Ok, this was going to be it... it's not. Almost there!

She sat on the bed for a few more seconds after he left, catching her breath. She had never been at such a loss as to what she was feeling. That was the most amazing thing that had ever happened to her. But, it was now tainted with an overwhelming guilt knowing how oblivious Violet was - she could only imagine how Sonic was feeling. She forced herself to stand, look in the mirror on the wall to check nothing was smudged and her dress was straight. She adjusted her knickers again, as if she was scared they were missing, then looked towards the door.

She quickly grabbed her glass from the bedside table and strode forth, back out into the room full of her friends as if nothing happened. When she stepped foot out of the hallway, Cream ran up to her to give her a sparkler before running off again. Amy let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding until Rouge walked up to her, said nothing and wiped lip gloss off the edge of her lips... The room had been dark, neither her or Sonic had seen the last little bits that were smeared on her cheek. Her body froze, her eyes wide as the ivory bat's hand went back to her side. She gave her a look - not a bad one, or one of concern. Not a good one or one of excitement or pride, either. Just one of, 'we'll talk about this later'.

Tails was lighting up fireworks from the balcony as everyone gathered together to start the countdown. Knuckles came over, drink in hand and clinked Amy's glass before wrapping an arm around Rouge's shoulders, ready to watch the show. As everyone began to count down, the fuchsia hedgehog noticed Violet wrap her arms around Sonic's waist. She caught his gaze for just a second - not long enough to see any kind of emotion but she was sure he was feeling the same way she was. And she had never really been sure of that before.

3.. 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Knuckles snuck a kiss from Rouge's lips before bringing Amy in for a hug, forcing her into this reality, and pecking her cheek. As Rouge brought her in for a big hug, the bubble-gum woman looked over her friend's shoulder and Violet stealing a long New Year's kiss from Sonic. Or did it just seem long? She watched him smile down at her, his lips only having just been all over her moments ago. In their haze she thought everything was going to be ok. That they'd be together the way she had always wanted. But was it just those few moments? Now everything goes back to the way it was only half an hour ago and it wouldn't be spoken of again? The thought made her nauseous.

'Something really happened, didn't it?' Rouge ask lowly in Amy's ear.

'Yeah,' Amy answered numbly, 'but I think it might already be over.'

Rouge let her go and turned around to look at Sonic and Violet. She glared at him a little as the purple goddess waved a lit sparkler in his face, laughing with him. The ivory bat turned to look at Amy, wanting to hold her and make everything better, but she knew she couldn't. She wanted to believe that this would be the last time they'd see Violet, but she really didn't know. Was Sonic brave enough to be honest? The two were broken out of their trance by Silver and Blaze coming over to wish them a Happy New Year. They both smiled and laughed with their friends, willing the night to go back to being fun and joyous.

Sonic had a few seconds to watch Amy smile and laugh. He didn't know being so close with someone could feel like that. In that moment, he knew he couldn't feel it again with Violet, or anyone else that wasn't Amy. But how did he fix this? He didn't want anyone to be hurt, or upset. All he knew was... he wanted Amy.

.

It had been more than a week, and she still hadn't heard from him. She thought surely he would have said something by now, but no. She willed herself not to feel so low, something would happen. He would come and say something - he had to. There was no way what happened between them could possibly go unspoken. When she thought on it long enough, she relived it. The way he held her, kissed her, smiled down at her like he wanted nothing more than all of her. The sun was setting as Amy was pouring a glass of wine before she heard a knock at the door, breaking her from her trance. She smiled as she opened it to find Rouge and Blaze, greeting her happily before walking through with wine and food before she looked past them as if someone else was coming.

'Cream had to go out of town to see her mum.' Rouge told her before she could ask.

'And Tikal said Knuckles asked her to help him with something to do with the Master Emerald.' Blaze added as she took a seat around the coffee table.

'Ah!' Amy nodded through a smile before closing the door.

They sat together for a drink or two, snacked on some food and began to chat about life going back to normal post new year celebrations. Amy listened to her friends talk, their words blurring in and out every now and again as she swirled her glass, watching the liquid swish around the rim. Rouge glanced over at her sporadically, wanting to say something. Wanting a follow up - she was getting worried the more she watched the hedgehog. Every time she went to ask, she stopped herself, concerned Blaze's presence in the conversation might make Amy upset. She decided to risk it.

'Amy,' Rouge hesitated for a moment, 'uh, do you wanna talk about... you know. New Year?'

'Hm?' Blaze's ears perked up, but Amy didn't seem put off.

'I guess there isn't much to say.' She shrugged.

'Did I... miss something?' The lavender feline cocked a brow in Amy's direction.

'I'm sorry if-'

'No, no,' Amy interrupted the ivory bat, 'it's fine, uh...'

She didn't know where to begin.

'When Sonic first came home with Violet,' she started, piquing Blaze's interest, 'I was so sad. And angry. I mean, I didn't have any right to be angry but, I was.'

'I would have been...' Rouge said through sips of wine.

'And, uh, I was kind of a child about it. Stormed out of Christmas when I realised the gift-' Amy cut herself off as she got up and walked to her room.

Rouge and Blaze just looked at each other, confused, before turning their gaze in the direction of Amy's room. She strode towards her dresser, yanked out the drawer she'd thrown the locket in at Christmas and searched around for it. She gently pulled out the chain and opened the locket before walking back to the living room, placing the necklace on the coffee table so both of her friends could see.

'It's from him.' She continued, 'I refused to talk to him... even though I knew he wasn't mine, I was so mad. I really thought we... anyway.' Amy trailed off.

'So, what happened then?' Blaze encouraged her, still confused as she gazed at the locket.

'Then, uh... I went out onto the balcony from his room on New Year. Just getting some air, when he came out. We fought for a bit. I told him I was mad at him for stringing me along, throwing Violet in my face. He said that's not what he was doing.'

'I mean it definitely seemed that way.' The ivory bat agreed with her.

'Yes, I mean, we've all seen how you guys have been... I mean we all thought you guys would... you know.' Blaze added.

'Yeah, well, so did I, I guess. Anyway, he said some things, I said some things until... we just...'

'You mean you guys-'

'No!' Amy interjected, 'I mean, sort of. Not like,' she stopped and let out a deep sigh, 'we did...things. God, I sound like a teenager.'

'When she came back out into the hallway, I wiped away smeared lip gloss before anyone could see.' Rouge took over.

'Wait, so you already knew?' Blaze raised her brows at her ivory friend.

'Barely. Not to this extent, I only guessed based on our three second interaction before midnight.'

'Anyway, we heard someone yell out that it was almost midnight, stopped and rushed ourselves out. I saw him kiss Violet for new year and that was the last I saw him.'

The three sat in silence for a few seconds, soaking everything in. It was the first time Amy had really said any of this out loud, and not just relived it all in her head. Now that she was really hearing it, she did feel like a teenager. It all seemed so ridiculous, but that didn't change how empty she was feeling. She watched Blaze and Rouge take it all in, hoping they had even a shred of advice or something to make her feel better. She knew nothing would, though. She took a drink and slouched in her chair, rubbing her temples a little.

'Wait,' Blaze suddenly realised, 'so he hasn't come around? Called?'

'Nope.'

'Not even a text?' Rouge added, to which Amy merely shook her head.

'Christ.' Blaze huffed, annoyed.

'What do I do?' Amy almost pleaded.

'I don't think there's really anything you can do, sweetie.' Rouge gave her a lopsided smile, 'I think the ball is kind of in his court now. You've both said and done things you felt and meant. Now, he needs to make decisions so you can all just... keep going.'

.

Amy locked the door behind the girls as they walked out. She let out a sigh before she cleaned up the coffee table, pausing a second to look at the locket, before walking to the kitchen to place the glasses in the sink. She looked up at the clock on the wall, it was late... almost midnight. She pulled herself into her room slowly, getting undressed and into a satin baby pink slip. She ran her fingers through her quills and let out a deep sigh as she opened her bedroom window, letting in a gentle breeze. The room glowed from the light of her lamp, her shadow dancing along the walls as she walked around, getting ready for bed. Just as she pulled her bed sheets down, she almost jumped out of her skin as she heard a pounding at the door.

'Did Rouge leave her phone or something?' Amy wondered, looking around the coffee table as she walked through the living room and towards the front door.

She almost lost her dinner when she opened the door. The cool breeze brushing against her slip made her suddenly feel very exposed. Her eyes widened and her mouth just hung agape as she tried to subtly cross her arms to feel a little more covered... not that it really mattered. He stood there, head low, eyes only glancing up sporadically. They just stood there, for what seemed like forever, but was only a few seconds.

'Can I come in?' Sonic asked when he finally met her eyes.

'Ok.' Amy stepped aside to let him walk through and close the door behind him.

When she turned around, she kept her arms folded over her chest, only briefly allowing one hand to tuck a quill behind her ear. It seemed silly to feel so exposed in front of him, it wasn't like they hadn't already crossed that line. She walked past him and sat on the couch without saying a word, but he seemed to get the idea that he could follow at a safe distance.

He followed her to the couch, noticing the open locket on the table. Amy watched him stare at it but couldn't bring herself to say anything. The silence was palpable... she didn't feel like she should have to be the one to break it. After all, he was the one that showed up to her house at midnight. She couldn't stand it any longer, though.

'So...'

'Violet doesn't know.' Sonic blurted out before he could stop himself.

'Then why are you here?!' Amy turned on him in a rage.

'I just- I had to see you, Ames.'

'Don't call me that...' She sighed as she got off the couch to create a distance between them.

'I'll tell her, of course I will,' He said as he followed her off the couch, 'I just don't want to hurt her and-'

'You've already hurt her!' Amy cut him off, whirling around on him, 'We already hurt her. There is nothing you can say or do to make any of this better, Sonic.'

He hung his head low, rubbing his face in his palms. He looked like he hadn't slept. She knew he was wrapped with guilt, knew that he genuinely felt bad. All she wanted to do was throw herself into his arms and hold him, feel him pulling her into him... finish what they'd started without any interruptions. She knew none of that would make the situation better. They stood in silence. The longer it went on, the more she feared she'd break and let this all continue behind Violet's back. The anxiety started to creep in... what if she allowed it? Then later down the line he met someone else and did this to her? No. No, no. Not to her, this is different. Isn't it?

'I'm scared you won't...' The words slipped out before she could stop them.

'What?' His eyes looked up at her, worried. She had to keep going now.

'I'm scared you won't tell her. Even if you do, and one day you meet someone else and then-'

'No.' He cut her off, almost angrily. 'I would never, could never, do this to you, Amy.'

'So...' Amy said shakily through a shrug.

'I-' His nerves cut him off. He wasn't good at this and he knew it. He strode forth and grabbed her arms, making her look at him. 'I want you. I'm sorry I've been an idiot about it and I'm terrified I'm too late but... I can't... I can't be without you.'

His head dropped, he seemed embarrassed. Ashamed. So he should be, he's going behind another woman's back. Amy tried not to judge too harsh, she knew deep down this was a particularly difficult situation. They had a history, and he had been seeing Violet two minutes. Not that it made this excusable. She let out a shaky breath and tilted his head up with a finger.

'You... you have to tell her.'

'I will.' He almost whispered, closing the gap between them and pressing his lips against hers.

'No...' Amy said, with no force at all. 'You have... you have to...'

She trailed off. His piercing green eyes stared into hers. He wouldn't force it, force anything she wasn't comfortable with. She was in too deep, though. She couldn't stop herself now. She gave in - and she hated herself for it. She kissed him back, starting out gently before allowing it to become more and more forceful.

The knot in her stomach twisted and untwisted as they went, a mix of nerves, excitement, guilt, passion. It's true what they say... love is blind. Makes you blind to anything and everything around, what's right and what's wrong. Everything was silent, bar the breeze that blew outside, they knew they wouldn't be interrupted this time.

Sonic hoisted her up so she'd wrap her legs around his waist, not breaking away from her for a second other than to kiss her cheeks and neck. He walked them towards her room, pressing her up against her bedroom door before holding her up with one arm to use the other to open it. They burst through before he slammed the door behind them...

.

3:30am

The blue blur stroked her quills as he watched her sleep. She was facing him, curled into his chest, the slightest hint of a smile at the edge of her lips. The thin sheets wrapped around her bare body, loosely, so he pulled them up further to cover her shoulders to keep her warm.

He couldn't sleep. It had been amazing. Everything he could have hoped for. She was right, though - he had to come clean. He felt guilty that he felt like this whole experience had been somehow tainted with deception. He let out a deep sigh and turned slightly to look out the window, the moonlight beaming in through the light snow.

He turned to look at Amy's dresser where he could see a pen and notebook. He looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms before slowly slipping out of the bed.

.

The fuchsia bundle of quills woke up from the sunlight streaming in, finally a break from the snow fall. She rolled over and felt her back crackle a little, letting out a deep breath. Her satin sheets felt so soft over her fur as she rolled over, she felt so... happy. Until she fully opened her eyes and realised she was alone. All that was left was a note.

'Don't panic, Ames.

I'm telling her today. I'll be back tonight.

Then it's you and me.

Sonic'