-----------------------------------Flash back------------------------------------------------

Maria Set the bleach white plate down on the steel table, a stack of pancakes on the plate, syrup on the side; the steel table in the eating quarters of the Space colony. Many tables were in the eating quarters. It resembled a children's cafeteria in a way, only more grown up.
"Dig in!" Maria said with a sweet smile on her face.
Shadow looked at the pancakes and poked it with his fork.
"That liquid turned into this?" he asked, bewildered.
"Yeah, see cooking can do a lotta things"
Shadow poked it again and blinked, it was the first time he saw pancakes.
"Well go on, have a bite." Maria watched shadow in anticipation.
"Well ok" Shadow replied, cutting a slice of the pancake and slowly putting it in his mouth.
Maria blinked, curious as ever.
Shadow chewed the pancake, testing its flavor, he wasn't gonna swallow just anything. He had to make sure it wouldn't be a mistake. Shadow looked to the side of the room, then to the other, and swallowed. His face literally glowed, he grabbed the plate wildly and stuffed the pancakes in his mouth, and his mouth was so full; he could barely chew.
Maria giggled "your welcome, I'll go get… uhh shadow?" she looked a little worried.
Shadow ran passed her in a flash and grabbed another pancake from the kitchen, he looked back at her and put his pointer finger up (Which is sign language for "one sec" in case some of you don't know what it means.) and swallowed some of the pancakes already in his mouth, his mouth was still fool, but you could still see his cheeks protrude. Shadow took the pancake and stuffed it in his mouth with a devious look in his eyes.
"Oh shadow" maria started to laugh at the change in shadows behavior.
Shadow swallowed the pancake, "What?" he asked, like nothing happened.
"Nothing nothing" Maria waved her hand in front of her giggling.
Shadow shrugged and grabbed another pancake.

--15 minutes later—

Shadow falls to the floor "ugh… I feel like I ate a whole cow"
Maria sat up from a chair with something hidden behind her back "well usually people eat 4 or 5, you ate 27 silly" Maria giggled again.
"What's so funny?" he asked eyeing her.
"You silly" maria pulled a pillow out from behind her and smacked shadow on his face.
"Hey! Hey!" Shadow roared and got up.
Maria giggled and ran away, as Shadow chased her, a smile fading onto his face. They were like toddlers in a playground, playing like nothing mattered, because there was nothing to matter, nothing to waste your worries on, they had each other, and it was enough.

------------------------------------End Flash Back---------------------------------------------------

"Well we're here" Rouge stood at the bridge to the boat. She looked back at shadow "Yooohooo Shadow? Earth to Shadow?" she motioned her hand in front of his face.
Shadow opened his eyes and flinched a little.
"Something on your mind?" Rouge asked.
"No… Nothing, forget about it" Shadow said, walking up the bridge.
Rouge put her hands on her hips annoyed, and flew up the bridge, following him.
The ship was painted a magnificent white, you could clearly tell it apart from the other ships, from its beauty. And it was pretty big too. It could hold more then 200 people aboard, but in this occasion, only 9 would vacation on the cruise.
"So this is where we'll be staying for a week?" Rouge looked around. "Not to shabby, I wonder where the hot tubs are…"
A man walked down the steps from a higher deck, wearing a red suit, red pants, he was fancy, even had one of those golden clocks. He had slick brown hair, along with brown eyes. He looked pretty tan, but also he looked a little… Italian?
"Good morning you two, welcome to the cruise ship. You're the first to arrive, but defiantly not the last." He smiled.
"That's no surprise" Rouge joked.
Shadow crossed his arms.
The man turned and motioned his arms for one of the workers to come to him for assistance. A tubby man came running down the stairs, he was dressed more casual, a white T-shirt and jeans.
"There you are Ralph, go show these two their rooms" The man turned back to the two, "My names Captain Benigo, but you can just call me Ben. I'm the captain of this ship. But since the ship basically drives itself, I'm more of a keep things in order, and answer your questions kind of guy. So tell me if you have any questions, I'll see you later." He waved and walked down to the bridge entrance.
"So a tour before I show you the rooms? Or the rooms and no tour?" Ralph asked yawning.
"Nah honey, I'll explore this place myself." Rouge smirked.
Shadow gave a cold stare to Ralph, waiting for him to quit the chit chat, and show them to their rooms.
Ralph got uneasy and turned around "Follow me"

"No no no Amy, please it's not nessasarry!" Sonic pleaded, as Amy pushed Sonic up the bridge
"YOU ARE GOING ON THIS CRUISE, AND THAT'S FINAL" She growled.
"BUT THERE'S WATER EVERYWHERE!" Sonic yelped.
A fish flopped over sonic's head, water splashing on his forhead.
"Ahh! Get it off me!" he yelled startled.
Amy hit him with her hammer, and he fell down unconscious. Amy dragged him up the bridge and onto the ship.
"Oh this place looks soo romantic, doesn't it Sonikku?" Amy smiled looking at the out cold Sonic.
"Good mor- what happened to our hero? Did he get sea sick too early?" Benigo asked.
Amy tapped her foot "He's just tired" Amy looked away.
"Erm.. well… We'll have to get him to a nice bed right away then!"
Amy's eyes lit up "Of course!"
"I'll escort you two they're myself, after all he is the biggest hero on this ship, he disserves to be escorted by the captain!"
"You're the captain?" Amy said in wonder.
"Yup your looking at the captain of the best ship around!"
"Well we're honored to be here! Right Sonikku?" Amy smiled nodding Sonic's head. "He says yes."
Benigo laughed a little. "Ok this way!"
"Here it is" Ralph opened the door to the room, revealing its elegance, the beds looked like dream beds, the furnature looked like it was made out of gold and silver. Crystal vaces were present in the room as well. There were even couches, and a TV in the room. The bathroom had a bath tub with jets, along with a beautiful shower, with marble walls.
Rouge's eyes lit up "it's gorgeous! …Are they all the same?" She asked half eyed.
"..Umm.. Well most are the same.. There are some master sweets but… but we only save those for.. umm hor- honey moons…" Ralph explained a little sweaty.
"Surely you could spare one for me? None of us are getting married anyway…." She got a little closer to Ralph.
Shadow's attention turned from the room to Rouge and Ralph.
"I um.. eh.." Ralph grew more uneasy from the two.
The awkward situation was broken by a large shout.
"MARRIED?!" Amy shouted "Oh captain, Sonic and I would love one of those master suites, We've been thinking about marriage and it'd be just the thing for us!" Amy exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with the same crazed intentions as usual.
"uh… Certainly!" Benigo responded also a little uneasy. "Ralph, show Rouge to a master room as well, and Shadow too if he wants one-"
Shadow interrupted "I'll pass" he said coldly, slamming the door to his room.
"What's his problem?" Ralph asked out loud on accident.
"Don't worry honey, he's always grumpy" Rouge exclaimed.
"But w-why?" Ralph asked.
"Ya got me" Rouge shrugged. "Now lets see that master place."
Benigo and Ralph lead the two girls to the master suites, including Sonic, who had been dragged by Amy all this time.
The master rooms were a lot bigger, with one big bead full of cushions. There were even windows, and a chandler that looked like it was made out of diamonds.

----in rouge's room----
"Now this I can get used to" Rouge said floating next to the chandler, holding one of the diamond pieces.

---in sonic and amy's room—
Sonic was sleeping on the bed, covered by the soft silky covers, he looked so comfy, so peaceful.
Amy locked the door. "There's no escape now Sonikku" She smirked giving a little snicker.

---in shadow's room---
Shadow locked the door as soon as he had entered it; he took a walk around the room then jumped onto the bed.
"I hope I won't regret this. The sea goes on for miles" Shadow laid down and drifted off to sleep.

------ back at the bridge ---------

"So that damn captain greets Sonic but not me? That show off" Knuckles clenched his fists with anger.
"I'm sure the captain will greet us knuckles. ehehehe" Tails said with a sweat drop running down face.
"Maybe we came too early?" cream asked.
"Chao!" cheese agreed.
Tails looked to cream. "Could be" tails smiled.
"Why hello there! I just escorted your friend Sonic-" Bengo was cut off by knuckles
"SONIC AND I AREN'T FRIENDS, GOT IT?!" Knuckles stomped his foot on the ships floor.
Benigo waved his hand "oh I'm sorry, I assumed everyone invited was his friend."
"Yeah well think again pal!" Knuckles mumbled.
"Hi there" tails put his hand up. "This ship is amazing, I read about it on the internet, it can go pretty fast for a big boat" Tails chuckled. "I'm Miles "Tails" Prower, but you can call me Tails. I'm Sonic's best buddy" Tails smiled putting his hand out.
Benigo shook Tails's hand "And you can call me Ben, I'm the Captain of this ship."
Cream curtsied "it's very nice to meet you mr. Captain sir"
"chao!" the chair clapped cheerfully.
Benigo laughed a little. "Well it's nice to meet you too, what's you name?
"Oh, my names Cream, and this is my friend Cheese" Cream looked up at cheese.
"it's nice to meet you all. Ralph here can show you all to your rooms, Sonic's already in his room with Amy, he's sleeping now, he was pretty knocked out when he got here" Benigo laughed.
Tails and Cream stared in fright.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Benigo asked.
Knuckles snickered.
Ralph came up beside Benigo, "Should I show them to their rooms?"
Benigo gave Ralph a thumbs up with a smile.
"Follow me" Ralph said, guiding them all to their rooms.