A/N) Look, it's a few days after Christmas. Oh well. Happy New Year!

Disclaimer: Sega Sonic Team, Go them.

Amy rose from her fetal potion on the sofa. Wiping away tears that had become too common to her face, Amy made her way to turn off the radio that now offended her ears. The carefree songs only seemed to mock her, taunt her with love and happy holidays.

Switching off the music filled the room with a deafening silence. It all reminded her of last year. Sonic had visited, and they shared a semi-romantic evening. They watched It's a Wonderful Life, and took gifts to the hospital for underprivileged children. Silent Night had been playing in the hospital that evening.

Small droplets of water rained down on the side table and radio as Amy began to cry openly.

"Please Sonic," Amy raised her head toward heaven, "There's nothing else I want in all this world!"

Amy's head lowered once more as she continued to sob.

From her balcony window, Shadow watched her through the curtain. She had finally lost all hope. Sonic wasn't coming back, and she knew it.

Emotionlessly, Shadow stared in at her as she went to blow out the candles. In a way, Shadow felt like he could relate to Amy. He knew what it felt like to lose someone special.

"Maria," The moment was close to the same, and yet more relieving. Amy was able to let this dark emotion out. He, even to this day, had kept his feelings locked away inside. He had no friends to run to, no one to confide his feelings in, and no desire to do so. Noone needed to know how he felt about Maria. They had accepted him as an aid to their battles, and that he had come to peace about Maria's death. That wasn't true, however. He was still unable to mourn her, unable to completely let the feelings out.

Everything he knew and loved was taken away in an instant. Yet he still had to carry on orders for his creator, and the wishes of Maria. That was his mourning Doing what he could to please them. It wouldn't bring her back, but it would make her happy, right?

Shadow looked down at the streets below him. Vehicles muddling through the snow, and serval individuals late getting home. Why was he holding his pain inside? Was it because he was afraid of weakness? No, because he knew tears and helplessness were as far from each other as the east is from the west. So why did he let himself suffer?

"I did what you wanted, didn't I?" A small wave of anger came over him. "So why can't I have peace!"

Small white flakes then entered Shadow's vision. Shadow turned to gaze up at the night sky. More snow clouds had moved in to cover Station Square with a few more inches of snow before Christmas. Shadow's attention was brought back to Amy, however, when he heard something in the apartment crash.

Without the candles' light, the room had become much darker. Amy had bumped into the coffee table on her way to the bedroom. One of her candy dishes had fallen off, braking the lid on the bowl.

"Stupid dish." Amy whispered, wanting to cry over being clumsy as well as in pain. Amy, trying to avoid the mess, reached over the sofa to switch on a lamp when she caught a glimpse of the window. Was that Sonic outside?

"Sonic?" Amy quickly got to her feet and made hast for the balcony. There were no words to describe her happiness. Sonic had returned! Everything was going to be okay!

Amy ran around the table and flung open the glass separating her from her beloved. "Ha Sonic!"

Amy was surprised when she ran to meet only the railing. "Sonic?" Had he fallen? Amy gripped the rail and looked down at the grounds below. "Sonic! Where are you!"

Amy pulled herself up letting a few tears fall down her cheeks. "Sonic!" She did a complete 360 to try and see the cobalt hedgehog. Was he playing some kind of trick with? "Sonic please, I want to see you." He never answered her.

"Sonic," Amy sighed when she realized she was only seeing things. He wasn't there, he was never going to be there. "Good night, Sonic, wherever you are." Amy closed her window and headed for bed.

Shadow dropped down from the balcony above hers and watched her disappear inside.

Perhaps she hadn't given up all hope. She still believed he would one day return, no matter how long it would take. Shadow took one of the chaos emeralds in his hand and left Amy's for the night. There was nothing more he needed, or wanted, to see.

Christmas day. The morning for most children had taken forever to get here. But it was now upon the apartment building of Amy Rose. Amy woke about seven to the sound of knocking on her door.

"Who in their right mind comes on Christmas morning?" Amy groaned not wanting to face this day. However, she pulled herself from the bed and opened her bedroom door.

"Be there in a minute." She called and waited for a response. After a moment of silence, Amy decided to shrug off the knock as just one on the neighbors bumping the wall. She turned to get back in bed when the knock came again. Okay, there was someone at the door.

Amy went to her closet and put her house coat on over her silk night gown. She advanced to the front door. "Hello, who is it?" Still, no answer. This was a little awkward for Christmas morning.

Amy got to the door and placed her eye to the peek hole. All she could see was black, the person had covered the door hole. This scared Amy. Why was this person doing this?

Suddenly, Amy could hear the snickering of a young child from the other side of the door. A smile found its way onto Amy's face as she opened the door. Before her stood Cream and Cheese and her mother, Vanilla.

"Merry Christmas, Amy!" Cream cheered with Cheese. Relived, Amy ushered the small family in with warm greetings and a thankful heart it wasn't some maniac at the door. "Me and my mother brought you a gift." Cream was so excited. "You have to open it!"

"Calm down, Cream." Vanilla beamed at her daughters felicity.

"Please make yourself at home. I just need to get dressed and I'll be right out to join you." Amy readied herself in a warm attire and brushed her quills back. The hedgehog shared a Christmas breakfast with the rabbits and opened the gift given to her. It was a glass fringe necklacecolored pink, lavender, and purple. "Thank you so much." Amy hugged her friends.

"Your welcome Amy." With that, Vanilla started to clean the dishes left from breakfast. Cream and Cheese sat with Amy on the floor a little longer.

"Let me help you put it on Amy." Cream was very lighthearted this morning. Amy could imagine her last Christmas. Sonic was always so bright and lively this time of year. Amy lowered her head suffering as the young girl put on the necklace.

Cream could tell Amy was a bit upset, most likely because Sonic was gone. She missed Sonic as well, and was still hoping that he might come backsomehow.

"Um, Amy?"

"Yeah Cream."

"Do you miss Sonic?"

Cream's question reminded Amy of how she felt last night, and it momentarily blanked that cheerful morning out of existence. Amy shook the memory off and answered.

"I know he's okay Cream, and he's gonna come back." Amy seemed so confident in her answer that Cream smiled back.

"I'm sure he will."

"Come on Cream." Vanilla said, entering the living room, "We'd better head on home." Amy waved at the three as they left her apartment. Amy stood still a moment, now alone again. She would have to face the feelings and memories of Sonic again. No distractions. Amy sat on the sofa next to the tree and again began to daydream.

"A smile better suits you." Shadow said as he watched her.

Christmas day on the island.

Knuckles sighed. The morning had come without a night of sleep for the restless echidna. Making the glorious sunrise only an agitation to him. Knuckles sat in front of the master emerald and gazed out over his island. A perfect paradise, lush with fruit and beautiful plants. There where breath taking water falls and natural hot springs by Mt. Thunder. Hundreds of wonders, both natural and made by his tribe. The ideal living conditions, and noone to share it with.

Though he'd never admit, he often got lonely on the island. And with Sonic's resent death, it would only insure he'd stay that way. Without Sonic's foolish, yet heroic, actions, Eggman, and defiantly Ryuu, would be after the emerald. He would have to be there to protect it, and thus never go with Sonic on another adventure. Tell the truth, he'd miss a whole lot more about Sonic.

Knuckles couldn't help but feel partially responsible for Sonic's death. Had he gotten Ryuu, or agreed to fight with Sonic instead of alone, maybe this never would have happened. It was so obvious that Ryuu was separating the group, how could he not see it.

He couldn't live in regret. This was Ryuu's fault not his. The hedgehog was the one who should be suffering, not him, or Tails and Amy. Sonic had only done what any moral person would do. He was trying to help people.

From the moment Ryuu had appeared in their lives, he was nothing but a threat to freedom and an aid to the already excising problem, Eggman. The black and gray stripped hedgehog was seen on board of one of Eggman's flying vehicles. He was standing, arms folded, laughing down at the group of heros fighting off Eggman's robot army. Every mechanical monster spraying fire like ice at their opponent.

"Fight all you want," Ryuu mocked watching with delight as the fighters abilities were being recorded. The cameras were in plain sight, why hadn't Knuckles notice them before. Ryuu had the entire battle that day mapped out like a planned vacation to Florida. He knew their moves, there weaknesses. He and Sonic never saw that the robots were made to fall apart. It was all just a set up for the day Ryuu would kill Sonic. Ryuu had even seemed to fool Eggman into giving him complete power of his armies. It would only be a matter of time before Eggman, too, will be dealt with.

Knuckles tried to shake the memory along with the guilt.

"It wasn't my fault," Knuckles got to his feet, "I did what I could." Pacing around the emerald, his breathing got heavier. Ryuu was bond to launch another attack. Next time he might take more than one person, or do away with them all. Adding to this, noone knew why Ryuu was doing this. Did he also want world domination, or was there something else he was after?

Knuckles placed a hand on the Master Emerald and looked over his island again.

"Maybe a walk will clear my thoughts." Jumping down from the alter, Knuckles headed for Hanging Gardens. He knew its tranquil surroundings would ease his nerves.

The walk was in general quiet peaceful. It had been a while since the guardian had visited the garden. Upon arrival Knuckles took full advantage of the small creek in the center of the lush greenery. Cupping his hands, Knuckles drank the fresh water til he felt content. Finishing, he decided to continue his mental and physical refreshing by taking a swim. The water was soothing, passing through his fur to wash over his skin.

Sighing in relief, Knuckles floated onto his back closing his eyes. The horrifying nightmare was rinsed away and replaced by the sounds of lapping waves, singing birds, and the smell of ripe fruits. After a few moments, however, Knuckles began to feel a bit uneasy. Opening his eyes, he couldn't tell anything was wrong. Yet, knowing better than to let a gut feeling go un-humored, Knuckles left the waters. Just as he did so, the sounds of nature seemed to stop, or at least silence a bit.

"Someone's on my island."

Knuckles ran with all his might back to the Master Emerald. His little stroll had take the better half of a day. Whoever was on the island could have been there for hours with out him knowing. Again, a foolish move for a guardian. Leaving the Master Emerald all day, Great one Knuckles.

The alter was only a little ways ahead, but something foreign caught his eye. Someone, or something, had shot past him a few feet away. Knuckles halted his run, and turned to face the passer by. It was gone. Whatever it was wasn't going to get far. Checking over his shoulder to insure the Master Emerald's safety, Knuckles chased after the intruder.

After serval moments of not seeing height nor hair of the strange objects, the idea of it being a trap entered the echidna's mind.

"Dang it." If it was Ryuu, he defiantly would pull something like this. Ryuu was probably already at the Master Emerald.

Knuckles started to change direction when something grabbed him from behind. It had him around the middle and was breathing lightly on the back of his neck. If Ryuu was planning to stick him with another syringe, he had another thing coming.

Without a moments hesitation, Knuckles elbowed the person, turned, and rammed them into a near by tree. He had a firm grip on Ryuu's arms and was about to lay on a decent pounding when realization hit him.

"Rouge!" Knuckles had just successfully pinned the bat. "What are you doing back here!"

"You think yelling at me scares me off. You've done it a thousand times, time to try something new."

Angered by her remark, Knuckles tightened his grip on her.

"Leave! Now!"

"Yeah, When I Can Feel My Arms!"

Finally taking notice of how he was holding her, Knuckles let Rouge go. "Thanks,"

"The sarcasm isn't needed."

"Well, neither are the red marks." Rouge rubbed the afflicted areas.

"I didn't hurt you that much."

"There's more than one way to hurt a woman."

Knuckles raised an eye brow. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Really?" And Lo and behold, Knuckles still doesn't get it. Big shocker there.

Her questioning was odd. Rouge always seemed to be talking in circles. She had appeared to play games with his mind and poke fun at his confusion.

Rouge than advanced on Knuckles. "Why are you so dead set on getting me off 'your' island?" Knuckles stepped back causing Rouge to stop coming forward. "Oh please, you can't honestly think I solely exist to chase down that stupid rock."

Knuckles turned from Rouge and started back for the master emerald. This day was stressful enough without having to put up with her.

"Is this your idea for getting rid of me?" Rouge mocked playfully. Knuckles didn't react to her statement and continued on. "The silent treatment is pretty unoriginal, don't you think?" Still, the echidna didn't respond. "Come on, Knuckles," Rouge said to herself, "I couldn't give you a bigger signal if I were running around in my bikini with pom-poms screaming, 'Come Get Me."

Rouge quickly extended her wings and flew off. Knuckles glanced back at the sound of her leaving. Knuckles utter a sigh, "At least I don't have to worry about her stealing the emerald now."

All Knuckles could seem to think about was Sonic's death the entire walk back to the alter. What could have been done differently that day in battle? Was Sonic's death quick and painless?

Knuckles parted the bushes leading to the alter and stepped through. He lowered his head as he took the steps up to the gem.

"Thought you'd feel better after walking here,"

Looking up, Rouge could be seen landing on top of the Master Emerald. "But I guess your still upset."

"Get Away From..." He was cut off.

"You Don't Gotta Yell, I know what you want." Rouge slid down behind the emerald out of Knuckles' sight. Why must she be here? Knuckles quicky rounded the gem stone.

"Then Why don't you just leave it alone!" She wasn't there, however, when he reached the other side.

Just like before, Rouge grabbed Knuckles from behind.

"Now that wouldn't be much fun, would it?"

Knuckles pried her arms from around his waist and turned to face her.

"Will you stop with these stupid games?"

"And let boredom consume you like a fire?"

"Please, just leave it alone."

It wasn't to hard to tell when Knuckles was being serious, and if ever he was, it was now. Rouge knew he was still disturbed by Sonic's death and was having trouble adjusting. She could also tell he was blaming himself for not catching Ryuu, or at least getting Sonic's body.

Knuckles went back to the steps of the alter and sat, motionless, waiting for her to leave.

"Knuckles," He grunted as she moved in next to him. "I was there, too." He looked at her.

"And the point your trying to make?"

"I didn't save his life either."

Knuckles looked away.

"Yeah, well you weren't fighting Ryuu face to face."

Rouge paused for a moment trying to find a proper response.

"Well at least you can say you tried to help Sonic, the rest of us can't." Rouge rose to leave. For some reason, Knuckles didn't want her to go. Not that he felt her advise was good or anything. Of course not. Just for company, and someone to share this feeling with. Before she took off Knuckles reached up and took her arm.

"How do you feel about it?" No explanation was needed. Rouge knew what Knuckles meant.

"I wasn't that close to Sonic," Rouge took a seat next to Knuckles as he let her go. "I was bothered by it. You know, the hero of Mobius dying, kinda makes a person scared. And sometimes I wonder what would happen if Ryuu attacked us again. Or what if someone else had died in Sonic's place." Both their eyes meet causing Knuckles to look away. Rouge also diverted her eyes to the scenery. "Still can't catch a clue, Knucklhead."

Knuckles smile at the reference used. Sonic called him that all the time as an insult.

"What are you trying to imply? You think I wouldn't have been able to take down Ryuu?"

"With your quick thinking, its amazing you take anything down."

"Thanks"

"Sarcasm isn't needed."