*Shadow's POV*
Sonic kept pacing back and forth across the living room. He was nervous as he waited for Tails to arrive. I wanted to help him calm down, but every time I tried to get closer, I could mentally see Rouge getting ready to take a picture. I was new to relationships, but I knew I had to do something to help him calm down.

I walked to the kitchen and made some tea, then took it to Sonic as I made him sit beside me. I tried to ignore Rouge as much as possible as I wrapped a blanket on Sonic and made him lean on me. He was tense, so I rubbed his arm and stayed close to him.

"Stop worrying about it. He wouldn't be coming here if he was mad at you." I whispered in his ear. Sonic looked down at the cup of tea, then smiled and quietly let out a sigh. He nodded and rested back on me as he took a sip of the drink.

"Smile." Rouge came out from the corner and took a picture. "You two are so cute together." She was wearing a purple sundress this time. 

"Delete that." I said.

"Send that." Sonic said. I looked down at him and couldn't help but smile when he looked up to meet my eyes. I once again heard the click of the camera making me snap my head at Rouge and glare at her. "Some things never change, huh?" Sonic laughed.

"I'll send them to you, Blue." Rouge said, but before she could send them, the bell rang. She looked at the door and then back at Sonic and I.

"Go ahead." Sonic said to Rouge as he sat up and put the cup down on the coffee table. He held my hand and squeezed it, then let go and walked to the door after Rouge opened it.

I stood up as well and walked closer so I could see what was going to happen. I watched as the fox froze when he saw his friends, tears welling up in his eyes as he just stared at the 3 of us. Sonic looked like he was going to fall, so I stood behind him just in case, but soon enough, he dashed to his best friend and tightly hugged him. They both fell on their knees and cried on each other's shoulders.

*Sonic's POV *
It felt as if the ground was taken away once I hugged him. We both fell to our knees and couldn't help but quietly cry. After so many years apart, we were together again. How could I have ever left him behind? How could I have left Tails stop reaching out? Why did I not bother trying to call him back?

All these questions kept popping in my head, but that didn't matter anymore. I thought I was going to hate seeing him again, I thought I was going to regret it. Thought it would hurt him and me, thought I would be intruding in his new life, but chaos I was wrong. Tails could not let go of me, and I couldn't let go of him either. He was there from the start. It had been me and Tails for so long, I don't understand what I was thinking.

After a while, we both finally let go of each other and pulled away. We looked at each other and laughed. Our emotions were everywhere at the moment, and that was okay. He finally looked up to see Shadow and Rouge standing behind me and stood up as I did the same.

"Chaos. 10 years already, huh?" He looked different. He was taller for sure. The fur on his head had grown longer, and he wore long brown boots and a long lab coat. He walked up to Rouge when she went up to him, and they hugged, then waved at Shadow as he waved back.

"Yeah." I said softly.

"What happened? Why did you suddenly text me?" He turned to look at me.

"I just wanted to see you. I'm sorry." I said honestly. He shook his head.

"You're sorry for wanting to see me?" He softly laughed. "I missed you too. I missed everyone. I can't believe you two were here. Why ARE you here?"

"Shadow found me not long ago. He's been staying with me since then. Actually, Shadow and I are together, and he got in contact with Ro -" I was interrupted.

Tails swirled his finger in the air. "Reverse. You and who are together?"

"Me." Shadow crossed his arms as he walked closer to me.

"Whoa. Plot twist much?"

"Actually, the plot twist is Silver and Mephiles getting married and adopting a kid." Rouge spoke. Tails turned to look at Rouge as she showed him the picture. He snatched her phone away and looked closely.

"No way!" Tails laughed. "You know, I knew they were getting oddly close before we all separated. Never imagined this, though." He looked up at me and Shadow. "I've got stronger." He said to Shadow with a light glare as he himself crossed his arms.

Shadow raised a brow at Tails, and my ears went up at noticing what was going on. "Chaos. Don't." I waved my hands as I got in the middle of them.

"I know you have, fox." Shadow acknowledged what Tails said. "I'm not trying to hurt anyone." Shadow walked to the couch and sat down. Guess some things never change. Shadow was still not used to being soft around others, I understand. As long as he wasn't hurting anyone. "I'd never harm him again." I was surprised to hear Shadow add the last part.

Tails let his shoulders rest when Shadow said that, even Rouge looked surprised at hearing him. I smiled and closed the door behind Tails as we all went to sit. We spent the afternoon talking and catching up.

"So, have you heard from anyone else?" Tails asked us, but we all said no. "Well, you wanted to get in contact with everyone, didn't you? I can find their information online. Just give me an hour or so. But I think Knuckles is in his usual spot. He would never leave the master emerald behind." Tails pulled out his phone out of his lab coat pocket, then looked back up at me.

"Yeah, I am sure he's still there." We kept on talking as Tails did his research and wrote everything down. Even Shadow was included in the conversation and was telling us what he had been up to before he found me.

"I think that's everyone. Amy lives an hour from here, I got her phone number. She is a baker, no shock there." Tails read from the small journal he wrote everything on. "I got Knuckles' number. He is still on the island. Blaze and Silver live in the same town and got their contacts, too." He passed me the journal. "I need to go back home already, but I can come back whenever you need me to. Keep me updated, will you?"

"I will." I stood up and hugged Tails again. Once he said goodbye, he walked to the door. He stopped when he held the doorknob, then turned to look at me again.

"Hey, Sonic." I looked at him a bit confused. "I tried to find a way to help you, but I was never able to find anything. That's why I stopped trying to reach out. I felt like I failed you." He lowered his ears as one hand held the side of his coat in place.

"Help me? With what?" I asked.

"I know you went into his base by yourself." My heart skipped a beat, and then I watched him leave.