In the next few days, as they got to know each other better, Sonic realized how much of a genius Tails is. The kid not only talked amazingly well for his age, but he already sort of knew how to read and write. Sure, he only knew how to write a few words and could only read very simple words and sentences. But this was a two-year-old child. Kids, at that age (at least from what he had observed when he spied hung out with Green Hills), could barely even talk, let alone read and write.

He was very impressed at how intelligent Tails was. But Tails wasn't just a very intelligent kid, he was sweet, kind, loyal (judging by how he would follow Sonic everywhere—not that he minded, quite the contrary—in fact, he was nice company to have), and quiet. But also very traumatized. Tails didn't tell him more about what happened in his past or what led him to get to Earth. Admittedly, it had been just a few days since they had met, But it was very clear it wasn't just for that reason—the kid seemed like he just couldn't talk about it.

And Sonic understood him.

Sonic could only barely talk about what had happened more than a decade ago. About losing her foster mother. About losing Longclaw. But he, at least, had time to (well, somewhat) process what he had gone through. Tails had presumably lost his parents (otherwise, why would Tails say he didn't have a family?) but he hadn't had the time to process any of that, let alone everything that happened afterwards. Sonic really wanted to help Tails in that process. But the kid just wouldn't let him.

The one thing he could do was be patient…

A virtue that, honestly, he didn't have, but he would try to gain it for the kid...

As the days became weeks, Sonic had truly grown inseparable from the little fox, taking him along nearly everywhere he went. Sonic had never been happier to have someone by his side. And he could tell Tails felt the same. However, there was one problem—and a quite big one at that. It wasn't just the fact that Tails didn't tell him about his traumatic past, the real problem was that it was affecting Tails immensely.

Tails had frequent nightmares that he refused to talk about. The rare times he had to leave Tails alone in their cave (whether for finding food for both of them, or just messing with Crazy Carl for a little bit), when he came back, Tails would always be in an anxious mess and hug Sonic way too tightly for someone who had been, at most, gone for an hour or two. He would repeatedly say how glad he was that Sonic had come back. Sonic always asked him what he meant by that, and the kid always changed the subject. What could've made him so traumatized? He so desperately needed to know, but he had to be patient. Eventually, Tails aching and traumatized heart would release all that Tails suppressed inside, and Sonic would be there to help Tails process and deal with what he felt inside.

Sonic left Tails in their cave after the young fox had drifted off to sleep on his yellow beanbag. Sonic had finally found a beanbag for Tails. Sonic had been sleeping on the carpet for a few months until, a few days ago, the trash gifted him with a barely dirty yellow beanbag. The joy that radiated from Tails upon receiving this unexpected gift warmed Sonic's heart, like a dad's he- no- little brother's heart would.

Sonic left so he could find some children's books for Tails to read. He had been getting better at reading Sonic's flash comics recently, and Sonic wanted to surprise Tails by giving him other books to enjoy.

Eventually, after searching in the trash and not really finding anything children-related, he went to the library and chose some books. He didn't like stealing, but, to be fair, he would just borrow them for a week and then return them, like someone who wasn't hiding would.

Once he picked up some children's books and a technology book (his kid, his little brother, loved messing around with technology), Sonic brought them from the trash and even fixed some stuff, which left Sonic with an immense amount of pride towards the kid. His k- little brother was so smart! He sped toward their cave. As he reached the entrance, he heard someone cry. Tails crying. Sonic rushed towards the young kit, concern filling his heart.

"Are you okay, Tails? Did you have another nightmare?" Sonic asked as he crawled down to meet the young kit's face.

Tails wiped a few tears that were falling under his cheek and then hugged Sonic tightly.

"You-You're actually here!" Tails' voice was filled with an immense emotion of relief and happiness.

"I-I woke up and you were gone, and-and I... I thought you had left me!" Tails spoke with slight difficulty as he was recovering his breath from his prior mental breakdown. What-How? Sonic could barely think straight! No two and a half-year-old kid should have to suffer this much…

"Buddy." Sonic said this seriously, looking directly at Tails. Why would Tails even think something like that? What could he possibly have done to make the kid believe he was going to leave him? Did he fail as a par- little brother? "I would never leave you. Why did you think that?"

"My-my parents abandoned me!" Tails began, as tears began falling down Tails' eyes once again, his breath getting uneven. "They-they left me in a forest. They told me... they... they would... they would..." Tails couldn't finish his line of speech and, so instead he put his face on Sonic's back. Sonic felt Tails' tears drop to his back quills.

Sonic had thought all of Tails' trauma had come from his village and his parents' deaths (one of the few details Tails had mentioned about his past after that night), but never, in a million years, did Sonic think his parents had actually traumatized him, much less abandoned him! Sonic was more determined than ever for Tails to have a better life and to have someone who loved him in his life. Something that this kid should have had to begin with, not just six months ago.

"Tails, bud." Sonic began once Tails' tears stopped falling down and his breath got steadier again. "I promise that I will never leave you, ok? I love you, and I want you by my side. I'll always be here for you." Sonic finished, holding and squeezing Tails' little hands lightly.

His k-little brother looked at him, excitement and happiness filling his face.

"Really?"

"Of course, little buddy." Sonic said tenderly.

Tails started crying, but this time out of pure happiness. He thanked Sonic endlessly and hugged him tightly, while his two tails "wagged" countlessly (something that Tails did whenever he was very happy and that Sonic found very adorable).

Once they finished their embrace, Tails revealed everything that had happened before he came to Earth. Sonic, unintendedly, by leaving the cave without telling Tails, made Tails pour his heart out. And he couldn't have been happier. Tails looked way more… just… relieved and happy with himself. He couldn't believe how cruel people—much less Tails' parents (if they were even worthy of that title)—could be to someone so innocent and sweet—only because he had two tails and he was a genius!

Sonic being different himself, Longclaw had taught him, besides keeping himself hidden, to be proud of his powers and what made him different—because, as she had said, "that's what makes you—and anyone else—special." He has always believed that wholeheartedly. So, seeing so many people trying to so actively convince Tails of the exact opposite left him with a sour taste in his mouth.

After Tails told everything, Sonic sat in his beanbag with Tails. The little fox was sitting on the hedgehog's legs. And, so, naturally, Tails started falling asleep.

"Good night, bud." Sonic said this as Tails was drifting off to sleep. Sonic smiled softly at the sight of how relaxed Tails' face was.

"…Good night…" Tails began slowly (as he was almost falling asleep), "… dad." Tails finished, finally falling asleep.

Dad?! He couldn't be a father… right? Yes, he had a paternal feeling towards him, and his so- little brother- apparently felt the same?! But they couldn't be father and son! His parents had to be a lot older than him! At least on Earth, it was like that. With their ages, they could only be brothers… right?

And, obviously, at first, he was in denial. Even telling Tails the next day how he was just his little brother ("which is way cooler anyways", Sonic told Tails). But eventually, with time, reading a lot of parents' manuals in Green Hill's library during the night, and some slip-ups from Tails calling him 'dad' (his chest filled with a delightful blend of happiness whenever that happened, even if he didn't admit it at the time), he accepted his role as a father and Tails as his son.

And honestly… he wishes he had done that sooner. He was so worried that he wasn't the right age by Earth's standards that he forgot what mattered most. What he and Tails felt. They both, obviously, felt their relationship was that of parent and son. Not of brothers. Does it really matter that he is fourteen? After all, perhaps in Mobius, it was normal (Sonic, honestly, didn't remember—it had been a long time, after all). But even if it wasn't, who cares? Sonic couldn't be happier that he had a kid, and Tails couldn't be happier that he had a dad that actually cared about him. And that's what actually matters.

Parenting is way harder than he expected, but he would do his best to be the best parent he could ever be to Tails. Especially because of those weak excuses of biological parents (related to blood but not really Tails' parents—what kind of parent would abandon their child?) Tails had. His kid deserved that. He deserved to be happy! He deserved to have a childhood he couldn't have. And he was going to make sure Tails got that. He would make sure to be a good parent, like Longclaw was to him. He was going to make her proud.

As six months became a year and a year became two years, their relationship only strengthened further. Sonic could hardly even remember how his life was before Tails. It seemed so long ago that his life was filled with loneliness, but it had only been two years. He could hardly believe how different and worse his life was just two years ago. However, now, as a fifteen and a half-year-old hedgehog, his life couldn't possibly be better. His kid had been getting better and happier as time went by, and Sonic was so glad that was the case. The only real issue was that sometimes food wouldn't be enough for both of them. But Sonic always made sure Tails ate, even if he didn't. Sonic had been through much worse when he first came to Earth, so not eating for a day or two really wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

His son was a literal genius and incredibly kindhearted. Sonic couldn't be prouder of the son he had. His son literally surprised him with an old TV that worked on batteries. Tails did that. And he was not even four years old at the time!

The only bad thing about it was that the kid noticed pretty quickly how Sonic wouldn't eat, so he would eat. Tails thought it was outrageous that, while he ate, Sonic wouldn't, so he started pretending that he wasn't hungry either. But, while his son is a genius, he's still four years old, and, eventually, Sonic would convince Tails to eat his food anyway. They would have to play an intense game of denying and passing the food to each other until Tails was exhausted enough to eat it. Sonic would be lying if he hadn't had the temptation to eat Tails' food, but he controlled himself. Tails was, after all, a very young mobian. He had already done most of the growing himself. Tails simply needed more food than he did, so he would grow healthy (as healthy as the trash can and leftovers could get).

However, besides those two little issues, everything else was great! And Sonic truly felt content with his life! He now had someone. A family with Tails… But, at the same time, he still felt something was… missing, and, during one night when Sonic and Tails were "having" a movie night with the Wachowski's family, he finally realized what was missing.

Sonic wanted him and Tails to be part of Wachowski's family.

Sonic had always wanted to be part of their family before Tails appeared. But once that happened, Sonic thought that desire had dissipated. And it wasn't like he was so grateful for the son he had. In fact he was SO proud of Tails. He was the best son he could ever have! However, somewhat selfishly, he still felt a longing need to be part of Tom and Maddie's family. And his Tails did need to have more people, besides himself. Especially considering all the trauma he had to go through...

But, unfortunately, that could never happen! He would risk not only his safety but Tails' safety.

He should just be grateful for what he has now and not wish for things that will never happen...

A week passed after Sonic's realization, when he suddenly woke up feeling very sick. Tails got immediately worried when he saw how pale his father's face looked. Sonic had been sick like this before Tails appeared in his world, and while he felt awful, he knew it would eventually pass. The only problem would be food. Perhaps, when he felt a bit better, he would catch more food than usual and, maybe, steal some medicine (he had to feed Tails, even if it went against his morals—he had no other solution, after all).

Tails, however, was on the verge of panicking. Sonic could tell Tails thought he was going to die. And Sonic's reassurances that everything would be fine wouldn't help the kit calm down.

'Probably my lying to get the kid to eat made him not trust me in these situations', Sonic thought guiltily, feeling a huge headache in his forehead. Parenting manuals could only go so far, especially when those kinds of manuals weren't made with two aliens in very unconventional circumstances in mind. Still, he would try his best to be a better father, and he would apologize for his kid. And promise him to always tell the truth. Tails deserved that. But first, he would just doze off for a bit, and then he would do that.

However, unbeknownst to a sick and asleep hedgehog, Tails went to the only person he knew could help Sonic.

The Pretzel Lady...

It seems that Sonic's need of a family is finally going to be satisfied... Well... You'll find out in the next chapter ;)

But, anyways, I hope y'all enjoyed this new chapter! And thank you for all the support you've been giving me on this story! I really appreciate it :]