A/N: In the first two chapters I said this was a little AU. In this version Shadow is a normal, if epic, hedgehog. There are also no humans. Thus Maria and Gerald are hedgehogs as well. I did this to simplify matters.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Living Pains

Chapter 4: Getting to Know You


"Shadow?" Karin called worriedly. She followed Amy to the kitchen where they found Shadow lying on the ground. There was a shattered plate next to him. He glared at Amy.

"What kind of question is that?" He said, climbing to his feet.

"That's a yes!" She giggled. Karin and Shadow flushed lightly.

"How did you know?" Karin asked her.

"You've been avoiding him like the plague and you looked like you were going to die when I said you thought he was cute." Shadow looked at Karin.

"You really think I'm…" Karin hung her head in embarrassment.

"Yes…" He studied her for a moment. She really was adorable when she was embarrassed.

"I think you're pretty cute yourself." He said as he left the room. Amy's eyes shinned with joy as Karin's cheeks darkened. She stared at his back as he walked to his room.

"Aw…" Karin shot Amy a questioning glance. "You two are so adorable!" She squealed.

"Do you have to do that?" Shadow reentered the kitchen with a broom and dustpan. He began to clean up the broken plate shards. After a pause Karin and Amy bent down to help him.

"Do what?" Amy asked him with a grin.

"Get all squeally. It's embarrassing." He flat-out refused to look at either of the two girls.

"Shadow, why do you have a broom in your room?" Karin asked, ignoring the pink hedgehog for the moment.

"She breaks stuff." Was his simple reply, causing Amy to glare at him. After they cleaned up the kitchen they sat in the living room in an embarrassed silence. Shadow was getting tenser by the moment. Amy wasn't known for being quiet. He knew she was plotting something involving Karin and himself. Karin had come to the same conclusion herself. The problem was she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop Amy or not.

"Well Karin, it's getting late. Shadow, why don't you walk her to her car?" This earned her a death glare from them both. Your move Shadow. She thought to herself.

"Fine." He said quietly. They both stood and walked to the door. He held it open for her without hesitating. Before he closed the door he looked at Amy. "You had better not be out here if you know what's good for you Rose." He mock-threatened. She simply blew him a kiss. They were quiet as they walked down the stairs, both keenly aware of the last time they had been on them.

"So Amy told me that you took a bullet for her." Karin tried to break the uncomfortable silence.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah." He frowned in thought. "That was a while ago."

"Do you like her?" She barely whispered. Shadow choked on his own breath when he heard that.

"What?" He nearly choked on his own breath.

"Do you like Amy?" She was pretty sure he would say yes. She was surprised when he started laughing.

"Me like Rose? Why would you think something so insane?" He said through his laughter.

"Why else would you take a bullet for her?" She grew worried when he didn't answer. "Shadow?"

"She reminds me of my sister." He said with a sad smile.

"Your sister?" She was confused; Amy hadn't told her anything about him having a sister. She had seen a picture of Shadow once. He had been with an old hedgehog and some pale yellow one. Amy had not wanted to talk about the girl much.

"Maria. She was a few years older than me. She and I were raised by our grandfather Gerald."

"Where is she?" She became even more worried when he stopped walking. As they stood outside the building it slowly began to snow.

"She died." He said quietly.

"How?" She touched his arm in sympathy.

"She was shot." Her eyes widened in surprise. "I was so young. And I couldn't save her." He held his hands up to his face. They were shaking. He furrowed his brows in concentration. His hands refused to steady. "I was useless. Pathetic." He clenched his hands and teeth. "I couldn't face that again. When that guy pulled a gun on Rose it all came rushing back." He shook his head. "Sorry. I shouldn't be boring you with my problems." He continued walking.

"Shadow…" Karin wrapped her arms around him. "You don't have to hide from me." She whispered. After a minute of standing like that they continued walking. "There's my car." She said indicating a black car.

"Hey Karin?"

"Yeah?"

"If you tell Rose what I'm about to tell you, I swear I'll punch Knuckles in the face." She smiled lightly and nodded. "Will you have dinner with me tomorrow?" She gasped in surprise. When she didn't answer he became discouraged and decided she was going to say no. "I'm sorry. I-" He was cut off when she kissed him on the cheek.

"I'd love to." With that she got in her car and drove off. He stood there for a moment, grinning like an idiot. Then he turned and walked back to his apartment. The second he entered his home Amy was on him. She didn't even let him take off his coat.

"What did you talk about? Did you ask her out? I saw her kiss you!" He held up her hand.

"You. Yes. So?" He decided he was only going to give her single syllables. He was still stunned. This plan was foiled when he saw her pout. "What?"

"You know you're going to have to elaborate." He gave her a glare of annoyance which quickly became fear as she grinned evilly. "If you don't I'll annoy you by begging continuously until you finally crack." Shadow remembered the last time she made that threat. He only lasted an hour before he told her everything she wanted to know. With a sigh he began to tell her everything.

"Aw! You're such a gentleman Shadow!" She giggled. Her eyes widened. "We have to get you ready!" He looked at her in alarm.

"For what?"

"Your date!" She ran into is room to rummage through his closet.

"What are you doing?" He was becoming frightened. He preferred Amy didn't go into his room. She tended to rearrange it compulsively.

"I'm trying to find anything presentable for you to wear." She sighed in frustration. "We're going shopping tomorrow." His eyes widened in terror.

"No way, I remember the last time you took me shopping."

"Nothing bad happened."

"You hit me in the head with a clothes rack!" He said exasperatedly.

"What if I bring Rouge along?" He considered this for a moment.

"Fine. But if I start feeling smothered, I'm going to ask Knuckles for help." She looked at him and for a moment it seemed like they were having a standoff. He put her hand out towards her. "Deal?"

"Deal." She took his hand.


A/N: I know, I know. I messed around with his back story. I was trying to avoid the whole 'Shadow tried to blow up the world' thing. It's over done and doesn't fit in with this universe.