A/N: Chapter 2 is here. I've been a bit preoccupied but I have been able to finish the chapter. Without any further delay, chapter 2.

Chapter 2: He's back

THREE YEARS LATER

Sonic locked the door of his house and walked the rather long distance to Tails' workshop. Usually he would run there but he wasn't feeling like it. Ever since Tails left for Tronis to work at Cyber, he never felt like himself. There was that empty void where Tails once was and nobody could fill it.

Following Tails' departure, everyone who cared were indeed upset but were able to get over it. Not Sonic. To him, Tails was more than just a friend, he was his little brother. They were practically inseparable. Until three years ago.

Sonic entered the workshop and found his friends inside doing different activities. Knuckles was lying on a bench in the corner, lifting weights, Amy was texting on her phone and Sally was on her laptop typing away at something. The workshop had become a regular hangout for the gang and they had changed it to their liking. Most of Tails' stuff was packed in boxes and placed in a corner to create more room.

"Hey, guys." Sonic said dully as he entered and made himself comfortable.

They momentarily stopped their activities to acknowledge him. Knuckles dropped his weights and walked over. "Hey, dude. You finally decided to come out of your little hole?"

The blue hedgehog sighed. He had become withdrawn from his friends in the past days. "You could say that."

The echidna chuckled. "Three years and you're still sulking."

Sally looked up from her computer. "You know, Sonic, you really need to get over Tails."

Sonic scowled at that statement. "How can you say that? You sound like you don't care about him anymore. Well I still do!"

Amy stopped looking at her phone and turned to the blue hedgehog. "We still care about him. Look, Sonic, we were all upset when Tails left but we got over it. And so should you."

Sonic looked at Amy as if he'd never seen her before. "I can't ok? I just can't!"

Knuckles snorted. "You know, I kind of expected this sort of behavior from Cream."

"Cream got over it," sighed Sally.

"No wonder she's not here," said Amy.

Sally decided to change the subject. "Why don't we go gear riding? My Dad just renovated our private track at home."

Knuckles and Amy immediately perked up. "Sure!" they both said simultaneously.

Sonic's face also brightened "You guys go ahead. I left my gear at home." With that he sped away. The others always kept their gears in the workshop.

Sonic arrived at his house and unlocked the door. He went to his closet and rummaged around but could not find his gear. He then searched the house in any possible places he could have left it but still came out empty. Giving up, he decided to use Tails' gear so he went to Tails' house. He used the spear key and entered.

Not much had been changed in the house. Sonic had kept the place tidy, nothing more. Otherwise everything was pretty much the same. He went upstairs to Tails' room and went straight to the closet. Tails' gear was at the bottom, right next to his own. He tried to remember when he left it there when he heard a car pull up outside in the driveway.

Sonic pulled the curtains and looked out. A red SUV, a Nissan Pathfinder was parked in the driveway. He couldn't see the driver because of the tinted windows. The driver's door opened and out stepped…

He couldn't believe his eyes. He rubbed them, hoping what he was seeing wasn't just a mirage. It wasn't.

"Tails?"

Speeding down the stairs and out the door in less than a second, Sonic greeted the fox. "Tails? Is that you?"

Tails opened his mouth to speak but gasped for air instead as he was instantly wrapped in a bone constricting hug. "Good to see you too, dude. Can't breathe now."

Sonic released his best friend. "Sorry, bro. I just can't believe it! Please tell me you're moving back."

Tails smirked. "As a matter of fact I am." He gestured towards his car, "Could you help me get my stuff?"

The blue hedgehog wasted no time. He quickly opened the rear door and took two of Tails' four suitcases. Tails took the rest.

"When'd you get the new wheels, Tails?" Sonic asked as they entered the house.

"Last month. I figured a scientist of my status deserved something more extravagant than that old car I used to drive."

"Speaking of scientist, what happened to your job at Cyber? Did they fire you or did you quit?" The blue hedgehog asked once they had reached the top of the stairs.

Tails laughed. "Neither. The company's relocating here in Mobotropolis."

Sonic grinned from ear to ear. "That's great! Now Cyber still get to keep you and you get to stay close to your friends. It's a win-win.

The mention of friends made Tails remember the others. "Where are the others?"

Sonic remembered what he originally came to do. "They're gear riding over at Sally's private track. I came here to get my… your gear. That was before I knew I also left mine here."

Tails went to the closet and took out both their gears. "Just let me go lock the car and we can go together." He threw Sonic's gear at him then went downstairs and out the door. After he had locked the car, the blue hedgehog closed the door of the house and locked it. When he turned around, Tails was already hovering on his gear with a challenging smirk on his face.

"Race you to the track."

Sonic took the challenge. "You're so on." He switched on his gear and hoped on.

Together, the two best friends raced to the track.

"Oh yeah! Three wins in a row, baby!" gloated Knuckles.

Whilst waiting for Sonic to show up, the gang had decided to start racing without him. So far Knuckles was dominating, wiping the floor with the girls' faces.

"Best four out of seven?" challenged Amy.

Knuckles dismissed her. "Where's Sonic anyway? I bet he could give me a real challenge.

Sally saw two figures approaching on gears. She instantly recognized the blue figure. "There he is!"

Amy squinted at the other figure that was riding besides Sonic. "Who's that with him?"

Knuckles' gasped, his eyes going wide. "No fucking way! Is that Tails?"

The girls could now see him clearly. Amy started jumping with joy. "Yay! Tails is back!"

Sally was just as happy but was more composed in showing her joy. She waited for them to come near and for Tails to step off his gear before welcoming him. "Welcome back, Tails."

"It's good to be—ugh!" Tails didn't finish his sentence for he was quickly scooped up by Knuckles and encaged in a hug that made a boa constrictor look inferior. After he was put down, Amy did the same. He began to wonder if his rib-cage was still intact. "Good to see you guys too," he gasped.

After Tails had filled them in about his return and the company's relocation, the group resumed gear riding. Sonic, Knuckles and Tails won most of the races. Towards dusk, they decided to return to the workshop. After they put their gears away, they helped Tails unpack the boxes they kept his old inventions.

Amy held up her phone. "I texted Rouge and Fiona, notifying them of your return. Rouge wants to throw a party. If you're up for it, Tails."

"Hell yeah I am!" Tails smiled with glee.

"Whoa, dude when did you become the party animal? Last time you couldn't even attend a get together." Knuckles teased.

The fox shrugged. "People change." He then remembered something. "Speaking of people, where's Cream? In all the excitement I forgot about her."

The group paused in discomfort but Tails didn't notice. This was a subject they had been hoping wouldn't come up. Sonic quickly answered. "She's been around. You'll see her eventually."

Sonic couldn't think of a way to explain the Cream situation without hurting the kitsune's feelings. He would just have to let him find out for himself. As for Tails, he couldn't wait to see her again.

A/N: Well that's another chapter complete. It's slightly longer than the first. Anyway don't forget to review after reading, it would mean a lot if you do. Until next chapter…