A/N: Here's chapter two folks. I decided to load two chapters to start instead of one. This way you get more plot right from the get go. College has kept me very busy so far, but it seems to have driven away my writer's block for now, though I don't know how long it will last. I've had a good portion of this story written on a first draft, but I deleted it so I'm going form memory now. Moving on...


Ch 2: Ain't That A Kick in the Head

The sun had reached midway up the sky before I decided to move again. I hovered over the water and back onto the coast that led back into the main city. Bringing up all these memories often gives me a mother of a headache and today was no different. My mind lapses back and forth from that night as the frozen waves lap against the sand. I can't help but wonder how I ended up like this to begin with. Am I really that stubborn? I guess I am considering what I've said to some folk. I finally catch sight of the towering metal structures of Station Square and as I approach the main road, I slow my pace to a walk.

I've already said that winter has come upon us, but technically winter doesn't start for another 20 days. That's right, today is the first day in December. To most people it's exciting because practically the greatest holiday of all is only weeks away. But, evidence had been on display since before Thanksgiving. I guess that guy was right when he said that autumn night was just Christmas part one. Up and down the sidewalks people are carrying bags of varying colors and sizes. Each stuffed to the brim with gifts for loved ones. Kids had gathered by select windows no doubt to get a glimpse of the next big toy or video game or whatever they wanted this season. Outside, the walls had been covered with various garlands, wreathes, or whatever store owners deemed in holiday spirit.

On street corners the familiar sound of ringing bells could be heard. These were from the many Salvation Army collectors scattered about the city limits. Everywhere you turned, everything you heard, the whole world was in the holiday spirit, everyone but me. Years of living alone quickly taught me the true meaning of Christmas. Amidst all the shopping, the flashy decorations, and the annoyingly repetitive music, I see a family that's just happy to be together because they were with the ones they cared about the most…the ones they loved.

I have never been able to join in such merriment not even when I was living with Rouge. I just lower my head and continue walking. There was only one place that would be able to silence the chorus of drums banging in my head, Starbucks. More often than not, I spend my entire morning here quietly sitting in the corner with my coffee. No one bothered to give me any notice either because they knew me enough not to try something like that or they just didn't care. It was Sonic that they loved anyway so I just shrug it off. I walk up to the counter and order my usual tall, black coffee. The lady hands me the hot cup and I walk to my usual spot. I grab a newspaper from the nearby rack and start reading.

As I learn about the latest international affairs I hear more people walk in. Businessmen on their way to work, random folks wanting to get a jump start before a mass shopping spree, I thought I had seen them all. Another group walks in and I can quickly tell it's another family. The adults get coffee while they give their kids hot chocolate and it was that moment I looked up and nearly spat out what I had in my mouth. Between the family and a group of businessmen is a woman dressed in typical winter garb, coat, gloves, boots, and a hot pink scarf. The coat wasn't long enough to hide the plain red skirt she was wearing despite it being freezing cold outside.

Standing there in line, with a few bags in hand was Amy Rose, Sonic's fan girl. I continue to stare as the family sits down at the booth across the room. If I was going to speak, I think I would've had trouble. Her quills had grown to an average length echoing the adult appearance she was clearly portraying. She still kept her trademark ribbon in her hair, and she balanced the stuffed bags in her hands like she'd been doing it for hours, which she no doubt had. The smile on her face was one I have never seen before in the few moments of contact I had with the pink hedgehog.

She seemed unusually content rather than hyper like she was when she would try to chase after Sonic. Part of me wonders what would happen if I decided to reveal myself to her, but my thoughts were interrupted when I felt someone tug and my arm. I look to my right and standing there is a young boy. No doubt he was from the family that had arrived before. I start to ponder why on Earth would he want to talk to me? What he did next I did not expect. He held out his hands to show a small cup filled with a hot, steaming drink that had a subtle sweet smell to it. "This was extra do you want it mister?"

I stare at him for a few seconds completely dumbfounded by this charitable offer. "W-why give it to me?"

"Because you sitting alone with no friends." Either this kid was smart for his age or he knew my life like he lived it in place of his own. With no reply I slowly extend my arm and take a warm cup. The boy continued to stare at me, he obviously wanted to make sure his gift had been truly accepted so I put the opening in the cap to my lips and let the hot liquid wash down my throat. Immediately I realized that this was no regular hot chocolate. This drink was more like someone had melted a chocolate bar and made it into its own drink. "It's called a Chantico (shan-tee-koh) my mom says it's very rich which is why it only comes in a small size." Once again, the boy was right. I shift my vision to meet his and say "Thank you." With that, he ran back to rejoin his family. I slowly sip on this newly discovered drink when I finally realize Amy is gone. I don't think she saw me otherwise she would've said something.

It was at that point that something inside me had begun to take root. I had no clue as to what it was but right now I didn't care. I fold up the paper, throw out the coffee, and take the small chocolate drink with me instead. A new thought train ran through my mind as I strolled down the sidewalks this time. It reflected the thoughts that have been keeping me up for many a night. But new questions also came to my attention such as: it's been three years…why are things still so bad? Why are you so moody lately? Why have you been avoiding your friends for so long? No other answers have ever kicked me in the head so hard in my life. I chug down the rest of the hot chocolate, and quickly warp to a distant location. As soon as I know no one is around I find the nearest tree, feel its rough bark, and ram my head into it as hard as possible.

As I lay on the frost covered grass everything finally fit together. My friends, my dreams…Rouge…everything bad that had happened came from one thing, ME!!!!!!!! I was the reason those visions were haunting me for so long because I refused to act on one simple fact……I love Rouge. I know many of you will think I'm going crazy because I'm having such an epiphany but I guess every hedgehog has his day. A chilling breeze sails over my face before I even bother to get up. Ignoring the dizziness I start moving back towards the city. I wasn't about to use Chaos Control because…well I just hit my head on a rather hard tree it had to mess me up somehow. My headache disappears when I finally catch sight of a familiar town, my town, my home. I turn back onto my street and quickly get back inside my house. As I unwrap myself I notice a small dark blob in my kitchen. Tyke must've woken up some time ago and gotten himself some breakfast seeing that I wasn't here.

I move into the bathroom and find the bottle of pain reliever. I take one pill to help prevent any future headaches because I needed to think, and do it clearly!!! I quietly sit down on my living room sofa holding my head in deep thought. There was so much that I needed to do and I needed to do it fast. I could stop by their houses and visit them one day…then again knowing the faker and that knucklehead, they'd probably sooner put me six feet under after what I've done. Maybe I could……hell no! This is going to be harder than I thought. "So where you off brooding at this morning?"

I look back up to meet the bright yellow eyes of my chao. He may not have a mouth, but I could tell he was giving me one of those "stop being so damn stubborn" faces. I do what I've done many times before and completely ignore the evil eye and go right back to my own thoughts. It was the only thing that would potentially get him to leave me alone "Oh no you're not getting out of this that easily Mr. Emo Hedgehog who thinks…"…that is unless he decided to be as stubborn as I am which was quite often. I told you that I would never hear the end of it from Tyke. He just kept going on and on with that silly, made up name for me. However, his voice did make it hard to concentrate so I put a finger onto his phantom mouth but Tyke just pushed it off and continued his rant. "I have had it up to HERE with your brooding attitude, it's the freakin' holiday season, chug down some egg nog and LIGHTEN UP!!!" A spark finally ignites in my mind, but it vanishes just as quickly, I never thought it could happen, but Tyke's nagging may have finally proven useful "Wait…say that again."

"Lighten up!"

"No before that…"

"I've had it with your brooding attitude?" I slap my face in frustration, I think I finally have good idea but I need to be sure "NO, in the MIDDLE!"

"Oh the…holiday season thing?" Yes, that was exactly what I was hoping for. The irony of it all is that for years this season brought me nothing but dread, now it was actually helping me, who knew? I pace around the room muttering some things to myself while Tyke gawks at me like an idiot. I don't think he ever saw this side of me before at least not that he can vividly remember. I still lived with Rouge when I first got him as an egg. Plus, he was still an infant when I left. Getting back to business I went over my plan a bout 5 times before snapping fingers in approval. "That's it…it's got to work."

"What's got to work?" I said nothing, but ran upstairs into my room and started searching any drawer I had for a very specific item. Tyke was still confused beyond reason as he watched me move back and forth. Finally I found what I was looking for, a small, leather bound, notebook. Tyke looked at the little black book even more confused than before while I just head back downstairs with him following behind me. I stop at something I thought I would never, ever have to use at all…my phone.

My little friend starts to get a clue on what I'm about to do, but he is far from figuring out why. What's the connection between this notebook and my phone you ask? The book holds the methods of contact of which I can call people, say Sonic and crew, if I ever needed to. I set the book down and begin to punch the first sequence of numbers. Having seen what I'm about to do Tyke finally speaks up again. "I don't believe my eyes…are you really…?"

"Yes I am, now would you please keep it down?" I can see the proud expression on his dark, little face. No doubt he's thinking well it's about time you grew a brain. I finish dialing the number and then wait for a response, hopefully he would at least be home.

OoOoOoOo

I once again find myself lost in critical thinking deep within my mind. I've tried to work out this problem for about a week straight and still I haven't gotten results. I've done this process over and over again without fail and yet here I am, stumped beyond belief. Maybe I'm thinking about this too hard. Then again, it could be my lack of sleep. I always lose track of time when I'm like this. I can't help myself sometimes. I just start working and then all of a sudden I can't find anywhere to stop.

Though I suppose I'm still somewhat sane considering I'm not mentally on-edge even with all that coffee. But, day after day, I still find the time to live a normal life, yeah, if you can call stopping the plans of a demented psychopath normal. Just when I thought it would be another long day, an interruption comes in the form of my telephone. The sudden noise startles me and I hit my head against the metal base.

Rubbing away the pain I crawl out from under my work station, stretch my muscles and head over to the phone. By the desk I notice Chap is snoozing in the chair again. At least someone can get some Z's around here. Since it's just another typical winter morning I put on my business face and prepare myself. "Prower Power Garage…"

OoOoOoOo

I remain silent for a few seconds, was that really Tails? Was I really talking to the same, innocent, yet brilliant little boy because it certainly didn't sound like him. Then I remember the gap between our meetings and sigh. "Wow…your voice changed…"

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry, it's just that…well, wow…"

"Is there a point to all of this sir?" Of course there was, but I was caught off guard and needed time to compose my thoughts…again. I go through a few questions in my head figuring out what to ask of the little fox, but eventually he grew tired of the silence. "Look mister are we gonna talk business or what, can I help you with anything?"

"Again, I'm sorry. I'm not here to speak with Miles Prower; I want to talk with Tails." One of the few things I understood was that only his closest of friends called him by that name, and that theory proved to be fact when he asked "Sonic, are you okay? Your voice sounds…do you have a cold?" I stifle back a laugh, for a genius he was clueless but I had messed with him enough. "Tails…I think your confusing me with that blue faker again." Once again, dead silence. I hear a jumble of noises on the other end which meant he probably almost dropped the receiver, but had quickly caught it. "Shadow…is that you Shadow?!"

"Well…yeah it is."

"Holy crap…I can't believe this. I…how are you?"

"Uh…fine I guess" or at least I would be in the near future. "Oh my god…for a while I thought you had died!"

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence!" I reply dryly

"Sorry Shadow, so what have you been up to recently?"

"In all honesty, not much Tails."

"But it's been three years."

"Yeah, I know…actually I was planning something which is why I'm calling you."

"Okay shoot, I'm all ears." I swallow the lump that had been building in my throat. The moment had finally come. It was now or never, and I was not about to wait another three years before something like this ever came across my mind again so I just let it out. "I thought it would be nice to reunite the gang for the holidays. I've chosen to do this at my house seeing as how I need to get in touch with everyone again." Tyke gives me a dumbfounded look, not often do I see that. Nor is it often that I hear something like this "Are you joking of course I'll be there!!! Where do you live?"

"I still have one of the chaos emeralds so you can find me with one of your tracking devices."

"Good, when can I be there?" It was at this moment that I finally remembered something I had previously over looked, something very big. I ponder his question for a few seconds then answer. "How's Wednesday sound?"

"Perfect, I'll see you there, bye!" I hear him hang up the phone which finally ended the conversation. I sigh with relief that I at least jumped the first hurdle. I look at my list again and choose the second number to call. I press another string of numbers while Tyke goes off to do his dance of joy. He's obviously happy to see his friends again after so long an absence. The dial tone rings in my ear again as I prep myself for the second call. After three rings someone finally picks up on the other end and answers with a rather groggy "Who are you and what do you want?" What stuns me is that right after I hear another voice, female, in the near background. She sounded just as tired when she told the male not to be so rude. It was my turn to be confused as this was something I did not expect, Knuckles was sleeping with a woman.

"Still the same gung-ho attitude, eh Knucklehead?" I hear him sigh before he answers "Sonic how many times have I told you not to call me during this hour?!"

"Oh yeah, still as thick headed as ever, you're the second one today to confuse me with the blue hedgehog." I can only wonder what he's thinking as I wait for him to respond, which was unusually short "Shadow…?"

"Wow you actually caught on this time. I guess these three years has done some good after all."

"Yeah…you're Shadow" I hear Knuckles and his mistress talking to each other before we resume our conversation. "I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Yes you did, so you better have a good reason for doing so!"

"How about getting the chance to see your friends again?"

"……I'm listening…" I then explain my plan in a way even he could understand. I tell him my address and when to arrive. Plus, I add that he can bring his girlfriend as well. Knuckles didn't respond to that comment, but he just hung afterward anyway. Now it was onto my third victim and I figured who better than the faker himself. Tyke has finally decided to rejoin me in the living room while I dial the number for Sonic's apartment. "Aww come on, can I listen?"

"Oh fine, as long as you promise to keep calm."

"Keep calm, come on I'm always calm!" He says while bouncing in place. I turn on the speaker and finish dialing. This time I didn't have to wait long for an answer, but for some reason…it wasn't Sonic speaking? "Hello, Hedgehog residence" that voice was once again clearly female, and very familiar to boot. At first I thought to disregard it as a wrong number, but the words 'hedgehog' and 'residence' were enough to keep me on the line at all. But, the only word to come out of my mouth was "AMY?!?!?!?!"

"Speaking, who may I ask is calling?" Both Tyke and I sat there racking our brains for any logical explanation as to why Amy of all creatures was on Sonic's phone. Last we remembered, he didn't want to be on the same planet as her. The only way to really find out if I had gotten the right number was to ask for the main man himself. She obliged and soon I hear something equivalent to that of a banshee and I almost drop my receiver. Three seconds later, two to clean my ears, my suspicions were confirmed. "Sonic here, what's up?" This time I let my phone hit the floor. I didn't really believe it but there he was, I know I can recognize his voice from a mile away. "You okay over there, sounded like you dropped your phone."

"Ho-ly-crap…it really is you"

"Last I checked I was me, what did something happen?"

"Uh…DUH, why is Amy there?!" I had taken a bad turn with that remark. Now Sonic was the one suspicious of his strange caller and he made that very clear. "Look here pal…I don't know how you got a hold of this number but you're making a big mistake, I can have you thrown in prison in no time flat if I wanted and…"

"Oh come off it faker, we both know there's no way you can win against me in anything!" I heard him open his mouth to talk, but nothing came out, I also hear a similar reaction form Amy. Looks like Sonic had turned on his speaker as well. Soon I can hear her sputter "I-i-is t-th-that…"

"SHADOW?!?!?!?!" The two echoed in unison which only made me laugh. "Wow…I didn't know whether to keep talking or to come over there myself to see if it really was true!"

"Oh my god it is Shadow" Sonic said sounding absolutely terrified. Amy on the other hand…was not. Remember how I said I hear something similar to a banshee? Well this was the same as an entire choir of banshees…a very, VERY, tone deaf choir. "HolycrapitreallyisyouShadowit'sbeensolongwhereareyouwhathaveyoubeendoinghow…"

"AMY COULD YOU PLEASE CLAM DOWN?!?!?!" I had to shout…it was the only way to stop the pain. In all my life never have I heard anyone talk so fast. I compose myself so I could continue the call without losing my head. "Well aside from the obvious what have you lovebirds been doing?"

"I can very well ask you the same question Shadow. It's been three years and we never even saw or heard any trace of you!"

"I know which is why I'm going to cut to the chase. I know it's been a long time since any of us have seen our friends so I decided to gather us together for the upcoming holiday at my place, you in or what?" Once again, I fall victim to dead silence and I have to wait to see how long it would be before I get any kind of reply. "Let me get this straight, you want to bring the gang back together for Christmas at your house?"

"Yeah, I thought I just said that."

"Who are you and what have you done with Shadow you imposter?!" I slap my face frustrated at how long it would take if Sonic kept this sort of thing up "Sonic…"

"Okay, okay, just wanted to make sure it was still you. So what did you have in mind?" I give him the location and earliest arrival date and with an eccentric goodbye it was all over. I sighed again knowing that part one had been completed, part two was what I had overlooked…getting the house decorated. I stood up form the chair and get ready to head out once again. But Tyke pulls on my arm and stops me "What is it we have a lot of work to do Tyke."

"I know, but you missed a number dad." My eyes roll as I scan the sheet for what I could've possible missed. Tails, he was first, Knuckles, got him, Sonic, hell I even got Amy with him. However, I look down at the bottom of the page to see one final number. I check to see who it belongs to and in mere seconds my inner momentum is lost. True there was only one person left to call…but it would turn out to be the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. The number was for Rouge's apartment.


A/N: Shadow's had a epiphany, get your umbrellas, the sky is about to fall. Now that Shadow has gotten a hold of...almost...all his guests, what is he going to do to his house since he's never decorated before? Plus, what will happen when Shadow makes the long overdue call to the bat that has stolen his heart? Will they patch things up? Will it only get worse? HOW DID AMY FINALLY BAG SONIC? You'll have to find out next time. Good reviews quicker updates, flames s'mores...yum