"Hey Addy.. You gonna come out with the rest of us or what?" Heero's voice snapped her out of her past memories and as she smiled at him, she shook her head.

"No, my angel, quite comfy right here. I may come out later, k?"

That was her answer simply because she wasn't through day dreaming. Snuggling back into the hammock, she misled and glanced down at the sleeping Katarina and the kitten she had adopted, Shadowfax. So much had happened since the day she was rescued. Since that day she met tons of people that were instantly added to the family. Not only that, she found herself falling in love with seven different guys but was set to marry Shu and was once again carrying Heero's baby. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift into her memories.

Although she was technically living with her mother, Addy was always at Jess and Ryo's house. One early Saturday morning, Addy went over to the house and grinned when she found everyone asleep. Everyone but Jess that is, she was missing or so Addy thought. Shrugging, Addy went into each room quietly, snatching their clothing as well as their Yoroi balls, the things used to call upon their armor. Grinning as she shoved the clothing into a huge sack, she ran out of the house and into the woods that were behind the house. Addy snickered to herself, lugging the huge sack over her shoulders and trotting away from the house in sneaky steps. Jessica just so happened to notice her leave, so she followed her. Maren followed right behind her, also curious.

"Addy?" Jessica asked in a near whisper, making the girl jump and whirl behind her with a somewhat guilty

expression. "What's in the sack?" Addy blinked, then grinned widely before replying.

"Stuff," she answered simply, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Jessica sensed Addy was up to a prank, so she smiled back and bent to whisper.

"C'mon, you can tell me, what's in it?" Addy came closer to her sister-in-law's face.

"Clothes." Jessica blinked.

"Clothes? From who?" Addy's grin widened, and an idea finally occurred to Jessica. "You mean it's the guys' clothes?" Addy nodded, still grinning. Jessica looked at the huge sack of clothing. If Addy stole from all five of them, Jessica wondered just how many outfits she took. "Did you steal all of them?"

Uh-huh." Jessica began laughing, covering her mouth to soften it. Maren glanced behind her at the sound of voices, and all three quickly realized that the five boys had found out their clothes had been stolen. Addy made a squeak and ran off. Meanwhile, Jessica mounted her wolf-friend and followed, not able to run with her big belly. Being pregnant had its disadvantages.

After they were a good distance from the guys—they decided to let them have fun searching for the clothes thief—the girls slowed to a walking pace, going further and further into the surrounding woodlands. They kept their guard down, no signs of danger to be found anywhere. Jessica was about to make some conversation with Addy when a figure jumped down from the trees and landed in front of her on Maren's back. They stopped, Jessica gasping while Addy glared in distrust at the stranger.

It was a young man, probably the same age as Jessica, with fair skin, green eyes, and long blue hair that spiked out a little. The feature that stood out the most was his two pointed ears on the top of his head, the same color as his hair. He was completely naked to boot, but his eyes held no lust whatsoever. The boy stared into Jessica's eyes, staying silent, while Addy continued to glare at him. Jessica only gazed back, not able to shake the feeling that he was somehow familiar. When the boy glanced down to her belly, Addy finally drew her dagger and pointed it threateningly at him.

"Get away from her," Addy growled, that glare still on her face. Her command finally brought Jessica out of it.

"Wait, Addy," she said, still staring at the boy. He made no hostile movement; he didn't even let his calm expression waver. Addy growled, but obeyed as Jessica turned her full attention to the stranger. "Who are you?" The boy swallowed a little, compelled to answer yet still unsure. "It's okay, we won't hurt you."

"Much," Addy put in dangerously. The boy gave a sigh.

"All right ... my name is Sonic." Jessica let it sink in, then slowly her eyes began to widen at the name.

Sonic?! It can't be! How?! Sonic saw the questioning in her eyes, but remained silent. He had to calm his own nerves, because Jessica struck him familiar. He saw how Addy still glared at him, so he added for her sake, "Sonic the Hedgehog."

Her suspicions confirmed, Jessica finally managed to find her voice and asked, "But ... how can you be ... human?" Sonic glanced down, frowning deeply at the all-too recent memories. Addy lifted an eyebrow, lowering her dagger but still keeping it ready. "It's okay, you don't..."

"Robotnik," Sonic interrupted, "did this to me. He somehow found a way to mutate my body ... and changed me into this!" His disgust was obvious, but he knew he would have to live with this body for the rest of his life.

"Who's Robotnik?" Addy asked.

"My lifelong enemy," Sonic answered, "He captured my friends and took them to his lair. I tried to get them out, but I got captured. That's when he..." He trailed off and looked away slightly. Jessica sighed and touched his face.

"Don't worry, we'll help you out." Sonic was about to say thank you when he and Maren picked up voices coming their way. The girls turned, grinning to see at the edge of their view the Ronins running for them, completely nude. Sonic blinked curiously while Jessica and Addy giggled. Addy made off with the sack of clothes, but Ryo managed to catch up and leapt for his little sister, grabbing her and the sack. Addy instantly squealed and began to squirm under his grip, making him laugh out loud.

"Addy, quit it!" he hollered, grunting when Addy gave him a kick. The other four caught up, all laughing as the two wrestled. Addy finally decided to give up and let Ryo steal back the sack. Jessica was still giggling at them, winking at a few who gave her a scolding but fond look. "What gave you the idea to steal our clothes?"

Addy shrugged and replied, "Just because."

"Why don't you just stay naked?" Jessica suggested devilishly. Ryo winked at her, grinning.

"Yeah, you would like that," Seiji said in reply as he fished out his jeans and shirt. Jessica only grinned, calming instantly when he noticed Sonic still sitting on Maren. "Who's this?" Sonic shyly put a hand behind his head, letting Jessica explain.

"You're not going to believe this, but ... this is Sonic the Hedgehog." Instantly the five gasped and looked at Sonic, who nodded a confirmation.

"But how," Touma asked, "He's human!"

"Robotnik," Sonic answered, refusing to say anything about that more than once. They all shared a moment of silence, then Touma spoke up again.

"I guess he wanted to take away your abilities, like your speed." Sonic smirked.

"I still have my speed, thank god." Jessica grinned, her eyes lowering a little. The five boys all knew that look. Sonic just innocently blinked and asked, "What?"

"Nothing," Jessica responded.

"Yeah, right," Ryo said, grinning knowingly, "Leave him be, baby." That made Sonic chuckle, blushing slightly when he got that same look from Jessica again. Addy snickered at the scene. Ryo felt the need to scold her again. "Jess! Cut it out, you'll scare the poor guy!"

"Nah, it's okay, really," Sonic responded, "But, um, am I really ... that attractive as a human?"

"Uh-huh," Jessica answered, "You were cute as a hedgehog, too. But, then again, I've had a crush on you since I was twelve." Sonic almost fell off of Maren when he heard that, causing the others to burst out laughing.

"Good grief, Jess," Shin scolded, laughing behind his hand.

"Dork," Addy promptly added, sticking out her tongue. The happy mood didn't last for long. Sonic suddenly fixed his gaze out towards an open area, and at the same time Maren turned and began growling. Ryo instantly frowned suspiciously, making sure he had his yoroi ball with him. Luckily, Addy had left them in the pockets of their pants when she stole them.

"What is it, Sonikku?" Jessica asked, the same frown on her face as she turned behind her. Sonic said nothing. He leapt off Maren's back and dashed for the open area, the others following behind him. Addy readied her dagger, also sensing something amiss. Jessica agonized along the way. She was halfway through her pregnancy, but she was considerably slow with the extra weight. Not only that, she hated the idea of not being able to fight with the others. She had always done it before! Why did her pregnancy always have to get in the way?

Sonic leapt out into the meadow, glaring at the army of robots and the familiar leader in the front.

"RoboTails," he murmured. He turned to Jessica just as Ryo was about to say the same thing. "Stay outta sight, k?" As the Ronins armored up, Jessica hesitated, part of her wanting to be naturally defiant and draw her sword. Maren then decided to take matters into her own jaws and walked to a suitable hiding place behind a clump of bushes. Jessica dismounted and peeked through the leaves, wishing she didn't have to sit everything out just because she was pregnant. She loved this child, Ryo was the father, and it was her first. But, oh, if only she could still do the things she used to!

As soon as the other seven were out in the field, the robotic army immediately charged. Sonic led the attack, his speed allowing him to apply a lot of force into his stronger punches and kicks. Addy slashed down the mecha left and right with the speed and ferocity of a tiger. The Ronins fought hand-to-hand for a while, then cleared the majority of the remaining robots with their ultra ballistic special attacks. Just then Maren sprang into the action, given the okay by Jessica. Sonic faced off against RoboTails while the others finished off the rest of the army, unaware that a figure snuck up from behind Jessica and took hold of her.

Jessica tried to shout, but a big hand quickly covered her mouth while the other wrapped over her belly. She instantly stopped struggling, then let herself be taken. Meanwhile, the fight was down to only Sonic and RoboTails. The two circled, each focused on only each other. RoboTails made the first move with a missile launch, but Sonic easily evaded it with a single leap into the air. He brought his foot down on RoboTails' head, screws and nuts flying. A follow-up punch finally dislodged RoboTails' head from his shoulders, wires and circuits shorting as the fake Tails collapsed to the ground.

"Was that actually Tails, just roboticized?" Ryo asked, armored down to his undergear and standing beside Sonic. The Blue Blur shook his head.

"No, that was just a copy of him," he answered, looking around the battlefield now turned junkyard. Addy surveyed the area a little, then glanced to Jess' hiding place. Maren was already there, whining and pawing at something. Addy walked over to the beautiful, ebon black, dire wolf and bent down to pick up a folded piece of paper. Jessica was nowhere else to be seen.

"Addy, what did you find?" Seiji asked. Addy didn't answer, instead opening the note and reading it. Her hands began to shake, threatening to tear the paper to pieces. All eyes were on her as she read it.

"What's wrong?" Sonic asked. In answer, Addy walked over to him and handed the note. Suddenly nervous, he carefully read the handwritten note. He instantly fell silent, a dark expression taking form on his face. "How dare he--!"

"How dare who what?" Ryo asked. Sonic only handed the note to Wildfire, who then read it out loud for the others:

Dear Sonic and company,

I have your woman. If you ever want to see her alive again, find me in my underground lair. Prepare to meet your fate!

Love, Robotnik AKA Eggman

Ryo clenched the note in his shaking fist, crumpling it. He couldn't believe how cruel their enemies could be! Jessica wasn't involved at all, and besides that she's pregnant! With his first, no less! Worry and fury added fuel to his determination. He turned to Sonic.

"Do you know where his lair is?" he asked, his voice steady despite his rage.

"Yes," Sonic reluctantly answered. Touma instantly knew what Ryo was thinking.

"Whoa, hold it, Ryo. We can't just go rushing in recklessly, that's exactly what the Eggman wants."

"I don't care!" declared Ryo, "Jessica's obviously pregnant, who knows what Eggman could do to her!" He has a point, Sonic thought, 'Buttnik would more than be happy to have her as a test subject, her and her unborn kid... Ryo went on, "I'm going to go find her now, I don't care who comes with me!"

"Ryo, just calm down!" Seiji urged, "We're all furious for what he's done, but we have to have some kind of strategy!" Sonic found himself agreeing completely with that, despite how hot-headed he could also be.

"He's right, Ryo," Sonic added, "Robotnik's an insane mastermind. If you rush into there you'll probably be captured, too." Ryo growled, his fists shaking at his sides. Finally, he turned and walked to go sit down by himself, hoping to calm his temper a little. Sonic sighed, feeling for the guy. After all, his own friends were in the same predicament. Addy watched her brother go, then followed him and sat beside him.

Ryo spared Addy a quick glance and a quiet, "Hey..."

"Hey," Addy replied, drawing her knees to her chest as she often did. She said nothing for a moment, blinking when she spotted tears in Ryo's eyes. "The guys are right, you know..."

"I know," Ryo managed, sniffling slightly, "but I can't help how I feel. I love her, and the proof has been growing inside her over the past four months. I just..." Addy put a finger to her brother's lips to hush him, then hugged him tightly around the neck. Ryo hugged back just as tightly, his face against her shoulder.

"It's okay. We're gonna find her, and we're gonna make 'Buttnik pay," she assured, making Ryo smile.

"Yeah... Thanks Addy." Wildfire kissed her forehead, then stood up and made his way back to the others and once again turned to Sonic. "Since you obviously know Eggman more than we do, you'll take the lead and help us think of a good way to get ourselves in without getting caught." Sonic grinned and winked, doing a thumbs-up.

"No problem, man," he responded. "We'll get her back in no time."

I will help, I have their scents. Maren wolf-sent. Sonic smiled.

"So do I. Between the two of us we'll find Jess in a jiffy."

It didn't take them long to locate the entrance to the underground lair of Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik. The door was unguarded, but caution still held dominance as the group worked their way down the cold metal corridors and passageways. Security naturally strengthened the closer they got, as did Jessica's and Robotnik's scents.