Five-year-old Amy Rose sobbed, trying to reach her favourite doll from the tall bully who had snatched it away from her. "Please give it back!"

"What you gonna do about it, shorty?" He snarled at her and lifted the teddy bear higher up, "It's mine now."

Finally having enough, Amy huffed and stomped on his foot. He hissed and fell back, her stuffed teddy bear dropping into her arms. She was going to make a break until the bully pushed her onto the ground. Yelping, Amy quickly turned around to see that he was looming over her.

"You're going to pay for that!"

Amy squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the worst to come.

Oh no!

"Hey, leave her alone!"

She snapped open her eyes and saw a blue hedgehog running up to them. He stood protectively in front of her and glared at her bully. "Go away."

The bully had a mini stare-down with him before admitting defeat. They ran off leaving Amy alone with the stranger who saved her.

He turned around and lent out his hand. "Are you okay?"

Amy wilted, sitting up before she took his head. "Y-Yeah..."

He then smiled at her and picked up her teddy bear. "Here you go!"

"Thank you," She blushed and hugged her teddy, wiping away the rest of her tears.

"I'm Sonic!" The blue hedgehog grinned at her, "What's your name?"

"A-Amy..."

"That's a pretty name," Sonic said and then puffed up his chest, "Don't worry, Ames! I'll protect you from those bullies!"

Her eyes widened. "Y-You will...?"

"Yeah!" He took her hand and placed it over his heart, "I promise!"

Amy stared at him before a smile drew against her lips. She leaned over and suddenly wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him into a tight hug. "Thank you, Sonic!"

"Oof!" Sonic almost fell back, "A-Amy...C-Can't... Breathe!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She blushed and immediately pulled away, "Are you okay?"

He managed to catch his breath before smiling at her again. "Yeah, no worries!" Sonic then took hold of her hand, "C'mon, let's play together!"

"C-Can Cuddles play with us too?" Amy nervously asked him and gestured him her teddy bear, "She's always with me everywhere I go."

There was no judgement in the blue hedgehog's eyes. In fact, he took off his backpack and pulled out his own teddy bear. "She can play with Fuzzles! He's really nice and will protect her from everything that's dangerous!"

Amy beamed excitedly, taking Sonic's hand as they ran further into the park.

"I meant what I said, Ames," Sonic said as he looked back at her.

"What?"

He winked and gave her a thumbs-up. "That I'll protect you! Forever and always!"

After Sonic dropped her off at home, promising that they'd see each other again.

She waited and waited for days .

But he never came back.

She was sixteen years old when she finally saw him again.

She was in the library, picking out a book that she needed for her biology class when she saw him on the other side of the shelf, in between a small gap from the books.

Amy blinked, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her. She leaned forward, trying to get a better look. The blue hedgehog on the other side of the shelf glanced up, realising he was being watched and Amy let out a squeak, ducking away from being seen.

She covered the sides of her face. It really was him!

It was Sonic!

But much older, much taller and… much more handsome.

After all these years, the memory of that day in the park had never faded.

When she dared to look up at the gap again, he wasn't there anymore.

"Hey!"

Amy jumped, almost tripping over her feet. She spun around and met a pair of jade-green eyes she had never forgotten about.

Sonic smiled at her. "Do I know you?"

Her heart dropped. "...Y-You don't remember me?"

"I don't," He furrowed his eyes at her as if trying to think on it, "Am I supposed to?"

Her heart sank even more at his response. The day that had been etched into her memory for over ten years… hadn't been remembered by him?

"Um, no... I guess not," She managed to say, trying to hide the hurt in her voice.

The bell had just rung and he only gave her a small smile before heading off to class.

Amy looked back at his retreating figure, feeling her heart breaking into a million pieces.

She was eighteen years old when she realised she deserved better.

When Amy saw her bullies walking away, she wiped off her tears and knelt down to pick up her books.

"Are you okay?"

Amy didn't look up. She knew that voice.

That voice she was desperately trying to forget for the last two years.

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice void of emotion.

Sonic leaned down to help her pick up her books. "Have those guys been giving you a hard time?"

Amy didn't reply, still not looking up at him.

He continued, "You shouldn't let them do that to you. Nobody deserves to be treated like that."

She stood, her things in hand and walked past him.

He reached out, lightly touching her arm. "Wait."

Amy froze, her heart pounding. Slowly, she turned to face him. "What?"

Sonic's eyes softened. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you before. I want to help."

She fought back tears. "You can't help."

Sonic looked confused and a little hurt. "Why not?"

"Because I waited," She whispered, "I waited for you for years, and you never came back."

Amy didn't bother listening to another word he had to say as she ran off.

Eight years later

"Ready, Amy?"

Amy smiled at her stylist and adjusted her dress. "Yep."

"Okay, Amy! Make sure you're smiling for the camera!" The photographer called out.

The studio lights came on as Amy began posing in front of the camera. The shutters and flashes were quick and constant as the photographer guided her through various poses. She looked in various directions so there was a good angle of her taken. Minutes later, there was a wardrobe change and she was back at it with another dress on, this time scoring on a hat and some sandals.

It went on for most of the day until it was finally time to go home.

"Great work, everyone!" The photographer gestured for everyone to finish off, "That's a wrap for today!"

Amy stepped off the set and took a much-needed sip of water from her bottle.

"That was great, honey!" Rouge, her agent, came up to her with a proud smile, "Now I'm positive our summer collection is gonna sell out within seconds."

"I sure hope so," Amy said, letting out a sigh, "Better make standing in some of those ridiculous heels worth it. My feet ache like crazy."

"Well, darling, beauty is pain. But you make it look effortless."

She smiled at Rouge's support. "Sometimes I don't feel like I am, but thank you."

"Your driver's waiting for you outside at the back," The bat informed her, "Remember, you've got a press meeting and shoot on Monday. I already sent you the schedule for that week too, so don't forget!"

"Got it," Amy nodded as Rouge gave her bag and belongings, "Thanks, Rouge. I'll see you later!"

Amy slipped out of the studio and was met with the evening cool air. While she loved her fans, who adored her, she was thankful that there weren't any that had snuck their way to the back exit. The photo shoot had been exhausting and she couldn't remember the last time in her seven years of modelling that she had to wear so much clothing in such a small amount of time. The summer line was always so physically demanding and this year it felt even more gruelling.

As she settled inside the back seat of the car, Amy found herself lost in thought as she looked out the window, the passing lights of the city blurring together.

It didn't feel too long ago when she was stopped by a random agent after she had finished one of her college classes. She wanted to become a writer. A dream that felt so, so far away after multiple rejections from publishers. Modelling was never part of her plan. She didn't even see herself as a model. She believed she didn't have the ideal body type, nor the best taste in fashion for such an industry.

However, they somehow saw potential in her and while Amy wanted to wait to give them an answer, there were bills to be paid and she wanted to eat more than noodles and canned soup.

Even though she was already so far into her modelling career, it didn't stop her from scribbling down story ideas whenever she had free time, hoping that someday, she'll finally be able to publish her ideal book.

She was twenty-six with a better understanding of how the world really worked. Now that she had more than enough money, there was always that possibility.

But time was always so limited in her life these days.

And with how famous she'd gotten, there was an image of herself that she had to keep.

Amy thanked and tipped her driver as he pulled up to her complex. After greeting the concierge, she rushed up into the elevator to her penthouse apartment, eager to unwind for the day. Once she was inside, she immediately kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch, letting out a tired sigh.

Well, at least it was the weekend tomorrow, so she had time for some much-needed rest without Rouge nagging her for a bit.

After lounging on her couch for a while, Amy made her way upstairs to clean up. She decided to take a bath to relieve her muscles, before brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed.

It was a Friday night, and she was sleeping in early. Most of the women she worked with were either out clubbing, having dinner with their boyfriends or spending the night somewhere that wasn't their home.

And despite her rising popularity, Amy was… still single.

She never had a boyfriend.

And she didn't have any friends.

The years of bullying she experienced in school had made it hard for her to trust people easily. Despite several men showing interest in her, she kept them at a distance.

No matter how lonely she felt, she told herself that it was for the best.

That's what she forced herself to think, at least.

Amy stared up at the ceiling from her bed in thought, trying to get herself to sleep being long forgotten.

And then suddenly, with some newfound determination, she ripped the covers off of her and raced to her wardrobe.

Seriously, Amy?

Amy was out of her comfort zone.

She found herself sitting alone on a stool in a random bar. The bar was dimly lit, filled with the low hum of conversation and soft background music.

In the end, she chickened out going into the club. The music was obnoxiously loud and there were just way too many people in there, drunk and clueless. She recognised a few girls whom she modelled with that were inside, so Amy already knew that being in there would cause a ruckus, and she wasn't up for so many people hounding her.

She spent a silly amount of time trying to find the right dress to wear, and she opted for a simple black dress with the same golden heels she wore for the shoot today.

Groaning, she forced herself to down another shot of tequila that the bartender had placed in front of her moments ago. She winced at the burn, despite it being her fourth shot. Whenever she had the rare chance to drink alcohol, she tended to go a little overboard and not remember that she was a lightweight.

Still, the alcohol did somehow help her forget what a pathetic loner she was for a few minutes. She already felt a little ditzy and lightheaded.

Her ears twitched once she heard a stool being dragged out from under the table, and then someone settling down onto it. Amy turned her head and squinted, trying her best to de-blur her vision to see who it was.

All she could make out was blue and he had spiky quills.

The bartender had given him what looked like a glass of whiskey on the rocks, and to her surprise, he downed it all in one go and even asked for another one, to which he practically inhaled.

Her mouth slipped before she could stop herself, "Are you alone?"

The blue hedgehog glanced at her, his jade-green eyes locking onto hers for a moment before he turned back to his drink. "Yeah," he replied, his voice a little gruff. "Needed a break from everything."

Amy's curiosity piqued as she looked at him. "Do you come here often?"

He shook his head. "Not really. Just had a rough day."

"What happened?"

"Just work stuff. Feels like I can't catch a break lately, you know?"

Saying nothing, Amy just rested her head against her arms on the table and stared at him, feeling the effects of the alcohol slowly consume her body. Her vision was a little clearer now that she took a good look at him. She was in somewhat of a haze when she was thinking about how ridiculously handsome he looked, and why someone as beautiful and delicious-looking as him was alone tonight.

It's the alcohol, Amy. You're not thinking properly. You don't know what you're saying.

Yet, despite the internal struggle with herself, Amy took one last shot of her tequila and slammed the shot glass down onto the table. It made him look up at her in surprise, and she enjoyed how his eyes widened slightly when she stood up and leaned closely against him.

"Wanna get out of here?" She slurred, her words barely coherent.

What the hell was she doing?

The blue hedgehog blinked at her and didn't move. "What?"

Amy put on a giddy smile. "There's a nice hotel nearby. I'll pay for the best room."

It's the alcohol, it's the alcohol…

Amy's heart raced as she waited for his response, her mind reeling with the sudden audacity of her actions. She couldn't believe she was doing this, but at the same time, there was a sense of exhilaration coursing through her veins.

It felt amazing.

He studied her for a moment until a brief smirk went upon his lips. "You're drunk."

"So are you."

They locked eyes for a moment and Amy found herself unable to look away, the intensity of his gaze sending shivers down her spine. Their breaths mingled with one another's, and the world around them seemed to fade away, the hustle and bustle of the bar was suddenly paid no mind by them.

She watched him as his eyes moved down to her lips and then even further down her body before finally returning to her eyes. The air between them felt charged, every second stretched out as if time itself had slowed.

He pushed his glass away and stood up. "Alright," he said, his voice low and… smooth, "Lead the way."

Not wanting to waste any more time, Amy grabbed his hand and led him out of the bar. The cool night air hit her face, grounding her slightly as they walked down the dimly lit street. He kept up with her desperate and eager pace, their hands intertwined and squeezing in anticipation.

Soon after, they stumbled into the reception of the hotel and Amy quickly paid and was given the keys to the top suite without hassle. The elevator ride up went as soon as it came and she heard him laugh a little when she was struggling to swipe the card to unlock the room door.

They got inside the room. As soon as the door closed behind them, Amy turned to face him. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "...I don't usually do this."

I've never done this.

He chuckled softly, stepping closer to her. "Me neither."

She bit her lip. "But tonight..."

"Tonight's different," he finished for her.

Amy nodded, unable to tear her eyes away from him. He reached out, gently cupping her face with his hand, his thumb brushing against her cheek. The touch sent another shiver down her spine, and she leaned into it, closing her eyes for a moment.

When she opened them again, his face was inches from hers, his breath warm against her lips. She hesitated for a second before closing the distance, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle at first, both of them testing the waters, but it quickly grew more passionate, their hands roaming each other's bodies. She clutched at his shirt as their kiss continued and she brought him to where the bed was.

They landed on the bed in a tangle of limbs with their continued newfound urgency. The weight of his body on hers felt so electrifying and it made her question why she didn't do this sooner.

He broke the kiss as his hands fiddled with the lace of her short dress, his eyes never leaving hers. "You sure about this?"

Amy swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his question. But despite the alcohol in her system, there was a clarity in her heart. She nodded, her voice trembling but firm. "Yes," she whispered, "I just… I don't want to be alone tonight."

He seemed to understand, and without pressing further, he leaned down to capture her lips into another kiss.

It didn't take too long for their clothes to be thrown across the room either.

Amy woke up with a pounding headache and a vague sense of disorientation.

She felt like she'd been hit by a truck.

Propping herself up on one elbow, she squinted against the bright light filtering through the curtains. She blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog from her mind.

Until she realised she wasn't in her room and that she wasn't wearing any clothes underneath the bed covers.

Finally, Amy shot up from the bed with a loud gasp and darted her eyes at her surroundings.

And then suddenly, all those memories from the bar, the stranger, and how she practically dragged him back to this very room, came rushing back to her. All because she drank too much and because of her curiosity getting the best of her.

Her eyes moved to the other side of the bed and found that he was no longer there. She tried tuning into the shower room nearby, but she didn't hear the sound of the water running.

He was really gone.

But at the very least, he seemed to have left her clothes neatly piled on the nightstand.

Amy winced at her migraine and buried her head in her hands.

What had she just done?

She lost her virginity last night to a complete stranger!

She'd never done something so scandalous before in her life!

Her mind roamed back to last night, trying to replay every detail. She couldn't believe that she had let herself go so far with someone she didn't even know. She didn't even think she was capable of being someone's good night due to her non-existent experience!

Yet… Amy couldn't deny the thrill she felt during it. It was a wonder why she missed out on so much, because of the way he was seemingly enjoying it too. Maybe it was the haze of them both being drunk that made it so careless and undeniably amazing, but it was also the first time she felt truly desired and wanted.

But as she sat there, feeling the weight of her actions crashing down on her, Amy couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that lingered within her. It wasn't just the physical emptiness from the absence of the stranger in her bed, but a deeper, emotional void that had been haunting her for years.

She had spent so much of her life closing herself off from others, building walls around her heart to protect herself from getting hurt. But in doing so, she had also shut herself off from the possibility of finding genuine connection and companionship.

Last night had been a reckless attempt to fill that void, but now, in the harsh light of day, Amy realised that it had only left her feeling more hollow inside.

Amy sighed and shook her head.

Whatever. It was just going to be a one-time thing anyway.

Despite her body protesting, she managed to slip out of bed and put her clothes back on before going into the bathroom. She washed her face and fixed her hair. She'd clean up properly and have a shower once she was back home.

After leaving the room and sheepishly checking out of the hotel from the same receptionist who let her in, she got inside the taxi she had called up earlier and headed home.

When she got inside the shower, she vigorously scrubbed and washed away the remnants from the night and tried her best not to just stand under the stream thinking about how good she felt underneath his gaze, his hands, his touch…

"Ugh!" Amy groaned and turned the shower off as she got out. She slapped her cheeks with both her hands. "Get it together, Amy!"

She dried her hair and wrapped a towel around herself, heading downstairs so she could get started on breakfast.

Before she got off the last step of the stairs, her ears twitched when she thought she heard the sounds of footsteps on her wooden floors. Alarmed, she stopped mid-step and listened closely. Her heart pounded, racing at the possibility of an intruder in her home. Slowly, she descended the remaining steps, glancing around cautiously.

"Hello?" She called out, trying to keep her voice steady. There was no response.

She crept toward the living room, her eyes scanning every corner. Pressing her lips, she whipped out her hammer and trod forward.

If her self-defence classes taught her anything, it was to stay calm and be patient until the target showed itself…

Her suspicions were confirmed when the figure appeared right in front of her.

And when Amy saw who it was…

She screamed.

"Whoa, whoa!" He exclaimed, raising his hands, "Calm down! I'm not a burglar or anything!"

She almost dropped her hammer.

Sonic?!

Sonic the Hedgehog?!

It was him. There was no mistaking it!

But then the anger came back as a vicious glare wandered over her face. Amy pointed her hammer at him in threat. "What the hell are you doing in my home?!" She demanded.

Sonic sent her a confused look. "You mean you don't know?"

"Don't know what?!" Amy yelled, her grip tightening on her hammer, "I think I'd remember if I invited you into my-" Her words got caught in her throat as she started to take a real good look at him.

Blue hedgehog, jade-green eyes… and a confident stance that she could only pinpoint from…

The realisation hit her like a ton of bricks.

He was the one from the bar last night!

"Y-You!" Amy stammered, her eyes wavering in shock, "You were the one that I-"

She had to stop herself.

Oh. My. God.

She slept with him!

She lost her virginity to Sonic the Hedgehog!

And from the way his expression went from confusion to surprise in a matter of seconds, it seemed like he came to the same realisation.

Amy wanted to die.

…And why was he surprised?!

"Wait, you're-" Sonic stepped back and pointed at her, colour draining his face, "You're from last night…"

In a matter of seconds, her face became red and flushed with embarrassment as she gritted her teeth. "Oh, so you remember that you slept with me…?!" Her voice was laced with frustration as she swung her hammer at him, which he skillfully dodged, "But you can't even remember my name?!"

"I know what your name is!" Sonic exclaimed in panic and ducked away from another powerful swing, "It's Amy!"

That didn't help ease her anger though. "Are you only remembering it because you had sex with me?! You couldn't even remember it when we were in school together! You couldn't even recognise me!"

"Recognise you? What do you mean? I know you from school!" He blinked at her until something dawned on his face, "Wait, wait- I do remember! You're the Amy I rescued from the park. That's what I was trying to talk to you about on our last day of school, but you ran off."

Instead of feeling happy that he remembered that day, Amy had only gotten more annoyed and more angry. She clenched her fists and took another swing at him with her hammer. "Well, it's a little too late for that now!" She yelled at him again, "You promised to protect me and you broke it!"

Damn it! Why was he so fast?!

Amy dropped her hammer, catching her breath. She was hungry, angry and tired. She remembered that she still had a single towel wrapped around her body, but didn't care at this point. There was nothing to hide when he had already seen all of her now, as embarrassing and vulnerable as it felt.

Just… Who would've thought that it'd be him?!

Of all people!

She glared up at him again. "Do you leave all your one-night stands alone in the morning after you've had your fill?"

Sonic looked annoyed at her question for a second before he sighed, bringing a hand behind his head. "No, you got it all wrong," he said, "I would've stayed with you until you woke up, but I needed to get to my job."

"What job?" Amy demanded as she clutched her towel, "And does it explain why you're here?"

He straightened up just then and looked at her. "My name is Sonic the Hedgehog, and I've been hired by your agency as your personal bodyguard, Miss Rose."

Amy froze and felt her jaw drop. She looked at him in disbelief. "Wh-What… What did you just say?"

Her... bodyguard?

Sonic the Hedgehog was going to be her bodyguard?

The man she was intimate with last night…

Her...

Bodyguard?!

Sonic couldn't hide his amusement as a grin played on his lips.

"Looks like I'm finally fulfilling my promise to protect you after all."