Another quick update! I'm on a roll people! This is also the longest chapter yet (I think)! For the disclaimer, see chapter 1. Note:

"blah" means speaking

"blah" means thinking or reading (you'll be able to tell which is which)

As of right now, the votes for the ending are: SonAmy with 5 votes and ShadAmy with 4. Keep sending them in! With that said, let's get this chapter underway!

Chapter 5: This Game Called Love

Sonic was up in his room lying on the couch. The incident at the beach this morning kept replaying through his head. Was he jealous? Was he sad? No. He was angry. Shadow stole Amy from him. He knew Sonic liked her and just wanted to make him jealous. Sonic scoffed as a smirk appeared on his face.

"I'll show him. I'll show him that I don't care what happens to Amy. I'll show Shadow that I'm not jealous." Sonic told himself.

The rest of the hour went by with Sonic telling himself this over and over again and quietly cussing Shadow out.

---

Back down at the beach, Cream got out of the water and walked over to her mother. She yawned before saying anything.

"Mother, I'm going back upstairs to take a nap. May I have a key to your room in case Tails is busy?" Cream asked.

"Of course dear." Vanilla smiled; handing her the key.

Cream smiled back and walked back in side the hotel. She walked up to her and Tails' room first and knocked. Tails answered wearing a pair of goggles.

"Hi Tails. Are you busy?" Cream asked.

"Sorta. Why?"

"I was going to take a little nap."

"Oh. Well, I'm working on an invention that will hopefully help Sonic learn how to swim and I've been making some noise. You might not be able to get to sleep." Tails explained.

"That's okay. Mother gave me her key so I can just go in there." Cream replied.

"Okay. Sorry about that." Tails blushed.

"Don't worry about it."

They waved before Cream walked off down the hall to Vanilla's room. She walked into the room and made her way over to the bed. As she was making her way over there, Cream noticed a notebook lying on the coffee table. Curious, she walked over and picked it up. On the front, it read "Vector's. KEEP OUT!" Vector had a diary? Cream giggled at the thought. She was very curious of what it contained, but knew it was Vector's personal business. But still… one look couldn't hurt right?

Curiosity won Cream over and she sighed. She flipped it open to a random page and began to read it. AS she read the entry, her jaw dropped opened and she began giggling.

"I gotta show this to Tails. He'll get a kick out of it." Cream smiled.

Forgetting all about her nap, Cream ran out of the room and back over to Tails and her room. She knocked again and waited for Tails to answer. He came to the door and looked confused when he saw Cream standing there again.

"I thought you were going to take a nap."

"I was… until I found this." Cream smiled; holding up the diary.

Tails had to stifle a laugh. "Vector has a diary?"

"Yes. And you won't believe what I found in it."

Tails invited Cream inside and the two walked over to the couch and began reading the entry Cream had read earlier. They were laughing the whole time.

17th April, 2006

Sonic invited a bunch of us on a trip to the Bahamas. I had to convince Espio to go, but I think he's enjoying himself. The best thing of all is, I get to spend time with Cream's mother (Vanilla I think). I've always thought she was pretty. Gee, I hope no one finds out… Guess I should stop writing before more secrets spill…

Vector

"Wow." Tails laughed.

"Vector likes my mother!" Cream laughed; falling off the couch.

"Bet he'd make a great dad!" Tails smiled.

Cream only continued to laugh.

---

Knuckles and Rouge sat in silence for a while. Rouge had just asked Knuckles what his battle was about and Knuckles was arguing over whether to tell her or not.

"Knuckles, please, what was it about?" Rouge asked.

"It was about you…" Knuckles muttered.

Rouge gulped. She thought it would be about her. She didn't like where this was going.

"Me? What'd I do?" Rouge asked.

"Actually, it was about me and you together. Rouge… I know you have a crush on me and it may be more then that for all I know. I won't lie from you anymore Rouge. You deserve to know the truth. Rouge, I like you too and I have for the longest time. Truthfully, I like you more then just a crush." Knuckles explained.

"Then why didn't you tell me once you knew I liked you back?" Rouge asked.

"That's the problem. We can't have a relationship. My job won't allow it. The Master Emerald requires all my attention and I've already been away from it too long by being down here. Tikal and Chaos volunteer to guard it occasionally, but I know it's my duty, not theirs. If we got together, I'd be endangering the emerald. I'd be hanging out with you and not being able to guard it properly." Knuckles sighed.

"Your job can't control what you do with your life, Knuckles." Rouge said.

"I know, but my mind can."

Rouge cocked her head at this, confused by what was just said.

"The battle I had was between my heart and my mind. I want to be with you Rouge, that's being said from my heart, but my mind knows that you'd only be a distraction from my job. In the end, I learned my mind was right. If I get into a relationship, I'd just be throwing my life away." Knuckles explained.

"But why can't we be together?!" Rouge yelled; tears coming to her eyes.

"I just told you, Rouge. The Master Emerald-!"

"Screw the Master Emerald! Can't you just forget about that dumb rock for once in your life?! When was the last time you cared for anything outside of that stupid, lifeless object?!" Rouge yelled.

This made Knuckles angry. "You're one to talk! When was the last time you were worried about someone other than yourself?" Knuckles yelled back.

"I was worried a couple of hours ago when you were in that battle! I was scared you'd never come out of it! Now I wish you had just stayed in there!" Rouge yelled; tears now running down her face. "Don't go accusing people just because that's what you think they're like! I don't even know how I could've fallen in love with you! You… you… stubborn jerk!"

With that said, Rouge ran into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

"Crying won't make me feel bad for you!" Knuckles yelled through the door.

"I don't want you to feel bad for me! I just want you to go away!" Rouge yelled.

"Fine, I will!" Knuckles yelled back.

"Good!"

Knuckles kicked the bathroom door as hard as he could before stomping out of the room. He slammed the door behind him and Rouge could feel the floor vibrate. For a second she thought the hotel was going to crumble. Once she knew Knuckles was gone, Rouge pulled her knees to her chest and cried.

"I hate that stupid jerk. How could I have fallen in love with him? How did I ever convince myself he cared about me? All he cares about is that dumb emerald!" Rouge mumbled to herself.

Meanwhile, Knuckles stormed out of the hotel and into the courtyard. He plopped down on a bench and buried his face in his hands. Similar thoughts were running through his head.

"Rouge is right, I am a jerk. How could I chosen the Master Emerald over her?" Knuckles asked himself.

"Simple." His mind replied, "You've finally realized your job is what's more important. Think about it… Without the Master Emerald, Angel Island would be non-existent and millions of people would be dead. She's ruining your life you know. Just forget about her."

"BUT I LOVE HER, DAMN IT!" Knuckles yelled.

"True as that may be, do you think she'll still like you after what you said to her?" his mind questioned him.

"You're right. She probably hates me now, after putting the emerald in front of her." Knuckles sighed. "I should go apologize."

"And give up on your job? If you start a relationship, you are disrespecting your duty as Guardian."

"Then what about mom and dad? They had a relationship." Knuckles pointed out.

"That's different. They were both echidnas. You and Rouge are completely different species of animals. Plus, she lives down in the city and you reside up on an island. It wouldn't work. You know that. A relationship with her would mean banishment from Angel Island and form the Brotherhood." His mind explained.

Knuckles stood up and sighed, facing the ground. "I know that…" he looked up as he continued, "but Rouge means more to me then some emerald."

Once his mind had been made up, Knuckles headed back up into the hotel. He walked in their hotel room and noticed the bathroom door was closed still. That meant Rouge was still in there and she probably hadn't left once. Knuckles walked up to the door and knocked.

"Who is it?" Rouge asked. Knuckles could tell by the sound of her voice that she had been crying and he felt guilty for that. He gulped hoping it wasn't too late to make it up to her.

"It's… Knuckles."

"I thought I told you to leave me alone." Rouge muttered.

"I know, but… I came back to apologize." Knuckles replied.

"Why do I feel like you're lying to me?" Rouge huffed.

"Because I'm not!" Knuckles snapped. He sighed, calming down. "Hang on."

He ran over to his suitcase and pulled out a notebook. He flipped to a certain page before walking back over to the bathroom door and sliding the notebook under the door.

"Read that." He told her.

Rouge picked up the notebook and began reading the entry. As she did, her eyes lit up and her heart began to feel better. She smiled at one of the paragraphs written in the journal.

"… I saw the fear in her eyes as her body closed in with the lava pit. I knew I couldn't let her die. Without thinking, I jumped off the beam and shot down towards her. I shut my eyes afraid I was going to fall into the lava myself. Then I felt something warm in my hand. I looked down and saw her hand was in mine and I had a hold of the beam I had just jumped off of. She looked up at me like she was shocked that I had just saved her. I gave her a smile reassuring her everything would be okay. I pulled both of us back onto the beam and helped her shaking body to her feet. Our eyes met and I was sure I had just gone to heaven. Her eyes were so beautiful I just wanted to stare into them all day. Smiles slowly spread across our faces as we stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then she pulled away and I did too. But very reluctantly…"

She remembered that day so clearly. It was day that she had almost lost her life twice. Once had been when she was falling into the pit of lava and the other being when Space Colony ARK was falling towards Earth. Each of those times, Knuckles had been by her side.

"Get a hold of yourself. You know that no matter what he does, he'll still choose the emerald over you. That emerald is his life." Her mind said.

"But, he came back to apologize. Doesn't that say something?" Rouge whispered; not wanting Knuckles to hear.

"It's only a trick so you won't be mad at him anymore. He'll still pick the emerald and you know it." Her mind replied.

Rouge agreed and slid the notebook back under the door. "Sorry, not convinced."

"What?!" Knuckles couldn't believe it. Did she even read the entry? Knuckles was now at loss for words. "Rouge… I'm… that… I never-! Oh forget it!" he yelled. "I come up here to try and apologize and yet you think I'm lying to you? Fine…"

Knuckles then walked back out of the room trying his best to keep the tears welling up in his eyes from coming out. Why did love have to be so hard? Knuckles walked back out into the courtyard and sat back down on the bench to do some more thinking. He wasn't going to give up. He was going to win Rouge's heart back and he wasn't going to give up until then.

---

Amy and Shadow were heading back up to the hotel. They had been the last ones to leave the beach. Their walk from the beach to the courtyard was incredibly quiet. Neither of them had said one word. Amy then remembered what had happened with the tiger earlier on today and a question came to Amy's head.

"Hey Shadow? Earlier on today… when that tiger came up to me… why'd you stand up for me?" Amy asked.

Shadow stopped in his tracks and blinked. This had never crossed his mind before. Why did he stand up for her? After all, he had said that he was her boyfriend. Shadow turned around and noticed a feeling in his stomach like he had everything he ever needed in his life. He noticed that he got this feeling every time he looked at Amy. This puzzled him more. He was not new to these feelings and had never had them before.

"Shadow?" Amy asked; waving a hand in front of his face.

It took him a minute to realize he had zoned out. "Oh, uh sorry. What was the question?" Shadow asked.

Amy giggled. "Why did you stand up for me today when that tiger came up to me?"

"I could tell he was up to no good. Plus…" Shadow gulped. "I guess I have some hidden feelings I haven't discovered yet."

Amy froze. "Are you saying…?" she was stunned.

Shadow turned around and stared into her jade eyes and she stared back into his amber ones.

"Yes. I'm saying… I think I love you, Amy Rose." Shadow said.

Amy had never felt so happy in her life. She squealed before engulfing Shadow in a hug she'd give Sonic. Shadow's eyes widened at this, but slowly went back to his normal size as he wrapped his arms around her. Slowly she pulled back.

"I think I love you too, Shadow." Amy replied.

Shadow smiled back and they slowly headed back to the hotel. Shadow offered to walk Amy to her room. Amy blushed at the offer, but accepted, unable to deny. When they arrived, Shadow stood in silence. What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to do something else or jus walk away? He cleared his throat.

"Well… see you tomorrow." He smiled.

"Bye Shadow." Amy waved.

She watched until she saw him disappear from sight. She pulled her key out of her pocket and began to slide it into the door. Then something crossed her mind which made her heart stop.

"Oh no! What will Sonic think?!"

Amy gulped. He didn't have to know. That was the solution. She wasn't going to tell him. It would be her and Shadow's little secret. She just hoped Sonic didn't have the same feelings. Amy shook the thought from her head and slowly walked into the room. Sonic was sitting on the couch watching TV. He turned around upon hearing the door click shut and smiled.

"Oh, hey Amy. Have a fun time?" he asked.

Amy nodded. He wasn't mad then? After all, she had spent the whole day with Shadow and Sonic didn't even seem phased by it. Last time, he seemed like he was going to puke when she told him. She walked into the bathroom and got in the shower, hoping it'd make her feel better. Once she got out, she back on her red dress and walked back out into the room. Sonic was now standing in behind the couch facing Amy. She noticed the TV had been turned off and he was staring at the floor.

Sonic looked up and smiled warmly at Amy. He then slowly began to approach her. Amy stood still, wondering what he was doing.

"Amy, I have something I really need to tell you. It's been plaguing my mind since the first night we arrived down here. Amy, I know I always act like I don't want you around and always run away form you whenever you come near me. I don't mean what I say to you all the time and it just slips out. The main cause for that it usually because I'm mad at Eggman. Anyway… the point I'm trying to make is that I don't really dislike you Amy," by now Sonic was right in front of Amy and had taken her hands in his own, "the truth is… I love you Amy Rose."

Amy stood there. First Shadow and now Sonic? This was all happening too fast. Amy felt tears coming to her eyes. She pulled out of Sonic's grasp which surprised the blue hedgehog.

"I-I'm sorry, Sonic… b-but this i-is just t-to m-much!" Amy cried.

She ran out of the room without a trace, leaving Sonic standing there in her dust. He looked shocked as well. What had just happened? He was expecting a death hug and millions of kisses, not tears.

"Was it something I said?" Sonic asked himself.

---

Vanilla was making her way back up to her room. As she passed Tails and Cream's room she remembered Cream said she was going to go take a nap. Vanilla also noticed that the door was opened the slightest bit. She walked in and noticed Tails and Cream asleep together on the couch. Cream was curled up next to Tails and had her head on his shoulder and Tails had his head on hers. Vanilla smiled at them. She had always like Tails and was happy he and Cream were such good friends.

It was then, she noticed the notebook lying open on the coffee table in front of them. Vanilla picked it up and read what was in it since she didn't know what it was. After she did, her mouth dropped open and she stood there shocked.

Ooh! Three cliffies in ONE chapter! Bum, bum, bum (sorry I'm hyper and had to get that out of my system)! Will Knux win Rouge's heart back? How will Sonic, Amy and Shadow handle this love triangle and what did Vanilla just read? Most likely, there will be two or three more chapters until the GRAND FINALE!! Stay tuned… and review!