Author's Note: Endless hours of writing and erasing. Three tablet full of words. Five bouts of writer's block. Irritation, euphoria, crying, touching reviews, and we have finally reached...the end. Thank you so much to all of you who have stuck with our hedgehogs to the very end. Now, for the last time here, R&R and thank you all!

(Normal POV)

"This had better be important. Believe it or not, I have plans for today."

"Well he looked serious, so it must be."

"Hello−oo, this is Shadow we're talking about. He's always serious, or did you forget?"

At the darker hedgehog's request, everyone had gathered in Tails' workshop. Knuckles scowled as Sonic paced the room.

"No, I didn't forget." The echidna said gruffly. "I was just making a statement."

Sonic rolled his eyes, continuing to pace. The cobalt hedgehog was in a bad mood, a sharp contrast to the perfect, 80 degree weather outside.

Cream and her mother sat with Tails on the couch, her chocolate brown eyes watching Sonic with wide worry, Cheese nestled in her arms. Tails also frowned and addressed his 'older brother.'

"Sonic, calm down. I'm pretty sure that whatever Shadow wants to tell us is something we want to know."

"Believe me, it is." Shadow walked in from the backroom, his eyes piercing. Rouge, who had been standing quietly in a corner, looked up and waved. Shadow nodded to her, before looking at Sonic.

"Sit down Sonic."

Sonic glared and folded his arms, obviously not in the mood for their usual rivalry.

"I think I'll stand, if that's all the same to you. Now, what the heck is going on?!"

Shadow's eyes narrowed at his rival's tone, the savage scars making him more intimidating and dangerous. There was a tense silence as the two hedgehogs stared each other down, green into red. Finally, Sonic blinked and said in a quieter voice.

"What did you want to tell us?"

"It's not really anything I can say, but more of what I can show." Shadow walked back to the backroom and stood by the door, his hand outstretched. A shaking hand pressed itself into his palm and he gently pulled its owner into the room

"AMY!"

Amy staggered backward as a brown blur slammed into her. Cream held her in a vice-like grip, hiding her face and tears in the light red jacket she wore. Her words were muddled as she sobbed.

"Amy, where w−were you? I l−ooked an−and looked and called you, b−but we c−couldn't−"

Her own eyes spilling over, Amy hugged her back.

"I know, I know. Oh Cream I'm sorry!"

"Chao! Chao!"

"Oh my gosh, Amy!"

Amy looked up to see Tails leap up from the couch, Vanilla right behind him. The kitsune hugged Cream and Amy both, Vanilla ruffling Amy's bangs and Cheese flying above their heads, chattering in excitement.

Knuckles' eyes widened as he took in the scene, unaware of Rouge sauntering up beside him.

"Well what do you know, Amy's back."

The echidna nodded, looking stunned. "Y−yeah. Huh, I wonder how Shadow pulled that off."

"Well he is the Ultimate Lifeform Knuxie. I wouldn't put anything past him."

They both looked over at the dark hedgehog standing unobtrusively by the wall. But instead of watching the happy reunion, his red eyes were focused on the one person who hadn't moved.

Amy raised her head. Tails looked around, thought quickly, and pulled Cream and her mother aside, warning the younger rabbit with a look. The room became very quiet.

Amy took a deep breath and walked towards him, unable to meet his eye. There was icy silence as she stood before him. Gathering her courage, she looked up, faltering at the cold green eyes that glared back, the hard face carved in blue stone.

"Hi...Sonic..."

He pulled her into him.

The breath whooshed from Amy's lungs as he hugged her tightly, his voice low and thick; barely above a whisper.

"Don't you ever do that to me again Amy. Do you hear me? Ever. I...I thought..."

He stopped, pulling in a shaky breath. Amy returned his embrace, closing her eyes. "I promise. I promise Sonic, I'm so sorry...I'm sorry."

It seemed to be an age until they broke apart. Sonic's eyes were shining as he turned to Shadow.

"How?" he asked hoarsely.

The Ultimate Lifeform blinked, his face impassive.

"It's a long story. I suggest you get comfortable."

Shadow led the way up the stairs. He hadn't seen this place in so long. Though his step was sure and steady, his crimson eyes were unfocused, watching memories from a far.

Behind him, Amy climbed carefully, watching. After a while, she couldn't restrain herself.

"Shadow...how did you know where I lived?"

He didn't answer until they reached the top of the stairs and were walking down the balcony. "Hmm..." Almost unconsciously, his hand slipped around hers, triggering her blush.

"I found a girl doing demolition in the forest during the waning hours of the night, and I followed her throughout the morning trying to understand why."

Amy gaped at him. He stopped and met her gaze with an unfathomable expression. His hand tightened around hers.

"At the beginning..." he motioned forward.

Amy pulled herself out of her daze, blinking at the plain white door. Mute, she unlocked and opened it, Shadow following her inside.

They stood there, silent in the living room, both unwilling to break the quiet atmosphere. The conversation she had had with Sonic before they left replayed in Amy's mind.

"I dunno, at first we thought you went off on Vay-Kay or something. I didn't think much of it. But...when days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into a month..." Sonic shrugged, his voice growing rough.

"That's when we got worried. We searched everywhere until we finally found your apartment."

He stopped again, his voice lowering further. "It was like a shell. Empty. Your stuff was still there, but...It was the same with us to. When you weren't around...something was off." His ears twitched.

"Tails dealt with it better than I could. He has his projects to work with. Me? I just ran around like the idiot I was." Sonic laughed humorlessly. "Cream kept herself sane by cleaning your apartment and helping her mom pay the rent, as if nothing had changed."

"As if nothing had changed." Amy whispered, shattering the silence. She looked around, making a mental note to repay Cream and Vanilla the next chance she could.

Shadow watched her, something pushing at his mind. He ignored it, but a pressure was building, becoming difficult to bear. He released her, letting her hand slide through his fingers. The driving force worsened.

"Well...I'll let you get settled." With a reluctance he hid, Shadow stepped towards the door. There was a flurry of footsteps, panicked against the floor, and a strangled gasp. Shadow turned to have Amy bury her face in his chest, grasping his fur in a grip that was almost painful. Her shoulders were shaking, lungs on the verge of hyperventilating.

Shadow kept his face blank and his body still. Raw emotion was churning within him, growing stronger as wave after wave pushed at him. Every second that passed was an eternity as the hurricane in his mind raged on, demanding action.

Gradually, the tremors eased and her fingers relaxed, releasing the black and white fur they had desperately clung to. She drew back, resting her forehead against the snow of his chest, her breathing still unsteady.

"I...I panicked. I couldn't...couldn't deal with...with the thought of...being alone...I..."

Tears were threatening to flow. In his silence she raised her head and was transfixed by his gaze.

If his eyes had ever burned before, it was nothing like the fire they possessed now. No flame could ever compare with his eyes. Amy's back touched the wall as she backed away from Shadow's advance, feeling no fear, but something different...vastly different.

He didn't think, he couldn't think as his control flew to the four winds and he moved even closer. His lips met hers with the softest touch before pulling away.

The yearning surged with a power that took his breath away. He kissed her again, his hands traveling to her shoulders, her face, then slipping into her quills. He felt her hands stroking his fur, and all that he'd kept at bay burst forth. His lips parted, spilling out his passion, hovering at the final door, a silent plea.

Her reaction surprised him.

She pulled him impossibly closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. His scent, his taste...it was perfect, unbearably perfect. Warmth coursed through her, burning white hot where he touched her. She didn't want him to stop. She wanted more. She poured the sensation into their embrace, lightly licking his tongue.

Shadow stepped backwards, pulling her with him. She didn't resist him, barely aware they were falling. He caught her easily as they collapsed onto the sofa. They broke apart, breathing heavily. Shadow gazed into her stunning green eyes, still sparkling with unshed tears.

"Amy..." he breathed, pulling her on top of him, gracing her lips with a soft, sweet kiss. Amy moaned low in her throat and once more the urge overtook him. He rolled until he hovered over her, his hand traveling to her chest.

The course rasp of her jacket's zipper broke the spell that held Shadow. He pulled away, closing his eyes. "No."

"Shadow?" Amy's voice was somewhat breathless, yet also anxious, insecure. "What's wrong? Did I−"

"No Amy, it's me. I need to keep some level of self-restraint." He looked down at her with smoldering eyes. "I'm not going to go through with something we're not ready for; what you're not ready for. Because...I love you, Amy Rose. I don't want to hurt you or cause you trouble when you've been through more than enough as it is."

A single tear trickled down Amy's cheek. Shadow wiped it away with his thumb and she held his hand to her face, closing her eyes.

"I love you too, Shadow the Hedgehog. With all my heart, mind...and soul."

*~~*The End*~~*