Hello again, fellow fanfic people!

Welcome to my latest piece, 'Secrets'. A big thank you to my lovely friend aliixo for the request on this story. Definitely different to what I've done before! A big thank you to all my followers and lovely reviewers! Hoping to get just as many favourites, follows and reviews on this story as I did in my last! Remember to R&R! Hope you love it!

Peace out! xx

It's just another beautiful day in paradise, Mobius' flora is all in full bloom, the sun is beaming down and the Sonic Team are taking a day to themselves to spend together. The past few days had been intense and exhausting, battling Eggman's new mechanical piece of junk until it collapsed on itself. In all fairness, however, it wasn't exactly his worst invention.

The old, obese doctor had taken one of Tails' creations and turned it against him and the rest of the gang. The small robot translated any language into their own, even if it was their own, it would turn it into what they really meant. That was, until Eggman screwed with it and turned everyone against each other after he forced it to say horrible things. The gang never thought they'd see the day when Amy might actually kill Sonic herself, along with the others ready to torture each other.

After the team had finally figured out what the problem between them was, they were quick to destroy the invention, much to Tails' reluctance, and make their way home. Today, Cream insisted everyone come out with her and Cosmo for a picnic to relax and take advantage of the beautiful weather. The young rabbit asked for Blaze and Silver to stay for a little longer after they helped with the battle, but were forced to return to their world for a while. According to Silver, it couldn't function without him, but Blaze would beg to differ. He was a handful that grey companion of hers.

After the departure of the two futuristic friends, Tikal and Amy insisted on helping their two young friends on preparing the picnic before the rest of the gang came by Cream and Vanilla's beautiful cottage home to greet them before walking to their destination.

'You all be safe now, and have a lovely time!' Vanilla smiled as she waved everyone goodbye.

'Don't worry, Vanilla, I'll look after them all!' Sonic said proudly.

'Pfft, yeah right.' Knuckles rolled his eyes through a smirk.

'What's that supposed to mean, Knucklehead?!' Sonic glared before the two leapt into a light-hearted fight.

'Don't worry, Miss Vanilla, I'll look after your daughter and the others who claim they're capable.' Shadow nodded with a hint of a smile.

'Come on, you guys!' Tails chuckled.

The two-tailed kitsune pushed his stubborn brotherly figures away before they got into a more heated discussion while Cream kissed her mother goodbye and skipped down the path to catch up with the other girls. Cosmo, a beautiful green seedrian girl who lived with Cream and her mother, helped the young rabbit carry the picnic basket while Amy and Tikal got to talking with their ivory friend.

'It sure is great you and Shadow didn't have to go to work today, Rouge.' Tikal smiled.

'I'm happy about it too, I'm sick of being suffocated in that God awful office. I can't even remember the last time I got to go on a field assignment.' The ivory bat huffed.

'Isn't it better that nothing came up? I mean, that means everything is peaceful, right?' Amy arched an eyebrow with a hint of a smile.

'Well, yeah, but I'm bored!'

'Only you, Rouge.' Amy rolled her eyes.

'So, where are we going, Cream?' Tikal smiled towards the rabbit.

'Yeah, where are we going?' Knuckles tuned in.

'You'll see! I want it to be a surprise!'

Cream giggled and jumped around with excitement before handing Cosmo the picnic basket and skipping ahead of the others, causing them to look at her with undeniable happiness. There was no doubt about that young rabbit, she could put a smile on anyone's face no matter what the circumstance. She quickly ran over a small hill and disappeared, causing everyone to exchange confused looks.

'Where's she going?' Tails asked.

'Beats me.' Shadow shrugged.

'Quick, let's catch up to her.' Rouge suggested.

With that, the gang picked up the pace and jogged along the pathway and over the small hill where they found the pathway was cut off and Cream was nowhere to be seen? They all grew confused before walking up to where the dirt track stopped in front of the beginning of bushes and vines of all kinds, thicker than any scrub or forest.

'Cream, where are you?' Sonic called out.

'In here! Come through!' She called back faintly.

Sonic let his signature, cocky grin emerge onto his muzzle before he led the gang through the small patch of thick shrubs, bush and vines to find Cream sitting in a clearing that a stream flowing straight down the centre. It was crystal clear and sparkling. The flowers and trees all bloomed even brighter than they did around the rest of Mobius, and the butterflies and frogs were in abundance.

'I know Sonic doesn't like water and Shadow is more than likely to turn his nose up at the fact he thinks it's girly…' Cream began.

'You know me too well.' Shadow smirked, earning him a backhand from Rouge.

'But I thought this might be a nice place for lunch. You know, just for us all to have a nice time together, instead of making a mess of Sonic and Tails' home or out on the battlefield.'

'It's beautiful, Cream!' Cosmo squealed in delight.

'Absolutely! How did you come across this place?' Amy asked as everyone took a seat.

'Well, Cheese and I were taking a walk one day and he flew in here. When I came in to look for him, this is what I found.' She smiled.

'It's great! We'll have to come back more often.' Tails said as he helped Cosmo unpack the picnic.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with fun and laughter. After lunch, Cosmo and Rouge decided to wander down to the edge of the stream and dip their feet in the water only to end up soaking wet seconds later after Tails and Knuckles pushed them in before jumping in after them. The gang on the bank burst into hysterics at the two girl's horrified reactions, even Shadow of all people.

Cream shrugged before slipping off her boots and running down to the water herself and jumping with her friends, soaking up the feel of the crystal clear water. Tikal and Amy giggled at their friends in the water, especially Cream's childish giggles while Shadow and Sonic exchanged a smirk before Sonic scooped Amy up over his shoulder and Shadow scooped Tikal up bridal style before Shadow jumped into the water with Tikal and Sonic threw Amy in on her own.

'Ouch! What the hell?!' Amy groaned as she came back up.

'What? I don't swim?' Sonic chuckled as he folded his arms proudly, causing everyone else to bite back their laughs.

'Oh, is that so?'

'You know it.' Sonic winked cockily.

'Not for long, you jerk.' Amy smirked.

While Sonic's nose was in the air and caught off guard, the pink hedgehog took the opportunity to grab both of his wrists and pull him into the water besides her with a huge splash. Everyone fell silent, shocked and amazed expressions falling over their muzzles quicker than Sonic's feet could take him. Amy smirked and allowed a proud face to drift over her muzzle before folding her arms and getting to her feet, still standing in the water.

The cerulean hedgehog slowly rose out of the water and stood to his feet, his long blue quills covering his face. His shoulders were sloppy and shrugged until he took a deep breath and shook the water from his fur wildly before shooting daggers at the rosy hedgehog who looked back at him with an innocent pout. The others watched on in suspense, wondering who would make the first move into battle.

'Well played, Amy Rose. Well played.' Sonic smiled.

'You're going to let her win, eh, Faker?' Shadow smirked.

'Yeah, well, I've gotta give her one every now and then?'

'You've got ten seconds to take that back before your head goes back under water.' Amy said firmly but with a hint of flirtation as she sauntered towards him.

'I TAKE IT BACK! I TAKE IT BACK! PLEASE DON'T DROWN ME AGAIN, AMY!' Sonic exclaimed as he held his hands up defensively, stumbling backwards before falling in the water again.

'That's more like it.' Amy winked, causing the gang to burst into hysterics.

.

As the sun began to set, the gang slowly made their way back to their own homes, thanking Cream and Cosmo along the way before they left for the great day. Amy was the last to return home, still soaking wet just like the others. She pulled out her key from under the door mat before unlocking the door and letting herself in. She took off her boots and slipped the key back under the mat before taking a step towards the bathroom, only to step on a pile of papers. The mail had come today, she had surprisingly large amount considering she wasn't expecting anything.

'Junk… junk… junk… oooh! A new shop is opening up in the city!' Amy continued to rummage through her mail until one letter caught her eye.

She dropped the others before ripping open this letter from what appeared to be a familiar source, A.G.U.N. The fuchsia hedgehog quickly read threw the brief letter before letting out a gasp and feeling her legs crumble beneath her. She fell back against the door and clasped her heart with her hand as she stared down at the paper.

'No. No, no, no.'