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Sonic and his family showed up at Manic's duplex.



Sonic knocked on the door.



Shadow answered the door and glared at Sonic. "Haven't you done enough?"



"Uh… I'm sorry." Sonic said. "I thought this was Manic's house."



"It is." Shadow replied. "They insisted that I come here for dinner."



Manic walked over. "Oh. You… brought your family?"



"Yeah." Sonic said. "I'm really sorry, bro."



Manic tilted his head slightly as if he was thinking it over. "Come in. It's too cold out there for the kids."



Sonic and Sally walked the kids inside.



Shadow shut the door behind them.



Jade, Knuckles, and Tails were sitting on the floor, watching Jaxx and Jazz as they tried to play with buttons on their little swings.



Manic sat down beside the baby with neon green fur and amber eyes, who was wearing a light gray onesie. "This is Jazz, she's a daddy's girl." He said, pulling Jazz out of her swing.





Jazz snuggled against her daddy's chest and chirped softly.



Manic grinned. "See?"



Sonic and his family sat down beside Manic and his family.



Jade noticed the large gift bag. "What's that, Sally?"



"We'll get them a real present after Christmas." Sally said, handing Jade the bag. "But we thought the babies could use Lola and River's old clothes and toys."



Jade smiled. "Aww, thank you."



"Thanks, you two." Manic said.



Sonic handed his phone to Manic. "Here, you can put your number in."



Manic reluctantly took the phone and typed his number in.



Sonic glanced around, seeing Shadow and Knuckles talking while Jade, Sally, and Tails watched the kids play. "You wanna step outside for a minute?"



Manic shrugged. "Fine with me, I guess."
**
"I'm sorry, Manic." Sonic said as they sat down on the steps. "I never got my notifications."



Manic thought it over. "Is that what really happened?" He asked. "I already know the family doesn't want anything to do with me because of the stupid stuff I did when I was a kid. I figured that's why I just got your number. I'm sorry I called you for bail money, but I knew I could count on you."



"Yeah, it really isn't getting notifications." Sonic replied. "Sal has had the same problem and, yeah, that was why. I'm sorry, it looks like you've made a lot of effort to straighten yourself out."



Manic nodded.



"I'm… sorry about everything else." Sonic said. "I guess you felt abandoned when l moved in with Uncle Chuck and left you there to deal with Brenden."



"I get it." Manic replied. "I would've left too, but I know you hated sharing a room with me."





Sonic glanced back at the house. "None of your tics annoy Jade?"



"She can deal with the music, she gets a little annoyed when I drum in my sleep." Manic replied. "Anyway,… I know I could be an annoying brother sometimes. I just thought we could put it behind us, start over now."



Sonic nodded.



"It would be nice to have my actual family around for once." Manic said. He glanced back at the house. "They're like family, but you know."



"What's with your neighbor anyway?" Sonic asked.



"He's an introvert, but the guy's been through some stuff." Manic replied. "We worked together, but I don't think we'd ever have hung out if it wasn't for his wife. Rouge invited us to their home for dinner and that was it. He didn't push us away when she died, so we take it as an unspoken friendship."



Sonic winced. "I'm sorry I asked."



"Just don't mention it to him." Manic said. "It was a motorcycle accident. I don't know how he survived. He hasn't been the same since then."



The door opened.



Sonic and Manic turned around.



Sally was standing there with cups of hot chocolate. "I thought you'd want something to warm yourselves up."



Sonic got up and helped Manic up. "We'll be inside in a minute."



Sally nodded. "Okay." She replied. She closed the door.



Sonic hugged Manic. "I'm sorry about everything, bro."



"It's alright." Manic said. "I'm sorry for asking you for bail money and the other stupid stuff."



Sonic let Manic go and patted him on the back. "Don't worry about it." He said, opening the door. "Merry Christmas, little bro."



"Merry Christmas, bro." Manic replied.