STH © SEGA/Archie
Sarah, Peter, Samwell, Rosemary, & the Wilson Family © Cozy Shadow
(This chapter: Walter, Leyla, and Timothy belong to me as well!)
Flame, Petunia, Jeffery, and Sunny © Phantomask
Italicized brands or names (like food labels, movies, and songs) belong to their rightful owner.
Remember to check out the NEW poll since I had to redo the old poll!
I kind of want to do a one-shot of ShadAmy fluff to get back into the groove of things. Thoughts?
This chapter shall forever be nicknamed 'The Bitch,' because it was a bitch to write, and I'm not talking about the length. I had to redo this chapter and fix so many things with the story notes in general (still revising).
Apologies for being so late at updating, but I hope this chapter is satisfactory enough! Idk though - every chapter I write is cringe worthy for me! XP
Chapter Twenty-Two:
Hallucination
Red numbers blared out at Amy, showing her it was way past her bedtime.
Shadow snoozed next to her, completely oblivious to the fact that the pink hedgehog beside him was wide awake still. At least he wasn't dreaming of llamas.
Amy stared up at the ceiling, contemplating about things. About Shadow and his issue. About what Silver said. About Cream.
Cream, at the moment, was on her mind.
Shadow had told Amy they'd figure it out, so she let the issue of dominance display slide for now. Silver had her questioning if Shadow was good for her, but she still didn't quite care. Shadow never really gave her a reason to think he wouldn't be good for her. And Cream…
Well, while the rabbit wasn't joining in on the matchmaking, she had thought Shadow and Amy would look cute together.
Flashback
"So, you went and moved in with them?"
"Yeah. Blaze thinks it was absurdly rude to disrupt their lives like that, but it felt right, you know?" Amy took down a book from the shelf as the aroma of coffee wafted up to her nose.
Cream stood not too far away as Silver and Tails were in a different aisle – the sci-fi aisle. She glanced down at her shoes. "I didn't realize being separated from them was hard for you. I thought all about myself when we moved away, and separated from you, that I never imagined how it felt to see Sonic leave."
"Well, you already saw me heartbroken when he was with Sally," Amy shrugged. "It wasn't anything too bad compared to that sob fest."
"Right," Cream sat down in a nearby chair. "That's where you replaced me with Silver because he was older and seemed to understand, I guess…"
"That's a reasonable assumption." Amy put the book back and exhaled sharply. "I can't imagine how it felt when we went our separate ways, Cream. I had Silver and then Blaze, but you only had your mother."
"Eventually Vector, and he's really nice. Espio occasionally drops in. We see him during holidays mostly."
"Charmy?"
"In some private school that Espio pays for with his job as a detective. Vector stays home with Sammy while Mom works at the bakery a few blocks from home."
The rose female stood next to the rabbit. "Still…You lost your best friend, and yes, I sooner or later replaced that spot with Silver. But we grew apart and went on with our lives so much that it was something that was inevitable."
"I know."
"Tails said you hung out with…different people," Amy sat on the arm of the chair. "But your new friend didn't seem too different or from the wrong crowd."
"I have some preppy friends, but Vector says I'm the kid that gets along with everyone."
Amy smiled as she lightly laughed. "That's true. You were always so welcoming as a child; I had imagined you wouldn't be any different as a teenager." She glanced down at Cream. "I'm glad to see you haven't changed so drastically like everyone says."
"Like everyone says? Is that Tails talking or Sonic?"
"Mostly Shadow feeding me bits and pieces," Amy shrugged. "Sonic hasn't spoken about you, but I can tell there's a rift between you two. A nasty one. What happened?"
"Well, when Tails figured out what I had done," Cream's tone quieted, "Sonic was furious with me. While my mother gave me a lecture, Vector stayed out of it. He tried to ward off Sonic, but Sonic was so angry that I knew he needed to let it all out before he took it out on someone else that wasn't a part of the problem."
"Like Shadow or Sarah."
Cream nodded. "Exactly."
People walked past them in the aisle of romance themed books, but no one gave them looks. No one even seemed to notice that it was Amy Rose and Cream the Rabbit – heroes of Earth that once stood alongside Sonic the Hedgehog. The most they noticed was pink out of the corner of their eyes.
But if one had looked a bit more, they would see two friends that hadn't seen each other in years. Two friends that had years of separation between them and were reunited – one with a motherly gaze to the younger one, who had an expression akin to guilt and regret.
"So, you let Sonic just yell at you?"
"It was for the best. I figured it would let him get out his frustration. I thought he would come around like Tails did. Tails eventually accepted my apology, but…Sonic never did." Tears prickled at Cream's eyes. Amy gritted her teeth. "The boy I had once looked up to as a hero had turned into a man that turned his back on me. I don't blame him. I hurt his little brother with one selfish, childish, dumb act."
"That doesn't give Sonic a reason to forget about you like that," Amy shook her head in anger towards the blue hedgehog. "That doesn't give him the right to shut you out from not only his life but Tails'. Tails is secretly talking to you, isn't he?"
"He was. But…we've grown distant, Amy. It's not like how it was to begin with. I thought maybe I could fix what I had done and win him back or at least make amends with Sonic. But he grew up faster than I did." Cream brought her knees to her chest as she curled up in the chair. "I screwed up, but I want to at least have some closure before he moves on with his life. I don't want to say goodbye to another person again because it hurts too much."
At that moment, Amy felt terrible.
She had stayed in touch with Silver and Blaze as they traveled for Silver's career. She had even stayed in touch with Rouge of all people. With Knuckles. She hadn't stayed in touch with Cream. That connection faltered and was eventually lost.
But not for good.
Amy grabbed Cream's hand and offered her a warm smile. "No matter what happens, Cream, I'm not going to leave you behind again. Call me, write me – anything. I'll be there."
The rabbit gave her a genuine grin back. Cream hugged onto Amy's arm as Amy returned the embrace the best she could. "Thank you, Amy."
Pulling away, Cream looked up at her old friend with hopeful eyes. "I want some time to talk to Tails, if you don't mind. Alone? I just…I still care about him, and I always will. But I want that closure so badly, Amy. I don't want him to disappear forever, and I want to make sure he's okay with keeping in touch at least – even if things never get romantic again."
The corner of her lips twitched up in a smile. "I figured you'd want to speak with him."
"I've been asked out to an upcoming dance," Cream lightened the mood. "He's a nice boy from my class. Mom's helped me pick out a dress already and everything. I'm excited, even if I don't have the faintest clue what love is. I'm only a kid."
"Yeah," Amy chortled along with the rabbit for a moment. "I've been there before."
A moment passed between them where they simply stared at one another with a loving emotion in their eyes – a sisterly bond mending itself.
Brown eyes suddenly filled up with curiosity as Cream smirked. The sight of the rabbit smirking caught Amy off guard. It was odd seeing how much she had grown.
"And do you know what love is, Amy?"
"What?" She was straight-faced again.
"You said everyone was acting as if you and Shadow were together."
Amy couldn't believe it. Even Cream was about to fall for the matchmaking position. She couldn't let a sixteen-year-old be a part of that! There was no way she'd allow any more people try to push her and Shadow together!
Any more and the two might actually bump into each other and kiss.
She blushed at the thought, but Cream saw it as a blush towards her statement. "I thought you said you weren't attracted to him? Seems like you are."
"C-Cream. It's complicated." Amy tugged one of her quills, thinking back to the dream with the child that looked exactly like Shadow – Shadow's child. Her child. Their child. "I'm pretty sure we've insulted each other more than complimented each other. Enough people are trying to play matchmaker as it is, I don't need you to join them."
"I won't."
"Good."
"…"
"…"
She felt it coming.
Amy could sense Cream was on the verge of either embarrassing her or asking more questions. The rose hedgehog bit her tongue and glanced around for Silver or Tails. The two were probably engrossed in a sci-fi novel by now that they'd be no use to her.
Amy Rose was about to be interrogated about her love life from a sixteen-year-old that had just admitted they didn't know what love really was.
Oh, the fates were so damn cruel.
"Why don't you compliment him instead?"
Amy concealed her annoyed groan. She almost let it slip until she thought about the question.
Why hadn't she tried to compliment Shadow more? Or at least appeal to him in some way? After all, she had stated to others that Shadow did have nice qualities, but she had never complimented him on them. Probably because he would have just laughed or ignored her.
She frowned. "Well, I don't know. We clash more than we mesh right now, okay?"
"Then why don't you stop clashing? Why don't you try to be nicer to him when you get back?"
"Cream. We've reconciled right now. I don't want to say something wrong or weird – or if he gets the wrong idea – or -"
"Not for romantic purposes. Maybe you two should get to know one another better. Maybe then you won't insult each other so much."
'He already knows I was a stripper and no one knows that,' Amy grumbled in thought. 'I say we know plenty about one another already. And we've accepted each other, so what's the big deal?'
"It's mostly me," Amy confessed. "I've been a terrible guest, or was, but I'm making up for it. For now, we're on a fresh start."
She was offered an encouraging smile. "I kind of think you two would look cute together."
The pink female was beyond speechless.
Her mouth turned dry as she tried to think of a response. Her lips barely parted as a sound caught in her throat.
Never in a million years would she have thought Cream of all people would tell her that. Cream had just said that her and Shadow would look cute together. Her and Shadow the Hedgehog. Amy Rose and Shadow the Hedgehog. It wasn't a typical looking couple.
Then again, Amy wasn't the typical kind of gal.
'Stop it, Amy.' She chided herself for even thinking about it anymore. 'We're just friends. Let's keep it that way to not screw anything up. We can't afford any more mistakes or we'll be on the curb.'
"Um…Heh," Amy tried to laugh the comment off. "Well, I guess people are entitled to their opinions."
"And yours?"
Amy stared at the teenager with another look of shock. Was all of this talk really coming from Cream the Rabbit or was Amy losing it?
Biting her lip, Amy thought long and hard about the question.
'Shadow has nice qualities – that's already been established. I'm physically attracted to him to say the least. He's financially stable and good with kids. He's probably never been in a relationship and wouldn't even know where to start…'
But the sudden idea of being Shadow the Hedgehog's first in anything and everything intimate made butterflies erupt in Amy's stomach. She was pretty sure she was blushing at the thought.
'He could have kicked me out or yelled at me sooner, but he tried to stay levelheaded. While I'm not sure why, it was rather kind and different of him. Sonic and Tails have changed him over the years whether he's noticed or not.' Amy continued to mull the notion over until a part of her didn't mind the idea of holding Shadow's hand or cuddling up to his warm body.
She swallowed heavily. "I-"
End of Flashback
Amy was jolted back into reality and out of the memory when an arm snaked around her.
Shadow turned in his sleep, dragging her closer. At least, she hoped he was still asleep. His nose burrowed into her quills as he nuzzled her like a pillow.
Amy hadn't told him, but Shadow was a cuddler.
If he knew the truth, he would probably deny it, but the way he always found her in the middle of the night and pulled her closer was enough to send her schoolgirl fantasies through the roof.
While Amy continued to stare at the walls of the dark room, she was unaware of Shadow's right arm until it gripped her waist and pulled her flush against him. She was blushing at this point, but even more so when he continued to nuzzle her in his sleep. His right arm came up and rested on her stomach as she lied on her back.
When his nuzzling ceased, and he was finally comfortable, Amy moved her head to nestle against his chest. His chest fur was always a soft pillow to her, even from the side. He was welcoming and warm.
As Cream left her thoughts, there was nothing else going on her brain at the moment besides Shadow.
Just Shadow.
Her left hand crept towards his right, which still rested on her stomach. Moving slowly, Amy brought her fingers to brush his. He flinched a little, but only tugged at her shirt as his fingers grasped the material.
Amy bit her lip.
She waited a few seconds before softly touching her fingertips against his, looping them through and loosening his grip on her shirt. His fingers linked their hands together as he turned his palm upwards a tad.
Sparks didn't fly anymore.
Instead, warmth spread through her. One that Amy could only explain as a liking towards Shadow. She wasn't ready to call it love – as it could simply be an infatuation. It wasn't scientifically "love" until after four months or so anyway. At least, that's what the hopeless romantic had learned and lived by.
Unfortunately, their hands linked together made her almost forget that rule of hers – the rule she had made up in New York so she wouldn't fall heads over heels for men like she had with Sonic.
She was slipping up.
I should take my hand away from his. I shouldn't be doing this. I should get out of the bed and sleep on the couch.
Amy bit her lip and closed her eyes, pushing her nose into his chest fur. She willed her head to stop hurting, to stop thinking so fast, and to cherish the moment. The feeling.
It should've felt so wrong. So, why did it feel so right?
Friends don't sleep in the same bed like this.
Shadow draped his right leg over her legs and brought her even closer. Amy did her best not to purr as he nuzzled her neck again. She bit her lip harder.
But that's not what we are, is it?
Amy could only softly sigh in content, even as Shadow's movement ceased.
I'm falling in love with Shadow the Hedgehog.
Shadow was confused.
He didn't normally wake up with his fingers entwining with another's.
It was an odd feeling that made some sort of butterfly impact go on in his stomach. He didn't like it – didn't like that he was so vulnerable to these feelings – to her.
Amy's chest rose and fell in a rhythm that showed she was in a deep sleep still. She looked exhausted, and Shadow wondered if she had even gotten any sleep last night. It was almost five in the morning. It was almost time to get up and start the day before the sun did. Yet Shadow didn't feel like moving.
Red eyes stared at their connected hands.
He hadn't done it intentionally. Honestly, Shadow didn't know how it happened. While Amy rested on his chest, her arm now folded so their hands rested on his stomach. Somewhere in the night, his hand must have clasped over hers and their fingers had entwined.
And they fit perfectly.
Shadow had never looked more perplexed at anything in his life, and he felt it. Swallowing, he leaned against her even more so.
What is going on?
Stirrings…Feelings…Things that shouldn't be happening between us are continuing to happen.
He should've told her to leave last night – to get a job quickly and move the hell out. Instead, he was selfish.
I should have kept her away from me, but instead I just pulled her closer.
His heart and head weren't thinking at the same rate anymore, and one was certainly being less logical. It was driving him up the wall. Why couldn't things balance out?
The dark hedgehog browsed down at the sleeping female.
She looks so innocent…so flawless and content…
Her hand curled tighter around his. Shadow found himself sinking further into the bed, into the pillow, into this reverie that was entering reality. Amy wasn't helping at all as her hand grasped his completely and she turned so much that her legs tangled with his.
…Mine. She looks so mine.
A painful feeling rushed through him.
He knew this shouldn't be happening – this thing blossoming between them. He should've had more self-control as the Ultimate Life Form, but things changed over the years, and by God, he might have accidentally let affection win in this situation.
Amy Rose.
She was a handful. There were plenty of things Shadow disliked about her. The way she marched right in and insulted him – those particular moments bugged him. But she had apologized whereas no one else ever had.
How could these feelings for her have occurred if all she did was insult him?
Shadow was beyond confused.
Deciding a shower would clear away thoughts; Shadow slipped out of her grasp and got up from the bed.
The animals could wait a few more minutes, he figured. He simply couldn't be in the same room as Amy right now or his brain wouldn't work properly.
Yeah, that was his excuse.
Unfortunately, even the hot water running down his back and easing his muscles didn't help much. Shadow stood under the water for a few minutes with his eyes closed. He hoped the running water wouldn't wake up the rose hedgehog in his bed.
That…feels odd to say. He grimaced at the thought. I shouldn't be thinking like this – these stirrings. Ugh. To hell with them.
"You don't actually mean that, Shadow boy."
His eyes shot wide as he glanced around the shower.
No.
He was imagining things now – no one was in his bathroom and talking.
Shadow groaned and rubbed his eyes awake before grabbing the shampoo. The quicker he got out of the shower, the less he would feel like someone was watching him.
Perhaps the shower was a bad idea. I'm going crazy.
"So, it would seem."
"Ah!" Shadow was actually caught off guard. The Ultimate Life Form – surprised.
It was a different voice this time, although it all sounded like echoes of him talking in the shower. But it wasn't. Shadow certainly wasn't speaking out loud.
"Not necessarily," the first voice spoke. It was a rather more laidback version of Shadow speaking. A hint more of sarcasm and wittiness, if possible, was in the voice as well.
The second voice was more proper speaking. Sounded like a version of Shadow that stood straight with his nose always in the air. Shadow scoffed at the idea of such a posh version of himself.
"How rude," the second voice mumbled as the first voice cackled in his other ear.
Shadow growled under his breath, "What the hell?"
"Well, I could take you there if you'd like." A sudden puffing sound and there was a figure on his left shoulder. A mini-version of himself sat on his bare shoulder.
The tiny, red eyes stared at Shadow blankly. "What?"
He couldn't quite make out any words, only an odd sound, as he leaned on his right shoulder, staring at the strangely dressed miniature version of himself. The horns poking out next to the small ears, the hedgehog tail that was replaced with a red, long tail with a spike at the end, and the red trident were all clear indications that Shadow was off his rockers.
The Devil Shadow on his shoulder sighed and stood up. "What? You never hallucinated before, Shadow boy?"
In that moment, Shadow gained his posture and glared at the little thing that was supposedly him. "Get off."
It smirked.
The minuscule ingrate had the guts to flash his smirk at him. Shadow scowled. "You're not real," he hissed with eyes narrowed. "Just leave me be."
Tiny red eyes flashed with something more than just humor – evil. "Oh, how cute. You're trying to get rid of your own conscience just to ignore your feelings for Amy Rose."
This thing was going to be plucked off his shoulder and flung across the bathroom at the rate it was going. The Devil Shadow made himself comfortable as Shadow stood under the running water.
After a moment of silence, Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
"Leave already," he kept hissing under his breath.
The last thing he wanted was Amy to knock on the bathroom door and ask if someone was in there. Shadow would probably look like a great fool for talking to himself like this in the shower.
Devil Shadow pursed his lips in thought and then shook his head. "Can't. Waiting for the second guy."
"The what –"
"How kind of you."
Shadow really hoped that second voice wasn't coming from his right shoulder and wasn't dressed in a white robe. He whipped his head over to glare at the right shoulder and found nothing to his delight.
"He's over there, dimwit."
Glowering at Devil Shadow, he followed the pointing finger to where the shampoo once was. Instead of the shampoo bottle, which remained in Shadow's tightening fist, another miniature version of himself sat on the shelf softly playing a harp that made no sound.
"Both of you leave me alone."
"He's so grouchy in the morning," Angel Shadow never once looked at its original. Instead, he gazed off into the distance while plucking at the harp's strings. Wings folded against his back and a glowing halo floated above his head.
Shadow didn't like either of them from the start.
Devil Shadow looked like he was as much trouble as Sonic. Angel Shadow spoke so monotonously and like Captain Obvious that it reminded him somewhat of Sarah.
"We are neither Sonic nor Sarah," Angel Shadow pitched in. "We are your thoughts, Shadow. Your thoughts that are mostly clouded with images of the pink hedgehog and filled with the desire to have her."
"Shut up," Shadow growled as he chose to ignore the snicker from Devil Shadow.
"Tell us, Shadow boy," the one with the red aura said as he suddenly floated up with ragged torn black wings. The evil glint still appeared in his eyes. "Would you really want to see someone else with Amy love?" he tilted his head as he managed to fly upside down.
Shadow could figure out the other emotion in the Devil Shadow's eyes: lust. He glanced at Angel Shadow in hopes of finding something more sincere towards the rose flower, but only saw the blank look. At least he was looking at Shadow now, but the blank look that lacked any emotion seemed to freeze him to the core.
But that means –
"Yes, while my opposite seems to be the one in control of…" he stretched in wings for a moment in search of the right word, "…your emotions to the pink hedgehog, I disagree with the idea of being with her entirely."
Yet another surprise that morning for Shadow.
Devil Shadow seemed to hiss at Angel Shadow. "Coward."
"We lust after the pink hedgehog," Angel Shadow scoffed with disgust and sarcasm, "Congratulations."
Shadow shut his eyes tightly, wishing for the pair to leave. He wanted his silence. He didn't need these little things popping up now or ever again.
"We do not-"
"Yes, we do-"
"Leave."
…
…
…
Silence.
Shadow opened his eyes calmly to see neither of them there. It was all in his thoughts.
Catching his breath that he hadn't realized he'd lost, Shadow placed the shampoo bottle back on the shelf. Standing under the water any longer was sure to bring both of the nuisances back. Quickly, he turned off the water and got dressed.
He took one glance to see Amy still asleep, and then he left.
Things were getting out of hand.
She'd been thinking about the kid again.
Twisting her fork, forgetting about the plate of eggs in front of her, Sarah pondered on the one thing that kept her up all night: the little girl.
The more I think about her, the more I'm convinced she's related to Scourge. She had the same look, but pink like her mother. The blue eyes definitely resembled Scourge's – only more welcoming. And her quills…well, her mother had similarities there but so does Scourge.
And the fact that I've never seen a pink hedgehog before until Amy showed up. And then this Rosy person shows up, too. And the kid – what was her name?
Rosemary. That's right. Typical. Sarah found herself snorting as to not roll her eyes. It was a generic name for someone who had a parent named Rosy. It only made sense. Couldn't name her Janet or any other normal name. Had to be an odd one.
But apparently Rosy knew Sonic.
Sarah frowned at that part. Mentally frowned, that is. She could sense the odd glances Sonic was giving her as the others ate in peace. Her mate was getting a sense that Sarah was thinking deeply about something – and he wanted to know what it was out of curiosity.
Still, she hadn't spoken to Sonic about anything last night. Another thought had hit her before she opened her mouth to tell Sonic before they went to bed.
Amy. The two looked so alike, what if they're related or something?
Sarah vaguely looked up on her fiancé and his team. She wasn't a big history junkie when it came to them. Everything else, sure – she dabbled. But not on the Sonic Team or the time they saved Earth while watching Mobius get destroyed. She didn't need to look up anything more on that – she had lived it.
Fortunately, Sarah knew one thing – mostly because of a star struck young brother who adored and worshipped the Sonic Team (at least when he was a child). The one thing she did remember at the moment was that Scourge was Sonic's anti.
So…what if this Rosy person is Amy's anti? I mean, it would make sense – especially if Rosy and Scourge had a daughter together. It would explain all the similarities the kid had with Scourge. Granted, I didn't take a long time to look at her face. Still. It's a little fishy.
That night, Sarah had devised a plan that she hoped would work. Luckily, the Aries was a smooth talker and very persuasive. That and the female didn't let Shadow stomp around like he owned everything.
But he does seem quieter this morning. Sarah pursed her lips in thought. Everyone was quiet.
Silver and Amy weren't even talking about their visit to see Cream. She didn't blame them though as Sonic still didn't like the rabbit and probably didn't want to hear about her two mornings in a row.
That was beside the point – Sarah had a mission.
Placing her elbows on the table, the lime green hedgehog turned her attention to the silent Amy Rose. Tilting her head, brown eyes watched rather warmly.
It was in this time that not only Amy felt someone watching her, but Sonic lifted his head up a bit further as if to question his fiancée. Sarah paid no attention to him, however.
"Amy, I need help with an art project today at school. Would you like to accompany me?"
Oh, Sonic knew she was up to something.
For starters, Sarah never used big words unless she was trying to confuse someone or get something she wanted - or both. He just couldn't tell what it was at the moment.
The rose hedgehog stopped chewing, swallowed, and then set her fork down. "Wouldn't Manic be better for this sort of thing? He does have more experience with art."
"They're preschoolers. You're probably the best one with little kids in this room, and I don't want things to get too messy."
It was true. That was probably why it was so easy for Sarah to pull Amy in.
"But Shadow might need help today –"
"I believe Sunny is perfectly capable of filling in your shoes."
Sunny offered Amy a small smile. "I like doing the farm work, honestly. Go ahead, Amy. It's not like you had anything planned today, did you?"
"Not really, but…"
"But what?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.
The others were merely listening or watching.
The Ultimate Life Form wasn't playing oblivious for once as he observed Sarah. Like Sonic, Shadow could read Sarah inside and out. She was up to something. But if it got Amy out of his way so his instincts could settle down, Shadow figured it wouldn't hurt. That and Amy seemed to be dying of boredom every day.
"I haven't been to a school like that, ever," Amy confessed with a decent amount of nervousness. "What if the teachers look at me weird or something?"
"Who cares?" This time, it was Shadow speaking. He stared at the rose hedgehog, mindful of keeping his animalistic side at bay and not forcing her to get outside. Silver was surely watching like a hawk right now. "Sunny and Manic know the ropes – or at least the former does – and getting out and about in this town to meet new people wouldn't hurt you."
Amy raised an eyebrow at him, "Says the anti-social farmer who stays home all day."
"I know more people here than you think. I know more people around here than Tails or Sonic – and they've been here longer."
"Surprising how farming makes you have to be social from time to time," Sonic pitched in with a light laugh. "Amy, I don't think it's a bad idea. It's just helping little kids."
"Yeah, I can borrow you for one day, can't I?" Sarah laughed. "Besides, it'll only be until noon or so, I figure. Shadow can pick you up at lunch."
Amy bit her lip and looked across the table at Blaze and Silver. Silver merely shrugged. "Go ahead. I plan to sleep all day."
Blaze's nod was in agreement with Silver. Amy smiled softly and sighed. Giving in, the pink female said, "Sure, why not?"
Sarah simply grinned, but even Sonic could tell it was a little sly smirk. But it wasn't the question that Sarah got to ask Amy now that made her smirk – it was something entirely different that put a funny image in her mind.
Oh, she has no idea what she is getting into with these kids.
Amy regretted everything.
"Okay, maybe we shouldn't use all of the glitter," she softly said while trying to pry the bottle out of the hands of a fox. The little girl was obstinate though.
"But I want to!" she screeched.
Her friend, a minx, started to join in. "Yeah, let us use the glitter, pleeeeease!"
Amy groaned. How on Earth does Sarah deal with all of these kids?! She doesn't even like kids!
"Alright, that's enough."
The glitter bottle was plucked from both of their hands and held up in the air. Sarah grasped the bottle as she raised an eyebrow at the two girls. "Why do you need the whole bottle?"
"We love sparkles," the fox calmed down upon seeing her teacher. It wasn't easy to get away with things when she was under Sarah's watchful eye.
"Yes, but does your mother love sparkles?"
"Well…Um…" the little girl clasped her hands and played with her fingers while trying to think of an answer. "Mommy says they get everywhere."
"So maybe we should use as little as possible, hm?"
"Okay…" Her ears drooped but at least Sarah gave her the bottle back. "C'mon, Jeanie!" She ran away to her desk with the minx following right behind.
The lime green hedgehog then took a moment to stare at Amy – who was on the floor at this point hating her decision. "I thought you were good with kids."
"Petunia and Jeffery are nothing like these rambunctious kids. I thought they got better with age," Amy stood and groaned, stretching. "I already had to stop Timothy from eating the fish," she pointed to the fish tank where the goldfish swam around in circles.
"Yeah, he has a problem with that – don't let him do that," Sarah pitched in as they stared at the little panther. He was probably more like a baby than any of the others, still sucking his thumb.
Amy narrowed her eyebrows in question. "Why does he act like that?" she whispered.
"Like what?"
"More…animal."
"Timothy has a higher animalistic gene of some sort – something like that," Sarah waved it off. "His parents explained it to me once, but I didn't care to jot it down. I figure let the kids be kids. Timothy is smart, but he has more animalistic connections to people. He sucks his thumb because he misses his mother still."
The panther was quiet while he worked, making a mess of the markers on the late Valentine's Day cards. The shamrocks for an early St. Patrick's Day were next to him, still needing attention.
"I feel so bad, no one is hanging out with him," Amy frowned as she held her arm. "I tried to sit with him, but he just looked annoyed."
"He likes his solitude, so what?" Sarah snorted. "He's one of the smartest kids in the class because of his higher instincts."
"His what?"
"I don't know – again, the parents went off on some twenty-page essay and expected me to remember it all these past months. I just let him chill in here during lunch. He seemed perfectly fine with it."
"But he has no friends."
"Not true," Sarah eyed two kids that were acting a little suspicious. "Another kid from Mr. Worthington's class hangs out with him. The two have similar…animalistic traits, I guess you could call it."
Amy was about to say something but stopped immediately as her eyes went wider. "Wait, did you just say-"
"Amy, excuse me. I've got some rascals to attend to," Sarah walked off too quickly to catch the kids trying to write on each other in marker.
"…Worthington," Amy whispered with a fearful look in her eyes.
Oh, no…That's where I heard it from – from Sarah.
A little hand suddenly grasped hers, causing Amy to jump. A black hedgehog stared up at her with blue eyes and a soft smile. His quills were long and sloped down.
"Could you, um, help me, please?"
Amy stopped to think. She glanced back at Sarah and decided Worthington could wait.
She followed the child back to his desk, which was in the back of the classroom on the last row. While most of the kids jumbled together up front, he remained in the back with another hedgehog that was similar to him. Very similar.
"Are you two twins?"
"Hmhm," the boy nodded. "I'm Walter."
Amy smiled at the little girl across from him. She stared down at her hearts. "What's your name, sweetie?"
"She's Leyla. She doesn't speak much," the boy replied as he handed Amy glue and his paper hearts. "I can't get the, uh, bottle to work."
Amy took it and glanced over at Timothy again.
The idea of a child with animalistic behavior made her curious. Why did Timothy's sudden actions remind her of the child from her dream? The panther hardly spoke and used motions or sounds an actual panther would use to communicate. He had already growled once today.
"Um…Do you know the boy over there?" she asked the four-year-old.
"Hmhm," Walter went to coloring his shamrocks. They had different patterns on them, but he liked coloring them all blue and red. "That's Timothy. He doesn't talk much either."
Amy pursed her lips as she shook the bottle. The glue wasn't coming out, and it wasn't clogged or empty. She took a glimpse at Timothy again, who continued to sit all by himself a few rows away.
A growling sound brought Amy back to Walter and Leyla. The little girl snapped at her brother – an actual snap with bared teeth. Amy narrowed her eyebrows and was about to intervene.
"What?" Walter hissed under his breath at her. "You're not even using the orange."
Leyla let out a low growl as she glared at her brother. Eventually, she turned away but rolled the orange crayon over to him. Amy watched with amazement. Did Sarah know Leyla was like Timothy?
"Is your sister like Timothy?"
"Mom calls it a big word I can't remember."
"Animalistic?"
"Yeah, that." He ignored Amy for the most part, completely focused on his crayon and coloring the shamrocks.
"She can't control it?"
"She doesn't speak," Walter shrugged. "Dad says she'll speak soon, though. She knows how to speak, but she doesn't like to or somethin'."
Amy hummed in thought as she stared at Leyla. The little girl glanced up at her before quickly looking back down. She grabbed the pink crayon and went about her business, coloring the hearts. Amy looked over at Sarah and caught the teacher's eye. Motioning to Leyla, Amy raised an eyebrow and then pointed to Timothy with the glue bottle.
Sarah only furrowed her eyebrows and shrugged, clearly not understanding Amy.
The pink hedgehog sighed exasperatedly. Walter leaned over with an impatient look. "Did you fix it?"
"No. I'm going to talk to your teacher – maybe get a new one, okay?"
"Okay." He sounded too preoccupied with the shamrocks again to even care.
Amy walked over to Sarah, who was leaning against the counter wall near the fish tank. The lime green hedgehog raised her brow. "What were the motions for? Doing some chicken dance?"
"Did you know Leyla is like Timothy?"
"Oh, yeah. I almost forget about her, she's so quiet. Timothy will at least talk from time to time. Leyla…I don't think I've ever heard her speak a single word."
"Really?"
"Really. But, it's just a phase. Eventually, the kids are supposed to come around and act more civilized around this age. I've had some in the past years. They're intelligent children for preschoolers, but they act differently. I let them do what they want, like I said."
Amy wasn't concerned about Worthington at the moment. "You don't think that's hurting the children though? These years are crucial when it comes to fitting in."
"Amy, everyone in this town knows everyone. All of these kids will be in cliques that will expand more and more by the time they hit high school. Preschool isn't anything to worry about. They color, put blocks together, learn their ABC's, count to ten – it's not junior high."
"Still. Timothy is lonely. Leyla only communicates with her brother, Walter. Why isn't he like her if they're twins?"
"He didn't get the gene."
"It's a gene?" Amy raised her voice a little but toned it down even though no kids were looking. "Does that mean Shadow has it?"
"Look, every Mobian is hardwired with it," Sarah snorted. "We're animals, bottom line, with human characteristics, Amy. Some Mobians portray animalistic behavior more than others."
"I know – I read the book Tails' lent me on the whole animalistic behavior."
"That was the book? From Ally Scorn, or should I say, Sally Acorn?"
"You know about her?"
"Of course I know about her. I don't live under that big of a rock, ya know." Sarah snorted with a slight shrug. "That and I'm kind of intrigued with the idea. Yes, I didn't quite listen to Timothy's parents, but that's because I already knew the majority of it. Sally states in the second book that if children have it, it's passed down from their parents. Feral Mobians on Mobius that came to Earth are more prone to having children like that. Leaving them as is and letting them grow on their own is the normal way of handling children with animalistic behavior. They really don't mind being alone because they learn faster than others. It's a pro to the whole thing."
"But they're by themselves."
"Amy," Sarah grabbed her shoulder. "No, they're not. Timothy gets along with the other kids just fine. He chooses not to hang out with them. Leyla hangs out with Walter because he's her sense of comfort and home. Yes, Walter gets annoyed with it and runs off with his own friends from time to time, but Leyla will play with the other kids as well. Granted, Timothy and Leyla don't talk much if at all. But they really are bright kids."
The pink hedgehog folded her arms. "You keep talking about their intelligence like it's really something. Is it?"
"Two years ago, I had a kid named Redd. His parents were feral Mobians that live out in Sawyer now – nice family. I occasionally talk to the mother still. Redd's father works for Frank, actually. They warned me about his behavior. Now, while he didn't get along with the kids because of his "mine" problem that every kid goes through, he was a genius. Amy, I kid you not."
Amy smirked in disbelief, "A genius?"
"He was a preschooler that knew addition and subtraction up to the number 20 – most of these kids come here barely knowing how to count past 10. He knew every state in the U.S. at two and half years old, Amy. He loved to learn. He had some photographic memory or something. I've never taught a kid that was that advanced for preschool. Mr. Worthington was shocked and worked with the kid, too."
She stopped again at the name, but shook her head. Amy could talk about it later during lunch. Not right now – she could feel Walter's glare. "Um, do you have a glue bottle? Walter's isn't working."
"Yeah, up front." Sarah motioned to the front desk with all the supplies that should have been obvious to Amy from the start. As the teacher went off to help another kid, Amy grabbed the glue bottle and looked at Timothy and then Leyla.
Leyla was showing Walter her hearts as he smiled. Amy couldn't help but grin a little at seeing Leyla giggle as her brother said something. The rose hedgehog watched the scene in wonder.
Is that how Shadow's kids will be if he ever settles down? The thought should have pained Amy. The thought of Shadow being with another had pained her before. But this time, she hadn't thought about him being with another.
Is that how the kid in the dream was? Is that how mine and Shadow's kid would be? Amy bit her lip.
She was filled with images of Shadow being with her. Having kids with her. Being a family with her. Amy didn't even try to snap out of it. It was a warming picture and she found herself falling for it. Thinking that maybe, just maybe, that could be the future for her.
Being with Shadow and having a family doesn't sound so bad. Maybe all these matchmakers really aren't crazy. Maybe we're just not crazy enough to see what they see.
Love had Amy in its clutches now, and it had done so by using children – something Amy couldn't resist. Now, the hedgehog was about as crazy as the matchmakers that saw her and Shadow together, but she didn't care.
Unfortunately, she was forgetting that Love didn't come easy, and was a game of give or take.
"Hey!" Walter waved Amy back into reality. "Did you get one?!"
"I've got it!" Amy laughed as she raised the bottle and walked over to the two. Timothy glanced up at the yell Walter gave. The panther raised an eyebrow at Amy as she walked by.
Ruffling his hair, Amy offered him a grin that he surprisingly, yet slightly, returned.
"And this one works, I promise!"
It wasn't noon when Shadow left the house, but he had nothing better to do.
Sunny and Manic sped up all the work and he had to admit it was nice. They had gotten the fence up yesterday in record timing. Sunny had even coaxed Manic into brushing the horses out in the field that had went up to greet them.
I got a fence up yesterday and my horses actually look decent. I don't even have to get the cockleburs out of their mane when spring hits.
The thought pleased Shadow. It was less he had to do.
Having the helping hands wasn't such a bad idea. I might need to hire a hand or two when everyone else is gone after the wedding. Thankfully, everyone showed up insanely early to the event for some reason.
The ebony male couldn't help but purse his lips. The wedding was supposed to be May 5th. Why on Earth did everyone show up months early? How long were they were planning to cram into his house?
They all wanted to catch up, no doubt. Silver and Blaze seem like they have nothing to do. Although, Silver was interrupted with a Skype call from one of his coworkers when I was leaving, it doesn't seem like they're entirely bombarded with work.
Manic and Sunny showed up probably to see Aleena and spend time with Sonia and the kids. Whether Manic and Sonic will make up is an entirely different situation. Either way, everyone is still here.
Well, not everyone.
Rouge popped into his head. Shadow swallowed as he grasped the steering wheel a little tighter than normal.
Even though they had spoken, he couldn't fathom seeing her again in person. He would be able to reach out and touch her – know that some sick bastard had laid a hand on her.
And I wasn't there to stop it.
Shadow cleared his throat as his gaze shifted from the road to the fields. It was nothing amazing to look at, and he was beyond familiar with the scenery, but the empty road was boring as hell. Maybe his guests would leave early when they realized there was nothing to do out in the country at this time of year besides get ready to farm.
Unless they had cows.
He grimaced at the thought of calving season, which for him landed in December or January. Thankfully, he cooperated with the Wilsons and was able to use their calf barn – and it didn't interfere with irrigating in the spring.
Oh, the life. Shadow sighed as he blinked away the tiredness that was beginning to form just from the thought of all the work that needed to be done. First things first, gotta pick up Amy.
He had rarely gone down to the school. In fact he had only gone down if it were for the dinner party things the school held during the holidays. He only went to those because Sonic and Sarah both forced him to in the end.
Other than that, he had never gone to the school.
Wait, that one time Sarah forgot her lunch, and Sonic was working. I almost missed her call. Looking back…I wish I hadn't answered. Shadow scoffed at the memory of seeing kiddy art in the hallway.
That hadn't been the worst of it however. When he got there, the second graders were being released to lunch. He had barely escaped to Sarah's room before being trampled by running children.
Shadow hadn't gone to the school any other time, but he wondered. He wasn't the only one.
"Just wait. Someday, you'll have to go there to pick up your kid after school."
"I believe they have school buses for that reason."
"For like…a dentist appointment, then."
Sonic had been pestering him that day, too. It was before Amy arrived though. Shadow chewed his bottom lip in thought.
Actually…the more I think about it, the more Sonic's always been annoying me about settling down. Even before Amy showed up. She just…enhanced his pestering.
"I wonder what their classrooms are like…"
Shadow nearly swerved off the road at hearing a certain voice again.
It wasn't his, but it was.
It was the sarcastic, laidback one – which meant that the Devil Shadow hanging out on his dashboard was the one that spoke.
The mini-version had appeared again first. Lounging back on the dashboard and using his elbow to prop him up, Devil Shadow raised an eyebrow at Shadow's glare. "What? When we have kids, we need to make sure it's an adequate classroom. What if they have scissors just lyin' around? What if the teacher is a complete idiot?"
Shadow grumbled under his breath. "Go away. I don't plan on having kids with anyone."
"Fine," he heard and felt a relief in his chest – at least until the little nuisance was fluttering closer with the ragged black wings. "When you adopt, I guess."
"Go away."
"Shadow boy, calm down," Devil Shadow snorted in amusement as he sat on the steering wheel. He was quiet for a minute or two as he observed the situation and then the steering wheel itself. "Hey, isn't this the part where Jesus takes the wheel or something?"
"What?"
"You know, that song with – okay, never mind." Devil Shadow folded his arms and took his turn to glower at Shadow, who was doing anything but looking at the illusion. "You gonna ignore yourself, buddy?"
"Stop it."
"Well, if Mister High and Mighty didn't take so long showing up," Devil Shadow stood from his spot and went back to the dashboard. "And I ain't talkin' about God here."
Shadow slowly glared at the smaller version of himself. The red horns glowed brighter than before, and the spiky tail twitched in impatience.
"Another word and I'm throwing you out of this truck."
Devil Shadow snorted but ignored the real Shadow anyway. It was a peaceful five minutes where Shadow could actually focus on driving. Just driving.
"Your thoughts are pretty silent, Shadow boy."
He growled and tried not to think about murdering the little beast. Would he even die? Probably not.
"Nope," Devil Shadow smirked back at him. "I'm just a figment of your imagination. But I'm honestly shocked to see that you're so silent now. I'm mean, you're normally always thinking about something."
"Well, I am for one am content with the silence," another voice came to join the party. Shadow didn't even try and hold back his groan of annoyance. "No thoughts of kicking Sonic out early. No thoughts of the girl. Everything is quiet."
Shadow raised an eyebrow at the Angel form of himself, which sat above the radio.
Devil Shadow glared at his opposite. "Her name is Amy," the menace gritted his teeth. He folded his dark wings against his back and pouted with his nose up in the air. "And she'd be a better mother to our children than anyone else," he muttered under his breath.
If anyone driving behind Shadow had to question was the Ultimate Life Form was doing when his truck swerved violently again, they'd assume he was texting or drunk in the middle of the day. Or perhaps he was tired.
But certainly not hallucinating.
"Yes," the angel droned in a tired tone. "She is rather good with children that much I can admit."
Devil Shadow continued to glower. "We'd go to that school to pick up our kids that she was the mother of."
Just the thought had Shadow gripping the wheel until his knuckles were white, and all because the thought of having children with Amy meant the thoughts advanced to thinking about –
"My, my," Angel Shadow tried to hold back his sneer. "Getting a little horny, Shadow?"
Devil Shadow snickered but stuck his tongue out at the one with the halo. "You have to admit, we would treat her right. We would be good."
Shadow growled as the lustful lunatic seemed to take control of not only the conversation. The ebony hedgehog didn't feel quite in control of himself. Devil Shadow was doing something – making him think something. Persuading him.
"Calm down, you fool," Angel Shadow warned in a raised tone. "You don't want him to lose control now of all times and make him crash."
"You're right. Then we'd never get Amy love for ourselves." Devil Shadow pursed his lips as Shadow felt in control of himself again. The lightheaded feeling was gone. He almost sighed in relief until the horned version of him snapped his fingers. "I got it!"
"What now?" Angel Shadow rolled his eyes, letting the harp from the shower poof into existence. He plucked the strings in no order and in mere boredom.
"Why don't we ask her out on a date?!" Devil Shadow grinned at his brilliance. "We could at least apologize for any moments we were an asshole because they were your fault."
Angel Shadow raised an eyebrow at him with a sly look. "Wouldn't that make it your fault as well, considering we are the same in the end?"
The other stopped smirking immediately.
Shadow grunted at the idea as he actually joined the conversation of his fighting conscience. Or…was it consciences? "Remember last time we tried that? Burying the hatchet didn't work like Sonic had planned."
"Yes, but it wasn't that painful of a memory," Angel Shadow noted.
Devil Shadow scoffed. "You're actually agreeing to me now?!"
"Not at all, but Shadow won't stop pining for the female with you around."
"And I'll always be around."
"Yes, but you'd be less around if they made a friendship and a friendship only," Angel Shadow was devising his own plan. "Frankly, they've shared happy moments as well as terrible ones. But would you call them friends yet?"
"Hell, yes!" Devil Shadow shouted. He turned to Shadow. "Don't listen to this guy. You and Amy have started over. You've shared good memories, haven't you?"
They both looked at the original.
The bolshie hedgehog tried to think of any good memory with Amy Rose. "They're not technically long memories, but rather many short moments. Does that count?"
He wasn't sure if he was on Devil Shadow's side or not.
"We're friends, damn you!" Devil Shadow hollered, thrusting his fist into the air at Angel Shadow.
"What on Earth are those memories?" Angel Shadow nearly stuttered in surprise as his eyes widened, seeing everything that Devil Shadow was – that the regular Shadow was seeing as well. He stared at Shadow and then Devil Shadow. "Y-You remember all these?"
Devil Shadow glided down to the seat next to Shadow and stared up at Angel Shadow with determination in his eyes. "Yes."
Shadow raised an eyebrow. "You keep them?"
"Well, he is the logical one that doesn't care for Amy love like I do," Devil Shadow motioned to Angel Shadow. "Who else is going to keep them?"
"Probably for you to fantasize about later," Angel Shadow snorted. "They're not possibly heartfelt memories that you keep. You lust after the pink hedgehog, nothing more. You are not her friend. You are a danger to her. You should warn her to stay away."
Shadow gritted his teeth as he was at a crossroads.
Nothing they were saying was making sense because they kept going against one another. How in the hell was Shadow supposed to know what to think or do about Amy Rose if he was playing tug-a-war with himself? With his emotions?
"Not true!" Devil Shadow hopped up from his sitting position. "The time we picked her up at the airport – do you remember?"
Angel Shadow glanced at his opposite with a curious gaze, and even Shadow saw it.
He stared down at Devil Shadow and realized what was going on. The devil him wasn't trying to persuade him to like Amy Rose. The devil him was trying to persuade Angel Shadow to like Amy Rose.
Because essentially that would be the same thing, only it's not entirely.
Shadow crinkled his nose as he tried hard to think about it. It was like untangling knots, but it made sense somewhat. Figuring out of his feelings towards Amy – the key was in persuading Angel Shadow, or his logical side, that she wasn't something they merely lusted after with no love.
That she wasn't some fling or someone useless.
"I can recall," Angel Shadow whispered and brought Shadow back to the conversation the illusions were having.
"Her smile can light up any room, can it not?" Devil Shadow softly spoke this time as he sat back down with a calm look. He found himself smiling, and when he looked up at his original, he could see faint emotions in those ruby eyes.
"We did not actually communicate with her though," Angel Shadow denied the memory as anything wholehearted, but he was looking out the front window instead of his anti. "It doesn't count."
Devil Shadow was just as tenacious, however. "We are attracted to her, you cannot deny that."
"Attraction and friendship are two separate things here. One of which we have. The other we do not."
Again, Shadow found himself unsure.
"The jacket which we never share."
"We've never had a reason to share it, and she kept chattering her teeth."
"She was cold – we were being kind. Either way…she liked its smell."
Shadow smirked at the memory. Yes, she had liked the smell. She was a rather strange girl. He had almost forgotten about the jacket.
"We protected her from Samwell and Scourge. Let's not forget the sparks we feel when we touch her," Devil Shadow purred in delight at the last memory.
"Protecting her was an instinct and a gentleman thing to do. The sparks have subsided."
"Because we have touched so often," Devil Shadow smirked in victory there. He glared suddenly. "And we both know that if either of those males had dared to touch her…" he didn't finish his sentence as his teeth bared.
Angel Shadow went back to rolling his eyes. "Your argument is invalid now. You are losing control."
"She cared for us when we were sick."
"She is a very caring person. So what?" he shrugged.
"She would have cared for us if we had told her about the attack," Devil Shadow threw in. "Amy love was upset we hadn't told her even when we didn't know her that well then."
Angel Shadow sighed in exasperation. It was almost futile to argue considering Devil Shadow was never going to give up. The logic in him could see where things would end up going, and he couldn't fight it forever. "Yes, well she worries about a lot of people."
"Oh, just admit it!" Devil Shadow growled. Intolerance coursed through them all as they passed Sonic's work and neared the school. "You care for Amy love just as I do! It is genuine and we are friends capable of something more, but you are afraid to admit it!"
"Even with all of the small moments," Angel Shadow mocked with a sneer, "we are far from being something with the female that could possibly work –"
"AAAAMYYY. Her name is Amy! A-M-Y!"
Shadow shut his eyes for a split second to try and stop them mentally. He reopened them to drive straight, but he was nearing the school – he needed to get rid of them and fast.
His thoughts were about to explode.
"Yes, yes, they are!" Devil Shadow growled in agreement with Shadow as he suddenly turned to his original, "And all because you can't figure out what to do with your feelings!"
"It is not love – it is lust!" Angel Shadow actually raised his voice as he stood, the harp suddenly disappearing as anger flashed through his eyes. "Get it out of your head and leave the damn girl alone! She needs to be back on her own two feet! If we let her in now, she'll not only be dependent on us, but she'll never leave!"
"GAH!" Devil Shadow shouted as Shadow made a quick turn into the school parking lot. "You son of a bitch, get over your damn fears!"
"What?!"
"You heard me! You're afraid of hurting her!"
"You are the one that would hurt her!"
Devil Shadow almost looked frustrated to tears at this point. Or perhaps it was the thought of harming the lovely flower by accident. "I would never!"
"You're the entire reason Shadow's losing control in the first place! No female has ever caught our attention except for now!" Angel Shadow hopped down to glower at Devil Shadow millimeters apart. "Why is that, pray tell – and don't tell me it's because she's attractive!"
"Because she apologized! Because she has accepted us as a friend! Because she's different and we know it!
"ENOUGH."
It wasn't even a yell.
Shadow slammed his head against the steering wheel and glanced over at his side.
No one was there.
They were gone.
He was left alone to breathe heavily and lean against the wheel. Shadow didn't know what to do anymore. He had never been so confused on a moment in life with someone else that he had to stop and ask what they were.
Are we friends? Or was he – I – right? Are we capable of something more?
Shadow lifted his head up and stared at the front of the school.
A mother was walking out, holding hands with her child she had just excused from school to go somewhere. The child skipped alongside their mother, talking rapidly as the mother smiled warmly.
Red, emotionless eyes stared.
What are we anymore?
"So…how do you like it here?"
The silence between them had been painful for some reason.
Amy wanted to ask Sarah about Worthington, but she had held it in. She didn't want Sarah to be suspicious of anything. Especially since Amy hadn't even told Shadow yet.
Next time I see him. Next time I see him. She chanted in her head, knowing the car ride home would be fun.
Unfortunately, a small life form was in the room that made it practically impossible to ask Sarah anything – Timothy. Amy had almost forgotten that Sarah had said she let the panther stay in during lunch.
"Um…" Amy blinked as she came back to reality, gripping her sandwich she hadn't eaten yet. "You aren't playing matchmaker, are you?"
"Oh, please," Sarah rolled her eyes as she poked at her salad with her fork. She glanced up at Timothy, who was completely oblivious to the two females while eating his lunch. But she knew he could easily understand them. "I could care less if you and Shadow got together. I don't want to meddle with your life or his life, Amy. He seemed content with his lifestyle before and after Sonic showed up."
"…So, is that why you haven't really been…matchmaking?"
"I wouldn't call everyone's poor attempts 'matching making.' Look, Shadow doesn't necessarily need someone and neither do you," Sarah answered. "I mean, you might. If I had to guess which one of you would settle down first and start a family, it'd be you without a doubt. Shadow's always liked his peace as far as I know."
"He hasn't changed there."
Sarah tilted her head as a look of curiosity filled her eyes. "Has he changed in other ways, though?"
"What do you mean?" Amy said between chewing her first bite of her sandwich – which was tasteless compared to Sarah's salad and fruits that look delicious and inviting.
"Well, obviously he's a lot less cruel," Sarah noted, "But any small details?"
"Elaborate, please."
Sarah rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Do you know anything about the guy at all? I'm starting to wonder."
"Of course, I do," Amy defended as her eyes narrowed. Sarah raised an eyebrow at her. "I-I mean. I know some things."
"Really?" Sarah rested her chin on her palm. "How close are you to Shadow?"
Remembering Timothy, Amy gave her a look. Sarah waved it off. "Sarah, I don't understand why this is so suddenly important."
"It seems to me you don't even know him. Yet you're falling for him like a schoolgirl."
"I am not!" Amy shrieked so suddenly that poor Timothy jumped from his spot. He stared over at the two adults with a questioning look. Amy glanced back with an apologetic look before glaring at Sarah and whispering, "I am not."
"Yes, you are. It's totally obvious."
Amy pouted before a thought hit her and worry spread throughout. "Is it really obvious? Do you think he's noticed?"
"Oh, how cute."
Sarah's smug grin made Amy scowl. She had either just been tricked or – "I knew you liked him. I just wasn't sure, and for Sonic's sake, I had to dupe ya."
Yeah, I was just tricked. The rose hedgehog observed the desk with a harsh stare. Damn her.
"But do you really know anything about him? I mean, how close are you two?"
"Well…" Amy fidgeted as she set her sandwich down. "I don't know. We've had decent moments." She wasn't about to talk about sparks for fear that Sarah would tease her more.
"But do you know the basics? I mean, jeez, Amy. If you like Shadow so much ask him on a date."
"It's complicated." Amy blushed at the thought of going on a date. But going out to dinner…probably wouldn't turn out better than last time, she feared. Her ears perked up as she raised a brow at the female across from her. "Basics?"
"Yeah. Like, which cereal is his favorite?"
When Sarah didn't answer her own question, Amy sat straighter and cleared her throat. Thinking, Amy tried to recall breakfast with the bolshie male, "Um…Well…The normal kind?"
She could see Sarah fighting off the urge to laugh. "Trick question. The guy doesn't eat cereal."
"Well, that's not fair. You've had four years to get to know him."
"Yeah. Not a couple of days. You don't see me lying next to him at night," Sarah whispered the last part so only Amy could hear.
Amy blushed even more. By the end of this conversation, she'd be a tomato. She could just feel it. "What's breakfast got to do with anything?"
Sarah snorted. "Sonic likes French toast. I make French toast, I get brownie points and a happy boyfriend – eh, fiancé," she corrected herself. "It's a nice gesture that shows I care and also know what he likes. What would you cook Shadow for breakfast if you two were dating and living alone together?"
Well, certainly not cereal. Amy pursed her lips. "Uh…a regular breakfast?"
Sarah couldn't even laugh at that answer because it was so poor. She gave Amy a look of pity. "That's just sad…Eggs Benedict. I dare you to make it for him tomorrow morning. He hasn't had it in while, and it might just cheer him up in all this mess. Next question."
"Wait, how'd you know that?"
"Jealous?" Sarah scoffed.
The pink female snorted. "Curious."
"I made it one morning when Sonic went to work early. Shadow had never had it before, but I noticed he ate his plate clean. He was either really hungry or he really liked it. The next morning rolled around and he asked me to make it again. Walla. Eggs Benedict. He's never officially said it's his favorite breakfast, but it's the only breakfast that I've cooked that's put him in a good mood more than once."
"And you dare me to make this tomorrow morning?"
"I'll stop by the market and buy some biscuits. I think we're out. But yes. Also, he likes a side of strawberries with it," Sarah added as she eyed her own fruit and popped a grape in her mouth.
"Strawberries are his favorite fruit then?"
"Cantaloupe."
"What?" Amy almost groaned in frustration. "How do you keep track of this? How do you even know his favorite fruit?"
Sarah stared at her as if the answer was obvious. "He told me that one."
"Oh."
"Favorite color?"
"Sarah, I don't know. What does this even have to deal with being in a romantic relationship with him?"
"Because!" Sarah persisted as she pointed a grape at Amy. "I wasn't sure I even loved Sonic to begin with, but he seemed to fall in love easily. I had to become friends with him first. I wanna know how on Earth you're falling heads over heels with Shadow so quickly when you barely know a thing about the guy."
That caught her off guard.
…She does have a point. Amy mulled the notion around in her head. How much do I know about him? Well, I don't know his favorites because they might change a lot, and I haven't been here that long, but I do know his past.
"We can relate with one another in a way, Sarah. While I haven't been here for as long as you or Sonic have, I still know a part of Shadow. And despite how many bad moments roll around, I can't help but still feel comfortable around him." Amy stared at her lap as she played with her thumbs. "This might sound silly, but the first time we actually really touched, I felt sparks. And I know he felt something too because I could see it in his eyes.
"I've tried to stop thinking like such a schoolgirl, but I can't help but…fall for him. At the beginning, I hated the idea of being with Shadow as anything – even a friend. I wanted nothing to do with him because he was so adamant on making my life on the farm terrible. Now, when I think about being with him, I don't feel grossed out or nauseous. I feel…calm and yet excited with butterflies in my stomach at the same time. Like the idea isn't completely out of reach – and that thought wouldn't normally occur unless I knew he felt something too, right?"
She stared up at Sarah with such hope in her eyes. The lime green hedgehog could only stare at her in wonder.
Suddenly, Amy felt a presence beside her. She glanced over and looked at Timothy.
The panther stared at her before looking to his teacher. "I think it would be best if I leave right now." His soft, young voice was filled with such maturity that Amy sat in awe as he left the room.
There was a moment of silence between the two women before Amy suddenly shook her head.
"Was that, like, an insult?" She laughed breathlessly as Sarah joined in. "He didn't want to deal with my drama or tell me about cooties so he just politely leaves? Oh, my God – he was adorable!"
Sarah chortled as she stretched back. She ate another grape as she watched Amy calm down. Brown eyes softened.
"You like Shadow."
Amy's smile died as her nails plucked the surface of the table. "It would seem so…"
"I don't actually know his favorite color."
She gazed up at Sarah. "What?" Amy somewhat laughed. "How could you not know his favorite color?"
"I don't know," Sarah shrugged admittedly. "But I do know that he likes the navy blue plate more than the other colors of plate. And he likes the red trimmed glass. If that helps with breakfast."
Amy cracked a smile in response as she stared at her sandwich – which remained untouched besides the one bite mark in it. The smile faded again. "Do you think he'd agree to a date?"
"Who knows? It's Shadow the Hedgehog. We can't ever tell what he's thinking – no matter how much Sonic thinks he can read him."
"He probably can."
"Not true," Sarah shook her head. "Once, Sonic could have sworn that something was eating Shadow up – like the past or whatever. Same ole sappy stuff. Turns out, Shadow didn't know where he put the wrench and was looking all day for it. He thought he was mentally losing it."
Another small grin. "I guess we can't always tell what each of us is thinking. But you'd think it'd be simple to tell if he has feelings for someone, considering he's never been in a relationship before."
"Unless he didn't know what to do with his feelings," Sarah shrugged. "The guy's pretty good at bottling his emotions, Amy. I would just ask him on a date because he'll most likely never get around to it even if he does like you. Besides – this date could be a starting over, friendship thing."
"I'm pretty sure we tried that once, and it didn't work out."
"Things don't happen the same way twice."
"Yeah, it could be a lot worse."
Sarah gave her an encouraging smirk. "We'll start with breakfast than. If you get a response out of him, maybe you can read him easier."
"That is the trick." Amy picked at the wrapping the sandwich was on. She glanced back at the window of the classroom. "I wonder where he is. No offence, but I do not want to be around this many kids anymore."
"Pfft, you get used to them. Besides, you'll only miss story time and going over the alphabet again."
While Amy gave a soft laugh, Sarah's expression turned serious as she remember the whole reason to getting Amy here. It was to get some time to talk to the pink hedgehog – and ask her a question.
The lime green hedgehog wondered if now was even a good time anymore.
Amy's thoughts were revolved around Shadow, and said hedgehog was supposed to be picking her up momentarily. Still, Sarah didn't know when else she'd get the time to ask Amy – with so many people at the house now, it was practically impossible.
Deciding that it was now or never, Sarah broke the silence once more.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Rosy?"
So, Amy falls in love quicker than Shadow – shocker. XD As of now, I declare that Amy is falling in love with Shadow while Shadow remains confused on what to do with his emotions like a scared little boy! Imagine me saying that in like an awesome British accent – it sounds cooler, trust me. (Loopy af when I'm tired, apparently).
There may or may not be a schedule to updating somewhat planned. There also may or may not be a delay in the story notes…again. Which may or may not ruin the schedule that I'll be trying out. It's a mess, but have some faith in me, please. *weak smile*
I love you all – you readers are so patient with me. I hope. I love your support!
BIG THANK YOU, SHOUT OUT THING TO MISTYVOID48 FOR HELPING ME ON BASICALLY THIS ENTIRE CHAPTER!
Until next time, keep those positive vibes flowin'!
Arrivederci!