Well, here it is guys, the final installment of A Twist of Fate. I hope you all have enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Out of all the stories I've written, I feel this one was the best out of all of them. I really felt like I put everything I could into it to make it as could as it could be.

I would like to thank all my reviewers and even those who read it, but never reviewed. Your reviews are what motivated me to finish this story and not just leave it hanging. So, thank you!

Also, I would appreciate it if you gave me a rating out of 10 (1 being horrible and 10 being perfect) in your reviews for the entire story, not just this chapter. I would like to see what everyone thought of this story. So, with all that out of the way, I hope you will enjoy the final chapter of A Twist of Fate!

Chapter 10

The phone rang early the next morning. A very tired Knuckles rose out of bed to go answer it, since Rouge was apparently either in such a deep sleep that she couldn't hear it or she was just trying to ignore it. Knuckles picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Knuckles, it's Tails," Tails' voice greeted him on the other side.

"Oh," a large yawn escaped Knuckles, "hey Tails. What's up?"

"I called to tell you that I've finished the machine to send Justin back," he said.

Knuckles looked down at the floor. "Oh," he said.

There was an uncomfortable silence which was soon broken by Tails' voice.

"Knuckles, are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah I-I'm fine," Knuckles replied, although that was far from the right answer. "Um, w-when exactly did you want to send him back?" he finally asked.

Knuckles heard the phrase, "I was hoping today" before his mind wandered off. Today? Justin had to go back today? Knuckles knew he would have to be sent back, but he hadn't expected it to be this soon. It had barely been over a month. Knuckles knew Justin would be really upset if he had to go back the day after his birthday.

"… if we don't, it may be too late," Tails finished an apparently long explanation of something Knuckles completely daydreamed through.

"Uh…uh," Knuckles had no idea why he was stuttering so much. Was it just because of the thought of Justin having to leave? "Tails? Can't you give us one more day together? I mean, I was expecting you to give us at least a days notice," he said.

"Well, I guess he can stay one more day. I'm just worried about him disappearing. If that happens, it won't matter if he goes back or not, because you'll never see him again," Tails told him. "But… I guess he can stay an extra day," he said although his voice sounded very reluctant.

"Thanks Tails, I know it'll mean a lot to Justin," Knuckles replied before hanging up. "At least I hope it does," he added in his thoughts.

---

After hanging up, Knuckles decided he couldn't get back to sleep even though it was only 8:30a.m, so he went downstairs to eat breakfast. He was really surprised to see Rouge already awake and dressed and halfway done with breakfast.

"What are you doing up so early?" Knuckles asked her.

Rouge let out an exasperated sigh. "The President called me at three this morning saying he needed me to come into work for some kind of emergency. He wouldn't tell me what," she said.

"What?! Now?!" Knuckles asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"I just got a call from Tails saying that… we only have one day left with Justin before he has to be sent back," he said.

Rouge's eyes widened. Now it was her turn to be shocked. "What? He has to leave already?" she asked.

"Yeah, Tails actually wanted him to go back today, but I asked to give him an extra day," he said.

"Can't you call Tails back and ask to give us another day with him? Otherwise I won't be able to spend any time with him!" Rouge said.

"You won't be able to spend any time with who?" a somewhat tired voice asked.

Knuckles and Rouge spun around to see Justin standing in front of the stairs with a questioning look on his face. Knuckles and Rouge glanced at each other with worried expressions.

"Who won't you be able to see Mommy?" Justin asked again.

Rouge hesitantly knelt down in front of him. "Well, you know how our friend Tails was building a time machine to send you back?" she asked.

Justin nodded. "Yeah. What about it?" he asked.

"Well…" Rouge trailed off and looked at Knuckles.

"It's finished and," Knuckles paused and looked down at the floor, "this is your last day with us. We're supposed to send you home tomorrow," he finished.

"No! I don't want to go home!" Justin cried. He then turned to Rouge. "Why won't you be able to see me today?" he asked.
"I got a very urgent call from my boss today and I have to go into work today," Rouge replied. "I really don't want to go."

"Then don't!" Justin yelled. "You have to stay if this is my last day here!"

"I really wish I could, but if I don't go in I could get fired," she said.

Just then, Rouge's cell phone went off. She reached into her purse to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Rouge, this is the President. Why haven't you gotten here yet?" he asked her in a very impatient voice.

"Listen, do I really need to come into work today? You see… it's kinda hard to explain but, my son has to leave tomorrow and if I go into work today, I won't be able to see him at all today. It's his last day here; do I really have to go in?" Rouge asked.

"I'm very sorry to hear about your son, but I'm afraid you have to come in. It's very urgent and you're the only one I can turn to," the President replied.

Rouge sighed. "Fine, I guess I'll come in…" she muttered. She hung up and hung her head.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go in," she told Justin.

"No! You can't Mommy!" Justin yelled.

Knuckles knelt down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Justin, she needs to go in. If she doesn't she'll lose her job. You'll be able to see her tonight and tomorrow. It's not like you'll leave without telling her goodbye," Knuckles told him.

"Do you promise I'll be able to see her before I… leave?" he asked.

"I promise," Knuckles said.

"Okay, you can go in Mommy," Justin said.

"Well, I'm glad I have your permission," Rouge smirked.

She gave Justin a hug before leaving. Once she was gone, Justin let out a sigh and walked over to the window and watched her drive away. Knuckles walked up behind him. It was silent for a while until Justin spoke up.

"I'm not going back," he said.

"What?" Knuckles asked, not quite catching what he had said.

Justin turned to face him. "I said I'm not going back. I'm staying here," he repeated.

"Justin, I know how much you want to stay here, but you need to go back, no matter how much you don't want to go back. I don't want to send you back either," Knuckles told him.

"Then why are you?" Justin asked, tears forming in his eyes. "If you really loved me you wouldn't send me back!" he yelled.

"Justin, please. You-."

"No!" Justin screamed, the tears now beginning to roll down his face. "I don't want to leave!"

"But you need-."

"I don't care! You can't make me go back! I won't go back!" he hollered.

"I don't want you to either, but if you don't-."

"I know what will happen! But there has to be another way!" he cried.

"There is no other way!" Knuckles snapped at him. He saw Justin take a step back from him. Knuckles let out a sigh before squatting down. "Justin please listen to me. I don't want you to go back. I really don't. But if you don't you'll disappear and won't see me, Rouge, or our future selves ever again! Please, just go through with this," he explained to him.

"I hate you…" Justin muttered, staring down at the floor. His stare turned into a hard glare as he leveled his eyes with Knuckles'. "I hate you Daddy! I'm not going back! I hate you!" he screamed so loud, Knuckles was sure the neighbors heard every word.

Justin then ran up the stairs and seconds later, a door was slammed shut. Knuckles stood there shocked. Justin's words had hit him hard. He felt as though he had just been shot in the chest.

"I hate you Daddy!" That one sentence replayed over and over again in his head until Knuckles had a headache.

Knuckles sat down on the couch behind him and buried his head in his hands. What a good father he was; forcing his son to the point so he said he hated him. Now, Justin hated him and Knuckles knew he could never get Justin to go back until they made up. He desperately wished that Rouge didn't have to go into work and was here right now to help him and comfort him.

Up in his room, Justin was lying on the bed with his face in the pillow, clutching Knuckles Jr. close to his chest and sobbing quietly.

I close my eyes when I get too sad
I think thoughts that I know are bad

He knew he couldn't hate Knuckles forever, but how could Knuckles want him to leave? He was his dad and he was sending him away.

Close my eyes and I count to ten
Hope its over when I open them

Justin rolled onto his side and stared at the wall. It was because Knuckles loved him. That's why he was doing this. He just didn't want Justin to get hurt. It was an act of love.

I want the things that I had before
Like a star wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten
Make everything be wonderful again

But still, here was different then the future and to Justin, it was different for the better: he had his parents with him almost 24 hours a day.

Close my eyes when I go to bed
And I dream of angels who make me smile

It wasn't like that in the future. In the future, both Knuckles and Rouge left pretty early in the morning for work and Justin stayed home alone most of the day. Neither of his parents got home until around six.

I feel better when I hear them say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Justin didn't want to leave for that reason. He didn't want to be left alone again.

Promises mean everything when youre little
And the worlds so big
I just dont understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
Tell me everything is wonderful now

---

At least one hour had gone by since Justin had disappeared upstairs. Knuckles had remained on the couch figuring out different ways to get Justin to see the real reason he was doing this. After he thought he had come up with a good explanation, Knuckles stood up and walked upstairs to Justin's room. He stopped outside the door to listen. Knuckles could barely make out the soft cries coming from the other side of the door. His heart sank at the sound of them. What kind of father makes his own son cry? Knuckles took a deep breath before gently knocking on the door.

"Justin?" he called out.

"Go away!" the muffled voice of Justin answered him.

Knuckles sighed. "May I please come in?" he asked.

Please dont tell me everything is wonderful now.

Knuckles heard footsteps on the other side of the door. He heard the lock on the door click and Justin opned the door.

Go to my room and I close my eyes
I make believe that I have a new life

"What do you want?" Justin asked.

Knuckles squatted down in front of him and Justin crossed his arms. "I just wanted to apologize for yelling at you. That's not something a father should do to his son. Do you accept my apology?" he asked.

"I do about you yelling at me, but not about sending me back," Justin said.

"Is there any way I could get you to forgive me?" Knuckles asked.

"Not letting me go," Justin muttered.

I dont believe you when you say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Knuckles couldn't help but chuckle. "If I try to explain things to you nicer then I did before, will you listen?" he asked.

"Maybe," Justin said.

"I'm going to take that as a yes," Knuckles said, a small smile on his face. "May I come in?"

"I guess," Justin mumbled.

He went over and climbed back onto the bed and held Knuckles Jr. again. Knuckles sat down on the bed next to him.

Promises mean everything when youre little
And the world is so big

"Okay, first of all, tell me the reason you don't want to go back," Knuckles told him.

Justin stared down at the bed. "Well… in the furture, you and Mommy are never home with me. You both leave for work pretty ealry in the morning and you both don't get home until late. I stay home by myself each day and I'm really lonely," he explained. He glanced up at Knuckles and scooted closer to him. Knuckles saw tears had built back up in his eyes. "But here, you and Mommy are here with me all the time, except for today. I just don't want that to change…" he whispered.

I just dont understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes

Knuckles wrapped an arm around him. "That's the reason you don't want to leave?" he asked.

Justin nodded into his side. Knuckles gave a small smile. "I know how you feel. My father was always busy so we could never spent much time together so when we did have time together, it meant a lot to me. Then when he died, that all changed; I couldn't spend any time with him anymore," he told him.

"What about your mommy?" Justin asked.

"I never knew her," Knuckles replied.

"Why?"

"My father said she died the day after I was born because she had been sturck with a horrible illness while having me," he answered.

When you tell me everything is wonderful now

"You mean you grew up without a mommy?!" Justin seemed shocked.

"Not everyone is as lucky as you to have two loving parents. Some people may have one parent who takes care of them while the other lives miles and miles away. Even worse, some people have parents who hit them and ignore them," Knuckles explained to him.

Justin gave Knuckles a big hug. "I'm glad you and Mommy don't hurt me," he said. He looked up at him. "What do the kids do who have parents who hurt them?" he asked.

"Well, some may have relatives who care for them and take them away from their parents to raise them themselves. Anyways," Knuckles paused for a moment, "the point I'm trying to get across is, even if we leave for work all day, we still love you. There's no need to get so upset about being home all day. You know that once we get home we'll pay attention to you, right?"

"Yeah, but I get so bored," Justin said. "I won't get to spend as much time with you if I leave."

No
No, I dont wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now
No
No, I dont wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now

Knuckles smirked. "I'll tell you what," he said. "When you go back, you walk up to my future self and tell him exactly what you just told me and I bet anything he'll spend more time with you."

"You promise?" Justin asked.

"I can't promise for sure since I won't techincally be there, but now I know that when my future comes, I'll spend as much time with you as possible," Knuckles told him. "Deal?"

Justin smiled. "Deal," he said.

I dont wanna hear you say
That I will understand someday
No, no, no, no

I dont wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now.

Knuckles smiled back at Justin. Justin then wrapped his arms around Knuckles and snuggled up against him, closing his eyes.

"Daddy?" he asked, his voice bareley above a whisper.

"Yes?" Knuckles looked down at him.

Justin squeezed Knuckles harder. "I don't hate you…" he said.

Knuckles smiled again and hugged him back. "I'm glad you changed your mind," he said.

"Me too," Justin mumbled.

---

This was it. The day Knuckles dreaded the most had finally arrived. Today was the day Justin had to be sent back home. As Knuckles got out of bed and walked downstairs, all the times he and Justin had had together replayed in his mind. From their very first meeting, to the drawing in the sand, to finding out Justin was his son, to watching the stars and going to Rouge's, to being captured by Eggman and Justin's birthday, it was all there.

When Knuckles finally made it downstairs, he was a bit surprised to find his eyes watering. He faught them back though, telling himself that it was for the best that Justin had to leave, although something in the pit of his stomach begged to differ.

Justin walked down the stairs ten minutes later with the biggest frown on his face Knuckles had ever seen. He saw Justin try to smile although it ended up looking like a face you have when you're about to puke.

Once Rouge had woken up, still tired from having to work late, she started to make breakfast. Not much conversation was exchanged during breakfast. At noon, the phone rang.

"Hello?" Knuckles answered.

"It's Tails. Are you guys ready?" he asked.

Knuckles sighed. "Give us just a bit longer, okay?" Knuckles asked.

He heard Tails sigh on the other end. "Knuckles, I know this is hard for you, but if we don't get him back-."

"He'll disappear I know," Knuckles replied in a solemn tone. "Listen, we'll be over there in about half an hour okay?"

"Okay, but if you're not I'm calling again," Tails said.

There was silence from Knuckles.

"I know how you feel and believe me, I'm against doing this as well, but, it's for the best," Tails said.

"Yeah I know," Knuckles said back. "We'll be over soon." With that he hung up.

Knuckles turned around to find Justin standing behind him holding Knuckles Jr. Rouge was right behind him.

"Do I have to go now?" Justin asked in a meek voice.

"Not yet," Knuckles replied. "We have thirty minutes. Then we're expected to be at Tails'."

Justin looked down at the floor. "Okay," he replied.

Knuckles walked up to him. "Justin, please cheer up. You and I went over everything yesterday remember? It'll be fine," he told him.

Justin's eyes started to water. "It just won't be the same!" he cried, before bursting into tears.

Knuckles bent down and hugged him. Rouge also bent down as well and rubbed his back. Knuckles saw she was desperatley trying to hold back tears. The last thirty minutes they had together were spent in each others arms and trying to convince each other everything was going to turn out okay.

---

Knuckles, Justin and Rouge walked into Tails' house. Sonic, Amy and Shadow were there again as well. On the back wall was what looked like a telephone booth to Knuckles, but he knew it was the time machine. Sonic, Amy, Tails and even Shadow were wearing solemn faces as they walked in. Tails slowly walked up to them.

"Well you guys, are you ready?" he asked.

Justin let out a soft whimper. "Can't I say goodbye to everyone first?" he asked, his voice quavering.

Tails nodded and Justin ran over to Sonic and gave him a huge hug. Sonic bent down and hugged him back. "It's been great knowing you," Sonic said. "Take care of yourself."

Next Justin ran over to Amy and gave her a hug. Amy didn't even try and hold back her tears and let them fall right as Justin grabbed her.

"I'll miss you Amy," Justin said.

"I'll miss you too," Amy said.

Justin then ran over to Tails and gave him a hug. Tails gave him a hug back.

"Thank you for finding a way to get me back home," Justin said.

Tails just nodded because he knew if he spoke, he'd break down.

Lastly, Justin slowly walked over to Shadow. He looked up at him before grabbing his legs in a tight embrace. Shadow stared down at him in complete shock.

"Bye Shadow," Justin said.

Shadow bent down and gave Justin a little pat on the head. "See ya," he said in a calm voice, with no hint of emotion what-so-ever.

Justin walked back over to Knuckles and Rouge and gave Rouge another big hug.

"Bye Mommy. I love you," he said, tears beginning to leak out of his eyes.

Rouge shut her eyes as she hugged him back. "I love you too, sweetie," she replied.

Justin pulled back and smiled at her before going over to Knuckles and giving him a hug as well. Knuckles hugged him back, knowing this was the last time he'd ever be with Justin.

"I don't want to go," Justin told him, wiping his eyes.

"I know you don't, but you know you'll see us again," Knuckles said.

"I tust you," Justin whispered. "I love you, Daddy."

Knuckles smiled. "I love you too, kiddo."

Justin pulled back from Knuckles and wiped away his tears before smiling at them. He backed away and looked back at Tails. Tails smiled as Justin approached him.

"I'm ready," he told him.

Tails nodded and Justin stepped into the Time Machine. He looked back at Knuckles and Rouge and smiled once more. Tears leaked out of his eyes and he waved one last time as the door shut. Knuckles clenched his fists together and shut his eyes as he felt Rouge hug him. Tails began pushing buttons to set the destination.

"I don't want him to go," Rouge muttered.

"Me neither, but it's for the best," Knuckles replied, his eyes still shut. "We'll see him again."

"Ready guys?" Tails asked, looking back at them, tears in his eyes as well.

Knuckles and Rouge nodded and Tails put his hand on the lever.

"Wait!" Justin hollered from inside the machine.

Tails opened the door and Justin ran over to Knuckles. He stopped in front of him and held out Knuckles Jr.

"I want you to keep Knuckles Jr. for me Daddy," he said.

Knuckles stared at him in shock. "Are you sure? You won it," he told him.

"I know, but this way, you'll have something to remember me with. Right?" he asked.

Knuckles smiled at him. Justin handed him Knuckles Jr. before backing up into the time machine once more. The door shut and Tails placed his hand on the lever again. He looked over at Justin who nodded at him, telling him he was ready this time. Justin waved from inside the capsule and Knuckles and Rouge both waved back. Tails pulled the lever and began the process. Rouge shut her eyes and clung onto Knuckles.

"I can't believe we're doing this…" she whispered.

There was a bright light inside the capsule and when it disappeared, Justin was gone. Knuckles felt his fists shake and his eyes begin to water. He tried to tell himself it was the right thing to do and that he'd see him again, but it still seemed impossible. He had only known Justin for a few weeks, but over the course of those weeks, Knuckles had bonded so close to Justin that it pained him to see him go. He heard Rouge begin to sob and a few tears rolled down his cheeks as well as he looked down at Knuckles Jr. in his hands.

"Goodbye… Justin," he whispered.

The End