Sonic The Hedgehog: The Series - Part 8 FINAL by diosoth

Sonic The Hedgehog: The Series - Part 8 FINAL

diosoth, Bat, Cunnilingus, Death, Drama, F/F, Hedgehog, Human, M/F, Romance, Sex, Sonic The Hedgehog, Violence (Not In Yiff), War, Yiff

Twenty seven years have passed

The couple kissed in the dark, saliva dripping to the bed, soft moans from their lips. The sun had yet to shine, early morning lovers awakened by a desire to become intimate. Rouge had him pinned down, lying on top, breathing through her nose with her tongue in his mouth. She could feel Tom gripping her ass, only wishing she were a bit taller so that he could make love to her like this.

Rolling over, the bat flipped on the lamp. "I can't take it anymore," she said, lying on her back.

Tom, eager to please, placed his face near her crotch. "Nice and wet. I think I'll taste." Gently licking her slit, he sucked in her wetness. Exposing his wife's clitoris, Tom began to lick on it.

"Oh! Oh, wow..." she moaned.

"I like your clit. So sensitive... so big... like a marble!"

"It's not as big as a marble!" she shouted.

He said, "don't get so uptight. You have a big clit... I'm surprised you don't cum when you wear tight clothes..." Licking it gently, he allowed his tongue to flick it around. "If it were any bigger you could jerk it off..."

"Now you're just being weird," she muttered. "But if you say so... if it's that big, then suck me off!"

He was feeling playful. Lips around her bead, he sucked on it, tongue working heavily. Rouge almost screamed, but she could take it. She could feel the skin of her vagina being pulled around, clit sucked hard, taste buds grazing it without remorse. Most women would find this to intense, but Rouge loved it, feeling his spit soak her bump. It was little effort to make Rouge climax, her cries of pleasure loud. "Watch it," Thomas scolded, "don't want to wake the whole house!"

Fluffing the pillows, she invited her lover to sit against the wall. Easing down on him, Rouge loved the way it felt, sliding inside of her. Without a chance to speak, they locked lips, the lamp turned off.

This would take some time.

The twins peeked over the couch. They were curious. June held her child tight, the infant sleeping, finally. Tiff was beside her, head resting against June's shoulder.

"Cute baby," Violette said.

"Little baby," Rose agreed. She asked, "where's the daddy?"

"Uh..." June didn't know what to say. "I'll tell you when you're older, okay? Please, let her get some rest."

The twins were content with the answer, running off to play. Tiff asked, "you thought of a name yet?"

"I like Tina," she answered.

"That's good."

"Good?" Tiff liked the name.

June thought it was a bit plain. "Well... this IS what she'll be called for life. How about... Tania. Almost the same but a bit more unique."

"Tania... I like it."

"I do, too," Rouge muttered, passing by. "It's about time you two named her."

"Sis likes the name. So..." June looked down at her child. "Tania."

Club Rouge was in the middle of a slow afternoon. Central City was holding a festival, no doubt drawing away a fair amount of business. Rouge was a bit bored. All business papers checked out and for some odd reason, she wasn't feeling adventurous. Though they had likely done all the dirty stuff their systems could take earlier that morning.

She did have one concern, however. Cytheria, the echidna in charge of security, had failed to show up. This wasn't too unusual, though, as it had become rather typical of her since she began to date Shadow. In a way, Rouge was pleased that her old friend had finally found some degree of happiness, but it had also come at the expense of her business running as it should.

It was actually a surprise to see her walk through the front doors, though the girl was still in her leather biker gear. Spotting Rouge, she walked forward and handed over a piece of paper. "I quit," she said, turning away. Rouge didn't have time to say anything as Cytheria walked off.

Rouge sat with Tom in the casino restaurant. As he tried to take a bite of his burger, a voice interrupted them. They turned to see Karen with another echidna. "Karen," Rouge greeted. "Knuckles isn't with you?"

"Nah, he had stuff to do, but this is important... Rouge, this is Cindia. She's Cytheria's mother."

"She quit earlier," Tom said. "Just walked in and handed over a note. Didn't even give my wife a change to talk her out of it. But she'd been a pretty lousy worker..."

"I was hoping to find her here. She's been ignoring me since she left the island. Or, rather, we made her leave." Cindia was nervous, shaking noticeably.

Rouge asked, "made her leave? Your own daughter?"

"It's her father," Cindia explained. "Or... Shadow. The one she's been seeing. Is it true he's of the Black Arms lineage?"

Rouge and Tom looked at each other. "Strange question..." he muttered out.

"He is," the bat answered. "Why?"

"Cytheria is... when the Black Arms invaded, they took me. They did some experiment on me and-"

"Oh my..." Rouge couldn't believe it. "They impregnated you? That's awful..."

Cindia sighed. "I tried to make the best of it, but as she got older, she became unreasonable, distant... stopped living well with others. We made her leave the island."

"That explains why she likes to start fist fights so much..." Rouge was rather shocked by this. "And you're worried about her being with Shadow?" Cytheria nodded. "Shadow is... listen, I'll talk with him. You think they know? That Shadow might know what she is?"

"Possibly," Karen said. "We think Cytheria figured it out."

"I'm worried what their children might be like." Cindia began crying. "I just want my little girl back..."

Shadow heard the knocking. Cracking the door, he was surprised by his visitors. "Rouge!"

"Shadow... I called GUN to find out where you live, and they told me you resigned last week!" The bat was furious. She entered, refusing to wait for an invitation. "It's fine that you've got a love life now, but throwing THAT away?"

She heard the fizz and pop. Cytheria sat on the couch, beer can in hand. "Oh. My old employer. Listen, if you want me back, it ain't happening."

Rouge said, "your mother visited me today."

"She told you, then?" The echidna didn't even turn away from the television.

"Shadow? Do you know?"

He replied, "how could I not know? I suspected it when I met her. She has the red markings like I do."

Barely visible amongst her orange fur, red stripes running down her spines and arms. "Your mother is worried," Rouge said. "You shunned her."

"Big deal," Cytheria responded. "She's mortal. Be dead eventually. No point getting attached to beings like that."

"Really?" Tom muttered. "Black Arms might live a long time, but I remember that war. They were hardly immortal."

"I can see why you like fist fights so much," Rouge noted. "Probably don't take much injury. Pity you couldn't stay and work for me... however, if you'd come back, I'll triple your pay."

"TRIPLE?" The echidna's attention was held tight. "Well... I didn't quit because the job was boring. Certainly enough rowdy losers to bust heads with. But..." She looked towards Shadow. "Should we tell them?"

"Go ahead," he agreed.

Cytheria jumped from the couch, grabbing a folder and handing it to Tom. "It's all in there."

Opening to look, he freaked out. "WHOA!"

Rouge watched it drop to the floor, pictures spilling out. Stopping to collect them, she saw what Tom had viewed. "It certainly IS all in here..."

Cytheria laughed. "Like?"

"Um..." Rouge didn't know what to say. "Not that I'm into THIS, but..."

She explained, "and that's just the softcore stuff. Me an' Shadow wanna do a home porn site. Lots of money in that..."

"Good lord," Tom commented, rather shy about peeking. "Huh... well, that's.... you're flexible, I'll give you that."

Rouge chuckled. "I'd pop my hip out of socket if I tried to spread that far..."

"I take it your husband isn't into looking at porn, is he?" Cytheria tossed her empty can aside.

He responded, "well, does seem a bit pointless..."

Shadow didn't flinch. "I quit GUN because they don't need a scandal of one of their agents doing something like this."

"Our problem is," Cytheria said, "this takes money to start. Hosting fees, good cameras, digital storage... I'll take up your offer. We need the cash. Shadow's income is cut off and he can only sell so much blood."

"Fair enough..." Rouge paused. "BUT... you have to go talk to your mother. She's scared."

"'Bout what?" she asked.

"She's afraid of you two having children. No one knows what two people with Black Arms DNA will... it's hard to say what your kid would be like."

The echidna replied, "I'm sterile. Seems the genes didn't mix good. Ah well."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Rouge offered.

"Don't be," she replied. "Okay, you win... I'll call mom. Fucking island though, don't ask me to get along with them. They let that stupid outsider in but kicked me out!"

"Maybe if you showed them you aren't dangerous," Rouge suggested.

She replied, "but I am... anyway, listen, there is one thing you might be able to help with, since we all knew about it..."

"What's that?" Rouge asked.

"Doing porn online, we want a nice variety. But I can't squirt. Trust me, Shadow tries..."

"Why not just tell them everything we do?" he scolded.

She waved him off. "We're gonna be screwing on the internet. Better get used to people knowing about it!"

Rouge considered it. "I'll think about it... get back to you later. I'll expect you back at work tomorrow. ON TIME! No more showing up late."

"I'll be there," she said. Shoving the folder into Tom's hand, she added, "take them."

Tom was stunned. "I really-"

"Don't be a prude," Rouge said. "He'll be happy to have them."

"Okay... you got any of Shadow you can give her, then?" he asked, feeling vengeful.

"Ehr, that's okay..." Rouge gave her husband a mean look.

"You sure?" Cytheria looked around. "I think I have some boner pics of him if you-"

"NOT INTERESTED!" Rouge shouted.

"Now who's being a prude?" Tom said.

Rouge replied, "it's not about how a dick looks. It's how it works."

"I got'cha," Cytheria said. "Still pissed he didn't hook up with you?"

Shadow cupped a hand over her mouth. "That's not important anymore!"

She pulled his hand free. "Well, guess she is getting old. Not that she suffers for it..." Cytheria made a mental picture. "Bet your tits ain't aged a day..."

Rouge smiled. "I am rather proud of them."

"So am I," Tom added.

"Don't tell Sonic or the others about this," Shadow requested.

"Don't worry," Rouge replied, "I wouldn't do that... better to let them find out when it's too late."

Teal held the child gently. "Tania... glad you two finally named her."

"Yeah. Well, naming a kid's a big deal, so..." June said. The child began crying. Teal handed her over. "Hungry again... feeding time." June looked at Slate. "Don't you have some cooking to go do?"

"Right..." The echidna ran off, Teal following close behind. June pulled her shirt down, allowing her infant to breast feed. They heard the front door open. "Sis is home," June muttered.

Tiff commented, "The twins should be... right on time!" They watched the two kids fly across the house, greeting their parents. Rose saw the folder. "What's that?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Rouge said. "Now go get ready for dinner!"

"Okay, mommy," Violette said, the two girls running off.

Stepping into the living room, they greeted June and Tiff. June turned away. "Can't get two minutes without someone watching...."

"Like it's the worst I've seen today," Thomas commented. "You know what... here." He sat the folder on the couch. "You two might like these more than I will."

Rouge smiled at them. "Enjoy... we're going to change for dinner."

Tiff picked the folder up as they left. "Uh...."

Peering over, June saw several pictures of a female echidna, naked, in various poses. "DAMN! She's, uh...."

Tiff felt cheap, even looking at them. "Where's the garbage can...."

"Stop whining," June scolded. "Just 'cause we're married doesn't mean we can't look at porn. Maybe we'll look at them later, okay?"

Twenty seven years, one month have passed

The shed at the edge of the property was secluded, barely used anymore. A perfect spot for lovers to sneak off to, should they want to be loud. The walls echoed with Teal's screams, the bat girl bent over a sturdy table as Slate held tight to her hips, thrusting madly. The couple was loud, wild, far from the house and far from anyone who could hear them. Her fingernails left scratches in the wood, Teal gritting her teeth. "Wait," she ordered. Rolling onto her back, the bat invited the echidna to resume.

Sitting upright, Teal's pussy hungrily sucked Slate's cock inside her, nipples sensitive as he grabbed onto her breasts, practically using them for handles. He cried out, "can't do this any more!"

"Good boy!" she shouted out, screaming from climax. Slate ejaculated, some of which spilled out between thrusts. The echidna boy gradually slowed down, panting like mad. The sensation in her vagina slowly vanishing, Teal rolled her shirt down. "Gotta pull out now!"

"Oh, right," he said, withdrawing. Jumping to the floor, Teal bent down, grabbing her pants and pulling them up. "Be a few minutes," he commented.

"Right... gotta wait for that to peek back inside..." Teal was always excited to see this, how his genitals only poked out when he was aroused. "Although..." Teal had a wicked idea. Dropping to her knees, she took his dick, still slightly stiff, and put it in her mouth. It was still wet from sperm and pussy juices, a taste she liked.

It was no effort to get Slate in the mood, her mouth bobbing up and down, tongue licking the slit. Teal was deep-throating her lover, feeling the end of his penis poke the back of her throat and tongue. "WHOA! Too much! Okay..." Slate reeled. "Teal! Get ready!" It was fair warning. He threw his head back, cumming hard, jizz filling Teal's mouth. Playfully, she enjoyed the taste, finally swallowing.

Standing up, she kissed him on the cheek. He seemed to be mildly disgusted. "Oh, don't be a baby about it!" she scolded, pulling him down to the table. "We gotta wait for your cock to go back in. Come on, hold me..." Slate wrapped his arms around his wife, her head nuzzled against his chest.

Teal's eyes popped open, looking down. "Time to get back to the house..." she commented, springing upright and pulling Slate to his feet. Running to the shed door, she pushed it open, ears picking up the noise nearby. Turning, she saw the shape moving in the corner. Curious, teal investigated, finding a small bat. Not a bat of her kind, but one of the small airborne bats that usually lived in caves or barns.

It was injured.

Scooping it up, she ran for the house. Her feet weren't fast enough. Teal, panicking, took flight, tearing through the air as fats as her wings could work. Slate ran after her, his cries inaudible. Teal was too far away. Throwing the back door open, she ran in. "MOM!"

"Teal?" Rouge was busy with the twins. Violette and Rose looked at the object their sister carried.

"MOM! This bat's hurt!"

"Okay... let me see!" Rouge made her way to the table, brushing aside a pile of doll clothes as Teal rested the animal on the surface. "Oh... broken wing... that's no good." She leaned in closer and said, "broken pretty bad... she won't fly again. But we can at least take care of her."

Slate ran in, wondering what was going on. "Slate," Rouge ordered, "we have a small aquarium in the storage room. Go get it! Now!" He didn't argue, merely running to gather what his mother-in-law had asked for. "Your father went to the store and June's busy with Tania... Violette!"

The twins peeked up. "Yes, mommy?" the girl asked.

"Go get some jars. You and your sister go outside and collect small bugs. We need them!"

"What for?" Rose asked.

Rouge explained, "this little bat eats insects. She'll be hungry... Teal. Get me towels and a cardboard box."

The twins looked at the creature, huddled, in pain. "What is that?" Rose asked.

Violette said, "it's a bat, stupid!"

"That's not a bat, dummy!" Rose said, "we're bats!"

"That little animal is a bat," Rouge corrected, "but not like you or me. Did you get the insects?" The twins held up the jar, filled with grasshoppers and other bugs. Lifting the aquarium lid, Rouge dumped the bugs in. "Hopefully, she'll be able to eat now..."

She felt sorry for the animal. Its wing was broken and even if it healed, it may ever fly again. Rouge could see the fractures, two breaks causing an unnatural bend. The bat would keep its wing close to its body, the bone may heal, but it would be uneven. Rouge only wished she knew how this had happened.

Tom peeked in. "I don't think this is going to work well. A cardboard box isn't a bat's home..."

"I'll fix something more suitable later. This one will be here for a while..." She sighed, feeling defeated. "No vet can operate on bats. They just aren't pets. The zoo said the bones are just too fragile to operate on. All we can do is wait and let nature work..."

Tom said, "I would think the basics amongst bats would be worth something."

"No..." Rouge pulled away from the tank. "We may be of the same genus, but I'm a different species than these little bats."

"I have always wondered how you have arms." Tom felt it worth wondering. "Wings in your back rather than... well, where are we going to keep it?"

"'Her', Tom. Not 'it'," she corrected. "Teal wants to keep this poor thing in her room and take care of it."

"We have a place ready," Teal said, poking her head into the room.

"So," Tom asked, "where'd you find... her?"

Teal seemed to be turning red. "Uh... out in the shed. Why?"

"The shed..." He asked, "you two make a mess out there?"

She was stunned. "Dad... why would you think we were-"

"Oh, please," he mouthed, "sneaking off to the shed. That's amateur."

Rouge smiled. "Your father and I like the open field."

Their daughter didn't want to know. "Right... before I was born..."

"More like last time we were the only ones here..." Tom replied. Rouge laughed.

"Uh... I'll go put the aquarium in my room now!" Lifting it, Teal carried the enclosure down the hallway.

Slate watched the small bat climb into the cardboard box, no doubt uncomfortable with the lights of the mansion. Picking up a small dark sheet, Teal covered the aquarium. "Think she'll be okay?"

He replied, "hard to tell. We will have to keep watching and see what happens."

The knock at the door was swift. Teal turned the knob to find Tiff standing at her door. "Can I see it?"

"Not now," Teal answered, "the bat just went into the box and I covered it. I don't think it likes all the light."

"Aww... I'll look in later. Poor little thing..." Disappointed, Tiff walked off.

Teal took her husband's hand. "Um... Slate? About kids..."

He looked her in the eyes. "You're not giving up, are you?"

"No, but-" She paused. "You know it might not be possible between us... I want to try, but... in case we can't, would you oppose adoption?"

"I don't know," he answered. "I haven't thought of it. There is artificial-"

"We don't now if we're even genetically compatible," she said. "I hope we are, but... just give it some thought, okay? For now, I want to take care of this little bat I found. Might give us some early training for being parents."

Twenty seven years, two months have passed

"Come in!"

Rouge turned the knob, stepping into the apartment. Cytheria was planted on the couch, wearing little more than her bra and panties. "Thanks for getting dressed up for company!" she commented.

"What?" The echidna girl shrugged. "Shadow doesn't have to wear pants."

"Right..." Rouge opened her purse. "I discussed it with Tom. He said his father would spin in his grave if he helped fund a porn site."

Cytheria sipped her beer. "So no cash?"

She pulled a check out. "Actually, Tom doesn't care what his father would have wanted..."

"Oh wow!" Cytheria commented. "Five thousand... Shadow went out to get a new hard drive and such... that's costing us a lot."

"When's the site open?" Rouge asked.

"Next week. Just gotta get the server open and the payment processing ready. You... given any thought to being part of it?"

"I'll pass," she said. "As fun as it might be, I don't think Tom will go for being video taped and put online."

Cytheria tossed the can away. "You even ask him?"

"I-" Rouge paused. "I didn't... okay, maybe I'll run it by him, but..."

"You don't want to. That it?"

She nodded. "I'm getting too old. Today's my forty-fifth birthday. Tom's getting the party ready. You can come if you want."

"I'll see if I can drag Shadow out of the house. Okay, no deal on being on the site. But..." She gave Rouge a look. "If you and your husband ever want a private three-way, let me know."

Rouge looked away. "Sorry, but I'm not really interested in Shadow anymore and I don't think Tom would-"

"Not Shadow... I meant with me." The echidna smiled. "Come on, you can't say you haven't thought about being with another woman!"

"I- um..." She was trapped. "Maybe... briefly... wait, why are you so interested?"

"DUH!" Cytheria explained, "I'm doing girl-on-girl for the site. Shadow films it while we get it on. Sometimes, he joins in. And he told me about time time he fucked your mom. He said if you want to nail me for payback, he's cool with it."

Rouge was intrigued. "That does sound tempting... I'll keep it in mind. Who knows, maybe I'll feel a bit more adventurous someday. I would like to bring new ideas into my love life while I still can. But not right now. Listen, I'm going to leave. The party's at the casino. Look at it this way. Free food."

The party was alive. Club Rouge was closed down for the private birthday party, as it was every year. June sat off with her child, away from the noise, but everyone else was enjoying themselves. The twins sorted through a stack of unwrapped gift paper, tying the bows neatly into pretty strings.

Cytheria approached, in the nicest clothing she owned, which was her work uniform. "Here. Shadow got this for you."

"Oh?" Curiously, Rouge undid the paper. Inside was an old artifact, lined with jewels. "It's... very nice. Something he found in old ruins, I'm guessing... not likely to find THIS in a store. Where is he?"

"We had stuff to get done," she said, though Rouge knew she meant that Shadow didn't feel like showing up.

"I see." Rouge said, "tell him I love it."

The kitchen door kicked open, held by two employees, allowing Teal to push out the cart. The cake was large, multiple layers, enough for everyone to have a piece. Candles burned, inviting Rouge to blow them out. Forty-five candles. "Little much, don't you think?"

"I would think a tough woman like you can handle it, mom!" Teal said jokingly. The crowd cheered as Rouge blew the candles out, one by one, and began to cut the cake. "Ooh, strawberry cake!" Teal took over, cutting slices to pass onto plates for everyone in attendance.

"Damn, this is good cake!" Knuckles commented, shoving it into his mouth.

"It had better be," Slate remarked, "it was made with fruit we grow."

Rouge found Tails, sitting with his lab assistant. "I see you found a guest to bring along..."

"Rouge, you know Sarah," he replied.

"I do... so, wedding bells anytime soon?"

Tails became fidgety. "HUH?"

"Oh, come on," she blurted out, "you two aren't professional."

"She knows," Sarah said. "We've been dating for two years. Officially." The blonde, human woman adjusted her glasses.

"I don't want to keep it secret," Miles explained, "but the scientific community doesn't look too well on humans dating non-humans. I don't want her career ruined." He took a drink of fruit punch. "... or mine."

"I see... well, you two have fun." She left them alone, joining her husband.

"Happy birthday," he greeted.

She nuzzled against him. "It is..."

The treadmills ran at medium, the two jogging steadily, sweat dripping off their bodies. "I think I'm starting to feel my age," Thomas remarked.

"Funny, I'm not," Rouge responded, increasing the speed.

He said, "don't push yourself. You don't need to keep up with teenagers."

"Screw that," she shouted. "I'll stop when I'm dead."

Finishing their exercise, the two headed for their room. The twins were asleep, Teal and Slate out for the night, and June and Tiff were busy with their child. No one to concern themselves with or bother them.

They lay on the bed, cooling down. Sweat messed up the sheets. Rolling over, Tom's nose began to sniff, digging deep into her fur along her neck. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I don't know... I don't smell anything, but-"

"I must be putting out pheromones," the bat commented. Her human husband was keen to them, having become adjusted to her scent over the decades. She felt his bare chest. "Want to work out some more? Our own special exercise routine?"

"You lead," he said.

Taking his hand, she slid it up into her sports bra. "Play with my nipple." He began to pinch it slowly. "Wait..."

"What?" He stopped.

"Tom, I-" Rouge's eyes closed. "You know I have a sexual nature that causes me to be curious."

He said, "big deal."

"Well," she continued, "I was just wondering... how far would you support me if I got some new ideas? I mean-" Rouge considered telling him about Cytheria's offer, but she let it go.

He asked, "you were thinking about doing something for Shadow's porn site, right?"

"Maybe. I don't want to be filmed and put online, but I have been curious about someone watching."

Tom said, "let me guess... you went to give them the check this morning, and..."

"Cytheria made an offer. She knows about Shadow and my mother. Shadow's idea, but he wouldn't be there. I guess he thinks that allowing us to have sex with his girlfriend makes up for what he did. Not that it would, but..."

"I gotcha." Hugging her close, Tom remarked, "listen, we've been together a long time. We're aging. We'll soon be too old for this. It's okay to be thinking these things."

"Thanks." Rouge pulled her bra off. "I think, though... I'll have to turn her offer down. There's being experimental, and then there's a time when it's no one's god damn business but our own."

"I'm proud of you." Kissing her, he added, "if you ever do decide to do something new, I'll want to be there, so long as it's not something too out there. But don't think you have to do something if you don't want to."

She grabbed his pants, edging them down. "Sounds good. Right now... I want to watch your eyes roll back into your head. I want your cock to explode inside of me. I want you to squeeze my tits!" Pushing a finger down into Tom's foreskin, she fondled him, his sensitive dick stiffening quickly. Dropping her pants, she mounted her lover, dick sliding inside with her legs wrapped around, the couple sitting upright on the edge of the bed. Sweat mixed, their bodies slippery.

Thrusting upward gently, he enjoyed the warmth. "If it matters, this feels as good as it did when you were eighteen..."

Twenty seven years, four months have passed

Rouge rolled over in bed, smiling. Her husband was asleep, barely covered by the blankets. Gently lifting them off, she exposed his naked body. Muscular and aging well, Rouge still liked how Tom looked. Gently touching him, her hands moved downward, fingers eagerly groping his penis. It was soft, which she planned to rectify, careful not to wake him up just yet. Peeling back the foreskin, Rouge gently licked the tip. It felt good on her tongue, gliding over the round end and under the bottom bumps.

Tom stirred in sleep, but didn't wake up. His cock was already getting hard, going from a sponge to a metal rod in her hand. Rouge hated the taste of sperm, but it was a special occasion. Closing her lips down, she let the saliva collect in her mouth, tongue dancing as she slowly stroked her love's shaft. Her free hand reached out, a finger gently tickling the hairs of Tom's scrotum. She had to be careful, else he might awaken before she was done.

Tom moaned gently, still asleep but calling out her name. Flicking the opening with her tongue, her hands worked faster. His groans were a sign. Mouth letting go in time, Rouge watched semen pump out, glob after glob covering her hand. Thomas screamed out, springing upright from bed. "Happy birthday," she greeted, smiling up at him.

"Oh... day's already off to a good start," he commented, panting from the orgasm which woke him.

Rouge relaxed her grip. "Be right back..." Making her way to the bathroom, the bat left her husband to rest while she rinsed her mouth out. Walking back to bed, her thong panties dropped to the floor, leaving her body exposed. "You want me on top?"

"No," he said. "I'm hungry."

"Hungry? But I- oh... right." Taking his meaning to heart, Rouge climbed into bed.

"Sit on my face," he ordered. Rouge straddled his mouth. "Damn, you're wet."

"I just blew you, Tom. My pussy needs some attention."

He asked, "up for some squirting?"

"Always," Rouge responded, grinning as his tongue began to work her vagina up and down.

"Good." He sucked on it hard, pulling on the skin, teasing his wife's clit. "I want you to soak me down."

Rouge played with her nipples. "Okay... it's your birthday. Whatever you want. I let Teal and June know not to bug us for a while and the twins were up all night working on your gift. They're still asleep. We have lots of time." Lifting her leg, she rolled back. "I need to lay down for this," she explained, wings braced around a pillow.

Planting his face in her crotch, Tom began to lick, fingers poking inside. He began to kiss, tongue directly on her clitoris for maximum stimulation. Fingers curled and twirled inside her, the g-spot probed furiously. Rouge licked her lips, fondling her breasts as she screamed out. Tom knew how to get his wife off. Well over two decades of marriage hadn't been wasted in the bedroom.

Pressing down on her mound, he pushed on the sweet spot. She was ready, moaning and screaming far too loud. Springing up on his knees, Tom caught the full blast of ejaculation, her spray squirting his chest and stomach, coating his dick with the final drops. "Oh, yes!" he remarked. "That's sexy!"

"Glad you like it," the bat said, gasping for breath. "But you're not soaked! Get down here and eat me! Eat me harder!"

Wiping a hand over his chest, Tom smeared her juices on her tits. Face firm in her pussy once more, he didn't need to bother with the basics. She was already horny and just needed to be touched the right way. He also knew a quick way to get her off. Fingers inside, hand pushing down on her mound, he kissed, letting out an "I love you" each time his mouth pulled free.

Rouge couldn't stand it anymore. The touching, the kissing, hearing him say it, she couldn't last. Letting go, she came on his face, hair drenched as it splashed onto his back. Her eyes rolled back into her head, grin on her face. It was all she remembered.

"Wake up!"

She heard the voice. Tom was sitting beside her. "Huh? Don't tell me That was all a dream!"

"I don't know, what do you mean?" he asked. His hair was still damp. "You passed out."

"Wow... never thought I'd cum so hard to do that! How long was I out?"

He said, "about two minutes. Here." Handing her a glass of water, she drank. "You okay?"

"Just fine," she commented. Her breathing was normal. Pussy was still tingling, but she had expected that. "Now, then... your turn!" Gripping his dick tight, she stroked on it to get it completely hard. "Lay back, birthday boy!" Lying flat, Tom allowed her to mount him. Her feet were flat on the bed. She wasn't on her knees as she usually was. "Grab my ankles!"

Gripping them tight, Tom balanced her as she bounced up and down. Stretching an arm back to balance herself, Rouge Adriani worked him hard, like a professional. "Tom? When you kept telling me you love me..."

"I meant it," he said, hips wiggling under her.

"I know! It got me off so fast..." She did the same, screaming out a constant stream of "I love you" between moans, body grinding even harder now.

Tom was close, he could feel it. "I love you, too!" he shouted, his way of telling her. She could feel him, sperm flowing inside of her, pussy contracting from orgasm as she squirted again, spraying Tom's stomach. "DAMN! I thought you'd be out of juice by now!"

Slowing her pace, she smiled. "You like it!" He toes were curled, blankets pinched between them.

"We need to get cleaned up. YOU need to drink some water! But can you stay there for another five minutes?" he begged. "Your cunt feels nice..."

"Just sit up and kiss me!"

Forcing his body upright, Tom kissed the love of his life. She could taste herself on his lips, tongues twisting together as they made out passionately.

The family was gathered in the living room. Gifts were piled up, Tom's time to open each one. "Okay, from June and Tiff..." He undid the paper. "A... DVD set. 'Steam City Detectives'."

"It's the complete series. One of those old shows from before I was born," June explained.

"Thanks. I like it," he said. Leaning in to his wife, he whispered, "I've never heard of the show..." Picking up the thin package, he opened the gift from the twins. It was a framed crayon drawing of the family. "Wow. You spent all night on this, didn't you?"

"We did," Violette said.

"You like it?" Rose asked.

"I do. And I'll put this in our bedroom with the family pictures, okay?"

The twins cheered. Tom unwrapped Teal's gift. "A new camera."

"Yeah, it's a LOT better than the old one you have."

"It should be, for what it cost," Slate remarked.

Rouge held out her gift. "One more..."

He unwrapped it. "A..."

"Lift the lid," she said.

He did. The box played music. Tom recognized it as the song that was played at their wedding, long ago. "It's very nice. He picked up the DVD set. "Okay, why not watch this together..." He checked the content rating. "Or, rather... Violette and Rose can go play. The rest of us can watch this together." He held Rouge tight, whispering into her ear, "we'll celebrate some more later.

Twenty seven years, six months have passed

The mansion was empty. Rouge was planted on the couch, Tom stretched out beside her. "Quiet..." he noted. Everyone else had gone to the amusement park, leaving them some time alone.

"It is now..." Rouge commented, jumping him. "Let's change that!" Kisses began slowly, intensifying until their lips were sealed tight, tongues grazing each other with fury. She pulled free, spit flying. Tom's mouth was covered in lipstick. "This way..."

Leading him to their bedroom, Rouge kicked her shoes off, shirt flying to the floor as her bra snapped open. Tom responded by dropping his pants first, letting his wife stare at his cock while he removed his shirt.

Shoving him to the bed, Rouge pulled the drawer of the nightstand open. "Here... I want to try this."

"What is it?" he asked, looking at the small bottle.

"Teal's been using it. It enhances a woman's sensitivity..."

He saw the receipt in the drawer. "It'd better for how much it cost for that little bottle..."

She flipped the cap open, letting several small droplets hit her vagina. Slowly rubbing it in, Rouge could feel it working. "OOH! Tingles real nice..." Mounting Tom, she grabbed his dick, easing gently down onto him. "AH! Feels like a vibrator pressed against my clit!"

Letting the sensation take over, the bat started rocking back and forth, leaning in gently to make out with her husband. Tom forced a hand in between them, pinching her nipple gently as his other hand gripped her ass tight.

Gasping through the kiss, Rouge couldn't help herself. Her cunt spasmed from orgasm, lungs forcing out air as she screamed. "Hey, I'm barely started! What gives?" Tom asked. He winced, her muscle contractions latching on tight.

"I'm REALLY horny for some reason..." she explained.

"Well... enjoy," he said, pulling her closer.

How many orgasms? Rouge had lost track. She was almost relieved when Tom finally came, semen squirting into her sensitive pussy as she bounced up and down, forcing every last drop out of him that she could.

Cooling down, the couple was finally finished. Kissing her lover, Rouge said, "that was worth the price..."

"I need some water," he said. "Race you to the kitchen!"

Rouge tried to leap from the bed, but she was held down. "Uh..."

Tom was confused. He tried to lift her off. "Crap! I think we're stuck together!"

"How can we be- can you pull out?" She tried to rise off him, but failed.

His attempts all failed as well. "You're clamped down too tight! I can't get my dick out!"

"Okay..." Rouge was stunned. She had no idea what to do. "No big deal. We wait for you to get soft so you can pull out."

He commented, "that might be a problem..."

"Why?"

"You feel too good. I'm still hard..."

She sighed. "Okay... we might have to wait a while. My pussy should cool down eventually..."

He asked, "any idea how long?"

They had waited half an hour. "We really should call for help," Tom suggested.

"I'm not having a bunch of paramedics see us like this!" Rouge shouted. "I'm still swollen and you can't even pull out when you soften up!"

"Maybe if we- no..." he mouthed. "Being pinned together like this is gonna make it hard to do anything. Everyone else will be gone for a few more hours, too. Not that I want them to see this, either."

Rouge wiggled over, grabbing the phone. "I know one person I can call... but they're going to see us like this..."

Cytheria found the front door key where they said it would be. Entering the mansion, he found the bedroom door, as she'd been told. Slinging the store bag over her wrist, she cracked the door open. "You weren't kidding..." Tom sighed. "Shy?" she asked. "Don't be..." The echidna eyed them both. "When I asked to be invited to bed with you two, this isn't what I had in mind..."

"Can you help us?" Rouge asked.

"Yeah." She opened the bag. "This happened to me once before. I found out about this stuff." The small jar was uncapped as she slipped a rubber glove on. "Topical muscle relaxant. Made for just this type of emergency... now, you'll both be numb for a few hours."

"ANYTHING to get us unstuck!" Tom shouted.

Cytheria spotted the bottle. "No wonder," she exclaimed. "How much did you use?"

Rouge said, "a few drops."

"You're supposed to use ONE drop of this! Not half the bottle! Okay... lean back..."

The couple pulled back, allowing her to spread the cream. Rather quickly, they could feel their genitals numbing up. Rouge's vaginal walls finally shrank back, Tom pulling free. Lying flat, Rouge relaxed her knees, bent for far too long. Thomas stretched out, free of the wall. "Thanks, Cy," Rouge said.

"No problem. You probably didn't need some asshole who'd tell everyone about this. Listen, I..." She paused.

"What is it?" Rouge asked.

Cytheria stared at them. "Shadow's been filming stuff for the site while I was at work. Three other girls... you mind if I hang around?"

"Don't you have to get back to work?" Tom asked.

She answered, "no. When I told them you had called me, they let me stay punched in, and they don't know WHY you asked me here..."

Rouge looked at Tom. "Well, she's already seen us naked..."

"I don't mind," Rouge said. "Actually... this might be interesting."

"Doubt either of you are getting off for a while with that cream numbing you up," she pointed out. "Actually, you'd better wash it off."

Spring from the bed, Rouge grabbed her lover's hand. "Come on... bath time!" He hesitated, lying on his stomach. "Come on, Tom, she's already seen it..."

Unzipping her leather jacket, Cytheria said, "it's probably not fair I'm staring at you two like this. So..."

Rouge smiled. "This might be fun... Tom?"

"Oh, what the hell," he answered. "We HAVE seen naked pictures of her. But we're not going to get it on!"

"Didn't ask to," Cy muttered. "You two are a couple of good-looking people for your age. Nice tits, nice ass...." Her shirt fell open, breasts falling free. They were almost big enough to rival Rouge's own. She watched Thomas rise from the bed. "Nice dick, too. Never got a real good look at a human's before."

She followed them into the bathroom. "Wow! Very nice!" Rouge turned on the faucets, squirting the soaps and bath oils into the water. Jumping onto the counter, Cy lay on her side as they stepped in the tub. It was large enough for both of them, but not three people.

"Now... Tom?" Rouge eyed him closely. "You're not uncomfortable with this, are you?"

"Huh... actually...."

"I think he likes it," the echidna girl commented.

He said, "this isn't as bad as I thought it'd be."

"Not everything has to be about sex," Rouge mused. "Just because we're all naked... however, maybe she'd like to hear some dirty secrets. Since she does let her sexuality out to everyone..."

"Mmmm, stories." Cytheria closed her eyes, relishing in the thought.

"Normally, I'd refuse, but she did help us out. Okay, but nothing TOO secretive," Tom agreed.

Cytheria unclipped her motorcycle helmet, slipping it on as the rest of he family returned home. The twins were carrying balloons and stuffed toys, June cradling her child.

"Have fun?" Rouge asked.

"Mommy! Look what we won!" Violette shouted, spilling her pile of prizes on the floor.

"Oh, wow... Teal?"

"Next time, mom, you two have to come with us!" she said, helping Slate haul a large stuffed bear to their room.

June commented, "a little loud for Tania, but it was a good day."

"And how was your day?" Tiff asked.

Rouge grinned. "It was good. Had some private time, got to socialize with an employee..."

"I saw her outside," June remarked.

"Yeah, we had a small thing to deal with and got ahold of her."

"Nothing important," Tom stated, "but we didn't want to drag you home for it."

Heading for their bedroom, Rouge closed the door. "How's it going down there?"

He answered, "still just a bit numb. Not as bad as it was."

"Same here." Sitting on the edge of the bed, Rouge sighed. "I thought you'd go weird about all that..."

"We didn't do anything, just sat in the same room, naked, with her and talked."

"About all the dirty sex we've had since we met," Rouge pointed out.

He said, "big deal. We let stuff like that slip into those old romance novels we wrote."

Twenty eight years, eight months have passed

"I'm getting too old for this..." Tom said, rubbing his knee. The knee brace was possibly too tight.

Shadow walked beside him. "How'd you hurt yourself?"

He said, "running. I fell... I'm getting too old to exercise every day."

"Not something I'll ever worry about..." Shadow stopped in front of the jewelry store. "Here."

"Finally going to ask her to marry you?" Tom was impressed.

Shadow looked at the ring display. "If she will..."

Rouge placed the board against the wall. "It hasn't been used in a long time... I don't even know if it still works."

"Extreme Gear boards are made to last." Cytheria opened the maintenance panel. "The wiring's a bit old and the circuitry outdated, but a few new parts and it should run fine. So, why me?"

Rouge explained, "Teal's got her first kid on the way now. She'll never be interested in those races. My little girls... I couldn't play favorites and give it to only one of them. And I-" She closed her eyes. "I've thought about entering a race, but... if I were to be hurt... I couldn't do that to my family."

"I'll take good care of it. What happened that that little car that looked like you?"

"That thing?" Rouge laughed. "I donated it to the carnival to be turned into a bumper car. Ah, my younger days... I had such a big ego back then."

"Shadow's probably going out to buy an engagement ring," the echidna commented, tweaking around with the Temptation's circuitry.

"So THAT'S why he wanted Tom to meet him... wait, how'd you know?" Rouge asked.

She said, "he's not the king of subtlety..."

"You don't seem too bothered by it," Rouge blurted out.

"Yeah, well, what am I gonna say? Might as well get married. You know how Shadow's mind works. It'd probably undo years of social development to turn him down. Not like there aren't married couples who do porn together..."

"Still going to keep that up?" Rouge commented.

Cy remarked, "you haven't seen our videos, I take it... when he takes those rings off and cuts loose... most women probably wouldn't survive!"

"Good for you..." Rouge trailed off. "I need to get creative... the twins want to go as fairies for Halloween and I don't know where I'm going to get wing covers."

"Fairies?" Cytheria asked.

"Yes, fairies... Teal had to be an angel at their age, they want to be fairies..."

Teal emptied the container of insects into the tank, her pet bat hobbling around to feed. The animal's wing had mended long ago, but was so badly broken that it couldn't really fly. It relied on Teal to take care of it. It had been good practice for the child inside of her right now.

Slate peeked into the room. "We have to go."

"Right... I'm ready." Her doctor's appointment was waiting. In the living room, the twins sat and watched television. Nearby, June and Tiff were helping their daughter learn to read. Teal left the mansion, passing her mother. "Mom. We'll be back in about two hours."

"Enjoy being poked and prodded, Teal. Diner will be waiting for you when you get home." June sighed. Leaving her child with Tiff, she entered the kitchen. Rouge saw her concern and followed. "June?"

"Sis... Tania's asking about her father again. I don't know what to tell her. She has two mothers. It's not normal..."

"It's what you wanted," Rouge reminded. "She's not old enough to understand yet. Just give her time, okay?"

"Time... at least she isn't convinced anymore that Slate is her dad."

Rouge put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Go back in there and help her learn. I'll start dinner."

June was surprised. "YOU? Cooking?"

"Hey, I have a grandchild on the way. Grandmothers are supposed to bake cookies. May as well get used to being in here more often..."

Night had fallen quietly. Tom slipped on his sweat pants, one leg cut off to allow for the knee brace. "I can't wait to ditch this thing..."

"Me, too," the bat commented, sitting on the bed. "I'm afraid to get rough with you right now. It'll heal soon, though and I'll have something special planned. But..." She tugged on the waist band. "...we could take it slow."

"When has it ever been slow and gentle between us? We start that way, but it always gets rough and intense."

"Good point," Rouge agreed. "Oh, well..."

Tom said, "lay back."

"Huh?"

"Lay back... there are other things we can do."

She slid her skirt off. "No... I'll lay on my side." Holding one leg up, Rouge gave him a full view. Lying down, face to meet her pussy, Tom began to slowly kiss. Rouge slid her foot into his pants, gently fondling him. Toes slowly wiggled. She could feel him getting hard, precum sticking to her soles.

Her cunt buzzed, Tom's tongue working up and down gently. Fingers ran through his hair to encourage him. Tom slid a finger inside her, Rouge groaning louder now as his tongue flicked faster.

She could feel the mess, sperm splashing over her foot. Tom had cum in his pants, her toes sticky. In seconds, she hit climax, screaming his name loud. Her thigh dripped with liquid, leaking from her box, soaking the sheets. Pulling her foot free, she wiped it on the blankets.

Tom climbed up the bed, both their heads resting on the pillows. She asked, "feel good?"

Embracing her tight, Tom kissed her.

Thirty two years, five months have passed

Thomas Adriani wiped his daughter's forehead, faint streaks of blood smeared on the napkin. "This is going to burn..." Violette winced as alcohol cleaned the wound. Rose held her twin sister's hand to comfort her. "Why were you flying so close to the ground?"

"I didn't know, daddy! I just wasn't looking..." she defended.

"Seriously, smacking into the old shed like that..." Tom sighed. "I think I need to get your mother to teach you two how to fly around safely! It's a miracle you didn't end up with a broken jaw!"

A little bat with black streaks in her fur entered the kitchen, looking up at Violette. "What happened?" she asked. "Did someone hit you?"

"NO! I hit my head!"

"Hold still," Tom said, shaving her patch of fur to apply bandages, gentle with the buzz pen to avoid bothering the wound. "It's not that bad, just don't touch it. I'll change these bandages tomorrow." Violette's forehead was covered. The tape was close to her eye and it bugged her.

June stepped into the kitchen and spotted the scene. Tania looked up at her mother and asked, "am I old enough to fly yet?"

"Not yet," she answered. "I think those two might still need lessons, actually..."

Violette took offense. "That's mean!"

"Yeah!" Rose shouted.

Rouge peeked into Teal's room. "Grandma!" was the shout from the little boy, jumping from his chair and running to give her a hug.

"Red! Where'd your mother?"

"She's in the bathroom," the boy answered. The child was mostly bat, albeit with red spikes hanging down in the back.

The door opened. "Mom. Slate will be home soon, and we're all going out tonight."

The boy said, "mommy and daddy are taking me to see Choo-Choo The Magic Train!"

"Choo....?" Rouge had a puzzled look on her face.

"Kid's movie," Teal explained.

"Oh. Well, have fun. Guess you'll be eating out then?"

She responded, "yeah. You got any plans tonight?"

"Just stay here," Rouge explained, "June and Tiff want to go out, so we're going to watch Tania. Speaking of which..." She checked the clock. "I would have thought Tiff to be home by now..."

The GUN command center was lively. From their seats, the Commander himself watched his Agents at work through helmet cameras. Tiff grabbed the microphone. "Warrant is official! GO! NOW!"

It was a surprise hit. Their targets had no warning, no time to react, no time to fire a shot as GUN swarmed them. An illegal weapons ring that specialized in stolen technology. Miles Prower's own research had been stolen months ago, which attracted GUN's attention.

Tiff was proud. No longer tied to the records department, she was helping with the real stuff now. June had quit GUN long ago to stay at home and be a mother to their little girl, but Tiff was bound to GUN. It wasn't even about her one-time worship of Rouge as a personal hero, it was about keeping the world safe.

The moon was full, a sight Rouge liked. Romantic and peaceful. She hated this. Menopause. Her sex drive was bottomed out. Pulling her close, Tom sat on the bed. "I think you need to see a doctor about this."

"I'm fine, Tom. It's natural for bats to get like this as we get older."

"And look what it's doing to you!" he shouted. "You're depressed at night! We try to make love, but you can't get into it no matter how hard you try to force yourself! I think you're doing it to try and make me happy. You want to make me happy, go see a doctor."

"Okay..." She relented. "I'll call in the morning. I know there are medications for this, but it just feels like..." Rouge trailed off. "Feels like I'm giving up. Cheating, just to feel young again."

He sighed. "Don't say that. You don't want to spend the rest of your life like this. Not like we have forever."

"Don't say THAT," she scolded. "I want our lives to feel like forever." Hugging her husband tight, she asked, "want me to give you a handjob?"

"That's okay," he responded. "We're both tired." Slinking back onto bed with him, Rouge closed her eyes.

"Mom and dad should be home from the doctor soon," Teal said, checking the time. "I'll get dinner started."

"Wonder why your mother had to go?" Slate asked.

She replied, "no idea. No one told me, just to keep an eye on the twins while-"

The front door kicked open, Rouge pulling on Tom's arm, practically drooling as she led him into their bedroom. Teal just looked on in awe. "Did I just see that?"

Rouge groaned, fingers gripping her lover's hair tight as he licked, her pussy and thighs soaked. "You haven't been this wet in a long time..."

"I think they need to cut down on the dosage for these pills... fuck me, I'm horny!" She enjoyed this, cunt burning with passion as Tom licked and sucked.

"You taste REAL good today, too!" he commented, slurping on her clit like he was so used to.

She screamed out, "get ready!", giving him only seconds to prepare before she squirted, a full blast of her sex juices spraying all over him, soaking his shirt and hair. Grinding her teeth together, Rouge was smiling, gasping for air. "OOH! I haven't cum like THAT in a while! Sit on the edge! Do it!"

Resting on the edge of the bed, Tom hoisted up as his wife yanked his pants down. Eagerly, Rouge played with his dick, stroking on the foreskin. "This is one thing I hope never stops working..." Clenching her breasts around his shaft, the bat began to bounce her tits up and down. Tom groaned, his sticky fluids coating her mounds as she worked him, slowly, picking up the pace.

"Oh, yeah... my tits are still good, not even a wrinkle on them!" she commented, looking down to watch the head of his penis vanish in between each time she lifted up, poking back out as they slammed down.

"They're about to have something on them, babe! That's it, I'm gonna..."

Sperm shot up, wad after wad spewing forth and splattering her tits, slowly rolling down to her nipples. Slowing her pace, she enjoyed the feeling of his wet load all over her chest. "Now this is how it should be in the bedroom..."

He smiled down at her. "I wanna eat you again."

Jumping onto the mattress, her legs parted. "Good, because I'm horny again!"

"You still want to cut the dosage of those meds?" he asked.

She laughed out loud. "Hardly! I'm having the time of my life!"

Forty two years have passed

The horrible noise, the awful, grating noise of power tools. It was enough to make her want to scream. It was an annoyance that had filled the small house all afternoon and now, right now, Cytheria was beyond the breaking point. Tossing the scissors at the wall, their fine pointed edge sticking like a dart, she ran into the living room, screaming out, "what the HELL is the problem?"

Waving the instruction sheet around like a madman, Shadow'd had his fill of this chore. "These instructions aren't in English! And I don't think they're even the right ones!" The chilling sound of the hedgehog's teeth grinding together was audible from a distance, though the echidna wasn't in the mood.

"Fine..." Snatching the paper away, "build the bookshelf LATER! Right now I have a gift to finish wrapping. You do, too!"

"Gift?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

Cytheria couldn't believe this. "You... you forgot?" Slapping him upside the face, seething anger welling up, she screamed out, "Rouge's birthday is TOMORROW! Don't tell me you didn't buy her a gift!"

Frowning as always, the black headgehog simply grunted in rage. "Fine, I'll go buy her something! This book case can build itself!" Storming through the front door, Shadow left the house and his wife behind.

Shaking her head in defeat, wadding the instructions with a quick toss, she kicked over the pile of wood shelves and stepped foot back into the kitchen. "He's like a child..." Folding decorative paper into neat creases, taping down corners, Cytheria finished her task, grabbing a beer from the fridge. Impatiently, the girl bit into the can, sharp teeth puncturing the aluminum cylinder, allowing gravity to do the work.

Quietly, the knob turned, the door pushing open as a shopping bag was sat down gently on the small table by the couch. Finding his wife absent, Shadow, still feeling moody, chose to ignore the day's prior task and walk up the stairs to the bedroom. At least he might be able to get some sleep.

"'Bout time," Cy greeted, her body stretched out on the bed, blanket covering her.

"I got something. Happy now?"

Shrugging, the echidna mumbled out, "at least you tried... come here."

"I'm sorry I-"

"No, no, no..." Throwing aside the sheets to reveal her naked body, light orange fur shining in the lamp's light, Cy explained, "you wanna apologize, you lick my cunt out." This was a typical game of hers, offering forgiveness in exchange for sexual favors, a game that Shadow was accustomed to by now. It was a perfect exchange between them. Shadow wasn't a skilled expert at expressing such feelings in words and the echidna girl never seemed to get enough action, seeking out that extra bit in between her standard duties and other assorted chores.

Crawling onto the sheets, the hedgehog was unprepared for the force pushing on his head, face mashed down into her muff, grunting with a muffled yell as his partner smiled with devilish glee. Pulling back from the tight grasp on his skull, he screamed out, "I can't breathe! Are you mad?"

"Can't breathe?" The complaint forced heavy laughter from her lungs. "You breathe in space! Get down there and clean me good!"

His desire for revenge calling out, Shadow peeled both gloves off, keeping the yellow rings in place, and forced two fingers deep within, causing her to scream. "What's wrong? Too rough?"

"You wish," Cy taunted, head tilted back, orange spines dangling free as her eyes closed, relishing in the sensation of Shadow's tongue gliding along her wet, aching slit. It was obvious she'd been busy, no doubt fondling and fingering in the minutes before he's returned home, perhaps even having a few orgasms prior if the damp stains were a sign.

Pinching both nipples and twisting firmly, her breasts heaving with each breath, grunts became louder as her lover kissed and prodded, tongue and lips enjoying her juices flowing. Perhaps too far along from the solo play, she could feel herself nearing climax and had no problem showing it, groans and moans louder with each breath. "Don't fuckin' stop bad boy!"

Thighs clamping onto his head, ears closed, Shadow found himself pinned down as his wife hit orgasm, crying out loud as her vaginal walls contracted, asshole clenching, the hedgehog unable to free himself. His tongue had been caught inside and the pressure was incredible. Feeling Cytheria's legs relaxing, rising for air, Shadow could feel the tip of his penis throbbing, the hardened rod sticking out, ready for action.

"Dirty boy... what the hell, I'm always up for more!"

Rolling over, hands through his black fur, Cy smiled. "You're upset..."

"About what?"

"Please," she scolded, "your friends are old. They GOT old years ago. Now the bat's turning sixty. Your old crush is an old woman!"

Annoyed, he shouted out, "she wasn't my old crush!"

"Bullshit," the echidna responded. "You were just too chicken to take her up, and THIS is why. Can't say I blame you. Watching everyone get old and die isn't easy! Doesn't mean you can just avoid them..."

"I'm NOT avoiding them." Rolling his eyes, Shadow knew it was a lie.

Calling him out, she asked, "when was the last time you talked to Sonic? Knuckles? Ignoring it won't make the problem go away..."

Clinching his eyelids, the hedgehog whispered, "I know..."

"So, what'd you get her?"

"A set of expensive glasses," he replied. "I guess they're for champagne but they don't drink that."

Smiling, Cy complimented, "not bad. I'll wrap them later. I know you can't handle wrapping paper worth a damn." Stretching her limbs out, the echidna slapped Shadow's rear. "Come on, dinner."

"I have that shelf to finish, too!"

"Nah, I got it done."

Staring her down, the ultimate life form begged, "how?"

"I hired one of the neighbors to mess with it. Hey, beats listening to you scream at it all night!"

Forty four years, five months have passed

Down the sights of a gun, that's where her gaze was pointed, aiming at a small, helpless target some distance away, unaware of the power in the woman's hands. Power to destroy, power to kill. Power over whatever the weapon may be pointed at.

Unleashing this power was simple. Squeeze the trigger. Such power, such simplicity in its use.

Finger slowly contracting, the open air split by gunfire, hot steel flew, punching through its destination. Lifting the sights again, spying on the damage, Cytheria smiled. A perfect head shot.

It was one paper target that she'd hang on the wall. The sniper rifle was a tool for distance killing. Three hundred feet was no impressive distance, certainly not, when trained snipers recorded confirmed kills from a mile away, the legendary snipers going even further. Three hundred feet was hardly impressive.

"There you are," she mumbled, reloading the weapon carefully as her husband approached from the south. "You need to work on your accuracy or they won't authorize you to use a sniper rifle." The harsh facts of being a government agent meant that everything had to be regulated. Training, behavior, all of it to ensure success.

Lying prone, Shadow rested the weapon, taking aim, firing. Looking down her scope, the echidna frowned. "Off center at two hundred feet. Keep at it."

"I thought we'd have the day off," the black hedgehog grunted in anger, "married couples are supposed to have time off!"

Rolling her eyes, Cytheria shouted, "right, like you really had a romantic day planned."

"It's Valentine's Day, that's irrelevant!"

"We don't have the day off," she explained, "because I put in for time in."

"WHAT?" Tossing the gun aside, furious, he demanded, "why didn't you ask me first?"

Placing the gun down to keep her cool, Cy responded calmly, "maybe if you'd said something, I wouldn't have made the request. It's just another day to you anyway!"

"But I-" Hesitation held Shadow's words back. "But I- .... I love you."

Stunned. That was the only feeling Cytheria felt. "Shadow? We've been together over ten years. Do you know how many times you've actually said that?" Shaking his head, the hedgehog couldn't recall. "That's the third time..." Sitting down in the dirt, she said, "most people say it all the time. But most people won't live forever. Doing the little things isn't something you worry about rushing when you know a thousand years'll go by."

Popping the small clip out of the rifle, she asked, "so... what DID you have planned?"

"I- huh..." Sitting beside his wife, he replied, "nothing, I guess."

"Typical... most people'll be out for romantic stuff, giving cards and candy and all that fun shit. Before the run off and fuck like rabbits..." Playfully, her hand reached out, down Shadow's stomach, through the black fur.

"What?"

"Might as well fuck, not like we're gonna do all that other shit!" Unzipping the dark gray G.U.N. jacket, exposing both breasts, nipples hardened from the cold air, fingers gently played around with her lover's balls, gliding up as Shadow's penis stiffened out, stroking along the shaft.

"We're on government property!" he shouted out. "What if someone sees us?"

"Right, that'll happen!" Pulling her jacket off, resting it on the grass, "no one's out here, the only dude near is the guard at the weapons building and he's too busy doing crossword puzzles. And we used to do internet porn, you don't care if someone watches!"

Lifting her ass up, pants unzipped, Cytheria slid them off, kicking them down over her boots. "They ain't fuck-me boots but you'll have to fuck me while I wear them! Get to it, stud!"

Tossing her to the ground, Shadow pinned his lover down, cock sliding over pussy lips, her juices seeping out. The soft skin felt good on his dick, the gentle feel of pussy lips poking out from orange fur. Cy's moans and wicked smile forced the ultimate life form to thrust inside, her cries only serving as encouragement. "Good boy! Pound my pussy like you're tryin' to push me into the ground!"

Foreplay and slow love making were perfect for any other couple. Shadow only felt feral instinct, his hips working hard, pinching Cy's tits, the echidna yanking off his gloves so he could feel them better. Gripping his butt, giving a firm squeeze, drool spilled from her mouth with each grunt. It was almost enough to drown out the wet, sticky sounds between them, pussy juices and semen mixing together and spilling out onto their thighs and the girl's jacket.

Eyelids clenching tight, quills a mess, Cytheria's head turned to the side, screaming out, "I'm close! Come on, finish me off!"

Breathing harder, a wild animal let loose, Shadow could feel himself creaming, hard enough to gush out from his wife's cunt, his body pressed down tight as her legs wrapped around, squeezing him in as she came, the force of her vaginal muscles clamping down forcing the hedgehog to scream out as the last drops pumped from his nuts.

Grinning like an idiot, Cy complimented, "that's how to celebrate this holiday! No stupid cards, no crappy candy. Fuck like you mean it!"

Pulling free, standing up and brushing the dirt off his legs, Shadow helped his lover up, grabbing her pants. Picking up her jacket, shaking off the gooey mess, she remarked, "okay, so I didn't consider THAT... fuck's sake you cum a lot. Anyway..." Collecting their weapons, "we'll check these back in and out in for a day off. Go home, get drunk and nail each other to the walls!" Peering down, his flaccid penis still sticking out, she added, "when your little guy goes back in. Or do you wanna check that in as a weapon, too?"

Grabbing hold of her quills, the black hedgehog pulled Cytheria close, tongue down her throat in a move that caused both riles to drop to the dirt. Barely able to breathe, caught by surprise, she was finally released when Shadow felt satisfied. "Holy shit! Now THAT is a kiss!"

Smiling, he remarked, "I try..."

Forty five years, seven months have passed

Rouge's fingers hurt. Typing away at the keypad, the joints of her fingers felt worn. Old age hadn't been kind to her, that was certain, and not even the arthritis pills offered full relief. But she had letters to write and memories to put to paper, pain or not.

"Mom?"

Looking up to see Teal in the doorway, the old bat asked, "yes, dear?"

"Karen's here."

Closing the laptop, pulling to her feet, Rouge walked towards the living room where the echidna waited. "Karen. On time."

"Age isn't slowing us down," she replied.

"Not yet, though it's trying." Resting gently in her chair, Rouge asked, "how's Knuckles?"

"He's been good. Bit slow but he's good. Your husband?"

Leaning back, "not bad. His back's a bit messed up but otherwise..."

Chuckling, Karen's mind let the thoughts roll. "You two aren't..."

"Oh, no. We'd probably hurt ourselves." The bat was beyond her days as a wild animal in bed. They all were. Though she had her doubts about Amy, if any one of them was still trying to play dirty, it was probably Amy.

"I'd guess Red's out working? Always is, you know?"

"He is. Good kid, too. You'll wait here until he gets home?" Rouge inquired.

She nodded. "Rouge... I've got a small confession. I-" She paused, shame filling her. "After your mother died and you did all that, well... I hated you some. I was talking about you and all that. I'm sorry."

"Eh. I messed up. It's not a big deal anymore," Rouge replied, writing off the confession as nothing.

"I- Rouge, I don't know how much longer I have left."

Pursing her lips in mild agitation, all Rouge could say back was, "none of us do. We got old."

Closing her eyes tight, the orange echidna explained, "I mean... my boxing career. Getting punched in the head and such all those years. The doctors said it might catch up to me soon."

"Oh." It made sense, of course, though the news was still a bit of a blow. "You didn't tell him, did you?"

Karen responded promptly, "his mind isn't what it used to be. I'm afraid it might really mess him up." Her concern was her family. "I don't even know if I can tell my own kids..."

"You want me to tell them?"

"If you feel like it. I just- I can't bring myself to do it, you know?"

"Dad, for the tenth time, the Master Emerald is STILL where it should be!" Sharon was at her wits end. Knuckles, for all he'd done in his life, was degenerating, asking the same questions constantly. "It's still in the metal box on Angel Island, like it has been since you moved off there!"

"That's good," he said, "I'd hate to think something happened to it because I wasn't there doing my job!"

Rolling her eyes, the echidna mumbled something under her breath.

"Dad giving you a hard time?" Striker knew the old man could be a hassle.

"My kids are less hassle. At least when mom gets home she can do this."

"Hey, cheer up," Striker grunted, "he raised all of us as kids, we kinda owe him."

Giving in, all she could do was continue with the task. 'Wonder if any of us were this much hassle?'

"Looking good, kid!"

"Grandma!" Running to give her a hug, the echidna-bat took care not to squeeze too hard.

She asked, "fun day at work?"

"Not really but it's a job. How's grandpa?"

"The same..." Karen responded with a tone of despair.

Red knew that wasn't particularly good. "I should go see him this weekend. I know he hates flying."

"Last time we tried, he screamed about heights." Shaking her head in disappointment, "he used to live on a floating island. Now he can't climb the hills without throwing a tantrum, you know?"

Letting go, he asked, "you gotta go back, don't you?"

"I'd stay, but you know how Knuckles is..."

"Got to go home and take care of him. I know."

"Listen," she replied, "you be good. I'll talk with your father a bit then head out. I want you to do good at your job, okay?" Not for me or anyone else, but for you."

"Dinner time, Knuckle-head!" Rolling back the foil, Karen was, at the very least, thankful that her husband still had all of his teeth. "Roast beef with gravy!"

"Smells good!" Grabbing his utensils, the old echidna began to eat, carefully cutting and chewing. "How's Red?"

"He's doing good. Said he might come visit you this weekend."

"I'd like to see him. And Rouge?"

She answered, "same as always."

"Slate?"

"Good. He might come this weekend, too."

Karen knew she was the key. She was the one who kept him stable. He was clear and his thoughts organized when she was there. "Honey, I-"

"Yeah?"

She choked it back. "I have a letter to write. Why don't you go watch television, and I'll come sit with you when I'm done, okay?"

Collecting his tray, Knuckles agreed. "Don't take too long."

"Karen?" Wandering into the bedroom, Knuckles wondered why his wife hadn't come out yet. "Can't take this long to write a letter, can it?"

She was at the desk, leaning over. "Karen?" Confused at the lack of response, Knuckles tried to shake his wife. "Didn't fall asleep, did you? Come on, TV's on!"

She didn't say a word.

The week was a disaster. Karen's burial was quiet and peaceful, a small ceremony, but Knuckles had suffered. What was left of his soul was shattered, disorganized, leaving a broken man.

"Dad's okay," Sharon grumbled. "Or as okay as he can be. He's barely aware of what's going on but at least he recognizes people."

"Let me try." Sonic only hoped his old friend might still have some idea of what was going on.

"SONIC!" he shouted. "How are ya?"

The hedgehog answered, "good. I'm good. Amy's good, too."

"That's nice. So, what's Eggman up to? We gonna stop him?"

He was let down. Sonic had no idea what to say. "I took care of him. Why don't we play checkers, okay?"

"I can't, I promised Karen we'd watch TV."

Striker sighed. "Doc's say he might be like this for the rest of his life."

It felt unfair. "He doesn't deserve this..." Sonic felt as if the universe was being cruel for no reason. "Call me if he gets worse. Only thing we can do now is just let him be."

Forty seven years, three months have passed

Tiff Nightwing stood proud. Her time had come. Commander of the Guardian Unit of Nations. Her career had come far from her start in the records department, and now it was hers to run, her world to keep safe. "... most importantly, I have to thank the one who inspired me to join with GUN in my youth."

The crowd turned, a spotlight hitting the table. The old bat waved, smiling. "Rouge Adriani was my idol as a young girl and she helped me find my way as a young woman. It's because of her, her family, and their support that I am here, today, the woman I am now. Actually, they all deserve to be named. Thomas Adriani..."

He waved a hand in the air. "... the man who helped save my father's life by spending what needed to be spent, and gave my father fifteen more years to enjoy life. My wife, June..."

June smiled. "... the one who allowed me to accept who I am. Our daughter, Tania..." Tania stood, waving. "... the one who bears both of us in her. I thank all of you. And I hope that I will fulfill my duties with the honor of my predecessors. Thank you!"

The crowd cheered as Tiff stepped down from the podium. She joined her family. "Too much at the end?"

"Not at all," Rouge said. "I enjoyed being the center of attention again."

Thomas sighed. "Not me. I'm old and gray, I'm hardly anything to look at."

Rouge scolded, "says you!"

"I'm proud of you, mom!" Tania cheered. "Mother?"

"Couldn't be happier," June complimented.

The twins walked towards the table, carrying their glasses of punch. "Great speech," Violette greeted.

"Proud of you, Tiff," Rose said.

Rouge turned. "I see he made it..."

Shadow walked forth, Cytheria keeping pace behind. "Shadow and Cytheria," Tiff said, "I'm glad you two decided to join with GUN. Your help will be appreciated, especially in my first few months."

"Don't mention it," Cy responded. "We needed a change of pace. Can't work casino security forever, and I'm sure the new owners will keep things in line."

Violette smiled. "Damn right we will!"

"Mom wouldn't have signed the place over to us if she didn't think we could handle it," Rose added.

"Hey, where are Teal and Slate?" Tiff asked, looking around.

"Mom and dad ran off to look for grampa," Red explained. "He wandered off to the buffet table and didn't come back!"

The three walked up to the table. "We found him," Slate said. Knuckles held his plate, the graying echidna smiling. "I didn't get lost! I was just being picky, that's all! I heard the speech!" Knuckles had been like this since Karen passed away a year ago, his wife gone, his mind occasionally wandering off and causing him to get lost.

"Well..." Tiff looked at them, one by one. "Speech is done. Go on, mingle, have fun! This is my commencement as GUN's new Commander, everyone go and have fun!"

Outside, Shadow stood by himself, breathing in the night air. The party inside was for everyone else, but he wasn't interested in such things.

The door creaked open as the figure joined him. "You could at least pretend to be social," Rouge muttered. "So... how's Sonic's condition?"

"He's going to have his kidney transplant next week," the black hedgehog responded.

"Good..." Rouge looked out into the night. "That was then... Shadow?" He looked at her. "Make me a promise?"

"Very well," he responded.

"If we meet again in a thousand years, promise you'll remember who I am."

He was stunned by her request. An impossible situation. "But you won't be-"

"Just promise an old woman, will you?"

Shadow closed his eyes. "I promise."

Without a word, Rouge went back inside to join her family.

"Mom didn't even come... wow, that woman..."

Tiff was visibly angry. Even now, her own mother still refused to be a part of her life.

Rouge saw it in her eyes. "Don't be sad, dear. If she wants to be that way, let her. No reason for her to show up and ruin it for everyone else..." Smirking, she added, "and if she did, I could still take her down!"

"No argument there," Tom agreed. "But you'd probably break a hip doing it."

"I never said I wouldn't get hurt..."

"Speaking of hurt," Teal said, "dad? How's your head?"

"Oh, that... just fine, now."

Slate asked, "did you hurt yourself?"

"No, nothing like that," Tom answered, "I woke up with an awful headache this morning, that's all... at my age, one has lots of things wrong with them. No big deal."

"Tell me about it..." They all turned to see an old man in glasses traveling in a wheelchair.

Rouge greeted, "Commander."

"Not anymore," he commented. "That's Tiff's title now... I don't know about you, but I'm going to enjoy my retirement."

The twins jugged their parents. "We have to go, mom," Violette said. "Remember?"

"I know, dear, the casino... you two have fun."

"We will. Maybe we'll get lucky and actually meet some decent guys for a change!" Rose commented.

"Dad?" Slate caught his father's attention. "Dad? You ready to go?"

"Huh? Oh... your sister was going to be here to pick me up. She might be here now... we should go check," Knuckles answered.

Slate led him off. "Poor guy," Teal remarked.

Tom noted, "he's been like that since Karen died. Sometimes I wonder if he's even aware of his surroundings."

"Can you really blame him?" Rouge closed her eyes, thought she didn't want to think of rolling in her head. "I'm glad we still have each other."

Tiff felt the despair. "Uh... so, anyway... Tania's going to be starting in the records department tomorrow. June's going to be in charge."

"Me? In charge? I thought-"

"Yes, you," Tiff said, "I need someone I know has the training to do a good job. I want everything in order down there and I don't think the people down there now have what it takes. And as for other policies... I remember all the crap that went on when I worked there. I'm making weapons training mandatory for all essential base staff. That means you, June."

She looked around. The gathering was already clearing out. "It's late. We should go, get some sleep. I have a very busy day tomorrow."

"Yes, you do," Rouge said. "We don't need to keep you. Tom?"

He took her hand. "Teal, we're going home."

Bed time. The old bat eased under the covers, Tom flicking off the lamp. "I'm proud of Tiff," Rouge commented.

"Still... you wish that was Teal taking that job, I bet," Tom responded, knowing his wife.

She said, "maybe, in a way... but Teal made her choices. Anyway... Tiff might need my help. I can still advise her."

"If there's one thing that still works, it's your mind," he remarked, placing an arm around her. The two fell into a silent sleep...

Morning's sunlight cut through the curtains and into Tom's eyes. He stirred awake, mind activating the morning routine. He was old, and it was the same each morning. Get out of bed, go into the bathroom, and hope.

It came as a great shock to him when it came out quick, flowing strong. Going to the bathroom hadn't been this easy for him in years. In fact, he felt great. His joints moved freely and his vision seemed improved. Breathing was more natural. Moving to the sink to wash his hands, Thomas Adriani paused, face frozen, eyes fixed to the mirror.

Rouge took a deep breath, waking from sleep. Stretching out, she jumped out of bed. An odd thing to do, actually. It was odd, she felt rather energetic. "Tom?" No answer. "Tom..." The bathroom light was on and the door open. "Oh, no, you didn't fall down in there, did you?"

Running, she froze in the doorway, the sight of her husband almost scaring her. "Who are you?" she asked. "Tom?"

His face turned. "It's me... I think. Whoa! Look at YOU!"

Rouge caught her image in the mirror. She was young and beautiful. "Oh, wow... I wonder what did THIS?" she mused, admiring her youthful body.

Tom said, "I don't know.. something to do with the Chaos Emeralds?"

"I'd doubt-" She thought. "Then again... looks like we lost about forty years overnight! we should check on everyone else!"

"Crap! The twins might not even exist if it did this much reverse aging!" Tom began to panic, rushing into the hall and calling out names. Doors swung open. No one else was in the house. He muttered, "this doesn't make any sense! There's always someone home this early!"

Running to the other end of the house, they checked the living room, reception hall and the kitchen. No one. No sign any of the rooms had even been used that morning. It was then that Rouge saw. Out the window, she saw. "Tom... look..."

The massive fruit fields were gone. In their place stood hills and forests. She stepped outside. The swimming pool was there but the property had been replaced. "Tom..."

"This isn't right," he said, twirling around to look everywhere. "Aged backwards a few decades and the house moved... WHY? Why would someone do that?"

"Don't you get it?" She shouted, "no one did this! Tom... I don't want to think about it... but..."

Tiff straightened her uniform. "Looks good," June complimented. "Stop tugging on that collar! You'll stretch it out!"

Teal sipped her coffee. "I'd have thought mom would be up by now. Your first big day in charge and all..."

"Probably didn't set their alarm," Rose remarked, laughing. "Old people..."

Violette offered, "I'll go get them. They can't sleep all day!"

The twins ran to their parents' room. Rose knocked, shouting out, "mom! Dad! Tiff's gotta go to work! Get out here!"

"Think maybe they tried to do it and got hurt last night?" Violette joked.

Rose shuddered. "Eww! Old people sex! That's SICK!" Turning the knob, she entered. Her parents were still in bed. "MOM? Hey, mom... mom? Dad? MOM? DAD?"

Rouge huddled on the floor, arms clenched around her knees. She was rocking. "We died... we died... that's the only thing that could have happened."

"Maybe not," Tom responded. "Could be a dream."

"A dream... a bad one. Maybe I'll wake up and... or you'll wake up. Which one of us is having this dream?" She clenched her eyelids shut. "It's not a dream..."

Lifting his wife off the floor, Tom rested on the couch with her. "Both of us? How'd we both die together? I don't think we ate anything last night that could have been deadly. If we did, seems like the others would be here. We all at the same food."

"Maybe it works slower on healthier people..." Rouge muttered, her mind still reeling. "It's just not fair..." Grabbing a vase from the end table, Rouge tossed it into the floor. "IT'S NOT FAIR, TOM! Five more years... five more years... to watch my two girls get married and start families! That's all I wanted! Why can't I have that? WHY? Is this punishment for being greedy as a teenager? For being selfish? I changed! I changed when we met! I've been a good person! Who would punish me?" She was weeping heavily. "WHO?"

Pulling her tight, Rouge's sobs were muffled in his shirt. "No one's punishing you. We were old. That's all..." Holding her hand, Tom pressed his wedding ring against hers. "We still have these."

Rouge began to quiet. "I have you... I can handle this... but my babies. My daughters. My family..."

The doorbell chime sounded, her ears perking up. Tom said, "strange... we're dead. Who would be visiting us?"

"I have wondered why the mansion's here, actually," Rouge added, following him to the front door. He opened it to reveal a female bat.

"Hi," she greeted. The visitor looked a little like Rouge, though her features were slightly thinner and her fur poked out in various spots, ears a bit pointier. "Um, I said 'hi'."

Rouge looked at the stranger. "Mother?"

She responded, "uh huh. Probably didn't recognize your mother so young and beautiful... or sober." Marron held up a bottle. "Sweetened iced tea. I thought you might need some company and I bet you have a lot of questions..."

Rouge turned away. "Mother... I-"

"I know," she said. "I screwed up your childhood and your sister's childhood because I was a lousy mother. But I'm here now."

"Rouge," Tom spoke, "please... right now, we need her help. And you need to deal with this."

Facing her mother, Rouge led her inside. "Now then," she began, "you two are probably wondering why you're here."

Tom responded, "it had crossed my mind, yes."

Marron explained, "Thomas, you had a congenital birth defect in one of the blood vessels in your brain. Kind of like a weak spot in a pipe. It's a miracle you lived as long as you did!"

"You mean..." Rouge stuttered. "Tom could have died at any moment?"

"Yes." The bat rolled her eyes. "Especially considering all the heavy sex you two liked so much. As for you..." Marron sighed. "My little girl... I guess you two were soul mates and you couldn't go on without him. And Tom is probably wondering why his house is here."

"Thought had occurred to me," he responded. "Not to mention running water."

She elaborated, "your mansion is still on Earth. This is just a replica. The house and every physical object in it at the time of your death." Picking up a vase, she held it up. "Including things you might have smashed in anger?" Rouge blushed, head turning away. "Theoretically, there's infinite space in the afterlife. This is just one small corner. I live in a nice city not far from here. Your father lives there, too."

"My father?"

"Yes." Marron sighed. "We don't live together. He may have had two children with me, but he loved another woman most of his life. He only came back to me when she died."

Rouge closed her eyes. "Do I have any brothers or sisters?"

"No," Marron replied, "seems the love of his life couldn't have kids. You'll probably want to meet him, at least..."

"Yes." Rouge tugged at her night gown. "Guess we don't need these old people clothes anymore. Tom?"

"Right. Good idea."

Resting in the plush chair, Marron leaned back. "I'll wait here. Go change into something more your age."

The family sat in the living room. Somber. Quiet. The medical examiner had done his work. Rouge and Tom were carried off. "They won't know why until the autopsy," Teal muttered.

"What's that gonna do anyway?" Rose shouted. "Cutting them open isn't gonna bring them back! Just leave them alone!"

"SIS!" Violette wasn't going to tolerate her twin sister's behavior. "we were at that GUN reception last night. What if they were poisoned? What if TIFF got poisoned, too?"

Rose huffed. "Speaking of Tiff, where the hell is she? She needs to be HERE, not at work!"

Slate said, "the world isn't going to stop for this. They can't shut down because of two people dying of old age."

"Says you, ant eater!" Rose screamed, feeling confrontational.

"ENOUGH!" Teal had strained her throat yelling at them. "I'll get started on the funeral arrangements this afternoon. We need to think of something to tell the media. You know they're gonna go nuts when they find out."

The doorbell rang. And rang. And rang. Slate slapped his palm to his forehead. "Dad's here..." Running to the front of the mansion, Slate opened the door. "DAD! You only need to ring the doorbell one time!"

"I did ring it one time!" Knuckles shouted.

Sharon led him inside. "You know how he is. I don't think he remembers pressing the buzzer..."

Saddened, Knuckles looked around. "Karen's gone. Now Rouge is gone. I never got to tell her. Never got to tell her I was sorry for how mean I was to her so long ago! Now I can't!"

"DAD! You told her that years ago!" Slate knew that his father's mind was slipping and that such an argument was pointless.

"I don't remember that..."

Slate sighed. "No... you probably don't remember that..."

"Took you two long enough!" Marron commented. "Can't blame you..."

"It's been a while since we looked like this..." Rouge's eyes kept looking Tom's rear end over. "Hard not to touch!"

"So..." Tom asked, "what's the deal? No clouds for floors, no big gates or angels to greet us?"

Laughing, Marron said, "that's not how it really works. Up here, you're young again and in perfect physical health. You won't need to eat but you can. There's unlimited food and resources for everyone. Oh, usual day and night, you can be injured but you'll heal very fast. Reincarnation IS possible but it's usually something that lonely people do when they get bored up here." She looked her daughter in the eyes. "And yes, you can have sex up here. It IS one of the more basic pleasures... but keep in mind, there are some rules. If it's totally immoral on Earth, don't do it here. That means no outward violence, rape, things like that."

She thought of more to tell them. "Most people here are young adults, except for children. Anyone who died as a kid stays that way. Except for babies. The basic rule is that unless someone lived ten years, they get reincarnated instantly. Oh, and as for events on Earth..."

Grabbing the remote, she turned on the television. The view was of the mansion living room, Rouge's family gathered together. "It lets us peek in to see how loved ones are doing. Sometimes we can also go and observe in person, but we're limited to an hour and no one can see or hear us."

"Wow..." Rouge watched. Knuckles stumbled around, possibly crying. "They all look so..."

"Miserable," Tom finished. Marron turned off the television. "Guess they need time. I just wish we could let them know we're okay."

"Can't do that," Marron blurted out. "It's one of those rules. We can't directly interact with the living."

Rouge became suspicious. "Mother? How did you know about our intense sex life, anyway?"

She became defensive. "Well... you are my daughter and..." Finally giving up, she said, "okay. You two led a pretty random life. I kinda... caught you when trying to check in. A few times. It was by accident! Kinda hard not to peek in when you two decide to get it on in the afternoon... or the morning..."

Grinning, Rouge said, "oh well."

"Wait... you saw my..." Thomas frowned, seemingly embarrassed.

Leaning towards her daughter, Marron asked, "is he always so prudish about sex?"

"Mostly."

They heard the doorbell. "Oh, that must be a friend of yours." Rising from her seat, the bat went to let their guest in.

"Wonder who that could be?" Rouge asked.

Entering the living room was a familiar echidna. "ROUGE! Here! Try this!" Karen tossed her a wrapped object. Rouge undid the paper, revealing a cheeseburger. "That's real me, too! Not that crappy soy meat you used to eat, you know!"

"Uh..." Rouge inspected the burger.

"It's safe," Marron assured. "We can eat meat and protein up here."

Karen tossed tone to Tom and handed one to Marron. "Poor Knuckles... I've seen him. His mind really that bad?"

"Probably worse," Tom replied, biting into his sandwich. "Wow, this is the good stuff. Not that garbage used by fast food."

"So..." Rouge asked, "how did you die. No one ever told us... just said it was natural causes."

"Too many blows to the head over the years. I got a blood clot in my brain. But hey, I chose to be a boxer. I knew the risks... just wish now my family didn't have to be without me."

Shadow entered the empty store room. Cytheria was close behind. Waiting for them was the Commander herself, accompanied by three elite troops. "Shadow... I have to make an official announcement to everyone in fifteen minuted, but I wanted to tell you in person."

He could see that it wasn't good news. "Go on."

Tiff explained to him, "Rouge is dead. So is Tom. they died in their sleep last night. Peacefully, from old age."

Shock turned to anger. Screaming, he pounded his fists into the walls, leaving dents. His rage was limitless, but Tiff kept her troops back. "THAT'S ENOUGH! Shadow, you knew this would happen one day. I believe this is why you ignored her interest in you. You lost a friend, but I lost family. Now, you will resume your duties. You will attend her funeral. If this is going to be a problem, I will deal with it if you cross the line."

He sighed. "Yes, Commander."

"Thanks for letting us know," Cytheria said. "Come on, Shadow, we have to report to the firing range.

"How was I supposed to know he was your friend?" Marron recalled Shadow's visit. "I'd seen him following me around before, I thought he was just trying to lay me or something so I finally just asked him."

"It was probably my fault," Tom mused, "I got him to keep tabs on you. But only because Rouge wouldn't just talk to you."

Rouge seemed offended. "Hey! I- I had my reasons..."

"If it matters," she said, "he was kind of lousy... no experience, no technique."

Tom was curious. "My parents around?"

"I've met them," Marron responded, "both of them are real jerks."

"Fine by me. I don't have anything to say to them."

TOM!" Rouge was stunned. "I'm patching things up with my mother, at least you could try the same!"

"You don't understand," Marron scolded, "his parents are REAL dicks! Snobs who complain about everything! They're never happy and no one here gets along with them... except maybe their snob friends."

Grumbling, Tom thought out loud, "they'll probably come here trying to make claim on this house. Bet the rest of my old family will..."

Marron smiled. "Let them. My advice, if they try it, just ignore them. If they get too violent and angry, well... they'll be dealt with. See, breaking the rules pretty bad around here has consequences. Anyway... I'll leave you two alone so you can get settled in. Tell you what, why don't we meet out in the field in about two hours and have a nice picnic?"

"Hmm..." Rouge replied, "sounds fun."

"Good. There's a big tree, and I mean BIG tree about half a mile south of here. You can't miss it. I'll bring the food, okay? See you then, daughter!"

Left alone, the two smiled. "This isn't so bad," Thomas commented, pulling his wife close.

"Maybe not... still just wish we could all be together. But I guess they'll show up here eventually. I just hope they enjoy life while they have it."

Looking her in the eyes, Tom leaned in to kiss her gently. Rouge reciprocated, arms wrapped tight around her love. "It's been a long time since we did this."

"Too long," he said, sliding a hand down into her pants.

"You're not going to do any foreplay? Naughty boy..." Slipping off her shirt, she said, "but I'm game!" Unhooking the bra, she felt her breasts fall free, once again firm and soft. Tom suckled on her nipples, forcing her to groan in pleasure. She responded by jumping to the floor and yanking his pants off. "Yes... oh, wow, actually getting hard!"

"Been a while since I got to do that, too!" he joked, giving it a few playful stores for her.

She said, "don't finish without me!" Dropping her clothes to the floor, she climbed on top. "Wait...." Feeling down, the bat eased a finger inside. "Good. No hymen. I'd hate to have to go through THAT again..." Gently pushing down onto him, she winced as it slipped inside.

"YES! I forgot how good this feels," Tom remarked, gripping her ass. Wasting no time, Rouge leaned in, lips pressed together, Tom thrusting in his seat. Her body shivering, Rouge bounced up and down, both of them mumbling words between the kiss that neither could understand, the lovers breathing heavily through their noses. Tom could feel the heat on his face, grazing his cheek.

Pulling back, Rouge screamed out in bliss, muscles tense throughout her body, wings stretched out, climaxing. Tom's head tossed back, feeling each wad pumping out, bits squirting out of her pussy and dripping onto the cushions.

"Oh...." She gasped for breath. "Wow, that was.... damn, I think you filled me up with that one!" Grinning from ear to ear, she licked her lips.

"I have to admit," Tom managed between breaths, "you were getting a bit slow. I think when you hit about fifty!"

She ran her fingers through her husband's hair, wiping sweat from his face. "Strong words from a man who hasn't been able to get it up in six years!"

"Like it took YOU that long to cum," Tom shot back.

Twirling a finger through a lock of his hair, she simply smiled. "Shut up and hold me."

Leaning back, he pulled her close. "Love you." It sent a wave of warmth through her body to hear it.

Tiff read the autopsy report. No traces of poison. Thomas Adriani had died from an exploded blood vessel in his brain, possibly due to a weakness developed during birth. "According to this, Tom was probably lucky he lived as long as he did. He had a time bomb in his head..."

"And Rouge?" Cytheria asked. Shadow was still at the firing range, letting off his anger.

"Natural causes," Tiff read from the report. "Just natural causes. Funny they'd both die like that, one from an existing condition and the other not..."

Cy suggested, "maybe Rouge woke up and saw him dead. The stress killed her."

"Doubtful," she responded. "No elevated adrenaline levels or any other evidence she woke up. It really doesn't matter... sad, though. She's the reason I'm here, in this chair. She supported me. If it wasn't for her... wasn't for both of them, I'd still be in records, probably with that pink streak dyed into my fur, stuck there forever."

"You mean where your own wife is right now?" the echidna chided.

Tiff defended, "June wasn't into this. She was content to look up to her sister, to stay at home and raise our daughter. GUN wasn't her life like it was for me. But I know I can trust her and Tania to do a good job down there and to keep things in order."

She read the other reports. "Illegal digging in the Green Hill Zone... troops dispatched. Pirates attacked the carnival in Soleanna, troops dispatched to deal with that. A piece of space debris impacted the Space Colony ARK, hull breach. No one works there, it's not a priority to repair."

"Slow day," Cytheria commented.

They sat against the big tree. The meadow felt good, a nice, cool breeze and the sun bright but not blinding. Rouge brushed her feet through the grass. "We're early..."

"Or we got the wrong spot," Tom noted.

"No, this is the big tree due south," Rouge said, sure of herself.

Tom muttered, "are we sure of which way south even is here?"

She wasn't so sure now. "Well... no, I'm certain this is it." Rolling over, Rouge playfully tugged at Tom's shirt. "We have some time to kill..."

"You sure you wanna use that word here?"

"You big baby! Come on..." Sliding her hand down the front of his pants, she playfully fondled her husband. "Please?"

"Okay," he relented, "just a quick handjob."

Tugging his dick free, Rouge smiled, nuzzling him as her hand fondled the soft lump, gently stiffening from the touches. "I don't get to watch you cream much," she said, "it's usually in me or on my boobs, I don't get to just watch it shoot out." Satisfied that he was hard enough, Rouge spit into her hand, gripping him hard but gentle, working long, slow strokes down the shaft with the same rhythm she would use during intercourse.

Controlling how tight she gripped, the bat seemed to simulate her own vaginal muscles by relaxing and squeezing with random intervals. The spit was gone but his liquids leaked out, coating her hand and offering enough lubrication. Stroking harder, her fingers pumped furiously, eyes wide, waiting to watch her lover ejaculate. Running a finger through her fur, Tom moaned. "Keep watching!"

She enjoyed the sight, the first glob shooting out by more than a foot, splashing in the grass. Hand stroking down hard, more pumped forth, hitting the grass and finally soaking her fingers.

"Oh... my..."

The two looked up. Marron was standing nearby, blushing. "I think I came at a bad time..."

"I think we both came at a bad time," Tom joked.

Rouge was amused, bursting into laughter. "Well... my husband has a sense of humor about sex, after all!"

"Little too late to do anything else," Thomas elaborated. "And going by her expression, I think she's rather pleased."

"Well, you do have a- that is... Rouge, dear, there's a stream not far from here. Go wash off and we'll get this set up."

"Hmm... okay. Think I can trust you to keep your hands off him?" Rouge asked.

"Of course! That is, unless you two want to have a threesome or something..." Marron smirked. "Just a joke."

With a sigh, Rouge rose from the ground. "If anyone else had busted us, Tom would be freaking out and I might actually be more than embarrassed! But my mother was a total-" She stopped dead.

"A total whore, you mean?" She unrolled the blanket. "Yes, yes, I know..."

Rouge defended, "I didn't mean that."

"It's okay," she responded, "I'm probably expected to be a slut."

"MOTHER! Please..."

"Don't argue," Tom said, "please. You two need to get along."

The sun was nice, the breeze was nice. The three were lying in the grass. "Every day I've been here, I've been so sorry for how lousy a parent I was..." Marron's eyes closed, wincing at the thought of her life. "I let the booze take hold. I let it ruin my looks and my personality."

"You ever drink while you were pregnant?" Tom asked.

"Absolutely not! Even I knew better than to do that, boy!" Folding her arms behind her head, she went on, "but I never found love. Your father... he didn't even know you were his until he died and came here... he knew about June. He didn't come back for me, he came back to raise his daughter. he was only interested in me because I spread my legs for much any guy who asked..."

Rouge took a deep breath. "Maybe it's not worth meeting him..."

"It's up to you... I can't make you see him."

"He'd be a complete stranger," Rouge said.

Tom was bored. "We have eternity. What exactly do we do with that much time?"

"There's plenty to do here," Marron said, "things here keep up with technology on Earth, there are lots of people in the cities... and it's not very hard to travel anywhere. OH! I almost forgot..." Digging through the basket, she pulled two glowing crystals from a wrapped cloth. "You'll need these."

"Oh... pretty," Rouge commented.

"What are they?" Tom asked.

She explained, "knowledge crystals. If you want to find someone or something here, or find out why a family member or friend died, just hold the crystal and think about what you need to know. But it is limited... you can't use it to spy on people or anything like that. Don't worry about losing them, you can get another if you need to."

"I'd have expected some sort of PDA or something," Tom remarked.

Marron grinned. "Sometimes, the older methods work best."

"Mother?" Rouge rolled onto her side. "Nothing..."

"What is it?"

Rolling over onto her back, Rouge looked into the clouds. "It's... well, I'm not sure you're the one to talk to about it."

Tom said, "she should be. Go on... you two need to get along."

"Okay... but it involves you, Tom. You sure?"

He seemed afraid. "Ehr... might as well. I know it's going to be intimate, but what the hell..."

Sitting upright, Rouge said, "mother... I've always wanted someone I could talk to about... sex. Not just with Tom. But someone else we could share in on our dirty sex life."

"I... see..." Marron laughed gently. "Never found anyone before?"

Rouge continued, "no. No one I felt Tom could relate to. Closest I ever found was Cytheria but it didn't seem to be the best."

"The one echidna in the biker outfit?" Marron knew her from brief glances towards Earth. "Not one I would have picked, myself."

"We got in a situation once," Tom spoke.

Rouge remembered. "It was about... twenty years ago? Yeah... seems my vaginal muscles got swollen and we got stuck together. I had to call someone to help us who would actually keep it secret."

"Good lord," Marron shouted. "How in the hell did that happen?"

Tom said, "someone didn't read the instructions on a bottle of female sex stimulant and used way too much!"

"I see..." Marron enjoyed the story. "So... you had to call her and get her to help."

"Nothing happened, though," Rouge went on, "she had to use a muscle relaxer cream on us to get the swelling down. We were both too numb to do anything. Still..."

"She saw us both naked." Tom recalled. "And she stripped down thinking it'd be fair. We got in the bath tub to wash off and she sat on the counter. No clothes on."

"And you couldn't get it up because you were numb from what she used on you. Wow... what a wasted chance," Marron thought out loud. "And you didn't invite her back later?"

Rouge smirked. "She was already dating Shadow. Not that we couldn't have, he did offer to let us three way with her because he got it on with you, but..."

"He... offered that? Actually offered that?" Marron was surprised. "Shadow doesn't sound like the smartest person around."

Tom added, "the two were also doing a porn website at the time. With other people. Usually women they hired."

"And you wanted to be his girlfriend?" Marron shook her head. "That guy sounds pathetic. I'd be surprised if he even knows what intimacy is!"

"Leave him alone!" Rouge wasn't interested in attacks on an old friend. "He has... problems... just leave it at that!"

"Okay, you win... so... you want someone else to play with. Someone sexually free and open, but also someone you can trust."

"Basically..." Rouge looked into the sky. "But I really don't know of anyone who would... except... no... or maybe... I need someone that Tom would be open with, too. He's always been a bit repressed about discussing sex with anyone that isn't me!"

"I'm not going to screw some total stranger," Tom defended, "and it's not like bringing a third person into the bedroom is just something you do without thought."

"So..." Rouged looked at her mother. "Maybe?"

"You want me to be the one?"

"Well... no. You're my mother! But..."

Marron took her daughter's hand. "I know. It'd be borderline incest. Not if we aren't screwing each other. Anyway..." She looked at Tom and continued, "a mother and daughter tag-teaming the same guy is quite the porn fantasy!"

"Yes, a porn fantasy," Tom said, "but not real life."

"Oh? And where do you think those porn writers get their ideas? Anyway... I recall looking in on my granddaughters about a month ago..."

"The twins?" Rouge asked.

"Yes, them... they were discussing the idea of doubling up on one guy if they couldn't find separate boyfriends!"

"My little girls..." Rouge didn't know what to say. "On one hand, they're sisters. On the other..." She smirked with a wicked look in her eyes. "... that's a real nasty idea! One I'd have even thought of if I had a sister my age... and into men..."

She added, "and the rumor is that Queen Elise of Soleanna... well, word is her parents were related before marriage."

"You can't be serious," Tom shouted out.

"I am serious," Marron responded. "They won't outright deny it when anyone brings it up..."

"Soleanna... funny, I know I've never been there, but I can swear I remember that place like I was there when I was young..." The kingdom seemed to be in her mind, images of a personal visit that she was certain never occurred.

"Anyway... when you think about it, bats are probably an incestuous race. Fathers who don't stay around, little family structure... probably lots of blood related couples that have kids and don't even know it." Grimacing, Marron muttered out, "your father might even have a kid or two by other women. Not that he'd have told me. I'm rather happy for you. Both of you. Breaking the curse of bats and actually staying together."

"She saved my life that night," Tom said.

"So... you felt you owed her?"

"What? No..."

Rouge asked, "Tom? If my saving you wasn't the big thing that got us together... then what was it?"

He started to stutter. "I- uh... you were a nice person."

"Is that all?" Rouge begged.

"Hmm... okay, you flashing that cleavage around didn't hurt."

Rouge seemed both pleased and hurt. "Funny, it never worked on any other guy I met. Anyway, back on topic... think you can handle two of us?"

"I hope so," Marron said, "I haven't been touched by a man since I got here."

"Really?" Rouge was a bit surprised. "I'd have thought you'd be quite popular."

"Not when I'm sober. Even with my looks back..."

Tom rolled his eyes. "You two have no shame about this, do you?"

Sonic was old. His side hurt from the bad kidney. And worst of all, the room felt sad. Tails stood beside him. Knuckles sat still, everyone wondering if he was even aware of what was going on anymore.

"The funeral will be in two days. They need time to prepare the funeral hall and the procession plans." Teal was possibly hurt the worst.

"What about the burial plots?" Tails asked.

Teal explained, "mom and dad got those years ago. They were ready for this."

"Good for them..." Rose slumped in her seat. "I thought they'd be around for our wedding, someday..."

without a word, Violette ran off to her room. Sonic let out a sigh, both from the news and from his aching body. "Amy's hurt. Bad. She doesn't know what to think. But we're all getting old."

Tails blurted out, "except Shadow."

"For someone who acts like he has no emotions, he seems to be taking this hard," Sonic pointed out.

"You like reading?" Herbert Westwood asked. "I do... got a lot of time to read now. I get to read all the books I never got around to."

"You ever read the books we wrote?" Rouge asked.

"You wrote books? When?"

Rouge answered, "before you died. But..."

"We published under a fake name," Thomas finished.

"Really... and... what were these book about?"

Smiling, Rouge said, "romance novels."

"Huh...." Herbert turned away. "Maybe not a subject I usually read about. Clara?"

"Might be more my speed," the female cat said. "Wait... the 'Thief of the Heart' series?"

"You've read them," Rouge responded.

Clara pushed on her face, pushing at glasses she no longer needed, a habit she had yet to break. "It's given me... ideas. Right, Herb?"

The investigator tried his best to look away. "Right... um... anyway, three kids?"

Rouge felt special, making a man blush without even trying. "Twins aren't a fun birthing experience. But I'm proud of my little girls..."

"Any plans to go to your funeral?" Herb asked. "I went to mine..."

"No," Tom said, brushing it off. "Too weird."

"No argument there," Herb responded.

Rouge didn't wish to think about that. "At the very least, we left them well off. No debts, lots of money, ownership of the businesses...

"Besides," Thomas added, "the current Commander of GUN lives there. No one's going to touch it. Who'd be dumb enough?"

Herbert replied, "debt collectors are certainly dumb enough... but they wouldn't like the outcome."

The mansion was quiet. It reminded Tom of the early days, before he had a family filling the place. It was a creepy kind of quiet. Sitting on the couch, Tom flipped through the channels. "Great... a thousand channels, a thousand shows from all of history. How do you find anything?"

"Just think about what you want to watch. That's all," Marron said.

Taking the remote, Rouge spoke, "let me try!" She brought up her favorite movie.

"This again..." Marron remembered the film. "You watched this as a child."

"And I'm watching it again," she taunted, cuddling up with Tom.

"I'll leave you two alone, then. I'll be in the city if you need me." Stepping away, Marron heard her daughter call to her. "Yes"

"Mother... what do you have to go back for? An empty apartment? Stay here..."

"But... this is your home, not mine."

Forty seven years, five months have passed

History had been stripped away. Furniture, jewels, it had all been moved out. Bare wood stared up from beneath where carpet once rested. In a way, Violette hated to do that to her mother's old apartment but there was no point in leaving the second floor of Club Rouge sitting abandoned. Her parents hadn't even been up the stairs in ten years, nor would Rouge approve of such a waste.

Technically, they could have ignored such a wish but the young bat felt an odd feeling that somehow, someway, her mother might find a way to yell at them from beyond the grave.

Grabbing a roll of plastic, she kicked it, unrolling along the floor in a neat layer to keep paint off the wood. Taping down the edges, the bat was interrupted as her twin sister slid open the back wall, carrying paint cans with a small ladder looped over one arm.

"You couldn't bring those up the stairs?"

"This was faster," Rose complained, folding out the ladder. "I'll paint the ceiling."

"Right, and I'll-" Pausing to process the sight, she asked, "Rose... what ARE you wearing?"

Giving her twin an odd look, she mumbled, "what? They're delivering the new carpet today."

"Uh huh..." Her sister was wearing a pair of overalls with nothing on underneath. "Enjoy getting paint down your pants."

Unwavered, Rose defended her choice of clothing by stating, "it never hurts to show off a bit. Anyway, mom would probably approve."

"I don't doubt that..." Violette knew quite well how Rouge Adriani once dressed, before she was married. "Well, this place isn't gonna paint itself..." Sliding on a pair of cotton gloves, she pried the lid open and picked up a brush. "OH!" Pulling the small artist's hat from the back pocket, she placed it on her head.

"What the hell is THAT?" Rose begged, trying not to laugh.

Biting her lip, she kept her mouth shut. It wasn't worth the explanation. Stooping down near the wall, letting her artistic side out, the bat girl slowly painted along the wall a nice shade of purple.

Sliding the paint roller in the pan, Rose picked a bright pink for the ceiling. Climbing up, the roller glided along, smearing it's contents out. Reaching out, the bat found that her wings could keep her steady even while off-balance.

Unfortunately, Rose was doing little to pay attention to what was underneath. Dripping down, large globs of pink paint fell to her twin's hair, spattering in her eyes and clothes.

"ROSE!" she screamed out, standing upright like lightning and spinning like a top.

"Oops..."

"You were too busy thinking about flirting with the delivery men, weren't you?"

Grinning, she responded, "well... yeah."

Tempted to grab the can of paint and throw it, Violette calmed herself. 'No... that's not how I do things,' she thought to herself, 'besides, it'll waste paint and she won't learn anyway...' "I'm going to go wash my fur out... just keep painting."

Shrugging, Rose dipped her roller in the pan once more. However, Violette felt a sudden nasty urge and flicked her brush, sending small bits of paint flying and hitting her twin on the shoulders.

"HEY! Sis..." Wiping herself off, she commented, "I deserved that..."

"You did."

"But my overalls..." Unhooking one of the straps, folding down the corner of the overalls, the bat girl returned to her painting.

Stunned, she mouthed, "oh, no..."

"Yes. Mine was an accident. Yours wasn't." Grinning, Rose felt a sudden rush of confidence. "So I'll show off a bit more when those guys get here."

"Don't show off to much or you might get more than you wanted."

An evil grin crossed Rose's mouth. "Don't worry, I don't give out free peeks. Just tease them, that's all..."

Unwilling to hand over the last word, she jabbed back, "because that seemed to work so well for mom when she was young."

Struck hard with the realization, the bat reached back and clasped the overalls back together. "True... not like it was mom's fault the audience wasn't interested. Like you said, place ain't gonna paint itself," she groaned, climbing the ladder once more to finish her work.

It was going to be a long day. A long day, but perhaps not boring. If anything, the twins had each other to break the silence. Perhaps it was the way in which they would handle the loss, remain cheerful and keep living their lives. After all, not that Violette would admit it, but she felt more than a simple bond to her twin sister.

Rose knew this, of course. It was why she was in this room, painting a ceiling rather than out flirting.

Forty seven years, six months have passed

Fiddling with the remote in some hope of turning the volume up to an acceptable level, Cytheria waited, eyes dancing between screen and clock, waiting. Crumbling up the empty can and tossing it in a small pile with the rest, her seventh beer was starting to work.

The knock. Partly inebriated but barely out of control, the echidna darted for the door. "Violette, about time!"

"NOW will you tell me why you needed twenty bottles of grape juice?" the bat asked with some reservation, finding Cy's request particularly odd. Setting down the wooden crate, arms strained, she did not appear too pleased.

"It's Shadow..."

Violette remarked, "I'd guessed..."

Pointing to the fridge door, Cytheria displayed the wine bottles kept inside. "He's been like this since your mom died and Knuckles dropping dead didn't help any."

"I thought he hated Knuckles?"

"True," Cy responded, "but whatever... everyone from back then's kicking off. He's been drinking since. I gotta stop this or he's gonna lose his job. All Tiff needs to find out is that he's boozing up all day and he's booted out."

"Yeah..." Biting her lip, the bat girl asked, "why'd you need ME to bring the grape juice?"

Gathering wine bottles, one by one, she set them out in a row. "He stole these I think... they didn't show up on our charges. But if I go out and buy a shit load of grape juice someone might ask questions. I don't wanna answer questions." Uncapping the first bottle and dumping the fermented liquid down the sink, she dug a funnel from the drawers.

Grabbing a bottle herself and following suit, Violette said, "I'll help..."

"Don't pour it all out, leave some for the taste. Maybe if he gets suckered into drinking this he'll sober up." Looking cautiously at the hallway, "he's probably still passed out. How've you been doing with all this?"

Draining the purple juice into the wine bottles, she responded, "Rose and I moved into the club, so we haven't been paying much attention to what's been going on with the others. I think Teal's gotten better but Slate's been pretty depressed since his dad died. I don't know what aunt Tiff's going through, she seems to keep it pretty much business." Capping the bottle, "aunt June, that's different... mom was almost a mother to her, I know the stories about the drunk slob grandmother I never met."

Screwing the lid on another bottle, the bat asked, "what was the deal with you going to the mansion that one day?"

"The what? Oh, I remember..."

"...and? You didn't have sex with my parents, did you?"

"Little girl... your mother gave you a dirty mind," the echidna scolded. "They got into some trouble after trying something in bed. All they wanted was a little discretion. Can't call just anyone when you're in a spot like that."

Violette merely returned a hard stare. "But you wanted to."

"Eh... your dad wouldn't have done it anyway, he was real shy the second I got there. Your mother, well, different story."

"I'm not going to push it any more, okay?"

Cy replied, "it's not a big deal anyway. Now help me fill the rest of these."

Opening the cabinet to find the garbage can, Violette found it was already filled with empty wine bottles. "Holy hell!"

"Yeah... it takes us a lot more to get drunk than it does you mortal types."

Stumbling into the kitchen, yanking the refrigerator open and gripping a bottle firm, Shadow twisted off the cap and guzzled down. "Yeah..."

"Still fuckin' drunk?" she begged, knowing damn well he was.

"Eases the pain, that's all... anyone call?"

"No. Don't worry, you're on leave, if our superiors call I'll make up some BS about you being out."

Woozy and spinning like a top, Shadow kissed her on the cheek. "You're too good to me..."

The morning sun burnt like fire in Shadow's eyes, screaming within like a torment never known. "AH!" Rolling out of bed, his head pounding, the ultimate life form could barely stand. "I'm sober..."

"Yep," Cytheria mumbled. "I replaced your liquor with grape juice."

"HUH? WHY?"

"Look at you, moron!" Picking up yet another bottle off the nightstand, waving it at her lover like a newspaper at a troublesome dog, she shouted, "you've been fucking drinking since that bat died and you didn't even like that red moron! Quit actin' like a fuckin' BABY and get over it! Or do you want Commander Tiff to kick you out for being an alky?"

"I'll do whatever I please!" he screamed, wincing as the sound of his own voice tore his eardrums.

She responded in anger, "you do that. Don't come crying to ME when you end up without anything."

Curling up on the floor into a ball, Shadow began weeping. "She loved me, she did once... but I would've made her miserable. I wanted to push her away but when she married him I felt so empty. I betrayed her. I lied to her and used her mother. Rouge, I'm sorry..."

"What the HELL?"

"If I had been with her I'd have made her sad. I would've ignored her and she'd have been trapped. She trusted me and all I could think about was myself and Maria." Dragging himself back into bed, he continued, "I pushed her away but when she went away I was angry. I-"

"You blame yourself," she remarked.

Looking into his wife's eyes, "for what I did to her, yes. I hated her for being with that man when it was my fault. I tried to punish Rouge for nothing. She sent me to you. She wasn't going to do to me what I did to her. I'm not a good person. I can't even tell her that. I messed up."

"Maybe," Cy let slip. "But there's nothing you can do. Beat yourself up if you want just don't ask me to put up with your self pity."

Grabbing the echidna girl tight, Shadow muttered painfully, "I'm doing it to you... I'm disappointing you like I would have with her."

"Eh, sorta," was all she said. Without further words, the hedgehog kissed his wife, lips refusing to let go. Pulling free, she said, "look, you ain't fucked me in three weeks. Why don't you nail me and let off some steam. Be good for you."

Shaking his head, still buzzing from the hangover, he declined. "I can barely see straight. I don't think I'm getting it up yet."

"NOW you regret the alcohol. Of course..."

Thrusting his hands under her long shirt, "but I think I can try something."

Feeling playful, Cy's hands tugged at her collar, ripping her clothing to shreds, revealing bright orange fur and pink nipples. "Your tongue still able to wiggle?" Planting his face below, Shadow's lips sucked away at the wet slit of uncovered skin, fingers poking inside. "Now, doesn't that taste better than wine?"

Rolling her eyes, Cytheria was pleased to have Shadow back.

Fifty years, two months have passed

Another day at work. Some people may have considered owning a casino to be a good thing. Her sister certainly did, anyway, but not Violette. It was ruining her after-hours social life. The idea of going out to a club seemed pointless when she worked in a casino. Going out to eat was pointless thanks to the small restaurant in the back and there were always crowds.

"Things good?"

"Typical night," Cream answered. "Nothing unusual, no troublemakers."

"Alright, I'm going up to-" Pausing in the middle of her thoughts as her eyes spotted something, Violette seemed to be dazed. "Who's that?"

Turning around, Cream saw the light blue hedgehog. "Oh, that's... what's his name? Sonic's grandson, I think."

Feeling confident, the bat glided across the floor to the slot machines. "Hey there!"

Looking up from the quarter-muncher, the hedgehog asked, "yeah?"

"You're Sonic's grandkid, right? My mom was friends with him and your grandmother." Smiling gently, Violette did her best to keep the charm to a minimum. She didn't want to show off just yet.

"Yeah. I'm Speedy," he responded, seeming oblivious to the bat girl's flirting and tugging the lever once more.

Switching tactics, she asked, "so, how are they?"

"They're fine. Grampa's always complaining about his knees but they're okay, I guess."

"Good. So... listen, you want to go somewhere quieter and talk? I'd like-"

"I have to go," the hedgehog mumbled, grabbing his earnings and fleeing in a panic.

Eyes wide, more bewildered than disappointed, all she could say was, "shit!"

"Hey, sis..." Violette greeted as Rose walked through the door. "Date go well?"

"Uh huh, me and Bryan went to- hey!" Rose could feel the depression in the air like fog. "You struck out with a guy!"

Grunting angrily, she hissed, "I musta got mom's curse with men. Flirt with them and they run away."

Tossing her purse through the bedroom door, the twin bat was curious. "So, who was it? Not some stranger in the club?"

"It was that one grandson of Sonic and Amy. Speedy?"

"Ah..." Heading to the kitchen to grab a juice, she said, "he's got issues."

Twisting her face into a look of blunt horror, Violette was genuinely surprised. "Issues?"

"Yeah. Sonic's kid got some girl pregnant when they were teenagers. He's a bit freaked out all the time, seems afraid of women because of it. Guess he didn't want to do the same..."

"But he's almost our age by now, isn't he?"

"Guess so," Rose muttered, "but who knows what someone like that goes through? Well, I'm off to bed."

As expected, Speedy returned the next night, popping change into the slot machines. "Wonder why he's doing that?"

"I wouldn't want to guess," Cream answered. Questioning a paying customer was NOT a recommended job trait. "You're not going to talk to him again, are you?"

"My mother didn't get where she did by being a quitter."

She wanted to hold it in, but it slipped. "It didn't help her with Knuckles OR Shadow..."

Biting her lip, Violette simply replied, "yeah well, dad was probably better for her anyway and if she'd given up on him, he'd have died. Literally. Wish me luck!"

Pacing herself, keeping quiet, the bat wandered over, leaning against the machines. "Speedy. Nice to see loyal customers always coming back."

"Uh... hi."

A brief pause as she planned the next move. "Please don't run off this time. I'm one of the owners."

"Yeah, I got that from the name of the place," he said, popping more money down the slot.

Gripping the hedgehog's arm, she offered, "look, I know you've got problems. You can either live with them, spend years in therapy, or talk with me about them for a half hour. How about it? We'll go to the restaurant and get something to eat, okay?"

Looking around nervously, Speedy finally answered, "well... okay."

"Huh... sounds like your parents really freaked out and got you scared. I know if I'd gotten pregnant at that age, mom woulda flipped out. Hell, if I went out and got pregnant with some stranger now, she'd probably crawl out of her grave to yell at me. But she wouldn't have gone THAT psycho about it!"

"I heard your moms one of the reasons I'm here. See, my mom's parents were going to have dad arrested over it but she got G.U.N. involved."

"Wow," the bat girl blurted out, "mom sure knew how to abuse authority, didn't she?" Her next move might make or break this, so she went all out. "Bats seem to have this instinct to mate which is why my mother was the way she was. But I don't have that instinct. I think it had to do with dad being human so the genes were filtered out or something. So I really can't say- what I mean is, your parents tried to make you afraid. They made you afraid you'd get a girl pregnant and now it's made you a walking mess."

"I just don't know how to deal with this," he shouted. "I know they were worried about me but COME ON!"

Shoving aside the empty plates, she asked, "there's a pool hall down the street. You know how to play?"

"Not really," he replied.

"Me neither. Wanna go learn?"

Mumbling, "but- but-"

"Don't worry about a girlfriend yet, just try to get a friend. Come on."

It was incredibly late when Rose returned home. "I'm back!" Kicking her high heels off, she could hear someone talking from the kitchen. Two voices, definitely. "Hey!" Running into the kitchen to find her twin sister and a light blue hedgehog, she asked, "up late?"

"Can't two people talk without being bugged?" she scolded, glaring at Rose. "Go away!"

"Uh huh... well, have fun."

"So, uh," Speedy grunted out, "will you be busy tomorrow?"

Responding, "not really. Running this place is really a formality."

"Good, so..."

"Be here tomorrow afternoon."

Heading for the door, he smiled. "I had fun. But what if my parents don't like this?"

"You're an adult," the bat replied sharply, "if they whine, tell 'em to pound sand and shut up about it."

"You know what? I think I will!"

Fifty nine years have passed

Rose wouldn't hear it. The whole incident stank rotten. Tiff's death seemed rather sudden and didn't sit with her. Though maybe the girl was simply too angry to accept a simple traffic accident. "Seems awfully convenient to ME!"

"As much as I'd like to go kick some country's ass over this, that's all it looks like," Cytheria responded. "At least Tiff had numerous contingency plans. She knew the risks."

Waving a hand, Rose said, "tell her."

Bryan remembered the rumors. "Last month at the big business expo in Westopolis... I heard some guys talking on the hotel restaurant about some important person who was about to get dealt with. Hey, at the time I thought it was competition. I make toys, I don't deal with government affairs!"

"Tania's got two kids." Rose was furious. "I have three, Violette has one. Not counting Teal's family. You KNOW there have been attempts on Tiff's life before and threats against all of us."

"I know," Cytheria replied. "It's why I'm acting Commander right now. If there IS an active threat, they'll have a lot harder time killing me."

"I have to help Violette and Teal with the funeral arrangements."

Cy spoke, "we can handle-"

"Our family, our funeral!" Rose shouted. "You take care of security."

Sixty three years, four months have passed

Robot maintenance was not one of Cytheria's tasks and it was certainly not a task she enjoyed. However, the antiquated design of E-123 Omega was practically ancient compared to the machines in use now and most technicians under G.U.N.'s command had no idea how to repair the old robot.

"Where the hell have you been?" she inquired impatiently as Shadow carried the box in, resting it beside her feet.

"I had to find three of the pieces you needed. Seems keeping track of supplies no one ever uses isn't a top priority."

Digging through, the echidna pulled out a conductor filament. "Not to mention making sure the parts are still in top shape. It'll have to do..." She honestly wondered how much longer Omega would remain in functioning condition. It seemed wise, to her anyway, to build a new body with modern technology and transfer the program. However, the government had far superior war machines in service and Omega never developed anything beyond even a simple personality routine. In short, Omega was not alive and was not worth the money.

She really didn't give a damn, either, but it was the one link to the past that Shadow still had. "God dammit! Stupid robot's barely worth fixing!"

"Don't say that!" he screamed out. "He's a-"

"IT! IT! Omega is a robot without a soul. Never had one, never will! It's just a machine! Look at you! Over a hundred years old and you STILL mope and pout."

Shadow muttered, "but I-"

"Just drop it. You're still pissed over Maria, you're still pissed you fucked up with Rouge. Even if it hadn't been like that, they'd STILL be dead and you'd still be alive right now. Doesn't change any of that!" Rather than wait for an answer, she chose instead to grab his arm. "Come on, I haven't had anything to eat all day."

"But-"

"The tin can will still be there when we get back!"

"Are you going to cut this out?"

"I can't just forget everyone," he mumbled, pushing around his food.

Her eyes rolled. "I didn't say you have to. But stop acting like it all happened yesterday! Look, Shadow, we've been together for awhile but- hey, I can't listen to this all the time. Not now, not a hundred years from now."

"Are you saying you'll leave me?" Stunned and partly horrified, he seemed to be trembling.

"I love you, I'd have to just to keep putting up with your quirks but I can't put up with this until the end of time! Plus there's things we need to worry about NOW, not your old memories."

Interests piqued, the hedgehog asked bluntly, "now?"

"I believe that Commander Tiff's death wasn't an accident. I think something's about to explode. Big time. I need you clear on this, focused. We're unkillable and we might need to be on the front lines."

"What do we do now?"

Answering, "for now, keep sharp. Go on as we always do while I keep poking around. Maybe we'll get lucky and nothing'll happen," she collected the tray. "I'll go finish up on your robot. Go on home."

Throwing open the front door, weary and hungry, gloves flew to the floor. Locking the pistol in the desk, flopping her body to the couch, Cy was too worn to even grab the remote. It was the flickering lights, however, that seemed out of place. 'The hell...?' she thought, looking into the dining room.

Candles greeted her, the only lights amidst a fine dinner arranged for two. 'Oh god no! Please tell me he didn't-'

"I made us dinner," Shadow greeted cheerfully, dressed in a fine suit.

'No, no, no! This isn't what I wanted him to do!' Trying not to scream or laugh, the echidna kept silent. 'Okay... better go along with this, don't wanna depress him or nothin' like that...'

"Shadow... what a surprise," she finally said.

Motioning towards the wrapped box in her chair, he explained, "for you."

"Okay..." Undoing the ribbon and lifting the lid, inside was a fancy black dress. "Well... thanks." 'Not really me, but oh well,' she kept to herself, a touch bewildered by his sudden change in behavior. This formal, romantic scene wasn't even close to how she liked to live. Beer, steak, rough sex, that was her scene, not this.

"I'll, uh... go put this on."

Cytheria had to admit, the dress did feel nice. Shadow had spent decent money on it and the quality was evident. Stepping out, she leaned in the doorway. "Well?"

"Looks wonderful," he responded. "I was thinking, we'll finish dinner, take a romantic bath with scented candles and-" Stopping cold, the black hedgehog realized this wasn't even remotely right. "You're not impressed, are you?"

"I appreciate the effort, but this isn't you. You're not a sensitive man, you don't wear expensive suits, you HATE candles and you hate cooking. This wasn't what I meant. I want you to be yourself. That's all!" Flashing her ring in the pale light as a reminder, "we're already married. I think you forget that sometimes."

Flicking on the light switch, blowing out the candles, Cytheria planted herself at the table. "Now, we're going to eat, then I'm having dessert."

"Dessert? I made-"

"I mean I'm going to suck you off 'til you scream my fucking NAME, tough guy!" Waggling a finger, the orange echidna ordered her man to take a seat. "Then after I'm done guzzling your hot stuff down, we're stripping these fancy clothes off and banging right on this table until we break it. Got me?"

Grinning like a wild dog, Shadow displayed his anticipation. "Should I chew or just swallow it whole?"

"Getting impatient..." Sticking her tongue put playfully, Cy answered, "why take our time?"

Slamming the alarm clock hard, Shadow's hand hurt as the plastic cracked, the sharp edges pinching him. "SHIT!"

"Some ultimate life form, can't even beat up a clock without getting hurt," his wife teased. "'Bout time you got up. Come on, got a surprise for you." Tossing the blankets off his body, Cytheria dragged the half-awake hedgehog into the living room. "Well?"

It took him a moment to examine the photographs, lined up on their shelf and pinned to the wall in nice frames. "I thought you said you didn't want me to dwell on the past?"

"I SAID I don't want you acting like they died yesterday! Got them from G.U.N. records and old news reports. Just printouts. See? Here's one of Sonic and Tails when they were still kids."

He remarked, "that was before I was released from my stasis chamber..." Picking up another, Shadow lamented painfully, "she liked me and I just ignored her. It was my fault. I betrayed her. Maybe it's best I didn't return her affections..."

"Hard to say. Maybe you'd have been good to her, I don't know. You always seem to try your best." Placing the picture of the bat on the shelf, "Rouge was happy anyway. Can't complain about that. Maybe if you'd hooked up, you'd be a mess right now. It hurt bad when she died, probably hurts more to lose someone really close."

Glancing at the frame containing Maria's face, he responded painfully, "I know..."

"Oh yeah, about last night..." Pointing to the dining area, their table sat in broken fragments of wood. "We need to go shopping later. And uh, we'd better not make a habit of that. Tables are kinda expensive. But I still have to finish up your robot friend too." Slapping his rear, Cy ordered, "busy day, get your crap together!"

Sixty three years, seven months have passed

The flames were extinguished as the ambulance left. It was a needless vehicle, merely hauling away what couldn't be saved. The fire was contained, enough fire extinguishers in the house to control the blaze, but it was too late. It was over as it began. Teal Adriani was no longer with them, the scorched kitchen a reminder of the explosion that had taken her away.

In his son's room, Slate covered his boy, an adult but still devastated. Slate felt helpless, worthless, his wife taken from him in a flash. He could only sit on his son's bed, shaking, hoping he was having a nightmare.

Violette was crying, a lump on the living room sofa. Rose, as she always was, let he anger flow. "First my parents, then my aunt, now my older sister! It gets worse each time! I'll make them pay for taking my family!"

"WHO?" Her husband, Bryan, wasn't one to tolerate her rants. "Make WHO pay?"

"I... I... I don't know..." Sitting beside her twin sister, holding Violette, Rose said, "Bryan, go see how the kids are doing..."

One hundred and thirteen years, one month have passed

Flicking the bottle cap neatly into the garbage, the echidna girl flipped through channels hoping to find anything that may offer a distraction. This was a poor time in the world, and most certainly a poor time to be the Commander of the Guardian Unit Of Nations.

Her mansion was barely recognizable as the one-time home of the Adriani family. Having grown and moved to a far more luxurious, far larger home now, this place seemed more suitable for her as it had once been overhauled with all necessary G.U.N. security measures. Updating and enhancing those measures, however, had been a chore, as had been replacing much of the older wood construction with high quality marble and steel.

Not that these really mattered. Security meant nothing to an immortal who did not have to fear death or injury by any means.

"You're in a good mood, I see," Shadow grunted, taking a seat beside his wife.

Cytheria, guzzling half her beer in one gulp, replied harshly, "peace talks..."

"They're not going well, then?"

Finishing her booze and flicking the glass bottle aside, uncapping another, Cytheria let out with a groan, "you know and I know these peace talks are just a formality. Things aren't going to work out. I'm already working on battle strategies with the President to try and minimize the damage to this country. The best we can do."

His eyes out the window into the old fruit fields, Shadow noted the progress of construction. "How much longer until the new command center is ready?"

The command center. Financial estimates showed that building a new structure would prove cheaper than overhauling the original. The old Adriani property offered enough open space and it was beside the private home of the Commander. "Three months, probably." Flicking the remote control away in boredom, she screamed out, "to hell with this! I'm going out."

"And where do you think you're going, exactly?" the hedgehog begged, knowing she meant to go out and cause trouble. "You can't go to bars and start fights! The last thing we need is a public incident because you got too wild!"

Chucking the empty bottle at the wall, glass spraying everywhere, Cytheria clenched a fist. "I knew it was a bad idea to take this job..."

"You agreed to it," Shadow grumbled, sick of his wife's rambling and whining. "No one made you." It would be his turn to clean up the glass.

"Oh, really... no one else was willing right now TO take it! I got stuck out of guilt! Why the hell else would someone who used to do internet porn get picked for this?" Her anger flared as the echidna girl considered breaking the television, merely to rage at the lack of entertainment. "They suckered an immortal into this job because they were afraid someone else might get shot!"

Cytheria had no easy job. The current ruling body of Soleanna was militaristic and pushing for expansion. The downside was that the country had made allies, forming a large enough conglomerate of nations to be a threat to G.U.N. authority. Her job was to run the military in the event of a war, and she expected that war to start shortly. What baseless, useless talks passed for diplomacy were futile. Cytheria knew that, the President knew that and anyone with a working brain knew that.

She wished the world hadn't changed, that she still worked at Club Rouge, that the world was at peace, that people she knew were still alive. Times changed, bringing new chaos to the world.

Sweeping up the last remains of glass, Shadow mumbled, "I'll start dinner."

"Do we- never mind. Just surprise me." At least this would be one surprise she might actually look forward to. Following Shadow through the greeting hall, past the kitchen and into her office, fingers typed away at the keys as the daily report forms popped up onto the screen to be filled out.

Stopping her work briefly, Cytheria took hold of a picture on the desk. "Rouge..." She lamented over years past. "I'm just happy you aren't still alive to be watching the world fall apart like this. But I'm so sorry.... I let you down. Your utopia... I can't save it. Wherever you are, I hope you're happy." Placing the picture of her old mentor back, she finished sadly, "because I'm not."

As night crept into the mansion, the couple enjoyed a brief romantic moment. No security checks, no work, just the two lovers. However, the romance was haunted, shaken by the pending turmoil. "We could take extreme measures."

"Right, that's a great idea," the echidna woman cried in despair. "Start the war early!"

His devilish mind at play, Shadow said, "we have all seven Chaos Emeralds... with them, no one could stop us. It would be too easy."

"For us," she agreed, "but it's too much risk. The fallout would go past us and probably set countries on fire. This isn't some old mission against the doctor or some assignment here, it's BIG. Too big for us to just walk over."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" he begged.

Easing back in her chair, Cytheria had a plan. "We wait. Let them make the first move... then we act. If we wait then we look like the honest defenders just protecting our side. We can do whatever we want."

"We either act and start a war," he groaned, "or let the war start and then act."

"I think it'd cut down on the casualties that way."

The history of the world itself would soon be written. Shadow only prayed that he would be on the winning side to be the one to write that history.

One hundred and fifteen years, four months have passed

Central City had once been a peaceful haven of business, commerce and was home to many. Now, the northern sector of the city lie in ruins, bombs having torn everything apart in their heartless fury of the war machine. Roads were littered with glass and cracks, a scar upon the world. Broken windows and the remnants of automobiles were a damaged echo of the past. Soleanna's monarch had tried to send a message.

They had been heard.

Letting go of the fire escape ladder, Cytheria dropped to the streets and slinked back into the dark alleys. There was no danger of enemy troops; no, they remained in their own country. She had to contend with looters, planted explosives, and far worse to get home.

What was far worse grabbed her throat, tearing at her sleeves. "Party time," her attacker grunted in slimy joy. She could see his face in the nearby glass, a filthy brown hedgehog with one eye.

The rape gangs, no doubt. They didn't want her money or supplies. If only they had known to stay far away from this woman. Slipping a sharpened metal spike from her quills, the echidna stabbed it into her assailant's remaining eye socket, barely dodging the fresh squirt of blood. "I'm not in the mood."

Ignoring his violent screams of pain, she ran off. Her home was still some distance away.

"We have to end this war and we have to end it now," she grunted, annoyed, loading a fresh clip. "We have no choice but to assassinate the monarch."

"I know." Shadow stabbed at a picture of the warlord. "He's passed new laws prohibiting interspecies families in Soleanna."

Gnashing her teeth together, the sound vile to hear, Cytheria said, "he used her name."

"He said that Rouge was a traitor to society... I want to go."

"No. Not you!" Ignoring his low growl, the echidna girl shot back, "you'd make a mess of it, kill him with witnesses. I'm going. I'm better with a sniper rifle."

Shredding the photo into tiny bits, the hedgehog responded, "very well... are you leaving now?"

"Not yet," she said, sliding a long tube into her quills. "Rape gangs are in the northern section. I bumped into one on the way back. I have to go kill them before they can do anything I don't like." Placing another silver tube into her quills to conceal the device, she ordered her husband, "stay here and arrange my trip into their country. I'll leave tomorrow."

Time would hopefully be short. Walking around in scant clothing, acting helpless, they would come for her. With any luck, the one she'd run into was now dead and couldn't have told anyone what she looked like. Dead. Her hand had likely shoved the spike far enough to hit the brain. She hoped so.

As she had expected, three filthy individuals, two dogs and one older human surrounded her, hooting as their chains swung, knocking her down. This had barely hurt and under normal circumstances, the three would be dead by now, but Cytheria had more important targets. Lying still, she felt them lift her up, carrying the girl off to some hidden spot.

It hadn't been very far, maybe a half mile. It was dark, dirty and full of men, all drinking while loud metal music blared from a stereo in the corner. Opening her eyes, she could see another girl, human, beaten and tied up to a table, but still dressed. Cytheria knew what this meant. These men did not want one or two women to rape, they wanted many. They would wait until many others had been abducted and throw a party, likely raping every one of their victims in an orgy of forced sexual violence.

This meant that there may be gang members out on the streets but she would have to enact her plans now before she was bound. Gripping the silver canister, opening the cap, thick green gas leaked out. Startled and angered, none of these pigs could do anything as they fell, one by one, coughing and tired. Her immunity to this gas would allow her to stay awake. Untying the ropes holding the poor woman hostage, Cy managed to lift her up, down to the floor. Pulling the second device from her red quills, she placed the bomb in the center of the room, activating the detonator.

Dragging her rescued hostage outside, propping the woman behind a solid wall as a shield, the echidna held onto the detonator. She would wait for a moment, the effects of the gas holding out hopefully long enough to see if anyone esle returned.

Ten long, agonizing minutes passed. She had no more time to stall, the gang within would awaken shortly. Thumb over the switch, smiling with a vicious killer's smile, the sight halted the explosion. Two men carrying yet another captive. Placing the tiny button down, extracting two spikes from her spiky quills, she threw them both with expert skill. Tearing into the necks of the two men, death likely instant, their captured prey tore free, darting away.

"STOP!"

The woman did so. Perhaps it had been the call of a female voice but the woman stopped. "Her. Get her out of here!"

Without a word, too scared to speak, the frightened human woman complied, lifting the unconscious body and fleeing without pause, hoping to return to the safer sector of Central City.

Collecting the detonator, walking away with pride, she hit the switch. The sound of the building behind, crumbling brick and flying dust, it was almost musical to her. Everyone inside, every rapist, every criminal scum who would use another for personal pleasure without consent, every one of them had been burned in the explosive fire. The chemical explosive was the true cause of the flames, but they only represented Cytheria's anger, a burning fire that had been released by the world's crumbling state.

It was a pity. Before this war, such men may have been good people. Good, honest, considerate. However, the echidna hybrid could not mourn them, could not even care that she had murdered every last one in anger. Justice was done in the harshest manner. before this war, even she had some compassion.

How things had changed.

One hundred and sixteen years have passed

Slamming her fist in anger, cracking the plastic console, Cytheria ignored the broken glass underneath, tiny fragments embedded into her skin and fur. "Fifty thousand! That piece of filth killed fifty thousand people!" Glaring at her higher-ranking officers, the echidna girl demanded, "show me the specs again for that bomb..."

"Yes, sir!" Bringing up the needed file, the device was small but powerful.

"Barely the size of a soup can..." she mused, still angered. "I guess now we know the thing's real and ready but we don't have a clue how many they have. That's on top of their plans to hijack the ARK and power the cannon with an alternate power source." Opening a communications line, she shouted, "Shadow!"

"We're here..." the monotone hedgehog reported in.

"Set the auto pilot mechanism and get out of there. They'll use the eclipse cannon when hell freezes solid! And Shadow... I know the memories. They'll survive without that thing in the sky. Get to it!"

Turning towards the map, several blocks of Station Square lay in ruins. Many had died in the blast and Cytheria, as hard as it was to admit such fact, knew that many more would die.

"I'm not holding back anymore. Soleanna... we're going in hard. They'll surrender or we'll level their country into a parking lot."

"I don't know what to do..."

Jittery and unstable, Sonic The Hedgehog paced around nervously. "I can't save them. I can't do anything from here! I'm supposed to be the hero!"

"Calm down!" Knuckles shouted, unwilling to watch his old friend act in this manner. "What are you gonna do, huh? Reincarnate? Great idea!"

The hedgehog shouted, "maybe I should! At least then I'll be down there and able to do something!"

Miles Prower rolled his eyes. "Uh huh... in ten or so years when you get old enough, that's IF you have any abilities. Oh, and you won't remember who you were or your past life.

Watching from a distance, Rouge commented, "he's taking it as well as I thought he would. Not very well."

Amy, disturbed to see her lover in such pain, only said, "I wish he could be down there, maybe things wouldn't be so bad."

"I have to go," the bat mumbled. "My mother probably knows about this by now and I think Tom's feeling a bit down. Can't say I'm happy about this, either."

Ripping the docking clamps free, the ship flew away as the Space Colony ARK began to drift, pushed through space by orbital thrusters. The gigantic research facility would soon break orbit and float off. The third planet from the sun, a world burning with war, was below. From the observation hatch, Shadow couldn't see the chaos below. Only briefly did things look okay.

"How long will it be for the ARK to reach the sun?"

"Once orbit breaks," the pilot answered back, "the main impulse thrusters kick in. It might be decades, maybe centuries. I'm not sure how far away the sun is. Either way it'll be too far from Earth for anyone to use it."

It was a weapon too powerful to use. Cytheria knew this and it's why she sent Shadow to handle matters. It would have been trivial to use the cannon themselves but any victory in which most of the planet was destroyed would be no victory. Even at partial power the gun was too dangerous and could leave a section of the planet ruined.

"Okay... this war has officially become serious. I don't expect to end this overnight and I expect the casualties to be high," the orange echidna shouted, "but I intend to win this. I'm not going to allow these people to win. Don't forget that Soleanna is a military nation with allies. Some of the former members of G.U.N. are on their side now. We aren't worldwide like it used to be."

Staring out into the crowd of troops, she finally said with a mixture of anger and fear, "today... we fight. We're going in to win this and I expect every last one of you to fight until the end! If we lose this, they'll win it the hard way, I'll see to that!"

Earth was about to change forever.

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