Tails lays in the bed still replaying the moment he got to smooch Winter on the lips, the thought of it makes him squirm with excitement.

"I feel incredible" Tails says, rolling around some more, "I wonder if I could get away with doing it again... Nah"

The fox sighs and looks up at the ceiling, finally laying on his back so he could relax, "I love you Wolfy, even when we're thousands of miles away from eachother or inches from eachothers face's. I can't wait to start dating you"

---

Winter and his father look at eachother, his father tapping a pen on his face as he looks on towards his son who's anxiously waiting for him to speak.

"How have you been?"

Winter flinches when he realises he just said something.

"Oh, I've been good... I suppose" Winter answers.

"I see. Have you made any new friends?" Mr Morningstar asks.

"Um, yeah"

"Who?"

"This um, silly, clingy little fox"

"What's his name?"

"L-Lyle"

"Are you sure thats his name?"

Winter clears his throat, "I mean uh, that's his nickname"

"Is it now?"

"Yes, apologies. His actual name is Miles"

Mr Morningstar reclines back on his office chair, still looking at his son. Winter can feel the sweat forming on his face, like his father was the intense heat from the sun.

"So you've managed to achieve that silly dream of yours. I have to say, I'm impressed with your luck, a true miracle if you ask me"

Winter sighs, trying to suppress his frustration with his father, "It's not silly, with all due respect"

"But it is, that fox stands against everything this family stands for and you've befriended him" His father says, his stare seemingly growing more intense.

"He came to me, not the other way around" Winter says, defending himself.

"And why did you not turn him away?"

"Because... I just... Couldn't" Winter responds, the image of Tails' smile the night they met appearing in his head.

Mr Morningstar sighs, "That is not a good enough reason and you know it. Letting someone with a reputation as Miles Power get close to you could spell the end of us"

Winter squeezes his fists tightly, "I've taken precautions so that he doesn't discover my connection to The Four Seasons"

"In my experience taking precautions isn't enough. I've told you that specifically a multitude of times"

"I know, but... I've done absolutely everything I can to keep him from finding out, I promise you-"

"Name one good thing that's come out of your admiration for this fox"

Winter sighs and scrunches his brow, before looking back at his father, "I can name 3 things actually, I became inspired to change my close combat skills after seeing videos of him fight. I've learned that my tail, though a massive inconvenience in some aspects can be pretty useful during jobs, I've used it to hold things, fight against hostiles, and even fly. So yes father, me discovering him was a good thing not just for me but for you too"

"As impressive as that is, it doesn't change the fact there's now a glaring problem on our hands. This fox and his friends wouldn't hesitate to rain hellfire upon us if they discovered what we truly are, these so called heros endanger everything the academy, this family and this dynasty have built, not just them but you as well!"

"So what do you want me to do?"

"The answer to that question is simple... Seperate yourself from him or kill him"

Winter's eyes go wide when he hears that, he feels like he just got shot in the heart. He couldn't kill Tails even if he was forced too, but at the same time he probably didn't have the guts to tell him he wanted to end their friendship either.

"What" The wolf says, trying not cry when he hears that.

"My proposal is quite simple. You either cut communication with him and he lives, or you kill him so you never can speak to him again. If your not willing to cooperate I'm willing to find someone who will kill him for you" Mr Morningstar says, his stoic expression remains.

"Father... Why?" Winter starts, his anger becoming harder to suppress.

"When you were at the academy one of the first things you were taught is that attachment is dangerous. It can get you killed... Or captured"

"Y-You said romantic attachments-"

"Did I say romantic attachments? I meant all attachments"

Winter wants to open his mouth and say something back but nothing comes out, nothing could convince his father to change his mind about this. The strong friendship he and Tails formed was about to come crashing down like block tower, but what choice did he have, it was either take action or he was going to die.

He didn't want anything to happen to Tails, the thought of seeing him gravely injured hurt his heart. So very reluctantly...

"Fine... I'll work on distancing myself from him"

Mr Morningstar, delighted with his son's answer smiles slightly, "Very good, you may leave"

Winter stands up and leaves, his heart feels like it's cracking up, practically screaming and kicking inside his chest, this didn't feel right, it didn't feel right at all. He loved being with him and hanging around him.

When he gets back to his room, Tails immediately collides with him and starts kissing his face, his tails wagging excitedly as he nuzzles Winter's face. Winter doesn't have the energy to react though, which immediately makes Tails concerned.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Tails asks, laying his head on his chest.

"I..." He sighs as he tries to get the words out, "My... Dad doesn't want us hanging out"

"What?! Why?!" Tails shouts, his heart sinking when he hears that.

"He uh, didn't say" Winter responds, unable to make eye contact with Tails.

The fox feels tears welling up in his eyes, he couldn't believe what was happening, he had done everything right. His chest felt like it was being smothered, soon grief turns into anger as his smothered chest becomes a raging inferno, he grabs hold of Winter's face which makes him jolt in surprise, the wolf's eyes slowly meet his.

"Do you want to stop being friends with me?" Tails asks him, a serious look on his face.

Winter looks away from Tails, but the fox shakes his head prompting Winter to look back at him, "Answer the question!"

"I-I don't-"

"Then we won't stop being friends. He might be your dad Winter, but he's not always right! I haven't done anything to you!" Tails says, moving closer to him so he could embrace him.

Winter gulps, he can't bring himself to tell Tails the situation, he's caught in between a rock and a hard place.

"Tails, I-" Winter starts.

"Stop it! I'm not leaving you and you're not leaving me! That's final! Where even is he?!"

"He's in his office-"

Tails marches out of the room, down the hall to the office, alarmed that he was actually about to confront his father about this matter, Winter goes after him. But by the time Winter reaches him, Tails is already kicking the office door open. Mr. Morningstar immediately looks up when he sees Tails standing there giving him a death stare, the look on the fox's face was nothing but rage. Mr. Morningstar sighs and closes the book he was reading.

"So you want me and Winter to not be friends anymore?" Tails says.

Mr. Morningstar looks to his son, Winter shakes his head letting him know he didn't tell Tails the full story.

"Hey! Answer me!" Tails shouts.

Mr. Morningstar can't help but start laughing, that makes Tails even more angry.

"My son has more important things to focus on than being friends with someone such as yourself. Friendship is overrated, something anyone can live without"

"Treat your son like an actual person you asshole! He has dreams, he has aspirations, he has things he wants to do!" Tails shouts back.

"There's nothing wrong with dreaming, but for him to succeed he must become his best self. If he doesn't, he won't receive our family inheritance. Surely someone as smart as you must realise that sacrifices are necessary for one to succeed in life" Mr. Morningstar responds, noticeably more calmer.

"If I hadn't met Winter, I would have probably done something I wouldn't live to regret. He likes hanging around with me, so what? The world isn't going to end if I stay with him!... I'm not leaving Winter! And there's nothing you can do about it!"

Mr. Morningstar glares at Tails, it was going to be harder than he thought to seperate Winter from him.

Tails grabs hold of Winter's hand, "Let's go Wolfy. Our business here is done"

Tails pulls Winter along as they leave the manor with their bags, Andessa who's sitting outside watches them leave, she waves but only gets a response from Winter who manages to wave back as Tails continues to pull him down the gravel road back to the main road.

Andessa tilt's her head to the side when she notices Tails' sour mood.

No... No... I won't let that asshole seperate me from him! I've worked so hard to get to know him! Why doesn't he like me? I haven't done anything to him! I don't deserve this! What the hell is his problem!? JERK!

Winter shouts Tails continues to pull him along, the entire time they walk. The fox is fighting back tears, he loved Winter, he wanted to marry him, but now he didn't know if he'd get to do that at all now that he knew his dad was against them being together at all.

Eventually when they get to a bus stop. Tails stops, Winter can feel how angry he his, how confused he felt, his shaking hand was only making him worry more. Tails turns to Winter and finally breaks down, letting go of Winter's hand so he can clover his face.

"Your father is horrible" Tails says, still shaking with anger and sadness.

Winter looks down at the ground, "I agree"

Tails turns to Winter, still shaking, tears streaming down his face, fists balled. A heartbreaking sight for Winter's already pained eyes, Tails stumbles into his arms and sniffles, he doesn't want to let it out and Winter can tell.

"Y-You're not g-gonna leave me right? I want to stay, I care about you too much, you're something I don't want to live without! Please Wolfy, don't listen to him, I beg you!"

Winter can feel himself tearing up too, he wants to stay with Tails and live a happy life with him, but the cost of that was too great. He wanted to let the fox live with him too, but he knew that would likely make his father even more angry than he already was, so he decides it's best that for his favourite fox's safety, he should leave him, "Tails as much as it pains me to say it, I... Don't think we should hang out anymore"

Tails looks back at him with shock in his eyes, he can't believe what he just heard. Was he dreaming? Was this a nightmare?

"...What" He says, his voice breaking.

"My father has connections, the kind where if he wanted to do harm to you, he would. I really don't want to do this, but if I stayed with you I'd be putting you in danger, potentially even signing your death warrant. It's not right! I want you to live a happy, healthy life, even if it's without me!" Winter says, the urge to cry becoming harder for him to control, the words coming out of his mouth taste sour.

"...Winter, I can't. We've been through so much!"

"I know! But this is for your own safety!" Winter shouts.

"But I don't want to leave you! I like you too much! You're the bestest thing that's ever happened to me!" Tails shouts, squeezing his chest.

"Same with you. And I want you and your pretty face to go on breathing, so I'm... I'm gonna have to distance myself from you"

"No" Tails' voice starts breaking more.

"You can still come to the restaurant and watch my shows, but I don't know who my dad's going to hire to make sure we don't see eachother"

"Stop" The fox can't bare to hear anymore.

"It was fun being your friend, it really was... But again, this is to keep you safe" Winter says, his voice starting to crack too as he starts to step back from Tails, eventually turning so he can walk down the road and take a train back to the city.

Tails reaches a shaking hand out, desperate for him to not go, desperate for him to not fade away, desperate to not be alone. Then he feels something overtake him, something intense, similar to when Winter tried to convince Tails to sit out the show earlier... But stronger, more defiant...

No! This can't be how it ends! I can defend myself! I don't want him to leave my life, I don't want the colour to fade away!... No... NO.... NOOOO!

"NOOOO!" Tails shrieks.

When Winter hears him shout he turns back to him and sees Tails running at him, the fox eventually tackling him to the ground, squeezing him tightly. Winter tries to get Tails off him, but the fox refuses to let go of him.

"Get off me you silly fox!" Winter shouts.

"No! I won't let you leave me!"

Winter gives up on trying to push him and eventually, his stress builds up so much he ends up throwing a right hook at Tails' face throwing him backwards. Tails shakes as he lays on his back, his right cheek in pain as he sobs and sniffles in pain.

Winter realising what he just did starts shaking.

I... Punched him... No... What is wrong with me? I need to get out of here!........ But I feel so - sick

Tails eventually starts to get back up, the fox shaking with anger more than ever. Not angry at Winter but angrier with his father. He throws himself on top of Winter again, still refusing to leave him. Winter doesn't want to impulsively hurt him again so he tries his bestest to push him away, but Tails is powered by love and adoration, whereas Winter is powered by fear and stress.

Tails eventually manages to get his arms around the wolf, Winter shouts and screams trying to get Tails off him, but he doesn't let go of him no matter how much Winter hits him, kicks him, gut jabs him, and shoves him. Tails always grabs hold of him again, refusing to give up on him, his friend, the boy he wanted to eventually marry.

"Tails! Stop!"

"No! I'm not leaving, you can hurt me all you want, but I'm not leaving you! I'll never leave you!" The fox shouts, finally pushing Winter's upper arms down onto the concrete, his arms were shaking but he still managed to keep Winter from lifting his arms.

"When I first saw you, something in me opened up! I don't know what it was, but it felt incredible. My world was black and white but when I met you, I saw colours I'd never seen before, experienced things I thought I'd never get to experience, talk about things I rarely ever talked about, thought things I'd never ever really thought! It's because of you that I am who I am right now! It's because of you I have more faith in myself, it's because of you I'm no longer afraid to hide all my secrets! It's because of you life is worth living for me again!" Tails shouts, tears streaming from his bruised face.

Winter can't hold back his tears anymore and starts sobbing, "T-Tails-"

"You can punch me, strike me in my stomach, stomp me until I'm a pancake as much as you want! I'll still want to be your friend, I'll still want to sing songs with you, I'll still want to tell corny jokes to you while we lay on the couch together! I'm hear to stay, get that through your head!"

"I-I just want t-to keep you safe!" Winter sobs.

"I'm not scared of some senile old wolf!... And you shouldn't be either!" Tails shouts, angry he was still on that.

The fox once again wraps his arms around Winter's body, squeezing tightly in case he tried to start striking him again... But this time - Winter can't - no matter how bad he hit him, he wasn't going to back down, no matter what words he used, he was never going to leave him, he was never going to settle down, he was never going to give up on him.

"You stubborn prick" Winter sobs.

"Isn't it a good thing I'm stubborn?" Tails says back, still squeezing him.

Winter and Tails lay there on the cold concrete under an old street light, Winter finally starts actually crying this time squeezing Tails tightly, Tails starts full on crying too, the weight of it all finally breaking their minds. They lay there for the next several minutes, wailing, sobbing and holding on to eachother.

Eventually when they both were able to get themselves together, they got up and walked an hour and a half to the closest train station... Holding on to eachothers waists the whole way there, both of them were shaky, in pain, had headaches and other after effects from stress and crying but where unshaken in their pursuit to be the bestest friends to eachother. They were going to make their friendship a force to be reckoned with.

---

A few days later, Tails is done packing his things in the hideout and is ready to move into the city with Winter, the night prior Amy hosted a going away party even though Tails made it clear he wasn't leaving the team. For Sonic, however, it felt like a massive blow to the gut, the hedgehog now feeling less confident about his ability to fix what he had broken.

Everyone stands by the runway as Tails sits in the Tornado looking at everyone, boxes and bags tied to the exterior of the plane with all of Tails' things inside. The sunset setting the mood as they all talk to him before he takes off.

"I thought you said you never wanted to live in the city!" Knuckles says to Tails.

"Well, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Being in a city like Nightstar has it's upsides too!" Tails says.

"Doesn't it now" Knuckles says, crossing his arms.

"Ohhh Tails! I'm so happy you decided to move in with him! I hope you stop by every now and then" Amy says, hugging the fox tightly with her powerful arms, the fox flailing when he feels her crushing his neck.

"Th-Thank you Amy but I crant breeagh" Tails says, struggling to get air into his lungs.

"Oops" Amy says backing away from him.

Tails takes a moment to catch his breath before turning to Sonic who doesn't make eye contact with him, in case the fox had something nasty to say. Tails normally would feel indifferent, but this time he felt a tiny bit apologetic, maybe it was because of what happened at the estate after they left, but he couldn't be angry at Sonic anymore, or at least he couldn't be angry with him forever.

He gives Sonic a small wave, the hedgehog notices and manages a smile, waving back at him with the same energy, Tails finally gets the engine going and takes off as his friends shout their goodbyes, he flies off taking a sweet three hour flight to the city.

When the fox lands his plane at the airport, he immediately looks for Winter, who's standing there with Cream and Charmy, the two agreeing to help Tails out with quietly moving his stuff. The group spend all afternoon carrying Tails' stuff from Senkawa Airport to Winters home in Aldgrove. It was a lot of hard work but they were successful in getting all of Tails stuff into Winter's home under the darkness of night.

Tails' new workshop was set up in Winter's basement and Winter purchased an unused warehouse at Musashino Pier where Tails could work on his larger scale projects.

When they finished moving every, Winter had Charmy and Cream stay for dinner and  the two left afterwards, waving their goodbyes to Winter and Tails.

"Bye Tails!" Cream calls out, waving excitedly from across the block.

"Good luck you two!" Charmy shouts, also waving enthusiastically.

"Bye! Thanks guys!" Tails shouts

"Get home safe!" Winter calls out.

When the two are gone, Tails and Winter go back inside the house and once they do, the wolf closes the door and they both immediately break out into a hug with one another, Tails leaning his tired head on Winter's chest.

"We're gonna have so much fun" Tails says.

Winter bends down and touches noses with him, "Like hell we are"

"Come on! I wanna listen to some more old songs with you!" Tails says, taking the wolf's hand and leading him up the steps.

Winter laughs and kisses the giggling fox on the forehead, "Aye aye captain~"