What We Could Have Had… Let's Make it Better

He watched the little snowflakes touch the ground in silence, a deep frown on his muzzle. His brows were furrowed slightly, his ears pinned back in what seemed to be irritation.

"Are you okay?"

He turns his head, forcing his lips to twitch upwards in a poor attempt of a smile. "Yeah, I'm cool. Have fun with your parents."

The golden fox felt something heavy settle on his chest. "You can come if you want to, you know."

His smile was so fake he felt disgusting. "Nah, it's fine. You better go on before the blizzard hits."

Tails took in a deep breath. It was like this every year.

"Okay. I'll see you in a week, Sonic."

"Have fun."


"You're so gloomy. Can't you smile at least this one day in a whole year?"

He turns and scowls at her. "What I do isn't any of your concern."

The white bat puts her hands on her hips. "Shadow…" she sighs, before shaking her head. "Why don't you go somewhere? I'm closing the club so I can go visit my mother. You'll be here by yourself."

He looks away, back out the window. "That's fine."

She watches him with a sad, but annoyed frown. "Hey," she starts. He turns and raises a brow at her.

"A certain little fox boy asked me to ask you something. Since you're obviously not doing anything important, can you do him a little favor?"

He frowns.


"It's called 'snow,' Silver. It's normal."

The white hedgehog frowns at the cold substance in his hands. "I don't understand why it doesn't bother you guys. I mean, it kills all the plants…"

The pink girl giggled, putting a hand over her mouth at her friend's naivety. "It doesn't kill them, Silver. It puts them into hibernation." She kneels down beside him, taking a handful of snow in her palms. "That's the beauty of the seasons. After the harsh heat of the summer sun, you get the beautiful colors of fall, and then the cool chill of winter that puts everything to sleep. Then, afterwards, everything regrows, the flowers, the trees, the animals."

He looks up at her emerald green eyes, his face reddening slightly. She giggles as she turns the snow into a ball. "After all, spring wouldn't be so amazing if we had it all the time. The point of winter is to appreciate taking a break from the more exciting parts of life. Take the time to think about what you have, and be grateful for it all. Also…"

He yelps as a sudden ball of snow is exploding in his face.

"…snowball fights~!"


A flap of wings causes him to turn and look up.

"What do you want?"

The sultry female laughs lightly. "Loosen up, knucklehead. I wanted to stop by and leave you a gift."

The red guardian raises a brow. "For what?"

She steps up to him, holding out a box wrapped in purple paper. "For Christmas, silly. Be grateful. I paid good money and traded decent jewels for that."

His eyes widen as she leans forward, pecking his cheek with a warm kiss. "I'll see you in spring, darling," she says softly, leaving a his cheeks a rosy red.

As he watches her fly off, he holds a hand up to the side of his muzzle. He then looks down at the box, slowly lifting off the lid.

A silver bracelet, with the emblem of a bright, green emerald on it, greeted him. Taking it out, he studies it with wide eyes. On the inside of the ring, was something inscribed on it.

'To the Guardian of my Heart.'


The picture frame was old and still had burn marks on the edges. He stares at the frame, his thoughts jumbled and confused.

The picture was of his old life. One long before robots and thirst for power.

He sometimes wondered why he did things the way he did them. Was all of this really worth it? He was honest when he admitted to himself he didn't remember his past at first. That explosion of the ROCC turned him into a monster and erased his memory.

…but then those emeralds had to give it back to him.

…and now he sits and wonders if he should be fighting him anymore.

After all, he was only a kid. He never had parents to love or comfort him.

Maybe one day, he thought. One day he'll apologize for hurting the one he had at a time called his son.

That cocky, arrogant, but innocent, pure hearted, too-kind-for-his-own-good, idiot of a hedgehog.

One day he'll make things right.


He pulled the blanket around him closer, fighting the ache in his throat.

Alone, again, for the most meaningful holiday of the year.

It wasn't right for him to go with Tails. It wasn't. That was Tails's family. That was his life, his childhood. He shouldn't interfere with that.

Letting out a shaky sigh, he closes his eyes.

The one and only Christmas he had was too many years ago. Every time he thought about it…

"I miss you Kintobor…"

The sudden knock on his front door jostled him out of his thoughts. He turns and blinks at the door, wondering if he had really heard that or if it was the wind.

No, another knock was heard, and with a skeptical frown, he stands up, pulling the blanket with him. Unlocking the door, he opens it, and stares a bit wide eyed, completely startled by who was at his door.

"Shadow?"


The fox stares at the item in his hands.

A golden ring that glowed with a mystical blue light.

It was an early gift from Sonic.

He thought about how this year had gone. At first their adventures seemed childish but fun.

Then his brother is kidnapped and presumed dead, only to be tortured for six months straight.

The cries from the hedgehog's bedroom at nights scared him. His older brother was hurting. There was nothing that could deny that.

He felt so guilty, watching his hero fall and not doing anything to help stop it. He should have done something. He should have helped him...

Sonic told him not to feel upset. It wasn't his fault, the hero would tell him.

Next year...he would change. He would help his hero the way he's helped him.


The memories of a blonde haired, blue eyed girl will always haunt his dreams. Even if those memories caused him great pain and sadness, he was still grateful he had them.

He never thought about how other people may suffer the same way he did. Losing a loved one… Everyone goes through that pain. Everyday someone dies, but everyday they gain something too.

Everything happens for a reason, after all.

If it wasn't for that fateful accident all those years ago, he never would have discovered this meaning.

He never would have met this blue furred, green eyed rival of his.

"Shadow…"

He couldn't help but tighten his hold on the hero in his arms.

"…thank you."

He buries his face in the fur on top of the other's head, breathing in his scent and clinging onto it for future memories to come.

Maria used to tell him Christmas was about sharing happiness with other's close to you.

He didn't think he would ever be this close with someone again.

He closes his eyes, feeling something pull upwards at the edges of his lips.

"Thank you," he answers softly.