A/N: Sorry for procrastinating, but anyway, here is the next story.

"Wait…. what?" Tails asked, confused and blushing at the same time.

"You heard me…." Sticks said.

Tails is still shocked at what he can't believe what he heard from Sticks. He was surprised that she actually had affectionate feelings for him. He was at awe about what was going to happen next.

"How come you never told me all this time? I see you in your paranoia state and never expect you-" Tails started.

"Shhh…. Calm down Tails…." Eventually, Sticks planted a kiss on Tails' cheek, and that definitely made him blush. "It's not like you've been on a relationship before, haven't you?"

"Uhhh… I was…. technically….." Tails stuttered because he expects that Sticks will do something against him for that.

"Really?... With who?..." Sticks asked, disappointedly.

"Ready for a long story about it?" Tails asked.

"Why not…" Sticks responded.

-2 HOURS LATER-

"Wow… I feel sympathy for you Tails…." Sticks said, hanging her head low in a depression-like state.

"Yeah… and that is the reason why I was going through depression since last year, I was so upset…," Tails starts to tear up. "That I had to kill Cosmo just to save us…." Tails finished, crying and crying at the mention of her name, and obviously he wanted to try all these years just to bring her back, but he clearly knew that there is no way to do it.

Sticks eventually hugs Tails as a way to try to confort him in his pain and misery of all the tragedy he had to go through last year. Even though Tails is still crying, he blushed to the certain action the jungle badger did to him, which he never expected it…

Sticks stood up, stretched, and yawned because it was midnight and she was exhausted and surprised that she was out here for hours without her realizing it. She was actually so tired that she started to get adjusted and start sleeping out in the open area. On the other hand, Tails sees that his badger friend is starting to drift off to sleep. He didn't even mind, but started to pick her up bridal style, which made both the kitsune and badger blush in embarrassment.

"Do you mind that I take you back to your burrow like this?" Tails asked innocently.

"It's fine…" Sticks replied with a yawn. "I don't mind at all, go ahead dear…"

"Uh, what?" Tails asked with a confused look.

Sticks realized to what she said on accident, which at that instance made her face all hot and started panicking and sweating.

"NOTHING! Nothing….." Sticks responded shyly.

-30 MINUTES LATER-

Tails had finally arrived to Sticks' burrow all exhausted because he was lacking sleep from a year of depression, but now the problem is how is going to get home in one place before he gets knocked out from drowsiness? Tails shook those thoughts off and stepped into the burrow and settled down the badger to her bed as she's at a half-awake state at the moment. At the moment she felt chills go to her spine because of the bed being very cold at touch, Sticks wook up and shot up to a sitting pose while still being drowsy, wanting to sleep again.

"*sigh* Thanks Tails for taking me home… I owe you one…." Sticks said sweetly.

"Aw, it's no big deal Sticks…." Tails responded.

"Oh yeah, which reminds me, the thing that I owe you, it will arrive at your house by next morning."

"Uhhh… okay?" Tails shrugged at the statement.

"Thanks anyways, Tails" Sticks said, while approaching him to plant a kiss on his cheek in gratitude, which made him blush. "Good night, and see you tomorrow."

"Uh…. right! Good night Sticks." Tails responded as he waved goodbye.

Tails was able to make it back to his home safely and was extremely tired by the time he approached his bed, that he was knocked out to be specific. He was SO tired that he started snoring just as he barely covered himself with his blanket.

-THE NEXT MORNING-

Tails woke up still groggy after so much time asleep, but it was still worth it because lacking sleep for his IQ level is risky due to loss of basic intelligence. As he was starting to clean up his room, he was hearing some unusual commentary from his and Sonic's living room. He was hearing background music from his favorite video game that was made for him and his friends and other SEGA fellows: Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed, and was playing his favorite racing course, Race of AGES. Sonic was just being his usual cocky self when he finished the race.

"Ha! I beat you every time!" Sonic praised himself cockily.

"It's like you always do…. I want a rematch!" ? responded.

Tails was familiar with the voice after the statement was said. His eyes opened really wide and was surprised to know that he actually came to visit. He opened the door to his room and stepped outside, up until the familiar person greeted him happily.

"Hey Tails! How's it going bro?"

A/N: hawk2274, your OC will make your official debut in the next chapter. But either way, I hope you enjoy! Please R&R.