Part 4: Not the real me

Amy left the party is search of Shadow, hearing from Rouge that he had left. She looked down the streets of Shamar and found the black hedgehog walking away.

"Shadow wait," She called out, running towards him as he stopped and turned. Amy stood before him in the pool of light by one of the lit torches, feeling glad that Shadow was back to normal in the hours of night. The light flickered over his harsh features, his look of indifference making Amy nervous. He didn't say anything, only waited for her to speak.

"I wanted to talk about what happened," She stated, looking down at her boots.

"There is nothing to discuss." He said, knowing what she was referring to and having no desire to bring it up again.

She looked up at him, a spark lighting her eyes. "Of course there is, you should have told me."

"It wouldn't have solved anything. Nothing would have changed."

Amy hesitated, wondering if what he said was true. She was still confused over her own feelings. Unbelieving as to the extent of his. "You don't know that." She said softly. Ever since she had felt the feelings within him, something had changed. She was aware of him in a way that she hadn't been before. The way his ruby eyes would darken when he looked at her, how the harsh lines of his features softened when she was near him.

Shadow looked away from her, "I don't know how I could ever repay you for what you did, but you have my thanks." Shadow couldn't remember anything more difficult than leaving Amy to stand alone in the torch light. Ever since she had saved his life, it had felt as though he now carried a part of her with him, lodged in his chest beside his heart. Shadow had been able to leave behind his past, but he wasn't so sure he could ever so easily discard the photo of the two of them together. A moment that seemed unreal. Shadow knew that he could be spending his whole life waiting to have someone like Amy in it. He hoped that the blunt edge of eternity would make it easier to bear.

A few days later Shadow and Rouge were at the edge of the Shamar desert within an oasis. G.U.N had picked up surveillance of Eggman, and Shadow smirked, thinking of the horrible conditions that the Doctor would have to endure.

"I've never known you to walk away from anything Shadow," Rouge said suddenly.

He turned to give her a deadly glare, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"All I'm saying is that whenever you have wanted something, there isn't a thing in the whole universe that you won't tear down to get to it."

"What are you talking about?" Shadow hadn't expected this of Rouge. She usually knew when to leave well enough alone.

"I know that you love Amy, and don't even think about denying it. You've kept it quiet, but I'm your partner and I noticed. Maybe it was all right to hide how you felt because of Amy's feelings for Sonic, but now things are different. I don't know how she found out, but she knows, and you can't take something like that back."

He looked away from her, shaking his head, "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Maybe, but I know that the longer you wait, the more your going to regret losing the time that you could have spent with her."

Shadow grew frustrated at how accurate the bat was, "It's none of your business."

Rouge shrugged, "Despite how different you are from each other, and how you seem to be the two hedgehogs that would be least compatible, it actually makes sense. You two might actually be the most suitable couple."

"Lets get moving." Shadow said, walking away in an effort to end the conversation.

"All I'm saying is that you've never been afraid of anything Shadow," She gave him a meaningful look, "Don't start now."

"Cream, why do I chase Sonic?" Amy asked

Cream looked at her friend in surprise, pouring tea for each of them and her pet Chao.

"I thought that you wanted to marry Mr. Sonic."

Amy had believed that it was this reason that she was chasing the blue hedgehog, but for a moment, she couldn't remember her reason. She had been chasing after Sonic ever since she could remember, but she had forgotten her reason behind her persistence. Certainly she admired him, and he had a certain charm about him that he carried with an air of mystery. But this seemed like nothing compared to Shadow. He was intense, and Amy had to admit to herself that he was a little intimidating. She had never given much thought to what would have happened if Sonic had shown up at her door with no intent in running away from her. She wasn't certain if she would have still held the same admiration for him or if it would have grown into something more. Amy refused to believe that her feelings for him hadn't been genuine, but when compared to Shadow, she couldn't help but see the childish immaturity behind her antics. The feelings she had felt in Shadow for her made her emotions for Sonic seem dim in comparison. Amy knew that if it was anyone else, she probably would have shrugged off the declaration. But this was Shadow, and she didn't know why it felt so different. For some reason Shadow's actions spoke to her more deeply than any words of love that Sonic could ever give her. It wasn't in her to give up; she probably would have gone on chasing Sonic regardless of how he felt about her. For some reason now, Amy wanted more. It was a desire that Shadow had recently invoked in her. Chasing no longer seemed enough. Shadow had said that nothing would change, but something had. She had to convince him that everything had changed. Amy struck the table with her fist, causing the rabbit and Chao to start with surprise.

"If I want to have a relationship with someone then I have every right to!" Amy said.

"What?" Cream asked in confusion.

"If I want to go out with a stubborn geezer, then I will." Amy said with conviction.

"I'm sure that Mr. Sonic isn't that mean."

"I'm not talking about Sonic, I'm talking about Shadow."

"Shadow!" Cream said in surprise, her Chao nearly tipping over its cup.

"That's right, and if he doesn't want to be with me, well then that's his tough luck." Amy knew that in her heart she would always love Sonic, but not the way she could love Shadow. She was certain of it.

There was a knock on the door and Amy offered to get it, the rabbit and Chao looking at her curiously as she left the kitchen. Cream got up and looked out the kitchen window and smiled when she saw who it was. She looked up at her Chao who had flown over to the window.

"I don't think that's the case." Cream said.

"Chao!"

Amy opened the door and gasped in surprise when she saw Shadow standing on her doorstep. He looked up at her, saying nothing. Amy felt her heart expand at the sight of him, feeling the moment grow. They both stood there, looking at one another nervously, Shadow now seeming unsure now that he had shown up. Amy tilted her chin up with a gleam in her eye. She went over to him, surprising them both when she placed her hands on either side of his muzzle and kissed him. Something she had never attempted with Sonic, but an irresistible reaction to Shadow being there. Shadow faltered for a moment, unbelieving when the kiss ended as fast as it had been placed. When she pulled herself away, she brushed her bangs out of her eyes in a nervous gesture.

"I guess I should have waited for you to say something before I went and did that."

He smiled at her and was about to step forward when the Tornado was heard overhead. Sonic came to a stop not too far from them and waved to Shadow.

"Ready for some competition?"

"A waste of time." Shadow answered.

Sonic looked between the two hedgehogs and grinned, "Hey Amy." He said before dashing away, a trail of dust rising behind him.

Shadow shook his head and turned his head to see Amy place her hands on her hips, "Does this mean I'm going to have to chase after you?"

Shadow smirked, "Think you can keep up with me?"

Shadow took off after the blue hedgehog, Amy smiling as Cream and Cheese peeked out the door, "You bet I can!" Amy said as she went after them.

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