"Tails... maybe we should turn back."

"Relax, Sonic. With the upgrades to the Tornado, a little storm wouldn't slow us down." Tails adjusted his grip on the flight stick and forced a smile. Sonic sat behind him on the Tornado's new second seat. Rain trailed on the round window planes that enclosed all, protecting them from the clouds.

Ba-Boom!

Deep breaths, Tails. You're not scared of thunder or lightning anymore. You overcame that fear, long ago. Absolutely. Tails tightened his grip. He reassured Sonic that yes, for sure, the Tornado was protected. Ignore the turbulence.

Huh, sounds good Tails. Sonic put his hands behind his head and leaned back, a wide smile on his face. Sonic asked how he tested the Tornado's capabilities. A lightning rod or something?

Tails chuckled, awkwardly.

What tests? T-theory is good enough, right?

"Oh. Maybe we should fly outta here-"

"-It will be fine! Trust me, Sonic! Don't you trust me? The Tornado can withstand it! I upgraded it to-"

"-Look, this is a little risky even for me-"

"We will make it!" Tails snapped. They have to make it! If they took a detour now, Sonic will definitely miss his Valentine's Date with Amy. And then Amy will then be disappointed and sad, again. And it will all have been Tails' fault, because he didn't trust in his own piloting or engineering skills, because he didn't check the weather projections when he charted this flight route across the ocean.

Tails wasn't going to let a stupid storm scare him away like he's a little kit. He's better than that now!

And Tails certainly wasn't going to let Sonic and Amy's new relationship fall apart. Sure, they weren't officially dating dating but they very well could be after this Valentine's Day and he was going to be totally happy for them as Amy and Sonic were his best friends and he couldn't let them both down! He can't! Not like-

Boom!

Tails awoke to aches on his body and sand on his fur. Sand? Where was he? The air was soft and the sky was bright and blue, without a cloud in the sky.

"Hey!" Sonic's voice called and Tails was grabbed into a tight hug. "You're awake, Tails! I was beginning to worry you'd never wake up. Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"Ow. It hurts all over. Wait, where are we?" Tails looked around as he sat up. He had been leaning against a coconut tree it seems. There was a beach with clear sand, and the ocean water was still with nothing in the horizon. This must be a tropical island of sorts, right?

"It's a deserted island," Sonic said. "Urm... and it's pretty small..."

"Deserted? Like? Nobody's here-"

"Just like Robinson Crusoe's, I'm afraid. I guess that makes me the Friday."

"Huh? Isn't it Wednesday, though? How long was I out-"

"-No! Friday's, a character from the book I- well, forget that! How about I be your Wilson from Castaway."

Tails blinked and stared. Did Sonic lose his mind or did he lose his mind? Maybe both?

"Tom Hanks? Okay fine, I know a reference you'll get. This is just like Don't Starve Together!"

"Oh!" Tails smiled and nodded. He loved playing that game with Amy every other weekend. If only Sonic ever found the time to join in-

And then the realization than hit Tails -- they were both trapped here! Just like in the video game. Imagine being in a video game. Tails couldn't even begin to comprehend it.

Sonic explained that lightning had struck the Tornado, causing the front engine to explode! Tails was knocked unconscious from the blast. Luckily, the shielding on the glass insulated them from the electric shock or the blast. But then Tornado crashed hard into the ocean, forcing Sonic to use a spin dash to break out the cockpit shields, pulling Tails outta there! With enough speed, Sonic was able to dash and run on the stormy water surface for miles and miles, the unconscious Miles in his arms. He must have been going fast, a couple hundred... kilometers per hour.

And then before long, Sonic found land! He held Tails close to him in the cold storm for warmth. Some time passed, maybe an hour or two, before the lightning and thunder and rain stopped.

"I searched all over the island for food," Sonic said as he reached for a coconut on the side. "But there really isn't much on here. No wild animals. Not much fruit..."

"How's our water situation?" Tails asked, the coconut in his arm. It was partially cracked open already. Snap! Now it was fully opened. Tails sipped the juice as he nodded to Sonic's words.

"I don't see a lake so... we probably have to rely on catching rainwater."

"Or distillation," Tails knocked two coconuts together. "If I could just get two glass bottles... and then find some way to start a fire."

"Starting a fire?" Sonic then got to his feet, hopped over to a bundle of leaves and sticks, and then revved up his legs in a familiar figure eight shape. He 'ran' in place, faster and faster until-

"You know I bring the heat. I'm too hot to stop." A flame crackled onto the newly formed campfire before Sonic blasted off at full speed. He grabbed a nearby coconut tree and swung around to the ocean, his feet beat against the water and before Tails could ask what he was doing, Sonic was back.

"Got us some brunch, bud," Sonic stabbed a stick through the head of a few small still flopping fishes. "As you can see, the sea is our scene."

Oh Sonic, how could you be so cheerful in these circumstances? Tails gave a wistful sigh.

"Thought you said we'd be having trouble with food, Sonic."

"I said on the island. The ocean is not on the island."

"Argh. You had me worried there, you know! I forgot about fishing..."

Tails scooted closer to the fire. Cozy and warm. His stomach then growled. Hungry.

Hungry, hungry, hungry.

The fox boy needs his meat.

Without any seasoning or oil or spice or rice, the grilled fish was alright. At least it was fresh. Sonic picked at his fish delicately, with gentle nips. He was used to messier food.

Tails? Well...

"Woah, Tails, you must be hungry, huh?"

Tails looked up, his fangs in full view in a grin. A vicious furrowed brow. He devoured the meat in fierce bites ripping off flesh from bone.

It felt good. Instinctive. Nostalgic.

And then, Tails looked away with a blush. Sonic! He didn't mean to be rude or messy. He wasn't some caveman-

"Hey, it's cool! Who cares about manners when you're starving? It's not like anyone's here to judge."

True.

Some quiet and peace, only crashing gentle waves. Like a slow weekday afternoon on the beach of Emerald Coast but with even more privacy. The air was soft and cozy. Not too dry and not too wet. And despite being February it was not too cold either.

Maybe being on an island for awhile wasn't all bad, right? But they had to find a way back to civilisation eventually, especially because-

"Oh no. Sonic... you're gonna miss your date."

"Eh," Sonic said back with a shrug. "Wouldn't be the first time. Probably wouldn't be the last. Amy's used to it by now."

"It's not right..." Tails sighed and brought his knees closer to his chest, poking at the fire with a stick.

"It's not right for Amy to become used to getting stood up. You know she deserves better. You ought to be better. This isn't some trivial thing."

"She's fine with it, really... I had this conversation with her-"

"-About?"

"This whole, you know-" Sonic then gestured around himself and the island. "-Unpredictability of my lifestyle."

"You really think she's okay with it? You being gone a lot?"

"I mean, she understands-"

"-Puts up with it."

A frustrated groan escaped Sonic's lips. "Why you gotta phrase it like that?"

"...That's not... my phrasing."

There was a pause. The fire crackled against the echoes of ocean waves. Tails didn't mean to spill the tea. When Amy would talk about Sonic on late night voice calls while Tails streamed video games for her, she wasn't exactly very nice with her choice of words, sometimes.

Eventually, Tails broke the silence.

"Sorry, Nick. It's none of my business."

"It's fine, Miles." Sonic returned a soft smile. "It's sweet of you to care about her. You'd make a good boyfriend. Better than me anyways..."

"Eh. It's not your fault you missed those dates. I mean, I had to rescue you from Camelot. Or that time Metal kidnapped you. Or that time Jet-"

"-Yeah," Sonic said with a shrug. "I don't know why I always seem to get into heaps of trouble around Valentine's."

"Who knows? You ended up spending most of them with me instead of a girl, Sonic!"

"Ha!" Sonic then awkwardly turned away. "Maybe it's a sign."

Huh? Tails blinked as his heart rate quicken. W-what did Sonic mean? What were they talking about? It was only a joke. Jokes. Funny. Funny jokes between best friends.

Change the topic.

"This time was my fault, at least," Tails replied picking at his glove. "If I didn't fly into that storm..."

"Accidents happen, Tails. It's alright." Sonic's smile seemed sincere. "We're lucky we're alive thanks to your upgrades."

"Ah, come on. If my upgrades worked properly the Tornado would've shrugged off the lightning."

"Ah, come on! The original Tornado I won from Fang at Poker was a bucket of bolts! I betcha it'd have exploded in the air if that happened. Besides, I definitely would've gotten fried standing on the wing. Your improvements saved our lives, Tails."

"Still... I should've turned back."

Sonic placed a hand on Tails' shoulder. "You were looking out for me and for her. Yeah, it was dumb but you were following your heart. I respect that."

"Pfft, almost got us killed."

"But it didn't. We got to live another day."

Pat. Pat. Tails couldn't help but smile as Sonic comforted him. Sonic was amazing, wasn't he? He always knew the right thing to say.

"I feel bad I stole your Valentine's over the years."

"Eh..." Tails chuckled softly. "It's alright. I'm always happy helping you out, Sonic. Besides, I didn't have anything better to do."

"I find that hard to believe, Tails," Sonic inched his hand slightly towards the back of Tails' neck. "Like I said... you would make a good boyfriend."

"Haha... ha..." Tails stared back into Sonic's eyes as his heart beat faster and faster. Tails never really thought about it but he did spend many Valentine's with Sonic. But they weren't dates or anything. They were just adventures or rescue missions or being stranded together away from civilisation with total privacy from anything or anyone.

...

"You'd make a good boyfriend too, Sonic..."

Sonic's lips tasted soft, moist and hints of fish. His breath also kind of stunk. But Tails didn't care as years of homoerotic tension melted away, his hands sliding under quills, pulling his head closer.

Tails was happy. He hoped deep down his first kiss was going to a special hedgehog in his life. He just didn't think it'd be blue instead of pink.

"I love you, Nicky."

"Ha. First date and already at nicknames and the hard L-word, huh?"

"It's a good word. Of course I was going to use it, Sonic."

"Well, then I love you too, Miles."

Miles' tails spun and spun! It wasn't the first time Sonic said he loved him, but it was the first time they said it in a very Valentine's way. Why had this felt so good? Had Tails always have had a crush on his best friend? Or does an island at sea act as a cupid of love?

At least survival would be easier with a cute hedgehog boyfriend.

It was sundown now. Sonic and Tails cuddled up under a shelter made of coconut tree leaves and vines, another campfire in front of them. They spent the afternoon gathering all the coconuts they could find. Tails had an idea to create a raincatcher with them soon. That should get them fresh water they could ration for a few days.

They'd find a way back to civilisation... eventually. Maybe. But that was a worry for tomorrow.

"Y'know, Tails. I wonder how everyone would react to us being a thing..."

"Eggman would freak out, that's for sure." Tails chuckled and then nuzzled against Sonic's neck. Hedgehog quills were surprisingly comfortable if you had a fluffy coat of fur.

"Heh. Why's that?"

"Did you forget that Dr. Eggman thinks I'm your eight year old brother?"

"Oh my gosh! I forgot. Ha! Haha! That's rich."

Tails broke into laughter too at the memory of hacking into Eggman's network.

The data on the Robotnik files listed Tails to eight years old! And he never bothered to update the data for years.

Tails didn't even look that young by Mobian standards. He hadn't gotten carded at a Sunset Heights bar for years now.

Station Square, however? That's another story. At least Eggman had the common decency to remember Tails was a guy, unlike the other humans. No matter how deep your voice was, and Tails had a very deep voice for a fox, humans always mistook the male members of his kind for young girls.

"Brothers? A fox and a hedgehog!" Sonic continued, covering his mouth as he laughed. "What? Did he think my mom adopted you? Did he forget we are orphans?"

"Maybe he just made us sibling coded in his databases for convenience," Tails said.

"How much you wanna bet that Eggman's code only supports Husband and Wife as relationship links?"

"I call dibs on Wife, Sonic."

"No way! That ain't right! Y'know I'm totally the Wife."

"Aren't you forgetting I'm the one who does all the chores, Sonic?"

"Hmph," Sonic tilted his head away with sass. "How misogynistic! Reducing women to housewives? I never thought you'd stoop so low, Tails."

"I-I, urm, it's just a joke-"

"-Besides..." Sonic put his palm out in a dramatic fashion. "Everyone knows I'm the pretty one, handsome."

Sonic then batted his eyelashes seductively, partially a joke but partially oh so sincere. Tails gulped, unable to form a word.

"What's wrong, Mr. Prower?" Sonic winked before grabbing Tails by the chest fur like it was a salaryman's tie. "Hedgehog got your tongue?"

Kiss. They kissed. Sonic sucked on his lip. Fine. He can be the wife... sometimes. He's pretty and beautiful enough to-

Hold on! Tails pulled away.

"Hey! Wait a minute... you're playing into gender stereotypes too, Miss Hedgehog!"

Sonic gasped. "Am not!"

"Am not!" Tails playfully mocked back. "Yes you are!"

"Only because it's fun making you blush, hubby."

"Ahh!" Miles covered his red, red, red hot face with fluffy tails. "Stoop it! You're too cute."

"Fine," Sonic giggled. "This joke has dragged on long enough anyways."

And then Sonic pulled Tails into a surprise, adorable hug and rubbed his head gently. "Anything for you, dear."

Tails sighed wistfully. He loved that hedgehog. He felt his eyes get heavy as the waves clashed. The moon's reflection glimmered.

Best Valentine's day ever. Who needed fancy restaurants or magic shows when you were with the perfect someone? A humid deserted island with mosquitoes and terrible service was still a dream date with the right hedgehog...

Goodnight, Sonic.

"Hey now, it's just a dream, buddy," Sonic said as he grilled fish for breakfast on the campfire. Miles had his tails as a blanket.

"It felt way too real, Sonic. Amy was crying and... well, I knew it was my fault."

"Eh." Sonic twirled the fish on a stick. "The real Amy would understand. I mean, we aren't even a couple."

"Really? You know she described it as an open relationship."

"Open relationship? Casual dating? Same thing."

Really? Tails dragged a stick along the sand as he talked. "It's not the same thing! She called you her boyfriend."

"She's not wrong. I'm Amy's boyfriend the same way Vanilla and Blaze are her girlfriends."

Tails teasingly threw a paddle gently at his... boyfriend? The same way the Tornado was his wife. Rest in pieces, love.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"You know heteronormativity doesn't work that way, Sonic! Things are... different when it's a guy and a girl."

Tails awkwardly smiled. Heteronormative. A fancy word he hoped he was using correctly.

Ever since Metal defected from Eggman, they've been pretty critical about the way organics did, well, anything. It was admittedly nice listening to 'technobabble' Tails couldn't understand immediately for once.

"It's not my fault, Tails. I told Amy I liked her as a bestie."

"You kissed her on the lips!"

"I do that with all my friends! Only if it's all good with them, of course."

Did Sonic just admit that nothing really changed between him and Tails? Even after last night? Was his boyfriend still only a big bro?

Big bro. The name was always an ironic joke, as Tails was actually a year older than Sonic, but still...

Strange. Why didn't Tails feel... bad about that? Not a hint of disappointment or jealousy or possessiveness or anxiety. Nothing Amy would describe at the thought of her precious Sonic out flirting with someone else, at the thought Amy wasn't the special someone to her hero.

Instead, Tails felt nothing. He couldn't bring himself to care either. Being able to kiss and cuddle and flirt with his bestest friend in the world already made Tails so, so happy. What else more could he want from Sonic?

And yet, Tails felt so much anger at the idea of Sonic not treating Amy right. He could feel her own possessiveness as a third party, on those hangout sessions they'd do when Sonic disappeared again.

"Tails," Sonic said. "Want a coconut, my love?"

He smiled. Of course he did.

Then he sighed.

If only Amy could've taken Tails' place. Then she'd finally be happy. Sonic would have nowhere to run.

Oh. Maybe that's not a good thing.

Ah! It was just so confusing. Tails just wanted to be held. If only he didn't crash this plane. If only he wasn't trying to 'overcome his fears' by being an idiot.

Sonic said 'what's done is done.'

"Let's think about how we're getting outta here!"

"Aye... sky's and ocean's clear, Captain Sonic!" Tails had his eye on a makeshift telescope. They were stationed at the balcony of their home.

It had been three days since Sonic and Tails crash landed on the island. And they've turned the place into a cozy little base. They really had nothing better to do but build, what with all the free time they had now.

The plan they devised was simple, really. Eventually, at some point, a ship was going to pass by. Then all Sonic had to do was run to it- bridal carrying Tails obviously- and they'd be all saved.

Easy! Foolproof! Effortless!

Only problem was... there weren't any ships! Why wasn't the ocean busier? At least the view gave them a lookout for an incoming storm.

"Ahoy, first mate Prower," Sonic stretched himself as he laid on a cot made of vines. "No travellers to save our lost souls, eh?"

"Afraid not, sir! We're cursed to be land lovers an hour longer."

"Landlubbers," Sonic chuckled as he corrected Tails. "Not land lovers."

"Pretty sure we're lovers on land so... land lovers!" Tails gave a cute tilt of his head.

They were so bored out here, even with pirate speak. Sure, they had fun racing and playing checkers using rocks and coming up with stories but...

Tails missed working on his machines. He missed food that wasn't fish, coconut and seaweed. He missed video games, movies and baking. He missed Discord, even if its facial recognition thought he was eight.

He missed Amy.

He really missed Amy.

All those days and nights when you were still around, I held my tongue. I didn't think I needed to say I loved you. I thought it was obvious. And I wasn't taught to say it.

Told myself you'd always be there tomorrow. That I'd tell you one last time how proud I was of you on my own last days.

I miss you everyday, son. It never gets easier. I wish I said I loved you back when you could hear it. I really do. May this letter reach you in the better place, through the ocean's grace.

I love you, Claus.

"Woo!" Sonic said as he held the glass bottle in his arm. "We have unlocked the power of distillation! H20 here we go!"

"Y-yeah, Sonic. Woo...""

Tails gave a deep breath as he wiped a tear from his eye, the note still in his hand. They spotted a bottle floating in the ocean and so Sonic ran to get it. There was a message inside.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Sonic then sat next to Tails on the sand. "Sad letter?"

Tails nodded and then gave Sonic the message. He sighed as he traced sand with his hand. He couldn't imagine what it must've been like for a parent to outlive their child. It must hurt, a lot.

He wondered if his birth parents ever missed him. He couldn't find them, so probably not. But that's all in the past.

He sighed. When will their friends realise they were actually missing instead of some wacky adventure? Sonic, and by extension Tails, were used to being gone for weeks at a time without any notice.

And once they knew they were gone, how many would assume they were dead? Would they bother looking before hosting a funeral with an empty coffin?

"Hey," Sonic said with a sniff before pulling Tails into a soft hug. "It's okay, buddy. I'm here for you."

Tails leaned against Sonic. "What if we're trapped here, forever?"

Who would stop the Eggman Empire now? Well, that actually wouldn't be an issue. Metal had enough daddy issues to keep the world safe, and if not Metal, Amy was more than capable.

Tails then gasped. Amy! Amy would know they were missing right away. Sure, she was used to being stood up by Sonic but this Valentine's, Tails promised her that he'd make sure Sonic showed up - for real this time.

And Tails never broke a promise to Amy!

Which meant-

"Sonic!" Tails leapt into the air, almost flying with joy. "I know who's gonna save us!"

"Knuckles?"

"What?" Tails raised an eyebrow. "Knuckles?! Why him?"

"Dunno," Sonic shrugged. "He always seems to show up outta nowhere when the plot demands it. That's just what he does."

Five coconuts, a backrub and a princess bridal carry or a helicopter sightseeing ride.

That's how high the wager had gotten. Sonic was confident that something red was going to find them, leaving it open to either Knuckles or Eggman. Bonus if it was both.

Tails, however, was confident it'd be Amy! He thought her how to fly planes, after all, and she was definitely searching for them right that moment.

Sonic argued that there was no way Amy could find them! They were in the middle of nowhere! Meanwhile, Eggman totally had some hedgehog-finder-3000 scanning the planet for him. That guy was obsessed with that hedgehog.

And Knuckles? He had a habit of showing up somehow. So it was a safe bet.

Hmph. Amy had an instinct for tracking down Sonic. The blue hedgehog's power? She could feel it. Amy was totally going to save them.

That was a day ago. No passing ships.

In the base, Sonic and Tails were playing a game of Go using pebbles.

Behind them hanging on the wall was a salvaged piece of the Tornado that said 'Sonic', now decoration. It washed up on shore. A couple thousand of those and maybe Tails could build a new plane to escape.

"Wanna play chess after this?" Tails asked.

"How would we mark which piece was which, though?"

"I'm sure we could find enough pebbles- wait, do you hear that?"

It sounded like a propeller of a plane! Please, don't be Eggman! Tails flew quickly out of the base, Sonic ran by.

Yes! There in the sky! An aircraft! It looked just like- oh! It was the Cyclone!

Please don't be Knuckles piloting it.

Wait? Did the pilot see them? It flew by! Oh no! Was it going to miss them? This close to rescue too.

"Hey!" Tails yelled. "Over here!"

Sonic waved his hands and yelled too. Nothing. Oh shoot. Whomever was flying this clearly didn't see the artificial structures as remarkable. Tails heart sunk at the idea it really could be Knuckles.

"Sonic! What should we do?"

But before there was a reply, Tails was held in Sonic's arms, bridal style, as he ran after the plane.

"We're catching that plane, Tails!"

The Cyclone was just low enough but now Sonic was running on the ocean water. Fast. And whoever was flying still seemed oblivious.

"Tails! If we're gonna reach that plane..."

Miles nodded as he climbed around Sonic's arms. He gave a deep breath.

"Press the L or R button to switch to flight formation! Quickly! Before we run out of time!"

Miles then spun his tails together and was able to fly Sonic and himself, Sonic grabbing his feet, up to the Cyclone. With as much force as he could muster and the initial momentum, they were able to just barely hold onto the wing.

Tails smiled when he noticed the pilot.

"Ahhh!" screamed Amy who quickly twisted the flight stick in a panic. The Cyclone spun wildly.

"Amy! Amy! Amy! Calm down!" Tails yelled. "It's us!"

"Tails! Sonic? Where did you come from? Ahhh! I can't stabilise the plane!"

"Forget it!" Sonic shouted. "This is too dizzy! I'm outta here! Pick me up on the island! Adios."

"Wait! Soooonic!" Amy and Tails cried in perfect unison! But it was no use as Sonic let go off the wing. What was he thinking?!

The Cyclone still spun wildly.

"Amy! Press the autopilot!"

'What?!"

"The blue button on your left! It'd stabilise the plane!"

"Okay!" Amy nodded and pressed a button. But to Tails' horror, he felt the wings shift and rotate into a different formation.

"W-what's happening, Tails?!"

"I said the blue button! Not the black button!"

The black button was to engage the land vehicle transformation and Amy had pressed it... in mid-air.

Miles quickly flew with his tails onto the second seat before the transformation system could crush one of his limbs. He was so glad Sonic bailed.

"Amy."

"Yes, Tails?"

"We're going to crash."

'Yes, Tails."

"Sorry."

There was good news. Amy had at least managed to direct the Cyclone towards the island. This meant it didn't crash into the ocean.

Instead, the Cyclone collided straight into the makeshift base and smashed everything into pieces.

The sound of Miles' propeller tails echoed in the sky, Amy held tightly onto his feet.

"Well..." Sonic said with his arms crossed and feet tapping against the sand. "At least I won the bet."

"What?" Tails said as he landed Amy gently down. "No? I said Amy would find us."

"You did, Tails?" Amy put her hands together. "That's sooo sweet."

Sonic pointed at Amy. "She's wearing her red dress. I said something in red would save us. Ergo, I've won."

"Pretty sure the thing in red being Amy Rose supersedes your bet, Sonic."

"Hmmm..." Sonic placed a hand on his chin. "Let's call it even, boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?!" Amy had her hammer in her hand, pulled from her inventory which she accessed using the Y button. "So you both turned gay as soon as you're lost at sea?!'

Sonic awkwardly chuckled. "I wouldn't say I'm exclusively gay-"

"-Awww!" Amy lowered her hammer and smiled. "I'm so happy for you, Sonic! And Tails! Honestly, I had a feeling you two were fruity but I didn't wanna pressure you outta the closet or-"

"-I'm not gay, Amy," Sonic corrected. "By the way. I swing both ways...

"Oh..." Amy's excited smile faded away. "So... if you're into women too then... why did you pick Tails over me?"

"Hey!" Tails interrupted. "What's that supposed to mean-"

"-I didn't pick Tails over you, Amy," Sonic smiled and awkwardly chuckled.

"You just said he was your boyfriend."

"Yeah? And? You can still be my girlfriend."

Air exhaled from Amy's nose, sharply. "Doesn't the label mean anything to you?"

"Urm-"

"-Or are we just friends you cuddle sometimes?!" Amy continued.

"Honestly, yeah," Sonic shrugged. "I told you before it's all just for fun. I specifically said that."

"Yeah. You did. I should've listened to your words and not my heart..." Amy dropped her hammer onto the sand and quietly walked off to a corner.

Tails stepped forward, picked up Amy's hammer and gently smacked Sonic on the back.

"Ow! What's that for, bud?"

"I told you not to go out with her unless you were serious! Like super serious! You know she's a little stubborn..."

"I thought the dates would make her happy," Sonic's frown seemed sincere. Tails didn't blame him. Sonic's free like the wind and wasn't shy about that.

Tails said he'd go talk to her. Maybe he could cheer her up.

Unlike Sonic, Amy's lips tasted faintly of wax. Her lipstick met Tails' lips. And they kissed and kissed.

Bottled emotions and heteroromantic tension, years of being the shoulder she cried on. The sidekick when the hero was gone. The backup date so concert tickets wouldn't go to waste.

But neither of them wanted to give up their crush on their hero, the subconscious one in Tails' case. But now that he knew what it was actually like to have Sonic as a boyfriend...

He could see why Amy would be unfulfilled. She wanted more than just a friend she shared a bed with sometimes.

"Oh." Sonic's voice. He had pushed open some leaves. "Sorry, I'll leave you two alone-"

"-No," Amy said with a smile. "It's okay. Stay. Miles and I had a talk and... I feel better."

Tails and Amy both walked up to Sonic and pulled him into a group hug. A warm lovely embrace. They talked and talked about relationship angst and vents and expectations and laughed it out. They shared more coconut water and grilled fish. Hours passed. It was nice.

Amy explained she found them because of her Sonic detection feminine instincts.

"No, but really, " Tails said with a coconut in his hand. "How did you find us?"

"The Cyclone's flight computer had access to the Tornado's black box signals. Didn't you show me how to use that feature?"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. Neat."

Moments passed by as they discussed rescue.

Tails probably could fix the Cyclone at some point, even if it would take weeks. But he wasn't worried. In his hand he held a real Chaos Emerald, salvaged from the Cyclone's wreck.

If all else fails, Eggman would soon come looking for this thing.

Or Metal.

Or Fang.

Or the President and his squad of GUN secret agent penguins...

Or Knuckles.

Everyone wanted the Chaos Emeralds, and they had ways to track them down.

And when that time comes when they are found, Team Trouple would be ready for action!