a/n: You're appreciated. Thank you for the dance. Another round? If you want.

Only the finest, she said. She didn't expect that violent, visceral experience to fade into nothing. But she wanted to bask in the vanity that only money could bring. In her smallest handbag were precious jewels of all sorts, one she could part with easily. They left Tokyo having indulged themselves on one of her many hidden credit cards, and then she parted with the jewels in Berlin a month later.

Here they were in Milan, looking over the skyline from the presidential suite of a five star hotel.

Rouge sat in a long chair, a pair of sunglasses over her face. She basked in the sun's warmth, a glass of wine in hand with her silk shirt opened. A recently bought bra covered her ample assets, crafted out of bright red cotton and trimmed with lace.

Amy leaned back against the balcony railing, styled pink quills waving gently in the breeze. A white sundress hugged her body and its curves, flaring out above her knees. Her feet were carefully, lovingly adorned by bright red wedge heels, Rouge's suggestion. She crossed one leg over the other, careful not to knock over her rum and coke on the ground.

"Thinking?" Rouge asked from her seat.

"Yeah."

"Miss him?"

"I do. I'm sorry, I have you. You've been good to me." She turned her head. "You've taught me a lot."

"I've taught you a little. You've learned a lot," she said before sipping from her glass. "You're a clever one, Amy Rose."

Amy smiled and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.

"But he's more than I could ever be. Spiritually, at least."

"When I'm with you, I'm not settling," Amy said confidently. "You can make me yours, if you want. No regrets."

"For you, or for me?"

"Both of us. He will always soothe my soul...but I understand the dynamics a little better now. Through you, I've grasped the taste of adulthood."

"Like I said, entirely too clever."

"Do you hate it?"

"No. It makes me want you more. Even though I shouldn't."

Amy smiled. Her lips were a lush red. Not quite the colour of rubies. Not quite that intense.

She took the time to admire her partner's bare skin as the sun warmed it. Her head turned and she bent downwards to pick up her glass. She took a gulp and set it down again, leaving it half-full.

She let out a breath through her parted lips.

A small tremor on the railing. She looked to her right, to the figure standing in front of the clear blue sky. He hopped down from the railing and walked until he was between the two women.

Raising his hand, he gave Rouge a silent salute. She smiled and waved back, wiggling her fingers.

There were bandages across his body, almost stylishly arranged. His fur had grown back, a cool cobalt. He wore an older pair of sneakers, slightly scuffed but still functional. His hands were gloveless, but completely wrapped in black bandage.

Amy moved from her perch and guided him towards her. She pressed her lips against his and he didn't resist, letting her savour his sweetness as she wanted. She let the warmth flow into her and leaned in for just a moment before pulling back with a soft breath. Her hand rubbed his back tenderly.

"You still feel the same."

"That's interesting."

"It is. I thought...you would taste different."

"Because you're grown up now?"

"Yes."

"Some things don't change from our youth. Not even our perspectives of them."

"You guys want some privacy?" Rouge asked.

"Do we?" Amy asked Sonic. He shook his head.

"She's your responsibility too."

Rouge nodded and sipped from her glass again. Sonic raised an eyebrow.

"Wearing pants today. A step up. Is that lace on your tits?"

"Paid out the ass for it, too. Like it?"

He gave her a familiar smirk. "Tasteful."

"That's a badge of honour if anything," she fired back. A delayed grin.

"What've you been up to?" Amy asked him. A shrug.

"Nothing intensive. Just Eggman things again."

"Yeah, figured." A pause. "I'm gonna move in with Rouge when we get back."

"Hm."

"I just have to look pretty. She'll handle the rest. Apparently Omega has copies of his own schematics. I'll read them a few times over just to be on the up and up."

"And Shadow?"

"Mm...when we get to that bridge, I guess. He's not around often but I want to tend to him too."

"Did Rouge tell you that she'll probably take advantage of you?"

"It sounds horrible, doesn't it?"

"A little," he joked.

"It's fine. I understand she doesn't mean it that way. She never does."

"I know. She's good for you."

"She's really a terrible influence."

"That too. But in terms of net gain, it's a positive."

She laughed. "Compromising already?"

"Might as well. New era."

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Do you still think about it?"

"Every day. You?"

"It's fading. Soon it'll be a distant memory. All of it."

"Good."

"What about you?"

"It's just another weight. I can handle it."

"And the phantom pains?"

He stopped for a moment to think. "They remind me of one thing."

"What?"

His eyes brightened.

"When I forget how to touch the impossible...they remind me how."

A fluttering of joy in her heart. Her eyes brightened along with his. She pulled him close and hugged him, taking in his essence. Not wanting to let go.

"That reached you somehow, but I don't understand how."

"Does it matter?"

An echo. "No. It never did."

She looked at him for a moment. He could see the flowing image of the other. But her lips were not as sharp in colour.

He could remember their softness. Better than her in every way.

He hated that woman. But Amy felt like love. Tasted like it.

"Everything's okay now?" he asked.

"Yeah. It was everything I asked for."

"Amy?"

"Yeah, Sonic?"

"I never told you. You're my home on Earth."

She leaned back against the balcony railing and smiled a smile. It was made of the summer sun, with her luscious red lips. A woman through and through. She said nothing, only continued pouring her enlightened brightness onto him. He smiled and bounded over to Rouge, kissing her gently on the cheek before hopping onto the railing. He gave Amy one last look.

Reflected in her eyes was the toothy smile and the thumbs up of the hero.

He jumped down from the balcony and skipped down to the streets below. Accelerated. Flew on under the blue skies again.

Amy stood in place, arms propped up against the railing. A thin layer of condensation on her drink. A hot blush on her cheeks, her hair dancing in the breeze.

She crossed her legs over each other. Bright red wedge heels. Tongue dancing briefly on her red lips.

"That guy really gets you going, doesn't he?"

Rouge sighed a sweet sigh, and Amy followed in turn.

The sky was ever clear.