Chapter 3

Long Awaited Rebirth

"It's Her"

"It's really Her!"

These thoughts hit Tails like a truck, sending waves of joy and confusion coursing through him. The girl he had seen in his dreams every night for five months laying just three feet in front of him, unconscious. Months of pain, sorrow and longing suddenly came flooding back to him and only then did he realize the true extent of how much he had needed her. In truth, Tails had been somewhat repressing the worst aspects of his grief, no doubt a subconscious effort to hold himself together in case she actually returned.

"That's right…I didn't even consider it…"

No, rather he didn't dare to consider it, he couldn't. Because the pain had he been wrong would have been too much, so he did subconsciously.

Tails then noticed that Sonic hadn't moved or said a word. Looking over at the hedgehog, Tails noticed that he was staring at the seedrian with his eyes bulging out and his jaw hanging open, clearly too shocked to move. His instincts kicking in, Tails finally rushed over to his returned love and gently cradled her in his arms, not unlike how he had done the night they first met. However, this time Tails was clearly holding her almost bridal style, having sat down on the ground and placing her gently across his lap.

To an onlooker, it could have been seen clearly that the fox was afraid she would suddenly vanish.

Disregarding his still frozen-from-shock brother, Tails looked Cosmo over and noticed her chest lightly rising and falling, finally releasing a sigh of relief with the knowledge she was breathing. As he looked at her, he noticed she was exactly as he remembered her. Her pale skin, her beautiful green hair, her twin rosebuds.

She was exactly like he remembered her. And still just as beautiful.

He also noticed her amulet was gone and briefly panicked before figuring it was gone because it had served its purpose. He only wished she was awake so he could gaze into her captivating blue eyes. But she would in time, and now that she was here, he could finally bear to be patient just a little longer.

"She's finally back, Cosmo's back!" Tails repeated in his head over and over again. At long last she was in his arms again. And while he repeated those words in his head, he allowed tears of joy to run down his face. For once he wasn't ashamed to cry, to appear vulnerable, because for once he was crying with joy. For the first time in five months, he was feeling joy, feeling whole again. His angel had returned. And so too came the return of meaning in his life. And with it he could find himself again.

At last, his nightmare was over, thanks to a cosmic miracle.

Finally snapping out of his trance, Sonic looked over at Tails cradling Cosmo, a look of pure adoration on his face. Smiling at the sight, he began to say something when he realized the wind was picking up slightly. Hating to interrupt something so heartwarming but feeling it best, Sonic slowly made his way over to the pair.

"Tails, perhaps we should move her"

Tails' head shot up to look at Sonic and the hedgehog was slightly taken aback by the look of fear in the fox's eyes.

"No Sonic, please just let me hold her…please…." Tails spoke, his voice cracking somewhat and that's when it hit Sonic. Look of fear on his bros face was caused by a dread that if he let her go, she'd be gone again. Now it made sense.

Tails was still struggling to grasp that she was really there. Fighting within himself to dare to believe.

"Tails, buddy, she's not going anywhere. She's really here and I know because I can see her too. She's back" Sonic spoke softly and noticed Tails' expression soften, clearly with relief.

"But it's getting kinda windy out here, let's take her into your house"

"y-yeah…okay"

Getting up, Tails carried Cosmo bridal style into his home before (reluctantly) placing her down to lay on his bed.

"She's gonna be okay Tails, she's here now" Sonic said still working to allay any lingering fears the fox might have had.

"I know Sonic, she's here and she's safe" Tails responded still not taking his eyes off Cosmo.

"No safer place for her than with you buddy" at this Tails smirked

"your right, and I'm not moving from this spot until she's awake"

"That's the way bro" Sonic thought before deciding to let Tails be.

"Alright then, I guess I'll head out and give you two some time alone. I'm still processing this myself anyway"

"heh, I hear that! Later Sonic"

"Later!" and the hedgehog sped off.

Ten minutes…

He had been waiting ten minutes…

And yet every second felt like a lifetime. He was shaking with anticipation, his eyes not once leaving her. He wouldn't dare. As much as he hated waiting, he wouldn't leave her, he'd wait as long as he had to. Anything for her.

Finally, he saw her begin to stir, and his heart almost leaped into his throat. He felt the overwhelming urge to rush next to her from his chair, but held himself back, he didn't want to frighten her.

Opening her eyes, Cosmo realized she was in an unfamiliar room, it made her feel almost nostalgic, like when she had first arrived on Mobius. When she had first met her friends: the energetic (if overenthusiastic) Amy, the polite and innocent Cream, and of course there was that sweet and noble fox Tails-

Wait…Tails!

Her eyes darted around the room to find him sitting there just a bit away. His face exhibiting a mixture of boundless joy and uncertainty.

"Um..h-hi?" Tails nervously greeted her. He wasn't sure if she remembered anything, sure, but really he was nervous more because after what felt like a lifetime without her, mourning her, he didn't really know what to say or how to approach her.

He saw her start to tear up slightly and became worried. Did she not remember? Was she afraid?

Before he could say anything though, in a show of speed he didn't know she was even capable of (almost to comedic effect) Cosmo had rushed over to him and wrapped him tightly in her arms.

"Tails! Oh Tails I missed you! I'm so sorry you had to wait for so long!" Cosmo apologetically cried into his shoulder.

This was too much even for him to process at once.

"Cosmo…I..I…."

Finally his emotions kicked in and he hugged her back, beginning to shed his own tears.

"I missed you so much! I-I thought I'd never see you again! Please don't leave me again!"

Cosmo pulled back to look into his eyes smiling.

"Don't worry Tails, I won't leave you, never again."

Overcome with joy, Tails smiled back and held her again.

"I'm so happy you're back. Everything feels better now."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that Tails, I wish I could have told you I was coming back."

Suddenly, Tails felt a twinge of guilt in his gut. Did she say-?

"W-wait, you know what's been happening?" Tails really hoped she hadn't seen him like that.

"...yes, I could see you and hear you, while I was regenerating inside the tree, I wanted to talk to you but I couldn't. I'm so sorry Tails."

Damn. She did know.

"Cosmo…I…don't be. I just wish you hadn't had to see me like that…but you're here now, you're back. And that's all that matters."

"Thank you Tails, if it's any consolation, I was really happy when you came to visit me."

Tails eyes widened slightly, the full meaning behind her being able to see and hear him all that time finally setting in.

"H-how much of what I said could you hear?"

"Everything, every word you said, I could even feel when you would touch the tree."

Cosmo replied blushing slightly.

Now Tails was too.

"So…um…you heard me say…that…" he struggled with his words again and mentally scolded himself.

Come on Tails, she's finally back, you waited too long last time, it's time you told her.

"That I love you?"

Now he was completely red. But so was she.

"Y-yes, I heard you say that, and…well now I can say that…I love you too."

Tails' heart swelled upon hearing this, she loved him back! Cosmo loved him back!

"Cosmo love me! She returns AND She love me!…this is easily the best day of my life!"

Throwing his arms around her, Tails smiled with tears of joy starting to emerge.

"I'm so happy! After what happened I thought I'd never get the chance to tell you. I mean I sort of did but…"

Cosmo leaned into the hug, a wide smile on her face as well.

"I Remember."

What.

"Wait, you do?"

"Yes, I remember everything until I fully passed on, so to speak. I…even remember telling you the same thing."

Tails scolded himself again, how could he have not known? How did he not hear her?

It didn't matter now.

"I didn't know you heard me then, but I still love you just as much now as I did then."

"Oh Tails! I love you so much! I'm so happy to be with you again."

"And I'm happy to have you back. I can't wait to show you around. And I'm sure our friend will be ecstatic to see you again."

"Well…can we wait a while before telling them? I…would like to spend more time alone with you…if that's okay"

Tails struggled not to giggle, she was so cute.

"That's perfectly fine with me, just being with you is all I need."

Cosmo giggled "Tails, when you get so romantic?"

"Since I met you." Tails replied with a confident smirk

Tails and Cosmo had spent the last five minutes sitting on his bed, just silently enjoying each others presence. Eventually, they decided to go downstairs, just as the moon was at it's peak in the sky. Tails led Cosmo to his back door, he wanted to show her something.

"You'll like this Cosmo, you didn't get to see it last time so I think now would be perfect."

"What is it?" Cosmo asked with a hint of excitement.

Stepping into his backyard, Tails pointed up to the sky.

"Look, The full moon up there in the center of the sky."

Cosmo was absolutely enthralled. True she had seen a full moon before, specifically when she and Tails had shared that romantic moment on Planet Marmolin, but this was the first time she had seen one from Mobius.

"Your first full moon here on Mobius, the first of many." Tails spoke with adoration in his voice as he watched her eyes glimmer.

….the way she looked in the moonlight, her eyes shining with the moon and stars.

"...You're so beautiful." He said absentmindedly, completely enamored with her.

That caught her attention.

"Tails, do you really meant that?"

Tails snapped out of his trance and replied.

"how could I not? You're absolutely breathtaking Cosmo. I've…always thought you were beautiful."

Once again, tears of joy emerged in Cosmos eyes as she smiled back at him.

"Oh Tails, you sweet, loving fox, I love you."

"I love you too Cosmo, and I always will. Always."

Then Tails realized something, he was so close to her. Leaning towards her. And she was leaning towards him.

"It's happening! We're gonna kiss!"

The two closed their eyes as they closed the distance between them, their lips finally meeting in a tender yet passionate kiss. Thus they held each other in their arms as they shared their first kiss under the light of the full moon.

Reunited at last, the two lovers felt pure bliss, both of them feeling truly complete.

Tails and Cosmo were together at last.

Okay, see? I said things would be more lighthearted here. I don't usually write romantic dialogue so I hope I did an at least decent job. Plus I just HAD to have this chapter end with them kissing under the full moon. Invoking the Marmolim episode was just too tempting. But the story is far from over. Next chapter we'll see Tails give the grand tour. Till next time, see ya!