Mary

"Sonic?" Tails trailed after Sonic as the hedgehog haphazardly got dressed and did his morning routine as well. "Where are you going? What's wrong?"

Sonic shook his head. "Um…I'm going on an adventure."

Tails' eyes filled with tears. "So soon?"

Sonic stopped, turned, and kissed Tails all in one, too-fast-for-Tails'-eyes motion. "I wish I didn't have to, and if it was less important, I'd just blow it off, but…"

"But what?" It was too late to get out of the pool now, Sonic noted. Tails was hooked.

The hedgehog sighed. "There's someone…"

Tails hissed. "Are you serious? Another girl?"

"Tails, it isn't like that!" Sonic protested, leaning heavily on the mahogany railing reining in the staircase.

"Well, who is she? Is she cute?" Tails growled. Even when he was burning mad, he was sexy.

Sonic blushed. "Well…I'm not at liberty to say if she is or isn't…"

"Why not?" Tails' fist lashed out at Sonic's face, but the hedgehog's reflexes were far faster and his hand wrapped around Tails' skinny wrist like a python. Tails growled and tried to kick, but Sonic dodged or turned away from every shot.

"Listen to me, Tails." Sonic soothed. "She's important, and I can't say if she was beautiful or cute or whatever, because the girl I'm thinking of is my mother."

"Excuse me?" Tails breathed. "You have a mother?" He'd never known Sonic to speak of parents at all. It was true; Sonic was an orphan, who, according to all records, was found wandering around after Eggman destroyed almost half the east side of the world. But, as Tails' logic took over shock and embarrassment, he realized that this statement must be true. After all, he couldn't have just appeared out of no where.

Sonic smiled sweetly, however, so he apparently wasn't mad. "Yeah, I do. And, I have to go see her."

"But…" Tails stammered. "You're an orphan. We all are, right? She can't be still alive…!"

Sonic turned into the shadows. "No, you're quite right. She's dead, and she was dead even before Eggman's barrage."

"I'm sorry," Tails hugged Sonic sweetly, his arms winding about the hedgehog's neck. "But, what about never turning back?"

Sonic hugged back gently. "Aw, Tails. There are some things I just can't let you know about me. Honesty aside, this little secret is for your own good."

"Sonic…please tell me," Tails insisted. "Don't you dare hide from me," His cool lips touched the nape of Sonic's neck ever so subtly and left a soft imprint there. Sonic lifted three fingers to it, as if to press the kiss forever into his skin.

"Aw," The hedgehog blushed, something he didn't often do in the presence of others. I can't believe I have to hide this from Tails! He thought, perturbed. Then, he remembered his true reason for concealment. A gaping black hole was ripping itself open in his chest. Memories of a different time and place swarmed his mind and only made the hole grow larger. The spirits of his past swirled in purple and ocher behind his closed eyelids, that mysterious voice and the white fairy that guided him to the Freedom Fighters… "No," He murmured, more to himself then to Tails. "No, I won't drag you into it." And, he firmly and reluctantly pulled away.

"Son…!" But, before Tails could even finish saying his beloved's name, the Blue Blur reminded him what his nick name meant and was gone, leaving Tails to reel. The fox leaned against the railing and gazed after him, not really knowing which way he'd gone. "Sonic," he whispered faintly. "What's wrong?"

It was a crippling thing, this sensation that a huge hole had been punched through my chest…leaving ragged, unhealed gashes around the edges that continued to throb and bleed despite the passage of time…and yet…I could live through it. It didn't feel like the pain had weakened over time, rather that I'd grown strong enough to bear it…

Stephanie Meyer, New Moon