Grinning, the two-tailed fox approached the hedgehog.
"Sonic, big bro. It's so good to finally see you again." Tails whispered, a huge smile evident on his face.
Tails immediately grabbed his hand. Being careful not to knock the IV needle inserted into it. He wanted to engulf Sonic in a crushing embrace, but he was worried it would interfere with the wires attached to him.
"Tails. Oh Tails I've missed you so much... you've no idea..." Sonic admitted. Tears formed in his eyes, the whole ordeal being almost too much for him. He grabbed the fox's hand tightly in return.
"Sonic, I do understand. I'm so sorry, it's all my fault..." Tails added. He began snuggling up to Sonic's side. It felt so good to be close to his brother again, physically. He burst into tears.
"Tails, it's not your fault... it's mine. I'm so selfish..." Sonic spoke, in the weakest of tones.
"Don't tell yourself that. You didn't ask to get ill."
"I'm so sorry Tails. I'm sorry for everything."
Tails immediately arose from his seat and kissed Sonic on the cheek. He looked so unwell...
"Don't worry buddy, I'm here now ok. I'm not going anywhere." Tails said in comforting words. He continued standing over Sonic and now, he stroked the side of Sonic face in a comforting matter, just to reassure he was there for him.
"I'm going to miss you little bro. But please, I hope you stay safe and keep in contact. Ok?" The hedgehog asked sadly, voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm not going anywhere." Tails announced. Surprised that Sonic would say such a thing.
"You've got to, Tails. You will love it there and your parents-"
Sonic was caught off guard. Ever so carefully, Tails climbed onto the bed next to Sonic, being careful not to disturb any of the important wires attached to his friend, as he was still very unwell. He reached for Sonic's shoulders and gently pulled him into an embrace, rubbing his left shoulder gently. A sudden emotional outburst hit the little fox and tears spilled from his eyes.
"They're not my parents. You are. You raised me, you gave me a home, you gave me a name, looked after me through all the hard times... I want to be with you, Sonic. I love you and I'm not going anywhere, bar home, with you." Tails soothed, in a choked up, tear-filled voice. He hoped his words were enough to comfort his suffering friend.
Sonic stared on, vacant look still present in his sickly face. The heart monitor's beeping grew ever so slightly faster at this statement. It was just what Sonic wanted to hear, what he'd dreamt of for so long. But, he was selfless. He knew Tails was only saying this because he was unwell and didn't want to furthermore hurt him. Sonic slowly lifted his weak arms and wrapped them around Tails, returning the embrace.
"Tails... don't say all this because of me. I want you to be happy. Your parents sound like a loving couple, they can give you the love and needs I couldn't supply. I am ok, really."
"Sonic, look at me." Tails pulled away from the embrace and leant back, looking eye-to-eye with his big brother. Sonic looked on, with glistening eyes.
"I meant every word I said, honest. I love you big brother, you're my real family. I never wanted to move abroad, and I won't be. And I'm not returning back to my parents. They're not my family, YOU are." Tails explained, in honesty.
Sonic was lost for words. Tails went back and held his best friend, sobbing quietly.
"Tails... you're adopted now. It cannot be taken back, they own you, you're theirs now. I wasn't old enough..." Sonic choked. He drew in a sharp breath.
Sonic was about to let him in on the truth, and, it was going to tear him apart. Tails was stubborn, and Sonic knew he wasn't about to go anywhere, no matter what he were to say to encourage him. He may as well own up to what had been on his mind for the longest time, something he had always been too frightened to tell Tails. Not that it mattered now any way.
Sonic burst into tears all of a sudden.
"Sonic, what's wrong?" Tails asked, panicking.
"Tails. Y-you know when social services came round that day?" Sonic asked, voice completely broken.
"Yeah, I do. What about it?"
"Well... it's just..." Sonic found it hard to get his words out. The poor guy was so torn apart, sobbing heavily.
Tails had never seen his brother in such a way before. And every time Sonic cried, his own eyes would fill with tears. It pained him.
"I wanted to adopt you, I wanted to so bad and they, and they told me I wasn't old enough... not until I was 16 and they took you away. I wasn't good enough Tails!" Sonic blurted out, voice full of obvious hurt. He was crying so hard.
The look on his little brother's face was that of shock and pure horror. After all this time, he had left him... and because of Sonic's selflessness, he let him go, let him go and never told him the truth, until now. And he was left to suffer painfully, all because he was too scared to own up to the truth.
Tails' heart felt like it had shattered into a million piece, threatening to explode. He hadn't know any of this, was oblivious to it all. The fox was crying heavily, the emotion too much to bare. The adoption had been a mistake, cruel, horrifying mistake. He would never live it down.
"Sonic I-I never knew... oh my god..."
"Yeah. I wasn't fit to be a carer, they thought. I wasn't good enough. I wanted to tell you but, I just wanted the best for you... and I knew you would never be mine. Because y'know, I'm not good enough am I?" Sonic whimpered, his voice itself being enough to bring anyone to tears.
Tails hugged the hedgehog tighter. He never wanted to let go.
"No Sonic you're wrong. You're the best big brother in the world, there is nowhere I would rather be. The adoption was a big and horrible mistake, you hear me? And it's true, my so-say parents are millionaires and yeah they spoil me daily but you wanna know something bro? I have always preferred our home. And, I hate being spoilt all the time, the kid that has everything because it leaves me with nothing to look forward to! You are way better than them, and that's the truth." Tails sobbed, smiling. He was now sat beside Sonic on the bed, cuddling up to him.
Sonic giggled at this statement. He didn't know what to say, only that he felt like he was the luckiest person alive.
"I don't have a home left any more. I smashed it all." He admitted.
"It's ok. As soon as we get home we will both put it back to how it was before." Tails smiled. His tears finally let up, Sonic's also.
"What about your parents?" Sonic questioned. By rights, Tails was 8 years old and belonged to his adopted family. And, if they chose to Tails' adopted parents could have Sonic done for kidnapping the little fox.
"I will explain to them everything. And, you know what Sonic?"
"Hmm?" Sonic responded, voice still hoarse.
"I recall reading on the adoption form that adoption procedures can be reversed within 6 months, if the child is very unsettled. But don't hold me to this." Tails explained, looking hopeful.
"You're kidding me?" Sonic grinned, excitedly.
"Nu-uh. I'll show you when we get home!"
"Tails?"
"Yeah Sonic?"
"You're the best little bro in the world. Did I tell you that?"
Tails giggled.
"And you're the coolest, most amazing bro on the entire planet!" Tails replied.
Both of them giggled. They continued the rest of the day laughing and joking, just like old times.