A/N: Hello people! :) Here's the next chapter of WTM (short for Without The Mask). ;) A HUGE thank you to: derrick, G.G, sonic, Mike Birbiglia, SoulHeart2011, brookdalebunny , LilSassySally, aliciathewolf45, MEGAANIMEFREAK27 , DemonGann , BlackPetals23, nadiamirah, Ella, Myestica, ShadowFanGirl29, NecromancyIsMyGame , BlackSandHeart, Gamyie, Midnight Alexis Thorn, QuirkyRevelations, ShadowsAngel1, SakuraDreamerz, casey10rok, Guest (Rose The Hedgehog), Chicket the Chickadee, Toxic the Hedgehog, blossom girl 2 and Sazie. Let's hope that I haven't missed anyone. :) Anyway, I don't know how to show you guys how much I really appreciate your feedback and reviews. All of you have no idea how happy I get when I read your reviews. =)

*Clears throat* About the joke... The people who got the joke right are: SoulHeart2011, brookdalebunny, LilSassySally, MEGAANIMEFREAK27, DemonGann, nadiamirah, Ella, ShadowFanGirl29, BlackSandHeart, Gamyie, Midnight Alexis Thorn, QuirkyRevelations, ShadowsAngel1, SakuraDreamerz, casey10rok, Guest (Rose The Hedgehog), Chicket the Chickadee and blossom girl 2. Looks like more than 10 people got it right, lol. :D Anyone who either said because 7 ate 9, or 7 8 9, or even seven ate/eight nine, you guys got it right. As for those people who didn't get it right, don't worry, there's always other jokes. ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own STH.

Chapter 13

Amy lay frozen over the ebony hedgehog, her eyes still wide. She couldn't get herself to move, no matter how much she tried. It was kind of as if she was glued on top of him. Underneath her, she felt Shadow also freeze, and she wished that she could see his reaction at her on top of him. As if answering her wish, the lights turned on again, making the pink hedgehog regret ever wishing that.

Shadow's eyes were wide a little, and they were locked on hers. She saw the shock and surprise in his scarlet orbs. The rose female found her lips moving against his a little, noticing how soft and warm his mouth actually was. His hands slowly removed from her waist, pushing her gently away. Amy's face flushed a deep red, and she was sure that she looked like a tomato at that moment. She quickly rolled off of him, standing up to her feet, and turning her face around. She held her bathrobe around herself tighter, biting her lip softly. What was she thinking, kissing him like that?! Amy's face turned even redder, and it felt as if her cheeks were on fire! Her ears perked up, hearing him also stand up to his feet, and she could tell that he was looking at her; the prickling sensation on her neck told her so.

"Well…" Shadow was the first one to break the uncomfortable silence. "This is really awkward." He said, the pink hedgehog rolled her eyes. As if she didn't already know that. "It was an accident, let's not get embarrassed." The ebony male added, causing Amy to turn around. Her eyes scanned his face, wanting to see what he felt about what had just happened, but… All she could see was his usual expressionless mask. And somewhere deep down, she couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. The pink female frowned, not knowing where that feeling came from. She would think about it later, right now she had to say something back to Shadow.

"Hmm, yeah, if it wasn't for the stupid power it wouldn't have happened." She said, pursing her lips. "Not just that, my clumsy walking too. Seriously, if they gave me a job in the circus, I'd make a very good clown." Amy laughed, trying to soften up the awkward atmosphere. To her relief, Shadow grinned, before he smirked.

"I bet you would! Look, are you done in the bathroom?" He asked, the pink hedgehog nodding her head.

"I totally forgot that you also wanted to take a shower, go on then." Amy glanced down at her pink bathrobe. "While you do that, I'll change into my clothes." She said, heading for the stairs, before Shadow's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"You really love the colour pink, don't you." He stated more than asked, the pink hedgehog grinning at him.

"Of course I do! Look, if it really bothers you, I'll go shopping tomorrow and buy some different coloured clothes and things." Amy said, standing on the first step of the stairs. She was glad that everything was back to normal again and not uncomfortable.

Shadow shook his head. "No, I don't really care. But it's always nice to wear different coloured clothes now and then." He also headed for the stairs in a black and red blur, startling Amy as he stood at the top of the stairs. "Come on, slowcoach!" He said playfully, causing the pink hedgehog to gasp and glare at him. She was being playful too.

"I'm not that slow! It's you who's fast like a… A, oh I don't know! Like a train?" Amy asked, smiling.

"Nope, faster than that." Shadow grinned down at her, although there was slight boredom in his gaze. The pink hedgehog rolled her jade green eyes, walking up the stairs.

"Less showing off, more working!" She playfully shoved him in the bathroom, closing the door behind him, and hearing him chuckle from the other side. "Now, let's get myself changed into my pajamas."

xXx

Amy forced her eyes open, looking blankly at the TV screen. Nothing interesting was on today. She heard feet moving down the stairs and into the living, causing her to sit up immediately. Shadow took a seat next to her on the sofa, grinning at her with amusement in his red eyes. "You look tired." He said, watching her eyelids move up quickly.

"No! I'm not tired." She said, sounding as if Shadow was her father and was going to send her to bed if he saw her falling asleep. The thought caused the ebony male to chuckle, Amy raising an eyebrow at him. "Why are you laughing?" She demanded, Shadow shaking his head.

"Nothing." He looked at her from head to toe. The pink hedgehog was wearing dark pink shorts and a long short-sleeved light pink top with the words, "Pretty in Pink". "You look pretty in pink." Shadow said kind of sarcastically, causing the pink female to punch him on the shoulder, not really hard though. "I wasn't joking, you really do look nice. I can see now that you'll never get bored of pink." He added, Amy rolling her eyes.

"Whatever, let's watch the boring show, at least it's better than you mocking my taste." She said, leaning on him with her head on his shoulder. It looked like he had gotten used to that.

"I'm not mocking your taste, did you ever hear me laugh a-" Shadow started but got cut off by Amy.

"Shh!" The pink hedgehog leaned into him even more, forcing her eyes open as she stared at the TV. A few minutes later, her soft snores were heard, causing Shadow to chuckle a little. He gently pushed her back, before standing up. Scooping her into his arms, he walked quietly to the stairs, careful not to make a noise. On the way, he glanced down at her face, his crimson eyes trailing around her face properly for the first time. Tucking in a strand of pink hair behind her ear out of her face, he smiled slightly. I like being your friend, Amy. You're a nice person, you remind me of… Maria.

Shadow laid the pink hedgehog down on her bed, noticing with slight amusement that her room really was worse than the guest room. There was pink everywhere, he couldn't see one spot that was a different colour. As he moved away from her bed, her hand suddenly shot out, grabbing his hand. "Don't leave me." Amy muttered in her sleep, Shadow gently pulling his hand away from hers and pulling the duvet up to her shoulders.

"Goodnight… Amy." He said, closing her door with a soft click. If he had stayed one second longer, he would have heard Amy mumble his name in her sleep.

xXx

Amy shot up on her bed, sweat rolling down her forehead. What a weird dream. She thought to herself, running a hand through her neck-length pink quills. She didn't really feel like thinking about her dream, she had got confused enough when she was dreaming it. The pink hedgehog walked to her room's door, her hand freezing on the doorknob. How did I get here? She frowned, before the corners of her lips curved up, forming a smile. "Shadow must have brought me here after I fell asleep in the living room." Amy muttered to herself, Shadow's name reminding her of her dream. Her head turned towards the clock on the wall. It was midnight, so obviously Shadow wasn't awake, unless he was the awake type.

Walking out of the room, the rose female slowly climbed down the stairs, peeking in the living room. The light was off. Amy made her way to the kitchen, where she poured herself a cup of water, and drank hungrily. She had never been this thirsty before. "Up for a midnight snack?" A voice said out of nowhere, causing the pink hedgehog to nearly jump out of her skin. Spinning on her heel, she came face to face with an amused Shadow, who's arms were folded across his chest. Amy sighed in relief, one hand flying up to her chest, where she placed it where her heart was.

"Shadow, oh my God, you scared the hell outta me!" She glared at him a little, seeing him chuckle. "No, I'm not here for a midnight snack. I'm very thirsty." She added, Shadow uncrossing his arms and walking up to the fridge.

"What a coincidence, I am thirsty too." He said in a bored voice, Amy noticing that his quills were messy a little from sleeping. She also noticed how good he looked like that... Oh stop it Amy! She told herself mentally, smiling up at the ebony hedgehog.

"Thanks for taking me to my room, honestly, it was very kind of you." Amy told him, watching him as he grabbed a bottle of water and drank from it.

"Yeah?" Shadow closed the lid of the bottle, before putting it back inside the fridge. "What kind of friend doesn't take another friend to their room when they're sleeping?" He asked, earning a wide smile from Amy.

"A bad friend!" She giggled, the black and red hedgehog laughing a little too. "Look, we should really be going to bed. I've got to be able to wake up tomorrow, you know, go shopping." Amy grinned at him. "I'm going to be getting rid of some pink stuff!

"Sure, I'm not stopping you. Goodnight, Rose." Shadow walked out of the kitchen, the pink female right behind him.

"Rose?" Amy couldn't help but smile at the nickname he had given her, secretly liking it. The dark hedgehog turned to her, a small smirk on his face.

"Of course. I think that Rose suits you better than what that faker calls you. Ames, what kind of nickname is that?" Shadow said, before adding, "Let's go back to sleep now, I don't know about you, but I'm really tired." The pink hedgehog could tell that he wanted an excuse to get away. He probably didn't want to talk about her new nickname anymore.

Amy shrugged, nodding for him to go on. In a black and red smudge, he ran up the stairs and into the guest room, the door slamming shut. The rose hedgehog took her time walking up the stairs, not really sleepy anymore. When she got to her room, she laid down on her bed, kicking the duvet away from her. She stared at the blank ceiling, some things running through her mind, all of them about one person... Shadow. Amy wondered why she had kissed him earlier on today, and why she had dreamt about him.

Sighing, she turned on her side, imagining the dark hedgehog. They were friends now. She couldn't help, but smile at that thought. Her dream then flashed before her vision, a frown pulling on her lips. It's just a dream, it doesn't mean anything. The pink hedgehog shook her thoughts off of her dream, putting it on the back of her mind. The kiss though, why had she kissed him? Amy bit her lip, and blushed softly at the memory. "I got caught in the moment, that's why." She ignored the feeling down deep that told her that wasn't why she did it. "I might as well try to get some sleep, thinking about these things are just gonna confuse me even more." And with a last glance at the clock, she pulled the covers over her head.

I made this chappie sligthly longer than the last chapter. :) Oh, and you'll certainly find out about Amy's dream later on, it has something to do with the story. It might seem confusing now, but you guys will get it when the time comes. =) Oops, nearly forgot about telling you guys a joke. So...

Here's the joke: Which month do soldiers hate the most? It's kinda an easy one, all you have to do is look at the months and chose one that you think is the answer. There, I've given you guys a clue, so no point in cheating. :P

Review for me, please? :)

-Amy

BTW: I've got a new poll on my profile, you guys should check it out, if you want to that is. =)