We'll meet again: Vera Lynn.
~~~

Deep ocean blue eyes watched the steaming brown liquid twirl around, trapped in the delicate white cup that she rotated leisurely. Her other hand clasped a shiny smooth saucer, both items belonging to a larger set of four. Her gaze lifted to the centre coffee table where four cups of tea sat atop an oak wooden tray. Chalky saucers, a glass container of sugar and small white creamer accompanied them on their left.

"Welcome yourself to having one, Jules." The soon-to-be mother rabbit smiled from the opposite side of the sofa the Hedgehog's sat on prior to suiting herself with leaning against the archway, cup and saucer in hand.

The lavender hedgehog observed her husband oblige and gather the drink into his own grip before gifting himself with a sip, a satisfied hum following.

"Busy day?" The cream rabbit asked, looking to her partner with a questioning glance (mostly due to the two Hedgehogs' silence).

Chocola pulled his eyes from the window to face his wife, arms crossing. "If lots of planning and waffling counts, then yes."

"Planning?" Bernie inquired at a quieter tone, which also silently acted as a reminder for the adults to keep their voices low to avoid awakening the triple hoglets.

Jules gulped down another sip of his cup. "A way to fight back. To save Mobius from Robotnik's reign of terror. Feels like we're running in circles at this point."

Vanilla settled her cup on her saucer, "Did you point this out? You're well respected around here Jules, it could be worth a shot."

"I'm not exactly the type to think before I act. That role belongs to Charles."

"Speaking of, I hope he's doing okay." Bernadette interjected.

"As okay as one can do while in Robotnik's grasp." Jules swirled the drink in hand.

As silence fell on the four again, Vanilla stole a glance at her husband. The pair shared a nod and seemed to gain the same thought too as they simultaneously set their cups down on the coffee table. This snatched the attention of Mr and Mrs Hedgehog, the pair watching the rabbits with curiosity.

"Sitting and moping isn't going to get Charles back sooner is it?" Vanilla softened her question with a warm smile and approached a silver and black record player, lifting it's glass lid up.

"In dire times it's nice to escape from it all. Even for a little while." Chocola added as he held out a hand towards his wife. "The best way to do that is with music, to us at least." He grinned as he held the soon-to-be mother close.

Jules blinked in bewilderment a few times and could only yelp when Bernie (who had previously swiped her nose, smirked and rose from her seat) took his hand- forcing him to stand upright.

"Charles would want us to stay positive don't you think?" The lavender mother circled an arm around her partners waist, their other interlocked hands out by their sides- at shoulder length.

The deep blue hedgehog could only watch as a record was set onto it's player before music began to play. A nervous swallow broke through as he watched Vanilla and Chocola break out into a slow dance.

"Afraid I'm a better dancer than you?"

The challenge Bernie gave him was enough for his composure to return, eyes narrowing with a self-confident smirk. Jules even decided to take the first step, going left and then backwards before the movements turned into a leisurely circle. The pair had always challenged each other, going way back into their school years even.

"I'm just afraid how you'll react to my victory, is all." The father countered as he was sent twirling.

And blinking when a sudden tug demanded him back, only to find himself in his partners arms (one holding his arched back).

"That mouth of yours has always been your biggest weakness." Bernie chuckled as they returned to rotating.

It was difficult to tell how much time slipped by after, due to the utter escapism all four in fact felt. Perhaps Vanilla and Chocola had held a point. Whatever it was, Jules was grateful. To see Bernie smiling how she was could light up the entire city, so he counted himself as the luckiest hedgehog alive.

Not that it lasted long as the lavender mother and Vanilla exchanged a rather mischievous glance prior to them both sending their partners towards each other. Chocola and Jules stumbling of course when they met, though soon held onto the other for support as they looked to the culprits.

Who had taken themselves to dancing together instead. Vanilla and Bernie obviously not taking it too seriously as most dance moves were interrupted by laughter and light conversation. So, the deep blue hedgehog and soon-to-be father decided on what any pair of competitive mobians would.

A dance competition.

————

Vanilla reached for the glass lid of the record player and removed the record itself after, setting it away on the bookshelf.

"It's getting late don't you think?" She faced the other three, who had taken to rest on the sofa by then.

"Definitely. A lot's to be done tomorrow. I suggest we get some well deserved sleep." Chocola stretched as he stood.

"Good idea." Bernie hummed and Jules rose too.

"I'm gonna check on the kids first. Hopefully we didn't wake them." The father let a quiet chuckle escape his lips as he walked towards the archway, whilst Chocola bid his wife Goodnight in advance to assisting Bernie with setting up the sofa.

Jules cracked open what was eventually going to be a nursery (according to Vanilla) and peaked his head inside, easily catching the small blue hoglet that took to perching himself on the windowsill. A fuchsia pink hoglet slept curled up on the armchair set in the corner of the room as the youngest of the triplets snored away in the cot.

"Why up so late Little Buddy? We didn't wake you did we?"

The gentle whisper of his father got Olgilvie to look over his shoulder, where he saw Jules standing behind him. Though the older hedgehog's gaze was set upon the night sky.

"No. Just couldn't sleep." The emerald green eyed hoglet muttered back, following the other's stare.

"Fair. Anything in particular though?" Jules rested a hand softly on his son's shoulder.

"Uncle Charles should be here with us." Olgilvie's grip around his legs tightened, hugging them closer.

"He will be soon. In the meantime, he wouldn't want you staying up worrying about him."

"...What do you think he's doing right now?"

Jules let a grin form as he quietly snickered. "If I know my brother, and I do, he's hatching a plan of escape right now. Your uncle can handle himself, at least for enough time for us to get him out of there." Not that he knew where 'there' was exactly.

"When that happens, I want to help." The cobalt blue hoglet was quick to reply.

"I-...that's appreciated Little Buddy. But it's far too dangerous. Charles being with Robotnik is enough for all of us, the last thing we need is for another one of us to end up...trapped."

"Oh...."

Jules bit his lip as he looked down at his son, who's little blue ears had dipped back. The father's brows furrowed and he awkwardly sat on the windowsill, putting pressure on his heels that pressed into the wall to ensure he wouldn't fall.

"Hey." He smiled as Olgilvie slowly turned to him.

The father raised his son's face by the chin. "You're gonna do great things Little Buddy. I just know it. You and your speed...you could save millions."

A sparkle erupted in those large emerald green eyes as little shoulders lifted. "You really think so?"

"I know so. You have the determination. The courage. And most importantly, a heart of gold. As long as you have that, you can do anything. All you need is a little patience okay? One day, sooner or later, you'll become the hero Mobius needs."

A large smile soon covered Olgilvie's muzzle as he hopped into his father's arms, giving Jules as tight of a hug as he could.

"Thanks Dad."

"Always, Little Buddy." The deep blue hedgehog took this opportunity to lay the yawning cobalt hoglet beside his sister prior to creeping towards the door.

"Night little ones." He whispered with a smile and closed the triplets inside the nursery.