author's note: I felt a little apprehensive about uploading this chapter by itself but ultimately decided that it would be the best way to split up the mess that is the remaining story. Not to mention that wait! I'm so sorry! But please enjoy this mini-interlude before we continue to the end. I'm determined to see this through and it's all thanks to everyone's support! We're almost there~so again, thank you all for everything!
disclaimer: No profits being made.

chronologically speaking…
written by: kaz miller

chapter 12 – what i'm fighting for

Fast-forward to Soniti's present time, shortly before her teeny-tiny time-traveling mishap…

Sonic was about to exit the house with as much stealth as he could muster. Each creak he made in the floor caused him to grimace, but the sooner he slipped out, the better. He hoped this would be quick. He hated that he had to step out at such an ungodly hour, but it had to be done. It had to have been really serious if he received a distress call at this time.

Just as he was about to sigh with relief as he turned the knob, he heard sniffling behind him. Shoot.

"S…Soniti?" Sonic asked into the air, hoping he was just hearing things.

"Yes…" a tiny voice squeaked. He'd been caught.

"Awh…dang," the blue hedgehog exhaled and slapped his forehead. He had some explaining to do…

The little girl stood there, dragging her blanket in one hand while rubbing her eyes with the other. Sonic approached her at the top of the stairs (there was no way she was climbing down in the dark) and sat on the top step beside her.

"You should really be in bed, kid…" he whispered as he rested an elbow on his raised knee. "You're gonna have a hard time getting up tomorrow."

"Why do you have to go now?" Soniti asked, tears brimming. The reality of his situation was devastating, to say the least. He hated seeing anyone cry, especially his own child. Sonic leaned forward to catch a falling tear with his thumb. He knew this was going to be a tough conversation. But he couldn't complain much—Amy was always the one who had to handle her every time he disappeared. It wasn't fair...he knew.

"I've got to help people, Soniti...I can't leave them all alone," he answered honestly.

"But...but then it means you're leaving me and mommy all alone..." she said shakily, bringing her balled up fists to her fast-falling tears. The troubled father's heart sank what felt like a thousand feet when he saw the vulnerable expression on her face.

"I don't know why you keep doing it..."

She did know, of course but…the separation was getting really difficult to handle she acquiesced, this much she could admit. She was almost ashamed of herself for mentioning it. Dad was a hero. These things happened.

He felt like a bull in a china shop. How could he explain this without it sounding like the worst excuse in the world? Words began flowing before even he had realized it. "Well, you don't need a reason to help people, Soniti," he said as he lifted her head up. The tears she attempted to conceal were already running down her face. "But I'll always have a reason to protect you."

"Why's that?" she barely got out.

"Because," he said as he touched his forehead to hers, "I love you and your mom with all my heart." He pulled away and tapped her on the nose. "It's just the way things work around here. But I promise you'll see me again."

"Promise promise?" she said as she stuck out her pinkie. Her pouty face turned into that of an adoring smile.

"Absolutely," he said locking digits and touching thumbs, returning the gesture. He stood up, rubbed the top of her head and swiftly headed down the stairs. Soniti began to walk back toward her room, feeling much better about the situation. She made a mental note to stay strong despite the fact that she knew she'd miss him while he was gone. But it couldn't be helped, right? Perhaps if she were big enough one day...the little girl shuffled around in a haste before her dad left, causing him to turn around.

"Hey, daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you be proud of me if I became a great hero like you?"

Sonic was caught by surprise. He hadn't expected this sort of question from his cute, little chubster. He seemed to pause for a bit before he spoke again.

"I'd be pretty darn proud," he answered as he swallowed a painful lump that suddenly formed in his throat. His trademark smirk fought its way to the surface despite his conflicting emotions. "Perhaps...you'll be even better than me someday."

"I'll do my best, then!" she said flashing a grin and a tiny thumbs up. She scurried to her room happily, feeling like her world was just beginning.

Oh man. It was clear to him now. That was exactly what he was afraid of. It genuinely hadn't occurred to him until that very moment. She was becoming more like him every day. He didn't know if he could handle seeing her grow up anymore. His eyes drifted toward the door as she made her way to her bedroom. His legacy...exhaling every clouded thought with a shuddery sigh, he dashed out and shut the door behind him. He knew that he would eventually be at ease because he had a pair of someones to come home to, after all.

They were worth the world.

A couple of weeks passed since Amy or Soniti had seen or heard from Sonic last. The pink hedgehog was standing outside of their place, purple girl asleep on shoulder. She knew he'd be arriving soon—she heard the familiar sonic boom initiate about a couple of miles away. The dustclouds from his last one started settling, and he would brake right in front of their property in 3…2…

The speedster arrived right on the nose, braking prematurely when he saw his wife. His lovely, miffed wife…

"Uh oh," Sonic said to himself. He didn't break a sweat until the moment he met her narrowed eyes. Yikes.

"Sonic the Hedgehog."

"H-hey Amy! What's high in the sky?" he asked jovially, attempting to mask his obvious apprehension. Amy pursed her lips as he scratched the back of his head. "Not much, I'm guessin'…"

"How was I supposed to know you were going to be gone for weeks if Soniti didn't tell me, hm?" Amy chided, her free hand drumming fingers on her hip. She really never wanted to be that kind of wife, but dangit, he really worried her this time! Speeding off without a word like that.

"I-I did tell you, though!" Sonic stammered, knowing her annoyance was justified this time around. Her pretty lips pursed further. "You were just sleeping. Didn't have the heart to wake ya," he grinned.

"Sure..." Amy replied, gently bouncing Soniti. She couldn't help but smile back at him, but it quickly dwindled when memories of sleepless nights flooded back. "She misses you a whole bunch, y'know. And to be honest...I do, too."

"I'm sorry, Ames..." Sonic apologized sincerely, shrugging his shoulders. He walked up to her and leaned his head against her forehead. "You know how it is…"

"I do," the pink hedgehog swallowed, realizing just how much she missed his presence. This is what she signed up for, after all. She never wanted to deny his freedom in any way, but she knew that change would come with having a child...it was inevitable. She also knew deep down that he was much more capable than he was proving. He didn't have to lose any part of him, he just needed to add on! She knew he could do it.

"...But you're still the most awesome hedgehog in the world, aren't you?"

"Well," the blue speedster chuckled to himself, trying his darndest to downplay feeling flattered. That came out of nowhere! "You could say that."

"Awesome enough to watch Soniti for a couple of days all by yourself, right?"

"Of course I am!" he said, flicking his nose proudly before he shook his head in realization. "Wait, what? By myself?"

"Yeah!" Amy exclaimed, poking him in the chest. "You need to spend a little more time with her than you have been and you know it."

"Oh…yeah. It's been a little rough, hasn't it?" he soon recalled the last conversation he had with his child and suddenly felt pretty terrible. He wondered if she'd been counting the days…he really didn't expect to take so long! He definitely had to make it up to the both of them, now. "But where are you gonna go?"

"I hope this doesn't sound too selfish," Amy began slowly, "but I just need to get away for a little bit. Do a little soul-searching and all that. But it'll also be a perfect opportunity for you to spend time with the little one."

"Can't argue with that. You haven't been able to take a break…" Sonic paused as he recalled the last time Amy really had a chance to get away. "…since Soniti was born," he realized with a nonplussed expression. "Oh…geez."

"A mother's work is never done!" the pink hedgehog smiled broadly; the pleasure she took in the fact radiated on her cheeks. "But if the world needs saving, I'll take care of it," she declared. "Don't you worry. It'll only be two days."

"All right, Amy. You can count on me! It'll be no problem."

"Really now?" Amy said as the little girl stirred. The tiny hedgehog lifted her head and turned around in her mother's arms. Her eyes lit up when she realized who stood before her.

"Daddy!" she squealed with delight as she sprung from Amy's arms to his. He laughed as she squeezed his neck. "Finally!"

"Absolutely! Besides, Soniti's incredibly self-sufficient," he praised, pulling away to look at her. "Aren't ya?"

"Yes, I can be very self-efficient," she somewhat repeated, having no clue what he was talking about. Amy giggled.

"Look at that. Four syllable perfection. We'll be fine," Sonic grinned. Amy nodded.

"All right, Sonic. I'll be packing tonight to leave first thing tomorrow, then."

"Wh-what?" Sonic exclaimed. "So soon?"

"You can be 'self-efficient,' right? No worries."

Amy finished packing the last of her bags. Sonic and Soniti would finally be able to have some sort of quality time. They really needed it. It was emotionally tolling for the both of them dealing with Sonic's frequent absences, and what better way to remedy it than this? She could have easily asked Vanilla to watch her, but Sonic needed to spend time with his daughter this time. Soniti had been telling her mother all of the wonderful stories she envisioned her father doing out there. The general, overactive imagination of a four-year-old did come quite close to what he actually set out to do in his crazy lifetime! But these crazy stories had been becoming more and more frequent...it would probably be better hearing from the blue blur himself.

Soniti adored her father, it was true—but it made it all that much easier for him to unintentionally hurt her feelings. Growing up as the child of a world-renowned hero was going to be a challenge in itself, and that's what Amy was most afraid of right now.

Little did Amy know was that they were always on his mind no matter what he did, no matter where he was. He took a little extra caution to not die out there—he was a little less reckless and figured that had to count for something. But Amy was right…it was getting a little difficult for Soniti to handle, and he had to balance it somehow. Perhaps this was just what the doctor ordered. But what would he do? If she behaved, he could take her out for ice-cream, yeah?

Sonic opened one eye from their bed, surprised at her mass amount of luggage.

"And you say you're going to be gone for just two days?" he asked with positive uncertainty. Amy placed a hand on her hip.

"Don't make fun of me, mister," she said through half-lidded eyes. "We'll see just how well you take care of Soniti all-by-your-self!" she taunted.

"I'm not gonna break a sweat!" Sonic shrugged casually. "She's a good kid."

"But you know how she gets..." Amy smirked.

Before Sonic could ask what she possibly meant by that, a young purple hedgehog donned in pastel-print onesies entered her parents' bedroom, rubbing one sleepy eye. The amount of sleeping she did now had to be making up for her first few months of life.

"You guys are talkin' an awful lot..." she mumbled.

"I'm sorry, baby!" Amy smiled nervously, swiftly walking over to pick up her child. She nuzzled her. "We're keeping you up, huh?"

"Yes indeed," Soniti replied with absolute frankness. Sonic laughed out loud.

"Sorry, kiddo," he winked apologetically. "It's just that your mom thinks I can't take you on all by myself."

"Don't give him too much of a hard time, you hear?" Amy whispered into Soniti's ear, winking. She giggled.

"I heard that!"

Amy walked over to the bed Sonic lay on with Soniti in her arms.

"The truth is...I'm not ready to be separated from mommy for that long," Soniti said quietly. "We're all finally together again and now you've gotta go..." Sonic and Amy exchanged uneasy looks. They really hated disappointing the girl.

"I know...and I'm so sorry, sweetie. But I promise I'll be back soon," Amy said stroking her head. "This is for the best! And your dad isn't going anywhere as far as I'm concerned." She shot a firm glance at him as he raised his hands defensively. "It'll just be a couple of days."

Sonic saw the look on Soniti's face that clearly read, "I've heard that one before." He immediately felt a pang of guilt and realized just how much making up he was going to have to do...

"Then can I spend the night with you? I promise I won't kick dad in the face again," she grinned broadly. Sonic recoiled at the painful memory.

Amy couldn't deny that smile. "Oh, fine..."

"Yay!" Soniti hopped down and ran toward the bathroom. "I'll be just a minute!"

The blue hedgehog made sure the child was out of earshot before he leaned in.

"So...I guess that means no happy-time for us tonight, huh?" Sonic whispered to his spouse, making her stifle a loud giggle and hit his shoulder.

"Sorry, Sonic!" she whispered back playfully.

"Oh well. You owe me when you come back—if you know what I mean."

"We'll see about that," she smirked.

Soniti rushed back in and jumped into the air, cannonballing between the two of them. The blue hedgehog jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding getting hit square in the stomach.

"I'm baaaack!" she squealed.

"So I've noticed!" Sonic exclaimed as Amy just laughed. The purple hedgehog smiled at her parents and wriggled underneath the sheets. Within seconds of disappearing between the two of them, she promptly started snoring away. How the heck did she always fall asleep so quickly? Amy reached over her and squeezed Sonic's hand. He looked at her. She trusted him.

"Good night, Sonic."

"Good night, Ames..."