Pro-tip: When you have a story idea for anything, especially a whole entire AU, MAKE BACK UP NOTES! Don't be like me and lose them! I got several stories now and no notes to help write until I find them... So chapters I have already written for all my stories will be a little stretched out until I recover those notes and can write new ones! So no worries! I still have chapters on the way!

Chapter 7

The early morning finds Claira sitting on the edge of Vanilla's bed as she watches the sun rise above the grey clouds and shine down on the the dew covered plants of the garden outside her window. For a moment the cat almost hopes to see a figure out amongst the flora, knelt down and braiding stems together, beckoning her to come join the leisure activity with a pale smile.

But the wish is fleeting. There is no figure kneeling in the garden. There is no smile for an invitation. There never will be again.

They took everything away from her.

Knocking sounds at the doorway, breaking her from those spiraling thoughts momentarily.

"Claira?" Vanilla calls. "There's someone here I'd like for you to meet, if you don't mind."

She doesn't mind. This woman has given up her room, offered food, and shown so much kindness to her, it would be extremely rude to decline.

So the feline stands, makes her way to the door and opens it. There her host waits patiently with the same kind smile she's offered Claira everyday since her arrival.

"This way," the rabbit simply says, leading her guest by the hand to the living room where she directs the cat to sit on the couch. "I'll be right back. I need to go check something, but they'll be just a moment. Cream and the boys went to meet her at the gate."

Her?

Before Claira can even ask Vanilla who she's referring to, a loud shout grabs her attention that's quickly followed by Sonic racing through the door leading into the kitchen from the outside. His eyes are wide as he quickly and skittishly searches around the inside of the house. It doesn't take him long to notice the feline observing him from her seat.

"Claira! Good morning!"

"Morning," she greets back. "Is there something I should be wor-"

"SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!"

The kitchen door flies open again, startling said hero into speeding over to Claira, positioning the woman between himself and the newcomer. The crimson tabby blinks a moment and takes in the appearance of said newcomer.

The pink hedgehog dressed in a purple shirt and denim shorts raises her abnormally large mallet over her shoulder. Her quills are stiffened to the point of being partially raised, giving the impression of a very cartoonish case of bedhead.

She places her free hand on her hip with a huff towards the male hedgehog who's close to cowering in the adjacent room. "What part did you not understand about 'contact me as soon as you leave Eggman's base'?!"

"Uh." Claira can practically see a sweat drop form on the hero's brow. "I did?" he answers nervously.

The young girl leaps forward with a fire in her eyes, swinging her weapon in the direction of the older teen but not close enough to hit. "A thumbs up emoji doesn't count! How was I supposed to know that everything went smoothly or if it was just a check in to keep me from worrying?! I've had the Tornado all week! Did you think I wasn't going to worry when Tails never showed up to get his plane?!"

The blue teen stammers over his words, looking for an excuse, when the door to the outside opens again, this time revealing Tails and Cream. Claira grows more concerned as she notices the lack of surprise as they both take in the spat happening in front of her.

Tails, noticing the woman's bewildered expression, offers a very simple explanation. "That's our friend, Amy. She's who dropped us off at Eggman's base."

"Miss Amy," Creams calls out to the enraged older girl. Amy looks back from where she now has Sonic backed into a corner. "Mother says you're not suppose to use your piko hammer indoors."

The pink girl stalls for a moment and looks around, finally taking notice of her surroundings and just how close her hammer is to a shelf covered in potted plants.

"Ah! Oh no!" she exclaims. In the blink of an eye, the weapon disappears from sight and Amy backs away from Sonic with a prominent blush on her cheeks. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking!"

"Wow, Amy. I haven't seen you this mad at Sonic in months," Tails laughs. "What did he do this time?"

Amy throws another glare at the blue hedgehog actively slinking away from her to one of the plush chairs. "Someone thought that a single thumbs up was a good enough substitute for actually checking in with me."

The kit's eyes widen as he makes eye contact with his nervous brother. "Tell me you didn't actually do that."

Sonic sheepishly smiles back. "I thought it was a good idea at the time!"

"You do realize that the Mini M.E. I made you actually has a keyboard, right?" Tails facepalms. "I'm surprised Amy didn't show up to pound you with her hammer as soon as you sent it."

"I thought about it," Amy grumbles.

Cream, seeing her chance to keep another altercation from happening, makes her way over to the couch, catching the older girl's attention as she comes to a stop by the still silent feline. "Miss Amy, this is Miss Claira."

"Claira?" Jade eyes widen after a moment as Amy recognizes the name. "Oh! You're Claira! I'm so sorry for not seeing you there a second ago." The pink teen wrings her hands together before sticking a paw out to the woman. "My name is Amy. Amy Rose. I'm Sonic's soulmate."

A collective groan sounds from both boys in the room, earning them each a glare from the lovestruck girl and a chuckle from the cat as she accepts the handshake.

"A pleasure to meet you, Amy. Claira Robotnik."

To Amy's credit, she doesn't bat an eyelash at the name. She only smiles before asking a simple question.

"Have you ever been to the mall, Claira?"

Remember to be kind to yourself during this adjustment into the new year of 2022. Resolutions are nice and all, but self-abuse to keep those resolutions isn't. If you feel burnt out, take a breather and maybe adjust the plan when you try again. Just because you don't reach a goal, doesn't mean a lack of progress. Appreciate the small successes and try to pace yourself to reach your goals! You can do this! I believe in you!

Bless!

~Alpha