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Sonia put a turkey sandwich and a pack of chips on a tray and handed it to Manic. “Is she sure she doesn’t want to join us?”

“She barely feels like eating at all.” Manic replied. “Thanks, sis. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Take your time.” Sonia said.

Manic headed back to the bedroom.

Sonia stepped over to the table and set her plate down. “He really needs to accept help.” She said, sitting down. “He’s gonna burn himself out.”

“I’ve told him that.” Farrell said. “He reluctantly lets me help while he’s working. I honestly have no idea where he gets his stubbornness from.”

“Sonic’s the same way, but we can’t figure out where he got it from either.” Uncle Chuck replied. “Their parents weren’t that stubborn.”

Manic, carrying Glitch, came back into the room and sat down between Farrell and Sonic.

Glitch had lime green spines and fur like Manic. He had black streak between his eyes. His left eye was blue like Surge’s eyes and his right eye was brown like Manic’s eyes.

Glitch huffed and whimpered.

“Let your Ma eat, little guy.” Manic said, gently patting Glitch on his back. “Come on, Glitch. Please settle down. It’s not so bad here.”

“Stroke his spines.” Farrell said. “That used to put you right to sleep when you were a baby.”

Manic stroked Glitch’s spines.

Glitch whimpered, then fell asleep.

Manic sighed in relief. “Oh, thank God.” He said softly. He sat down at the table and handed Glitch to Farrell so he could eat his sandwich.

Manic quickly finished his meal as if he had barely eaten that day.

Sonic and Sonia exchanged glances, then quietly finished their meals.

“Glitch is adorable.” Sonia said. “He looks like a perfect mixture of you and Surge.”

“Thanks, sis.” Manic replied.

Sonic got up. “Hey, bro, do you want to go out with me to get some fresh air?”

Manic looked at Glitch. “Uh… I don’t-”

“Go on, he’ll be fine.” Farrell said. “I took care of you for sixteen years and you turned out fine, didn’t you?”

Sonia coughed.

Manic gave Sonia a dirty look. “Not everyone got to grow up in a mansion, Princess.”

“I rescued him from being sold in the black market, Sonia.” Farrell said. “Things could’ve been a lot worse for him.”

“I’m sorry, Manic.” Sonia replied.

Manic nodded. “It’s fine, sis.” He said, getting up. He followed Sonic outside.

*

Manic and Sonic sat on the roof of the van, looking at the stars.

“So you said you had to marry Surge.” Sonic said, laying his arm on his bent knee.

“‘Had to’ being in quotations.” Manic replied. “As soon as Surge’s family found out she was pregnant and realized who I was, they blackmailed me and Farrell. If I didn’t marry her or get rid of the baby, they’d turn us in for the rewards.”

Sonic glanced down at the van. “Do you love her at all?”

“Of course I do.” Manic said, giving Sonic an offended look. He looked away and sighed. “I would’ve lost my mind if they had died.”

Sonic looked at Manic.

Manic wiped his eyes and drew a shaky breath. “I’ve had nightmares since that night.” He said softly. “We almost risked taking them to a regular hospital, but the doc got them stabilized.”

Sonic nodded.

“I had to give Glitch CPR while the doc worked on Surge.” Manic said. “I’ve never been so scared in my life and that’s saying a lot, given the stuff I’ve had to deal with.”

Manic pulled his jacket open, revealing a scar on his right side and a burn from a laser blast on his left shoulder. “I’ve been stabbed and shot at by Swatbots before and it wasn’t as scary as that.”

“I’m sorry you all had to go through that.” Sonic said, putting his arm around Manic’s shoulders.

Sonia opened the door and glanced up. “Boys?”

Sonic slid closer to the edge and looked down at Sonia. “Yeah?”

“Surge needs help with Glitch.” Sonia said. “We think he wants his daddy.”

Sonic and Manic climbed down and went back inside.

Surge looked half asleep as she held Glitch, who was screaming and crying. “Here’s your spoiled son.” She said, handing Glitch to Manic.

Manic grinned and gently bounced Glitch in his arms. “There’s my little guy.” He said as Glitch stopped crying. “You need to give your Ma a break. She’s new at this.”

Surge flopped back on the futon and quickly fell asleep.

Manic kissed Surge’s forehead. “Love you, Babe.” He whispered.

“Are you sure she doesn’t need to go to the hospital?” Sonic asked.

Manic glanced at Surge. “Pretty sure.”

“Can I hold him please?” Sonia asked.

Manic handed Glitch to Sonia. “Sure, sis.” He said. He picked up Surge and carried her to the bedroom.

Glitch squeaked at Sonia.

“Aww.” Sonia squealed.

“He’s a cute baby.” Sonic said, gently tickling Glitch’s belly.

Uncle Chuck stepped over and played with Glitch’s feet. “He’s a happy little guy like Sonic was when he was a baby.”

Manic walked over. “I hate to cut this short, but it’s his bedtime.” He said, reaching his hands out.

“There’s your daddy, little guy.” Sonia said, handing Glitch to Manic. “I found a little crate you can use as a baby bed and got it set up for him while you and Sonic were outside.”

“I saw it; thanks, sis.” Manic replied. He headed back to the bedroom.

Sonic yawned. “I guess we better get to bed ourselves if we want to get an early start tomorrow.”

*

Sonic snapped awake and opened his eyes as Glitch started crying. He sighed as he heard someone (he assumed was Manic, going by the muffled voice and footsteps) jump up and hurry over to the makeshift crib.

Glitch settled down a few minutes later.

Sonic glanced at the clock.

It was one in the morning.

“At least he calms down easily.” Sonic whispered.

Sonia sat up. “You hear something?” She whispered.

Sonic glanced toward the bedroom as he heard Manic softly singing. “It’s weird to hear that he’s got a softer side with what I’ve heard about him.”

Sonia smiled. “He’s got a beautiful voice.”

Sonic and Sonia flinched as Farrell began snoring loudly.

Sonia giggled. “Good night, bro.” She whispered. She laid down again.

Sonic laid down. “Good night, sis.”