Interlude 1

High above the sky was a place no words could describe. All the angels resided there, as well as the saints, and all other good souls. Here, those who wanted to could be born again twice more. If they achieved this place three times, they would sit on the council of angels and elder beings, and have a say on how to help each person in the myriad universes which floated in the abyss of space and time. They were the ones who stood in the balance between good and evil, and aided mortals in the most difficult choices. Sometimes gifts were given, sometimes just a voice in their heads. If any of it got out of hand, however, the council would have to either remove the angel and fix their mistakes, or let the world play out as it is destined to. Some losses must be allowed, for only this place was perfect.

On one particularly sun shiny day, a wisp floated up from the mouth of a dying hedgehog, rose up through the roof of the house and high up into the sky. A large being radiating warmth and love flew down and caught the soul in his hands and smiled down at it. The being brought the soul back up above the sky and let it go. The soul resolved itself into a hedgehog once called Amanda, and she smiled as she stretched, feeling no aches and pains.

"Am I in heaven now?" she asked the being, who's glow had faded so he was easier to look at. "Is my work done?"

"Most call it heaven, yes," said the angel, also a hedgehog. "Your work is far from done though."

"I've got more to do, haven't I," Amanda said simply as her baby blue eyes met the brown eyes of the angel. "It's different work, in a way less heartbreaking and physical, but work is never done."

"Not exactly," said the angel. "Do you not remember what you asked for when you first came here? Do you not remember your promise?"

"I've been here before?" asked Amanda. "I do not remember…"

The angel looked down at her kindly, smiling warmly. He reached down and smoothed her hair. Surprisingly, Amanda felt no nervousness, after all, he had carried her to this place. Now that she looked at him closer, she could in fact tell it was a male now. The voice should have clued her in. She looked up at him quizzically, and he smiled reassuringly, though she knew she had to figure this out on her own.

"I was here before," she said. "That means I died before. How many times have I died?"

"This would be your second time," said the angel.

"May I ask who you are?" asked Amanda.

"My name is Jules," said the angel, an expression crossing his face that Amanda couldn't read. "We've met before."

What was that expression? It looked like hope, anticipation, and raw, pure longing. She reached a hand up to him and he clasped it gently. He looked as though he was fighting the hardest battle of his life. His lips were pressed so hard together she could barely see them.

"I know you personally," Amanda guessed. "You wouldn't have that expression otherwise. We were friends?"

"Something like that," said Jules.

"We were lovers," Amanda guessed.

"Yes," said Jules in a strained voice, eyes pleading for her to figure it out.

"And my name wasn't Amanda," Amanda reasoned. "What was my name?"

"I can't tell you," said Jules sadly. "You have to figure that out on your own. It's a test of will and strength. If I could help you, I would"

Jules's expression was getting to Amanda. She couldn't see so much anguish and not do anything about it. She pulled her hand from his, and his eyes widened in hurt. His head lowered and tears welled in his brown eyes. She quickly hugged him in reassurance and his chin rested on top of her head. She felt comfortable like this. She felt like she belonged in his arms.

"You can do it, dearest," he whispered into her hair. "You can remember. Remember your life."

Flashes flickered behind Amanda's closed eyelids. She saw scenes like pictures just flicking by faster than she could watch them. She felt pain, longing, loss, love, overwhelming joy… She pulled back a little, though her hands grasped at Jules' sides tighter than ever.

"We had a son. My name is Bernadette and we had a son. His name was… But how is that possible?"

"You asked to be born again," Jules reminded her, his body relaxing in relief. "You promised you'd take care of Sonic for as long as you could, no matter what happened. A special request came in, and you were sent to an alternate universe to take care of a little girl, a little blue hedgehog named Sonic."

"I… I remember now," said Bernadette. "Why did I have to marry Silver of all people though? He's something else."

"Sacrifices must be made for every gain," said Jules. "You had ten years with Sonic, and didn't you enjoy them?"

"I did," said Bernadette. "What of her now, though? Why weren't you sent back?"

"What of Sonic?" asked Jules? "Well, we can watch over her now. We can watch over all the Sonics we have a right to. As for me going back, it's not my time yet."

"When will my third time be?" asked Bernadette.

"Not for some time now, I expect," said Jules.

"What of… What of our Sonic?" asked Bernadette? "What happened to him?"

"The one who works in our Sonic's life is closely allied with the one who's Sonic is currently standing at your grave site and looking lost," said Jules. "She gave us permission to watch both Sonics as much as we'd like."

"Are we able to help at all?" asked Bernadette.

"A little, here and there," Jules replied. "Come on love. Let's go make sure they're alright. I'll explain a little more to you as we watch"

From high above them, two women sat side by side. One was red headed and one light brown. They discussed intensely, nodded, shook their heads and planned. Would everything come out alright? That remained to be seen.