Rouge The Bat: Mature Goddess

Rouge and Tom have been married for forty six years and eight months
as of this chapter.

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Tiff 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!"


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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 ppeked 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.


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"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."


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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...