Chapter two

Amy entered the dark hut. Knuckles and Espio only went as far as the door. It took a while for Amy's

eyes to adjust to the dark interior of the hut. When she could finally see she barely made out the

outline of Shadow, laying on his bed. Outside the hut Espio was pacing back and forth and, frankly,

driving Knuckles crazy again. " Why don't we go in too?" Espio asked suddenly pausing in his pacing.

Knuckles looked at him like he just grew another head or something. " US go in there too! What are

you nuts? Shadow doesn't like anybody except Amy. Amy's going in because she loves Shadow. We're

staying out because two people who like each other in the same room ... " Amy made her way over to

the bed. She saw an ear twitch but other than that Shadow didn't move. His breathing was slow and

even. " You're asleep already? You must've used a lot more chaos energy than usual to make up for

your left arm and wore yourself out." Amy smiled and gently pulled a sheet over Shadow. " You're so

cute when you're sleeping. . . You're not any less cute when you're awake. If I could just get you to

stay home when you're awake. . . If you stayed home maybe you'd notice that I'm not waiting for Sonic

anymore. I'm waiting for you, Shadow." Amy silently left and went with Knuckles and Espio to the

party.

" Daddy can we go? Please can we go?" Tirza begged. " No Tirza. I don't want you leaving this

house. I almost lost you once today. That will not happen again." " It wasn't Uncle Shadow's fault." "

What!" " You're blaming him. That's not fair Daddy." " Who said I was blaming him!" " Why won't

you even say his name? Uncle Shadow's not bad Daddy. He saved my life. Where were you? Why

didn't you come save me?" " Tirza! Who's putting these ideas into your head!" " Nobody is Daddy."

" Don't yell at my daughter." Keira interupted in a deadly tone. " Come on Tirza. We'll go to the party,

just you and Mommy okay? " " Yay! Will Uncle Knuckles be there? " " I don't know sweety. Get your

jacket okay? " As Tirza went to get her jacket Tails and Keira had an argument. " Keira don't take my

daughter away from me." Tails pleaded, for a moment reflecting the young Tails that had followed

Sonic around. " What are you talking about? " " The pack full of your and Tirza's stuff. . ." "It's not

good for her to hear us arguing. I think she'll be safer in Knothole than here if ... He decides to attack

again. It'll only be a week or so. We'll be back." Tirza, just around the corner listening clutched her

jacket and stuffed toy tighter as a silent tear slid down her cheek. " AAAAaaaahhhhh!" "

Espio don't you ever scare me like that again!" " Sorry Knuckles. Something grabbed me. " Knuckles

just rolled his eyes, that was when something got him too. Glancing down he saw what had his legs from

the knees down. " Uncle Knuckles!" Amy grinned. " Hey Tera. How's it going? " Knuckles asked. Amy

elbowed him gently and quietly whispered something. " Sorry Tirza." " That's okay Uncle Knuckles.

Dance with me. Please? " " Er ... I'll try." Amy left the two of them to get something to drink. " Uncle

Knuckles have you seen Uncle Shadow lately? " " No, I haven't. Amy has though. I think she went to

get something to drink." " I'm gonna go find her okay Uncle Knuckles? " " Alright. Be careful. "

Knuckles found Keira and told her where Tirza be. " Okay, thanks Knuckles." " No prob Keira. "

Amy really wouldn't admit it to anyone else but she was glad to have an excuse to go back and see

Shadow. Tirza playfully skipped beside her as she walked down the path. " How are you doing Tirza?

" " I'm allright. Daddy's not taking it good. How's Uncle Shadow? Is he okay? " " I don't know, when

he came back I saw the light and by the time I got inside he was already asleep." They entered

Shadow's hut together and Amy was relieved to see Shadow still there. Tirza ran and jumped up on

Shadow. " Wake up Uncle Shadow. Uncle Shadow? Please wake up." Tirza pulled on Shadow's ears

as she said this, trying to wake him. Amy smiled. She was enjoying this, it wasn't just anyone who could

jump on Shadow and pull on his ears and get away with it. Even Amy didn't dare do that. The only ones

who were really safe touching Shadow were Amy, Tirza and Cream. Cream had really grown up since

Sonic left. She was now a beautifull sixteen year old. She had helped Amy around the house a lot

until she had met a handsome young man. They were nearly inseperable and were together all the time.

Now though, Cream was making her way into the heart of Knothole alone. As she got close enough she

heard music and dancing from the party. Cream went to the party and searched until she found a

familiar face. " Knuckles what are you doing down here? " " Wow. Cream is that you? You look...

you're really pretty. " Cream managed an embarrassed smile. " Thankyou Knuckles. What's the party

for? " " You haven't heard? Shadow took down Robotniks main roboticizing lab and took five

thousand robots with it. " " Is he home! " " I don't know if he's still here. Amy took Tirza down to

his hut to see if he's still there. I'm assuming he is since last I knew he was asleep. " " I've been

wanting to see him, and everyone else. I miss all you guys." Cream gave Knuckles a hug and went off

towards Shadow's hut.