A/N: Wow I was looking through my Sonic fic files on my USB and stumbled upon a 3-year old multi-chap that I never finished because I only wrote and completed chapter one. Well, I'll revive it and publish it after finally completing it 3 years later, especially now that I'm public writing fics again once this is done. Anyways, let's see what craziness happens between Amy, Knux and Shads at the mall shall we?

Part IV

Shadow wanted to Chaos Spear the asshole who stole the parking spot he was gonna get just now. It was only Wednesday morning, but the parking lot was filling up rather quickly. The human in the car laughed at the Mobians she cheated. Shadow stopped his car and rolled down the window to curse at her.

"Hey! That was our spot bitch!" Shadow growled.

"Yeah! What the fuck is that about?!" Knuckles added. Amy didn't say anything but showed anger to the woman who called herself seeing the spot first. Before she could say anything Shadow zoomed off to another spot and parked, skating towards her with aggression his eyes.

"Hey! What's up with you taking our spot?!"

"I found it first hedgehog. You came around the corner when I was already here." The woman rudely barked back.

"Shadow don't worry about her let's go in the mall." Amy said when she caught up to the old hedgehog. Knuckles went up to her and shoved his fist in her face.

"I'll knock you into next week!" He threatened. Amy grabs his kinked tail and pulled him back.

"No Knuckles!"

"Let's go. Forget her." Shadow grumbles and walks away, the other two following behind him. There was no point arguing with a stuck-up her ass human over a parking space. They went inside and found the store Amy so badly wanted to shop in and they waited for her to purchase it and walked out, going to the stores everyone wanted to go to until their little hands were full of bags.

Shadow especially bought himself some clothes to be comfortable in while he stayed with Amy and her boys; he came there with just himself, his Suburban and his gun. He enjoyed himself as he walked with Amy and Knux. He hadn't felt this relaxed since he spent his days with them and Tails. As they walked back to the car Shadow's phone rang. He answers his phone by walking away from the car for a moment. It was Rouge.

"Yes?" Shadow says.

"Hi sugar." Rouge says. "How you've been?"

"I'm alright. I'm spending my days with Rose, Tails and Knuckles at their place. Have you got any luck with that bastard?" Shadow growls at the last part.

"Not yet. He's tougher than he looks. Had the nerve to have me escorted out when I tried talking to him the other day. I asked Topaz for help and she said she'd get treated the same way."

"Damn." Shadow growls. He knew Amy and Knuckles were waiting for him in the car. He looked in the direction of his car before turning his head back.

"Only you can do this Rouge. My ass is on the line here." Shadow says. He hears Rouge chuckle.

"Don't worry hun. I'll take care of Armstrong for ya. I gotta go now. Call you back later Shadow." Rouge hangs up after making a 'blowing kiss' leaving Shadow sneering in disappointment. He walks back to his car and starts it up, heaving for a Burger Fix.

X-X-X-X

The trio ate inside. Few patrons were there but it was good enough for Shadow. They all got the double cheeseburger combo. Amy sat next to Shadow while Knuckles sat across from them. They chatted casually among themselves.

"What Rouge was telling you Shadow?" Amy asked.

"Just giving me an update on what's happening at G.U.N. She can't get through the man." Shadow scowls.

"Don't worry Shadow, I'm sure she'll find a way to help you." Amy reassures the old hedgehog. He humphed, biting into his burger. He flinched when Amy touched his arm affectionately. He puts his burger down and looks at her from the corner of his eye. Amy smiled at him, she wanted to turn red from the awkwardness but nonetheless kept her hand on him for a moment.

Once she took her hand off the hedgehog resumed eating, a frown on his face. Knuckles was too busy eating his food to notice. Amy continues eating afterwards until everyone was finished. Once they got their refills they left the fast-food joint and went home. Shadow left his bags in the car given he had no room to leave them in. He was fine with that though. He sat on the couch and had been quiet ever since the drive back home. Poor Amy thought by touching him the way she did made him uncomfortable, so she nervously sat by him to speak to him.

"Hi Shadow." She says nervously. He hunts before directing his gaze to her. He slouched in the couch with a frown on his face.

"What is it Rose?"

"I'm sorry I touched your arm and made you uncomfortable." Amy says looking down to avoid his gaze. He looks at her quietly before responding.

"I didn't say you made me uncomfortable Rose. I'm just not used to being touched." Shadow then takes her hand and squeezes hit gently, surprising Amy. She begins to blush and Shadow narrows his eyes. He lets go of her and looks at her closely.

"I need some time to get used to all this..." he says more to himself then Amy. His head lolls back forward to look at the TV that wasn't on. He looks tired, drained of emotion and energy. Amy smiled at him softly. Knuckles came out the bathroom and tuned on the TV for them. Everyone silently watched the show that was on when Tails arrived. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he told everyone hi.

The fox heads for the restroom to shower and get refreshed; he smelled like hard work...literally...

X-X-X-X

Fast-forwarding to around 11PM, Shadow spent his time watching a late-night talk show until he felt tired enough to sleep. He thought about the way Amy touched his arm, then how he took her hand. As sour as he was to her most of the time, he still appreciated Amy. She was the first one he opened up to back when he was presumed dead.

Now he treated her like garbage. It made him feel bad, especially since he only showed his kindness towards Cream now. He sighs as he lays down, shifting to get comfortable. His plate was too damn full in his mind and he'd rather sleep it off then think about it all night.

X-X-X-X

The following morning, Shadow found himself slouching in the couch as Amy made breakfast in the kitchen. Tails was off today so he spent his time working in the garage he converted into his workshop. It's been a long silent morning between the two hedgehogs at least. When breakfast was ready and everyone ate at the table barely any words were said.

"Since I'm off," Tails suddenly says breaking the uncomfortable silence as usual, "Why don't we go to the beach?" Tails offered.

"That sounds great Tails!" Amy squealed. "We should go guys!" She addressed Knux and Shadow. The echidna seemed to like the idea but the old hedgehog not so much.

"The last thing I need is to be seen by an agent." Shadow mumbles. Everyone grew concerned.

"Oh Shadow I'm sure everything will be fine. I promise we won't let nothing happen to you. Right boys?" Amy says. Tails and Knuckles nodded their heads.

Shadow sighs but reluctantly agrees to go along with them. They get ready and use the Astro Van to get down there.

X-X-X-X

Shadow laid down on his towel with his eyes closed and hands on his belly. Amy offered to put sunscreen on him but he told her he was dark enough to not need it. Sunscreen and fur wouldn't mix well anyways he stated to her so she put some on herself. Knuckles relaxed in the beach chair on the opposite side of where Shadow and Amy were. He would sleep every time because who wouldn't?

Tails was the only one in the water with his floaty (or whatever that thing is called lol). He used his tails to propel him and he laughed as he splashed.

Amy tunes on the radio and played some fitting beach tunes. She caught herself some rays on her own towel while scrolling dresses and sandals on her phone. Shopaholic she was (though Rouge was a tad worse). Shadow was thinking of the time he slept in his Suburban at the park, his gun in his lap for quick access.

He heard a sound coming from the back of the car and he woke up, immediately alert and weapon drawn. His windows were tinted all around but he could clearly see someone was snooping around his ride. Growling, he abruptly opened the door and shot the person before they could even react. It was a Black man in a navy hoodie and blue jeans. He appeared to be in his 30s and was clutching his shoulder were the bullet pierced.

"Who are you and why are you snooping around my car?!" Shadow growls. The man struggled to sit up to see the hedgehog.

"D-Don't shoot! I wasn't gonna b-break into your car." The man said through grunts of pain. Shadow didn't believe him and aimed his gun at him again.

"If you think I'm that stupid you're dead wrong. Get outta here before I put a bullet through your head." Shadow warned. The man struggled to get up and hobbles away, looking pathetic as he did. Shadow humphed. He could've Chaos Speared his ass right then and there but decided not to. The man had "thief" written all over him.

Now that his rest was interrupted and he was almost robbed so to say, Shadow got back into his car and drowse off to find another place to park and sleep for the night. Thinking back at that night made Shadow growl lowly. That was the first night he'd experienced someone trying to rob him. It wasn't however, his first time using the gun he owned. He bought it personally, G.U.N. didn't give it to him.

The hedgehog figured he'd buy it to avoid using his Chaos powers to eliminate threats like burglars and other fiendish individuals. It helped Shadow feel like a normal hedgehog. He sits up, looking over at Amy and Knuckles whom are both still and unmoving. Perhaps they're dead asleep from catching rays he thought. He looks out to see Tails still in the water, now playing with another Mobian his age and a human with a ball.

Shadow got up and decided to get himself something from the snack bar. He didn't bother waking the other two next to him so he walked off to find where it was. He was helped by an older gentleman who gave the hedgehog a slice a pizza and coke. Shadow thanks the man gruffly before walking back to where the others were. He sits down and eats his food in silence.

X-X-X-X

Some hours passed and everyone was up eating pizza and coke at their little spot on the beach. Shadow stared out at the open water the entire time. Normally Amy, Tails and Knuckles would spend the whole day at the beach. The best part about it in Knuckles' opinion is that he could piss in the ocean and nobody would even know.

"I'm glad you gave the beach a chance Shadow." Amy said breaking the hedgehog's attention from the ocean. He looks at her and she smiles at him.

"I only came along because I'm the guest of honor Rose." Shadow was obviously teasing but his tone was calm. Amy knee he was and chuckles.

"Oh Shadow." Amy laughed and pats his shoulder affectionately. He flinched and then she remembered how he felt about touch and quickly withdrew her hand from him, blushing slightly. "Sorry Shadow. Forgot you didn't like that."

"It's fine Rose." Shadow tells her. "I trust you." Amy was stunned by his words, he trusts her? She puts her hands on his shoulder again and nervously smiles. Shadow wasn't looking at her anymore and drew his attention back on the ocean.

Tails and Knuckles were busy chatting go to notice the two hedgehogs.

"When Rouge fixes the problem I'd be out you guys'...fur..." Shadow says nonchalantly. Amy looks at him sadly.

"Shadow, don't say that. We love your company and want you to be happy. You're always welcome to stay with us as long as you'd like. Hey, you can even move on with us!" Amy cheers up at the last part and Shadow looks at her. His face read fatigue, seriousness and uncertainty.

"I can't do that Rose. I'm...I'm not someone you'd want to share a roof with." Shadow says.

"Why?" Amy asked. Shadow looked down and away.

"I'm a victim of alcoholism." Shadow admitted. Amy's eyes filled with sadness at what she had heard. Shadow the Hedgehog was a alcoholic. Nobody would've known that ever.

"Oh Shadow." Amy gives the older hedgehog a hug catching Tails and Knuckles' attention. They grew concerned, noting how Shadow's head was down and Amy was comforting him.

"What's wrong Shadow?" Tails asked.

"Shadow said he's an alcoholic. I think G.U.N.'s got something to do with it." Amy told them.

"Not all of G.U.N. Rose, the new director's the reason. He's the reason I quit them entirely. He's the reason I'm like this." Shadow tells her.

"Shadow, nobody deserves to be pushed into alcoholism. We can help you." Amy offered. "We're getting Knuckles help with his alcoholism so can you."

"No!" Shadow suddenly barks startling everyone. Amy lets go of him in fear he'd shove her off him but he didn't. He sighs. "I don't want you three getting hurt because of me." Shadow was more calm now. "I'm saying this to protect you three. That man will target you three because you're in association with me. Everyone and anyone who I come in contact with would get watched, followed or worse." Shadow warned them.

"What's that's guy's problem then?" Knuckles asked, picking his fist into his hand.

"Perhaps a grudge he can't let go? I'm not sure myself why he treats me this way other then thinking it's because I'm the Ultimate Life Form. I'm a threat to the world in his eyes and I'd be damned if any of you are dead because of him." Shadow said.

"Shadow, I don't care what that man would do to me at least, but I would join in on the fight and get this man off your back. Something must be done and must be done now." Amy said, determination in her voice.

"Rose..." Shadow was going to say something but gave up. The pink one was a determined young lass. Backed up by a genius fox and stubborn echidna made it three against one.

"Alright. Perhaps we'll deal with him on Monday morning. How's that sound?" Shadow asks.

"The sooner the better." Amy answers.

A/N: Lol, I asked my dad one day if he'd rather have Sonic or Shadow as a pet and he chose Shadow lol. I'd choose Shadow too only because he's the Ultimate Life Form. Plus, I can rub his chest whenever lol. My mom too chooses Shadow lol. Alright, jokes aside, I've been writing and publishing oneshots which explains the delay to this chapter being uploaded.