Author: I do not own any of the Sega characters, but I do own Ella the Hedgehog.

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That incident haunted me everyday after it occurred and still does to this day. I slowly started coming back to reality. I noticed my face was wet…Had I been crying? I also realized Rouge had me in an embrace. Was I really that zoned out to not focus on my surroundings? More tears creeped down my cheeks. Rouge looked me in my eyes..

"Amy, are you alright?' her voice filled with concern. I looked at Ella and Blaze, they too were worried. Ella had tears at the corners of her eyes, ready to flow.

"Do-Don't worry, I'll be fine." I said as I quickly wiped my tears away.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Blaze asked.

"Not at the moment…" I told her, hoping she would understand. Blaze just smiled which gave me some relief and we continued walking down the path to my house again.

I had moved houses recently, I wanted to start over with a new life. The moment I saw this one, I instantly fell in love. A garden surrounded the house which blossomed orange lilies and sunflowers in the summer. A white stone path which lead to the front porch with a swing. I turned the key and the door opened to the front hall. I walked over to the kitchen while everyone settled in the living room.

"Amy, would you like any help?" Ella asked.

"I got it, thanks" I said taking out a bag of marshmellows and dumping them into the four cups of hot chocolate. I carefully put them on a tray and carried them off to the living room. Everyone took their own and we went back to conversing.

"So, where have you all been for the last 2 years?" I asked them.

"The missions from G.U.N have had my hands full and so has Knuckles. He cannot keep his hands off me." Rouge winked at us. We all giggled at her story.

"I needed a break from all the drama so me and Silver stayed in New Jersey for awhile." Blaze smiled.

"And Amy…" Rouge smirked at me. I had it coming anyways, "..do you have someone special in mind?"

I gave a short laugh, "Not at the moment, I'm not really interested." I lied.

"Who wouldn't want to be with a girl like you, Ames?" Rouge smiled, "..with you all grown up, you'll have some eyes watching you."

"Thanks, Rouge." I rolled my eyes and smiled.

We all looked at Ella. She really had changed, her usual, short ponytail was now long, wavy locks. Her misty grey eyes were now a gorgeous silver and in the light, they glittered. Her sidebangs, which were now below her chin, framed her pretty little face.

"Well…I've been handling a job." Her voice slowly turning into a whisper.

"A job?...What kind of job?" I asked.

"Actually I had been staying with my friend, Bailey, to take care of her because she had broken her while walking down her stairs. So she was out of her job 'till her leg healed so I decided to take her place so she wouldn't lose her job." Ella told us. She was such a kind hearted person.

"Where did you work?" asked Blaze.

"I worked at a café called Barcelona. I played the piano there while people dined. You would not believe how much I loved that job. Getting praise from staff and customers, playing requests for lovers and watching children dance around with each other and their family." She let out a soft sigh, "It was heaven."

We giggled at her dreaming face, "Ella, you're such a hopeless romantic!" Rouge laughed.

Ella then fluttered her eyelashes and returned back to Earth.

"What happened after your friend's leg was fully recovered?" I asked.

"When she recovered, she was given back her job, I thought they would let me go but they said they couldn't let someone go with good talent. So I got the evening shift. Bailey doesn't get very stressed out anymore." She smiled.

"Well, good to know that story had a happy ending!" Rouge grinned

"Come to think of it, I have heard of the café, Barcelona, before. We should go there one day, I'd love to hear you play, Ella." I said with a little excitement in my voice.

"I would love you all to come!" Ella's smile grew.

"And we could bring the guys along too!" added Blaze.

Ella's smile turned into a sheepish smile and a blush appeared upon her cheeks.

"Someone's blushing" Rouge began to teased her, "Do you like a certain someone?"

Ella's blush grew some more.

"Um…I…yes I do." She looked at us with a shy grin. I decided to fool around.

"Who is it? Silver?" I asked her. Blaze turned towards me and glared at me. I backed off with a smug smile.

"No…it's…Sonic..." Ella told as she played with her bracelets. She looked at back us only to see our brightly lit faces. I was so happy for them, and their shy little conversation back at the cross street gave them up.

"Did you tell him about how you feel?" Rouge's smile grew.

"There's actually more to the previous story." Ella gave a small grin.

"Well, tell us! I'm so curious!" Blaze said excited.

Ella cleared her throat and continued her story…

2 years ago…

"What a night! That was the best karaoke night, right Mackenzie?" I laughed as I cleaned the piano.

"Just amazing! The little girl and her father made me so emotional." said a blonde hedgehog with auburn eyes. Here eyes scanned around for the clock and they shoot open, "Oh no!"

I gave her a questioning look.

"My date! He's picking me up in 15 minutes! This is just great!" she sighed in frustration.

"I can close up for tonight…it won't be a big deal" I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Really, Ella? Thank you so much!" she hugged me, "I owe you!"

She grabbed her things, waved goodbye and ran out of the café. I was all alone. I finished cleaning up the last few tables and hanging the clean wine glass upside on rack. I took out my bag from my personal locker in the staff lounge and closed it up. As I passed the piano, I got the huge urge to play one more song.

"A little music won't hurt before closing up…" I smiled as I placed my things beside the piano bench. I decided to play a composition called Letting Go by Roy Todd. I let fingers flow with the melody. Playing to yourself was such an amazing feeling. I heard a small chime of bells but I ignored it, thinking it was probably the wind. I began playing the melody louder and soon the whole café was filled with music. This song inspired me to let go of the worst and look forward to the best. The soft melody was refreshing and sweet. The song was done…

Then I realized I was not alone. I heard the clapping of hands and almost jumped out of my skin. I slowly turned around and…

"Sonic?..." I whispered.

There he sat slowly clapping his hands with a smile on his face. How long has he been sitting there? I was so focused on my song that I was oblivious of his presence. There was so much happiness building up in my body that I got off the stage and ran over to him. He stood up and held me in his arms.

"Ella…I'm so happy to see you again.." he spoke. I hadn't heard his voice in a long time, "..I never knew you played piano."

I felt a blush tingling up my cheeks and turned my face away from Sonic, embarrassed, "I'm still learning, I haven't gotten some of the chords right."

"I think it was beautiful." he whispered in my ear. I turned to him, his smile was making my heart flutter. For the first time, I've never been so attracted to someone. For the first time, I saw how handsome and different Sonic was.

For the rest of the night, we talked about our lives, as we drank hot chocolate. We left the café before midnight.

"Need a ride, Ella?" Sonic asked.

"If it's oka-!" I was cut off when Sonic lifted me off my feet and ran at full speed. Everything was so fast, I closed my eyes as tight as I could.

Finally we stopped. He placed me on my front step of my house.

"Heh, was I too fast?" Sonic asked, nervous.

"Maybe, a little." I giggled.

"I'd love to see you again, Ella…"

"Why are you stopping?! There has got to be more!" Rouge interrupted.

"Can I at least have a drink? My throat is so dry." Ella as giggled as she drank her hot chocolate. She let out a soft sigh. "So back to where we were…"

After that night, Sonic and me met up a couple of times. We went to the café and walked in the park. My feelings were growing stronger for him everyday. Then one night, I got home early and heard someone knocking on the door. I went outside to see who it was and then I was pulled behind a bush. I was about to scream when I saw that it was Sonic…

"Be very quiet." He whispered.

"Why? What's happening?" I whispered back.

"I heard Eggman's robots are causing just south of here and I have to go take care of that Egghead." he told me.

"Are some lurking around here?"

"Nope, none at all."

Then why are we hiding?

"Just for fun." He grinned.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed with a smile. I was about to get up when a gentle grip was upon my shoulder which held me down.

"But Ella, I do have something to tell you.." he looked right in my eyes. I saw some sadness in his eyes, something was wrong, "I won't be here anymore…"

I felt my heart sink, "Why?..."

"If I stay, Eggman will end up terrorizing this part of town and I don't want anyone to get hurt, especially you…" his voice turned into a whisper, "Ella, I know the times we fought in battles together and the past few days weren't much but I've grown feeling for you and I believe it's beyond a crush. I love you, Ella…"

He said them. The words I'd been longing to hear. I placed my hand on his cheek and slowly closed the space between us. His lips moved with mine. The feeling was sweet and I never wanted it to end, but now I was with Sonic and I knew after this night, he would not forget me…

Amy P.O.V

I felt jovial yet jealous for Ella. When I was younger, I would chase Sonic around asking him to return my love. I look back and see a silly child whose feelings took control of head. I loved being single, I felt so free and I always denied that any guy would stroll along into my life. But as the years went by I grew lonely. I had my friends and I loved them but I need someone to call my own, to love, to laugh with and cry with.

"I noticed you and Sonic in your in lovely dovey scene by the cross light, what was that all about?" I smiled.

Ella gave a small smile, "Well, Sonic took me aside and talked with me. He apologized for not keeping in touch and said that he still loves me and will always be by my side. Sonic knew I was upset with him for being away for so long. 1 year separate and we still love eachother…"

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Author: This was the song Ella played at the café: .com/watch?v=ZTK3FCHYrJY