Chapter 6

Aleena watched her daughter with her chosen as they explored the gardens. Bright roses of all colors grew around them and the fountain in center bore an effigy of Robotnik spitting out the water.

"So, Bartleby, tell me… How long have you known my daughter?" She asked politely.

The mink smiled. "For as long as I can remember. I knew when we first met, yes I was only four and she was a year old but I knew even if I didn't understand it. Does that make sense?"

Aleena laughed. "It does… so… when is the wedding going to be?"

Sonia thought about it. "We really have had a chance to discuss that yet. Right now, we are enjoying just being together again. We really should talk about that."

Bartleby nodded. "Yes, tonight at dinner. And we'll get your mother's input there as well." He said before realizing his faux pas. "Sorry, your other mother." He elaborated.

Aleena nodded with understanding. "Yes, well if you want my opinion. Long engagements are best. To give you both a chance to really know if this is what you want."

Sonia shook her head. "We were engaged for two years before I met Sonic and Manic. And if there were any doubts at all, this separation would not have been as hard as it was." She studied her mother. She went to her and hugged her. "You do approve right? You do understand how I feel, right?" It bothered her that she couldn't tell. She didn't know this woman.

Aleena's eyes softened and she nodded, hugging her child. "I do understand… and I'm sure that I'll grow to accept this. I just… I'm not ready to give you away yet…" She pouted. "I just got you back."

Sonia nodded. "I understand mother. Don't worry, I'll always be your daughter. Always." She would not agree to a long engagement. They had waited long enough. But we should go in for dinner. Its almost seven, and he is very strict on meal times."

Bartleby nodded. "It's my fault… I have a habit of not eating in times of stress and anxiety. So when I'm here, he wants to make sure I eat."

Aleena nodded. "Then we should go to dinner then."

Bartleby looked at her then at Sonia. "Honestly ma'am, it would be better if we showed you your room and you took your meals there for the time being."

Aleena smiled. "Nonsense. We should learn to be civil over dinner. It's a good time to practice. And I want to be able to give my input if we are going to be talking the wedding."

Bartleby realized that she wasn't going to be as easy as Sonic and Manic had been. "I suppose… it couldn't hurt to try… This one night. If it works out, fine, if not… we'll deal with it."

The three went in where Sleet joined them. "Forgive me Your Highness. Lord Robotnik just realized that you could be in danger as well." He lied smoothly to the purple hedgehog. "So, I am to guard you. He knows that Princess Sonia would be devastated if something happened to you."

Aleena nodded as she knew she could not refuse without possibly offending Sonia. "Thank you Mr Sleet. Your protection is very appreciated. Though, I hope you'll devote more time to guarding my daughter. After all… it is the children who need protection."

Sleet nodded. "Yes but they have Dingo who is assigned to Bartleby's detail. Your daughter is plenty protected. I am strictly ordered to watch over you. Come, your dinner has already been brought to your rooms. It'll get cold."

Aleena smiled. "I thank you for such kindness but I am joining my daughter in the dining room."

He cocked an eyebrow. "That is not what was ordered. Don't you think it's a little soon to test boundaries?"

Aleena shook her head. "Tush… We're practically going to be family. It's time we learned how to be in the same room. As I told my future son-in-law, dinner time is good practice. I will be joining them in the dining room."

Sleet sighed and shrugged. If she wanted to poke the bear, then on her head be it. He had tried. "Very well, dinner is served then. Follow me."

He led them into the dining room where Robotnik just barely held his tongue upon seeing Aleena with them. Wasn't it enough that he had to deal with the princess? At least she was tolerable and proving to be open-minded.

"Aleena, I had assumed you'd want to eat in peace. After all, you must have had a long journey home." He forced himself to speak civilly. "Surely a formal dinner would be too taxing…"

Aleena shook her head. "Very considerate indeed. But I'd prefer to have my meal with my daughter."

The other woman in the dining room stood before an argument could begin. "So, you are the one who gave me my dear Sonia. I must say, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I was so lonely after my husband died. I was able to cling to her and find healing. She is such a wonderful daughter. I am so proud of her."

Aleena nodded. "Yes, I am Queen Aleena and I thank you for caring for my daughter in my stead. I agree, she is a wonderful daughter."

Wyndemere nodded. "Yes, Miss Hedgehog, she is. Dutiful yet capable of knowing her own mind and knowing when to follow her heart." She refused the woman the title of queen. "Now, we get to rest comfortably knowing that she is loved. Come, sit with me. I have many stories that you would like to hear. After all, you missed so much." She pulled Aleena to a place far from the head of the table. She saw Sonia's grateful smile as she and Bartleby sat nearer the head, though a few places down.

Sonia sighed with relief as Aleena allowed Wyndemere to guide her. "I'm sorry…" She whispered. "She was insistent."

Robotnik glowered down at the opposite end and visibly shook as he reigned it in. "She never did have much respect for anyone else…" He whispered back.

Bartleby nodded as he moved one of the platters to block his godfather's view of the woman he so despised. "Yes, I'm sorry uncle. It's just this one time. I think she's resentful that she's not getting much opinion in any of this." He explained. "But, let's talk of other things. Like the wedding. There is much to be planned. For example, when?"

Sonia smiled. "I had a thought on that. Do you remember the date we met?" She asked.

Robotnik nodded. "It was the day Wyndemere brought you to get your retinal scan and register the adoption. June fifteenth. The two of you met after and played while she and I had boring grown up talk. You were just over a year old."

Bartleby smiled. "The day our future started… I like how you think my darling." He squeezed her hand and kissed it before offering her a bite of food.

Robotnik couldn't help laughing as the two fed each other. "Oh brother." Together they joined in the laughter. "Very well, June fifteenth. It's just March now. So we have three months approximately to get everything done. We will begin in the morning."

Aleena's voice broke in. "June fifteenth! Three months? That's hardly enough time. Sonia, I know you want to marry soon but this is your only wedding. It needs to be grand, elegant. One of a kind. Three months isn't enough time to get it all done. Let's be realistic my dear. Six months to a year at least, don't you agree Wyndemere?"

Wyndemere shook her head. "Not at all. Three months is plenty of time to plan a society wedding these days. Thanks to the robotics industry. Robots are far more efficient then they used to be. June fifteenth is perfect. Besides, June weddings are the best. Besides, she's hardly planning it alone. She has two very capable mothers to help her."

Robotnik nodded to Wyndemere as he regained his composure. "Yes, three months is more than enough time. And it's a date that is significant to them."

Aleena nodded. "I do understand that you think it can be done. But if that must be the date, what about next June. That would give us a full year and a quarter and we can throw a whiz bang wedding, a massive blow out."

Robotnik sighed. "It is their wedding. They don't want to wait a year and a quarter. It can be done in the time. It is their decision. And we must respect that."

"Yes, I suppose so… of course, it is rather ironic that you speak of respect." Aleena challenged him.

Robotnik felt and heard Bartleby attempting to pull him back but she had to push the button. "What is ironic, is that I have allowed you to be here at all! Respect! You're the one pushing in where she is not wanted!" His shout echoed off the walls as he stood and stomped out.

Bartleby sighed and looked at Sonia. "I'll be back my love. Aleena, tomorrow, you will take your meals in your room." He stood and went after his godfather.

Sleet went to Aleena and pulled out her chair. "In fact, you should return there now. You've made your point, whatever it's supposed to be."

Aleena looked at her daughter. "I'm sorry dear. But you don't want me to leave, do you?"

Sonia looked at her with pleading eyes. "Mother, please, I want this to work between us. You're the one who wanted to try practicing being civil. Please…. just go eat in your rooms. We can have lunch with you tomorrow. Just Bartleby and me. And Mama, you can also join us. We can build up having dinner together in the dining room. This is his house, for now, and we must respect the rules of that house."

Aleena stood up, her eyes reflecting hurt at her daughter refusing to defend her. "Very well… I will go… He was right about one thing. It was a long journey, and I'm rather tired."

Bartleby ran after Robotnik. "Uncle, sir please, you don't have to leave. It's your dining room and she was out of line."

Robotnik shook his head. "The problem is… I don't want to argue with her. I don't want to hate her as I do… She's trying to bait me. She wants me to do or say something that proves to Sonia that I am the enemy. I won't give into her. I won't give her the satisfaction."

Bartleby smiled a small grin. "I do appreciate everything that you are doing. I know that it is not easy for you. I don't know what she did to anger you so but I will not tell you that you are wrong to feel anger. You once told me that getting angry was perfectly normal. That I would get angry and sad and every emotion in the book and it was okay to feel that way. How about this. For the foreseeable future, everyone will take meals in their rooms and you can decide with whom you eat. I frankly don't care if you ever eat a meal with Aleena again. I don't even care if you ever become friendly to her brothers. I won't ask you to go faster than you can handle." He reassured the man.

Robotnik eyed the boy. "When did you get so wise?" He asked as he took a deep breath.

Bartleby smiled. "I had a good role model. Come, let's go back. I'm sure she's been removed from the dining room by now. We need to finish eating. You need to eat as much as I do." He encouraged his godfather to join him in returning to the dining room.

Sonia immediately apologized as he returned. "I'm so sorry for my mother. I don't know why she's being so rude. I asked her to eat in her rooms from now on. I'm positive she'll come around eventually."

Robotnik nodded as he sat. "Your mother is responsible for her own actions and words. So I'll accept no apology from you on her behalf. You have nothing for which to be sorry. For now, to avoid unnecessary conflict, we will all take meals in our own rooms. This way we'll have only minimal contact. And Princess Sonia, I ask that you never allow her to be alone with Bartleby, not even for a nanosecond. I'll be honest, I do not trust her."

Sonia nodded. "I know you don't. I'm starting to realize that I don't either. I've known her for all of six hours. And that's including the few seconds where she'd pop in like a fairy godmother to save us… I know nothing about her." She looked at Wyndemere. "She maybe the one who gave birth to me but… this… is my mother. I just also want to try to make Aleena a mother too. If that makes sense."

Wyndemere nodded. "Of course dear. You want to chance to find out what it would have been like. You want a chance to have her in your life. I would deny you that chance. And I won't deny her. If not for her choosing me… She chose me. But if you ever want me to, I will exercise my right as your legal mother."

Sonia nodded. "Thank you…"

In her rooms, Aleena looked at Sleet. "You really don't have to stand over me. I'm fine alone in here."

Sleet grinned wolfishly. "Well I'm not fine with you alone in here. You know as well as I that I am not guarding you for your sake. Let's not pretend. I don't like you. You think you are so good but I know the truth. I cannot prove it but if you're not careful, your daughter will despise you and I can see to it that she does."

She glowered at him momentarily before picking up a book. She would not allow to make her a prisoner in her castle. "She won't marry him you know. Eventually, she will see what everyone eventually sees in the nobility and in Robotnik and she will change her mind."

Sleet chuckled. "Which just goes to show how little you know her."

As they got ready for bed, Bartleby looked at his lover. "I'm sorry my dear. It was crazy today."

Sonia kissed his cheek. "So am I… Are we sure this person isn't after you because of me? Maybe…"

Bartleby kissed her back. "Even if that is the reason, I wouldn't care. I'd rather take the chance then to give you up again." He told her as they climbed into bed. It wasn't quite proper but a violent nightmare the first night had convinced them that as long as they were clothed then it was okay. "I'm sorry about your friend… I am eternally grateful for his sacrifice." He hugged her close.

Sonia coughed a small sob at the mention. "I just feel so responsible… Somehow I can't help but think that I caused this… somehow…" She wept.

Bartleby rubbed her back. "No, this is not your fault. Don't blame yourself."

Dingo watched them from the doorway. He mentally promised pain on the person who had done this. No one made his beautiful Sonia cry. Quietly, he closed the door, standing just outside.

AN: Please review. I love concrit.