FicWad

Sonic shut off the sink and wiped his hands on the towel before picking up his phone. “Why is Shadow calling?” He asked. He answered the call. “Hello?”
Sonia was crying in the background.
“Sonia?” Sonic asked.
“Your mom’s being taken to the hospital.” Shadow replied. “Can you call Manic for us? He’s changed his number.”
“Sure.” Sonic said. “Wait. Mom’s in the hospital? Why?”
“We don’t know.” Shadow replied. “We’ll see you at the hospital.”
Shadow hung up.
“Sal?” Sonic called.
Sally walked into the kitchen. “Who called?”
“Shadow.” Sonic replied. “Mom’s being taken to the hospital.”
“Is she okay?” Sally asked.
Sonic shrugged. “I gotta call Manic. Can you get the kids ready to go?”
“Sure.” Sally said. She headed to the kids’ rooms. “Lo, Riv, come on. We have to go see grandma.”
Sonic leaned against the counter as he called Manic.
“Hey, bro.” Manic said. “Can I call you back?”
“No, Mom’s being taken to the hospital.” Sonic replied.
“What? Why?” Manic asked.
“I’m not sure.” Sonic replied. “Shadow asked me to call you. I know Mom wasn’t the best ever, but this may be a good time to make peace with everything. You need to at least answer Sonia’s calls. She feels awful about what happened on your wedding day, bro.”
Manic sighed. “Okay, fine.” He muttered. “Let me round up the kids.”
“Alright, we’ll meet you there and I’ll let you know where we’re at in the hospital.” Sonic said. “See you.”
“See you.” Manic replied. He hung up.

*
Sonic and Sally sat down in the waiting room chairs as the kids sat on the floor to play with Sonia and Shadow’s kid.
“Still no word on Mother.” Sonia said. “What did Manic say?”
“He’s on his way.” Sonic replied. He sighed. “Try to act surprised when he gets here because I’m not supposed to say anything.”
“What?” Sonia asked.
“He’s got a four year old son and might have another one on the way.” Sonic replied.
“I’m sorta surprised.” Shadow said. “It explains the break Surge took a few years ago that he kept saying it was for personal reasons in interviews.”
Sonia slumped in her seat. “I kept trying to make amends with him, but he won’t take our calls.”
“He said he couldn’t trust you after what happened last time.” Sonic replied. “He’s still in counseling over all of that as far as I know.”
A few minutes later, Manic walked in with his family and sat down.
“Go meet your cousin Maria.” Manic said, nudging Glitch over to his cousins.
Sonia got up and walked over to Manic. “It’s good to see you, bro.” She said, hugging Manic.
“Good to see you, sis.” Manic replied.
“Your son is adorable.” Sonia replied. “Congratulations. What’s his name?”
“Thanks.” Manic and Surge said.
“His name’s Glitch.” Manic said. “Congrats, you two.”
“Thanks.” Sonia and Shadow replied.
“So what happened to Ma?” Manic asked.
Sonia shrugged. “Her coworker called me and said that they were taking her to the hospital.”
“They said it was a precaution.” Shadow added. “That was all they told us. We’re still waiting for the doctor to tell us what’s going on.”
“So… what have you been up to, Manic?” Sonia asked. “I try to watch your videos and interviews, but you’re understandably private about your life.”
“We just got home from touring yesterday.” Manic replied. “I was working on some album covers with Glitch when Sonic called.”
“You drag him along on tours?” Sonia asked.
“It was just for a couple of weeks.” Manic replied. “That’s it for the year. The rest of the gigs are no more than three hours away. We quit going on long tours before he was born.”
“Listen, I’m sorry.” Sonia said. “I thought you all could work things out. I didn’t think she still blamed Surge for anything.”
“I forgive you, sis.” Manic replied. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls.”
Sonia hugged Manic. “I forgive you too.”
“There’s the doctor.” Shadow said.
Sonia walked over to the doctor, who was a Mobian rabbit.
“Has she been sick that you know of?” Manic asked.
Sonic shook his head. “No, not at all.” He replied. “It did seem like her job was stressing her out though.”
Glitch walked over and tugged on Manic’s arm. “Is Grandma going to be okay, Dad?”
“I don’t know.” Manic said. He noticed Sonia walking back over. “Aunt Sonia should be able to tell us something now.”
“Good news is that she didn’t have a heart attack.” Sonia said.
“So what happened?” Manic asked.
Sonia shrugged. “Stress, maybe.” She replied. “They’re keeping her overnight and doing a stress test tomorrow. They may discharge her on Friday, but we’ll see.”
“So can anyone visit?” Sonic asked.
“Yes, but the doctor said she really wanted to see Manic.” Sonia replied.
“Because she thought she was dying.” Manic muttered.
“What if she does die from something else, Manic?” Sonia asked. “Don’t you want to have closure or try to work things out at least one last time?”
Manic brushed back his long spines. “I guess I should give her another chance.”
*
Manic led his family into Aleena’s room.
Aleena smiled weakly. “It’s so good to see you again, Manic.” She said, reaching to hug Manic. “I missed you.”
Manic half smiled as he hugged Aleena. “Given the circumstances, it’s good to see you. I… missed you.”
Aleena noticed Glitch. “I had hoped you’d tell me if you had a kid.”
“I would’ve told you if I thought you’d treat Glitch better than you treated me.” Manic said. “Or stopped blaming my wife for something she didn’t do.”
“I’m sorry about all of that.” Aleena replied. “I didn’t know Shadow had ever been to rehab until recently.”
Manic bit his lip.
“Manic?” Aleena asked.
“I’m sorry, Ma.” Manic replied. “It’s hard for me to see this as anything other than you being afraid and things will fall back into the status quo as soon as you’re better.”
Surge looked at Manic.
Manic noticed Surge staring at him. “I can handle it, Babe.”
“I understand how you feel, Manic.” Aleena replied. “I don’t want things to go back to how they were. I guess you don’t have much of a reason to believe me, but I would like to start over if you want to try.”
Manic rubbed the back of his head. “I’m surprised you said that.” He said. “Alright, I’ll give you another chance.”
“So how have you been?” Aleena asked.
“Good.” Manic replied. “We were able to quit our second jobs about five years ago. I was able to hire an assistant to take care of my social media and some of the other stuff on the business side of it.”
“I get to help Daddy with his artwork.” Glitch piped up.
“Yeah, he colors it in when I don’t have the time, but I draw it and add effects in Photoshop.” Manic replied.
“He won’t let me be in videos at all though.” Glitch said, folding his arms.
“It’s a privacy thing.” Manic replied. “We’ve come across some weirdos and have a restraining order against one of them.”
Surge glanced at the door. “I’m sure Sonic and Sonia want to see her.”
Manic nodded. “Yeah, I guess we better not hog all of your visiting hours.”
“Before you all go, I just want to say I’m sorry, Manic.” Aleena said. “I should’ve realized I was treating you differently. I never realized it until… maybe a few days before this happened. I’ve been going to counseling recently.”
“Oh, yeah?” Manic asked.
Aleena nodded. “I think Sonic was right.” She replied. “I may have been subconsciously taking my anger toward your dad out on you. That wasn’t your fault and I am deeply sorry.”
“I forgive you, Ma.” Manic said. “I wish things had changed sooner.”
Aleena smiled weakly.
Manic brushed his spines out of his eyes. “Mother’s Day is coming up. We can come over so you can have a longer visit with them.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Aleena said. “I love you.”
Manic gently hugged Aleena. “I love you too, Ma.” He replied. “I’ll let Sonic and Sonia visit you now.”