Silver woke with a start. Somehow the half-asleep realization that Blaze still needed a gift was enough to make him rise in a panic. He was bolt upright in bed as he looked at his alarm clock, which was supposed to wake him up at eight in the morning – three hours ago.

The hedgehog clambered down the stairs, struggling to get his boots on. The smell of eggs and pancakes met his nose.

"Breakfast," called Blaze from the kitchen. She walked out to find Silver sitting on the floor, tugging at his left boot. The cat stifled a chuckle. "Oversleep again, did you?"

"Yeah . . ." Silver replied, giving the stubborn boot one final pull, getting it over his foot and ankle. "Breakfast smells good."

"Thank you."

Silver stuffed his mouth full of both eggs and pancakes. He didn't want to miss shopping today, and he just had to find something. There had to be something out there that was absolutely perfect for Blaze. He just hadn't found it yet.

But I will, he thought. This one will really blow her away.

With his breakfast gone, Silver stood up and nearly threw the plate into the sink. He pulled on his jacket and, in his haste, had trouble buttoning the buttons up. Blaze noticed and put a finger to Silver's muttering lips.

"Do you need some help?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Heh . . . I needed help a looong time ago."

"Tsk . . . My goodness, what in the world is your hurry?" the cat inquired, buttoning up Silver's coat for him. "Are you certain you don't need?"

"I, uh . . . no, but I'm glad you asked," he answered sheepishly. "I'm going shopping. Do you need me to stop anywhere for you?"

Blaze thought for a moment, and then shook her head.

"No, I think we've got the essentials for the Christmas party," she replied, "Are you sure you don't need me to come along? Remember, you have to get Shadow's gift."

The realization snapped in Silver, leaving a small sinking feeling.

"Shoot."

Blaze smiled.

"I talked about it with Rouge yesterday," she said. Silver's ears perked up slightly.

"Did you? What did she say?"

"She told me that, every year, she and Omega pitch in to buy Shadow something for his motorcycle. Oh, and she understands why you'd have trouble buying for him. Apparently even his own teammates are running out of ideas."

Silver nodded, then frowned.

"But I don't know anything about motorcycles," he mumbled.

"There must be something out there for him," Blaze replied. "Just keep looking. I'm going to have to watch some of the kids again today. Amy called earlier this morning."

"All right. If they cause any trouble, tell 'em they'll be cooked along with the Christmas dinner."

"Now, Silver!" Blaze scolded as Silver began laughing to himself.

"I'm only kidding," he said between laughs, "But I've gotta head out. Have fun today, all right?"

"I will. And you stay warm."

"I will!"

Hours passed. To Silver, it felt like days. He'd gone around asking every store owner he could ask for advice on what to get Blaze. All the answers seemed to be the same.

"She'll love our newest perfume. It's our finest sale item yet."

"My wife instantly fell for this dress – your gal will, too! And it's on sale!"

"Flowers and chocolates are always an option. Buy our biggest package this holiday season! We've only got a few more left in stock!"

The trend wasn't too difficult to spot. Silver realized what a mistake it was to ask all of these employees and salespeople what to get Blaze for Christmas. Especially since they only seemed to care about the money that was involved with the season.

Silver stormed out of a store, muttering angrily to himself.

"At least the Chaotix cared," he murmured. The hedgehog let out a quivering breath and stared at the horizon, where an orange glow was settling over the city. He hadn't even realized just how long he'd been out.

With the darkening of the sky, Silver ran through the crowds and rushed to the park, where he knew it would be a little quieter and easier to think. All the while, he shamefully fought back tears. Once he came up to the park, Silver sat down on the nearest bench and dug his palms into his closed eyes.

"Discouraged?"

The voice came seemingly out of nowhere. Silver's fur stood on end as he jumped in alarm. He whirled around to see Shadow sitting, arms leaning on his knees, on the same bench underneath the street light. Silver let out a sigh.

"You have no idea," he mumbled, unsure of whether Shadow would even be interested in talking about the dilemma. "Christmas is coming too soon."

"I'm well aware," Shadow replied, his voice soft yet sharp. "And . . ."

Silver, though puzzled by the prompt, answered without hesitation.

"I tried to find the perfect gift for Blaze. I've tried everything, and still, there's nothing out there that's just right. Only a bunch of selfish people who care only about money."

Shadow let out some air from his nose, releasing a cloud in the cold air.

"Unfortunately, that's the way the world works."

There was a pause and a short silence, save for a chilly breeze that rustled Silver's fur and sunk through to his skin. He shivered.

"I just don't know," muttered the distressed hedgehog. He set his whole face into his palms, hoping that they'd warm him up a little bit.

Shadow sat thoughtfully, switching positions.

"Have you considered getting her something specific?"

Silver eyed the dark hedgehog suspiciously. It seemed strange that he was attempting to dive deeper into the conversation. Leaving this thought only in the back of his mind, Silver continued.

"Yes, but none of my ideas are any good," he answered quickly. "It's all so . . . superficial. Everyone's been throwing ideas at me like crazy. Clothes? Boring. Jewelry? Already done that. Makeup? She doesn't even wear that much."

"All to be lost or forgotten eventually," Shadow commented casually. Silver looked into the red eyes with his own curious amber ones.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Clothing, jewelry, cosmetics . . . it's all well and good once received, but how long does it really last? A few years, maybe?"

Feeling slightly offended, Silver's brow scrunched up slightly in the middle.

"She still has that necklace I gave her last year," he defended. "Are you saying that idea wasn't good enough?"

"I'm saying that you should give her something that no one else has thought of," Shadow replied, his voice still surprisingly calm. Now Silver began to worry.

"Where's the real Shadow?" he asked, inching away slowly, "What have you done with him?"

Shadow turned so that his dark smile was fully illuminated in the snow-sprinkled light.

"This may come as a surprise, but I do happen to have something of a heart," he answered, a bit harshly.

"But . . . you're so . . . into it."

Shadow sighed.

"Unfortunately, everyone seems to have this perception that I'm nothing short of a blunt and threatening hedgehog."

Silver slid a little further down the bench, now really taken aback.

"Uh . . . I-I'm sorry about that," he stammered. What am I doing? I'm just going to offend him even more.

"No need to be sorry," Shadow chuckled. "I'm only reminding you that I do have the capability to care, even if it's the slightest bit."

"I'm glad," Silver said awkwardly.

Shadow didn't respond. He seemed lost in thought once again.

"Um, Shadow?"

He raised his head.

"Hm?"

"Do you have any, uh . . . suggestions, maybe? For a gift?"

Silver winced. Somehow, he felt as though Shadow would be even more offended, even though he hadn't said anything particularly wrong. That, or Shadow would tell him to figure it out himself and storm off. Surprisingly, Shadow stroked his chin and seemed . . . in a helpful mood.

"Memories are one of the most treasured things in life," he answered. Silver's eyebrows raised.

"Beg pardon?"

Shadow's mouth twisted once again into what appeared to be a genuine smile.

"They're what keep me going, anyway," he replied, "If I didn't remember Maria, I wouldn't have remembered that every human here needs to be saved. I would have taken part in destroying everything."

Once again, Silver had no clue as to where this was going.

"And . . . ?"

"Well, what can you get her that will last?"

Silver's mouth opened, then closed, then opened and closed again. What would Blaze keep locked in her mind for years?

"Well, uh . . . she likes music." Shadow raised an eyebrow. Silver continued. "And reading. And some time spent alone, and maybe . . ."

"Time spent with you."

Silver looked Shadow in the eye once again.

"So . . . that still doesn't really help me," he said uncomfortably, wrinkling his brow. "She likes music and maybe spending time with me, but how is that going to help me decide on what to get her?"

"I'll let you figure that one out," Shadow replied, looking ready to stand up.

"No, wait!"

The short cry amused Shadow slightly. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"You can't figure it out on your own, kid?"

"I . . . it's just that . . ."

Silver suddenly recalled a little melody he heard coming from the music box while in the chaos of trying to shop earlier. It was a sweet, bright song that had calmed him down the slightest bit when he'd been shopping.

"A music box," he mumbled, "That's it! I've got it! I have an idea!"

Shadow looked pleased.

"Knew you could do it," he said with a nod. Shadow stood up.

"Thanks for the help, Shadow!" Silver exclaimed, patting his fellow hedgehog on the back. Very suddenly, Shadow whirled around and pulled Silver by the top half of his arm.

"If you speak a word to anyone of this exchange tonight, I'll be sure that you don't see Christmas this year," he hissed under his breath. Silver nodded, panicked.

"O-okay," he stuttered. Shadow let his grip go and sped off into the night, his black fur blending well with the darkness in the distance. Silver cracked a grin and chuckled to himself. In a flash of cyan light, the hedgehog had vanished, eager to start work on this unique gift.