles knocked down an opponent and spit out blood as he squared up.

"C'mon man, get up! Let's see some of those moves you were talking about!"

The skinny fighter rose to his feet only to recieve a lightning fast uppercut punch to the face and a One-Two punch combo which promptly knocked him out. Knuckles stood over his defeated opponent and the small group of spectators roared with approval.

Round of applause for these no-name bastards, everyone!

Knuckles glared up at the loud mouth with the megaphone. He ran the illegal operation, sure, but he had no business talking about anybody like that. Especially since he saved this city from HAZARD only a few months ago.

I'd kill for a chance to have you in the cage for 1 minute, Matty, Knuckles thought ...just keep talking...

After collecting his pay, (hundred and fifty dollar bills) Knuckles left the parking garage and made his way home. He waved to the locals who smoked joints in the garage and passed the prostitutes without saying a word. Everyone knew to just leave him alone by this point.

The walk back wasn't long which was convenient, and street lights were turning on by the time he reached the three storey apartment building he called home. His 'work schedule' was definitely on stranger hours than anyone else in his neighbourhood.

As he entered the building, a female hedgehog with dyed aqua green hair greeted him on the staircase. She was simply called Valentine, only had to be 18 years old but knew how to take care of herself. Valentine was definitely Knuckles' favourite neighbour because of her friendly and outgoing personality, but she wasn't afraid to tell you off if need be.

"How are ya tonight, Val," Knuckles greeted as he walked up the stairs.

"Hey Knux! Some chick was looking for you earlier!" Valentine called out.

Knuckles pulled out his apartment key. "She leave a name?"

"Nah. Looked timid, though. You expecting any crazy dreadlocked girlfriends at all?"

He mind flashed to Julie-Su immediately, but he knew not to get his hopes up.

"…not these days. Thanks for the heads up, Val."

She waved to him and he got inside his $950 a month apartment. The place was basically giant brick walls with maybe two pieces of furniture and a washroom. The lights took ten seconds to come on after he flipped the switch, a testament to how good the electrical wiring was in this place. After opening a can of White Ox Beer, Knuckles lounged back in his black leather reclining chair and turned on his 1990's style radio. He took off his spiked gloves and looked at his bloodied fists for a moment, then went back to relaxing.

I hit that that sucker pretty hard. Hope Jimmy doesn't have any hard feelings.

Drinking beer and listening to music he hated every night wasn't the life he fought so hard to attain, but he knew things could be a hell of a lot worse for him, so he moved on from that thought and pretended to enjoy the music.

As he sipped on his beverage, a few light taps on his balcony door got his attention. He always kept the doors locked and by now everyone who lived here knew Knuckles was the first to jump into a fight, so they wouldn't mess with him, at least that was the understanding.

He found it odd that someone would climb onto his balcony and knock at this door rather than the front door.

Better not be those punk asses from down the alley…

Knuckles threw the beer down and opened the door quickly. "Who's out here?"

He stopped talking when his eyes met hers. She looked so different from the day they were split up, yet it felt like she hadn't changed at all. Her pink dreadlocks were far more kept together than his at the moment due to him just fighting 3 guys in the cage, so he was slightly embarrassed to be seen like this, but he couldn't fully concentrate on how he looked. He was staring at the girl he loved who was taken away from him all those years ago.

"Jules? That you?" his voice trembled.

"Hey there. I was just passing through town and a mutual friend told me where to find you." Julie replied, keeping up her act.

Knuckles needed to touch her, to confirm this was real, that she was real. He stepped in closer, causing Julie to jump back defensively. She was so used to men wanting to hurt her that Knuckles's hug came as a surprise. He held her close for a moment, doing his best to hold back his emotions and look sensitive in front of his girlfriend whom he thought was dead.

"I never stopped looking for you, Jules.. I knew you were still alive, and I knew that was you on the news a couple months ago-"

He felt himself choking up so he took a moment to clear his throat, while still embracing Julie.

"...I'm so glad you're back."

The female echidna found herself without anything to say. She had no clue who this guy hugging her was, but his words stayed with her for the rest of the night.

He brought her inside, feeling more ashamed of his shitty apartment than he usually did, but he had to show her everything. The photo album, the love letters, the engagement rings, all of it. Yet, even as Knuckles showed her all the photos of them together, displaying them as lovers, Julie didn't believe a word of it. She couldn't picture herself loving anyone, let alone some backstreet brawler. All she knew was she had a job to do and she can't let emotions get in the way.