Disclaimer: I don't own Shadow or Amy, they belong to SEGA…blah, blah, blah…

Just a heads up, there are a lot of time skips, just so I can get this all into one chapter.

x*The Mini Adventures of Shadow and Amy*x

-Chapter Seven: First Time for Everything-

It was strange…no, it was uncharacteristic. Amy could never have imagined something like this happening, ever. And she was the most creative person she knew! Yet, this was a total surprise.

"You don't want to go?" Shadow asked, his hand still outstretched towards her for her to take into her own. The look on his face read, 'just-say-yes'. And, she couldn't deny…she wanted to.

"I do…but it's just…"

"Unlike me to ask this of you; I know. Just trust me." This wasn't a question, it was a statement. And for some reason, Amy felt compelled to do so.

"…Alright." And she did.

~.~

"Pick anything you want." Shadow instructed. The pink female shyly approached the counter with the male behind her as the woman at the register recognized her.

"Hello, Amy. Back for your usual?" the red female rabbit, named Sarafina as indicated by her nametag, asked politely as employees were supposed to.

"Yes, but um…can you add an iced coffee to it? It's um…for him." Amy said, nodding in Shadow's direction. Sarafina threw the ebony male a little smile before pressing the commands at the register.

"It'll be seven dollars, now."

The rosy female looked back at Shadow as he handed her the money and she handed it to Sarafina. Then, the process repeated reversed as Sarafina handed Amy the change and she handed it to Shadow. A few seconds later, the red female came back with two cups and a plastic bag with a couple cookies in it.

"Thanks. See you next week, Amy."

"I never knew iced coffee was this good…" Shadow said.

"Yeah, and it's a little healthier than regular coffee. I figured you were the among those who liked their coffee black with no sugar or cream." Amy guessed, breaking her cookie in half and offering the other piece to him. The ebony male shook his head and she shrugged, placing it between them anyway.

"…That can't be helped."

"Yes it can. All you have to do is try, like you gave iced coffee a try just now." the rosy girl stated.

"So, does that mean you haven't tried changing your wardrobe?" Shadow asked. Amy gave him a look.

"That has nothing to do with me trying. I just…haven't felt the need to change it 'til now. And they're getting too small anyway." she said, crossing her arms.

"Yes, they are. But honestly, I don't know what possessed you to put up with wearing such a revealing dress."

"It's not revealing…"

"Everything you jump and even bend over just a smidge, your underwear's on display. I've seen it enough during battles to know."

"…Then don't look, pervert!"

~.~

"I didn't think you'd take the dress thing seriously…" Amy muttered. The pink hedgehog had figured out what was going on. That was why Shadow was writing down what she had said three days ago. And why they were standing in the mall at this very moment.

This was Shadow's idea of a 'date'. Or an outing, since he'd never use that word.

"You said you needed to go shopping, so I figured, I'd help give you a head start. But, I know how out of control girls get with these things, so I'm putting you on a budget." the ebony male explained.

"A budget of…?"

"Seventy dollars."

"Seventy?!"

"Calm down…"

Amy covered her mouth, embarrassed by her outburst, "Sorry. Let's go, then!" the girl grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him towards the first store.

What he didn't know was that girls also knew how to stretch a budget….

"Well, how do I look?"

Amy came out with her new clothes on and gave a little twirl. A simple pair of blue jeans, a lime green shirt with puffed sleeves, and white converses with rainbow laces. She even got a jacket to match, and another pair of jeans out of her 'budget'.

"I don't remember buying those shoes."

"You didn't. Stop avoiding my question."

"You look fine."

The female put her hands on her hips, "Fine? That's all you got?" she asked, sassily.

"Yes."

After locking her home's door, she walked somewhat behind Shadow, glaring imaginary holes into the back of his head. But, apparently he had a secret sixth sense and soon she was walking in-step with him, and she hated him for interrupting her brainstorm of injuring options.

Now, having no choice, she looked at the near midnight sky and the twinkling stars above. She had to admit, of all the midnight strolls she's been on, none felt more romantic than this one. Was it because of Shadow? Or was it something in the atmosphere that she didn't know about?

Whatever it was, it added to the scenery of a romantic midnight stroll that she'd pictured having with a certain cerulean hedgehog for years.

…Only, now it was a certain ebony hedgehog.

"Where are we going so late?" Amy asked.

"To the beach."

"Why?"

"Is this not what you do?" he retorted.

"Yeah, but…"

"You ask too many questions." Shadow interrupted. The rosy female looked at him.

"You don't have to be rude, you know."

"I'm not, I'm just stating the obvious."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Okay, NOW it feels romantic…

The sounds of the crashing waves and the beautiful moonlight overheard almost made this 'outing' of theirs romantically cliché. Swinging in Shadow's hands were his and Amy's shoes, allowing them to feel the cool sand of the night between their toes and the feeling the cool air of the sea breeze that came and went. The pink female didn't doubt that Shadow was up to something now.

She just didn't know what.

Maybe she had finally broken through the hard shell of his pent-up emotions that he'd been keeping in for so long. Maybe he was finally accepting that she'd basically made herself apart of his life. Maybe…just maybe, he now considered her a friend, rather than a simple acquaintance. All of those were possible, but which was it really?

"Was this…fun?" Shadow asked suddenly.

"Um, sure. I mean, I've done things like this before, but never with someone else." Amy said, looking down. She stepped around a lone crabs waddling along the shoreline and avoided its pinching claws.

"I thought you shared everything with that bunch of obnox-" she gave him a look, "-enthusiastic friends you have." he half stated, half asked.

"Well…a little bit before I started trying to make you more open, I kind of realized why you like to be alone so much."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. It's just the peace and quiet that you enjoy so much. You can't really have that when Sonic runs his mouth as fast as he moves his feet," Amy stopped when she saw the ebony male snickering, "What?"

He sniffed and shrugged, "Nothing. It's just…I would expect you to be the last person to call Sonic…anything out of his name. Even something so simple as a chatterbox."

"Me and Sonic have more of a casual relationship now. I mean, I think I've outgrown the whole obsessed little girl act, y'know? And we're friends, so we joke about each other all the time."

"What's considered a joke?"

The pink female waved her hands around looking for an example, "Oh, calling each other names, for one. Um, maybe pulling a prank on someone; telling them something we both know you wouldn't say…things of that sort. It's just what friends do." she explained.

"I think I have a joke for you, then…"

By now, Amy had noticed that they had stopped walking, the little crab had followed them down the shoreline, curiously staring at the being disrupting it habitat. The smaller hedgehog looked up into the ebony male's crimson eyes.

"What would that be?"

Now, she noticed just how close they were standing to each other.

"You wouldn't believe me…"

"Just tell me."

"…What if I said, I might like you?"

"…"

"…"

Now, Amy was confused and trying to process what he said. Was he really joking or was this a reverse psychology thing? Or was he serious and trying to play it off as a joke?

"Is this really a joke, Shadow?" the female asked softly.

"No, not really."

"So you do like me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Yes."

Whoa… She was speechless. She knew she may have broken through his shell, but so much so that he's considering her a love interest? It was just…wow. Was she that good?

"…"

"I understand if you don't like me; I'm not entirely sure how I like you either. But, when I figured it out, I'll get back to you. Deal?"

"…" Still somewhat speechless, her mouth somewhat agape, she managed to somewhat nod. Then, Shadow handed her, her shoes and put his on, took her back home and…even kissed her forehead.

Watching his black blur disappear into the night, Amy wondered what things would be like now that he 'liked-but-not-sure-how' liked her.

Longer than the last two, but it feels rushed to me. Oh well. Anyway, I have news!

I've started a new blog! As a fan page for all you guys, and best part is, you don't have to be a member to the website to view it. I'll be putting a notice on another story, just to spread the word. Basically, this will be like another way to keep up to date with me. I have a welcoming post up already and I'm still playing around with it to fix it up, but you can still find that and more when I really get into it.

So, here's the web address (copy and paste, if you will, no spaces though) dark angel kitten fanfics. blogspot. com

Check it out, if you want.

Next Chapters' Title:

Thinking Part I & II

Until next time… -D.A.K