Rouge The Bat: Mature Goddess

Rouge and Tom have been married for twenty four years and five months
as of this chapter.

---------------------------------------------------------


The bride and groom were smiling as cameras flashed. Teal and Slate
were married, surrounded by friends and family. The couple was happy.
Teal wished the moment would never end.

Rouge smiled at her daughter, proud of the road she'd taken in life.

Knuckles was proud of his son. The Master Emerald, the old tribe, and
any sacred duties to them lost meaning years ago. All knuckles cared
about was his family, watching his children grow up.


---------------------------------------------------------

Miles Prower sat by himself. His old friend Sonic found him. "Tails.
You don't seem all that happy for a wedding."

"Robotnik's sick. Couldn't make it." Tails cut it off there. Nothing
else had to be said. Sonic was slightly concerned. Tails had yet to
start a family. He was thirty-two and alone. "What?"

"What?" Sonic asked back.

"Oh, right, I'm the only one here alone. I DO have a... I couldn't
ask her to accompany me! We've been dating two weeks. You don't ask
someone to go to a wedding with you if you've been dating for two
weeks!" Taking a drink of punch, Miles explained, "I didn't say anything
because... I'd rather it go well first before I make a big deal
out of it. And you know Amy and Rouge, they'd butt in about it."

"I'll keep it quiet for know. You gonna go talk to them?" Sonic
asked, referring to Teal and Slate.

"In a bit. Let their family have the moment right now. Funny...
Knuckles and Rouge are now related by the bonds of marriage."
Laughing, Miles enjoyed the thought. "And it only took their kids
to make it happen. Funny, I would've thought Knuckles and Rouge would
have wound up killing each other eventually. Shows what I know..."


---------------------------------------------------------

Tiff found Rouge playing with the flower arrangements. "Uh... I'm
sorry Shadow couldn't make it for Teal's big day."

Rouge understood. "The internal investigation into the incident last
week. I know." That was a sign to end all talk of it. It wasn't
appropriate conversation material for a happy occasion. "Tiff?"

The black bat was looking away, her mind wandering. "Rouge? Um...
would you be okay with me asking June to marry me?"

"Of course, dear," she said. "I think you and June are wonderful
together. But there's something bothering you..."

Tiff explained painfully, "I don't think the churches will let us
get married. We can, legally, but... anyway, the Commander of GUN
is authorized, but he..."

Rouge got the idea. "You just need me to ask him. Tell you what, you
talk with my sister about it. If she says yes, I'll help with the
arrangements."

Tiff could sense someone looking at her. Looking down, she saw one of
the twins. "You're getting married?"

Tiff didn't feel it appropriate to explain the meaning of her
relationship, at least, not to a little child. "No, I'm not... which
one are you?"

"I'm Rose!" The child kept looking at her. "Did your boyfriend ask you?"

Rouge sensed the nature of the topic. Scooping her daughter up, she
said, "that's Tiff's business, okay? Now, where's your sister?"

"Teal's over there," Rose said, pointing her out. "And Violette's
with daddy!"

Rouge saw Tom with Violette, keeping the little girl entertained.
Joining him, she sat Rose down. "Tom?"

"Looks like things are winding down, but we're not going until they
say it's over. Looks like they're still taking pictures," he said,
noting the busy photographer. "Speaking of which... I should get over
there." Running towards them, he took place next to them. "Uh...
too tall?"

"Not a problem," the photographer said, adjusting his zoom.

The photo snapped, forever an image of Thomas Adriani with his daughter
and son-in-law.


---------------------------------------------------------

It was time for the guests to leave. The wedding was over. Rouge,
gathering the twins, found Teal. "So... we'll spend the night at te
casino." She knew what her daughter was going to be doing. "Tiff and
June also have plans, so..."

Teal was blushing as Slate tried to look away. They didn't exactly
wish to advertise their intentions, but it was arranged- they would
go back to the mansion while everyone else stayed clear.

Tom took his daughter's hand. "Go on. Do... do things I don't need to
hear about."

She hugged him. "I'll be careful, dad, don't worry..." Running off,
the two found their limousine, waiting to take them home.

Tom stood and watched it roll off. Knuckles was nearby. "There they
go... your daughter and my son..."

"Off to... uh..." Tom didn't want to think about it.

"Right." Knuckles kept quiet.

Victoria was ready to leave. "Boss! Guess you're staying overnight
in the apartment?"

"Yes, we are," she replied.

"I've notified the kitchen staff and had a cleaning crew run through
the apartment. Oh, and I've narrowed my replacement down to one
candidate. I want you to meet her when you get there." Vic smiled.

Rouge said, "then we should get going. Girls?" The twins ran to their
mother.

"I'll get the car," Tom said, pulling his keys out.


---------------------------------------------------------

Tom led this twin daughters upstairs. They'd never been to the casino
before, though they weren't quite sure of why they had to stay, and
neither Thomas nor Rouge felt they needed to be told the real reason.

Victoria led her into the main office where an employee waited. The
rabbit seemed familiar somehow. "Hmm... Cream..." Rouge read the name
tag. "I know that name..."

"We met a long time ago. It was... one of the Metal Sonic attacks,
actually!" Cream explained.

"And I invited you and your mother to the party, too!" Rouge thought
back. "That was when Tom asked me to marry him... the little girl with
the pet Chao."

"Cheese? He still lives with me. My kids adore him!" Cream smiled.

Rouge was impressed. "Family, too! Well, you could certainly use the
pay raise this job would bring..."

"She's the best one for the job," Vic offered. "I plan to stay on
another year and then pass the job onto her. That is, if you approve."

Rouge grabbed the employee file off the desk, but refused to open it.
"If Vic says you're the best, I trust her. However, I'll be keeping a
close eye on you to make sure you ARE the best. I'm not going to just
hand my casino off to anyone unless I'm sure they have what it takes!"
She paused, a minor air of drama filling the room. "Charity night...
Cream, I wnat you to plan the next charity night and run it. If it
goes smooth it will be favorable for your promotion... now, I have
a husband and two kids waiting for me. Vic, let me know if anything
needs my attention. Meanwhile... I'll leave everything to you."

She left the room. Cream seemed pleased. "Sounds good, but... she didn't
way what would happen if I messed up."

Vic smiled. "That's because you won't."


---------------------------------------------------------

Tiff sat beside June. The evening air was cooling but the sun still
offered some degree of light. She rooted through her shopping bag.
"More hair dye... some music, and... June, tell me what you think."
Pulling out the ring, she handed it to June to inspect.

"Hmm, nice." June's inherited senses towards jewels kicked in. "Cheap
stone, not glass, but just mimics a ruby. Ring is probably aluminum
with a gold plating."

"Oh..." Tiff was disappointed. "I didn't have enough money for a really
fancy ring..."

June was quick to catch on. "This is for me? Doesn't matter what it's
made of, Tiff." I still like it." She slipped it on her finger. "You...
you to this to ask me to marry you, didn't you?" Tiff's eyes sprung
open. "Not that hard to figure. We DID just get done with a wedding
today."

"So you..." The raver bat waited for an answer.

"Of course. I did put it on, didn't I?" Leaning over, June kissed her.
"Just gotta find someone who can. Stuck-up churches won't."

"I talked with your sister. She said she'd help find someone who'd
do it. You want some fancy thing? Big party and lots of people?"

"Those big weddings are nice," June said, "but I'd be happy with some
small thing. No music, no party, just get married."

"Oh... okay."

June saw the look on her face. "But we can have something bigger. Guess
I'm not into the big, fancy stuff like sis is..."


---------------------------------------------------------

Morning sun hit them. Slate's eyes burned from the light. He could feel
his wife, Teal slowly touching him, his fur and skin. "Come on, we
have to get packed and get out of here for the honeymoon!" She
checked the clock. "Although... our plane doesn't leave until noon.
Take us an hour to pack..." She grabbed him. "Come on..."

"Aww.... okay, but take it easy on me, okay?" Slate was still tired.
"You were so quiet and innocent when we met..."

"I am the daughter of Rouge the Bat. Guess I just needed an excuse to
let loose!" She kissed him gently.


---------------------------------------------------------

The couple stood by the front door. Teal tried hard to get the twins
loose from her legs. "Come on, I'm only going to be gone for a week!"

"But we'll miss you!" Violette said.

"Miss you a lot!" Rose said.

Teal was becoming mildly annoyed. "I'll bring you back gifts!"

"Like what?" Rose asked, her grip loosening some.

Teal answered, "it's a surprise. But I can't buy you gifts if I don't
leave the house!"

The twins relented, the promise of presents in a week easing the stress
of their sister leaving the house. Tom handed them an envelope of
money. "Here, for expenses."

"But dad, I have a bank card."

He said, "and what if you can't use it where you're going? Take it
in case." Tom hugged Teal. he was proud of his daughter, growing up
quickly but still his little girl.

Violette flew up, latching around his neck. "Don't be sad, daddy!
Teal is bringing us presents!"

"She'd better," Rouge commented, giving Teal a hug. "Be careful and
have fun, okay?"

Grabbing her bags, Teal responded, "I'll call you when we get there."