A/N: Well here's another chapter, hope guys don't mind all the romance, but I realized that if I want all my odds and ends to get in here before I tie of the story I gotta get started lol. So I hope you don't mind the drama, just until the action gets back. Hope you enjoy the new chapter and I'll do all I can to update again soon. :D

Chapter 20

The North and West Sectors were all joined in a messy circle as they talked amongst the newest arrivals. Scourge had no problem soaking up the spotlight with his version of what their journey had been like.

"And then what happened!" Charmy was looking at Scourge excitedly.

"Then I knocked the second robot out single handedly." He said making a muscle with his right arm. "If it wasn't for me we would of been dead."

Fiona rolled her eyes. "You mean like we are about to be from this story."

"Ah come on baby," He sat down next to her. "Don't you like listening to my epic retelling?"

"I'm not your baby." She punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow, you have the worst way of showing your affections." He said rubbing his sore shoulder as he scooted in closer to her. "But that's what I like about you, you're saucy." He leaned in with a hunky smile.

"Scourge, I'm warning you." She said making a fist as she got up and walked away from the circle. She made her way to hall.

He jumped up to follow her leaving his tale unfinished. "Come on," He took her hand. "Don't be like that." He took her hand.

"Scourge!" She went to hit him, but he caught her fist in his hand and used it to twirl her into his arms and then gently pressed her up against the wall.

His face was close to hers. "Let me kiss you." He said with crest of his nose brushing against her cheek.

"No." She said softly her face turned to press up against the wall.

"That didn't sound heartfelt." He said kissing her jaw line. "Come on Fiona. Just one kiss." he took her chin very gently in his fingers and turned her face softly to his own. "Kiss me, and if you don't like it then I'll never ask again." He said with his eyes searching hers.

She blushed as she met his stare. Underneath all the overconfidence and ego, Scourge was a very smooth operator when he wasn't trying. His words were natural and less boasting. In all truth, when he was like this it made Fiona weak in the knees. Her breath quivered as he leaned in and kissed her. It was smooth and soft, not like she had expected. It was gentle and flowed with serene passion that seemed to melt the ice around Fiona. When he parted he looked down at her. "Shame," He smiled. "Tonguing me on a first kiss."

Her face turned stark red and she suddenly pushed backwards causing him to land square on his ass. "Uh you are such a pervert." She stomped off.

He just sat there smiling. "Still playing hard to get?"

Amy was sitting on a stool, in the kitchen bunk which was rather large. With North sector being so close to the core, they had access to all kinds of machinery and metal, so it was no surprise that their base outshined even that of the East.

Sonic was sitting beside her. It had been silence between the two for a while, when finally he broke it. "You've really grown..." He said at first. "All the things I've heard...things that you've done."

"Grown?" She looked up at him.

"Maybe not..." He met her eyes slightly. "Maybe you were all along and...I just couldn't see it." He rested against his folded arms that were on the edge of the table.

"Sonic..." Her eyes were gentle, but not quite soft. She still hadn't totally let her guard down with him yet. She felt as soon as she did he would turn back into her over controlling leader she knew all too well.

"Amy..." He turned to her moving closer. "Amy nothing's changed, my feelings for you-"

"Sonic." Nack appeared in the doorway. "Silver wants to see you, he and Espio are having a briefing for our counter offensive."

Sonic looked away from him and back to Amy. "I have to go." He slid back and stood. He turned and followed Nack out, he looked over his shoulder at Amy one last time before he left.

Amy sighed. She looked down at the half a sandwich before her. Blaze had insisted that she eat, but Amy had only taken a bite out of it so far. Even if Sonic hadn't been there she couldn't find the desire to eat. "Medic said you needed to eat." Amy looked over her shoulder and saw a black hedgehog leaning in the doorway.

"Shadow..." She looked over at him. "Shouldn't you be at the briefing?"

"The cat said you need to eat." He said not moving. "What use are you going to be if you aren't well."

She scowled a bit. "More use than you are on a daily bases I'm sure." She turned back around to stare down at her plate.

"Eat." He said moving to stand beside her.

"You think you can make me if I don't want too." She said not looking up at him.

He took her wrist turning her forcefully towards him. Amy's heart was pounding so quickly she thought it was going to burst as he pinned her, although nothing but the stare of those crimson eyes of his were needed to hold her still. His leg moved between hers as he pressed her wrists against the counter top. Her mouth was slightly ajar as she pressed back against the edge of the counter her eyes slowly moving from side to side. He picked up the sandwich and held it to her lips. "Eat."

She shook her head, her outer self reappearing. "No, let go." She said shifting her head to the side abruptly.

"Eat."

"I said no!" She suddenly jerked one hand free and slapping the food away. Shadow pinned her again and this time he leaned in and kissed her deeply, sparing no expense. "Um" Amy fought. "Um stop it!" She struggled. "What are you doing?" She jerked from him and pushed him off. She was blushing as she realized she kissed him back somewhat. She turned from him and then walked out.

Shadow sighed heavily as he ran his hands through his quills. He couldn't understand what the hell he was doing. "She's really gotten to you hasn't she." Shadow turned to see Ash standing in the doorway with his arms folded. "You're weaker than I thought."

"I don't recall asking for your opinion Ash."

"You've always been a blind leader, but now you can't see past her green eyes. You're going to end up letting your desire for her become your betrayal to the rest of us."

"Shut up." He said as his face turned serious.

"What? Did you think no one would notice?" He circled his leader. "I noticed, it's blatantly obvious, but I didn't care to begin with. No, I figured she be something else you'd use and then toss, but it's not that simple anymore."

Shadow suddenly lashed out taking Ash by the collar and slamming him against the wall. "I've never liked you, or your back talk and it's getting you in over your head."

"I didn't say anything before, but now someone has too." Ash narrowed his eyes. "I saw that look on your face when Sonic held her. There is no briefing for the leaders, what did you give Nack in exchange for lying to Sonic just now? You're jealousy is blinding you, it's making you wreck less and stupid. I can see far enough ahead to realize that if left unchecked you'll get someone killed you stupid arrogant son of a bitch."