Chapter 20 I’m Sorry
*Time for another interesting hedgehog fact. Did you know they can actually sound like screaming/crying babies if in extreme distress? Yeah, I didn't know either, but it works perfectly for this fic, so keep that in mind for this chapter.
Well, guys, we are officially two-thirds of the way finished with this fic. Can you believe it?! It's almost over, but before that, we have a lot of angst, trepidation, baby time, and secrets to be revealed before it's all over. We are not done with the tears yet!*

He wept and wept; it was like someone had broken opened the dam to the damn Niagra falls; Sonic didn't think he had ever cried this much in his entire life. If the hedgehog put some thought to it, he would have concluded that the majority of his tears had been shed here at Eggman's, but then again, the hedgie had been through a lot since his arrival. From tantrums, and first-time diaper changes, to now this. No one had hurt him as severely as Eggman had.
Part of Sonic felt like he should have been angry, furious, blowing his top off like a long-dormant volcano, and he had a few days before, not anymore. He should have been sad; that's why he was crying, right? Cause he was sad that Eggman had been neglecting him? Made him feel abandoned? That was certainly a part of why he was crying, but mostly, it was because he was in pain.
Eggman had broken Sonic's heart.
Promises of undivided attention, acceptance, care, and love had gone unfulfilled. The approval to be free and himself forgotten like he had been an old toy tossed into the hidden depths of a teenager's closet left to collect dust.
The doctor had made Sonic look like a fool for believing that he could change. Sure, Eggman had changed his occupation from villainy to medical inventor, but that didn't mean his personality had changed, had it? He was still the same lying; manipulating, conniving evil dictator Sonic had known all his life, right?
Eggman wasn't a kind, loving, caring man who did his best to take care of all he considered his own, created or not. He wasn't a man with a large tender heart, like that of a mother that maybe cared too much and made mistakes out of love...right?
Sonic wasn't sure; he wasn't sure of anything anymore. All the negative thoughts he had pushed away were coming to the forefront, with all maliciousness bombarding his mind.
I'm an idiot for believing him. Why didn't I listen to my friends? They were right. The doc was right; I'm nothing but a nuisance and a pest. He's a stupid liar who only cares about himself! I hate him for tricking me and making me like this! I wish I had never signed that stupid contract, then none of this would have happened! I just wanna run away forever, leave this place and everyone all behind. They'd be so much better without me! Stupid sTuPiD! STUPID! Why...why did he have to be so mean to me? Why did he have to yell? I should've left him alone like he asked. I should have never gone down to the lab and bugged him.
Eggman seamlessly moved from the floor to the rocking chair, slowly rocking and soothingly shushing the crying blue baby curled up in his arms.
His lab coat was wet with tears, but he didn't care; Sonic's behavior worried him more. The hedgehog actually sounded like an infant wailing as he shook like a leaf, holding the doctor's jacket with an iron grip, at times losing his breath and hyperventilating. Eggman continued to rock and guided the blue blur's breathing, trying to calm the distressed hedgehog. He whispered instructions on breathing and did the exercise himself to encourage Sonic to do the same.
The man wasn't sure that his efforts did much good, but it was all he could think of to do. He felt helpless to see Sonic in such a broken state, and he felt even worse for having driven his hedgie to this point. Seeing the blue blur so vulnerable, hurt, and broken by his hand, Eggman could hardly believe that at one point in his life, this had been his goal. His previous attitude sickened him because seeing Sonic in such a state before his eyes was the worst thing he could imagine.
Two hours later, Sonic had once again cried himself to sleep, this time safely cradled in the doctor's arms. They stayed there, holding each other as Sonic slept, the blue ball breathing softly with his head cuddled against Eggman's chest. The human gazed upon the small pained face, still red and tear-stained; he kissed Sonic's forehead, rocking back and forth, back and forth almost in a trance. He followed the blue blur's example and fell into an exhausted asleep a few minutes later.
A sleepy groan woke him much later; the doctor blinked the sleep away from his eyes, and he looked down to see Sonic stretching his cramped muscles just waking up himself. "Hey, feeling better now?" He softly asked, caressing the peach and blue face; Sonic nodded with a pout, rubbing his eyes childishly.
Eggman nods and adjusts his hold to get more comfortable, "Can you tell me now what had you so upset before?" The hedgehog takes in a shaky breath then blows it out, wondering if he should tell?
What would be the point? Eggman didn't care, did he? Then again, why did he act so concerned now? Was the doctor faking it? Before, the hedgehog had been able to read the doctor clearly, but now Sonic couldn't tell what was up or down anymore.
Didn't he say earlier he had been looking for me? And then promised that he wouldn't yell at me...which...he hasn't. Eggman hasn't been blaming me for what happened. Even before I started crying again like a baby. Man, I bet I look like a mess right now. The hedgehog looked up at the human as his face was caressed, trying to decide what to do. He looks so...worried about me and...sorry? Why would he be sorry? I'm the one who messed up. I guess...I don't have anything thing more to lose, so... should I at least give it a try?
"Do you...I'm...I'm sorry I messed up your experiment. I shouldn't have been playing in the lab. I just keep getting in your way. You were right all along." Sonic hesitantly mumbled, not able to look at the doctor in the eyes, his tone flat and dull, "I'm nothing but a trouble maker and a pest. I promise I'll stay out of your way and won't bother you anymore, and when the six months are up, I'll get outta your hair completely." Eggman's countenance became panicked, "What-wha...what are you saying? You're not a pest! Why are you saying that?!"
"Cause it's true. Eggy-er, I mean...Eggman, " he corrected himself from the affectionate term, thinking it wasn't appropriate and that Eggman probably didn't enjoy being called that. "I've been nothing but a thorn in your side since we meet. I get it. You wanted me to help you turn around and be good without having to go to jail, and you tried to help me in return, but I became too much. Needy, clingy, and high maintenance...you couldn't handle it. I get it. You don't need to stress about it anymore. I can take care of myself."
"Are you-are you saying that I think of you as a burden?" Eggman breathlessly asks; Sonic twidles his thumbs. "Well yeah...don't you?"
"Absolutely not!" the doctor almost yells, horrified that his baby had come to that conclusion, "What made you think that?!" Sonic meekly looked up at the doc then back at the floor. In that brief look, Eggman caught the spark that had been in those gem-like eyes he loved had dimmed greatly; they lacked their emerald green luster. He had done that; he had made that spark dim, his mind told him as his mustache wilted, "Oh...oh dear...I'm...I'm so sorry, Sonic. I-I never meant to-"
"It's ok, you don't have to pretend anymore," Sonic's head fell to his chest. He had spoken that with so much defeat in his voice that it silenced the doctor. Who was at a loss for words; what could he say to the brokenhearted hedgehog? Eggman really had screwed up this time; Sonic was convinced that the doctor had faked caring for him this whole time and thought he was worthless.
No!
He was not going to let the blue blur think such a despicable thought! He had caused this, and he was going to fix it, no matter how long it took and with whatever means! He was going to reignite that spark.
Gently Eggman raises Sonic's head to look up at him; with a strong, soft voice, he says, "Sonic, look at me." the blue blur refuses at first, not wanting to in fear of what he would see, but slowly he obeys and moves his gaze from his hands to the doctor's face. His eyes widen minutely, seeing remorse and warm affection burn behind those glasses, "You are NOT a burden! Everything I did, everything I said about wanting you here with me...all of that was true. Not once did I lie to you about how I felt. I mean this with all my heart when I say I WANT you here with me."
"But...but... I messed up. I bugged you while you were working and got clingy. Why did you-?" Sonic whimpers, "It's true that...at times you do need more attention, but after all you've been through Sonic, I EXPECT that. I DON'T mind, and you are not high maintenance; you're actually very easy to please. As for what happened down in the lab doesn't matter. It's all easily replaceable. I don't know if you heard me before, but the reason I've been working so hard was...I was trying to prove to you that I could do more than build destructive robots. That I could use my talents to benefit society instead of hurting it, but in my enthusiasm, I...hurt you. I made you think I had lost interest in you, and for that, I am eternally sorry Sonic." the human holds the hedgehog close to his beating heart.
Sonic felt his face grow hot again, and tears shined in his eyes. He tried to blink them away; he was tired of crying so much and being so emotional. He wasn't used to expressing anything other than happiness or being bored, it felt out of place for him to be so...sad, but the tears wouldn't go away. His breathing became more labored as he felt his chest tighten at Eggman's words, making it hard to swallow the lump clogging his throat. He whimpered softly, trying to hide his face in the doctor's coat.
"I'm so sorry for making you feel like I didn't care about you anymore. You are not something I could ever just throw away and forget or replace. Never! I love you, Sonic, so soooo much! Believe me; if I could, I would go back in time and fix all of the mistakes I made." the doctor repeatedly kisses the blue blur's forehead, "You don't have to forgive me or stay any longer if you don't want to, but please let me try to make it up to you baby. I love you so much." tears pour out of Sonic's eyes again, and he cries out on Eggman's chest, unable to hold it in any longer.
Sonic had at one point suspected Eggman had grown some affection for the blue blur, but it was so much more than that! The doctor loved him! For the first time, Eggman said he loved him! Said he was irreplaceable! That he wasn't a burden and would never think of throwing the hedgehog away because he loved him so much!
Even though Sonic knew Tails, his little brother loved and looked up to him, the fox never said it aloud. He never said anything about how he thought of the blue hero throughout all their years together. Sure, Tails showed his love through his actions. Sonic was guilty of doing the same and not vocalizing his feelings himself, and he didn't realize how satisfying it was to hear those 3 words. Eggman, his worst enemy, had revealed to him how much power those words contained.
The doctor knew he had screwed up badly and wanted to fix his mistake; it didn't even matter if Sonic forgave him so long as the hedgehog knew that Eggman loved him dearly. All of this touched the blue devil's swelling heart; he wanted to forgive Eggman, but...something was holding him back.
"I wan-want to Eggy. But-hiccup sniff-I-I'm scared." Sonic said with his bottom lip quivering; he looked, sounded, and acted so much like a scared little kid in Eggman's maternal view.
"Of what?" The doctor gently asks, "That you'll leave me, and I-I-I'll be alone again." Sonic cries, hiccupping and shaking again in Eggman's chest.
He wanted to believe the doctor he really did, but the hedgehog was terrified. After being burned so many times, could he trust that Eggman would keep to his word that he wouldn't hurt the blue devil like this again?
"How do I know that you'll keep your p-pro-promise?"
Eggman leans back and thoughtfully gazes up, rocking in the chair and patting Sonic's diapered bottom for a few minutes as he puts together his answer. The hedgie hiccupping and sniffing as he listens to the doctor's heartbeat, letting the comforting sound help calm him down.
"Well...you don't." Eggman finally spoke, "However, what do you know?" The blue baby, tears still slowly falling, looked up at him with his face twisted in confusion; the doctor continued. "I promised to take care of you, right? Feed you, clothe you, keep a roof over your head?" Sonic nodded at him slowly; Eggman gently wiped a few tears away with his hand. "Ok, then I promised that you could be a baby whenever you wanted, and I wouldn't make fun of you, right?" Sonic nodded again, more readily. "And I also promised I would try my best to be good and follow the stipulations of the contract, yes?" the blue devil nodded, instantly agreeing, "So you have proof so far that all of my promises up to this point I've kept. Is there any reason to doubt that I won't carry out this new promise? After all, since the little...accident in the lab, I haven't kicked you out or threatened to hurt or punish you have I?"
"No..." Sonic said quietly, a twinkle of hope beginning to shine in his eyes; Eggman gazed down at him, radiating tenderness and compassion. "Then you have no reason to worry that I will leave you now. I could never ever leave my precious little baby all alone. You mean the world to me Sonic, I will always love you as if you were my own." with those last few reassuring words, Sonic felt his heart swell to the point it exploded with love.
For the millionth time that day, Sonic broke down crying, but it was out of happiness for once. Eggman did want him! The man had proved that he would keep his word, and the blue devil trusted him with all his heart. Sure he had made a mistake or two but finally! Someone wanted to take care of him! Eggman loved him! And Sonic realized he loved Eggman too.
As the doctor cradled him in his arms, Sonic knew he had finally found the home he had been searching for for so long. And wouldn't you know it?! It was with his ex-enemy! Then and there, the blue blur decided when the sixth month was up, he was going to stay with Eggman, who would be his permanent guardian. He had found his forever home.
"Can-can I still call you...Eggy?" abruptly, Sonic meekly asks, "Of course! So long as I can still call you my little baby hedgie?" the hedgehog lets out a wet giggle and blushes, nodding his head.
He liked it when the doctor called him cute babyish pet names; it made his insides all warm and fuzzy.
"Is that a smile I see?" Eggman playfully gasps, "Does that me I'm forgiven?" A smile wobbles on his muzzle as the last of his tears falls, and Sonic nods, "Thank you, baby." the doctor whispers. The blue blur closes his heavy eyes and presses his face closer to the doctor's chest, listening to that slow, steady heartbeat again and smelling the mixed scent of motor oil and sandalwood that he had grown to associate with comfort and security. He deeply breathes it in, the tension in his body unwinding as he nuzzled Eggman, who gently really rocks in the chair. The soothing motion calming Sonic down and making him feel sleepy, a wave of emotional exhaustion rendering his muscles weak.
A low growl interrupted the peace and quiet, coming from the blue devil's tan tummy, "Hungry?" Eggman asked. Sonic slowly nodded, too tired to think about eating, but his body disagreed; the hedgehog hadn't a clue as to what time it was. He was sure his last meal had been hours ago, "Would you like some milk?" Eggman offered, "You're probably dehydrated from all of that crying, and it will help fill your tummy up as well."
A filling bottle of milk sounded perfect. "Want...baba," Sonic confirmed sleepily; the doctor nodded and sent a quick message for a bottle to be delivered. A hand full of minutes later, a drone entered with a warm bottle of creamy oat milk, his favorite. Noting that the hedgie was already half asleep, taking it upon himself, the doctor feeds the bottle to the blue baby in his arms.
Sonic latches on to the nipple, the creamy goodness shortly fills his belly, and the warmth growing inside made it impossible for him to open his eyes again. The hedgie feels himself fully falling into his little space finally after waiting for so long, and it felt wonderful because his caregiver is here! Secure in Eggy's warm arms, blushing, he curls up around the bottle, soaking in the atmosphere as he suckled.
It's been a while since my last diaper change, and I still haven't gone yet; they say milk makes you pee more. Will I wet in my sleep?
He barely shrugged at the passing thought, what did it matter? If he did, Eggy would change him. Besides, it's what babies do, and that's all he was right now, Eggman's baby.
Finishing the bottle, he burps, then whispers, "I-yawn-wove you...Eggy." Eggman thickly swallows away his tears of relief, over the moon with joy hearing his love was reciprocated. He kisses the blue blur's forehead one more time, nuzzled his cheek, and whispers in his ear, "I love you too, my sweet baby. Go to sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up...I promise."
"M'kay..." Sonic softly squeaks with a small smile and warm belly before he peacefully falls into a deep sleep.

*A few days later*
Sonic lightly bounces in his brightly colored walker in the lounge, sucking on his paci watching The Story Bots.
It was one of a handful of programs he and Eggman enjoyed watching when he was in his little space cause it was funny and educational. Granted, Sonic knew quite a bit about most of the subjects they focused on, but sometimes he did learn something new.
Like a new joke, he had so much new material he couldn't wait to try them all out on Tails!
The hedgie's diaper crinkles as he hops up and down; Metal sitting straight on the couch, watches the program taking notes on how the show makes learning appealing to young minds, and researches for other similar toddler shows his little brother might enjoy.
Sonic's ear twitched, picking up the echo of boot heels clicking on the floor nearby. He moved his eyes from the show to the door and smiled cutely behind the pacifier, and bounced more energetically, seeing Eggman walk in with a tray of snacks and drinks. The doctor smiled back, seeing how happy his blue baby was to see him. "Hey there, my little hedgie, are you happy to see me?!" He baby talked to the blue blur, who nodded his head and made grabby hands, signaling he wished to be held. "Just one second..."
The doctor puts down the tray and goes to pick up his baby. Sonic purs, tail wagging as he hugs Eggman and clicking with happiness, the doctor lovingly ruffles his head.
Metal somehow beamed at the scene even without a mouth, happy that his master and little brother had patched things up with each other. In fact, Metal would have speculated that their bond had grown stronger since reconciling about the lab accident a while ago. He leaned over to grab a can of motor oil from the tray and sipped quietly. Happy to have his family come together again.
Sitting down with Sonic in his lap, Eggman grabs the bowl of popcorn and pops a few kernels in his mouth; the blue devil looks at the bowl, then Eggman. He raises to tap the doctor's big nose lightly, took out his paci, and points to his open mouth. "Oh, would you like a some?" The doctor politely asks; Sonic silently nodded, "Here you are, catch!" Eggman chuckles, tossing a few. The hedgehog opens his mouth wide and skillfully catches each one, munching on the salty, buttery goodness making soft squeaky noises that indicated a content hedgie. Swallowing, feeling parched from the salty snack, he asks the doctor in his high-pitched childish voice, "Baba?"
"Right here." Eggman happily obliged, picking up the baby bottle on the tray filled with juice and handing it to his baby hedgie. Sonic readily takes it and drinks as he scoots back until his back makes contact with Eggman's soft pillow-like stomach. Settling himself comfortably in his caregiver's lap, he purrs once again as Eggman begins to rub his belly.
Everything was perfectly cozy. Sonic in his diaper and baby chicken printed footy pajamas, sitting on Eggy's lap with a refreshing bottle, Metal sitting right beside them relaxed and at ease, while they all watched tv in the late evening. Yeah, this is great! Sonic thought.
Life couldn't be better, in the hedgehog's opinion. It was so much better now, though Eggman still worked on his big project.
After Sonic's meltdown, the doctor realized he had his priorities in the wrong order and quickly made some adjustments. Instead of working nonstop, the doctor consulted with his team and delegated assignments and responsibilities, relieving him of unnecessary stress. With the load lightened from his shoulders, working on a much more reasonable schedule, Eggman had lots of free time again to spend with his badnicks and baby.
Despite the traumatic separation, something good had come out of it. Before the adjustment during Eggman's previous absence, Metal and Sonic had bonded, and now they were as close as brothers could be. Don't get the blue blur wrong; Tails was still his number one little bro; it's was just now. Sonic had a number one big bro too!
Everyone reconciled, and things were going smooth as silk. Sonic had told Eggman a few days after his meltdown that he had decided he wanted to stay with the doctor after the 6-month trial was up. The human had jumped for joy, thrilled to hear this news, and had the biggest smile on his face that didn't leave for days. Sonic had never seen the doctor smile so much in his life; he thought for a while that it was stuck there permanently.
Now in just a few short weeks, the 6-month time limit would be up, and Eggman could officially adopt Sonic! They couldn't wait! The doctor was already planning a big party to celebrate the adoption and the world peace they had achieved through coming together. Many invitations were going to be sent out to all of Sonic's friends, all the badnicks, some important world leaders, even Silver and Blaze were invited to come!
Taxpayers and government officials were going to save a lot of military money, not having to spend it on protecting the world from the ex-villain's attacks and rebuilding areas affected by the devastation from the doctor and Sonic's battles.
The hedgehog smirked in amusement, fondly thinking of what the future would hold for him after. As if me and Shadow didn't look enough like we were related, I'll be a Robotnik just like him! Hehe, Sonic Robotnik...doesn't sound too bad kinda rhymes. His thoughts of the future were interrupted when a feeling in his bladder indicated that it needed to be relieved.
Sonic acknowledges its request and relaxes, wetting in his diaper with a goofy grin feeling the warmth grow on the front, the yellow mark hidden underneath his baby chicken footed pajamas. He puts his paci back in and giggles; he always felt a little naughty for going in his diaper, but he wasn't a bad hedgie. Good hedgie's always go potty in their diapers; that's what Eggy said from the beginning.
The words made him smile, triggering a memory of his first few weeks at the base. Sonic thought back to when he first woke up in a diaper, remembering how hard he had fought the doctor about wearing the thing. How embarrassed he was and how mortified and defective he felt when Eggman finally broke him down and made him use it. He had come so far since then.
Pffft, going in a diaper is a breeze now!
He remembered how after that, he began to uncover and lean more toward his little inclinations, the discovery, realization, and acceptance of him being a Little, and how Eggman had metaphorically held his hand like a parent teaching their baby how to walk through every step of the way.
The blue blur's heart fluttered at the comparison, and his cheeks turned pink. Eggman has treated me like his baby this whole time, and soon...it'll be official! Sonic curls up, hugging his knees as a small smile appeared on his face feeling warm and fuzzy all over.
The doctor notices the hedgehog shift and looks down, seeing Sonic hugging himself, "Hey, you ok?" he softly asks and rubs the hedgehog's back, thinking that something was wrong. "Hm? Oh, no, just...thinking..." the blue blur softly speaks, waving off the concern.
"About what?" the hedgehog fidgets at the question face and ears turning red, yet he still smiled shyly, "About how soon...I'll officially be...your baby." Eggman's worry turns into amusement; his heart lit a fire at the mention that Sonic would his soon!
That day would be one he would hold dear for the rest of his life he knew in his heart and mind. Indeed this contract had been the best idea he had ever had; it has brought him so much joy, satisfaction, and not to mention the cutest little hedgie in existence!
Before, his only hopes out of this situation had been to draw closer to the blue blur and to get out of jail time. He could never have imagined that all this would have happened! If someone had told him over a year ago that he would be adopting Sonic, caring for the blue devil as if the hedgehog were a baby, and that the doctor would quit being a villain, well...he probably would have sent a hord of badnicks on them muttering about how such nonsense was impossible.
The impossible turned out to be possible.
He chuckles at how shy and embarrassed Sonic acts, referring to how he was his baby. The doctor bops the blue devil's nose, making him go cross-eyed, "You always were. I just didn't realize that before."
Sonic giggles and blinks, uncrossing his eyes, "Before what?" he asks curiously; Eggman bends down and whispers, "Before I realized how much of a cutie you were!" pulling the blue blur close, the doctor kisses all over Sonic's face making him laugh. The doctor covers Sonic's squirming fuzzy face with kisses until every inch was covered, and he puts the hedgehog back in his lap who's lighthearted giggles faded away with a large yawn.
Sonic rubbed his eyes and moaned, "Eggy...me wanna go night-night." the doctor checked his watch, "It's a bit early, but we do have our interviews tomorrow, so I guess it's probably best we go to bed anyway." the blue blur agreed with a nod as he was picked up. "Night night Metal." He yawns, head hanging over Eggman's shoulder and waving the badnick goodnight, "Goodnight, little brother. Sleep well—Goodnight, Master." Metal bows, Eggman gives his good night's and carries his baby to the nursery.
Sonic felt his stomach rumble as he was carried. Scrunching up his face, he quietly tooted and pooped in his diaper without a second thought, sighing in relief when he finished. Diapers really are the best. I can just go whenever I need, don't have to worry about finding a bathroom or nothing. He thinks in glee. Being little is the best!
Eggman's nose twitched at the sudden funky smell; he felt the hedgie's bottom and promptly knew what had happened. "Whew, we! What is that smell? Where is it coming from?" The doctor asked, acting mystified by the sudden sticky odor. Sonic tiredly giggled as a big nose ruffled his fur, sniffing him, "Why-sniff sniff-it seems to be coming from you! Sniff-sniff-whew we! You are a stinky baby! Yes, you are! Are you my little stinky baby boy?" Eggman continued to tease, nuzzling, the giggling blue blur.
Laying Sonic on the changing table, Eggman gets his supplies setting them down to the side; the blue blur's giggles quiet down again as he gets increasingly tired. Eggman hums a familiar lullaby as he works, striping Sonic's legs out of the PJs and untaping the swollen diaper. The blue devil lazily smiling at the melody rubs his eyes again and yawns. He shivers, pulling his arms in, feeling a cold wipe on his butt, and curls in slightly to keep his upper body warm while his exposed bottom was cold.
It didn't stay that way for long. A scent of baby powder filled the room shortly; the white substance dusted on his rear before a new diaper was tapped secure and his feet returned into his pajamas. He sighed through his nose in bliss, still sucking on his paci and listening to the lullaby; his eyes grew heavier and heavier.
The change done, Eggman smiled warmly at his very sleepy baby. Admittedly the diaper changes could be unpleasant, but each time he looked at that fuzzy blue face that beamed back at him with thanks, admiration, and love. Well...nothing could beat that. It came with the territory of having a cute baby hedgehog, or at least an almost fully grown one acting like a baby. The doctor wouldn't have it any other way; Sonic was so adorable in his puffy diapers, little baby printed pajamas, sucking on his pacifier with sleepy eyes. It made his heart melt and made him want to coo and aww.
Which he did.
"Tsk awww. Come on, baby, time for bed." Eggman picks up Sonic, holding him in the same manner as he had after the hedgie's first diaper change. He lays the blue ball into the crib, pulling the blanket up to his chin, and sets his favorite stuffed toy next to him. The doctor pets his head fur and kisses him goodnight receiving a sleepy mumble; he turns back, flicks the lights off, and leaves his baby to rest.

++
Sonic dreams of being in his nursery. He was wearing his baby gear as usual when in his little space, whether awake or asleep. In a big puffy diaper printed with teddy bears, his favorite paci in his mouth, a shirt that said "I wuv Mommy," and soft gloves with baby blue socks.
He was happily playing in his room on a rocking horse, pretending to be a cowboy with his trusty partner Ivo (who was wearing a ten-gallon hat). Sonic made banging noises pretending to shoot off a gun to scare some no-good cattle stealers, "Yeeehaw! Faster! Come on, Ivo; we can't let them varmints get away. Yeehaw! Hahaha!" he giggled, riding the horse.
The hedgie gets too excited and rocks the toy to its limits causing it to tilt too far forwards; Sonic falls off, flipping over and landing on his stomach. He grunts, making contact with the floor but pays no mind to the fall since it didn't hurt, as something else caught his attention. "Mmmm, thirsty." He licks his lips, and a bottle appears in his hands. Not questioning it, Sonic places it in his mouth and sucks on the milk, tail wagging in delight.
The blue blur is caught off guard when he feels his quills go up, sensing something threatening in the air. The blue devil's tail's wagging slows to a stop; he pauses his drinking and twitches his ears, listening.
He couldn't hear anything unusual in fact, it was oddly quiet, but somehow, he knew someone was nearby. A chill ran up his spine, making the fur on his neck stand up; his stomach felt hollow, dread taking away the safe and joyful air away which had been present only seconds ago. The quiet nursery felt very ominous. Uneasily, Sonic turned his head to the door; someone or something horrifying was on their other side.
Maybe Eggy? He wondered, tilting his head curiously, the bottle still in his mouth. Hoping that the creepy vibes he was getting were wrong and that his loving guardian was on the other side. Cause right now, he felt nervous, scared, and wanted the only person that could make him feel safe here with him.
Sonic watched, unable to move as the door slowly opened; a cloud of mist blocked his view of the person, only revealing a very familiar silhouette. He narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out who this mysterious figure was. The mist gradually dissipated as the person stepped forward to his shock, revealing a small yellow fox.
"Tails?!"