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Sonic eagerly opened the ancestry report documents on his tablet. He flinched back as he read the results. “Hey, Unc. We are actually biologically related. You're my dad's uncle.”

Uncle Chuck looked over Sonic's shoulder at the tablet screen. “I never knew he had any kids, but I guess it's no surprise.”

“There's Mom.” Sonic said, pointing to the screen.

“I remember seeing her at a few family barbecues that your dad brought her to.” Uncle Chuck replied. “She was a nice girl. You-”

"I can't wait to meet them, I have so many questions." Sonic said, scrolling through the results. "I have a sister and brother too?"

“Your caseworker never mentioned that you had siblings.” Uncle Chuck replied.

Sonic looked at a picture of Sonia, who was in a fancy school uniform. "She's got to be from a private school or something." He said. He clicked on another picture of Sonia where she was playing the keyboard. "Awesome, we have at least one thing in common."

Sonic pulled up a picture of Manic. "He's a drummer. Music must be a family thing."

“Now about your dad.” Uncle Chuck said. “You don't need to bother with him. He's not anyone you want to hang around.”

“Oh.” Sonic replied. “Well, I can call Mom, right?”

“Yeah, as far as I know, she was a nice girl.” Uncle Chuck said. “I don't know what she saw in Royal, but she was too good for him.”

“I guess I'll take your word for it.” Sonic replied. He picked his phone up. “Do you think Mom would be okay with Sal?”

“I wouldn't see why not.” Uncle Chuck said. “I'm sure she'd rather you date a good chipmunk over a bad hedgehog.”
*
Sonic expected his mom to message him back, ask more questions.

Instead, she called him.

“Mom?” Sonic asked.

“I'm so glad you contacted me.” Aleena replied. She started crying. “I'm so sorry I had to give you up. I only did it because I couldn't take care of you and your siblings. Have you found them?”

“No.” Sonic said. “My uncle, well, great uncle Chuck adopted me. Sonia has been adopted by a wealthy family, but I haven't heard from her yet. I don't know what Manic's situation is yet, but I found his social media pages. I think he aged out. I hope he's not homeless.”

Aleena sniffled. “You sound like your dad.”

“Uncle Chuck said I'm better off not knowing him.” Sonic replied. “Is that true?”

“Yes, it is.” Aleena said. “He was a sweet boy when we were kids, but he changed when we were teenagers and I found out the hard way that I couldn't fix him. I always liked talking with Uncle Chuck and his wife whenever I saw them. I'm glad he adopted you.”

“So I was hoping we could reunite one day.” Sonic said. “When would be a good time for you?”
*
Sonia stood in front of her bathroom mirror, brushing her spines before dinner.

She had everything she could ask for. She was adopted by a wealthy family when she was just two months old. She had gone to the best schools and had graduated valedictorian at her highschool. She won the school talent show with her keyboard playing and always won her gymnastics competitions.

For her eighteenth birthday she got a new car and was certain that her boyfriend, Bartleby, was going to propose to her this week.

Her life was perfect. So perfect, she hadn't bothered to find her biological family.

Although she was a bit curious about them, she wasn't making any efforts to find them. She couldn't imagine her biological family being better than her adoptive family.

Her brand new iphone chimed.

Sonia glanced at the notification and did a double take.

The message was from some male hedgehog named Sonic.

“Must be someone from school.” Sonia muttered. She opened the message. “He's my brother? Yeah, right.”

The attachment for the ancestry report popped up.

Sonia clicked it. “Well, it does look official,” She said. She typed up a message, asking him if she could call.

He called her through the app.

“Hey, I didn't expect you to call so quickly.” Sonia said.

“I'm sorry if you were busy, I was so excited to reach you.” Sonic replied.

“It’s great to hear from you.” Sonia said. “I knew I was adopted. I didn't know I had a brother too.”

“You have two brothers.” Sonic replied. “Me and Manic. I haven't been able to get in touch with him yet, but I did call Mom. She would like to reunite with us.”

“She would?” Sonia asked. “Where would she like to meet?”

“We're meeting at Mom's house.” Sonic said. “I know that may sound a little sketchy, but you can go through my profile and look her up. I would've been wary of it too, but my uncle said he knew her. I guess that doesn't mean much to you though.”

“I'll look her up.” Sonia replied. “I do kinda want to meet you all.”

“Okay, well, message me back when you're done.” Sonic said. “We're hoping to meet this Saturday at two.”
*
Sonic set his phone down. "Well, Sonia is supposed to meet us at Mom's house."

"What about Manic?" Uncle Chuck asked.

Sonic shrugged. "He hasn't put up any info on his situation. He posted randomly until a few weeks ago. He says he's been using the library computer."

"He must not have a smartphone or whatever you call it." Uncle Chuck said.

"That seems to be the case." Sonic replied. "He has almost no info, and I can't find anything about his school."

"You may have to get a private investigator." Uncle Chuck said.

Sonic looked up from his tablet. "How much does that cost?"

"I'm not sure." Uncle Chuck replied. “Or you can try to check homeless shelters and see if anyone's seen him there.”

Sonic looked back at the tablet. "I'll follow him and send him a message request with my phone number while I'm checking the shelters and the library."
*
Manic rode his skateboard to the park to clear his head and figure out where he would go from here.

It had been officially two weeks since he aged out of the foster care system. He only had shelter because he broke into the library and slept under one of the tables.

Until today. An employee finally caught onto him and kicked him out, thankfully after he checked his messages on one of his social media accounts.

He sat on the curb as his stomach started to growl. He checked his wallet in the vain hope that he had overlooked a few dollars.

He didn't even have a single penny. He barely had any belongings. He couldn't even call anyone because he had no minutes on his prepaid phone.

He hung his head. "Now where do I go?"

He had no friends willing to take him in. The only thing close to a response was a strange message from a blue hedgehog claiming to be his older brother, Sonic, and the guy had given him his phone number along with a picture of some genealogy paper that proved that they were related.

He pulled the slip of paper that he had written the phone number on out of his jacket pocket and looked at it.

Manic shrugged. "It couldn't hurt to try."

Manic noticed a payphone and got up. He broke the change slot and put the quarters he got back into the machine. He called the number he was given.

It only rang a few times.

"Hello?" Sonic asked.

"Hey, uh, I got your message." Manic replied. "I-"

"Manic?" Sonic asked. "I'm so glad you called. I've been trying to find you for a while."

"I didn't even know I had a brother." Manic replied. "Are you sure we're related?"

"Yeah, I did one of those ancestry things and found you, our mom, and our sister." Sonic said.

"We have a sister?" Manic asked.

"Yeah, her name's Sonia." Sonic replied. "You were the hardest one to get in contact with. Anyway, we're at our mom's house if you want to come over and meet us. Mom said you can stay with her. We kinda figured you aged out and don't have anywhere to go."

"Now she wants us?" Manic thought. He almost hung up on Sonic, but decided he wouldn't get any answers about his family if he did. Besides, he did need a roof over his head and food in his stomach.

“I'd like that.” Manic said.

"So would you like me to pick you up?" Sonic asked.

"Yeah, why not?" Manic asked. "I'm at the park on First Street, by the skate-"

"Got it." Sonic said. "Bye."

The connection went out.

Manic looked at the phone, then at the blue blur approaching him.

The blur stopped in front of him.

Sonic, wearing a dark gray hoodie and gray sneakers, stood in front of him.

Manic tilted his head. "How'd you do that?"

"That?" Sonic asked. He laughed. “That's nothing. I can go faster than that.”

"Are you really my brother?" Manic asked.

Sonic showed him a picture. "That's us at two weeks old with our sister, Sonia and our mom, Aleena."

Manic recognized himself and Sonic in the picture.

Though he didn't remember the pink baby hedgehog or the purple hedgehog, who looked like she was barely out of highschool.

"Okay, so I guess you are telling me the truth." Manic said. He got up and grabbed his board. "How are you gonna give me a ride?"

Sonic grabbed Manic's arm, then took off running.

Manic couldn't get to his feet, so he simply let Sonic drag him to wherever they were going. He couldn't see anything, they were moving so fast.

They finally arrived at a little brick house in a decent looking neighborhood.

"Here we are." Sonic said.

Manic stood there for a minute, hoping that would somehow ease his nausea. "How do you keep from getting sick?"

"Sorry about that." Sonic replied.

Manic noticed the cars. "Couldn't you have used a car?"

"Yes, but I don't like to." Sonic said. "Besides, I didn't think of it and Uncle Chuck's car is blocked in. I'm using his car until I get enough money for my own."

Manic nodded.

"I think we have ginger ale in the house." Sonic said. "You feel like heading in now?"

"I guess so." Manic replied.

Manic let Sonic lead him inside.

"Mom, we're here." Sonic called.

Aleena, wearing scrubs, came running in from the kitchen.

"Oh, it's so good to see you again, Manic." Aleena said, hugging him.

Manic grinned nervously and raised his spines slightly. "Hey, Ma."

Aleena finally let him go and showed him inside.

Sonia, who was wearing a designer dress and boots, gave him a quizzical look.

"No surprise." Manic thought. “She looks like a snob.”

"This isn't what I expected." Sonia said.

Manic grimaced. "Neither did I."

"Don't be a snob, sis." Sonic said. He nudged Sonia forward.

Sonia took a step closer and held her arms out like she was going to hug Manic.

“I'm not a hugger.” Manic said, holding his hands up defensively.

“Oh, okay.” Sonia replied.

Sonic noticed Aleena and Uncle Chuck staring at Manic's arms and took a look himself. "What the heck happened to your arms?"

Sonia looked at Sonic. “What's wrong with his arms?”

Manic quickly pulled his sleeves down. "N- nothing."

"Figures he'd cut himself." Sonia muttered. She rolled her eyes. "He's so emo."

Sonic shook his head. "No, it didn't look like cuts."

"Roll your sleeves up, Manic." Aleena said.

Manic reluctantly pushed his sleeves up, revealing the numerous needle marks on his arms.

Sonic looked at Aleena. "I'm not staying if he's gonna do that."

"Me either." Sonia said.

"He'll have to quit if he stays with me." Uncle Chuck said.

"You'll have to quit or leave here too." Aleena said sadly. "I'll help you in any way I can, but I won't enable you. I've seen a few overdoses, Manic. I don't want that to happen to you.”

Manic weighed his options. He had nowhere to go, but he couldn't give it up. He'd just have to hide it like he always did.

"I can quit." Manic said. "I'm not like a heavy user or anything."

Sonic and Sonia exchanged glances, but said nothing.

"I have my doubts about that." Aleena replied. "But you can stay as long as you're willing to try to quit."

“Thanks.” Manic said.

“You know what would be nice?” Aleena asked. “A family photo.”

Sonia got a stand for her phone and set the camera timer.

Everyone gathered in front of the fireplace.

Manic smirked and started doing bunny ears behind Sonic's head.

Sonic noticed and stuck his hand in front of Manic's face.

Manic moved his hand and put it in Sonic's face.

Both boys started laughing.

“Boys.” Sonia scolded. “Be serious.”

The phone's shutter sound effect came on.

“Let's redo it.” Sonia said. “The boys were playing around.”
*
Sonic and Manic headed to their room to unpack their bags.

Sonic watched as Manic unpacked just a few sets of clothes, a pair of headphones hooked to a very outdated MP3 player, and his drumsticks from his backpack.

"That's all you own?" Sonic asked.

Manic nodded.

"What did you do?" Sonic asked. "Sell everything else for drug money?"

"I didn't sell my stuff." Manic replied. He pulled his flip phone out of his jacket pocket and laid it on the nightstand. "I had nothing but this."

"What happened to your drum set?" Sonic asked.

"One of my foster families had them." Manic replied. "They weren't mine."

Manic decided not to mention that he stole from the last couple of families he lived with since Sonic would assume he'd steal from them as well. He wouldn't steal from them unless he absolutely had to run away again.

He couldn't bring himself to steal for drug money from his actual family.

"How'd you know about the drums?" Manic asked.

"I found your pictures online." Sonic replied.

"That's all the pictures I have of myself." Manic said.

"Just those… twenty or thirty pictures?" Sonic asked.

"Yeah." Manic replied.

Aleena stepped into the room. “Boys, do you want to help with dinner?”

“What're we having?” Manic asked.

“Chili dogs.” Sonic replied. “I have to help, Mom. I’m supposed to show you how to make chili like Uncle Chuck taught me.”

“I guess I'll help too.” Manic said.

“Uncle Chuck's going to make the chili, Sonic.” Aleena said. She handed Sonic some money. “We need you to run to the store and get tofu dogs for Sonia.”

“Ugh.” Sonic muttered. “Fine. I'll be right back.”

Aleena stepped aside so Sonic could run out.

Manic looked at Aleena. “Couldn't Sonia just eat what we have?”

Aleena shrugged. “Maybe she needs to be on a special diet,” She said. “I'm so glad to have you home.”

Manic grinned nervously. “Same here.”

Aleena started walking to the door. “Come on; Sonic should be back in a minute.”
*
Manic quietly ate one of the chili dogs he helped to make. He didn't like chili dogs as much as Sonic seemed to, but he didn't want the tofu dogs they had to specifically make for Sonia.

He mostly listened to the conversation since he didn't know what to say to his family.

Of course, it wouldn't matter if he had wanted to say anything. Sonia was dominating the conversation.

"You have to clean all of this yourself?” Sonia asked. "How do you have time for anything?”

Manic nearly crushed his can of root beer in his hand, splashing root beer on himself and Sonic.

Sonic gave Manic a look as he wiped his arm with a napkin.

“It won't take as long now if everyone pitches in.” Aleena said.

“Well, yeah, I guess so.” Sonia replied. “I just can't see how anyone gets by with such a small house.”

"Oh, this isn't good enough for you, Princess?" Manic sneered.

“I'm not criticizing it." Sonia said. "Mother has a lovely home. I'm just not used to one that's smaller."

"Manic, don't be rude, please." Aleena said.

Manic jumped up. "I'm out of line for calling out her snooty crap?!” He yelled. "She should be grateful she has a home! Not everyone gets a nice home and family! I would've loved to have half of this growing up! At least you had someone to care whether you lived or died, Sonia!"

"Easy, bro." Sonic said, standing up. He gently grabbed Manic's arm. "Let's-"

Manic jerked away and glared at Sonic. "Don't touch me."

Sonic stepped back.

"Go to your room, Manic." Aleena said. "Calm down and we'll talk later, okay?"

Manic stormed off to his room and slammed the door behind him.

“I didn't mean to upset him.” Sonia said. “Should I apologize?”

“Give him time to calm down.” Aleena replied.

Uncle Chuck sadly shook his head. “I hate to know what that poor kid has seen.”

Aleena held her head with her hands. “I never should've given him up.”

Sonia hung her head. “I didn't even think about him having a harder life.”

Sonic glanced toward his room. “I noticed he barely had anything when we were unpacking.” He said. “I'm pretty sure he still owns the first MP3 player ever sold and he has an old flip phone.”

Manic finally came back out of his room with his skateboard.

“You're leaving?” Sonic asked.

“No, I was going for a ride.” Manic replied.

Aleena looked up. “It's too dark; you don't want to ride around here at night.”

“I've been in worse neighborhoods.” Manic replied.

“Even so, could you please stay in?” Aleena asked. “At least so I won't worry.”

“You'd worry?” Manic asked.

“Of course.” Aleena replied.

Manic stood there in stunned silence for a moment. “Uh… can I watch TV?”

“Yeah, go ahead.” Aleena replied.

Manic looked at Sonia. “Sorry I yelled at you, sis, but you really should be more grateful.”

“No, you were right. I'm sorry.” Sonia replied.

Manic went into the living room and turned the TV on.

He grinned as his favorite movie came on and turned the volume up as he sat on the couch.

“Manic, turn it down a little, please.” Aleena called.

Manic turned the volume down. “Sorry about that.”

Aleena gathered the dirty plates. “I'll wash the dishes, you two go watch TV with him.”

Sonia leaned back to look in the living room. “Ew, I don't want to watch that.”

Aleena sighed. “What's he watching, Uncle Chuck?”

Uncle Chuck looked over his shoulder. “Some robot movie.”

Sonic got up and peeked in the living room doorway. “That's a Terminator movie.” He said. “It's not my thing, but I'll watch it with him.”

Sonia reluctantly followed Sonic into the room.

Manic was sitting on the couch with his feet on the coffee table. He noticed his siblings and moved his feet. “Sorry.”

“It's fine.” Sonic said, putting his feet on the coffee table. “So which one is this?”

“The second one.” Manic replied. “It's my favorite.”

“It's the best one.” Sonic said.

Sonic and Sonia sat in awkward silence. Manic was too focused on his movie to realize or even care if everyone felt awkward or not.

“So, uh, what's your favorite movie, Sonic?” Sonia asked.

“I’d say Speed, but the third Transporter movie was pretty good.” Sonic replied.

Manic nodded. “I like the first Transporter better, but the third one's okay.”

“My favorite is Titanic.” Sonia said.

Manic laughed. “Yeah, the Rifftrax version is epic.”

Sonic snickered and looked at Sonia.

Sonia furrowed her brow.

“I don't think she'd like it if she knew what you were talking about, bro.” Sonic said.

Manic eased away. “Oh, sorry.”

Sonia looked up Rifftrax on her phone. “You know that's a real tragedy, right?”

Manic smirked. “The real shipwreck or that soap opera trying to profit from a tragedy?”

Sonia grabbed a throw pillow and hit Manic on top of the head with it.

Manic laughed. “I'm just messing with you, sis.” He said. “Still, I don't get watching a movie where you know the boat’s gonna sink. You just sit there, knowing they're gonna die and it was a real thing. That’s why I hate most of the ‘based on a true story’ stuff.”

“Can’t say he doesn't make a good point, sis.” Sonic said.

“Guys just don't get love stories.” Sonia muttered.

“Sally hates those movies too.” Sonic said.

“Shush.” Manic snapped. “This is my favorite part.”

Sonic and Sonia sat quietly, mostly looking at their phones.
*
Manic grabbed his pajamas (which were just an old T-shirt and shorts) off of his bed and headed for the bathroom.

“Where are you going?” Sonic asked.

“To change clothes.” Manic replied. “Why?”

“No reason, I guess.” Sonic said. “I’m not going to look, you know.”

Manic headed out of the room. “Still.”

Manic knocked on the bathroom door.

“Give me a minute.” Sonia said.

Manic leaned against the wall.

Sonia finally came out several minutes later with some kind of facial cream on her face.

“You have a bedroom for that.” Manic said as he went into the bathroom.

Sonic came out into the hallway. “Did he say anything to you?” He whispered.

“No, not really.” Sonia whispered back.

Manic, dressed in his pajamas, came out of the bathroom.

“You could've changed clothes in your room.” Sonia said.

“I have to share my room.” Manic replied. He turned to walk off.

“Wait.” Sonia said. She touched Manic's shoulder.

Manic flinched and raised his spines.

Sonia jerked her hand away. “Ow!”

“I'm sorry, sis.” Manic said, turning around.

“No, I'm sorry I scared you.” Sonia replied.

“Are you okay?” Sonic asked.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” Manic replied. He walked back into his room.

Sonic and Sonia looked at each other.

“I'm afraid to ask him what happened in his old homes.” Sonic whispered.

Sonic followed Manic back to their room.

Manic was already in bed.

Sonic closed the door. “So do you want to talk before we go to sleep?” He asked. He went over and sat on his bed. “How were your foster families?”

“I don't want to talk about it.” Manic replied. “It's been a long day and I'd like to get some sleep if you don't mind.”

“Okay, we'll talk tomorrow.” Sonic said.

Sonic laid awake for a little while, too excited that he finally found his family to sleep.

“Stop.” Manic muttered. “No.”

Sonic turned over to look at Manic.

Manic kicked the blankets off. “Leave me alone. Stop.”

Sonic started to get up.

Manic sighed and started to sit up.

Sonic quickly laid back down. He wasn't sure if Manic wanted to talk about it or not.

Manic looked over. “Good. I don't want to explain.” He whispered. He got his mp3 player and put his headphones on. He laid down and went back to sleep.

“Good thing I didn't ask.” Sonic thought. He had a hard time falling asleep because Manic's music was still pretty loud, but he finally dozed off.