Rouge The Bat: Mature Goddess

Rouge and Tom have been married for twenty two years as of this chapter.

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Lunch break.

Sitting at one of many empty tables in the cafeteria, Teal sucked down
her beef jerky, one of the few pleasures she ever found in the vending
machines. She'd been carrying out menial tasks around the building
all day and her feet hurt.

"TEAL!"

She turned in her seat to see Tiff headed her way. "Wow, you look...
awful," Teal greeted.

"Yeah, my building lost water last night. I had to boil water and scrub
down in the kitchen this morning."

Teal, curious, asked, "wow, what happened?"

"I don't know, a few pipes in the basement broke I think."

Teal thought something odd. She asked, "how'd you boil water if you
don't have any?"

"Oh, everyone in my apartment building was making runs on the nearby
stores for water bottles and jugs. Man, that stuff costs a FORTUNE! I
stocked up for a while."

Grunting, Teal stretched out her wings. "I've been over every inch of
GUN HQ today at least three times and it's not even NOON yet!"

"Yeah, we've been busy what with that terrorist attack in Station Square
today. I had to cancel my date with June tonight, they have me pulling a
double shift! Guess it's just as well, I don't have running water at
home..."

"Terrorist attack?" Teal hadn't heard.

"Well, maybe not the word for it, but it was a big bank robbery. Thieves
killed a lot of people. Heard that Sonic guy was helping deal with the
hard stuff and I know Agent Shadow is in the field. You... really hadn't
heard?"

Slamming her beef jerky bag down, she said, "I've been delivering things
from one office to another. I don't read what they give me, I'm never
sure if my security clearance is high enough or not... and I've been
thinking about what to get mom and dad next week."

"Right, June said their anniversary is next week! Guess you'll have a
party and all that! Hmm... I think I have appropriate clothes for
that kinda thing..."

"You're coming?" Teal wasn't too surprised, though the girl's usual rave
clothing wouldn't mesh well with a formal affair.

"Wouldn't miss it!"

"So, uh... you and my aunt have been getting along well." Teal tried to
avoid asking anything too personal.

In a cheery voice, Tiff said, "June is great! Thank you for introducing
me to her! She's been wonderful, and she's really fun to be with, just
so... don't take this the wrong way, but I've looked up to Rouge- your
mother, for years. She's why I joined GUN. And to be dating her sister,
it's just so... but don't get me wrong, June's got a LOT of unique
qualities that I like!"

She could see Teal was a bit uncomfortable. "Uh... Teal? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she responded, "I just- well... it's great that you're
getting along with her so well, but, uh... if you and her are doing
anything in private, please, I don't need to know. It's none of my
business..."

Laughing, Tiff said, "don't worry. June and I haven't- we're not
intimate, okay?"

Defensive, Teal said, "Don't get the wrong idea! It's not because you're
both girls, I just... what people do in private is their business.
I keep out of mom and dad's business, and-"

"Gotcha. OH! Break time's up! Talk with you later, Teal!" Running off,
Tiff left Teal alone to finish her meal. Break time WAS almost up, but
she was going to spend every last second of it.


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The front mansion door opened. Teal was home from work. Kicking off
her work boots, all she wanted to do was wash, change, and get ready
for her date. "Teal," Rouge greeted. "Listen, Slate called and..."

"I heard the news. Knuckles helped with that big thing in Station
Square today." Teal was disappointed, but understood.

"Knuckles has two broken ribs." Rouge didn't want to let her little girl
down but this was the way it had to be today. Patting her daughter on
the shoulder, she said, "why not see if June wants to do anything since
you'll both be free."

Teal asked, "what about you and dad?" "Your father went to Station Square
today. He's going to donate to aid in the repairs. When he gets back he's
taking me out again!"

Headed towards her room, she saw the door to June's standing open.
The girl was laying on her bed, reading. "Teal, hi."

"Yeah, guess Tiff called you earlier."

"No big deal," June commented. "She's busy at work, so I'm gonna work on
my reading. I still have a bit to go but at least I know how to read
now."

"Slate canceled," Teal said. "Knuckles got two broken ribs today so
Slate's gotta stay home and help."

"Damn," June remarked, "they can't just put that in a cast, either."

"Listen..." Teal paused. "I still need to get mom and dad their gift.
You wanna go with and help me find something good?"

Closing her book, she replied, "love to."


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Nuzzling her husband, Rouge hugged tight. "Bad day?"

"Those thieves did a number on Station Square, that's all I know...
professionals. Explosives... they blew that bank apart for the cash and
made a mess of their escape route." Tom sighed. "I talked to Sonic. He
said these guys killed at least fifty people. Everyone in the bank, no
hostages, just awful... I donated ten mil to the rebuilding fund but
that's not going to make a real dent. They hit the railway pretty bad
with a rocket, not to count all the people..."

Rouge kept her shirt on. No doubt Tom wasn't in the mood after what he's
seen today. "You ever get involved in stuff like that when you were
still with GUN?"

She replied, "sometimes it could get bad." Kissing him, Rouge leaned him
back. "Cuddle?" Pulling her arm over him, he squeezed her hand tight.


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One Week Later


"Shadow!" Teal was surprised to see him in the GUN break room. "You're
coming to the party tonight, right?"

"Yes, I'll be there." Shadow was never one for random conversation.

"You can't just show up, Shadow, you DID get them a gift, didn't you?"

He replied, "yes, I did. I'll-"

He went silent as something smacked against his head. "SORRY!" the voice
called out.

Picking up the object, Teal recognized the phone. She looked over to see
Tiff, visibly upset. "Shadow! I'll deal with this!"

"But she-"

"I'll tell mom if you don't let me deal with this! She didn't mean to
hit you with her phone!" Relenting, Shadow walked away.

Running over to Tiff, she asked, "what's going on?"

"I'm being kicked out of my apartment!"

Teal was a bit surprised. "Why?"

Tiff said, "the rent's doubling for everyone. They SAY it's to cover
renovation costs, but one of my neighbors just told me it's their excuse
to kick out the poorer tenants and make room for people with money! I
gotta find a new place to crash now..."

"So I guess you'll be apartment hunting tonight then..." Teal understood.

"What? No way! I can do that tomorrow! besides, I haven't seen June in
a week and..."

"Right, tell you what," Teal offered, "I'll put in a few inquiries and
see what I can do for you..."


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The party was lively, except for Knuckles, who stood in place. "Karen!
Knuckles!" Rouge greeted. Knuckles was wrapped in bandages, his chest
still in pain.

"Rouge! Listen, Knuckles can't talk, his ribs are still REAL sore. But
he's moving around," Karen said, Knuckles giving a thumbs up.

Teal grabbed Slate's hand. "Dad doing okay?"

"Yeah," Slate replied, "he was able to come. Guess dad's not made of
rubber like he used to be and took a beating this time."

"From what dad told us," Teal said, "he's probably lucky he only got a
couple of broken ribs..."

Sonic found Shadow at the buffet table. "Surprised you showed up."

"I showed up to give my respect to Rouge and her family, Sonic." Shadow
displayed the typical emotional state he always did."

Sonic continued, "things were going well between you two but I've
noticed something's changed."

Shadow collected his plate. "It was something Rouge said. She's getting
older and I don't age. If we'd become a couple back then it wouldn't
have worked out. I will watch all of you age and die eventually."

"Wow... kind of a downer attitude, Shadow..." Sonic wasn't sure what
to say.

"Hmm... perhaps I shouldn't think about that now. I'll try and
socialize." Shadow walked away.

Miles joined him, collecting food for himself. "I think Shadow's hiding
something," he commented.

"Hiding what?" Sonic asked.

Tails responded, "not a clue. Nothing bad, but I get the feeling he did
something to piss Rouge off. Strange, I also get the feeling she tried
to make things right but he still feels sorry about it. She invited him
but he's not in the mood to really be here..."

Sonic, surprised, asked, "you got all that from watching him?"

"Hey, it's Shadow," Tails remarked, "you pickup on his subtle attitude
changes over time."


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The party was over, the clock late, the guests gone. Collecting her
purse, Tiff headed for the door. "Tiff?" It was Rouge. "Teal told me
about what happened today."

"Yeah, real kick in the ass for me but I'm sure I can manage. Great
party, by the way!"

Rouge put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Please, come with me..."

She led Tiff into the living room. "Tiff, June, how serious are you
about each other?" The two girls looked at each other, blushing.

"I think that means," Tom said, "that they like each other."

"June..." Rouge paused to build up the anticipation. "Would you like it
if Tiff moved in?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't do that," Tiff shouted, "I couldn't make you put
up with me like that... but, uh..." She looked her girlfriend in the
eyes. "Well..."

"I'd like it a lot, Tiff," June said, taking her hand.

"Uh..." Teal muttered.

June asked, "what? Not like you don't get a bit cuddly with Slate!"

Tiff smiled. "Okay... but, uh... I couldn't ask you to just take me in.
I can pay rent."

Tom explained, "I don't need rent money. Right now we're using ten
percent of the total living space in this place. It costs money to
maintain the rooms we don't use. You'd actually be helping offset the
costs by moving in. This place was built to house a large family and
servants. Four people is wasting room. And there's something else..."

Rouge spoke up, "we could use an extra person around to help out in the
coming months, and I'd rather it be someone the family trusts and
someone that- well, Tiff, my sister likes you and I want her to be
happy. So..."

"Help out?" Teal asked. "Help with what?"

Rouge cleared her throat. "I'm going to need help and your father will
need as much as he can get. Teal... I'm pregnant."

"Sis? For real?" June was amazed. "That's.. great!"

"Mom! When?" Teal begged.

She answered, "I just found out today. I was going to announce it at the
party, but then you told me about Tiff's problems and I talked it over
with Tom..."

"I thought we should let the family know first," he explained, "and
besides, if Tiff and June are that into each other... well, she's family.
We'll help you get your stuff tomorrow so you can move in. Now, then...
Tiff, you can either pick a room, or stay in June's room, depends on
what she wants."

"Wait... you'd be cool with us in the same room?" June was a bit shocked.

"Look, I don't care WHAT you two are up to, it's not my business and
I'm not poking into it." Tom clarified, "you don't butt into what we're
doing and we don't butt into your personal stuff."

Leaning over, June said, "it means they'll knock on the door to make
sure we're decent!"

Tiff was ready to cry, she was so happy. "Rouge, I..."

"I know, your idol just offered you something nice." Rouge smiled.
"Take it and enjoy, but remember, I'll need help, this isn't a free
place to stay!"

Tom piped up, "you three have no idea. At least, this time, I'll have
some real help. Not just when someone stops by."