"What a day, huh?" Sonic yawned, stretching his arms.

"I'll say," Knuckles replied. "We spent half the day watching four movies- and two of them were long and boring."

"Hey, that aviation documentary was actually pretty interesting," Amy chimed in. "I learned some pretty neat things."

"Yeah, and that romcom was pretty funny at times," Tails added. "N-not that I liked it, or anything."

The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, bud. I'm all tired out from monopoly game we played."

"Who would've guessed it would last five and half hours?" Knuckles sighed.

"I did!" Tails and Amy said simultaneously. They looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

Sonic stood up off the couch, letting out a yawn. "Well, it's been fun you guys, but I think I'm gonna head home for now," he said, turning to face his friends on the couch. "You need a lift home, Ames?" Tails' eye twitched at the utterance of Sonic's nickname for Amy. Luckily, only Knuckles seemed to notice.

"No, that's ok," Amy replied. "I think I'll stay here a little longer."

Sonic shrugged. "Suit yourself. See you later, guys! Thanks for hanging out with me, little bro." He knelt down to ruffle Tails' hair a bit.

The kitsune pushed his hand off his head. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, not bothering to look him in the eyes. "It was good hanging out with you. Thanks for coming over." He did his best to put a smile on his face.

"Any time, bud. See you around, everyone!" With that, Sonic made his way to the front door and left. The other three sat on the couch for a bit, before Knuckles finally spoke up.

"Well, I think I'm gonna go for a walk," he said as he stood up. Almost immediately, he turned around to face Tails. "A walk, not a stroll. A walk. I didn't get to take one yesterday after you fainted."

"Well, enjoy that walk you've been waiting oh-so-long for," Tails chuckled.

"Will do. If I'm not back before you head out, then see you around, Amy."

"See you around!" Amy said as she waved to the echidna, who was already on his way out the front door.

The closing of the front door signaled that only two people were left in the house. Neither really knew what to say to each other. On one hand, Tails was trying his best to remain calm as he remembered Knuckles' implication from that morning that he slept in Amy's lap the night prior. On the other hand, an odd sense of awkwardness fell over Amy Rose. Part of it came from the fact she had read the text Cream had sent him without Tails' permission, but part of it was something else. For some reason, she just couldn't figure out what was bothering her. The pink hedgehog's mind couldn't help but think back to the night before, when Tails snuggled up against her while he was asleep.

"You know, don't you?"

Amy's thoughts were broken by her kitsune friends' words. She turned to face him, only to see him silently staring ahead. "Know what?" she asked. He didn't respond. Instead, the two-tailed fox simply lowered his head. Amy stared at him for a moment, before scooting over next to him on the couch. Even still, Tails didn't respond. Amy let out a sigh. "I read the message you got last night, yes," she confessed.

Tails perked up. "You what?" he asked, looking at her with a look of genuine confusion on his face.

The pink hedgehog blinked. "Yeah, your phone was still unlocked when you passed out. I couldn't help myself and read the message Cream sent you." A puzzled look crossed her face. "Was… was that not what you meant?"

The kitsune quickly turned away so she couldn't see the blush on his face. "Yeah, no, that's exactly what I meant," he muttered. "That's pretty embarrassing, right? I mean, who panics and passes out over a text?" Tails began to laugh nervously to himself, his voice getting a little choked up. "I-I mean, come on… that's just pathetic right? I can only imagine what you think of me right now…"

As tears began to rush down his face, Amy's heart began to race. The sight of him crying hit her in a way she didn't expect. She'd seen him cry several times, especially when he was still recovering from the break-up. Why was now any different? Whatever the reason, it didn't really matter to her right now. Almost instinctively, she wrapped her arms around the kitsune, hugging him from behind. He let out a small gasp of surprise, but didn't break free. "I don't think of you that way," Amy reassured him. "You've got some trauma from that break-up. It hit you really hard. It's not a surprise you would have that reaction."

Tails couldn't take it anymore. He turned around and cried into her shoulder. Amy rubbed her hand on his back as a way of helping calm him down. After a few minutes, he pulled back away from her, breaking the hug at last. Bringing his legs up his chest and wrapping his arms around them, he said softly, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"Don't apologize," Amy said softly. "I'm sorry for reading that message. I know I shouldn't have."

Tails looked up at her, thinking of what to say. As he remembered his dream from the night prior, he gazed into her emerald eyes. "I…" he muttered, before stoping himself. He looked away, averting her gaze. "I… I'm glad you read it," he finally stuttered out.

"Huh?" the pink hedgehog asked in confusion. "You are?"

The kitsune nodded. "I don't think I have the strength to write her back alone. I could really use a friend to help me with this." He looked at her again, smiling up at her. "What better friend than you?"

Amy blushed a little, embarrassed by her friend's kind words. She thought back to how she had been there for him following the break-up. One memory in particular stuck out like a sore thumb.

"I just… I…" Tails stammered, tears rushing down his face. "I just don't know what I did wrong. I always gave her attention… Why did she say I paid more attention to my machines? Is there something wrong with me? What did I do wrong?" He slammed his fist down on the arm of the couch. "What did I do wrong, damn it?!" Once again, he burst into tears.

Amy brought him in for a hug, only for him to beat her to it by turning to her and wrapping his arms around her tightly. She was a bit caught off guard as he buried his head in her shoulder, but soon enough she was hugging him back. Slowly and smoothly, she rubbed his back up and down to help soothe him. As he calmed down, he began to speak to her. "I'm sorry I keep doing this," he muttered. "You must be sick of having to put up with me crying all the time."

Amy let his words sink in for a moment. "Didn't I say that same thing to you once?" she asked him.

Tails looked up from her shoulder. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Remember? When were kids and I used to chase Sonic around all the time? Whenever he rejected me I'd run off crying. I didn't want to go to Cream, she was so young at the time. Knuckles was an even bigger hardhead back then, there's no way he would've been of help. I'm not really all that close to all our other friends. More often than not, I'd end up running to you."

Tails lifted his head off her shoulder and looked him in the eyes. "Yeah, so? What about it?"

The pink hedgehog smiled softly at her friend. "I asked you once if it bothered you that I was always crying on your shoulder. I was sure that you probably resented me for it. But I was wrong. You told me that you didn't care, you just wanted to help out a friend who was sad."

Tails looked away, nodding silently as he remembered saying that.

"I would be a hypocrite if I didn't echo that sentiment right now," Amy said with a smile.

Tails looked up at her again, a soft smile crossing his lips.

Amy smiled as the memory flooded to the front of his mind. She hugged Tails again. "Of course I'll help you," she said to him. "Whenever you're ready, I'll help you write up a response."

"Give me a few minutes," Tails muttered as he hugged her back, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Take as long as you need."

An awkward silence hung in the air over the dinner table. The two rabbits and the bee ate their plates of homemade buttery croissants, mashed potatoes and chopped carrots together, all three staring down at the plates on the table below them. "Thank you for cooking dinner for us, Miss Vanilla," Charmy said finally, desperate to break the dinner table silence.

"Oh, don't mention it, sweetie," Vanilla replied, a bright smile on her face. "I hope you like it."

"I do! You're a great cook."

"Thank you, dear. I appreciate you saying that."

The conversation fizzled out just as soon as it began. Soon enough, the painful, deafening silence was back again, broken up only by the clattering of forks hitting plates. Cream checked her phone for what must have been the hundredth time that day. Still no reply from Tails. With a sour expression on her face, she slipped her phone back into her pocket. Noticing her change in expression, Charmy asked, "You alright?"

The question seemed to surprise both the rabbits at the table, as they looked over at him suddenly. His eyes were fixed on Cream, a look of concern in his eyes.

"Y-yeah," Cream muttered. "I'm fine."

Charmy wasn't too convinced. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I just… umm…" She stood up out of her seat. "I'll be right back." With that, she made her way down the hall and walked into the bathroom.

Vanilla rested her fork on the table beside her plate before resting her elbows on the table, crossing her fingers. "You know something I don't, don't you?" she asked the bee calmly.

Charmy turned to face her, taken aback a little. "Huh? What?" he asked, confused. Vanilla didn't respond, instead she simply gave Charmy the look. Even having grown up without a mother, the look chilled him to his bones.

"Mighty didn't leave the team, he was kicked off for a really stupid reason and Vector still beats himself up over it," he blurted out, averting her gaze. Even without looking, he could feel the intensity of the look Vanilla was giving him grow.

"Vector has been trying to work up the courage to ask you out on a date for years but he's too shy because he thinks you're the most beautiful woman he's ever seen."

The old rabbit's eyes widened, her cheeks turned a bright red and her mouth opened slightly. For a brief moment, Charmy thought he was off the hook. It was only a matter of time before Vanilla regained her composure and continued to give him the look once again.

"She reached out to Tails yesterday," the bee sighed, finally giving in. "He hasn't replied, but he's definitely read the text."

Vanilla's eyes widened once again as she dropped her arms to the table. "Explain," was all she said. For the next couple of minutes, Charmy did just that. Vanilla sat quietly and listened to him explain the situation, occasionally nodding along. "So yeah, that's everything," Charmy finished. "I came over today to give her some company in case he responded, which he hasn't yet."

"So that's what's bothering her," Vanilla sighed. "I wish she had just told me. I'm no stranger to relationships, after all. Plus, I'm her mother…"

"I'm sure she was planning on telling you eventually, just… maybe not, uh… soon?" The bee shrugged.

Vanilla smiled. "Well, I'm glad she told one of us. You're a good kid, Charmy."

Charmy blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Ah geez, thanks ma'am."

"Don't mention it. Thank you for making my daughter happy."

"I only do it because I love her."

Their conversation was interrupted by Cream speed walking back to the table and taking her seat. She stood as stiff as a board and her face was as white as a sheet. Her eyes were wide and sweat dripped down her forehead. "Cream, are you-" Charmy started to say. He was cut off by her handing him her phone, still staring dead ahead. Worried, he took the phone out of her head and looked at it. There was a new message from none other than Tails.

"Hey, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry for the late reply, I was super busy last night and today. If Station Square is just out of reach, then why not Blue Ridge Zone? There's a picnic spot where I can land my plane. You'll know it when you see it. Does Saturday sound good? Thanks for reaching out, it's good to hear from you again.

-Miles"

Charmy smiled and looked over at Cream. "See, that's not bad! This is a good response. You-"

His words were cut off once again as Cream yanked him on the collar pulled him close to her, saying "What the hell do I say back?! I can't act like I didn't read it, it says I've seen it! I can't say that I'm busy as an excuse either, because we both know that's not the case. What do I do?!"

"Ahem," Vanilla said, clearing her throat. The two turned to face her, Cream still not letting go of her boyfriend's collar. "First of all, language." She shot Cream a dirty look and her daughter looked away, embarrassed. "Second, why don't we help her send a reply, Charmy?"

Charmy blinked a bit, before smiling. "If she's down for it."

Cream looked back and forth between her mother and her boyfriend before sighing. "She gave you the look, didn't she?" she muttered.

Now it was Charmy's turn to look away out of embarrassment. "Maybe…"

Cream shook her head, sneaking a glare at her mother before relenting. "Alright," she sighed. "So… what do I write back?"

"You're ok," Amy said calmly. "Just breathe slowly."

Tails clutched the end of the couch cushion with all his might for support as he hunched over, hyperventilating. Sweat dripped down his forehead and his eyes were shot wide open. To put it simply, he was a complete nervous wreck. Amy rubbed her hand along his back to help comfort him, but it didn't seem to be working. She stared down at his phone, which she held in her other hand, trying to think of a way to calm him down.

Without even realizing it, she had moved from rubbing his back to running her fingers through his bangs. Noticing his breathing had slowed, she snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at him. It was only then she realized what she was doing. She blushed, a little embarrassed, but didn't stop because she realized it was helping to calm her friend down. It was only when his breathing returned to normal.

The two of them sat in silence for a bit, neither looking at each other. "How are you feeling?" Amy asked finally.

Tails didn't reply. Instead, he reached up to his head and ran his hand through his bangs.

"How did you know?" he asked.

Amy frowned. "Know… what?"

"To… do this?" Tails ran his hand through his bangs for emphasis.

"I don't know, instinct I guess?" She shrugged, unsure of what else to say.

Tails stared off into space. A distant memory long since buried flooded the front of his mind. Running through a grassy field as a young boy with a woman in a long dress. A kitsune, just like him. The two of them rested up against a tree, Tails snuggling up against her. She looked down to him and smiled, running her hands through his small bangs that were just growing in.

"Oh, she sent a reply," Amy said, snapping him back to reality. She looked over at his phone. "Hmm… she says that sounds good and wants to know what time you guys should meet."

"Time?" Tails asked, his voice shaky. "Time?!" He grabbed the sides of his head and shook about wildly. "What do I say? What do I say?!"

Amy sighed. "This may take a while," she thought.

Author's Note: I think it's safe to say writer's block is setting in, this too way longer than it should have. Sorry if the consistent updates end up becoming less than consistent now. I know how this story will end and I know some key plot points, I'm just having trouble connecting them right now. I hope this chapter tides you all over until the next one and thank you all so much for the amazing support so far. Seeing all your reviews makes me smile. Until next time, thanks for reading and remember to review.