Musicalocet: Yeah, I know...but it's about to get even more intense. Lancelot's just trying to be a father, though he can get too protective sometimes. Well, we'll just have to wait to see what happens next. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: All Sonic characters belong to Sega. All OCs belong to me. Translation credits to Google Translate.

Chapter 13: Behind the Door

"Wait, so you sneaked out to come here?" the now 16-year-old Tyrone exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.

Elizabeth scoffed and shrugged it off nonchalantly. "Of course I did. This is the only place I can actually be listened to."

"But you said to my mom you just needed to be watched until your dad came back from a journey. Elizabeth!"

"What!?" she shouted already frustrated. She swore this kid was such a goody.

"You snuck out," the green hedgehog announced, "He's going to be upset when he finds you."

Tyrone's stern gaze changed into one of worry as his best friend just continued to glare at her feet. He sighed and brought his hands on her shoulders. He turned her body to face him but her eyes still averted his gaze. "Hey, Izzy?" he softly said. She grunted, "What?"

He chuckled at her childish behavior. Slowly he brought his face closer to hers. Elizabeth couldn't help but notice sudden warmth on her muzzle. Before she knew it, her nose and Tyrone's were touching and this caused her cheeks to heat up terribly. But it didn't stop there. He brought them together even closer. She could feel his warm breath on her lips. Her heart started to pound against her chest as she realized his lips were parted. Was he going to kiss her?

Was he?

Right when their lips were ready to make contact his head froze and a big smirk etched itself onto his face.

"Take a chill pill," he whispered before backing away.

For moments Elizabeth sat there, flushing. It took her a few minutes to process what happened before she punched Tyrone's arm. He broke out into hysterics as the ebony girl just crossed her arms and glared at him.

"I should kill you right now," she mumbled more to herself than him.

Tyrone rolled his eyes. "Oh, you wouldn't be able to survive without me Izzy. Now," he wiped a tear from his eye and continued, "I'll help you with your problem. I think-"

"You should talk with your father dear," said a soft spoken voice. The two teenagers quickly shot their heads to the door to see a beautiful woman with a warm smile on her face. Elizabeth gawked at her and then gasped in surprise she quickly stood up, Tyrone following suit.

"Mother?" he exclaimed surprised.

"M-Mrs. Hedgehog," Elizabeth stuttered, flushing in shame and embarrassment.

The emerald mother of Tyrone put a hand to her mouth trying to stop her giggle. She already knew what was going on and what was happening. It wasn't hard seeing as she could tell when Elizabeth lied. It was….a mother's tuition.

"I already know sweetie, and I think it's better if you just discuss things over with your father," she sweetly said.

Elizabeth scowled at this and crossed her arms yet again. Why would she even try to talk to him? It wasn't as if he would listen. All her father ever did was push her around and tell her what to do. She couldn't just let him keep doing that! It was her right to be happy, and if she wanted to train, well, darn it, she would. She shook her head turning it. "It's not like it would change anything. He wouldn't care," she muttered.

"Oh yes he would. Honey, your father cares a lot about you. In fact, he's been worrying where you've been."

At this Elizabeth's eyes widened. She turned her full body towards the hedgehog she called her "mother". "Is-is he…here?"

Mrs. Hedgehog's head nodded gently as she walked over to grab both of the teenager's hands. Her bright blue, beautiful, motherly eyes brought a bit of peace into the girl's panicking heart. She softly smiled rubbing her thumbs against Elizabeth's knuckles.

"Sweetie, please try to talk to him. I beg you. I have never heard your father that worried in a while," Mrs. Hedgehog said.

Elizabeth sighed. Unfortunately for her, Tyrone's mother was very much a mother to her and she just had that tone that made her want to follow her orders. Growing up without one, she quickly filled the empty space. She was very much like one when there was a situation that needed one and Lancelot just couldn't do fill in. For example, the time she had gotten her period, both Elizabeth and Lancelot weren't taking the situation very well and they both were lucky to have the green hedgehog pass by. So, in all, Mrs. Hedgehog earned her place as a motherly figure in Elizabeth's eyes.

"Alright, I'll-I'll try to talk to him," she mumbled, hesitantly.

Tyrone's mother nodded with relief. "Alright, let us meet go to your father then, hm?"

Following the older woman Tyrone and Elizabeth silently walked, the ebony teen regretting every step. They soon made it to the family room where they saw Lancelot pace up and down before the couch. The crimson splashed male had his hand in his mouth, chewing on his nails and mumbling incoherent sentences. He would snarl every moment or so.

"Lancelot," Mrs. Hedgehog announced.

The knight's head snapped towards her. His eyes laid on her for a second before shooting over to his daughter who crossed her arms, rolling her eyes, and scoffing in irritation. Immediately a deep scowl etched its way on his face as his lips curled back in a snarl. He clenched his fists and in no later than a second was he shouting, "Elizabeth Ann du Lac, where in heaven's name have you been? You've had me searching everywhere for you!"

Elizabeth glared icily over to him stepping towards the fuming male. She clenched her own fists, fangs bared. "It hasn't even been five minutes and you're already screaming at me. Mrs. Hedgehog, I'm sorry but I've tried and he's already run my patience low. I'm going back to the room," she huffed.

She gasped in surprise as Lancelot grabbed her arm. "You are not going anywhere," he seethed dangerously, "We are going back to the house and that is final!" Elizabeth struggled in his iron grip. He wouldn't let go but she wouldn't stop fighting.

"Lancelot!" cried Mrs. Hedgehog.

"Let me go!" Elizabeth howled.

This only caused Lancelot to grip her other arm and struggle to keep her contained. He backed her into a wall having enough of her behavior. "Stop acting like a child and act like the young woman you are!" he shouted, "This only proves how you cannot go near a sword. You're too much of child."

Elizabeth ceased all her movements and scowled angrily at her father. "Too much of child? Me? You're the one acting like a child. You're the one having a fit about me training. All you care about is what you want. Training is the only thing that makes me truly happy but you don't even care. That's all you ever want, to make me unhappy," she yelled.

"How dare you say that? All I ever want is for you to grow up safe and happy and by disobeying me, and going behind my back for three years too? And on top of that you sneak out? Elizabeth, there will be consequences to your actions. Why can't you understand that swords are dangerous?" Lancelot barked.

"Why would you keep me from something you spend your whole day with, huh?" she whispered, panting, "Daddy," tears pooled her lids, "why?"

She didn't want to fight him anymore. All the adrenaline and rage left her system in a snap. Elizabeth just wanted to know why. Why was she forbidden from something he knew so well? Why was she forbidden from the one thing she was so fascinated in her whole life? It didn't make sense. It just didn't make any sense. Sir Lancelot, the greatest knight of the Round Table was upset that his daughter handled a sword; did that make any sense? There had to be a reason other then they were just dangerous. There just had to be.

Lancelot didn't know what to say. In fact, he started to panic and Elizabeth took note of that right away. His wide, alarmed, eyes and slightly ajar mouth gave it all away. It was obvious to a blind man.

"Are you hiding from me, father? Is there something I should know?" she said, brow raised as she stepped towards him.

Lancelot released his hold from her and took a step back in alarm. He then seemed to rearrange his mind before frowning and shouting, "You deliberately disobeyed me. I never want you going near another sword again, do you hear me? They're dangerous and I don't want to hear another word about it!"

Her eyes turned a light purple as tears strolled down her cheeks. She shook her head in peril and bowed her head. With the last of her boldness she cried, "Anata mo, watashi ni mimiwokatamukeru koto wa arimasen. Watashi wa, anata ga watashinochichide wa nakatta negai." She covered her eyes with her hands and ran out the front door.

"Elizabeth!" Lancelot shouted after her. He shook his head and ran towards the door. Before exiting, he quickly said, "I'm sorry for all the troubles. I'll make sure to properly thank you for your help tomorrow." And with that he chased after his daughter.

Tyrone just stared to where the whole scene took place with wide eyes. His ears drooped down a moment later. He began to play with his fingers. The young man heard a deep sigh come from his mother.

"That was…."she trailed.

"Yeah. I know," he finished knowing exactly what she meant. "I just hope they can sort out their differences and compromise. I feel really bad that they're both so stressed. I mean, if they just talked to each other, without screaming, everything would work out, I bet," Tyrone said. He scowled at the ground as the picture of Elizabeth crying flashed into his mind. He didn't know what but that picture bothered him so much. "I don't like to see Izzy so upset."

"Sounds like you care a lot about her, honey," his mother said with a soft smile.

Tyrone rubbed the back of his neck and blushed. "Well, I kind of do. It's just, it upsets me when she's upset." He looked at his hands and groaned throwing them in the air. "Stupid feeling won't get out of my chest. Mom, I think something's wrong with my chest."

He raised a brow in question as she giggled.

"What?" he asked incredulously.

"You're just like your father," she laughed walking into the kitchen.

He followed after her. "Wait, what do you mean?"

(0…)

Lancelot looked towards the shut door in silence. She hadn't come out of her room since last night, and it was noon. He sighed with melancholy. Elizabeth was really upset this time, and for once, he couldn't blame her. After going through the scene thousands of times over, in his head, Lancelot had time to really evaluate the situation. And he came to a conclusion.

He was a horrible father.

He protected her. He defended her. He looked out for her. He cared for her. He loved her. But he never listened. He just took control and said what he said, making it final. Lancelot didn't allow her to speak her side of the story and really listen to what his daughter had to say. No, instead he spoke and cut it off. And when he did listen, he never truly did. The words came in one ear and exited out the other and that's what drove this relationship down the sink.

Lancelot was trying to protect her from something she was bound to be inseparable from. He was trying to keep her from something that was a part of her, and he was trying to ignore the fact that it was something that ran in her blood. The need to touch and learn the ways of a sword was never something unordinary to the ebon knight. He knew each shot of adrenaline and each string of excitement that came with just looking at one. It was wrong attempting to keep her away from a sword. He should've never shut her away from it in the first place. It would only make their lives harder and that was something he was trying to avoid.

Obviously he was horrible at that too.

The midnight clad breathed out another heavy sigh before standing from his sitting position. He strolled steadily to the closed door, the only thing keeping him apart from his daughter and a brick wall which he helped build. Lancelot put a hand on the door, resting his head on it.

"Elizabeth," he called out softly. He waited for the silent answer he was given. He sighed. "Elizabeth, I know you are upset with me, but could you come out to eat? You've missed supper last night and breakfast. You are about to miss lunch also," he said.

The crimson splashed hedgehog's ears lowered as all he received was silence, again. Lancelot pressed his forehead against the door and closed his eyes, praying for strength. His heart ached terribly from this. To not have his daughter speak to him made his stomach drop below the ground. And to know that she hated him, wished she weren't related to him…well, it hurt. It hurt so much more than when he found out Lenora had died. If Lenora were still alive she would know what to say and what to do in this situation. Oh, how he missed her so much. He seemed to have a habit of losing the most important people of his life.

Lancelot sunk to floor, tears in his eyes. The pain he felt was over-whelming. It was intolerable. He questioned how he was still breathing. He just wanted his daughter back. He didn't care if she went behind his back anymore. As long as he could feel her in his arms and rest his chin on her head that would make his day. Lancelot just wanted to be able to whisper how much he loved her in her ear and kiss her forehead so many times, he would be sure she was covered in his DNA. He wanted to pounce on her and just start tickling her until her insides split. He wanted to see her shining orbs glow purple, not red. He wanted to hear her angel-like voice tell him how much she loved him and he wanted to feel her embrace him in return. To just see her would make his heart leap. It was all he wanted now. He just wanted his Elizabeth back.

"My love," he choked back a sob, "I-I know I've hurt you and I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I never meant to sound as if I don't care about you. You know I love you more then life, right? I would do anything to protect you and I guess…" he trailed off looking at his hand. He remembered all the times she held it. He could remember the warmth and love he could feel just by touching her hand. A small smile made its way onto his tear soaked lips. "I guess I let that blind me from your happiness. You may not be listening, but if you hear me, I just want you to know that I love you so much. My dear, I would do anything for you and I never meant to hurt you. I hope you understand that. I will be at the training site for the rest of the afternoon."

Lancelot got up from his kneeling location and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes. He softly smiled at the door before turning his back on it. "If you need anything, even if you just want to yell at me, I'll be there. I've left your lunch on the table in case you get hungry." He waited for any reply but got none. He began to walk on towards the front door, and when he reached it he whispered, "I love you Elizabeth." He then closed it, leaving the house.

On the other side of that white painted door was the young ebony girl staring straight ahead of her. Her face blank of any emotion whatsoever. She sat, her back against the door, legs against her chest. Slowly she hugged her arms around her legs, pulling them tighter against herself. Elizabeth had listened to every word her father had said. She had just waited for them to absorb so she could start crying but surprisingly the tears never came. Lancelot's feelings and emotions that he poured into every single words rattled her body on the inside. They brought chills to her arms and they echoed within the depths of her mind.

Was it right for her to hold him against everything? Was it right for her to continue to hate him with every being of her fiber? Did she really have anything to accomplish now? Wasn't this what she wanted, for him to apologize and realize his mistake? Yes, initially she wanted that, but now that it happened, what next? His confession didn't help with the anger that still boiled within her heart. She even heard him cry yet it didn't change anything.

She considered getting up and running after him and just embracing him. Just to reassure him and have his strong arms protect her from anything and everything in this world. And with that in mind, Elizabeth almost got up. She almost ran out the door, after Lancelot. She almost started to sprout the tears that threatened to fall yet it never happened. She just remained in her spot and lowered her head to her knees. She whispered, "Oh, daddy," before shaking her head sadly.

No…just, no.

Translations:

Anata mo, watashi ni mimiwokatamukeru koto wa arimasen. Watashi wa, anata ga watashinochichide wa nakatta negai

You won't even listen to me. I wish you weren't my father.

Aww...I kind of wish I didn't enjoy writing this piece. PoorLancelot. it sounds like he's really hurting. Elizabeth won't get off her butt and go to him. Why does it always have to be that one person who makes everything difficult. (Sigh) Oh, well. there's nothing I can do but let the writing flow, huh? Not much to say about this. Remember feedback, feedback and more feedback!