"I couldn't figure out what to day to anyone after that, for a time. I just couldn't…still can't get that kid's face out of my mind. He had no business on a battlefield. He should've been home, with his family." Tails wiped his eyes as he forced himself from crying.

"Since then, I kept tensing up every time I heard something that even sounded like gunfire." Tails said. "I pulled my nurse to the floor when one of the janitors dropped his pale of water on the floor. Then I dove into a closet when a jet flew over the building." he paused, looking at them. Cosmo sat next to him. Rosemary was next to her husband, holding him when he began to tense up from hearing the story.

"Eventually, I caught a plane back to Fort Cream. That's when I met with Major Shadow and talked to him about my status. I was evaluated by doctors and psychiatrists. They gave me some pills to help me relax, but I haven't taken any. After given three weeks leave, I'm to report back there, and see where they need me. But Shadow guaranteed me a simple guard position so I could take it slow."

"You weren't discharged?" Rosemary asked.

"No. I told him I wanted to transfer to Air Force when the war was over. So he gave me some numbers, and when I'm ready I just need to make some calls, and go through training again." Tails said.

"That's good. You can be a pilot." Cosmo said, smiling at him. He nodded, and smiled slightly. The sun slowly began to set as he finally fell silent.

"Tails, I haven't had a chance to say this but…" Amadeus said, "I'm proud that you made it through. And I'll always be proud when you're flying the Tornado for the Force." he said. Tails looked at him. He nodded again, and smiled completely.

"We both are." Rosemary said. He looked down again. He took a deep breath, and then stood. Cosmo began to stand, but he shook his head. They could all see the hurt in his expression. Recalling what had happened upset him more than helped, Amadeus could tell.

"I need to be alone for a while." he said, stepping down the porch, and walking out to the shop. There was a short pause before Amadeus spoke.

"Let's go inside." he said. He held the door open for the ladies and rolled in behind them.

"Is he going to be okay?" Cosmo asked, she was looking back out the door. She wanted to go back out, to be with him again.

"He's just got a lot on his mind." Amadeus told her, "He just needs some time to think. We can only wait for him to come around."

Cosmo could see the worry in his eyes, but she knew he was right. She still wanted to wait for him, so she stepped back out, and sat on one of the rockers.

Tails wiped his brow as he looked down into the engine. He sighed as he realized he still hadn't fixed it. He stepped over to the counter, and set his wrench down. He slowly removed his shirt, revealing his still scabbed over cuts on his torso. He dabbed around them, trying to get the sweat out, and set his shirt on the counter.

Suddenly, he heard a crash, that nearly made him throw his wrench at the source, but he managed to keep himself from lifting it off the counter. He looked over as he tried to catch his breath. He saw Cosmo standing there, now in one of his mother's nightgowns. She had dropped a plate with a sandwich and glass of lemonade on the ground. She was still holding her hands over her mouth as she looked at him. He knew she was staring at his torso. There was a short pause before Tails spoke.

"The doctors said it should close up just fine, just no fur'll ever grow where I've been cut again." he said, not knowing what else to say.

"My God Tails…" she said, "does it hurt?"

"Only when I move, and sweat. I'll be fine." he said, reaching for his shirt again. Cosmo then realized what she'd done, and quickly began to pick up the pieces. Tails grabbed his own broom and dustpan and walked over to help. It took them a few minute to clean up the glass, and Tails used paper towels to soak up the lemonade.

"What're you doing out here?" Tails asked when they were finally done.

"It's three o'clock in the morning. I was going to just leave them on the counter so you wouldn't be hungry. You're mom insisted I stay the night." she replied.

"You should head to bed." Tails said, turning around as he put his shirt back on, and grabbed his wrench. There was a short pause, Cosmo watching him get back to his plane. She could see him struggling with the stinging of his wound as he tried to reach into the engine.

"I love you. You know that?" she finally said. He paused. He couldn't face her. Not now. "I'll always be here. When you need me." she added. He looked down, his arm sagging on his side as he leaned on the plane with his other.

"I'm sorry Cosmo. I just…I need some time alone. Please." he said.

"Alright." she said, and turned. He listened to her walk out. Honestly, he wanted her presence more than anything. He wanted to listen to her sing again. But he didn't have anything to say. All he could really think about was what he was going to do next. All the time he'd spent with bullets and bombs flying over his head, he'd forgotten the experience of working with his hands in the quiet of the night. It helped him clear his mind, but he still somehow felt strange without the sounds he'd almost come to expect.

Amadeus slowly rolled out the front door. His eyebrows rose when he saw the shop door still open. He rolled down the porch ramp, and toward the shop. When he got through the door, he saw Tails, passed out on his feet. He was leaning on the plane, his head sagging on his chest as he let out a snort.

His hands and face was dirty with grease, and a wrench was resting on the floor next to his boot.

He hoped he woke up before he fell, so he carefully rolled up, and grabbed his hand. Tails slowly began to lean forward. Suddenly, he fell flat on his face. His head rolled slightly so he could breathe, and he heard him snore. Amadeus sighed, and shook his head. He rolled over, grabbed his broom, since he couldn't reach that far down, and began to poke his shoulder.

Eventually, he woke up. Tails slowly pushed himself up, and dusted off his shirt. "What happened?" he asked.

"You were sleep walking." Amadeus said bluntly, "Let's go, breakfast is ready."

"Alright." Tails said, walking beside him.

"Make sure you wash up."

"Yes, sir." Tails said.

When they got inside, he found Cosmo sitting at the table, as Rosemary brought the last of the pancakes to the pile in the center. He sat next to her and grabbed a few sausages. The meal was mostly quiet. Afterwards, Tails and Cosmo said their goodbyes.

"I'll come back in a few days." she told him. Tails smiled and nodded. He watched her get into her car, and drive off. When she was halfway down their driveway, Amadeus spoke up from behind.

"Alright, let's see how you did." he said, turning and rolling toward the shop. Tails agreed, and followed him in. When they got inside, the mood suddenly changed. Amadeus looked at his son. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Let's just see about finishing this thing." Tails insisted, looking from him to the plane again. Amadeus nodded, and rolled toward it. Together, they finally got the propeller on, and the engine to start. After Amadeus bandaged his hand up from when he found the live wire, they finished the engine, and went to the cockpit to tune the controls.

In all, it was nearly dusk when Rosemary came to get them for dinner. Tails was dog tired when they finally went in. All he wanted to do was sleep.

It continued for a week. He called Cosmo one day, to make sure how she was doing. His mother had come and helped with the plane every now and then.

One Saturday evening, after he took another cold shower, and was dressed in clean clothes he felt better, but he still couldn't ignore his exhaustion. When he sat down at the table, he heard Cosmo's car pull up. When she knocked, Amadeus shouted for her to come in.

"Sorry I'm late, a little rush hit just as I was about to leave." she exclaimed as she stepped into the kitchen.

"It's alright, we're about to eat." Rosemary said.

"How was work?" Tails asked.

"Slow until that last hour." Cosmo said. They all sat down, and began to eat.

"We're almost done with the plane." Amadeus said as he took a scoop of chicken soup.

"Really?"

"Yep, all we gotta do is put in the liquids and oil the wheels." Tails said. "We may be able to fly tomorrow."

"That's great!" Cosmo said happily. "Maybe you could do aerial shows someday."

Tails looked at her. "Sure." he said sarcastically.

Tails sat on the front porch, alone. He leaned with his elbows on his knees, looking down at his shoes as they dangled from the porch. He was still tired, but he didn't want to go to bed just yet. So far he was impressed that he hadn't upchucked yet. He'd eaten a full plate of lasagna, and chicken soup.

He turned and saw Cosmo again when he heard the door open. "Hey," she said.

"Hey," he replied, then turned back. She stepped down and sat beside him. He straightened up and put his arm around her. He held her close as she leaned on his shoulder.

"Tails, I wanted to talk to you about something…"

"What is it?" he asked. There was an awkward pause.

"Would you ever consider having a family?"

"You're a beautiful woman. I'm just a war torn fox. I'm still a little jumpy, and I still have trouble keeping food down. I doubt any kid would want to look up to me." he said, pulling away from her, and looking down again.

There was no pause. No time for thought. She suddenly grabbed his arm, and pulled it over her again. "I think you're a great man, Tails." she said. "And I think you're going to be a great father."

"If you really think that…" he simply replied. He just looked forward, watching a sparrow fly overhead. He froze. Then slowly looked at her. "Cosmo, what did you say?" She smiled at him.

"I went to the doctor after work to make sure. You're going to be a dad!" she said more happily this time.

"That's…that's…" Tails was too stunned to speak. He was flabbergasted. He looked around, his hands shaking from excitement. "That's GREAT!" He jumped up, and held her up in his arms. He nearly danced as he swept her off her feet.

"Cosmo that's good! How did you know so early?" he asked.

"Just a feeling. When I last saw you, I felt something. Something more than normal." she said. "I talked to my dad, and he told me to make sure."

"Oh my God, I don't know what to say!" Tails was so taken off guard, he felt like he was flying already. He wanted to fly through the air with her. To hold her forever.

"What's going on out here?" Rosemary asked as she slowly stepped out the front door, looking at them just as Tails set Cosmo down on her feet.

"Mom! You're not going to believe it!" Tails said, unable to control himself.

"What?" she asked, getting excited.

"Cosmo's pregnant!"

"Did I just here what I think I did?" Amadeus was rolling out the door behind his wife, nearly crashing through it.

"You're going to be grandparents." Cosmo said, smiling at them. Amadeus held his hand over his heart.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his wide eye looking at his son. He nodded, and smiled. "That's great news! We'll have another hand I won't have to pay!" he laughed.

"Oh Amadeus!" Rosemary slapped his shoulder. "Cosmo! I'm so happy for you!" She walked up and hugged her. "What're you gonna name it?"

"We don't know yet." she replied.

"Amadeus, if it's a boy." Tails said. She looked at him. He smiled and looked back at her.