A/N:I'm watching Princess Mononoke while writing this :P. Does any one else know that movie? I remember my uncle showed it to me when I was like eight, and I was all scared of it XD. Wow… it is creepy 0.o! Also, I went to see I Am Legend on Friday. It was so good… and I only screamed TWICE :D! And that's big for me, as I'm like duper bad with scary movies. I put off starting to write this chapter in hopes that I might get a review on the last one. I've never. Ever. Ever. EVER. Had zero reviews on a chapter. I know it was because I uploaded at a bad time, when the reviews were broken, but still! I'm heartbroken. It tore my self-esteem apart; and that was one of the few chapters I didn't despise! Plus it was a different sort of style compared to how I usually write, and I was really looking forward to seeing how you guys would respond… would you guys mind giving me some critique on it when you review this time :$... Or better yet, go back and give me a second review for chapter eleven?! This is getting terribly long. But, any takers…?

--LA

Yawnereffic. Same old same old…

The two children bounced on their heels excitedly, waiting for the ping which would announce their arrival at floor thirty-four.

"Why does our room have to be so high?" Felix asked impatiently. Leah looked slightly taken aback at his annoyance, and his cheeks flushed an apologetic pink.

"Don't worry." She told him in her usual, confident tone, "My mamma says that patience is a fur chew."

"Fur chew?" Asked Felix, his eyebrows furrowed. Leah shrugged.

"I dunno. She says it's something boys don't have, though." She paused thoughtfully for a moment, then grinned and raised her index finger into the air before her. "Patience is a fur chew, possess it if you can." She chanted, "Seldom found in women, never found in men."

They met each others eyes, and both broke into a fit of giggles, that grew into a full-throttle laugh-attack, powered only by one another's amusement. The long awaited ding of the elevator arrived, though they could hardly hear it over each other's giggles. Felix grabbed her hand, tugging her out into the hall, and back to his room, opening it with a little credit card which was, according to Gabrielle, the key. He excitedly led her through the kitchen and to his room. He gently lifted little Lucy off of a turquoise stone placed in her aquarium. He placed her onto Leah's hand.

"Isn't she great?" Felix said ecstatically, gently stroking the suddenly bleached octopus resting on Leah's white gloved hand. She grinned widely and nodded with great vigor.

"She's so pretty, Felix."

He beamed back, looking extremely happy with himself, and gazing proudly at the little invertebrate which brought so much pleasure into his panda friend's expression.

"So pretty." He repeated softly, though his eyes weren't resting on the same beauty that hers were.

"Mipro," Hina said with a huge yawn, dropping her head exhaustedly onto the huge book on the table before her. "I'm too tired to do any more… it's no fun any more."

Tails gave the weary child a sheepish, apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Hina." He said softly, cradling her into his arms. Tails knew she was not aware of the incredible revelations which had occurred that day. When, he wondered as he gently placed sleeping Hina onto her bed, would her all of her amazing talents finally reveal themselves?

Tails tip-toed out of the room with a fond smile. Little Hina had no idea how powerful she was. How incredibly powerful. He wondered when she would next "evolve" as she had those four months ago. Would it take a significant event to trigger it, such as Cosmo's sacrifice, or would she simply… change? His chain of thoughts left Hina, though, and fell upon the development of the next-door lot. The base of a good-sized house had been built over the past couple of nights. During the day, a semi-constant stream of hammering and shouting acted as a constant reminder of the nearby construction. He desperately hoped that the new neighbors would be friendly so that at least one good thing would come out of the loss of Hina's plants which were now completely destroyed.

He wearily contemplated what type of person he would most want for a neighbor. The first thing which came to mind was a friend for Hina; someone her own age who she could really be close to. Tails felt a sudden surge of loneliness and glanced at the clock in hopes that it was not too late to call up a friend. He sighed. It was half-past twelve, too late to call anyone. He would have gone to bed himself were it not for the fact that he felt excruciatingly wide awake.

He decided to go over what he knew about Hina. The first thing which came to mind was her powers and that mysterious, icy blue stone which seemed to power all of her amazing strengths. He knew that she could fly, and simply produce light using it, but so much more was developing; her newfound ability to, though simple touch, adopt other's strengths. This ability though, Tails know, should be tested further using different people rather than jus himself. He also wondered it Cosmo shared any of these powers, just hid them from the others. Thinking about that made him feel slightly betrayed.

"No." He muttered firmly. "She wouldn't do that."

Shaking himself from falling into those dreaded thoughts of Cosmo, he got to his feet and marched into the workshop, determined to distract his mind which seemed to be quite persistent on tormenting him. He cast around, desperate for anything to occupy himself. He took a seat at one of the several silver tables and snatched a random, half finished machine from a far corner and began randomly tinkering with it, not really paying much attention to exactly what he was doing. He jabbed a screwdriver into a small cavity, jumping back instantly as an electric shock shot up his arm. He withdrew his hand, eyeing the newly singed glove with a grimace. He jogged into the kitchen, index finger in his mouth though it hardly helped with the pain. He made to turn the tap and soothe the electrical burn with cool water, but knocked over a picture frame in the process.

He pursed his lips painfully to suppress a yelp. As far as he was concerned, memories came before pain. He gently picked up the shattered glass, feeling a lump forming in his throat even before his eyes fell upon the photo. He felt his heart break all over again, shattered like the glass of the frame. It was a photo of all of them; Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Tails and Cosmo, and even the Chaotix Team. Sure, the frame could be replaced. But even then, he would always know that the heart it was still destroyed beyond repair.

If only, he thought sadly, there was some way he could go back and stop it from ever happening.

"There's an idea." He muttered thoughtfully, placing the broken photograph back onto the counter. A time machine… that would certainly keep him occupied. Although completely lost about where to begin and seriously doubted he could manage such a feat, he ignored the stinging burn on his finger and marched away into the workshop.

Shaking slightly, Vanilla pressed a cool, damp cloth to her forehead. Over the past hour since that disturbing dream, it had been as though a little Dutch boy deep in her mind had finally collapsed from holding his finger in a flaw in the dike of her emotions. There had been a constant flow of overpowering feelings. Guilt, however, lead the parade.

"Mother?" called Cream from somewhere in the house. Vanilla gathered herself, wiping her face. She got to her feel and flattened the wrinkles in her dress.

"Yes, Cream?" She called back, her voice shaking slightly. She heard a knock at the door. "Come in, Dear."

"Mother?" Cream asked uncertainly, stepping inside. "Are you alright? You sounded upset."

Vanilla smiled at her daughter.

"I'm fine, Cream. Thank you."

Cream smiled sweetly.

"Okay. May I please go and see Amy today?" she asked, her hands clasped.

"I don't see why not."

"Thank you, Mother."

She skipped out of the room, leaving Vanilla alone once again with nothing but her thoughts and the little Dutch boy, who had finally awaken and resealed the flow of emotion. Vanilla took a deep breath, returning as close as she could get to her usual, composed self.

A/N:Eww… I really dislike this chapter : REALLY dislike it. I'm sorry :P It's so short, and has ssuuch an ugly ending. As I said up top, if you wouldn't mind, when you review, could you tell me how you liked the differentish style I used on chapter eleven :)? Or even better, go back and give me one for that chapter too :D! Thanks for reading ;) Bear with me, next one's going to be better. Promise ;)

--LA