The afternoon came and went much faster than Sonic and Sally had hoped. By late afternoon most of Knothole had forgotten about the day's earlier events. Some of the villagers, led by Dr. Osaka and Rosie, had thrown together an impromptu celebration to commemorate their victories against Robotnik. Amy had left Sonic and Sally alone and the two cuddled in Sonic's hut, finally realizing they had left the door open earlier.

They joined the celebration once the large bonfire had started to blaze. Sonic was the first to see Tails and Amy walking up arm-in-arm talking and smiling. Relief welled up inside Sonic, much to his pleasure. Sally saw it too and smiled. They joined the party and had the time of their lives. Rosie had prepared all the food including chili dogs. Sonic held one up for Sally who quickly turned it down. She in turn held a salad up for him and he just glared at her. The villagers laughed at the exchange. Just before midnight came a countdown started up for no apparent reason. When the count hit zero animals kissed each other on the cheek, except for Bunnie who was kissing Antoine like there was no tomorrow. Sally kissed Sonic on the cheek and he smiled.

"I TOLD YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE, YOU GEEZER!" yelled a voice off to the side.

Sally turned to see Amy running towards them with her hammer. She also noticed Tails face first in the ground from where he had tried to kiss Amy's cheek and missed. Sonic grabbed Sally's hand and ran off into the Great Forest. Amy chased them and they could hear the villagers laughing at the three of them. Sonic had gone about a mile out of the village when he turned to see Amy still chasing them.

"I've had enough of this," he muttered and ran up the nearest tree. He stopped at the first branch that looked sturdy enough to hold him and Sally. He sat down and held Sally in his lap.

"I can wait here as long as needed, you old hag!" Amy yelled up at them.

Sally was about to yell something back but Sonic put a finger to her lips and shook his head. "Let's just enjoy each other's company for the time being," he said. "Something tells me we're going to be up here a while."

Sally sighed and leaned back into his chest. Amy watched all this from the ground and sat down on the ground with her back to the trunk. Stay up there all you want, she thought. When you get down I'll be right here waiting for you.

They spent the next two hours just sitting there holding onto each other. Sally looked at Sonic to catch him looking at the stars. "Can I ask you something, Sonic?" she asked.

"I don't see why not," he answered, looking down at her.

Sally swallowed nervously. "Why did you wait so long?" she said finally. "You know, to come back to me."

Sonic was about to ask her exactly what she meant when he realized that she wasn't talking about physically. All the time he had spent running away from her. He sighed and looked back up. "I guess I, blamed myself for letting you down so much," he said.

"Sonic, you have never let me down," she said, putting her hand on his cheek so he would look at her. "What on Mobius do you mean?"

He looked away and was silent for a moment. "Do you remember when we were kids playing tag in the forest?" he asked.

Sally nodded. "Yeah, we used to play all the time," she answered. "But what does that have to do with any of this?"

"There was one day we were playing and we must have gotten too close to Robotropolis," he continued. "You were chasing me when we came onto a SWATbot patrolling the area. When the bot spotted you I was too scared to move. Even with you screaming for help I just couldn't move. When it fired and hit you I just...lost it. I used my Spin Attack and took out the bot without thinking. Then I got you back to Knothole as fast as I could."

"Why don't I remember any of this?" Sally asked. She remembered everything else from that day but this particular part had always been a blank. She just assumed it was nothing important and had forgotten about it.

"Doc said that since you were so young you probably blocked out the memory," Sonic said. "I stayed by your bed the whole time ignoring everything else around me. I swore after that I would never be afraid again. I...I didn't want to lose you."

"Oh, Sonic," Sally said resting her head on his chest and holding him. "That's why you were so distant from me? I would never have blamed you for that."

"I guess deep down I knew that," Sonic admitted. "I just didn't want my emotions get the better of me."

"What about when we met Griff?" Sally asked. "I've never seen you so jealous before."

Sonic shook his head. "That one you can blame on my gut," he said. "The way I figured it if I could get you to not like Griff as much then we'd all be okay."

Sally hugged him as tight as she could. She was hoping it had been more than that but was happy with what she got. "You blame yourself for too much," she said finally. "There are some things that you had no power over and you did your best. You can't blame yourself every time something goes wrong."

Sonic was silent and just sat there holding her. He knew she was referring to Lezar's spellbook and her father. He smiled and held her tighter. "Thanks Sal, I needed that."

Amy looked up and sighed. After that there was no way she stood a chance with Sonic. That didn't mean she was going to give up but what was the point? If she couldn't have Sonic what was the point in staying in Knothole? She had just started crying when she felt someone sit next to her. "What's wrong Amy?" Tails asked, holding a plate of chili dogs.

Amy wiped her eyes and shook her head. "It's nothing," she said sniffling. She eyed the plate as her stomach growled. "It's almost two in the morning and you're making food?"

Tails shook his head smiling. "They're not for me," he said handing her the plate. "I remembered you said you liked chili dogs. I made a plate of 'em for you once I realized that you were still out here chasing these two."

"But how did you find me?" she asked, scarfing one down immediately.

"Amy, you're pink," Tails said simply. "You stick out like a sore thumb." She blushed and threw a chili dog at him. Rather than moving out of the way he caught the dog in his mouth and swallowed it. Amy's jaw dropped as he licked his lips. "How did...?"

"Sonic taught me," he said simply. "He's the one that got me hooked on chili dogs."

Somewhere up in the tree they heard Sally mutter, "You have got to stop teaching him these things," followed by Sonic's laughter. Tails smiled but noticed the sad look on Amy's face. Before he could say anything Amy wiped away another tear.

"C'mon, I know something's wrong," Tails insisted scooting closer to her.

"It's just that...I know Sonic likes Sally," she finally admitted. "And I know that no matter how hard I try that'll never change. If I can't win Sonic over then there's no reason for me to stay."

"C'mon, you know that's not true," Tails said. "We could really use you here."

Amy shook her head. "Everyone here sees me as nothing but a little girl with a crush. I don't really mean anything to anyone."

"You do to me."

Tails quiet comment had surprised both of them. Amy looked at him, turning a deep crimson. She tried to say something but no words would come to her. She had also realized their faces were very close right now. Tails moved a little closer and closed his eyes. Amy did the same and their lips met. She had never felt like this in her entire life. This one moment with Tails blew whatever she had felt for Sonic out of the water. She held the back of his neck and kissed him deeper. Tails gladly returned the gesture. Up in the tree Sonic and Sally watched smiling.

"That looks familiar," Sonic said.

"What does that mean?" Sally asked looking at him.

"You had the same look on your face the first time I kissed you."

Sally blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Well then," she said a mischievous look in her eyes, "let's see if I can't get return the favor." The two couples sat by, and in, the tree the rest of the night holding their loved one in their arms.

The shining sun woke Sonic up rather rudely. His aching back certainly didn't help either. He would have to make himself a reminder to never sleep in trees. He looked down to see that Tails and Amy were gone. A sigh of relief escaped his lips and he looked over at Sally. She was still curled up against his chest sleeping soundly. He had to smile at that. She looked so content that he didn't want to wake her up. She fidgeted and opened her eyes to look at him.

"Morning already?" she asked groggily.

Sonic nodded. "Yep," he answered. "Plus I think it should be safe around here for the two of us from now on."

Sally smiled and snuggled back into his chest. "Good," she said closing her eyes.

"Oh no you don't," Sonic said quickly sitting her up. "I'm sure it'd be fun explaining why we're sleeping in a tree together but I'm not ready for that. That and my back is killing me."

Sally gave a playful frown. "Aww," she said faking a pout. "Does someone want a back rub?"

Sonic held his hands up and waved them quickly. "No, no. I'm good," he said nervously.

Sally smiled and jumped from the branch. "Race you down!" she said gliding downward.

"That's playing dirty!" he yelled back. "Wait a sec, what am I talking about?" He closed his eyes and felt the wind pick up around him. He vanished and reappeared on the ground a moment before Sally touched down.

"Hey that's not fair," she said stomping.

"All's fair in love," he said kissing her nose and speeding off. She sighed and shook her head.

"What am I gonna do with you, Sonic Hedgehog?" she muttered and walked off towards her hut.

She walked back into her hut and took off her vest and boots. She grabbed a much needed shower and a quick change of clothes. After being chased by an insane hedgehog with a hammer and sleeping in a tree all night that was exactly what she had needed. She stepped outside and breathed in the morning air.

Wait a minute, she thought suddenly. Where did Tails and Amy go this morning? Worry shot across her face and she ran toward Tails' hut. She looked in the window and was relieved to see that he was in bed by himself. Amy was nowhere to be seen which probably meant she was still asleep. She ran towards the hut she and Dulcy shared and peeked in the door. Amy was asleep in the bed with a smile across her face. Sally sighed and closed the door. She would talk to Amy after she woke up. She walked towards the dining hut and saw Bunnie and Antoine doing the same. They saw Sally and waved at her.

"Hey there Sally-girl," Bunnie said, hugging her friend. "You know, I never saw you two come back last night."

"We had to sleep in a tree," Sally explained. "Amy was chasing us and we were forced to take refuge on a branch."

"That is all fine," Antoine said smiling. "I would also be suggesting that if you intend to kiss someone that you close the door first, Princess." Sally was about to ask what he meant when she remembered. Her face turned a bright shade of pink and she stammered trying to explain.

"Don't worry about it none, girl," Bunnie giggled. "Sugarfox and I won't say a word."

Sally smiled her blush fading. "Thanks guys," she said. "Shall we get some breakfast?"