Chapter 9.

This Is Home.

Team Sonic, Chad, Fara, and their newborn daughter, Clara, finally found themselves back home within the next couple days. And ever since then, Tails had been in his workshop trying out some new inventions. However, that was cut short one evening when he had invited his cousins over with their baby. And he also invited his friends over. And while they were over, Tails began telling them some things that he had wanted to get out. After all, he had finally completed his therapy sessions. And now, he found himself wanting to let his friends and family know whenever he wasn't okay. And tonight would be one of those times.

"So, you wanted to tell us something bud?" Sonic asked Tails at dinner.

Tails took a deep breath, then spoke up.

"Yeah... sort of."

"Oh?" Fara asked, holding Clara in her arms.

"I just wanna thank you all for... for letting me know how much you guys care for me."

"Oh anything Tails." Amy said.

"Thanks Amy, I appreciate that so much-"

Tails stopped.

"Are you alright kiddo?" Chad asked the little fox suddenly.

Tails looked at him, then cocked his head.

"It's okay bud," Sonic said. "You can tell us."

That was when Fara and Sticks noticed Tails' lips quiver.

"Tails?" Sonic asked when he too noticed.

The fox didn't respond.

"Tails?"

Tails folded his arms into himself as a tear escaped one eye and rolled down his muzzle.

Chad placed a hand on the young fox's shoulder.

"You've been having nightmares again, haven't you?"

Tails' body then shook. He only nodded his head slowly.

"You can tell us, no one's gonna judge you." Amy said.

Tails looked at her, then at Sonic. There was a pause as the room fell silent, then Tails walls broke apart as he started crying and hyperventilating. Sonic immediately offered the little fox a hug, of which Tails accepted as he buried his head into the hedgehog's shoulder.

Tails spoke, breathing heavily. "I... I... had... an.. another... o.. one..."

The young fox cried even harder.

"Miles." Fara said, using Tails' real name. "It's alright. I understand. I've been there too."

"I.. it.. w-was about... Castro and... an-and... Chrome... again..."

"Ah bud, I'm so sorry." Sonic whispered.

Once Tails calmed down enough, he told them about the nightmare, and as soon as he was done, he completely broke down and cried again. Everyone soon started comforting the poor kid; they didn't want to their young friend go through the pain of his past experience with the dreaded villainous bounty hunters; they wanted him to be happy.

"It's... the seventh one... I-I've had..." Tails added. Then he cried again.

"I-I j-just... d-d-don't know... w-w-why they're happening... a-a-again..." He wailed.

Sonic took Tails' face in his hands.

"I only know as much as you Tails. But I do know this; Chrome and Castro are never - and when I mean never, I mean, never are they going to hurt you ever again. They've been taken care of. The past is the past; and I know that you're doing everything in your might to let it go, but it's hard. But I know that you're a fighter. And an overcomer. And don't you ever forget that."

Tails had stopped crying by the time Sonic had stopped talking.

"Thanks Sonic. And you guys too."

"Yeah, you're welcome kid." Chad reassured him.

Tails only smiled.

"I just want you to know that we all care about you, and that you're more than welcome to tell us anything that's been bothering you, alright bud?" Chad said.

Tails tilted his head sideways and smiled. Then he looked at his niece in his cousin's arms.

"Baby Clara."

Fara smiled. "She's gonna be so brilliant, smart, energetic, hopeful, and most of all; she's gonna be a fighter just like her uncle."

Tails smiled again. Then Fara placed the infant into Tails' arms for him to hold. Once he had her, he gently rocked her back and forth. Everyone watching only smiled as they saw Tails rocked Clara back and forth.

Tails only looked into the eyes of his niece, knowing that he was finally at peace with himself. Someday, he would tell her how she had changed his life forever. And how she had saved it. Tails felt like he was at home with the people he loved and cared for. He know that they also cared about him also. He felt so much at peace as he felt the eyes of his friends and family looking at him as they watched him cuddle Clara in his arms.

'This is home. Right where I belong.' Tails thought, smiling at Clara...

And that does it. All Things New is officially done. Whew! I thought that I would never be done with this story, but here I am! YAY! And now, I'm going to work right away yet another Sonic Boom story. Yes, you read that right. Entitled, Pandemonium, be on the lookout for that one. I promise that it will, somewhat, carry on from this story. But until then, God bless you all! Until next time...

JalcoFox.