New Style

SonEspio

Chapter 7

Sleeping was a lot more comfortable for Sonic. Later that night, Sonic was able to sleep in the same bed as Espio. He liked the heat that Espio's body provides for him on that cold night. After a final goodnight, Sonic was off to sleep. It was a slightly different story for Espio.

As soon as Espio dozed off into his sub-conscious, everything went wrong for him. He was back on the Egg Carrier, experiencing the same scene when Sonic was submitting himself to Eggman. The one big difference to this story was that Vector and Charmy wasn't there to save the day, leaving Eggman to have his way with Sonic. After Eggman releases Espio, Espio runs to Sonic's side, telling him not to go through with it. Eggman smacked him aside; Sonic wasn't going to listen to a word. A few yards from the two, Espio got to witness the most gruesome act that he has ever seen in his life.

Eggman reached into his pocket and pulled out a long, slender knife. Espio was shocked and confused at the same time. Using a knife wasn't exactly Eggman's style. Espio wanted to help, but he knew that he would be just tossed aside again. He just had to sit and wait for the end to occur. Eggman took the knife and placed it on Sonic's throat. He pulled it clean across in one fast swipe.

Espio woke up suddenly from his nightmare. He was breathing heavily and was now relieved to see that he was in Sonic's room in the same bed as Sonic. Espio got up from the bed without waking up Sonic, and exited the room. He went into the kitchen, tears flowing down his face. He didn't want to leave the house, but he couldn't stay in the same room as Sonic because he was afraid the nightmares would return. He just wanted to think.

He sat there for what felt like a few hours, but it turned out to only be a few minutes. In those few minutes, Sonic was quick to notice that the heat of Espio's body was no longer presence. He, too, got up from his bed and went downstairs quietly so he wouldn't wake anybody up. When he entered the kitchen, he gasped silently at Espio's condition. He pulled out a chair and sat next to him.

"Espio, what's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Sonic. It's too frightening."

Sonic blinked. "You can tell me anything, Espio. I can't to see you cry."

"Me neither. These are the most tears I have ever shed. It's embarrassing."

"Don't be embarrassed. You probably just had some kind of nightmare."

"It was more than a nightmare."

"Want to talk about it?"

"There's not much to talk about." Sonic continued to insist. "We were back on the Egg Carrier, back to the scene where you were giving yourself up to Eggman. Except, we weren't saved. He took a knife and… slit your throat." Tears flowed down Espio's face faster as he remembered the gruesome sight.

Sonic gave Espio a hug; tears were flowing down his face too.

"Sonic, why are you crying?"

"I don't want you having nightmares of me. It makes me think you're just going to leave."

Espio broke the hug and looked into Sonic's glassy eyes. "I will never leave you. Not because of some nightmare."

They both smiled. The tears were beginning to stop coming.

"I just wished that that stupid mission never happened. I had warned Vector and Charmy, but they wouldn't listen to me. This whole Team Chaotix thing has brought more chaos than order."

Sonic stroked Espio's back. "It's funny, I was actually considering joining Team Chaotix."

Espio looked deeply into Sonic's eyes. "You can't do that. I can't even stand them. Their tactics are so foolish, and they act so immature. I just wish that I can quit."

Sonic considered what he would say next. After coming up with something, he said, "Then quit. There's nothing stopping you."

"It's not that easy. They're my only source of income, and they provide me with a home. Where would I go if I quit?"

Sonic tilted his head slightly and looked solemnly in Espio's eyes. "You can live with me, Espio. You told me you will never leave me, so why don't you stay?"

Espio gasped a little. "Really? Would that be an issue?"

"I'm sure it would take some time for Tails and Knuckles time to get used to the idea, but they'll come around." Sonic placed his hand. They both enjoyed the warmth. "I want you to be with me forever, do you want to be with me forever?"

Espio shared Sonic's solemn stare. "Only you."

They shared a kiss that lasted longer than the other ones. It was as if they were removed from Mobius for a minute and were placed back on it when they separated.

"Why don't we go back to bed," Sonic suggested.

"Our bed."

They walked up together as an official couple for the rest of their lives.

Epilogue

The following day, Espio had a one-on-one chat with Vector and expressed his resignation from Team Chaotix. Vector was quite shocked, but was still accepting of Espio's wishes.

Two months later, Sonic proposed to Espio and they were married three months after that. Even though Sonic stayed apart of the Sonic Heroes, he ended up moving out of the Sonic Heroes home and moved into a new home with Espio.

Espio and Sonic then considered what they would do about having a child. They surprisingly were really keen on the idea, but they knew that it was impossible to have a kid. Knuckles wanted to repay Sonic for being arrogant to him in the past. He suggested that the Master Emerald would be able to give Sonic the ability to bear a child. One shiny day on Angel Island, Knuckles enhanced the power of the Master Emerald through his magical chants. The Master Emerald then lent Sonic some of its power, and the process was soon finished. After two months, Sonic could see his belly increasing in size and he could feel the baby inside of him. Seven months after that, Sonic bore a purple hedgehog boy. Sonic and Espio named him Vector, after Espio's previous boss, of course.

As the hedgehog grew up, Espio trained him in the ways of the ninja. At the age of 6, Vector Hedgehog joined Team Chaotix, which was then being run by Charmy (age 20). Vector and Vanilla's child, Chester, a bunny that much resembled Cream, joined the Team Chaotix the next year at age 7.

In the next 5 years, Sonic bore a pink girl hedgehog, Krystal, and a blue boy chameleon, Kail.

The family of five lived happily together, until the three children grew older and had children of their own. Sonic and Espio both shared 6 grandchildren until the very end.

End.