Chapter 2 – Cookery Classes and Conversation.
A/N: A word to all the people who've reviewed all my fics – THANK YOU ALL! However, just to re-inforce the point, the three I've written so far should be read in the following order to make the maximum amount of sense:
Angel of Darkness and Ice The Best Medicine A Bloodstone Rose.
KatyRose – Yes this is a SonAmy BUT Shadow will find someone special in one of the continuation fics after this (he's too cool to go without an equally cool girlfriend!)
Amy quickly forgot about the incident in the store room as Christmas rapidly approached; she had her mind focussed on the 25th of December, when all her friends would gather together at Vanilla's large house and just celebrate the events of the past year. As the eve of the days passed slowly, frustratingly slowly in the eyes of children (and big kids) everywhere, an already awesome situation somehow improved beyond all reason.
Ohh, my poor feet; Amy was curled up on her settee, slowly wiggling her toes as she relaxed in just her slippers and dressing gown. The Christmas rush had most definitely begun; the Quick Stop had been inundated all day and she had been simply rushed off her feet. Even her thirty minute lunch break had been cut down to five; as Chocky and Si had pointed out, at this time of year it was a case of eat-and-work simultaneously. As the young hedgehog stretched back on her furniture and reached for the television remote the phone suddenly rang, the shrill note of discord shattering the piece of her quiescent resting state. Heaving herself upright, Amy crossed the room and massaged her tired eyes as she spoke,
"Hello?"
"Hey Amy, how was work?" The hedgehog stood slightly straighter; she recognised the bubbly voice on the other end and wondered what Tails was doing calling her at this hour.
"Oh hi Tails; work's good, but it's a bit tiring", before she could elaborate she heard the fox's voice break off into a giggle,
"Well, what would you say if I told you I knew something to cheer you right up?"
"I'd be interested", the phone was put slightly closer to her ear as Amy's interest was piqued, "what did you managed to dig up this time?"
"You'll never guess". Amy was grateful Tails couldn't see her smile as she tried to sound impatient.
"Spit it out foxboy".
"No, you have to guess". This must be huge; Tails normally doesn't play games like this; she was desperate to know, but that didn't mean she was going to play the game by Tails' rules.
"Miles Prower, if you don't tell me this instant I'll come over to the Mystic Ruins, strap you into a chair and force you to sit through a lovey-dovey chick flick marathon, with no bathroom breaks or popcorn".
"Mercy", the fox had his limits, "alright I give; sit down though, you aren't going to believe this". Amy carried the phone to her settee and flumped down into it, imagination going into overdrive as she tried to picture what her friend had managed to find out.
"Okay, I'm sat".
"Good", the undercurrent of excitement became a raging storm, "Twinkle Park is holding a special Boxing Day bash called the Winter Wonderland, and cute couples get in free!" The phone fell from a nerveless hand as Amy gasped in shock.
"Could, could you repeat that please?" It couldn't be true, Tails must have misheard…
"Told you it was big", Tails dropped his voice to a sudden conspiratorial whisper, "I didn't believe it at first either, but it's true. They haven't announced it officially yet, but I've got my ear to the floor. First chance I get I'm signing us all in". Amy felt her heart skip a beat as she exclaimed,
"I'm with Sonic right", hang on a second, yeah, it's the right thing to do; her voice fell a bit, "does he know about it?"
"Yeah, he knows; he suggested we all sign up, and yes, he'll go with you for this".
"YAHOOO!" Amy sprang up and punched the air, celebrating two dreams coming true at once. It didn't even register that Tails as still on the other end of the phone until a tiny voice shouted in her ear,
"Amy, come in Amy Rose you're time is up; are you receiving?"
"Wha', oh sorry Tails", she regained a modicum of self-control and the ability to communicate again as the sheer high of euphoria wore off fractionally, "so who else is going?"
"Err, just a sec", the fox scratched the side of his head for a second; he should have made a list of who he'd rung, "yeah, that's right; you and Sonic, Knuckles and Rouge said they'd come and, heh, you'll never guess who Shadow's partnered with".
"Who?" I hope he's found a special girl at last; he deserves one after all he's been through; the answer, however, threw her completely for a loop.
"Vanilla". Tails bit his lip as the disbelief was tangible even through the phone.
"Vanilla? As in Cream's mum?"
"The one and only; don't worry though", Tails was quick to put her mind at ease, "nothing's going on – they both really want to go and this is the best way for them to get in without paying".
"Right, but", got you this time foxboy, "you sneaky little puffball you".
"What?"
"You're going with Cream aren't you?" Amy carried on before he could protest, "getting Shadow to take her mum out of the picture then propositioning her, oh how romantic". Argh, she's never going to let me forget this; only one thing for it.
"One more word out of you and you're walking to Vanilla's on December 25th", Tails gritted his teeth, "and yes, but she invited me". The only thing that surprised the young genius was the fact his receiver hadn't melted due to his blush as Amy laughed.
"Don't worry, I'll keep a secret – finished all your shopping yet?"
"Yeah, all done, but if you get a lump of coal in your stocking after that comment don't come running to me".
"Goodnight Tails; oh remember to pop in and see me if you get a minute – the Quick Stop Shop in Broadwall Mall".
"I'll remember; not long now".
"Counting the days; see you soon M.P".
"Bye". There were simultaneous clicks as a pair of telephones were set back down, just before Amy leapt into the air with a great yell of pure joy. She was going to Twinkle Park with all her friends, Sonic had agreed to be her partner for the day and just to top it all off, she'd have enough money from the extra she'd get for working over the Christmas period that she'd be able to make it a real day out. She was so excited it took her a long time to sleep that night, but when she did it was deep, refreshing and untroubled.
True to his word, Amy had her next day at work brightened by a visit from Sonic's younger brother. Tails waited patiently for the crowd to disperse and approached the till during a relatively quiet period.
"Hey, is Amy here today?" The human looked over the counter as all he could see from his position was possibly the tips of the fox's ears.
"Oh, yeah, just a sec", glancing around to assure himself that no customers were forthcoming save Tails himself, Si sauntered into the stock room, "Ames, someone for you; take the till while I help Chocky with the restock". Sonic? Not like him to drop in a place like this…oh, good old Tails; Amy beamed broadly as the fox waited patiently at the till.
"Hi Tails, let me take that".
"Got the good news", the fox confirmed as she ran the chocolate bar he'd held through the scanner, "we're all down on the list; on the 26th, all Twinkle Park is belong to us". Amy gave her victory pose while deftly avoiding tumbling off her box as Tails looked suitably proud of himself.
"Tails, I love you forever; how in the name of all that's holy did you find that out?"
"Just a question of being in the right place at the right time", the fox leaned closer on the pretence of purchasing his sweet, "and I spoke to your hero this morning; he's over the moon and he can't wait for next week". The kit remembered something else as Amy's soul decided to party on down; this was the best news she'd had in possibly her whole life.
"Yeah, you've got tomorrow off haven't you?"
"Yep, not in tomorrow; why, did you want something?" The kit smiled broadly and shook his head in a resigned fashion.
"No, not me directly, but Shadow does", what could he need; Amy looked a little concerned, so when Tails told her it was all she could do to keep a straight face, "he wants a bit of guidance in the kitchen area; he has no idea what to try and make for Vanilla's Christmas dinner".
Though Vanilla had agreed to house them all for the special celebration, Cream had confided in Amy, her 'big, friendly sister', that her mum had been a little worried about the amount of food she'd have to make for the occasion. Amy had fretted about this; Vanilla was being big-hearted enough to allow them all to share her home, it wasn't fair that she should have to cater for them as well. The brainwave had come at about three in the morning, having just been woken from a claustrophobic dream by a wrong numbered phone call; each should bring his own. The rose hedgehog had quickly thrashed out a deal that ensured Vanilla wouldn't be lumbered with the massive shopping bill or clean-up job. Every Mobian invited to the rabbit's home had been instructed to pre-prepare something to eat that they could all share – it was a brilliant idea that everyone had been in favour of, especially Vanilla and her daughter, who had envisioned the size of the washing up pile and nearly fainted dead away. The one tiny flaw in this idea was that not everyone was a whiz in the kitchen department; Shadow had a strict curfew that meant anything more adventurous than beans on toast needed supervision; a precaution necessary to prevent a repeat of the 'world's smallest A-bomb' as Sonic had delicately put it.
"Tell the master of disaster I'll see him tomorrow; I'll find a recipe even he can follow", Amy had to laugh as she remembered the aftermath of the A-bomb and how long it had taken the pair to clean the kitchen, the lounge and part of the hallway as well, "what about you?"
"Oh, I'm sorted; going for something a little bit special this time though – a mixed vegetable pie with sweet macaroni and custard sauce pudding to finish".
"Macaroni pudding?"
"Tastes divine I promise you".
"I'll take your word for it". At that precise second both Mobians heard a shout from the shop floor; both looked over to see Mr. Cadbury raising an eyebrow at the duo's extended conversation.
"Ms Rose, what is the company policy on flirting with customers?" Amy blushed slightly as Tails pocketed the snack he'd brought and called back,
"She's in love with my elder brother, not me".
"Then tell your elder brother not to distract my workforce". Tails waved, smiled at Amy and then departed the shop, leaving Amy positively buzzing with happiness; it was not two weeks away, everything was ready as it could get and tomorrow she'd get to play teacher with Shadow and probably Sonic as well.
Running again, never ceasing, always in motion, the tunnel stretching forwards and onwards and as ever it led down. Racing on, heedless of the darkness uncaring of the cold, ploughing on, nothing could come between her and her goal. The red light was just visible, barely able to be seen and, her feet caught again and she tumbled, hearing only a low, dull rumble as she fell away into nothingness.
"Heeeeellllllppppp, mmmmmmmeeeeeeee".
Sweat rolled off Amy as she suddenly sat straight up in bed, gasping in panic as the dark dream fled away from her conscious mind. She held her head in her hands, shivers not only due to the chill in the winter air as she tried to remember what had passed in her sleeping state. A voice, calling for help; does someone need aid; Amy's mind was troubled as fatigue gripped hold of her and she sank back down into bed, eyes creeping closed even as she tried to piece together what it could all mean. Within ten more minutes she was asleep in a more restful sleep, nearly forgetting the bad dream as in her mind she raced towards Christmas and the joy it would bring.
The next day, Sonic answered the door to his apartment with a mournful expression, looking for all the world like one of his close family had passed away as Amy stepped inside, cook book in hand and page indicated with a book mark. Shadow was waiting in the kitchen, hands washed and apprehensive as Amy set the dread book down and took a deep breath, trying to ignore Sonic as he whistled the Last Post just to annoy Shadow.
"Okay Shads, I've found something relatively simple that should work just fine. You're ready to go and soon we'll be able to see if you can nail this cooking for good". Sonic cut in,
"You mean by the end of this he'll be able to boil water without getting lumps in it?" The black hedgehog growled and shot back,
"This from the man who needs a recipe for ice-cubes".
"Stop it you two", Amy shut them both up with a meaningful glance; she knew they were only teasing each other like they always did but she was nearly as nervous as Shadow; someone could have strung her nerves up and played them like a violin at the minute. Shadow was looking even worse and in a second Amy decided he needed something to sugar the pill. Turning to the blue blur, she made one of her famous decrees,
"Sonic, you better hope he gets it right; you're going to be tasting it. Now follow me; shout if you need any help Shadow; good luck and don't panic". The blue hedgehog went white and immediately fell in line as the pair left the kitchen. Steeling himself, Shadow opened the recipe book and scanned the page. He took a long look at the recipe, carefully set the oven to the correct temperature, took a deep breath and started.
Amy and Sonic sat together in the lounge as small sounds of industry filtered through from the kitchen; the odd clunk, thud and occasional expletive as Shadow wrestled and fought to follow the recipe exactly and not make any mistakes. Amy was keeping an ear out in case he needed a hand while Sonic busied himself with a piece of paper. Wow, it's been twenty minutes and he hasn't shouted yet, hope he's okay; Amy had her eye on the door that joined kitchen and lounge when Sonic tapped her on the shoulder and offered his piece of paper.
"Sign this please".
"Err, what is it?" Amy swept her eyes down and caught the general gist before Sonic could even begin to reply; she shoved the blue hedgehog and hissed,
"Sonic that's mean even for you – Shadow's doing the best he can and all you do is take the mickey out of him for it".
"He'd do the same if it was me", Sonic stopped suddenly as he saw the look of scorn mixed with disappointment Amy was regarding him with and faltered. Maybe she's right; that's a bit low; he crumbled the swift will he'd written into a ball and threw it towards the bin with a sigh.
"Yeah, I guess you're right".
"Really?" The last person who'd been expecting that from Sonic was Amy herself; in all the time she'd chased him and known him, the blue blur had never, ever abandoned the light life-is-a-game tempo he lived by. What gives – Sonic being serious for a change?
"Yeah", Sonic didn't notice her exclamation as he put his feet up on the low coffee table, "at least he's actually thought about what to make for Christmas; I thought I had it made until I realised how many people are actually going to be there – I don't think I can make chilli-dogs enough for nine".
"So, so what are you going to do instead?"
"I'll think about it; worst come to worst I'll bug Shadow enough to let me work with him and come up with a team effort". Sonic smiled reluctantly at Amy's flabbergasted expression; somehow that just hadn't gone in right – Sonic was going to ask to work with someone?
"Are you feeling alright", she sniggered a little and quickly put her hand on his forehead, "oh no, it's got a toe hold, there's no hope".
"Oh no doctor, don't pull any punches", just play along to keep her sweet – you're enjoying this – no, I'm…er, well, perhaps a bit – there's hope for you yet, "what's the diagnosis?"
"It's, it's, I can't say it!"
"I can take it like a man, spit it out".
"It's the dreaded humility", she carried on before Sonic could remember exactly what humility was, "the bane of big-headed heroes the world over; I'm sorry Sonic but it's got you, there nothing I can do". You cheeky little…revenge imminent!
"Argh, my brain, it's infecting my mind", Sonic put both hands on his head and reeled as though someone had hit him with a two-by-four, "I can feel, it burns, it burns, ah it's got me", he turned back to Amy as the rose hedgehog felt a shiver run up her spine, "destroy all Amy". He suddenly lunged towards her and she squealed in mock-fear.
"Sonic no, it's me!" He's gonna get me for that; I regret nothing!
"Sonic, is, no, more", the blue hedgehog spoke in a monotone as he moved to inflict a hideous revenge, "I, can't, stop, this". He quickly rushed his hands into her quills and gave a vicious set of rubs, withdrawing with a laugh as Amy realised he'd completely messed her hair up.
"Why you rotten sod, you've ruined my hair do", she folded her arms and slumped backwards, face like thunder as Sonic laughed, "I'm not talking to you any more".
"Aww, poor little Amy's so cute when she's angry". Don't smile, don't smile; Amy forced herself to look surly as Sonic realised what her game was and moved to counter it – it was a game he was the master of and hadn't lost yet.
"You're going to smile". Amy's lips twitched and Sonic grinned inside; she was hopeless at trying to stay angry with anything.
"Yes you are". No, I can't help it, I'm gonna…rats! She snorted with a quiet laugh, façade of surliness reduced to ruin as Sonic gave a victory sign.
"Dammit, I can't stay angry with you; you make fun of everything".
"Isn't that why you like me?"
"One reason", go for it, she scooted over to be closer to him on the couch, "why, do you like me?"
Say it, she's just delivered it to you on a platter, what more do you want – no, I can't, not now – why, for the love of all that's holy why? – it, it's just not right yet; Sonic cleared his throat and, try as he might, couldn't quite bring himself to meet Amy's eye as she looked at him slyly. He settled on a compromise,
"Maaaaaaybe". Amy stuck her tongue out and challenged,
"Don't make me do a Rouge on you". Sonic sprang to the defensive as memories of that unforgettable day on Angel Island flashed back in his mind.
"You wouldn't dare".
"Try me". The blue hedgehog glared at her harshly as he flexed his fingers as a warning,
"You wouldn't dare because you're much more vulnerable than I am, and don't try to deny it; I remember that summer barbeque where Shadow broke you into pieces". Ah, okay, he's got me there; retreat with pride and sanity intact.
"Alright, you got me; that was a bluff".
"Just as well, I'd hate to alarm the neighbours with your squealing for mercy; I'd probably have the police on my door looking for the body…"
"Shush", Amy waved a hand at him as something wafted in from the kitchen, "you smell that?" Sonic took a deep sniff and his mouth started watering; whatever Shadow had done in there it smelt like heaven. He quickly stood up and helped her to her feet, leading her back into the kitchen as the delicious scent swirled around them and led the way.
"Hey guys", Shadow risked a glance over his shoulder and saw the two enter the room, "set the table; I'll dish this up in a second". Sonic quickly emptied the cupboards of their condiments as Amy peered over the black hedgehog's shoulder,
"Did it go alright?"
"Fine, the recipe was easy to follow and I reckon I've cooked it for long enough, oh, one thing though", Shadow prodded a piece of meat slightly separate within the pan of meat cutlets and vegetables he was frying, "get Sonic to try that bit; he complained about my cooking so he's going to see just how bad it can be".
"What did you do to it?"
"Just a pinch of extra salt". Amy shook her head, nodded and swiftly took a fork from the draw, calling over to him as she expertly speared the indicated morsel.
"Hey Sonikku, take a mouthful of this". Slowly and with greatly exaggerated reluctance the blue hedgehog sidled forwards, face the very epitome of anxiety and apprehension.
"If I don't survive, I leave everything to Tails". Shadow's shoulder's shook as Amy tried to act angry; Sonic deserved a trick like this to prick his ego a little,
"Shadow worked hard on this and in my eye it's mouth-watering". She fed the blue hedgehog the chunk of meat and chortled as his face seemed to shrink in on itself; the salted meat soured the hedgehog's tongue as he choked it down.
"And in my mouth it's eye-watering", he sucked on his tongue to try and get some saliva back in his mouth, "I think your hand slipped with the salt Shads".
"No, that was deliberate", the ebon hedgehog turned to face him and grinned triumphantly as Sonic looked on in disbelief, "you made fun of my cooking, well my cooking made fun of you Sonic". That was good, never even suspected that; Sonic was impressed by the sneakiness of the trick and sighed,
"You child; luckily I'm too mature to deign to try and return a…" he looked up from his martyr act at the sound of laughter from the other two hedgehogs, "what?"
"Mature Sonic", Amy giggled as Shadow held himself steady enough to pour the broth he'd made into three bowls, "that's about as likely as a slim Eggman". Sonic sniffed snootily as he somehow gave a hammy act with a completely straight face.
"You're both just jealous of my cool head and adult nature", Amy and Shadow were breaking down by now; Sonic had a gift for turning an innocuous joke into an article of utter hysteria and was exercising it to the max right now, "the fact I always do the right, mature thing to do is lost on a pair of infants such as yourselves".
"Mercy", Shadow choked as he set the pan back down unsteadily before he lost control of it completely, "no more Sonic, we've got to eat now". Yeah, I better not; the oven's still hot and if something spills I'll have to clear up; Sonic gave one last sneer as he reached for his food bowl, carrying it carefully back to the table. As the three ate, they all hastily came to a conclusion – Shadow had not just broken his cookery jinx, he'd sundered it to pieces and ground the pieces to dust. By the time Amy had to return to her place, Sonic had convinced Shadow that his broth combined with some of his patented chilli-dogs would prove to be a knock-out for the Christmas meal.
As Sonic cleared up the remnants of the cooking, Shadow walked Amy back to her apartment; the shorter days meant that the streets were dark by this time and neither male Mobian would have been able to live with themselves if anything had happened to Amy on her trip home. As the two walked, Shadow suddenly smirked,
"I heard that you know". Amy had a pretty good idea what he was on about and smiled back as she ran the conversation she'd shared with Sonic back in her head,
"Yeah, we can talk a lot more freely these days and he doesn't seem to mind me as much as he used to".
"Amy, he never minded you", Shadow chortled at her amazed expression, "he thought the way you always ran after him and bugged him all the time was annoying, but he never actually minded having you around as a friend; it was when you started talking about romance and commitment he started getting edgy. Haven't you noticed that since you stopped he's reacted?"
"Yeah I noticed", Amy smiled and mentally made a note to buy Si a bigger present for Christmas, "my workmate helped me get rid of that chasing thing, said it would freak Sonikku out". A truer word was never spoken – it freaked me out too; Shadow hid a smile as Amy daydreamed about her hero. The black hedgehog was grateful to Amy as she had been a real asset in him trying to conquer the mental forgetfulness that still dogged him; he thought of her as his younger cousin – sister was too strong a word for his feelings towards her. He let his mind slip back; this would be the first Christmas he'd be able to remember and, as he watched the stars twinkle overhead, he realised it was going to go like a dream.
"Goodnight Amy, have a good day at work tomorrow".
"I will Shads; goodnight and tell Sonic the same. That was a good meal as well Shadow – par excellence if you ask me". The black hedgehog gave a thumbs-up as Amy disappeared inside her apartment block, waving from the warm interior as he turned away, mind mulling things over – I gave Knuckles and Rouge a nudge in the right direction; wonder if I should do the same here, or should I just leave this one alone and let them realise the truth in their own time? Shadow mused as he walked along the frosty streets before deciding – he knew Amy loved Sonic deeply and was ninety-nine percent certain he felt the same way. It was just a question of the right time; the right conditions occurring that would cause both to admit feelings for the others. In later years Shadow would look back on this night and realise he had been partially right; however, he would have been the first to admit the conditions he had in mind were nothing like those that actually came to pass.
A/N: Revision, too much revision – mind going into meltdown, brain imploding, writing fanfictions eases the pain. So much for the six-week promise; hope this is still good.