Author's Notes: I stupidly forgot to mention a couple of important points before starting the story. In my fic, ToS is not a game, the events were real and happened in a separate dimension. Also it's set in London, England! I think that's it. Sorry for confusion (have updated chapter 1 accordingly).Thanks lazycat66, you should go with your ideas! Then send me them so I can fangirl over them :D and RBL you rock! Thank you both for following :)

The weekend was a blur. By the end he felt a little more relaxed about the world he was in but became more and more anxious about his own. Where were his friends? Why wasn't the portal opening again? Did they even know he was gone or was this some type of dream he couldn't escape from? Was any of it actually real?

Reimi tried to keep his mind off things; despite spending the entire time indoors there was so much to do. Although he spent a lot of the time watching the road or briefly going for walks around the area, he also watched some 'tee vee', tried some strange new foods and played a weird board game about going to a party, which turned out to be surprisingly fun. Elsa was only around in the evenings as she worked weekends but Amy and Reimi were with him most of the time.

Reimi was also very patient and explained things to Lloyd without being patronizing. She at least seemed to believe he wasn't feigning confusion although he knew she didn't believe him entirely. The other two weren't as understanding but they did still try and keep his mind off things. Amy appointed herself as entertainment manager and diverted him with television shows while Elsa brought some of her brother's slightly too-baggy clothes for Lloyd to change into so he could go outside without drawing attention and fit in.

They were good people, Lloyd thought to himself, even if they didn't quite see eye-to-eye.

He was altogether too anxious on his current predicament to really pay much attention to anything those first few days though. He took greatest comfort in watching the road and, much to Amy's displeasure, showed no real interest in traveling to view more of their world or to stay focused on a show once the initial excitement had gone.

He acknowledged the fact that he might have been more involved if he hadn't been through something similar in Tethe'alla and was therefore able to take things at face-value. Life here was not so very different from his world, though there were a lot more luxuries and a wider variety of jobs. The people were not unfriendly though they did seem suspicious of his look and accent which he remembered Amy describe as 'American'. After watching a few TV shows and asking Reimi he discovered what the term meant. Again he took relief in the similarity to his own world. Different countries had different languages and dialect. Briefly contemplating traveling somewhere his accent would fit in he brushed the thought aside and decided it was best to stick close to the portal where he first entered Earth.

When Monday rolled around, Elsa and Reimi had to go to work. Amy had the day off from college and after trying and failing to do her work during the morning, gave into procrastination and spent time with Lloyd. The two of them watched some soaps together but, when she saw that Lloyd was growing bored, suggested they play a 'videogame'.

"Game? Like hide and seek?" Lloyd asked. Amy laughed.

"Not really. I'll show you," she fished out their Gamecube from inside a cabinet by the TV as well as a couple of controllers. "I'm not so good at these things myself but most men seem to like them so I'm betting you will too,"

Lloyd looked on curiously. When the console was set up, Amy pushed a round button on top of the purple machine and an animated intro began to play.

"What's this… Uh… oh yeah Sonic 2," Amy squinted, trying to read the writing. "Crap, hang on let me get my glasses," she raced back into her room and returned with them on. "Playing games without them makes my eyes hurt," she explained awkwardly and didn't meet Lloyd's eye.

"They look good on you,"

"No they don't," Amy sighed, adjusting them on her face. "I look so geeky with these on,"

"You look like a businesswoman,"

"…Really?" Amy turned to him.

"Yeah," Lloyd smiled. "Very sophisticated,"

"Well… tell my ex-boyfriend that," she began to unwind the controller wires.

"What do you mean?"

She sighed. "He would always say I looked super geeky with them on and wouldn't want to kiss me or hold me if I was wearing them. Said it made me look unattractive,"

"Well he's obviously wrong," Lloyd snorted, annoyed at the thought of someone so shallow.

Amy paused in her movement and slowly turned to look at him. "Yeah?"

"Of course. You shouldn't be with a guy like that anyway, be with someone who likes you for you and not for your looks,"

Amy just stared at him. Lloyd started guiltily, misreading her stunned silence for anger. "Sorry, it's not right for me to insult someone I don't even know,"

"No it's… fine. Thanks Lloyd," she blushed, about to say something more when-

"Woah! What is that?!" Lloyd exclaimed as a robust man in an egg appeared onscreen and began laughing.

"O-oh, that's Robotnik. We have to defeat him," she said, gripping the controller.

"We do? Wow, he looks evil," Lloyd laughed.

Amy handed one to Lloyd. "Ready to try? I'll explain the controls…"

A few hours later Reimi returned home from work.

"I'm home," she called out as the door closed behind her. Hearing no response except for muttering and electric noises, she took off her coat and bag and made her way into the front room.

Amy and Lloyd were glued to the television playing a videogame. Lloyd was desperately mashing buttons while Amy's character continuously jumped up and down.

"Sonic!" Reimi said, cheerfully rushing over and sitting down cross-legged to watch.

"Hey, welcome back," Amy said, teeth gritted in annoyance. "Come.. on.. jump, you fool!"

Reimi smiled. "How are you finding the game, Lloyd?"

"uhhhhh yeah, good… good good good good…" he half turned towards her but kept his eyes on the screen. Reimi noticed they were in a boss fight and so didn't say anymore until the 'Game Over' screen appeared moments later.

"Not again," Lloyd's head fell forwards in defeat.

"I just can't work these things properly," Amy complained, placing the controller down and relaxing back against the sofa behind her.

"Can I play?" Reimi asked.

"Sure," Amy stood up and headed for her bedroom. "I should get back to work now anyway, have to write an essay by tomorrow... And thanks again, Lloyd,"

"For what?" he looked up, surprised.

"Hah, nevermind,"

"Good luck," Reimi gave a thumbs up which Amy returned by playfully sticking her tongue out then closing the door behind her.

"You still want to play?" Reimi asked Lloyd.

"Yeah but… this level is impossible. And Tails is a bit rubbish," Lloyd grimaced at the memory.

"Are you joking? He's the best character! He can't die so you literally get him to do everything for you!" Reimi countered.

"What?! That can't be right," Lloyd frowned at his controller.

"Try being Sonic for awhile," Reimi held the controller she had gotten from Amy out to Lloyd and exchanged it for the one he had been holding.

They played through the beginning of the game again.

"Wow Reimi… You're really good at this," Lloyd said, impressed after they quickly cleared the first level.

"I have played this game way too much," she chuckled, destroying an enemy that had been about to attack Lloyd.

In no time at all they were back to the boss they had previously been stuck on.

"This is where Tails really shines," she smiled. About a minute (and several Tails deaths later) the boss was defeated.

"Oh my god, you did it…" he said in awe.

"We did it," Reimi corrected, beaming.

"Want to do another level?"

"Yeah!" She eagerly replied.

When Elsa returned back from work shortly after she found the two of them in an animated discussion, still playing Sonic.

"Why are the animals inside the robots?" Lloyd asked as his character emaciated one.

"They were robotosized and made into minions.. But sometimes he uses flowers instead,"

"…Flowers?"

"Yeah… so evil flowers…," Reimi let out an evil laugh and then, amused, Lloyd joined in.

Elsa cleared her throat, addressing the room.

Both Reimi and Lloyd froze mid-laugh.

"Sorry to cut in on you guys, but I was hoping to use the TV soon, there's a show about to come on that I want to watch,"

"Oh sorry Elsa," Reimi apologized, pausing and saving the game. "I didn't even hear you come home, plus it's my turn to make dinner…"

"I'll help," Lloyd chipped in.

"Thanks," Reimi turned off the console and set the aerial back to normal TV.

"Can we… play again later?" Lloyd suggested cautiously as the two of them got up and went into the kitchen.

"Of course we can!" Reimi beamed.

"Great. So anyway, how was work?"

Elsa smiled and sat down to watch her show.

A/N - btw the board game they play in this chapter is the Polly Pocket game 'Let's Party' and I used to play when I was little hehehe