Author's Note: This is set in the Official Paramount Sonic Universe, after the events of the first movie, so Sonic the Hedgehog movie spoilers if you haven't seen it yet. This will be mostly a collection of wholesome slice of life tidbits, but will contain some drama and family misadventures.

Restless Dreams

Sonic the Hedgehog was running down a seemingly endless Montana highway on a clear night. He could see for miles around him in all directions. Above him, the Milky Way loomed like a giant river of stars, cascading down towards a fixed point just beyond the horizon. He briefly wondered where his planet was, if he could even see it from here. Long Claw had said Earth was on the far side of the universe, after all.

It was early fall, and Sonic sniffed, breathing in the crisp scent of dying leaves on the night breeze. For a moment, he was immersed in his element, thundering past, a streak of blue light trailing his wake.

Industrial headlights blinded him as a huge vehicle swerved onto the road ahead of him, blocking his way. He came to a sudden stop and his ears flickered as he heard the high-pitched laser-targeting systems locking onto him. He almost stared down in disbelief at the red dots on his chest. He blocked the blinding light with his hands to try and see who was piloting it, even though he knew better.

"I've got you now, hedgehog!" Dr. Robotnik grinned, gleefully pressing a series of buttons on his open dash.

Several weapons began powering up, blasting forward as they launched towards him.

Sonic barely had time to dodge the missiles as he frantically reversed, back-flipping out of the way, running back the way he came.

One thought dominated everything else.

"Home! Have to run home..."

But something was wrong. He was running, but it was like the world had sped up around him instead and now he was the slow one. He barely had time to brake before slamming into the side of Robotnik's massive vehicle as it skidded in front once again to block his path. That was impossible! Nothing was fast enough to outrun him!

The impact dazed him and he stumbled backwards, landing roughly on the asphalt.

"What's the matter, Sonic?" He looked up to see Robotnik standing over him, perfectly silhouetted against the sterile lights of his vehicle. His red goggles flickered like flames.

"Are you afraid?"

Sonic gasped but couldn't breathe. His limbs felt heavy as Robotnik's hands reached out and grabbed him. His mouth was wide open, calling for help, but no sound escaped his mouth. He was screaming at his body to move, to kick, to run, to do something - but nothing would respond. Robotnik began crushing his chest with an impossible amount of force for any mere human. The world around him began to go black, darkness swirling, the stars falling around him, drawn into a black hole with Robotnik at the center. Worst of all, Robotnik was laughing, a maniacal cackle that hurt his ears. His lungs burned and he gasped sharply for air, choking.

"SONIC!"

Sonic awoke in a fit of coughs, gasping as he sat straight up in his race car bed, his now glowing blue quills tangled in his sheets and comforter, sweating and panting as a human hand reached towards him.

Sonic flinched from the hand, fearing the worst until he saw his favorite human's face staring worriedly at him. Donut Lord. It was just Donut Lord. Sonic's eyes were wide, his irises tinged with a bright blue glow.

"You're all right," Tom spoke quietly, his hand squeezing his shoulder gently as he peeled back some of the covers.

Sonic's heart was still working overtime, even for him. He opened his mouth but it felt so dry. His eyes darted around, assessing the situation in a matter of moments. He was in his cave, in the attic of Donut Lord and Pretzel Lady's house. Donut Lord was perched on the edge of his bed, dark circles under his eyes, his hair mussed up from sleep. He looked at himself and realized he was glowing again, the same as when he ran around the baseball field... and fought Robotnik.

Sonic swallowed and closed his eyes for a brief moment, but that was a mistake, the vision of Dr. Robotnik choking him was still clear in his mind. He yelped briefly, clamping his hands protectively around his head, instinctively curling into a ball, sparks of electricity crackling.

"Sonic! Look at me."

Sonic finally managed to uncurl and looked up, locking eyes with Tom. Seeing his genuine concern helped, but he was panicking, "Breathe," Tom said slowly.

Tom demonstrated for him, taking a very conscious breath and Sonic shakily mimicked him. He suddenly reached a hand out.

"Tom… I-I think I'm... dying," Sonic finally managed, pressing his other hand against his frantic beating heart. Tears were forming in his glowing blue eyes.

"No, you're not," Tom reassured him. "You're just having a panic attack, but it will pass. I'm right here." Tom took Sonic's shaking hand, holding it tightly, "C'mon, keep breathing for me."

Sonic did so, in and out, in and out. In... Out...

In a few moments, the vice that had gripped him began to release. He gulped and continued to look at Tom, eyes still alert but calming bit by bit.

"There you go. You've got this." The glowing in his quills began to disperse as well, sending little sparks of energy rolling away, fading into nothing. Tom was shocked by one of them, but only flinched briefly.

The next moments seemed to pass like hours. Sonic had no idea how long he had been sitting there with Tom in his room, lit now only by the soft lamp beside his bed, but eventually time began to right itself and move forward normally again. He sighed deeply, letting his tense shoulders finally relax. At last, his glowing blue irises faded back to their original green.

"Another dream?" Tom asked.

Sonic stared down at his rumpled comforter and sheets, beginning to untangle himself. He now realized he was hot and sweaty, carefully looking himself over.

"More like a nightmare." He grumbled, stretching and rubbing his shoulder. It was very stiff.

Tom sighed deeply, rubbing his face a bit before running a hand through his own messy hair.

Sonic's ears drooped. He realized this was the third nightmare he had this week. He felt his cheeks flush, "I woke you guys up again, didn't I?"

"Well," Tom paused a moment, head bobbing a little as he tried to figure out what to say, "Technically, Ozzie heard you first, and then he started barking from his kennel. But, hey, it could've been worse," Tom smiled, squeezing his shoulder, "At least you didn't sleep-run on the roof this time, right?"

Sonic swallowed. Yeah, when that had happened a few nights ago, he had nearly destroyed the roof (and some of the chimney) by zooming around it in just his socks. He was lucky he hadn't slipped off in his unconscious state and broken anything.

"Sorry," Sonic muttered. He yanked his comforter over his head, wishing he could've just stayed asleep, like a normal kid.

"For what?"

"Being a burden," he mumbled from under the comforter.

"Sonic, you're not a burden."

Sonic sighed loudly, his brows furrowing and his comforter rustling.

"Hey," Tom peeled back the comforter. He had a gentle smile on his face. The same smile Sonic had once appreciated from a distance for 10 years. It was so much warmer up close.

"C'mere, buddy," Tom opened his arms, gesturing him over.

Sonic crawled out of his comforter, plopping down next to Tom, leaning his cheek against his chest. For the longest time he thought he would be alone forever. His eyes began to tear up, gently dampening Tom's sleep shirt. Tom smoothed his quills, wrapping his arm around him.

"This will get easier," Tom said.

Sonic snorted, rolling his eyes.

"It will. I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but it will."

Sonic sighed again.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," he replied softly, leaning against him and closing his eyes.

"Alright... Well, I'd better head back to bed, before…"

"Before Maddie comes up to check on you two?" Pretzel Lady asked with a grin. She was leaning on the top of the spring ladder leading up into the attic, her head laying on top of her folded arms. She looked just as sleepy as Tom had been, blinking slowly, "I love seeing my boys get along. You're just so cute, it hurts..."

"For the record," Sonic said, "I'm not cute. I'm handsome."

"Mm-hmm, whatever you say, sweety," she said, yawning.

"Tell her I'm not cute!"

"She's right," Tom admitted. Sonic huffed, crossing his arms.

"I'm always right. Night, boys," She said, moving back down the ladder. She suddenly poked her head back up, "But seriously though, if you need anything, it's okay to wake us up, Sonic. We want to know you're okay."

"Thanks," he replied, and then added quickly, "Love you."

"Love you too," she replied, and then stepped down again, her soft footsteps echoing back towards their room at the end of the hall.

Tom smoothed down Sonic's quills, "You gonna be okay? I can stay for a bit, if you-"

"Nah, I'm good," Sonic said confidently, but then Tom tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe," he admitted, adding quickly, "You know, just until I fall asleep..."

"That's what I thought," Tom said with a grin, helping him straighten the mess of sheets and comforter, tucking him in.

"Goodnight, Donut Lord," Sonic smirked.

"Night, you little blue devil," Tom said, with a laugh, ruffling his quills.

Tom switched off the lamp beside his bed, watching as Sonic curled up on his side, yawning. Sonic snuggled under his fluffy comforter, pulling it up under his chin.

It had been so long since he had someone to watch his back that he forgot how nice it was to let his guard down and relax. He felt safe here, and more importantly, he felt loved.

Tom Wachowski lingered a few minutes after Sonic finally passed out again, his small chest rising and falling rhythmically, wanting to make sure he really was okay and not just saying so to make him and Maddie feel better. A snore whistled out his little black nose and Tom smiled to himself. Yep, he was out like a light.

The poor kid had been on his own for so long that he had trouble asking for help, unless he felt like it was some kind of big emergency. He'd been trying so hard lately to prove himself to Maddie and Tom lately when there really wasn't anything to prove. He and Maddie loved him and he was part of their family now. Nothing would change that, even if... someday he had to leave.

A part of Tom felt suddenly heartsick at that thought. It was strange how attached to Sonic he'd gotten in the past few months. Now he couldn't imagine a day without him. He hoped if Sonic ever did leave, it would be out of wanting to see more of the universe, and not because he felt like he had to go. He was still so young, and Tom thought it might be nice to have time slow down for once, just so he could spend a little more time with him like this.

Before he left, he brushed a few stray quills back into place, then carefully stood up, trying not to wake him, and crept down the attic ladder. Sonic continued to snore quietly as the attic ladder popped back into place with a quiet click.

The Wachowskis slept peacefully for the rest of the night.