Chapter Four

"Thanks for agreeing to do this, Sonic." Amy smiled as she looked over at Sonic.

"Don't mention it, Ames. I mostly just did it because you used that face on me. I don't know why, I just can't say no to it." Sonic smirked. "But, y'know, this is actually kinda nice. I've never actually taken the time to enjoy a day like today. When you run everywhere at top speed you kinda miss out on the little things." He felt Amy gently take his hand. "Uh, Ames, what are you doing? We agreed that this wasn't part of the deal."

"Sonic, don't worry. I just feel safer this way. Besides, there's nobody around to see us." She giggled. "And do I really disgust you that much that you won't even hold my hand for a while? I'm hurt that you feel that way, Sonic."

"No, Ames, it's not that at all. But someone could easily come within view of us, and then what? They'd get the wrong idea and a rumor starts spreading! And if Tails or Cream get wind of that rumor? Man, we'd never hear the end of it! So just, uh, let go before that happens." He tried to remove his hand from Amy's grasp, only for her to tighten her grip instead.

"Come on, Sonic. They'd just be rumors. What's the problem? It's not like it would matter. Everyone knows we'd never be a couple, anyway." She said, that final sentence burning her lips as she said it. She knew it was true, Sonic knew it was true, everyone knew it was true, but still she hated to say it out loud. Convincing herself that there was still hope was hard enough without herself saying that they would never be a couple.

Sonic shrugged. "Well, I guess, but don't you think th-" Amy placed a finger on his lips before he could finish the sentence.

"Sonic. Just hold my hand, alright? I'll even let go if anyone comes by, okay? How are you ever gonna get a girlfriend if you can't even hold one of your closest friend's hands comfortably for more than a few seconds?" She smiled, and then put her hand back down at her side. That was the last that was said on that issue. They walked in silence for a good long moment, one that Amy was treasuring with all of her heart. She had never gotten Sonic to willingly hold her hand before, and it was well worth it just for this one moment, even if she needed to damn her own fantasies to the realm of the impossible in order to do so.

"Yeah, I guess you're right, Ames," Sonic finally said, breaking the silence. "This isn't so bad." Sonic was never one for relationships; the very thought of being tied down like that was one that he did NOT want to entertain anytime soon. Amy was right, though. Sooner or later, he would get tired of the free roaming lifestyle and want to settle down with somebody. The issue would be finding someone that was willing to put up with him. After all, even WHEN he finally decided to have a relationship with someone, that still didn't mean that he was going to be around all the time. And his cocky attitude wasn't something that many people would be able to handle.

Yeah, this is kinda nice, he thought to himself. He never expected that the first hand he'd hold would be Amy's, but as far as first times go he could certainly do worse. Her grip was so subtle and gentle that he might forget that he was even holding her hand were it not for the comforting warm aura emanating from her hand. What the hell…? Why am I thinking in such poetic terms about AMY of all people?! That is not okay. I need to stop this train of thought right now! No sooner did he finish this thought than they stopped right in front of Amy's house. Or, at least, Amy did. Sonic was too involved in his self-argument that he would've kept walking had Amy not pulled him back.

"Thanks again, Sonic," Amy let go of his hand and began to walking to the door. "I really appreciate it." She only took a few steps before turning around again and just…staring into Sonic's emerald green eyes. She was tempted to walk over to him and give him a quick peck on the cheek, or to take his hand again and just hold it for a while, or maybe even just give him a quick hug and then go inside. She decided against all three of these actions. The healing process had to start somewhere- and where better to start than just giving a totally normal goodbye to Sonic? Still, she found herself enthralled by his gaze. Why, she could've stood there forever, just staring into his eyes, wishing that having a relationship with him was-

"Ames? Are…are you alright? Shouldn't you be going inside instead of just…standing there like you're doing?" The sound of Sonic's voice was enough to snap Amy out of her trance. Her hands instantly shot up to cover her mouth, which had been hanging open like an idiot, and also her cheeks, which were glowing red and burning hot.

"S-Sonic! I…I was just…uh, that is…I gotta go, Sonic! See you tomorrow!" She quickly ran inside and closed the door, leaving Sonic standing outside.

"That…huh. Well, alright, Ames, if that's how you say goodbye to one of your best friends then I'm not gonna stop you." He shrugged his shoulder, then continued on towards his house.

Amy slumped against the door as she entered the comfort of her own home. "That was soooooo cute!" said a familiar voice from the living room, causing Amy to jump up in surprise.

"Cream?! What're you doing here?!" Amy wiped a bead of sweat from her brow before joining the rabbit by the window.

"I never left," said the rabbit innocently. "When you went out with Mister Sonic, that is. I was going to, but your bed is just so comfortable that I couldn't pull myself out of it until just a few minutes ago!"

Amy's eyes widened. "Wait…Cream, you went in my ROOM?! I told you that's the ONE place in here that you're not allowed to go!"

"Don't worry, Miss Amy! I didn't touch anything. All those pictures of Mister Sonic that you have are completely fine!" Cream's Chao companion had begun to climb its way up Amy's arm and onto her head, prompting a short giggle from the rabbit.

"Y-you saw the-?!" Cream nodded, a smile on her face.

"There are so many that it's kind of hard not to, Miss Amy. Could you imagine if I had I that many pictures of Tails in my room? There'd barely be any room to walk!" She giggled again, pulling Cheese out of Amy's hair before he completely ruined it.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Miss Amy. Everyone knows how much you love Mister Sonic. And you finally got him to hold your hand! It was only a matter of time. It took a while to get started, but you two were SOOOOO adorable there!" Amy sighed, then buried her face in her hands.

"Cream, we aren't a couple. We never were," she sighed again. "And we never will be."

Cream blinked, her head tilted slightly to the side, and then clasped her hands together in front of her. "Come on, Miss Amy! That's no way to think! Tails and I had a rough start, and look at where we are n-" Amy jumped from the couch and into a standing position, knocking over a table in the process.

"Don't you DARE try to give me relationship advice, Cream! Tails isn't like Sonic! Tails is sweet and innocent and genuine and he actually cares about you and Sonic DOESN'T! You don't know how it feels to wake up every day and have some prank or joke or WHATEVER played on you by your hero! You've never loved someone like I love Sonic, so don't even act like you know anything about what I'm going through!" She snarled, her voice raised. Who was Cream to try helping Amy with her problems? Tails and Cream were…they were happy. Tails never forgot her birthday, always got her exactly what she wanted for Christmas, went out to the movies with her whenever she wanted to even if the movie in question was one he had absolutely no interest in. They weren't a perfect couple by any means, but they were certainly better than Amy and Sonic would ever be. Cream's eyes widened, and she took a step back with her arms crossed.

"Sorry, Miss Amy. I was just trying to make you feel better. But if that's how you feel, then fine. I'll just leave." She turned and began to walk to the door, but Amy's voice quietly piped up before she could.

"No…wait. I was…I was actually going to go clear out some of those pictures from my room, and it's gonna take a while if it's just me. Maybe…maybe you could help?" She smiled weakly, her voice slowly quieting as she got closer to the end of the sentence.

"You…you're getting rid of them? But…I thought Mister Sonic was…" Amy shook her head.

"Not anymore, no. I'm over him now. C'mon, those pictures aren't gonna get rid of themselves."

Author's Note:

Not much to do with the Robotnik plot this time. Mostly just some of the final setup for the SonAmy relationship, which I promise will be starting soon. Also, I really suck at writing Cream. But that's alright, because she has plenty more appearances down the line and it can only get better from here. If you guys enjoy the story so far (or even if you don't) please remember to leave reviews telling me what I'm doing wrong. There's only so much that a writer can improve without feedback from the people reading their stories. I intend next chapter to have much more to do with Robotnik, so if you didn't enjoy this chapter please stay tuned next time!