Hello!

Hoping you're all enjoying the festive season! Here we are with chapter 4 for 'Taking A Turn', i hope you all enjoy this chapter because I enjoyed writing it! Be sure to keep on reading and reviewing! Keep in mind I'm still taking requests but probably won't get to them for a while. I'd love to hear them, though! Enjoy!

Ciao! Xx

The entire gang made their way upstairs quietly into the lounge room, hoping the blue blur hadn't heard them. They figured they could only keep trying their luck, and a new plan sparked a new hope. With that, Sally, Bunnie and Antoine continued down the hall and to Sonic's bedroom door. They all exchanged a glance before Bunnie stepped forth, her regular hand on the knob and her mechanical limb knocking on the door, making a familiar clinking sound

The southern rabbit pushed the door open a little, considering turning back to get Cream, knowing how much of an impact her little cousin has on Sonic, but bet against it for now. When she pushed it open fully, allowing Sally and her husband to step in behind her, they found the royal blue – or at least, what used to be royal blue – hedgehog standing still on his balcony. Facing the horizon, arms by his side, his body almost looking weak and scrawny.

'Sugarhog?' Bunnie called gently, causing Sonic's ears to prick up.

'Bunnie.' Sonic said, merely acknowledging her.

'What is going on with you, Sonic?' Antoine asked casually.

'We're worried about you.' Sally added, her voice causing him to turn his head a little, seeing them out of the corner of his eye before turning back.

'Haven't you three got better things to do?' Sonic scoffed, sending a shot of pain through the Freedom Fighters' stomachs.

'Not that we can think of.' Sally answered, ignoring his crude remark.

'Talk to us, Sugar?' Bunnie began as she walked up behind him, reaching out to place her hands on his shoulders, 'We never get to see you these days, and we hear you're having a rough-'

'Don't touch me!' Sonic snapped, his arm lashing out at her.

Bunnie instinctively jumped back from him, the midnight smoke gently started to form around him but dying down almost as soon as they started. Had she gotten out of the way a second earlier, maybe she wouldn't have lost her arm, but it didn't worry her too much. Her mechanical arm hit the ground after Sonic's backhand came into contact with it, leaving the four silent, Sonic showing no remorse before resuming his position. The feminine and level-headed rabbit calmly picked up and reattached her arm before walking away, into the arms of her husband, trying not to register the look of pure horror on Sally's face.

'You are lucky Miss Bunnie cares so much about you, Sonic.' Antoine spat before he lead Bunnie to the door.

'Nice talkin' to you, Ant.' Sonic smirked darkly, barely.

'You're not you, Sonic,' Sally began when the two were alone, 'you need help.'

'Whatever, Sal.' Sonic rolled his eyes before leaping up onto the roof above his balcony.

Taken aback, the young chipmunk slowly turned on her heel and made her way out the door and down the hallway into the living room with the others. They all rose to their feet with anticipation and excitement as she entered, only to give them a disappointed and half-hearted shake of her head before sitting down by Manic, who placed a hand on her shoulder. He squeezed it tight, offering some sort of comfort, but even he knew it was going to take more than that now to offer anyone comfort.

'We can stay and help if you want us to, but I don't think we will be any more help than you guys are, to be honest.' Sally shrugged, trying to keep a light-hearted tone.

'We won't ask you to stay any longer for him, Sal,' Tails began, 'we know you guys have other things to take care of.'

'We will be sure to keep you posted, though.' Tikal smiled from across the room, causing Sally to look up and shoot her a thankful smile.

'There's no reason for us to get heavy-hearted, we'll work this out.' Silver smiled.

'Dare I say it,' Rouge smirked as she nudged the grey hedgehog friendly, 'but he's right.'

'We bes' be off then, my friends.' Antoine smiled as he got to his feet to say his goodbyes.

'We'll message y'all when we get home.' Bunnie began before turning to the younger version of herself, 'Cream, honey, is yo' Mama busy? I'd like to see Aunt Vanilla before I go.'

'I'll take you over.' Cream smiled, jumping at the chance.

After the Freedom Fighters said their goodbyes and left with Cream, they all sat back down in the living room, more silent than they had ever been. They knew Silver was right, that they would work it out, but not knowing how yet was making them more and more uneasy. Sonia was seated in her brother's arms, both of them worried about their little sibling. Manic got to his feet before helping her up as well, knowing they both just needed some rest.

'I think we might head off,' Manic began, 'I think we all just need a break from this to recap.'

'He's right, there's nothing we can do until we come up with something more definitive or until Sonic reaches out to us.' Sonia added, refusing to let her voice break.

'That doesn't sound like a bad idea,' Knuckles agreed, 'I need to check on the Emerald anyway.'

'Silver and I might take this opportunity to make a visit home,' Blaze nodded in her grey counterpart's direction, 'should we meet back here in the morning?'

'Yeah, sounds great.' Amy nodded before headed downstairs, 'see you then, guys.'

Again, everyone watched on until the fuchsia bundle had disappeared from their sights. She had barely spoken two words since this entire ordeal began – particularly since they had returned from the G.U.N agency and Sonic had really started taking a turn. No one had really noticed how much it was affecting her until now, the second time she had left without more than a few words. They all turned back and shared glances, but no one was ready to comment on her. Not yet.

'I'm going to go for a run, anyway,' Shadow broke the silence, 'I'll make sure she's on the path home safe.'

'Thank you, Shadow.' Cosmo smiled, 'See you all in the morning.'

After Shadow watched Amy walk inside her cottage home, he gave a small nod before dashing away into the far corners of Mobius, unbeknownst to him that the only reason she walked inside was because she knew her friends all too well. She knew they would send someone to make sure she was ok or at least make sure she got home, and despite Shadow being the dark and almighty spy, he wasn't exactly very secretive when watching over her getting home.

She stared out her window, watching the dark streak disappear before she turned back into her house and decided she needed some time out to herself. She had herself a plan, a plan to get Sonic talking, but it could really only be played out if she had even a slither of good luck. Along with good luck and the moon in the sky, she would need to be fully alert, so she made herself a drink and a small snack before curling up on the lounge and watching a movie…

Come nightfall, when all of Knothole had turned out their lights and turned into bed, Sonic was soaking up the night air. He was happy to let the rest of the gang think he never left his room, because he didn't want to deal with them whether it was day or night. So after they had all gone to bed, he took the opportunity to do the one thing that both of his personalities craved: run. Amy Rose was the first and only one so far to work this small yet valuable detail out.

As he continued to run, further and further away from his home, it was the only time of day that the royal blue in his fur actually returned. Once in a while, he would even find himself smiling a little. He dashed and ducked in and out of the forests, along the beaches and on the paths of Knothole. He came to startling halt in a clearing that over looked the lake, the moon making the water glisten in the night.

'Sonic?' A voice whispered from behind him, causing his smile to falter as he whipped around.

'What are you doing here, Amy?' Sonic cocked a brow, his body tensing up suspicious and cautiously.

'To be honest, I thought I might find you here.' Amy admitted, as she bowed her head.

As she stared at her feet, digging the ball of her foot into the dirt and twisting it nervously, Sonic noticed the light of the moon that reflected off the water shine upon Amy's face. It lit up all of her desirable features, making her look even more beautiful than ever. Even with that scared, concerned and shaken expression etched on her face, she was still the most beautiful hedgehog he had ever seen. He actually felt his insides begin to soften, to melt, his smile drifting back before something snapped him back to the other side.

'Well, you found me.' Sonic huffed as he began to storm off.

'No! Wait,' Amy exclaimed as she stood out in front of him, 'please, just talk to me.'

'There's nothing to say, Amy.'

'You have no idea how worried we all are about you, Sonic! How worried I am about you.'

'Well, get over it.'

His words were like a sword or a knife, driving themselves slowly and painfully right through her heart, her head, her stomach and everywhere else. It was as if when the swords and knifes finally drew out of her, they made her body begin to tremble, completely and totally involuntarily as if a cool breeze had whipped right by. She felt a mixture of sad and angry tears sting her eyes as he walked past her to flee the scene, before some sort of almighty power took over her.

'What the hell is wrong with you?! You insensitive, arrogant, ungrateful, awful tool!' Amy spat, causing Sonic to stop dead in his tracks.

'We're trying to help you and as the days go on not only do you push us away but you treat us like the scum beneath your feet!' Amy continued, the tears trickling down her cheeks.

'Let it go, Ames.' Sonic sighed, using her nickname for the first time in what felt like months.

'How can you tell me to let it go?! Manic and Sonia are at their wits end! The Freedom Fighters came half way across Mobius for you! You're lucky Shadow hasn't beat your head in yet!'

'You really aren't going to give this up are you?' Sonic huffed as he turned around to face her.

'Why, Sonic? Why are you doing this to us? Why would you make us feel-'

'Because I don't want to let this go, Amy!' Sonic snapped as he dashed up in front of her.

The combination of his unbelievably close proximity and what he just said had frozen her solid where she stood. She felt his hand almost reach out to touch hers, but it retracted almost immediately. His breath hitched in the same beats as hers, both nervous and scared, but probably for different reasons. He could see her trying to talk and ask questions but the words just wouldn't form.

'Amy, I don't want to let this feeling go.' Sonic said in a more hushed tone, the midnight hue in his fur returning.

'Wh- But- I- I don't understand?' Amy stammered.

'I know I'm supposed to be the hero of Mobius, Ames, and don't get me wrong that's been great. After all that, now I like being able to feel something different. Now that I've felt it, I feel like I might even like it… better.' Sonic admitted timidly.

'H-Holy shit.' Amy whispered, more tears trickling her face.

Still frozen solid, completely and utterly still besides the tears that streamed down her face, she couldn't bring herself to stop the navy hedgehog from bringing his gloved hand up to her face to dry them by caressing her cheeks with his thumb. Her breath hitched at his touch, both from the flutter of her heart and from the pure agonizing fear of him. He smiled down at her, a new dark smile he fashioned, one that made her even more scared.

'You're scared?' Sonic whispered, bringing his other hand around her waist.

'N-No.'

'I know you're lying, Amy,' his smile faltered a little, 'tell the truth.'

'I-I'm petrified.' Amy complied through a whisper.

'You don't need to be, Amy. Not of me. Ever.' Sonic's smile returned as he leaned in closer to her face.

'No!' Amy snapped, pulling away from him bravely in fear and confusion, 'What are you doing?! Earlier today you would coldly ignore me and everyone else and now…'

'Come on, Ames…' Sonic trailed off, a little embarrassed.

'No, you come on!' She snapped again, 'Pull yourself together! You're not the bad guy, Sonic! You're a hero! You're the hero of Mobius! You can't like this feeling, you can't have this feeling!' Amy screeched.

'Why, Amy? Why do I always have to be the hero?! Why can't I be this guy?!' Sonic snapped back, the midnight steam starting to glow.

'Because you can't, Sonic! This isn't you and you know it! You can't do this, it has to stop right- ah!'

She cut herself off with a painful screech as she hit the ground. As she slowly sat herself up, everything spinning around her, she rubbed her cheek where she had been hit, feeling something warm stream out of her mouth. She moved her hand around to it, the blood staining her white glove before she looked at it in shock. She felt fresh tears sting her eyes before she looked up at her attacker, the now completely midnight hedgehog breathing heavily and angrily, his pupils completely gone as he stood over her.

She trembled in fear, cupping her cheek in her hand and trying to stop to bleeding as she slowly tried to drag herself away from him. She couldn't think of a time she had been scared of him, and now she couldn't remember a time she felt good around him. As she bit her lip in order to hold back painful and scared sobs, Sonic started to come to, his eyes returning to normal and the smoke around him disappearing.

'A-Amy…' He stammered before trailing off.

He couldn't bring himself to chase her. She got herself to her feet, still dizzy from the impact of him hitting her before running as far and as fast as she could to the nearest house she could think of. Shadow. She couldn't hear her hero – or at least, who she thought was her hero – run after her, so she made the effort to run faster until Shadow's house was in sight, collapsing on his front doorstep, crawling up to the door until she could hold onto the knob and whack on the door as hard as she could muster.

'Shadow!' She called out weakly, 'Shadow, please help me!'