Technically, these later chapters are all part of the feasting saga, where Sonic actually gets to eat again. ;3 Here's to SonicPwnsAll's video that he has on his profile. If you haven't seen it already, go check it out! ^-^ He's one of my reviewers, so you can just click that reviews button and find his name…should be near the top! :D

I continue to thank all my reviewers, especially the ones that review EVERY story I put up! Ya know who you are! I don't think Sonic's willing to give up his chilidog feast you give you some, but…I'm sure he's very thankful as well.

Enjoy!

Part XXI: Something I Forgot

"Sonic? What's the matter? I mean, besides your tummy…" She added at his knowing look that said: You know perfectly well and uncurled her arms from where it was stationed against her chest to tickle what she could reach of his tan middle. At this speed, it felt funny to lift her limbs.

Sonic's head bent towards her. His quills were whipping out behind him as if they, too, had become weaker the emptier he'd become. But, he was smiling, his eyes bright and soft, as per usual. "Me? Troubled? Nahhh, not really," he answered, and then looked forward a minute, leaping over something. A few seconds later, the sound of a stream reached their ears. It didn't matter to Amy. To her, it didn't even feel like Sonic was touching the ground. As far as she was concerned, they were flying.

"Not really, huh?" She taunted, and he flushed pink at this, shaking his head away from the hand that caressed his cheek. "C'mon, I can see it. There's something bugging you."

"Nahh, I'm cool."

"Eating you." Amy jabbed. She had been trying to get under his skin with that comment, and it worked. Sonic frowned.

A few seconds later, Amy's side crashed into a wall. She realized this "wall" was Sonic's rib cage, and she gave a cry of pain and fright, and then one of surprise as Sonic dumped her into the grass and walked off towards the horizon.

Amy spit out grass furiously from between her teeth and looked around her. It was like a glowing dream world. Butterflies caressed the air on gentle, multi-colored wings surrounded by black outlines that further differentiated them from the sky. Blooming apple trees and magnolias, and many other flowers waved on the very pretty wind.

"Oh," Amy mused dreamily, her breath catching painfully in her throat as she suppressed a giggle. "Oh Sonic! This is amazing!" She cried, rising to her feet and dashing after him.

Sonic, walking close to the small, clear pool of pale blue water on the banks was lost in his own thoughts and didn't register Amy until she tackled him to the ground, squeezing him until his face turned purple.

"Sonic! Sonic, this is--!"

"Amy!" Sonic choked. "Need. To. Breathe!"

"Oh!" Amy flushed, rolling off him and releasing him from her death hold. "Sorry! Did you bruise? Are you okay?"

Sonic chuckled. "Yeah, I'm fine. Still unbreakable." He knocked against his ribs with a fist proudly, but Amy turned away upon hearing the faint, hollow sound of it.

"Sonic…I think I need to make you something to eat. Now. We need to go home. Can you take me?" Her voice was very serious, but in all reality she was attempting to keep the tears back.

"Ames, why do you think I came here?" He guffawed until he had to end it with a hiss of pain, lying on his back in the grass, eyeballs rolling up into his head. "Hoo ha! I think I need a snack before I can take you anywhere. Man, this is fucked up!"

"I'm not getting anything for you if you speak in obscenities to me. Got it?" Amy huffed, tossing her head to profile in anger, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

Sonic laughed weakly. "Please, Rosie? If I don't eat somethin' soon, I'll float up into space!"

It wasn't working. Amy sat as still as stone, anger evident in her features.

Sonic groaned, sitting up with much difficulty. He shook her weakly, enough to make her face towards him. "Amy."

"Sonic, if you think I'm going to—MMURFF!" She didn't get a chance to finish, because Sonic's lips were touching hers. Sonic hadn't meant for the kiss to go far, but Amy was quick to commandeer the kiss into breathlessness. It was typical of Amy to go over-the-top on something so slight as a tiny kiss.

Needing to breathe, Sonic pulled away. Panting more than usual, he observed the effect he'd had on her through wonky vision. It worked, apparently. She seemed softened. He fell back into the soft grass that felt so much like the hides of stuffed animals and closed his eyes, trying his best to ignore the warmth flushing his head that was surely about to turn into a faint. "Amy, please. I'm suffering, here." It wasn't often Sonic said these words, which prompted Amy to listen more intently. "There's some apple trees, and peach trees around. Gather some for me, okay?" He coughed weakly and his eyes were hidden beneath a trembling gloved hand. The glove was slipping off said hand, revealing the bone beneath.

Amy nodded, happy to oblige. As she picked the apples and peaches for Sonic (she found some pears, too, and picked as many as she could carry), she couldn't help thinking about the kiss.

It had really affected her in some deep way. Even if it had probably only been to procure her aid.

"A good servant has absolute security, not because of his master's kindness, but because of habit and indolence…If I had wished, I could have robbed, stripped, and beaten anyone I've worked for and come away with thanks."

-East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Sonic looked up to find Amy dumping an armload of deep red apples, odd-shaped green pears, and sweet round peaches. Sonic grabbed at the mass at random and pulled out a peach. He bit into it heartily, not minding the furry skin. He soon found it to be fresh and juicy. He swallowed it down and found it satisfying in his tummy. He picked up the pace, tearing through the remainder as one does through paper.

Amy was beside him in the grass on her knees, keeping all fingers out of his reach. "Hmmm," she mused thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll make an apple pie."

"All for me?" Sonic wondered, chomping eagerly into a pear. Amy seemed stunned when she looked back and realized there were more pits and stems remaining then there was fruit!

"…Yes." She told him.

"Goody. I can't wait!" He beamed, his teeth making a crisp, hearty sound against the skin of an apple. "My! They're delicious! Ooowah!"

Amy laughed, seeing him in such good spirits. It made her forget why she'd ever been mad at him in the first place. She was reluctant to bring up the kiss again, because it might distract her from the task ahead. She stored it in the back of her mind as something to bring up after he had a full stomach.

"I'll just go pick them." She said, rising.

"Can I come?" Sonic backhanded his mouth with his glove and sat up eagerly. Pits and stems galore lay at his feet, bees already greeting them, craving sweet sugar. He looked so innocent, so bright, that Amy couldn't refuse.

"Of course." She answered, helping him to his feet. Sonic hugged her then.

"Thanks, Ames." He said softly. "Thanks for everything. I love you."

Amy slowly hugged him back. "I love you, too, Sonic." She was smiling. She could feel the beam on her lips. But, she had to wonder at Sonic's sincerity.

Is all this for real?