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Chapter Text

«Dash, we have to go.»

«Aaw, please! Just five more minutes!»

Amy shook her head, with a mixture of amusement and tiredness.

«That’s what you said five minutes ago. Come on, darling, let’s go. Home is awaiting us.»

The pink hedgehog stretched her arms to grab her son, but he dashed off and in the blink of an eye he moved two meters away from her.

«I stay here» he insisted, with his little hands on his hips.

Amy tried to catch her child, but the only result she got was landing face-first on the grass. She lifted herself up, using her arms for leverage, while Dash chuckled. Usually she loved that dark blue-furred hoglet and his untiring dynamism, except in these kinds of moments.

Ten minutes passed and she still wasn’t able to catch Dash. Every time she moved close to him and he was at arm’s reach, he used his enhanced speed to run away and recover a safe distance.

Panting, she wiped some sweat from her bang quills and tried changing the tactic: she promised Dash his favorite food if he hurried up. That trick had already worked in the past, but this time it didn’t. She sighed deeply. She was about to give up when she noticed Cream sneaking behind Dash’s back without him noticing, flapping her ears so that she could fly. They exchanged a knowing glance, then she spoke to her son.

«You know what? You win.»

«Really?» The hoglet’s amber eyes sparkled with joy while he was jumping on the spot. «Yay! I did it! I…!»

In that moment, he felt himself being grabbed by the waist and dragged away by Cream. His smile faded and was replaced with a frown.

«Damn. That was unfair» he complained.

Cream giggled. «Sorry, little one. I had to do it.» She flew to the park’s exit, Amy following a few steps behind.

«Thanks for your help» the pink hedgehog said.

«You’re welcome. Anything for a sister» Cream replied with a wink.

The two Mobians reached an open carriage, parked on the roadside. A rabbit with the same color as Cream’s fur, but more adult-like and with a tuft of dark orange hair on her forehead, wearing an elegant cotton dress, greeted them by waving a hand. With her, sitting on the carriage, there were two little hedgehogs, one pink-furred with light blue eyes and a ribbon of the same color on her head, the other azure-furred with green eyes. In the coachman’s seat there was a fat and mustached human, their trusty butler.

«Here we are, mom» Cream said, taking her place on a seat.

«Sorry for being late, Vanilla» Amy sighed.

«Don’t worry about it, dear» the rabbit replied sweetly. She hinted at Dash with a gesture of her head; the hoglet was still pouting in Cream’s lap, with his little arms crossed. «Same old tantrum?»

«Yeah, and it took me longer than it should have to take him away.» Amy hopped on the carriage. «It gets more difficult every time.»

Vanilla giggled, but got suddenly interrupted by a coughing fit.

«Mommy!» the other two hoglets exclaimed, diving into Amy’s lap. She smiled and stroked their heads.

Vanilla gestured to her butler that it was time to leave. He nodded and snapped the bridles, where some ladybug-like robots – or Motobugs, as he called them – were tied instead of horses. The carriage started moving.

«Well, darlings? How was the park? Did you like it?» Amy asked.

«A lot» Rosebud confirmed. She was the pink hoglet and the youngest of her children. «There was a duck with her ducklings swimming in the lake, and… and I found some pretty flowers, too! Oh, I wish I could have picked some for you…» she described with sparkling eyes.

Vanilla flashed a smile while picking up the baby girl in her arms. «Oh, Rosie dear, every day you become cuter than before. I bet that, when you’re older, you will surpass your mother’s beauty.» She brushed her nose against Rosebud’s, earning a lighthearted giggle from the latter. «Don’t you think?»

«I agree» Cream said.

«I don’t exclude the possibility» Amy added.

Spike, the light blue cub, tapped her mother’s hip gently to get her attention. He showed her a drawing of the park where they have just recently been, their usual stop-over every two days a week to play outdoors and have a little run. More specifically, he chose to draw a glimpse of the lake in the middle of the park, which was wonderfully framed by some willows on the sides of the paper, and even some flowers and little animals. The pencil stroke was very vivid as always.

«Oh, Spike, it’s splendid» Amy praised.

«Pfft. It’s awful» Dash snorted.

«It’s not!» Spike scowled.

«It is» Dash retorted.

«It’s not.»

«It is.»

«Dash…» Amy scolded.

The blue little boy released himself from Cream’s arms and hopped on the spot where Eggman was seated.

«Honestly, I love it» Rosebud said. «Especially the way you drew the flowers.»

Spike smiled at the compliment, while Amy ruffled his quills with a gentle cuddle.

«They grow up so fast» Cream noticed.

«They sure do» Vanilla acknowledged. «What wouldn’t I give for a piece of their vitality…»

A new sudden coughing fit caught her by surprise. Cream placed a hand on her mother’s lap with a worried look.

«You alright, my lady?» the butler asked, turning his head.

Vanilla stopped coughing.

«Yes, Eggman. Thanks for worrying» she said, forcing a smile.

Amy’s ears drooped down. Rosebud stroked Vanilla in a comforting way, while Spike lowered his head. Those coughing attacks happened pretty often, but no one really got used to it.

«Argh! Stay down, little rascal!»

Eggman’s yell broke the atmosphere. Everyone brought their attention to the coachman’s seat. Dash had climbed on the butler’s tailcoat, soiling it with some dirt gathered in his fur, spikes and shoes. Now he had gripped Eggman's mustache and had started yanking it, like it was the rope of a church’s bell.

«Ha! Gotcha, Baldy McNosehair!» Dash triumphed.

Vanilla tried to hold back her laughter by covering her mouth with a hand.

«Oh, Dash, you’re such a naughty boy.»

Rosebud, Amy and Cream couldn’t help but giggle. Only Spike rolled his eyes.

«Let go! I said let go, you… Ow!» Eggman protested.

Amy got up and stretched her arms. She grabbed Dash by the waist and pulled him back, forcing him to let go.

«Sorry, Eggman.»

The butler grunted, shaking off the dirt off his sleeve and shoulder.

«As for you, young man, you need a bath» Amy said with a critical look.

Dash shook his head. «No.»

«If you’re gonna be a gentleman, you’ll have to take care of yourself a bit more.»

«I don’t care.»

«Dash! Since when did you learn this language?»

The rest of the discussion got interrupted when Eggman announced they had finally reached their destination.

The Rabbits’ mansion, one of the most beautiful houses in Emeraldville’s downtown, stood out in front of them. It was made entirely of marble and surrounded by a luxurious garden, one the main reasons why the other rich people in the district envied it.

At Eggman’s command, two robots came forward and opened the golden gate, allowing the carriage a comfortable and easy parking in the gravel walkway. When the vehicle stopped, Eggman offered his hand to help Vanilla get off. He did the same with Cream, but not with Amy or her children. Dash didn’t fail to notice it and blew a raspberry at the man the second he turned his back.

«Dash, that’s not the right thing to do» Amy scolded.

«But he’s the one being mean» the blue hoglet complained.

She sighed and let the subject drop. She followed Vanilla and Cream, her hands on her children's shoulders, right into the house’s spacious hall, the one with silver candle holders hanging from the ceiling. There, robots of any shape and name – Buzz Bombers, Egg Pawns, Mantis Bots, Caterkillers and so on – were taking care of chores. Some of them were dusting the shelves or cleaning the windows. On the other side of the glass, other robots were trimming the hedge or watering the garden’s plants. Those robots were Eggman’s proudest creation; he had been a mechanical engineer before being hired as Vanilla’s butler and he had been more than happy to put his talent at the service of the lady’s family.

«Let’s have a race. The first one to reach the living room wins» Spike suggested, his drawing still in his hands.

«The last one is a rotten egghead!» Dash taunted.

«Stop, don’t…» Amy was about to say, but the two hoglets had already started. Rosebud followed her brothers, trying her best to catch up. An Egg Pawn wiped the floor right where the dirt had fallen off from Dash’s shoes.

Amy followed her children in the living room, preparing herself to force Dash in the tub. Another nearly impossible challenge incoming.

Meanwhile Vanilla headed towards the stairs on the left to go upstairs, supported by Cream.

«Come on, mom. It's time to take the medicine» the little bunny encouraged.

Vanilla nodded.

«Eggman, I’ll be laying down for a while. Come and wake me up in an hour» she recommended. «I have a meeting with my trusty lawyers. You do remember them, don’t you?»

«Sure I do, my lady» Eggman answered. «How can you possibly forget them?» he muttered.

Almost an hour later, a red and black vintage car, with a body-on-frame construction, took the curve with a speed surpassing the limits of traffic laws. In the driver’s seat there was a green Mobian crocodile.

«For Chaos’s sake, Vector, slow down!» a purple chameleon screamed, grabbing on to the passenger’s seat, wide-eyed. Behind him sat a young bee with yellow and black stripes, his hands thrown in the air, screaming thrilled like a kid on a roller coaster.

After a couple of yards, Vector parked in front of the Rabbits’ mansion, scratching the machine side of a nearby car and rear-ending it while moving in reverse.

«Woo-hoo! Let’s do this again!» the bee yelled.

«Don’t you dare think about it, Charmy» the chameleon replied bitterly. He took some deep breaths before getting off. «Next time, I’ll be the driver.»

Vector burst out laughing, getting out of the car himself. «You really know nothing about enjoying life, do you, Espio?» In his hand there was a black leather small suitcase. The other held a dark-colored wooden walking cane, curved at the far end.

«Kinda difficult sticking to the “enjoying life” part, when somebody risks the life of his friends every single day» Espio glared.

«Always exaggerating» Vector cut him off, adjusting his tie and the collar of his jacket. «C’mon, boys! Let's not keep Sweet Vanilla waiting any longer» he added, stamping his cane on the ground and walking towards the gate.

Espio rolled his eyes. Charmy, not caring about his crooked bow tie, buzzed around Vector in an enthusiastic way.

After they rang the doorbell, the gate opened and they crossed the walkway. Eggman greeted them at the entrance door and let them in.

«Welcome, dear Chaotix» he said.

«Hi there, Mr. Mustache! Haha!» Vector gave a friendly pat on the butler’s back, but it was so powerful that it brought him almost to his knees. «How are you doing?»

«Ugh… I was better off before» Eggman replied, catching his breath.

«Where’s Cream? Where is she? I need to see her!» Charmy yelled, buzzing around him.

I’m gonna need an insecticide very soon, the butler thought, while getting up.

«My lady and Miss Cream are waiting for you upstairs» he answered.

«Yaaay! Let’s play!» Charmy triumphed, ready to fly his way up to the stairs. But Espio held him back by his antenna, earning a pained shriek from him.

«At least take your jacket off» the chameleon suggested.

«Okay.»

Charmy slipped out of his jacket and threw it in a casual direction, not even bothering to look. His piece of clothing landed on Eggman’s arm.

«So, Mr. Mustache, tell me about you» Vector spoke. He did the same thing as Charmy and his jacket landed right on the butler’s face. «Any major changes in your life lately?»

Eggman grumbled for being treated as a coat hanger. Only Espio used the grapple clothing hook correctly.

«Nothing in particular» the man answered, hanging up the guest’s jackets in the right place.

«Come on! You’ve been working for Sweet Vanilla for how much, forty years?»

«Thirty-five» Eggman corrected.

«There! At this point, there has to be something else you’d like to do. Or a secret long-cherished dream you’d like to achieve» Vector insisted, twirling his cane in his hand.

The butler pretended to think about it. «Mmh… no, not really. My robots are already my greatest pride and I love serving my lady and Miss Cream. I don’t need anything else.»

«Not even a family?» Espio got curious. «Have you ever thought about having children of your own?»

«They’re not my thing. I don’t have enough patience with them» Eggman acknowledged, while glaring at Charmy who was buzzing around his robots and bothering their chores.

Espio nodded sympathetically.

«Except for Miss Cream, of course» the butler quickly added. «If only every child was like her…»

Vector stamped his cane on the floor. «Let’s go, gentlemen! No more wasting time» he declared, walking towards the spiral staircase that led upstairs. Charmy flew in the same direction as his.

«Wouldn’t you like taking the elevator instead?» Eggman suggested.

Vector, who had reached half of the staircase, turned his head to the butler.

«That old crumpled tuna can?» he laughed. «Leave that thing for the old guard. I’m still in the prime of…»

Suddenly he lost his balance and almost fell backwards. While he was spinning his arms to regain balance, Eggman reached him and supported him with a hand under his armpit and the other holding his left arm.

«Look out, Mr. Vector. I’ve got you» he reassured him.

They resumed walking together, one step at a time, Espio and Charmy following a few feet behind.

«Thanks, Mr. Mustache. You truly are a nice… argh!»

The crocodile let out a scream. That’s when Eggman noticed he had stomped accidentally on his foot.

«I’m sorry, Mr. Vector» he apologized quickly. «Really sor… Look out!»

The crocodile started fidgeting because of the pain. Eggman tried holding him, but the two of them almost stepped on each other’s toes many times. Vector's arm, the one holding the cane, went mistakenly in between the butler’s legs, just for a few seconds. Both of them went around in circles and the hands of Vector being full because of the objects he was holding didn't help that much.

Eventually Vector’s foot landed wrong on a step behind him and started falling. At the last second he stretched his cane and got a hold of the first thing he found: the elastic waist of Eggman’s pants, which started stretching. The butler gritted his teeth while trying to keep his trousers on. The worst part was his underwear being exposed. Espio grabbed his arm and tried pulling him and Vector up, his eyelids closed and his muscles strained because of the effort.

«Don’t let go!» Eggman urged.

«I’m trying!» Espio replied.

Vector felt the cane slipping from his fingers.

«Fear not, boys! Here I come!» Charmy exclaimed, flying at high speed towards the crocodile’s back to give him a push. The bad thing is that he flew by putting his stinger forward.

«No, Charmy, don’t!» Espio warned him.

Too late. The bee stung Vector in the rear end, making him yell at the top of his lungs and pushing him forward. This, combined with the elastic force of the cane on Eggman’s pants, made the crocodile crash right into the butler’s back. Their weight squashed poor Espio while they landed face-first on the stairs.

«Nice move, Charmy» the chameleon grumbled with a certain effort.

«Whoops. Sorry» the bee apologised, scratching the back of his head and laughing nervously.

With a grunt and some great willpower, Eggman stood up, leaving Espio to catch his breath. But Vector was still holding on to him and wasn’t feeling like getting off. So he had to climb the rest of the staircase with a notable weight on his back and risked losing his balance or tripping multiple times, his legs shaking because of the effort.

«May I help you?» Charmy offered at some point.

«Please don’t!» was the collective and annoyed reply of Vector, Espio and Eggman.

They made it to the top of the stairs only thanks to some passing robot’s help.

Cream looked at herself in the mirror, admiring her lilac dress.

«How do I look?» she asked.

Amy, in her silk azure dress, smiled and joined her hands. «Like a fairytale princess.»

Vanilla, sitting on a red-padding sofa, sprayed some perfume on her neck. «I think we’re ready now.»

«You excited, mom?» Cream asked.

«A lot. It's been so many years… I wonder what and how they’ve been doing all this time.»

Someone knocked at the door. They all turned their heads in the same direction.

«Come in» Vanilla encouraged.

The door opened. On the doorstep appeared a wheezing Eggman. His jacket was crumpled and one of his shoulder pads had fallen down to the elbow. His shirt was unbuttoned and one of his shoes was missing.

«My lady…» As long as Eggman started his speech, his pants fell down. He lifted them again in a swift movement, while Cream and Amy covered their giggles behind the palm of their hands. «Miss Cream, Miss Rose… The Chaotix…» He panted again. «… are here.»

«With their usual messy behavior, I see» Amy stated, her jade-green eyes still focused on Eggman.

«Otherwise they wouldn't be called Chaotix» Vanilla affirmed.

Shortly after, Vector, Espio and Charmy appeared on the doorstep. The crocodile was scratching his head in an apologetic way. The chameleon had facepalmed and was shaking his head in disapproval. The bee was trying to hold back his laughter, to no avail, and said: «Wrench-patterned underwear…»

Amy, Cream and Vanilla exchanged questioning looks. Espio slapped Charmy on the nape of the neck, before lowering his own head and apologising to Eggman.

«Is everything ok?» Vanilla asked, a little worried.

The butler lifted a thumb and managed a smile. «Yeah, my lady. It was just a… little accident, that’s all.»

Amy knew it was a disrespectful thought, but she was curious about the details of that accident. Unfortunately,  Vanilla sent Eggman away before getting to know more details.

«Vanilla, my dear!» Vector exclaimed, reaching the sofa, his jaws stretched in a huge smile.

The rabbit stood up and took her hand out. «Nice to see you again, Vector.»

He put the cane and the small suitcase down, next to a crystal table. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

«Your hand’s still the softest and most delicate in all Emeraldville» he praised her.

«Oh, Vector…» she giggled.

«Lady Vanilla, Misses» Espio greeted with a bow.

«Cream!» Charmy screamed joyfully, flying towards her.

They hugged, laughing and going in circles.

«I can see you didn’t lose your dynamism at all, Charmy» Cream observed.

«I really missed you.»

«Me too.»

Vector smiled at the interaction. Cream and Charmy had been playmates for a long time and every time they saw each other it was a joy for both of them.

«So, Sweet Vanilla…» he started. «How’s your health?»

«As usual.»

His smile faded and his eyes saddened.

Vanilla put a hand on his scaly cheek. «It’s alright. I’m used to it.»

«If you say so…» Vector turned his attention to Amy. «Miss Rose! I can see you’re becoming a splendid woman.»

«Thanks, Vector» Amy replied, with a faint blush on her cheeks.

«How are the little rascals doing?»

«They’re always full of life and very curious. Especially Dash.»

«He drives you crazy, doesn't he?»

«Sometimes. But it’s a common thing at that age.»

«I understand» Vector said, with a quick glance at Charmy. «Where are they now?»

«Downstairs, playing» Amy answered.

Cream went to the corner of the room and started the record player. A vibrant music spread throughout the room.

«Is that… ?» Espio asked.

«It surely is.» Vector smiled at Vanilla. «You have sung that on the evening we first met.»

She nodded.

«My great debut in the world of opera. At that time, the Chaotix were a small detective agency. Only a few people knew about you.»

«Very few people» Espio confirmed. «Charmy wasn’t a part of us… yet.»

«And Miss Cream would be born only a couple of years later» Vector recalled.

«I still remember how you approached me late in the evening and asked me to join you for a dance» Vanilla said.

The crocodile scratched the back of his head, blushing. «Eheh… How could I not have done so? You were gorgeous… and you still are to this day.»

«Same old Vector…» Vanilla sighed contentedly, her cheeks bright red.

«Would you like to dance again?» Vector suggested, offering a hand.

Cream hesitated. «I don’t know if mom should…»

«It’s alright, my dear» Vanilla assured. «I have taken the medicine. I can do it.»

Amy placed her hand on Cream’s shoulder. «Let’s give her a chance.»

The little rabbit, after a few seconds of doubtful silence, gave a nod.

Vanilla accepted Vector’s hand and let him pull her close to his body. He placed his free hand on her waist and they started twirling across the room.

«Let’s dance, too!» Charmy exclaimed, taking Cream’s hands in his.

«Okay» she accepted with a smile.

She flapped her ears. He did the same thing with his wings. Soon they hovered and started swirling in midair.

Amy glanced at the dancing couples with joy, but a little bit of envy as well.

«Miss Rose.» Espio came near her and took out his hand. «May I have a dance with you?»

«Oh, I…» Amy rubbed a strand of her head quills between her fingertips. «I don’t know. It’s been years since I’ve danced with a man. I’m a bit rusty…»

«Don’t worry. Just follow my lead» Espio reassured. 

Amy convinced herself, took the chameleon’s hand and let him sway with her. She almost stepped on his toes a couple of times and quickly apologised. Luckily, he didn’t seem to be bothered at all.

«And now, for the grand finale!» Vector announced near the end of the song. He gently dipped Vanilla. Their faces got extremely close while he sustained her back.

«Hey, get a room, you two» Charmy joked.

Cream giggled at the comment. Even Amy and Espio smiled in an amused way.

Vector wasted no time and adjusted Vanilla in an upright position.

«Let’s… have a cup of tea and some sweets, shall we?» Vanilla suggested shyly.

«Yeah. Great…» Vector cleared his throat. «… great idea.»

Snacks were served on silver plates brought by some Egg Pawns and Motobugs. While eating, the Mobians recollected some of the most important memories of their pasts: all the times Vector went to see Vanilla’s concerts – he and the Chaotix had always been her most loyal fans –, the time she met her future husband, the day she retired from the stage because of her health problems and also because of the pregnancy, her husband’s death, the day the Chaotix opened their law firm and the first time they met Amy. The best part was recalling the many mischiefs Charmy and Cream did together, ever since they were kids, every time the Chaotix had the chance to drop by Vanilla’s mansion. Vector laughed so hard that he accidentally spat some hot tea on Espio’s resigned face.

«It’s been a nice talk» Vanilla said, placing her cup of tea down on the table. «But now let’s get the serious stuff done.»

«Right» Espio agreed.

Vector got up from the sofa where he was sitting.

«Splendid!» He rubbed his hands together. «What do you need from us, Sweet Vanilla? Some legal advice? You need to sue someone?»

She shook her head.

«I’d like to write my will.»

Vector’s cheerful expression vanished instantly. Espio’s look got more serious than before. Cream and Charmy exchanged a sad glance. Amy swallowed her tea with difficulty, the butter cookies in her stomach felt like lead.

«Do you… really need to?» Charm hesitated.

«I have to. The sooner, the better. You know my condition» Vanilla replied in a calm but resolute tone.

Vector sighed. «Fine.» He took his cane, his small suitcase and sat at a marble and golden desk. He opened the suitcase and took out some documents and a fountain pen. Espio and Charmy joined his side.

«Alright, so… do you already know the beneficiaries’ names?» the crocodile asked.

«Well, Cream, obviously» Charmy said.

Espio shot him an annoyed glare for the interruption. «Yeah, but there will be other heirs… right?»

Vanilla nodded slowly. «It is necessary for Cream. When I won’t be here anymore…» She got quiet for a moment, her throat narrowed in a grip. «… my dear daughter will be suffering. A lot. She’ll have immense wealth, but no one to share it with. And, most of all, no one to comfort her or keep her company. She’ll be lonely. I don't want this to happen.»

A tear slid down Cream’s cheek.

«Oh, mommy…» she sniffled.

Amy lowered her ears and wiped her misty eyes with the back of her hand.

«I understand, Sweet Vanilla.» Despite his professional tone, the rabbit’s pet name that Vector used with her slipped out of his jaws anyway.

«So I need to have the assurance that there will be someone by her side, taking care of her, guiding her… maybe even helping her in my fortune’s management» Vanilla explained. «Someone I can really trust.»

«Someone like Eggman?» Espio guessed.

Charmy buzzed in a skeptical way. «Seriously? You mean… you really want to give that bald head a part of your money? Your shares? Your summer mansions on the Emerald Coast? Your jewelry? Even this house?»

«Why not? He’s loyal and always does his duty» Espio stated calmly.

Vanilla coughed a little. Everyone looked at her worryingly.

«It’s alright» the rabbit reassured, putting herself together. «Actually…»

Vector stretched his head forward. «Yeah?»

«I was thinking about Amy.»

The pink hedgehog almost choked on her own tea.

«W-what?» she stammered.

«Miss Rose, huh?» Espio commented.

Vector smiled. Cream did the same.

«This option is way better» Charmy affirmed, his antennae vibrating in excitement.

«Eggman will be included in the will, of course. But I prefer Amy to be the first along with Cream» Vanilla clarified.

Amy scratched her cheek with her finger. «I don’t know…»

The rabbit smiled encouragingly.

«My dear, I cannot imagine anyone more suitable. You know and understand Cream even better than I do. Plus, you’re great with children. Just look how yours are growing up so well.»

«But… I’m not even a…»

Cream clasped Amy’s hand in hers, cutting off her reply.

«You are a part of this family. The world may say bad things, but the fact that you’re a sister to me will never change.»

«I don’t care what you were in the past» Vanilla told her. «I’m more than proud to consider you a daughter of mine. And you have every right to get your share.»

«I agree» Vector said.

Espio and Charmy nodded.

Faced with all those smiles and trustful looks, Amy felt her eyes trembling and watering. While her lips curled in a spontaneous smile, she placed a hand on her chest, over the heart.

«Thank you, Vanilla.» Two single tears rolled down her cheeks while she pronounced these simple yet heartfelt words. «I won’t let you down.»

Chapter Text

While upstairs their mother, auntie Cream and Vanilla were busy talking about “grown-up things”, as they said, Dash, Rosebud and Spike were playing in the living room. They did everything they could think of: hide-and-seek, board games, small buildings made with toy bricks, even the blindman’s buff in the garden. But now their fun options had run out and Spike was drawing, sitting on a soft rhombus-patterned carpet, while Rosebud was smelling the flower pots on the windowsill.

Dash had tried convincing their brothers to do some transgressive entertainments, from jumping on the sofa to swinging across the candle holders hanging from the ceiling. He had even proposed a soccer match indoors, but to no avail. His brothers hadn’t felt like risking upsetting her mother. And that’s why now he was laying down on the sofa, tossing and turning.

«What a bore…» he grumbled.

«Boar?» Rosebud asked naively. «You won’t find one in this town, Dash. They live in the woods.»

Dash facepalmed and sat up.

«I didn’t say… Ugh, whatever.»

«What do you want?» Spike asked with little interest, not bothering to lift his head from the drawing.

Dash jumped on the windowsill and looked outside. In the garden, Big Fat Egghead’s robots were working as usual: some mechanic crabs and mantises were trimming the hedge or cutting away weeds, humanoid robots with long and pointy noses were planting seeds and robotic wasps were watering the rose garden and the hortensias by spraying water with their stings.

«I want to go out» he said.

«We just got out» Spike reminded him.

«I mean… even more out.»

The azure hoglet stopped his hand, the one holding the pencil, in mid-air. His emerald eyes met his brother’s amber ones.

«You know we can’t do that» he told him.

Dash stamped his foot. «I don't care. I want to go back to the park and I want to go now.»

«Mommy won’t allow you» Rosebud questioned.

«Only twice a week, no more» Spike clarified.

«It’s not enough!» Dash protested.

But Spike had already turned his attention back to the drawing and Rosebud’s eyes had been drawn by some birds singing on a nearby tree.

Dash snorted and jumped down to the floor. He scratched his chin with his fingers while thinking of a solution. Even the smallest distraction would have been fine…

A smirk formed across his muzzle. In a swift move, he took the drawing away from Spike’s hands, making him lift his head in surprise.

«Hey, give it back» the azure hoglet exclaimed.

«Come and take it» Dash taunted playfully.

Spike started running after his brother, who went under the sofa. He tried following him, but got stuck, and that gave Dash the chance to flee towards a grand piano.

«Wait, Spike. Let me help you» Rosebud spoke.

She reached her azure brother and pulled him out successfully after ten tries.

«Thanks, Rosie» he told her.

She smiled at him. «Let’s get Dash together.»

He returned the gesture. «Sounds perfect to me.»

Their eyes darted at their older brother, who was now sitting on the piano with a cocky smile.

«You’ll never catch me» he stated in a confident tone.

«We’ll see about that» Spike replied.

He and Rosebud charged together. Dash acted fast, jumped from the piano and held to a passing Buzz Bomber, never letting the drawing fall. Spike threw a pillow at the robot and hit it. Dash fell, but luckily he landed on an armchair.

«Now we’ve got you!» Rosebud triumphed.

She jumped onto the armchair, but Dash got on the armrest and landed on his feet with a flip. Spike caught him by surprise and tacked him to the ground. They started rolling on the floor. They exchanged punches, kicks and bites. They tickled each other. They pulled each other’s quills.

«Let that drawing go!» Spike yelled.

«Only if you let me go first!» Dash countered.

Rosebud intervened and successfully got a hold of an edge of the sheet. She tried pulling it away from Dash’s clutches, but he was strong and wasn’t going to let her win. Spike got his brother off his back with an elbow hit and joined his sister’s side. They started pulling in a direction, while Dash did the same in the opposite one.

«Please, big brother, stop» Rosebud pleaded. «Let go!»

Dash giggled despite the effort of pulling. «Only if you two come to the park with me.»

«Not a chance» Spike replied.

Dash felt himself slipping, so he planted his feet on the ground. A little rip was heard and Rosebud didn’t fail to notice it.

«Uh-oh. Big brother, you’d better…»

She didn’t have the time to finish.

The drawing got ripped up in two pieces. The hoglets fell on their backs, thrown in opposite directions. Dash was left over with one piece, his brothers with the other. Spike’s eyes widened at the sight.

«Oops.» Dash scratched his back quills with a hand, laughing nervously.

Spike’s little hands clenched into fists. He got up, glaring at his brother.

«Now you’re gonna pay» he said coldly.

Rosebud shook her head at Dash. «You asked for it.»

The blue hoglet dashed off. Spike climbed onto a passing Motobug’s back to catch up with him. The two brothers chased each other throughout the living room for five whole minutes. Dash tried throwing at Spike everything that he happened to run across, from pillows to scented candles, in order to slow him down, but he always missed him. Instead, he hit and broke some framed photographs hanging on the wall, a refined vintage tea set that was kept in a glass showcase in the corner and some collectible souvenir plates exposed above the fireplace.

«Mommy’s gonna get so, so mad…» Rosebud whined, covering her ears.

«Time out, time out» Dash begged.

«I don’t think so» Spike snickered.

Eventually the blue hoglet, in a last and almost desperate attempt, jumped on the sofa and hurled a new pillow at Spike. He made a direct hit. The azure brother almost fell off the Motobug. With a thrust of the back he managed to get his grip back, but in doing so he accidentally covered the robot’s eyes. The latter, disoriented, tripped over a carpet’s wrinkle and started going in circles. Spike felt his head spinning and a centrifuge in his stomach. Soon he felt so dizzy that he lost his grip and rolled on the floor a couple times before falling on his back.

The Motobug crashed into a cherry wooden night stand and soon it stopped. The impact made a book, that was in a precarious position on the piece of furniture’s edge, fall on Rosebud’s head; the poor child had the bad luck to be nearby when it happened. She fell to her knees and her hands ran to the top of her head. For a few seconds she didn’t say anything. Then her eyes trembled and watered, and finally she cried.

«Rosie!» Dash and Spike screamed at the same time, rushing to her side.

«You okay?» The blue-furred brother asked, stroking her bang quills in a gentle way.

«Of course not, you idiot!» Spike scowled. «And it’s all your fault!» He pointed his finger at Dash.

«My fault?» The older brother narrowed his eyes. «You made the robot crash and the book fall!»

«Which wouldn’t have happened, if only you stayed put!»

Rosebud cried harder.

«What’s going on here?» a voice asked.

The two brothers got quiet. Their mother had just entered the room.

«Oh no…» they said in unison.

Amy’s eyes scanned the pillows and many other objects scattered on the floor, the pottery and glass shards, the photos detached from the wall, the stunned Motobug and, most importantly, her daughter in tears.

«Rosie! My dear…»

She quickly reached her, kneeled down and took her in her arms. Rosebud gripped her mother’s dress and pressed her muzzle against her warm chest.

«She got hurt, mom» Spike informed her, with a mortified look. He showed her the book he had picked up from the floor. «It fell on her head.»

Meanwhile Dash was looking elsewhere, biting his lip.

Amy pulled away Rosebud’s quills with her fingers. There wasn’t any blood and there weren’t cuts or bumps either. She let out a relieved breath. But the pink hoglet’s sobs, even if they were muffled, weren’t stopping.

«Rosie.» Amy stroked her head gently and planted small kisses on it. «It’s alright, my baby. The pain will be gone soon.»

She spent two whole minutes to cheer her daughter up and to calm her weeping.

«Dash, Spike.»

The two little boys flinched when Amy called them.

«Haven’t you got anything to say to your sister?»

«Sorry, Rosie» Spike apologized.

Dash still kept his ears flattened against his head and his eyes focused somewhere else.

«I’m very sorry» he said, closing his eyes tightly.

Amy fixed Rosebud’s ribbon that had slipped from her head, and brought her attention back to the little boys.

«You need to be more careful when you’re playing. You really could have hurt yourselves. All of you, and not just Rosie.»

«But it was Dash’s fault. He started everything» Spike complained. He showed her the two halves of his ripped drawing. «Look.»

Amy’s jade-green eyes focused on her eldest son.

«I was just trying to have a little fun» he explained himself, almost whispering.

Spike put his hands on his sides.

«Yeah, sure thing» he said sarcastically.

«I don’t care who started what» Amy spoke, moving Rosebud from her lap to the floor. «We don’t do these kinds of things, especially in this family. And Dash… I’m talking to you in particular.»

The blue hoglet’s hands clenched into fists. He remained silent and lifted his head up only when his mother crawled next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

«You know who we are. People like us must stick to certain rules.»

«I don’t like being “people like us”» Dash mumbled.

Amy sighed, knowing fully where he was getting at with the conversation.

«This life’s a bore. Same things every day. You always tell us what to do and not to do» he complained. «I want to have fun, some real fun, like… like alley Mobians do!»

Amy shook her head. «Dash…»

He ignored her and kept talking.

«They can fight with others, get dirty and go wherever they want… Being a stray would be so cool!»

«But we’re not» Amy clarified. «So, let’s not discuss any further.» She removed her hand from her son’s shoulder and got ready to stand up.

«But why? Weren’t you a stray as well, mom?»

Dash’s question made Amy’s body stiffen.

«It’s “poor”, not “stray”» Spike corrected.

The blue-furred hoglet shrugged. «What’s the difference?» he asked naively.

After a long silence, Amy focused on Dash again. She put a hand on his head and gave a gentle stroke. He closed his eyes contentedly and gave a small smile. Spike and Rosebud got closer to them.

«I understand you, Dash» Amy finally spoke.

He opened his eyelids and gave her full attention.

«But precisely because I’ve been poor, or a stray… call it what you want…» She looked outside the window. «… I know what it means, living like that. Being an “alley Mobian” doesn’t only mean living with no rules. It means starving, sleeping in the cold, facing loneliness and fear… fighting and struggling day after day.»

Spike and Rosebud loooked at her misty-eyed. They gave her a hug, but their arms were so little that they couldn’t encircle her waist completely. Amy still smiled at them while Dash furrowed his brows.

«I promised myself that, if I ever had children, they wouldn’t have to struggle or risk their life like me» Amy continued. «That I would give them a better future, a safer life. And that’s why we live here today.»

She widened her arms to draw her children to herself.

«I know I can be annoying and this life gets tedious sometimes… but believe me when I say I only want the best for you.» She felt her eyes itching a little and a tear peek out at her right eye’s corner. «You’re everything I have left.»

Dash softened a bit and jumped in his mother’s lap, giving her a clumsy hug. Rosebud and Spike brushed their muzzles against the fabric of her dress, sniffling and enjoying her body warmth.

«Sorry, mom» Dash said after a while. «I’m truly sorry that we broke some things and… we got Rosie hurt.»

Spike nodded.

Amy gently ruffled their quills.

«Broken objects can always be repaired» she reassured them. «The most important thing is that you’re okay.» She turned her attention to her daughter. «Rosie, are you still hurting?»

The pink hoglet shook her head. «No, mommy. I’m feeling better already.»

After a minute they undid their group hug and stood up again. The robots took care of cleaning the mess. Amy retrieved the photos, still intact despite the broken frames, and placed them in a drawer. One of these pictures showed her as a teenage girl, along with Vanilla and Cream. Another one depicted her as a young adult with her children and a light blue-furred Mobian hedgehog with amber eyes. She held back her tears while putting that picture away.

«What do we do now, mom?» Spike asked.

«I think it's the right time to practice your talents. That’s important, too» Amy affirmed. «Dash, sweetie, why don’t you go painting?» she encouraged politely.

«Okay» the blue-furred hoglet answered reluctantly. Despite understanding his mother’s reasons, he still couldn’t share her opinions.

He climbed on a stool and jumped on a nearby table where some objects were arranged: paint brushes, paint tubes, a little water container and other useful tools. Next to the table, on a trestle, laid a blank canvas.

«Mom, can we watch big brother Dash’s work before going to our music lessons?» Rosebud pleaded.

«Of course, my darling» Amy consented.

Dash stamped his foot on some paint tubes, one at a time, spraying different types of colors on a palette. He took some blue and green and mixed them with his bare hands, creating a cyan puddle, then he laid some of that new color on the canvas. He washed his hands with water, then mixed some red and yellow to obtain orange, which he threw on the canvas, a handful at a time. At some point he even used his shoes to leave some colored footprints on the painting.

It took him ten minutes, he got his quills and muzzle dirty in the process and he even scattered some colored puddles on the floor. But in the end the painting was completed. It resembled a human face, albeit a little rough-looking and cross-eyed. Dash’s painting style had always been like that: messy yet imaginative.

«What’s that?» Rosebud pointed a finger at the canvas, while having a belly laugh. «Looks like a hairy pickle!»

«Not a pickle, an egg. Or, to say it better… an egghead» Dash corrected.

Spike snapped his fingers, caught by a sudden realization. «Then it’s Eggman.»

«That’s right» Dash smirked amusely.

Spike laughed as well. «Are those things supposed to be his mustaches?»

Rosebud fell on her back as she shook with laughter. «His nose is like a beak!»

«Come on, darlings, this isn’t nice» Amy reminded them. «That poor man always works hard for this family.»

Spike stopped laughing and so did Rosebud.

«Okay, mom» Dash muttered reluctantly.

«Well, now that Dash’s painting session is over…» Amy spoke with Rosebud and Spike. «… it’s your turn, my beloved children.»

«Alright, mommy» they replied in unison.

They went to the piano. Rosebud climbed on the stool and she jumped on the instrument, sitting on the edge. Spike sat right in front of the keyboard. He warmed up his body with some shoulder rolls, wrist rotations and finger stretches; he pictured a nice song in his head, then started playing it with great precision and self-confidence. Rosebud started singing after the first notes.

I'm gonna live forever in you

Long as the sky and oceans are blue

I'll always love you, and I'll never stop

I'll always be there, even when I'm not

I know the world can turn into a lonely place

Can break your heart and paint the teardrops on your face

I might not be beside you, but I won't be far

I'll be lookin' over you like Northern stars

Amy put a hand right over her heart. She recognized the song instantly. Her eyes trembled and glistened, but she held back her tears. Next to her, Dash listened to the music with a nostalgic look but also in bliss.

On nights your mind is spiralin' like desert winds

The way you wanna go is not the way you've been

Darling, don't be scared of what's around the bend

No, when you feel alone, I hope you never forget, oh

Rosebud had to stop for a second to swallow and wipe a tear.  Then she resumed her singing.

I'm gonna live forever in you

Long as the sky and oceans are blue

I'll always love you, and I'll never stop

I'll always be there, even when I'm not

Even when I'm not, oh

I hope you never hesitate and waste those wings

I hope you dance under the rain the storm cloud brings

You can win the battle, but you can't beat time

When I'm no longer with you, know that I

Oh, I

A couple of tears appeared in the corner of Spike’s eyelids, but he was too absorbed in the music to notice it. It was like he was there in front of the piano and somewhere else at the same time. While his body remained still in the living room, his mind seemed to travel in a far and unknown dimension with Rosebud’s singing voice guiding him step by step.

I'm gonna live forever in you

Long as the sky and oceans are blue

I'll always love you, and I'll never stop

I'll always be there, even when I'm not

Even when I'm not, even when I'm, when I'm not, I'll be there

Even when I'm not, even when I'm, when I'm not, I'll be there

Even when I'm far, feel the rhythm in your heart, I'll be there

Even when I'm not

The song ended and so did Rosebud’s singing. Spike breathed heavily, as if he had run a marathon so far.

«Spike» Amy spoke to him. «Is that…?»

The azure hoglet turned his head to her and nodded slowly. «Dad’s favorite.»

Amy’s lower lip trembled. Rosebud wiped the wet stains from her muzzle with a handkerchief that she kept in a pocket of her little dress. She reached Spike to do the same with his own tears and he thanked her for the gesture.

Dash, equally touched, wiped his eyes and nose with the back of his hand. When his gaze focused on his messy painting, he got an idea. In a swift move he grabbed a paint tube and squirted its contents on his mother and Spike’s faces. They turned their heads in his direction, eyes widened in surprise.

«Paint battle!» he giggled.

After a bit of silence, Amy and Spike laughed as well.

«Now you’re gonna pay» Spike told his brother playfully, a competitive smile spread across his muzzle.

He jumped down the stool and caught a paint tube. He tried squirting the colored paint against Dash, but his brother was so fast that he missed every time or only hit him glancingly. Nevertheless he kept trying, alternating between an attack and a laugh. Amy forgot about every rule and etiquette and let herself be involved in that euphoric moment, squirting her own paint tube against her children. Only Rosebud, not waiting to ruin her dress, hid herself and stayed isolated.

Twenty minutes later Amy and her little boys laid down on the floor, hugging each other and giggling madly. Their fur and clothes, the furniture and some walls were strained with colored paint. Luckily, the mess got cleaned up with a little bath – which Dash complained about, being the second he took in the same day – and some help from Eggman’s trusty robots.

Once they were clean, dry and wore clean clothes, they went into the dining room. Amy was wearing a red sleeveless and backless dress with two white trims and a white petticoat underneath, a pair of red boots with a white stripe down the center and a red hairband. While her kids sat on chairs and the robots set the table, Cream and Vanilla entered the room.

«Finally, there you are» Amy said, relieved.

«We just had to discuss a couple more things with the Chaotix» Vanilla explained.

«How did the little ones’ lessons go?» Cream asked.

Amy gestured to them to follow her outside the room, and they did so. Once she was sure no one could eavesdrop them, she gave her answer.

«Pretty good. But…»

«But…?» Cream encouraged her.

«They miss Dexter so much.»

The two rabbits frowned and their ears lowered in sorrow.

«Oh, dear…» Vanilla murmured. «How many years have passed since then?»

«Three years.» Amy’s voice got lower, as well as her ears, and a little trembling too. «But for them, it still feels like yesterday.»

«Amy…» Cream whispered.

She wrapped her arms around her sister, letting her sob quietly against her shoulder. She pulled away only when she was sure Amy had calmed down.

«Darling, have you ever thought…?» Vanilla started.

«No» Amy replied, cutting her off. «I’m not ready to take that step yet.»

«They could need one» Cream countered gently, hinting at the hoglets with a gesture of her head. «Especially at their age.»

Amy stubbornly shook her head. «It would be too big for a change. Especially for them.»

Vanilla nodded sympathetically. Cream looked like she was about to say something, but she held back at the last moment.

«Let’s go and eat» Amy suggested. Along with the rabbits she came back into the dining room and they all took a seat.

Some robots served the dinner on silver plates. They brought a pumpkin pureed soup with carrots, potatoes and leeks blended inside and an addition of walnuts and thyme toasts.

Rosebud sniffed her bowl with great interest.

«Seems delicious» she said, licking her lips in hunger.

«Must be Eggman’s recipe» Vanilla guessed.

Dash pushed his bowl far from him and crossed his arms. «I don’t want it.»

«But you’ve always eaten it» Spike objected.

«If it’s cooked by Egghead, I don’t want it.»

Vanilla sighed. «Oh, Dash…»

«Why couldn’t auntie Cream be the one who did it?» the blue hoglet insisted. «Or you, mom?»

Amy tried reasoning with him.

«Dash… Eggman worked hard for this dinner. Refusing to eat would be an offense to all his commitment, don’t you think? Plus, it’s not healthy to skip meals.»

Her eldest son looked at her with hesitation. Eventually he took a spoonful and blew on the liquid before putting it in his mouth.

«So? How is it?» Rosebud asked curiosingly.

Dash swallowed. His pupils expanded. Then he smiled and said: «Really good.»

Amy patted his quills.

«That’s my boy» she praised.

The others joined Dash in the meal. When they finished they all became tired, so they immediately went to sleep. Amy and her children, in particular, felt so drowsy that they fell asleep with their clothes on, not even having the time to put on their pajamas.