List: Darkspine Sonic759, Therapy Angel, SilverDawn2010, Zeldaskeeper, and GalexiatheChao!

Thanks for the reviews, guys! I enjoyed 'em. And don't worry…I don't think I can write another long chapter like that for a LONG time. This chapter is like…I think half the pages I used that time. So you can breathe haha. But yeah, I had WAY too much fun with this chapter. So sue me; I think its Christmas. Onwards, march!

Chapter twenty-seven

Just Kiss Me

He woke up slowly, surely, to the sound of Amy's soft breathing beside him. Shifting, he curled into a ball, conserving the heat within the bed as he sighed, content. He lay like this for another minute or so, before he dared open one forest green eye and poke his nose out of the covers. Tiredly, he smiled as his gaze met a frost covered window, and he shivered, thankful to be in a warm house, where the heater was currently blowing even more warm air into the master bedroom. Yawning, he looked over towards the alarm clock, which read 6:47 A.M., and in the back of his mind, Sonic registered that it was 6:47 A.M. on Christmas morning.

Like a child he grinned, excitement growing from his warm toes up to his chilled nose. Again he shifted, and this time his gaze fell on Amy, his wife of almost two years, and he reached out a course hand, playing with her soft quills absently as he went through what today would be like.

First off, the presents with Amy, his two beautiful daughters, his sister-in-law, and his parent-in-laws. His eyes lit at the mere thought, excited for Kyler's reaction when she'd find a brand new tricycle and Violet's joy when she'd discover a new plush monkey (for she seemed to like monkeys these days, even at the tender age of thirteen months).

And then Amy's gift…he had had a hard time finding it. In fact, in the end, he had needed help from Cream and Jamie-who had become best friends a few years ago- on what to get her. He had never been good at the girly things; lotions and perfumes and what not, and as a boy, he wasn't expected to know which lotion rewarded a woman with the softest skin. But eventually he, Jamie, and Cream had managed to agree on the best scented perfume, and the best working lotions. Sure, it had been awkward, needing help from girls other than his wife (awkward didn't seem to cover it to Sonic), but it had been worth it, he figured. He hoped. And, along with the set of lotions and perfume, he had chosen by himself a rather expensive set of earrings with a necklace to go with them.

In a way, he was a bit nervous about her response to the gifts. But Cream had assured him multiple times that she'd love them, and that he shouldn't fret, so he tried to stay nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

Impatient, he sighed, wishing that could rush down the stairs like a child would and start the day off. But Amy wasn't necessarily an early riser-at least, she didn't wake up at 6:47. Sonic had no idea about her parents and sister, but he had a feeling they'd sleep in for a while themselves. Kyler and Violet weren't old enough to even know that Christmas was special, so that left them out.

He looked up to the ceiling then, bored, but not enough to risk getting cold and wet by running outside in the fresh snow. Besides, he wanted the snow to stay fresh and natural; to be perfect by the time Amy would eye it and rush for the camera to take a picture. He knew sooner or later he'd be forced to go outside by Amy anyhow, where she'd make him help her build a snowman or where they'd start a snowball fight. Unlike Sonic, Amy had always been a softy for the snow and the nippy air; she loved coming in later from frolicking outdoors to the warm hot chocolate by the fireplace that never died down during the cold season. Not long ago, Amy had told him that her favorite part of the day was when she laid in bed, warm and cozy, half asleep, half awake, and she only got this feeling during the cold spell. He smiled at the memory, realizing that even though he wasn't staring at her sleeping form any longer, he was still fiddling with her quills, and he stopped suddenly and turned back to her, smiling lovingly.

He wondered sometimes what life would be like without her; where he'd be at that exact moment if she had never been born. And the thought overpowered his brain at that moment as he gazed at her, wanting to kiss her lips that so enticed him, wanting to hold her in his strong arms…

Realizing that he was getting nowhere, the blue hedgehog sighed as he sat up, being careful to not arouse Amy as his toes hit the cold floor. Shivering, he reached for a nearby blanket that his wife wasn't using, and he wrapped himself in the warm fleece, allowing himself to be drawn in by Amy's cherry scent. Whenever Sonic mentioned this, however, she'd always say that the blanket was full of his scent, not hers, but he could never tell, nor did he care, for he could smell her no matter what she claimed. Inhaling deeply, he walked out of the bedroom slowly, still partially asleep as he made his way to the Kyler's bedroom down the hall. Christmas lights twinkled uncertainly as he passed through the hall, and he smiled as he recalled putting the lights up just before going to bed the night before. Last year, Kyler had seemed enthralled by the "pee'y colwers", as she pronounced them, so Sonic had decided to make a tradition of the lights every year and put them up along the walls and staircase the night before Christmas, when the children were in bed, unaware of him and his lights. Upon seeing him at work the night before, Amy had chuckled and wrapped her arms around his middle, burying her nose in his warm fur.

"You're so funny," she had murmured lovingly, making him blush. His face flushed again at the memory as he passed the exact area she had said this, where his heart had suddenly been overpowered with a surge of love for her, and she him.

Reaching Kyler's door that stood ajar, he pushed it open just enough to gaze in on her sleeping form. Even though she didn't share blood with Amy, Kyler reminded Sonic so much of his wife whenever she slept, the way she curled her fists similarly to how Amy sometimes did, the way her mouth twitched into a smile for a few seconds as a dream would suddenly turn out just the way she wanted it. He wanted to walk in and take his daughter's hand in his, marvel at how big her fingers had gotten over the past two years, but he held back, seeing himself as only a spectator as he made sure to see her small chest move up and down in a rhythm. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he moved away from the door, and headed towards Violet's room only one door down. Again, he looked into the child's dim room, making sure the baby breathed as she shifted slightly, cooing softly in her sleep. A smile found its way onto the father's lips as he continued staring in on her, knowing that someday soon, he would look again at his daughter and see her at the alter, madly in love with some random hedgehog Sonic probably didn't even know existed at the current time.

He shook his head at the thought, surprised that he was already thinking so far into the future when normally he lived one day at a time, finding that it was easier to get by that way. Stepping back from her door, Sonic looked around the hall absently, as if looking for something, and his eyes were surprised when they caught Amy, also wrapped in a blanket, looking dead tired as she walked slowly towards him. Catching his gaze, she smiled at him tiredly as she let out a yawn, and upon reaching him, she set her head down on his chest, closing her weary eyes.

"I didn't hear you get up," he whispered.

"I heard you," she whispered back, eying him from three inches below. "And the bed suddenly got so much colder…" Sonic smiled, kissing her forehead before wrapping her in his arms, allowing his body heat plus the two blankets to warm her as she yawned again.

"What're you doing up?" she asked in his chest. He only barely managed to hear.

"You know me," he quipped softly. "I'm an early riser, especially on the holidays." Amy gasped, suddenly remembering.

"It's Christmas, isn't it?" Her question sounded more like a statement, and Sonic nodded, excitement dancing in his olive eyes.

"Oughta be fun this year," Sonic said, his toes wiggling in anticipation, and Amy laughed quietly, burying her cold fingers in his fur.

"The girls are gonna love their presents this year," she added. "You did good."

"Don't I always?" he teased. Before she could answer he quite randomly kissed her, deeply, passionately, so glad to have finally gotten her like he had wanted five minutes earlier when he had watched her sleeping soundly. Eagerly she kissed back, her tired phase seeming to just vanish within the thin air surrounding the two, and she grabbed at his chest as he gently placed cold hands onto her waist, making her shiver, and he pulled her closer to himself, wanting more of her, more of this bliss called love. Love used to be a word he did not understand, but now love was to him something that could never be put to words, but something that could be felt everyday, through the little things and through the big things.

He was the first to break away, panting, his hunger waning but still present, still very much alive. He stared into her eyes, only partially open as she caught her breath, clutching his chest fur firmly yet tenderly, something only she could pull off.

"That was unexpected," she murmured softly, almost timidly, not wanting to ruin the moment, the intensity. Sonic merely nodded, pondering on whether or not to do it again, to kiss her until his lungs burst, but instead he tightened his grip on her, as if protecting her, and he hugged her long and hard.

"I know." His voice was husky and full of love. "But you loved every second of it." She giggled, realizing only then that their blankets had sometime or other fallen to the ground below, and she blushed, comprehending that she was warm enough as it was. Reluctantly she pulled away from him, taking his hand in hers, their blankets forgotten outside of Violet's bedroom as she led him downstairs into the living room.

"What're you doing?" he voiced, still in a daze from earlier as he stumbled along behind her. Reaching the living room, she plopped down on the couch, reached for a present, and handed it to the stunned hedgehog.

"I'm too excited to wait," she giggled back, bouncing in her seat as he sat down beside her, their legs touching, and he took the present from her hands. He hardly even thought about asking if maybe they should wait for the rest of the family as he ripped the wrapping paper from the box, hands shaking in anticipation. Adrenaline still rushing through his system, he opened the box as carefully as he could, and he was surprised when he pulled out a blue alarm clock, which appeared to have water in it.

"What's this?" he asked, confused, and Amy laughed beside him, grabbing onto his shoulders.

"An alarm clock," she answered. "An alarm clock with water in it."

"What?"

Amy put a hand to her mouth, trying to keep herself from bursting out with laughter, for she didn't want to wake her parents, sister, or the girls.

"You heard me," she continued when she could speak again. "Since you smashed the last alarm clock, I figured if I bought us-you specifically- an alarm clock made of water, you wouldn't break it for fear of getting water all over you." Sonic gaped at her, holding the odd gift loosely, and she giggled again. "Your welcome."

"You were the one who broke the last alarm clock!" Sonic protested, not angry but still going through shock. "Why torture me?"

"Aw, now come now. First off, you know you broke it, and second off, you love the gift." She rubbed his shoulders lovingly, resting her head on them as she peered down at the alarm clock. Slowly, Sonic shook his head in disbelief, and he chuckled.

"Fine," he muttered, still chuckling. "Fine, it's cool at least. Thanks, Ames."

"I knew you'd like it." She leaned down and kissed him, luring him in, but then she pulled away, giggling again at the pouty look he sent her way. Sighing a sigh of content, Sonic got up from his seat, put the alarm clock down on the ground, and he reached for one of Amy's gifts, holding in securely in his hand as he sat back down.

"I needed help with most of your gifts," he admitted shyly (if Sonic could ever be shy, that is), and he handed her the small box. "But this one I managed to find myself. I'm pretty proud of it, I must say." Amy rolled her eyes jokingly, and ripped off the wrapping paper quickly, excitedly, and her eyes met another box. Slowly, she opened it, and inside laid a beautiful light blue and white necklace made of some soft of crystal, with a matching pair of earrings. She gasped, putting a hand to her heart, and she hardly heard Sonic chuckle beside her.

"Oh, Sonic, it's beautiful!" she cried out, turning to him, her look saying it all.

"No need to thank me-" Sonic started, but then Amy was hugging him, glomping him to be precise, just like the good old days as he liked to call them, and he laughed out loud, trying hard to breath underneath her weight as he fell over backwards onto the couch.

"Thank you, sweetie," she murmured, kissing his cheek, and she pulled away, giggling at his look full of fake annoyance.

"Gosh, Ames, it wasn't that good of a gift," Sonic muttered, rubbing the cheek she had kissed in a bemused fashion. He sat up just enough so that he could breathe again, Amy sitting in his lap awkwardly. "But whatever. Glad ya like it so much."

"Of course I do," she stated simply, calming herself down. Sighing giddily, she was about to get up off of him, when Sonic reached out, grasping her face in his hands, blushing madly as he stared at her, seeming suddenly amazed.

"What is it?" she whispered, sensing a change in his mood as he caressed her cheeks softly, him blinking, looking confused and shocked.

"I just…" His words were thoughtful yet awkward, loving yet confused. "It's been so long since I've really…looked at you. I mean, I watch ya sleeping in the morning, and I see your face in passin'…and I did kiss ya." Here he paused, recalling the moment only ten minutes earlier, his face turning redder as the time proceeded. "But I…" Giggling softly, Amy reached up and put a finger over his lips, grinning.

"Stop," she murmured. "Stop talking and just kiss me already. You're better at that than talking about feelings."

A wide grin broke out on Sonic's muzzle, and he quickly leaned into her, loving the way her lips moved so well with his. Eagerly she wrapped her arms around his spiny back, not at all concerned about getting pricked since his guard was down, and he responded only by pulling her closer, by gripping onto her around the waist so tightly that there was no hope for her to escape even if she wanted to. He was like an addict: so absorbed was he by the way she felt in his arms and the way their tongues interacted that whatever lay in the outside world became nothing more than a blur; nothing more than a thing in his distant memory. It was like running with the wind, he mused, somewhere in the back of his mind. Like running, when everything was clear yet not, when everything was beautiful in ways others might not understand, when he was so full of energy and joy that he got lost-lost within himself on runs, but lost within Amy here, on Christmas day, when he and Amy were the only two alive.

He didn't know when he pulled away-and she didn't know either. But when he did, his thoughts were a whirlwind. What to say, to this woman before him, that he had learned to love with such passion? What could possibly turn her head, make her blush?

"I love you," he whispered, so full of this love, a concept he didn't know how he had survived without, years ago. "I love you. Do you know that?"

"I thought I said not to talk," she murmured back, obviously teasing, her voice chalked full of emotion. "But I love you too. An' I always will."

"Merry Christmas," he said, so quiet, so uncharacteristic. "And in five days, I'll say Happy New Year. And than two months and fourteen days after that-"

"You're ruining the moment," she giggled, burying her face inside his chest, a wave of love washing through her. This man that held her so close-when had he grown to become one? A man, that is? She could've sworn that last she checked, he was still that cocky little teenager she had crushed on. And then, he really hadn't changed; only grown into a lover. Something so foreign to him, not too long ago.

"But that's okay," she continued, reluctantly pulling away as her ears adjusted to sounds beside Sonic's deep breathing next to her- the sound of a running shower, the sound of stragglers waking to this beautiful morning. "Because it makes you funny." Sonic grinned cockily, allowing her to sit up, stand, and stretch. "But now…you ready for Christmas to begin? With everyone and not just us?"

"I suppose," he answered, winking as he stood. "Besides, I'm starvin'. We got any grub in this house?" She laughed, free and light, and he took her hand as they made their way into the kitchen, starting the day anew, the last however long it had been between them another whole day in the past. Because it deserved to be a whole other day to itself.

The sun streamed in through the kitchen window, announcing the morning, announcing the magic Christmas brought out of everyone. Sonic grinned, excitement growing, excited for this new day.

'Let it begin…'