AN: Hello, everyone. It's time for another update. I think those who love some excellent Shadamy fluff will LOVE this chapter. Because September is my birthday month, I decided to post this chapter early instead of on the 28th. I have to thank my reviewers that left reviews on this last chapter. First of all, thank you so much Anon-amy-ous. I'm very happy you connected to my story and made a huge decision in your life regarding similar events that took place to characters. This review meant a lot. Thank you also, Yurika, RisingZero1984, Aliciawolf45, IvyRonin, and CrimsonLove16. Again, I enjoy reading your theories, comments, and concerns. I don't get many reviews on the chapters I post. I'm lucky if I get even five reviews, lol...Anyway, enjoy!
•~•
Opening up a letter from the mailbox, Amy's eyes scanned the official letter carefully. Her eyes suddenly widened in excitement as she read the entire letter and got down to the bottom of the page. Amy squealed in delight, practically jumping for joy. She just had to tell someone of her exciting news. Hurrying into the mechanic shop, Amy looked all over for Shadow. She finally spotted him working on repairing one of their motorcycles in the far-left corner. "Shadow!" she shouted as she hurried over with the letter. Shadow looked up from working on the bike in his classic blue mechanic jumpsuit only to spot Amy rushing in his direction.
He lowered his torque wrench just as Amy arrived in front of his working station. He lifted his safety goggles. "What's going on?"
Ecstatically, Amy held out the letter in front of his face. "I just got accepted to intern at Mercia Memorial!"
Shadow's expression beamed at the news. "Amy, that's fantastic!"
Amy leaped in his arms and embraced him joyously. "I did it!"
Shadow patted her back softly. "You've been working so hard to earn this. I'm proud of you."
Amy pulled away from his embrace and looked up at him. "Thanks, Shadow. I need to thank Deputy Silver for helping get that nasty arrest off my record. Who knows if I'd been able to get this internship if it wasn't for his help, too."
After seeing all the celebrations from the other end of the room, Manic, Mighty, Knuckles, Mephiles, Ray, and Gadget approached the excited couple. Manic scratched the top of his head as he eyed the two. "Hey, what the heck is going on over here?"
Shadow placed a hand on Amy's shoulder. "You should be the one to share the news," he encouraged her.
Amy cupped her hands together. "Well, I just found out that I was accepted to intern at Mercia Memorial to complete my first year of residency," she announced.
The rest of the guys looked rather pleased to hear the good news. They all began to clap in celebration. "Oh wow, congrats, Ames!" Mighty smiled as he patted her on the back.
"Yeah, congrats!" Manic seconded.
"Congrats!" Ray exclaimed.
"You'll do wonderful, I'm sure," Knuckles noted.
"I'm very excited about your news, Ms. Amy," Gadget grinned.
Mephiles was the only one who eyed Amy with concern. "Does this mean we'll lose you as our doctor then?" he questioned.
Everyone stopped their congratulations and looked in Mephiles' direction as if that thought had not crossed their minds. Amy shook her head. "Of course not," she promised. "It will be a bit harder to have me on standby once I'm at the hospital, but I'll do all I can to give critical care to any of you who need it."
Mephiles nodded slowly before turning on his heel and walking off. "That's good to hear. We wouldn't want to lose such an important asset to our club. Congratulations, Ms. Rose," he said with a wave.
•~•
Later that evening, Shadow found Amy in her room and sat at her desk on the computer roller chair. She was reading up on one of her medical books. He knocked on her door to catch her attention. Amy lifted her eyes from reading the page and smiled when she saw Shadow standing in her doorway. "Hey," she smiled sweetly.
"Mind if I come in?" he inquired politely.
Amy shut her book to give him her full attention. "No, not at all."
He walked inside and kept his right hand behind his back. "I have a surprise for you."
Her eyes blinked in curiosity, and she turned around in her spinning chair to face him. "A surprise for me?" she parroted.
Shadow whipped his right hand from behind his back and adorned two tickets. "I got us two train tickets to spend the weekend in Tech City to celebrate the next step in your journey."
Amy accepted the tickets and looked down at them in her hands. "Oh, wow…Shadow, that's wonderful! What made you think of this?"
He shrugged innocently. "I wanted to do something special and celebrate with you before you officially start at the hospital." His eyes drifted to the side momentarily. "…That, and I want to spend as much quality time with you as possible. Who knows how often I'll see you once you're an official resident. I know our schedules will probably conflict with one another."
Amy glanced up at him before rising to her feet. She sensed that Shadow worried they might grow apart with her new job looming. She leaned up, pecked him on the lips, and rested her hands on his shoulders as she looked up at him. "Shadow, I know we've only been dating for a few months now, but I'm going to do the best I can to keep our relationship strong," she promised.
He held her by the hips back and smiled. "I appreciate it, Rose."
She watched as he turned and began to exit her room. She bit her lower lip nervously as a thought came across. There was something she had wanted to tell him for a while now—but she didn't know if it was the right moment yet. It was now or never. "Hey, Shadow…"
Shadow stopped at her doorway and turned to look at her. "Yes?"
"I just wanted to say that…" she gulped nervously and rubbed her left arm anxiously as her eyes drifted around the room. She couldn't bear to look at him when the words left her mouth. What if he didn't feel the same way back yet?
He tilted his head curiously as he waited patiently. "Hm?"
"I-I just wanted to say that…I hope this brings us even closer!" She quickly made up on the spot. This was not what she had intended to say, but she had chosen to avert her prior statement altogether. Perhaps it was too soon.
Shadow stared at her for a long moment as he processed her words before giving her a small smile. He had sensed she had wanted to say something else as well but respected her decision. "Yes, well…I hope so, too." He reached for her door handle to close her door on the way out. "I'm going to let my brother know I won't be in for work this weekend. He'll need the heads up, so I'll see you later, Rose." He shut her door behind him, leaving her alone in her room.
Amy let out an exhale of relief. She thought she was ready to tell him how she truly felt then and there—that she loved him. However, her nerves got the best of her, and she scrapped the whole plan on the spur of the moment. She wondered if this is how it always felt for people when they first realized they might be in love with someone. Was it indeed this hard to say three little words?
•~•
A few moments later, Shadow headed into the basement, where he finally found his brother sitting at their bar and drinking some scotch. "I've been looking all over for you."
Mephiles craned his neck over his shoulder as he spotted his younger brother making his way down the staircase. "What do you need now?" he asked before setting his eyes straight ahead.
Shadow made his way to the bar but already sensed some hostility. "Nothing. I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"Take a seat then," Mephiles suggested, eying the empty barstool to his left.
Shadow shook his head. "No, it's okay; this will only take a couple of moments."
"Go on then," Mephiles said before retaking a sip of his scotch.
Shadow rested his arms over the bar counter. "I'm going to take a few days off work to go away this weekend with Amy. You'll need to find someone to cover my shifts."
He quirked a brow, clearly offended. "Excuse me? Who said you could do this in the first place? We just had time off," he questioned critically.
Shadow seemed shocked by his brother's response and attitude towards the situation. "No one. I decided this."
Mephiles placed two fingers on his right temple and stroked them circularly. "Going off on some little romantic getaway is not acceptable at this time."
Shadow narrowed his eyebrows in frustration. "I thought you'd be happy for me."
He rolled his eyes. "I'm happy you're finally getting some pussy, but I don't like this split devotion," he replied. "Your priority is always to this club first. Old ladies come in second place."
Shadow glared at him from his comment. "Can you please stop referring to her like that? She's not just a piece of ass to me. She's a lot more than that…"
Mephiles scoffed and took another sip. "Chaos, you're such a bore, brother!"
Shadow scowled at his comment. "Look, I haven't been this happy in years—not to mention I haven't had a break like this in some time. My whole life has been dedicated to the club for the past few years!"
Mephiles placed a hand on his forehead, already tired of this dispute. "Fine, brother, do as you will. I'm sure I'll find someone else to complete your missions in your absence…"
Shadow could see he was now turning to guilt-tripping—too bad it wouldn't work on him. He had already made his mind up. He turned his back to exit but stopped at the bottom of the staircase and looked at his brother's back. "It's only for this one weekend. I don't know when I'll be able to have quality time like this with her again." With that said, Shadow ascended the stairs.
"Yes, well…enjoy it while you can," Mephiles muttered. "You're going to be quite busy in the future months."
•~•
Simultaneously, Amy went to Rouge's bedroom to get advice from another female's perspective. Amy sat on the edge of Rouge and Knuckle's bed while the white bat folded laundry and put it away accordingly. "I wanted so badly to tell him how I truly felt, but I chickened out," Amy explained exasperatedly and slightly embarrassed. She buried her face behind her hands. "What's wrong with me, Rouge?"
Rouge placed a t-shirt in a drawer. "Let me ask you something serious. Did you actually love Zonic?"
Amy moved her hands away from her face and shot her a confused look. "What does he have to do with any of this?" She would instead not think of her psychotic ex-fiancé at a time like this.
Rouge placed a hand on her hip. "Just answer the question, and you'll see where I'm going with this."
Amy looked down at her lap as she contemplated the idea. "I thought I did, but it doesn't feel the same way as it does with Shadow."
"Did you feel euphoric around him? Did you feel anxious to see him even when he had just left? Did your heart flutter when he entered the room or gave you eye contact?" she questioned eagerly.
"Not really," she shrugged. "However, all those questions apply to how I feel around Shadow."
Rouge placed one of her bras in the drawer as she listened and gave a triumphant smirk. "I rest my case."
Amy blinked a few times in confusion. "Huh?"
"You thought you were in love with Zonic when you were under his manipulation and mental abuse, but I believe Shadow is your first true love. That's why it's so difficult for you to say it," she smiled. "Now that you're in a healthy, loving relationship, you're still dealing with the trauma from your last relationship and don't feel worthy of his love," she speculated.
"Wow…" Amy rubbed at her arm uncomfortably. "You think so?"
"Trust me, I know," she assured.
Amy crossed her arms across her chest and grinned playfully in her direction. "Why does it sound like you're a therapist right now?"
Rouge picked up the laundry basket and placed it on the bed. "I have a lot of free time to watch T.V. I watch too many daytime therapists' shows," she shrugged indifferently. "Either way, you must tell Shadow how you feel on this romantic getaway!"
Her ears lowered nervously. "I'm scared. What if he doesn't say it back..?"
"What if he does?" she challenged. "You'll never know unless you try. Besides, I'm pretty sure Shadow feels the same way. He's different now." She strutted over to her closet and opened it up. "Ooh, do you have any sexy lingerie? If not, I could always let you borrow some of mine, although it may not fit…" she noted, eying her body type to Amy's.
"Lingerie?" Amy repeated, feeling a blush cross her cheeks.
Rouge moved some clothes in her closet, looking for a particular set. "Yeah, you've gotta be super sexy on this trip with Shadow. I'm sure he can't wait to hit the sheets and make endless love to you."
"Rouge!" Amy squealed in embarrassment.
She craned her neck to look over her shoulder and shrugged. "What? I'm just stating the truth."
•~•
That Friday, Shadow, and Amy ventured out to Tech City together. The two hopped aboard the train and made their way to the illustrious city where they'd spend the weekend together. Once they arrived, Shadow ushered Amy to the most excellent hotel in the town, where they got a grand suite for the weekend. The ebony hedgehog opened the door to their room, and Amy gasped at the sight. She had never seen such a luxurious room before in her entire life. It was huge and had one of the most breathtaking sights of the city she had ever seen. She walked inside with her rolling suitcase and parked it at the entrance in awe. "Shadow, you didn't…."
He chuckled and watched her walk around their room in astonishment. "Do you like it?"
Amy stopped in front of the large window and looked at the view of the city. "I love it, but how much was this room? Surely this cost an arm and a leg."
Shadow strolled over and stood by her side, eying the view himself. "Don't worry about it. This is for a special occasion, after all."
Amy smiled up at him appreciatively. "So, what's our day look like then?"
He placed a hand on his hip. "Well, since this is where you grew up, I figured we could do whatever you wanted. You know this place a lot better than me, after all. You can take me to some of your favorite places."
•~•
Amy dragged Shadow all over the city to her favorite locations as suggested. They had lunch al fresco at a little French restaurant on the corner of 5th and main street. Shadow ate some of the best French food he had ever had. Later that afternoon, Amy and Shadow wandered into a Farmers Market in the central park. The two explored some art tents and tried a few local vendor snacks. Shadow was thoroughly enjoying spending the day with Amy. He loved feeling regular and relaxed while he was around her. He didn't have to think about club business, deals, meetings, or murder. It had honestly been some time since he could return to a period of normalcy.
Amy walked over from a vendor selling fresh coffee and handed him a cup, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Here you go."
He took the cup from her and took a sip, savoring the taste. "Thanks, Rose." The two sat on a park bench together and enjoyed their coffee. Unbeknownst to them, a couple of figures rode bikes on the streets nearby.
Drago Wolf, a large set white wolf, and Predator Hawk, a fierce-looking blue hawk, rode their bikes together through the city. They were just passing through Tech City after another business deal of their own. The two stopped at a stoplight near the park when Drago caught sight of a familiar person in the distance. He lowered his sunglasses to see better as he squinted. "Aye, isn't that the Brother's V.P.?"
Predator turned his head to look in the direction that Drago had suggested. Then he noticed Shadow leaning in and kissing the girl he was with—a pretty pink hedgehog. "Boy, sure, looks like it."
"He's got an old lady?" Drago questioned suspiciously while they idled at the light.
"That or someone to pass the time with," Predator noted. "Either way, the boss might find this information interesting," he smirked.
"Let's follow them for a bit," Drago replied before revving his handles. The light turned green, and the two took off down the street.
•~•
That afternoon, Amy and Shadow walked down one of the wealthy streets with high fashion designer clothing. Holding her hand, Shadow watched as Amy window-shopped, eying a few pieces in some shop windows. The ebony hedgehog shoved his other hand into his jacket pocket coolly when they stopped in front of a specific shop. He stared at her while she eyed a particular dress on display. "Why don't you go in and try something that catches your eye," he proposed.
Amy backed up from the window and shook her head. "No way, I can't exactly afford this type of clothing," she chuckled.
He tilted his head as an idea came to mind. Shadow led her towards the store entrance.
"What are you doing?" Amy asked as they walked towards the front door.
He lowered his eyelids seductively. "Just humor me and try on a couple of outfits."
Amy rubbed her arm uncomfortably. "Aren't these stores not exactly your scene, though?"
Shadow placed a hand on her lower back and began to escort her into the boutique store. "I'm not the one trying on the clothes. You are," he pointed.
Once inside the store, a few salesgirls came over to the couple. Some workers eyed Shadow uncomfortably as they noticed his infamous Brothers of Chaos jacket. Amy picked up on the mannerisms and wanted to leave before causing a scene. "We don't have to do this, you know…" she whispered.
"Nonsense, Rose," Shadow whispered back. Suddenly, an enormous brown female bear walked over to the couple. "…Um, good afternoon. How can we help you two?"
Amy couldn't even utter a sentence, so Shadow took the initiative. "She wants to try on a few of your best dresses—preferably something fancy for a night out."
"Ah, yes, I see. Perhaps a date night cocktail dress then?" the salesgirl offered.
Shadow shrugged. "Hell, if I should know. You guys are the professionals around here." He walked to an available seat near the dressing rooms and plopped himself in it. "I'll leave her in your hands. Take good care of her for me," he instructed.
The female bear gulped and nodded. "Why, of course, sir." She looked to the other available salesgirls and waved to them for assistance.
Within moments, Amy was whisked away by the other three salesgirls and led to a changing room. While in the dressing room, the sales associates brought Amy numerous cocktail dresses to try on. Amy came out and modeled a few that Shadow liked but she didn't care for or some that neither of them agreed on. However, after several try-on, both Amy and Shadow found one that they both agreed looked beautiful on her. Amy stepped out in the complete outfit. It was a simple dark red, off-the-shoulder, body con dress. The dress hit just above the knee and had one slit on the side. It hugged Amy's curves in all the right places and showed off her beautiful subtle bust and neckline. The salesgirls had even picked out a beautiful matching choker and pair of black suede ankle strap heels that showed off her toned pink legs.
Amy looked at herself in the trio of mirrors behind her, eying her body from every angle. She had to admit that she felt good about herself in this dress. It showcased a different side of her she never knew she had. She looked confident, sophisticated, and sexy. The pink hedgehog looked over at Shadow, who seemed utterly mesmerized by her new look. "Well, what do you think?"
He walked over, eying her from head to toe. "You look beautiful, not to mention incredibly stunning."
Amy couldn't help but blush at his comments. "Thank you."
"Have we found our dress then?" the bear associate questioned, breaking up their moment.
"I believe we have," Shadow confirmed.
"Wonderful. How will we be paying today?"
Shadow reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a large wad of cash. "Ring up the total for me. I'll be paying in cash."
"Of course, sir," she smiled before hustling off.
Amy shook her head as she realized what had just taken place. "No, wait, we can't—"
"—Of course, we can," Shadow said, abruptly cutting her off.
Amy glanced down at the price tag of the dress alone and felt her stomach turn at the price. "But Shadow, this dress is too-"
"—Too gorgeous not to be worn by someone equally as captivating," he quipped.
Amy could have melted on the spot from his little comment alone. He knew just the right things to say to her. "You're sweet, but when will I ever get the opportunity to wear this dress?"
"How about tonight?" he suggested playfully.
She blinked a few times. "Huh?"
"The place I'm taking you for dinner is more upscale, and you were going to need something a little higher end to wear to it anyway," he explained. "I said I wanted to make this weekend special and plan to do just that."
Amy leaned up and pecked Shadow on the lips. "You're too good for me. You know that?"
Shadow chuckled lowly. "I could easily say the same about you."
Meanwhile, just outside the store window, Drago and Predator had been tailing the two to get more intel on the situation. The two were trying to determine if this girl Shadow was hanging around with was just a casual smash or perhaps something more permanent. However, it seemed more and more that this girl was Shadow's new old lady, which was a big deal since he hadn't had one in quite some time. "Scourge will eat this shit up," Predator mumbled.
Drago continued to stare at Amy through the store window. "He sure will."
After paying for the dress, Amy and Shadow walked out of the store hand-in-hand, and Drago and Predator ducked out of sight quickly. The hedgehogs walked together down the busy sidewalk full of tourists and locals towards their hotel. Amy carried the bag with the dress in her other hand and smiled lovingly at Shadow. So far, it had been a busy and eventful day. Everything had felt magical as the day went on. However, Shadow couldn't shake the feeling that something felt slightly off. He couldn't explain it, but it was just this vibe he was getting as they had navigated the city together. It almost felt as if they were being followed. Shadow shook off the idea. He was probably just paranoid.
"—Amy, is that you?" a male accented voice asked from behind the two.
Amy froze, feeling the hair rise on the back of her neck. She forced Shadow to halt, too, after hearing the familiar voice—one she hadn't heard in years. She released Shadow's hand immediately, allowing her hand to drop by her side. Shadow eyed her in puzzlement by her reaction and slowly turned around to see who had called her name.
Slowly, Amy, too, turned around where she spotted an older male teal hedgehog standing a few feet behind her with a female companion and an infant in a stroller. "…Rob?" she uttered.
Shadow looked between the two hedgehogs, lost exactly who this other guy was. How did the two of them know each other? Could it possibly be another ex-boyfriend of hers, he theorized? Shadow looked him up and down carefully in observation. He appeared to be a teal-colored male hedgehog wearing a brown hoodie and athletic wear sweatpants. He was probably in his early 40s. He was also accompanied by a female red echidna close to her late 30s. She was wearing a long blue sundress and was pushing a stroller with an infant echidna inside.
Shadow took a step back, almost as if he was in the way of this unannounced reunion. Within seconds, the teal-colored male hedgehog rushed over and embraced Amy, who still looked like she was in a state of shock. Amy reluctantly hugged the teal hedgehog back, feeling uneasiness sink in. "It's been so long. I'm so happy to see you," he beamed gleefully before releasing his hold on her.
The male hedgehog's significant other pushed her stroller over, parked it, embraced Amy, and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Amy, darling. It's been ages!"
Amy smiled sheepishly and patted the female echidna on the back. "Heh, yeah, it sure has."
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Shadow uncomfortably stood on the sidelines. He was sure Amy would fill him in on who these people were momentarily, but for now, he'd keep watching in silence until a proper introduction was given.
However, coming down from his high, the teal-male hedgehog suddenly remembered Amy was not alone. He eyed Shadow warily up and down, scrutinizing the other male. He spotted the biker insignia on Shadow's jacket, and his eyes widened in alarm. He raised his hand to cover his mouth, kept his question hushed, and leaned toward Amy's ear. "Cousin, who exactly is this fella you're with?"
Amy's ears perked up in alarm, and she walked back over to Shadow and linked her left arm to his right arm. "Oh, this is Shadow. He's my…" she paused, realizing then and there that the two had never officially claimed the traditional labels.
"—I'm her boyfriend," Shadow introduced, cutting off her thought process. However, once Shadow claimed his official title, her heart fluttered. He was her boyfriend.
Coming out of her thoughts, she continued the introduction. "Um, and Shadow, this is my older cousin Rob, his wife Mari-Ann, and my baby cousin Jon," she introduced.
Now it all made sense to Shadow. They were related, and he felt a bit of relief sweep over him. He didn't know if he could deal with another ex of hers. Shadow stuck out one of his hands, offering to shake respectfully. "Nice to meet you two," he introduced politely.
Apathetically, Rob lifted his hand to shake Shadow's hand. "…It's a pleasure," he mumbled.
Feeling his lackluster handshake, Shadow could easily deduce that her cousin was not entirely thrilled by his first impression.
Rob pulled his hand out of Shadow's exchange and turned his attention back to his younger cousin. "I heard rumors that you moved out of the city. Is that true?"
Amy nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I did. Shadow brought me back here to spend the weekend," she explained.
"Where are you two staying now?" Mari-Ann questioned curiously.
"The Hotel Plaza in the city center," Amy replied.
"Ah, I see, uh, so where are you living at the moment then?" Rob inquired.
Amy began to open her mouth to respond, but Shadow was quick to do it for her. "—She lives with me in Mercia," Shadow replied.
"Mercia, huh?" Rob stared back at the darker hedgehog and nodded slowly. An odd tension began to build in the atmosphere around them—it was palpable. "Well, it was lovely to see you again, Amy." He handed her a business card with his phone number and contact information. "You should contact us some time so we can meet up and reconnect. You know, it's been quite some time."
Amy nodded hesitantly as she looked down at the card. "…Yeah, for sure."
Rob looked at his wife, who seemed equally uncomfortable as some tension mounted. "Well, it appears you have places to be. So, we'll let you two get on your merry way. See you around, cousin," Rob waved kindly.
"…Yeah, see you around," Amy waved with lackluster. With that, the two couples walked off in opposite directions. Shadow and Amy continued to walk down the sidewalk back towards their hotel. Although they were still holding hands while they walked, there was now an apparent awkward silence between them.
•~•
Once they returned to their hotel, Amy dropped her things on the kitchen counter. She had been quiet the rest of their journey back to their hotel, and Shadow was eager to get in on that strange exchange back on the streets. "So, are you finally going to tell me what happened back there?"
Amy took off her jean jacket and draped it over the back of one of the dining room chairs. "Of course I will," she said as she walked around the side of the couch and plopped down onto it in the living room.
Shadow followed her actions and sat down on the other side of the couch. "I vaguely remembered you mentioning an uncle and aunt that you weren't close to, but back there, you mentioned one of them was your cousin."
"Yeah, I didn't exactly tell the truth back then…Remember, I didn't know you guys as well." Amy rested her head on the headrest and stared up at the ceiling. "Anyway, let's see," she began. "Remember how I mentioned my parents died when I was younger? My older cousin Rob took me in and raised me like his kid since he was my last remaining family member."
"He didn't look that old," Shadow speculated curiously.
"He was around eighteen years old when he took me in," she shrugged, uncertain. "You know, just starting his life."
"And you were how old exactly?" he probed. "High school age, right?"
"Not exactly…I was around six years old," she replied. "Rob raised me pretty much as a father would."
"I could also tell your cousin wasn't my biggest fan," he noted. "He was giving me the evil eye the whole time."
Her eyes drifted off to the side. "Yes, when I entered high school and started dating, I didn't necessarily date the best guys, as you know…Rob and I disagreed on many things, and I was quite rebellious at times."
Shadow scoffed in amusement at the idea of Amy acting out that way. "You, rebellious, Rose?" he said with slight amusement in his tone. "I can hardly envision it."
Amy snapped her head in his direction to look at him. "Hey! I used to sneak out, go to parties, and hang out with the wrong crowd. Rob was always there to chase me down. He pulled me out of several stupid situations that I didn't realize I was in at the time," she explained. "That's when our bond began to deteriorate before my very eyes. It was right around the end of high school. Once I graduated, I moved out and met Zonic at a club when I was in college."
Shadow crossed his arms over his chest and leaned further back into the couch. "I can imagine what happened at that point."
"Yeah…" Amy nodded sadly. "It got pretty bad, and Rob would check up on me occasionally. He was the first to tell me I had hit rock bottom when I was dating Zonic. Again, I was naïve and didn't realize I was in an abusive and toxic relationship. Rob was frustrated when he'd see me after Zonic roughed me up. He tried to help me, but I denied it every time. I cut ties with him completely."
"It got that bad, huh?" Shadow pressed.
"I was too proud back then to admit that Zonic was, in fact, horrible, like my cousin pointed out. However, our relationship was too far gone when I needed Rob's help the most. I didn't want to come back to Rob and Mari Ann for help and prove that he was right all along, so that's when I turned to Cosmo to help me out."
Shadow frowned. "Chaos, Rose..."
"I know. I'm an idiot!" She rubbed her left arm. "That was the first time I've seen Mari Ann, Jon, and Rob, in over five years. It was pretty uncomfortable, not to mention awkward…"
"Don't you want to have any involvement with your family? I mean, you have family members left to connect with. For me, it's just my brother. You shouldn't cut those ties. You'll come to regret it," Shadow advised.
"You're probably right. I need to reach out to him once I feel the moment is right again. Sorry, this whole thing brought the mood down, Shadow."
Shadow scooted in closer to her. "Don't worry about it. I was more concerned about how it was affecting you."
"Well, thanks for listening to my sad, little, tragic back story." She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. "What can I say? I have baggage."
Shadow placed an arm around her. "We both have our demons, princess," he admitted. "However, we've had an amazing start to our first day here. I don't want the mood to be brought down from this one setback. Our reservations for dinner are in a few hours. Let's get cleaned up and get ready to hit the town tonight," he encouraged with a wink.
She leaned in and pecked him on the lips. "You're right. I can't let this ruin our night."
•~•
Later that evening, Shadow took Amy out to dinner in the city. The two took a cab to an upscale steak restaurant. Amy wore the beautiful outfit she had picked out earlier that day, while Shadow wore a dashing black suit and tie. The two of them enjoyed a luxurious upscale meal. After dinner, the two walked down the steps to catch a cab. Shadow looked up and down the street for the nearest taxi. However, Amy suddenly realized she was missing something. "Oh no, my purse. I left it back inside the restaurant!" she exclaimed.
"I'm sure it's still inside," Shadow replied, not too alarmed.
"Yeah, I'll be right back!" she quickly hustled back up the stairs to re-enter the establishment.
Shadow watched her head back inside before seeing something in the ally next to the restaurant. He spotted Drago and Predator eying him from around the corner of the ally way. Shadow narrowed his eyes towards them before making his way in their direction. He watched as the two casually slithered back behind the side of the building discreetly. Once he made it to the alleyway, the two Suppression Squad members casually leaned up against the side of the building with lit cigarettes in their mouths. "Wow, you clean up nice there, Shadow," Predator complimented with a whistle.
Shadow was in no mood for small talk. "How long have you been tailing me then?" he questioned, eying the two suspiciously.
"All day," Predator replied.
"What the hell do you two want?" his eyes hardened on the blue hawk. So, he wasn't crazy when he felt something was off.
"If we wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already," Drago added.
He eyed them carefully. "I'm surprised you haven't retaliated against us again since our last interaction."
"Nah, Scourge hasn't given us any orders on that yet," Predator replied. "We're a bit busy with other business right now. However, we're wondering who that girl is you've been hanging out with all day. She's pretty cute."
"That's none of your damn business," Shadow snapped venomously.
"I don't know. She looks pretty important to you," Predator noted as he puffed his cigarette.
His brows narrowed, eying the two of them dangerously and threateningly. "She has nothing to do with our feud, so leave her out of it."
"Relax, Shadow, we know old ladies are off-limits," Drago smirked with a chuckle. "It's just…we know it's taken you long enough to find yourself another lady after…"
Shadow suddenly grabbed Drago by the collar of his jacket, yanking him and slamming him into the other alleyway brick wall. "I swear if you fucking lay a finger on her, I'll rip your damn tongue out and strangle you with it," he threatened with malice through bared teeth.
Predator pulled out his gun and aimed it at Shadow's head. "You better take your damn hands off, my friend, before this gets ugly, Shadow."
Begrudgingly, Shadow slowly released his grip on Drago and backed up, trying to recompose himself. He didn't need to escalate the situation, but he did want to make a clear point.
Predator moved his gun away. "Aye, you better hurry back now, lover boy. Your old lady is looking for you," he noted with a nod. Shadow looked over his shoulder, where he spotted Amy with her now retrieved purse at the curb, looking for Shadow amongst the crowd of other patrons flagging down cabs.
Shadow turned to look at the two bikers one last time. "I'm warning you, stay the fuck away from her," he pointed before heading back to Amy.
Drago smoothed out his wrinkled jacket. "Yeah, yeah, of course, Shadow. Of course…"
"Shadow?" Amy called out among the noise. Shadow approached her from behind and placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her. "Oh!" she gasped as she spun around.
"My apologies," he panted. "I thought I could sneak in a quick smoke over there," he lied. Shadow didn't want to tell her that he had confronted their stalkers from today. He couldn't worry her—not tonight.
She shot him a small smile, clearly believing his lie. "It's okay. I was just worried when I didn't see you out here. I thought you left me…"
"You honestly think I'd do such a thing?" He wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned his muzzle next to her ear. "Especially when I'm not done with you tonight," he said lowly, causing her to blush.
Finally, a cab pulled up for them, and Shadow opened the door, allowing her in first. While she bent down to climb in, Shadow looked over his shoulder to look at where Drago and Predator had been. However, they were no longer anywhere to be seen. Shadow gulped before climbing in behind Amy and closing the door.
•~•
Once they arrived back at the hotel, Amy was eager to see what Shadow had meant with his last comment. The two walked inside their room, with Amy leading the way. "So, what did you mean when you said you weren't done with me tonight?" she inquired playfully.
"Let me show you." Shadow walked up behind Amy, rested his head on her left shoulder, and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Amy hummed in delight, feeling his body mold up perfectly against hers. She felt incredibly safe and secure within his arms—like nothing could hurt her. Sensually, Shadow moved his muzzle to the side and pressed his lips up against the side of her neck. He began to kiss down it slowly and sensually.
Amy closed her eyes and let out a few soft moans. "Oh, Shadow…" she whispered.
Shadow slowly spun her around in his arm and brought her in for a more traditional kiss. Amy placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned upwards to meet his lips. The two of them kissed passionately as they stood in the living room of their hotel room. However, Shadow began to walk them towards the bedroom as they continued to make out. As Amy walked backward following his lead, her back softly pressed up against the doorway of their room. Amy felt a shiver run down her spine as she felt his hand search for the zipper of her dress. He managed to find and unzip it slowly. Eventually, it slipped off her slender frame gracefully and landed like a puddle around her feet. Still, in her heels, panties, and bra, Amy felt completely vulnerable before him, yet excited. Shadow pulled his lips away from hers and looked Amy up and down lustfully, taking in her beautiful body displayed for him. His eyelids lowered seductively, and he bit his lower lip as his fingertips trailed down her sides and stopped on her hips.
It wasn't like this was the first time Shadow was getting to see her body, but there was something magical and refreshing about how he made her feel. She felt giddy, as if it was their first time making love again. Amy's face grew increasingly redder as she felt excited, thrilled, and nervous as his eyes swept over her body, taking in every detail. One of his hands came back up and cupped the side of her face. "Do you realize how gorgeous you are?" he asked lowly.
She let out a small chuckle. "Only because you know how to make a girl feel like it," she smiled.
Shadow leaned forward and kissed her chest sensually, kissing each perky breast held up in her strapless bra before going further south. Amy's skin crawled with goosebumps as she felt his warm lips brush down her bare belly, leaving tender, soft kisses. Once again, Amy closed her eyes, letting her mind wander as her body grew hotter. Eventually, he sank to his knees and kept her pinned up against the wall as his prisoner. His last tender kiss stopped just above the band to her panties. "Sha-Shadow…" she gasped. "Please, stop teasing me."
Smirking, Shadow slowly rose upright. He placed his hands on her buttocks and guided her upwards, so she hopped into his arms. Amy wrapped her legs around her waist, kicked off her heels, and secured her arms around his neck as he carried her into the bedroom with him. While he carried her, Amy gave him a few nips and kisses along the side of his muzzle and down his neck. He gracefully lowered her down onto the bed, so she was on her back. Then Shadow took the opportunity to unbutton his button-down long sleeve shirt and discard it onto the floor, leaving him topless. Amy watched him disrobe for her and lowered her eyelids seductively as she admired his toned upper body and white chest hair. Despite all the scars on his body, from stabbings and gunshot wounds, Shadow still looked incredibly sexy. He finally undid his belt, let his pants drop, and kicked off his shoes and socks, leaving him in his boxers.
Amy reached up and ran her hands down his chest. Her fingertips danced over his toned, muscular chest and the ridges and bumps of his scars. While she touched his chest, Shadow's arms slid behind her back and unclipped her bra. Shadow tossed the bra off the side of the bed, landing near his clothes pile. The moment her bra was off her body, she felt the cool breeze of the A.C. graze her nipples, making them even further erect.
Shadow reached out and began to mold and grope at her breasts gently. He squished them together, trailed his tongue around one nipple, and then nipped gently at the other breast. Amy's breath hitched, and she let out a soft moan enjoying his erotic touch. She unintentionally spread her legs apart, allowing him to move further between her legs. She reached up and brought his face closer to her breasts as she watched his tongue swirl around her right nipple before he took it into his mouth and lapped it more intensely. Amy arched her back, wanting to drive more of her breast into his mouth. "Aah…"
Shadow stopped his teasing and looked down at her panties that were riding up further into her crotch, showing the perfect outline of her pussy lips. He could already see she was turned on as a bit of moisture had collected in the cotton. Lowering his right hand, it trailed down her left side and found the strap to her panties. He carefully yanked them down, leaving her now entirely in the nude. "Fuck, I want to taste you so badly," he growled primally yet seductively.
Amy placed the back of her hand against her mouth. Hearing those words turned her on and made her feel strangely embarrassed for unknown reasons. "Y-you do?"
His hands rested on either one of her bent knees as he looked between her thighs. He felt a shiver of pleasure run down his spine as he smelled her arousal before him. He could feel himself growing harder down below. He took another deep inhale, gathering her pheromones and musk. "Yes, your scent is driving me crazy."
"Well, I've never…I-I mean, no one has ever-" she was at a loss for words.
"…No one's ever gone down on you before?" he surmised based on her lack of clarity.
Amy felt her face grow redder, showing her inexperience. "…No."
"You're in for a treat then tonight, princess. Just relax for me," he instructed. "I'm going to show you what you've been missing out on," he replied smoothly.
"Okay." Amy obliged and got into a more comfortable position as his face suddenly disappeared between her thighs. However, her face quickly heated into a full blush again as she felt his hot tongue drag across her open fold. Her voice hit a new crescendo, "Ahh!"
Shadow kept a hold of her legs, keeping them parted while he worked diligently to get her further off. Amy wanted to clamp her legs shut instinctively because the intensity of pleasure radiating within her core was almost unbearable. Shadow's tongue dabbed inside and wiggled vertically, hitting the right spots. Amy laid entirely on her back and gripped the sheets around her as her body writhed in utter pleasure at his mercy. Her head dug further back into the pillow. It felt like Shadow was an expert at navigating and exploring her with his skilled tongue. "Please, ah, Shadow, I-I…"
Shadow ignored her pleas and just continued at what he did best. He sucked gently near the top of her clitoris, which was becoming increasingly swollen as she became more turned on. Shadow returned to lapping sensually at her opening, and suddenly another sensation was bestowed upon her body. Shadow's hands crept over her belly and began to mold and squeeze at her breasts again softly. It was all she could do to prevent herself from passing out from the immense pleasure Shadow was placing over her. She had never felt such euphoria in her entire life. She rested her spread legs over each of his shoulders as he buried his face further into her folds. "Shadow, how are you so…" her trail of thought died off.
Shadow could hear her voice growing delirious and intoxicated as he went back to focusing on her clitoris. Her lower body moved to the rhythm of his licks, and her back arched even further. Amy felt like her eyes would roll to the back of her head as she felt his skilled tongue deeply explore every inch of her core. She moaned deeply. "I'm about to…I-I." Hearing she was near her climax, Shadow's hands departed her breasts and now focused on caressing and squeezing at her ass while his tongue swirled inside her. He lifted her lower half so he could further dive in and go in for the home run. Shadow moaned in delight as he lapped at her core, causing a glorious vibration against her clitoris. He pulled his tongue away and slipped in one digit, which slid in easily, to send her over the edge. It was the final straw to making Amy reach her limit. "Aaah!"
Her entire body shuddered with excitement as she reached her climax. He felt her innards clamp and constrict tightly around his finger as he licked at her nub. More liquid was secreted from her opening. Her heart raced, and her body came down from its high. Shadow lifted himself to look at her body sprawled out on the bed, still in its rapture state. He smirked proudly at his hard work and licked at the finger that was once inside her, savoring the taste. "How was I then?"
"You were…it was amazing…" she sighed heavenly.
He chuckled and stood upright. Shadow pulled Amy gently by the ankles, causing her to squeak as she drew closer to the edge of the bed. Amy watched as he spread her legs further apart, allowing them to dangle off the edge of the bed. He grabbed his hardened shaft and stroked it a few times before he aligned it to her opening. Amy felt him rub the head of his cock against her wet lips, coating it in her love juices. Slowly he sunk himself inside her, sliding in with ease. Immediately, her warmth, wetness, and tightness welcomed him, sending a shudder down his spine. On the other end of the spectrum, Amy felt herself become filled to the brim as he pushed himself entirely inside. Shadow began a slow and steady rhythm. Amy stared up at him as he made love to her slowly at first. He enjoyed starting it off slow to make it longer and more romantic. "How does that feel?" he asked softly and with concern. He wanted to ensure she was still feeling good.
She stared back up into his red eyes. "Great," Amy replied softly. She watched as he lowered his face and brought her into a kiss while he slowly pumped himself in and out of her. Amy closed her eyes and kissed him back. There was something incredibly sexy with the fact that Shadow was so gentle and compensating regarding intimacy. Amy had heard stories and even seen him in action regarding his line of business. His reputation preceded him. Shadow was known to be dangerous and violent, yet he had never shown the slightest indication of hurting her. She felt incredibly safe and comforted with him as if nothing could ever hurt her again, and she loved that feeling of security. She also loved how romantic and gentle he was with her, especially regarding intimacy.
Amy broke away from kissing Shadow for a moment as she held his face in her hands. "Can you go a little faster?" she asked. Shadow nodded and upped his stride at a bit quicker pace. In return, Amy shut her eyes as the intensity of pleasure washed over her body. "Mmm, yes…"
Shadow watched as her tiny breasts bounced with his every thrust, as even he could feel himself getting closer to his climax. However, he wanted to change their position to keep it exciting. Amy's eyes shot open as she suddenly felt him pull out entirely and shift her body into a different position. She was maneuvered to lay on her side. He lifted her left leg and kept it propped with one hand before re-entering her. Amy gasped and turned to look at him. She moaned, feeling him hit a different spot from this angle. "Sha-shadow…"
He could feel her muscles squeezing around his cock from all angles. "Shit, you feel incredible," he moaned. One of his hands grabbed her breast and massaged and squeezed it while thrusting deeper and faster inside her. Amy closed her eyes, relishing in the pleasure. With every thrust, she felt it get warmer between her legs. It was finally nearing the end. "Fuck, Rose, I'm getting close..."
Amy continued to pant heavily. "Me too! Please don't stop."
Suddenly, Shadow felt himself climax, and Amy did as well shortly after. Amy's inner walls fluttered around his swollen member, squeezing him further. His pacing slowed down before he finally came to a halt. Amy could feel his cock pulsating inside her as he finished releasing his hot load. Shadow pulled out and flopped down in bed beside her as he came down from his high. Catching her breath, Amy smiled and relished in their sexual act. She rolled over and cuddled up next to him.
•~•
The following morning, Shadow and Amy continued to snuggle in bed together. The two were awake but enjoyed the peaceful silence as they remained close under the sheets. Amy rested her head against Shadow's shoulder as she remained entwined in his arms. Their night had been magical, and Shadow wanted to linger in the moment for a little longer. So far, this vacation had been unforgettable and only brought them even closer. At this moment, Shadow could easily envision an everyday life spent with Amy. Although there still was something nagging at him in the back of his mind—his enemies. Even though the Suppression Squad had yet to make any targeted threat toward Amy, they now knew her true importance to him. She was his old lady. Shadow was sure this would make matters even more complicated now that the cat was out of the bag. He couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to Amy. He wouldn't be able to live with himself. He nearly hadn't been able to survive after Maria's passing.
"—What going on up there?" Amy asked softly, breaking him out of his thoughts.
He turned his head slightly and looked to his left. "Hm?"
Amy's eyes drifted upward, and she shifted her head slightly to look up at him. "You look like you have a lot on your mind," she further clarified. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he lied. "I've just been replaying our time together in my head. I've had an amazing time with you," he smiled softly.
"Really?" she giggled. "I'm glad. I've also enjoyed our time together."
"What do you want to do today?" he asked softly.
Amy moved and crawled on top of him, straddling his lap. Shadow looked up at her as she placed her hands on his shoulders. Her eyelids lowered suggestively. "I'd like to take another ride and then grab something to eat?" she suggested.
Shadow smirked roguishly up at her. "Sounds like a plan." Amy leaned down and gave him a long deep kiss. When she pulled back and looked down at him lovingly, he shot her a similar look. "…Hey, Amy?"
Her right hand stroked his cheek as she stared into his red eyes. "…Yeah?"
"I love you," he said with utter confidence.
Amy was taken aback—never had she expected him to say it first. She felt goosebumps go all down her body. "Really?" He simply nodded at her with a loving smile. If she could cry at that moment, she would. Never had she felt such joy at hearing those words leave his mouth. "I-I love you, too." She leaned down again and brought him into another passionate kiss.
Shadow broke away from the kiss. "And I meant it when I called myself your boyfriend in front of your family." His left hand rested on her hip. "I want to be your old man if you'll be my old lady—my girlfriend."
She gave him another peck on the lips and smiled at him. "I'd love nothing more."
•~•
Sadly, the long weekend came and went, and it was time to say goodbye to Tech City. Amy waited downstairs in the lobby with the luggage as Shadow returned upstairs after forgetting his wallet. They were preparing to check out and head straight to the train station after this. While Amy waited, she was surprised to hear a familiar voice behind her again. "Cousin…"
She spun around only to see her cousin Rob O' again, alone this time. "Rob, what are you doing here?"
He slowly approached her. "I wanted to see you before you left town, which appears to be right now as it seems," he noted, spotting her luggage. "Lucky timing, I guess, eh?"
Amy glanced at her phone's clock, anxiously wishing Shadow would come downstairs soon to end this encounter. This was already uncomfortable enough. "Well, we're about to leave. Maybe we can hang out the next time I'm in town..."
"Look, I just need to talk to you," he urged.
She sighed, shifting awkwardly on her feet. "Okay, fine, what is it then?"
"This guy you're with…" Rob began. "Please, don't make the same mistake as you did with Zonic."
Amy looked insulted by his statement. "Excuse me? You think Shadow's like Zonic?"
"Think?" he scoffed. "No, I know he's like him. You've always had a terrible taste in guys, Amy. You always go for these bad guys. I'm thinking in your best interest here. Drop him and come back home," he pleaded.
Amy shook her head, getting further offended by his comments. "You don't even know him! Shadow is nothing like Zonic! He's sweet, caring, loving, and takes excellent care of me," she argued.
Rob crossed his arms over his chest. "If I recall, Zonic used to be the same way in the beginning before he completely brainwashed you," he reminded. "Whatever happened to that guy? How'd you manage to lose him?"
Amy gulped nervously. "That's…that's not important," she quickly shifted. "What is, is that I have Shadow now, and I love him. He treats me right, and you should be happy for me."
"He's in a notorious motorcycle gang, for Chaos' sake! He's a criminal!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms up. Some of the guests in the lobby all turned to look at Rob after his outburst. Amy wished she could crawl into a hole and hide forever. She hated that they had a small audience now. Rob realized they were gathering too many spectators and lowered his voice. "You honestly think this is going to have any type of good outcome? You see a future with him?"
"I'm telling you, Rob, this is going to be different from any other relationship I've ever had."
Rob frowned in disappointment. "It's not…He's going to hurt you or worse, and I'm afraid I'll hear about it on the news. That's where this is headed. An older cousin knows best." Amy stared at him, too stunned to speak. Seeing her speechless and their argument pointless as she would remain stubborn, Rob backed up with his hands in his pockets. "If you ever need me, you have my number. I'll always have your back. Don't ever feel afraid to reach out to me. I love you, cousin." With that, he departed the lobby.
Once he was gone, Amy was left alone with her thoughts. His words penetrated her mind. Was her relationship with Shadow destined to be like hers with Zonic? Was it true that she tended to be attracted to "bad guys?"
Shadow finally arrived downstairs and approached Amy, who looked quite solemn in spirit. "Hey, what's wrong, princess?" he asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Amy did not want to tell him of her spontaneous visit from her cousin, so she opted to lie. She turned to look at him. "Oh, I'm sad our weekend has ended—I guess it just hit me."
Shadow nodded, buying her lie. "Yeah, but we'll find another time to do this again," he acknowledged. "I promise."
"Of course," she smiled weakly.
He took her hand in his, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Let's go home."
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