Work Text:
The text “12:38 a.m” mocked her through her computer screen. Sure, it was late, but being a mother leaves you very little time to yourself.
“Maddison?”
Maddie looked up from her laptop. Her gaze softened at the sight of her oldest son standing shyly in the doorway to the living room.
He had recently come back from his escapade with Wade and he was oddly quiet. Well, Knuckles was always less talkative than most of the household, but he had been avoiding her specifically.
Maddie tried to not let it get to her. She summed it up to him still being sore about her grounding him.
“You can just call me Maddie, Knux.”
She set down her laptop and scooted over to make room for Knuckles on the couch. The echidna didn’t move from his spot, however. He just…stared at the ground.
Her heart began slowly thumping in her chest. She took a deep breath and walked over to him.
She got on her knees, to his level, and cupped her hands around one of his gloves. His violet eyes avoided her gentle gaze.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” She whispered.
This was the final push he seemed to need. He leaned into her touch without looking up at her. His little nose sniffled and his head fell to her shoulder with a thud.
“I…” Knuckles began. He cut himself off before trying to speak again after a few seconds. “I think I’ve taken your tenderness for granted.”
Maddie didn’t know how to respond. She just stroked the back of his head soothingly.
“I cherish you deeply, Maddie.”
Tears came to life in her eyes. She chewed on her lower lip before resting her chin on his head. The deep yoga breaths weren’t working. In fact, she felt like her heart was stuck in her throat. Maddie’s grip on him tightened, feeling an overwhelming blend of emotions wash over her.
The same blend from when Sonic told her that he loved her and Tom.
The same blend from when Tails finally told her why he travelled the galaxy when he was so young.
“Will you give me another chance?” He mumbled. “To be part of the tribe?”
The question shattered her heart even more. “You don’t need another chance, honey,” she cooed. She reached her hand under his chin, cupping and gently scratching the soft fur. “You will always be in the Wachowski Tribe.”
Knuckles looked up at her with glittering eyes. His mouth curled into a small smile. “There’s nothing you could do to make any of us want you to leave our family,” Maddie whispered.
Knuckles dug his nose into her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her neck. The woman swore she could hear another sniffle come from him. Standing up, she placed her hand in his glove and began leading him back to the attic. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you back to bed.” Knuckles let himself be led, despite his daily protests that him staying up is needed for their protection.
Maddie ignored that Sonic was still awake, tonight was too good for her to scold another one of her babies. She lifted up the comforter and tucked Knuckles in.
Normally he wouldn’t have allowed this.
Normally he would’ve felt like she was being condescending.
“I love you, goodnight.”
But Knuckles knew that human mothers were very attached to their offspring. Blood or not. He didn’t have to respond, because he knew that she knew he loved her too.
She scratched under his chin and walked back to the latch.
“So she forgave you?” Sonic whispered.
Maddie held back a snort at the sound of a pillow hitting (and presumably missing Sonic) a window.