THE SEVEN

Act II: THE FALL

Track 11: Wheel in the Sky︎

︎ ︎ ︎ ︎LOS ANGELES, 1977

GRAMMY AWARDS CEREMONY

"Are you excited?!"

Amy sighed, resting her head on the couch of the hotel she was staying in for the night. She moved out of her old hotel room, and now she was hopping around on tour buses and the like as the tour progressed.

Tonight, was Grammys night.

She listened to Tangle squealing on the other end, and while she was slightly dreading the ceremony, she was elated that she and Tangle were working on each other.

"You know – I don't know! Gosh, I mean – it seems like we've made it. But I keep getting the feeling that no matter what it's gonna crash and burn all over."

"Oh, goodness Amy, you always think that! It's gonna be great! It's music's biggest night, and gosh – I really wish I could've been there. I'm so sorry I'm in Westopolis and I can't be your date."

Amy giggled. "Don't be sorry. I hope everything's going okay there. I'm so sorry about Whisper, babe."

She heard a sigh over the phone, and it cracked Amy's heart.

TANGLE: Record label didn't want any rumors. [She shakes her head]. It was everything I wanted in life, and it cost the best thing that ever happened to me. Whisper and I were still close through all of it, but not in the same way. Yeah, it was heartbreaking – but that's putting it lightly. [She pauses]. It felt like a part of me died.

"One day. I'm holdin' out for one day."

"You guys will fix it. I know you will."

"How's everything with you and Sonic though, Ames? You told me about what happened last night and I – I mean, gosh, I saw you on television. I had chills all over me! I can't imagine how you felt, though."

Amy sighed, tying the telephone cord around her arm. She rubbed her eyes, shaking her head to quickly regain composure.

"You know what? It doesn't matter. Tonight, is my night. It's our night. Fuck it."

"That's my girl. That's right."

︎KNUCKLES: A whole bunch of fucking Grammys, man.

SHADOW: We were nominated for Album of the Year, and Best New Artist.

AMY: Guilt Over Me got nominated for Record of the Year. I was so fucking proud of that one. A song I had written all by myself, and it was nominated. It's such a powerful song as well, considering…you know. It just – I don't know, it really felt amazing.

SILVER: They nominated us for Best Pop Group Vocal for the Selene song – which was always kind of an odd category for me, I thought?

SONIC: And, of course, Here We Are Now got nominated for fucking Song of the Year. [He laughs]. God, I still hated that damn song.

TAILS: Espio, Cosmo, Sonic, Amy and I all got nominated for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist, as well as Best Production on an Album. It was huge! I mean, I was blown away. First of many.

COSMO: Cheers to that! [She ruffles Tails' head].

When the band arrived in the limousine, the boys all got out first. Silver, Knuckles, and Shadow couldn't stop hollering like a bunch of fools, dancing around as the cameras snapped photos and the fans went wild.

Sonic was next, and on his arm, was Sally – clad in an utterly perfect purple dress. She leaned her head on his shoulder, rubbing her nose onto her neck.

Yet all the fans screaming for Sonic caught her attention, earning a laugh from the chipmunk.

SONIC: We got asked to open the show with a 10-minute set. That rarely happened. We made sure it was the best set possible too. Amy was still fresh off…the incident in Seaside Hill, so I think we all wanted to take it easy. Not me. I knew Amy could handle it. She was back, and she was better than ever.

"You know what I think is bullshit?!" Blaze spat, exhaling after chugging down a bottle of whiskey. Rouge and Amy turned to her, the three girls arriving in a separate limo.

"The guys are all wearing those boring ass tuxedos, and we have to break our backs with designers to even look passable. It's fucking crazy what men can get away with."

Rouge chuckled, "I know, but I mean, come on. Look what Honey did for us."

"I know, I know. It's just pissing me off, yet again."

Amy smiled, brushing her hair. Rouge turned to her, gesturing.

"I mean, do you see Amy? Girl, I think everyone's going to fucking die."

S: Do you remember what Amy was wearing that night?

SONIC: Not as well as everyone seems to think.

SHADOW: Is that what he said? [He snorts].

BLAZE: Sonic couldn't take his eyes off her the entire night. There's no way he doesn't remember, and that's not just him – nobody could take their eyes off of her.

AMY: Everybody in the media expected me to wear this long, boring dress. So, I didn't. I had this plunging neckline, denim dress that exposed my legs, and basically my entire fucking body. I wanted to make an impression, and I did. It's like I said to myself – I wasn't the muse, and I wasn't the inspiration. I was the somebody. End of fucking story.

SILVER: Oh, I mean, I thought Blaze was the most gorgeous, but Amy was definitely killing it. It was like a revenge dress.

ROUGE: The biggest fuck you to her ex-husband. The biggest fuck you to anyone who wrote her off. I still get chills thinkin' about how good she looked.

Amy grabbed Rouge's arm, squeezing it. "You okay? You seem out of it."

Rouge groaned, laying her head on Amy's shoulder. "Who do you think?"

Blaze sighed, "What's the issue now?"

Rouge threw her hands up, her long black gloves bejeweled with rings. "What isn't the problem? He's a damn drunk. I have to start drinking like a maniac just to keep up with him!"

"Is that really all it is, Rouge?" Blaze asked, giving her a knowing glance. Rouge sighed, rubbing her face.

"No, that damn lighting director. He always drinks with her because when we drink together, we always fight, and before you say anything, yes, I'm jealous. Please don't tease me."

Amy snorted, "No one's going to tease you. Maybe you guys…need a break?"

"It's not working, Rouge," Blaze whispered, "You're not bringing the best out of each other. You know he's only going to get fucked up tonight."

Rouge nodded, "Maybe we should. I don't know – I love him to death. When things are great, they're so fucking great, and then immediately they're shit. It's brutal, girls. It's brutal."

Amy and Blaze chuckled, grabbing onto Rouge and laying their head on her shoulders. The bat reached her hands up, cupping both of their faces with a gentle squeeze.

When the limo arrived, they groaned and forced themselves out, immediately waving to the screaming fans and paparazzi.

But when they saw Amy?

All bets were off.

SHADOW: She wanted to impact everyone and make them go fucking nuts, and she succeeded.

S: What do you mean she succeeded?

SHADOW: Sonic was out of his mind the entire night.

︎BLAZE: First was the red carpet, and it was insane. Paparazzi and cameras flashing, telling you how to stand, how to smile – "Over here!" "This way!" "Look over here!" "Not like that!". Jesus, it was terrible. I've never been good at it.

Silver remembers squeezing Blaze's hand in her black gown, keeping her from losing her mind. Silver smiled, leaning down to whisper affirmations in her ear.

Knuckles had his arm around Rouge's waist, yet they didn't look thrilled to be there together. Clearly, they were reeling from the fight, and yet they had to try and put their best face on for the paparazzi.

Amy, however, was a different story.

She looked incredible, and yet she was panicking like a ticking time bomb. She whipped her head about, trying to respond to every shout from the paparazzi as she felt her feet sinking deeper and deeper into the red carpet. It was mayhem.

Then she looked at Sonic, and he winked.

SONIC: People don't always understand what kind of connection we had. People couldn't really tell she was spiraling, but I could. She didn't need to tell me how she was feeling. I knew.

Her put his arm around her, moving small circles on her lower back, attempting to make his breathing louder so she could cling onto it. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing her own breathing to synchronize with his.

AMY: That picture of him winking at me is infamous. Honestly? It's not even the worst thing. He was just trying to make me feel comfortable. He told me he always had my back – it was true. It's always been true.

She appreciated him, and yet she was still reeling from their last encounter.

She was angry, sure, but she knew it was irrational. At the same time, she was devastated, and she knew that wasn't irrational in the slightest.

She loved him, and she knew he did too – but they'd never say it.

It wouldn't be.

Yet he could still remind her to breathe into the moment with a single touch. He could quell her fears, and she appreciated him endlessly for that.

S: Where were you when this was happening?

SALLY: I was backstage watching.

S: Did anything pop out at you? Such as…

SALLY: No, not really. Sonic and Amy were getting along better, and she had just gotten through a tough divorce and survived an overdose. I was happy he could be there for her. Sure, I always had my suspicions, but it's like I said – I understood the connection because I had one similar. I just had to keep my head on. So did he.

It was Amy's turn to go onto the carpet alone, and she could only take a deep breath to calm the rising anxiety in her body. Before Sonic left, he turned around, taking her hands in his.

"Are you sure you can do this?" He whispered, attempting to keep them from view of the paparazzi.

Amy took a deep breath, shaking her head with a cocky smile. "Fuck yes. Fuck yes, I can. I'm Amy fucking Rose."

Sonic smirked, nodding as he turned away to let her walk the carpet.

He didn't meet up with the band, though. He watched her the entire time. He didn't have the guts to look away. She was driving him insane with how she looked, and yet he also knew that he needed to resist.

Giving into her was giving into the same behaviors that nearly destroyed him.

He wished it could be different, and yet he knew he didn't want it to be different.

SILVER: I mean, gosh, the way he was looking at her. He was mesmerized. The paparazzi went crazy for the both of them, and I remember feeling badly about all of it. The way he comforted her, the way he looked at her, the way she looked at him – it all just terrified me. Especially seeing that it was my big brother. I think that was the scariest part.

Amy stood with the band as Sonic walked Sally down the red carpet. She had to try and join the band's questions, yet she couldn't stop watching them.

They looked…so damn happy, and it killed her. The way he held onto her, the way she held onto him, the way they looked at each other.

It almost got too much, but there were people watching.

She needed to keep it cool.

That's all she could've done.

Blaze held onto Silver, who stared at her longingly. She sighed, rubbing the hair from her eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" Silver asked, earning a small groan from Blaze.

"No, I'm just – not comfortable. That's all."

"I'm sorry, love," He whispered, leaning down to kiss her on the head. When she pulled back, he stopped, scrunching his face in surprise.

"Uhm, I'm sorry – I didn't-"

"No, it's fine, Silver," Blaze sighed, not looking at the hedgehog, "I just don't want that right now."

"Okay. Is there anything I can do to help?

"No."

The curtness of the cat surprised Silver, who was slightly taken aback. "Blaze, did I do something wrong?"

"No, Silver," Blaze groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose, "There's just – I don't need you to comfort me. It's fine."

"Okay, but you don't seem fine."

"Look, it's just shitty being in this industry as a woman and being judged harder than a man and having to work ten times harder. Like, the way they were talking to me, Rouge, and Amy on the carpet? It's just fucking frustrating, and I'm sorry, but there's nothing you can do to magically make that better."

"Well, I could at least try and comfort you-"

"You couldn't," Blaze said, "There isn't something magic you can say to make it better. I just need you to understand, alright? You're not going to understand completely, obviously, but I need you to at least just understand that this is bigger than us, okay? It's bigger than me just being in a bad mood, or being in an anxious mood, okay?"

Silver sighed, nodding as his brow furrowed. He felt his heart crack slightly, wishing there was something he could do to make it better.

But he couldn't because she was right – he didn't understand.

He just wishes he could do something for her the way Sonic gets to comfort Amy – who weren't even together.

They made it backstage to speak to a journalist, who began to grill them quite quickly.

He was a tall falcon, jotting down notes as the band sat around him, all feeling an uncomfortable wave of tension.

He turned to Sonic first, gesturing to Amy.

"She's breathtaking, isn't she?"

Sonic froze, and Amy immediately turned to look at him.

KNUCKLES: I don't know what he was on because it took him like – an entire ten seconds to answer.

SONIC: I believe I said, "I mean, she's Amy Rose."

AMY: Yeah. That's what he said.

SILVER: He starts asking about the album and the tour, but we can all tell he's just burning through the questions so he can ask us what he really wants to ask us.

"Is it true Amy and Sonic don't get along?"

The band was stunned, all exchanging nervous glances. Sonic and Amy didn't look at each other, but the wincing of their faces gave it away.

Silver cleared his throat, opting to snatch this one and help his brother out. "That's not true, they definitely get along. They just…get carried away sometimes?"

Shadow laughed quietly. "Sometimes I think they get along a lot more then we think."

Before Sonic could turn to Shadow, the journalist began once more. "Do you still think Amy is a headcase?"

"I never thought she was a headcase."

"But, you said-"

"I'm aware of what's written. No, I do not think she is a headcase, nor do I think she is anything else I said. She is an incredible person, and an incredible talent. She makes everything better."

ROUGE: Come to think of it – we were not properly trained to talk to journalists. I do not think we were helping our case at all that night. Any of us.

"So, Amy, is it true you're getting a divorce?"

Knuckles noticed Sonic tense at the question, and Amy cleared her throat. "Could be."

"So, maybe you'll be walking away with more than a trophy tonight?" The journalist asked with the wiggle of an eyebrow, causing Blaze to groan quietly.

BLAZE: Such a fucking disrespectful question to ask.

SONIC: I was upset about that. I don't remember why exactly, but I was.

Amy smirked. "The only thing I'm walking home with tonight are six fucking Grammy's."

They were backstage, preparing to open the show, and Amy was slightly spiraling out.

She had changed from her plunging neckline dress into a crystalline, ethereal bodysuit they revealed black lingerie. She threw the cape over her back, her bare feet tapping the back of the stage floor.

Sonic sighed, watching her spiral as she zipped up the bodysuit. He walked up to her, scratching his head.

"Wouldn't it have just been easier to stay in your outfit?"

Amy rolled her eyes with a smirk, "Not all of us can be fucking boring, Sonic."

The hedgehog chuckled, causing Amy's eyes to light up with a cocky grin. They stared at each other for a moment, and Sonic sighed.

"Well, it looks great. Just don't want you stressing out so much."

"Oh, I'll be fine. All good here."

AMY: I wanted everyone in that room to remember my name for the rest of their lives. I didn't care how it happened, but I made sure it did.

SHADOW: Sonic and Amy had spent so long rearranging songs, changing vocals, building transitions into each song. It was fundamentally the same, but it was building to be a massive performance. There was always one outcome with them working together: magic.

VECTOR: They even said yes to fireworks! God, I was so excited about that.

MIGHTY: He said he was excited? I mean, he was. Me? I was fucking terrified.

SONIC: The Academy wanted us to do Guilt over Me, Here We Are Now, In the Shadows, You'll Be Better to Miss, Selene, and If You're Gonna Leave Me. I wasn't crazy about doing Here We Are Now, but we were nominated for it, so…

When Knuckles pounded on the kick drum, the auditorium roared, and starting off with Selene, the band kicked off the ceremony.

They were on fire, including literal pyrotechnics. Sonic and Amy yet again never stopped looking at one another, though this time there was a different vibe – one more passionate than the time before.

TAILS: I think that was the night they really were born on stage. I mean, for ten minutes, the audience was hooked. It was breathtaking. Cosmo and I barely needed to do any touchups. They were just that good.

They were the biggest band in the world, there was no question. Rouge's string work was impeccable, Knuckles' drumming was perfectly in-sync, Silver's basslines were grooving and tough, and Shadow's guitar work was fiery and soaring.

Blaze's keyboards anchored down the passion of the two singers, who performed with such passion and angst it could blow the roof off the place. They never took their eyes off each other, screaming, singing, harmonizing every single word. The room was electric, and it was easily their best concert yet.

When they closed with Here We Are Now, Sonic and Amy sang into the same microphone the entire time, which the cameras certainly caught. Sally swallowed in the audience, yet despite the gnawing in her stomach, she couldn't help but also feel electrified by their performance.

It was irresistible.

AMY: I don't know, I always looked pathetic around him. It's just how it was. We brought so much fire out of one another that we were bound to just…reduce each other to pathetic little worms. [She giggles].

"Cheers!" Sally exclaimed, and the band clinked their glasses of champagne together, all sitting around a table. Amy and Sonic didn't drink, and only stole awkward smiles at one another while the band all took a swig.

Sally could sense the tension amongst some of the members. Silver and Blaze looked more distant, and while Rouge and Knuckles sat together, they didn't speak much.

Tails and Cosmo looked perfectly happy as always.

They always did.

"I'm sad Espio couldn't be here," Knuckles said, "Fucking sucks that he couldn't be here tonight."

"Well, here's to him getting better," Blaze said, raising her glass.

Sonic leaned back, squeezing Sally's hand tight. Amy had to look away from the two of them.

The way he talked so lovingly to her. The way she smiled back and showered him in love.

They were perfect, and it made Amy's world twist and twirl around in utter discomfort.

Then, someone walked up to her, and she smiled. It was Geoffrey St. John, an A-list actor who looked at Amy in utter fascination.

Shadow turned to see Sonic's jaw clench harder than he'd ever seen it clench.

"Amy Rose. I must say, you were utterly mesmerizing onstage. I've never seen anything quite like it."

Amy smirked, "I know."

KNUCKLES: [He wheezes a laugh].

BLAZE: It was so…her.

SALLY: I was freaking out because, you know, huge Hollywood actor, and he's showering her in praise, and that's all she says. [She smiles]. It really was her to a T.

"I should ask," the skunk started, "Have you ever acted before? I mean, a movie I'm doing right now is set to be a massive success. You would only make it so much better."

"I act every day," Amy said, leaning her chin in her hand, "Does it count if it's onstage?"

The skunk chuckled, "I suppose so."

ROUGE: Amy definitely did not know how big he was.

AMY: Was he really that big of a deal?

Silver watched as Sonic's entire face became hard as stone, sending daggers at the skunk. Sally was too busy with the fact that a famous A-lister was at their table, so she barely noticed a thing.

Sonic, however, was completely irritated by him, and everyone at the table could tell.

"You know, we're looking for a lead actress, and someone to do the soundtrack. You could kill two birds with one stone."

Amy didn't crack a smile, just pursed her lips with the deadest of nods. "Sounds interesting."

Suddenly, before he could say anything, Sonic coughed loudly – just a little too loudly. Amy turned to him, arching a brow as she watched his eyes flicker from the skunk to hers. She could tell he was frustrated, but what right did he have to be annoyed anyways?

Sure, he was an odd guy, but so what? Who cares what he thinks?

Turning to the skunk, she stood up with a smile. "Is there anywhere more private we could talk?"

KNUCKLES: The look on his face. Poor guy thought he was gonna get screwed. [He shakes his head]. Amy Rose was sober. No way that was going to happen.

They watched her walk off with him, every eye in the room following her. Sonic sighed, rubbing his face.

"Why is she leaving us on the biggest night of our careers to get fucked?" Sonic spat, frustratedly taking a bite from his plate.

"I'm sure that's not what's happening," Rouge said, cocking an eyebrow.

They were speaking a moderate distance from the table, and she watched Geoffrey take a look back towards the band.

"Are you and the other singer having an affair?"

Amy smirked, "Does it look like we are?"

"Somewhat."

"Hm," Amy muttered, "Would it matter?"

"I mean, I couldn't say so, no."

Amy shrugged, "Then what else do you wanna talk about?"

SALLY: We didn't win any of the smaller categories, so we had to hope for the big ones. Album of the Year, and Record of the Year.

BLAZE: I still get chills thinking of when they announced Album of the Year. [She smiles].

"Selene!"

"What the fuck?!" Knuckles exclaimed, shooting up with a holler as the band all leapt into celebration, giving each other hugs and letting tears flow.

Amy whipped her head to the stage, scoffing in disbelief as the band began to celebrate. She watched Blaze and Rouge running over, the two launching into a hug as they grabbed the hedgehog, jumping about.

Amy smiled, yet it fell a tad when she saw Sonic wrapping Sally in a deep kiss.

AMY: I just needed to change focus.

SILVER: I do think that's the night it all became real. It was definitely our 'We made it' moment.

When the band had gathered on stage, all receiving their own award, Sonic stood at the microphone, smiling down at it as the crowd cheered.

"Jesus," Sonic muttered into the mic, earning a roar of approval.

"What is there to even say? Firstly, I think we must thank Espio, who couldn't be here tonight because of a health scare. We miss him so much. He gave everything to us, and he – he's been the father we never had. All of this is for him."

Amy smiled at Sonic, her eyes dropping to the ground as he spoke about Espio. The band hollered, even wrapping Tails and Cosmo into the chaos.

"We want to thank Vector and Mighty for being the greatest managers. I know they keep saying we never show them any gratitude…"

The audience laughed, and Sonic chuckled.

"But we do notice everything you two do for us. So, this award is yours also."

The audience cheered loudly once more.

"Thank you to all the fans who have supported us, either from the beginning, or even if you're new – we couldn't be here without you. I want to thank…my family. My beautiful wife, Sally, and my daughter Sonia – you're everything to me. My inspiration, my rock, my safe place – always."

Amy swallowed a painful lump, watching as Sally blew a kiss to Sonic. She turned away slightly yet told herself to keep her composure.

Millions were watching.

"And this band. Jesus, this band. We have the greatest drummer, the greatest violinist, the greatest guitarist, the greatest keyboardist, and my brother, who might just be the greatest bassist too. All of you are incredible. You are the Seven. You make this band what it is. Seriously."

The audience cheered, and the band all smiled and patted Sonic on the back.

Then, he turned to Amy.

"And do I even need to say it?"

The crowd cheered, all beginning to chant Amy's name. She turned in shock, scoffing with a wide, beaming smile as Sonic gave her the smile right back.

Once again, it felt like the world faded away.

"Amy Rose – the woman that you are. You changed my life, and I thank God every day for coming in and changing the way all of us in this band thought about the world. I can't wait to do this all over again with you."

He paused for a moment, sighing as he turned to the crowd. Amy wanted to run up and launch herself into his grasp once he said that, but she couldn't.

Even when it was the first time that she truly felt someone close to her love what she did, regardless of Espio and the band.

"Thank you, everyone."

SHADOW: It was still tense after that.

KNUCKLES: I don't think I realized it until much later that Sonic was staring at Amy for most of that speech.

The band was mostly silent at the table, knowing that Record of the Year was next. Knuckles had finished his seventh glass of champagne, standing up with a slight hobble as he made his way through the auditorium. A glare flashed in Rouge's eyes, and she followed.

Knuckles leaned against the wall outside, and Rouge followed. His gaze fell when she arrived.

"Knuckles, I think you and I both know we need to talk."

"Does it have to be tonight?"

"It does."

Knuckles sighed, rubbing his head. Rouge crossed her arms, biting her lip.

"Look, I love you, but we need to get our act straight. You're on champagne number seven, and I'm on number five, and the more we drink, the more aggravated we're getting with each other. It's been like this the entire tour, and – and if we don't straighten up, we're gonna burn out."

Knuckles groaned, "I guess you're right. We are clearly not happy together anymore. You're clearly unhappy, so-"

"Why do I have to be the one who's unhappy? Are you not? Are you okay going on like this?"

Knuckles shrugged, rubbing his eyes. Rouge sighed shakenly, clutching her hair in her fist.

"Look, Rouge, our hometown show is next. Can't we just – can't we just stick it out until then? I don't know, being home might make me feel better."

Rouge pondered his question, shaking her head. She approached him, watching as his eyes fell into exhaustion. It pained her to see that he wasn't even passionate about fighting for it anymore.

He was tired.

She could tell.

She was too, after all.

She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek, rubbing his chest. He smiled, squinting.

"What was that for?"

"I want this to work so bad. Nothing seems to get better."

"Well, I was going to wait until the hometown show to ask this, but…"

"What?"

Knuckles sighed, grabbing her shoulders. "Look, you know a big thing about me is…all the stuff about – you know, holding onto my past? What people thought of me?"

"I do."

"I wanted our show in Knothole to be that moment where I tell that part of me to fuck off. I want it to be where I can tell that side of me that worries so much about what people think to fuck off and never come back. I'll be facing down the people who doubted me. I wanted to ask…if you'd move in with me."

Rouge's eyes widened, and Knuckles waved his hand.

"I – I know its – kind of sudden, especially given…everything. But I just feel so confident that after Knothole I'm – it's gonna help me change. It really is. I just need to face it."

Rouge nodded, feeling her throat close slightly. She sighed, rubbing his face.

"I want that for you, Knux, I really do. Look, let's just take a little bit of breathing room, and we can see, alright? I wanna see what happens in Knothole, okay? I wanna see if we can do this."

Knuckles smiled, grabbing her hand as it rested on his cheek. "That's all I needed to hear."

AMY: I was deathly nervous for Record of the Year. That song…I really, really wanted it to win. I felt like I deserved it.

"And the Grammy goes too…"

The band's eyes all lay on Amy, who was sitting on the edge of her seat in complete anxiety. Her foot tapped fast, her hands shook, her mouth hung open, and her eyes welled up.

"Guilt Over Me – The Seven!"

AMY: [She smiles, nodding her head at the memory].

Amy led the band onstage, with Blaze and Rouge holding her arms in complete glee as the hedgehog laughed and laughed all the way onstage.

When Amy cleared her throat, and her sharp green eyes fell on the crowd, they shut up quick.

They were enthralled by her.

"This song was the last one we wrote for the album. I wrote it by myself in the car after the photoshoot for the record. It was a fight for it to make it on, at first…"

Sonic's face fell slightly, looking a tad embarrassed by his earlier push back to the song.

"But I'd say it was worth it, right?" Amy cackled, holding up the award as the crowd launched into roars of applause.

"First, I have to thank Espio again. You were the first one to believe in me. I wish you were here tonight. Thank you for not giving up on me when I was too self-centered to accept that I was dying for guidance. It's been the greatest honor of my life being a part of your legacy."

Cheers erupted once more.

"To Vector and Mighty. Yeah, what Sonic said. You two ding-dongs have been nothing but incredible this entire time. I cannot thank you enough. And, you know, thank you for getting my special tea imported from Soleanna. Crazy bastards."

Laughter.

"They've been insisting on fireworks on stage for a few weeks now. Hope they're satisfied. A token of my appreciation."

Even more laughs.

"To my best friend, Tangle. You disco-loving freak. Thank you for bringing out the light inside of me. Thank you for showing me I could shine just as bright as the darkness. You'll forever be the first family I ever had. You'll forever have the key to my heart. I know – I know there was a minute there, but I heard your voice tonight, and I felt at peace once again. I love you."

Another roar of applause.

"To Ray, who stole my song when I was too afraid to speak up, fuck you. I hope – I hope I'm allowed to swear."

Roars of applause and laughter.

"Maybe I'll sue one day. I don't know. Anyways, now I need to thank…The Seven. All of you changed my life."

She began to address each one individually.

"To Knuckles, thank you for coming up with the heartbeats of all my wildest ideas. Shadow, I could never play guitar like you, thank you for sharing your fiery talent with us. Silver, you're a gem, and you are too good for this world. You inspire me in more ways than you know. To Tails and Cosmo, you people changed us forever. Your skills are unmatched, and I'm in awe of you."

She paused, smiling.

"To Blaze and Rouge, my other girlfriends in this group of irritating boys,"

Laughter.

"Your talent speaks so much yet doesn't quite shine as bright as your hearts. Thank you for being real friends to me. And to Sally, I love you. I know we don't spend too much time together, but you see me. You brought me into this family. I can't thank you enough – you gave this life to me too. You'll always have a special place in my heart."

Sally wiped away a tear, clapping along with the audience.

"And last but not least, Sonic the Hedgehog."

Her sigh is shaken, and Sonic's smile nearly destroys her.

"Thank you for changing my life. Thank you for writing songs with me. Thank you for pushing me to be better. Thank you for making my life brighter. Thank you for completing me in ways I didn't think possible. You saved my life, literally."

She gives Sonic a knowing grin, which almost destroys him.

"I hope in twenty years, we'll be doing exactly this."

She realizes then she's been crying, which only makes a tear slide from Sonic's cheek.

"Oh god, I'm so pathetic, crying over Sonic the fucking Hedgehog."

She smiles with a laugh, and Sonic returns it tenfold. The audience laughs with them, yet in their world, only they exist right now.

"Let's just say I'm thankful for you, alright? I don't even need to say anymore…"

Her face falls slightly, nodding at him.

"You already know."

She loved him. She couldn't say it out loud.

He knew that. He knew what she was saying even if the audience may not have.

It was the truth, even if it destroyed them.

"Lastly, to the little me: Don't be afraid to use your voice and sing your songs. Here we are now. We made it."

︎S: You seemed slightly taken aback by Amy's speech. Why?

SONIC: I always knew there was something. Always. I almost lost her, right? I mean, I held her in my arms and begged her not to go. I don't know – she hated that I saved her. I hoped all it could have meant was that I could've, you know, maybe helped her get clean. I should've known that wasn't all that it would do. I knew it would only deepen everything we felt, and I didn't want that. I couldn't lose her, but how could I have her? I wasn't going to burn down all that I had with my family on account of Amy Rose. I couldn't have that. I wouldn't let that happen. I don't know – it made me sad. Denying it makes your heart long for it, but I refused to listen. I straightened up for Sally. I always would.

AMY: I don't need someone to save me. Especially a man. Of course, I'm thankful he was there. But even if he wasn't – I would've left Ken Khan either way. That's all there was too it. He left me on the shower floor to die. Even if Sonic never showed up, Ken Khan would've been out of that hotel the next morning. Of course, it made the connection worse. That's what happens when you both share the same struggles. The same temptations.

It had become obvious to the band that Amy and Sonic were trying their hardest to look in each other's direction.

Amy finally gave in and allowed herself to drink with the band. The sight of it was definitely not easy on Sonic, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

Sally rested her head on his shoulder, before beckoning for him to follow.

They took a moment in private, both staring at the stars out front of the auditorium.

"I'm so proud of you," Sally muttered.

"I couldn't have done it without you."

"Oh, I don't know if that's true."

He took her hands in his, pressing kisses to both. "It's true. You've been my rock for so long. You've always grounded me right where I needed to be. I've only stayed clean so hard because I know that if I didn't, I'd lose you eventually. I can't do that."

Sally sighed, stroking his head. "You're not going to lose us. You just have to keep being strong. You will be. You've been strong this entire time. I know you won't fail now."

Sonic smiled, resting his forehead on hers. She sighed, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"I'm so proud of you, Sonic. I've missed you, too."

Sonic snickered, rubbing her cheek. "I missed you more. It's been a wild few weeks. I really needed you. I definitely…"

"Definitely what?"

Sonic sighed, "After everything, my will hasn't…been the strongest. Seeing you, though – it makes it all feel alright again."

Sally smirked, pressing a kiss to his lips. "Good. I'm happy I can be that for you."

"You'll always be that for me, Sal. Always."

︎"You know what?!"

The band all looked at Amy, who slammed down her drink. She wiped her mouth, giving them a smirk.

"I'm gonna go fuck that actor guy."

Before anyone could question, Amy set off, the band's eyes following her through the auditorium.

Silver stole a look at Sonic, who watched her with a hung mouth, his hands visibly tensing on the surface of the table.

AMY: We just won Grammys, and I felt fucking miserable. Just – seeing Sonic and Sally, and knowing I'd trade it all just for him to love me back. I'm sorry – I know you told me you wanted to know everything, so I can tell you I would've done anything in that moment just to feel it. I knew it wouldn't happen. So, I thought I'd go fuck someone just so I could feel anything, even if it was just for ten minutes. I wasn't thinking, no, but in that moment, I felt – I felt so low.

"I'll be right back."

Sally nodded as Sonic got up from the table, clearing his throat as he walked through the auditorium. He paced around the lobby, rubbing his hands through his hair in a slight irritation.

Amy had been drinking again. Even if it wasn't much, it was clearly enough for her to go and do something like this.

It wasn't a shock to him, but it had him worried.

And then he saw her exiting the bathroom.

She stopped midway, her gaze falling. He turned to her with his jaw clenched tight.

"What?"

Sonic sighed, "I was – I just wanted to check on you."

"Why?"

"'Cause you worried me back there?"

"What, by saying I wanted to go fuck some actor? I didn't, obviously. It was a crock of shit."

"Well, how am I supposed to know that?"

"Why do you care? It's not like we-"

She stopped, a lump entering her throat. Sonic rubbed his head, tapping his foot quickly.

"It's not – it's not that," Sonic began, "I just – I'm always worrying about this."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to fall off the wagon, Amy."

"I'm not really on the wagon to begin with. I'm just – I'm trying not to kill myself, sure. You won't have to save me this time."

She began to walk towards the auditorium, but Sonic's sigh stopped her.

"Amy, it's not about that."

"Then what is it about, Sonic? God, I – I don't understand what you want from me! I don't need you to keep trying to save me. I'm not some damsel in distress. If you hadn't been there that night, and I woke up, I still would've just left Ken Khan anyways! He was a piece of shit! I didn't need you for me to realize that."

"Okay," Sonic muttered, looking down at his shoes.

"Okay? That's it?"

"You're right, Amy. I'm trying everyday to be sober, and I just thought that maybe we could help each other stay in check. That's what this is all about, right?"

Amy scoffed, "Maybe for you it is."

"I – I know."

Amy sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Look, I get it, okay? We're both trying. I've got to keep my head on, and you've got a family at home that needs you to be strong. That's all it is. Sure, I can live with that."

"Amy-"

"It's fine, Sonic. Thank you. Thank you for caring. I just don't need you to save me. I am a strong, grown-ass woman and I can save myself. I know what I need."

Sonic sighed, nodding. "Okay."

Amy immediately felt her heart crack when she saw his face. She pursed her lips, walking towards him and rubbing his cheek.

"Congratulations, Sonic. It's been a great night. We did good."

Sonic smiled, giving her hand a squeeze. "We did good."

And if that was all they could do now, then so be it.

SONIC: That…wasn't why I followed her.

AMY: I know it wasn't why he followed me. It doesn't matter, though. The conversation we had was the one that needed to be had.

SONIC: Yeah, I was terrified for her. I'd been there, too. I was struggling every day. It's like I said – she represented everything I was trying to fight against. I think I told myself if she got better, maybe our relationship would be better. We were connected because we had the same obstacles. So, sometimes I thought if she became better, our connection would die.

AMY: But we both know that it wouldn't die over that. No, it was still much more than the fact that we had the same fight. If I represented his way back into addiction, he represented my way out.

[She sighs, shaking her head].

But even still – I would've destroyed myself completely – just for a chance that he might have felt the same.

[She squints hard, wiping a forming tear from her eye].

Can you – turn the camera off for a second? I need a glass of water.

CAMERA CUTS TO BLACK.