Hey guys! Here's the next chapter. I hard a particularly hard time with this one. I hope you like it all the same.

Step three: shelter him

Here's the problem with the owners of out door cats. They shirk responsibilities because there animal lives outdoors. the saddest thing one can see is when an animal is left out in the freezing cold and is crying on their owners porch to be let in. No one brings them inside. They're half wild. Why should you let them inside?

I hardly recognized the man I had seen cowering in fear moments ago. Now he stood straight and tall at my side. His eyes looked straight ahead instead of to the ground. All my neighbours walked past or peaked out of their windows to get a glimpse of Sonic walking side-by-side with me. He was majestic, to say the least. If he wasn't a Wildling all the single girls in town would be fawning over him.

"How do you know my name?"

His question was a little surprising. "What do you mean?"

"In the market place you called me Sonic." He pointed out. "How do you know my name?"

Busted.

I tried to think of a time when he might have said his name. After recalling our previous encounter I realized there was no explanation. Finally, I decided on the most cliche line in the book.

"A little birdie told me."

He chuckled. "You mean the Sheriff."

How did he know?

"He's the only person in town I've had to give my name to. The question is, why were you asking the Sheriff about me?"

I stopped walking, trying to think up a lie. But Sonic had no intention of waiting for my answer. He just kept walking ahead towards my house.

When we arrived back home it was around 4:30. I had to start getting ready for dinner.

"Sonic, would you like to come in for-" I turned around to address him, but he was already gone. "I guess not."

I sat, wide awake in my bed. My eyes were blood shot from fatigue and silent tears. My body felt limp and dead. I must have been a mess.

How did this happen? How could I let this happen?

I suppose it was my fate. I was never meant to live a normal, peaceful life. I wasn't that girl who would wake up in the morning, worrying about nothing but what to make for breakfast. I was never destined to enter a house and call it home. Home was too permanent for me. I was never supposed to be able to take my time, find someone who's truly right for me or, if I choose, spend my life alone. I was the girl who stayed up in the middle of the night staring at her window.

I didn't care what was on the other side. It was the window itself that interested me. It was covered in frost. What day was it again? I knew it was November but what day? The frost meant winter was close. Too close. With winter came the holiday season. With the holiday season came New Years. With New Years came...I couldn't bear to imagine it. Why? Because I couldn't imagine it. I had no future, no plan. I had been stripped of any options. Actually, I had been stripped of any hope to live in general.

How did this happen? How did I let this happen?

I am scared. I am so scared.

I woke from a night of torturous half sleep. I was groggy and irritable. Maybe I could just lie in bed a little while longer. Yes, I could just-AH!

My window opened with a slam and the cold, brisk wind entered the once cozy sanctuary of my room.

"Amy, you've got company." There, sitting on the windowsill was Sonic.

I wrapped my blanket around me for warmth. Damn, who was here at...what time was it? I asked Sonic.

He shrugged. "Probably about noon."

Noon!

I scrambled out of bed. How could I have slept until noon? Was it because I was up so late? I removed the questions from my mind. How didn't matter now. What mattered was getting ready.

"Who's here?" I questioned the blue hedgehog as I rummaged through my drawers to find my signature red dress.

"I don't know him by name," Sonic informed me. "But I know he's rich."

"How do you know that?"

"I used to steal from his house and trade anything that looked valuable for food. He had a shit load of stuff!"

I smirked. Of course Sonic did that. I should have seen that coming.

"Did you ever do that in my house."

"Yes," he said bluntly. "But I never found anything worth trading." Ouch.

I found my dress and shooed Sonic away, asking him to open the door for whoever was there. He growled, annoyed at my command but did what I asked anyways. He knew he had to keep the pet charade going if he didn't want another encounter like yesterday's. As I changed I heard The door open and close. A muffled voice started speaking enthusiastically to Sonic. I couldn't make out the words but I wasn't too worried. They were probably just telling him what a 'good boy' he was. I laughed at the thought. 'Good boy, Sonic. Who wants a treat?' I doubt he'd be too pleased with that.

I exited the room and heard the words the voice was uttering.

"You're in need of a bath, you little cutie. Don't worry. When you come to live with me I'll have the maids clean you every day. I have a female Wildling at home. I've been meaning to breed her. Would you like to breed? Unless of course Miss Rose plans on fixing you."

I shuddered. I didn't know who this was but I already didn't like him. Apparently Sonic shared my opinion and he growled. "You'll need a trainer too."

I entered my living room to find the richest man in town, Derek Fox, who was indeed a fox, sitting on my couch, stroking Sonic's quills. Sonic wasn't happy. I could see him holding back. He wore a blank look on his face and he kept his head low as though he was afraid. I was learning that Sonic's #1 survival technique was pretending to be weak. He was pretty good at it too.

"Ah, Miss Rose," he greeted me as though we were old friends. I had never talked to this guy before in my life. "It's so pleasant to see you. You're looking well considering your current circumstances. How are you coping?"

"Fine, I guess." I didn't even try to act polite. What did I owe this guy? Nothing. I couldn't imagine what he would want from me.

"Oh? I imagine it would be quite taxing, this situation you're in."

"If you're talking about my eviction the, yes, it is."

"Well," he exclaimed, clapping his hands together, "I have a solution to your little problem."

Oh no. I huffed. Why? Why would he want me? Derek Fox wasn't just rich, no, he was infamous. He was known for his taste in young girls. Often, they had nowhere else to go. He was also infamous for having his mates and divorcing them as soon as he was bored.

"No."

He sighed, patting the seat next to him. I sat there awkwardly. Why was he commanding me in my own house?

"Miss Rose, after things didn't work with my most recent mate I've been lonely." He placed his hand on my knee. I shuddered a little but felt an undeniable fear. This man could ruin me. Forget about eviction. He could land me in a women's prison. "And I must admit. You are a very interesting girl. I would like to..." His hand slid up my bare leg to the hem of my dress. "...see more of you."

What do I do? I can't scream or throw a fit like I usually do. I'd be finished if I did.

"Hands off!" A thunderous voice rose from Sonic. He had been so quiet before. I didn't even remember he was there. Now he was his large, majestic self. Derek stared at him, awestruck for a moment, only a moment.

"You can be excused," Derek said smiling.

"Please don't leave," I whispered. Derek looked pissed off when I said that.

"I said you can be excused." Derek growled under his breath.

"And I said get your hands off her!"

Oh, God thank you!

Derek and Sonic glared at each other. I sat there, paralyzed in fear. What do I do? What do I do? Without my permission my voice formed a sentence.

"I think you should leave."

Derek Fox stood and left, exasperated and disappointed.

Silence passed between Sonic and me. Should I thank him? Should I smile? Should I be suspicious as to why? After awhile of thought I decided not to look a good horse in the mouth.

"You shouldn't freeze like that," sonic murmured. "People will take advantage of you when you do that. If I wasn't here...who knows what would have happened."

It scared me to think of it. But sonic was right. If he wasn't there I might have...

It made me angry that I owed something to Sonic. Being in debt was never a good thing. If there was one thing I knew about people it was this. People will always use your unpaid debts to manipulate you.

"I could have handled myself," I groaned.

"As if."

"Shut up!" I snapped at him. I didn't want to talk anymore about this. I changed the subject, drastically. "It's noon, right? We should eat."

"I'll find something for myself," he insisted, heading for the front door.

"But-"

"If you don't want my help, I don't want yours."

I stayed quiet and watched him speed away. Why were we sticking around each other? It was obvious each of us hated the other's guts. Why put up with it? His question from the day before entered my mind.

'Why were you asking the Sheriff about me?' He had asked. I realized I still hadn't answered. Why had I asked the Sheriff about Sonic? Was it the same reason we were putting up with one another?

It was midnight again. I still couldn't sleep. Too many questions ran about in my mind. Questions about my future, my past and my present situation with a certain Wildling. It had been bugging me all day. Why was I doing all this? Why was I trying to help him? Why was he trying to help me?

I looked towards the window. It was no longer just frost. There was snow. It fell fast and hard. Was it a snow storm now?

Almost winter, I thought to myself.

I found myself wondering what Sonic was doing. He couldn't wear cloths. He must have been freezing out there. I found myself rising from my bed and throwing a fuzzy robe over my nightgown. Maybe I could convince him to come inside. I walked to the front door and at my mere touch it swung open. It was worse than I thought. The wind pushed against me. I almost fell back. Gathering up my strength, I walked against the will of the storm. I didn't even bother trying to close the door. Everything around me was a whirlwind of snow. I couldn't tell where I was in my own front yard. I growled in irritation. How would I find Sonic?

"Are you crazy? Get back inside!" It was his voice. I followed the sound for a while. "You'll freeze out here!"

"I won't go in unless you come with me!"

The stubborn blue hedgehog stayed quiet. I'm sure he thought that after a while I'd just give up and go inside. Well, guess what? That's not my style. I lost him again in the blizzard. I wouldn't find him if he didn't want to be found, I realized. I just kneeled down in the snow and curled up into a ball. I heard a sigh of defeat right above me, coupled with the crackle of snow. I looked up to see Sonic had approached me. Without a word he dragged me back to my feet and guided me towards the house. When we entered the warm sanctuary it took the strength of both me and Sonic to close the door. I panted and wheezed from my little outdoor adventure. How was I ever going to survive out there?

Sonic reached out to open the door and go back outside.

"Don't leave!"

"Why?"

"I'll come back out and get you, if you leave."

He rolled his eyes and dropped his hand from the door knob. "I'm staying. Now what?"

I didn't know. What was up with me? He didn't seem all that bad out there. He was probably used to a lot worse conditions. Maybe there was another reason I wanted him to stay. I shook the thought from my mind.

"We should sleep."

He looked at me for a second. Registering something before speeding off towards my bedroom. I ran after him and found he had already tucked himself under the sheets and left a space on the left side for me.

"What are you doing in my bed?" I huffed.

"This is how you guys sleep, isn't it? I've always wanted to sleep in a bed."

The words softened my heart for some reason. He had need even slept in a bed before. It would take a heartless person to insist he stayed on the couch. I had no guest room so I suppose this would have to do. I crawled into bed beside him. I was so close to him that I could hear the soft purring sound he made. I pointed it out to him.

He laughed breathily at my observation. "I guess I'm happy."

"You're happy here?"

"Yes."

It was such a simple thing. Yet it felt like he had just shared a secret with me. It was just between us, his happiness. I smiled.

"I'm lonely."

"What?"

My confession confused him. It didn't appear as though he understood.

"You asked me why I asked the Sheriff about you." I reminded him.

He curled up closely to me. "Why were you lonely?"

"I left my mother when I was 13," I explained. "She was the only company I really ever liked to keep. I guess, when I met you, you were the first person I could see myself..."

"Being friends with." He finished my sentence with a smile.

I nodded. I felt like a kindergartener. The things we were saying were so simple. They were so much more primitive than the average conversations people my age were supposed to have. It made me happy to speak so simply though.

"With the eviction happening so soon I feel so...I need someone to help me get through this and..."

"I'll be your friend," he whispered gently. "If you want."

I giggled. Now we really sounded like little kids. That wasn't a bad thing though. "I'd like that."

"Good."

For the first time since I learned about my eviction I slept peacefully through the night.

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked the chapter. Remember, reviews are always welcome.