Knuckles never thought he'd be in this situation, holding a small kid against his furry chest, gently soothing them to sleep, and the worst of it all? It was a human kid, a human kid.

Well, let's go back in time, when and how Knuckles met you.

Knuckles would be doing what he does normally, protecting the Master Emerald, that's when he heard a rustling noise coming from the bushes nearby, he thought it could be a enemy, or even Robotnik, but them, a small kid came crawling out of the bushes, seemingly hurt and lost.

He should just give you small care and expulse you. But something in you made him soften, he didn't want to let you go, and that's when you both started to go in adventures together, and then live together like father and daughter.

"..." Knuckles kept holding you against his chest, he knew he should put you down on your bed again, but he couldn't bring himself to after you came inside his room crying because you had a nightmare.