Amy Rose was a girl with a plan.

This wasn't the most common thing in the world, in fact generally Amy did not have a plan, choosing instead to trust in the power of love and the obvious feelings that Sonic the Hedgehog, world's number one hero, was hiding for her.

And this, she had concluded, is why she'd had two dates in five years, one of which he forgot to attend, and the second of which he ditched her five minutes in, spouting some nonsensical excuse about magic knights and portals when he finally turned up. She had never even been kissed. At her age. She'd had more pity dates from his sidekick at this point. But it was through these that she had realised, she was fairly certain, what Sonic's true problem was, and the source of his endless shyness.

He had no idea how to treat a lady.

This, to Amy Rose, explained everything. Why he refused to return her surprise hugs, why he ran away as soon as he saw her, why, the moment she even thought about romance, he started racing to the next continent, and why he periodically delegated even rescuing her from certain doom to his sidekick, Tails. It was why, even though she'd spent five years working to improve herself, trying literally every possible technique she could think of to become a mature, sophisticated young woman worthy of his affections, he pretended to barely even notice her on the rare occasions he wasn't trying to escape.

But he'd looked at her last month. And he'd smiled. He'd even complimented her. He'd said she was a good friend, and that was proof that he secretly loved her after all, just like she'd loved him since she was eight years old and hadn't actually met him yet. It was destiny.

And that's why she, as his girlfriend, had to help him. Particularly after she'd managed to talk him into one more thing that fateful night in Soleanna.

:: Hi Miss Amy!

Amy smiled, thumbing her phone as her best friend's message popped up. Right on schedule, and one of the most important people in her plan. Amy snuggled down at the end of her couch, knees folded up inside an oversized shirt selected for exactly that purpose as she busied herself typing.

:: hey Cream!

:: you get your tinsel bomb already?

:: Yes Mister Sonic was very keen.

:: Mama already went around and fixed everything though.

Amy sighed, sipping her mug of sweet hot cocoa before sliding it back onto the table.

He was just shy. That just meant he considered her, and only her, to be worth being shy around. Just because almost everyone else treated her like a joke, that didn't mean anything.

:: so… looking forward to the party?

:: Oh yes! Its going to be lots of fun!

:: great!

:: oh. that reminds me

:: Tails was just talking about how he wanted to get together with you before the party

:: maybe you two could do a little christmas shopping together?

:: He's going to be here?

:: yep! flying in next week.

:: he seemed pretty excited to see you

:: I do have some gifts i Still have to buy. Sounds fun!

:: great!

:: I'll be sure to drop some nice big hints for you

:: you know how he is

:: How about you?

:: huh?

:: You have any shopping still to do? We could all go to one of those big Station Square malls you've got near you!

Ughhh. Amy slapped her forehead, wincing as she caught one of her spines in her hand.

:: maybe

:: I'll have to check my schedule

:: I'll let you know!

And this was why she needed to meddle. Her friends', and her, love lives depended on it.

Tails clearly had a crush on Cream, and Cream had a crush on Tails too. She'd basically said as much. But they were both so… passive! It had been a month and they hadn't made any progress with one another, despite Amy's best attempts to help them along. Even now, when she was trying to get the two of them together Cream was trying to add her own third wheel? Maybe she should go, push these two to actually get into some of the heart pounding situations she herself so desperately longed for.

Well, she had no worries about Tails on that front at least. He was shy in a very different way to his hero. Sweet, charming, attentive, and, a little surprisingly for such an antisocial little guy, a really good date. He'd not wanted to come out with her in the first place but he'd still managed to make even her feel like she was someone special. Basically his only downsides were being a geeky little space cadet and being kind of on the timid side, especially since he stopped fighting alongside Sonic. But Cream didn't even like fighting, so that was fine. The young rabbit was so kind and gentle - far gentler than Amy herself, she was forced to admit - she was exactly the person that Tails needed in his life. Primarily to remind him that he needed to eat.

And sure, they were a few years apart, but age didn't mean anything to love. Sonic was almost four years older than her, after all. But since Cream wasn't quite seven yet, of course Amy would need to be there as a chaperone on some of those dates. And of course she'd invite Sonic to come along as well to give his little buddy some moral support with her, as good friends do. Not only would she get to spend many evenings like Soleanna with her darling Sonic, he'd be able to see his sidekick Casanova in action first hand. If that didn't give him a hint about how to treat a girl to a bit of romance then nothing would. And they'd… get used to each other. And she'd stop acting so crazy, and he'd stop acting so shy...

And soon it would be her birthday. Just a few short months away.

When Sonic had promised her a date.

She'd ask Tails to help him plan it and it would be perfect and he would finally be honest with his feelings for her and it would be so romantic and they would finally kiss. And then they would get married and Sonic would settle down and they would get a nice house on the beach and it would be magical and they'd have eight-

Amy let out a long sigh, sliding down the cushions of her sofa to wrap her arm around a plushy, fanning her face.

Yes, this really was the perfect plan.

Tapping the orange icon on her phone Amy called up her soon to be sidekick-in-law's messenger, quickly tapping a message.

:: hey, you're in luck

:: You need me to come Christmas shopping with you again, don't you?

:: well, yes

:: Sigh.

:: oh shush

:: what's the point of having a friend with super strength if he's not going to be a gentleman and carry things for you?

:: not just me though! Cream's coming too

:: this will give you a chance to make those plans together, hm?

:: Well that's fine. I'll need to grab a few things to restock the workshop when I get there anyway.

:: great, I'll let you know times, maybe you could pick up Cream on your way to mine?

:: Sounds fine. Going back to work now, the core's about to explode.

There, easy as pie. Much easier when one of them didn't bolt at the sight of the other. Amy tapped back onto Cream's messenger to confirm the date, and her attendance. Surely she could find plenty of reasons to gracefully leave these two unsupervised during a shopping trip.

All she had to do was ensure that Tails and Cream started dating, that her party went without a hitch, and that nothing happened that would end up with her as a viral internet sensation. Again. And… Well, maybe a few more things, but she'd work on those later.

Yes, in the name of love, Amy Rose was going to make sure this was a Christmas where everything changed.