That City Girl (New Version)

by Cozy Shadow

It started with a phone call and a trip to the airport to pick up an old friend. Amy Rose came into Shadow's house only welcomed by Sonic and his girlfriend. After eight years since the gang split up, Amy's changed just as much as everyone else - including Shadow. She never would've guessed she'd up falling for him of all Mobians, though. [NEW VERSION]

30. Amend

STH © SEGA

Sarah, Peter, Samwell, Rosemary, Samwell's henchmen & the Wilson Family © Cozy Shadow

Flame, Petunia, Jeffery, and Sunny © Phantomask (FanFiction account)

Italicized brands or names (like food labels, movies, and songs) belong to their rightful owner.

---

Technically, it's still November for me. Better late than never (but like super super super late). Anyway, I re-wrote this chapter two or three times, and I'm still not super happy with it. But it's gotta happen to progress the story, so I think my motivation went out the door because it's trying to kick off from Part One to Part Two. And I would much rather write next chapter than this chapter, lol. I hope ya'll enjoy, nonetheless! Or find bits and pieces to enjoy. :)

~To the Guest review who mentioned their dislike for how Amy handled Rouge's situation - that's kind of the point. That's Amy's character in the beginning and she's still a very young person who has a lot to learn when it comes to treating others. I mean, she showed up last minute and just expects Shadow to help her, even though he doesn't know her at all in the beginning. It'll be addressed some more. As for the "r-slur" comment...I'm not sure we have the same definition for slur. I do not see "rape" as a slur. I see it as a triggering word, if anything. However, I don't need to explain my reasons for me not being opposed to using the term, they are my own personal reasons but I will clarify that I am a victim of SA. I will just say, that I am not afraid to say or type the word anywhere because it's a thing that happens and it should be talked about more. I grew up in a family and town where any mention of SA was immediately swept under the rug. However, I've since grown up and moved away and now it's much more talked about in my life, and for that I'm actually grateful. It's acknowledged and that means a lot to me. If it does trigger anyone, I sincerely apologize. I will go back and add a trigger warning for it soon (need to find the chapter doc first, let's hope I still have it!).

With that clarified, I'm not going to be addressing any more reviews to Rouge's storyline. She and Knuckles are coming up by next chapter and there's still some loose ends between Rouge/Shadow and Rouge/Amy. So, please be patient. I'm a slow-burn writer for just about every plot line, even the ones that make no sense.

Also - for those of you interested in reading my new series with TinyShinyy, check out Encounters: Beastly! It's the first part out of ten. The first part is the only part that will be cross-posted on FF, WattPad, and Archive of Our Own. The rest of the parts will solely be on Archive of Our Own due to the fact that parts are written by me and TinyShinyy separately (I wrote a story, she writes a story, I write a story, she writes a story, etc.) and we need a way to link the series. Ao3 offers that capability so we've decided to keep the rest strictly on Ao3. Feel free to check it out if you like the supernatural or paranormal!

Enjoy!

---

Chapter Thirty:

Amend

"Flame?"

Her words were breathless as she stared at her boots. They walked silently together and were almost at the house. The snow was falling harder, and the dogs were practically covered in it as they leapt through the soft piles.

"It's just a hunch." Shadow did his best to break the news to her gently. "At least, I'm hoping."

"Well, we can ask Scourge - he'd know anyone working for Samwell," Amy spoke as she walked backwards in front of Shadow to still face him. "Because you're still going to talk to him tomorrow, right?"

Right. It was already Sunday. Shadow frowned. "Well, we planned to interrogate Flame today."

"At the funeral? What are you insensitive?" Amy stopped, her ears pinning back. Shadow halted in front of her, but stood his ground.

"Of course not. After it - sometime."

"You don't think maybe we should put it off for one day, Shadow? He knew Aleena, too."

"He's more concerned about Sonia - as we all are. Besides, it could be a similar situation for Flame - as Scourge's situation. I use interrogation lightly. I don't want to personally push Flame around," Shadow responded. "He might be on our side. And someone with his capabilities could help us against Samwell."

"You mean with the control thing?" Amy squinted her eyes from the falling snow as she looked up at Shadow. "Can he control Samwell? I thought it was only some people - no pattern as to who."

"Odds are pretty good that he might be able to control at least one of his henchmen - who knows how many he has. Or maybe Flame could get to Samwell himself." Shadow shook his head as he walked around her. It was getting cold and they needed sleep. "Point is, Flame would be one of the people that I'd rather keep on our side. Even if Sonic wants to beat him to a pulp."

"How long do you think Flame has been with Samwell if it's true?" Amy raced after him. "When he met Sonia? Longer? Shorter? I mean, Sonia - the kids."

Shadow twisted on his heel and grabbed Amy's arms. "Amy. Stop. You're getting frantic, which gets me nervous for you. So far, Sonia and the kids are fine. Sonic's been texting her nonstop - trust me. He uses Aleena as an excuse, but it's only partially an excuse. Sonia's not in good mental health right now. I don't think Samwell would waste his time on her unless Flame did something stupid."

"Like join us."

"Exactly. We need to play this right. The more people we get involved with, the more errors we might have. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but we don't have much of a plan when it comes to actually facing Samwell. Most we have so far is Flame and Scourge. We don't know where Samwell is or what he's doing. Talking to Flame as soon as possible might be better than holding it off. If Samwell is plotting something against us, you can guarantee it's against all of us."

Amy nodded her head. "I know. I'm not a child, Shadow."

"I understand that," he spoke softly. Kissing her forehead, he leaned his forehead against her. "You're just beginning to mean more to me than anyone ever has before."

The pink hedgehog smiled gingerly. She held his hand as they continued to walk. The dogs were now playing with each other in the snow covered backyard - yipping at one another. "You're taking me with you when you see Scourge."

Shadow sighed. "I knew you would say that."

"I'm going, Shadow. I want to know and not from you. I want to hear it from Scourge himself."

"The car's pretty full - "

"Who's going?"

"Sonic and I."

"And?" Amy knew better than that. She was expecting him to bring Silver into the mix.

"Silver...and Blaze."

She stopped and let go of his hand. He didn't continue without her, but he wasn't looking at her either. Carefully, he decided on his words. "Blaze...um. Silver told her, but she didn't take it very well that we were planning things without her. She really didn't take it well that we were keeping you out of the circle, too."

"I can't imagine."

Her sarcasm cut through him. "How many times do you want me to say sorry, Amy?"

Amy brushed against him, a little upset with the news. "Blaze? Really? And she didn't even tell me?"

"I'm not particularly sure if you and her are on speaking terms right now."

"Sort of. It's complicated."

"We're complicated."

Amy couldn't find the smile, but he tried to be humorous. "I shouldn't be surprised. Blaze, I mean. I'm not sure what she thinks anymore - just that she doesn't like us together."

"Probably because she knew from the start how much of a mess it would be. We certainly weren't compatible back then, hm?" Shadow raised an eyebrow.

Amy scoffed, giving him a sly smile. "You didn't even look at me that way back then."

"I believe that was during the time when Rouge called you an insufferable brat."

She rolled her eyes and walked to the back door of the garage. Shadow was on her heels. "We need to stay quiet. Sonic had the door open because of all the dogs lying around."

"Butch," Shadow sternly whispered and the dogs scooted inside the garage. They waited eagerly as Amy slowly opened the door. "Butch."

Butch stopped panting long enough to look up at his Master. He was being awful serious for a situation that didn't seem serious. They were just going back inside the house. Shia squeezed through Amy, quietly padding through the kitchen and up to one of her sleeping puppies. Sniffing around at each one, as if she was taking count, Shia had completely forgotten about Amy and Shadow.

Shadow made sure that Butch didn't barrel through everyone like he normally would by grabbing the dog's collar. Butch was so excited, though. Amy watched with a little humor laced in her eyes. "You warming up to them, finally?" Shadow whispered, staring up at her.

Butch sat down at his Master's feet, figuring he'd wait until Shadow let go.

"I never didn't like them," Amy defended herself. "Butch is just a little...extreme sometimes."

Shadow laughed in a scoffing manner. He patted Butch's sides and let the dog go. Butch, a bit calmer now, watched them both before the kitchen light was turned on - startling all three of them.

Their heads shot up to see Sarah standing in the archway, her finger still against the light switch as she raised an eyebrow at the pair.

"Well, lookie here."

"Sarah - shouldn't you be asleep?" Shadow straightened up.

"I could say the same to you. It's almost two, Shadow. Where were you?"

"Outside. On the property, still. Don't worry, I wasn't out causing havoc," Shadow snorted. "Sonic?"

"Asleep for now," Sarah responded but gave a small grin. "Glad to see you're okay, though. The bright light thingie? You Chaos Controlled?"

"Something I've been working on without an emerald for years. I'm not quite good at it, yet," Shadow cleared his throat. "I guess my body and powers were out of whack. I'll apologize in the morning to everyone, including the Wilsons."

"Elisa texted me. Her father doesn't want an apology from you. Not yet. He knows the funeral has taken a toll on everyone," Sarah noted. And for a moment, Shadow and Amy almost forgot that Sarah was one of the household members that had no idea about Samwell. "He wants to see you tomorrow. Talk about it."

"Not tomorrow."

Sarah tilted her head. "Why? You've never been one to make plans before."

"Rouge and Knuckles are supposed to be visiting."

"Right...Sonic mentioned that," Sarah nodded. "Sorry, I forgot. I can let Elisa know - Tuesday?"

Shadow submitted. "Fine. Sooner is better than later at this rate."

Sarah glanced over at Amy. Then back at Shadow. "As for Sonic, that might be the first thing you want to do. He's upset about something that's for sure, and he's not telling me any of it. Whatever the hell you guys are going through, fix it. I'd like to have him back to normal, please."

The ebony hedgehog didn't argue with her. "I agree."

"It'd be nice to have you back to normal, too. It's almost like you're all changing...I'd say it's Aleena's death, but it was happening even when Silver and Blaze showed up - before Aleena died. So, I'm not sure what the hell is going on anymore," Sarah confessed with concern in her eyes. "And I'm worried."

"Sarah, trust us," Amy stepped forward. "It's just...a past thing catching up with us. We haven't seen everyone in years and we were different people than we are now. It's natural to have some obstacles, no?"

"Obstacles? You call fighting with Sonic, physically, an obstacle?" Sarah questioned with a menacing tone. She was catching on. Unlike Amy, Shadow knew he couldn't keep a secret from Sarah. She would just investigate herself and figure it out - and then her fury would be worse than Amy. Amy treated him with silence or angry tears. Sarah would get physical - she had brothers growing up, after all.

"I understand," Shadow nodded his head in more agreement. "The first time was because he mentioned...Maria. And I haven't. For years."

Amy frowned. She sometimes forgot about his past - how much more he had lived through and endured than them.

"No, the first time was in the appliance store. Amy came back with a screwed up wrist because you two toppled a metal shelf on her."

He had forgotten about that one. "Oh...right. Sorry."

"I know Sonic can push your buttons sometimes. And that was one of the times. But tonight? Shadow - "

"It was my fault, Sarah," Amy butted in again. She even stood in front of Shadow, as if protecting him. "I let that stranger completely take control. He was...endearing, in a scary way. I tried to leave, but he kept me there. It was my fault."

"It wasn't," Shadow hissed. "It was mine for losing control."

"I don't care who's fault it is. I don't care who puts the guilt on themselves here," Sarah waved that off. "But c'mon, Shadow. Attacking Sonic while you're at it? Trust me, I tried talking to him about it tonight when we got home," she pointed back to her bedroom where her fiance was hopefully still asleep. "He waved it off like it was no big deal, but you two have gotten more and more violent. I'm not sure why - but it's scaring me, Shadow. With or without all of these extra people here, including Amy, you two never got into this much of a tussle. Maybe over who ate the leftovers, but that was it. You two have been friends since I've known you. Why is it suddenly changing back to the days when I didn't know you two?"

Shadow pulled back into the darker side of the kitchen. "It's like Amy said. The past is catching up to us, it would seem."

Brown eyes stared at him as if that was the stupidest answer he could have said. "Am I supposed to know what that means? Am I supposed to take some comfort in that?"

"Sarah - " Amy started walking towards her, but the green hedgehog ignored her motion.

Putting her hands up in front of her to back Amy off, Sarah shook her head. "Whatever is going on between everyone, just leave me out of it. If this is what it's like to be all in the same room together, I don't know how you all saved the world at one point. It's beyond me. Heroes? I'm beginning to not believe it anymore. Just…" she started making her way out of the kitchen, "Just apologize to him, Shadow. I'll text Elisa in the morning about Tuesday. But other than that, don't talk to me if you want to keep throwing punches at Sonic."

"Sarah, I'm sorry."

She looked back at him as he started walking towards her. He stopped when he got to Amy, brushing against her shoulder. Sarah glanced at both of them.

"Actions work better for me, Shadow. You know that. Whatever is going on between you two is part of the cause for all this fighting. Figure it out."

She left, giving them a bad taste in their mouths. Amy folded her arms across her stomach. "She at least didn't yell at us. But I'm getting sick of being reprimanded like I'm a child."

"She's right," Shadow murmured. "She has the right to worry for Sonic's safety. She has the right to scold me for hurting him, too. But she's also correct about everything else. We aren't working as a team anymore. Sometimes I look back and wonder how we saved the world, too."

"Then you and her both forgot how we did it."

Red eyes looked over at her. Amy looked down at their hands and laced their fingers together lightly. Staring back up at him, she leaned against him. "Together."

~.~

Sarah shut the bedroom door this time. They were alone in the room anyway since any dogs in the room had left before she got up. Originally it was for a glass of water - but her wants had changed.

Nimbly, she got back into bed with hopes of not disturbing Sonic. She wasn't surprised, however, when he immediately turned around in his sleep to hold her. She felt comfort in his tight embrace. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck.

"Shadow's home."

"Hm." He acknowledged it, at least.

Sarah sank into the pillow more, sighing as she stared at the wall.

The house felt like a pot of boiling water - something she had left when she moved out of her parents' house. She was used to the solitude of Shadow's farm. She wasn't fond of everyone being there, but she knew it wouldn't last.

She just wished it was under better circumstances and with less anger.

---

It'd been a while since Shadow had to tie a tie, but he thought he was good at it. Until Sonic walked into his bedroom that morning and gave him a look, that is.

"Not good?" Shadow referred to his outfit.

"Not really," Sonic didn't hesitate to march across the room and help the ebony hedgehog with the tie.

There was an awkward silence as Sonic fixed Shadow's mess. "So…where'd you end up last night?"

"Barn."

"You've been working on that for a few years?" Sonic sounded impressed, but Shadow was waiting for him to blow up.

"Yeah. Without a Chaos emerald." Shadow bit his tongue before speaking more, "Look, Sonic. I'm sorry about last night."

"Don't worry about it," Sonic mumbled as he finished the perfected tie.

"No. Please." Shadow shook his head as Sonic stepped back. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for last night and attacking you. For fighting this whole time since Amy's arrived - not that's her fault, I'm completely to blame for my actions. I'm not familiar with…this," he motioned to himself.

Sonic snorted, but with a smirk and in a humorous tone. "Okay. Let's focus on one thing at a time, then, hm?"

"Samwell?"

"Samwell."

Shadow nodded in agreement. Sonic, already dressed in his suit and prepared for the funeral, put his hands in his pockets as he rested on his heels. "Differences right now will only hinder the team as a whole. We need to be on the same page."

They stared at each other for a moment with warmth in their eyes. Shadow softly spoke, "Spoken like a leader."

"Yeah, well," Sonic shrugged as he scoffed it off and headed to the door, "Like riding a bike."

~.~

There was a soft knock on the shared bathroom door.

Amy had heard her coming though, so she wasn't surprised to see Blaze in the mirror staring at her. The pink hedgehog didn't make the first move. She busied herself with her quills and tried to put them up out of the way.

"Hey." Blaze softly spoke. She wore her dress for the day and some older heels. Her tail wrapped gently around her legs as she folded her arms around her. She was timid and wary of the situation that she was about to put Amy through.

"Hey." Amy didn't know what to expect. She figured an interrogation of her own, probably. So, she'd just wait.

"Are you okay?"

Not the question she was expecting, but it made Amy soften. She bobby-pinned the last quill out of the way and looked at Blaze in the mirror. "Yeah…You?"

"Well, I'm-I'm fine. I was just asking because, you know, last night - " the feline rambled, trying to tiptoe around her friend.

Blaze didn't want to fight. She just wanted to make sure Amy knew what she was doing. And when it came to Shadow, she wasn't sure if anyone knew what they were doing.

"Blaze?" Amy turned around to face her. She recalled her words last night with Shadow - she truly wasn't sure what was left of her and Blaze's friendship. She knew deep down, she didn't want it to end. Blaze always felt like she was an outcast compared to the rest of the Heroes, Amy knew that. She didn't want Blaze to feel like that ever again, but at the same time, she didn't want a mother hen.

"Everyone seems so quiet this morning. I see Shadow is back."

"Yeah. He came back last night. We…talked through things," Amy spoke in a hushed tone as she looked down the hallway. Everyone was still getting ready for the funeral. Shadow was in his room - she had just seen Sonic slip in. "Really, Blaze. We're fine. I'm fine."

"We?" Blaze rose an eyebrow. "Are you two still…trying to be a thing?"

Amy frowned and her ears pinned back. "I wish - Look, I know that you don't approve of any of this. But I'm not going back to New York - "

"I know." Blaze thinly smiled, as if she knew she were fighting a losing battle. She remained reserved in her stance. "I know, Amy. I just want you to be safe. I get that I'm being unreasonable and overbearing for something that I have no place in, but I'm concerned and worried for you. We haven't been near any of them in years, and now you're suddenly sleeping beside one of them within a span of a month. You don't think you're jumping the gun because of a delusional need for safety?"

"A delusional need," Amy repeated the words that sounded most offending, but she oddly didn't take them to heart. "Blaze, you're right. You have no need to be involved with this - no right. I don't want to lose you as a friend, but I can't change your thoughts on them. Only you can. I mean, it's Sonic and Shadow. They helped save lives with us. We worked with them. We were nothing but teens back then - never experiencing a true childhood. But we had each other, and I trust them wholeheartedly, Blaze. As much as I trust you."

The cat faltered. She wasn't sure how to say it. She knew she had to stay out of whatever was going on between Shadow and Amy. Silver was fighting the urge to roll his eyes anytime she spoke negatively about him when it was just her and him. She didn't want the extra strain on her own relationship. She knew if it came down to it, she'd choose Silver over Amy. She knew she had to step back for good.

"Amy, I just want the best for you. You mean a lot to me. Be careful, please." Blaze stepped forward.

The nice thing about Amy was that she didn't need to be asked to be hugged. She knew what Blaze was asking for. Mending. The pink hedgehog met her halfway and reached around the cat. The two embraced in a hug that felt reassuring. Blaze felt a weight off of her, despite her worry for Amy still nagging at the back of her mind. Amy didn't know where this would take them, but she knew that she could count on Blaze and Silver, still.

Someone cleared their throat and the two women pulled away.

Sonic awkwardly stood in the hallway, looking at them. "You good?"

"Yeah," Amy smiled warmly at him then at Blaze. There was an understanding in her eyes. "We're good."

~.~

Sonic left the two alone after that small exchange. He was glad to see that they were back on speaking terms - and that the animosity between them seemed to be over. He could only hope, at least.

He shut the door to his and Sarah's bedroom. Sonic was prepared for the funeral as best he could be. He had on his suit and tie. He had kept tabs on Manic and Sonia throughout the night with texts - despite his little brother in the other room under the same roof. The party had been a good distraction for Manic, but today would prove to be difficult for them.

Sonic sighed and walked to the closet, where he heard his mate getting ready. With the bathroom preoccupied, Sarah had chosen to get ready in their walk-in closet. She was slow-going that morning, which worried Sonic.

"Hey," he greeted her as she zipped the back of her dress. It was a simple black one, knee length. She didn't like anything flashy - it went to her collarbone at the front and had elbow-length sleeves. Sometimes her modesty surprised him. "You look nice."

"As do you," she responded gently. She only glanced at him for a second.

"I talked with Shadow."

"Oh? How'd it go?" That seemed to catch her attention. She was trying to put her heels on, using the dresser to help balance as she met his gaze.

"Fine," Sonic shrugged. "No point in dwelling on it right now with everything going on."

"Yeah, about that," Sarah coughed to clear her throat as she stood straight and met him in the doorway of the closet. "What is going on?"

"Sarah," he warned.

"Oh, so, something is going on," Sarah interjected and folded her arms across her chest. There was a pause between them. "Ya know, we used to not lie so much to one another."

"I'm not lying to you."

"You're withholding information, then. You and everyone else in this house - just ask Amy and Shadow. Last night when I saw them walk in together," she said and noticed the interest in his eyes, "Yeah, together. They both said it was your guys' past coming back. What the hell is that supposed to mean and how does it excuse the behavior everyone is showing?"

Sonic closed his eyes as he leaned against the door frame harder, trying to think. "They said what to you?"

"Sonic, just tell me the truth," Sarah demanded. "I'm tired of this secrecy. What's the point?"

He glared at her. "The point is that it's dangerous and you stay out of it."

"Dangerous?" Sarah raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is going on, Sonic?"

The blue hedgehog groaned and tried to lower his voice. He could hear Tails pull into the driveway - soon everyone would be ready to leave for town, where the funeral would take place. But right now, Sonic had another problem to worry about, and it was thanks to Amy and Shadow's big mouths.

"I was trying to keep you out of it for your own safety. But Samwell - "

"Samwell - Jesus Christ, Sonic," Sarah turned in the closet and did a small circle on her heels before ending up back in front of him. She almost didn't know how to comprehend it. "What about Turner?"

"Look. I'm asking for you to cooperate today. Okay?"

Her brown eyes widened. "That's it? That's all you're going to say? Ya know, I'll just corner Amy or Shadow - hell, maybe anyone else in this house because I'd bet my salary that they all know besides me."

At this point, Sonic wasn't going to even bet that. He saw how Manic whispered in Sunny's ear constantly - the two were glued to the hip. He knew Manic hadn't kept shut about the situation, so he had now doubt that Sunny knew. She was oddly quiet and compliant, unlike Sarah.

"Sarah, I'm tired. I'm tired of losing sleep and being in arguments with everyone, especially you," Sonic tried to appease her. "I'll tell you more tonight, but listen: Samwell Turner is a psychopath - "

"Already knew that."

"And he's a threat to all of us and Scourge - "

"Don't they work together?"

"We have no idea what the situation with Scourge is yet, but Amy has reason to believe that Scourge is being used by Samwell - his wife and kid as the leverage."

"Oh." Sarah paused. "Well, ya could have just started with that." She seemed bored with the whole situation.

"And Flame and Sonia are in the same boat."

"What."

"Yeah. Flame might be a spy, working for Samwell with a plot to destroy us."

"He's got kids with Sonia, though."

"I know," Sonic grinded his teeth. "After all this is said and done, I might just kill Flame myself."

"Sonic," Sarah hissed and whacked his arm lightly. "This is getting bad? Like the kids' lives are at stake?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. Probably. It's Sam. He's clearly insane. I'll tell you more tonight, I promise," he whispered as he kissed her forehead. Tails honked his horn and Shadow yelled throughout the house for everyone to get going.

"Wha-"

"Please," Sonic grabbed her arms and looked her in the eyes. "We're unsure of who's side Flame is on, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt today, hm? I don't want you in the crossfire, but we are going to get answers from Flame, soon. Today."

"Today?" Sarah couldn't believe what was happening. "Sonic, that's cruel."

"If he's not on our side, then we need to know - "

"He knew Aleena, too," Sarah hissed. "Better than me. He's probably trying to keep Sonia and the kids together. You can't just corner him."

"Look." Sonic held her arms still. "I need you to stay out of it. Please. I don't want you in on this."

"I'd rather move to Timbuktu than be involved in another war," Sarah said harshly, but it wasn't directed to him. "I am surprised that this sort of thing - people coming after you guys - is just barely now happening after ten years. What if this sort of thing is…going to be normal for the future?"

He stopped her shortly with a quick kiss. "It's not going to be a normal thing, I promise."

Their eyes were locked. She was trying to find any emotion in his eyes that might show he was unsure or scared - but Sonic remained still and strong in his spot. He wasn't going to let anyone harm his family. He had just lost his mother - he wasn't going to lose anyone else.

He'd make damn sure of that.

---

"We are gathered here to say farewell to Aleena the Hedgehog - "

The suit was tight around his chest, but it might have been his attempt to hold himself together.

Sonic's eyes danced back and forth between Manic and Sonia as the group gathered around the coffin. It was a beautiful piece of work that Aleena had picked herself - knowing very well at the time that her moments were becoming short with her loved ones - before her memory deteriorated. The cemetery was one of the cemeteries from the town that they got groceries in, from the town that Sonia lived in, from that town that would now be a reminder to Sonic of where his mother was buried.

His mother.

If one asked him ten years ago if he thought his mother and siblings would get out of Mobius alive without his help, he would have said no. Tearfully, but he would have said it. He figured they depended on him constantly. But he was surprised time and time again. He easily forgot that at the time, he'd only been fifteen years old, and his mother had more wisdom and parental instinct than he did. She had gotten Sonia and Manic out alive all on her own - with the will to live and the faith in her eldest who was trying to save the world.

He tried his best after that to not let her down. To keep in touch.

Sonia did it better, though. Sonia was closer to their mother. So, Sonic knew that this would be toughest for his sister.

She was leaning against her husband as she cried. She looked as if she hadn't gotten a break from crying. Flame stood straight and his face remained emotionless as he blankly stared at the coffin. Sonic could see he was drained of emotion - and he didn't know if it was because of Sonia or because of Samwell.

I hope it's the former. I hope he's been by her side. God knows I haven't. I promised myself to never leave my mother behind. But what about Sonia? What about Manic? We naturally stayed around one another for a while, but then we grew up. And things changed.

While he had stayed close to his sister, his little brother had obviously been a different story. But what mattered to Sonic most right then and there was that Manic and Sonia were both there for this moment. That he didn't have to do this alone.

Even if they weren't here with me...even if they didn't make it out of Mobius alive...I still have people who want to help me during this.

He glanced to his left at Sarah. She was listening to the funeral conductor - a priest from the church that Aleena had started going to. Her ears perked forward, her arms hung down at her sides, and her eyes locked onto the man giving the speech. She'd been quiet since their closet conversation - she hadn't pried for any other information but he knew she was still expecting more as he promised.

For now, though, he needed someone. The longer he stared at the coffin, the more reality seeped in. And he hated the reality he was living in at the moment. He knew that Sarah would be there, though. He only needed to ask.

He took a breath.

Reaching gently down to her side, he clasped their hands together. She responded by entwining their fingers. A small, grateful yet sad smile crept at the corner of his mouth. It disappeared just as quickly as he turned his attention back to the coffin.

~.~

Sarah's heart leapt and her stomach fluttered still whenever Sonic chose to hold her hand first. When she didn't have to reach out. But this time was different - there was no leap of her heart and the butterflies in her stomach were absent.

She held his hand in comfort to them both. She knew he was suffering, and she knew that he was trying to remain stoic for his siblings. He still wasn't allowing himself to grieve much while in their presence. But sometimes at night, while they lie in bed, she could tell that he wanted to curl up and let out his emotions. Eventually, it would happen - and she was prepared for it.

It just hasn't happened because of whatever else they have going on - this Samwell Turner thing. It's important enough to distract Sonic from this moment right now. He's not crying like his siblings, but not because he's trying to be a statue. Not because he doesn't care. It's because whatever happened that made Samwell a threat to us really has him and Shadow on edge. Whatever is going to happen won't be good.

And I want nothing to do with it.

She kept telling herself that. She kept trying to persuade herself that she didn't want to help her friends. She tried to justify to herself that she shouldn't get involved because of the possible baby inside of her. But even then, she cared more about her living, breathing friends than a thing that wasn't even the size of a poppy seed yet. No. Her reasons for not joining in were different.

I don't want to relive Mobius. It's not a destruction-of-the-Earth moment that I'm worried about. It's the fighting. All of the fighting. The war.

People losing their minds over robots swarming them and causing havoc. So much that the people decided to go on a rampage themselves - to somehow avoid the robots. To cause everyone else, that they wouldn't think would survive, pain. Do any of them realize the trauma they put all the survivors through?

Her parents didn't like Sonic for their own reasons. Sarah was wary of him at first because of the fact that he was a fighter. He was a hero - he'd done all the fighting that she tried to run away from and with good reason.

I should have been smart enough to see that being with Sonic, of all people, would naturally lead me to a fight. One that I will not be involved in. Not again.

So, with her thoughts decisive, she stood tall as she held Sonic's hand.

~.~

Recollecting memories of Aleena wasn't easy, and Amy felt somewhat guilty. She tried to recall any moment where she actually stopped to have a conversation with the woman. But she could only remember the times where it had been Aleena who had wanted a conversation. Amy, at the time, only wanted one thing: Sonic. She had been a love-crazed young teenager with no idea how the real world worked.

Besides that, her mind was elsewhere.

Last night, or early that morning specifically, Shadow had lifted a weight off her shoulders. She could at least stand beside him now and not want to punch him. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

Glancing at Shadow, Amy could see he was putting his full attention onto the pastor. Whether it was in respect for Aleena or because he would've been flustered meeting Amy's gaze, she didn't know. But she was relieved that last night hadn't resulted in a fight out by the barn, and that it had been kept simple.

And this morning with Blaze - that had gone surprisingly simple. Maybe it was in light of the current events that everyone seemed to want to get along for the time being, or maybe it was because Blaze truly realized that she couldn't control Amy's actions - either way, Amy was pleased that she could comfortably talk to her friend again.

The optimist had hope. She had to, especially since they were all at a funeral. It was in her nature, and she wasn't afraid to try and think positive thoughts.

Things are looking up between us. All of us. Which means that we can tackle this Samwell problem head on - together.

~.~

They're standing awfully close considering what happened last night.

Silver eyed Amy and Shadow since breakfast. He was expecting Amy to confront Shadow immediately, but instead she had remained quiet. She had stayed closer to Shadow, as well. Which was odd. Right?

Am I missing something?

While he knew he should have been paying attention to the pastor's words, he also was drowning in his own thoughts. He couldn't talk to Blaze about it all because she would get offended - he hadn't spoken to her since last night. He couldn't tell Amy either because she'd probably also be offended. Shadow? Forget it. Sonic? He seemed a little in his own thoughts, too, at the moment.

Something must have happened between Amy and Shadow last night that I completely missed. Maybe...she went to go find him? But no. She went to his bedroom and left the door open, like, immediately after we got back from the party.

Frowning a little, Silver knew the smartest move was to not pressure it. He didn't need to know, so he wouldn't. He was becoming like Blaze - like a worrisome parent over Amy.

Speaking of which...I'm getting more concerned about her. Blaze.

The feline stood calmly and quietly beside him. She wasn't close, but she wasn't too far away either. They'd gone to bed with the puppies gathering around them, and even then the cat wasn't speaking. Silver didn't know if she liked dogs, but he figured the dogs weren't the problem last night.

They hadn't spoken yet, and Silver wasn't sure if Blaze's calmness was supposed to be good or bad. She and Amy didn't seem to be giving each other glares either, so maybe the anger between them had passed? Silver wasn't sure, but he was still concerned. There was an uncomfortable air surrounding him for some reason.

Turning his head back to the pastor and the coffin, a gross feeling rose in him.

We shouldn't be here. Blaze and I don't belong here. I never knew Aleena. This feels wrong to be here. It'd feel different if we were actually of some comfort to Sonic or his siblings. But considering we don't know Manic and Sonia either...and Sonic is notoriously unwilling to be helped right now - I'd say our presence just makes things weird. Uncomfortable.

I'm beginning to realize how Blaze felt in the basement when Sonic confronted her. She never felt like she belonged to this group of people that I considered friends at one point. I still do. They're still my friends. But I'm-I'm starting to see what she meant. We might be friends with Sonic, but we were never close enough to show up to his mother's funeral of all things. Not like Shadow. Not like Amy.

Maybe...we don't belong with this group. As much as I want to, maybe that thought of wanting to remain friends is because I'm trying to relive the hero days. Maybe we were never friends that hung out regularly in the first place. Perhaps we were just allies that fought a war together - and in that, we'll always have one another's backs. But we aren't friends. We aren't family.

He stared down at the grass. The sun shined brightly over them - the weather was holding nicely for them, but there were clouds in the distance, building.

I'm beginning to regret showing up in the first place.

~.~

Being anywhere near the heroes brought shivers up Flame's spine.

He was doing his best to hold his son in one arm, and be the post that Sonia needed to lean on in the other. Petunia stood at his feet, staring at the coffin with dead eyes. She had begun to realize what was happening.

And it tore him apart.

But there was a lurking danger that scared him more.

Sonic.

He shakily took glances at Sonic and Shadow every now and then. Then he'd stop at Sarah.

If she's really pregnant, and Samwell's closing in, Sonic will be a loose cannon if she gets harmed. Shadow, too. Samwell knows that too, and it's made him change his plans. Change them to happen sooner.

Flame tried to remember to breathe.

Besides that...I definitely feel like I have a lot more eyes on me.

It was curious behavior from them, but it made Flame scared. He wasn't sure what it meant - if Shadow and Sonic were closing in on Samwell, and on him.

I'm sure that means if Sonic figures me out for a liar all this time, he'll kill me. I've worked with Samwell ever since Mobius' fall, and since then all I've done is follow his orders and slept with Sonic's sister. Sonic would gladly strangle me.

Flame squeezed Petunia's shoulder in reassurance.

Maybe he'll strangle me a little more lightly with the kids around.

Either way, something in the back of Flame's mind was telling him that he was in trouble. He already knew he was screwed with Samwell. What made Sonic and Shadow any different? The closer the date got to Samwell's plan, the more Samwell would make it clear that Flame's involvement was only necessary to a point.

And then he wouldn't be needed anymore.

I was saved by the psychopath that'll end up killing me.

He stared down at his daughter. His son was drooling on his shoulder, twitching in his sleep.

Unless we could get Sonic and the others' help.

~.~

He regretted not visiting Aleena more.

He regretted not talking to Sonic sooner about all that had happened.

He regretted not trusting Amy enough.

If I could go back and wipe the plate clean, I would. But that's never going to happen.

Shadow observed every detail on the coffin, admiring the decorative pattern carved into the dark, glossy wood. Aleena was never one for fancy things on Earth. From the time Shadow knew her, she had been humble and cared more about her children and grandchildren than herself.

He looked at the people around him. At least the ones he knew. There weren't that many people - some from the church that Aleena went to. How she got into religion on Earth was beyond Shadow. He never had the desire to join any religious following, but he wasn't going to judge her. The people were just strangers to him, and in that, it felt uncomfortable.

Some of the people weren't fans of Shadow - he could sense it.

They tried to avert their gaze at the last second, but his red eyes caught them more often than not. But the only ones who didn't stare at him were the people he did know. Manic was clutching onto Sunny for support. Sonia looked half dead herself against Flame, who looked more terrified than anything. Amy was beside Shadow. Silver and Blaze were standing by her. Then Sonic, Sarah, and Tails.

Tails was watching the pastor and wiping away any tears that came. Sarah was holding Sonic's hand. Sonic looked like he was fine, but Shadow knew better.

Taking a glimpse at Amy, he wondered how she was doing. She wasn't crying, and she was the only one with a shred of happiness in her gaze.

Shadow wasn't particularly sure why she would look so content with what was happening, but he figured it was perhaps due to her being Amy. She accepted this more than the others - because she found happiness in tough times easier than the others.

He almost wished to be able to see things through her eyes. Just once. To understand that peculiar mind.

At least we're on talking terms now.

Don't get him wrong - he was ecstatic that they were talking. Kissing even. She had snuck another kiss from him before they left this morning while they were in his bedroom. He didn't know how to be in a relationship, but he knew that he enjoyed her being around.

And if anything were to happen to her...to any of them… He glanced around again at the people he thought of as friends, and some as family. ...I'll never forgive myself.

---

Amy knew this moment was coming, but she didn't exactly know if they were doing the right thing. It felt horrible to corner Flame at such a time, on this specific day. She watched Shadow, Sonic, and Silver work together with something akin to disappointment.

This wasn't how they were. This wasn't how it would've gone in the past. Then again, at this point, Amy didn't know how this sort of situation would have played out in the past. Sonic and Shadow would have plowed through Samwell and his men by now. There were children's lives at stake because the Heroes themselves were the children. She always found it odd to think back at that time and realize she was merely thirteen. Mobians were so much different than the humans - and the society was hard to grasp at first.

And yet, here they were - after ten years, developing and adapting to the new norm now, only to be sucked back into dangerous waters. It should've felt familiar to her, but it didn't. Samwell Turner wasn't Dr. Robotnik. She had known the latter over time - could distinguish his bluffs and his threats. But Samwell was a new different kind of enemy. He was one that seemed a lot more crazed and unpredictable than Eggman. Amy didn't think of the word "murderer" when she thought of the Doctor, not right away at least. Maybe in his last moments, he was, but from the moment she'd been told about Samwell, the word flashed in her mind several times. At least with Dr. Robotnik, Amy knew that she could plead for her life, probably lived to see another day, or been saved by Sonic in the knick of time. With Samwell? She didn't think her life would be spared, and if it did, it wouldn't be treated kindly.

A shiver ran down her spine as she leaned against Sonic's truck. Sarah stood beside her.

"This has to do with Samwell Turner," the hedgehog mumbled to her.

Amy was taken aback. Since when was Sarah involved? "You-How did-"

"This morning. Briefly explained by Sonic," Sarah seemed to hate every word coming out of her mouth, but Amy couldn't tell why. She had a far away look in her eyes.

The truck was parked at a restaurant. The group, including Flame and his family, would be coming to breakfast. Then, later, they'd go bowling. Surprisingly enough, Aleena liked to bowl when she came to Earth. So, it was something simple that Manic and Sonic could think of that could distract Sonia from the bad and remember the good.

"Oh," Amy sighed. The trio of boys were at the end of the truck, back by the hitch, as they waited for Flame to arrive. He'd been slow getting back to his vehicle with his mourning wife and his wailing daughter in tow. Petunia was still wrapping her head around it all, and Amy just wanted to hug her.

"Yes, it's Samwell," Amy decided to talk. Blaze stood somewhat closer to the girls. Tails got out of his car after making a phone call, but he wandered over to the boys. It was a segregation that made Amy uneasy. "I overheard Scourge at the hardware store a while back talking to his wife, Rosy, about Samwell. Scourge has a daughter. Long story short, it sounds like Samwell has been spying on us Heroes ever since he came to Earth. I have the theory that he's got Scourge trapped, using Rosy and their daughter as leverage."

"So, you're glossing over the idea of him spying on you all these years and focusing on your anti?" Sarah raised an eyebrow at her. Blaze listened in. "She was at the school, ya know. I might've mentioned it."

"Rosy?"

"Hmhm. Why get involved with her?"

"I…" Amy trailed off. She didn't know what to say to people anymore if they asked. There was just a hard look in her eye. "It's always been a part of me to help others in trouble, Sarah. And I'm not going to sit back and watch as Sam destroys innocent lives and potentially ours."

"Okay. Understandable for an ex-hero," Sarah nodded. Blaze shuffled to stand beside her, her tail twitching, but Sarah wouldn't have called it annoyance. "You know, too?"

Blaze motioned to Manic and Sunny, who were out in the middle of the parking lot doing God knows what. They seemed to be whispering in each other's ears and talking about something serious. Maybe it was Aleena, maybe it was something else - the girls didn't know. "They know, as well. Everyone knows now, Sarah. Except Sonia."

"And this whole Flame thing?" Sarah asked, suddenly confused. "Why do they seem ready for a fight?" she nodded towards Sonic, Shadow, and Silver - and Tails who joined them but stood off to the side a little, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Flame is a supposed spy," Amy answered.

"Right, Sonic mentioned that briefly this morning," Sarah said as if it was yesterday's news. "Doesn't explain why they look ready to fight, just missing the pitchforks. But Sonia doesn't realize what's going on? For all these years? What a fucking mess."

"Well…" Amy trailed off. She saw Flame's car approaching the lot, turning off the street. "Look, today isn't just Aleena's funeral. It's Flame's interrogation of sorts. We just have to get him to understand that we're on his side."

"We are? I mean, yeah, it's insensitive to do this right now to him but how can we trust him?" Sarah couldn't believe it. Just what the hell was happening? Flame, a spy? Not like a secret agent spy, but just a low, no good spy working for an obvious psycho? Living under the same roof and in the same bed as sweet Sonia with her innocent children? Oh, Sarah wanted to raise some hell suddenly.

She clenched her fists at her side, but Blaze grabbed her wrist. "You need to calm down. Sonic knows - trust me, he's not happy about it either. But if Amy is correct in that Sam is holding Scourge's child against Scourge, then the same could be for Flame. Flame might not want any part of this. We can't jump the gun on this or we ruin a marriage."

"They're marriage is already ruined, are you kidding?" Sarah hissed under her breath, ripping her hand back. "Once Sonia finds out about all of this, it doesn't matter who gets to Flame first, he's not getting out of this alive!"

"Quiet," Amy pleaded a little as she saw the men approach the girls.

Flame was parking his car. Sonia looked drained of energy in the passenger seat. Jeffery was sleeping still, and Petunia had clearly been crying in her car seat.

Blaze squeezed past Sonic as the two switched sides, allowing for both to be by their partners. Silver gave Blaze a thin, reassuring smile. Shadow stood beside them and looked across at Amy with a soft gaze. She didn't want to do this today, he knew that. But time was closing in on them, and so was opportunity.

Sonic wrapped an arm around Sarah, but paused. He glanced down. "You're tense."

"Hm." She glowered while agreeing. "We'll talk later."

The words made his stomach drop. He knew he shouldn't have let her be alone with Amy or Blaze. Sarah was now on the hunt for more answers as to what was going on, and no doubt one of the two women had given her just that. Now he was going to have to go through the day of his mother's funeral grieving, playing pretend with his brother-in-law, hoping that everything went smoothly for the group and especially his sister, and then deal with his upset future wife. He could feel her body shake in anger a little. He tightly squeezed her and kissed her cheek, although she was heavily glaring at this point.

"I need you, please," he whispered in her ear. "We need to get down to the bottom of this with Flame." The brighter her eyes lit with fire, the more he knew she'd been told everything or just about. "The last thing any of us want is Sonia and the kids getting hurt because of our stupidity and rash decisions."

Sarah snapped out of it at the sound of Flame shutting his car door.

He grabbed Jeffery, held him at his hip, and held Petunia's hand while slowly herding his wife towards the large group. Manic and Sunny had also reconvened with the group. Flame smiled slowly and very slightly at the staring faces - mostly because he didn't feel like any of them were staring out of sorrow but scrutiny.

"Hey."

It seemed so quiet, but the silence was ringing in his ears. He wanted to run, but the only thing keeping him in his spot against this many people - Mobians with powers who were once Heroes no less - was his mate and children. His son clung onto his shoulder in his sleep, used to the position. His daughter held his hand with both of hers as she burrowed her nose into his pants, trying to shut out the world. His wife stood before him, barely. She seemed like a hollowed out version of herself. He didn't know what to do.

All of last night and most of the nights since Aleena passed away were full of him hugging her until she fell asleep. It was all he could do while she let out silent sobs, but it broke his heart. And now, he was reminded of another issue: Samwell Turner.

Every corner he turned, he felt the bat was mentioned. He'd never be rid of the man who once saved his life.

"Hey," it was Tails who responded. He was in the front, trying to offer Sonia a smile. The female hedgehog didn't know how to respond though - she did her best to smile back but it was futile. Her shoulders were slumped as she held her arms around her waist.

"Sonia," Sonic's soft whisper reached her ears as he broke the group and wrapped his sister in a hug. They'd done this at the funeral, before and after, but it seemed to be the only thing keeping her going. The reminder of her brothers. Manic reached out to gently rub her arm.

"C'mon, Sonia, let's get some food in ya, at least," the youngest tried to be helpful.

Sonia nodded as Sonic pulled away. She reached for Petunia but the youngster didn't want to go with her. The despair from their mother was off putting to the children, but she could understand that. Sonia turned and wrapped an arm through Sonic's and walked towards the entrance. Manic followed close beside them.

Flame watched, even as Petunia slipped out of his grasp and found Amy's hold. The pink hedgehog happily took his daughter into a warm hug, lifted her up, and carried her towards the entrance. The rest followed. It was only a matter of seconds before it was just him, his son, and Shadow.

Red eyes stared back at orange.

Flame immediately sensed it - they knew. That look in Shadow's gaze told him everything. They knew and they wanted answers. They knew and they weren't going to let Flame get away so easily today.

He swallowed and decided to take Scourge and Peter's words to heart. If they wanted to defeat Samwell, they'd need Sonic and the Heroes. But the latter had no idea who they were up against. Flame realized that he was now in between - he had a choice now. He didn't want to fuck this up.

Hesitantly, he walked side by side, step for step, with Shadow the Hedgehog.

~.~

The luncheon went normal, which only made Flame worry more.

It was bad enough trying to keep Sonia in good enough spirits. A part of him wanted to just take her and the kids home, but Flame knew better. The kids were enjoying their time with Sarah and Amy. And Sonia was actually looking better by the time they got to the bowling alley - alongside her siblings who remained supportive.

Shadow wasn't unfamiliar to him, but Silver was. The two kept close enough to Flame and Tails, becoming a sort of group.

"So, Aleena was in a bowling club?" Silver asked as he sat down at one of the tables behind a lane. He hadn't bowled…ever. "

"For a bit," Shadow nodded. "She enjoyed the activity."

"Although I remember her calling it a sport," Tails teased. "Be wary, Silver. Sonic and Shadow are quite competitive - even with bowling. The only nice thing is that Sonic sucks at it."

Silver scoffed a laugh. He turned to Flame, who was watching Petunia excitedly claim a pink ball that was much too heavy for her. She could use a ramp for kids and bumpers, so color was more important to her so long as someone set the ball up on the ramp for her. Pink it was.

"What about you, Flame? Much of a bowler because I don't think I've ever bowled."

"Seriously?" Tails asked. "Not even like for fun?"

"No. There's a lot more things to do in New York, I suppose," Silver laughed as Flame tried to fake a smile.

"Average," Flame answered. "I'm about as average as it gets."

~.~

Shadow was winning, Sonic was losing, and Flame was sweating bullets.

He sat there, with the sounds of the bowling balls clattering against the pins as if they were gunshots. It made him flinch every time someone hit a strike and the pins were sent flying. He was left in utter confusion by now.

They know. They have to be aware.

Yet here we are - just enjoying the time we have with one another. They care more about distracting Sonia and keeping the kids happy right now than cornering me. Which, honestly, I'm glad for.

It gave Flame a minute to pause, lean back, and breathe.

He could see what life was supposed to be like. At least a normal one. Even if he was just a brother-in-law in this family, most of the people that made up the family in front of him weren't even related. He wished was a part of it under different circumstances. Any family would probably be good, but he wanted this one. He knew deep down that when all was said and done, he'd probably not get it.

This is what it should be like. A loud toddler voicing her opinions like she's a politician. The women gossiping over all the noise. The baby sleeping. The men getting way too competitive over a game with no actual prize.

Instead, there's this dread looming over our heads - even if some of us don't know it.

Samwell's always watching me. Well…

Flame side-eyed the room.

The bowling alley had a bar in a dark room separately from the bowling area. Then there were the concessions for foods and drinks. The main desk was on the other side of the bar and then the entrance. It was a pretty simple layout.

One that made it easy for someone to watch the bowling alleys from the bar, even with the darker glass in the storefront.

And Flame was all too aware of the badger watching.

Charles.

~.~

The badger never liked coming out into public like this.

It was one thing to come and watch Flame like usual, even though he was certain the orange hedgehog knew he was there. It was another thing entirely to watch families be together.

"Another beer, sir?" The bartender asked gruffly.

Lazily, he pushed his empty glass towards the bartender. "Sure."

Anything to forget.

But even when he wasn't looking, he could still hear the kids laughing and playing out in the bowling area. It got on his nerves and broke him.

She'd be ten by now.

The beer was cold and soothed him whenever he thought of his deceased daughter. Compared to other members of Samwell's gang, he never used his backstory as a sob story. No - he felt that disrespectful to his daughter.

She was just an infant back on Mobius, and then Mobius went to shit and everyone was panicking. And everyone was dying.

He had been misfortunately placed with his wife, Margaret Lou long before Mobius' destruction. They were young and stupid, and forced into a marriage when Margaret ended up pregnant.

'Less her family name be scorned. He thought mockingly in her father's voice. Now that old bastard is dead - blown up with the rest of his goddamn family.

Charles didn't care much for Margaret's family. And she didn't care much for his family. Really, the two should've never been together, but after Mobius was destroyed - they didn't have anyone else but each other. It was terrible and unlucky for both of them.

Most of the time, they'd run with bad groups back East.

But then Margaret met Samwell, and I hated the rest of her living family.

His "wife" had become distant ever since meeting Samwell and finding new purpose with her powers - which Charles would hand it to her, could be dangerous. He was glad he didn't have any powers.

Whenever she isn't distant, she's pushy. Bossy. Acts like she's his Queen, and I don't doubt they've fucked. The little prick of a bat is slimy and couldn't care less if any of us got our feelings hurt. But goddamn it if I didn't try to make this marriage work, Margaret.

Just this morning she yelled at me to get out for the hundredth time. Do this, do that. Sam wants this done. Sam wants that done. Sam, Sam, Sam. That's all it's about now. Like doing what he says is going to bring anything back.

He sucked up the beer as if it were water. It was probably his sixth of the day, which wasn't bad for him. He nearly patted himself on the back for that - especially since it was only the second one at the bowling alley bar, so the bartender couldn't quite cut him off yet. So long as he played it cool.

Immediately, without much thought, Charles stood from his chair. He paid the bartender and looked at the bowling alley.

Flame and his little hero group are over at the end.

Just as he thought it, the orange hedgehog himself walked past the bar, and he wasn't alone. His little girl, whose name Charles couldn't remember, was walking hand-in-hand with Flame and Sonic. They were headed the opposite way of their friends - towards the concessions.

The badger smacked his lips a little and decided.

Well. Here goes nothing.

~.~

Sonic and Flame waited as patiently as they could, but patience only went so far when they had a "starving" kid complaining the whole time.

"We've gotta wait, Petunia," Flame tried to calm her but he really just sounded exhausted, and he was.

Petunia pouted a little, leaning against her uncle's legs. "I want tots."

"You just had lunch."

"Nu-uh," she shook her head adamantly. "That was hours and hours ago."

"More like barely two," Sonic said. He tickled her stomach as she giggled and turned into his hold, laughing. She fought against him for a second before he let go, relenting.

Flame smiled warmly at the two. He was glad Petunia had other male figures in her life she could look up to.

Someone cleared their throat behind them and Flame felt a shiver down his spine. He knew that sound - he knew that smell. He also wasn't surprised because he knew he'd seen the badger in the bar earlier.

"Flame."

Why the hell is he talking to me? He's never come up to me before. What the fuck is he doing? Don't panic. Don't panic. Do. Not. Panic.

He failed his own words because he immediately went into panic mode as he turned and saw the badger. There was a short pause as he took a breath, trying to play it cool. "Charles."

"Hi!" Petunia bounced forwards once, holding hands with her uncle. She grinned from ear to ear at the badger.

Flame tried his best to suppress the instinct to light Charles ablaze on the spot. Charles smiled down at the little girl rather warmly, despite his long crooked muzzle from being in too many bar fights. The scar on his nose wasn't much better to look at.

He didn't look friendly to normal people.

Sonic saw that much. The blue hedgehog was curious about a couple of things - mainly Flame's sudden change in behavior. The father had been relaxed with his daughter for most of the bowling session - and now Flame looked like he was getting ready for an attack.

Charles cleared his throat and glanced between the two.

It clicked in Sonic's mind immediately. His eyes widened as he realized he was staring at someone who knew Samwell. Worked for him. Did his dirty work for him probably.

His grip tightened a little on Petunia, gently pulling her back as he took a step forward.

Charles felt his palms getting sweaty as he and Flame saw the blue fur darken a little.

Well. That's not what I was aiming for. You're telling me, any second, Dark Sonic could just appear? I just walked up for Christ's sake. How can he place anything together?

His eyes narrowed. Unless he knows more than we figured. Unless Flame is a snitch, but that's not surprising. Still, I'm not prepared to fight Dark Sonic on my own. I'd get my ass beat in a second flat.

The badger remained cool and collected as he turned to Flame, merely stating, "Construction site isn't up and running yet. We'll probably be looking for more workers soon, if you're interested."

Flame straightened. Sonic waited - he didn't make a move to introduce himself. He figured the badger knew him enough already. He glanced past Charles towards the group. They were still bowling and chatting, having a good time. He scanned the area for Sarah and saw her sitting with Sonia and Jeffery. Sonic caught Flame's eyes and practically glared for him to answer the badger.

"You got an application?" Flame shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah," Charles sniffed as he looked away, at nothing in particular. He turned back, ignoring Sonic's gaze boring into his skull. "On some god awful green paper, but I'll just email ya tomorrow."

"Appreciate it."

Charles gave a quick nod with a happy smirk, leaving without ordering food or without another word.

The two adults watched him carefully. Petunia was curious but immediately forgot as another person in front of them finished ordering. Sonic eyed Flame as they moved up in the line. "Looking for jobs still? I thought you'd gotten a new one recently."

In all seriousness, Flame looked at Sonic as Petunia remained distracted with the soda machine that was now in her line of sight. The orange hedgehog stood closer to Sonic, rubbing shoulders with him and whispering sternly in his ear, "Don't let Sarah go to work tomorrow."

As he pulled back, Flame wasn't surprised to see the fur darken more.

He had some explaining to do, that's for sure. Right now, his mind was whirling.

Why had Charles just done that? He just walked up - is it a part of Samwell's plans? That doesn't make sense.

Flame didn't think he could trust the badger at all, but if what he said was true, then it was more helpful than harmful. And by the look Sonic was giving him, Flame would be cracked sooner rather than later.

~.~

Shadow was taken by surprise when Flame roughly sat down beside him, and then Sonic sat down beside Flame. Sonic was glaring, but at Shadow.

"What the hell did I do?" the ebony hedgehog asked.

Amy hurrahed after another strike, pointing finger guns at Sarah as the hedgehog clapped. Sarah was losing and Amy was winning - anyone could tell by the look of sheer happiness on the pink Mobian's face. And the bored one on Sarah's.

Blaze and Sonia were now talking - Blaze took a break from the activity despite beating Silver two times. Silver was now determined to learn the game as Manic and Tails taught him. Sunny enjoyed the game nonetheless, but kept Jeffery company as the toddler slept in her lap. Petunia ran in between her mother and Blaze for a minute before sitting down at the table by the lanes with her tots.

"Petunia, is that all you got?" Sonia remarked, already ready to scold Flame.

"Uncle Sonic got them for me," Petunia grinned from ear to ear as she sipped her soda and ate her tots. The kid was happy despite the tension between the adults.

Sonia sighed as Blaze put a hand over hers. "Don't worry, Sonia. She's okay."

"Thank you," Sonia tried to smile at the cat. She knew everyone was trying to help, but now her brain was frazzled. "I'm just worrying about everything right now."

"That's normal."

Shadow ignored the rest of their conversation because Sonic was still glaring daggers at him. Flame stared at him, like a child in trouble and waiting to be scolded.

He raised a brow. "What?"

Sonic motioned his head sharply to Flame. "This one's got a friend here."

"What does that mean?" Shadow leaned in closer.

Flame sighed and closed his eyes. This was the moment he would be cornered. A bowling alley, of all places. It was almost humiliating, but he figured he didn't have the right to ask for a place that wouldn't hurt his pride. Not that it mattered, anyway.

"He works for Samwell, doesn't he?" Sonic hissed at Flame, keeping quiet as the chatter around them escalated.

"Yes. His name is Charles."

Shadow was quite lost in the conversation. He made that apparent by giving Sonic a deadpan expression. "What are we talking about?"

"We were at the concessions and this guy showed up, knowing Flame. Offers him a job," Sonic states, gritting his teeth with every word.

Flame wanted to roll his eyes at the dramatic hedgehog he had to call his brother-in-law. "It was code."

"No shit. What did any of it mean and how did you get out of that short conversation that Sarah shouldn't go to work tomorrow?" Sonic spoke so quickly that Shadow almost didn't hear him.

Flame sighed. "Well, that's how code works."

Shadow caught Silver's eye and waved him off. Silver took the hint to just keep the others busy for a second. Shadow watched as Sonic looked closer to strangling Flame right then and there. "So, one of Samwell's men came and saw you because…"

"Oh, come on," Flame droned out and looked at him with a knowing gaze. "I'm not dumb, Shadow. And neither are any of you. I know you know that I work for him, not of my own will, though. If I may plead for my life here," he said desperately as he put his hands up a little, giving Sonic a pleading look.

"Still thinking about it."

"Sonic."

"Who is Charles?" Sonic ignored Shadow's warning glance.

"He's more muscle than brain. He usually is tasked with keeping me in check so I don't revolt against Sam," Flame admitted. "Look, I'm not on his side. I'm not against you, guys. Please."

"Hush," Shadow said as Blaze and Petunia wandered past, getting ready for Petunia's turn.

The two ladies were out of earshot shortly. Shadow put his hand on Flame's shoulder. "Listen, you can thank Amy later. If you and Scourge are truly under Samwell Turner's thumb, we're here to help. Granted, Sonia or Sonic might kill you when all is said and done, we at least won't let Samwell hurt your family," Shadow explained.

"Of course not," Sonic hissed under his breath, looking away. Just the idea of Samwell near his sister, niece, and nephew made his quills quiver. "Not gonna happen."

"Listen, I'll tell you anything," Flame continued to beg still. "I don't want to fight - I wouldn't win. But you gotta know, even I'm surprised Charles pulled that stunt back there," he motioned to the concessions with a thumb pointed backwards to it. "He's not…on our side, I thought."

"Well," Shadow trailed off as he scanned the area around them. No one looked suspicious, but he didn't know who he was looking for. He didn't see the guy. "What's he like?"

Flame looked too, quickly. "He's not here anymore. Might be in the bar, but I don't know. He's a badger - stocky guy. He's usually pretty quiet and following his wife's orders - she's mostly certainly not on our side. She's more like Sam's right-hand woman."

"So, maybe Charles is bored of his wife," Shadow thought out loud. "Or had a change of heart. Or saw he was on a losing side."

"Don't underestimate Samwell and his gang, please." Flame shook his head at the notion. "I mean, Charles' wife alone is dangerous to you guys."

Shadow watched as Silver's game ended. "We should move over there, further from the girls," he suggested. "Plus Silver."

"Good idea." Sonic wasn't going to argue considering Sonia was watching them by now, giving peculiar looks despite not hearing them over Amy and Sarah's whooping.

The two were neck and neck all while Petunia simply enjoyed pushing the ball down the ramp and eating her tots. Blaze smiled warmly at the little girl and kept Sonia company best she could. She was happy to see Sunny join them. Her tail wrapped around her ankles as she made room for Sunny on the bench.

"Finished the game?"

"Yeah," Sunny sighed as she made herself comfortable. "Tails won." She nodded her head to the men, though. "Looks like they've decided they've had enough of female company, hm?"

Blaze watched as the guys gathered at the table on the other lane. It wasn't far, but with the noise of other people going on in the background, and Amy and Sarah alone could rival all the noise - it was enough to drain out the men. Blaze's eyes narrowed.

She knew better. They were questioning Flame, or at least Flame was talking.

He was making wild hand gestures every now and then, and Silver had his phone out - typing away.

I hope they'll clue us in later. She didn't like the idea that she might need to pull some teeth later just to get an idea on what was going on. After we said we were team, and all, you'd think they'd let us know what was happening. But I get it for right now. With Sonia and the kids, it makes sense to keep separate for right now.

Still, she couldn't help but glance over every now and then.

Tails and Manic tried to look more into their own conversation, leaving Silver to join the trio. Silver had taken out his phone the minute Flame started talking more. Mostly, he was just writing down information about the people that Flame knew worked for Samwell, including Charles.

"His name is Charles Lowell."

"Any powers?" Silver asked. He had already made it clear earlier that one of his contacts back in New York could get him information on the guy. Well, any of them really. When asked how by Sonic and Shadow, Silver merely stated, "Hey, you got your contacts, and I got mine."

"No. I mean, strength, maybe?" Flame shook his head a little, unsure. "Most Mobians have that capability, though, no?"

"What? To overturn a boulder?" Silver suggested. "I mean, it's probably most common. Can he do anything else?"

"No. He's just a gunman. Muscle. Runs under the group his wife runs."

"Group?" Sonic raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

They tried not to huddle too closely at the table to avoid suspicion. Best they could aim for was a standard, typical day-to-day conversation.

Flame grabbed the salt and pepper shakers on the table. He divided them, along with the napkin holder, and an empty soda. "Look, Samwell isn't a notorious tyrant or a skilled general, by any means. But he's kind of anal how things are run and who they're run by. He's separated people into four groups, all ran by one of his henchmen that has his most trust, you could say. If he truly trusts any of them, I don't know for certain."

"How long were you with him?" Silver asked out of curiosity.

"Before anyone else."

"You mother-"

"Sonic." Shadow clenched his jaw before giving Flame a chance to explain himself.

Flame was surprised by the sudden forgiveness Shadow showed the whole afternoon, but he'd take anything he could get. "Look. He saved me back on Mobius. It was the same time, place, and day that the portal collapsed. It crushed his remaining family. Mother and a brother I think. He just lost it a few weeks into being on Earth, talked about getting revenge. At the time, I was closer to him. We both had no one to go to - no family and no place to call home. I stayed out of guilt."

"Oh…" Sonic deflated on the spot. "Jesus."

"Yeah. Look, he and most of his gang do have some sort of story. They all have a reason - most of 'em. Others don't but they were forced into it because of their powers and because Samwell threatened them. After awhile, I fell into that group. The deeper things got, the more I couldn't run."

"So, explain the groups," Silver circled back.

"Right," he grabbed the salt and placed it to the far left. "Group VI." He put the pepper on the other side, far right. "Group Horus."

"Hold up. What?" Silver stopped him. "Group four and then Horus? Like the god?"

"Yeah. It's more for graffiti," Flame explained. "Group VI, with a 'V' and an 'I'. Roman numerals. You'll see their markings on the train tracks on the west side of town. They run that joint. Group Horus is on the northwest, running with VI. The lead members go back, I guess."

"So, the symbol for Horus?" Shadow guessed. "Whatever that looks like."

"The Eye of Horus, right. Then there's Group A," he shoved the empty soda cup between the salt and pepper. "And Group Omega." He put the napkin holder between the soda cup and the pepper. "They're the bigger players. Group A is run by Margaret Lou."

"Last name?"

"Lowell."

"Oh. Charles' wife," Silver typed into his phone as if their conversation wasn't absolutely bonkers. "What's her deal if she's such a big player?"

Flame sucked in his breath. "She feeds off of energy."

"Like electricity?" Shadow wondered.

"No. Powers in general. She can sense when someone has powers. She drains them of those powers, slowly and painfully for the person being stolen from - and she gets stronger. She sucks the life out of you," Flame explained. He looked between each hedgehog. "Look, it's not pleasant."

"You had it happen to you?"

"Samwell lets her use it as punishment. She's the torture device. One of the first ones we met were the Lowells. Charles seemed indifferent, but Margaret was…insane from the start, I think. Her behavior escalated Samwell's in an unhealthy way."

"Great," Silver sighed as he punched the notes in. "Just what we need - a soul sucker."

"So, she could even drain Shadow?" Sonic questioned, although Shadow was thinking it.

"Anyone. Yeah. The more power you got, the more excited she gets - trust me." Flame shivered at every memory he had of the woman. "She's a wolf," he turned to Silver. "I don't know how many Margaret Lou Lowells exist, but in case you need a description."

"If I can link her to Charles, it's easier to find information on her," Silver shook his head but made the note anyway. "Any other married couples finding a hobby of being in gangs?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Scourge might know more," Flame shrugged at Shadow and Sonic. "I swear. Over the years, I got kicked out of more and more. Scourge cycled through, too. Now Peter."

"Excuse you - what?" Sonic shifted in his seat. "Peter is in on this?"

"Yes. Surprised Tails hasn't hacked into some of Samwell's systems yet," Flame shot the idea to Silver, who naturally typed it down. "Peter is like the same. Except, well…he is the computer. Samwell and Margaret found him in Vegas, counting cards at Blackjack and reading the machines. He was just paying off student debt."

"And somehow got tied into a gang," Shadow groaned as he rubbed his face tiredly. He hadn't gotten much sleep after all. "Let me guess, Margaret?"

"Yup. She can sense him from a mile away. Usually, she's on watch for him."

"Isn't she a big player?" Silver did quotes with his fingers when he said it. "Why watch some preschool teacher?"

Sonic watched Flame like a hawk. The orange hedgehog cleared his throat. "Because Peter has access to everyone's digital tracks. Phones, credit cards, bank accounts - everything. He can hack into it just by touching a machine and reading it. For now, he's valuable to Samwell. Very valuable when it comes to watching everyone's move. The kicker? Being able to see what Sarah's up to."

The blue hedgehog didn't try to suppress the growl that erupted from him. Shadow nudged him under the table with his foot. "Settle down."

"That's not even the part I'm talking about," Flame whispered suddenly. He leaned forward a bit. "He was originally charged with watching someone else."

"Who?" Silver narrowed his brow in confusion.

"Sally Acorn. Or, now known as Ally Scorn," Flame snorted and rolled his eyes. "When she wasn't of any use to get closer to you guys, Samwell considered ditching Peter. But his machine reading still proved to be useful. And then boom - he's suddenly coworkers with Sarah - Sonic's girlfriend," Flame detailed what happened. "Samwell kept him on, and now he's working his way up to be on Margaret's group. She's not stoked - she hates the cat, but she keeps an eye on him because it's what Sam wants."

"You know an awful lot about him," Shadow tested, ignoring the news of Sally Acorn - but Sonic seemed dazed suddenly.

"Sally? She's here?" Sonic leaned in, searching in Flame's eyes for a lie.

"Yeah. Accident really."

"Scourge, too. Man, it's a really small world," Silver shook his head in humor. "Crazy. Of course, Scourge makes sense now considering he was following us for Samwell's sake, right?"

"I don't know. I thought he just sort of ended up here," Flame shrugged. "Look, Peter's on our side."

"Really? How would you know?" Shadow crossed his arms, unconvinced.

"Because he's in the same boat as Scourge and I. Samwell's using Sally against him - as leverage, really. He's threatened her life plenty of times but Peter's too chicken to do anything against him anyway. Compared to Scourge and I, Peter's a saint to Samwell. He's managed to follow the rules but stay out of much harm's way."

Sonic was still focused on the Sally portion. He couldn't believe it.

"The last time Sally and I spoke…God, it wasn't good."

"I heard about it."

"Peter?" Shadow questioned.

"No. Sonia."

"Right, can't forget about her," Silver pointed slightly to the magenta hedgehog who remained oblivious to the men. The girls were on their next game by now, one including Sunny, Blaze, and even Sonia. Which meant a longer time to play, which meant a longer time to talk. "Which reminds me - I'll be the one to ask this question because I know no one else will. Is Sarah working for Samwell?"

"No," Flame adamantly responded. "Samwell's got shit on her too, though."

"How? She doesn't go anywhere," Sonic interjected. "She's just a preschool teacher."

"We thought the same thing about Peter not two weeks ago," Shadow reminded. "But I don't see Sarah really up to anything bad."

"No. No. I mean, Samwell has information on everyone. Where he puts it, no idea. He's got contacts, too," Flame shared a look with Silver. "Sarah's is just a bunch of therapists visits when she was younger. What they're about - no idea."

"Then it's not much use, hm?" Shadow scoffed. "He's collecting anything he can get his hands on to know us better."

"Precisely."

"Why, though? Why wait ten years?" Shadow couldn't wrap his brain around it. "Was it to gather allies?"

"Mostly, yeah. For a large portion of the time, he didn't have followers that could take you guys on."

"And now?" Shadow posed the question. "What do you think?"

Flame licked his lips nervously as he bounced his leg. "Well, Margaret alone could be a problem for you. But there are several others with powers that could rival people like Blaze or Amy, easily. Silver, too. He's found plenty of people with telekinesis in the last five years."

"Who?" Silver readied himself at the phone. "A fellow telekinetic buddy, eh?"

"Probably not friendly. Group Horus' leader, Rochester Mules. He did hitman work with Group VI's leader Mark Crouch. The latter doesn't have any powers, but he's a hell of a shot. There's Rochester's protegee, Crue Porter with telekinesis, too. And then Veronica Sanchez."

"Sanchez. Got it," Silver finished typing.

"She's telepathic, too."

"Oh, it just keeps getting better," the white hedgehog sarcastically noted. "Any others?"

"I think there are a few pyrokinetics on Jasper's group."

"Wait. Who?" Sonic stopped him.

"Worse than Margaret when it comes to being a person," Flame shuddered. "Jasper Williams. He's Samwell's right-hand man now. Replaced Scourge just about as soon as Samwell found him. Hell, even replaced Margaret. The guy gives some major creeps. Not sure what his power is, but rumors are he has them. Plus, I don't think he'd be in charge of his group if he didn't. They're full of people with fire powers, essentially. I was under it at one point."

"And you never knew his power?"

Flame shrugged as if he got caught stealing. "Look, I got kicked out as soon as he showed up. He saw right through me even when Samwell wanted to give me the benefit of the doubt. I couldn't keep my façade up with him. He's too good of a liar himself - he knows when and how to spot one."

"Can you control any of them?" Sonic asked curiously.

"A few on Margaret's group that I've tested. One on Crouch's, but that's it," Flame shook his head. "I didn't go testing it out on people who could very well kill me in my sleep. Any time I did test it out was on the behalf of Margaret playing her stupid little games."

"Alright," Silver nodded as he looked at his phone. "Anything else?"

The clattering and chattering of the bowling alley was still intense, thankfully. And Shadow and Sonic had gotten information that they wanted.

"A few names from Margaret's, but the rest of the people valuable to Samwell that he's sure to use - I didn't ever formally meet."

"Hit me with 'em."

"Let's see. There was Charles. Scourge ran under Margaret for a bit. Peter's supposed to join. There's a marmoset - Eddie Davies? Might be Edmund. He's just a hacker. There is a cheetah with some wicked speed," Flame snapped his fingers at the recognition. "I think her name is Luna Grenville or Greenville. Or something."

"That it?"

"Westley Garnet, too. He's just muscle," Flame scowled at the name a little, but shrugged as if the guy wasn't much. "No powers or anything. Just a bear with rocks for a brain."

"You think Scourge would know the rest?"

"Probably a few, at least. He was under Samwell for a time, closer than I." Flame nodded but then stopped. "Are you…Are you going to talk to Scourge?" He glanced between all three males.

"That's the plan." Shadow nodded.

"Oh. You just…know where he is?"

"Contact, Flame. Contact of mine is quite skilled," Silver waved him off. "Don't worry about what we do in the Big Apple. You just try not to die, okay?"

"I've been trying. But thank you," he said sincerely as he looked at Shadow and Sonic. "For your help on this. Maybe we can actually stand against Turner and the poor souls he's dragging with him."

"When it's all over with," Sonic responded, "I'm still going to pummel you. Probably to death," he growled the last part.

Flame scoffed, as if he knew it was coming. "I'm not stupid, Sonic." He looked at Sonia and his kids. Jeffrey had been moved to sleep between Blaze and Sunny at some point. Petunia was still having the time of her life bowling. Her mother was opening up a bit more, thawing bit by bit. "I know how this ends for me. Be it Samwell, you, or her…I'm going to have to cherish every moment I have left with my family."

Sonic paused and softened. In that moment, all three saw just how genuinely terrified Flame was - of dying, of being killed, of losing Sonia and his children forever. Of Samwell and the situation he brought them into. Flame was carrying guilt before he even met Sonia, and now it was built up like a wave destined to drown him.

And after all the arguments and tension between everyone, they found themselves having what they least expected to have towards Flame.

Pity.

---

The rest of the day went by as normally as one could hope. There was no more sign of Charles or danger in general, and the men got what they could out of Flame - who was willing to tell them everything.

As they were leaving, Shadow and Sonic stood in the parking lot. Flame walked beside them as Sonia, doing better now, was putting her children in the car. "Thank you. For understanding for now. I get you're upset with me, but I can't just apologize forever. It happened the way it happened."

"Flame," Sonic cut him off, too busy watching his sister and her kids. "Will you guys be alright? This Charles guy won't snitch on you?"

"I'm not sure," Flame said as he put his hands in his pockets. He glanced around the parking lot. "I don't see his car. He probably left ages ago, but I…I don't think he's going to say anything."

"What makes you so sure?" Shadow thought it odd. If it was him, he would have been even more suspicious of Charles. But Flame seemed to trust him suddenly. Why?

"Charles shouldn't and wouldn't have done that. He's never just walked up before, especially with one of you guys there. I think what he did…he did on his own accord. Which isn't what Margaret or Sam would like. If that's true, they wouldn't let him get away with it."

"I don't completely agree with your logic," Shadow huffed. "Keep your phone close."

Flame grimaced a little. "I don't think calling anyone would help in time if we're in trouble."

"Flame. I'm the fastest thing alive," Sonic said in a menacing tone. Not necessarily for Flame, but the for the person who would dare hurt his sister and her children. "Talking to us is you double-crossing Samwell, and he's going to find out one way or another. But I'm not letting my sister and her kids be in danger. Keep me on speed dial if you know what's good for you."

The orange hedgehog gave a curt nod. "I'm not going to argue with that. We just have to hope that Charles wasn't trying to misdirect us."

"Sarah stays with me," Sonic growled as he turned to face the two men. Sonia had sat in the car after giving her final goodbyes earlier. She waited patiently for her husband. "Keep any eye on Sonia and the kids, Flame. Keep your head down."

"I'm trying," he reassured as he started walking to his car. He glanced back a little with a look of more hope than before. "You know," he stopped, "Scourge, Peter, and I. We had this conversation."

"What conversation?" Shadow crossed his arms. The girls were waiting in the truck along with Manic and Sunny. Blaze and Silver rode with Tails who already left.

"A conversation about getting your help. Trying to show you that we're on your side. If you plan on talking to either of them, they'd be willing to help out. Trust me." Flame gave one final nod to them before walking the rest of the way to his vehicle and getting in.

Sonic watched as the car disappeared. He looked at Shadow. "What do you think?"

"I think he's in over his head, but he knows that. He has been since the moment he decided to stay with Samwell. We'll have to keep an eye on them. The faster Silver gets information about the people who might be watching Flame, the better we'll know how to handle them." Shadow leaned against the truck a little.

"I agree." Sonic watched the traffic go by. "C'mon. We better get home. I've got some explaining to do with the missus." He motioned his head to the truck, referring to Sarah.

"You told her?"

"Might as well at this rate," Sonic sighed. "She wasn't going to budge without knowing, but she said she didn't want to be involved. And I don't think she does. It might be easier than I thought to keep her out of danger. I could put her in a bunker and I feel like she'd stay."

"Odd. Considering all the other times you tell her to do something, she does the exact opposite," Shadow teased slightly, but there was still some truth behind it. They paused for a moment before Shadow guessed what was on Sonic's mind. "The therapy sessions?"

"She's never mentioned much of her childhood. Anything with her parents is off limits," Sonic shrugged. "Not my business. But if it was when she was younger, it being because of the fighting on Mobius isn't too far off."

"Hmhm."

"What I can't believe is Sally. She's actually here," Sonic shook his head a little in disbelief.

Shadow treaded lightly. He didn't know much about the chipmunk. He knew that the two dated and that it wasn't the best of break-ups during the fall of Mobius. The relationship had been a strong one during the time before, but they were kids. Shadow kept forgetting how much time had passed and how much they had each grown. "Is that…good?"

"I don't know," Sonic let out a short breath, as if it were single laugh. "It's nice to hear she's alive, though. Even if we didn't split amicably. She was still one of my closest friends growing up. Just can't believe she's with Peter…" he narrowed his brow in thought. "Weird."

"Strange coincidence," Shadow agreed. "But Flame thought so, too. Sometimes the world works in mysterious ways, Sonic. We shouldn't question it much." He turned towards the driver's side.

"Let's go home."

Sonic gave one last look to the traffic - Flame's car having disappeared a while ago. But now Sonic didn't know if he was always being watched. They had a target on their backs. "Yeah. Let's go."

~.~

Just as promised, Sarah all but locked the bedroom door when they got home.

Shadow went to get changed and go take care of the animals. Amy and Sunny happily tagged along with the dogs. Manic opted out in order to rest - he hadn't slept much. Silver was busy with a phone call that Sarah wasn't even going to ask about, but Blaze was with him. Tails had gone home.

That left Sonic.

"So."

He undid his tie, facing away from her and not entirely surprised to hear the door shut. "So?"

"So, are you going to explain what's going on? This Samwell Turner issue?" Sarah put her hands on her hips and waited.

"You should probably change," Sonic said as he took off his suit jacket and walked into the closet.

"Sonic."

There was a long break of silence between the two.

She huffed and marched to the closet. She watched, leaning against the door frame, as he unbuttoned the white shirt. "Are Sonia and the kids in danger?"

"We're all in danger," Sonic spoke quietly and calmly. He put the shirt over the hamper and then took off his belt and pants. Sweatpants sounded nicer at the moment. Grabbing a pair, he turned around as he slid them on. "Look, Flame knew Samwell, apparently. Way back when the portal collapsed and Samwell lost his remaining family, or something. He's had a taste for revenge ever since. So, he's gathered troops along the way to join his gang and take us down," he said as he walked past her, going towards his dresser that the TV in their room stood on. Shuffling through it for a shirt, he waited for a reaction.

"Okay…So, he's got some goons coming after us or what?" Sarah crossed her arms now, turning to follow him as he walked about the room.

"Yeah, pretty much. Amy overheard Scourge and things escalated from there. Scourge and Flame are being used by Samwell. The lives of their wives and kids are what's keeping them working for him and doing his dirty work." Sonic licked his lips as he decided on his next words, grabbing a gray shirt. It was always a struggled to put it on over his quills, so before he did anything he said, "And Peter."

"Peter?" Sarah felt her quills shake.

Sonic tried to put the shirt on, roughly tugging it over his quills. His wasn't as bad since they were pointed downwards - he couldn't imagine Shadow's pain. The back quills stuck out thanks to modified holes. He straightened out the shirt. "Yeah."

"That - what - he - "

The blue blur walked over to his mate and motioned for her to turn around. When Sarah remained standing there like a fish gaping, he turned her around himself. Sarah grabbed the door frame for balance as the reality sunk in.

"He was spying on me?"

"Yes." Sonic worked on the zipper of her dress. It slid easily. She still stood there in shock. "Look, Sarah." He huddled up behind her, taking her into his arms for a moment and squeezing tight as his arms wrapped around her chest. He leaned his chin over her shoulder. "I need you to stay here. Samwell doesn't trust Flame and for good reason. Someone on Samwell's side watches Flame and he was there today. He…gave Flame some information, I guess. Whether we trust the guy or not is a different story, but I need you to not go to work."

"Sonic, what are you saying?" she twisted ever so slightly to see him better.

"Please," the hedgehog mumbled as he kissed her shoulder, taking the dress off. "Just call in sick or grievance, but please just stay here."

"Okay." Sarah wasn't going to argue it. "Okay. Of course, I'm not going back right now. I just learned Peter's been watching me the entire time. Oh, God, the kids."

"I don't think they're in danger," Sonic hoped. "Samwell is a sick man if he'd hurt those kids just because Peter is their teacher."

"But if Scourge and Flame are being used and their families threatened then - "

"Yeah, about that," Sonic said as he backed off. Sarah let the dress slide to the floor as she tiredly reached down and grab it. He followed her to the closet as she hung it up next to his suit and pulled out her own clothes - sweats and a sweater. "Peter's sort of…dating Sally Acorn, I guess."

Sarah paused slightly as she put the sweatpants on. Her leg was lifted in the first hole. She stared up at him with a look of confusion. "Sally? Right. He mentioned a girlfriend before…" she trailed off as she pulled the pants on.

She put on a sweater and walked into his arms. They stood there, under the door for quite some time. He kissed her forehead. "You wanna sit down?"

"It's gonna take this long to explain everything?" Sarah asked curiously.

Sonic gave her a small reassuring smile. "That and the bed is comfier."

~.~

Everyone tried to make room for each other in the kitchen during dinner, but it ended up in the living room.

The puppies mostly played around them as Sunny and Manic kept them entertained, eating the fastest. Shia and Butch watched the Mobians eat, mouths slobbering here and there despite having full food bowls in the kitchen. It was overall quiet with the clatter of utensils against plates.

"That wasn't so hard to get us all on the same page, now was it?" Sarah meant it jokingly, but Amy found herself rolling her eyes.

"Like pulling teeth," the rose hedgehog didn't stop herself.

"I've got some info already," Silver broke into the conversation, setting his empty plate aside on a stand by the couch. The TV was on but the volume was low - casting a local news channel. "Looks like that Charles and Margaret couple that Flame was talking about were in some serious trouble back east. There's other stuff, too, but if we plan on talking to Scourge, then we need to come up with a plan."

"That's happening?" Manic wasn't entirely in on the loop, but he was fine with staying out of it alongside Sunny. "Who's going?"

"I was," Blaze answered rather quickly, her tail twitching as a puppy thought about pouncing on it. "Silver. Shadow."

"I wanted to go." Amy folded her arms to show she wouldn't be budged on the matter.

"And me?" Sonic raised an awkward hand. "Questioning it now because it's almost like everyone's going."

"I figured you'd come," Shadow responded. "Out of anyone here, I think Sonic and Silver are best."

Blaze tried not to glare, but it was futile attempt. Amy sighed, as if the progress made was being erased. Sarah cleared her throat. "Scourge? Sonic said that was happening tomorrow," she caught herself up again after Sonic's long conversation with her in their bedroom. He explained everything as Shadow had to him. "He's got the little girl with Rosy then?"

"Yeah. You asked about her when I helped out at the school."

"I know. I met the girl."

"Oh?" Amy tilted her head in curiosity.

Sarah shrugged. "It's not helpful. She didn't talk and pretty much ignored me until Rosy came in. She was just late picking up her kid. She's got some traits of Scourge, I guess, but mostly just looked like Rosy."

"Well," Blaze straightened up next to Silver on the couch. She turned to Shadow, who was sitting in the rocking chair. "It might go easier if you bring at least one woman along. If you waltz up to Scourge's place with just you, Silver, and Sonic - he might think you want a fight."

"According to Flame, Scourge is willing to be on our side," Shadow disagreed for the most part. He wasn't going to fight it entirely though. "But if you think it'd help with Rosy…Maybe Sarah should go."

"What." Sonic glared at the ebony hedgehog. "We just talked about her staying out of this. Not putting her further in."

"Why Sarah?" Amy asked, unsure.

Shadow shrugged. "Familiarity. Scourge knows Sonic and I are in the area. Silver and Blaze might be unfamiliar to him, but Sarah wouldn't. Amy, too."

"Sounds like you're trying to get rid of me, Shadow." The cat wasn't going to beat around the bush. "Although, you have a point. I mean no harm to him."

"I'm talking about Rosy, mostly. She might know Sarah's a teacher at the school."

"We could use that," Amy's eyes lit up as Sonic quickly shook his head, nearly standing up from his seat beside Sarah. "Sarah could go - "

"That's kind of dumb," Sarah acknowledged. She calmed Sonic by placing a hand on his arm. "Look, I'm familiar, yes. And I offer a female presence that might not seem as threatening to Scourge, sure. But I'm not going to make the situation better. I've never taught their kid, surprisingly. I never even knew she existed until that moment I met her. It was odd. Rosy didn't even try to make conversation - she was so shut in. Getting the situation now, I don't blame her. But I do think all three men going alone would spike her anxiety more. Which might set off Scourge."

Blaze nodded. "I agree."

"I know I don't have much say here," Sunny interjected. "But considering Blaze can be the more levelheaded one of the women here, I vote she goes. Granted, she's intimidating - no offense, Blaze - so I think Amy should go, too. Sarah doesn't want to be involved. We shouldn't get her involved."

"I think it's that simple, too," Sonic agreed with his brother's girlfriend. Shadow wasn't going to argue further and neither was Silver. "Ames lightens up the place and Blaze keeps us on track and focused. Scourge is going to be caught off guard no matter how many people go. Hell, I could go by myself and he'd still not see this coming. So, I don't see a point in trying to kick people out," he eyed Shadow for a second but the black hedgehog raised his hands out as if he didn't do it intentionally. "Let's stick with that group."

There was a pause as Sarah picked at the fabric of her sweater. Everyone else had changed at the time of coming back, as well. Most were in comfier clothes. Shadow wore jeans for some crazy reason. She cleared her throat. "So, now that you agree on who's going - what's the story?"

"What do you mean?" Blaze asked. "Like, what's our excuse of going there? Do we really need one?" she looked at Sonic.

"I don't think so. Once we explain ourselves and the reason for the visit, he either opens up and lets us help or he doesn't," Sonic shrugged. "Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be."

"Fair."

"Good. You have ideas of what you're talking about?" Manic piped in as two puppies tried to climb up on him from the couch. Their short legs wouldn't allow it, try as they might. "Just ask him about how he got started with Samwell and what his plan is for going against us?"

"And any information he has on the people that work for Samwell," Silver nodded. "Yes. We can let Shadow and Sonic do most of the talking. Blaze for back-up. I'm scribe," he said as he shook his phone in his hand. "And Amy's moral support."

The pink hedgehog fought the urge to roll her eyes again. "Fine. Just this once - I will sit back and let you do the work."

"Somehow I doubt that," Shadow teased warmly.

The shared look between Amy and Shadow didn't go unnoticed. Sarah hummed and twirled a quill with her finger.

"So…Sunny, Manic, and I will stay here to greet Rouge and Knuckles, then?"

"Oh."

"Right."

Shadow and Sonic shared a look together.

"Forgot they were coming."

---

The car clock glowed midnight, but considering he never changed it for Daylight's Savings Time, it was actually one in the morning.

His window was rolled down and his arm rested outside of it. He held a cigarette, trying to calm his nerves, but he had to get out of the house. The radio was playing some rock station that he never listened to, but quietly. He needed to do something he had never done much before.

Think.

Brown eyes scanned the area. It was just an old railroad yard. One of Samwell's warehouses on the east side of town. His house wasn't far from the area.

No doubt Margaret is there, wondering where the hell I'm at. Only for me to go back there so she can yell at me to leave again. Fuck.

He leaned back in his seat and took another drag of his cigarette.

The car was in neutral, running to keep him warm despite the window open. The yard was empty - no one was around it.

No meetings called. No men called. Sam must be busy up at his cabin, the sick fuck. Which reminds me, I need to get the backhoe over into the second pasture. That'll take a while to cover up tomorrow, but I've got nothing better to do.

No real paying job.

Any money that comes in is thanks to Sam. No wondering where he steals it from.

His ear flicked to listen over his car's motor. Another car was rolling up beside him. He watched carefully as the familiar car pulled to a stop. The driver didn't bother turning off the car, but the driver side door opened and shut. He watched the figure walk up to his window, pulling out a cigarette for themselves and lighting it.

"Nice night." The smoke he blew into the visitor's face was simply waved away. He gave a toothy grin.

"Charles." Red-orange eyes glared at him. Flame leaned against his own car - still running - and watched the badger. "Relaxing?"

"Oh, you and I both have at least one thing in common, Flame." He took another drag and blew the smoke in Flame's direction again. It wasn't his fault the hedgehog was right outside his window.

"What's that?" Flame didn't sound caring. He kept his tough guy voice on for Charles to smirk at.

He's here to get some answers and explanations, I see. Too bad he looks completely out of his element here. To me, at least.

"We both have insufferable wives, it seems."

"More like I knew you'd be here."

"Oh? Following me now, eh?" Charles squinted out of one his eyes as Flame returned the favor and blew smoke in the badger's face. "Isn't that my job?"

"You act like we both didn't do dirty shit for Sam at one point or another. I've stalked enough people in my life - you aren't the toughest guy to find. Besides," Flame flicked his cigarette and glanced around. "We live near here, Charles. I just need to check the closest bars, and when they're empty or closed, I just check here. Not that difficult."

"I could've been at home for all you know."

"Right." Flame mockingly scoffed. "Because ole Mags just loves to have ya around."

Charles didn't like how easy it was for Flame to switch back and forth. Earlier today, around everyone else, Flame showed his true self of being scared shitless. When it was one versus one, Flame was calm. Always. Charles knew Flame as one of the few members that got under Margaret's skin the easiest. Peter was just fun for her to pick on - Flame was a genuine nuisance to her. She refused to watch Flame after the first time trying. The hedgehog immediately knew and made it hell for her.

Mind controlled her to walk into a daycare center of all places. Charles eyed Flame at the memory of his wife coming home in tears, hot with anger. She threw half the furniture around. Had nightmares of Mobius for weeks after. He might be scared of Sam and what'll happen to his family if he doesn't behave, but I'm not an idiot. This man can be just as insane. He ran with Samwell the longest. He's got a record of some sort, too. Peter is easy to deal with compared to him.

"Keep her out of this." The badger bared his teeth, but Flame didn't see the threat.

"Since when are you defending her?" Flame nodded towards him in curiosity. "Since when the hell do you walk up like and just talk? I thought you were a mindless guinea pig, doing her work?"

"Fuck off."

"No." Flame puffed another ring of smoke towards the badger. "Not until you tell me why. What the hell was Sam gonna do tomorrow?"

Charles sighed, looking at his cigarette. It was almost gone. He smacked his lips together.

The yellow light of the only lamp post left in the yard flickered. The power lines hung dangerously low. The area was one that people didn't hang around and for good reason. The neighborhood on the street right across from the warehouse were low-income housing. A car across the street had a broken window in it, but it'd been broken for weeks.

A dog barked randomly a few houses away.

And there the two were - in the dirt parking lot of an abandoned railroad yard.

How romantic. Charles put his cigarette to his mouth and held it there for a minute. "What has Sam told you, Flame?"

"Not much. He doesn't trust me, remember?"

"No shit." Charles laughed with the cigarette between his teeth. He sighed out of the laugh. "He's only keeping you around to torture you, ya know? He's beginning to blame you."

"Me?" Flame glared. "Why?" He took another drag, getting more nervous by the second.

Charles sucked in, finishing the cigarette and flicking the ash onto the ground outside. He breathed out through his nose, letting the smoke head to Flame once more as he stared up at the hedgehog with dark eyes. "Because of you, he says, he wasn't with his family. He was busy trying saving you. He blames both the fox and you. The longer you stay, the more he thinks that, too, ya know?"

"What's the plan, Charles?" Flame closed his eyes, not caring for a single word coming out of his mouth because if Flame had it is way, he wouldn't have wanted Samwell to have saved him either. "What was he going to do?"

"That poor cat." Charles shook his head. "Peter was going to be put up to no good, that's for sure. Won't he be relieved when he sees Sarah's not at work?" He found himself laughing again. It was too comical to see through this two-way mirror.

"I thought Sam was going to go after Amy first."

"He probably will at some point," Charles rolled his eyes. "God knows I have to hear Margaret bitching about that damn hedgehog just because Sam won't fuck her because he's too busy thinking about fucking that bitch."

Flame scowled at the vulgarity. "He's sick."

"Yeah, well, he's found an obsession with many things and people, Flame. We shouldn't be surprised by that. Poor little Amy Rose is too kind for her own good - she'll get in the way sooner or later. Just watch. Catching her will be the easiest," Charles smiled softly at the thought. "Hell, we probably won't even see her - he'll whisk her away somewhere more private. Just the two of 'em."

Flame growled as he stepped forward, gripping the car door at the open window. He peered in at Charles and hissed, "Who's side are you on, Charles? Are just fucking with us after today? Or are you against Sam?"

"Pfft," Charles scoffed. He turned to look at Flame, their faces inches apart. "I'm not on anyone's side anymore, Flame. As far as anyone goes, Sam's stolen my wife from me. She stole any and all love that I could ever have for myself, humiliating me for over a fucking decade. They can both rot in Hell."

"And Sonic?" Flame asked. "The heroes?"

Charles took a deep breath again, wheezing a little bit. He stared longer. "Heroes. He should've stopped that mad doctor when he had the fucking chance - and he had plenty of them. And now my daughter is gone. I don't think I have to explain that feeling to you, Flame. If you keep on the path you're on, you'll know soon enough yourself."

The orange hedgehog hissed and backed up, trying to make the effort in not punching Charles. The badger made it difficult, though. "Shut up."

"I'm serious, Flame. You're treading water, trying to keep your whole family afloat with nothing to hang on to. Sooner or later, you're going to drown, and be around long enough to watch them drown first. Your choice," Charles advised.

Flame watched as he turned the radio up.

"I'm not on anyone's side," he repeated as he flicked the cigarette butt to Flame's shoes. "Not anyone's but my own. I've got nothing left to lose."

He didn't bother rolling up the window, he just drove away. Flame listened as the tires rolled over the dirt and then hit pavement. The car slinked off into the darkness, just its red taillights keeping it visible. Flame let out the breath he was holding as he leaned against his car.

Quickly, he finished his cigarette and threw it to the dirt, putting it out with his boot. He'd need another one by the time he got into the car. He drove away shortly after, back to his sleeping family. He didn't know what to make of the conversation.

It didn't exactly help their situation, but it was still comforting to know that Sam had planned for something to happen to Sarah. Earlier than what Flame thought. Ideas twisted in his head of what to do next - although he knew he should talk with Sonic first, at least. But still, he knew Samwell better than Sonic did.

Don't underestimate Sam, Flame. Keep your emotions under control. Don't do anything rash. Think of what Charles said.

He thought more of it - doing something stupid, that is - as he made turn after turn in the neighborhood. The first stoplight he ran into was red, making him come to a halt at it despite no one being around at that hour. For once, the neighborhood was kind of quiet that early in the morning.

No. I won't let that happen.

Flame wanted to punch someone, preferably Charles for what he said. Granted, Flame couldn't make light of Charles' past. He knew the badger had actually wanted his daughter. Margaret seemed indifferent whenever it was brought up - which was rarely - but she'd still go into fits. Like it triggered something in her.

I'm not going to become him. I'm not going to put Sonia through that. She will make it out of this alive with the kids. I'll die before I let anything bad happen to her, and I know Sonic would, too.

He felt some comfort in knowing that even with him out of the picture, Sonia and the kids had more family to turn to for protection. They weren't like Charles and Margaret. Not yet. They still had each other to lose, and by God did that put a fire in him.

Red turned to green.

---

It's a little rough, I'll admit. Especially the absolute information dump with Flame in the middle of the chapter. I'm trying to bounce back into writing for this story specifically, but I've started to write other STH stories on the side for practice (and maybe eventual uploading) and my style has changed a bit more.

So, I apologize for the choppy moments of me trying to revert back to how I wrote for TCG. But, after pretty much three years or so, here's the next chapter, and I hope ya'll enjoyed. This marks the end of Part One. Part Two will be from chapter Thirty-One and onward - it will revolve around Samwell's henchmen a bit more to introduce them to the second storyline that's taking place. The romance storyline is somewhat over for now, but the story will still be mostly around the main STH characters, not to worry.

Stick around if you want, and we'll see how this thing pans out together. Until then, arrivederci. :)