Silver huffed as he lay in the snow of the front yard and saw his own breath. Venice was moving the piles from the driveway using hydrokinesis, what they were supposed to be doing in the first place. He could do it by himself, and he would have to; his friend was tired, even though the quarter mink was bundled up like an Eskimo and the full hedgehog had only his gloves on. His eyes saw clouds and sometimes darkness because he couldn't stay awake. He didn't bother Vienna and Venice about him having nightmares and crying himself to sleep afterward. Not to mention the fact they got worse since the reunion, ever since Ice made me feel bad.

"Come on, Silv!" Venice grunted. "I know it's early, and you think I can handle it, but honestly I'd like some help here." The younger one was too tired to answer, not even if snow made colder than usual hit his face. He was surprised that Vienna didn't even suspect a thing.

"Fine! You think you can just sit there-!" his friend started balling snowballs at him angrily. Silver's face was buried twice before he stopped. It was an opportune time to cry, as if his friend moved the snow, he would assume some of it melted on his face. He tried to sniffle, but instead sneezed as the powder shot up his nose.

"Buddy?" his voice came from above. "You okay? Catching a cold?" To himself Venice muttered, "You'd think he'd catch it sooner, weather like this." The older one dusted the snow off to find Silver groaning. He guessed he was sick, when he was actually tired. "D'aw, come here, bud," he cooed as he helped the fourteen year-old to his feet. "You're getting sick. Let's go in, alright?" he added as he supported his younger friend into the house. The quarter mink opened the door and set him down on the couch. "There there, buddy, you just need to rest, alright? I want you to feel better for your birthday. Just go sleep."

Thank you, he wanted to say, but as he opened his mouth, a sneeze came out instead. Maybe he was getting sick, not getting enough sleep, his appetite starting to fade. Either way, I won't have to do chores. But I fall asleep again, I might have nightmares.

"Hey, Venice?" he tried to get his attention. The familiar face popped up from behind the couch. "Yeah, what is it?" His friend's lit-water eyes sparkled at him.

"Could you get my headphones?" Silver asked. "They should be on my desk." The headphones would help him get some sleep; they had some sleep-friendly tunes in them so he wouldn't have bad dreams. Around this time, they were most useful.

"They're always on your desk," Venice smirked as he went to fetch them. "You're like Mom, always putting them where they should be. I always put them where I remember where they'll be." He was back with the two triangle-shaped buds, and, even though he hadn't asked for it, he brought his player with them. "You have a good sleep, 'kay, buddy?"

"Okay," he replied blankly as he pushed the buds into place.

The music wasn't helping at all.

It was making it worse.

The hedgehog screamed.

Leaping to his feet, Silver darted into his room, wrenching the headphones off and sending the player to the floor. He could hear it hitting the hard surface, as well as the buds. The door slammed behind him and he could pick up Venice's surprised voice. Brisk psychokinetic commands opened and shut the sliding door as he darted through.

Some said he was as unstable as his mother.

But it was quite worse, and you could tell it came from his father, as he sniffled up a great pine tree in the woods. Silver huddled himself on a branch, panting, almost crying.

"Silver?" Venice chimed from below. His friend didn't look down, but he could sense him walking past him. "Silver! Where are you?"

He shivered, trying to ignore both his best friend and the chill. This time of year was supposed to be his favorite, yet it was the worst. He tried to look forward to Christmas, but it was a struggle to get through without a cut or two; once, he was eleven, he even spent it in a hospital, treating someone's fall that "would've killed him if that snowbank hadn't softened his fall".

It was nice of them to give me presents when I didn't deserve them, he concluded. I...I should've never tried to end it... but...I hate these nightmares, and they won't go away...

Nearly three hours past before Silver was found in the tree. By then, Sicily and Leaf had been asked to look out for him, and Vienna was about ready to call the police. No one said a word, but even though Venice and Vienna looked happy that they found him, Silver could see anger hidden in their eyes.

Way to screw up, he punched himself in the face, something he clearly felt he deserved. If you don't fix yourself up fast, you're gonna end up with everyone hating you.

You're an IDIOT!