"Next chapter should be quicker," she said.

"An update will arrive quickly," she said.

If anyone's still here, then I would like to apologize for my extremely long absence. I "cleverly" decided to finish off three of my other stories, before I started any new ones, or updated any others, but severely underestimated how long that would take. STIL slowly became pushed to the back of the queue, in "Things To Do" and henceforth, it has been -winces- seven months since my last update. My sincerest apologies, and I promise, this will not happen again.

If it's any consolation, I made this chapter quite long, and poured all my effort into it, once I could do so. I do hope you enjoy it.

Signed-in reviews have been replied to via PM, and guest reviews will be replied to on here, as there were so many reviews. Thank you so so so so much to all of you - I cannot convey how grateful I am for you supporting me and helping me. Thank you.

Shoutout:

Chrissie the hedgehog, SadieQHiddleston, PoeticLover1996, shadamy1fan, Steve993, SonAmy Otaku, The High School Hero, Princessunicorn18, Emeraldalex123, SonadowStories, Eli Swafford, AgentDolly, TrueSonicBlue22, adar13, animelover5641, MeadowHasCome, GuestKori, MizSugarRose, xXMidnight StormXx, SomeAnimeGuy72, Oceanic Coral, Dembalza, ToxicWolf1132, sonamyluvah, FireWitch25, CamilionOrgon and Jowy Avilon!

Guest replies:

AgentDolly - Thank you very much! :D

MeadowHasCome - Haha, oh my gosh, I don't mean to get you in trouble ;) but that made me so happy! I can't tell you how amazing it is to hear that you got that reaction, because I'm always like that with the TV shows that I love - it's probably my absolute dream to make someone overwhelmed with feels, through my works ;) I really hope this chapter has the same reaction! ;D

GuestKori/I.B - Wow, really?! That's an amazing coincidence - a birthday gift from me to you! :D Ah, haha, me too - although I go gaga for chocolate ice cream ;) *coughing fit* U-uh, yeah, this update was TOTALLY out by October! ;P Thank you for your amazing support and inspiration throughout this - hiatus? - and I apologize for the wait!

Eli Swafford - You have my sincerest apologies for the wait - I hope this waiting period hasn't completely cut off ties with this story. Thank you very much for that lovely compliment - I'm glad that this story has kept you in the Sonic archive :) It's back now, don't worry. Ooh, survival/horror phase, huh? Awesome! :D I'm into gory crime, at the moment (I maaaaay be addicted to Whitechapel *leaps up and down and squeals* OMFG KENT IS THE CUTEST THING EVER!) ;)

sonamyluvah - It's finally here, after a very long time ;)

Previously, in So, this is love?

The gang journeyed home to celebrate the Christmas break and bring goodwill to all men - but things didn't go entirely as planned, what with Shadow and Knuckles fighting, and punching Sonic in the face. Amy and Sonic shared a tender moment at midnight, struggling between their heart and their head - although things seem to be patching up, as an outing is planned for Sonic, Amy, Tails and Cream, to clear the air between them all.

But with the holidays over, and threats returning, will good intentions turn sour? Or will someone else decide to give Fiona what's coming to her? Will Blaze publish her novel? Will I ever learn to update, regularly?! *Dammit, that last one wasn't meant to be there-*

Chapter 25 - Accidentally in Love

(...Amy's P.O.V...)

I stepped into the cafe, inhaling the scent of coffee and eying up all the delicious options, that were laid out in a glass case. The auburn haired girl behind the counter was pouring the contents of a blender into a glass. She whirled round to put it on a tray, and caught my eye in the process.

"Amy!" She grinned, lifting the tray and taking it to a customer, before returning behind the counter and propping her elbows upon it, "Hi there! So, whaddya think of this place?"

"It's great!" I sat on a bar stool, at the front, cupping my face in my hands, "I had no idea that you worked in here. I thought we were just meeting!"

Sally laughed, grabbing a cloth and wiping the surfaces until they sparkled, "I work here on weekends. Brings in some extra money, ya know? Although, I've been revising on my breaks, for the past few weeks. How did your exams go?"

I gave her a look, which roughly read as "don't-even-go-there". It wasn't something that I wanted to relive.

"Okay, I won't ask," Sally giggled, lightly, "Let's not talk about exams!"

"That sounds like a superb idea! You know, seeing this, I really wanna get a job, actually - but I wouldn't know where to start looking," I could do with the extra money, to pay for expenses and food, and I figured that the experience would be good.

"Why don't you start here?" She ducked behind the counter and handed me an application form - for part-time work at that very cafe, "We're running low on waitresses and the pay's good. It'd be awesome working with you!"

Carefully reading through the print, and deciding that I'd give it a go (couldn't hurt to apply, right?), I looked up and asked Sally if she had a pen. She squealed, disappearing under the counter again and handing me a blue biro.

"Gah, this is great!" She practically bounced up and down, sporting a cute blue tee and white combat trousers. Her baby blue eyes sparkled as I paused, "Don't stop! C'mon - you've got a job to apply for!"

I shook my head and laughed, following her instruction and finishing off my details and handing it to her, "That can't be it - I just wrote my name and some other stuff. It didn't even ask for my skill set,"

"You'd have to go for an interview with my boss. She's really nice - you'll breeze it, no problem. I'll give her this and she'll contact you in a few days! Don't worry - I'll say nice things about you," She added a wink to that last part.

"Ha ha, thanks! I appreciate it, Sal," Now the nickname felt right.

Her eyes lit up again and I seemed to have made her day, "Don't worry about it! Now - do you want anything to drink? We're getting the stock in, soon, so I might be setting that up for a bit. Apparently, it's a new guy who's dropping it off - makes a change from that stuffy girl who used to do it. I wonder if he's nice?"

"Got your eye on him, huh?" I joked.

"Oh, please, not again! I've told you - some random delivery boy isn't going to sweep me off my feet. I probably won't even get to know his name," Sally twirled round and started grabbing things from the shelves, "Maybe I can quieten you with one of my legendary milkshakes...?"

I glanced at the menu and dug out coins from my pocket, setting them on the counter, "You can certainly try,"

"Consider it done," Her back remained facing me, but I saw milk and chocolate buttons go into the mix.

I vaguely heard the cafe door swing open and shut, when a figure lingered behind me. Feeling slightly uncomfortable with the close proximity, I swiveled on my seat and began to say, "Hey, um, sorry - but could you please move baaaaaa-...ck?!"

Crimson eyes blinked back at me. I stared at the boxes, piled up in his grasp, before gazing back at him. We remained like that until Sally called out my name and placed my milkshake in front of me, without looking up.

"There ya go, one of my amazing milkshakes. Not half bad, if I do say so myself. Hey, aren't you going t-" She, too, stared at him, "Shadow?"

"I've come to drop these off. You were expecting them, weren't you?" He shunted them about, indicating that they were heavy, and Sally came to her senses again.

"Right, yes, of course, um - put them here, I guess," She gestured, vaguely, near me, and the ebony hedgehog complied, roughly dropping them down. Sally shook her head, frantically, "Wait, no - not there! They'll be in the way of customers. Put them...put them round here,"

He sighed, picking them up again and trailing round to her. She pondered for a moment, before asking him to stack them underneath the counter. He said nothing for a moment, but squatted down and put them away. We all heard his sly comment, "Whatever you say, Princess,"

When he stood back up, Sally frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just that you're getting your slave to stack boxes," He seemed to be joking, but didn't smile, unsurprisingly.

She raised an eyebrow and grinned, "It is kinda your job, delivery boy,"

"It didn't mention it in the job description,"

"Guess I won't treat you to a sly biscuit or somethin', will I? Since you're not working?"

"...fair point,"

I grinned to myself. It almost sounded like they were flirting.

"Are you alright, Rose?" He asked, noticing my dreamy expression. I blinked, before a reassuring smile spread across my lips. Both Sally and Shadow looked at me: crimson and cornflower eyes shone in curiosity.

"Y-yeah! 'Course! I was just think about something - sorry!"

Shadow nodded, slowly, as Sally smiled back. She placed her hands on her hips, turning to the ebony hedgehog, "Well, hadn't you better get back to work, slacker?"

"I am anything but a slacker, Princess," He left with a victorious smirk, as she cursed him on his way out, demanding that he never, ever, ever called her that again. My grin couldn't have been any wider as she looked at me.

"What?" Sally blushed.

"Sooooo...you two seem close. Like...really, really close,"

"Amy," She lightly scolded, turning round and hiding her face. I imagined the her cheeks were even redder, "No. That will never happen. He's barely even a friend. He's YOUR friend, remember?"

"Oh! I get it. You want my blessing, huh?" With one hand raised and the other on my heart, I declared, "I, Amy Rose, bid you, Sally Acorn, to date Shadow the hedgehog whenever you so desire,"

"How about never?"

I shrugged, "Worth a shot,"

"Speaking of desire," She pulled up a stool from the other side of the counter, placed herself upon it and stared at me, intensely, "How're things going with Sonic? Have you seen him, recently?"

"Um, well, in a sense. A couple of times, I suppose. Just little conversations, ya know?"

She groaned, "That damn hedgehog! He needs to man up and explain; he always was so stubborn,"

"Right," I pushed our history to the back of my mind, "Well, actually, to be fair - I'm going to meet him. Today. Nothing serious, though - he suggested a day out. Me, him, Tails and Cream. I'm stopping by the university, after this, to get ready, and the boys are picking us up,"

Sally's eyes lit up, "A double date?"

"Well, he didn't use those exact words..."

"Psh!" She waved it away with one hand, "Boys never do! Listen, he's planning a double date - just go with it, okay? He'll probably make some excuse to get you alone. Agree to it and then...well, you know,"

I stuck my tongue out at her, "Oh, shuddup,"

"I said nothing!" Sally raised her palms, but the grin suggested otherwise. We remained silent for a moment, with her blue eyes twinkling in amusement. She radiated confident beauty; I'd been envious the first time I met her, and I was envious now. I stifled it down, but wondered what Sally would do in my position. She certainly wouldn't make a fool of herself and blush every two-point-four seconds.

Neither would Fiona.

(...Fiona's P.O.V...)

Upon seeing Miles Prower, I thought I might have felt something. Irritation, or maybe even a teeny bit of guilt. Instead, there was nothing. It reassured me, yet worried me.

"Hi, Miles," I grinned, easily keeping up with him, even in six inch heels. He lowered his head and looked away, but I simply stepped closer and nudged his elbow. Innocently engaging, "It's been a while, huh? It's a shame that we didn't stay in touch - I always thought you were kind of cute,"

My efforts to be naively bitchy were working - he took a deep breath before saying, "Don't call me that. Please,"

"What - Miles? Why not?" I ruffled my hair and smiled when he looked at me.

"I don't like it," He sped up a little, but I had longer legs and could keep up just fine. My shoes cracked against the corridor floor, turning a few heads.

"Oh. That's a shame. It's your real name. And I like it..." I purred, tracing a finger down his arm. He shuddered, "...it's my name for y-"

Tails shook me off, uncharacteristically fierce, "What do you want!?"

We both paused in the hallway, watching each other. I blinked, readjusting my fallen smile with perfect ease, "That's a little harsh, for an old friend. I wanted to catch up, if you must know! See how you're doing, what's the gossip, which lucky lady you're dating..."

"I'm fine, thanks, and pretty busy so..." He stepped out of my path, attempting to leave, but I grabbed his arm. I wasn't finished yet.

"That's good - I saw Sonic, ya know?" Tails frowned and didn't protest, so I continued, "Yeah, crazy, right? It's been so long! Remember when we were all together? Thank god for that tournament, eh? Otherwise, we wouldn't have met!"

"Yeah...listen, Fiona, I think we should remain apart, okay? It's not fair a-and...well, you know how Sonic feels..." He trailed off, referring to our past encounter.

My fake smile was starting to hurt. How did people smile for this damn long? Being nice was painful, "Oh, well, Sonic doesn't control who you speak to, does he? It's only me; don't you want to know what I've been up to?"

"I think I have a pretty good idea..." His eyes hardened, "I know what you've been doing. To Sonic and Amy,"

"Hmm? Oh - Amy! Right, yes - she's nice, isn't she? I heard that she was dating Sonic and wanted to let her in on some tips," I giggled and placed my hands on my hips, "Been there, done that, you know? How are they? Is Sonic as head over heels as he seems?"

He glared, "You'd know - you broke them up!"

I faked a gasp: good. I'd heard things...but Tails wouldn't lie. Sonic and Amy were history. Now I just needed to make them loathe each other..."I did no such thing! I hadn't even heard until now - what happened?!"

"It's none of your business!"

"Fair enough," I raised my hands up and grinned, "Still, what happens now? You're all friends, right? That's gotta fuck up your gang. Or is Sonic intending to move to another school, again?"

I'd hit a nerve, "That was you! You forced him to do that! Because he knew your secret - because you tried to take him down with you! Is it the same, this time- have you come here to make sure that he doesn't tell anyone? I won't let it happen again!"

"Tails, let's be frank. Everything would have been fine - my secret would've been safe, Sonic would have gotten rid of me - if you hadn't come along and screwed it all up. You forced us to make things more complicated,"

"I d-didn't! How could I have known?!"

"It doesn't matter. It's in the past. And besides - it's Sonic I'm after. Not you. So don't get in the way again, and everything will be just fine. For you,"

"What are you planning? I won't let you hurt Sonic agai-"

"Tails?" My mouth dropped at the new addition to our conversation. What the fuck? What the hell was she doing here? "Are you alright? Is she bothering you?"

The kitsune himself look just as shocked as I did, but I recovered in record time. With a confident smirk, I turned and raised my eyebrows at the girl, "Sally Acorn? Well, well - this IS a reunion! If Sonic comes along now, we'll have the whole set!"

"Damn you, Fiona," Sally pushed past, meanwhile entirely ignoring me and placed a hand on Tails' shoulder. He froze, "Are you okay? Do you wanna grab a coffee or something, somewhere else?"

"Whoa, some people can be so rude," I grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to look at me, "Listen, Sally-girl, we were in the middle of a conversation, in case you didn't know. Come back some other time,"

"Yeah, uh, no thanks. I have a habit of stopping bitches like you,"

I laughed at her brazen attitude, "Well, someone's got their bite back. Last time we spoke, I distinctly remember you trembling in front of me. What happened to the weak little girl? I kinda liked her,"

"I became friends with someone that reminded me why I stand up to people like you,"

"Oh, boo hoo; cry me a river. And you have a friend? Ha! You crack me up, Sal. You know your reflection doesn't count, right?"

Fire flared in her eyes - she was so close to punching me, I could tell - but she restrained herself and breathed deeply through her nose. My smirk made her teeth itch, but she managed to bark out, "Your insults are pathetic. You're pathetic. Tails? Would you mind escorting me back? I think I'd prefer some nicer company,"

I rolled my eyes and snorted, as Tails shakily replied, "Y-yeah. Sure..."

"Whatever!" Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I ignored their retreat and clenched my nails into the palm of my hand. Sally Acorn teaming up with Tails. That did not bode well. In this war against them, I was lacking allies, and they were joining sides. I needed to play my trump card, as soon as I worked out what my trump card was.

Did I actually have a trump card...?

"Heh, I've seen better,"

"Shut up," I really did not need to deal with his smug comments, right now. Scourge flashed a sharp grin at me, clearly enjoying seeing me riled. My hands covered my face as I attempted to clear my thoughts, thinking aloud, "I'm scheming..."

"You're always scheming. You do little else," He threw an arm over my shoulders and pulled me close, against his chest. My cheek brushed his bare skin, "What are you planning now, my Evil Queen?"

Sighing, I pressed against him and wanted nothing more than to forget everything that had happened, spending the day and night with him. I repressed this wish: clingy was not a good look, "I don't know. Why has everything been thrown back in my face, lately? You said that Tails was spending time alone - you failed to mention this,"

He stiffened at the accusation, "Yeah, well, I couldn't have exactly predicted this, could I? Don't get pissed at me, Fi - you should have done a better job at seducing foxboy,"

"Me?" I stuttered out, "You think this is my fault? After everything that I have planned, arranged and bloody worked for, you think this was down to me?! Well, lemme tell you somethin' right now-!"

"Hush," He squeezed my shoulder and instantly quietened my fuming, "Doesn't matter. We've gotta work with what we've got. Thoughts?"

"None, yet. I will think of something though. Be ready - we'll have to strike as soon as the moment arises,"

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about. Welcome back, Fi,"

(...Sonic's P.O.V...)

"-and then Sally said that she had to rush off somewhere, but gave me her mobile number, in case I wanted to talk," Tails glumly sighed, showing me the numbers scrawled onto the back of the leaflet, before pocketing it. I nodded, unsure of how to comfort him, "This is all so messed up,"

"You're telling me," I agreed, having told him, just seconds ago, about everything: waking up in the park, my strange dream, Fiona's ominous presence. Unsurprisingly, he was shocked, and asked why I hadn't said anything: but he already knew that answer.

"What do we do, Sonic?" The kitsune wrapped his arms around his body, shivering even though it was warm in the corridor. I sauntered beside him, wanting to walk slowly, for once in my life, "How do we even begin to battle this?"

"You need to focus on Cream and Cosmo. I'll handle Fiona, Amy and Sally," As soon as I said it, I laughed and rubbed a hand across my face, "Jeez, you're right, buddy. There are piles upon piles of messed up things,"

"Yeah, that's not really helping," He smirked, lightly, shyly peering up at me.

"I know. Sorry, bro. It'll be fine - trust me! This'll all be gone, before ya know it!" I hoped he believed that more than I did, "We'll handle two problems today, then we'll take things one at a time,"

"Problems? Sonic, this is the love of your life, and my very close friend - we can't call them problems!"

"Eh...point taken,"

Tails looked lost - he'd spent days tinkering away with inventions and whatnot - and now his hands were empty, as he twiddled in thumbs in nervousness, "I have no idea what to say. This is going to be really awkward - oh, Sonic, why did you suggest this!?"

"Relaaaax!" I threw my arm over his shoulder and willed him to calm down, "It'll be a-okay! Just like the old days. Don't worry, I'll be right there beside you, feeling just as awkward and just as nervous. I'm sure you'll make a better job of everything than I will,"

"Ha, I wish. You'll be a-okay - I'm not good with this stuff!"

"Yes, you are! Listen, you and Cream are good friends. Just act like you usually do! What can go wrong?"

"Everything," He grumbled, thinking that I hadn't heard him.

Despite my encouragement, my stomach was doing back-flips and I could have quite happily thrown up, when we came face to face with the girls' door. After a quick look at Tails, I rapped my knuckles on the wooden surface and knew that our fates had been sealed. There was a horribly long waiting time, until the door was pulled back and we blinked at a purple feline.

"Oh, hiya, Blaze!" I greeted, beaming with relief. Blaze was a comfortable old friend in all of this madness - I wished I'd been there for her, a bit more, in recent weeks. In fairness, I'd been fixing things from Silver's end, "We're here for Amy and Cream?"

She pretended to be surprised, but she had clearly been expecting us, "Right, okay. They're just in the bathroom, at the moment. Do you want to wait inside...?"

"That'd be cool, thanks," I stepped in and glanced about at the lack of mess. We really needed to learn something from these girls. Tails followed after me, casually asking Blaze how she'd been. I listened, as the cat thanked him and said that she was doing well.

"What're you planning to do today, then?" She asked us both, seeming a little embarrassed for prying. I shrugged it off, not bothered that she wanted to know, and let Tails reply.

"Not too sure, yet. Perhaps head off to...uh..." The kitsune turned to me, with a raised eyebrow, "Sonic. You never actually told me what you'd planned,"

"Umm. Well, heh heh, about that-"

"Sooonic!"

Blaze chuckled at Tails' eye roll, and my sheepish shrug. The lavender feline placed her hands on her hips and smirked, not too surprised by our antics, "Sonic the hedgehog. Words fail to catch up to your speed, in every way - even when you're planning events. You truly have nothing scheduled?"

"Weeeeell, I wanted to be spontaneous! Girls like that, don't they?" I lowered my head, with her unwavering-stare not leaving my face, "...no, I don't have anything planned,"

"Nice goin', Sonic," Tails nudged my elbow. Weakly, I stuck my tongue out, back at him.

"You've got less than three minutes to come up with something-" Blaze smirked at my wide-eyed expression, "-but, I guess I could be really nice to you, and suggest that you take them to Shamar, since they've been complaining about the cold weather. I believe that there is a festival, taking place, over the next few days,"

I grinned, briefly glancing at Tails, before fist-bumping the girl, "Blaze, you seriously, truly rock!"

"Mmhmm," She laughed and turned away, casually strolling towards the bathroom door, knocking three times, and waiting, "I suppose I'd better tell them to leave their coats behind, eh? They certainly won't be needing them,"

"Thank you!" Tails called out, as the door opened a crack and Blaze was pulled inside.

I smirked at him, "See? What'd I tell ya - this'll go without a hitch."

(...Amy's P.O.V...)

I could feel my cheeks scorching - not the cute, rosy tint that is described in fiction - the tomato-red kind. The embarrassing one. The one that I really, really didn't want to be wearing in front of Sonic.

Still, perhaps he would pity me and simply blame it on the heat. It was extremely hot - thank goodness for Blaze, and her quick suggestion that we wear something cool - and I could see that everyone was warm. If only I could wear the heat as well as they did.

Cream twirled in her sundress, happily soaking up the rays in white cotton and a cute, straw harvest hat. She seemed as serene as ever, "Oh, wow! It's so lovely here!"

"Sure is!" Tails replied, passing a look with Sonic that I decided not to judge. He stretched his arms out and chuckled, "If we don't cook alive, that is,"

"Pfft, don't worry about it, buddy! That heat isn't going to be fast enough to burn ME alive," Sonic winked, looking at the stalls in interest, as we passed. With ease, he spun and began to walk backwards, raising his eyebrows at the selling goods.

I smiled, "And the rest of us?"

"Well..." His eyes lingered on my mouth, for a moment, before he lifted them upwards, "Guess you'll have to take your chances,"

"Thanks for your concern!" Tails snorted, earning a giggle from Cream. His smile wavered and I recognized that look in his eyes: it was the one he wore before he created a new invention. A new plan was forming, "Tell ya what, my throat is super dry, right now. Imma grab a drink; do you wanna come with me, Cream?"

She nodded - the rabbit did look a little parched, "That sounds like a good idea, Tails,"

"Sweet. Say, why don't you two explore a little - we don't really know our way around this place, and it'd be good if we had a faint idea of where we'd like to go. You guys can check out some places, while we grab the drinks. How about it?" The kitsune eagerly glanced between Sonic and I.

The blue hedgehog paused, looking confused, but quickly covered it up, "U-uh, yeah, sure, sounds like a great idea! You okay with that, Amy?"

"Of course!" I chirped, feeling the butterflies grow, "Sonic'd probably get bored, just standing around, anyway,"

Tails grinned, seemingly appreciative of my reason, "Cool. We'll get you guys a bottle of...something. Catch ya later!"

The fox and rabbit dashed off, surprisingly speedy, with smiles etched on their faces. I wondered how they weren't fainting from the heat. Even Sonic had said that he wouldn't be running at full throttle, today.

"Soooo..." The Blue Blur himself was standing, with his arms folded behind his head, and tapping his foot. Either nervous or bored, "That way?"

I followed his pointing finger, and nodded at the direction he suggested. We sauntered into a shady pathway, away from the intense heat of the sun, but it quickly spread out into a huge plaza, with pools of water lining the sides of the walkways. I marveled at their cool beauty, but Sonic shivered, quietly.

He grinned, sheepishly, at my gaze, "What can I say? 'Can't stand water - contained or not,"

"Fair enough," I replied with an understanding smile. We continued onwards, slightly unsure of where we were headed, but quite happy to just follow the path. I frowned, as my body numbed in a strange sensation, "Say, Sonic...does it feel like you've been here before?"

"Deja Vu?" He patted his cheek, with one finger, in thought, "Shamar? Hmmm...I can't say I've been here before - but I definitely know what you mean. It feels weirdly familiar,"

"Good, so it's not just me then,"

"Nope. Maybe we've been here in a previous life!"

"Or an alternative universe!"

Sonic beamed, and recognition flickered upon his features, "Tails says that parallel universes could easily exist, with how big the universe is, and how complicated it can be. He says that they'd have to be hidden, in pockets, and so you should be able to pass between them, like in the movies,"

"Really?" I was impressed with Tails' genius and Sonic's memory, "So, there are other versions of us? On other planets?"

"Could be, yeah. My other versions of me would be so awesome - I bet I'd be a superhero or somethin'!" His hands flew to his hips with pride, as he puffed out his chest.

My giggle was stifled, "Oh, so, not aiming too high then, eh?"

He pretended to look wounded, "I could totally be one, and you know it!" Sonic grinned at my admitting shrug: it was true, after all, "Tails'd be my side-kick - maybe Knuckles, if he wasn't so pig-headed. And we'd go around kickin' evil butt!"

"And what about me?" I was curious, "Where would I be, in this strange world that seemed to worship you as Super-Sonic?"

"Hmmm...lemme see...you'd be..." He halted, momentarily, before clicking his fingers in recognition. I laughed, and then he winked, "...my damsel in distress,"

"Whaaat?" I reeled back, "No fair! No way that you and Tails and Knuckles get to be all cool - and I just sit in a tower, waiting to be rescued!"

He looked a little confused, "I thought it was a compliment, calling you a princess?"

"A defenseless bystander? No thanks. Tell ya what - I'll have my own team, and be all badass, and I'll come and save YOU from the villain,"

"Like I'd let that happen! I wouldn't even get captured, let alone locked up!" Sonic rolled his eyes, conceding to my point, "Okay, okay - here's what we'll do. You have your awesome team, I'll have mine - then we'll both team up and kick the bad guy's ass together. Agreed?"

"Agreed!"

We grinned, standing in the way of passing people, but something stopped either of us from moving. This had happened before - in extremely different weather, at Christmas. We'd get talking, act as though everything was normal, and it would all be fine; then everything would come crashing around us, shattering into dust.

Our smiles slipped, as Sonic cleared his throat and apologized to the people who edged around him. As we carried on, our steps fell in time with each other, and I stared down at my boots and his sneakers, with a smile. I yanked the hem of my straight dress down, not used to it.

"How's everything with Silver and Blaze?" The blue hedgehog asked, out of the blue, "Silver doesn't tell us much, but from what he does tell us, it sounds like things are improving,"

"Yeah, they are. They're not quite back to normal yet, but their friendship is nearly repaired. They've missed each other - I think they're just completely relieved that the other is willing to move on. Besides, the whole thing was a misunderstanding, anyway,"

He looked like he wanted to say something - something important, but sighed and moved on, "And Cream? Cosmo? Tails hasn't been doing as well as Silver, but he's keen to get things moving again, especially today, with Cream,"

"Cream is...understanding of the situation. I think everything between her and Tails is going to be fine. As for Cosmo...it's messy. I think, at this point, only Tails can fix things,"

"I feel awful for him. I wish there was something I could do," He moaned, "I'm useless with this kind of stuff, as you know..."

I gulped, "You're there for him, that's what counts,"

"Mmm," Sonic stopped, clearly wandering into a territory that he didn't want to talk about. I gestured for us to sit down, on a seat that had been carved into the sandy wall. We reclined, and he sighed.

As I bit my lower lip, I decided to pull the conversation in the different direction. Last time, things hadn't ended so well, "How are you, Sonic? Really?"

"Me?" He snorted, "Fine! Why would you ask that?"

"...because," I turned my head away, and felt slightly betrayed, "I know you better than you think,"

Sonic didn't say anything, but I refused to glance back at him; I cursed myself for my stubbornness. Blinking, repeatedly, I pretended to be entranced by the ripples in the water pools, as I gently played with the ends of my quills.

My hand was taken hold of, with ease, and brought down, away from my face. Startled, I looked down and couldn't help but smile over our entwined hands. If I'd ever told myself that I'd gotten over him, I had told the biggest lie in my existence.

"Then, you know what I'm thinking..." His head was tilted, to the left, and the makings of a sweet-cocky smile were forming, "...and...I think I know what you're thinking,"

We were close, undeniably close, and I found myself also turning my lips into perfect alignment with his, "Prove it,"

He did prove it. Very much so. Whether it was the soft and sudden kiss, or the arms curled around my waist, I didn't know, but we both smiled against each others' lips. It had been too long; I felt alive again.

"So much..." I breathed, leaning against his forehead, with my own, and soaking up his emerald gaze that was solely fixed on me, "...for self-control,"

"Never believed in it, anyway," He joked, quietly, and my laugh made him swell with pride. In blind joy, I cupped his face with my hands, and brought his lips up for another kiss - he didn't complain.

"I've missed you," I admitted, not allowing my mind to wander about the consequences of this. Perhaps, I'd recoiled into misery for too long. I could only hope that I wasn't being self-indulgent, above those who needed me.

Sonic grinned, and seemed to be rendered speechless, for a moment, "Damn, you sure know how to wrap a guy around your finger, Ames - I can't think straight, now. A-am I dreamin'? Please tell me this is real,"

"Shuddup," I replied, fondly, with an evident smile. My head was drifting into the clouds.

He pressed a kiss into my mouth, once more, and still left me stunned, "Nope, definitely real. Now..." His smile shifted, "...what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Where do we go from here? I know what you said, Amy, I know you don't think it's a good idea - but, damn, I just can't..."

"I never said I didn't want to do this," I blushed at the eager lift in his shoulders, "But I'm not sure if we should let this become serious, again, Sonic. Not yet. After so much that's happened, and so much that's still happening..."

"Okay," And yet, he looked so disappointed..."There's still...all the other stuff, too, isn't there? Before we can start again?"

With a slow nod, I whispered, "Yeah. There is,"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, and looked around the corner, suddenly alert. Sonic grasped my shoulders, not breaking my gaze, "I will tell you. Everything, I promise. Not now - but as soon as I can. I promise. I promise, I will make this right,"

Our lips met, briefly, before he tore himself away and left me with only the wind. My eyes fluttered open and I rocked back, lightly, staring at his empty seat. A sigh passed on my tongue, before I was interrupted.

"Hey, Amy!" There was a patter of feet, after the male voice, and I was met with a smiling Tails, and a giggly Cream, "Phew! Finally found you! Where's Sonic?"

"He..." No doubt, I was giddy, grinning and blushing, "...had to run. Somewhere. I'm sure he'll meet up with us, again, soon. We should probably head off without him,"

"Okay," The kitsune nodded, slowly, but looked convinced by my light voice and curled edges of my mouth.

Cream handed me a can of pop, "There were a lot of drinks to choose from, so I thought you might like this!"

"Thank you," I raised my drink to her, and snapped it open, quickly swigging the cool liquid down. I glanced down at Cream's half-empty can, and Tails' unopened one. For someone who was oh-so-thirsty, he hadn't drunk a single drop.

Clearly, Sally's words had rung true, and I wished that I could tell her this. I was bursting to the brim with relief, happiness, excitement - I knew I couldn't tell anyone, but it would be a struggle. As soon as we stepped into the room, lavender, green and ivory heads shot up. Blaze, spread across her bed and flat on her tummy, flicked between lines in her book. Highlighters were strewn around her, with Post-Its thickening up the book's pages: a reading assignment. Cosmo, standing by the window, playing with the hem of her dress, absentmindedly. Rouge, sprawled in the chair, with legs dangling over the arm. She spoke first:

"What happened? Did he say anything about you two? Were you two alone together? Did something happen? How did he act? C'mon, Amy, spit it out!"

I smiled at the thought of her questions, as I climbed the campus stairs. Darkness poured through the windows, as I continued up into different levels, and I pulled my coat a little tighter around me. The quiet was unsettling. The note crackled in my hand.

"Here," Cosmo had said, after I had finished trying to answer Rouge's questions, without hinting to anything, "Someone left this for you. It was here, when I came back,"

I had ran a finger over the note's sticker seal, before breaking it, grateful that none had maliciously read my private mail. In cursive writing, someone had jotted down a message, for me to see:

Amy,

I need to speak to you. Now.

Meet me in the Social Library.

Sonic X

It felt abrupt, but Sonic was known for being impatient, and I was curious. Did he want to meet, to explain, like he'd said? That was fast, even for him. It didn't quite feel right - but it did make sense, at least, in my mind.

The Social Library sign glinted, even in the darkness, and I gripped the door handle before easing it open. This was the domain of the Art, Humanities and Law students (but mainly the Law students) and I couldn't say that I'd been there. The Main Library seemed to be the major hang-out - I was stumbling about in the dark, with no idea where I was going and by the looks of it, no one to ask.

Did Sonic know that no one would be here? How did he know that? I narrowly avoided a stray chair, and tried to keep my breathing silent. I caught the sound of a voice - female? That sounded like a sob - followed by a smooth, male tone. There were people in here. Should I make myself known-?

I caught a glimpse of blue quills and darted forward, hoping to find Sonic and get the hell out of there.

I did find Sonic.

And someone else.

Pressed up against the wall. Her hands on his hips. Gazing, at each other. I must have gasped.

Because they were now looking at me.

Sonic brushed her away, and Fiona smirked, wiping at her eyes, before she melted away into the shadows, while we were distracted.