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Maddie hummed as she stretched her arms, finishing the yoga practice she had been watching from youtube. Today was her day off: Sonic and Miles were in school, Tom had gone to pick them up, so it seemed to be a normal day, as usual.
Well.. yeah.
Just as Maddie had been about to start the next excersize, a familiar blue blurr just flew past her, followed by orange, a small breeze making her hair go up, before down again. The human seemed surprised, and paused her video. No husband, and neither of them had even stopped to say hello...
Tom appeared a couple minutes later, just as lost as Maddie was. "Before you ask- I have no idea."
"Didn't they say anything during in the car?" Maddie got up, folding her yoga-mat as she did. Tom shook his head. "Neither of them would say a word. Both looked upset. Sonic Didn't even react to puns."
"Did you try mint-candy?"
"I did. Miles said he wasn't hungry." Now that was shocking. Miles always took mint-candy whenever offered. Something was definitely wrong. Closing her tablet, Maddie walked upstairs. "Let them cool down first. I'll shower, then we'll try talking together."
"Sure." Tom followed from behind. "I need to change anyway.."
Said humans did shower and change within 10 minutes, but still, no signs of life from their sons. Which was.. worrying, to say atleast.
...
*knock knock*
"Sonic?" Tom called, standing on the ladder, but not yet opening the door. "Miles? You boys alright?"
"..."
Tom knocked again, but he didn’t get an answer. He looked at his wife helplessly.
"We're coming in.. alright?" Maddie said, still waiting for a response, just in case. But no..
So, Tom opened the door, and climbed inside, Maddie following after. What they saw left them both surprised.
First off, Sonic was sitting still. Still. He was barely moving at all, which was.. scary, honestly, knowing the energetic hedgehog. Then again, this time, he seemed to have a reason.
Both Sonic and Tails were on Sonic's bed, cuddled up against each other, with the younger having curled up into the older's chest, two fluffy tails having wrapped around Sonic's waist, which Maddie knew Tails only did for three reasons: One, he trusted Sonic enough to actually even move his tails. Two, he did that when he felt scared or needed reasurance. And three, he did that when he felt the need to protect the person he was hugging. Said hedgehog had been resting his head on top of the other, just holding the fox cub in a loose hug, and gently petting behind his ears. When Maddie looked closer, she could see Sonic half curled up around Tails, and again, she knew Sonic only did that when he felt the need to protect whatever he was curling around.
Never would she have thought she would use being a vet for her sons.
The fact Sonic was even able to sit still though, said enough. As if his body knew when to calm down, escpecially when it was about his little brother.
They couldn't see Miles' face. But they could see Sonic, eyes fully devoid of life, which they absolutely hated to see.
"...hey, buddy." Tom smiled, walking towards the car-shaped bed, before sitting on one side. He didn't miss the way both flinched, Miles' tails immediately leaving Sonic to poof up as one, while Sonic blinked, staring at Tom in shock. "...Donut Lord? When did you get here?" Both looked wide-eyed at their parents, even more surprised when Maddie sat on the other side. Maddie watched their reactions, not liking them at all. Tails' tails were flinching and moving in that way they always did when he was distressed, in the end, again poofing up to look like one. She still didn't understand why he did that.. Electricity sparked between Sonic's quils for a second, before it calmed down again, as Sonic took a second to close his eyes and breathe, just like Maddie had showed him. The human smiled. Atleast her advice seemed to work..
Said hedgehog smiled a shaky smile, uncertainty in his eyes. That was something, atleast.. "Pretzel Ladyyy~"
"Sonic." Maddie was not amused, and tried to frown. Her son pouted. "Are we having a slumber party?" He smiled again.
"Sonic."
"Or are you coming to tell your favorite hedgehog how much you've missed him-"
"Sonic."
"..." His smile fell, and Sonic looked away. "Not gonna work this time, huh?" He put one arm back on Tails' back, which the fox didn't seem to mind, just looking between the two humans. "Uhm.. are we in trouble..?" His voice, oh so soft, made him sound even younger then he was, almost splitting Maddie's heart apart.
"Not at all." Maddie did not like it when she realized Miles had looked scared before she said that, and looked at her husband for help, who seemed to take the hint, and cleared his throat. "Neither of you are in trouble. We're just worried."
That made Tails whine, burying his head into Sonic's chest the moment Tom said that, twin-tails curling around his older brother once again. Sonic didn't look any better, looking at anything but Tom and Maddie. Tom had no doubt Sonic would have curled up into a ball again, had it not been for the fox cub on top of him.
"...are you alright?"
"..."
"Did something happen at school?" Tom seemed to have struck gold, Sonic flinching the moment those words were spoken. "..."
"Sonic, Miles-"
"Tails." Tails said the moment his name was spoken, taking some courage to look at Maddie pleadingly. "Please..."
Maddie knew Tails didn't mind being called the nickname given by his brother. He didn't usually mind being called by his real name, either, like Tom and Maddie always referred to him as. Something definitely happened..
"Alright. Tails." She smiled, but neither her sons smiled back. Her smile fell. "What.. what happened?"
"...wouldn't wanna bother.." Sonic muttered, looking at his shoes, then looking at his father when Tom put a hand on his shoulder. "Neither of you would ever bother us, kiddo. Promise."
"..." Sonic seemed to think about that for a second, before he flopped out. "Are we a family?"
His eyes widend the moment he said that, as if Sonic couldn't believe what came out of his mouth. Both Tom and Maddie seemed just as surprised, before Maddie quickly answered. "Ofcourse we are a family, sweetie. Why would you question that?"
"...We-" Tails let go of Sonic to sit straight, his namesakes twitching behind him. "We- we look nothing alike. We share no blood or DNA- we don’t even have the same last name and you didn't even know us until a couple months ago!" He seemed sure of what he said.
"Not to mention- Rachel definitely hates us.." Sonic muttered, a guilty expression appearing on his face.
"We aren't even the same species."
"So- we technically aren't a real family? Right?" Both of them looked back at the duo with big eyes. Needless to say, they were.. surprised.
"Wha- ofcourse we are a real family." Maddie cupped both their faces with her hands, Tom moving to sit besides Maddie, looking incredibly worried. "What in the world would make you even think that?"
"We don’t even share-" Tails started, but Tom cut him off. "Tails. Dna, blood, looks, none of that matters. Family is where the heart is, with all the people you care about most in the world." He put a hand over his own heart without breaking eyecontact. "So we are a real family."
"...no we're not." Sonic hesitated with what he said next, looking hurt when he did. ".....you guys.. aren't my parents. And Tails.. isn't my brother." Tails seemed like he was holding back tears, scooting a bit away as he closed his eyes tightly. "We're just.. two aliens crashing in your attic." Sonic seemed close to tears.
"..." They were speechless. Removing her hands from their cheeks, Maddie grabbed both of their hands, holding them together. "...how did you get that idea, Sonic?"
"..." Seeing Tails wasn't going to talk (without crying, atleast) Sonic sighed, and looked at their hands. "..school.."
"Tails!" Tails smiled as one of his newest friends came running towards him, holding some mint-candy. The boy himself was just a bit older then Tails was, but that was okay. Everyone his own age seemed to claim Tails as their teddy bear, and then get upset when they couldn't take him home. Besides, not like Tails was in his own grade anyway.
It had been 2 weeks, since Tails had entered school. He had been with the older classes, but not too old, as Maddie hadn't been comfortable with Tails hanging out with way older kids. Which the fox could understand.
"The teacher was giving everyone sweets!" The boy smiled, holding the candy towards him. "I just grabbed you one since I know you like mints."
Mint candy. Tails' personal favorite human treat. His eyes lit up and smile widend as he took it. "Thank you!!!"
Another girl, the same age the boy was, happened to overhear, and frowned, turning around. "Isn't candy toxic for foxes?"
"He's not a real fox!" The boy smiled, before frowning. "Ehh- not from here, atleast. Tails can eat it and be fine!"
"Tails?" Now more people were looking at him- the girl's friends, and Tails could feel his furr standing straight. He didn't like attention too much.. out of instinct, his tails poofed up to look like one.
"I thought his name was Miles Prower?" One of the boys asked, looking at the kit with a confused look. "Have we been getting your name wrong the entire time?" Then he whined, his friend patting his back in a comforting matter.
"No no!" Tails quickly smiled. "That is my name! I just prefer it when people call me Tails!"
"Oh!" The boy smiled then in relief. "Alright! Tails it is!"
"Is it because you have two tails?" One of the girls asked. Tails flinched, his namesakes twitched, but he still smiled. These people were nicer then the foxes he knew... its okay. "Y.. yeah! My brother gave me that nickname when he saw I can fly!"
"Thats.. so cool!" The fox was convinced the girl's eyes would have turned into stars if they could. The boy who gave him the candy laughed. "Sonic is great with nicknames! He still didn't give me one though-"
"He's taking his time to find the perfect one." One of the girls laughed.
"...wait. Sonic?" One of the others looked up in confusion. "Sonic is your brother?"
"Yeah!" The fox smiled. The kid wasn't. "But... he's a hedgehog . You're a fox."
"Maybe it works different from where they come from?" Tails' friend asked, still not droping his smile. One of the other kid's friends shook their head. "No, no. They can't be brothers!"
"..why not?" Tails frowned.
"Your last names!" The kid said. "His name is Sonic Wachowski. Your name is Prower! And brothers always have the same last names!"
They didn't understand. Tails didn't blame them for that, really- these kids were small. (Same age as him- but then again, Tails was smart) but still. The eight-year-old side of his brain found it a very logical explanation. His ears went down. "Uhm.."
"But then that means you have no parents either?" Another asked, confused. Tails' friend didn't seem to like that explanation at all, stepping in front of the fox. "Nooo! Its called adoption, silly! They are a family!"
"No they're not!"
"Little bro!" Tails heard Sonic call, but didn't react, staring in front of him. The hedgehog - as much as he had argued, had agreed to keep his speed at minimum on school grounds, atleast, since there were so many little kids here that he could accidently bump into. "Miss Julie is giving out candy! There was that mint candy you like so much, so maybe-"
"Sonic!"
"Don’t listen to them." Tails' friend smiled at Sonic, before staring at the others again. "They're just mean!"
"Yeah!" The boy who had called him Miles crossed his arms, looking at the others. The girl from earlier seemed to agree, and huffed.
"...wha-" Sonic was about to ask, but he was cut off again.
"Sonic, you and Miles aren't real brothers, right?"
"....Tails." Tails' voice was small, his tails now touching the ground. Sonic blinked, then frowned. "Tails is my real brother. Why would you think that?" He made sure to put the emphasis on his name, quickly wrapping an arm around the cub. The first kid grinned. "See! Told you!"
"But its wrong!" Another one argued. "They aren't the same! They share no blood! And not even their last names are the same! Sonic is a Wachowski! Tails is not!"
"Actually." Sonic still smiled friendly, breathing deeply to ignore the feeling of electricity between his quils. "I, technically, do not have a last name. Its just Sonic."
"....how does that work?" A girl asked herself, but made no comment on it.
"So-... Tom and Maddie aren't your parents either?"
"They are!" Sonic huffed, feeling his cheeks go red. He was arguing with what, 12/13 year olds? "And Tails is my little bro!"
"Nooo!" The first one to comment crossed his arms again. "Families have the same last name and blood! You don't have either!"
"Its called adoption, stupid." The girl glared at the boy. "Like- ...hm.." she tried to think of any popular adopted character. She couldn't think of any. "Uhm.. you get my point!"
"Uh huh. Adoption is just because people take pity on children-"
"Alright not that much!" One of his friends said, frowning. "Dude.. thats just mean."
"Well if their parents wanted them, why are they here?" Both Sonic and Tails froze completely, everyone staring at that one guy in shock. Tails' namesakes poofed together again to look like one, Sonic tightened his grip on Tails' shoulder.
"Tom and Maddie are their real parents!" Tails' friend yelled, gaining the attention of one of the teachers.
"Atleast their parents actually wanted them..." one of the nicer girls mumbled, too softly to be heard.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"..hey, little buddy. They.. don't know what they're saying." Sonic whispered into his ear, taking another, calming breath. Before he raised his voice again. "We are a real family!"
"Mom said families aren't this weird!"
"We aren't weird!"
"You're aliens!"
...okay hearing that was starting to become offensive.
Seeing the teacher walk towards them, Tails' friend huffed, grabbing both Sonic and Tails by the arm, walking off. "Don't listen to him. He's mean."
"Yeah!" The girl from earlier followed. "Elijah is really really rude! Even his friends see that!"
"I think the only reason they're still friends is 'cause Elijah threatend to bully them too."
"..."
".....guys?"
At the end of the little story, Sonic curled up as much as he could without turning into a ball, while the other wrapped his tails around himself, neither of them daring to look at their parents. Tom and Maddie were shocked- and angry. How could some kids say such cruel things?
"...first of all." Tom started, holding out his hand to gently tilt Sonic's head up to look at him. He looked.. so sad. "I am proud of you for sticking up for your brother, Sonic. Not many would have done that."
"...I couldn't let them hurt Tails.." Sonic mumbled. Tom smiled. "Yeah. You're a great big brother. Second off all.. do either of you know what adoption means?"
By the confused looks they got from both the kids, they assumed not. Understandable, honestly. Neither of them had parents to explain the concept. Maddie took turn to explain. "Adoption means when grown ups take other kids that don't have parents as their own- "adoption", for different reasons. Some can't have kids on their own, others just want to adopt kids instead of making them themselfs. Those kids too, are there for different reasons. Some never had parents. Some of their parents had to give them up because they couldn't take care of them."
"Or because they didn't want them."
"Thats.. not a common reason, Tails."
"It was for mine." Maddie felt her heart stop, not believing how easily the eight-year-old had just said that. She knew Miles must have had parents at some point- his last name didn't come from nowhere and as smart as he was, someone must have taken care of him, right?
None of them knew a thing about the fox's life on Mobius. With this newly revealed information, Maddie didn't want to know.
Even Sonic looked surprised, staring at his little buddy, who seemed close to tears. "So they were right."
"..." Sonic now looked just as miserable, and hugged himself. Tom blinked, then took a deep breath to collect himself. Later.. they could talk about that later. "The reason of adoption is...besides the point. What matters is.. the adopted parents want their kids. We want you. We love you as our own." At that, both of them looked up again. Tom could see electricity calming down and tails starting to uncurl slightly, so he took that as a sign to continue. "And its so important to know- just because they were adopted, doesn't mean you aren't a real family. They are just as much of a family as anyone else."
"Maybe a strange family." Maddie smiled, cupping both their faces. "But its ours. Family is right.. there." she let them go, pointing at their hearts. "Family is the people you love most in the world. No matter who, what, where, why, blood, DNA or looks. We love you. And we wouldn't have our family any other way."
"..." Sonic smiled, a sudden relief on his face as he just hugged them without warning. Tails looked hesitantly between them- an uncertainty Maddie now knew where it came from, and didn't hesitate to pull him into the hug. She felt him stiffen, before relaxing.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, either." Sonic giggled, smile growing as he felt his father hugging him from behind. "Its the best. Escpecially because I am in it."
"Uh huh." There was the Sonic he knew. Tom couldn't help smile, petting his quils. "Is that so, mister?"
"I'm the reason we even got this family to begin with. You're welcome." Tom snorted, quickly looking away.
Maddie watched them laugh, with Sonic pretending he was not crying as he wiped his tears away. "What? Without me, you would leave boring lives!"
"Peaceful lives you mean?"
Maddie gently scratched Tails behind his ears. "That means you too, mister." She whispered, only loud enough for Tails to hear. Maddie was almost certain she heard Tails purr, and her smile widend. "Yeah.. I know.." The fox leaned more into the hug, wrapping his tails around her hips.
At this point, Tom and Sonic had pulled away from the hug, leaving Tails to curl up on Maddie's lap as the other two sat straight to look at each other. "And what does that mean?"
"That means not getting insurance to complain to me for almost destroying our house- twice."
"Da- Donut Lord! I'm offended!" Sonic crossed his arms, getting up. "I'll just leave then, since I am so unwanted."
"Pff- Soooooon, noooo!" Tom dramatically called. Sonic was already walking away.
"Aw, sweetie- are you gonna leave your little brother all alone without the best big brother in the world?" Maddie called out, making the hedgehog stop.
"...nah. It would be mean to deprive him off awsomeness."
"Oh- so we aren't awsome enough?"
"Awsome is being good-looking and perhaps having superpowers, in some cases. You talk to donuts."
"Hey-"
Maddie laughed- and to her relief, felt Tails' giggle aswel. But still, the fox made no move to get up- way too comfortable to move. As the other two were distraced, Maddie took this as an oppertunity to whisper. "...you don’t have to say yes, Tails. But you have no legal papers here- yet." She was definitely adopting them both as soon as possible. "So.. before we do all that, we can still change your information. You can call yourself Wachowski instead of Prower, if that makes you feel more comfortable?" Tails' stiffened.
"...really?" He hopefully asked, looking at Maddie again. Maddie gently whiped his tears away. "Ofcourse, sweetie.. you're our family too, aren't you?"
"....thank you." Tails smiled so brightly, hugging Maddie tighter. The human kept petting his ears, before letting go. "Now- now that thats all settled. How about we start on that cake?"
"...cake?" Sonic asked, confused.
"Ofcourse. I was planning to have all three of my boys helping me in the kitchen? We have to celebrate." Sonic smiled brightly at that. "Ohh- yeah! Please teach me your magic, Pretzel Lady!"
"..." Tails giggled to himself, a giddy smile om his face. Tom looked confused at him. "If its about me almost setting the kitchen on fire- again-"
"No, no." His smile widend, and he giggled even more, namesakes moving in that way they did when he was pleased. "..I'm happy."
"Cause you have the best big bro in the world?"
"No- well, that too." Tails got off the bed, and smiled the brightest smile ever. "I'm no longer Miles Prower!"
"....then who are you? What did you do with my little bro?!" Sonic pretended to take a battle pose, before he grinned. Nothing seemed to be able to ruin his moment in that moment though, and Tails cheered. "Noooo! I am no longer Miles Prower! I am Miles 'Tails' Wachowski!" He seemed to realize something, and his smile widend. "And you are my brother!"
Sonic gasped. "We could be like the pine twins!"
"The Wachowski brothers!!"
"Featuring the amazing Blue Justice and Adorable Double Threat!"
Tom and Maddie smiled at their kids. Well. Now they definitely had something to celebrate.