Cool air brushed through his azure quills. The wind lightly hummed through his ears putting him in an inadvertent trance. His breaths were slow and controlled, letting his arms fall weightlessly by his sides. Deep verdant irises gazed along the distant mountains, tall, swaying trees and rushing streams. He stood above it all as if he were an important monarch. Though, he still felt humble.

"What do you mean you're leaving?!"

He looked up. The day wasn't pleasant. The sky was a dull, clouded gray. His brows felt heavy as they narrowed together, a tight feeling in his throat stuck firmly, dripping down to his chest.

"You can't go! You promised!"

Anxiety? Irritation? …Sadness? He was far, far from home. So far, it would take days for someone to get to him. He always left at some point. For days to even weeks. He looked forward to leaving… leaving home.

"Sonic, please."

Why was he being tied down with this feeling? It wasn't like the relief he usually felt; that feeling disappeared ages ago, slowly but surely. Eventually, leaving him with guilt. A feeling of loneliness. Thoughts that made him feel uncomfortable. Homesick.

"…oh, alright."

It was her. He was letting her down again. He never cared for her feelings when he left. Ignored her dissatisfaction. Her pleas and cries. The promises he broke without hesitation. "Jeez, Ames. Would ya lay off?" He would usually say.

She was getting tired of it now. She didn't try as hard as she usually would to get him to stay. She stopped caring just as he did. The more he left, the more he took away from her. He needed to travel. He hated staying in the same place for too long. She could never keep up with him when he pushed himself.

Now his escapes were sour. He got nothing out of them. Only loneliness and homesickness. He missed his home. Missed Tails… missed her. Why did he only start caring when she didn't? Was that selfish? Was he truly that self-indulgent?

He regretted yelling at her that day. She poured her pain onto him, telling him everything he had done to hurt her. He hadn't expected it. He got defensive, furious at... he didn't even know what. She was an angry girl, she lost her temper more often than most, but what she expressed wasn't anger anymore. She had pleaded to him through her stare, her voice strained as she piled her thoughts onto him.

"What more do I have to do?! Do you even care about me?!"

"Oh God, seriously! Go find someone else's life to make a nightmare!"

The tears that hung from her lids were all he could focus on.

He did that – he made her cry.

I made her cry.

His head fell. Eyes squeezed shut, he exhaled. He was perplexed about how he felt and why he felt that way. He wanted to go home.

I should apologize.

He wanted to. He really wanted to. But, he was embarrassed. Would she laugh if he did? Scoff and walk away? If what she said to him was true, she would forgive him. Right?

He loved her. Everything about her. And he treated her like the dirt beneath his shoes. He was unsure of how he felt, how he wanted to feel. He struggled to put the words together. He knew he loved her, but the words were stiff to flow from his mouth. Everything she had done for him, he dusted off with ease. All it took for him to feel that guilt… was for her to stop caring.

He hated that that's what it took. He pushed her away, thinking it meant nothing at all to her. He was losing her. Completely? He didn't know... Maybe he was too late.

"Later Tails, I'm off! …See ya, Ames."

Nothing. She didn't even look at him. Why would she, after what they had said to each other?

He stopped thinking about it. His mind went idle from his thoughts, and his body began to move. His speed increasing.

I need to see her. That's all that played through his head. Over and over. He was eager, more than ever before.

He usually took his time going home, but his feet kept moving. His concentration was a blur, not acknowledging his surroundings as he zoomed by locations. His breath hitched, time stopping for a moment as his face was mere inches away from a door. He stared intently at it, a gloved fist hovering over the wood. His ear twitched, his heavy, shaking breaths canceling out the silence that lingered around him.

He knocked.

His eyes fell to the bottom of the door. He waited. With one last exhale, he calmed his racing heart as footsteps approached.

"You're back."

Jade eyes locked.

"Yes, I am."

Not knowing what to do, her hand slid down from the door and she hugged her frame. She tried her best to keep eye contact with him. Though she grew nervous, unable to register his intentions. Was she in for another argument?

His throat felt dry, unable to muster up any form of a sentence. His ears fell. Seeing her made him feel at home. Knowing that she answered the door, was even willing to speak with him. The hard, heavy feeling in his chest, melted away immediately.

"Do you need something?"

Arms wrapped around her shoulders, her body pulled firmly towards him. Eyes wide, her body froze. Wordlessly, she felt him somehow deepen their embrace. Feeling the tenseness fall from his form.

Her cheek pressed against his, a tingling feeling traveling through her. A heat rose to her muzzle. She relaxed, falling into his warm hold, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Ames… I'm so sorry." His voice was shaken, yet he didn't let that damage his already sky-high ego. He wanted her to see his vulnerability. She deserved to. "You are everything to me."

"Sonic," she pulls away, yet he didn't want to let go. "Please don't say that."

Hurt showered his expression. I'm too late.

"Don't say something you don't mean… I'm sorry." She turned away from him, now ashamed to look at him. She rubbed her arm, "What I said the other day, please forget it. I don't mean for it to make you feel bad."

He stared in disbelief. She thought he was apologizing because he pitied her. He questioned himself and how he let it get this far. She didn't believe he truly cared for her.

He shook his head, stepping closer. He grabbed her arm and she looked up at him immediately. She looked embarrassed as she slowly pulled his hand from her arm.

"Amy, I mean it…" his tone was desperate. That horrible feeling he felt earlier was beginning to show itself once again.

"Okay, Sonic." She said softly, biting her lip. Did she just dismiss him?

He feels something else should be said… anything. But he doesn't know what. He's stuck. Badly. He didn't know how to deal with this… his emotions… her.

"Amy."

She smiled at him, "I forgive you, Sonic. I know you didn't mean it." He could see the smile she presented so brightly to him was an act, "you can leave now if you want, I won't hold you back."

He huffed, his hands entangled in her rosy quills, pulling her face towards his own. He catches her in a kiss, gentle and meaningful. The only way he could tell her how he felt, with words he was lost, but he needed to show her.

Shock, an overwhelming amount, filled her. The most unexpected thing he could've ever done… and he did it. Easily swooned, she fell into his unexpected touch. Her hands gripped onto his wrists as he kissed her.

He felt comfortable again. Happy. Holding her brought this sense of knowing. Knowing that he was home.

They break, and what words she was to say were gone from her mind. He smiled at her, a true smile. He pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes.

"I love you, Amy Rose."