When Amy got to the women's bathroom, she locked herself inside one of the cubicles.

If she cried, her makeup would be ruined and she wouldn't be able to fix it.

And she had only been at the Gala for less than an hour.

She leaned against the sink and stared at her reflection in the mirror, her hands gripping the edges of the sink. The bathroom was thankfully empty, allowing her a moment of solitude to collect herself in peace.

She knew she couldn't let her insecurities consume her like this. This was supposed to be a celebration, a night to support Sonic and his company's achievements. She didn't want to let her own doubts ruin it for him.

It was easier said than done. It always was.

A strand of her hair fell loose and she hastily pulled it back over her ear, biting her lip to refuse the tears brimming her eyes to fall. It was such a silly thing to get emotional about. There wasn't any time to be fickle with her feelings. No time to be so selfish.

Though, what was she going to expect when she went back out there? People were going to dance. Was Sonic going to dance with her, or would he be forced to dance with Mariko first because that was what the press wanted? Would she even be able to dance with him at all? Nobody wanted to see a young woman named Amy Rose who owned a greasy diner in the tabloids and newspapers anyway.

All the women she noticed at the Gala, were glamorous in their own way and right. The right bodies, the right curves, the right looks. They were all made for the cameras.

But Amy? Well, she definitely wasn't photogenic- nor was she made to be a person to attend these events. She barely even took pictures of herself, and if she did, there would be other people in the picture. Like Dash, Tikal- and one hundred times in the past, Sonic.

She wasn't made for this kind of traction, nor will she ever be.

Amy wasn't drop-dead gorgeous. She wasn't knees-on-the-floor gorgeous like Mariko. Mariko was an '"icon" for most people, someone who had too much money for what she did, and had several men quick on their feet just to greet her.

Then she'd always shove them away to gain the attention of someone else in particular.

If Amy could scream in agony, she would. But if someone walked in and heard that, they would probably walk right back out and report some crazy person was in the bathroom.

She needed to calm down. Breathe. Everything was going to be okay.

Her phone dinged in her purse. She pulled it out and saw that Sonic texted her.

Where did you go?

She hovered her fingers over her phone screen. In the bathroom. Needed to freshen up.

It didn't take long for him to text back, making her wonder what exactly was he doing right now.

'Kay! Just let me know when you're out! These execs are boring me.

Amy rolled her eyes but laughed at the message. So typical of him.

She got out of the cubicle and looked at her reflection in the front mirror again.

Yes, she looked nice, maybe even pretty… but not quite beautiful… not quite like-

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall."

She jumped at the sudden voice from behind her, then stiffened when she saw who it was in the mirror;

Mariko.

As Amy looked at her in silence through the glass, Mariko merely smiled, laughing a little as she came to stand in front of the mirror beside her. "Who's the fairest of them all?" Looking down as she started rummaging through a small handbag, she muttered, "Obviously this woman here with the most lipo-suctioned body, I'm sure…" Taking out a tube of lipstick, she leaned forward and spread it across her lips. Pressing them together, she drew back and turned to her. "Miss Amy Rose. It's been a while."

Amy didn't say anything when she turned her head to look at her, not letting her surprise remain obvious to the other woman. She just stared at her, guarded and expectant. Did she know she was going to be here? Like it was some sixth sense? She had a knack for doing that, unfortunately, and Amy was in no mood to entertain her. Not at all.

Mariko just smiled at her, but she could tell it wasn't genuine. Nothing about her was genuine whenever she spoke to her. "You don't want to talk like the mature grown women we are?"

Her tone was patronising and internally, it boiled Amy to her core. Mature? What did she know about maturity? She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

With a forced yet crooked smile, Amy replied, "Of course, Mariko. It's nice to see you too." Her tone remained civil, though there was an underlying tension and bite to it that she couldn't hide.

Just what was she doing? She should just leave.

"You disappeared after the speech," Mariko said before she could make a move. She gave out an airy laugh as she smoothed out her hair, "Why is that?"

Amy felt a rise in her temper. If there was anyone in the world she had no time for, it was Mariko Niyaga. The woman had no business in knowing her internal affairs, especially when it came to the subject of Sonic- something that the other woman wished dearly to get herself involved in.

It was shameless.

"Oh, you know how these events can be overwhelming sometimes," Amy stated, trying to downplay the situation. "I just needed a moment to myself, that's all."

Mariko raised an eye, her smile never faltering. "A moment to yourself, or a moment away from Sonic?" She leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Or perhaps a moment away from what you just saw between me and him. You two always did have such a complicated relationship, didn't you?"

Amy clenched her fists, doing her best to keep herself in check. Mariko's comments were hitting a nerve, and she knew it.

"I'm not here to discuss my personal life, Mariko," Amy said firmly, her tone icy. "I came to support Sonic and enjoy myself at this gala. That's all."

Mariko chuckled lightly as if she found Amy's response amusing. "Always so defensive, Amy. But I suppose that's what happens when you're not the one in the spotlight, isn't it?"

She felt her patience wearing thin as Mariko continued to needle her. Who did she think she was?

"I'm perfectly content with where I am," She kept her voice steady. "I don't need the spotlight to define my worth. And I certainly don't need your comments or your fake kindness towards me."

Mariko's smile finally faltered. "So self-righteous, aren't you? You think just because you have a child with Sonic, that you have him wrapped around tight against your finger," she said, her eyes narrowing at her with a smirk, "Cute little boy you two made there, by the way. He's certainly for the extra spotlight in the future."

That you won't be a part of, that's for sure.

If there were a few things Dash didn't like, they were carrots, not being able to see his dad on the weekend, and the woman she was standing in front of right now.

Mom, there was a really scary person Uncle Tails was talking to at Dad's work, Dash had told her the other night after Sonic dropped him off. It didn't take a second for her to know who he was referring to.

Regardless, how dare she bring up her son into the conversation? If there was anyone she was more protective of over her life, it was Dash. Her own flesh and blood.

"My relationship with Sonic is none of your concern," Amy snapped back at her, "And our child will definitely be none of your concern. I suggest you focus on your own affairs and leave us out of your childish drama."

Her smirk faded into a scowl, and for a moment, it seemed like she might escalate the confrontation. However, she seemed to think better of it and instead straightened her posture.

"Very well, Amy," Mariko said, her tone dripping with insincerity. "I'll leave you to your self-righteousness. Enjoy the rest of your evening, or what's left of it."

Without waiting for a response, Mariko turned and walked out of the bathroom, finally leaving Amy alone.

She knew that encountering Mariko was inevitable, but it didn't make it any easier to deal with.

Hesitant, Amy looked at herself in the mirror and noticed that she was shaking. The sudden encounter had been so unsettling that she felt like she was choking underneath the tension, even if she did keep her head high and unscathed against the woman's whims.

She touched up her makeup as best she could and then made her way out of the bathroom.


Amy was walking past the lounge area and took a turn before she bumped into someone. "Oof! Sorry-" When she looked up, she found herself looking at Sonic, "Oh! Hey."

"Was beginning to think something went wrong," Sonic grinned at her as he kept her steady, "Everything okay, Ames?"

Not quite, she thought. Would it make any difference if she told him what happened back there?

"Y-Yeah, everything's fine now," she replied, brushing off the encounter with Mariko. "Just needed a moment to regroup, that's all. How's everything going out here?"

However, Sonic gave her a knowing look, sensing that there was more to the story. "Well, all the food is out and ready, but I didn't wanna eat anything without you," he said before pressing his lips together, his hand brushing past his quills, "...I saw her walking out just now. Did she bother you?"

"What makes you say that?" Amy asked immediately- too quickly, and she silently berated herself for it.

He leaned in closer to her, his eyes purposefully locking onto her own so she wouldn't be able to look away. It worked. Amy felt like she was in a trance. "I know she said something that upset you. What did she say?"

Amy hesitated for a moment, torn between wanting to confide in Sonic and not wanting to make a big deal out of the situation. She appreciated his concern, she really did- but what would it accomplish? Truly?

"Just…" She swallowed and slowly began shaking her head, "Just… some things."

He leaned in even closer. "What things?"

She could feel herself start to turn red at their proximity. Any closer and their lips would only be less than an inch away from each other's.

The temptation to close that gap was growing…

But Amy bit her lip and averted her gaze away. "Things about me, things about us, even about Dash," she admitted before looking back at him with some newfound frustration, "I don't want her to ever be near Dash, Sonic."

"She never is unless I'm with him, but…" Sonic leaned away, his jaw clenching briefly as a flicker of anger passed over his face, "I need to have a word with her."

"What?" Amy's eyes widened as she grabbed his arm before he could move, "No, no, no… You don't have to do that-"

"Come on, Ames. How the heck am I supposed to not do anything after she spoke to you like that?"

"Because this is meant to be your night. I don't want it to be ruined because of her."

She was happy that he was concerned about her and the situation, happy that he was putting her feelings first, and that he was worried about Dash. But it wouldn't be the right time for confrontation. Not when there were so many people surrounding them and nosy ears wanting to learn every second of it.

Sonic sent her a conflicted look. "But Amy-"

"Sonic," Amy pleaded back at him. She leaned up and gently cupped the side of his face with both her hands before smiling, "Please. It's fine."

He looked at her, unnerved and unmoving and it made Amy just a tad bit nervous. His face was close again, his cologne and natural scent reaching her nostrils. She was getting slightly dizzy like she was in a dream. Their lips were once more just mere inches away from touching and if he got any more closer than he was right now, she'd have no choice but to…

"Ames?"

Amy blinked, realising what she was thinking about, and then quickly pulled away. Her blush returned as she awkwardly cleared her throat. "A-Anyway…" She nodded, still feeling embarrassed, "That's that."

Sonic didn't budge from his position as he continued staring at her in silence, like he knew what would've happened just now if she hadn't resisted.

…What would his reaction be if she kissed him right now?

It didn't help that his eyes went straight down to her lips as she was biting it anxiously.

"Yeah…" He muttered idly, "I guess it is."

Amy shifted uncomfortably on her feet, feeling them ache for standing so long. So after a sigh, she smiled and took his hand, pulling him along. "C'mon, I'm starving. I've only eaten half an apple and porridge today."

Sonic finally broke out of his silence. "What?"

"Yep," she nodded at him, giving him another amused smile, "I think I'm in the mood for some mini-chilli dogs…"

He seemed curious and confused once she naturally steered the conversation away to food. She could tell he was still tense about the situation with Mariko and just when she was about to reassure him again, he relaxed his shoulders and let out a chuckle.

"Alright, Ames," Sonic flashed her a grin and squeezed her hand, "Mini-chili dogs it is!"

"Wait," Amy laughed before raising an eye, "You actually have those?"

"Why wouldn't I? I could've had just regular-sized chili dogs, but apparently, there's an etiquette rule."

"Ah, right," She gently pulled him along as they started walking back to the venue, "That wouldn't look good for the papers, would it?"

"Riiight," Sonic nudged her and walked, picking up his pace so he was the one leading her, "Dang it. Now I just wanna eat your home cooking, Ames. It's waaay better than what I have to eat most of the time."

The Gala was in full swing by the time they arrived back. Music was on, and the food buffets and drinks were all laid out across the table. There were business people schmoozing with executives and many groups of women talking to each other.

Sonic grabbed her a plate and one for himself as they loaded them with the chili dogs and other variety of foods that were presented. Amy had to admit, even though she wasn't particularly fond of the fine dining experience with their prestigious menus, it was nice to eat something that wasn't from her diner for once.

"You better put some vegetables on that plate, Mister," Amy said as she watched Sonic pile his plate high with chili dogs and other indulgent treats.

"Alright, alright, just for you," he teased, putting some greens on his plate before adding a dollop of dressing. "Happy now, health-conscious chef?"

"It's no wonder Dash doesn't wanna eat his veggies at home," She rolled her eyes, "His dad hates them too."

He scratched the back of his head. "At least we run fast."

Amy laughed, taking a bite of her mini chili dog. "That's true. You two burn through calories like nobody else I know."

They sat down near a more secluded area in the hall and enjoyed their food together. Sonic kept cracking jokes at her to lighten up the mood between them and it worked. Amy would find herself almost choking at his silly puns, as much as she found them to be so typical and cheesy of him.

It made her reminisce once again about the past when they were younger and weren't so difficult with each other. The little boyish smiles that the blue hedgehog would give her were definitely one of the reasons why she was falling in love with him again. It was ingrained in her head ever since she met him, no matter how hard she tried to forget about it.

Honestly this… felt like a date.

The word "date" didn't come up between either of them, maybe because the word was… heavy. Like the history of their relationship. She assumed Sonic used his initiative not to bring it up that this really felt like a date.

If there weren't so many people around them and people hogging around Sonic to ask him questions and to take a picture with him, Amy wouldn't have been opposed to the idea.

Though, she really did wonder what he really saw this as too…

It was already a shock that he'd ask her to go with him to this Gala. Was it because he didn't want the tension between them to go away naturally? Like he actually wanted to do something about it? The old Sonic would've just wanted to wait it out until they both forgot about the reason why they had an argument in the first place.

Amy didn't want to dwell on it though. She did enough of that already.

Later on, after they had their food and a few drinks, slow music began to play and a few couples made their way to the dance floor.

"Well, looks like that's our cue," Sonic got up from his chair and gave out his hand, "Would you care for this dance?"

He was giving her that handsome grin again and who was she to ever resist his kind invitation?

Amy dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief and stood up, responding to his grin with her own- feeling a little accomplished when he looked slightly surprised at her matching expression. "I would love to," she said, slipping her hand into his.

As they made their way to the dance floor, the mood seemed to shift. The music's gentle melody filled the room, and the dimmed lights created an atmosphere of intimacy. It was as if the rest of the world faded away, leaving just the two of them.

Sonic placed his hand on her waist, while Amy's other hand rested on his shoulder. They began to sway to the music, moving in sync with each other. It had been a while since they had danced together like this, and for a moment, it felt like they were back in the simpler times of their relationship when there weren't any problems.

Amy looked up into Sonic's eyes, and he met her gaze with a soft smile. Feeling like a teenage girl again who had a little crush, she blushed and shyly looked away. In looking away, she became aware of how much attention she and Sonic were attracting. Several pairs of eyes of those she recognised and those she didn't all seemed to be staring at her… Mariko Niyaga included. Locking gazes with her brought back their conversation in mind along with the hollow pit and tension in her stomach.

"Amy?"

"Huh?" She looked back at Sonic.

"I asked you what's wrong."

"Wha? What do you mean?"

Sonic huffed. "You're starting to look like you're at a funeral. What's wrong?"

"Th-There's nothing wrong," Amy replied simply after taking a moment to blink and gain tighter control of her focus. "Nothing at all."

To her complete surprise, he dropped the obvious like he was reading her mind. "Is she looking at you?"

Amy's heart skipped a beat as she turned her attention back to Sonic's question. She glanced discreetly in Mariko's direction, and sure enough, the other woman's gaze was fixed on them. It was an intense, almost predatory look that sent shivers down Amy's spine, as much as she hated to admit it.

"Yeah, she is," Amy admitted quietly, her grip on Sonic tightening involuntarily.

His expression hardened as turned to Mariko's direction before looking away. "Ignore her, Ames."

Amy nodded, trying to follow his lead and not let the other woman's presence bother her. But it was easier said than done. Mariko's constant scrutiny felt like a dark cloud hanging over their dance.

Sonic pulled her closer, his grip on her waist gentle and reassuring. "Hey, look at me."

Amy reluctantly tore her gaze away from Mariko and looked into Sonic's eyes.

"You and me, Ames," Sonic said softly, his voice barely above a whisper as if sharing a secret between them. "That's all that matters right now, yeah?"

Amy felt a rush of something welling up inside her. His words were like a lifeline, grounding her in the present. It felt like she was in a dream again, a dream she felt all too to be true.

"Yeah, you're right," she said, her voice equally soft as she managed a smile, "Just you and me."

The slow dance continued, and Amy couldn't help but lose herself in the familiarity of Sonic's comfort. They moved together with grace and ease, their bodies in perfect harmony.

As the song came to an end, Sonic leaned in closer, and Amy's eyes widened. Was he going to kiss her? But instead, he whispered, "Feeling better?"

Amy couldn't deny the sudden rush she was feeling, but she also knew they were in a public place, surrounded by people, and any overt displays of affection could lead to unwanted attention and drama. She leaned in slightly, her lips close to his ear, and whispered back, "Much better. Thank you."

"They're asking us to dance."

Both she and Sonic jumped at the voice near them and they turned to see Mariko standing there with a not-so-hidden smug smile, flanked by two well-dressed men who seemed to be accompanying her.

"What?" Sonic asked, clearly confused, "Who is?"

"My parents," the grey hedgehog said, shrugging her shoulders, "They think it would be good for some publicity for the merger."

Amy felt a surge of anger at the intrusion. She couldn't believe the audacity of this woman to interrupt their moment like this. It was clear that she was deliberately trying to create tension and disrupt their evening.

And the fake smile hiding underneath her innocent facade only made it worse.

Sonic glanced at Amy, his expression tense, before putting his attention back to Mariko. "I appreciate the offer, but Amy and I were just enjoying our dance. Maybe some other time."

Mariko's smile widened, and she leaned in closer. "Oh, come on, Sonic. It'll only be for a song or two. It won't hurt. And think of the publicity it'll generate for your businesses."

"Uh, I don't think it'll generate anything other than the paps getting stupid pictures-"

"Sonic, it's fine," Amy finally interjected, trying to diffuse the situation. She didn't want to give Mariko the satisfaction of getting under her skin any further. She was going to be the bigger person. "Go dance with her."

"What?" Sonic turned to her, surprised- obviously caught off guard by what she just said.

Amy knew that her decision wasn't going to sit well with him, but she didn't want to create a scene. And seeing that cunning smile on Mariko's face just made her send a real smile of her own at her before she looked back at Sonic. "It's fine. I need to sit down anyway."

Sonic hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching hers for any sign of discomfort or disagreement. Amy met his gaze with unwavering determination, silently conveying her message that she really was fine with this.

"Alright, Ames," Sonic said, still looking not entirely convinced, "But I'll come back to you as soon as I can."

As Sonic walked away with Mariko, Amy found herself alone at the edge of the dance floor. She couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions—anger at Mariko for her interference and the sense of insecurity that had been lingering since their encounter in the bathroom.

Amy took a deep breath and tried to push those feelings aside. She looked around and spotted Tikal sitting at one of the tables, beckoning her to come over. Smiling, she dragged her aching feet over to her.

"Well, that was bold," Tikal said once she sat down, "I wasn't expecting you to agree to that."

Amy replied with a half-hearted chuckle. "Yeah, well, sometimes you've got to take the high road, even when it's difficult," She shrugged, "Where's Shadow gone off to?"

"On the phone to book a taxi," The echidna said as she rubbed her stomach, "All this lively atmosphere isn't really going down well with this little one here."

"Are you going to be okay?" Amy suddenly went into nursing mode, "Did you eat enough? Did you drink lots of water?"

Tikal sighed before laughing. "Oh, stop. I've already had enough of that from Shadow tonight," she said before reaching out for her hand, "Are you going to be okay, Amy?"

Amy appreciated Tikal's concern, but she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she looked out at the dance floor where Sonic was dancing with Mariko. "I'm trying to be," she admitted.

They were the only two who were dancing, as people were watching them from a distance or at their tables. They were smiling at them, interested in them, talking amongst themselves in quiet whispers about them. She looked across the crowd and saw Tails and Knuckles seeming disinterested in what was going on as they stood at the back. For a second, she made eye contact with Tails and he gave her a look of understanding as he smiled at her- like he knew how this was making her feel. She appreciated it.

Amy dragged her gaze over to the dance again and was surprised that Sonic wasn't even looking at Mariko, the woman he was dancing with, the woman he had one hand intertwined with hers and the other on her waist.

He was looking at her.

The butterflies in Amy's stomach were acting up again as she met his eyes across the room.

His eyes were intense, and they seemed to have bridged the distance that separated them.

Amy bit the corner of her lip and gripped her dress against her lap, feeling the tingling sensation in her body that she'd rather not put into words.

He knew what he was doing to her right now, and as much as she hated to admit it- it was working.

Tikal gently tapped on her shoulder and said she was heading home. Amy nodded, barely hearing her but Tikal only laughed before she left with Shadow.

She was sitting at the table alone now, watching Sonic as he still had his gaze locked on her. He was refusing to even look at the woman he was dancing with, and people were starting to notice. Mariko noticed, and that fake blissful smile she had on her face dropped instantly.

When the song finally came to an end, people clapped. Sonic and Mariko stepped away from each other, and Sonic quickly tried to make his way back to her. Mariko, on the other hand, had other ideas as she wore a frustrated expression at the blue hedgehog while the polite applause died down. She stopped him from leaving as her parents came to talk to him, and then another small rush of other people wanted to talk to him as well.

Amy sat back and watched. A few people whom she recognized from Sonic's work came up to her to say hi. The conversations were short and pleasant, and none of them gave her the pretending smiles she had received earlier. No. They were all genuine.

When she observed the scene in front of her again, she found herself not wanting to sit through it any longer. It was getting too stuffy, too crowded, too hot.

She excused herself from the small group of people she had been chatting with and made her way towards the exit of the Gala venue. She needed some fresh air and a moment of solitude to clear her thoughts.

She stopped for a second and then got her phone out, texting Sonic where she'd be.

As she stepped out into a quiet corridor, she dropped down on one of the couches and took a deep breath. The night had taken an unwanted turn. Seeing Sonic dance with Mariko stirred up feelings of jealousy and insecurity that she thought she had buried long ago.

But she knew she had made the right choice by not causing a scene and allowing Sonic to handle the situation himself. After all, they were both adults, and she didn't want to let Mariko's presence ruin what was supposed to be a special night.

Of course, this wouldn't have been such an issue if she had actually told Sonic how she felt about him, how she was in love with him again, and how she didn't want any other woman's arms wrapped around him unless she was the one doing it.

She had to talk to him.

Even though she was absolutely terrified at the thought of it.

Because when would it ever be the right time to talk?

Her phone dinged with a message and Amy quickly checked to see that it was from Sonic.

Just wrapped things up, and everyone's starting to go home! Gonna head to you now ;)

In a matter of seconds, he had shown up without a problem and slumped down next to her exhausted.

"Hey," Sonic said, a tired but genuine smile crossing his face.

Amy couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips as she let her hand comb through part of his disheveled quills. "Hey, you."

"Dang it," he rubbed his eyes as he leaned against her touch, "I need at least twelve hours of sleep to function right now. That was hell."

"The executives schmoozing you or Mariko?"

The snarky remark came out quickly, and Amy almost wanted to slap a hand over her mouth for letting her intrusiveness take over her.

However, Sonic just grinned at her and laughed, seemingly fine with it. "Both, Ames. Both were complete hell." He sat up, sighing, "I'm sorry about that, Ames. She was persistent and I didn't wanna cause drama between her parents either, 'cuz believe me, they like to talk, if you get what I mean."

Amy shrugged and then nodded. There wasn't much to say, really. Especially after she came to the conclusion that tonight would be the night she wasn't going to be difficult and that she was going to be communicative.

Though, when were things like this with him ever going to be easy?

If she was going to talk, then she wanted it to be away from here. Who knew if there was going to be any more lurkers?

"Amy."

"Yeah?"

"I was gonna ask you if you wanted to have one last dance with me without people looking at us, but you seem out of it."

Amy blinked and snapped her head up when she saw that he was standing in front of her, his hand out and waiting for her to take it. She looked up at him and there was that concern in his face again. She lost count of how many times he did that already because of her tonight.

She needed to stop doing that. Stupid, Amy. Stupid.

"No, you're right," Amy stood up, a yawn following as she smiled at him, "I haven't worn heels like these in a while, and all this walking is killing my feet," she said, taking his hand, "So as much as I wanna dance again with you, I might get blisters."

Sonic chuckled and squeezed her hand gently. "Alright, we don't want any blisters. Let's get you out of those shoes, and we can head back to my car."

"You're driving, right?"

"Yep."

Amy exhaled softly. So they were going to be alone without any more prying eyes. Perfect. "Okay."

She pretended not to notice his questioning glance as they started the walk out of the venue.

However, Sonic suddenly stopped and turned back to her with a slight smirk. "Actually…"

"What?"

He grinned and just when she was about to ask him again, she let out a surprised yelp once he had his arms under her back and legs, picking her up bridal style. "Better?"

Amy felt her face getting warmer whilst trying to bite down her embarrassing shriek. "O-Other than the fact you almost gave me a heart attack…!" She squinted before relaxing against him with a huff, "But yeah, this is better."

Once they reached Sonic's car, he opened the door for her, and she slipped out of her heels, grateful to finally be rid of them. She settled into the passenger seat, letting out a relieved sigh.

Sonic got into the driver's seat, and they started the journey home. The car was filled with a comfortable silence for a while, both seemingly lost in their own thoughts. It was something that Amy needed so she could figure out what she was going to do once they reached her house. Should she invite him inside? No. That might… lead to things that she was too shy to share the details of- and just the thought of it made her body embarrassingly tingle despite her denial.

Amy snuck a glance over at Sonic, his handsome profile being somewhat illuminated by the soft glow of the dashboard lights. He looked drained, but he was focused on the road ahead, the low tune of his whistling accompanying the ride.

He even turned to her briefly at one point, giving her a smile, and honestly? She completely melted. She wasn't drunk, nor was she tipsy, but boy did she feel that the bit of alcohol she had influenced her reaction.

Once Sonic pulled up in front of her house, he turned off the engine and undid his seatbelt. "Thanks for coming with me," He smiled at her, "It wouldn't have been nearly as fun if I didn't have you there with me."

"I'm gonna have to agree with you on that," Amy joked with a giggle before she shook her head, "Thank you for taking me."

The air of silence came between them as they looked at each other. For once, for a moment, there was no tension, no unwanted guests, no distractions.

It was them. Just them.

And… she helplessly wanted it to be like this forever.

"I'll walk you up to the door," Sonic said, oblivious to what she was thinking whilst he began making a move to leave the car.

This is it.

Amy took a shaky deep breath and quickly grabbed his arm to stop him. "A-Actually," she stammered, her throat growing dry once she felt him freeze, "I want to talk."

That was a good start, right?

Sonic slowly turned his full attention to her and regarded her quietly, sensing the mood shifting. Despite the apprehension she caught against his face, he straightened up against his seat and nodded. "Okay. What's up?"

Amy swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. No matter how many times she had rehearsed what she wanted to say in her head, she was struggling to find the right words now that the moment was here. "Well…"

She was vulnerable, her vulnerability was obvious, and decided to completely show itself without the facade she had been so desperately trying to protect all night in front of him. She had no shield with her this time. Nothing at all to cover her.

Nothing at all to stop her. Nobody to tell her to stop.

Not even herself.

When Amy met his gaze, that familiar pleasant shiver winded down her spine.

He was concentrating on her, he was focused on her, just like how his attention was on her when he was dancing with Mariko. But this time, the intensity of his green eyes had her locked in a hazy and almost diluted predicament. She hadn't felt that tingle and yearning since… since the last time they were intimate. And that had been a very long time ago.

There were small tremors against her mouth and she tried her best not to succumb to them as those memories barricaded her mind. She could feel the tears building and wetting her eyes, and she hoped he couldn't see them, given how dark it was in the car right now.

Sonic leaned in closer, but still maintained his distance when she stayed quiet. "Ames?"

Amy bit her lip.

Screw it.

She unbuckled her seatbelt, not caring how ridiculous she must've looked when she quickly climbed over the car's gear shifts and perched herself onto his lap. Sonic's eyes widened and he looked like he wanted to say something, his mouth opening-

But Amy didn't let that happen as she closed the gap between them, her lips catching him into a kiss.

It was hesitant and tentative for a second, as Amy was the only one actually doing the kissing. It was soft, gentle, and a little bit desperate but… she was aching for it. Her whole body was just aching and she wanted to get rid of that annoying ache.

She felt Sonic stiffen in place, rightly surprised. And when moments passed, and she still didn't get a response back from him, Amy almost pulled away fearing that she had pushed her luck too far.

However, his hands slowly slid onto her thighs and tightened his grip on them as he finally began kissing her back.

Amy wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close so that their chests were pressed against each other's. It was a bold move, a move that immediately sent heat down her body but it wasn't unwelcomed, and she was glad he hadn't resisted, as his hands slithered into the slit of her dress, making its way daringly up little by little.

She let out a small gasp but he swallowed it by deepening the kiss, his fingers trailing against her skin, their matching rapid heartbeats fueling her desire more and more.

Everything felt so familiar, so good, so natural, so right. It took her back to the days when they would do this all the time, and then one thing would lead to another and then another…

Her hand buried itself into his quills and she idly combed them back, earning a quiet groan from him. It made her feel happy, and crazy that she was still able to bring out those sounds from him even after five years.

Oh chaos, she missed this.

Amy was falling again, falling so deep that she was already at the bottom of the ocean.

When she pulled away to catch her breath, that never lasted for even a second as Sonic immediately pushed her in for another kiss. He began rubbing her thighs underneath her dress, an action that sent her mind into haywire. He knew whenever he did that, her sensitivity would spike. His fingers would map out the right areas that'd make her so weak.

Their lips moved with a burning urgency, igniting a feeling that consumed them both. Amy could feel the heat building between her legs, aching and greedy.

Amy's head was spinning, and she could barely think straight as the kiss grew more fervent. Her body responded instinctively to his every touch, arching into his caresses, wanting more of him.

When Sonic's tongue traced the outline of her lips, wanting to seek entrance, Amy flinched as the situation finally finally began sinking in.

Her mind raced as she pulled away from the kiss, her panting heavy and cheeks flushed. She realized the gravity of what they were doing, the boundaries they were pushing, and the implications it carried.

"Ames?" He murmured against her, eyes half-lidded as he was catching his breath.

In a panic, Amy scrambled off of his lap and barely caught her footing when she got out of the car and ran to the front porch of her house.

"Amy!" Sonic called out to her, his voice so disorientated and troubled that it made the tears she was holding back fall, "Amy, wait!"

She was running away again.

But he was fast, he was always too fast for her.

She couldn't even make it to the steps of her porch as he grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.

Amy had never been so embarrassed and overwhelmed in a long time.

"I-I don't know what came over me," she whispered, her voice trembling as she struggled to get out of his grip, "I wasn't- I wasn't thinking properly…" Amy sobbed, as more tears began falling against her cheeks, "Sonic, let go of me."

She was distressed, vulnerable, disheveled, and a complete mess. What happened just now wasn't meant to happen, yet her intrusiveness stupidly took over instead.

Damn it, Amy. Damn it.

Sonic fixed his look on her, his grip on her loosening but he didn't let her go. "What are you doing to me, Amy?" He sounded confused and… hurt, and it made Amy want to cry even more because she was the one hurting him. "I just don't get it."

Amy's tears continued to come down as she looked into Sonic's eyes, feeling a profound sense of regret for the turmoil she had unwittingly caused. She hated seeing that look from him, and she hated the fact it was because of her.

"I'm sorry," She shook her head and wiped her eyes, "I need to go inside."

"Amy, we just had that kiss in the car," Sonic pressed on, his tone changing from gentle to the slightest bit of irritation as he frowned at her, "Are you expecting me to go home, sleep, and act like nothing happened?" He drew away from her, keeping a distance between them. "And then the next time we see each other, you'll just want me to forget it?"

"No," she replied, her voice still shaky but more resolute. "I don't want you to forget it, and I'm not trying to pretend it didn't happen-"

"Well, you're suuure making it seem that way," Sonic stated wryly, letting out a dry chuckle, "You're totally fine with me being messed up in the head after that!"

That set her off. Amy gritted her teeth and snapped back, "Weren't you the one putting me in an even worse position when we were together?! Empty promises were your motto, clearly! You barely even made time 'cause you prioritised the office before me!" Defiant, she took a step closer to him, "That messed me up in the head."

Her words clearly had an effect on him as he squinted at her, even though she caught a glimpse of his guilt.

"That's not fair, Amy," he replied, his voice quieter but no less serious. "I know I screwed up back then. I was caught up in my career, but I never wanted to hurt you."

However, Amy's anger didn't subside so soon. "Really? Because you sure loved the women who would dangle their arms around you and would want you to be in their pants."

That was low, Amy.

And she regretted it as soon as she said it once she saw his face.

A flash went past Sonic's eyes as he glared down at her. "Never did I once touch another woman while I was with you, Amy. Nor was I ever interested in anyone after you broke up with me. I can't believe you'd think I ever stooped that low. What? Did you think I was going to be tempted to sleep with Mariko after she forced me to dance with her? I told you I was never interested in that woman in the first place!"

Amy closed her eyes in frustration. "I-"

"Is that the reason why you decided to even come with me to the Gala? So you can make sure she didn't have her way with me? Which, mind you, she wouldn't have been able to find me 'cause I would've got my tail outta there before she could!"

"No! That's not-"

"Then what is it, Amy-!"

"Because I'm still in love with you, you idiot!" Amy finally yelled out, her voice torn with raw emotion.

The words hung in the air like an electric shock, silencing them both in an instant.

Amy panted as she felt the tightening hole in her chest easing up. All the pent-up feelings she had started to vanish like it was never there in the first place. She glanced at him and saw the anger gradually shifting away from his face as he stood there, completely stunned at her confession.

It wasn't how she pictured it to be when she thought about eventually telling him. She thought these feelings would go away on their own, she thought it would be a temporary thing, she thought she wouldn't even need to tell him.

Because she never thought of this happening after so long.

But it did. And she still loved him. And she was so so afraid.

Afraid that things would go back to the time when everything was difficult for the both of them to maintain their relationship. Afraid of neglect and loneliness, afraid of having to face it alone.

She didn't want to go through that ever again.

With a jittery deep breath and avoiding his gaze, Amy turned around and headed for the door. She refused to break down in front of him.

However, she barely got the key in the lock once he took hold of her arm. Amy stopped but didn't face him.

"You're not gonna give me a moment to wrap my head around this, are you?" He said, notably softer, "You're just gonna leave me hanging again."

Amy stood there, her back to Sonic, feeling broken and vulnerable. She didn't know how to respond, and she just wanted to run inside and avoid the situation altogether. She didn't want to see that hurtful look in his eyes and cry again at the sight of it.

But with the small strength she had left, she did turn to him and swallowed down the lump against her throat. "I need time," she whispered in hopes of reassuring him, "I need a lot of time."

His face told her that he didn't want to wait, that he wanted answers, and wanted to stay with her. Amy felt ashamed that she couldn't give that to him right now, he didn't deserve how idiotic she was being with him.

It was killing him just as much as it was killing her.

Sonic worked his jaw, glancing away to the side as he let go of her arm. "Fine. Whatever you want, Ames," He relented and ran a hand down through his quills, "But can you at least promise me something?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise me that we'll talk about it."

Amy pressed her lips together, her eyes meeting his as she gave him a committed nod, endeavoring to meet his request. He deserved that more than anything. "I promise."

Sonic continued staring at her, not wavering as if he was searching for any signs of uncertainty from her, but he eventually managed to nod back. "Alright."

She watched him go down the steps and walk his way back to his car before she decided to speak again, "I meant it, by the way."

He stopped and turned around. "Meant what?"

Sheepish, Amy cleared her throat and did her best to maintain eye contact whilst her cheeks were dusted with pink. "...That I'm still in love with you."

Sonic stood there, blinking, and then let out a small laugh. "I know," he responded. "And just in case it wasn't clear already..." He paused briefly, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm still crazy about you too."

Her heart fluttered as she shifted against her feet. "Y-Yeah…"

He gave her a wink. "Night, Ames."

And of course, just from his wink alone, Amy couldn't help but crack a smile. "Night, Sonic."

Once he drove off, she stood there and let out the breath she'd been holding before turning the key in her lock and opening the door. When she let it shut behind her, she leaned against it before eventually sliding down onto the floor.

For a while, Amy sat there. Sonic's touches lingered all over her body and she could still feel his lips on hers. Their kiss replayed in her head again and again. As her fingers brushed past her mouth, she closed her eyes and imagined the both of them going up to her room right now if things had continued.

…She wouldn't have been so opposed to the idea of waking up in the bed next to him.

Blushing from thinking about it, Amy buried her face into her hand and whined quietly. If only she hadn't been so stupid and let the moment just happen.

But…

One step at a time, Amy. One step at a time.

Amy just hoped she could follow her own advice.