Shadow moved proficiently through the A.R.K. passages and alcoves, some Amy doubted had ever been seen by anyone else still alive, but she didn't think of them as much as her thoughts now dwelled on the dark hedgehog carrying her. 'If I had known this would happen, I would have avoided it somehow. I cannot give up on Sonic, I just can't. I've waited so long and-'

Another awakening to reality passed over her when she realized Sonic never spent time with her anymore. He let her come along somewhat reluctantly as a partner in Tails absence during their childhood, and he often came to her rescue, but lately, even with Tails going solo at random, Sonic worked with everyone but her. 'He's been trying to get me to let go, and even if he doesn't think I would fall for someone like Shadow, Sonic wants me to get distracted by him. '

Amy's beautiful emerald-green eyes maintained placement on the place where her suitor's face would appear between the flashes of bright lights searing the darkness of space. Her daunt caused by his flaring red eyes, gone. The annoyance at Shadow's cotton white patch of fur, and how its soft airy wisps would catch her eye every time they flounced in the breeze, dispelled. The indifference for his toned figure, glossy black fur, and sleek crimson stripes- now attraction. His mysterious nature and lack of socialization had previously grated her temper -utterly fascinating. She had lied to herself every day. The qualities she disliked in Shadow all along were actually appealing to her. Sure, she loved every detail of Sonic excluding his level of disconnect with her, but Shadow too had stood out in the crowd and now was the equal running mate for her affections who suddenly had taken the advantage.

Screeching to a halt at a familiar entryway, Shadow let Amy down before him, patiently waiting behind her as she scanned the room in wonder. The space station was even more rundown, showing its decades of wear and tear, but the view of the world before her was still awe-inspiring as ever. Amy entered the bay, Shadow walking behind her attentively, and as she slowly approached the window, he sauntered over to a familiar perch, looking down upon the site with her.

"This is where- where we first really knew each other." Amy stated, not entirely sure.

Shadow gazed to her with a silent nod, changing to a reserved expression while he mused over long past memories, glancing upwards and far past where Earth lay. "You got through to me here. Made me remember things I had forgotten from the past."

"Maria." Amy voiced.

"And you." Shadow breathed, showing the faintest hint of a smile from his mouth. "So many times this place has brought us together."

Amy looked to him confused. "What do you mean? We have only met here twice, and this time we are only talking of the past."

Shadow turned back to face her, his stoic posturing resumed. "The past can make all the difference." An arm reached out for her waist once more, bringing her closer as the other hand rested against her cheek, forming his fingers to the contours of her chin and neck. "When I saw you here, trying to make me believe in the human race again, there was something I wanted to do. I want to finish what I had intended." His expression was indecipherable while he left the remaining separation between them, waiting for some unforeseen signal and refusing to complete the action, when Amy tilted forward to diminish the unclosed space between them.

"What is it Shadow?"

She was silenced by a pair of tan lips, her eyes drifting shut to match his already shaded lids. Shadow continued to keep his embrace sparing while her softly furred arms wrapped around his neck, holding him tighter. Amy lost all control in their contact, Sonic shoved far from her mind, as she melted against his fur and tentative pull of his arms slipping around her hips, only to push her away, leaving her flustered and longing to keep the feverish connection.

"We should be moving forward." Shadow turned away quickly, leaving the room behind without so much as a glance behind him.

Amy stood there mystified as she blinked in perplexity, mouth still agape and opened further at his rapid exit. 'What was that all about?!'

Hurriedly, the emotions-stricken pink girl chased after the ostentatious sable male as he continued to depart the area, hardly slowing his gait back to their original mission route, while she fumbled with what to say.

"What- why- Why did you do that?!" Amy choked out, not so much upset as bemused by the domineering hedgehog.

Shadow smirked in the low level light. "You said I could change your perspective on your feelings for that hedgehog, so I did and no more. Clearly you are not done with your infatuation for him and until you are I will not put myself so boldly out there to be harmed."

'Harmed? You mean… you care for me Shadow the Hedgehog?' Amy stopped walking to think over what she was beginning to grasp. 'All this time… how foolish am I? I never saw what was right before me for all these years!' Racing back to his side she continued to struggle to find the words to say aloud to her partner, searching around occasionally for some answer while he amusedly sauntered back to the nearest point of their planned line of attack.

"I am most certainly not infatuated, I mean, well… not so much anymore. You, YOU! You are confusing me, and if you like me so much then just sweep me off my feet and be done with it!"

She felt her arm grabbed, and Amy was pulled to face him, a finger pressing her lips shut and cutting off her statement. His eyes intense, he stared into hers, this time the singe of malice not overbearing the little glint of affection he had always concealed in them before, giving Amy another wave of thrill at his contact. "Quiet. We can discuss this further after we complete the mission."

Letting her go, Shadow stared her down to make his point clear before kneeling to spin dash into a door, knocking it into a facing wall. Immediately, laser rounds went off as Amy watched him disappear left and could hear the sound of his quills slicing through the metal robots sure to be not far down the hall. Pulling her mystical piko-piko hammer from obscurity, she blindly charged forward, aggressively taking out three of the enemies joining the foray against Shadow from the right. Amy guarded their rear as her newly appointed protector continued their rush, taking out every sign of trouble coming for them. She turned an eye his way between the rushes from opponents and lulls of searching for the best route, mulling over his actions. 'He's more thorough than usual. Most of the time he just speeds through like Sonic, but now it is as if he doesn't want to leave anything to chance. That's definitely not Shadow's style.' Amy concentrated to smash two attack bots into one of the nearby walls, making the metallic surface ring out in a low drone. 'I'll bet he's protecting me!' Her battle-hardened edge faded into a doting expression as her jade orbs glittered and eyelids lowered into a soft flutter before battering another enemy. 'Maybe he does care.'

Shadow's heinous self-satisfied grin could be seen as he stepped forth from the dimly lit passage into a grand hall where he was sure they would find additional power-ups to reenergize. 'Damn things never stood a chance against the likes of me.' He strut over to a pile of nearby boxes, when Amy grabbed his arm, causing him to flinch dangerously, but instantaneously after contact knew only Amy would be so bold as to touch him and immediately turned to look at her, crimson pupils simmering into a pleasing calm.

"You were protecting me!" Amy rang out, louder than necessary.

"I was doing my part of the assault, no more." Shadow protested. "I always take on most of the assailants, seeing as you continue to use that childish weapon." He turned away once more, sliding down from a sweeping kick into a jump flip to annihilate the tiered boxes and retrieve their stowed away items.

"Argue all you want, but we both know you were trying to help me out more than usual." Amy preached as Shadow passed her half of his retrieval. Taking them without thought, she reached out to receive the rings and power assisters being handed to her, thanking him and beginning to tuck them away when she suddenly blinked down to her tokens, looking up to him as she grinned in bravado. Shadow finished placing the last of the rings into his jet-shoes and stood, dusting himself off after straightening his quills, when he turned to see her watching him with a flirtatious blare to her. Searching for meaning, his distrustful eyes darted to his sides before continuing his stare back in defensive wonder, when she strolled up to him, murmuring into his ear before passing by to move ahead. "I knew you cared."

Amy continued on, swinging her hammer playfully in victory, as Shadow took his turn to stay behind, standing there discomposed, the flush still firm on his cheeks. Shaking his head to the side to drive the distraction away, he looked up to the large picturesque viewing wall and stared in disbelief until he began to realize what was happening.

"Amy!"