"Phosphorus"

One:

There was a weighted chill stubbornly lingering in the air, its presence oppressive, and the winter wind that insisted on gusting nonstop did nothing to alleviate the iciness that crawled incessantly beneath her skin. Like water spilt, shivers oozed down Sally's spine; she hugged herself tightly, trying desperately to preserve what little warmth she still yet possessed. To her cold addled mind, it was as if she was being taunted by these frosty winter blues, maliciously reminded of the blaring fact that she was freezing her fur off and lacked the warmth of a coat to shield her from the onslaught of both wind and snow. It wasn't her fault though! She was at risk of running late, and in her haste, her discarded coat remained on the arm of her couch, and her rushing was biting her in the ass both figuratively and literally.

Snowflakes fell from the sky like angels being cast out of Heaven and into Hell's awaiting depths, and snow, pristine and yet to be tarnished by the footprints of man's iniquities, covered every inch of the ground like a thick, cozy blanket. Trees, barren of their usual bright, green leaves, carried a hollow, boniness about them that resembled skeletons, and glittering icicles dangled from their branches like jewelry dangling from a woman's earlobes.

Her teeth clacked against each other noisily, babbling in a language foreign to her ears. Her body quailed almost violently, and the coldness seemed to bleed into her very essence and poison her from the inside out with naught but a single touch from its icy fingertip. The wind wailed and raged, blindsiding her with another upsurge of nippiness that nearly dragged her to her knees and bent her to its will.

"Here." Startled, Sally peered at her companion, absently smoothing down her long, windswept, auburn tresses; he hadn't uttered a single word, nor did he bother sparing a glance her way since they first began this hellish trek. She was hardly offended by his abrasiveness as Shadow tended to keep to himself regardless, although he wasn't nearly as much of a recluse as he used to be.

His steps slowed to a stop, as did hers, and, with an outstretched hand, he held out his leather jacket to her; its inky color was a sharp contrast against all the ivory snow that surrounded them, and it was lined with soft, thick wool. How he managed to effortlessly hold the armful of presents he was carrying without staggering under their weight or disturbing their equilibrium was beyond her understanding. Had it been her, they'd have been crashing to ground in a cacophonous disaster.

"Won't you be cold?" She stared at the jacket with a longing that swam in the depths of her stunning sapphire eyes, wanting nothing more than to snatch it from his gloved hand and lose herself in its warmth. However, her conscience reminded her, prodding her sharply, that she also didn't want him to suffer from the cruel chill of the winter wind. After all, her forgetfulness was nobody's fault but her own.

Wearing a long-sleeved sweater dress, its color a rich, sapphire blue, black stockings, and black, high-heeled boots, she cursed herself for choosing style over practicality, which, if you knew her, wasn't quite like her to do. Yes, she looked striking, but she was also freezing, and at this rate, her chances of dying from hypothermia were steadily increasing.

Shadow chuckled quietly, crimson eyes finally looking at her, and Sally felt her cheeks heat up in lovely little blush that temporarily offered the warmth that she was longing for. What had her feeling so flustered? Shadow was. Or, more specifically, Shadow smiling, the faintest crinkles around his eyes, the dimple in his cheek, the way his eyes lit up in amusement (at her expense, but still). He was a sight for sore eyes, and she, feeling awkwardness prickle at her skin for such thoughts, tried to mask her discomfort by smiling back at him.

After all, she could objectively appreciate her friend's attractiveness, little asshole that he was prone to be notwithstanding. He was surprisingly pleasant company, and his willingness to allow her to drop the expectations her title as a princess tried to shackle her to, was flattering, amongst other things. His advice, while blunt at times, was sound and never came from a place of malevolence, and his presence was a welcomed comfort that melted away her insecurities like snow in the heat of the sun.

Similarly, Shadow held a fondness for Sally that sometimes surprised him. She had a heart of gold and was so genuinely kindhearted and considerate, it almost seemed unreal. She was also highly intelligent and unafraid to take the lead, which made sense given that she would probably be the leader of a wholeass kingdom. Despite her royalty, she was by no means weak or foolhardy; she could and would hand your ass to you on a silver platter, she wasn't afraid to get rough or dirty her hands. She rarely buckled down in the face of danger, and she challenged him in ways that left his mind reeling if he chose to look more deeply into, which was why he refused to.

Wearing a simple gold colored sweater, black dress pants, and his usual hover shoes and matching gloves, his Inhibitor rings glinting in the sun's light, he appeared to be completely unbothered by the weather. How he managed such a feat was beyond her understanding, and she wished he'd let her in on his secret.

"Your kindness truly knows no constraints, but I'll survive. You're the one looking as if you'll topple over if the wind blows any harder, assuming hypothermia doesn't get to you first," Shadow sniggered, smirking when she poked her tongue out at him in childish retaliation. "Just take it before I change my mind." Reluctant to test his potential bluff, she simply opted to listen to him and took the offering quietly. Tugging it on carefully, easing the zipper all the way up beneath her chin, her body began warming up instantaneously. No longer was she shivering like a dog left out in the pouring rain, and the noisome prattling of her teeth died out swiftly.

Her nose was suddenly assailed with his scent, and she instinctively inhaled, letting his heavenly aroma flood her senses and cloud her mind. How did he smell so enticingly delectable? It was a combination of his natural scent and the heady aroma of his cologne. It smelled expensive, and nine times out of time, expensive cologne equaled scents the everyday man could only dream of smelling like.

"Better?" he asked, his voice laced with terribly concealed amusement. The sound of his voice tugged her out of her musings, capturing her attention once more. Blushing once more, deeper than previously, the feeling of embarrassment nearly burned her skin with its acidity. With an almost curt nod of her head, she continued submerging herself deeper into his jacket once more, this time focusing solely on the wondrous warmth and not his distracting scent.

"Perfect, actually. You have my eternal gratitude for allowing me to wear this. I know you aren't too keen on letting just anyone touch it, let alone wear it." Thanks to his charitable action, she was much warmer now and was confident that she wasn't going to die a grizzly, frozen death. And yeah, she might be being just a smidgen dramatic, but what's life without a little flair every now and then? Stepping closer to him, she took half of the presents from him, effectively easing his load. It would be too unfair of her to wear his jacket AND make him carry everything.

Glancing her way briefly, he nodded his head in thanks before looking away. They continued their walk once more, the sound of their footsteps as they trudged through the snow echoing through the air. The sky was a lovely pale blue color, and while the sun was out and about, it did little to chase the winter chill away.

They walked by several houses, and each one was covered in decorations. Sally marveled at their beauty, and a nostalgic feeling crashed over her in waves as she watched little children and their parents build snowmen and have snowball fights, their screams of joy and laughter ringing in the air. She could recall wonderful memories of her and her older brother Elias going outside and playing the day away, hurling snowball after snowball at each other. They would make snow forts and battle it out as if it were really a war, and to the victor went the spoils.

Strolling further down memory lane, she thought about how their parents would herd them back inside the castle; her and Elias were nestled safely in front of the fireplace, its roaring warmth melting the coldness away. They'd drink cup after cup of delicious hot chocolate, fluffy white marshmallows floating in its chocolatey depths as they listened to their grandfather spin them tales about his life and the adventures he had when he was young.

That's why she absolutely adored the holidays; it was like everyone was more cheerful and loving, something she wished happened year-round instead of just being limited to one holiday season.

"What are you thinking about, princess?" Shadow asked, watching her in mild curiosity. He drank in the thoughtful expression on her face, the fond look in her eyes and the wistful smile playing with her lips. Sally twirled around, her hair dancing in the breeze and resembling trails of flames in the sunlight; a cheerful laugh tumbled through her lips and out into the open, filling the air with its melodious tune.

"Christmas! Or, well, some childhood memories that are centered on Christmas, to be more specific. I mean, I really love Christmas! It's such a wonderful holiday!" Sally gushed. Excitement filled her voice to the very brim, and she was nearly bouncing on her feet with joy. Shadow laughed quietly at her, softly shaking his head as he watched her. She exuded an air of sincere delight, and her jovial mood was endearing.

Their eyes met again, crimson and sapphire clashing and meeting together in perfect harmony, and they both simultaneously smiled at each other, though Sally's smile was wider and far more noticeable than that of her companion's, before quickly diverting their gazes to the path ahead of them. They were walking closer together now, so close that they were practically brushing against each other with every step they took.

His free hand was so close to hers that their fingers were touching. He felt the inexplicable urge to hold her hand for some unknown reason and found himself acting on the impulse before he could ponder its origin. Sally remained silent, though he saw how she tensed briefly before relaxing as she held his hand in hers, her grasp soft and firm all at once.

It was nice holding hands with her, he mused to himself, and her touch left him feeling warm inside. Such a strange feeling, but not an entirely unwelcomed one, he decided. He puzzled at the way his heartbeat fluttered erratically, frowning at the blush burning his cheeks. Was he coming down with the flu or something? Chaos, he hoped not. He did not want to deal with Rouge nursing him back to health. His best friend could unbearable when she wanted to be, especially when she felt like he owed her a favor or two.

Turning down another sidewalk, they continued their walk to Amy's house. Every year, the bubbly pink hedgehog would throw a grand Christmas party, and all their friends were going to be there. It was going to be so much fun!

"Shadow, what all do you love about Christmas?" The snowflakes continued falling, swirling around them before landing lightly on the ground below, and the wind whistled as it blew, filling the air with a tragic, but strangely beautiful tune.

"Well, I love being able to eat a really good home cooked meal. I also love how the houses are so beautifully decorated. It reminds me of the time I still lived on the ARK with Maria when she was alive." A tender look filled his eyes as he spoke, his tone one of joy with the barest traces of sorrow underlining it. "She would always make the decorations herself and put them all over the ARK and sing Christmas carols and write letters to Santa. It was her favorite holiday and is my favorite as well."

Her smile softened, and she was truly touched that he shared such things with her. She was all too aware of how much Maria meant to him, as she was like an older sister to him, and how he considered her and her grandfather his family. She was proud that he was now at the point where he could speak about them without looking and sounding so pained and empty.

"I wish I could've met her. She sounds like she was an amazing person." And she did. She obviously had a positive impact on Shadow, choosing to treat him like a person with feelings rather than an abominable experiment.

"She was, and I'm sure she would've liked you. She would've liked all of you, to be honest. What do you love about Christmas?"

"I love how the snow covers everything like some sort of blanket, I love listening to Christmas songs blaring through my radio and filling my ears with their infectious tune, and I love getting and giving presents." She paused for the briefest of moments, her gaze resting on him, before she looked away, "But what I really love about Christmas is that I get to spend time with my loved ones."

Shadow said nothing, but he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, strangely touched that she considered him one of her loved ones. Contrary to what many people seemed to believe, he truly did care about her and the rest of their friends. Having a family to call his own again, and yes, despite how he may sometimes behave or what he may say, he did consider them his family, made him happy. Oh, he still had his ways and wasn't as friendly as say, Cream or Sonic, but he did care and tried to show it to the best of his abilities.

Amy's house soon came into view, and they quickened their pace. Carefully, they dashed up the steps and stood on the front porch. Letting go of Shadow's hand, Sally rang the doorbell, and she and Shadow patiently waited for someone to answer.

The door soon swung open, and Cream stood in the doorway with Cheese hovering near her head. Now a beautiful teenager, she looked adorable in her festive wear. Donning a red, wooly coat, a Santa hat perched on top of her head, her red and green striped sweater, matching pants, and dark brown snow boots completed her look.

Her hair was in a cute ponytail that stopped right at her shoulders, her bangs straightened and pinned back. Her rich brown eyes lit up at the sight of them, and Sally grunted, her breath momentarily knocked out of her lungs, as she was suddenly bombarded with a hug.

"Sally, Shadow! I'm so glad you two came!" Cream exclaimed excitedly, her arms wrapped around Sally's waist in a sweet hug. Sally smiled as she returned the cheerful rabbit's hug as best as she could, mindful of the gifts she was carrying still, pressing a chaste kiss on her forehead. Her heart practically melted as she watched her hug Shadow, who smiled warmly at Cream as he hugged her back. He could be such a sweetheart when the mood struck him.

"We're glad to be here, Cream. You know we'd be hard-pressed to miss such a joyful affair. And we made sure to bring the presents!" Every year, the gang picked two names from a Santa hat to determine which two friends would buy the Christmas presents for everyone, and this year it was Shadow and Sally's turn. They bought everyone's gifts together and got a gift for each other separately to keep it a surprise.

"That's wonderful! You can put them under the Christmas tree." Opening the door wider, Cream, with Cheese flying closely behind her, led them inside. A pleased sigh tumbled through Sally's lips as her nose was assaulted with the heady aroma of food; her mouth instantly watered at the smell alone, and she was looking forward to dinner time.

Kicking the door shut behind him, Shadow stood by her side, grateful for the warmth that enveloped him. While he wasn't nearly as cold as Sally had been, he was slightly chilly, and the heat felt wonderful. He could hear the fire crackling as it burned, its flames a beautiful mixture of blazing orange, lovely red, and radiant yellow colors.

Standing proudly in the center of the room was the Christmas tree, and what a gorgeous tree it was, leaving rendering them both speechless and staring at it in silent awe. Stylish ornaments, ranging in color from dazzling golds to brilliant blues, and red and white striped candy canes, hung from every branch of the tree.

Gold and silver colored garland was draped around it as if it were wearing some sort of elegant shawl, and a medium-sized golden star was perched neatly at its top, twinkling luminously as if it were a real star, providing the finishing touch.

"Wow, the tree looks out of this world, Cream." Shadow agreed with that statement wholeheartedly. He and Sally made their way to it, both crouching down to neatly stack the gifts beneath it. They were going to be opened right after dessert. Cream shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the bronze coatrack. She flushed under Sally's praise, her shoulders slumping in obvious relief as she admired the tree.

"Thank you, Sally! Momma, Amy, Rouge, Blaze, and I all decorated it together." As if she knew they were talking about her, the treasure huntress herself suddenly appeared from the kitchen, staring into her compact mirror as she reapplied her pink lip gloss. Cream could only shake her head at her, smiling as she went to the kitchen to see if the others needed any help, Cheese trailing behind her.

She wore a plum sweater dress that stopped a few inches above her knees, black tights, and white high heeled boots. Her ivory locks were pulled back into a stylish bun, and instead of her usual turquoise eye shadow, a silvery colored eye shadow stained her eyelids. Wearing long white gloves without the heart accessories, silver bangles graced both of her wrists. Her teal eyes lit up once she caught sight of them, and she strutted towards them, her lips curled into a lazy smile.

"What a pair you two make," Rouge commented, giving them both quick, but warm embraces.

"Hello to you too, Rouge. And yeah, I do make both of us look damn good, if I do say so myself," Sally joked, smiling cockily. Shadow merely scoffed in reply, and Rouge couldn't help but giggle.

"I never saw you as the arrogant type, princess," said Shadow, nudging her playfully. Sally shrugged her shoulders, her grin widening as she looked at him.

"Hey, I'm only saying it because it's true. I look amazing." Shadow appraised her, noting how her attire highlighted her figure and how her eyes, reminding him of sapphire gems, shone in the firelight. Her hair, long and thick, was styled into neat curls that stopped right at the middle of her back, and he wondered if it felt as soft as it looked.

"I see no reason to deny the obvious." Their eyes met, and he gave her another teasing smirk that left her flustered, something that he took notice of immediately as his smirk widened. Thankfully, Rouge, who was quite perceptive, especially when it came to things like this, didn't take notice of stuck her tongue out at him, carelessly shrugging out of his jacket and hanging it on the coatrack beside Cream's coat. It felt too warm suddenly.

She focused her attention back on Rouge and gave her a warm smile.

"It's so good to see you again, Rouge! It feels like it's been forever since I last saw you. You look gorgeous, but I'm pretty sure you already knew that." And she pulled the young woman into another tight hug.

"I did, but it doesn't hurt hearing it said out loud. It's good to see you too, hun. I've been doing great lately. G.U.N.'s been keeping me busy, which is why I'm glad I have two weeks off for the holidays." Her teal gaze shifted to Shadow, who nodded his head at her in agreement.

"I agree. The solo missions they gave me certainly proved to be quite the challenge, and I'll admit that being able to take a breather is something I have no doubt I'll enjoy. Did Omega decide to show up, or is he still going to stay at HG?"

"He's still going to stay at HG, but he sends his warmest regards. Well, as warm as someone like Omega can make them. I must admit, I'm honestly surprised that you're here. You're not really one for stuff like this."

Shadow gave her a dark look, but Rouge merely rolled her eyes, meeting his glare head on, unable to keep the amused grin off of her face.

"I don't know why. Take last year's party for example. You stayed for maybe fifteen minutes, and then you used Chaos Control to leave with your mouth stuffed with cake and several handfuls of sweets in your possession."

Sally snorted, wishing she could've seen him with his cheeks puffed out and his lips stained with frosting and crumbs. It would've been funny as hell.

Shadow, flushed with embarrassment, glared at his so-called "best friend", who merely shrugged her shoulders in response, laughter dancing in her eyes.

"Oh my goodness, please tell me you took pictures of that."

"You know I did." Hearing this, Shadow lunged at her, but with a flap of her wings, Rouge was flying above and beyond his reach. She stared down at him, a smug, shit-eating grin gracing her face, her phone held in her hand and away from his nefarious clutches. Shadow growled lowly, glaring daggers at her.

"You better delete those Chaos-damn pictures or so help me I'll-" he began, but she cut him off with an amused laugh.

"You won't do a damn thing, and you know it. I haven't let anyone see said pictures, and if you want to keep it that way, you'll do well not to tick me off." He picked up on the underlined threat, and, grumbling some not so nice things about his "best friend" under his breath, he held his hands up in surrender. Only then did she come back down, tucking her phone back in her pocket.

"Holy shit, you two are a riot!" Sally was gasping for breath; she was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face. Hunched over, hands resting on her knees, she willed herself to calm down.

"Well, I'm glad my suffering has brought you so much amusement. I live to entertain you," was Shadow's dry and heavily sarcastic remark, which only made Sally laugh even harder, and Rouge couldn't help but laugh too.

"When you're best friends with someone like this guy, you've got to have a way to reel him back in," Rouge teased.

"Whatever, bat. As for my appearance here, it's not like I had better things to do with my free time. Besides, if I didn't show up, the princess would never let me hear the end of it." Picking up on his teasing tone, said princess swiftly elbowed him sharply in his side. She stared him down, her hands resting firmly on her hips.

"Oh, please, Shadow. You know you're here because you want to be. If you really didn't want to be here, no amount of threats and bribery would make you show up."

"Well," he began, heaving a dramatic sigh, one hand resting over his heart, "I suppose I can admit that you all do mean something to me and that spending a prolonged period of time in your presence wouldn't be completely unbearable." Sally and Rouge laughed, and Sally gave him a playful shove, and he, in turn, proceeded to ruffle up her hair, ignoring her protests and empty treats as she attempted to fix it.

He was about to do the same thing to Rouge, but one look from her, one that clearly said "Mess up my hair and/or makeup and I'll kill you in your sleep, Ultimate Lifeform or not" made him leave her well alone.

"Sal!" Sally barely had time to blink before she was tugged into a hug that nearly left her breathless. Slightly dazed, she peered up at the person who held her, and she couldn't stop that smile that made its way on her face.

"Sonic!" And Sally hugged him fiercely, pressing her face into his chest, the soft fabric of his forest-green sweater brushing against her cheeks. She breathed in his scent, and he smelled sweet, like gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate. He continued holding her in his tender embrace, resting his chin on top of her head. It was then that he realized that in his excitement at seeing Sally, he unintentionally disregarded Shadow and Rouge's presence.

He chuckled lightly, mirth dancing in the depths of his warm emerald eyes as they broke the hug, though they still stood closely beside each other. Being the taller one out of them, he propped his elbow on top of his best friend's head and ignored the vicious threats she spat at him.

"Hiya, Rouge! Hey, Shadow!" he greeted them jovially, flashing them his signature grin.

"Hey, Big Blue. Long time no see. You're certainly feeling the holiday spirit," she smiled.

"Hello, Sonic. You're looking chipper as usual," he mused, nodding his head at his rival and friend. And they were friends, despite their rocky start. Shadow could admit that Sonic was a skilled fighter and good company to be around, when he wasn't annoying the hell out of him, that is.

"What can I say? It's the most wonderful time of the year. And who wouldn't be happy whenever this girl is around," Sonic joked, pressing an obnoxious kiss on Sally's cheek, grinning at the way she squealed, cheeks tinged in the faintest of blushes.

"Oh, stop it, you silly hedgehog. And don't let Amy hear you saying that. She might get the wrong idea," Sally teased, although she returned his gesture and pressed a kiss on his cheek as well. Both of them were affectionate people and the best of friends; everyone knew they were very close, and had a bond few, if any, could ever hope to sever. It was simply all fun and games.

Bumping shoulders with her, Sonic easily waved off her teasing, slipping her hand in his. Radiant green eyes peered down at her, and even though she and Sonic weren't like that, not anymore, she couldn't deny that he was handsome. He certainly was charming, sweeping practically every girl he met off her feet. He certainly swept her away once upon a time.

"Naw, if anything, she'd be ticked that I'm hogging you all to myself. I feel like she was more excited to see you than I was." And he pouted in an exaggerated manner, looking put out, but Sally had known him for a long time, and she knew he was just being dramatic.

"What can I say? I just got it like that," she teased, flipping her hair with practiced flair, winking. Sonic, not one to be outdone, simply scooped her into his arms and carried her towards the kitchen.

"Yeah, well, good things come in threes and I'm not opposed to sharing, especially if it's you." Startled, Sally found herself swimming in a sea of jade and bubblegum. Amy looked pretty as always, her quills styled in a neat updo, a few strands neatly framing her face in pretty curls. She looked amazing in her long-sleeved red dress, its layered skirt reminding Sally of rose petals. The matching heels added a few inches to her frame, and her attire highlighted the softness of her curves. She was definitely a vision of beauty.

Sally's cheeks were suddenly ablaze with a fierce blush, its pinkness only a shade or two darker than Amy's fur, something said hedgehog noticed but kindly did not point out. Smiling sweetly, she tugged her out of Sonic's arms and into her own, hugging her tightly, pressing their foreheads together as she stared at her, marveling at how blue and hypnotic Sally's eyes were. She could easily get lost in their depths.

If it were any other girl, Amy would feel just a twinge of jealousy towards them, might be just a smidge threatened by their proximity and familiarity with her boyfriend, but she couldn't deny that Sally had this magnetic vibe about her that just drew you in like a gravitational pull. She could definitely see what Sonic saw in her.

She also knew that Sally and Sonic didn't view each other like that anymore, and that neither would do anything to hurt her. Maybe if she was still her younger and insecure self, she'd react differently, but Amy was older and more mature. Sally and Sonic were two peas in a pod, and she was not going be that girlfriend that acted like her boyfriend couldn't have female friends.

After all, Sonic got on just as well with Blaze and Rouge, so to single Sally out in particular was stupid and unfair. She had no reason not to trust the love of her life, and honestly, if it wasn't clear as day that Sally and Shadow had something going on, judging by the fierce evil eye he was giving them, her in particular since she currently had Sally in her arms, her and Sonic really would go from a twosome to a threesome.

Alas, Shadow would skin them alive if they so much as attempted to snatch his beloved princess away from him, so teasing her to rankle his fur and make him make a move on her would have to do. Sacrifices for the greater good had to be made, after all.

"Hi, Amy. It's so good to see you. You and your boyfriend are a menace, I swear," Sally bemoaned, fanning her face as she tried to ignore Sonic's spirited laughter. Amy shrugged her shoulders, looking as unrepentant as her lively boyfriend.

"Can you blame us? You come in here looking like a present ready to unwrap and expect us not to shower you in compliments?" Before Sally could say anything, she was, once again, pulled into someone's arms, a very specific someone's arms.

Staring into ruby eyes ablaze with emotions she could not quite place, Sally felt her heart lodge itself firmly in her throat, eyes wide in surprise. Shadow looked livid, but in a quiet way, but it wasn't directed at her. She was curious as to what ticked him off; he appeared fine earlier, but before she had the chance to voice her concerns, she was being carried, bridal style, out of the foyer and back into the living room.

Setting her gently on her feet, Shadow grabbed his jacket off the coatrack and helped Sally put it back on, and Sally melted at the familiar smell of him, her previous nerves ebbing away. Shadow, unbeknownst to her, was pleased by this, and while she was distracted, he gazed at the teasing expression on Rouge, Sonic, and Amy's faces and flipped them off. Respectfully, of course. It was Christmas, after all.

Ignoring their laughter, Shadow focused his attention back on the princess. Seeing her bundled up snuggly in his jacket did things to his heart, and rather than dwell on it, he simply held her hand and guided them back outside without a backward glance.