Another quick update! GO ME!! Okay, just ignore that… Anyways, here's the next chapter. Thanks for all the reviews!

Chapter 3: Concern For Others

Shadow had finally managed to get Sonic in the water and was now by the side of the pool laughing as he watched Amy give Sonic swimming lessons. He wiped a tear from his eye as he watched Sonic hang on to the side of the pool and kick his feet. Amy made him let go of the wall and Sonic instantly disappeared under water.

"Forget Amy, it's hopeless." Shadow called.

"I guess you're right Shadow." Amy sighed as she pulled up Sonic who shaking in fear.

Amy helped Sonic out of the water and he collapsed on the ground still shaking.

"I wish you knew how to swim, Sonic. We'd be able to spend more time together." Amy sighed.

Shadow grinned and walked over to Amy. "You know… Amy, I do know how to swim. How about you and I go for a swim?" Shadow asked; loud enough for Sonic to hear.

"Sure Shadow." Amy smiled.

Sonic got up quickly and stood in front of Amy. "Hold it, Shadow. What are you trying to do?"

"What makes you think I'm doing anything? I just want Amy to have some fun and since you can't give it to her, I will. We are alike you know." Shadow replied.

"That doesn't mean you're me!" Sonic yelled.

"Oh well… Come on Amy." Shadow put his arm around her and they walked off. Sonic arched an eyebrow.

"Shadow, the pool's right here!" Sonic grinned.

"We're going to the beach, faker. Not the pool. See ya." Shadow walked off once more.

Sonic growled. Now he knew what Knuckles and Rouge must feel like. He walked back up to his and Amy's room. One by one, everyone went back up to their rooms and soon everyone was back in their rooms and was getting ready for bed.

Rouge walked in her and Knuckles' room and saw him staring at the wall. She walked over to him.

"Knuckles? Are you okay?" Rouge asked.

Knuckles didn't reply. He was too deep in thought. His heart and mind were having a war inside him and nothing could bring him out of it until it was over and the victor was decided.

"Knuckles? Answer me!" Rouge said.

Knuckles still made no reply. Rouge began to get worried. Why wasn't he responding? Rouge looked in his eyes and saw that there was no sign of life in them. They seemed lost and hurt. Rouge felt him for a pulse and found he had one beat every minute. Now Rouge was really worried. His heart wasn't at its normal pace, he wasn't answering and he seemed paralyzed. Rouge shook Knuckles, yelled in his ear, clapped real loud in front of his eyes and he never blinked or said anything.

"I gotta get help. Maybe Sonic or Shadow will know what to do." Rouge told herself.

She looked at Knuckles one last time before racing out the door and down to Shadow's room. She knocked on his door. No answer. She looked at her watch. It was only seven, he couldn't be in bed. She put her ear to the door and heard nothing. Maybe he hadn't returned yet. She cursed under her breath before running to Sonic's room. She knocked there and crossed her fingers that he'd answer. To her relief, he did.

"Yeah?" Sonic asked.

"Do you know where Shadow is?" Rouge asked.

"He's not back yet? Good maybe he drowned." Sonic muttered. "Why are you looking for him?"

"Something's wrong with Knuckles and I don't know what!" Rouge said.

"What's he doing?"

"He's not blinking or talking to me or responding to anything I do. I've even yelled in his ear and he didn't even flinch. It's almost like he's… dead." Rouge explained.

"Whoa… We're gonna need Tails' help. Go back to your room, I'll get Tails and we'll be right over okay?" Sonic said.

Rouge nodded and ran back to their room. What a first day of vacation. If this kept up, she didn't know if she could live through the week. She arrived back to their room and found Knuckles in the same position. She knelt in front of him.

"Knuckles? Knuckles can you hear me?" Rouge asked.

Still nothing. Rouge bit her lip. Sonic, Tails and Cream all ran in the room. Tails walked over to Rouge.

"What happened Rouge?" Tails asked.

"I don't know. I came back and he was sitting on the couch. I don't know how long he's been sitting here, but he hasn't blinked or said one little thing since I got back. He's not breathing much either. Tails you've gotta help him!" Rouge cried.

"I'll do what I can." Tails sighed.

Rouge, Sonic and Cream all watched as Tails carefully moved around Knuckles and made all sorts of motions in front of his eyes, but Knuckles' eyes never moved from there spot on the wall. Everyone was there for hours and was almost asleep when Tails finally got something.

"I think I know what's wrong, guys!" Tails exclaimed.

"What?" Sonic asked.

"He's having an internal emotional battle. He will come out of it eventually, but I don't know when that will be. I wonder what he's having a battle about." Tails explained.

"He's having a battle inside his head?" Sonic asked.

Tails nodded.

"Is there any way to bring him out of it?" Rouge asked.

"We just have to wait until it's over." Tails shrugged. "Maybe tomorrow he'll be his normal self."

"Yeah, then you'll be able to talk to your boyfriend." Sonic smirked.

Rouge's head shot up at this and gave Sonic a cold stare. Sonic smiled and shrugged before exiting the room. Tails and Cream left shortly after. As the two were walking back to their room, Tails noticed Cream had been very quiet.

"Cream, is anything wrong? You've been really quiet since we got back from the pool." Tails said.

Cream looked at Tails and saw his eyes were full of concern. "It's just that I'm worried about Knuckles. It's scary that he isn't blinking or breathing much. Do you think he'll be okay, Tails?" Cream asked.

"Sure he will. If he didn't, he wouldn't be the stubborn echidna we know right?" Tails asked; winking.

Cream giggled. "Right Tails."

She then gave Tails a small hug causing them both to blush a dark red.

"Thanks for being there. I hope your right about Knuckles." Cream smiled.

"Me too." Tails smiled.

They walked back to the room hand and hand and smiling.

---

Meanwhile, Amy arrived back from the beach with Shadow. She turned around from closing the door and jumped when she noticed Sonic was standing right behind her. He was glaring at her and it gave her the creeps.

"Have fun with Shadow?" Sonic asked; a hint of disgust in his voice.

"Yes I did. Why are you so angry that he took me to the beach?" Amy asked.

Sonic looked at the floor. "Because…" Could he tell her the real reason? That he loved her and didn't want her to like Shadow? He decided now was not the time. "I just don't trust him. I can't trust he'll be nice to you. I thought he might hurt you." Sonic explained; his cheeks a light pink.

"Aw come on Sonic. Shadow's not mean anymore. He's really nice now. I know you and he aren't the best of friends, but you can trust him. He didn't hurt me tonight did he?" Amy asked.

"No, I guess not. It's just he might hurt you later on if you two get closer." Sonic mumbled.

"Are you jealous?" Amy asked.

Sonic's head snapped up. "No! Of course not! What makes you think that? How could I be jealous of him? I may like you as a friend, but that's it. A close friend and nothing more." Sonic replied quickly.

Amy smiled before walking away to go change. Sonic hung his head.

"That's what I used to think… until I figured out I really love you…" Sonic whispered.

---

Rouge walked back into her and Knuckles' room after watching tails and Cream disappear into their own room. She always thought that they liked each other and now she knew it was true. She walked back over to Knuckles and sat down next to him.

"I don't know if you can hear me, Knuckles, but I wanted to say I'm sorry. I know part of your battle includes me… I hope you'll be okay." Rouge told him.

She then got up off the couch and went to change. When she came back out, she walked back over to Knuckles and gave him a small kiss on his cheek, hoping it'd help him in his battle somehow. With that, she got in the bed and fell asleep. Once the lights went out, a small smile crossed Knuckles' face as he continued his battle inside his head.

---

The courtyard was dark and only lit by a lamp here and there, but the figure wandering the courtyard didn't mind. He loved the dark. Espio slowly walked through the courtyard enjoying the warm breeze and smell of the salt in the air. The warm breeze made him feel like he was soaring through the air surrounded by sunlight. He would never admit it to anyone, but he loved feeling like this. It was who he was deep down inside.

As he continued to walk through the courtyard, another figure was coming down the path way as well. Espio turned a corner and was jolted from his 'daydream' as he collided into something soft. Espio looked up and saw he had bumped into a cat. She was a calico cat and wore a light green halter top with blue capri pants. Her baby blue eyes looked deep into Espio's yellow ones almost as if she was trying to read the inside of his mind.

"Sorry about that. I didn't see you turning the corner." Espio said.

"Don't worry about it. My name's Kit. What's yours?" the cat asked.

"Espio the Chameleon."

"Espio huh? Well, there's a name I've never heard before. So, you new around here?" Kit asked.

"Well, I don't live here. My friends and I are vacationing here. But, yeah I guess you can say we're new." Espio replied.

Kit appeared to be thinking because she didn't say anything for a while. "How 'bout I show you around the island tomorrow? It's not very big and there are some really beautiful places here." Kit explained. "I know you may not be much for beautiful sights, but I could show you some dark caves instead."

Espio laughed at her joke. "You can show me what you want. It sounds like fun." Espio replied.

"Great! How 'bout 10a.m. right here?" Kit asked.

Espio nodded to confirm this. Kit smiled.

"Cool! See ya tomorrow morning Espio!" kit waved running back into the hotel.

Espio smiled and continued his walk eventually making it back to the hotel himself. As he walked up to his room he thought about Kit. He had just met her and already she seemed like a person he'd like. Espio arrived back in his room and found Charmy asleep in the bed right where he had left him. Espio walked over to a corner, turned invisible and fell asleep as well.

Yay, SonAmy, TailsCream, KnuxRouge and EspioOC all in one! I'll try and add in some Vector and Vanilla next chapter. Keep reviewing and sending any suggestions! They always help!