Knuckles smiled knowingly as he looked at the blue quills peeking out from above the folding chair. Gloved hands adornded in sports tape held up an open book. At one point, the hedgehog lifted his left hand and looked at the ring on his finger, the swirls of gold caressing a tiny opal. The same one Knuckles wore on his own.
"You know I love having you look at me, Knux," Sonic called without looking back, "but you watching me read from behind me like that is kinda creepy."
The echidna came up to Sonic and smiled down at him. "What, somebody change his mind about having his husband watch over him?" he asked teasingly.
"You know I'm not defenseless, hun." Sonic said.
"Yeah, but I just don't want you to overwork yourself. Y'know, in your condition."
The hedgehog smiled sweetly and took Knuckles' hand. "Well, anyway, I appreciate you looking out for me. Or, us."
"Anything for the two furry cuties I love the most!" Knuckles said happily, running his fingers through Sonic's quills. Sonic shook him off, laughing, and the two shared a quick kiss before Knuckles walked off, casting his husband a smile as he went.
The hedgehog then looked down at his rounded belly, where his and Knuckles' unborn child lay curled up. He gently ran his hand across it, eyeing it with love.
"Man, did you catch me and Daddy by surprise, little one." he said. "But we'll be overjoyed when you finally arrive."
Nine Months Ago
"Tails, is Sonic okay?" Knuckles asked with concern. Tails had asked him, Amy, and Sticks to come to his place when he felt something was wrong with the blue hero.
"I don't know. He seemed perfectly okay when he arrived, but then he said he felt nauseous and went to throw up." Tails explained. "He's been at it for quite a while now."
From behind the door leading to the bathroom, the gang could hear Sonic retching. Knuckles gently knocked.
"Babe?" he called uncertainly. "Are...you okay in there?"
Sonic managed to pause vomiting long enough to answer is boyfriend. "Uh...I-I'm not s-sure, Knux. I-" He was cut off by another wave of nausea and threw up again.
"Something's definately wrong with Sonic." Amy said. "He's never been like this before."
"I'll take a look at him once he finishes." Tails said. He looked worried. "I hope it's not anything serious."
Sonic finally finished throwing up about half an hour later. Knuckles' heart ached at how his boyfriend looked when he came out of the bathroom-his eyes were sunken and he was shaking all over. Tails led him into another room to examine him. Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks sat and waited, casting each other concerned looks. Fifteen minutes passed, then Sonic walked out of the room, followed by Tails. The fox wore a strange look on his face, like he was mentally sorting something out.
"Well? What is it, Tails?" Amy asked.
Tails hesitated for a few seconds, searching for the right words to explain. Then he spoke very carefully.
"Sonic, I don't know how to tell you this, so I'll come right out and say it. And I swear I'm not kidding." He took a deep breath and let the words out. "You're pregnant."
Several seconds of dead silence passed. Nobody seemed to know how to respond to what they had just heard. Then finally, Sticks exclaimed with disbelief, "What?!"
"Sonic is pregnant." Tails repeated. "I told you I wasn't kidding."
Sonic was at a complete loss for words. Mixed reactions warred within him, so he had no idea how to handle the news. "That's.....th-that's....." he choked out.
"Amazing!"
The next thing he knew, Sonic was wrapped in a bear hug by Knuckles. He was laughing, genuinely happy.
"Kn-Knuckles?!" Sonic exclaimed, taken by surprise.
"This is amazing!" Knuckles said. "Sonic, we're gonna be parents! We're gonna have a baby! It's-It's just incredible!" He hugged Sonic again and continued to laugh.
The realization began to hit the hedgehog as well, and soon he was laughing with joy along with his boyfriend. And then the couple's embrace became a group hug as their friends shared in the happiness of the moment.
"We're so happy for the both of you!" Amy said.
"You guys are gonna be great parents." Tails said. "We just know it."
Present Day
Sonic strolled down Hedgehog Village, browsing through the shops and businesses. But then his moment of peace was disturbed when he heard a voice behind him that made him groan in annoyance.
"Sonic? Hey, Sonic, wait up!"
It was Dr. Eggman, Team Sonic's long-time nemesis. They didn't always act like enemies, however. Sometimes they were on good terms, friendly ones, even. But that didn't mean the team wanted everything to do with him.
Sighing, Sonic allowed Eggman to catch up to him. "It's been a long time! Where've you been?" He then noticed the hedgehog's belly. "Guess that explains why I haven't seen you in nine months."
"I'd love to stay and chat with you, Egghead, but Knuckles wants me back at our place soon." Sonic said. "He wants to be there when I go into labor."
"I guess I can understand th-" Eggman's sentence was cut off when he noticed something. He reached down and grabbed Sonic's hand.
"Let go, Egghead." Sonic said with annoyance, tugging his hand back.
"Is this a wedding ring?" Eggman asked in surprise. "Did you and Knuckles tie the knot?" He looked upset. "Aww, why didn't you invite me?"
Sonic pulled his hand away. "You really think I would want you at my wedding? Arch nemesis, remember?" He sighed and pressed his palm to his face. "I don't have time for this. I'm outta here."
"Okay. And, just remember, you're welcome to invite me over for a playdate with the kid!" Sonic was already walking away when Eggman said that. "Just saying..."
Six Months Ago
"No peeking, Sonic." Knuckles said.
"Knuckles, I can't peek with you covering my eyes like this." Sonic said.
"Hey, doesn't hurt to double check. Anyway, we're here. Open your eyes!"
Sonic opened his eyes, but realized Knuckles' hands were still covering them. "Knux..."
"Oh, sorry." Knuckles uncovered his boyfriend's eyes. "Surprise!" Sonic gasped with admiration.
They were at the clearing where they concieved their three-month-old unborn child, only now it was in full, glorious bloom, not just the tiny sunflowers and dandelions. Various flowers in beautiful shades of red, pink, yellow, white, even specks of blue, their colors vivid in the sunlight. Sonic admired them in silence.
"Wow." he said. "It's so beautiful. I can't believe we've never seen it like this before."
"Yeah. So, Sonic, I brought you here 'cause I wanted to ask you something." Knuckles stood facing Sonic and took his hands. "Babe, I tell you this all the time, but you mean everything to me. You're the best part of my life, and now we're gonna have a baby together." The echidna rubbed his hand across his boyfriend's somewhat rounded belly, making him smile. "I've been meaning to do this for a long time, and now I think the time is right."
Still holding one of Sonic's hands, Knuckles got down to one knee.
"Sonic, will you marry me?"
Sonic gasped, holding up his free hand to hide his crazy-wide smile. He was so happy he felt like his heart might burst.
"Oh, Knuckles, I-!" The overjoyed hedgehog struggled to speak over his happiness. "I-Y-Yes, Knuckles! Yes, of course I'll marry you!"
Sonic threw himself into Knuckles' arms, crying happy tears.
"What are you crying for, hon?" Knuckles asked. "You're supposed to be happy."
"They're tears of joy, Knux." Sonic corrected him, grinning stupidly.
"Shut up and kiss me." Knuckles said. And they did.
Five-and-a-Half Months Ago
"Sonic, are you ready?" Amy poked her head into Tails' living room, where Sonic was prepping. The hedgehog wore an exquisite white robe, his protuding belly peeking out from the folds. His quills had been neatly brushed, and he even wore gleaming diamonds in his ears. He turned to face Amy, his expression happy behind his shimmering veil.
"I'm ready, Ames." he said.
"Everyone's waiting on the beach." Amy said, adjesting Sonic's headpiece. "And I just wanted to let you know, we're all so happy for you and Knuckles."
Sonic smiled. "Thanks, Ames. Well, let's not keep everyone waiting any longer."
The two hurried to the beach, where, as Amy said, all of their friends were waiting. Between the rows of chairs on which the guests sat was a walkway that Sonic would be led down. At the end of the walkway stood a platform and a shrine decorated with red roses, like the ones in the bouquet Sonic held, along with blue bellflowers. Tails stood in the middle of the platform, chosen to minister the wedding, and Sticks stood to the right, as the maid of honor.
When Amy arrived with the bride, everyone stood and turned to face them. The blue hedgehog wrapped his arm around the pink one's, and pairs of happy eyes followed them as they walked down the aisle. Sonic's smile grew wider when he saw Knuckles, his groom. The echidna wore a similar robe, except his was black and patterned with shining leaves. When Sonic reached the platform, he handed his bouquet to Sticks, and Amy took her place beside the badger. Everyone sat back down.
"Welcome, everyone." Tails began the reception. "Welcome to the wedding of Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna. These two heroes have known each other for so long, went through so much together, and have miraculously formed a connection that will officially tie them together today, and will never be broken.
"So, Knuckles, do you take Sonic to be your husband?"
"I do."
"And, Sonic, do you take Knuckles?"
"I do."
"Amy, Sticks, do you have the rings?"
Amy and Sticks presented the couple with their rings. They slid them onto each other's fingers, making their declarations as they did.
"I, Knuckles, give you, Sonic, this ring as a token of my devoted faith and love."
"I, Sonic, give you, Knuckles, this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you."
"Then by the power bested in me," Tails concluded, "I hereby pronounce you two officially married. You may kiss."
Knuckles fidgeted with Sonic's veil, not sure how to move it away to kiss him. Annoyed, Sonic took Knuckles' hands and helped guide him to lift the veil up and let it fall down his quills. They then shared their union-sealing kiss, accompanied by cheers of joy from the guests and looks of happiness from their friends.
Present Day
Sonic and Knuckles sat on the folding chairs in front of their newly-renovated home. Upon learning that they were having a baby, Tails had Sonic's shack greatly improved. It now had two floors, the first serving as the living room and the second with bedrooms for the couple and their baby. With the little one due any day, they couldn't wait to make the most of them.
The couple held hands as they watched the sun set over the horizon, casting a beautiful orange glow across the sky. Their sweet silence was broken when Sonic giggled, feeling the baby kick. Knuckles reached over and placed his free hand on Sonic's belly, and could feel the little one moving around.
Sonic's giggling suddenly cut off, and he froze, his eyes wide.
"Are you okay?" Knuckles asked, concerned.
Not answering, Sonic cautiously put his hand on his belly. A few long seconds passed, with nothing else happening. Sonic relaxed and was about to tell Knuckles he was fine. Instead, he let out a cry of pain, both hands clutching his abdomen.
"Sonic?!" Knuckles exclaimed, holding him protectivly.
"Kn-Knuckles...I think...I think the baby's com-ahh!" Through his pain, Sonic could only get a few words out at a time.
"The baby's coming?!" Knuckles asked. Sonic nodded, panting. Knuckles contacted Tails on his communicator. "Tails, the baby's coming!"
"Right now?!" Tails asked with disbelief.
"Yeah, right now!"
"Okay, I'll let Amy and Sticks know. Get Sonic over here right away!"
"Got it." Knuckles hung up and carried Sonic in his arms, then hurried him to Tails' place. When they arrived, Tails had already prepared a cot for Sonic. Knuckles laid him down on it and tucked the blanket up around him.
"Amy and Sticks are on their way." Tails said. "Knuckles, try to keep Sonic calm until he's ready to push."
Knuckles took Sonic's hand. "It's gonna be okay, babe." he said soothingly. Another contraction hit Sonic, and he screamed and sat up. "Shh, baby, look at me. Look at me." Wincing, Sonic looked at Knuckles with pained eyes. "That's right, baby. Just focus on me."
"Take deep breaths, Sonic." Tails coached. "Deep breaths in and out."
Sonic inhaled, held it, and slowly let it out. He repeated this over the course of his labor, only stopping when another contraction came, but he breathed his way through each one.
Hours passed. Night fell. Everyone sat around restlessly, waiting. Early morning was approaching when Amy asked, "How much longer, Tails?"
Tails checked Sonic's progress. "Almost.....He's ready!"
The proclamation caught everyone's attention. Tails got ready to pull while Sonic pushed, and Knuckles gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, letting him know that he would be there the whole time. "Push when you feel the next contraction, Sonic."
Sonic nodded, eager to begin pushing and end his pain. When the next contraction came, he bore down hard, groaning through clenched teeth, his grip on Knuckles' hand tightening. He started to crown, the sensation burning and making him cry out.
"Kn-Knuckles-!"
"I'm right here, babe." Knuckles said, rubbing the back of Sonic's hand. "I'm right here, it's okay."
His moment of panic having passed, Sonic pushed again. He could feel the baby's head passing through. Taking a deep breath, he pushed hard, and gasped as the head came out. The body then slid out, and Sonic laid down, panting, exhausted from giving birth.
But that faded from his mind when he heard little whimpers and cries from his and Knuckles baby, and a smile grew on his tired face. Everyone looked eagerly at the newborn in Tails' hands.
"Wh-What is it, Tails?" Sonic asked, his tone excited but still heavy with exhausten.
"Congrats, guys. It's a beautiful little girl."
Tails held her up for everyone to see. Her fur, damp with amniotic fluid, was purple, an unsurprising mix of Sonic's blue and Knuckles' red. Her fawn muzzled was tinted pink from crying, although they couldn't yet see her eyes, as they were squeezed shut. Amy gasped and pressed her hands to her cheeks.
"Oh, isn't she adorable?" she cooed.
"She is, Ames." Sonic said. "Adorable and beautiful."
"Sonic, you know what this means?" Knuckles' face took on a different kind of happiness, a kind when one realizes something wonderful. "I have a family again." He was on the verge of happy tears.
"Really? You only realized that just now?" Sonic teased, getting a playful shove from his husband.
Tails dried the baby off, wrapped her in a blanket, and handed her to Knuckles. The echidna took a moment to happily gaze down at the now quiet baby girl-whom he and Sonic somehow brought into being-then laid her down in Sonic's waiting arms. Everyone watched her with quiet happiness, then her eyes started to open. Their color was one none of the team expected; an almost sparkling silver-gray. They showed wonder as she took in all the new faces.
"We're so happy for you guys." Tails said quietly. Amy and Sticks nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, guys." Sonic replied.
Just then, purple light filled the room. Everyone turned to the window, where a new day was beginning. Streaks of purple light swirled across the sky, tinting everything a beautiful shade.
"Wow, it's gorgeous." Amy silently marveled.
"What a beautiful dawn." Tails added.
Sonic suddenly got an idea. He held the baby up to the early morning light, made the connection, and said it aloud.
"Dawn."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"That's what we should name her, Knuckles. Look, the light is almost the same as her fur."
Knuckles looked backed and forth between the baby and the light. "Yeah, you're right. That's perfect."
"Hi, Dawn." Amy said.
"Welcome to the world, Dawn." Sticks added.
Sonic yawned. "Man, having her tired me out." he said wearily. "Knux, can you take her?"
Knuckles cradled Dawn in his arms, and Sonic fell asleep right away. "Come on, guys. Let's let him rest." Tails whispered.
Everyone went into the next room, but Knuckles lingered by the door. He watched Dawn rub her eyes and fall asleep herself, then peeked into the room where Sonic lay getting his own well-deserved rest.
"Thank you." he said. "For giving me a new family."