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Sonic woke up groggy. He sat up out of his bed and rubbed his eyes. He glanced over at his new digital clock he had just gotten for Christmas. It said January second. Sonic wanted to sleep more, but his stomach growled at him. He slipped out of bed and dragged his feet down the stairs. Tom looked up from the kitchen as he tramped down.
“Hey bud, you look tired. Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m just… just hungry…”
Sonic yawned again. He shook out his quills and opened the fridge. He grabbed something he thought was for breakfast and slowly chewed on it. He sat on a stool in front of the kitchen island and laid his head down on the counter as he ate. Tom gave him a concerned glance.
“Are you sure you’re okay bud? You don’t look too good.” He pressed the back of his hand to Sonic’s forehead. Sonic shook his head.
“No, I'm fine, just tired. I think… I think I’m gonna go back to bed,” he murmured, taking the last bite of whatever he was eating. He couldn’t even remember what it was. He slipped off the stool and grabbed a blanket from the living room. He passed Maddie as he went up the stairs with the blanket around his shoulders. She stopped to stare at him as he disappeared into his room.
“Is he okay?” she asked Tom when she came into the kitchen. She had her scrubs on and was getting ready for work. He shrugged.
“He doesn’t feel like he has a fever, plus he ate something. He said he just feels tired.”
Maddie hummed thoughtfully.
Sonic flopped down in his bed. He pulled the blanket off his shoulders before dragging more from around his room to his bed. He pulled them around himself into a sort of nest. Sonic burrowed deep underneath them to try and satisfy a deep need under his fur. He pulled the stuffed owl Tom and Maddie had also gotten him for Christmas close. He purred softly as he pressed his nose into the neck of it. He felt so warm and comfortable. He closed his eyes, quickly losing consciousness.
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Tom looked up from his phone to the clock on the wall. It was nearly one o-clock. Sonic hadn't come back down since that morning. He slipped his phone in his pocket and headed up the stairs. He quietly lifted the attic door and looked over to Sonic’s bed. He was… still asleep. Sonic had covered himself in a pile of his blankets, plus the one he took from downstairs.
Tom softly padded up to him and crouched in front of his bed. “Hey buddy, how long are you planning on sleeping today?” he asked lightly. There was no response from the hedgehog underneath. Tom’s brow furrowed. “Sonic? If this is a joke, it’s not funny.” He rubbed where he thought Sonic’s shoulder would be. He lifted the blanket a bit to show his face.
Sonic had his eyes calmly closed, a light purr coming from his throat. His breathing was slow and when Tom felt his pulse, it was thumping only every few seconds. Fear pricked at his heart.
“Sonic? Are you-are you okay? Come on, wake up, this isn’t funny,” Tom whispered desperately. Sonic’s ears didn’t even flick. Tom started to panic. He quickly fumbled with his phone for a moment before staring at the search bar. What was he supposed to search? Why is my alien hedgehog son not waking up?
He decided to call Maddie instead. She picked up after a moment.
“Tom? What’s up? You’re lucky I don’t have anyone in right now.”
“Maddie, can you come home please?” Tom was holding Sonic’s paw and was rubbing his thumb into his paw pad. “Sonic won’t wake up, it’s been hours and I tried talking to him but he’s just not responding and I can’t get him to wake up-”
“Tom hold on, everything’s gonna be fine, I’ll be home in a few minutes, okay? Just stay with him. Is he breathing?”
“Yeah-yeah he’s breathing, it’s just really slow and his heartbeat’s slow too, it only beats every few seconds, I’m worried about him Maddie.”
“Does he seem like he’s in any pain or distress?”
“No… he’s purring… but don’t cats purr when they're in pain sometimes?”
“Yes, but does he look upset?”
Tom stared at Sonic’s calm face for a moment. He gently scratched under his chin and his purring grew louder. “He’s not upset or anything. He’s-he’s not dying at the moment.”
“Okay good, I’m on my way right now, but it could take longer since the roads are still a bit icy.” It had been snowing for the last week, and Sonic had to adjust to seeing snow as something fun instead of something to resent. Tom leaned over and kissed his muzzle. He stroked his ear before leaning his head against his.
“Come on bud, I know you’re in there.”
Tom heard the front door open fifteen minutes later. Maddie quickly ran up the stairs and into his room. “Hey, sorry, it took longer than I thought,” she whispered. She crouched next to where Tom had his head laid next to the hedgehog’s. He had been right, Sonic’s face was quiet. She felt his forehead before checking his pulse.
“It is really slow,” she muttered. Tom silently watched her. She narrowed her eyes for a moment. “Do you think… no…” she said to herself. Tom cocked his brow. She checked his pulse again and pulled out her phone. She stared and scrolled through something on it for a moment. Tom was holding Sonic’s paw again.
“What are you thinking?” he asked after a minute. Maddie stopped and looked at him.
“Tom… I think he’s hibernating.”
Tom was silent for a second. His eyes flicked from Maddie’s face to Sonic’s.
“Hibernating? Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously,” she answered, stroking between his ears. “He was tired this morning, wasn’t he? And then he built this nest around himself. It’s an instinctual thing.”
“Sometimes I forget he’s still an alien hedgehog.”
They stared at him for a long moment. Sonic continued to breathe slowly, unaware of the love emanating from the couple.
“He’s just the sweetest thing,” Tom breathed. Maddie smiled.
“He is.”
Tom pressed another kiss to his muzzle. “I hope he wakes up soon.”
“Me too. But it could be up to a few days to a couple months. I wonder if he’s ever hibernated before,” Maddie said. “Do you think he’s ever felt safe enough to do this?” Tom shrugged. She sighed and stood up. “I’ve got to get back. I’ve got another appointment in twenty.” Tom stood up and kissed her goodbye. She left, leaving him alone with the sleeping hedgehog.
Tom crouched next to him again. He stared at Sonic’s face for a long while. “I’m gonna miss you kid,” he whispered. He sighed and covered his face with the blanket again. He had halfway hoped that Sonic would pop out of bed again, laugh and tell him he fell for a joke. Tom stood halfway down the stairs and stared at Sonic’s bed. The only movement there was the slight rise and fall of his breathing. He sighed and closed the door behind him.
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Tom and Maddie tried to settle into the unusual quiet Sonic left behind. Tom couldn’t believe they were ever satisfied like this. Everything was silent and predictable most of the time. There was a hole in every conversation they had. It didn’t feel normal anymore.
Still Sonic slept, the owl stuffie held close in his nest.
Tom and Maddie checked on him frequently, silently hoping they would find him awake one day. Tom sat on his bed sometimes, quietly telling him about his day.
Maddie quietly padded up the stairs and opened the door. She was a bit disappointed when she saw that Sonic hadn’t moved. It had only been three weeks anyway. Wait-
A loud whimper came from his bed. She rushed over and carefully lifted the blanket off his head. His fur was ruffled and lengthening at the edges. His ear was bent all wrong. And his face was twisted in fear. Sonic’s paws kicked out a bit and his claws unsheathed. Maddie shushed him quietly and gently pet his cheek. He kept chirping and trilling in fear.
“It’s okay, I’m right here,” she whispered softly. He cried out, desperately pawing at his blankets. Maddie’s stomach twisted in sorrow. She leaned down and pressed her forehead to his temple. “It’s okay, shh, shh, you’re safe, I’m here with you, you’re not alone. You’re not alone. I’m here with you.” She kissed the edge of his ear, making him purr. His claws sheathed again and his face relaxed.
Maddie smiled. She took Sonic’s paw in her hand. “There you go baby, I’m right here,” she whispered. She kissed his cheek before sitting up again. Sonic shivered and mewled quietly. She rubbed her thumb into his paw pad. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
“M… mama…” Sonic murmured below a whisper. Maddie’s heart ached. She wished he would wake up. But she knew he probably needed this. If he was sleeping this long, then he most likely had never let himself hibernate. Sonic stretched out one more time before falling still again. Maddie got off his bed and took a few steps away. She paused.
The owl stuffie had fallen to the floor.
Maddie looked over and saw Sonic pawing around for something. “Mama…” he breathed. She picked up the owl and set it in his arms. Sonic immediately quieted and wrapped his arms around the owl. He sunk deep into sleep again, his pulse slowing to every few seconds. Maddie softly patted his head and covered it with his blanket nest.
Sonic felt warm again. He felt happy. Happier than he had felt before. He settled deeper into his bed.
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Tom and Maddie were sitting on the couch, halfway paying attention to the Tv and halfway falling asleep against each other. It was halfway through March. All of the snow had melted weeks ago and the wind was starting to blow warmer.
Tom thought it was the ticking of the clock when he heard light pattering upstairs. Suddenly the toilet flushed. Both him and Maddie sat up. Heavy footsteps found their way down the stairs.
And Sonic stepped onto the floor.
His fur was long and disheveled. His quills were sticking up everywhere. Sonic stared at them blankly, obviously still groggy and not quite awake. Tom and Maddie shared a glance.
“It’s cold in here…” Sonic slurred groggily. He took an uneven step toward them. Tom blinked, thinking that he was in a dream.
“Sonic…?” he whispered shakily. The hedgehog gave him a strange look. Maddie grabbed his hand.
“Hi baby,” she murmured.
“Why… why are you two acting weird…?” He looked out the window and saw that it was turning dark. “What time is it? How many hours did I sleep?” Tom and Maddie stiffened. He doesn’t know. “Where’s all the snow?”
Tom got up first and softly padded towards him. He crouched in front of him, gently rubbing his thumb under Sonic’s eye. Sonic’s brow furrowed at him.
“What’s up with you?” Tom stared at him for another long second. He suddenly drew Sonic into a tight hug, running his hands through his fur. Sonic stood stunned for a moment before melting into him. Tom breathed in his now-familiar musty pine scented fur. Sonic chuffed and purred happily against his shirt. Maddie came over and brushed his ear. “What are you guys doing? You’re acting kinda weird. Not that I’m, uh… complaining or anything.” Sonic tail thumped against Tom’s arm when Maddie scratched behind his ear.
“We just missed you, that’s all,” she answered.
“Because I slept all day? And I thought I was the clingy one,” Sonic quipped with another yawn. “I’m still kinda… tired though…” Tom and Maddie shared another glance.
“Here, are you hungry?” Tom asked. Sonic nodded enthusiastically.
“Starving. I haven’t eaten since this morning!”
Maddie smiled with her brow pinched hard. “Mmh, yup, this morning,” she said stiffly. He didn’t protest when Tom picked him up and carried him to the kitchen. He was lighter. He had lost weight. As if he wasn’t light enough before. They were making progress with it, and his two-and-a-half month hibernation set them back a few steps. Tom sat him on a barstool and opened the fridge. Sonic kept his ears pricked and his tail wagging.
Tom set a bowl full of chili in the microwave and glanced back at Sonic. He was sitting in the same spot as he was over two months ago. He sighed.
“Do you… know what day it is?” Tom asked. Maddie rubbed Sonic’s back, not wanting to let go. Sonic’s ears flicked back for a moment.
“January second? Why are you asking?”
Tom’s eyes burned into his head. Sonic narrowed his eyes.
“Tom, what day is it?”
He sighed. Maddie leaned down and kissed behind his ear. Sonic’s gaze turned scared. “What? What’s going on? You-you guys are scaring me, what’s… Do I have to leave? No, of course I have to leave, sorry, I’ll eat then I’ll go-you know what? You don’t have to feed me, I’ll just go-”
“No!” both Tom and Maddie shouted. He flinched away from them. His ears pinned to his head.
“B-but you’re-I’m-you’re scaring me, what’s-”
“Sonic, it’s March 18th!” Tom blurted. He froze. Sonic’s gaze slowly found its way up to his face.
“M-march?”
The color seemed to drain out of his fur.
“March like, three months into the year March?”
Maddie nodded, stroking the fur between his ears. He stared down at the floor.
“March…” he breathed, “How?”
Maddie crouched down a bit to meet his eyes. Just as she was about to speak, the microwave rang. Tom pulled out the chili and set it on the counter. He turned back to them and set his hands against the counter.
“Have you ever…” Maddie started, “Have you ever fallen asleep and woken up, and it feels warmer outside?” Sonic shook his head. She sighed.
“Is that bad?” he asked nervously. Maddie’s heart ached at the fear in his voice.
“No baby, it’s not bad, it’s just…” She stared at him for a minute, trying to find her words. “Sonic, did you know hedgehogs hibernate?”
“I saw that on Tv once, but I thought it was just an Earth hedgehog thing… Oh God… did I hibernate?” Sonic asked, covering his mouth with his paw. Maddie nodded slowly. His eyes flicked across her face. He quickly clung to her, tightly wrapping his arms around her neck. Her throat burned when she felt him shakily grasp at her shirt. Then she heard him sniffle.
“Oh no, it’s okay, don’t cry, it’s okay honey, you’ve never done that before, you never knew,” Maddie said softly. Tom rushed over and rubbed his fur to try and calm him. She gave him a sad look. He met her gaze, his own concerned. Sonic pressed his face into her shoulder and she felt a bit of wet sink into the fabric.
“I’m sorry,” he gasped, “You should have woken me, I wouldn’t have stayed here if I knew…” Tom shook his head.
“You said you’ve never hibernated before, right?” he said. Sonic looked up at him, his eyes watery, and nodded. “Your body must have really needed it then. You only slept so long because you felt safe here.” Sonic only whimpered in response. “Do you really think we’re gonna kick you out because you slept in our house?” He nodded.
Maddie pulled back and pressed her forehead to his. “Oh baby, no… never, We’ll never do that. We still love you so much, and we missed you.” Sonic blinked and drew his paw under his nose.
“You missed me?” he asked shakily.
“Of course we did,” Tom said.
Sonic chuffed happily. He laughed softly, pressing his cheek against Maddie’s again. “Thank you… so much…”
“It’s okay, we’re happy that you’re here. We’re so. Happy.”
Sonic wiped away more tears. “Gosh, now you’re making me tear up.” Tom huffed a laugh and rubbed behind his ear.
“About time we made you upset,” he joked. Sonic flicked his ears back for a second before recognizing his tone. He rubbed his eyes one more time.
“Can I eat now?” he asked. “You know, I haven’t eaten anything in two and a half months.”
“And who’s fault is that?” Maddie laughed, rubbing his forehead. Sonic smiled and let his tail swing. He leaned forward a bit and bumped his nose into her cheek. She picked him up and set him at the table. Sonic started purring when Tom carried over his bowl of chili. He immediately started scooping it up, not realizing how hungry he actually was. Tom and Maddie sat on either side of him.
Tom stroked his side while he ate, making him purr louder.
“This has been the best year of my entire life!” Sonic exclaimed with his mouth full, still staring down at his bowl. Tom and Maddie stared at each other. Did he really think that? Maddie kissed his temple, her eyes wet, which made Sonic pause for a minute. “Maddie? Are you okay?” She nodded, drawing her thumb across his cheek.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m-We’re happy you feel that way.” Tom nodded.
“This is definitely one of the best years of our life,” he told him. Sonic smiled at him. “Now how are we gonna get you to sleep tonight?”
“I’m never gonna sleep again!” Sonic cried.
“Oh really?” Maddie said. Sonic nodded vigorously.
“Well if that’s the case-” Tom plucked him out of his chair and hung him upside down over his shoulders. “Then I’ll just have to shake the sleep out of you!”
“That’s not how it works, Donut Lord!” Sonic yelled, “Let me go!”
“Are you tired yet?”
“NO!”
“Then I’m not letting you go!
Sonic giggled as Tom tromped up and down the hallway with him over his back. Maddie watched, amused, as Sonic complained.
“All the blood is rushing to my head! Everything’s turning red!” he yelled, giggling the whole time. “You’re trying to kill me!”
“Alright Tom, let him go,” Maddie said, stifling her own laughs.
“Fiiiiine,” he groaned, dropping Sonic on the couch. He plopped down next to the still-laughing hedgehog. He breathed heavily as his giggling subsided. Tom watched as he stared at the ceiling for a long time.
“I didn’t think I’d ever think that you shooting me with a tranquilizer gun would be one of the best things to ever happen to me.” Sonic met Tom’s eyes. “Thank you.”
Tom held his ungloved paw, rubbing his thumb into his paw pad. “You’re welcome bud,” he said softly. Sonic chuffed and purred in answer.