A/N: Hello! I am princess1221 and this is my first story on this account, however not my first story ever published. I always appreciate reviews and constructive criticism! Feel free to PM me with any suggestions for new stories or to the plot of this one! I hope you enjoy my story! Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: All characters belong to SEGA

Sonic's P.O.V.:

Winter is my favorite time of year. Unlike others who prefer the sunshine and warm temperatures, I prefer the cold wind nipping at my nose, snow fall, overcast skies, and being enveloped in warmth from a cozy fire. Though the above mentioned are just some factors as to why I enjoy winter, the main attraction to the season for me would be the holidays. Christmas and New Years often bring families and friends together for festive gatherings; and sometimes it is the only time of the year I get to spend time with all of my friends in one place. Though it is true that I am overjoyed that all of my friends get together for holiday festivities, there is one particular person, or hedgehog, I only get a glimpse of around the holidays and I am always filled with excitement to see him.

Rouge, a provocative bat who I consider a friend, hosts a wonderful Christmas party at her lavish home every year. She is particularly good friends with the above mentioned hedgehog, and he is always present at these gatherings; probably against his own will I am sure. I was always invited, along with my friends Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Silver, and blaze. Some would say the guest list can be considered small, however, Rogue is exceptional at throwing an entertaining party despite the small amount of guests attending.

Traveling on foot and taking advantage of my speed, I arrive at Rogue's party at a perfect time. Not too early and not too late. In the circle driveway, I see many vehicles I recognize, including a black Ford Mustang. I always search for both the sports car and a motorcycle when I attend this event for my secret excitement-inducing acquaintance drives both. I assumed that tonight's chillier-than-usual temperature was the reason the sports car was now in my sight. I knocked on the huge double wooden doors at the entrance of the home, listening to the faint laughter and basking in the homeliness of the light I saw glowing through the windows. Rouge's home was truly beautiful on a December night. The house was spectacularly huge and covered with pure white snow, while warmth yellow light radiated through all

the windows and cut through the darkness and the cold of the season.

The doors opened and I was welcomed by the commotion of loud holiday tunes, the smell of pine and gingerbread baking, and Rogue in her skimpy top that revealed much more than need-be. Everyone greeted me with hugs and kisses, especially Amy who was always overenthusiastic to see me. My eyes looked past the welcoming committee and I finally saw him for the first time in a year. Shadow the Hedgehog was seated comfortably on a large sofa chair which was facing the glowing flames in the fireplace, indulging himself in a glass of red wine. Though his back was towards me, I recognized his black and read streaked quills in a heart beat.

"One moment, please." I backed off the group and stepped towards Shadow. "Hey!" I cheerfully greeted him from behind.

Shadow turned his head and ruby hued eyes towards me for a brief moment and then continued to stare directly into the fire.

"hello, hedgehog," the onyx figure answered, his voice always recognizably low and husky.

"So know is everything?" I questioned as I took a seat in the matching sofa chair next to his.

"Do we have to do this annual 'catching up' ritual? It's getting dull," the ebony hog sighed in a monotone.

He then took a long sip out of his glass.

"Well… I guess not, but I enjoy hearing about your year, I never see you," I replied. Shadow scoffed.

"It's the same each year, you ask me how I am, I tell you the whole year I've continued to work as a G.U.N. agent, and I pretend to give a damn about how your year was," he sipped his wine again, "might as well cease having these meaningless conversations, you can stop acting like it matters to you how my year was," he paused for a moment. Shadow was undyingly beautiful. He was created artificially and I am assuming the late Dr. Robotnik designed him to be exceedingly attractive. He was about 25 — well, I am not exactly positive on his age, for he wasn't released by Eggman until years after Robotnik's passing — but he was youthful looking with a muscular body and black and crimson coloring.

It pained my heart that Shadow assumed I asked about his year as purely a formality, and that he did not know my concerns were genuine. I sighed deeply, I wasn't sure what I was expected out of this interaction, it was always this way. Each year while the rest of the gang was partying — having a good time, shadow sat by himself with the same monotone voice, and the same irritated expression, however the wine was new. It was obvious to me that Shadow was harboring painful emotions within himself. Compared to the rest of us, who were always happy and positive, Shadow was a real character, some may even say 'a piece of work' to quote my red partner Knuckles. However I didn't feel that way about him, I'm not even sure what I feel about him, just that he is not a piece of work, and that he deserved to be as happy as the rest of us. I rose from my comfortable seat, looked towards Shadow, and mentioned lightly, "Take care, Shadow," and left him to dwell in his sorrows once again.

As hours full of Christmas joy with my friends — or basically family — had gone by, the gang and I competed many activities such as dancing and singing obnoxiously to Christmas music, decorating cookies, and popping bottles of expensive champagne. Eventually we were all decently intoxicated, and I knew if I didn't want a splitting hangover in the morning, I would have to head home shortly. Shadow had left about an hour ago, and without his presence here, I felt alone, though I was surrounded by those close to me. It was 2am, and I grabbed my coat and scarf, and began to set off on the short run home. It was snowing violently and in the distance I saw smoke high I the sky. 'Who burns leaves at this hour and in this weather?' I thought to myself, though I didn't make anything of the odd smoke.

As I continued to run home, my breath rising up as my breath became more labored, I noticed tire tracks in the snow covered road, and that they were not straight. It seemed as if the driver had been swerving, and out of curiosity, I decided to follow the tire tracks. About a quarter mile later, the tracks took a sharp turn to the left, and my eyes followed, to my surprise I saw a vehicle flipped on it's side to the left of the street and I realized that smoke wasn't an idiot burning leaves in the dead of the night, but a car with the front end engulfed in flames. To my horror, the car was a black Ford Mustang.