-Him and Flash were born only a month apart. They're kind of the second generation of the babies, and feel not quite as close to Violet, Skye and Tayla. They're best friends for life and training buddies. Both of them always kind of stood in their older sisters' shadows, and wanted to do something important too. They become G.U.N. agents later on after Rouge had taken over the institution.
-Candy is his little sister. They're both visible hybrids, and if anyone gives her a bad time about it, they've got to deal with him.
-They share a love for all kinds of insects. As a child, Kick often brought some home as pets (much too Rouge's dismay). He's almost an insect-whisperer. Imagine Disney's Snowwhite and the forest animals, but... wasps and spiders.
-Tried to eat anything as a baby. Feels horrible now thinking about how many of his insect friends he ate.
Sonic had seen that something was bothering his little brother the moment he’d opened the door for him. But Tails hadn’t said anything, and he hadn’t gotten the chance to ask. They had already been running late for the movie he’d picked out, so Amy had taken it upon herself to shoo the boys around until Tails was settled on the sofa with little Violet and all the emergency numbers he could need, and the couple was out the door.
It was a very nice evening. Sonic wasn’t sure when they last had made time like that just for the two of them. Maybe not since Violet had been born. Of course, their friends had jumped in to babysit before, but they had never managed a full, preplanned evening, with movie and dinner-date and all the shebang. And he only texted Tails, like, three times. Amy laughed at him, but he saw her ears twitch whenever he read Tails’ answers to her. No matter how nonchalant she acted, she was just as addicted to their baby as he was.
At the end of the evening Amy was visibly much more relaxed than she had been in a long time, so he put this as a mission accomplished. But she’d been right. They had needed it.
Left only the problem with Tails. Sonic was sharply reminded of it when they arrived home, and he left his wife at the hall-stand to find his friend and daughter in the living room. Kid looked downright depressed at bouncing the baby hedgehog on his lap. He didn’t even notice Sonic entering until he called out.
“Hey guys! Did ya miss us?”
Tails startled, grabbing the baby a little tighter as he turned around with a smile that was too forced for Sonic not to notice. Violet, happily giggling at their game before, looked up at her father’s voice and started squealing in delight as she saw him, making grabbing motions in the air. Sonic whistled at her, quickly crossing the rest of the room and swooping her out of Tails’ arms.
“What are you doing here, huh?” he cooed, kissing her first on one cheek, then on the other. “It’s way past your bedtime, little Miss, yes, it is.”
“Sorry about that.” Tails scratched his neck. “She seemed determined to stay awake at any price.”
“Nah, it’s fine. She’s got her own head; we’re used to that.”
Violet giggled and made a grab for his nose. Tails smiled a bit easier. “I think she was a little nervous you weren’t here to tuck her in.”
Sonic chuckled, tugging the one-year-old against his side. “Aw, did you miss your daddy, cupcake? You did, huh?” Violet gave a sharp yell of excitement, her tiny hand pushing at his chest. “Da! Da!”
Sonic kissed her on the head. “Yeah, you did. I hope she didn’t give too hard of a time.”
“Oh, no, not at all. She was an angel.”
The blue hedgehog laughed. “She’s a little demon, that’s what she is.” Violet yelled again. “Yes, you are. “Still looking at the baby, he said, “you’re just a genius with kids.”
His eyes were on Violet, but he didn’t miss the way Tails sharply looked away. He shifted Violet in his grip to hold her more comfortably with one arm. The girl grabbed his face, patting his check while she started babbling in her little baby-language, as if telling him about her evening with her uncle. But Sonic couldn’t focus on her now.
“Alright. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Tails’ head perked up with an expression Sonic couldn’t really read. The fox sat on the sofa with his hands nervously clasped in his lap, like a little boy, not the 24-year-old he was.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
Sonic raised an eyebrow. “You all but flinched when I said ‘kids’. Did something happen? Is Peony alright?”
The thought had tickled him before, when Tails had arrived at their home alone. Sonic had expected him to bring his adopted daughter along like usual so the kids could play.
In fact, Tails was a father two years longer than his older brother, ever since the tree that had grown from Cosmo’s seed had spontaneously dropped a baby seedrian right to his feet. They still hadn’t figured out how exactly that worked. Tails and Cream had taken the little girl in as their own, and caring for a plant-based-alien-lifeform was probably more challenging than babysitting Violet.
Now, Tails shook his head. “No, Peony’s fine. She’s with her mum.”
Sonic put his free hand on his hip. “So?”
He waited, while Tails wrung his hands together, looking down.
“… Cream’s expecting. We’re expecting.” His shoulders dropped like a huge amount of tension was leaving his body.
Well. Sonic hadn’t expected that. “Dude! That’s awesome. Congrats, little bro. since when do you know?”
Violet started squirming at his side, and he lifted her up again. “… Did you hear, sweetie? You’re getting another cousin soon!”
Violet giggled a little, and started gnawing on her fist. Her eyes started to droop now.
“... I’m not sure if I want kids.”
Sonic’s mouth dropped. He turned to the fox, half-expecting to have imagined it. But Tails didn’t look at him.
“... Are you serious?”
In that moment, Amy entered the room, oblivious to the heavy conversation going on.
“Hello Miles. How was it? Did Violet give you trouble?”
Tails face went blank, giving no sign of distress. “Not at all, Amy.”
“Thanks again for making the time. I know how crazy busy you must be. Starting your own business is a real headache sometimes.” Tails grinned at her, shaking his head in amusement. Amy turned to her husband, and only then notices Sonic’s tense expression. “What’s-?”
“Would you get Vi to bed, Ames? I think we need some time to talk.”
Amy looked at him confused, but wordlessly took her daughter from him. Violet hummed sleepily, tugging her head under Amy’s chin. Instinctively, Amy realized what Sonic wanted, and nodded.
“Okay. See you in a minute, then.”
Sonic and Tails watched the girls leave, and for a moment, silence fell over the room. Then, Sonic crossed his arms. “So?”
Tails didn’t look at him, and stayed silent.
“Seriously, what are you talking about? Just look how you act with my daughter. You love kids! You already have one. Don’t come up with the old arguments. It doesn’t matter if she’s not your ‘real’ daughter.”
“Yes, it does for once.” Tails voice was much louder than expected, and the fox quickly pulled back, looking at his hands. “... What if my mutation is genetic? There’s an extremely high risk that my kids will get it, and– “
“Tails, stop, you big baby!”
Tails stopped, and looked up. He looked so young. Sonic sighed, sitting down next to his brother “What’s all this about? You didn’t mind about your tails since we were kids! I thought you’re fine with it.”
“I am.”
“So?”
Tails hesitated for a moment. “... It’s not only about the tails. ... You don’t know this problem, because Amy’s also a hedgehog. It’s not that easy with Cream.”
That, Sonic hadn’t expected either. “... What? You’re worried because you and Cream don’t share the same race?”
Tails shrugged. “Maybe...”
“But you love her. You married her.”
“Yes.”
“Do you regret that?”
At that, the fox appeared repelled. “Of course not! I’d never.”
“What are you worried about then?”
Tails raised his hands in a desperate gesture. “I don’t know anything about genetics, Sonic. I’ve no idea how our... differences will influence the child. There is a possibility it’ll be a hybrid.”
Sonic frowned. “I know. And that’s a problem?”
“Have you ever seen a hybrid?”
“Yes.” The hedgehog shrugged. “Not many, but I have.”
“Have you ever seen how society treats them?”
Now they were getting closer. “... So you’re worried about how the people react?”
“How couldn’t I? You know what I’ve been through, better than anyone else. I can’t give this kind of life to a child of mine.”
“But you’re not giving your kid a life like that, you idiot!”
The fierceness in Sonic’s voice startled the fox. “What?”
Sonic wanted to slap himself. The kid could be so oblivious sometimes. “You had to survive on your own back then! You had no one to protect you. But your baby, your baby’s got you as a dad. It got Cream as a mum, and a big sister, and a grandmother. And me and Amy, we’re here too, we’re not leaving you alone with it. How can you think you’d ever leave the kid in a situation like yours? It’s not gonna happen, that’s final.”
Sonic looked at him intently. He wasn’t gonna leave it before his brother understood. Tails was silent for a moment, before the tiniest smile formed on his lips.
“I’m going a little mad since we got the news.” He said with a sigh. “Cream’s over at her mother’s every day, with Peony, and I feel pretty useless. Which is- bad, ‘cause she needs me and I definitely have to get a grip on this- It’s- it’s just so much right now, I’m still starting up the firm, Cream her shop; and we’re not even married for that long, and we’re still so young… I just don’t know if I can do this.”
Sonic smirked. “You didn’t make such a fuss when Peony showed up.”
“Well… yeah, because she just showed up,” Tails said, a little sheepishly. “Wasn’t much time to fret over it. Now, I’ve still got months to lose my mind before the baby’s even here.”
Sonic shrugged. “You’ve been a dad longer than me. I don’t think it gets all that easier, does it?”
Tails chuckled, finally for real. “No. I’m constantly worrying if Peony is happy and healthy.”
“I get that. Violet is so precious; I get anxious whenever I don’t have my eyes on her. Amy says I have a problem.”
They laughed quietly together. Then, Sonic laid his arm around Tails’ shoulder. “You had this all figured out way before me. Age doesn’t say anything. You’re smart, you’ve always been way too mature and responsible for your age; and you’ve got such a big heart. But you’ve got to switch off logic for a moment and just decide what you want. Does this feel right?”
Tails leaned back, closing his eyes for a long moment. “… I love Cream. I love Peony. I’ve always wanted family, I suppose.”
Sonic nodded satisfied, patting his shoulder. “That’s what I thought. It’s gonna be alright, bud, trust me.”
Sonic stood up, but then, Tails grabbed his hand, making him turn back around.
“Sonic?” He hesitated, looking up at the hedgehog for moment. “... I wasn’t alone. Not since I met you.”
Sheesh. He wasn’t gonna cry now, definitely not.
Tails smiled at him gratefully, maybe for talking him down, maybe for something else. It didn’t matter. For Sonic, the fox would never stop being ‘Tails’, even if everyone else called him Miles now, and likewise, he’d never stop being the young fox that could, and should, come to him with all his worries. He’d never stop being Sonic’s little brother.
Sonic swallowed the mushy feelings down, and ruffled Tails’ hair. He’d also never stop doing that, if he had anything to say. Tails laughed at swatted his hand away.
“Stop it!”
“Nope. Never.”
They grinned at each other. After a moment, Tails sighed, rubbing his head.
“I should go home.”
“And call your wife.”
“Yeah, that too. We’ll work it out.”
“Of course you will.”
Sonic offered him a hand to stand, which was stupid since Tails was so much taller than him, but the fox took the offer anyway. Then, Sonic remembered something else.
“Oh, one last question: Should I tell Ames, or does Cream wanna do it herself? But you realize, when she learns I knew this before her, someone is going to die, and it’s not gonna be the pregnant lady.”
