Hiya folks!  Sorry for the delay, I had a bad encounter with writer's block for a while, and uh my computer crashed too….  Anyways, this chappie goes out to Akari Takai: Yami Yokaze.  Thanks a lot for the reviews!  Oh, the language in this chapter will be back to normal.  Sorry about the last chapter.  *sweatdrop*  Anyhoo, enjoy!

Oops, almost forgot, 'single quotes' are thoughts and "double quotes" are dialogue.  Dunno why I keep putting this here, since it's probably drilled into your heads by now.  XP

Meant To Be

Chapter 11

Shadow laid in his bed, unable to fall asleep due to his hangover from hell.  He turned to his right and watched Sonic sleeping peacefully.  Shadow couldn't help but smile.  'Sonic.  I didn't mean to hurt you today.  I was so close to telling you my feelings, but I was too scared.  Too scared of what you would think of me. *sigh*  Sonic, I love you so much….'

*Flashback*

"…I mean with someone I love.  Someone that I can just hold and feel good about it.  Someone that won't make fun of my inner-emotions that I hide because I'm supposed to be this big "hero".  I just want to be loved for who I really am…"

*End Flashback*

Shadow sighed at the thought, 'Sonic.  I want to be that one you can hold.  The one that you can confide in when something's bothering you.  I wish you knew how much you really mean to me…"  Shadow let several tears fall onto his bed.  He sat up from his bed and clutched his head again, his hangover still at full blast.  He stood up, took a deep breath and slowly walked over to Sonic's bed.  He stood there for several minutes, watching Sonic. 

Shadow smiled and let a few more tears loose.  He leaned down, and gave Sonic a light kiss on his tender lips.  He whispered quietly in his ear, "I love you Sonic The Hedgehog.  You're the reason I want to live my life to the fullest."  Shadow stood back up and walked out of the room quickly crying his eyes out.

Meanwhile Sonic was having a strange dream…but this dream was like no other, something about it made seem all too real.

*Sonic's dream*

Sonic was back on his roof admiring the sunset with Shadow.  After the sun hid it's face beneath the horizon, Shadow turned to Sonic and made eye contact.  Shadow leaned in, and spoke, "Sonic, I…uhhh, I…."

Sonic nodded, "You what Shadow?"

Shadow suddenly leaned in and connected his lips with Sonic's.  Sonic paused for a second, not believing what was happening, but quickly returned the kiss.  They held the kiss for what seemed like an eternity.  Nothing could have ruined this moment.  Nothing.  They broke the kiss after a few minutes, and maintained eye contact.  Shadow leaned by Sonic's ear and whispered, "I love you Sonic the Hedgehog.  You're the reason I want to live my life to the fullest."

Sonic turned his glance towards Shadow and smiled.  Sonic grabbed Shadow in a tender hug, and began crying.  "Oh Shadow, I longed to hear that from you.  I always wished that it would be you I could hold close.  I love you Shadow."

*End Dream*

Sonic opened up his eyes, and sighed.  Another dream that played with his feelings.  Sonic sat up and noticed that Shadow wasn't in his bed.

'Strange' he thought.  'I wonder if he's in the bathroom' …Sonic cringed at the thought, he remembered what it was like to have a hangover.

Sonic got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom…but no one was there.  'What the?  Where did he go?'  Sonic walked downstairs and Rouge was passed out on the couch…apparently she got drunk too 'oy...does she ever stop?'  Sonic heard a clanging noise and walked outside.  There was Tails working on the Tornado…but this late at night?  Sonic walked over to the garage.

Sonic spoke up, "Tails?"

Suddenly a loud 'thunk' was heard, "Owww!"  Tails had banged his head on the plane.  He walked out from underneath it rubbing the back of his head, "Yeah Sonic?"

Sonic raise a brow, "Tails, why are you out here this late?"

Tails rolled his eyes, "Ugh.  Ya know I'm not a baby anymore."

Sonic glared at Tails, "Don't start with that now.  I know what you mean, and that's not why I'm out here."

Tails eyes opened in surprise, Sonic always came out here to tell him that he shouldn't be out this late. "Well…why are you out here then?"

Sonic's facial expression went to concern, "Shadow isn't in his bed…or anywhere around the house.  He had a hangover…and I'm worried now."

Tails smirked lightly…somehow, he could tell that Sonic had a thing for Shadow, but he didn't want Sonic to know, "Hmm.  Did you check your spot on the roof?  Maybe he found out about it."

Sonic lit up, "Oh, geez, I forgot to look there.  By the way Shadow knows about that spot.  I took him up there today to watch the suns-"

Tails raised a brow, "Sunset?"

Sonic nodded and gulped lightly, "Y-yeah."

Tails seemed concerned, "You took Shadow up there?  Sonic you never allow anyone up there, let alone bringing someone along."

Sonic sighed, "I-I know.  Look Tails, I care a lot for Shadow.  I mean, don't you remember how thrilled I was to find out he was still alive?"

Tails nodded, "Yeah.  I remember.  Speaking of which, I'm sorry about the mental breakdown comment I made the other day…I know I said sorry…but I don't think it was enough."

Sonic felt warm inside, this was the Tails he always loved, "Aww, Tails.  It's really okay.  I wouldn't worry about it, alright?  I love ya bro, you're the best friend anyone could have."

Tails smiled, "Thanks Sonic.  I love ya big bro."  Tails walked over and gave Sonic a hug.  After the hug, Tails looked at Sonic and winked, "Go, find Shadow and tell him."

Sonic became worried, "Uhh, tell him what?"

Tails smirked, "You know what.  Go on."

Sonic turned a little red, "No seriously...I-I have no idea what you're talking about.

Tails chuckled, "Uh-huh, right.  Just go Sonic."

Sonic walked away slowly, turning even redder.  He felt a little embarrassed that Tails knew his feelings for Shadow.

Tails watched Sonic walk away slowly.  When Sonic was far enough away he mumbled to himself, "Don't worry Sonic.  I won't hate you because you like Shadow."  Tails nodded, and went back to working on the Tornado.

Sonic slowly climbed up the ladder that led to the roof.  He was really nervous.  Sonic carefully opened up the hatch so he wouldn't startle Shadow.  Sure enough, Shadow was indeed up there.  He was laying down on the lawn chair looking towards the sky.  Sonic carefully walked over towards Shadow.  He noticed that Shadow was sleeping.  Sonic kneeled down next to Shadow and gently caressed his cheek, "Shadow…I wish you knew…how much I love you."

Shadow slowly turned his head and Sonic pulled his hand back and quickly stood up acting like nothing happened.

Shadow opened his eyes and yawned, "Sonic?  Did you say something?"

Sonic became nervous and began to stutter a bit, "Uhh, umm, no Shads.  Y-you must have been dreaming."

Shadow raised a brow, "Maybe…but I know I felt your hand on my cheek.  I'm positive that I didn't dream that."

Sonic knew he was caught, "Umm…yeah…sorry about that…"  Sonic looked down, feeling ashamed.

Shadow got out of the chair and stood in front of Sonic.  He tilted Sonic's head up so he could see into his eyes, "Sonic don't be ashamed…why did you do it?"

Sonic remained silent for a bit, trying to come up with a reasonable answer, "Well…you looked peaceful sleeping there…and uh…*sighs*…nevermind Shadow."

Shadow sighed lightly, "Sonic.  It's okay, really.  Look, there's something I need to tell you.

Sonic gazed into Shadow's eyes, "Yeah Shads?"

Shadow smiled lightly, "Look, ever since we met up again…there was this feeling.  A feeling that I could not deny nor ignore.  I didn't think that feeling could ever be returned in my lifetime, but then someone said something to me that really hit me hard…in a good way.  Earlier today, you said something that made me realize what love really is.  Sonic, I was created, not born into this world like you were.  I never had the opportunity to feel the various emotions you can.  Even with Maria, we were very close friends, but I never felt love with her, not even sibling love.  When you were talking about being with "that" someone, and hold that "someone", I knew that instant what love really is.  I have a point…question is if I'm getting to it…"

Sonic interrupted, "Shadow, what are you trying to say?"

Shadow became nervous, "Sonic, I…I…."  Shadow couldn't say it, but instead he leaned forward and connected his lips with Sonic's.  Sonic opened his eyes widely, not believing what's happening.  Sonic slowly closed his eyes, and began returning the kiss, tenderly and passionately.  They kept their lips locked together gently, savoring the sweet taste of love.  After a few minutes, Shadow slowly broke the kiss, and looked into Sonic's eyes.

Shadow smiled, "Sonic, I love you.  I'm sorry I ran off earlier today.  I didn't mean to hur-mmmfff.."  Sonic interrupted Shadow by kissing him again.

Sonic pulled away shortly, "Shadow…I love you too.  When you fell from ARK, I thought I would never see you again.  That had to be the worst feeling in my life.  I knew you had a good heart when you helped us keep ARK from falling to Earth.  Shortly thereafter, began to develop feelings for you.  I didn't know what they were at first, but when I saw you again that night, I knew they were love, I was just too shy to admit them to myself.  I couldn't have been happier that night…until now.  Shadow, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Shadow smiled, "S-sonic, I…don't know what to say…"  Shadow grabbed Sonic into a loving hug, "I could hold you like this forever…"

Sonic smiled and held Shadow tightly, "We have our whole lives ahead of us for that."  Sonic pulled away and smiled, "C'mon Shads, let's go back to bed."

Shadow nodded, "Okay Sonic."

Once they climbed out of the attic, they walked back to their room hand in hand.  Once they arrived into their room, they walked over to their beds.

Shadow sat on his bed and smirked inwardly, "Hey Sonic."

Sonic smiled, "Yeah Shads?"

Shadow pat his bed, "How about you sleep here tonight?"

Sonic smiled, then frowned slightly, "Shads, I'd love to...but, what if someone sees us?"

Shadow waved his hand, "Screw 'em.  If they're not willing to understand that we're in love, then they can just stuff it.  C'mon Sonic, I want to hold you close…just like you said earlier today."

Sonic smiled and walked over to Shadow's bed.  They laid close together, facing one another.  Shadow put his arms around Sonic and held him close.  Shadow began to lovingly nuzzle Sonic.  Sonic began to cry a bit.  Hearing this, Shadow pulled away.

Shadow became worried, "Hey, what's this?  Why are you crying?"

Sonic sniffled, "Shadow…I'm so happy right now.  God, I love you so much."

Shadow smiled, "I love you too Sonic."

They leaned closer to one another and let their lips connect.  They kept at it for a few minutes, slowly beginning to deepen their kissing, using their hands to explore each other's bodies.  Sonic pulled away smiling, and gave Shadow a quick peck on the lips, "I love you Shads.  Goodnight."

Shadow smiled, "I love you too."  They held each other closely and drifted away into a peaceful slumber.  They were happier then ever…because it was just meant to be…..

Fin

Well there ya go folks, it's done!  A big thank you to everyone that reviewed!  You all deserve a hug   *hugs you*   Thanks a lot.  There may be a sequel for this, but it won't happen for a while, final exams are coming up…which equals major stress.  Please review!  Ciao!