It was Saturday morning, and Tails was due to come in just 2 hours. Today, Sonic had felt unusually unwell and lightheaded. He had forced down a chilli dog for breakfast to stop him from feeling any worse, but it didn't help his skinny figure any.

He felt so dizzy...

Sonic had put on a baggy sweater and jeans, to cover up his body. He knew Tails was going to question him about it, but his excuse would be that he was cold today and it was true, it WAS chilly today.

Sonic felt so excited. He couldn't sit still for a minute. His mind was racing. The first thing Sonic planned on doing was wrapping the fox in a crushing embrace, he needed to for his sanity. He secretly hoped Tails' parents were going to drop him off on his own, let him stay for a couple of hours.

Suddenly, the room started spinning, Sonic stumbled, head in his hands. The dizziness passed as quick as it came. Sonic went to have a lie down on the sofa for a bit. Why did it have to be today of all days? Even though it was his own fault for starving himself.

An hour went by, and Sonic felt he best quickly get on and start tidying the house up. Getting off the sofa, the dizziness returned and he could see red splodges in his vision, the hedgehog shook his head.

"Go away already!" He shouted, in an angered tone.

Sonic entered the cupboard, and pulled out an old brown throw for the sofa. It wasn't great, but it was a damn sight cleaner than how the sofa already looked. He then got to cleaning up in the kitchen, throwing away empty food packages left out, and putting the plates into the washing up.

He suddenly had a wave of nausea hit him. Recently, Sonic was vomiting too often than he should. He removed the washing up bowl setting it aside and threw up in the sink. His insides must be in turmoil, he thought. Whenever he attempts eating these days, he seems to bring it all back up, whether it be the same day or several days later.

It felt good to clear his throat, but boy did he feel unwell. The room started spinning again. Sonic had to hold onto the work surface for a minute, and he was hunched over.

Sonic instantly started to wish he hadn't left this clearing up business to the last minute. It was always a mistake. He just wanted to lie down...

It seems ever since Tails had left home, Sonic had been surrounded by bad luck.

Everything was going wrong, all the time...

Sonic walked into the lounge and suddenly his vision went black. The hedgehog hit the ground with an almighty thud, and lost consciousness.

Just 20 minutes later, Tails arrived outside. His Father was opening the boot of the car to pass the Christmas bag over to Tails. He had arrived nearly an hour and a half earlier than arranged, however Sonic told him he would be in all day, so he would hang around if he didn't answer straight away, no big deal.

20 minutes on and Sonic was still lying on the ground, unconscious, unmoving. It was true, Sonic had been having regular fainting spells as of late, but none of them lasting this long.

Tails' parents sat in the car and waited, until they knew Sonic was in.

Walking up to his former home Tails smiled. It felt so good to be back, he had missed it so much. He would never admit it to his parents however this house to him, made him feel more at home. He loved living in a mansion and all but it had no atmosphere, being so big, and Tails simply wasn't brought up in a large house.

He opened the rusty, old black gate, and immediately worry overcame the fox. The front lawn was almost up to the window ledge, it looked like an overgrown jungle. Sonic would never let the lawn grow this long, not ever.

To Tails, the house almost looked deserted. He hadn't been inside in months and he could already sense the place had changed too much than he'd like to imagine. Sonic had changed... he hadn't seen him in 2 months and yet by all their phone calls, he knew Sonic wasn't the same as when he left him, those months ago.

Looking up, Tails noticed the curtains were drawn, in every room... Sonic would never keep the curtain closed until lunchtime, unless he was sleeping.

Tails approached the door, Christmas bag in the one hand. He knocked several times. He waited and waited, no answer...

"Come on Sonic, open up!"

Again, Tails knocked, no answer.

Carefully, Tails peered through the letterbox but no sign of Sonic anywhere in the hallway. Where could he be?

Tails turned back to his parent's car and shook his head, they gestured him to come back and wait, which he proceeded to do. Once in the car, Tails used his Mother's mobile to give Sonic a call (he didn't own one himself). No answer. Tails was really starting to get concerned now.

Half an hour went by and no change of activity in the house, the curtains were still drawn. Tails got out the car and approached the house again, knocking harder this time, still no answer.

Tails decided to try talking through the letterbox.

"Sonic, are you in there?! It's me, Tails. Please open up!" No answer.

Sighing, the fox gave up and shook his head. Gracie exited the car.

"Tails, didn't you have a key to get in?" His Mother questioned.

"I do, but it's at home."

"Oh. I think we should give it up as a bad job, he's obviously sleeping or something."

"Yeah Mum, I guess you're right. Still, I don't understand why he wouldn't answer the door when he knows he's expecting me. I'm worried about him..."

"I know you are sweetie but there's nothing more we can do."

"And I was really looking forward to seeing him... I guess I'll have to drop the presents off to Lucy and John next door." Tails spoke, tears stung in his eyes.

And with that, Tails approached the much-better-kept-up garden of the Evans, with the bag of presents in his left hand. He reached the doorway, and knocked. The door opened to reveal Lucy, a tabby cat.

"Tails! My I haven't seen you in a while. Come on in!" She greeted.

"I would love to Lucy but sadly, I don't have much time and have to get back." Tails admitted.

"Such a shame. Ooh are those presents for me? How kind!"

"No no. They're for Sonic. Would you mind taking these round to him later? It's just we've traveled for 3 hours to visit and he's not in."

"Oh really? That's odd. I never see Sonic go out any more. But yes, I will take them into him."

"Thank you. Say, have you seen Sonic lately, or any strange behaviour?" Tails asked.

"I'll be honest with you, I haven't seen Sonic in a while. He doesn't seem to want to cut his lawn recently I take it." Lucy said, hinting that she wasn't happy about the matter.

"It's odd. I had arranged to meet Sonic and he didn't answer... and his curtains are drawn, at this time of day!"

"Yes, they do seem to be closed a lot recently."

"It's worrying. Any way I best get going, we've got a long journey back."

"Of course, take care love and it was nice seeing you!"

"And you Lucy, goodbye."

"Bye!"

And with that, Lucy closed the door, and Tails exited the doorway. He looked in the direction of Sonic's house, still no change... He climbed back into the car and they started on their long journey back.