Preparation

Music filled Shadow's kitchen. With hope in his heart and a plan in his head, he'd decided to embody Rouge's spirit for a morning, listening to something lively and upbeat for a change while he made breakfast. He hadn't felt so fluttery before, his memories playing back the most supportive words from his friends. He wasn't going to waste any time. And he felt so full of energy so early in the morning that it almost seemed unnatural. When he was finished cooking, the spatula went into the sink, along with the pan he'd used to make his humble stack of pancakes. He forewent toppings besides a dribble of syrup – no butter or fruit for the Ultimate Lifeform, that was Rouge's thing – and was sitting down at the table when his phone started to ring.

His heart lurched and he looked at the black cell sitting on the tabletop, then smiled when he saw his girlfriend's name on the screen. He immediately picked up, "Good morning."

"Mornin', hun!" her pretty voice replied. "Is that a good mood I hear in your voice?"

"Ah, how could you tell?" he asked. It was impressive how skilled she was at reading him, his mannerisms foreign and unfamiliar to anyone but her.

Rouge was confident and a bit teasing when she answered, "I can hear the smile in your tone. Now is that only for me or did I just catch you in a rare moment of happiness?"

"Well... both, I suppose." He worked on cutting up his pancakes while speaking, one-handedly squishing his knife through the warm pastry. "I'm not so stressed anymore. And really, it's not so rare; you know I've been happier since-"

"-Since we met, mhm," she interrupted playfully. "You tell me all the time, dear, how could I forget?"

They shared a chuckle, then Rouge asked, "So, what are you up to this early?"

"I just made breakfast. Pancakes."

"Mm, I'm jealous." She sighed, "I wish I could join you, that sounds incredible right about now. My own breakfast was less than satiable, these military rations really are the worst!"

"It sounds like it." He let a tinge of playfulness enter his tone as he stabbed his fork into his food. "Honestly, how do you survive?"

The drama in the bat's voice was clear. "Ugh, I don't even know! These humans have no idea how to live, it's a travesty, really."

She made Shadow laugh a little – just an exhale, but it warmed her all the same. Before taking his first bite, he said, "Still no end to the mission in sight?"

"Pft, no. But at least they're giving me more information on what we're doing, after I snuck away from a task in protest."

"They were being stingy with information? On a government assignment?"

"I know, great leadership, right?"

Shadow could practically hear her eyes rolling and shook his head. Then he heard a faint voice in the background of the call. He could tell the mouthpiece was away from her face when she said "Okay" to whoever was speaking on the other side.

Then she returned to him. "Shadow, baby, I'm sorry, but I have to go. We have a disturbance to investigate."

"No worries. Be safe."

"Thanks, I will. Love you!"

"Love you, too." The call ended and Shadow looked down at his plate with a few bites missing, pausing briefly to think through what he had planned for the day. Besides working as usual, he did have another business to visit; and checking the time confirmed he would be able to swing it before going to Club Rouge. So, he finished his breakfast and quickly cleaned the dishes before dressing in his uniform and heading out.

The big, inviting windows of the jewelry store greeted him once again. Remembering his last visit, the hedgehog gazed through them before going inside, but didn't spot the blonde that'd bothered him before; so, he walked in, announcing himself with the chime of the bell above the door. He knew what he wanted, so he walked up to the counter and looked up at the human man standing behind it. An array of sparkling rings sat in the glass case between them.

"Welcome!" the clerk said, a friendly smile spread on his round face. "You look like a Mobian on a mission! What can I help you with today?"

"I'm looking to get a custom ring made," Shadow started, taking out his phone. He leaned forward to show an image of the features he'd cobbled together, raising the cell higher to meet the man's taller height. "Can you do that?"

The human stared at the phone for a moment, leaning forward himself but respectfully refraining from taking the device for a better look. "Looks like you want an emerald on a gold band that's lined with diamonds, is that right?"

Shadow nodded and pointed at the screen, emphasizing, "Yes, but I want the curvy design for the band here. And a special shape for the emerald."

"It shouldn't be a problem," the man said, leaning both hands on the counter. "What shape is that?"

"A Chaos Emerald – as if she were wearing a smaller version of one. You know it, right?"

"I wouldn't be worth spit as a jeweler if I didn't know about the Chaos Emeralds!" He looked proud, his face beaming at the hedgehog. "I can get that made for you – so long as you know custom rings are more expensive than the pre-assembled variety."

"I'm aware." Shadow laid his phone on the counter while the human took out an electronic tablet. "Would I be able to get quicker shipping on that? I assume with a higher fee, as well."

The clerk nodded, then looked from the tablet to his customer. "Usually, it takes about a month, but if you're willing to pay the extra, you can get it in two weeks. Is that soon enough for ya?"

"That'll work."

"Great! Then I'll just take your information down, here, and we can get your order put in."

Shadow kept his nerves at bay while working with the employee, doing everything as needed so he could get it over with sooner. But the second he left the store, a heavy, shaky exhale left his lips. There was the hammering of his heart again, and not just because of the annoyance of dealing with a chipper stranger. He was still feeling the fluster of buying an engagement ring. The striped lifeform sat on his bike, resting idly in the parking lot, and breathed through it enough to get back to his usual self. It didn't take long; he just needed a moment to decompress. Then the same Shadow was back, and he was able to ride off to Club Rouge without a wavery nerve left.

The next day, he had the thought to call Rouge's friends – his friends, too, he had to remind himself – and tell them of the new developments. There was a feeling he would need more of their help to make everything perfect, and he wasn't usually one for big gestures. But he knew it was what his future fiancée would want, so he had no problem doing it for her. This time, he called Silver. On a Wednesday, the white hedgehog was probably at his gardening shop, so Shadow hoped he would pick up.

"Hello?" the young, optimistic voice on the other end chirped.

"Hey, Silver, are you busy?"

"Uh, well, I'm working the shop, but..." There was a pause. "... I think my customers are okay for a bit, looks like they're just browsing. What's up?"

Shadow steeled himself for the burst of excitement he was about to be pelted with when he said, "I wanted to let you know, I ordered the ring yesterday."

An immediate gasp, and he could hear the grin in Silver's voice. "Seriously?! Dude, I'm so happy for you! So, you planned it out, then? Tell me everything!"

"I... haven't planned much, actually," replied the dark hedgehog, hoping his friend would pick up on his tone and simmer down. "That's also why I called. I... might require a bit more assistance from you and Blaze."

He was still a little prickly about asking for help, but his love for Rouge outweighed his pride, even if he bristled involuntarily at Silver's exuberance.

"Of course! More than happy to – honestly, I love being a part of stuff like this, I mean this is a huge occasion! When are you gonna have a moment like a proposal ever again, right? I mean, hopefully never, if you and Rouge are forever-"

"Silver," he interrupted. "I appreciate your willingness... could you just tell me when you both will be available to speak in person?"

"Oh, uh, yeah." He breathed a light chuckle through the phone. "Sorry. Um... Friday should be good, any time after noon if that works for you."

Shadow only needed a second to debate in his head, deciding that a Friday afternoon off was worth it. He would make up for his absence from Club Rouge with an evening shift. "Sure. Friday. You won't be waiting."

"Ha, don't I know it. You're a punctual guy! Anyway, I'll let you go, so... talk to you later!"

"Goodbye."

He hung up and briefly wondered how Rouge's previous night had gone. Although he wished some cosmic force would give her the inkling to call, he didn't linger on how much he missed her. He couldn't let himself stew in the annoyance of not being able to kiss her at a moment's notice; instead, he focused on clearing his mind. There was no need to worry about the next step until Friday.

His finger pressed against the little oval button next to the front door of Silver's house, and he heard the faint chime of the bell going off inside the home. A moment later the door opened, and the futuristic man himself stood grinning at Shadow with stars in his eyes. It was almost embarrassing to the Ultimate Lifeform how gleeful Silver was about him proposing, as he couldn't fathom being that worked up over someone else's life plans. But he didn't say it, out of consideration for his friend's feelings – it would be an unnecessary comment to make at his expense.

"Hey!" Silver exclaimed, taking a step forward. "How was your morning?"

He spread his arms and Shadow pulled back instinctively, which made the other hedgehog stop and back away, as well. With his hands held up defensively – and a sheepish smile on his face – he said, "Whoops, sorry. Forgot, no hugs. Come in!"

'No hugs' was Shadow's rule, of course. He still wasn't very comfortable with physical contact from anyone but Rouge, who knew his body so well by now that he imagined she could successfully sketch his visage blindfolded. She was more of a hugger, often giving Silver and Blaze each one when they visited. And he learned Silver was the biggest on physical affection out of all of them; the softie of the group. Maybe he would've been that way, too, he thought – had he grown up differently, or had his best friend not left him behind so soon. But he had Rouge to be affectionate with, and that was enough. Everyone else would have to settle for a handshake.

Blaze met them in the living room and they all sat on the couch as they had before. Shadow started, "Thank you for having me again. I don't like to admit that I need more of your insight, but... well, I suppose it befits me to be more open if I'm going to do this right."

The princess gave him a nod and a smile, brimming with respect. His occasional eloquent openers were part of how he'd convinced her to be fond of him. Learning of her regal background made it easy to guess that she took best to people who were capable of sounding sophisticated, as she was. Though it wasn't required of her fiancé, Shadow figured out that it was a secret barometer for how much she respected her best friend's boyfriends. A scale which he had climbed where others before him failed.

"So," he continued, "tell me how to make this proposal perfect."

Silver was bursting to go first, insisting on helping him with the proposal itself. He set the foundation by summarizing how he'd proposed to Blaze, going into detail about the timing and the short speech he gave beforehand. Shadow kept everything he said in mind, slowly formulating ideas in his head while he mulled over the possibilities, and was even impressed with Silver's passion on the subject, as well as his proficiency in perfecting their special moment. He hoped he could pull off making it as magical as his friend made it sound. And when he was finished, Blaze suggested planning a trip to surround the event.

"Really?" Shadow asked. "Like a vacation, specifically to propose?"

"Absolutely! Obviously, the proposal part will be a secret, but if I know Rouge, she'll want some relaxation time anyway when she gets back from her mission. What would be a more perfect excuse?"

"Hm... we'd have to organize some things at the club to make it work, but... I think we could." Shadow thought for a second and then suggested, "Would South Island be a good choice? If you've ever been there; I've only seen the advertisements."

Silver chimed, "Ooh, yeah! We went once, and it's basically a tropical paradise! The water there is the bluest you've ever seen, the beaches are so clean- ooh, and they have these ice cream stands they put up between the shore and the beach-side hotels, it's awesome."

"It really was lovely," added Blaze. "And there's lots of hospitality if you go out to the city, so you'd have plenty of things to do. It's easily a week-long trip."

Shadow nodded, taking in their advice and letting a small smile touch his lips. He was ultimately glad that he'd decided to confide in them. It was difficult to be vulnerable with anyone, but it was important for moments like this, when his own imagination would've surely failed him. And the stolid lifeform held a faint sense of pride at the friendships he decided to nurse, even if he did it mostly to gain better insight in the face of changing his and Rouge's future forever. But in the case of making this choice, confronting his doubts, and tackling the preparations – he could be grateful that people like Blaze, Silver, and even Sonic were around to encourage him. With their support, he could find new tactics and unlock new ideas to be the best version of himself. All because he was lucky enough to have met Rouge.

Before leaving his friends' home, he agreed to let Blaze assist him in expanding his wardrobe. Not only because he was sorely lacking in proper beach attire – too stubborn to buy new 'unnecessary' things – but because he actually cared about looking his best for their week in paradise. He wouldn't normally bother if he thought his girlfriend wouldn't notice, but he understood where her attention to detail lay, and clothing was one of the things she tended to fixate on in certain situations. He recalled how she'd complimented his style on their first dinner date, and he wanted to recreate that feeling. After all, the best time to reminisce about their last two years together would be shortly before the magical moment.

So, over the next few days, he periodically met with Blaze when they both managed to have free time outside of work. She offered perspectives on clothing he'd never considered before, helping the hedgehog piece together tasteful outfits and wishing him luck when they parted ways after the final shopping spree. He also spent some time researching bookings and details for South Island resorts, but didn't want to jump the gun and plan for a specific date just yet. He still had no idea when Rouge would be returning home.

The third-story lounge was bustling more than usual for a weekday evening, thanks to the presence of a largely popular band deciding that Club Rouge would be their designated spot to kick back after performing a concert downtown. Shadow took up residence there to offer the bouncer backup, in case the crowd of fans got too invasive. The band was friendly with him, keeping the hedgehog close and trying to get him to join in on their drunken conversations. Shadow deduced they thought it would be a riot to convince the security guard to get plastered on the job, but he stayed professional and refused them, standing to the side and keeping his eyes on all the patrons.

However, he did sneak some photographs and a video of the singer briefly serenading the adoring customers, for Rouge to enjoy. He knew she would be annoyed that she missed it, but at least he could give her the sight as it played out; at least she could see how her nightclub was instantly beloved by the band. And at the end of the night, he even allowed the rock stars to take a photo with him and the rest of the employees. It was a decent evening, all things considered, and he could guess they would be back at some point to meet the owner – whom Jay couldn't praise enough when they visited the bar.

When Shadow went home, he plopped down on the sofa and turned on the TV, intent on relaxing before the usual busy weekend would befall the casino. But it wasn't long before his phone rang. And he was annoyed for a moment, until the name on his phone made his eyes light up instead. He hadn't heard from her in a couple of days.

"Hey, hun," he blurted, answering Rouge's call and being taken aback by his own words. He didn't usually call her that – it was mostly her thing. Maybe he just missed her that much.

"Hi, love," the bat said affectionately. "I know it's kinda late, but I wanted to see how you've been holding up. I know it's been a minute since I called."

"It's fine, you're working; I understand. Frankly, you could call me at 3am and I would happily answer, but..." They shared a faint chuckle and he went on, "I'm doing well. The club is doing great, too. Actually, I have some pictures to send you. Something happened today that you'll find exciting."

"Ooh, what? Tell me!"

"Hmmm," Shadow drawled, "I think I'd rather surprise you."

"Oh, you tease," she said with a giggle. "Well, you may have something surprising for me, but I think I've got you beat."

"Really? By all means, make my night."

"I'm coming home early!"

His eyebrows raised and his smile grew. "You are? When?"

"Tower said we shove back home in two days. We really kicked ass on this assignment once they started letting me in on more of the details. I bet now, they won't be so stingy on future missions, since I saved them a whole week of drudging through the jungle."

"That's incredible, Rouge." The hedgehog felt like he was bursting with excitement, even though his reaction was only half of what a more expressive person would show. "I can't wait to see you, I've... I've missed you."

"Oh, me too, sugar." Her voice was sweet and loving. "I want to cuddle up with you for three days straight when I get back!"

Shadow laughed in a breathy exhale. It was a bit cheesy, but he could hardly complain. He even reckoned he could laze about with Rouge in his arms for days at a time. "Get some rest, then. The sooner you sleep, the faster time will pass."

Her tone slipped into a sort of soothing lull. "That's true. But I want those pictures first. Text me until we fall asleep?"

"Sure," he answered, standing to head upstairs. "That sounds nice."