Little hands,

Big hearts.

Make up a small child,

one who needs love.

One who can care.

Even when misunderstood.

Sonic had woken up on the outskirts of the city, more confused than ever. How did he even get here? Wasn't he back at Eggman's lab? Why couldn't he open his eyes? He could feel his body being dragged along, but by what?

"Shh, Sonic," a familiar voice was calming him. "We're almost inside New Mobotropolis." That voice. He knew that voice.

"It's alright, it's me Adamues. Tails's father. Just stay calm, we're taking you to the hospital." Who's we're? Who else was there? Then he heard the sweet voice of Amy speak.

"It's alright my dear Sonikku! We'll fix you up good!"

God help me. I can't stand that girl. She'll drive anyone to suicide just by her voice. And as if that weren't bad enough, she was helping to carry me. I want Sally. I want her back, not dead. Not hurt. Alive.

But I don't get anything, do I?

*Somewhere off into the distance….Eggman's Base*

"No! You bucket of bolts, that's not how you hold a baby!" Eggman hollered at the EggSWAT next to him. He had taken back the crying Ivo and punched the robot across its head.

"Thinking you can just go and sling a child around! Are you demented?" Little Ivo clawed his little hands at Eggman's chest, desperately searching for immediate comfort. The robot had been holding him like a small ragdoll, injuring his little quills. Yet, he couldn't even see the darn thing.

"And if I ever see you around him again, I'll de-program you, permanently!" The robot had lowered its head.

Yes sir. Your orders have been understood.

Eggman quickly signaled the robot away and continued on his way towards the lab, holding the small hog let in his arms. Ivo Jr. cried and cried for comfort, looking for some attention also.

"Please! Be quiet or you'll notify all of Mobius of your existence!" Little Ivo continued to go on, getting tired and hungry. Finally, Eggman gave in and held the small one close to his chest in a small hug. Ivo started to calm a bit, slowly working his way into slumber.

"Where to put you, where to put you," Eggman thought aloud in a whisper. He could always use one of the cells, or better yet, put him with the legion and have them take care of him. But that could leave devastating results. Maybe even arranging a small crib in his room would do, but the crying would distract him and wake him in the middle of the night.

"Hhmm, maybe that old storage room I have might do." Eggman turned quickly back around and headed towards the storage closet. Once he had reached the door, he silently reached out and turned the creaking knob. The door struggled open and the doctor walked casually inside.

Inside, boxes lied a skewed, some robotic parts scattered about. Towards the very back of the closet lied a few old personal things, like a photo album and some collections. Eggman scoffed at the items and decided that a simple cleaning from a few of his robots will do.

"After a good cleaning you can sleep in here. Maybe you'll even have your own learning room when you're old enough." Ivo only squeaked tiredly and crawled closer to Eggman. Even the doctor himself couldn't help but smile at the cute acts of the child. Maybe it wasn't so bad to have a son after all. But the thought of giving up ruling the world kept crawling its way back into his mind. He didn't want to lose the chance after all of the hard work he had put forward.

"Awaa…." Eggman looked down at the small baby who was relaxing on his shoulder now. There was no way he was going to ever give up little tiny Ivo. If he had to, he would even give up the world for him. Was this the affection so many spoke of him not having? Maybe it was just instinct that told him to care, not just a sense of love. Or maybe…it was.

"Okay. Time for you to go to bed," Eggman said slowly exiting the room. He had gently shut the door behind him and set off towards his own personal quarters. There was where his room lied and a few other rooms for certain things. On one side there was a recharging station for his robots and then on the other side was a gym he will probably never end up using. As he made his way up the hallway to his room, he stopped at his door for a second before opening it. He had to be certain that no one was watching him enter with the child, or people would get too suspicious. He had already labeled the child as a 'Test Experiment Not To Be Tampered With' when he had spoken to the many legionnaires from Lien-Da's legion. If he was seen with this 'Test Experiment' many would start to think he was going soft, others would think he was just insane. If that were the case, he would've never even brought the child near him.

Then the door clicked open as the large doctor entered himself in. He wasn't too keen on properness but comfort was his major concern. His bed was fairly big and had a few pillows; a newly added small fluffy blue one for Ivo. There was also a nice fitting blanket lying flat on top the bed, with a beautiful pattern of green and blue threads. It was a blanket he had received once from an old college he attended. The blanket was so comfortable that he took it and kept it with him wherever he was sleeping at. Finally after quickly scanning the room, he sat down on the bed and placed Ivo Jr. on the blue pillow and watched as he slowly curled up into a tiny ball. His quills stuck out like sharp spikes, probably due to instincts when protecting himself as he sleeps.

"Okay Ivo…go to sleep," Eggman yawned lying down next to him. The small hedgehog immediately heard this and slid over towards his father's face.

"What're you doing?" Eggman asked as Ivo crawled under his chin and lied across his neck. He could barely feel the small hedgehog lying there and lightly chuckled as the blue one started to purr. It was an absolutely adorable moment the two were having and all that the doctor could possibly due was relax and lay his head back more against the pillows. Soon before he knew it, he and Ivo were both fast asleep.

*Back at New Mobotropolis: Tommy Turtle Memorial Hospital*

Sonic was just waking up from a recent nightmare while he was asleep in his hospital bed. He was sweating terribly, gasping for air as his widened eyes welled with tears.

It was only a dream. Only a dream!

He kept telling himself it was only a dream, only imaginary, but the scary moments he had just witnessed, unconscious, floated back into his train of thought, thus sending him into a fit of tears. Never had he cried this much before. He was leaking out so much tears, it felt like he was going as dry as a pile of bones. Why was he crying so much? Why can't he get it out of his head?

Sonic sighed deeply and felt the need for a long run, but the hospital didn't permit patients to leave the building no matter what. So he was going to need to sneak out. Doing that wouldn't be easy, considering Nicole has the whole city under her eyes and she can record and see everything that goes on. Maybe if he got an excuse or he signed out now, he might be able to get out without any questions.

Finally, footsteps were walking by as a fellow kola nurse was getting ready to start the nightshift jobs. Sonic had jumped up and grasped the opportunity to leave and get the hell out of there.

"Umm excuse me?" Sonic asked as he ran from the room in front of the kola, frightening her a bit. "Can I please sign out? I feel a lot better now and I just need a run and…well yeah." The kola was a bit stunned to reply quickly, but after a long moment she nodded and led him to the main lobby where she allowed him to sign out quickly. Sonic shakingly signed his signature and gave a slightly mumbled 'Thanks' as he swiftly walked out of the main doors of the hospital.

Outside, it was a peaceful night with the full moon shining brightly. Chao played in the nearby lake and thrived happily as if nothing bad was ever going on in the world outside the huge city. But Sonic just kept looking straight ahead knowing the chao were absolutely innocent and would never truly experience the pain and sorrows of this cruel world. Especially not murder. Not murder like he had seen done to Sally on their calm walk just a few weeks ago. After he had gotten back from Eggman's base, he was taken in to the hospital after lying nearly dead on the outskirts of the city.

Eggman.

His name had just come to mind after he had started to think back again. Something was bothering him about the familiar doctor, something he had never felt about him before. He was feeling quite different indeed, a sudden blush coming across his muzzle. Was he thinking good things of the doctor? But why? Was it because he allowed Sonic to live and not get legionized?

Sonic didn't even notice how he was already outside the city, alone, walking along the forestry grass path leading into the Great Forest. Something was going on with him, so he had quickly stopped for a rest. Silently, he slid his back down against a tree and sat there confused. He already made it out into the forest, totally distracted by the thoughts flying in his mind. Eggman. Eggman. Eggman. That's all he could think of right now.

Remember the doctor's menacing stare, Sonic closed his eyes and breathed in and out calmly. Something was so reassuring about Eggman that Sonic started to feel real jealous of the doctor. What's wrong with him? Then the memory of Eggman touching Sonic's side as he was lied down on the lab table while he was terribly injured flowed freely throughout his mind. Other thoughts of other several events also came to mind. Especially the ones of Sonic being watched by the doctor and being touched by him too.

Then, lifting his hand up to his left side near the top of his chest, he slowly moved his hand around his chest and down his sides, feeling the soft memorable touch of Eggman, even at his darkest plans. Sonic blushed more as he moved both of his hands up and down his sides, imagining the doctor's large hands moving down and pushing gently on him instead. He didn't even notice how much he was arousing himself as he pleasured his own body by his own touch. Was this the masturbation so many older mobians spoke of? The terrible, terrible secret of lust?

Sonic didn't even care about these questions as he slowly slid his hand down near his lower area. That's when he started to blush heavily. He kept imagining it was Eggman doing the hand gestures, as this was setting him off madly. Why was it his worst enemy he was being fakely pleasured by instead of someone he truly loved, like Sally? Was he in denial, or worse yet, did he lose all love for the late princess? Something was wrong. He shouldn't be thinking so loving of his nemesis.

Everything was going way too quick for the speedy blue hedgehog as he opened his eyes and returned his hands back to the ground near his legs to hold him up right while sitting. He opened his eyes and looked down at his scrawny body. Who would ever want something as small as him? No one wants an annoying, unloved hedgehog like him. Or would they? He didn't exactly know how to answer those questions, but he did know one thing.

He was falling for Eggman.