…I really try, but every time I go to write something here, I draw a blank. Enjoy the chapter, while I sit in a dark corner with a note pad and pen, trying to come up with interesting ideas to put here… lol XD

~Chapter Twelve: Love Truly Blossoms at The Worst of Times~

Silver concentrated. This move could decide his fate. He opened his eyes. "G… 5."

Knuckles slammed his fists against the kitchen table. "Damn! You sunk my battleship!" He looked at Silver. "How do you keep finding out where my ships are?"

Silver laughed, thinking the echidna was joking. The albino hedgehog's smile faded when he noticed Knuckles looking at him, a serious look plastered on his face.

Silver quickly regained his serious composure, and sighed. "It's just luck, I guess."

Sonic walked into the kitchen.

"Hey Sonic," both Silver and Knuckles said at the same time."Hey," Sonic mumbled, sitting down next to Silver. He put his head on the table, and let out a long, audible sigh.

"You okay?" Knuckles asked.

Sonic nodded, not lifting his head from the table.

"You should invite Shadow over!" Knuckles exclaimed. "I haven't seen him in days!"

Silver gave Knuckles a death glare. Sonic only sighed louder.

"I don't think Shadow will be able to come over today, Knuckles," Sonic whispered, propping his head on his arm.

Knuckles frowned when he noticed Sonic's reddened eyes. "Have you been crying?"

Sonic quickly shook his head. "No. Are my eyes red?"

"Yes."

"Must be my allergies."

Silver looked at Sonic- knowing full well that the blue speedster was lying- but he kept quiet.

Sonic got up and abruptly left the room. Knuckles looked at Silver, confused.

"Was it something I said?" the echidna said, completely clueless.

Silver sighed.

~Angel in The Night~

Sonic climbed to the roof. No one knows about the secret staircase, Sonic thought. No one knows I'm up here… he sat down, letting his tears out. Sonic wasn't sure how much time had pasted; how long he'd been up here. He assumed it was a while, since the sun had already set and stars dotted the sky, and the faint outline of the crescent-shaped moon showed through the clouds.

"Why are you crying?"

Sonic turned to see Shadow standing a few feet away from him.

"Shadow!" Sonic exclaimed. He blushed when he realized that Shadow saw him crying.

Shadow sat down next to him. "So?" he said.

"What?"

"Are you going to answer my question or not?"

Sonic smiled weakly. "I was thinking about a lot… of things…" he whispered.

Shadow smirked. "You know, you're not a very good liar."

Sonic noticed the scar on Shadow's face. Very slowly, Sonic reached up and gently touched the scarred tissue.

Shadow looked at Sonic. "It doesn't hurt as much."

"Why do you let him do this?" Sonic asked.

"I can't exactly stop him. He's stronger than me."

"You can live with us, if you want," Sonic offered.

"I don't want to be a burden. And, I think the more I'm around my father, the less he'll try to bother me."

Sonic frowned. "Suit yourself," was all he said.

Shadow was taken aback by the cobalt hedgehog's sudden change of personality. He's usually so stubborn.

Sonic blushed when he noticed how close their faces were. It would be so easy to close the gap between us… His muzzle turned an even deeper shade of red when Shadow moved closer to him.

Before Sonic realized what was happening, Shadow gently pressed his lips against his. The moment was short lived, when Shadow quickly stopped his actions and moved himself away from Sonic, a look of horror on his face.

"I'm sorry," Shadow said, shaking his head as he covered his mouth.

"Shadow, it's okay-" Sonic began, but Shadow had already left, the roof door slamming behind him.

This is shorter then I expected. The next chapter should be longer. In the next chapter we find out what exactly happens to Shadow behind closed doors…