Amy Rose couldn't see a thing. Her entire vision was clouded with the tears that drowned her as she ran away as fast as she could, sobbing uncontrollably. It was as if her chest had a large, aching hole in it. She paid no attention to where she was going. Luckily, the street was empty and there was no one to witness her misery. The way to her house was so deeply engraved in her mind, she could go through without looking foward, her gaze on the floor she ran as an unconscious way to hide her face.

When the trail ended, she took a turn to the left, crossing between bushes, and into the next main street's sidewalk.

Then she felt herself crash against something furry yet so strong it might have been a wall. The blow caused her to fly back and land on her butt, the pain from the fall harshly bringing her back to reality.

"You klutz!" cried a familiar girl's voice, clearly annoyed. "Watch where you're going!"

"Ouch...sorry..." replied Amy, too embarassed to look up and too miserably to speak clearly. Sobs escaped her again, the pain in her heart much worse than the physical one.

Shadow the Hedgehog had only moved a little to the side when Amy crashed into him, but it had been enough to bump into Rouge the Bat, who had been walking beside him. He moved away from her.

"Sorry," he told Rouge in his soft yet masculine voice.

"What? It's her fault, not yours..." sneered Rouge, looking down at the pink hedgehog with contempt.

Shadow stepped closer to Amy Rose and offered his hand, and Rouge's expression immidiately changed into one of astonishment.

The pink hedgehog lifted her gaze - tears still falling down uncontrollably - and saw the gloved hand in front of her face. Amy was beyond shocked when she realized who it belonged to, more so when she noticed Shadow's strangely warm expression, even with his fearsome red eyes glistening in the moonlight.

Shadow...is being nice to me?

Numbly, she took his hand and allowed him to help her up. He took both of her hands in the process and when she was back on her feet, he kept looking at her intensely, not releasing them.

"Are you hurt?" he asked gently.

"N-No...I'm okay...I mean..." stuttered Amy Rose between sobs. She knew she was on a mental and emotional crisis at the moment, but even so, as she looked at the mysterious hedgehog's expression she only noticed that he had precisely what she desperately needed at that moment.

"OH SHADOW!" Amy cried, and flung her arms around him, sobbing on his shoulder. "I WANT TO DIE! I FEEL SO WORTHLESS!" She let it all out and cried even harder.

Shadow's eyes were wide with shock the moment the girl threw herself on him, his body rigid, his hands at his sides. But soon after, his eyes softened again, and he placed both of his hands on the crying girl's back, allowing her to remain where she was.

Rouge's jaw had dropped. She blinked, thinking it was a dream, but again she saw the same impossible scene ocurring before her. It was uttely ridiculous and just completely unfathomable. Throughout the years she had known Shadow, he had not yet shown an ounce of human emotion or sympathy before her. She felt very unconfortable, like she was intruding in someone's intimate, private moment.

"Um, Shadow?" she asked numbly, thinking that maybe if she called him he would snap out of it.

But he looked at her calmly, not changing his position. "What is it?"

She stared at him, completely baffeled. "Well...I'll just..." she stuttered, shrugging in an attempt to seem nonchalant. "I'll go ahead without you. I'll meet with you later."

"Okay," he answered simply.

Amy Rose's sobs were all that could be heard for a while as Rouge made her way to her destination, still feeling frozen inside with shock.

The unpleasant feeling still hadn't worn away by the time she reached Sonic's house, but Rouge was usually good at pretending. As she made her way through the party, she winked at her numerous male admirers among the Freedom Fighters, ignored the usual jealous sneers from the females, and smiled brightly as soon as she spotted her target.

Rouge flung herself unto a certain red Echidna's back, squeezing him. "Hey there handsome," she purred seductively.

"R-Rouge? Hey, stop that!" protested Knuckles, annoyed and nervous. His girlfriend Julie-Su, who had been standing right next to him, glared at Rouge, then at Knuckles, who had an apologetic smirk.

"Not you again! Get off him!"

"Hey, relax sweetie," teased Rouge as she released Knuckles. "I'm just saying hello!"

Before Julie-Su could say anything else, the bat girl had already left to greet each of the Freedom Fighters gathered around the round table nearby. She gave away kisses and hugs to the men and little smirks and waves to the women, most of whom stared at her coldly.

"And here is the other hottie of the party!" she told Sonic before kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks for the invite. Looking good as always. And you too princess," she added with a wink.

Princess Sally, still sitting on her boyfriend's lap, grimaced uncomfortably in response. "Uh... thanks, I guess."

"Sit down girl!" requested Sonic, gesturing at the chair beside him. "Mi casa es su casa. Grab a beer."

"Don't mind if I do," replied Rouge, for a second her wall of pretense uncovered. She reached inside the nearest cooler and took one before sitting next to Sonic and Sally.

"Hey Rouge, where's Shadow?" asked Rotor, from the other side of the table. The various conversations going on suddenly stopped as everyone's looked at Rouge.

"Are you serious? Did you really think he'd come to a party?" sneered the bat girl. She chuckled to hide her irritation, then took a large chug of beer.

"Yeah Rotor. Why would the ultimate lifeform be interested in mingling with mere mortals?" teased Espio beside him, elbowing his friend.

"I just assumed he'd be with Rouge," answered Rotor defensively. "What's the problem?"

"The problem is," broke in Bunnie Rabbot "The answer's too obvious! Ah mean, it would be freakin' weird if him black-hog was here, wouldn' it?"

"Yeah, something tells me the Faker's not the partying type, Rote," said Sonic sarcastically. "More like the sulk in darkness type, actually" he added, laughing along with the others.

"Okay then, man! Sorry I asked! Geez!" Rotor took another chug of his beer, annoyed.

Tails, who had maintained an expression of discomfort, suddenly spoke.

"Actually, Sonic, I think Shadow is different than you think."

Everyone became silent and stared at the boy fox expectantly.

"Uh, nevermind," he said, suddenly nervous after being put on the spotlight. He pretended to be very interested in reading the label on his soda can.

"Come on bro! Spit it out," insisted Sonic. "What's on your mind?"

"I don't think any of you will believe me anyway," he answered, a little more to himself. He sighed. "But I'll tell you anyway. Just don't laugh at me."

The table was quiet and all eyes were on Tails.

"Well...I was at the forest taking a walk today... and, you especially, Sonic, know my unwilling habit of bumping into people that are making out in the woods..."

Most of them laughed at Sonic's uncomfortable expression after Princess Sally rolled her eyes at him. He rubbed his ears nervously, his lips curved into a little nervous smile. "Yeah, go on with the story Tails."

"Okay then, I'll just get to the point. While I was walking back to the city, I happened to see Shadow kiss Amy while she was asleep on one of the benches..."

A few moments of complete silence transpired as they all gazed at each other.

Then came an outburst of hysterical laughter.

"I told you not to laugh at me!" protested Tails, blushing.

"That's ridiculous! Shadow kissed Amy? Are you feeling okay?" teased Rotor between chuckles and then touched Tails' forehead.

Tails slapped his friend's hand away, irritated. "Stop it, I know what I saw, okay? Why would I make this up? It was right outside the city gates, near the forest -"

"Ha! Give me a break, kid. Shadow doesn't do romance. And it took me," Rouge bragged, gesturing at her chest. "A true woman, forever to get him to hang out outside of work."

"She's right, you know," insisted Espio. "I mean, how can someone like Shadow kiss a girl like Amy? And he isn't even Mobian!"

"Well, he is a biological being. Maybe he has a thing for sweet and innocent mortals?" suggested Rotor jokingly.

"Dude, Amy's neither one of those," sneered Sonic. "Besides, it's not like they'll get together. You're kind of forgetting the fact that she's obsessed with me."

"Oooh! Someone's jealous," taunted Rotor.

"No way!" snapped Sonic, his expression disgusted and waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Remind me to send Shadow flowers tomorow to thank him for taking her off my back."

"One less stalker on t' list fo' you, suga'hog," said Bunnie, wiking at Sonic.

"Haha, that's right," said Charmy with a giggle. "Who would've known. Shadow the lover boy."

"Damn it! Are you all retarded?" cried Rouge, exasperated. "What part of Shadow doesn't date don't you get? Whatever, I need a stronger drink."

She stood and walked toward the kitchen area, leaving behind a slightly tense vibe. The group continued snickering as they exchanged amused looks.

"Looks like my bro isn't the only one jealous here," taunted Tails, eyeing his best friend. Everyone was watching Sonic expectantly.

"What? You guys are on crack! Why would I care!"

Princess Sally, who had remained oddly serious throughout the entire conversation, playfully pulled one of Sonic's ears and glared at him.

"Hey! What is it?" he protested.

"You're so full of it," sneered Sally. "I've known you since we were four. You can't fool me."

She stood from his lap and crossed the crowded room without a glance back.

"Oh, snap," teased Knuckles "You're in trouble, man."

"Nah, that's just one of her typical mood swings," Sonic insisted as he watched his girlfriend walk away, his worried expression unseen by the others.

Is this...possible?

He had allowed her to cry until she had no more tears, unmoving and silent. She had found relief by resting her face against the slightly longer, white fur of his chest, sobbing more silently each moment until she finally found some tranquility. She had never felt more comfort in anyone else's arms before, and those arms belonged to Shadow the Hedgehog, someone that not too long ago she considered - along with everyone else - an evil being. Yet it was clearer than day now, he was evil no more, for how could a being of darkness be capable of holding her the way he did, his hand moving gently on her back as she sobbed.

When the crying finally subsided, Amy Rose wiped the tears off her face and looked up at him. His hands remained over her arms as they stood inches away from each other, staring into each other's eyes in silence and wonder. Inexplicably, she felt as if pieces of her heart were already assembling back in her chest, a light and fluttery feeling, and a very familiar one to her...

Right after such terrible heartbreak, already...I'm...

His crimson eyes were so unbelievably warm, and deep inside Amy could perceive the inmense loneliness, burning inside him like black flames. She hadn't noticed before how handsome he was, despite his sinister appearance, and his voice, earlier, had been so tender and so incredibly attractive...

Layer after layer of her own loneliness that had acumulated throughout the years took over her. Before she even considered the possibility of doing it, Amy Rose inched closer to Shadow and pressed her lips against his.

Immidiately she felt him become tense. She broke away, astounded at her own action, and took a step back.

"I'm sorry," she cried softly. "I don't know why I did that - damn, I'm a mess right now! I'll go now - thank you."

She turned around and began to walk in the opposite direction.

Then she felt a strong hand clasp her wrist, pulling her back. A second later her body was thrown against Shadow's again, her face held firmly by his hands, and his lips pressed fiercely to hers. Amy lost herself in the moment, returning the same sudden, inexplicable and overwhelming passion. Incapable of thought, she wrapped her arms around him and their lips moved together as the kiss deepened.

It was the best kiss she'd had in her life, beyond anything she could imagine possible. Fierce yet sweet, the type she thought only existed in movies.

When they broke appart, she was out of breath and slightly dizzy. Her body would have swayed to the side had he not been holding her close to him. He looked into her eyes as his elegant, soft voice flowed through his lips again...

"Amy Rose, don't ever say you're worthless again, or that you want to die. You are more valuable than any of those fools who call themselves freedom fighters, because you saved the world yourself. Promise me that you won't let anyone make you feel that way again."

It was the most she'd heard him speak. At that moment she knew that every one of his words had become engraved in her heart.

"I promise," she replied, still slightly breathless. "You don't know how much those words mean to me..."

"I do know," he insisted. "It was your own words that changed me forever and saved this planet that day, and for that I'll be forever grateful."

"Shadow..."

She couldn't get over the shock at discovering this side of him. After their brief first conversation on the Ark over a year ago, she had only seen him in the middle of fierce battles - battles he had fought alongside Freedom Fighters - and ones in which he would crush enemies without hesitation, his face completely lacking any emotion each and everytime.

And now it was as if the coat of ice had completely melted to reveal his true inner self. The image she had of him before dissapeared completely. She looked at their entwined hands and knew that all along it was meant to be.

"I've always known, somehow, that you were a sweet and caring person," said Amy as she gazed into his eyes. "Thank you so much for putting up with me like that..."

"Don't worry," answered Shadow. "It didn't bother me."

"And...you know..." Amy's tone became playful. "I never imagined you'd be such a great kisser."

Shadow tilted his face down in silence.

"Aww, are you blushing?" asked Amy, beaming at him. "That's so cute!"

"Nonesense," he protested, still not looking at her, but he couldn't hide the reddish color of his cheeks.

I just fell in love...Amy laughed softly as she watched him, her heart growing with affection every second. "You know what? I think we need to lighten up a little. And since I'm all dressed up, do you mind taking me to dinner?"

"What?"

"Oh, brother," teased Amy with a soft laugh. "I'll take you then! Come on!"

She pressed Shadow's hand tighter and dragged him away, ignoring his half-hearted protests as they made their way toward downtown Mobotropolis.

And so it began...

* If you liked it PLEASE REVIEW *

* I might write a sequel to this if I get enough reviews. Hopefully it will be longer and with a more complex plot. Shadow + Amy 4 life. :D