Chapter 1.

Planning for Tomorrow.

The night before…

The sun was just now beginning to set over the small town of Green Hills, Montana. The colors from it were a beautiful shade of purple, blue, and orange. The occasional gentle breeze blew through the leaves of the trees, thus creating loud whispers amongst them. Cicadas had begun their lovely melodies throughout the woods. And the evening bats had come out and began feasting on the mosquitoes.

In the backyard of 55 Plymouth Road, the Wachowski family sat at the fire pit, roasting the remainder of their hot dogs in the fire. Laughter could be heard in the background as a certain blue hedgehog had just told a two-tailed fox a funny joke.

"So," Tom said. "What do you boys want to do tomorrow?"

Sonic only shrugged his shoulders as he began placing condiments on his hot dog.

"I might have a suggestion."

In that split second, all eyes turned towards a red colored echidna.

"Oh, so do you now?" Sonic asked him.

"Yes. Yes, I do," Knuckles answered as he stuffed a handful of green colored grapes into his mouth.

"Hey, it better not be another round of baseball." Sonic said, an edginess in his voice.

"Why not? Do you have another idea, hedgehog?" Knuckles asked.

Tom only looked at Maddie. She nodded her head. Before Tom could interrupt anything, Sonic had quickly come up with something.

"Maybe, we could binge watch Jericho, or something like–"

"Uh, nope. No Jericho." Maddie said rather too soon.

"Maybe on a day when it's just you, Knuckles, and I, bud." Tom told him.

Sonic let out a sigh as his ears flopped downward. "I just thought that–"

"Tails could watch it with you all?" Maddie asked. "No way. All that would do is drive fear into his head. Plus, some of the scenes within certain episodes are kind of, let's just say, not suitable for young eyes."

Tails, who seemed to be unbothered by what Maddie had just told Sonic concerning Jericho, raised a hand. Everyone turned their heads towards his direction, eyes set on him.

"Maybe," the little fox piped up. "We could go hiking tomorrow. Or if you like, maybe go to the lake? I'm just saying."

Tom suddenly winked an eye at his youngest. "I really like that. Good thinking, little guy. Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since our last grand adventure outdoors."

"But Knuckles and I have already been through Green Hills and back. Many times." Sonic replied as he placed a hand to his forehead.

"The hedgehog is right," Knuckles put in. "I already know the Green Hills like the back of my hands."

"That might be so," Maddie said. "But it wouldn't hurt you two if you all had to go hiking tomorrow with Tom and Tails while I'm at work."

"But aren't the rattlesnakes out this time of year?" Sonic asked.

"Yes, but if we take the proper precautions, we should be fine." Tom answered.

Tails' face lit up as Tom's words reached his ears. "So can we? Can we? Please?"

"You're really desperate for this, aren't you, buddy?" Sonic asked Tails as he zipped over to the little fox and ran a hand through his bangs, making the fox giggle a little. Tom and Maddie glanced over at each other as they locked hands. Maddie winked at her husband, Tom only nodded his head.

"Then hiking it is," Tom said.

Tails leaped, pumping a fist into the air.

"On three conditions," Tom began. "One; when we go tomorrow, we stay on whatever trails we take. Two; we stay close to each other. And three; you all need to get some shuteye when we're done with dinner and cleaning up."

"Oh, and don't forget plenty of water," Tails added.

"Ah yes, good one, bud." Sonic said, playfully nudging the little fox's arm with the tip of his elbow, making the fox giggle again.

"And don't forget bug spray." Maddie said.

After having helped clean up dinner dishes and a quick campfire story from Knuckles about his and Wade's adventures, the boys and Maddie had returned inside the house while Tom had remained outdoors to put out the fire. Tails was currently brushing his teeth while Sonic had just finished brushing his. As usual, Knuckles was nowhere to be seen. A couple minutes later, Tails finished up, headed towards the attic where Sonic was at. Grabbing a book, the kit sat down on his plane-shaped bed and immersed himself into reading every word of each page that he didn't even notice that both Sonic and Tom had come up the stairs and into the attic.

"Whatcha reading there, bud?"

Tails jumped as he heard the familiar voice of Tom. It seemed like the little fox was still jumpy after all these months.

"Oh, hey there," Tails replied. "Just reading and trying to learn more about the rattlesnakes that live in these parts."

"Yeah, what are you learning so far?" Tom asked.

Tails smiled slightly, still immersed in his book. "According to this encyclopedia, there are eleven different species of rattlesnakes right here in North America. And the most deadly of them is the Mojave rattlesnake."

"Sheesh. I'm glad we don't live in that part of the country." Tom told him.

"Yeah, me too." Sonic said as he went to lay down in his bed. After a few minutes of Tom and Tails exchanging information on what the fox had learned about the book, and with Sonic listening to them, Tom looked at the clock on his phone.

9:47 PM.

"Alright boys, if we're doing this tomorrow, then we better get some sleep." Tom said.

Sonic mockingly groaned as he lifted the covers over himself, while Tails had placed the book back into its shelf. Maddie had just come up to the attic to tell her two youngest goodnight. Whereas Sonic had grown 'too old' for goodnight kisses from Tom and Maddie, he enjoyed watching them do it with Tails. And tonight was no different. After tucking the little fox into his bed, Maddie had placed a kiss on the kit's forehead.

"Goodnight, Fluffer."

"G'night Maddie," Tails whispered softly. A moment later, Tails snickered as Tom gently pinched his face.

"Goodnight boys." He told them.

"Goodnight Dad," Sonic said, his voice slightly above a whisper just in case if Tails was already asleep.

"Night to you too, bud." Tom said.

Just as they were to step out of the attic, Maddie quickly climbed back up the stairs.

"Almost forgot to tell you two," Maddie began. "Our little red barbarian friend is currently on the rooftop of the house, meditating… as he always does."

Sonic only smiled. "Like he began doing three months back before his escapade to Reno with Wade?"

Tails suddenly snickered. Apparently, the fox wasn't quite asleep yet.

"Yeah, pretty much." Maddie said. "Just wanted you to know in case you both heard something on the roof."

Sonic and Tails thanked her before she went down and out of the attic. It would be a little while yet before Sonic's eyes got heavy, and with Tails asleep a couple minutes after Tom and Maddie left, all he could think about was their hiking trip tomorrow. And Knuckles' current meditation session.

That wraps up this chapter. I know, kind of short. But the next one's going to be longer, as you will see why. Don't forget to read and review. Until then, God bless you and your family.

JalcoFox.

(P.S., who's all excited about the Sonic 3 trailer that came out yesterday?)