chapter 7: Dancing

The ballroom was buzzing with noise, because the guests of the wedding were engaged in various conversations. Half of the big room was taken by two long tables and a third small one. The small table was for the the newlyweds, the best man and the maid of honor. The big ones were for the guests. Just like with the ceremony, the closest seats to the couples' table were taken by the heroes.

So far the dinner was going great. After saying their toasts, Silver and Blaze thanked Team Dark, Whisper, and the guards for their help with the pirates. After this the eating began. The salad and the main dish had gone by and now it was time for the wedding cake. Just like everything else, it was beautiful. It was six feet tall ( two meters), had silver and violet decorations on it and two small figurines of Silver and Blaze on top of it.

Right now everyone was eating the cake, which was (unsurprisingly) very delicious. And the one who was enjoying it the most was a certain black and red hedgehog. In fact, he was now eating his third piece.

''Dang, Shadow, leave some for the rest of us!'' Sonic, who was sitting across Shadow, said with a smirk

''Besides, I am not sure if it is healthy for you.''

Shadow looked at his rival ''Hum, It's still better then the chili dogs you eat every day, Faker.''

''Hey, don't say things about the chili dogs you can't take back!'' Sonic warned the anti-hero.

Rouge and Amy (who were also sitting across each other) exchanged tired looks that were saying 'Boys...'

Not too far away, Charmy was enjoying his own piece of cake ''Mmmmmm, I wish we could eat cake like this every day. Too bad we can't even afford hot water.''

Just then, Vector got up.

''Hey, where are you going?'' asked the bee.

The crocodile smirked ''I can't be a DJ in this outfit, can I?'' and with that, he left.

''What was that about?'' Charmy asked Cream, who just shrugged.

Soon he found out the reason.

Suddenly, electro music started playing. Everyone looked to see Vector, dressed in his ''DJ Vector'' outfit, sitting between two big speakers. In front of him was a big DJ controller.

''Alright, beautiful people!'' Vector said through the mike ''Enough eating! It's time you all burn these calories with some good dancing!''

Most of the guests, alongside with the happy couple, got up and walked to the space in the ballroom that was reserved for dancing.

Vector once again spoke ''In honor of our newlyweds, the firs dance will be a slow one! So find yourself a good match and get on the dancing!''

The guests started paring up in couples. Of course Silver and Blaze were among the first to start dancing.

But there were still some that were looking for a partner. And among them was Sonic. He actually had a pretty good idea of who he wanted to ask on a dance, but he just couldn't find her. Suddenly a group of girls approached him.

''Ah, IT'S HIM!'' one of the girls said as she and the others surrounded Sonic.

"Ugh, I am sorry, ladies, but I-'' the blue hedgehog started saying, but he was interrupted by the same girl.

''Oh, it's not him!'' she said, very disappointed.

''I told you it's not him!" her friend said ''He is black and has red markings!''

''Wait WHAT!'' Sonic was shocked.

''Ah, there he is!'' one of the girls pointed at Shadow, who was leaning on a wall nearby. In a flash the girls were gone, leaving Sonic alone.

''What... just happened?'' the hero was utterly confused.

''Apparently Shadow is getting more attention than you, for once." Knuckles said with a smirk.

But Sonic knew how to respond to this ''Be carful, he might steal Rouge from you!''

A blush appeared on the echidna's face ''I don't care who Rouge dances with!''

Sonic laughed, knowing fully well that Knuckles wasn't honest. But just then he noticed Amy.

''See you later, Knucks!'' Sonic said before running towards the pink hedgehog.

Amy was wondering if someone was going to ask her on a dance. Of course, she was hoping that a certain blue hedgehog would approach her and-

''H-hey, Ames...'' a nervous voice interrupted Amy's thoughts.

She turned to see Sonic, a goofy smile on his blushing face and his right hand rubbing the back of his head.

''I...I was wondering if...'' he stuttered, while mentally punching himself ''You...you would...like to dance...with...me?''

Amy herself was now blushing and out of words. What should she do!? She had been dreaming about this moment since she was eight and it was now becoming reality. The hedgehog of her dreams was asking her to dance with him.

''I...I would love to!'' she said, doing her best to not explode in happiness.

''Great!'' Sonic said. He took Amy's hand and led her to the dance floor.

Elsewhere Whisper was in trouble. That is, if you consider being surrounded by five gentlemen who were all asking you to dance with them a trouble. Thanks to Blaze's gratitude, Whisper and Rouge were now the center of male attention. And while that wasn't anything new for Rouge, it was for Whisper.

The boys didn't seem to care that the wolf's dress was torn. Apparently her new reputation was too strong to resist.

Then along came Whisper's savior.

''Hey, give her some space!'' Whisper was pulled away from the crowd by her best friend, Tangle ''Come on, guys, this isn't how you impress a lady!''

"Oh, and what do you know about hitting on girls?'' one of the boys asked with a smug smile. Tangle could barely hold herself from punching him the face.

''Clearly more than you! Come on, Whisper!'' and with that, the two best friends left the boys.

''Thank you!'' Whisper said happily to the lemur ''How can Rouge like this?''

''I don't know.'' Tangle said, before suddenly blushing ''I was... actually looking for you. I wanted to ask you something.''

''What is it?'' asked the wolf.

''If you...uuummm... would like to dance with me.''

Whisper was taken aback by that question.

Tangle saw her reaction and immediately regretted asking ''I am so, so sorry! Just... forget that I-''

"Tangle!'' Whisper interrupted her friend, a little louder than usual for her ''I...would actually love to dance...with you...''

Now it was Tangle's turn to be taken aback. She smiled softly before saying ''Awsome!''

No to far away, Shadow was still leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, surrounded by the fan girls who had mistaken Sonic for him earlier. Just like Rouge and Whisper were the center of male attention thanks to their heroic acts earlier, Shadow was the center of female attention.

''You are so cute!'', ''How about a dance, handsome?'', ''I like your chest fur!'' ''Do you have a girlfriend?'' were some of the things the girls were saying to Shadow. Of course, he was paying them no attention. Surprisingly for him, the only girl he could imagine himself dancing with was Rouge. But why was that?

As on cue the bat in question approached the hedgehog, surrounded by her own group of suitors. Shadow froze and started blushing. He was able to ignore her gorgeousness during the battle, but now he was once again feeling these strange feelings he was having for Rouge all of a suddenly.

''Enjoying the company, Shads?'' Rouge asked, sassy as always.

''Hum maybe. You?''

"A little, but it's getting boring.'' Rouge answered, which made some of the suitors sad ''I would like to dance with someone. Perhaps I can convince the knuclehead to dance with me.''

Shadow's blood started boiling. For some reason the thought of another man, especially Knuckles, dancing with Rouge, was making Shadow very angry.

''How about dancing with me?'' Shadow asked without thinking.

Rouge was surprised by this ''You want to dance with me!? Are you sure you are not a clone of the real Shadow?''

Shadow stood up from the wall and stretched his hand ''I am serious. Would you like to dance with me?''

Rouge was stunned. The feelings she had felt for Shadow earlier returned to her like a wave. She started blushing and her knees became weak.

But despite everything, the bat managed to get herself back together and to answer with ''I would love to.'' much to the dismay of the male and female suitors.

Rouge took Shadow's hand and the two soon reached the dance floor, where couples had already started dancing on the slow and romantic music.

Shadow's left hand was on Rouge's waist and his right hand was holding her right hand, while Rouge's left hand was on Shadow's shoulder. The two were slowly twirling around in a very beautiful dance. Rouge was surprised by how good of a dancer Shadow was. She had known him for years, yet she wasn't aware of this secret ability of his. But something else was bugging her mind.

''Out of curiosity: why did you ask me dance with you?'' asked the bat.

Shadow smiled ''Just thing of it as my way to say 'Thank you' for standing by my side today!''

Rouge was surprised by this answer, but soon she too smiled and said ''Once I promised you that no matter what, I would always remain by your side, remember?"

The hedgehogs closed his eyes ''Yes, I remember.''

After a few moments of silence, Shadow spoke ''You know, I don't think I've ever promised you the same thing.''

''You don't have to!'' said Rouge.

''Well, I am doing it now!''

Shadow looked Rouge directly in the eyes. His ruby orbs met her sapphire ones, which made the bat freeze. Then he spoke with softest voice she had ever heard from him.

"Rouge, even if the whole world turns against you, know that I will always remain by your side, just like you will! Remember this!''

Rouge's heart was about to pop out of her chest and she was completely red, but somehow, she managed to say, with tears in her eyes ''I will!''

After this, neither of them spoke. They just continued dancing and looking at each other's eyes. It was as if the whole world had disappeared and they were the only ones. They started moving their faces closer and closer to one another. Both had given themselves up to this new and sweet feeling. And just when their lips were about to meet-

''HEY, WATCH IT!''

-they were brod back to reality.

Apparently they had bumped into another couple.

''Sorry!'' Rouge apologized. She then noticed that a pease of paper had fallen from Shadow's pocket due to the bump ''What's this?''

She picked it up and saw that it was a phone number ''Who's phone number is this?'' she asked Shadow.

The dark hedgehog quickly took the paper and put it back in his pocket ''It's nothing!''

Rouge knew he wasn't honest ''Shadow...'' she looked at him in a way that made it impossible for Shadow to lie.

''It's... the phone of a... therapist... Whisper recommended to me...'' he said hesitantly.

Rouge's eyes lightened up with happiness ''That's wonderful!''

"It is?'' Shadow was confused.

''Yes, it is! You are finally going to get the help you need!''

''Hold on a second!'' the hedgehog interrupted his partner firmly ''I haven't decided if I want to go yet!''

Rouge had known Shadow long enough to know the reason for his uncertainty ''Look, Shadow, I know it's not easy for you to open up to people, but this is a great opportunity for you to finally face your biggest enemy- yourself.''

The anti-hero didn't say anything and continued listening.

''For years I've watched you struggling with the demons of your past and it was hurting me because I knew that I can't truly help you. But now you have the chance to finally face your demons and become a happier person. So please Shadow try, for me.''

Shadow looked at her eyes and he could see all the care and worry Rouge had for him.

Finally he said ''Okey, I will try.''

Rouge immediately pulled Shadow into a hug. Shadow smiled and returned the hug.

''Thank you, Whisper.'' he was thinking.

Speaking of Whisper, she and Tangle were now dancing among the other couples. Neither of them knew how to dance, so they were mimicking what the others were doing and it was working so far. The only problem was that they were both still super awkward. They weren't looking at each other, instead they were looking at their feet.

Finally Tangle looked up and said ''Thanks again for dancing with me.''

''It was nothing!'' Whisper answered. And with that, a new minute of silence began.

Tangle was punching herself mentally for being such a coward. The whole reason she had asked Whisper on a dance was so she could confess her feelings for her. But so far she was failing.

''Come on! You have faced an army of zombie robots, the Deadly six and other big dangers! '' the lemur was thinking angrily ''Telling the most incredible girl in the world how you feel about her is nothing...oh I am so dead! ''

Whisper, though, had noticed her friend's strange behavior and asked ''Tangle, is everything alright?"

''Yeah yeah! Everything is... awesome...'' the way Tangle said 'awesome' really made Whisper concerned.

''Tangle, please talk to me!'' the wolf took the lemur's face and looked her directly in the eyes ''You've always been there for me when I needed you. Now let me be there for you!''

Whisper's words made Tangle's heart melt. Tears were starting to form tears in her eyes.

'It's just... I wanted to tell you something very personal... but I am afraid how you would react...''

''Tangle... nothing you ever say would change my lo-feelings for you!''

''Really?'' Tangle asked hopefully.

''Really!'' Whisper assured her.

''Okey...'' Tangle took a deep breath, as her face became completely red and the butterflies in her stomach multiplied to thousands. Little did she know that Whisper was going through the same.

''Whisper...'' the lemur said finally ''I...really...like you...and I mean really... really... like you! I mean...I like you more than...a friend... like how Knuckles likes the Master emerald!" Whisper was wondering if she was dreaming. She had always been hoping that Tangle would return her feelings, and now here she was, listening to Tangle revealing her true feelings '' So I was wondering if...''

Tangle once again took a deep breath and was just about to ask the big question, but Whisper couldn't hold herself any longer.

''Do you want to go out with me!?'' Whisper asked quickly.

Tangle let the breath she was holding out and covered her face with hands ''Nooo, I was so ready!''

"I am sorry! I am sorry! You can say it!''

''Okey... Whisper the wolf, do you want to go out with me?''

"YES!'' the wolf answered happily.

''Okey..." the lemur said, before stretching her hand towards Whisper. She took it and the two were now holding hands.

''Why is this all so scary?'' Tangle asked quietly.

''I don't know!'' Whisper responded.

(THEY ARE ADORABLE AND DESERVE ALL THE HAPPINESS, HOOT HOOT! Also that goes without saying but f* off Disney! )

While Tangle and Whisper's confession was definitely sweet, it was not the only one that was about to happen tonight. Some hearts were about to be broken, but some were about to be blessed with the greatest gift of all- love.

(To be continued...)

(I am sorry that this chapter took so long and that it ends here, but I was writing other stuff and was resting during December. I mean, It was the holidays after all. Also I wanted this to be the last chapter, but it would have been too long and rushed. I still hope you enjoyed it, though! )

(I don't own any of the characters or the locations! They all belong to SEGA!)