Alright Folks, here's the last chapter! Yeah, it's gonna get a bit cheesy, but im from Wisconsin, I LIKE CHEESE.

~~~The Next Day~~~

Marl sat resting in his single chair. He was mulling over the events of the previous night. "Did I mess up? Did I succeed? if only there was a way to know." The thoughts were killing him.

~~~Club Rouge~~~

Rouge's world was one of pain at the moment she awoke. Looking around, she saw what appeared to be her room in the back of Club Rouge, but wasn't she just at the museum? With that robot?! Sitting up in a panic, it WAS her room, but how did she get there?

The bat wearily pulled herself out of the maroon colored bed, wiping sleep from her eyes. The door was already open for her to walk through, She was glad the club didnt open until noon, customers werent the biggest thing on her mind at the moment. Wearily pulling herself out into the main room, she grabbed the soda gun from underneath the bar counter and poured herself a glass of water, gulping it down thirstily.

"Damn headache..." Rouge mumbled, setting the glass down and massaging her temples. Looking around the room, she noticed a package sitting farther down the counter, picking up the remote and clicking on the TV, she walked over to it.

"This is Michelle Wallace, once again in front of the Station Square Museum, which has just been the subject of a robbery! You guessed it right viewers, the Piety Diamonds have been stolen. It appears it was a two man operation, but more information has yet to be disclosed. Again, Michelle Wallace, SS News."

the TV changed to a commercial for some energy drink or another as Rouge carefully unwrapped the green package, it was cone shaped, but she had no idea what it could contain. Carefully pulling away the paper, starting from the side, as this could just as easily be one of Eggmans bombs, which usually blasted out of the top.

Upon furthur wrapping removal, a few green stems could be seen. Rouge speeded up tearing away the paper, until she finally pulled away the top...

~~~Marl~~~

he stared out at the grey sky, it seemed to match his mood perfectly. "It's going to rain soon." he walked back inside his small home.

~~~Haha, had you there before, Rouge~~~

Even in sunlight, they still seemed to glow, the diamonds were even MORE beautiful, how this was possible, was because someone had carved each one into the perfect shape of a rose, and somehow attached it to the stem's of actual flowers flawlessly. The breath was taken from Rouge's mouth at the sight, she had been sent flowers by admirers many times before, but this was just unbelievable, the only person who could have possible sent them would be... Marl...

As if on que, a note dropped out from between the flowers onto the counter, Rouge carefully set down the flower diamonds and picked it up, opening the envelope and slipping out the letter.

Dear Rouge.

As I never had the chance to really speak to you last night, I have decided to say my piece here. I am confident you figured out that I brought you back to your abode from the museum, I assure you that I did not touch anything.

The reason that I stole the diamonds was not for the reason of money, but because I wished for the chance to speak to you, and any other way would have seemed odd, I knew that it wouldnt be that odd to see me stealing something, so I took on that guise. I had been thinking of you for some time, and it was disturbing what little peace I have. Your face kept appearing in my mind.

Im sure you have heard many compliments from others before me, so you will be spared any sort of shameless flattery. I will just say that you have the beauty of a million diamonds.

That is all

-Marl

she dropped the note, it was even more surprising than the diamonds themselves to her. "I had no idea..." Rouge murmured. "I have to go talk to him" the bat thought, "But I have no idea where he lives! Wait a moment... Maybe Bolt knows, he knows Marl better than anyone else." quickly heading back to her room despite the biting sting from her headache, she dug in her dresser for her cellphone, pulling it out and dialing Bolt's number. "Yeah, Bolt? I know it's weird for me to call, but I'm going to say something even weirder in a moment..."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Umm..." Rouge bit her lip. "Do you know where Marl lives?"

"Nope!"

"But your like... his only friend!"

"One, he doesnt consider me that, and two, he must have another if your calling me about it." Bolt said, obviously hinting at something.

"Oh shut up..."

"well then maybe I won't help you."

"Oh fine, Sorry, just tell me!"

"He always goes into the forest, maybe he's out there somewhere."

"Thanks, bye." she hung up, putting the phone back. Staring out the window at the bleak sky she muttered "Great day for flying..."

Heading out the door Rouge quickly took flight, wanting to get there as soon as possible. Luckily there was little wind, a calm before the storm you might say, so progress was fast. It was rapidly getting colder, and few people were outside in the streets of the city, they were all smart enough to get inside and avoid the dreary weather.

"but not me..." the bat thought, this had better be a good idea, or she would have just gotten cold and probably wet for nothing. Quickly getting past the majority of the city, small shrubs and other plants began to pop up. Soaring above the tree-line, she looked down in an attempt to find any trace of Marl's home, this soon became a chore as the tree's grew thicker and closer together.

"Crap... I have to do this on foot now..."

Rouge reluctantly descended into the forest, folding her wings back in.

~~~Marl~~~

The second she landed, Marl looked up from his seat. "Why has she come here..."

~~~the winged female one~~~

Our ivory jewel thief searched in vain, "I don't even know where to start..." she thought, "it's a freaking house in the middle of the woods! Why cant i find it?!"

"That might be because I've hidden it pretty well." the sought after fox said, seemingly materializing from the tree's themselves.

"What's with you and sneaking up on people?" Rouge asked, whirling around to face him.

"Just in my nature I suppose." Marl answered, "Now do you want to see my home or not?"

"If I do, will you have to kill me?" she joked, smirking.

"Not unless you take something, no." he responded, turning and beginning to walk. Rouge took the hint and followed him, ducking and moving aside various tree branches that clawed at her face and shoulders.

"So where is it, I mean, it IS a house in the middle of the woods."

"You'll see soon enough, and I have to ask you to not tell anybody about it unless it's the direst of emergencies."

"Why?"

"Believe it or not, I have a lot of enemies, and I enjoy my privacy, it gives me peace."

"Like you said in th-"

Marl cut her off "We can talk about that inside. We're here anyway."

"I don't see it." Rouge commented, looking around, it was a slightly open area, with a few tree's fallen on top of each other that the forest had grown over with bushes and moss. Marl walked up to this barrier and kicked the bottom log, it easily rolled out of the way, creating a passage for him to duck under!

Rouge rolled her eyes. "why am I not surprised?

"Don't ask me why your not surprised." Marl shot back. The bat crouched under the opening, and was met with her third shock of the day.

It was a large clearing, the middle of which stood a small wooden hut with a thatched roof. The tree's grew almost impossibly thick over head, allowing some green tinted light to filter through, giving it a dreamlike look. Various fungi grew in the light patches, some phosphorescent ones even stuck up from the bases of trees!

"...Wow..." she mumbled. Marl was unaffected by the evident beauty and was holding open the door to his dwelling.

"Are you coming inside or not?"

"Err, yeah, I'm coming."

The inside of the cabin was smaller than she had expected, the main room contained only a single chair, a huge black cauldron, and walls covered in cabinets and shelves, each filled with various things. She could slightly see a bedroom, and a bathroom.

"This is...nice." Rouge commented.

"It isn't much, but it's a place to stay." He walked up to the cauldron and leaned down under it, blowing on a few coals that still remained from before he went out until a fire started.

"So, what was it you wanted?" Marl asked, looking up.

"I guess just to say thanks for the flowers... and the letter..."

The fox shrugged.

"But I have to ask YOU something."

"What would that be?"

"Why?"

"I am pretty sure the note made that clear." He replied

"So you really meant it? Even the last bit?"

"Yes."

Rouge stared at him in silence.

"What, do I have to say it out loud for you to believe me?" Marl inquired.

"Might as well."

"Fine" he walked up and looked her in the eyes (Or as close as he could get) "You are as beautiful as a million diamonds sitting in a full moon's radiance. Believe me now?"

Rouge nodded, this was a new experience for her, she was never really involved in actual romance. The pitter of rain could be heard now, falling from the sky.

"You best stay until the rain stop's, it's cold outside tonight."

"Ok, but what if it lasts all night?"

"Then I suppose your my guest for tonight."