*Sonic's POV *
"So we were thinking you may want to stay here for a week." Uncle Chuck said as he watched me button up my suit and put on my tie. "We need your help with the party preparations and would love for you for once in your life celebrate your birthday here, Sonny."

I sighed knowing he was going to never drop it. "Chuck, you know I can't. If I risk people knowing about you being my family, you'll be at more risk than you are now since Eggman knows. Anyone else finds out and they'll hunt you to try to get back at me."

"You fake as if we are nothing to you. You never visit, you never stay, you never even call." He sounded hurt and frustrated. "I get you're trying to protect us, but you're hurting us by not being here."

"I can't risk it." He walked closer and fixed my tie for me. I remained silent for a few seconds and just as he finishes I sighed. "I'll see what I can make up to the others. I'll try to be here." I grabbed my mask from the bed and put it on.

The mask was to protect myself, neither the maids or guards or anyone working here knew who I was other than those who really needed to and we could trust. The mask was a simple plain white color but with blue sapphires covering it, it sat perfectly on my face, only covering my forehead and the left side of my face giving me space to be able to eat without having to remove it.

"Thank you, Sonny Boy. Now let's go, they're waiting for us."

I followed Chuck as we walked to the dining hall, I always seated beside my mother as Sonia and Manic sat across me and Chuck on my other side. My mother, who sat at the head of the table, smiled at us and greeted us. Food was quickly served.

"It's good to have you home, Sweetie." Aleena said as I took my first bite. "Will you be staying?"

"Not tonight." Manic rolled his eyes at ny response. "I am going to go back home and figure out an excuse as to why I won't be home for my birthday so I can be here."

"You're actually coming?" Manic spoke up. He was mad at me for never being around.

"Quit it." Sonia kicked him under the table. "You know Sonic is trying his best. He's trying to protect us."

"Protect us? We have a whole army of guards always protecting us." He raised his voice.  "He hasn't been here in three months and you all act as if it's nothing." He growled.

I knew he always has a temper but this wasn't like usual. "Manic." I stood up.

"You're not excused yet." My mother said but I ignored her and walked to Manic then dragged him out of the dining room and into the hall.

"Let me go!" He snatched his arm away. "I don't know who you think you are but you're not part of this family! You can't just-" I punched him without even thinking about it.

What he was saying, it was true but it hurt. I wasn't the type to hurt family or pick a fight with my own brother but we soon started one. He launched at me and pinned me to the floor.

"What the hell has gotten into you?!" I snapped as I defended myself without using my powers.

"Boys!" Sonia shouted as we kept on fighting. "Guards! Separate them!" Sonia ordered and that's what they did.

"You act as if you're family but you go out there and risk your life for others without even calling us, or texting us or even let us know you're okay!" And with those words I knew what this was all about.

He was mad, furious even. I wouldn't blame him if he hated me. I had been on an accident with Metal not long ago and went missing for two weeks. This is what it was about.

I couldn't help it but laugh now realizing how stupid this fight was. I made the guards let go of me and I walked to Manic. "I love you too, bro." I hugged him making him want to push me and he was cussing at me. "But it's my job, you know I can't let Eggman hurt others, I do it all for you. I'm sorry I am never around, I'll try to change that. But I really do do this for our family. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything were to happen to you."

Manic relaxed and the guards let him go then he still proceeded to punch me, cracking my mask slightly. "You deserved that." Manic crossed his arms as I put pressure where he hurt me.

"Fine." I answered and nodded. "But now I have to take the mask to Tails to get it fixed. Again." I chuckled as he cracked a smile as well and laughed softly.

"I'm sorry. I think I've been in the castle for too long. Sonia and I don't have the privilege of walking free without guards like you." He confessed with a long sigh.

"I'll get you out soon, I'll tell Tails to work on a mask for you."

"I also don't have the privilege to be able to change my fur color."

"It's not a privilege, you think it's fun having to use Dark?" I rolled my eyes.

---
I arrived home late that night but only to grab a backpack to hide the mask. I needed to take it to Tails so he could fix it before the next time I had to go to the castle and I needed to go to his house anyways since we were having a team meeting there. Perfect time to tell them I won't be in town for my birthday.

I quickly grabbed a backpack and shoved the mask there then walked out of my house and started running towards Tails' house. I was trying to get there before the others did so they wouldn't ask questions, even though I knew they were going to since I had bruises from where Manic was punching me.

"Tails!" I walked into his house without knocking. I was about to take the mask out when I suddenly realized Rouge and Shadow were in the living room. I quickly stopped and put the backpack back on. "Hey guys!" I smiled at them. "Where's Tails?"

"Hey Hun, he went to his lab, he got a call right as we got here." Rouge explained and I was about to go find him when she continued. "What are you hiding there?"

"Oh. Uh." I rubbed the back of my neck trying to make up something. "I met with an old friend of mine and he needed help fixing something so he asked me to take it to Tails." I answered back quickly. "I'll be right back."

"I'll see what I can do. Yes. Yes. Thank you, I'll try to be there." Tails hung up the phone as I closed the door behind me. "You're not going to be here for your birthday, you know Eggman attacks the most that day trying to take you off guard!" Tails scolded me a little too loudly. I immediately dashed to him and covered his mouth then handed him the mask. "Abnithed ind...?"

"What?" I asked confused and he moved my hand away.

"I said. Another one?" He giggled and grabbed the mask. "You know I work with technology right? I don't make masks."

I laughed nervously. "Sorry. But no one else fixes it like you do."

"I'm talented."

"You've had plenty of practice."

"Surprisingly the prince is always fighting." He pointed out making me cross my arms and he laughed a bit louder. "I'll have it ready by tomorrow. What are you going to tell the others?"

"I don't know yet. I'm still trying to figure it out." As I tried to come up with a lie, I watched as Tails hid the mask and started walking out the lab. By the time we were in the living room, everyone was already there.

We usually had these meetings to talk about what we've heard of Eggman or Metal or any other threat we have. That's what we were doing when my birthday suddenly came into the conversation.

"We need to be prepared for it. Eggman is extra annoying that day." Amy said as she wrote down something in her journal she always brought to these meetings.

"Actually, I needed to talk about that." I spoke up. "I won't be here for my birthday so maybe Eggman won't attack at all."

"You won't be here? Where are you going?" Knuckles asked.

"Well. A friend of mine needs help with something so I promised I would help."

"On your birthday?" Rouge asked. I looked up at her and noticed Shadow, who was beside her, had his eyes closed but I knew he was paying attention.

"Yeah, he said it was urgent." I answered back.

"The same friend Tails is helping fix something?" She continued asking questions.

"Well he is a mutual friend of ours." Tails said making me more nervous about this lie.

"Where will you be going?" Amy asked.

"It's a secret."

"Whats your friends name?" Now Knuckles.

Why does that matter?

"I can't say."

This seemed to have caught Shadow's attention as he sat up then leaned forward now paying more attention to the conversation. Sweat was threatening to come out, I felt the heat rise up and could swear they did not believe me.

"Come on Sonic. I'm sure he won't mind." Tails said. "He's going to be at Queen Aleenas castle helping Prince Maurice."

Panic.

Panic.

What if Shadow figure it out?

What if he used this to hurt me?