Only one more chapter after this, and it's really an epilogue. I'd like to thank everyone for the more than 100 reviews and over 10,000 hits this story has received. I hope you won't be disappointed by the end of the story, and will stay around for the sequel, coming soon.

AFTER THE METAREX: TAILS' STORY

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Saying Good-Bye"

February 1:

The next morning, Tails got up to find his brother packing.

"Simon?" he said, stunned. "You're…you're leaving?"
"Oh, hi, Miles," Sanguine said. "Yeah, I'll be gone for awhile. Oh, don't worry, I'll be coming back sooner than you think."

"I see," Tails said. He sighed. So much for his hope that the two of them might actually become like brothers at last.

"Miles?" his brother said, locking his trunk. "You sure you'll be okay? I mean, you've got a lot of friends to look out for you. Sonic, Amy, Knuckles…Cream."

"Don't you start on Cream!" Tails said. "It's bad enough that she's making eyes at me, and Amy's been trying to push us together."

"She's a great girl, bro," Sanguine said. "And she really cares about you."

"I'm not in love with Cream," Tails insisted. "Will you at least stay for breakfast?"
"I never say no to a free meal," Sanguine said.

Tails shook his head as he prepared breakfast. He'd really thought that this time they were starting to connect. Well, if his brother didn't need Tails, then Tails didn't need him. He wasn't going to cry this time.

"Miles," Sanguine said while they were eating, "you're not mad at me for going, are you?"

"Well…Mom and Dad expect you to be here when they get back," Tails said. "They should be back next week, if Holly is feeling better."

"Mom says she's acting kind of strange," Sanguine said. "You think she got, you know, some kind of head problem from being in that coma?"

Tails shook his head. "I don't know. Nobody seems to know where she came from, so we have no way of knowing if she was already like that or not. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with daydreaming. Cosmo did that all the time. And we don't know what Holly's been through, or how she ended up where she was found. But the DNA test showed positive she's our sister."

They didn't say much after that. Too soon, it seemed, Sanguine was wheeling his cart out the front door, the same way he had wheeled it in months ago.

"Don't worry, Miles," Sanguine said, shaking his hand. "I'm like a bad penny. I'll be back before you know it. Bye!"

"Yeah," Tails said. "Bye, Simon."

Tails watched his brother walk away, then turned and went back into his house. He sighed, then went to the greenhouse. He walked over to Cosmo's plant and dropped to his knees.

"Well, Cosmo," he said softly. "My family's gone and left me again. Maybe I'd've been better able to cope with your loss, if I'd had a more stable life before meeting you." He stroked a petal. Again, he felt a heartbeat. It was getting stronger. "You're almost ready, aren't you?" he asked. "I'll see you soon. Whoever you are."

Tails left the greenhouse to find Cream and Cheese coming towards his home. Cream had a basket of food. Tails rubbed at his eyes, then smiled and went to greet them. Cream's face lit up as she saw him.

"Hi, Tails!" she called. "We've got a lot of food for you and your brother!"

"I'm afraid you just missed him," Tails said, "but come on inside. I'll make some tea."

"Oh, your brother's gone?" Cream said. "When will he be back?"

Tails sighed. "No idea," he admitted. "Knowing Simon, it could be days or months."

"Well then, Cheese and I will just have to start coming and seeing you more often, won't we, Cheese?"

"Chao chao!" Cheese called. "I mean yes!"

"You're doing good, Cheese!" Tails said, leading them into his house. Cream put her arm around Tails and leaned her head against his shoulder. Tails patted her head. The smile she gave him nearly broke his heart, because he realized how easily he could break hers.

February 2:

The next day was Knuckles' birthday. Tails actually found himself looking forward to it. He hadn't paid much attention to any of his friends' birthdays since they'd returned from space. She hadn't said anything, but he was pretty sure that Cream had been disappointed on hers. Tails hadn't wanted to get too close to her because he didn't want to lead her on.

"It's happening," he realized. "I'm starting to avoid Cream, the same way Sonic avoids Amy. And I never wanted to do that to her."

Tails suddenly felt two arms wrap around him. He sighed. "Hello, Cream."

"Hi, Tails," Cream said, hugging him. "How are you today?"

Tails gently pulled free of her. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"Great!" Cream said, taking his hand. "I love parties!"

It was no surprise to Tails that Rouge was there. Unfortunately, so was Julie-Su. The two girls were sitting on opposite sides of Knuckles' living room. Knuckles was in the kitchen, looking like he had a severe headache. Tails sighed and walked over to him.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Tails asked quietly.

Knuckles looked up. "I've been better," he admitted. "I knew it was a mistake to invite both of them, but…how am I supposed to pick just one? I mean, Julie-Su is a great person to talk to, and Rouge has…er…"

"I get the idea," Tails said, remembering the tournament she'd beaten him in with a kiss. "Sorry to see that kind of thing happen on your birthday."

"You're not still mad at me?" Knuckles asked. "Honest, Tails, I wasn't suggesting that surgery on Cosmo. I was just listing our options."

"I know," Tails said. "I'm sorry. I realized that awhile ago, but it was difficult talking to you about it. I really let you have it last year. And I shouldn't have. I kind of went crazy that day. I'm still trying to get back from it."

"I should have done more!" Knuckles said, hitting the countertop. It shook violently. "I should have done something!"

"That's what I kept telling myself," Tails assured him. "Over and over, I kept saying 'I should have done something! I should have tried harder! What good is it to be smart if you can't think of a way to save the one you love. I don't know. Maybe we could have done something if we'd known about the Metarex sooner, or if Eggman had helped us earlier, or…I don't know."

"I heard about that Cosmo robot," Knuckles said, cleaning the countertop he'd just pounded. "That sick piece of garbage! I can't believe he'd do that to you!"

"Yeah, I'd forgotten, while fighting the Metarex, just how twisted Eggman is," Tails said. "I won't forgive him for that! But I won't let it ruin my life. I put it on hold for a long time, and…and now I'm hoping to get it back online again. Yes, I was very angry at you for a long time, Knuckles. But you tried to save Cosmo. I remember you screaming at me to do something, anything else. I was just too caught up in what was happening to pay attention." He didn't mention that he actually hadn't heard Knuckles and Amy yell at him to save Cosmo somehow until he'd relived it. No one believed his time machine had worked, even partially, and sometimes Tails wondered if he'd imagined it too.

Knuckles looked surprised, then embarrassed. He looked away. "Yeah, well…she was a really nice kid, Tails. Maybe if I could have transformed too, we could have done something. So she could have come back with us."

"It's strange, isn't it?" Tails said. "You're the only one that can get the Master Emerald working at full power, but only Sonic and Shadow can transform. I wonder why?"

Knuckles sighed. "Why? Unpure thoughts. I love two women, that's why. I'm unworthy of the power."

"Uh…okay," Tails said. "Maybe you need to make a decision soon."

"Yeah, maybe you do too," Knuckles said, looking behind Tails. Tails turned to see Cream standing in the doorway.

"Come on!" she called. "Everybody's waiting for the birthday boy!"

"I'm no boy," Knuckles said. "I'm nineteen. Next year I'll be of age, but…but I don't feel any different." "You're lucky," Tails said, heading for the living room and the party. "I'm only eleven, and I feel very different from how I felt when I turned ten."

Knuckles' party went fairly smoothly. The only problem happened near the end.

"Here, Knuckles, open my present!" Julie-Su said, placing a brightly wrapped package in his hands.

Rouge pushed her own package in Knuckles' face. "No, open mine first!"

"He doesn't want anything stolen, you cat burglar!" Julie-Su snarled.

"Strong words from somebody who's been to jail for fighting against the king," Rouge snarled back.

"Uh…anybody like some cake?" Knuckles asked nervously.

"I'll give everybody a piece if you promise not to fight!" Cream said.

"Yeah!" Amy said, pico-pico hammer suddenly in hand. "Knock it off you two!"

"Oh, wow, look at the time!" Sonic said, pretending to look at his watch, which he hadn't brought with him. "I gotta be…" Amy grabbed him by a quill and pulled him back. "…staying right here!"

Everyone suddenly stopped as they heard a strange noise come from Tails. The fox had turned away from them.

"Tails?" Sonic said, worried. "You okay, little buddy?"

"We didn't mean to upset you!" Knuckles said.

"We're not really fighting, this is just a thing we do," Rouge said, causing Knuckles and Julie-Su to stare at her.

Tails laughed. "You guys! You crack me up sometimes!" He noticed their expressions, and quickly shook his head. "No, no, I'm not losing it. I just forgot for awhile that fighting is how some people show their feelings for others. I must have really been a pain, jumping down everybody's throats all that time I'd lose it when somebody argued. I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Sonic said.

"Yeah!" Cream agreed, giggling.

"Hey! Her piece of cake is bigger than mine!" Julie-Su yelled a minute later, pointing at Rouge.

"You need glasses!" Rouge yelled, pushing her piece of cake in Julie-Su's face.

"Have some ice cream!" Julie-Su said, dropping a scoop down Rouge's dress.

"Happy birthday, Knuckles," Tails said while the two girls fought.

"Thanks, kid," Knuckles said from where he was hiding behind the couch.

The party broke up soon after that. Cream walked Tails home.

"I think it went very well, right up until Miss Rouge and Miss Julie started the food fight," Cream said.

"Well, parties around here are never boring, that's for sure," Tails said. "Um…sorry I wasn't more fun at yours, Cream."

"Oh, that's okay," Cream said, smiling up at him. "I can see you're getting better all the time." At her front door, she suddenly threw her arms around him. "Welcome home, Old Tails! I've missed you!"

Tails froze, then hugged her back. "Good to be back, Cream. Thank you for helping me get back."

"Anytime!" Cream said, going inside. She waved to him. "Bye-bye!"

"Bye," Tails said. He walked home alone, a thousand thoughts going through his mind all at once.

February 3:

Tails got up the next morning and decided to take a walk along the beach. Cream's feelings for him were growing stronger, and he had no idea what to do about it. He wondered if he could be happy with her. If she would accept him always loving another. She'd helped him through his depression, helped take care of Cosmo's plant, and, he knew, would be with him constantly once the flower bud bloomed. Tails had given up the hope that Cosmo was returning to him. Which meant he was about to find himself a single father, raising his girlfriend's orphaned child. He still couldn't deal with that. Either Cosmo was a perfect plant, able to have children without a male, or else…

"I'm directly linked to this monster by my body, as you can see!"

Tails shook his head. No! He wouldn't accept that! And it didn't matter. It couldn't matter. Regardless of who the father might or might not be, Cosmo was the mother, and that was all that mattered. Tails was so lost in thought, he didn't notice that he was being watched.

"So what do we do?" Ginger asked. "Tie him up and throw him in the ocean?"

"Then he'd be dead, and with his precious flower girl, and we want him to suffer," Fiona pointed out. "Come on, he's heading towards the bridge! We'll get him there!"

Tails headed towards the bridge in hopes that it would make him feel close to Cosmo. She'd led him more than once to a bridge in her dreams. Was she trying to tell him something? Or did she just like bridges? Of course, it could have simply been dreams, but he wanted to believe she had really come to see him. The pain was easier to deal with, but he wasn't ready to let her go yet.

Tails was too lost in thought to notice he was being followed. He walked along the bridge until he reached the middle. He stepped to the edge and looked down into the water. If Cosmo had called him to meet her in such a place because she enjoyed them, he could see why. He sat down, took off his shoes, and let his feet dangle over the edge into the water. Yes, as much as he enjoyed working with metal and wires and machine oil, he loved the outdoors too.

He sighed. "I could sit here forever, if she were only with me," he said out loud.

"Why, Miles, are you talking about me?"

Tails jumped up and spun around. "Ginger?! What are you doing here? The guard is after you!"

"And who's fault is that, hmm?" the monkey demanded, stepping right up to Tails and pushing her face into his.

"Yours," Tails said, stepping back to the very edge of the bridge. "Stupid!" he told himself. "I had to take my shoes off, so if I have to fight her, I can't even kick that hard!"

"Why, Miles," Ginger said, looking hurt, "how can you say such a cruel, hurtful thing?" She clutched at her heart. "I opened up to you, and you were so mean to poor little me!" She smirked. "I guess I'll just have to avenge my honor!"

Tails stared at her. "What?!?" he said. "That…that doesn't make sense, Ginger!"

"Oh, so now you're calling me crazy?" Ginger demanded, folding her arms. "Hmm…which of us spent time in a mental hospital again? Oh, right, it was you!"

Tails blushed. "Sh-shut up! It was a mistake! I didn't belong there!"

"Oh, poor widdle Miles," Ginger said, taking a step towards him. "Your widdle fwower girl went bye bye off to Heaven, and your bwain went bye bye too!"

Tails swallowed. He had been taking a few lessons from Knuckles on fighting, but hadn't really learned too much. His only hope was flight. He tensed his tails muscles, but didn't start spinning. It would take a moment to take off, and he was afraid she'd jump him before he was out of reach. "I'm not crazy!" he said. "That really hurts!"

"Aww, Miles is hurt!" Ginger said. "Did you hear that?"

Tails looked around nervously. "Wh-who are you talking to? Who else is here?"

Then he saw her. The girl he'd once loved. Before he had known any better. "F-Fiona."

"Good morning, Miles," Fiona said. He looked at her. Still beautiful. Still cold. Harsh. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Long time no see. Miss me?"

"I…I don't want any trouble," Tails said. He decided to get out of there. He looked over his shoulder at the water. "Have to just leave my shoes," he thought. He leaped into the air backwards, spinning his tails as he did.

"Oh no you don't!" Fiona cried, throwing something at him.

Tails recognized them as bolos. They wrapped around his tails, and he fell into the water. The weights of the bolos began to pull him down. He hadn't had a chance to take a deep breath before his head had gone under. He started struggling to free himself. His lungs were burning when he finally threw them away. He dogpaddled to the surface, gasping for breath.

Fiona and Ginger were kneeling on the bridge, watching him.

"Aw, darn! He came back up!" Ginger said. "Bummer!" She threw back her head and laughed insanely. Even Fiona looked at her funny.

"Uh…bye!" Tails said, starting to swim away. Then he felt a net fall over him.

"Oh, we came well prepared, genius boy!" Fiona said, as they started to haul him out of the water.

"Golly gee, cousin Abner, we caught us a big one!" Ginger said.

"Okay, what do you want?!" Tails asked. He could feel his heart pounding now. He was scared, but not about to let them know that.

"Why, we just want to play, Miles," Ginger said. They tossed him onto the bridge. Fiona grabbed his wrists and Ginger grabbed his ankles. They carried him over the bridge.

"Sonic's going to find out about this, and then you'll be in trouble!" Tails said.

"Oh no!" Ginger cried, looking at Fiona. "Sonic's going to get us? Oh, what will we do? He's so big and so strong!"

"I guess we'll have to hide the evidence!" Fiona said. "But first, let's get rid of this!" She dumped Tails on his head, and pulled off his watch. "It's a phone, isn't it?" she asked. She stomped on it. Tails sobbed as it burst into little pieces.

"Oopsy!" Ginger cried. "Clumsy you, Fiona!"

They carried Tails down the path towards the woods.

"Hey!" Tails yelled. "Let me go! Help!"

"Scream your guts out," Fiona said, "nobody will hear you. If they do, they won't want to get involved. Most people aren't trying to impress everybody the way you and your ridiculous friends do."

"My friends are good people," Tails said angrily. "You wouldn't understand anything about that!"

"I'm hurt," Fiona said.

"Yeah, that's really mean of you, Miles," Ginger said. "I think I'm going to cry!" She grinned. "I know you are!"

They carried Tails into a patch of trees. Tails realized they could do anything they wanted to do to him there, and no one would find him for days. "Help! Somebody help!"

"He's such a crybaby!" Ginger said. "Did you notice that?"

"Yes, that's why I never did like him," Fiona said.

"Then why are you doing this?" Tails demanded.

"Because I do the dumping in my relationships!" Fiona said. At last they reached an old trunk. Ginger held onto Tails while Fiona opened it.

"You're kidding!" Tails said, realizing what was happening. He beat Ginger's arm, and tried to run. Fiona karate kicked him, knocking him against a tree. Tails saw brilliant flashes of white light. He shook his head, but before he could clear it, he felt them hoist him up, then throw him down.

"Bye-bye, Miles!" Ginger said, laughing insanely again.
"Don't worry," Fiona assured him. "We'll come back and let you out before you die…probably!" They slammed the lid shut, leaving Tails in total darkness.

"Hey! Tails cried, pounding on the lid! The box shook a little, but the lid didn't move. "Hey! Let me out of here! Come on!"

There was no reply. Tails felt around. The box was metal, so he couldn't break through it. There was absolutely nothing inside that he could use to try to escape.

"Let me out!" Tails sobbed. "Please, let me out!"

Nothing. Tails continued to pound on the box until his hands and feet ached. He screamed himself hoarse, but no one came.

"I…I could die in here!" he realized. He considered this. If he died, he'd be with Cosmo forever. Nothing could ever separate them again. But that would mean never seeing his friends, his family again. "I-I'm sorry, Cosmo," Tails said. "I want to be with you! I want to be with you so much! But--but not this way! I want you to come back to me! I want to live! I want to live!" Saying those words surprised him a little. Months ago, he doubted he'd've said them so positively. He felt his eyes overflow with tears. "Please forgive me, Cosmo! Please…please help me! Help me to get out of this! Please!"

Tails gasped. It was getting stuffy in there. Was he running out of air?!?

Mother! What's happening? I can hear Tails calling me! But--but not the way he was. This is different!

Cosmo, your boy is in trouble. He may be with you soon.

What?!? No! No, I don't want that! Let me see! Oh no! No! I have to do something!

You can't. You can't help him, dear.

No, I…I know a way! Forgive me, Mother!

Cosmo? What are you going to do? Cosmo!

Cream was rearranging flowers from Tails' greenhouse for her mother. "Aren't these pretty, Cheese?"

"They sure are!" Cheese said enthusiastically. Actually, Cream could be picking her nose, and Cheese would say it was great if Cream enjoyed doing it.

"After I finish these, I should go and see Tails," Cream went on. Do you…do you think I have a…a chance with him?"

Cheese made a face. "If he doesn't want you, he's crazy!" Cheese said. "But maybe your mother's right, and he's not ready to see somebody else. I don't want to see you cry, Cream!"

"Aww, that's so sweet of you, Cheese!" Cream said, throwing her arms around her best friend.

"I'd do anything for you, Cream!" Cheese said, hugging her back. "Anything!"

A cool breeze suddenly blew across Cream's face. She looked around. "Is the window open? No, it looks closed." She walked over to it and checked. "Yup. It's closed all right. So how could a breeze get in here?"

"I didn't feel anything," Cheese said, looking around.

Cream scratched her head. "That's very strange! I just don't understand it!"

Cream…

Cream looked around. "Who's there?" she asked.

"What is it?" Cheese asked, looking concerned. "What's the matter, Cream?"

"I thought I heard somebody call my name," Cream said, "from very far off."

"I didn't hear anything," Cheese said, staring worriedly at her. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine, Cream said. "I just…"

Cream…

"There it is again!" Cream cried. "Who's there? Who's calling me?"

Hurry, Cream! Tails is in trouble!

"Tails is in trouble!?!" Cream cried. "Who's…C-Cosmo?"

"Cream, who are you talking to?" Cheese asked, very confused.

Hurry, Cream! You have to save him! Please!

"Okay!" Cream cried. "Show me where, Cosmo!" She opened the window, jumped out, and flew away. Cheese followed her.

"Cream, there's nobody talking to you!" Cheese insisted.

"You can't hear her?" Cream asked. "It's Cosmo, Cheese! She said Tails needs help!"

"What?!?" Cheese cried.

"Hey," Fiona said to Ginger. They were at a restaurant, eating. "You remembered to drill air holes in that trunk so stupid could breath, right?"
Ginger looked at her funny. "I thought you were going to do that."

"Idiot!" Fiona said, jumping up. "We don't want a murder rap! Come on! We've got to get back there before he croaks!"

"Hey!" the waiter cried. "You didn't pay!"

Fiona kicked him into an umbrella. It fell over, hitting him upside the head. The two girls hurried back towards the patch of trees.

"Cosmo?" Cream called. "Which way? I can't see you!"

Turn left. No, too far. That's it. Hurry, Cream!

Tails started coughing. "What a stupid way to die!" he thought.

Cream at last reached the clearing. She looked around. "Where to next, Cosmo? All I see is an old trunk! Cosmo?"

You're not to do that again, do you understand, young lady?!

But, Mother! Tails might die!

Cosmo, you could get yourself in a lot of trouble, interfering with the living!

Then, I can't help him again?!?

Not that way. Not from here. Come, my child. We must return now. Time is short.

Please, Mother! Can't I at least make sure she saves him?

You may watch, but you may not speak to either of them again. If you do, you will lose your last visit with him!

(Gasp!) Oh no! No, please, Mother! I-I need this last visit! We both do!

Then watch and listen, then we must go!

Tails had collapsed inside of the trunk. His lungs ached, and his brain was growing fuzzy. Then he heard a tapping sound that echoed through the trunk, and a faint "Tails? Are you in there?"

Tails struggled to answer. "Hello?" He realized whoever it was might not have heard him. He kicked at the trunk, again cursing himself for having removed his shoes. They would have made a lot more noise.

"I can hear you!" the faint voice said. Tails realized it was Cream.

"Cream? I--can't breath!" he gasped. He was seeing spots before his eyes.

"Hang on, Tails!" the voice called. "I'll get you out of there!"

Cream picked up a rock and started hitting the lock with it.

"Use me!" Cheese cried.

"What?" Cream said. "I don't want to hurt you, Cheese!"

"I don't want to see you cry if Tails dies," Cheese said. "Don't worry about me! I'm a whole lot tougher than I look! Please, throw me against the lock!"

Cream picked up Cheese, kissed him, then pulled back her arm. "I want you both in my life!" she cried. "Don't either one of you leave me!" She threw Cheese at the trunk. The lock flattened. "Oh no! Even if we had the key, we couldn't open it now!" She looked over at her chao friend. "Are you okay, Cheese?"

"Sure," Cheese said. "Do it again!"

Cream threw Cheese a second time. Then a third. This time, the lock broke off. Cream lifted the lid and cried out in horror. Tails wasn't moving.

"Tails!" she sobbed. "Tails, speak to me!" She lifted him out of the trunk. He was limp.

Oh no! Cream, do something! Please! You have to…Tails?!?

Wh-what happened? Cosmo?!?

"Come on, Tails!" Cream sobbed, setting him down on the ground. "Wake up! Please, wake up, you're scaring me!"

Cosmo…how can you be here? Wait! Did…did I die?

No, Tails! You're…you're just unconscious, I think! Mother? Mother, where are you?

"Come on, Tails!" Cream sobbed. "Don't you go away from me!" Tails had taught her CPR after she'd nearly drowned. She bent over and breathed into his mouth. "You can't have him, Cosmo! Do you hear me? I won't let you take him like this!"

Cosmo…we can be together this way!

No, Tails! This isn't right! You can't join me like this! Please, too many people need you! And I need you! I need you to be strong and healthy and happy.

But…but Cosmo…

You don't want to die, Tails! You know you don't!

"Please! Please!" Cream sobbed, pressing down on Tails' chest. "Please, give him back! Give him back to me!" She breathed into his mouth again.

You know you want to live, Tails. You know there are so many things you still want to do with your life.

But I want you there with me. Why, Cosmo? Why couldn't you have come with me? I can't understand why that had to happen! I will never understand!

"Don't go with her, Tails!" Cream sobbed, still working on him. "You can't do go away with Cosmo! Your mom and dad need you! Mister Sonic will be so sad if he loses his best friend!" She breathed into his mouth again and again. "Please, Tails! I love you! I love you!"

Did you hear that, Tails? Cream loves you.

But I love you. I…I don't want to die, Cosmo. I want to live. But I want you with me.

Tails! You know what you have to do! You promised me you'd get better! That you'd be happy! You promised me!

And I promised I'd never break another promise to you, didn't I? But…I…I can touch you! Feel you!

If…if I give you a kiss…will you go back? Will you live for me?

"Tails! Please come back! Please come back to me!"

Your kiss was so wonderful, Cosmo! I could die for your kisses! Literally, I guess!

No! You don't want to do that, Tails! You know you don't!

No, I…I have a lot of things I need to do, Cosmo. A lot of ways I want to make you proud of me before we meet again in the next world. I love you, Cosmo! I always have, and I always will! Will you still come to see me…one more time?
Of course, Tails. Soon. Now go back! Hurry! You don't want to make Cream cry any longer.

Tails coughed. His lungs were burning. His heart was pounding. But he was alive. He opened his eyes to see not blue eyes set in a greenish face, with leaf-like green hair and pink flower buds, but to teary brown eyes in a cream-colored face, with long floppy ears.

"Tails?" Cream sobbed. She threw her arms around him. "Oh, Tails! I was so scared! Please don't ever do that to me again!"

Tails hugged her back. "I'm sorry, Cosmo! I wanted so much to stay with you, but I don't want to die yet! Please forgive me!"

There's nothing to forgive, my love. But you can't hear me anymore, can you?

No, Cosmo. He can't.

Mother? Where were you just now? When he was speaking with me?

You didn't need me there, baby. I would have only been intruding. Now come. You must prepare for your final visit with him.

Yes, Mother. Good-bye, Tails! Cream, please take good care of him!

"You should go to a hospital, Tails!" Cream said, still worried about him. "Can you walk, or should I carry you?"

"Neither of you is going anyplace!" Fiona cried, stepping into the clearing.

Cream stepped in front of Tails. "Who are you? Were you the one that put Tails in that trunk?"

"Cream, don't try to fight her!" Tails gasped. "She's dangerous! And she's not alone!"

"No, she's not!" Ginger cried, dropping out of the nearest tree unto Cream's back, knocking her to the ground. She started to bite Cream on the shoulder.

"Cream!" Tails cried, trying to pull the monkey off of his friend. Fiona slammed him against the trunk.

"So your little girlfriend saved you? How sweet!" Fiona said. "I don't want to go away for murder, so I think we'll just beat the daylights out of both of you!"

"Ow!" Ginger cried. "What the…Ow!" She released Cream, and backed away from her.

"Chao chao chao!" Cheese yelled, furious.

"You stupid little blue marshmallow!" Ginger shrieked, swinging at Cheese. Cheese dodged, and bit her hand, then flew to Cream.

"Take this!" Cream yelled, throwing Cheese at Ginger. The monkey fell over with a surprised look on her face. Cream leaped in the air, flapping her ears, and swooped down on Fiona, kicking her upside the head. She picked up Tails and cried out, "Come on, Cheese! We're getting out of here!" She flew off, Cheese following.

"Wow," Tails thought, "I sure wouldn't want Cream mad at me!"

The doctor at the hospital checked Tails over, then said, "You should rest today, but you seem fine."

"Thanks," Tails said. "I've been trying to tell my friend that, but…"

"But it never hurts to be sure," Cream insisted, throwing an arm around him. "Come on, Tails! I'll take you to my house! You'll be safe from those mean bullies there!"

Tails blushed. He didn't mind being saved by a girl, but being saved by one two years his junior was a bit embarrassing. Then he thought of Cosmo's plant.

"Cream! I have to go home and make sure Cosmo's okay!" Tails told her.

"Then I'm going with you!" Cream insisted. Outside of the hospital, she asked, "Can you fly, or should I carry you?"

"Uh…I'm sure I'll be okay," he said. "Please don't fuss over me, Cream!"

"You know I wouldn't do that if I didn't care about you, Tails," Cream said, staring into his eyes.

"Uh…thanks," Tails said., looking away. "So, how did you know I was in danger?"
"Cosmo told me," Cream said.

Tails stared at her. "She…she spoke to you?!?"

"She told me you were in trouble," Cream explained. "She led me to the trunk, then she…I guess she just had to go."

"She's still looking out for me!" Tails said, looking up as they flew to his house. "Thank you, Cosmo. Thank you so very much!"

Cream looked at Tails and sighed. Tails noticed, but pretended he didn't.

"Please, find somebody else, Cream," he thought. "I don't want to make hurt you. I don't want to make you cry."

February 4:

The next day, Sonic showed up early in the morning.

"I got good news and bad news for you, buddy," Sonic said, stepping inside of Tails' house.

"Uh oh," Tails said. "That doesn't sound so good. Give me the bad news first."

"Well, the bad news is, Ginger has disappeared, so she might turn up again anytime," Sonic told him. "But the good news is, they caught Fiona. She won't be getting out for awhile."

"Well, that's good to know," Tails said. "Would you like some tea?"
"It doesn't bother you?" Sonic asked.

Tails stared at his best friend. "Sonic," he said softly, "I got over Fiona a long time ago. Her being arrested doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't know what I was thinking, ever liking her!"

"You okay, Tails?" Sonic asked.

"Well, I almost died yesterday," Tails said, "but otherwise I'm fine." He walked across the room slowly, lost in thought. "Sonic? I…I saw her yesterday. Cosmo. A part of me wanted to…stay with her. But…but I didn't want to die." He turned towards Sonic. "I'm not sure I would have felt the same way a few months ago. I was really angry at my dad back then for having me put away, but…but I guess it really did help. I got my head back on straight again. Guess I just had to hit rock bottom before I could find my way back."

"But you're okay, now, right?" Sonic asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Tails said. He smiled. "Don't look so worried, Sonic. I really mean it. I'm okay."
"Great," Sonic said. "So, what do you have planned for today?"

"Nothing really," Tails said. "Tomorrow's…you know. Um…I'm not looking forward to it. I've put it off for so long because I haven't wanted to really say good-bye. But Cosmo said she'll only be able to come to me…one more time. And…and it scares me."

Sonic patted him on the shoulder. "It's okay," he said. "It's okay to let go. It's okay to move on with your life, Tails."

"Yeah," Tails said. "I…I'm not going to start acting crazy again, don't worry. I…I just need a little time to accept that I'll…I won't see her again."

"Come on," Sonic said. "Let's do something today."

"Well," Tails said, "how about a walk. I'm afraid there's too much snow on the ground for running.."

"A walk's fine, little buddy!" Sonic said. "Let's go!"

A few minutes later, the two of them were headed for the woods. Tails had had enough of the sea for awhile. They walked until they reached the place where Sonic had first confronted Tails about Metal Cosmo.

"Oh," Sonic said, looking around as he recognized the spot. "Uh…Tails, I'm sorry."

Tails sighed. "It's okay, Sonic. Keeping that robot duplicate of Cosmo around would have just upset me. I would have kept hoping it would become more and more like Cosmo, and been disappointed when it didn't. Don't worry about it, please."
"Yeah, I guess," Sonic said. "It seemed to like you. I guess, even a robot Cosmo couldn't have hated you. Sorry, that probably makes it worse, huh?"

"No, it's really all right," Tails assured him. "I would have liked to have helped the poor thing, but maybe she's better off wherever she is now."

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. "Oh, no! Not now!" Sonic yelled.

"Ho ho ho! Miss me?" A robot came crashing towards them, Eggman riding on top.

"Eggman!" Tails yelled. "How dare you show your face around here again after what you did?!"

"Aww…what's the matter, Tails? Did you lose it?" Eggman's voice asked sarcastically.

"Shut up!" Tails yelled. He'd just put up with the crazy jokes yesterday from Fiona and Ginger. He wasn't going to let Eggman get away with it too. "You should have minded your own business, Eggman!"

"Strong words from someone with a fragile psyche," Eggman said. "But don't worry, Ill be more than happy to put you out of your misery!" He swung his robot's arm at Tails.

Tails threw himself out of the way. "You're not getting me that easily!" he yelled. He spun his tails and rose into the air.

"Don't let him rattle you, little buddy!" Sonic yelled, running around and around the robot. "I'll take care of him!"

"No!" Tails said. "I'm not going to hide behind you or Knuckles or Amy any more!"

"From what I've heard," Eggman said, chuckling, "you're even letting little Creamy Cream protect you these days! Ho ho ho! What a loser!" He swung his robot at Tails again.

Again Tails swerved out of the way. "At least I have friends that care what happens to me!" he shouted. "How about you, Eggman? If you died, who would cry at your funeral?"

"Sh-shut up!" Eggman yelled, grabbing the fox. "Where are your boasts now, smart aleck?"

"Hang on, Tails!" Sonic cried, spin dashing the robot's legs. As the robot staggered, Tails managed to get free. Realizing he couldn't fight the robot the way Sonic did, Tails decided to attack the man behind the robot. He flew up and started kicking the clear covering that Eggman was sitting behind. He didn't have the power in his kicks that Cream did, but he had enough momentum to crack the glass.

"Hey!" Eggman yelled, reaching for the ejection button.

"No you don't!" Tails said. He punched Eggman in the face, unfastened his seatbelt, then lifted Eggman out of the robot. Without Eggman, Sonic was able to quickly demolish the robot. He heard a cry of pain, and turned to see Tails beating Eggman.

"No. More. Lies!" Tails yelled, driving his fists into Eggman's soggy belly. The villain went down, making a wheezing sound. "This ends now, Eggman!"

"Not quite!" Eggman moaned. "Bokkun!"

"Hi!" Bokkun said. He handed Tails a package. Snorting, Tails tossed it to Eggman.

Eggman screamed. "Oh no!"

KA-BOOM!

Sonic rushed towards the smoke. As it cleared, he saw that Eggman and Bokkun were gone.

"Whoa!" Sonic said to Tails. "Just…whoa!"

"I finally did something right!" Tails said. "Did you see that, Cosmo? I'm not a failure!"

Sonic put his arm around his friend. "Buddy, you were never a failure."

"Yeah, I know," Tails admitted. "But it was great to do something physical, like the rest of you guys, instead of just sitting around being a geek."

"You are not a geek," Sonic said proudly. "You're my little brother!"

"Thanks, Sonic," Tails said. "Let's go! I feel like a longer walk now!"

By the time they returned, Tails was exhausted, but happier than he'd been in a long time.

Good for you, Tails! Good for you!

Cosmo? You need to see him for the last time very soon.

Then…tomorrow. I think that would be best. Let this day be a day of victory for him, and not sorrow.

As you wish, my child.

February 5, Morning

The day had finally come that Tails had hoped would never arrive. He put on his black tuxedo, sighing softly as he did. He looked at himself in the mirror.

"I'd like to think you'd've enjoyed seeing me like this," he thought. "I'm so sorry for putting this off for so long, but now--now it's time to--to let you go! Please forgive me!"

He went to the room in his house that his parents had begrudgingly allowed him to keep. Pictures of Cosmo were everywhere. Candles sat where he would sometimes light them and pray. For most of the last nine months, he had prayed that she would come back some day, but now he prayed that she was happy. He picked up the picture of all of them on the Blue Typhoon. Cosmo had looked so sad in it. He'd held his arm out towards her, but had been so afraid to put it around her. Now, he'd never get that chance. He placed the picture back on the mantle, and left the shrine. Someday, he knew, he'd take down the pictures, use the room for something else. Maybe when his parents returned. They'd been gone for nearly a month now. He hoped they were all right.

Tails went to his greenhouse and let himself in. He walked softly to Cosmo's plant. Bigger than he was, he could see it was about to bloom.

"Soon," he whispered, stroking a petal. He felt a soft throbbing. There was no doubt about it. The heartbeat was much stronger now. He wondered suddenly why he'd stopped trying to ask Cosmo about her plant. Maybe he just wanted to keep on hoping that it would be her inside after all. Despite all she'd said to the contrary. Well, he'd know for sure soon enough.

Tails stepped outside, locked the door, then turned to see Sonic standing there, watching him.

"You okay today, little buddy?" Sonic asked. "You can put it off until another time if you want. Nobody will blame you."

Tails sighed. "No. No, I…I guess I need this, Sonic. And she deserves it. Just…just don't expect too much from me today, okay?"

Sonic placed his hand on Tails' shoulder. "Sure, little buddy. Let's go."

This was a small group, that met in the park on this day. Except for Vanilla, Rouge, and the Chaotix, only those that had been onboard the Blue Typhoon had been invited. Tails still didn't trust or like Rouge, but he had promised himself that he'd try to get along with her. Knuckles was his friend. He didn't want to be angry with him or Rouge or anyone else anymore.

Cream ran over to hug him. She was so soft and warm. Tails wondered, not for the first time, if something might have developed between them if he hadn't met Cosmo.

"It's so great to see you, Tails!" Cream said happily. "Isn't it, Cheese?"

"Chao chao!" Cheese said, nodding. "I mean…hello, Tails!"

Tails laughed. "Hi, Cheese! Your speech is getting better!"

"I'm trying," Cheese said.

"Tails!" Amy Rose cried, crushing him. "You look so handsome! Some girl is going to be very lucky to catch you!"

Tails sighed. "Not today, Amy, please," he said.

Tails allowed the two girls to lead him to where several chairs were set up. A large picture, with a sheet over it, stood on an easel. Beyond it, was a coffin. Tails had made it himself. He looked at it, then walked over to Knuckles and Rouge.

"Hi, how are you two doing?" he asked quietly.

"Can't complain," Knuckles said. "How about you?"

"I'm doing okay," Tails said, and realized it was the truth. He was coping better than he would have thought just a short time ago.

"She was a nice kid," Rouge said. "I thought she was kind of whiny, but…well, I guess she had good reason to be, huh? It's…not easy, losing your family." Tails was surprised. This was the most Rouge had ever said about her past. At least to him. Maybe the wounds in her heart were healing too.

"No," Tails agreed. "No, losing people that matter to you is never easy. Thank you, Rouge."

"Don't mention it, Kid," Rouge said.

"Hey, Tails," Vector said, holding out his hand. "Hope you're not still mad at me about the whole Ginger thing?"

Tails sighed. He was, actually, especially since Ginger had nearly killed him just two days ago, but he forced himself to smile. Vector, Espio, and Charmy had all worked very hard at setting him up with Cosmo. Their hearts were in the right places, even if their brains had long since taken left turns into Wackyland.

"Well, we've all done things we're not proud of," Tails said. "I know I sure have."

"It's difficult, Tails," Espio said softly, "but you need to face the past in order to turn towards the future."

"Yeah," Tails said, "I know."

"She was nice," Charmy said. "She treated me like my opinion actually mattered for something."

"Everyone's opinion matters," Tails assured him.

As Tails turned towards the coffin and picture to begin the ceremony, he saw someone that hadn't been invited. Bokkun was trying to hide behind a little tree much too thin to conceal him. Tails wondered for a moment if that meant that Eggman would soon attack them there, then noticed the little messenger robot was staring at Cream with a look Tails had seen in the mirror far too many times these last few months.

"I know you love her," Tails thought, "but you're even worse for her than I am, Bokkun!" Tails sighed, then walked over to the microphone beside the picture and in front of the coffin. He forced himself not to look at the pine box, even though he knew that no one was inside.

Tails cleared his voice. "Uh…hi, everybody," he said, surprised that he could talk in such an occasion. "Uh…I guess you all know why we're here. To…to say good-bye to someone that was a part of our lives for a little while, then moved on to a great destiny. She's no longer with us now, but, in a very real way…" he stopped, bit his lip. "Sorry. In a very real way…she'll always be with us. I…I don't think I can go on. Sonic?"

"You did great," Sonic assured him, taking the mike. "We're here to say good-bye to Cosmo, the last of a proud race that is, sadly, no more. I wasn't that close to Cosmo, but I knew I could always count on her to root for me when the going got rough." He looked at the sky and gave a thumbs-up. "Way to go, Cosmo! You did good!"

Amy came up. "I have to admit, I didn't think too much of Cosmo at first. She sometimes didn't answer me when I spoke to her, and I guess I thought she was being rude. But I came to realize she was a quiet, sad little girl, with a world of hurt inside, and sometimes she just didn't hear what people were saying to her. She was completely loyal to those that she cared about, but if you ticked her off, she let you know, but without ever being mean or nasty about it. We love ya a lot, Cos! BFFs forever!"

Cream stepped up. "Cosmo was like a sister to me," she said. "She would ask for my opinion, and she really listened to what I had to say. Like I wasn't just a silly little girl in my own fantasy world. I really miss her. I…I hope she can see this. Good-bye, Cosmo! If-if you see my daddy, please tell him I love him!"

Everyone except Bokkun, who continued to try to hide, spoke, but Tails was no longer listening. His mind was wandering back to those few precious months on the Blue Typhoon. If he'd known how little time he had…He shook his head. No. No, he'd gone over that again and again and again. There was no way to get back lost time. All he could do was cherish the time he had, and try not to think about what might have been.

At last, Sonic opened the coffin. It was lined with green and white silk, like the dresses Cosmo had worn. A little green pillow rested inside. Not her pillow on the Blue Typhoon. Tails wasn't quite ready to give that up yet. As he watched, everyone walked past the coffin. Amy and Cream placed pictures of themselves with Cosmo inside. Sonic, Knuckles, Vanilla, and the Chaotix placed flowers. Rouge laid in a tiny miniature planet egg. "I had it specially made for today," she said. "No, I didn't steal it, even though I could have."

Finally, Tails walked up to the coffin. He placed a picture of the two of them at that long ago party on the pillow. His hands shook as he gently closed the lid. Everyone placed a rose on the coffin. Then they bowed their heads. Amy said a Christian prayer, Espio quoted a Buddhist ritual, Cream recited something her mother had told her. Tails recited a poem Chuck Thorndyke had taught him on Earth. Sonic, Knuckles, Vector, and Espio buried the little coffin while the others watched. Cream and Amy both put their arms around Tails. He looked away until it was over. Then he looked back, and sank to his knees.
"Good-bye, Cosmo!" He sobbed, placing a final rose on her grave. "Rest in peace." He started to cry. Then he felt a soft breeze blow across his face. "She was here!" he thought. "She came! Good night, my love! Until we meet again!"

They went to Cream's house, where they all did their best to make Tails feel better. But he had long ago learned that only time could do that. When he left them that evening, Sonic walked him home.

"You sure you're gonna be okay tonight?" Sonic asked him.

"Sure," Tails said. "I…I'll see you tomorrow, okay, Sonic?"

Sonic gave him a hug. "You call me if you need anything, you hear me? I mean it, you're my best friend, and I don't want to lose you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Tails promised him, hugging his spiritual brother back. "Now, we'd better cut this out before people start talking about us!"

"You said it!" Sonic said. "I'll be by later, buddy. See you!" He sped off into the twilight.

February 5: Evening

Tails fell asleep, and dreamed. In his dream, he was in a beautiful garden. He walked through the garden, looking around. Flowers grew everywhere. Trees stood all around him, but not close enough to make him feel boxed in. There was the odor of natural perfumes in the air. Tails smiled. He had never felt so calm. So peaceful. He heard the sound of water running. He walked along a little dirt road until he came to the stream again. The water was as clear as crystal. He bent over the stream and took a drink. Then he froze as he saw a reflection in the water. He spun around.

"Hello, Tails! I'm so happy you could come to see me!"

"Cosmo!" Tails ran to her and threw his arms around her. "Oh, Cosmo! I've missed you so much!"

"You have?" she asked him. "Aren't you happy, Tails? Please tell me I'm not still causing you troubles!"

"Never!" Tails sobbed, burying his face in her shoulder. "I love you, Cosmo! I've loved you since the moment I saw you in the wreckage of your escape capsule! That's never changed, and it never will!"

"You were the first boy I ever laid eyes on," Cosmo said, stroking his hair. "I was so rude to you! And to Cream and Amy and Miss Vanilla. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry!" Tails sobbed. "What I did to you, I can never forgive!"

She lifted his chin and looked into his eyes. "We did what we had to do, don't ever doubt that. Don't let guilt tarnish what we had. Don't let my death make my memory painful to you. And don't make me cry when I think about you and how you're doing." She sighed, then bowed her head.

"Cosmo?" Tails said, nervously. Something was wrong, he could feel it. "Wh-what is it?"

"Tails," Cosmo said softly, "if…if this is our last time together in this world…will you be all right? Will you be happy? Can you go on without me?"

"You…you don't want to come back?" Tails asked. He hugged her tightly. "Cosmo…if…if you don't come back to me again…I don't know what I'll do! But I won't kill myself, or…or hurt myself, or anything like that!"

"But can you live your life without me?" Cosmo insisted. "Can you smile and enjoy the world with your friends, and be happy?"

"Do you want me to?" Tails asked. "Because I swear I will do anything I can for you!"

"When I…when I left you, Tails…do you remember that last time? On the bridge? When I came to say good-bye?"

"I will never forget that!" Tails said. "For a moment, I…I thought you were all right! That Sonic had saved you! But then…then…"

"Do you still blame Sonic at all?" Cosmo asked him. "Or Shadow?"

"I did blame Sonic for awhile," Tails admitted. "And I still don't like Shadow. But mostly I blame Dark Oak and myself."

"No!" Cosmo said. "You must not blame yourself! I forbid you to do so! I want you to say this, Tails. Repeat after me: I, Miles Prower, forgive myself for what happened to Cosmo."

"I…I can't!" Tails said, looking away.

"Shhh." Cosmo laid her head against his chest fur. "You need to forgive yourself before you can move on, Tails. Come on, you can say it. I, Miles Prower, forgive myself for what happened to Cosmo. Please try, Tails. This is important to me."

Tails sobbed. "I, Miles Prower, f-forgive myself for what happened to C-C…I can't."

"Please, Tails, you need to do this," Cosmo insisted. "And I need to know that you can do this."

"For you, I can do it," Tails said. "I, Miles Prower, forgive myself for what happened to…Cosmo." Her name came out as a whisper.

Cosmo looked into his eyes. "Do you remember what I did, when I left you?" she asked.

"You k-kissed me," Tails said. "But I…I'm sorry, I…I couldn't feel your kiss! No!" He hit himself on the head. "Idiot! Why did I say that?!?"

"Tails!" Cosmo yelled, and now she sounded angry. "I don't ever want to see you strike yourself again! I mean it!"
"I'm sorry," he said. "Please don't be angry with me!"

Cosmo stroked his whiskers. Then she said, "Shall we…try it…once more?"

Tails was confused now. He'd forgotten what he'd just said. Then he remembered. "Y-you mean…"

"Will you kiss me, Tails?" Cosmo asked.

"Is this good-bye?" Tails asked her, starting to shake. "Are you going away forever now?"

"I am always with you," Cosmo said. "As close as your next heartbeat. Listen. Can you hear?"

And suddenly, Tails could hear a sound. A steady sound. A heartbeat. Was it his heart? It sounded so strong, considering he could feel it breaking all over again.

"Don't be afraid," she said softly, To his surprise, she suddenly reached up and played with his ears. "Sorry. I always wanted to do that, but I was too embarrassed. I had so many questions for you, so many dreams I wanted to share with you."

"Me too," Tails said. "When we were alone all that time on the Blue Typhoon, when the others were getting supplies, I should have spoken to you. I should have told you how I felt. It was our last real chance to be together."

"If I…if I had been able to come back with you…what would have happened?" Cosmo asked gently.

Tails held her closer. "I would have devoted my entire life to making you happy!" he said. "Every day that I lived."

"And what if…I caused you more troubles, Tails?" she asked. "What if I did foolish things that hurt you? Would you hate me?"

"I could never hate you!" Tails sobbed. "How can you even ask that?"

"I'm sorry," Cosmo said, kissing his cheek. "I don't want to upset you. I don't want you to cry anymore." She was silent for a minute. "Tails…have you ever thought about how…how people on your world would have reacted to us?"

"What do you mean?" Tails asked. "I don't understand."

"I'm a plant, you're an animal," she pointed out. "Our love would have been rejected. Mocked. Scorned. They might have hated you for loving me."

"I don't care!" Tails said. "Anyone that didn't accept us wouldn't be our friends, and if they were opposed to our love, that would have been their problem!"

"When people spend their lives together…" Cosmo said, suddenly sounding very nervous, "when a man and a woman are… together…they sometimes…have…children. But…we are so different. Perhaps it would not be possible. Or wise."

"I don't care!" Tails said. "We could have adopted. I love you, Cosmo! Nothing else matters! Nothing!"

"What if I…got sick? Or extremely depressed?" Cosmo asked, sounding nervous. "What if…what if I started acting…strange?"

"You mean…turned into a tree again?" Tails asked. "Could that have happened?"

"I suppose it might eventually," Cosmo said. "When I was old and sick. But…what if something happened to me sooner? What if I…got angry at someone and struck them?"

Tails gasped. "You could never be a violent person, Cosmo!" he cried.

"I helped Amy and Cream attack Knuckles," she said , looking down at her feet. "And when Vector and Espio and Charmy came to see how Cream was, I…I attacked them."

"We all did," Tails reminded her. "And you only hit them with a feather duster. I'm sure that wouldn't hurt anyone."

"I just…sometimes, after what the Metarex did, I'd…feel so much anger building up inside of me," Cosmo said sadly. "It scares me! I don't want to hurt anyone, Tails! I don't want to hurt you! Or our…"

Tails held her close. "You could never hurt me, Cosmo. Or our friends."

"Our…friends?" Cosmo asked him.

"Wasn't that what you were going to say?" Tails asked her. "You said 'our.' Who else did you mean?"

Cosmo's face suddenly felt warm to the touch. He was surprised to find that she was blushing.

"Cosmo?" he said. "What's wrong? Did I say something to upset you?"

Cosmo shook her head. "No, Tails. You just reminded me of why I love you!" She hugged him again.

"Huh?" Tails didn't understand, but he hugged her back and didn't ask any questions.

"Tails…may I have that kiss now, please?," Cosmo asked softly.

"This…this is good-bye, isn't it?" Tails asked, feeling his tears roll down his cheeks.

"What will be, will be," Cosmo said, confusing him. What did she mean?

Tails leaned forward. He could feel her hands on his face. Her lips on his. Like they were really together somehow, somewhere. The world, or wherever they were at this time, seemed to stand still.

"This is all I ask in life," Tails thought. "This is all I will ever need…if only this moment could last forever! Please, God, make this moment last forever!"

But of course, it didn't. Cosmo at last moved back. "You need to go now, Tails," she said. "You need to be happy. Promise me you will get on with your life. No matter what happens."

"Without you?" Tails asked.

"You don't need me," Cosmo said. "You are Miles Prower…and you are a wonderful person." She started to fade away.

"Cosmo!" Tails cried. "Will I ever see you again?"

"If it's meant to be," Cosmo said. Then she was gone. "Sayonara, Miles Prower."

Tails woke, wondering what she meant by her last statement. He lay in bed for hours before he finally fell asleep again. He had no idea that his destiny was being determined as he slept.

Cosmo? It's time, my child.

So soon, Mother? But…but I'm not ready for such an important decision!

If you don't make it now, it will be too late. Your body will die once again in a few hours if you do not return to it..

Then…then…I…I…I…

What will Cosmo decide? Find out as Tails' Story comes to an end in "The Shining Road."