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“It’s time for bed, little rascals!” Tom announced as he picked up the very sleepy fox kit from where he had snuggled against a sleeping Maddie, and winked at Knuckles who quietly obliged, approaching the stairs while dragging the grumpy hedgehog. He slowly ascended to the attic, careful to not disturb Tails in his arms.
“C’mon, just because Tails’ sleepy doesn’t mean we should sleep too! We are older!” Sonic complained, Knuckles groaned and tugged him a bit harder then necessary without realizing, and Tom shot him a warning gaze before turning to Sonic.
“You zoned out and asked us to replay the last five minutes of the movie three times bud. That sounds sleepy to me.”
“I was… thinking of something! “
“Hedgehog, thinking? Unheard of.”
Knuckles quipped, and earned a chuckle from Tom, which made his violet eyes sparkle. He was getting the hang of having the fun, and he was happy his… tribe joined in whenever he did. Sonic glared, but the very obvious grin he tried to hide betrayed his fake annoyance. He didn’t mind, though, because Knuckles finally relaxing around them enough to joke around was a rewarding sight to see.
Knuckles gently let go of his arm once they reached the attic, and Tom placed Tails to his plane-themed bed, which made the fox open his glazed eyes to look around, likely questioning when had he gotten up here. Sonic flashed a smile to Tails, Knuckles nodded, and Tails replied with a content smile before letting his body crash on the bed. Tom grinned and approached Sonic first, who pulled his blanket over himself and laid down, no longer grumpy about having to go to bed. Tom ruffled his quills, and noticed Tails’ and Knuckles’ gazes on them. He turned to Tails, petting his head affectionately, and the fox leaned into his touch, while trying to force his heavy eyes to open
“G’night dad.” The kit muttered before dozing off, and Tom’s eyes immediately filled with tears, and he heard Sonic gasp. Once Tom turned his back, hedgehog quickly hit the pillow, and clenched his eyes shut. Tom’s eyes caught Knuckles’, and he averted his gaze, Tom figured maybe he was a bit shy about getting tucked in, but still petted the top of echidna’s head.
“Good night, big guy.” He said, and Knuckles smiled in response, and lied to the side. He had a good look on the boys before leaving. Tails was asleep once again, Knuckles had a a serious expression on his face, that child never relaxed, but his eyes were shut. Sonic was clearly forcing his eyes to stay shut and had a lopsided smile on his face which made Tom seriously doubt he was asleep, but he couldn’t fault him even if he tried to.
Tails had called him dad for the first time ever, and Tom was sure Sonic was aware of that as well. Couple of days ago Tails had started calling Sonic and Knuckles his brothers, and Sonic hadn’t shut up about it, using every second Tails wasn’t with him to gush over him and declare that he was going to be the best big brother ever. Knuckles’ reaction was a bit toned down, but he was in the best mood anyone has seen him for days now. Tom closed the door of the attic and made his way down with the biggest grin on his face. Maddie was standing on the end of the stairs, a knowing smile on her face.
“What did they do this time?” Maddie asked affectionately, looking forward to hear the endearing things her sons would be up to after Tom tucked them in. She swore every night, Tom would come down with a smile, or tears in his eyes, because appearently sleepiness
made her boys only cuter. Too bad she usually dosed off before Tom took the nightly duty. Tom embraced her tightly, and she rubbed his back
“Tails called me dad, Maddie!” He announced as quietly as he could, Maddie broke their hug to face him, her hands placed on his shoulders.
“For real?” She asked before her husband started tearing up, and nodding with a tight-lipped smile. She took his hand and led him to the couch. They sat, facing each other. Tom sighed, likely to collect his thoughts, his happiness was overwhelming his mind.
“I just… can’t believe I have three sons now.” He whispered, heart fluttering upon hearing the worlds fill the silence between them. Maddie nodded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
“We went from family of three to six in less than a year. It really is unbelievable.” She said, and Tom laid back on the couch.
“When Tails and Knux came, I thought of them as Sonic’s friends first. I even told him so.” “Yeah, but we didn’t really know they were here to stay, did we?”
“Heh, guess we didn’t. A part of me is sad that they had to, because they were all alone, like Sonic was.”
“I get you. I’d love to hear they had loving and present families back home, but we’re doing everything in our power to give them that. “
“Exactly, and we’re doing a damn good job!” He nearly shouted, and Maddie shushed him, giggling as he clasped his hand on his face.
“Well, a good job besides staying quiet.”
“Sonic’s been rubbing off on you. You can’t contain your excitement sometimes.” “About Sonic…”
“He is probably awake, isn’t he?”
“Poor boy did his best trying to calm himself down, but I don’t think he’ll be able to sleep much.”
“Like father like son, huh?” Maddie said, playfully punching Tom’s arm. He flashed that boyish grin she fell in love with, and she noticed Sonic smiled the same sometimes. She guessed Sonic watched them more carefully than they noticed, before and after they met him.
“Can’t fault the guy. Tails is an incredible child, and we’re lucky to have him.” Tom answered, and Maddie hummed in response.
“I can’t wait for the day he calls me mom. Knux too.”
“They will, eventually. We just have to keep walking towards them, and allow them to meet us halfway. “ Tom said, then a yawn escaped Maddie.
“Yeah, eventually.” She murmured, and stood up, tugging her husband behind to their room. They needed sleep to take on another day of parenting super-powered extracelestial children