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The light was fading.
“No, no, no, no! Please, please don’t go!” Sonic’s voice cracked as he fell to his knees, shaking Tom’s still form. The hedgehog’s little hands pressed frantically against Tom’s chest as if he could will his heart to keep beating, as if he could force the warmth to stay.
Tom’s eyes fluttered, heavy and dim, until finally… they didn’t open again.
“DAD!!”
The cry ripped through Sonic’s chest, echoing in the dark. His vision blurred with tears as he watched the life drain away from the only man who had ever given him a home, a family, a father.
His best friend, his anchor. Gone.
“Please… please don’t leave me too…”
Sonic bolted upright in his bed in the attic, gasping for air. His quills bristled as if they’d been struck by lightning, and his chest heaved in panicked rhythm. It took a moment before he realized—he was back in his room. Safe. Alive.
But the tears didn’t stop.
Careful not to wake Tails and Knuckles, Sonic swung his legs over the side of the bed, pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. No matter how many times he told himself it was just a dream, the terror lingered like a shadow.
He sniffled softly, then tiptoed toward the attic stairs. Each creak felt deafening, but thankfully, his friends/brothers didn’t stir. He made his way down the hall, wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand, until he reached Tom and Maddie’s bedroom door.
He hesitated. What if… what if it wasn’t just a dream? What if he opened the door and—
Sonic forced himself to breathe, then carefully cracked it open.
Relief crashed over him in a wave so strong he nearly collapsed. Tom was there. Alive. Breathing peacefully in his sleep.
Sonic let out a shaky sigh, ready to retreat back upstairs, when—
“Sonic?”
Tom’s tired but gentle voice broke the silence. He shifted slightly in bed, wincing as his still-healing arm twinged. “Buddy, what are you doing up?”
Sonic froze, his head ducking, trying to hide his blotchy face. “Uh—n-nothing. Sorry. Go back to sleep.”
But Tom could see it. Even in the dim light, he saw the way Sonic’s shoulders trembled, the way his quills drooped. Concern filled his chest, and he reached out with his good arm.
“C’mere, kiddo.”
Reluctantly, Sonic padded over, eyes on the floor. He kept his head down, but Tom tilted his chin up gently with his fingers. The sight of Sonic’s tear-streaked face broke him.
“Oh, Sonic…” Tom whispered. “What’s wrong?”
Sonic’s throat tightened. He tried to hold it in, but fresh tears spilled over, soaking his fur. His voice came out small and broken.
“I… I had a nightmare. You got hit by Shadow… and—and this time you didn’t get up. You just—” His breath hitched. “You died, Dad. And I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t save you.”
The words shattered Tom’s heart. Without hesitation, he pulled Sonic into his arms, cradling him against his chest despite the ache in his healing body. “Hey, hey, hey. Shhh. It wasn’t real. Do you hear me? It wasn’t real.”
Sonic clung to him like a lifeline, fists twisting into Tom’s shirt as sobs wracked his small frame. “But it felt so real… I can’t lose you, Dad. Not you.”
“You won’t,” Tom promised, running a steady hand down Sonic’s back and through his quills. His voice was firm, but full of love. “I’m right here. I’m alive. And I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me, kid.”
Sonic buried his face into Tom’s chest, still trembling. He didn’t let go—not for a second, terrified that if he did, Tom would vanish.
Tom just held him tighter, whispering reassurances. Slowly, the sobs quieted, replaced by little hiccups and exhausted breaths.
Surprisingly, Maddie remained asleep through most of it—though Tom had a feeling her mom instincts would kick in soon enough.
At last, Sonic’s body went limp with fatigue. His eyelids drooped, his cheek pressed against Tom’s heartbeat.
“Get some sleep, Sonic,” Tom whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of his son’s head. “I’ll be right here. Always.”
“Thanks, Dad…” Sonic murmured, his voice drowsy. “Love you…”
Tom’s throat tightened as his own tears burned at the corners of his eyes. He held his boy closer, heart swelling. “Love you too, Sonic. More than you’ll ever know.”
He rested his chin atop Sonic’s quills, rocking him gently until sleep took them both.
From her side of the bed, Maddie opened her eyes, her heart melting at the sight. Quietly, she scooted closer, wrapping an arm around both of her boys, holding them as though nothing could ever take them away from her.
And in that moment, Sonic slept soundly—safe in the arms of his parents, where nightmares couldn’t reach him.
The first thing Sonic noticed when he woke was warmth. Not the sun—though soft rays were slipping in through the curtains—but the warmth of being nestled between his parents.
His quills were still pressed against Tom’s chest, Maddie’s arm still wrapped protectively around him. For a moment, he just lay there, letting himself breathe in the safety of it. No Shadow, no nightmare. Just his family.
When he finally stirred, Tom blinked awake with a groggy smile. “Morning, bud.”
Sonic rubbed at his eyes, embarrassed when he realized how tightly he’d been clinging. “Uh… morning. Sorry for… y’know. Sneaking in here.”
Tom ruffled the top of his head, careful of the quills. “You never have to apologize for needing us. Ever.”
Maddie kissed Sonic’s cheek before sitting up. “Exactly. Besides, you kept me warm all night.”
Sonic’s cheeks heated, but he grinned sheepishly. “Guess I’m good for more than just speed, huh?”
Tom chuckled and slid out of bed, stretching his still-sore arm with a wince. “How about we all get some breakfast? Pancakes?”
That perked Sonic right up. “Race you downstairs!”
He zipped off in a blur, but this time it wasn’t running away from fear—it was toward comfort. Toward family.
The kitchen quickly filled with the smell of butter and syrup, Maddie manning the stove while Tom attempted to keep Sonic from “taste-testing” too many pancakes before they even hit the plate.
The commotion must have carried, because soon enough, Tails padded in, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His twin tails swished lazily behind him. “What’s going on? Smells… amazing.”
“Pancake party,” Sonic grinned, pulling his little brother into a hug. He hesitated for just a second longer than usual, then let go, hoping Tails didn’t notice.
But Tails did. He didn’t say anything—just hugged Sonic back tighter.
Not long after, heavy footsteps creaked down the stairs. Knuckles appeared, arms crossed but nose twitching. “There had better be protein in those pancakes.”
Tom smirked. “Don’t worry, I made a few with extra eggs. Just for you, big guy.”
Knuckles grunted approvingly and sat down.
Soon, the five of them were crammed around the table, plates stacked high, maple syrup dripping everywhere, and laughter bouncing off the walls.
Sonic glanced around the room—at Tails chatting excitedly about a new gadget, at Knuckles devouring his third stack of pancakes, at Maddie refilling glasses of juice, at Tom smiling through his own plate of food—and felt the knot in his chest finally loosen.
Last night’s nightmare still lingered in the back of his mind, but it didn’t matter. Because this morning, everyone he loved was here. Alive. Laughing. Together.
Sonic leaned back in his chair, hands folded behind his head, a grin spreading across his face. “Y’know… I think this might be the best breakfast ever.”
Tom met his eyes across the table, the same quiet reassurance from last night still in his gaze. “Get used to it, kiddo. You’ve got a lifetime more of these ahead.”
Sonic’s heart swelled as he popped another pancake in his mouth.
Yeah. A lifetime.