Early the next morning:

Sonic and Knuckles sat at a small booth inside a diner called Eat Until You're Beat. Knuckles stirred a packet of sugar into his coffee and Sonic sat back into the cushion with sloppy posture.

"So just like that?" asked Knuckles, while still stirring. "…Just like that," Sonic replied. Knuckles closed his eyes, still stirring, "Tell me this…have you recently been drinking anything strange, dangerous…or inhaling something that may smell pretty but isn't so good for you?" Sonic snapped, "What? No!" Knuckles opened his eyes know and put his fists together, elbows on the table, "Well then, have you been seeing any hallucinations, or have you had any double vision?" Sonic sighed in frustration, "No…"

Knuckles shot up from his seat shouting, "So, do you love her?" Sonic brought his index finger to his forehead, as if considering it for the first time. He thought back to the many adventures he'd had in the past with Amy, both the enjoyable and the more…painful ones. Sonic reflected on Amy's recent metamorphism from little miss sassy to a woman who's in charge…Sonic knew the fine difference. Then he grinned and replied confidently, "I might as well love her…fate's not gonna let me take anyone else." Knuckles was bewildered simply that Sonic possessed the security to say something like that. Knuckles sat back down slowly, "Okay…problem solved."

Just then a tickle me pink flamingo waitress came over to their table. Knuckles reached out to give her a tip but she shook her head, "It's on the house." She took Knuckles' cup now that it was empty. As she retreated to the kitchen, she turned back and said suddenly, "Oh, and Sonic… congratulations." Knuckles looked to Sonic who shrugged.

At a table diagonal from theirs sat an abandoned newspaper which had big bold lettering that read:

"Is Our Speedy Star finally settling down?"

Underneath the insanely huge text was a picture of Sonic and Amy which was slightly outdated, but it was them nonetheless. Sonic ran over and snatched it. When Knuckles finally realized what had gotten into Sonic, he chuckled, "I forgot how fast news spreads around here."

Sonic was staring at the picture with bulging eyes, they trembled in a fearing motion. It wasn't truly anger or outrage that Sonic felt, it was more an awkward kind of panicky feeling. As if he'd forgotten to study for a test. This was the test, and there was no time to cram in knowledge, no time to prepare. "Do you know what this means?" Knuckles shook his head to indicate a no. Sonic answered, "All these goons from the media are gonna make Amy and me captives in our own homes!"

Knuckles turned serious and placed a hand on Sonic's shoulder, the warmth of his glove radiating genuinely of certainty, of assurance, "I know Amy can get excited, but do you really think she would tell the newspapers right away?" Sonic thought about this, he concluded that Amy would probably anticipate his reaction to the article in the paper. So why is it here on the front cover? Sonic put the paper back on the table, "I'll go talk to her. If she did tell'm, then it must have been for a good reason."

Sonic then rushed out of the diner toward Amy's house, it was still early and he was hoping she hadn't left yet. Over the horizon, the morning sun was just beginning to peek over the sleepy eyes of Station Square. Sonic made a fist and knocked three staccato like beats against the door. When Amy openedit to see Sonic, she jumped back startled, like she'd received a small shock from the doorknob. Sonic brought the paper up to her face, "Check this out." Amy took it from him and looked over the picture, a deep worry growing as she registered the picture and the large bold, can't miss lettering.With instinctive defense she shouted, "I told them not to print this!"

Amy kept her eyes to the paper for about thirty more seconds and then realized something. "Hey wait…" Sonic's head moved to a slight tilt, just as the tilt of the planet's axis, "What is it?" Amy showed him the paper again, the photo was one taken of Sonic and Amy at what looks like the mall, but it's hard to tell because the background is blurry. Amy pointed to the top of the page, "This isn't The Station Square Times…it's the Spring Meadows Daily Post." Sonic took back the paper, looking at the top printing now, and realizing that she was right, but then how did these people find out?

Amy asked the question for Sonic, "How did they know? I only told Jim and Sophie." Amy covered her mouth at this last statement, her eyes like that of a small child who's just broken a set of china dishes.

Sonic placed his hand on Amy's shoulder, "I'm not mad Ames…I just, didn't expect everyone to know this soon." Amy looked up at him, feeling a bit less ashamed to eye him in the face. Sonic added, "I haven't been so quiet either…Tails and Knuckles know, and probably Cream pretty soon. We can't worry about it too much, we just have to be careful what we let people know." Sonic glanced at a clock behind her. "Come on…you're gonna be late." Sonic lifted Amy and raced off to The Station Square Times.


To: Amy Rose From: Rouge the bat Subject: How could you

not tell me! I know it's been a little while, but you know, it'd be nice if you could keep me up with the gossip going on your life.

Knuckles tells me it was Sonic who proposed to you. Bravo to him. How did he do it? Was there any bloodshed? Just kidding…about the bloodshed thing, I'm sure you guessed that.

You had better make sure there are no arrangements of attire made without my consent!And this time I'm not kidding, really.

Rouge


To: Rouge the bat From: Amy Rose Subject: I was going to

tell you. Really soon. I knew you'd find out anyway. I guess you saw the post, huh? You don't read the times? I'm insulted.Kidding... you know that.

And you have my word that whatever decision in décor, or clothing, etc cetera will not be final unless my friends approve.

For color theme, I'm thinking silver and red.

Amy


To: Amy Rose From: Sophie the cat Subject: I've seen it

Yeah so, I saw the post. Not a bad picture, but it isn't Sonic's most flattering pose.

Do you hate me? It was all in a noble purpose, me telling the office I mean. I guess I shoulda known something like this would happen. I swear I didn't tell the post though…I don't know who did that.

It's partially Jim's fault too.

Not that I'm pointing any fingers or anything but…

Oh forget it. It isn't Jim's fault. We all know it. I know it. You know. Copy room guy knows it. The little ant trying to crawl into my keyboard knows it.

Bugs…yuck.

Everybody knows it.

Sophie


To: Sophie the cat From: Amy Rose Subject: Oh…

No, of course I don't hate you. I know you didn't mean for this to happen. What I want to know is who tipped the post people.

I know it wasn't you.

Jim would never do that.

It could've been Tails or Knuckles, but I doubt it.

And the president is just well…the president. He wouldn't tell another newspaper, that's just stupid.

Hmm…that only leaves one other suspect.

But why?

Amy


To: Miss Amy Rose From: Mr. Peter J. Wilkinson Subject: Your employment

Miss Rose,

Prior to this day you advised me that you wouldn't give consent to us publishing the story of your enthralling engagement. I took into respect your wishes and did not pursue publication.

Appalled doesn't express the betrayal I felt at glancing at our rival paper this morning.

Miss Rose, are you aware that your contract with us does not expire until the end of the year. We pay you well, conditions in the building are tidy. Why then, I ask Miss Rose, have you gone against us? Feeding our nemesis this information and for what, money?

I would have never expected such behavior to be portrayed in such an ambitious young lady. I must say that I am deeply disappointed.

P. Wilkinson


To: Mr. Wilkinson From: Amy Rose Subject: My apologies

Mr. Wilkinson,

I want you to have my promise that never have I betrayed this newspaper and I won't start to now. There has simply been a misunderstanding. You see…it seems that someone without my consent, gave that information to the Spring Meadows Daily Post. I would have never agreed to it.

I am not sure who is responsible for the leak of information, but I am discretely investigating the situation. I hope you can accept my apologies and my testimony.

Sincerely,

Amy Rose


To: Sonic the hedgehog From: Amy Rose Subject: This is too much

Oh…why did I ever have to open my mouth? Now the president of the newspaper hates me, it's like pouring outside…one of my buttons came off and now I have to keep pulling up my pants.

…This is not my day.

Amy


To: Amy Rose From: Sonic the hedgehog Subject: I'm sorry to hear that

Tomorrow will be better. Hopefully.

I haven't had the best day either, my brain was so occupied on the past couple a days and I almost ran into a stop sign. The crossing guard kept yelling at me in German…it was kinda funny actually, maybe it would've been funnier if I hadn't stepped in gum. I mighta laughed if you were there.

Later we'll rent some cheap old movies and make sarcastic comments on how bad the effects are. That always makes you feel better.

Sonic


Later that evening, Sonic picked up Amy from work and together they had a brief, yet peaceful run. The sun was now blinking it's eye closed to the awaiting dreams of Station Square. An unfamiliar air of tranquility would temporarily fiill the atmosphere with peace. Well…it was peaceful until they arrived at Amy's house and found this note on the front door:

We need to talk!

-Dad

Amy face faulted and let out an exasperated groan. It sounded like the cry of an ill infant, moaning as if to subtle the fever with tears, "Oh, no."