Hello! Thank you for joining me for Cozy Winter Wonders! It's been a long time coming for this project, so I hope you enjoy!

I do not own Sonic or any of its properties. All rights go to their respective owners.

Deep within one of the many vast mountain ranges of Mobius a cool breeze blew through the dense evergreen forest that blanketed the landscape. Thick sheets of snow masked the trees and left the ground covered as more came down. Wildlife had long taken shelter and the only resident of the timberland sat in his cottage. Warm light cast out into the dark as a two-tailed fox stoked the fire.

Tails plopped down into his chair without hesitation, he had been cutting down lumber for the better part of the day until the blizzard began to set in. Several piles of wood lay outside of his home waiting to be used.

It had been a month and a half since Tails left from Knothole for his retreat and he couldn't be happier. He loved his family and friends to death, but it was nice to take a break from it all and allow some time for him. The fox could work on his many projects without interruption and go about his day as he pleased.

Waves of smoke and flame leapt up the chimney as the new wood began to crackle. The once cold room was now beginning to heat up quite nicely, he hadn't bothered with a fire during the day to save some fuel. He glanced out the window to see how the storm was progressing, even since he had made it inside it had become more intense. Snow had already piled around his doorstep and began to build up on the windowsills. Since there wasn't anything he could do about it at present he decided to kick his heels up and stretch out.

He had let his friends know he was leaving, but didn't really say when he would get back. Tails knew no one would come looking for him unless it was an emergency so he could take as much time as he pleased to get tasks done. Sonic and Sally had a kingdom to take care of and everyone else had their responsibilities too. Even since the Eggman Empire had toppled the Freedom Fighters were still busy with other duties.

Everything about his little retreat was great save one thing. It would get lonely sometimes up on the mountain. It wasn't much of a burden since he occupied himself with things to do throughout the day, it was whenever it was quiet that he would feel this emptiness. I'll head back in a couple of weeks, I should enjoy the time I have here.

He would think a lot when the night crept in, past memories flooding back to him, it had all seemed like a blur at the time. They had gone through so much, he had gone through so much. It wasn't a common occurrence for a twelve year old to experience a war. Even so, many of the memories were filled with joy and valor, the founding of New Mobotropolis and the eventual fall of Robotropolis, but some would haunt him. They had lost many during the fighting and he was shown and felt things kids his age probably wouldn't dream about.

He was surprised by how many moments he had repressed, he barely had time to breath back in those days while fighting a losing battle. He shook his head in order to clear the thoughts a bit and gazed into the kindling flames, the sound of the fire relaxing him.

Tails scooted closer to the fire and dropped another couple of small branches into it. He had let it die down over the past hour as he lay in thought, the flames were only creeping over the coals before he realized he almost let it go out. The heat quickly claimed the new material and it flickered back to life.

He lay close by the hearth and watch the light dance across the ceiling, the sound of the fire lulling him. There was already two inches of snow on the windowsills and the cold had crept in on the rest of the house. The sound of the wind and creaking of the woodwork added to the atmosphere. It wasn't long before the fox had fallen asleep on the floor.

It was still in the dead of night when something woke him. The fire had been reduced to nothing but coals and the blizzard was so thick it was hard to see outside anymore. His ears perked up in search of the sound, it was faint but somehow managed to stir him.

A dull thud came from the door.

He waited, curious if it was only imagination.

A second one, louder this time, came from the door.

His hands reached for a nearby wrench. Who could it be? Nervousness crawled up from his feet to his stomach.

A third one, definitive and somehow weak, came from the door.

He walked towards the threshold, he couldn't check to see who it was since it was the dead of night. Wrench in hand he opened the door and looked out on his porch.

The shadow of a Mobian had collapsed into the snow, its hand still reaching for the door.

"Oh no!" Tails cursed himself, he had forced this person to stay outside in the middle of nowhere during a blizzard.

He quickly stepped out and knelt down, wrapping his arms around the rather frail figure. It was in fact a she and she was deathly cold.

Tails used his namesake to close the door as he bounded to the fire with the girl in arm. He carefully put her down by the hearth and lit the fire once more. Grabbing some close by blankets he wrapped her up and put a pillow under her head. She was shivering and her breath was cold.

How did she get here? The genius found it hard to believe that someone was out here just by chance, they were miles away from the nearest settling. He gazed down at her from the couch and studied her condition. It had only been a few minutes and she was already sound asleep, the shivering had stopped and she seemed comfortable.

Judging by the ears and tail he recognized this Mobian as a fox. Not that it helps solve where she came from. The two-tailed tinkerer sighed.

The unexpected guest had crimson colored fir and brown colored hair. It almost felt like he knew this person, even at glance. As opposed to sitting there and burning a hole in her head he opted to rest, he would figure out in the morning anyway. The vixen was comfortable and so was he, problem solved.

The dawn came far too early for what Tails would've liked. Outside the storm seemed to have lulled and a good portion of the snow seemed to have blown away. The sun was still shrouded heavily, but it didn't really matter to him.

He stretched and got up from the couch, his guest still sound asleep on the floor. She had curled up into a rather tight ball and seemed peaceful enough.

The mechanic quietly walked over to his kitchen and began getting out some things. This vixen would be much more talkative over breakfast and he was hungry!

Her head throbbed as she slowly came to, the dull light outside signaling she had made it through the night somehow. She cracked her eyes open and took a quick look around the room. She was in a house, good, and there was a fire at her back, great!

Fiona Fox vaguely remembered knocking on a cottage door the previous night and was thankful that she had. She could feel tons of soreness from the neck down and barely felt like moving.

A wonderful smell wafted itself around her and it made her stomach growl. Willing herself to stand she rose from the ground. She could hear the keeper of the home in the kitchen.

Stumbling a bit she made it to the smell and the creator of it. He was humming in at rather quiet tone as he flipped pancakes. She could care less what it was, but it smelled heavenly.

The figure glanced at her for a brief second and looked back at the stove, "Finally awake?" He spoke in a good-humored manner.

An unpleasantly creaky chuckle escaped from her, "I guess you could say that."

"Its almost ready if you want to sit down." He flipped the pancake one last time and put in on a plate.

She sat down rather ungracefully, her host must've not seen the extensive bruising she had, not that she blamed him. Her fur covered up most of the damage. He had a warm smile and spoke rather softly.

Something stood out though, something that almost made her blood chill, golden fur, blue eyes, and two tails. Oh no, does he recognize me?

Before her very eyes stood the boy that she had scorned and he somehow either doesn't know whom she is or maybe had forgotten. How long have I been gone?

"So," He sat down across from her, "If it isn't too much to ask. How in the blue blazes did you get out here in the middle of the night?" Tails didn't seem angry, but he definitely was confused.

"Um…" Her mind flashed back to portal that she stepped through and scathing comments that had come out of it. "I'd rather not say right now."

He responded with a shrug, "Fair enough. Are you okay?" Now the mechanic seemed concerned.

Her body screamed at her, "Sort of…" her voice trailed off.

"Alright. The rest can wait until after breakfast," He smiled once again and grabbed his fork from the table.

It had been the first decent meal she had had in weeks. No one on Moebius had cooking that good, not that any of them cared. Her stomach had been silenced and the headache she had before eased.

Tails had leaned back against his chair, he finished before she did considering she had seconds… and thirds. His eyes were closed and he was breathing evenly. It made her worried.

She set her utensils down and drank the last of the juice in her glass, "Alright."

His eyes opened, "Okay, where are you hurting. I can try to remedy that first."

The vixen patted a few of the areas around her body, showing him where the worst damage was. In turn he got up and grabbed some things from a medical cabinet.

"I can apply them for you if you want." He held them out to her, still the same gentleman as before.

"Sure, I'm still feeling a little stiff," She put on a weak grin. I'm being cared for by an enemy, I should try and be getting out of here. Right?

He turned around, "Alrighty then, come with me it'll be more comfortable in the living room."

The mechanic wrapped her wounds gently, she had suffered some heavy bruising with a few minor cuts. He aught to have tried to take care of this last night, but he wanted her to rest, the other was less important.

Once he was finished he sat down close by, "All finished, hope it helps."

The vixen rubbed the bandages a bit. She didn't say anything. Huh, I hope I didn't do anything that bothered her. His face scrunched a little in confusion.

Her bright blue gaze glanced away for a few brief moments, she then looked back into his eyes. Something was rather unsettling about her expression.

"Thanks… Tails."

A few minutes ago…

She sat down on the couch that was in the living room. Tails had brought a variety of different things to treat her ailments.

He first put an ointment onto her fur and began rubbing it onto the bruises. The pain that she felt earlier was quickly melting away as a cooling sensation eased the muscles and numbed the pain. This feels amazing.

The fox in front of her was completely focused on his work, never glancing away as he treated her.

If he remembered who I was, would he still help me?

Her mind slowly wandered as Tails continued to work, she remembered how doting he was towards her and how he treated his friends, even some of his enemies. His kind heart always shone through even in the darkest of times, it was something that she had thought, at the time, was sickening.

Not so much now though…

She had been around so much anger and selfishness it almost made her cringe thinking about it. For the greater part of four years she was subject to an extreme range of emotions save for the fact none of them were all that pleasant.

Being here with him made her miss the days of being a Freedom Fighter. The vixen was so caught up with what she wanted at the time, and her affection for Scourge that she didn't care whom she stepped on.

Now her caretaker seemed to have grown plenty since she was gone, almost frighteningly so. He wasn't short anymore, in fact he was taller than her. His physique had improved, but his eyes were what surprised her.

Fiona didn't know much of Tails' struggle during the time that she had been gone and was expecting his eyes to be much darker than before, but besides a little bit of wariness it still held that childlike spark that she knew so well.

No, to answer her own question, I think that Tails would never turn his back on someone who was in need, that's just how he is. The thought made her smile.

An icy chill moved up her spine, but I can't just take advantage of him like this. She knew that, unless he somehow remembered who she was, he would never try to press it out of her. She could probably get away without issue but taking advantage of him like this, again, didn't sit well with her.

She knew what she had to do.

"All finished, hope it helps." He seemed satisfied enough with his work.

Fiona rubbed the bandages, no more hiding, it's not in your character.

She locked her gaze with his, "Thanks… Tails."

For the first time in a long while Tails felt genuinely stupid, a heavy wave of recollection rocked him. I know this fox.

Memories of pain, frustration, and conflict emerged in an instant, causing him to physically step back. The feeling of betrayal that was once covered, calloused with time, bubbled to the surface.

Fiona. This is Fiona.

The vixen was looking down at her feet now, trying her best to avoid looking at him.

His mind felt like a hurricane as he processed everything up until this moment, he felt nauseous. Why in the world did she end up at his doorstep? What did she want? What would he do now?

I can't think like this! He closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously.

"Just, um, just give me a few… minutes. Please." He walked away from Fiona without a second's hesitation.

She could see a whirlwind of emotions flash through his sky blue eyes.

Why on earth did I do that? Her few moments of what felt like bravery vanishing.

The mechanic had put a hand to his head and closed his eyes, his brow furrowed. Was it worth it?

She looked down at her feet, guilt ripping her gaze away from him. He's going to hate me all over again. With good reason I suppose. Getting slapped by your crush and begin openly betrayed just after isn't something you just get over.

Fiona felt lower than dirt, almost wishing she could just fade away.

"Just, um, just give me a few… minutes. Please." She glanced up to see him walking out of the room. Curling up on the sofa a sense of dread crept into her heart and stomach.

What would he do now? She was in no condition to run away.

He lay out on his bed trying to wrap his mind around the situation at hand. Tails had never expected to see Fiona again. The thought of suddenly having to take care of her came so far from left field that it made him snort.

It had been eleven years since she had betrayed him and his friends for Scourge, that cocky green dirt bag. After so much time he must've just forgotten about her, more like repressed her. Before, when he thought of her he was furious to say the least, it had taken a bit of help but he eventually let her go, even forgave her, in his mind at least.

But that was because he thought he would never see her again! Now since he could see her some of those old feelings surfaced but his conscience quickly tried to counter him.

There has got to be a reason why she is injured. Perhaps she ran? Perhaps they cast her out? Who are you to judge her?

He let out an enormous breath that he had been holding, he couldn't force her to leave, but he needed to know what was going on. The mechanic could only hope that she would cooperate. Not that she has much room to argue.

The two-tailed fox stood slowly and walked out of his room, he needed answers.

She had curled up on the couch and was looking away from him. It seemed rather sad now that he thought about it, who had done this to her? She was filled with so much fire when she left.

"Fiona?"

Her ears perked up.

He sat down near her, "Fiona. I need answers. Please." His voice was as even as he could manage.

She sat up and looked at him, she seemed terrified. What did Scourge do?

Her voice was shaking, something that surprised him, "What do you want to know?"

He leaned forward, propping his head on his hands. "As much as you want to share."

Tails listened to her describe the years that she had been in Moebius. He had never put much thought into what their alternate dimension counterpart was like outside of the few times he'd been there. It was a dank, desolate place that he wanted no part of and the sooner they completed a mission that required them to go there the better.

It was almost animalistic what she told him, kill or be killed as it were. Scourge protected her for a time, but slowly began to lose interest in her. Like a tool, that's pathetic, even for that goblin colored freak.

He would scorn her or belittle her on various occasions and sometimes would abandon her in the middle of nowhere. "The King" sounded more and more like a punk as she went on, akin to a thug or criminal than a ruler. Even Robotnik was better than this. As Fiona went on Tails pity replaced the anger that he felt. He was sad that she had to deal with this for so long.

"He had never hit me, but he got pretty close to doing it sometimes." She rubbed one of her injuries.

"Okay, the only thing I need to know now is how you got here and how you were injured." It was already well into the evening at this point and he was sure that she was tired.

"I had managed to get a portal open after some work, I wanted to get away from Moebius, but I didn't know where it would take me. I just knew anywhere was better than there." She shivered.

Her eyes grew dark, "He found me before I could get away. Scourge tried to make me stay, saying things would be different, that he would treat me better, and I almost bought it for a second. Right before I tried to step through he grabbed me. He struck me several times from what I could remember, it hurt, but it didn't matter. I knew that the portal would collapse if I didn't go at that moment. The thing was held together by hopes and dreams."

He could feel his stomach flip, hitting women had never sat well with him, no matter their affiliation.

"I threw whatever I could at him, a brick I think, and leapt through, right before it gave in. It didn't take very long to get here, but I was exhausted and had little hope of finding anyone, especially in a snowstorm." Her eyes watered up.

"I thought I was going to die out there. After all that I had done it seemed like a fitting fate. I stumbled for probably a mile or so and saw a light, yours." Tears began flowing down her cheeks.

"I pushed a little further, if I could just make it to the door. I couldn't think about anything, I just knocked as hard as I could, hoping, praying that someone would answer. And you did." She put her arms around her chest, the vixen rocked a little.

Tails didn't know what to say, he didn't know what to do. She just showed him more in those past few minutes than she did the majority of the day, more than she ever did. She poured her heart out leaving nothing in the dark.

He stood and walked over to her. She looked up at him with a mixture of hope, remorse, sadness, and relief. It was almost like sharing her story lifted a burden from her, but also left her at the mercy of someone she had betrayed.

Tails sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. Her eyes opened a bit, surprise filling them. He held her close, not wanting her to feel like she did before. Her arms slowly returned the embrace, a smile cracking her face that was once filled with despair.

"I forgive you, Fiona. You don't need to worry about Scourge or Moebius anymore." His voice wasn't much more than a whisper.

He could feel her shake a bit, an odd sound escaping her. She was laughing into him, it was filled with happiness and bliss. Tears continued to flow down her face. After so many years of protecting her emotions and keeping her guard the walls were finally falling.

"Thank you. Thank you, Tails."

A/N:

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to leave a review and PM me if you have any questions!

Hope you have a good day!

~ Trainkrazy ~