'Tikal, Honey, it's not that I don't believe you. I just don't believe that it was Shadow.' Rouge said as she sipped on her coffee.

'Oh, come on, Rouge. It was bound to happen eventually, right?' Cosmo piped up, placing her tea down.

After Tikal came in last night, she found Tails and Sonic had delivered her new clothes to Amy's house so she would be ready to move in. Amy, of course, had already been informed of Tikal's outing and demanded to know everything that happened. Tikal was overwhelmed to begin with, until Amy got giggly and excited, causing the effect to rub off on Tikal. The pink hedgehog decided to get all the girls together and go out to the café they had liked so Tikal could spill the beans about her 'date' the next day…

'Amy told me it was a date. I don't really know what that means but it sounds serious, so I'm going to say that it wasn't that.' Tikal smiled as she sipped her smoothie.

'Of course it was a date! You guys kissed!' Amy exclaimed.

'WHAT?!' Rouge, Cosmo and Cream all almost choked on their drinks.

'We did not! I said he nearly did, and then his phone went off. He never did say who it was from?' Tikal said, beginning to wonder.

'Don't be worried, Miss Tikal. I'm sure it was just one of the boys.' Cream smiled, lifting Tikal's spirits.

'Ok, let me just get this straight-'

'For the third time this morning.' Amy cut the ivory bat off.

'Oh shoosh! So… Shadow offered to take you for a ride, takes you to the beach, you talk and laugh all day, go for a swim and then he tries to make a move?' Rouge summed up arching an eyebrow at the peach echidna.

'Well, uh…' Tikal trailed off.

'You probably could've put it a little more delicately but, yes.' Amy snickered as she sipped her tea.

'I never, ever, saw this coming.' Rouge sat back in her chair.

'Shadow mentioned you two worked together, I understand you know him well?' Tikal asked.

'You could say that, Babe.' Rouge smiled, still in shock.

'So what are you going to do now?' Cosmo asked.

'I've never been in this situation before. I wouldn't know?' Tikal shrugged nervously.

'As long as Sonic or Knuckles don't talk Shadow into anything, you'll be just fine!' Amy giggled.

The girls began to laugh, trying to lift Tikal's spirits. The young echidna tried to play along, but inside she was nervous. Sure she was happy and excited about the events of the previous day but it was just as Cosmo had asked. What now? She had only just learnt of this 'new world' a matter of days ago, this was being throw in the deep end if anything. Being a teen sucks sometimes…

'So are you gunna ask her out?' Knuckles smirked, using his hands as a head rest as he laid back.

'Shut up, Knucklehead.' Shadow grunted.

'He's got a point. You made a move?' Sonic backed up the red echidna's point.

'Why did I tell you idiots again?' Shadow rolled his eyes.

'Oh come on, Shadow. It couldn't have been that bad.' Tails smiled.

'It wasn't bad at all, but it would've been better if a certain someone hadn't interrupted us!' Shadow leaned forward and eyed off the two-tailed kitsune.

'I didn't know you were about to mack on as I was dialing?!' Tails said defensively.

'You little-'

'Chill out, Shads. You know it wasn't his fault!' Sonic cut in nervously.

Shadow sighed and began to pace his the living room. Sonic had called him over to know how the day with Tikal went and this is where it lead to. Tails called Knuckles, assuming they'd get a thorough beating if he was the last to know what was going on. The ebony hedgehog continued to pace nervously as his three friends watched on, waiting for the tension to break.

'Alright, well… Now what?' Shadow stopped and looked to them for an answer.

'You're kidding?' Tails began with a coy smile, 'You're asking a sixteen year old geek, an eighteen year old hedgehog who still can't admit his feelings for the girl he's been in love with since he was ten-'

'HEY!'

'and a hotheaded echidna who claims to be big and tough but is too scared to mutter so much as a sentence to the chick he has the hots for?' Tails finished, trying to hold in his giggles.

'WHAT NOW?!'

'You make a good point.' Shadow admitted as he stroked his invisible beard.

'Are we seriously going to overlook that previous statement?!' Sonic spat.

'I think we should be going back a few steps!' Knuckles added.

'I think this is something you're going to have to figure out for yourself, Shadow.' Tails said, ignoring the other two.

'I wouldn't even know where to start.' Shadow shrugged.

'Well, you said that you guys talked all day, right? So surely you know where she is from now right?'

'Uh, well that was something she didn't seem t be all that open to talking about.'

'So she's hiding something?' Knuckles huffed, still wound up about Tails' comment.

'We can't just to conclusions. Maybe she really just need to get away from her family?' Sonic suggested.

'Probably. Besides, I think the girls have a better chance of getting it out of her than we do.' Tails shrugged.

'A moment of silence fell over the group as they slouched back in the living room, coming up with their own theories on the new girl's background. Sonic was right, they couldn't jump to conclusions. But then again, what if knuckles had a point? Which is a dangerous thought… What if she was hiding something?

'And by the way, I resent the fact you think I can't talk to Rouge!' Knuckles spoke up, breaking the silence.

'So you admit you like Rouge, eh?' Tails arched an eyebrow with a proud smile.

'What? No! I-Uh…' Knuckles began sweating and stuttering when he realised he'd blown his cover.

'Stop while you're ahead, Knux.' Tails smirked.

'You're one to talk? You couldn't talk to Cosmo if your life depended on it!' Knuckles shot back proudly.

'What?!'

With that, another vicious circle of comebacks and 'he said, she said' went around and around the living room. Shadow sat back and enjoyed the show as he tried to think about what he would do when he saw Tikal again. Maybe it would just be easier if he got up the guts and asked to see her? Find out how long she would be sticking around? It would be leaps and bounds further than any of these dorks ever got!

That night, a full moon rose high up in the sky as a certain peach coloured echidna gazed out the window to wish upon the stars. Amy quickly snapped her out of her thoughts by placing tea and a bowl of popcorn on the living room coffee table and switched on a romantic comedy for the pair to doze off to. Tikal moved herself from the window sill over to the couch and grabbed herself a handful of popcorn.

'So tell me, Tikal, how are you liking it here so far?' Amy asked as she sipped on her tea.

'I'm loving it, Amy. I've had the best time here, and it's only been a few days.' Tikal smiled.

'Have you considered sticking around a little longer?'

'Honestly? I have. I don't want to go home, this is where I'm meant to be. With you and the girls and the guys and…' Tikal trailed off before blushing.

'Shadow?' Amy giggled.

Tikal joined in her giggles before throwing a small pillow in Amy's direction, trying to shake off the embarrassment. The pair laughed as they continued to sip on their tea and down the salty, butter popcorn.

'Well, I guess it's settled.' Amy smiled, turning her attention back to the movie.

'I'm sorry?' Tikal questioned.

'Looks like you're staying with me for a while.'

'Oh no, Amy! I couldn't do that, I don't want to be a burden. I'll find my own-'

'Oh shoosh now. You have no choice.' Amy said, throwing a few pieces of popcorn at her new, peach-coloured friend.

Tikal gave in to a fight she knew she couldn't win and laughed at the friendly gesture before genuinely thanking the fuchsia hedgehog. She was so overwhelmed at how quickly these people had taken her under their wing and were so willing to be her friend. They seemed to genuinely care for her, like family. It's amazing what a few days could do…

Then again, that theory could apply for the search her tribe were on…