Sorry for the late update. I've been busy and stuff, and writers block sucks, but you know. :) This isn't the best chapter, but I guess it'll get by. Things will get more interesting in the next chapter. I'm not really going to go into detail about what goes on for the entire months of Amy's pregnancy. Just the stuff that matters. :)

Hope you enjoy!

Calling You

Chapter 1

The weeks began to pass, slowly at first, and Sonic didn't visit Tails for awhile. The kitsune would stay alone, all day, all night, sometimes waiting for the hedgehog to at least stop by and tell him how Amy was doing. But all he got, if he were lucky, was a call, Sonic apologizing for not making it again, that he was "busy planning for the baby with Amy". Tails would always shrug it off; no big deal. Sonic was going to be a father. He needed time alone with Amy.

Then months passed. After two months, Sonic still hadn't visited. The kitsune was beginning to get annoyed, and his annoyance was growing along with Amy's stomach. He tried to push the feelings of jealousy away every time he talked to Sonic, because that was all Sonic wanted to talk about; the baby, and nothing else. Tails missed their long, pointless talks they used to have. Now everything was about "his baby". Tails knew that what he was feeling was wrong, and tried to keep the feelings at bay, but sometimes it didn't work.

Around the third month, finally, Sonic called and asked if it was all right to stop by. Tails agreed happily. It would be nice to finally sit down and talk to Sonic, face to face, even if it was about his child. After they hung up, twenty minutes later, there was a knock on Tails' door, and Sonic grinned at him as he walked inside, immediately plopping down on the couch. Tails smiled back and joined him, sighing as he did so.

"Long time, no see," the kitsune said, slightly sarcasticly, and Sonic chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah...I know," he answered. "But Amy and I have been so busy planning for the new baby and everything." Tails felt a twitch of envy. "It's been fun, but I've missed hanging out with you." He looked up at Tails, and his green eyes glittered, but Tails could see something was hiding behind the glittering of happiness. So the kitsune cocked his head to the side, his own blue eyes narrowing.

"So...what's wrong?" The question was blunt, and seemed to catch the hedgehog off guard, but after a second, he laughed gently.

"You could always read me like a book," he replied fondly, ruffling the kitsunes bangs like he were eleven again. Tails shot him an annoyed glance before fixing his hair. "I think that's why we got along so well..." He paused, as if trying to find the right words. Tails waited patiently, picking at a piece of fuzz on the couch. "I just...Everything's so weird now," Sonic finally said after a few minutes. Tails looked up.

"How so?" The hedgehog didn't reply immediately, and Tails smiled lightly at him. "C'mon, Sonic. You know you can tell me anything." The hedgehog hesitated, then nodded, and Tails couldn't help but feel yet another twitch of envy. Could Sonic even trust him as much anymore? He pushed the thought away. A new child couldn't change that part of their relationship.

"I...I don't think I'm ready for this," he admitted finally, sighing heavily. The barrier in his eyes was gone, and his eyes shined with fear and uncertainty. Tails waited patiently again. "What if I'm not good enough? What if I can't be the best father I can?" For a few moments, Tails pondered his answer, searching and picking for the correct words.

"...There's not really much you can do to be prepared for something like this," Tails said finally, looking down. "If you don't think you're ready, then theres nothing you can really do." The kitsune shrugged, and after a moment, continued. "I mean, you took me in when you were like, eight, and here I am. I think you did pretty good." Tails smiled, looking over at Sonic. The hedgehog was smiling as well. "So why should something like that be much different?" Sonic was silent for awhile, then he looked over at Tails, and green eyes locked with blue. It was so strange how they had that silent way of communicating, as if they could share everything just by looking at each other.

"...I'm scared," the hedgehog admitted, in a way that suggested he hated saying it. Tails blinked, nodding only slightly, as the hedgehog's eyes narrowed and he threw his head against the back of the couch. "I'm scared. That's just it. I mean, what if...what if..." He growled, and Tails reached for his shoulder, grasping it tightly. Sonic didn't look at him.

"C'mon, Sonic," the kitsune said. "Look at me. You raised me yourself. I really believe I turned out at least half-decent." The hedgehog chuckled. Tails smiled. "So, just did what you did with me." Sonic looked up again, and Tails smiled wider, squeezing his shoulder tightly. "You'll be the best father ever." After a second, Sonic looked at his knees, and nodded.

"Yeah...I hope so." After another few seconds, he stood, heading toward the door, and Tails watched him in disappointment. "I...I guess I'd better get back." The hedgehog looked back at Tails, grinning, the earlier uncertainty and fear gone, replaced with his usual demeanor. Tails couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks for the talk buddy. I appreciate it." Sonic flashed him a thumbs up, and started to walk out, but stopped. "Hey, lets go out tomorrow. Lets go...hell, I don't know. Lets just go running!" His smiled widened. "Haven't done that in awhile, eh, buddy? What about it?" Happily, Tails nodded, excited for any chance to get out of the house. Sonic grinned again, nodding at Tails, before opening the door and racing out, leaving Tails alone once again.

xxx

Sonic never came the next day. Tails waited for him to call or stop by, or something. But the hedgehog never showed, never called, and Tails went to bed that night angry and slightly hurt. He never believed Sonic would forget about him...

He woke up the next day, went to work, and came home. A normal day. He glanced at the answering machine, noticing Sonic had called a few times. The kitsune ignored it, still slightly hurt from being forgotten, and proceeded to his workshop in the back to tinker around until he got tired.

The phone rung four times that night, every call from Sonic. The machine would pick up, and Sonic would inhale loudly, as if planning to say something, but decide against it and simply hang up. The fourth time, he finally left a message, after a long pause at first. Tails leaned at his doorway to the work shop, listening to the message.

"...Tails, I know you're mad, and I know you're probably standing there just listening to me," he started, then paused. "And I know you have the right to, because I'm the one who asked for the plans, but..." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I really am. And its not the easiest thing for me to say that." A forced laugh. "But I am. And if you ever decide you want to talk to me, just call. I'll make up for it, I promise." After another few seconds, as if Sonic was waiting for Tails to pick up after all, he hung up, and Tails was left in the silence.

xxx

After work the next day, Tails picked up the phone, finally deciding to call Sonic. The phone rung four times before Amy answered it, her voice dancing through the phone line.

"Hello?" she said, and Tails imagined her standing next to the phone with one hand on her swollen stomach, and the other holding the phone.

"Hey, Amy," Tails greeted, and smiled.

"Oh, hey, Tails!" Amy said, and Tails could hear the smile in her voice. "It's been forever since I last talked to you." Tails chuckled lightly.

"Yeah it has. How are you?" On the other end, Amy puffed.

"Very pregnant." She laughed. "But it'll all be worth it. I've always wanted a baby, since I was a little girl." Tails imagined her looking down at her stomach in wonder. Tails nodded, knowing she couldn't see it.

"I'm glad for you and Sonic, I really am." He smiled, picking at his finger nail. "You two will make excellent parents." Amy laughed.

"Thanks, Tails." She paused. "I think Sonic wants to talk to you. Here he is." Tails nodded, and waited, before there was shuffling and Sonic's voice, way different than Amy's, came through the line.

"Hey, Tails," Sonic said in his usual cheery voice. "What's up, lil bro?"

"Nothing really. Just got in from work." He paused. "Hey, I'm sorry for not calling you back. I was just...I was really disappointed you skipped our plans. It was out of line, but...I'm sorry." Sonic chuckled on the other end.

"Nah, Tails, you have nothing to be sorry over. I should have at least called." Tails nodded, and was silent. "But, I just...you know?"

"I know. I should be a little more understanding. I will be next time. I know it's got to be rough with Amy pregnant and all." Sonic huffed in agreement. Tails smiled.

"But, hey, lets do something tomorrow, since I blew off last time. We could just go for a long run. That sounds awesome." Tails nodded, silent. "What do you say? Still up for making plans with the plan breaker?" Sonic chuckled.

"I'm up for it," the kitsune replied, looking over at the wall with the pictures. He smiled. "I need a good run." Sonic huffed.

"Yeah, I could use one too." He paused. "But I gotta go. Amy's yelling at me again." Tails laughed. "I'll call you tomorrow, and we'll head on out, okay?"

"Alright!" Tails said, and after saying goodbye, they hung up. Tails sighed, looking down at the phone and deleting the old messages Sonic had left before heading into the silent workshop in the silent, empty house.

End of Chapter