Chapter 1

Someone on earth had a thought...

Downtown Westopolis, 11:00pm

7 years... 7 years since they had defeated the Metarix. 7 years since Shadow decided he was going to disappear off the face of the planet, without a trace, leaving everyone to wonder whether or not he was even still alive. Up until today that is, when after 7 long years Shadow stepped foot on the streets of Westopolis once more, it hadn't changed drastically since he'd last been here. In a strange way it felt like he hadn't even left. It was as dreary looking as ever, today in particular what with it raining cats and dogs. He trudged down the muddy path until he reached a bar, the name 'The Whiskey' plastered above the entrance. Shadow decided to head on inside, wanting to get out of the rain and to sit down to a drink or two to clear his head before he figured out what he was going to do next. It wasn't like he had anywhere in particular to go to. So much had happened 7 years ago, he couldn't stick around with everyone else and continue living on as normal, he needed to get away from it all. Once his memories started coming back it was almost unbearable to be around anyone, he needed all that time to himself.

But here I am again.

Shadow ordered himself a scotch with ice, he took a sip, savouring the taste and enjoying the feeling of the warmth in his chest. He glanced over at the far side of the room, a small band was playing on the stage from what he could see. A fox girl singing and playing guitar, and a male hedgehog on the drums. They sounded pretty good, but Shadow didn't pay too much attention, he was too busy enjoying his drink and figuring out what he needed to do next. He couldn't stay in this bar forever.

Shadow scanned the room once again, this time the bar in particular was of interest to him as he caught glimpse of a familiar white Bat girl serving drinks to some eager looking rogue rats, she laughed and flirted away - humouring them a bit. Batting her eyelashes seductively as she leaned over the counter, just to tease them some more. Yes, that was Rouge all right, Shadow was a bit surprised to see how much she'd changed over the years.

He watched as Rouge whispered something to what he assumed was a colleague of hers, before she stepped around the bar with a drink and stood over against the wall just to watch the band play the last bit of their set.

Shadow decided to have a look over at the band as well, wanting to distract himself from his thoughts for a moment at least, upon actually paying attention to the two on stage did it hit him that the girl looked very familiar. The fox girl singing was Tails' older sister, Belina, she'd grown her hair out. The hedgehog on the drums he wasn't too sure about, he felt like he'd seen him somewhere before. Needless to say, they were both quite good up there. Shadow sat back and enjoyed his drink, listening to the song until the set was over.

"Thanks for coming out to listen to us, have a great night!" Belina announced into the mic, a few claps and cheers were heard before she picked up her guitar and made her way off the stage with the hedgheog right behind her.

Shadow spotted them heading over to a table in the far corner, where a few more familiar faces were seen sitting there.

"You guys rocked up there!" said Sonic, slurring a little as he knocked back the last of his whiskey.

"One more song! One more song!" Knuckles drunkenly demanded, slamming his fists on the table.

"Take it easy there Knux, we'll play again some other night," said Belina, chuckling.

Sonic looked up at the hedgehog next to her. "Manic, my bro, you fucking killed it!"

"I aim to please, bro," said Manic, grinning. He took a seat next to Sonic.

"And so you did," said Rouge, appearing at their table.

"Rouuuuuuuuuuuge!" Sonic announced, drunkenly.

"Hey Rouge!" said Belina.

"You guys did great up there, suppose now you're all ready for a drink," said Rouge, smirking.

"You can say that again! Tell Sandy to get us a couple of beers on the house," said Manic, winking.

"In your dreams, sunshine!" Rouge laughed, but headed over to the bar anyway to get their drinks.

Once Rouge had given them their drinks she decided to join them in their little celebratory drinking session, though Sonic and Knuckles looked like they had more than enough. Shadow couldn't help but look over at them, part of him wanting to go over and show that he had come back, that he was still alive. But he couldn't bring himself to do it, and instead ordered another scotch so he could further distract himself from his thoughts. He hadn't a clue what he was going to do next.

He looked up once again to see Manic and Rouge walking in his direction, they were heading towards the smoking area out back, Manic was whispering something in Rouge's ear and she giggled in response; up until she looked directly over at Shadow and stopped. Rouge's eyes widened, as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Yo Rouge, you ok?" said Manic, tapping her shoulder.

"L-let's just go out back," said Rouge hurriedly, and pulled Manic with her towards the smoking room.

Shadow was confused. Rouge had definitely seen him, yet why did she run off? He wasn't so sure what would happen now, but he decided to focus on the drink in front of him, maybe she didn't want to see him right now. Not that he could blame her, Rouge was his closest friend and to disappear out of nowhere with no means of contacting him must have been hard for her.

He could only imagine.

Rouge got up off her knees, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You seem a little distracted, what even happened back there at the bar?" said Manic, zipping up his jeans.

"I...I saw Shadow in there," said Rouge.

"Shadow? Don't think I've met him, but I think I've heard Sonic mention him before," said Manic, lighting a cigarette.

"I hadn't seen him in 7 years...after we defeated the Metarix he just vanished...we thought he was dead after all this time and here he is. I really hope I'm not just hallucinating or anything," said Rouge, rubbing her temples.

"That's...really messed up. You should go back in and talk to him, y'know, before he leaves."

"I'm going to, I just...fuck. This is crazy."

"Sounds pretty crazy," said Manic, blowing a puff of smoke.

Rouge sighed. "I'm going back inside, I'll see you later, Manic."

Rouge opened the door and headed back inside the bar, she looked over and seen that Shadow was still sitting at the table, finishing up his scotch. She frowned, clenching her fists, and marched up to him. Shadow's ears perked up and he looked up from his drink to find Rouge standing in front of him, her teal eyes bore into his red ones.

Before Shadow could open his mouth, Rouge spoke. "Come with me, I need to talk to you somewhere private."

"...All right," said Shadow, getting up from the table.

He followed Rouge to a secluded area in a back room away from the bar, he guessed it was a staff only area judging by how quiet the place was. There was a moment of silence, Rouge had her back turned to him.

"So what did you-" before Shadow could finish, Rouge had suddenly sprung around and slapped him hard across the face.

Shadow held his cheek, as a natural reflex he wanted to hit her back, but he knew that wouldn't be an appropriate response so he held his temper and just waited for Rouge to speak. Her eyes were shining, he could tell she was trying hard to hold back her tears.

"After 7 years, you just show up out of the blue. Where the fuck were you all this time? Do you have ANY idea how worried we all were? Hell, we thought you were dead!" Rouge spat, her hands shaking with anger.

"I'm sorry, I know that's not gonna make anything better. But just understand I needed to get away from it all, with Cosmo dying, Molly's death, The Metarix, my memories being all over the place - I couldn't take it anymore. It felt like I was reliving my past all over again, I needed to just be alone. I could have let you guys know but I just wasn't thinking straight, I just couldn't be around anyone..." said Shadow.

"I get it Shadow, it's been hard for you, I know - but don't push your friends away like this, we just wanna help you. I wanna help you. I know you've never been exactly close to anyone besides one person, but I want you to trust us. Just let us in, Shadow!"

"You know that's difficult for me, but I'm sorry Rouge. I just, I don't really know what I'm doing anymore."

Rouge crossed her arms, still frowning at Shadow, but soon enough felt herself calming down.

She sighed. "You've 7 years of catching up to do, might as well start now I guess. So what's the plan then now that you're back? Do you even have anywhere to live?"

Shadow shrugged. "I don't, but I'll find somewhere."

Rouge sighed once again. "I'm not having you wander about like a homeless hog, you're staying with me for now."

"Um, what?"

"Don't bother trying to argue, you're staying wth me and that's it, I'm not letting you run off again," said Rouge, poking him in the chest.

"Rouge, I appreciate you wanting to help but that seems a little much considering I'd completely vanished and not spoken to you guys the past 7 years."

"Well I said I wanted to help you, didn't I? And don't think I'm not still mad about that, honey, but you're gonna make it up to me," said Rouge, mischievously.

Shadow raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "You haven't changed a bit."

"I know, I think it's about time we join the others - they'll be wondering where I am and they deserve to know you're back too," said Rouge.

They headed out of the room to the bar where Sonic and the others were all still sat at the table, Sonic and Knuckles completely drunk out of their minds at this point, with Belina and Manic slowly catching up as they laughed a little too loudly at a bad joke Sonic was telling. Rouge sauntered up to them.

"Hey guys, guess who's back?" said Rouge, grabbing hold of Shadow's arm and pulling him close.

The table went silent as they looked up at Shadow, before Sonic and Knuckles started yelling.

"SHADOW OH MY GOD YOU'RE BACK YOU SONUVABITCH, IS' A GOD DAMN MIRACLE!" Sonic slurred, slamming his drink on the table and getting up off his chair to drunkenly throw his arm around Shadow, bringing him into an uncomfortable side hug.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD JUS' SHOWIN' UP OUTTA NOWHERE, I OUGHTA PUNCH THE SHIT OUTTA YOU FER THAT!" Knuckles shouted, knocking back the rest of his drink and trying to stop himself sliding sideways off the chair as he drunkenly glared at Shadow.

"Oh my god, Shadow! You're alive!" Belina exclaimed, jumping up off her seat and also throwing her arms around Shadow, giving him a hug. She soon enough let go of him. "Oh shit, sorry, I forgot you don't like people touching you."

Shadow looked incredibly uncomfortable, what with Sonic's arm still around him. "It's...fine."

"Ok boys, it's been great but I'm gonna have to cut this night short and head home, Shadow's gonna be staying with me so I'm sure you'll all see him again soon," said Rouge, gently pushing Sonic's arm off Shadow.

"Awwwww, buh Roouuuuuuuuuuuuge, I thought we were gonna partyyyyyyyyyy," Sonic whined.

"Next time sweetie, have a good night guys!" said Rouge.

"See ya later Rouge! Let's arrange something for the weekend! Was good seeing you again Shadow," said Belina, though by the look on her face she was still in disbelief about the entire thing.

"I'll text you!" Rouge waved back at the rest of them and headed out of the bar with Shadow right behind her.

She had a feeling it was gonna be a long night.

Author's Note:

I maybe change the summary to this story as I'm posting this at 6am and my brain is no longer functioning.
Enjoy!