"I think I might know where a pizza place is around here." Amy put her finger on her lip and thought for a moment.

"You think of anything?" Shadow asked. He yawned.

"Well, I do own a parlor around the corner." Amy answered him and smiled.

Shadow stopped leaning on the brick wall. "Really?" He asked, skeptical. "You own a pizza parlor?"

Amy nodded. "Yep! How do you think I pay for my apartment, electricity, water and other things like that.

"I just figured you lived with someone."

Amy laughed. "I used to, but now I make enough to live in a cozy little apartment in Central City. Here I'll show you to my parlor." Amy grabbed Shadow's hand and started walking in the direction of her pizza place. Shadow walked, but he still walked like he didn't want to be there.

On the way people stared at Shadow. He tried to ignore them and followed Amy When they got to a place called "Amy's Pizza Parlor" they stopped.

"Here it is!" Amy said in a cheerful voice.

"Yeah." Shadow replied in a half-caring tone of voice.

Both hedgehogs went inside and sat down at a table. The place had a low-lit atmosphere with plants and fake vines all over the place. Murals were painted on the walls and the tables were iron with white tablecloths. It all made for a very romantic atmosphere; it was fitting, considering Amy was the owner.

Shadow looked around. "Okay…"

A mouse waiter came over to their table. "Hello Miss Rose" He gave them menus. "What would you two like to drink?"

"Iced tea please." Amy answered and looked at Shadow.

"Water."

The mouse nodded and went to get their drinks. Amy unfolded her menu and looked at it. "I have some very good tortellini, and spaghetti also."

Shadow unfolded his menu. "I thought you said this was a pizza place?"

"It is but there's more to eat than just pizza."

Shadow looked at his menu. "I just think I'll have cheese tortellini."

"That's a good choice." Amy nodded and the waiter came back.

"All ready?" He asked as he put down their drinks.

"Yes." Amy answered. "I want chicken spaghetti." She gave her menu to the mouse.

"I'll have cheese tortellini." Shadow also handed his menu over.

When the mouse left, Amy looked at Shadow with a pleased expression on her face. "So, I want to know more about you Shadow."

"Aside from what you already know?" The black and red hedgehog asked.

The pink hedgehog nodded.

"Well…My favorite color is red."

"Not like that!" Amy playfully pushed him. "I mean about your interests, your hobbies, what you like to do.

Shadow scratched his head. He'd never really thought about what he liked to do in a long time. "Uh…"

Amy's smile faded. "You don't know do you?"

Shadow shook his head.

"Well don't worry, I'm sure that we can find something." She started smiling again. "But in the meantime, while we wait for our food, I can tell you about myself.

"Okay."

"Well, I like shopping, boxing, tennis, running…" The hedgehog girl looked down at the table.

"You thinking about Sonic again?" Shadow asked.

"Yes…"

Shadow leaned forward. "Don't think about him, he is with that cat now."

"I know, I'm trying not to, but I've chased him for so long now…"

"It's hard to stop, isn't it?" Shadow asked.

Amy could feel the tears starting to come out of her eyes and roll down her cheeks. The waiter came with their food just then. He put their plates down on the table. He looked at her face. "Are you okay?"

Amy nodded and the waiter left them alone. She wiped her face. "I'm sorry for crying Shadow, it's just that it's so hard to let go after so long."

Shadow felt a pang of sudden empathy for the pink hedgehog. He moved closer to her and gave her a napkin to dry her tears with. "It's okay Amy."

Amy wiped her eyes. "Thank you, but you've probably never had to deal with anything like this."


Shadow took the napkin and put it on the table. He shook his head and didn't say anything. He moved back to his food and started to eat it. Amy eventually came to eat hers, Shadow paid, even though they could have eaten for free. When they left, Shadow was still debating on whether he was going to tell her or not. When they got back to his and Rouge's apartment he looked into his bathroom mirror for a time until he was ready. He walked into the living room where Amy sat on the couch.

"Amy I think I have something to tell you that may make you feel better."