*Shadow's POV*
Now we knew why Sonics house was so clean when we went in, when it should have been covered in dust, maybe even broken into. Sonic decided not to tell Cream about what had happened with the echidna. She took us to her house where Cheese saw us and started circling around our heads and hugging us excitedly.

I hadn't seen either of them since before I left, I had cut contact thinking it would be safer for her to stay away from me. Cream had been too comfortable around me, so much so that she risked her own life by going into battle with Eggman once because I was injured. I hadn't spoken to her since then, I didn't need her getting hurt, and everyone already knew she was a weakness to me.

Vanilla had come looking for me, telling me to talk to Cream, saying she missed me. And while it broke my heart to hear that, I couldn't. I was staying away to keep her safe. When I left, I didn't even think about saying bye to her, didn't think of explaining to her anything. Yet now, years later, she acted as if I had never left.

Cream was with Vanilla and Cheese in the kitchen, they had decided they wanted to cook us something special. Cream kept coming to me every once on a while as if checking I was still here. It made me feel bad, it was as if she was expecting me to disappear if she didn't check on me so often.

"What are you two doing here?" The front door opened, and we turned to see the echidna looking at us with his arms crossed. "What are they doing here?"

"I think we should talk. Outside." Sonic said as he stood up from his seat and dragged Knuckles outside.

"What's going on?" Cream asked as she walked to the window.

The moment I saw the echidna raise his fist, I chaos controlled outside and grabbed his hand, stopping him from punching Sonic.

*Sonic's POV*
"Hurt him, and I'll kill you." My ears perked up at seeing Shadow suddenly in front of me. He let go of Knuckles' hand as he took a step closer to me, then crossed his arms.

"You've got a body guard now?" Knuckles chuckled at me.

"He's not going to hurt you." I sighed.

"Not entirely true." Shadow added, making me look at him with a light glare. I needed to handle this on my own. Shadow looked at me, then rolled his eyes and looked away but remained quiet now.

"What are you two even doing here? I said I didn't want to be part of your reunion. Stop bothering them and just -" I punched him before he could finish the sentence.

Knuckles was the type to listen more to someone if we fought things out. It was his way of communicating sometimes, and while it hurt, it couldn't kill me anymore.

Knuckles didn't waste a second and punched me back in the stomach, making me fall on my back while holding the wound in pain. I gasped for air and then stood up quickly before he could hit me again. I was out of touch. It had been ten years since I last fought with him, and while I did get into fights back home because of Spike, it was nothing compared to fighting Knuckles.

I could tell Shadow was trying his hardest not to intervene. I was glad he understood when I gave him that look and was glad he wasn't trying to help me. This was something only I could fix, I had to let Knuckles take his anger and frustration out on me.

Knuckles threw punch after punch. He was growling and yelling at me to leave town again. "We don't need you here!" He shouted as he punched my face.

I gasped and spat out blood as I tried to keep standing. Letting him punch me was the hardest part when I was so good at dodging. I punched him a few times, and even spin dashed him, trying to get him to calm down, but I noticed he was calming down every punch he got at me. So I let him. I wasn't fighting him anymore, I was just taking the hits now.

"You already left once! Why are you here now?!" Knuckles shouted one more time as I panted heavily, trying to remain standing. Knuckles growled louder when he saw me still standing and was about to launch at me again when Shadow kicked him.

"That's enough." He furiously growled at Knuckles, then he looked at me and walked closer. I wrapped an arm around him to stay standing. "Are you okay?" He whispered at me.

"I'll live." I whispered back to Shadow with a slight nod of my head, then looked at Knuckles. "I think he's right.  Can we talk now?"

Knuckles remained quiet, panting heavily as well. He looked at me then at Shadow, then back at me, and nodded. "Alone."

"Okay. Can you stay with Cream and Vanilla?" I asked Shadow, who looked hesitant, but soon enough, Cheese landed on top of his head, causing Shadow to turn back and see we had been watched the entire time. "Maybe explain what happened to them." I chuckled. He gave in and nodded, then let go of me and walked inside their home as I walked with Knuckles a bit further away to not be interrupted.

"Are you done throwing a tantrum, Knux?" I laughed softly as I saw how many bruises we had left each other. He looked at me as if expecting something out of me, so I started talking. I apologized for everything, for leaving, for not contacting them, for never checking in on them, for being the reason everyone left.

I explained to him what had happened, why I decided to do what I did, and although he was mad at me and called me names for that, he said he understood. "I fear I would've done the same thing if I was in your place."

"It was stupid of me to leave, yes, but look at where everyone is now. Even Shadow left Rouge for the same reason I left you guys. It was for the best at the time." I patted his back, making him hiss in pain, so he did the same, and I reacted the same way when he hit a bruise. We both laughed and shook it off. 

"So you really are dating that guy?" Knuckles asked as we walked around. We were getting looks, but we didn't care.

"I am." I smiled thinking about Shadow. "He makes me happy." I added, then looked up, Knuckles nodded as if trying to understand, but soon shrugged.

"I guess. I don't get it, but okay." He said with a soft laugh.

"So what do you say now? Will you come meet the others again?" He thought about it for a bit longer then nodded in agreement. 

"I will."