DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SONIC THE HEDGEHOG OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, guys! I've been a little slow in updating this fanfic and I'm sorry about that. I've been a busy with a lot lately, but here's another chapter to hold you guys over. I hope this chapter isn't mad boring for you all, either. And by the way, thanks so much for your support and reviews and for following my stories. I really appreciate it! It makes me feel so loved! Lol! Anyway, R&R&Enjoy!

"I said what is everyone looking at?" I inquired once again, since no one answered me when I had initially asked. I guess upon hearing my voice a second time, everyone had finally broken out of their incoherent stupors and whatnot, and they all took seats in the room we were in.

Clearly, being the nosy creatures that they were, they awaited my take on the squirrel girl's recent and bold proclamation. But, they wouldn't get it.

. . . Heh! Squirrel girl. That name had a nice, appropriate ring to it. I mean, I would guess that it would be appropriate seeing as how I didn't know nor care about whether she was a squirrel or chipmunk, and I sure as hell didn't harness enough respect for her to address her by name. Squirrel girl it was, then.

"Oh! Nothing, Shadow." Rouge responded. "Everything's absolutely fine, right everyone?"

Everyone nodded their heads in false agreement with the bat. Any fool could tell by their earlier reaction that everyone felt as if something was out of place. And indeed something was. My close and former companion had appeared at this silly event with a female on his arm, and everyone knew that he used to be mine. He used to be on my arm, clinging to me with such love and affection. How could he so freely give something so precious as his affections away to someone so peasant-like and common? And to a female, no less!

Blasphemous!

But, I had to keep calm. I refused to lose my composure in front of this silly bunch of individuals. Since it was obvious that I couldn't talk to my past flame, not that he would give me the hour of day anymore if I requested that of him, I guess I would just have to confide in Rouge later on. That is, if I absolutely had to rant and rave about how I was feeling and could no longer suppress my emotions inside of me. I fear that moment is coming soon, and I shudder at the thought of expressing myself to the bat. However, she is who I have to confide in at this present time.

"So, ehh . . . Sally, was it?" Rouge attempted to make small talk with the squirrel girl, who eagerly nodded her head. "How did you and Sonic meet, exactly?"

I agreed with Rouge about being curious as to how squirrel girl met Sonic. I suppose it would be a trifle entertaining to learn about how the female came to know my azure love . . .

. . . before I destroyed her.

"Well, actually we met in Cosmo's. It's a cute little restaurant near Angel Island. Have you heard of it?" She asked.

My eyebrow raised slightly in disbelief. Cosmo's? If I'm not mistaken, Cosmos's was the eatery that Sonic would often drag me to when he wanted those repulsive chilidogs that he craves so much. The first time he brought me to the place, I was more than positive that I wouldn't step foot in such a place, again. Nothing was really wrong with the place. It just wasn't my cup of tea. But as time flew by and Sonic forced me to frequent the place more often with him, I grew to enjoy his company even more and not mind the atmosphere as much. I even became accustomed to the place. Cosmo's became one of our 'spots', so to speak, and I had self-logged it as a place where Sonic and I could go to converse and grab a meal together. How could he take the squirrel girl to one of our favorite places? It was almost an outrage!

"I . . . have heard of the place, actually." Rouge answered before glancing over at me for a moment. She also knew about how Sonic and I used to visit the restaurant often, back then.

"I work there as a waitress." She said. "Cosmo, the one who owns the restaurant, hired me. I had been looking for jobs one summer, and I happened to stumble upon the restaurant. I had an interview with Cosmo, she hired me on the spot, and things were cool there ever since."

So, Cosmo hired her, eh?

Next time I see her, I'll have to discuss with her on how to hire the right type of help.

"Well, that was nice of Cosmo, wasn't it, Shadow?" Rouge turned to look at me with a miniscule smirk that only I could pick out. I glared flaming daggers at her. She dared mock me at such a time? I think I'll remind her later of how she begged me to follow her to this frivolous event and how I expect to be treated as a result of doing her such a grandiose favor as this.

"Mhmm. That's where I met Sonic." Sally glanced over, grinning at the blue hedgehog sitting beside her on the couch.

"Oh, really?" Rouge said before glancing at me, again. Why? I didn't know. Maybe she was awaiting my response for all of this. She was undoubtedly aware of my habit to sometimes lose control of my temper when I am pushed to the edge. Being the thrill-seeking creature that she is, it is probable that she wanted me to act foolish in front of everyone.

She was out of luck. Because while it took everything I had to suppress my honest feelings, I would continue to keep a lid on my currently enraged emotions.

"Yeah! Sonic used to come into the restaurant a lot! I noticed him the first time I saw him since I started working there. I'm usually known to be quite the confident one, but . . . it just felt different this time." She spoke. "I was kind of shy to say anything to him, at the time."

Chaos. I can almost hear the melancholy violins of classical music playing as this foolish girl speaks. All her talking did was continue to make grimace more and more. I almost thought I was going to be sick.

"Well, who could blame you?" Sonic stated while flexing and grinning cockily beside the girl who giggled.

I half smiled at my ex-boyfriend's behavior. I tried to refrain from doing so, but I couldn't help it.

I swear to the highest of heavens that I missed him and his constant upbeat disposition.

"Whatever, Blue." Squirrel girl giggled.

My nonchalant smile immediately dropped. Blue? What the hell?

"Anyways," she continued. "I noticed that whenever he came into the restaurant, he would come in alone so I figured he either didn't have a girlfriend, or he just enjoyed having his alone time."

Of course he didn't have a girlfriend, you douche-bag. He had a boyfriend.

Had.

"Well, one day he came into the restaurant looking a little down, so I thought to myself 'I have to talk to him at some point. Why not go and cheer him up, now?' So, I gathered all the courage I could pull together, and I went over to talk to him. And it wasn't that bad." She grabbed one of Sonic's hands gently and put his in hers.

I tried my hardest to ignore the gesture and listened a little more intently, slightly curious as to where this story was going.

"He told me that he had just gone through a rough separation with someone he loved." Her expression had begun to fall a little. Apparently, she was a little hesitant about rehearsing the story.

Instantly, I averted my eyes from the couple, ashamed of even glancing in his direction as squirrel girl spoke. I was the cause of the rough separation.

"He just . . . looked so heartbroken, and I wanted to cheer him up so much. I wanted to see that smile that made me fall for him the first time I'd seen him in Cosmo's." The girl began to grin again as she spoke. "We started talking, and I don't even remember about what, anymore. All I know is that we ended up smiling and laughing about things before he left."

I took a chance to glance back over at the couple. Sally began to squeeze Sonic's hand in a comforting manner. But, what seemed to eat at me inside was the fact that he was squeezing back.

"I was so nervous about approaching in the beginning, but in the end, I was glad I did. And I still am." She giggled and looked over at Sonic.

Everyone sat attentively listening to the girl's story. I merely grew more and more exasperated by the minute. If anyone had glanced at my face, they would have been able to tell. I'd had enough. No longer could I bear to watch as my former love gazed into the almond-brown girl's eyes almost too lovingly. I couldn't watch any more as he squeezed her hand to assure her that he belonged to her now, and no one else. And I couldn't even think about the fact that my azure could possibly be in love with another, someone other than myself. I just couldn't.

"He was so funny. He was really silly at times, but I loved it. He was a very good listener, even though I could tell he didn't like to sit still for too long. And he was just an amazing person to me."

"Aw, stop." Sonic said. I glanced up at him and saw him blushing lightly at the compliments. Compliments that I was supposed to be showering him with. I could hardly stand the fact that someone else was emitting this emotion from him.

"And then, there's his bright, radiant smile that would always manage to lighten up my mood no matter how down I was feeling."

Sonic's blush got deeper and darker. And I still hadn't turned away from gazing at him. How could I?

"And his eyes . . . they were so beautiful . . ."

He was beautiful.

" . . . like priceless, sparkling emeralds. I couldn't help but fall in love with them the way I was falling in love with him."

Undeniably, irresistibly beautiful.

"And I knew, after awhile of spending time with him, that I wanted to be with him."

I felt like I was being sucked into some sort of black hole that I just could not escape from.

But, it was perfectly fine because I didn't want to escape from it. I just wanted to have him, again. I wanted him all to myself. I wanted everything. Body, mind, soul, smile, eyes, love, and all.

And at that moment, I had made up my mind that I was going to have all of that, again. I was going to have Sonic, once again. I would do whatever it took for me to have him back. And I would succeed at obtaining my love again because I am Shadow the Hedgehog and I always get what I want. That's just how it is. Squirrel girl may cry her eyes out once I've taken him from her.

But, she would just have to deal. Hmph!

"And that's how I met Sonic!" She finished with a smile.

I had to smirk slightly myself. That devilish little squirrel had no idea what she was in for.

Some time after that squirrel girl poured her heart out to everyone in the living room about her relationship status with my boyfriend, Amy showed Sonic and Sally to their confinements.

I'm aware that praying for my room to be next to Sonic may sound a tad silly. Obsessive, even. But, so what.

I wanted to be close to him.

I planned on getting as close to him as possible during this event. I lost him once because of my brash, foolish, irrational actions. I couldn't lose him again when I had the chance to reunite with him.

Sometimes I tremble simply at the remembrance of how I ended up treating Sonic and what I did to push him away from me, remaining hidden from me for so long. I couldn't blame him. I would be damned if I even thought of blaming him for why we are no longer together. Because he wasn't to blame. I was. And I would make sure that he knew how apologetic I was. I wanted him to know how much I wish I could take everything back, everything I did and everything I said. He needed to know how much I loved him. How much I've always loved him and how much I would continue to love him for as long as I existed on this wretched planet as well as in the afterlife.

The hands of time continued to tick by as the three aforementioned had gone upstairs. I sat in the kitchen on one of the stools in front of a countertop. I just sat there, reflecting on matters alone.

I remembered the two-tailed fox and the hothead claiming that they wanted to 'check out the videogames' on a lower floor of the house. I had no idea where everyone else had gone. And I would be being deceitful if I said that I gave a damn. All that mattered was that the ones that I wanted to disappear had vanished from my sight.

"Hey, Stripes." Almost everyone.

"Hn." I responded incoherently.

"Everything okay on your end?"

I raised a brow. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Rouge shook her head and smirked slyly. "Oh, playing that game, are you?"

I grew more irritated with every passing moment of talking to Rouge. I wasn't in the mood for any company and obviously the bat didn't get the message. Or she didn't want to.

"Go away, bat."

"Honey, you know exactly what I'm talking about." Rouge pressed on. "Denial'll never help the situation, either."

"And, what situation is that, pray tell?" I feigned ignorance through gritted teeth.

"Oh, nothing major. It just involves spending a whole three weeks with your ex-boyfriend and his new girl—"

"That's not his girlfriend, Rouge." I detested that word. The words 'Sonic the Hedgehog' and 'girlfriend' should never be in the same sentence as far as I'm concerned. And I am concerned.

Rouge chuckled lightly. "A little on the defensive, aren't we?"

I didn't respond.

"Look, Stripes. I didn't approach you to get on your bad side. I just wanted to make sure you were gonna be okay through all this."

I glanced up at her before responding. "Thanks for your concern, but you should know that I'll be perfectly fine. I always am, aren't I?"

"You definitely used to be. But, it has been about three years since you've seen him."

"So?"

"So, you're telling me that you don't feel anything for him, anymore?"

I was quiet, once more. But when I pondered on if for a moment, what was the purpose of concealing my feelings from Rouge? She would only find out at a later time.

"Shadow?"

"I never previously stated that I stopped feeling anything for him."

"Ah. So, you do, then?"

" . . . I . . . I just . . ."

"Say no more, Shadow. Believe me, I understand when you want something that plays hard to get. Trust me." The bat winked at me, and I scoffed at her. She had to be babbling about the crimson hothead she seemed to hold somewhat of a torch for. Why she does is beyond my comprehension.

"So, what are you gonna do about this, then?"

I thought quietly to myself for a second. What would I really have to lose by cluing in the bat on my covert endeavors to win back the object of my affections? I supposed nothing but my pride and dignity if exposing my intentions to the bat happened to backfire on me in any way. I decided that she could be trusted.

"Simple. I'm going to make him by boyfriend, again."

"And you think the little barbie's just gonna hand her boyfriend over to you?" She laughed.

"Of course not." Silly bat.

"Well, how're you gonna get him back, then?"

"By any means necessary." I told her. I am the Ultimate Life Form. If I want something, I get it. Point blank. Period. And any obstacle standing in my path would either shift willingly or be shifted forcefully. That's how it worked for me.

"Then, it sounds like you're willing to comply to whatever it takes to get Blue back, eh?"

"Hn." I responded before taking a glance at her. When I did so, I couldn't help my eyes widening, slightly. I caught a familiar gleam in her eyes that I'm used to seeing when she's up to something she shouldn't be up to.

"So, you wouldn't mind if I . . . I dunno, say, helped the process along. Would you, Stripes?"

My eyes widened even more as I watched her power walk to the stairs. Shit. I knew confiding in that bat would somehow result in my downfall.

"Get back here, bat! I'm warning you . . ."

"Ah, it'll only take a second, Shadow." She said before disappearing from my vision and up the stairs. "Be right back!" She sang.

I face palmed a little harder than I should have. What did she possibly think she could do to 'help the process along'? Anything that she had in mind had to be ten times worse than whatever I planned on doing. Maybe even worse.

"Rouge!" I called in vain, once more.

If that bat girl dared even so much as hint my sentiments to Sonic, she'd witness a punishment very much akin to hell! No questions asked.

She couldn't really be dense enough to confess my feelings to my loved one, but I had a difficult time thinking otherwise at the moment. I found myself unconsciously tapping my fingers against the counter in front of me. I would say that it was a nervous habit of mine, but being the Ultimate Life Form, I didn't have any nervous habits . . . or at least I shouldn't have any.

Sigh. I knew I shouldn't have told that batty creature one thing about any of the issues that I currently faced. Now, that I think about it, there is no possible way that things can turn out for my good, now. Surely, Rouge would trot upstairs to seek Sonic and his . . . concubine out, and she would reveal every single solitary emotion that I held for him. She would pour all of my feelings out to Sonic in front of squirrel girl, and she and the hedgehog would laugh. Rouge would commit this buffoonery and deem it 'helping out a friend'. And not only would my pride be crushed at Sonic's rejection of my affections, but I would be mortified to even be in his presence for the remainder of this trip. And all because of one bad decision, and the only bad decision that I've ever made in my life, that I made to specify my feelings for my former flame to the wrong being.

I had to force myself to breathe for a moment. I believe I was having what average, ordinary living beings call a panic attack.

I don't believe I've actually ever had one of those. Ever. Being the Ultimate Life Form, I've just always assumed that I was perfect. And so, I never believed that I was capable of something so common as anxiety or panic attacks. It's quite sad what I've been reduced to, when I really think about it.

Feelings of craziness, anxiousness, and nervousness. And all this because of the current situation I placed myself in. If I had just told Rouge 'no' from the very beginning, I would not be in such a chaos. Damn her. These unruly feelings inside of me are the cause of that bat. I'd have to thank her for this properly, later.

But, I mean, I suppose I am handling things well. To any innocent bystander, I am the perfect picture of serenity, sitting on a stool at one of the marble counters in the kitchen. But, if one were given the ability to witness what stirred inside of my cranium, that person would cower in eternal fear.

Oh, well! I'm Shadow the Hedgehog. I'm supposed to strike fear into others. It's just how I am.

All of a sudden, I snapped out of ranting and raving in my head to hear the voices of what sounded like three females walking down the stairs.

"Oh, yes! And the yacht? Ah! It's just fabulous, darling." It sounded like Rouge.

"Really?" Questioned another female. Was it squirrel girl?

"But, of course, darling. Amy always takes us on her yacht when she holds her little gatherings. Isn't that right, Amy?"

"It sure is!" The pink brat answered.

There was no mistaking it. Rouge, Amy, and Sally were making their way downstairs. A few seconds after I had made out their voices, the three females appeared to the right of me. I glanced over, and they did the same.

"Hey, Shadow dear. Oh, don't mind us. We're just . . . having a little bit of private time to ourselves. You know, being girls and such." I noticed the emphasis that she placed on the words 'private time'. And the blatant winking assisted my idea that something was going on.

"Yeah, Shadow." Amy chimed in. "We're just going to hang out for a little bit as girls before I see when Daddy planned to have the yacht ready for us."

A nearly twelve-year-old child with a yacht?

Life is never logical, is it?

"Yes, but there's no doubt in my mind that you'll find things to do somewhere around here." Rouge said. There was that sly gleam in her eyes, again.

"Well, we'll see you later, Shadow." Said Amy.

"So long, Stripes."

"Goodbye, Shadow!" Sally said as she turned her back on me to pursue the others. Did she think I'd dare respond? Fat chance, bitch.

Excuse my uncivil form of language.

Once I had listened to the shutting of the front door, I assumed that the girls had walked outside. "Hey, sweet stuff."

. . . until I heard Rouge's voice, that is. I took a glance over my shoulder at the female who was swaying her way over to me.

"What is it, now?" I demanded.

She threw her hands on her hips and frowned a little. "Boy! You'd think a lady would deserve a little more respect." She whined with a swift flip of her short hair.

"Respect?" I combated. "Respect for what?"

"Helping out a friend in need? Duh, Shadow."

I scoffed at her. Help? Help? I might be quicker to castrate myself than to openly admit to requiring Rouge's assistance.

Maybe.

"And for what reasons could I possibly need your assistance, Rouge?" I narrowed my eyes and challenged her. Was she forgetting that I was the Ultimate Life Form? I don't need assistance for I hold the capability of assisting myself. I've never played the damsel in distress. In fact, I am quite the contrary. Why, if Superman was half as good-looking as I am, one might be able to make a decent comparison between us. Point blank, I am a powerful being who needs no aid or anything akin to a sidekick. For Rouge to trot around this place with the impudence to believe that I need her to do me any favors is laughable, at best. I don't want her help on this matter, and I probably will never want her help on this matter.

"Well," she began. "For starters, I coaxed Amy into 'showing' Sally and I the new renovations on her yacht. So, in other words—"

"Sonic is . . . upstairs alone?" I finished for her.

"Mhmm." She responded while giggling to herself.

I acknowledge the fact that I may have sounded needy and anxious, but who cares. Fuck all who judge me.

I had to smirk a little at the irony of this situation. For once, or at least this one time that I can remember, that bat actually helped me instead of being a hindrance. I was shocked to say the least, but of course I wouldn't show that. I have a superior image to uphold.

I stood up and began to brush imaginary specks of dust from my person. "Well, Rouge. Nice work. I guess I should give you a hand for pulling through for me, this time." I smirked again.

"Don't underestimate my abilities, Stripes." Rouge wagged her finger. "You of all people should know that."

I rubbed the back of my head. "You're right."

Rouge retraced her steps back toward the front doorway. "Later, Shadow." She chimed. I nodded my head in response, and the door shut.

She pulled through. She actually pulled through. I was in total disbelief.

But, I had to snap out of it. The real prize was not in what the bat had done, but the result of what she had done. The real prize was upstairs. The real prize was Sonic the Hedgehog. My Sonic.

He would be mine again, soon.

As soon as I had broken out of my stupor, I immediately brought myself to the staircase with a determined mindset and a lust for success in gaining my former love back. I wanted him back. I wanted him to be away from that trifling chipmunk girl, and more importantly, I wanted him to be with me. Plain and simple. I don't really think I could possibly put it any plainer.

Sonic should be with me, I thought as I took a step up the staircase. He needs to be with someone he knows. He should be with someone who can protect him all hurt, harm, and danger. He deserved to be with someone who can give him everlasting kindness and undying love and affection. That someone was me. It was me and only me. I took even more steps toward the upper floor.

If he'd only give me the chance, I would swear on my life to him that I would be different.

I was finally upstairs.

I wouldn't flip out on the little things. I wouldn't make him feel like an annoyance when he'd only have been pushing to spend time with me. I wouldn't make him feel unimportant, unwanted, unloved . . .

. . . and I'd be damned to hell if I ever . . .

Sigh

I needed him to know that I would never make the same mistakes twice.

He had to give me another chance. He just had to. Because I-I . . .

I . . .

I was standing right in front of his closed bedroom door. I assumed it had to be his. Not only was this room the only room logical enough to be his, but I could hear the music emitting from his room well into the hallway. "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects was playing from whatever musical contraption that Amy held in that room. I remember when Sonic and I were together, he'd play that music constantly. It would give me splitting headaches. The incoherent singing, the unnecessarily loud instruments playing in the background, and the reiteration of the lyrics was enough to make my head hurt.

This time, it gave me an unusual source of comfort. Knowing that Sonic still listened to that type of music, let alone that song, gave me a sense of knowing that at least some things hadn't changed about him, and I found my grinning ever so slightly about that.

I couldn't wait to look at him any longer, so I knocked on the door.

I waited a few seconds before I heard the music stop. "Yeah? Who is it?" He answered.

Fearing that he might turn me away if I responded to who it was, I opened the door without invitation. Across the room was my target. The one with the gorgeous emerald eyes.

He glanced up right away from unpacking his suitcases, and upon seeing me, he instantaneously glowered at me.

"What are you doing here?" He started while dropping everything and folding his arms, those warm emeralds turned cold never dropping his glare once.

. . . Maybe this wasn't such an intelligent idea, after all.

What had I placed myself into?