Chapter 14

Sleet took Manic down to the hospital cafeteria. It was strange being alone with the green hedgehog but at the same time... He chuckled as they sat down at a table with a cup of coffee from the bar. "So… tell me… little thief… How long have you known who I was?"

Manic laughed. "Since you told me your boss had a heart attack. It happened that same day and I asked the hospital if there had been any other such cases that day. Robotnik was the only one in your vicinity." He looked at his coffee.

"And… it doesn't bother you?" Sleet asked. "That I and my brother have been pursuing you. I know if it were me…"

Manic shook his head. "Robotnik's an asshole. I already said that I don't hold that against you. It wouldn't be fair and I like the guy you are online. I'd like to know the real you. Maybe when you're off-duty we could blow this popsicle stand."

Sleet shrugged. "It'll be a while before I'm off-duty. I don't know why but I feel responsible for him, for making sure that no one tries anything stupid. He's vulnerable and he knows it."

"Then… maybe I'll stay here with you and help you. You can't say a second pair of eyes wouldn't be handy." Manic suggested. "Cause I know what you mean. It's different from when we're fighting and at each other's throats. When I saw he had a heart attack, it was a shock and I realized that I would be sad if he died."

"He's an asshole but he's our asshole." Sleet summed up succinctly with a laugh and Manic gestured.

"That's it! You've got it. He's our asshole." Manic laughed with him. "Just like you are our bounty hunter… If anything happened to you, something would be missing from our lives, at least from my life." The hedgehog placed his hand on Sleet's. The wolf smiled and reciprocated with his other hand. The connections they all shared were dark in origin but they could choose to change that.

Sonia and Bartleby returned home to Dresden and stopped at the entrance. They looked at each other and he picked her up lovingly, kissing her as he stepped across the threshold. They laughed and shared many more kisses before they heard a cough come from, the living room.

Bartleby put Sonia down as they turned to see a purple hedgehog with deep purple hair cascading down her back. "Mother?" Sonia asked with a little worry. She put herself between her and Bartleby. "You're here…"

Aleena smiled and nodded. "Yes. I got your letter and felt I should come in person this time." She looked at Bartleby. "I felt I should meet the man who thinks he is worthy of you."

Bartleby smiled congenially. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I have heard a lot about you from Sonia."

"I can say the same. Her letters speak of little else. She speaks very highly of you despite your unfortunate family circumstances…" Aleena said. "You realize the danger that you'll be in…"

Bartleby shook his head. "I don't believe we are in any danger whatsoever. Uncle accepts that I love Sonia and is willing to accept her as a part of my life and her brothers too."

Aleena sighed. "You are as naive as I thought. I know you think this attack of his changes things. I know you want to believe that he'll change his ways. I want to believe it too but I can't. I don't like you with my daughter, especially since you've put her in danger before. At the debutante ball, with the bomb, at that farce of a wedding." She looked at her daughter. "I wanted to be able to say that I approve and I give my blessing but I can't if he really believes Robotnik won't turn on you the moment he is well."

Bartleby glared. "Look! I am sick and tired of you speaking against him. Yes, Robotnik is my godfather and I love him. I am loyal to him and always will be. But I love Sonia too and I am capable of protecting her and I believe him when he says he'll accept her. You have no business trying to order Sonia around when you haven't even been a part of her life for twenty years." He went flying back as Aleena responded to his comment with a spell.

Sonia caught him. "Mother stop! I love him!" She helped him to his feet while he wiped the blood from his lips.

"It's okay Sonia, I went too far with that one, although it is true." He glared at the purple hedgehog. "Now, Aleena, I would like us to be…"

Aleena laughed. "What, friends? Bosom companions? I think not." She glared back at the boy.

"Then fine, that's on you. I don't care what you say or do to me." He stared down the woman, ready for her.

Aleena prepared a spell, Sonia crying out for her to stop. She threw it at the man, expecting him to dodge it. She was surprised when he stood firm in front of Sonia as the spell stopped before him and burst into pink and blue glitter in his face. When he and Sonia looked at her, she smiled at them. "I'm impressed. I didn't expect you to pass my test."

Sonia's mouth fell open. "Test?" She asked. "Mother… what do you mean test?"

The queen waved her hand and summoned a tray of tea and cakes. "Your chosen lover defended his position rather staunchly. It gives me a reason to believe that he would do the same to protect you." She giggled as she sat down and took one of the scones.

Bartleby laughed. "A test? You were testing me?" He and Sonia sat down on the loveseat and they each got a cup of tea to calm themselves.

"I was. I had to be sure of you. My daughter is very independent. She always has been. But I had to be sure that you could protect her and that you would protect her if called to do so."

Sonia breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mother… I know you won't regret it. Bartleby has never treated me as anything less than gold. He is the reason I'm as strong as I am. I want to be strong enough to protect him as he protects me." She chose a strawberry danish.

Aleena nodded and they talked, eating the pastries and drinking the tea. Sonia and Bartleby knew they'd appreciate the sugar. "So, dear… I actually wanted to ask your blessing…" She bit her lips and blushed. "You see, I've been dating, sort of. Online but it seems to be getting pretty serious."

Bartleby's eyes cocked up. "Really? On Life Connections?" When she nodded, he smiled. "That's my website. I built that because I… was so lonely without Sonia… I wanted to make sure no one else would feel that loneliness."

The queen's eyes shone with sympathy. "Loneliness is hard to deal with. I've been alone for many years. Without my children and without my husband. Julian understands what it is to be alone. He lost his wife and unborn child long ago. He's a brilliant tactician. Funnily enough, he's Robotnik's apprentice." She saw their heads snap up. "Oh, yes, you know him, don't you. He said he had met Bartleby a few times. He spoke very highly of you."

Sonia nodded. "Julian huh? Yes, Robotnik's apprentice. Yes, I've heard of him. He's been remarkably supportive of the two of us. If you really need it, Mother, then you have my blessing."

"Thank you, dear." She smiled. "He invited me as his date to your engagement ball on Monday night. Though if you're already living together then… Does Robotnik know you eloped?"

Bartleby nodded. "He endorsed the document himself. We just didn't want to wait any longer. So Monday, he's changed to a reception ball to celebrate our marriage. Everyone from both sides is invited to commemorate the end of the war. The joining of our two societies if you will."

The former queen giggled. "Indeed, well I will be there. Now I suppose since it is your wedding night, I should take my leave."

Sonia and Bartleby bid farewell to the woman, watching her vanish behind a bright light. Sonia shook her head and hugged him. "I was afraid she would really hurt you." She wept lightly against him as her fear came forward. "I was ready to fight her to protect you."

The mink nodded as he held her and rubbed her shoulders. "I wasn't going to let her scare me off. I love you. I will protect you from anyone who dares to threaten you and our happiness. I promise." He pulled her close.

Sonic sped into the forests that he remembered from his childhood. He hadn't seen them in so long, Uncle Chuck said that it had been burned to the ground. Seeing the familiar wood was a comfort to him. He saw the blue roof in the distance, smoke puffing out of the chimney and the sound of wood slapping against water echoed in his ears. He came to a stop and hid. He was afraid to get closer.

He saw a middle-aged fox come out of the cottage. His step was noticeably slow and his head was down-turned. Sonic bit his lip. That was his pa. He watched as the older man gathered wood from the shed.

The door of the home stood open, light streaming out and an older vixen wearing a green and yellow gown waited. Sonic felt his voice catch in his throat. He loved his mother and he longed to meet her but this was his ma.

He wanted to rush in and hug them both but his feet stayed firmly planted. He watched as his pa gathered the wood, carrying it to the house. Until the old man's foot found a puddle and he slid, the wood flying up. Sonic sprung into action, running in and catching every log as they fell and helping the fox up.

Both foxes stared at him with their mouths wide open as Sonic smiled at them. "Ma… Pa… I'm home. I've come home."

Arthur and Valerie Canis looked at their grown-up son as he came over. "Sonic… oh, Sonic…" Valerie sobbed. "Can this be. He told us…" Her arms fell around the boy, holding him to her as she sobbed. Arthur followed suit as he cradled his son's head in his big hand, cherishing the moment and praying that it wasn't a dream.

"It's okay, Ma, Pa… I know you thought I was dead. I think he didn't want you to know that I was in the resistance." Sonic bit his lip. "But I'm alive and I'm home. I'm home." He felt wetness at the corners of his eyes as he savored the sensation of their hug. This helped his decision. Maybe Robotnik wasn't all bad. Maybe there was hope.

AN: Sonic is reunited with his adopted parents, Sonia and Bartleby have obtained Aleena's blessing and Manic is making a move on his bounty hunter.