"Limitless"

Her eyes were wet with tears, but she stubbornly blinked them away. Instead, she focused her gaze on him, the one who so effortlessly held her heart in the palms of his hands, the one who she loved for as long as she could remember. Loving him was as easy as breathing and felt like floating on cloud nine.

"I'm okay, Sonic." Amy winced at the raspy quality of her voice, fighting back a nasty grimace as pain burned throughout her weak body. Mustering her strength, she moved her hand so that it was grasping his. Finally, finally Sonic met her gaze, and she didn't hesitate to flash a cheerful, albeit small smile his way, her heart fluttering like the wings of a butterfly when he smiled back.

Giving him a tug, staring at him imploring, she gestured towards her hospital bed. She lifted the blankets and patted the empty space, and Sonic caught on to the hint, wasting no time in lying down beside her. He couldn't help but grin when Amy immediately snuggled against him, pressing her body intimately close to his, mindful and yet unheeding of her injuries.

He wrapped an arm around her, gently tucking her head in the crook of his neck, her warm breath tickling his fur. He could hear the steady beats of her heart, could feel every breath she took, and it brought him a sense of relief that threatened to bring him to his knees. He thanked Chaos that she was alright, that she wasn't seriously injured. She was already well on the road of recovery and would be discharged from the hospital soon enough, but still.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, Amy," Sonic said, emerald eyes wet with tears that refused to fall. He could feel her eyes on him, but he averted his gaze. "And that's not me doubting your skills as a fighter. That's just me being a worried boyfriend," he hurriedly explained. He wasn't about to provoke her unintentionally; her temper was a force to be reckoned with, after all.

"I just… I just hate how I can't escape my reputation as a hero sometimes. You got hurt because some asshole had a bone to pick with me, but instead decided to take it out on you, and I hate that. I hate how all of you have some target on your backs just because you're my friends. And I love all of you so damn much, but Chaos, I just wish life was a little bit easier for all of us."

The tears had no trouble falling now, but Sonic paid them no mind. He felt like he was having a heart attack, his heart was hurting so damn bad. Fear and self-loathing had their rotted grip on his heart, threatening to tear it to shreds. He couldn't stand how helpless he felt in moments like these; he was the hero, wasn't he? Shouldn't he be able to save everyone? Shouldn't he be able to protect them all? And yet, he couldn't. If Amy hadn't been able to defend herself, she would've been more seriously injured, or worse, dead.

And that was a fate shared between the whole gang. Anything could happen to them, things that would've surely killed regular people. Thank Chaos they were blessed with such extraordinary gifts or the game would've been over with for them.

"Don't apologize for what you can't control. I love you, Sonic. I don't ever want to stop loving you. Is your lifestyle dangerous at times? Yes, but I don't care. I love you exactly for who you are, and I wouldn't want you to change who you are and what you do just to please me. None of us would, so stop being so hard on yourself. We're a team, a family, so we all have to look out for each other, okay?"

Gently, Amy wiped away his tears, chased away his doubt, and soothed his fears. She tended to have that kind of effect on him. She looked out for him, loved him, and brought out the best in him. And he loved her with every breath and every beat of his heart, even if it took time for him to grasp what he felt.

He pressed a kiss to her lips, soft, brief, but oh so sweet, and it never failed to make Amy swoon and her heart melt. Whispering a quiet I love you in Amy's ear, Sonic readjusted them so that were tucked neatly within the warmth of the blankets. Locked in his tender embrace, his presence soothing and wonderful, Amy soon fell asleep, a faint smile adorning her face.

Sonic remained awake, holding her in his arms, thankful that she was alive and well and by his side again.