Of all of the gifts I have to give/

Life is the greatest, I LET YOU LIVE!

Too long it has been (I've had this damn things going on for 23 months. And yes, if my calculations are correct, it has been a FULL YEAR since I last updated this old story, lol.) I am too tired to make a dramatic reentry, so screw it. I'm getting this shit done!

MUHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! XT-421 is back! Thrusters to full! Cinnamon Toast Crunch FTW! ALL SYSTEMS AT THE OTAKU LEVEL! GET THIS SHIT DONE!

ALL HAIL THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!

ENJOY MY FANS!

Brunis and Daisy awoke on the couch to the sight of XT, sitting on a chair near them, gently rocking the human girl in his arms. Julie was snoring slightly, but too lightly for it to be audible.

"Good morning." His metallic voice was about the same decibel as a pin dropping. "It is 7:34 in the morning. You have school today, unless you would rather plan the wedding."

"Oh yes." Daisy cooed, standing up as silently as her flowery body would allow. Brunis followed quickly and stealthily, hoping to help her in the bathroom.

XT just rocked in his chair, smiling ever so slightly.

Sarah began to stretch herself awake, groaning as she went. She knew she had school today, and wasn't too happy about it. She felt around the bed, trying to find something, or particularly someone, to cling onto. She found no one.

That struck her as odd. She hopped out of her bed, and noticed what she already assumed; Stephen was gone, and thus, unable to reattach her arm for her. Frowning, she threw on her jacket and got dressed as best she could.

"Where did Stephen go?" She wondered aloud, horribly confused.

Wandering the tall, dimly lit corridors of Tails' Workshop, she began to check every possible location of Stephen, too sleepy to actually dart off and look for him, her mechanical arm in hand, waiting to be attached by someone who knew how to do so.

Richard had fallen into a dark slumber. Nightmares clouded his usually pleasant, or pleasing, dreams. He knew, all too well, where he was, and who was with him at that time. The robots were causing the nightmares, but he was far too exhausted to fight back at them.

"Do you think he'll wake any time soon?" Lance asked his comrade, both looking at the lump of flesh and fur in the middle of the forest clearing.

"Probably not," James groaned, wishing the creature had the energy to put up with more. He wasn't done.

"Should we leave him here?" Anna was always concerned for people, no matter how evil.

"No, nor should he see us, he may remember it all and blame us, not himself. I teach through torture, and he wouldn't learn much if anything from that session if he blames anyone but himself."

"So we need to… drop him off…"

"In the Workshop, or… no. Well…" James deliberated for the team. "Do you think we can take him to his home?"

"He may call a lawyer…"

"We'll be quicker." James swore on it.

"So," Anna began, "I bring Daisy and Brunis to the police station and…"

"I'll get Richard home." James smiled wickedly.

"Ok, let's go quickly." Lance declared, following Anna, Gannon, Lily, and Xenophon into the Workshop to find Brunis and Daisy while James used his custom-built jetpack to rocket off to Richard's home, a place he'd seen many a time whilst viewing the cat-boy's brain.

Brunis brushed his teeth slowly and methodically. He'd never been used to it, at least, before he met Daisy. And she forced him to start doing it again after he rejoined her, as his breath was just a bit under satisfactory for her. Daisy was in the shower, and Brunis knew he wasn't going to be showering, as he felt it messed up his fur in the morning. He showered in the evening. His real purpose there in the bathroom wasn't really to brush his teeth or shower, however. He knew Daisy well enough to ask for-

"Hey Brunis?" Daisy's voice became childishly shy, and her head, with golden locks soaked and dripping, poked out of the shower curtains. "Can you help me with-"

"Yes Daisy." Brunis sighed, trying not to chuckle. Daisy never realized she asked him everytime for helping with washing her back.

"How did you know?" Was her usual, and present, response.

"I just know these things darling." Brunis began to apply the soap to her from outside the tub, not wanting to get himself wet.

They didn't need to talk; Brunis knew that, in the morning, Daisy typically was in no mood for pleasure other than a hug from him. So, he kept his hands solely on the areas of her back that she couldn't reach. It was a very platonic situation for them both.

In minutes, he was done. "You're welcome." He smiled at her as she turned around.

"You didn't even let me say thanks!"

"Ok, then, I take it back, you're not welcome."

Daisy leaned in and kissed Brunis, his nose brushing into her face, "Thank you, Brunis." She let him go shortly after.

"I should let you thank me more often!" Brunis smiled.

"Have you been using my toothpaste recently?"

"Yeah, sorry… do you want me to stop?"

"Not particularly." Daisy admitted through the shower curtain.

Brunis sighed and went back to brushing his teeth.

"DAISY! BRUNIS!" Anna's voice echoed throughout the house.

"Shush!" XT's voice was harsh and loud. There was a guttural groan, and then a growl. "Look what you did now! You woke her up!" XT was pissed off, from what Daisy could tell.

CLANK!

"Ow! That wasn't nice!"

"Ooh! Anna, do you have to act so quickly without thinking?"

"Sorry Stupid Cupid, it isn't my fault I didn't know your precious human was sleeping."

CLANK! BASH! POW! CHA-CHING! SLAP! CRASH!

"Wow!" Another voice called, "Anna I didn't think you were so violent! I should've gotten this on tape… James would've-"

"GRARGH!"

MORE UNNECESSARY LOUD NOISES!

"Oh boy, we'd better see what's going on…" Daisy sighed, slipping on a bathrobe and walking out with Brunis.

A crowd of drowsy life forms surrounded the tussling robots. By this point, all of them had gotten in on the fight, and it did seem to be cooling down.

"You guys going to stop soon?" Tails moaned, a hand on Cosmo's hip.

"I would it Mr. Otaku is done with his whining!" Anna sneered at XT, she had a loud, persuasive mouth, that was her divine talent.

"Take it back Utopia!" XT dove in for a shoulder tackle.

"I only wanted to get Brunis and Daisy ready for a trial!" Anna cried out in pseudo-pain as XT pinned her down.

"OH! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO? Brunis! Daisy! Everyone! We're going to the police station! HURRY EVERYONE!" XT's mood completely reversed, and he began rushing to and fro about the house.

"XT, what's going on?" Julie sleepily questioned, stirring to consciousness in the chair XT had set her down in.

"Julie! We have to get ready! We're going to the police station!"

"Wha- why?" She was fairly alert now.

"Don't ask questions, there will be a time for that later!" XT grabbed his girlfriend and began hopping around the room, in a hectic, curvy path to the main way out.

"Daisy, it'd be best you got a dress on, or at least something other than a nightgown." Anna cautioned.

"Why are we going to the police station?" Daisy was confused yet again.

"We're bringing the whole group to the police station to make a scene. We're going to get Richard into jail, and XT has been cooking up a plan all night." Anna smirked widely.

"Ok then… what do I need to do?"

"Get dressed, for starters. Then follow us out the door and to the police station." Anna chirped.

Sarah found Brian and Stephen in the library, both passed out over the various books with junk food scattered throughout the room. She smiled at both of them, even though she should've scolded.

"Stephen," She cooed, crouching over him. "Get up Stephen, please?" Stephen hardly moved.

Sarah knelt down over his chest, her knees barely hitting his armpits. "Get up Stephen!" She leaned over and grabbed his head with her one arm, pulling him into a kiss.

His eyes opened, and he yelped. "That's a way to wake up in the morning."

He fell down and groaned. "What time is it?"

"Some time around seven. We have school in an hour, so I figured I'd wake you up. Besides… I don't know how to put on the arm…" She waved the mechanical hand around Stephen's face.

Stephen looked at her from underneath, and he suddenly pulled her into him as tightly as he could without breaking her. Tears welled in his eyes and he started whimpering faintly.

"Stephen, are you ok?" Sarah returned the hug.

"No I'm not. Sarah… it's back…" His grip tightened.

"What's back?"

"The monster within me. I woke up last night around midnight about to slice your head off. I-I really think that we should… stay apart…"

This was not an option for the emotionally unstable hedgehog. "Absolutely not."

Stephen let go of her and looked into her eyes, curiously befuddled.

"You didn't kill me, you stopped yourself. You'll stop yourself again. I know you can't hurt me."

"Sarah!" The girl leaned outwards, away from Stephen, "look at your arm! That. Was. Going. To. Be. Your. Head. I know I can hurt you. And this voice in my head tells me to do it. I don't want to hurt you! I couldn't live with myself if I did! Please, understand that I could hurt you!"

She did, but she didn't want to believe it. Sarah's mouth hung open, unable to think clearly. She did not want to give Stephen up, he was too handsome, too sweet, too cute, and too nice to let go, even if her life was in danger.

"You're my best friend. No. WE are going to make it through this. Besides… if you leave, and I'm not around you, if that voice tells you to kill me, what if you go manic again? I can't make you snap out of it, not until it was too late."

Stephen was quiet; she had a very valid point.

"You're staying, my slave." She smiled, lightening the mood.

"Fine… but you're not safe; just know that, please… I don't want to kill you… but that voice…" Stephen shuddered violently, so that his skin rippled with the vibrations.

Sarah jumped off of him with a squeal. "THAT FELT WEIRD!" she landed on the grounded laughing hysterically, Stephen had just invented a new way to tickle Sarah.

After reattaching her arm, Stephen took her by the hand and the two left Brian in the Library, slightly out of forgetfulness, off to eat a fair breakfast.

Daisy, Brunis, Tails, Cosmo and Julie all walked behind THEA as they formed a 'V' leading them all to the police station. XT held Julie's hand as they spoke to the police officer in charge.

"I'm sorry, we don't serve robots here."

XT's face, normally quite joyous, became quite cross.

"What a way to ruin a day! Julie, perhaps you could help handle this?" He looked sweetly to her, eliciting a blush from her face. This only frightened the police officer. Julie looked at the police officer and took a breath to calm herself; she was very people shy.

"Sir, we are here to report a crime." Julie stood aside at the command of a small tap of XT.

The police officer looked at Daisy in disbelief, it wasn't often an anthropomorphic plant came into his office, and now the last two on the whole planet were there.

"I am here to report a rape." Her voice quavered ever so slightly.

The police officer looked a little more interested at this. "Very well. Follow me for the briefing." The police man walked away from his station and into the back rooms.

Daisy followed him until she alone was sitting in a chair across from him.

"Sadly, the number of rapes on animals has been increasing lately... I can't help but feel this is an omen for something to come..." He muttered, "So, let's start with some basic questions." Daisy nodded. "Can you describe the man who raped you?"

"Yes sir. Very well. His name is Richard the Cat, he is a-"

"Ma'am," the police officer sighed, "I know it would be disrespectful of me to say this, but can you please allow me to hook you to a lie detector? We have many cases of Richard the Cat, or likewise wealthy celebrities raping some unknown, helpless victim. I must verify that you are speaking truthfully."

A tear fell from Daisy's eye as she allowed the man to hook the machine to her.

"Now, now, now!" XT's voice was heard as the locked door bent open. The rest of THEA came with him. "I know very well that that machine will not work in this given scenario." XT stated in a matter-of-factly tone. "She is in a state of emotional disarray. That will offset her inner vibrations that make that machine work, and all results will come up false."

The policeman stuttered, never once did he consider the faults of the machine.

"If you want proof, I have it here," XT tapped his skull, "readouts and diagnostics of the young girl's mind and body, detailing every sick and painful moment of the experience she felt that night. If you want, we can show you, and you will experience everything she felt, gender aside." XT's grin appeared, twisted in all the right ways.

"N-no, that's ok." The man replied.

"I and my comrades shall wait outside, the door will be locked once more, but you must promise me, listen to her tale." XT waved as he began to shut the door.

"And please monsieur, do the right thing." Anna's voice added pleadingly.

Daisy looked at the policeman sheepishly, shrugging.

"Ok, so, let's get the details down..." The two began to detail every event that had happened during the rape.

Sarah, Stephen and Brian had been at school for awhile now. The three were bored out of their mind, yet filled with anticipation for this upcoming wedding. Sarah was already swooning about being a part of it, and Stephen was constantly calming her down.

However, they had no idea that the lovebirds were about to appear on TV.

"This just in on Mobian News Network." A reporter began, overlooking Richard's home mansion.

"Richard the Cat, famous multi-billionaire child has just been arrested by local enforcer over a confirmed rape accusation. Here we have the willing victim Daisy to- er," the reporter covered her microphone and spoke into the background, "we have this, robot, speaking on her behalf."

Sarah spoke with glee, "It's XT!"

"Hello Mobius," the metal humanoid spoke to the camera, "I am XT-421, errg," he struggled to resist his iconic phrase, "and I am here to speak on Daisy's behalf. Recently, Daisy had been kidnapped and raped by the notorious Richard the Cat. I have amassed all details pertaining to this crime including DNA samples of the two involved. There is no doubt in my mind that this crime did not occur." XT spoke very casually.

"So you're sure Richard raped her?"

"Absolutely. I have a simulated video recollected from Daisy's mind, the graphic nature of which cannot be shared on public television."

"What is your opinion of this situation?"

"For Richard, I feel no pity. The waste of cells should spend much of his time in an insane asylum if you ask me, and as for Daisy, and her fiancé Brunis, I feel nothing but a sense of tragedy. They were to be married on this day had the villainous doctor Damian Robotnik not intervened."

"Married?"

"Yes. Daisy Prower, daughter of Miles 'Tails' Prower, has been engaged to Brunis for quite some time now. My records show that this constant sexual harassment from Richard, present for nearly a year, has grown to criminal levels. Ranging from hypothetical mind-control to public molestation, most of these actions happened on school grounds, where teachers just simply refrained from looking. This growing assault wasn't provoked until Richard discovered their engagement. It sent him over the edge, and he swore to take what he felt was his. I can quote him on that."

"Will a trial be necessary?" The reporter asked, more or less so that the audience can feel informed.

"Most likely, but I don't feel it should be. Richard can only suffer from this point. Did you know, in previous years, he's bought out the courts to rule in his favor?"

"N-no, actually." The reporter stood shocked, and a little disgusted.

"Lemme lay it on you honey, money is evil. It does little but corrupt the minds of people." XT preached, "take for example Richard here. He's gotten everything he wants through money, and he intended to get this girl by means of money as well. He is so tainted... I retire, I cannot put up with the camera any longer." XT walked away.

"I-I guess that concludes our documentation of this event." A helicopter in the distance was seen taking Richard from his house.

"That means he's gone, right?" Stephen asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, that Richard kid is gone Stephen." Sarah nodded, happy for her rival.

A trial was immediately held afterwards, and Richard was taken away. No money could've avoided it, XT had doomed him with his speech on global television.

Daisy listened, trying not to look as Richard was taken, his sentence to rot in an insane asylum given.

"Damn you XT! Damn you to hell!" Richard screamed as two large men took him away, one on each arm. "DAISY! I WILL NEVER STOP WANTING YOU! YOU'RE MINE! ALL MINE! I WILL KILL BRUNIS! I WILL KILL ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN WITH HIM! YOU BELONG WITH ME AND ME ALONE! YOU! ARE! MI-!" Brunis's paws acted as great mufflers.

Daisy cried; it was too much to take.

"It's all over Daisy," Brunis whispered after releasing his paws oh her ears.

"The way... the way he said that... I... I..." She hugged Brunis, and trembled.

"He won't kill me. If it means going to the ends of the planet, climbing the tallest mountain or diving in the deepest sea, I will keep you safe, and away from him."

XT clapped.

"Now, I'm not sure how soon you want it..." XT muttered, "but, I believe that we should have that wedding soon."

"Can I at least have a week?" Daisy sobbed.

"Um..." XT looked back at his family, and they all stared at each other, sending and receiving encrypted notes from one another in a high speed, digital dialogue.

"No." he concluded. "Walk with me for a mere moment, I have something to discuss with you alone. I suggest everyone goes home. The day after tomorrow, we will all be here, reclaiming Tails' name as a person in the world."

"Can't I go with her?" Brunis growled.

"Not yet, Brunis... it concerns you, but it is Daisy's business primarily. We will talk, and then you will hear later. No exceptions, understood? Good!" XT strode off with a feeble Daisy as they discussed matters so secret few in the world could hear.

Brunis grumbled and waited outside the audible zone of them.

As Sarah and Stephen and Brian came home from school, they noticed everyone was in a peculiar mood. Content. Stephen noted mentally.

Dinner came, the two, no, three families ate together. The Rinocian's repaired the house in record time, and then cooked a new food for the eating portions of the group, and everyone ate their 'mostacholi' with interesting expressions on their faces.

"What is this?" Stephen kept asking as he came across a new taste of flavor, asking specifically what taste came from which elements of the dish itself. For a moment, it seemed like destiny that he was to become a chef.

"So Daisy..." Brunis pressed once more, worried for his fiancée, "What did you speak with XT about?"

"I... I can't tell... not right now." She glanced around the table, fretful.

Brunis fought the urge to complain, hard. It was his business, but whatever it was, it was Daisy's right to know, not his. Gripping his utensils a little tighter, he let his frustration out, and let peaceful thoughts in.

"So you two are getting married tomorrow?" Julie asked Daisy excitedly.

"Yes," Daisy blushed.

"It is so peculiar, you folks here. You all look so different from humans yet you act just like us... It is quite cute, actually. I wish I could've seen this place sooner, it is almost magical."

"Savor it while it lasts. I keep hearing rumors of animal hate groups here and there." XT muttered to everyone.

"Racism is such a peculiar thing..." Anna sighed. "No logic, really."

"Racism?" Stephen asked.

Tails answered, "Racism is an illogical hatred for something or some group of people, based on illogical concepts, such as skin color, religion, or in our case, species. If you haven't noticed, humans dominate the planet right now, just by a bit, and the animals are not well received everywhere."

"Well," Stephen thought for a moment, "I'm lucky I'm an experiment!" He chuckled a little bit, then something from his chest thumped out slightly, and a small twinge in his eye appeared. "Sarah," He uttered in the smallest voice he could. He looked absolutely petrified.

Sarah darted over to him and gave him a small kiss on the lips, and suddenly he twitched again and relaxed.

"Sarah!" Amy nearly growled, "not at the table."

"Sorry mom." Sarah said sheepishly, and darted back to her chair.

"Stephen, are you alright?"

"VerymuchsowhyshouldyouaskI'veneverfeltbetterinmylife! ThankyouTHEAforthemostacholi!" Stephen placed his dish in the sink and Lily immediately went about cleaning it.

Sarah place her plat in a similar fashion and darted upstairs the moent Stephen left sigh of the room.

"Mom," Daisy said to Cosmo, "may Brunis and I retire to the workshop bedroom? I... I feel a little dizzy." Cosmo nodded and Daisy zoomed off with Brunis into the bedroom in the workshop.

The couples and families slowly retired to bed.

"Sarah... I felt it again... the voice wanted me to kill you..." Sarah hugged her so tightly.

"I could see you fighting it... But," Sarah lightened the mood, "that means I get to kiss you more often, right?"

"I guess." Stephen admitted, smiling an increment or so.

*Knock*

*Knock*

"Nah ah Missy, you are NOT sleeping in the same room as him for a long time." Amy cautioned from the other room.

"Sorry mom!" Sarah's face turned beat red, "I swear, it won't ever happen again!"

"No chances. You're coming to sleep with use tonight if that's what it takes." Amy sternly spoke.

"Actually..." Stephen asked, "may I sleep downstairs in the workshop? I'd like to speak with Mr. Prower, actually." Stephen's request was music to Amy's ears.

"Yes Stephen, feel free to sleep downstairs."

"Thank you Mrs. Rose!" Stephen gave her a quick hug as he left the bedroom to the basement.

XT and THEA were conspiring as Stephen walked beyond them in the living room.

"So, in the morning, we'll have to separate them?"

"Hell, I'd say midnight."

"They follow that tradition here too?" Julie asked. The Rinocians spoke just so she could take part in their conversations.

"They do indeed, and when they wake up, we'll make sure they can't see each other. We'll help in whatever ways we can."

They continued conspiring until Julie fell asleep, then the Rinocians resumed their digital conversation.

"Mr. Prower," Stephen began.

"Yes Stephen?" Tails responded.

"Can you help me? I want to be restrained tonight." Stephen asked shyly.

"Ok... any reason in particular?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Stephen answered. "Just please, help me make a box that I can be locked into when I go to sleep?"

"Afraid of something, Stephen?"

"Maybe. Just help me, please..."

"As you wish, Stephen." Tails smiled, walking off to another part of the workshop with the little Einstein.

"Brunis..." Daisy whispered, lying on her back next to Brunis on their bed.

"Yes, my love?"

"We messed up." Her voice was completely defeated.

"How so?" Brunis was still smiling about putting Richard in a straight jacket. "We put him away, didn't we?"

"No... we did great there..."

"Then what is it?"

"Do you really love me, no matter what?"

"I wouldn't want to spend my life with anyone else, or as anything else other than your loving husband." He smiled, looking at his fiancée.

"XT told me that we have to get married tomorrow, I agreed with him. We will be married tomorrow."

"Whatever it is, it is your right to know, not mine." Brunis admitted, making it clear he didn't want to bother her about it anymore.

"Oh, no, you have plenty of right to know." Daisy trembled in Brunis's arms, "I', pregnant, Brunis."