So Silver is his name, cute. I thought as I looked at him with my eyes gleaming. Eager to find out more I gestured for him to continue. Silver shook a little as he looked into my eyes. "W-Well, I-I, um....I..." he continued to stutter and I sighed softly. "Hey, it's okay little one you can just rest." I whispered and picked him up carefully.

Silver yelped a little when I picked him up, expected, since he's probably never had physical contact in some time. At least that's what I guess. He settled down after a minute, though, and let me hold him. I smiled softly as I let him gain control over himself, and after some time he began talking again... "O-OK I....I was--was a slave a-and I.....I ran away--" I could tell he was struggling to breathe as he spoke which worried me quite a bit, I rubbed his chest softly and licked his ear, "--I...I couldn't go on f-for much longer and I-I collapsed. I-I don't know where, but I just bl-blacked out. T-Then I found my-myself h-here. P-Please tell m-me you're not go-gonna ma-make me a s-slave?"

I wiped the tears I could see forming in his cloudy golden orbs as I shook my head. "No, No never would I do that to someone as cute and as kind as you." I whispered soothingly, which he seemed to like. "Just rest. Unless you're hungry." I raised an eyebrow.

Silver looked at me, confused for a second, then looked down. "I-I couldn't t-take anything fr-from you." He whispered out. I almost barely hear it, but he spoke just loud enough for my sensitive ears to hear it. I stroked his quills softly and nuzzled his head. "Shh...trust me you need food on your stomach." He hesitated for a minute then slowly nodded. I smiled and then stood up and got him some food.

~-~ Several Months Later, Late Summer ~-~

Silver has been doing quite well in the months since I found him; quite well indeed. He had gained his weight, he was more open to me, and he overall was a very happy hedgie. My brother had come home and I was very happy about that, well not that fact that half his arm was missing, but that he was still his stubborn yet cheerful self. Silver seemed to get along with him as well which was a good thing since Shadow hated just about everyone that annoyed him.

I wash quietly washing the dishes on the cloudy winter evening when I heard a heart wrenching cough coming from upstairs. At first I figured it was just Shadow and he awkward way of laughing, but then it happened again and this time worse than before. I turned off the water and dried my hands, then dashed upstairs. "Shadow? Silver? You guys okay?" I asked, walking down the hall. The coughing continued. I followed the sound into me and Silver's room; I began to fear the worst. I slowly opened the door. "S-Silver?"

Silver lay hunched over on the floor a pool of puke in front of him. I gagged, but quickly ran over to his side. "Silver, baby are you okay?" I was concerned for him now.

He looked up at me with tired red eyes. "N-No, S-Sony s-something is wrong." He whined.

I got more worried. "I'll call Tails, he'll find out what's wrong with you. I promise it'll be okay." I knew that I was practically lying to himself. I didn't know if he'd be okay. I didn't know if Tails could find out what was wrong with him, but I had hope and I prayed that was enough.

Hours later, Tails finally arrived. I watched as he took Silver to his lab; I was crying. More or less balling my eyes out. Shadow did his best to comfort me, but I just couldn't handle myself. I loved Silver. I loved him so much. I didn't want him to be hurt. I wanted things to be just as they were. Happy and loving and totally carefree.

I must've been crying and pacing around for hours on end, when Tails finally came out with his head and ears lowered. "Sonic..." My head snapped up and I ran and grabbed his shoulders. "What's wrong?! Is Silvy alright?!" I asked frantically.

Tails kept his gaze on the floor for at least five minutes before slowly responding: "Sonic. Silver has cancer."

My mouth hung open and I let go of him and broke down into tears, falling to my knees and pounding the ground. "No, NO,NOO!" I cried out.

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dang, intense, hope you like, final chapter coming soon!

- Silver R.H.