Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog.

A/N: The first part of this is pretty much just a recap from Vanilla's "viewpoint".

In other news…, I'd kill for a good Sonic roleplay.

Chapter 2

Her name was Vanilla.

And as of today she was a widow along with a single mother.

It had been rather tragic that she followed her husband's orders to get out. She had left him to retrieve their daughter from her crib, on the belief that he'd meet up her outside. Things didn't always go according to plan though. This had been one of those times.

No one would brave the flames though, they were too focused on trying to put it out.

Then someone had took her hand- smaller fingers than her own, and she was surprised. At first she couldn't comprehend just what the young hedgehog had been asking of her and then she realized… he wanted to know just where her were family was. He must have heard her cries of despair and wanted to help. It was sweet.

He spoke with such confidence that in that one instant that she lay all her trust in him despite him being no more than a child. She was aware of her mistake and tried to stop but he was gone before he could even take in a breath. No child should have to run into a blaze like that. She hadn't been thinking about his impressive sped or strange color but the danger he rushed into right then.

Some of the longest moments of her life occurred today, that had been one of them.

The hedgehog had pulled it off though. He saved his daughter and though he didn't say it… she knew he must have tried his hardest to save her husband too. She had attempted to talk to afterwards but he avoided her and everyone else as though they were the plague.

He didn't leave completely though but hung back from the villagers- clearly seen in the distance with an orange fox at his side. It was a curious matter. Didn't either of these children have families to get back to?

For some time Vanilla dealt with her own matters and when she stepped back into the night she was surprised to find the two headed her way, even though it may have not been intentional. She had stopped there and it was only by speaking to them that she had several of her questions answered.

Sonic the Hedgehog, the name of a hero that was spreading rapidly through the zones and Tails… He wasn't all that well known at the time but people were already pinning him as the sidekick. He seemed happy enough to be at the hedgehog's side despite the danger in must put him in. It was really no wonder the two were here all alone, was it?

She invited them to come stay with her because that seemed like the right thing to do.

And they looked beat.

The little fox seemed eager to comply but the other one… well, he was withdrawn. Seemingly only agreeing because his friend did. They certainly were an odd pair. Vanilla was determined to do her best to make them feel at home.

lllllll

Sonic didn't like this.

He accepted her food with a small nod but if not for the hunger gnawing at his gut he probably would have refused to eat more than a few bites. It was nice of her to do this for them- a little too nice. She should be grieving right now, not standing there with a smile as they slurped down the stew. It was way too odd.

The concoction was lacking in the meat department but it was plenty warm and full of mushy chucks that he assumed were carrots by their color. He continued to eye the rabbit suspiciously as he spooned small amounts into his mouth. And every once and while he'd glance sideways at Tails as the fox happily slurped down mouthfuls, several bowls worth.

"Slow down Tails. You're gonna make yourself sick." He could only tolerate watching this so long in silence. He wouldn't have Tails getting ill just because he was in a sour mood about this whole ordeal and didn't want to spare a moment to deal with this small problem.

"But it's good." The fox whined softly in response, causing Sonic to shake his head at him.

It was it then that Vanilla cut in, uninvited at that: "I think you're friend's right Miles. You two should probably be getting some sleep anyhow. Once Sonic here finishes his dinner."

The cries of a baby lead Vanilla away and he stared after her until she was gone from sight. It was at that point that he set his spoon down and picked up his bowl. The broth had cooled and he willingly brought it to his lips as Tails shifted in his seat to face him. "What's wrong Sonic, you don't seem happy?"

He didn't reply, swallowing down the liquid as if he didn't hear. "Sonic." Tails persisted, prodding him in the side with one finger. "What is it? Is it the food…?" The fox's brows bunched together in confusion. "Is it this place? You don't like it here…?"

Sonic shook his head and set his bowl down, "it's nothing Tails. I'm just tired."

Tails grinned broadly at this and hopped down from his seat. "Me too Sonic. We sure have been busy, haven't we?" He just nodded idly in response and dropped down to the floor as well. "Should we help clean up?" The fox questioned uncertainly as Sonic started across the room, he didn't get very far before stopping in his tracks at Vanilla's return.

"Hang on you two." The baby was tucked within her arms, supposedly asleep judging by the silence. "I'll show you two where you can sleep."

Seeing that Tails had no problem following, Sonic soon trudged after.

Since Vanilla was staying with one of the other villagers they didn't get a room of their own but a small mattress that had been placed near the center of the living room. "Mr. Tal was kind enough to drag this out for you two, so you should thank him."

It was hard to thank someone that wasn't here but luckily the rabbit didn't seem to be pressing the matter. She must have at least understood that they were tired. She left the room after this, probably to go tuck Cream in for the night and Sonic hoped she wouldn't come back. Sleeping was something they could handle by themselves.

He wiggled his feet out of his shoes and set them off to the side. After all this was their downtime, he didn't think he'd have to be dashing off in the middle of the night. Just in case though… he made sure they were within reach.

Tails was beside him, copying his actions with his own shoes and setting them on the opposite side of the mattress. The fox then wiggled his toes and grinned at Sonic who returned the gesture with less enthusiasm. He really was tired. The stew had left him feeling warm and fuller than he had in quite sometime.

He lay back as Tails continued bouncing about beside him. It was hard to ignore so Sonic cracked his eyes and leveled his wary gaze upon him. "Get some sleep bro." For heavens sake, the fox had barely been able to stay awake earlier that day and now he was a ball of energy.

"But I'm not tired."

He gave Tails a harder look to inform him that he didn't believe that. In the end he just sighed though and rolled onto his side. It was rather of uncomfortable after his contact with fire earlier that day but he didn't so much as squirm despite the sting of burns. "Sonic?" He ignored his friend, "are you asleep?"

If he pretended to be long enough he figured the fox would follow his lead.

"What's wrong dear?" Drat, that rabbit was back.

"Sonic fell asleep." He could hear the disappoint in Tails' voice but still didn't react.

"Yes. It looks like he has and you should do the same." He couldn't see the two so turned his head in slightest to catch a glimpse of the rabbit tucking Tails in and as soon as she finished this he went back to feigning sleep. "I actually need to talk to your friend." He got the feeling that she had caught him watching. What now, would she lecture him about it?

He scorned that very thought.

"Why…?" Tails replied in a slightly muffled tone, probably because he was yawning.

A few whispered sentences that he didn't catch the meaning of and a small giggle were enough to inform him that Tails was no longer going to question it. He felt the mattress shift as Tails rolled over and took a guess at what was coming next.

He caught Vanilla with her hand outstretched and narrowed his eyes in warning. He did not want her touching him. It took him forever to just let Tails close to him and he wouldn't make an exception for her. They'd do this on his terms. He picked himself up and left the room without a word.

The wood floor was cold beneath his bare feet and without his shoes in place he plodded along slowly upon them. It was only when he was back in the bright kitchen once more that he turned to wait for Vanilla to join him. He bounced the toes of his right foot against the floor- impatient.

She took awhile in his opinion but she still showed up. At the sight of the small box in her hands he bristled with displeasure. He certainly wasn't hurt enough to require first aid. "It's the least I can do." How dare she say she was doing this as a manner to pay him back? She'd give him a guilty conscious like that.

He glanced at the jar of burn ointment that she had just fished out and hopped up onto one of the chairs. "I can do it myself." There was no point in arguing with something as prickly as a hedgehog when it came to touching him and he knew it. No sane person would dare try and hold him still when he forbid it.

She was the same- setting the jar down on the table for him to take, though she did loosen the lid for him first. It wasn't something he was really happy about but he didn't complain, removing his gloves before dipping his fingers in the thick substance. He did his best to ignore the fact that Vanilla was watching him as he set to applying the cream. "I could help you with that." She offered sweetly after several moments.

While he didn't reply right away he did get around to it out of courtesy: "I can handle it."

Judging by the nod of her head she was just humoring him. Leaving him to the task as she cleaned up the bowls from dinner. There was silence between them for a long time before Sonic determined that he was finished. He returned the lid to the jar and set it aside. "What are you going to do now?"

It wasn't surprising that she didn't understand the question. He saw her go still at the sink as she stopped scrubbing the bowls. "What do you mean?"

"You and your family, where will you go?" He picked up his gloves examining their sorry state, there was a decent sized tear in the left one but there really wasn't anything could do about this. He knew he should just be glad his shoes were better off than this- he really needed those. "Clearly you can't stay here all that long without a house of your own."

Vanilla sighed, "I have a friend that lives in a zone near here. Only all the messengers have already left and I have to wait for them to come back before I can head that way."

Sonic pulled on his gloves. "I can give your friend whatever message you want to send them. And about your husband…"

A small laugh, one designed to break tension, caused him to fall short. "It's nothing you need to worry about dear. He's set to be buried tomorrow." She really was taking things in stride- Sonic had to give her that. "I'm just glad you could save Cream."

It wasn't enough.

He didn't say anything about it.

"You should get some sleep."

Sonic wasn't listening even though he got to his feet, "I'll run to your friend's place tomorrow. It's the least I can do." He stated, purposely throwing her previously statement back at her. He'd prove that he was a capable individual- he wasn't the one that needed protection.

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