Chapter Text
The moon replaced the sun as darkness had fallen. Barely visible behind a layer of clouds. It stopped snowing some time ago. Sonic sat on the backseat, absentmindedly looking through the window. A hand cupped under his chin. Emerald eyes unfocused.
The cobalt blue hedgehog hadn't realized they were home. That the car had stopped. Maddie gently got his attention. "We're home." she said as she tapped him on the shoulder.
Sonic looked up startled. "Oh uh right. I knew that." Sonic said with a grin. Acting like he didn't just get startled. He got out of the car, not saying a word to anyone else. Tails had gotten out from the truck. Knuckles soon followed. They watched as Sonic headed inside quietly. Tired looking eyes. Quills drooping. Head slumped down. Not even making eye contact. The hedgehog headed to the attic. He stayed there alone and quiet. Knuckles frowned. Tails looked visibly upset. It didn't escape crazy Carls notice either. Sonic had never been this quiet. Never moved so slowly.
“So how about we get that tree inside?” Tom said while looking. He couldn't help but facepalm again. Why did he say yes to this tree? Crazy Carl grinned. “Now i'm curious as to how you are getting this tree inside of the house sheriff.”
Tom scratched his head. Knuckles already proceeded to carry the tree towards the house.
“Knuckles wait a minute!”
“Why wait. I can carry it in the house with ease.”
“We need to move some furniture first. Then maybe with enough shifting we'll be able to fit it in the living room.” Tom didn't seem to sure about it. Right now he needed to stop Knuckles before he damaged anything on his way inside the house. Letting him be was a bad idea. The boy meant well but he wouldn't pay attention to what stuff he could damage on the way in. It wouldn't be the first time that some of their furniture got damaged because Knuckles decided to help move something.
Knuckles let go of the tree and proceeded into the hallway. “Tell me what to move and i shall. So that we may get our most nobelst tree of the christmas inside. Ready to be decorated with the most honorable decorations.”
Tails messed with his miles electric. Blue eyes looked at the screen focused.
“According to my calculations it will fit next to the front window. The ceiling in that part of the living room is the highest point and we can get it inside through the window.”
“That's a good point Tails but there's some cabinets on that spot. We need to move them first.” Tom said.
Maddie figured it was a good idea. They needed to empty the cabinets first and move them carefully. As to not break anything in them. Part of her wished that she had said no that big tree. But how could she when looking at the excited faces of Tails and Knuckles.
Knuckles already headed inside before anyone could say anything. “Tom stop him before he accidentally breaks anything!”
Even if he didn't mean to break anything. It would be all to easy to break those cabinets given his strength. Not to mention breaking whatever was inside of them.
“Knuckles hold up!”
“What is it Tom? I am not holding anything up at the moment. I am moving the cabinets so that we may put our tree here.”
“We need to take everything out first.”
“Why? I can carry it. Some little puny cabinets won't be a problem for me.”
“Knuckles that's not what i mean. We need to get the stuff inside out first so that we don't accidentally break anything.”
“Yeah Knuckles some things in there break easily. They aren't as strong as you.”
“Allright Fox point taken. I shall wait to move them untill all the puny breakable things are safe.”
Everyone sighed in relief. If they had been any slower Knuckles would have proceeded to move them with everything inside. Tom tried not think about the last time the echidna had helped him move some things around. It was in the garage. Safe to say he had to replace most things afterwards. He really didn't want to have to replace anything in the living room.
The tree had been put in place. Tails calculations where correct. It fit. Just barely. Next year though they would need to pick a smaller tree. But for now the boys where happy about this tree. If only Sonic was here to join them. He was still in the attic. Maddie wished he could have joined in the fun.
Crazy Carl gave her a look. “Seems like our blue devil isn't doing to great.”
She sighed. It was obvious. Not like Sonic was doing a great job at hiding it. Being so quiet. Moving so slow it just wasn't like him.
“I think he misses Longclaw.”
“Poor fellah. It was hard enough that he had to lose her at such a young age. Be on the run for so long. Heck if i had known i'd taken him in myself.”
“I wish there was more i could do for him, but how can i help him feel better when he doesn't want to talk. I know he needs some time. It's just hard to see him struggeling like that.” Her voice sounded soft and sad.
“Maddie you and Tom are the best thing that happened to this little blue devil. He's very lucky to have found such a warm family. You're both doing great. Just being here for him. That's enough. Look at how happy your other kids are. Little red devil an yellow devil. That's all because of you and Tom. ”
Maddie smiled. She was really happy with her kids. Hard to imagine she would have adopted these boys a few years ago, but she wouldn't change a thing about it. Even if the chaos could be a bit much sometimes. Sonic zooming around all peppy and excited.
She had to stop Knuckles from changing the yard into training grounds and Tails caused some accidental minor explosions around the house as he messed with some new inventions. Maddie sometimes doubted if she and Tom where doing right by them. Especially now that Sonic was like this. She knew she had to give him space, but couldn't help but think that she was doing something wrong.
“Thank you Carl i needed that. Say why don't you stay for dinner. You've helped us so much.”
“It's nothing. I'm not gonna say no to some food. All of this excitement has made me hungry. Would be nice to have some dinner before i head home.”
“Good and then maybe you can tell who decided to mess with the horn.”
Knuckles and Tails seemed to have heard that part of the conversation. They both looked at her innocently. Then at Carl.
Carl put up his hand up and let out a chuckle. “I'm afraid i am sworn to secrecy.”
“Yeah he vowed an oath.” Knuckles said.
Tails nodded. “He did and well Knuckles said you can't break an oath of secrecy. Because it's sacred. Right?”
“That's right fox. It would be most unhonorable to break it. Bringing bad luck to anyone who does so.”
“See Maddie i'm afraid my hands are tied. I can't tell. Wouldn't want to get any bad luck.”
Maddie winked. “Uhu i see. Well in that case it can't be helped. Boys go ahead and help Carl set the table.”
“Better listen now red and yellow devil. Or bad luck might befall you. Not setting the table in the right way brings bad luck.” Carl said in a teasing way.
“How would that bring bad luck?” Tails asked.
Knuckles looked confused. “I do not know fox.”
Crazy Carl merely laughed in amusement at the boys confusion.
Tom was happy to see the boys where having fun. Carl was just messing with them a bit. At least that kept them a bit distracted from Sonic. Who was still upstairs. Tom hadn't heard a sound from him since he went to the attic. He crossed his arms and looked at Maddie. With a grin on his face.
“So i guess where not going to find out who messed with the truck horn.”
“Seems like it." Maddie said as she looked at Tails and Knuckles fondly. Or as Carl was calling them now. Red and Yellow devil. He must have given them the names while they where in the truck. It was so nice to see the boys smiling despite being worried about Sonic.
She hoped that he'd be in a better mood during dinner. That maybe he would tell them what was wrong. He just needed time and if he wasn't ready to talk today, then they would still be here for him tommorow.