A/N: And now, for something . . . very different . . .

Although I'm sure you've seen this couple being done before, right?

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic and Co.!

The crisp, beautiful afternoon was entirely lost on Amy Rose. She sat under a tree near her house, wailing in doleful misery. Her gloves were soaked, and even her skirt was spotted with tears.

"Amy?" A voice jolted her out of her little cocoon of grief. Sniffling, she raised her eyes to find Shadow standing nearby, eyeing her with a mixture of confusion and concern. For some reason, her heart fluttered suddenly. Her tears stopped flowing, or at least slowed significantly.

"Are you hurt?" asked Shadow, stepping closer. "Did something happen?"

"I'm—hrrrk—" Amy choked and struggled to get a hold of herself. "I'm—oh Shadow, it's so horrible . . . "

"What happened?" Shadow crouched next to her grimly, studying her tear-stained face. "No, let me guess—it's the blue idiot again." His face darkened. "Did he hurt you?"

"Not—not exactly," gulped Amy. "But, oh Shadow, it's so, so, horrible . . . "

Shadow studied her a moment more. Then, surprisingly, he shifted his position and sat down facing her, leaning against the trunk of the tree. He tilted his head, silently inviting her to continue. Amy's damp eyes were wide as she gazed at him in surprise.

"You—you don't mind if I tell you about it?"

Shadow shook his head. With a sudden watery smile, Amy took a deep breath and began.

"It's—it's nothing, I guess. I suppose I shouldn't be so worked up about it. But I'm just so sick of it all . . . Today I went out looking for Sonic, just like I always do. I just wanted to—to say hello, and hug him . . . " She gulped down another threatening storm of tears, then resumed. "So I searched and searched, and then I found him. But when I ran to hug him, he saw me coming, and he started to run away like always, and—and I yelled for him to stop, I begged for him to wait, and he just yelled 'no way!' and ran off, and . . . and . . . why does he always run away from meeeee?"

Burying her face in her palms, she resumed sobbing. Shadow sat pensively, his eyes distant with thought, but also softened with something unfamiliar—some feeling he didn't quite recognize. He supposed it was compassion.

"I know he doesn't like me hugging him," Amy was sobbing meanwhile. "But I can't help it, I really can't! I just love him so much, I have to show it. Sometimes I feel like I could follow him forever, but sometimes I just want it to stop . . . "

Shadow shook his head slowly.

"You're too good for him, Amy Rose."

"Wh . . . what?" whispered Amy, lifting her gaze again. Shadow regarded her, his eyes serious and honest.

"You heard me. That faker doesn't deserve someone like you."

"I . . . "

"You can't go on like this," continued Shadow. "You chasing, him running, you never catching him. I don't . . . I don't really know much about all that love stuff. Heck, I know pretty much nothing about it. But even I know that it isn't right, the way he keeps fleeing from your affection. When you're that crazy about him . . . it's just wrong for him to push you away like that."

"You mean it?" Amy's eyelashes, still sparkling with tears, quivered slightly with emotion. She couldn't believe Shadow was saying all this to her.

"You've got to do something about it," urged Shadow. "He's escaped you too many times."

"But I just don't know," murmured Amy. "I've chased Sonic for so long, I don't know what else I could possibly do."

"I think I know," said Shadow quietly. Amy's eyes turned to him, wide and puzzled and questioning. Glancing around to see if anyone was nearby, Shadow crooked his index finger twice, motioning for her to come closer. Her breath caught slightly, but she complied.

Glancing around once more, Shadow leaned closer till his mouth was right by Amy's ear. His breath tickled slightly through her quills as he whispered something hurriedly, almost shyly, a small smile flickering involuntarily onto his muzzle. Amy's eyes grew wider and wider as he spoke. As soon as he finished, she sank back, staring at him in utter euphoric disbelief.

"You . . . you mean it?!" she gasped, her heart pounding.

Shadow nodded, the smile sneaking back before he could do anything about it.

"That is, if you would be willing . . . ?" He trailed off questioningly.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes! YES!"

Following this squeal of joy, Amy abruptly lunged forward and kissed a very startled Shadow on the cheek. She swung back again, her eyes sparkling with absolutely cosmic delight, and giggled dizzily as Shadow blinked at her in shock. Recovering somewhat, the dark hedgehog looked away to hide the smirk on his reddening muzzle.

"You're very excitable, Amy Rose."

"I'm just so happy!" squealed Amy in return, pressing her fists to her muzzle rapturously. "You're—you're wonderful!"

"Well—well thanks, but . . . don't get too excited. I . . . " Shadow sighed. "I guess I should be honest with you. It's . . . it's not just because of you. I guess you could say my motives aren't altogether pure."

Amy's face fell, but only a little. She blinked in mute inquiry. Shadow wiggled one foot back and forth, fixing his gaze on it awkwardly.

"It's not entirely just because of you. Part of the reason I told you is—well, it's . . . kind of a rivalry thing. I know it's low-down of me, but partly I'm just doing this to . . . to spite the Faker." He actually blushed slightly. "I guess I sort of wanted to see him suffer."

Venturing a glance in Amy's direction, he saw her smile had returned full-force.

"I don't mind!" she assured eagerly. "I don't mind a bit, Shadow. After all I've been through, I kinda want to make Sonic suffer too!"

Shadow chuckled silently. Getting to his feet, he brushed off a few strands of dried grass and offered Amy a hand up.

"You're quite a girl, Amy Rose." Amy beamed at him, her cheeks flushed with eagerness.

"Are you really sure about this?" asked Shadow one last time. "Are you ready?"

"Yes! Yes! I'm so ready I could die!" squealed Amy. Shadow nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking gravely into her eyes.

"All right, Amy Rose. Give me a little time, and I'll make you the happiest girl in the world."

"Oh, Shadow," whispered Amy blissfully. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Smiling one last time, Shadow turned away. "All right, let's do this. You stay right here, and be ready to grab. I'll chase that blasted undeserving Faker in your direction."