Sixteen Signs

The Date

Author's Note: Hey, hey. So the other day, I was skimming the Sonic section and was just so inspired by all the great SonAmy romances that I had to attempt my own! This story is def only going to have two parts if that, so please let me know what you think! Sorry for the insane length, but I totes hope Amy's okay! R&R, pleeeease!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. I don't ever want to.

She replayed the message over and over again. It wasn't anything terribly romantic or significant. It hadn't come on a very special day or in a very special manner. But she knew from the bottom of her heart it was for in Amy Rose's short, sweet fifteen (well, not exactly biologically, but still) year life, she had had only one goal.

It was the timing, that was it. It was the way it lined up with every known source she had--every indicator of fate. The first were her tarot cards, which she used on occasion, that foreshadowed the significance of this twenty-eight second sound-clip and the event proposed on it. The second was the latest issue of Mobian Teen, which, according to their latest article, 'How To Tell If They're the One,' acknowledged that the precise circumstances could just about lead to a proposal down the road. It told her the sixteen signs to look for. This was one of the sweet sixteen.

Sure, it was hard to say that one date, conveniently on her birthday, would lead to a ring--that kind of ring anyway, but she wasn't too picky. But it was everything else about it that made perfect sense, really. She knew she was the one, and that night would prove it. She would prove it. The signs weren't verbal, but they were so easy to spot and obvious--that way she didn't need to hear it out of his mouth to know it--not that she wouldn't like that anyway. She knew he played hard to get. It was a technique! But she also knew--and planned--to tally each one of the signs as they appeared so by the end of the night, she'd start her sixteenth year knowing she indeed was Sonic the Hedgehog's soulmate. Take that, Sally Acorn, Mina Mongoose, and company!

For to Mobius, Sonic the Hedgehog was its most dazzling, dreamy hero. Since he was five, he had fought 'bot after 'bot, 'Badnik after 'Badnik without breaking a sweat. He had won a war. He had fought in space. He and his super fast legs could beat anything, and the girl knew, Amy Rose, so long ago, that looking into those passionate, emerald eyes, she was nothing less than his only true love and soulmate. She knew. And that's all that would ever matter for their love could quite possibly and would be the greatest love to ever hit Mobius.

Sure, there had been roadblocks. Sonic didn't exactly reciprocate her interest (okay, not visually, but that was obviously because he wanted to protect her from his dangerous lifestyle). He, in fact, had dated other girls. There was Princess Sally Acorn, his childhood friend turned more. He had almost gotten married to her until thankfully they had broken up. Sally didn't understand he needed to be free and couldn't be tied down to her royal whatevers...well, at least not then, and when she did, it didn't matter. Amy knew Sonic was sparing the princess the real reason he broke up with her. It was the fact that the only person he could be tied down to was her, Amy. Soulmates just made those kind of sacrifices. Of course, she'd give things up for him too. She'd travel with him and be there for him and love him, and that's really all there was to it. Sally and Sonic were close friends--they always bordered on flirty, but Amy saw passed it. After all, clearly Sally was the one that was making all the advances. She had always been something of a--

Then there was Fiona Fox for a while, which Amy didn't really understand either, but they died because the little vixen cheated on him. Amy distinctly remembered wanting to kill and smash the fox to pieces with her hammer. No one did that to her Sonic! Given the chance, however, she had refrained. Being the lady she was, she knew Sonic wouldn't approve, and after all, his opinion was the only opinion that mattered.

Sonic's dating history was kind of blurry from there on. Nominally, Sonic remained single for the most part. There were names, sure, from Mina Mongoose (she was kind of a way past factor though as she was happily with her manager Ash), Sally Acorn part 2 (rumors, just rumors, really), Bunnie Rabbot (she was married, no way!), to well, all that was left was her.

She studied her reflection in the mirror, the famous red hairband she always wore, the plop of pink bangs, the dazzling emerald eyes that would grace the faces of all their children. She twirled in her red dress, special tonight. The message replayed again on her answering machine, and she couldn't help but smile. Her heart was floating, she had never been so happy.

Sonic's voice, albeit distorted, started, "Hey Ames, I uhh..." The pink hedgehog smiled at the deliberate hesitation. He was nervous. He ought to be. He was talking to his future wife and according to Mobian Teen, that was one of the first signs he was in love. He cleared his throat amidst a cough and continued, "This is Sonic, and I was wonderin' if you wanted to go out with me on uhhh, your birthday. Just you and me and uhh, let me know. Guess you could call it a--"

Date. When she originally heard the message, she had grabbed the phone and gave her hero an immediate call back and a profuse 'yes, yes, yes!' It was the preliminary marriage proposal. It was an evening she'd never forget. So Sonic set the details, the 7 PM departure, the dinner at some fancy restaurant where they had reservations, the walk in the park, but Amy hadn't really listened. Sure, it seemed awful strange--the fact it was planned down to the wire considering Sonic never planned anything, but it didn't matter. He loved her and in only ten minutes they would begin the rest of their lives together.

For it was the third sign that told her this was really it. It was the look in Sonic's eyes. It was the fact the adventures were becoming less frequent, that things were finally settling down. It was almost peaceful, and thus the hedgehog, watching all his friends settle in relationships (some even get married), was starting to see it was time he followed suit.

The door knocked and for a moment, Amy felt her heart stop. She knew it was him. There was a feeling momentarily, a look in her eyes, something in the back of her head that told her this wasn't all she thought it was. All her doubts had vanished, however, as she hit the pause button on her answering machine, grabbed her purse, and opened the door. And then she grinned.

Sonic stood, albeit uncomfortably. He wasn't exactly dressed up, but he did hold a huge bouquet of red roses. It was almost expected on Amy's part, but it still didn't stop her spontaneous reaction of wrapping her arms far too tight around him and smiling far too hard for her own good. "Oh Sonic," she exclaimed, as if in a dream come true, "You shouldn't have!"

"Y-y-yeah," the guy stammered out in a struggle, as if he almost agreed. "I--" He was about to say something, but he suddenly stopped himself. It was almost strange because his new reply sounded almost scripted. "But you're worth it." She embraced him and kissed his cheek a little too hard once again. It didn't matter. Forget the fact his voice sounded a bit distant. He still said the words. He had to have meant it: sign #2!

"Let me put these in a vase!" She chimed, taking the flowers and wandering into her apartment. Her heels stepped on the wooden floor as she stared around the place. Framed photos of Sonic were visible in every corner. She took a look back, saw Sonic gawking at them in some kind of shock (it had to be good shock, right? Good shock for her devotion?) He struggled once again, she didn't know why, but eventually he settled on, "Yeah...take as much time as you like."

That reply wasn't Sonic. Sonic didn't like waiting. She took another look back, watching him stare at something around his wrist. That wasn't a--

"Sonic, I thought you were done working for the day!" It sounded almost domestic, Amy decided. She said the words in such a light, playful way. This was how their marriage would be--a lighthearted remark that the poor hero deserved a break. Settled in the kitchen area of her living room, she grabbed a heart-shaped vase from one of the cabinets, filled it with water, and set the flowers in.

"Well, y'know, a hero's work never stops," the hedgehog raved, trying to find that same enthusiasm that graced his everyday endeavors. "I always wear my communicator--just as a precaution." He looked around desperately for a distraction. Amy watched his eyes settle on a picture of himself. "So you've got the whole collection, huh?" It was kind of awkward. It seemed like Sonic had just realized Amy had more pictures of him in just one room of her apartment than he did in his entire house.

"I just got the latest one!" Amy cheered, rushing back to the door. "Your best yet! You just look sooo heroic in it and sooo handsome." She pointed to it. It was hung directly over her fireplace. Sonic looked almost petrified (of love, surely!)

"Y-y-yeah, right," He hid a frown, "So heroic..." Sonic extended his hand. There was something in his eyes Amy couldn't quite pin. She was about to ask about it until he forced a smile, looking around the hallway. "Well, uhh, ready to juice? We've got reservations, and I don't like to keep a crowd waitin'!"

"Crowd?" Amy inquired, a little confused. She hadn't expected him to want to make their first appearance so public. Not that she minded, she wanted the tabloids to call her Sonic's new girlfriend--all the members of her fan club would be so jealous. She just wished she had had some prior notice. She would've worn the other dress then, she had been between two. "Oh, Sonic, where are we going?"

"Did I say crowd?" he suddenly cut in, realizing his own apparent error, eyes widening. "I mean, uhh, the Crown restaurant waitin'. Best in town!"

"But Sonic, the Crown doesn't serve chili dogs," Amy started, with a small frown. She knew, as President of the Sonic Fan Club, that chili dogs were the only food he cared to eat on a daily basis.

The hedgehog shrugged, frown suddenly more overt. "Oh, uhh, they don't...?" He fingered his communicator as if annoyed momentarily, but then that cocky expression returned. "Well, Ames, you forgot who they're serving! Juice and jam time!"

"What--?" But before she could stammer out the appropriate question, Sonic took her by the hand, and they sped off.

The Crown restaurant was located in the heart of New Mobotropolis. A formal place, set by the romantic charms of its outside veranda and regal decoration, it was said to serve meals "fit for the king and queen." To Amy, the restaurant had always been the home of fairy tales. She always envisioned Sonic and her sitting at a table, gazing into each other's eyes by the candlelight. She had that feeling that she was his princess, his one and only, and clutching his hands, she knew he felt it too. He ran away because he was scared, he told her. He ran away because what he felt was greater than he could imagine or even fathom. She remembered telling several of her friends about this vision, only to be greeted by the fact that the restaurant was one of the most expensive in town.

Nonetheless, she was glad she opted for the red, strapless dress--sweetheart-necked, trimmed with white lace. She would've worn her hair up if she had known this was the place they were going, but she looked passable for the evening of her dreams. The hedgehog, glancing at the building, looked slightly horrified. Amy imagined this was because those feelings, repressed so long, were about to come out.

"You really have reservations here?" Amy started dreamily. The hedgehog only nodded, leading her inside. "Y-yeah," he began. Amy frowned. He had been stuttering 'yeah' a lot tonight. "Way past, huh?"

Before she knew it, the pair was seated outside on the veranda. She was sipping on a pink lemonade, looking around and hoping a camera would catch them. The conversation for the most part had been about Sonic's latest escapade, which he happily talked about. They were both Freedom Fighters. They had that shared history, but Sonic just loved talking about combat and battle. Amy, naturally, had a strategy. She would let him talk about all that stuff and then eventually she'd steer the conversation to them. She noticed through his monologue the stray glances he'd more than occasionally muster. It was as if he was uncomfortable. It was as if he didn't really want to be there. Maybe it didn't feel right but the way he was looking, it wasn't one of the signs. The signs said he'd be looking at her, staring intently. She just got a bad feeling from the way he was acting, but she tried to rationalize it. After all, he could just be nervous to be alone with her. They never had been before. So, she decided, albeit reluctantly, sign #3?

Eventually Sonic excused himself. His communicator beeped, and it became apparent something was going on. He seemed relieved. Amy watched him walk to the corner, said something along the lines of, "Hey, Sal, what's up?", furrow his brow a bit, inquire "Really, T2?", and then a "What now?"

Amy watched him, almost afraid something had happened. The evening she waited sixteen years for (well, almost) was here and already, he was going to be teared away. He walked back solemnly, sat down, and heaved a sigh. She reached over and took his hand. His eyes widened.

"Oh hey, Ames.." He announced, as if he forgot she was there. He pulled his hand away.

"Is everything alright, Sonic?" Her voice was purposely sensitive, soothing. She knew it was her job as his soulmate to be his consoler. But the hedgehog didn't seem to want her comforting. He shrugged.

"Yeah, it's fine. False alarm," He leaned back nonchalantly, crossing his legs underneath the table. He was a bit dressed down for the place. Amy watched the server come over, the coyote raising an eyebrow at the hedgehog. Maybe he came from Antoine D'Coolette's extended family, the Freedom Fighter coyote never seemed to have too much good blood for the hedgehog...

Then again, Antoine was just jealous. Sonic was just that good looking. "May I take your order, Mr. Hedgehog, Miss. Rose?" He snobbishly offered.

Sonic shrugged. "Two chili dogs please!" He announced, raising two fingers for emphasis. The coyote hid a laugh, clutching his pen and notepad.

"We don't serve those here," he mustered. "But if I can interest you in a..." He extended the menu. Sonic just waved a hand.

"Uhh, then I'm good. Ames?" The hedgehog looked over to her.

Amy smiled pleasantly. "The house salad please," she confidently requested, returning her menu. She didn't want to buy anything too expensive for her hero--he was paying the bill, after all, as any gentleman should. The server glanced at Sonic again, who just shrugged.

"I can just pick up a chili dog later," he informed Amy. "Uncle Chuck's stand never closes. But if you could make that salad snappy," he started to the waiter, who didn't seem to think too highly of Mobius's fastest creature. "We're on a tight schedule." He motioned to his watch.

"Certainly, sir," the waiter agreed somewhat sourly before vanishing. Amy knew at this point that the discussion of them was now or never.

"So uhh, Sonic..." She began, fingering a lock of her cerise hair--or more or less quills. Sonic, from his end of the table, raised an eyebrow. "I was just thinking, well, you said this was a date and..."

"Wait, I what--!?" He was in shock momentarily. He immediately cooled down, eyes widened, "I did...didn't I?" He thought aloud incredulously. "Well, uhh, yeah, I guess I did mention it, under a loose definition."

That was all she needed to hear. Taking his hands, she smiled. "Well, are you having a good time?"

"Yeah, a way past one," it came out fast. The pink hedgehog just blinked. It almost sounded like--but that wasn't possible. He was the True Blue, after all.

"I was just thinking, now that I'm technically sixteen, well, maaaybe, we could start thinking about--" She motioned to her left hand's ring finger. He chuckled, somewhat slyly, looking around again. His glance was always straying. It was as if he was trying to find the nearest exit.

"Well, look at that!" Sonic announced quickly, pointing to his wrist communicator. "I oughta check in. Make sure things are okay at the base. Be back in less than a sonic sec, Ames!" And with that he rushed off.

The candle flickered as Amy sat alone. She didn't know how long a sonic second was, but she was convinced it had been an infinite number of them. Her salad had arrived and she ate it alone. There were no toasts to their nascent love. He didn't smile at her the way Mobian Teen said he would. He didn't do anything Mobian Teen said he would. But the night was young, she decided. He was just doing what heroes did. He was sticking to business.

Sonic finally arrived back, taking a seat beside her. He smiled, but not in that romantic way. If anything, he looked refreshed...relieved. Of course he was, Amy decided. He was relieved to be back in her company.

"Well, man, talk about some drama back at base," Sonic seemed to be glad to have a new story to tell. "Seems like old Red popped in for a surprise visit and--"

But Amy wasn't listening. She was too busy trying to figuring out when one of those signs would come. She finished her salad and leaned back. This was the evening she had always wanted. This was supposed to be the moment, in her vision, where Sonic stared in her eyes, and it became apparent she was the one. She wasn't supposed to feel the way she did now. She was supposed to feel light and airy, happy and--

"Hey Ames, you okay?" His voice snapped her out of her reverie. It seemed to be the first time it sounded like he cared. She nodded, pushing her plate aside and taking a sip of her lemonade.

"I'm fine," she fibbed, forcing a genuine smile. She tried to imagine the way he was in her fantasies because Sonic certainly wasn't this. It was the idea of him she loved so much. It was the proclamation of his love she was waiting for.

"If you say so. I just paid the tab." He motioned to the black folder on the table that had housed the check. "Man, talk about a fancy place. Seems like Sal's kind of restaurant, huh?"

Sally? Amy frowned. What did she have to do with this? "No," she recalled, for she remembered when she had told Bunnie and Sally about her vision (she forgot what possessed her to), Sally hadn't seemed too enthused by the location. "I mean, you think it would be, but I think it's far too romantic for her. I think this restaurant is beautiful though--perfect for me, for us." Amy started, looking around at the columns that held up the veranda, the ivy wrapped around them. Her green eyes caught the candles and in the distance, the starry sky. "It's absolutely gorgeous..." A pause, "Just like you, Sonikku."

He was quiet for a moment, perhaps cringing at the nickname. He shrugged and leaned back, "Don't I know it?" It was his usual self, but it seemed more forced then usual. Sonic wasn't that person anymore almost. "Well, ready for spot #2?" He seemed like it. Maybe it was because that was where he was going to tell her how he felt.

"You bet!" And with that, the pair left.

Sonic had planned to take Amy to the park at exactly 8:00, it seemed. Checking her watch, Amy noted the digits were strangely exact as the duo walked along the path. It was hand-in-hand, which would have usually given Amy more of a rush. She always imagined strolling along the dirt path, illuminated by the stars above and the streetlights along it. She imagined admiring the trees, the flowers, the benches, everything that made this location romantic. Everything seemed dark now though and almost surreal. But it was private, and Amy looked over at Sonic, who had his eyes on the scenery up ahead. The old pavilion, the center of many parties and right by the park's lake, seemed to be where his attention was directed. He started towards it, but Amy stopped him momentarily.

"Why did you stop running, Sonic?" She finally asked. It was how the profession of his feelings would start. She had planned it in every fantasy. The hedgehog's eyes turned to her, two glowing orbs in the dark.

"Say what?" It was apparent the seriousness in her tone had taken him off guard.

She decided to clarify herself. "Why now, Sonic? Well, I am sixteen so that makes sense, but why tonight?" The words had a quixotic air to them. She looked around, smiled, nearly felt like twirling under the stars. "Why now?"

"Uhh..." He pushed on further, gripping her hand. She frowned, unsure why he kept moving towards the pavilion. And then she moved with him. It had to be part of his plan.

So when the two arrived, she stopped and expected an answer. Sonic looked at her carefully, fighting a frown. "Well?" She inquired, hands on her hips. This was the moment. This was the moment where he'd show all the signs, where he'd take her hand and--

And then his communicator beeped. "Oh man, I'll be right back, Amy..." the words seemed exaggerated, "I have to take this." He sped off, almost faster than usual, until she couldn't quite pick up where he had gone. She stepped towards the veranda, smiling. But maybe this was it. Maybe he had to grab his ring, maybe he was proposing right there. It made sense with all the signs. He had been nervous all night, and she was certain he knew she'd say yes. They didn't have to have the usual courtship.

Another step forward.

They didn't have to have the usual courtship because they were greater than the usual courtship. Yes, surely, the fancy restaurant explained it. Sonic couldn't eat because he was far too anxious. And the stray glances--yes, it was all just nerves. Because in that moment,

She stepped on the pavement of the pavilion at that point.

Because in that moment, Sonic the Hedgehog, her one true love, would do the one thing she had waited all her life for.

Lights seemed to arrive from no where.

She could see him, almost. She could see him. He would be on his knees, clutching a ring and would say

"SURPRISE, AMY!"

Her eyes suddenly shot open as she glanced around the lit pavilion. There were lights around the trees. There were pink balloons. There were gifts and most of all, clustered all over the place were people. It was everyone who had meant something to her. Why, there was Cream and her mother, Big the Cat, Bunnie Rabbot and Antoine, Rotor, Rouge, the Chaotix, Knuckles and Julie-Su, Tails and Sally, all the original Freedom Fighters, King Elias, and in the back, back corner, perhaps the farthest, Sonic.

"Happy Birthday, Amy!" The voice seemed to come right below her. Miles Prower, smiling his hardest, waved. Princess Sally Acorn was beside him, and Sonic seemed to suddenly be behind her.

"Sonic wanted to make the day special for you, Amy," the girl began with a genuine smile. Sonic nudged her, and she gave him a look. He smiled and shook his head.

"Yeah, it was all me, Ames!" he raved. It almost seemed like acting, "Me plannin' your sweet sixteen." His eyes watched Sally's almost challengingly. She shook her head.

"Well, technically," she countered, "I know we were a few years off biologically but--"

"But this was worth celebrating and uhh, Sonic wanted to make it really special for you!" Tails finished, winking at his 'aunt.' They glanced at Sonic.

"We of course helped him," the princess explained, "Honestly, Sonic wouldn't know a cupcake from a chili--"

Amy saw it at that moment. In Sonic's hand, the chili dog that had been missing from dinner. Suddenly, it was true. He must've planned it--only he would have chili dogs there. She grinned. She knew it.

"Yeah, Ames. That's why I kinda skipped out on dinner. But uhh, hey! There's music 'n dancing 'n whatever you girls do! Have a good time! We tried to invite everyone who knew 'ya!" Sonic looked at Sally, still smiling that same cocky grin. She rolled her eyes at him, and then look back to Amy.

"He," she emphasized for some reason Amy couldn't pick up. It had kind of a reminding tone to it. "Really wanted to make this one of the best days of your life."

"Riiight..." It had a sarcastic hint to it for a moment. Sonic continued to grin. "I mean, of course, Ames! I know how much spendin' time with yours truly means to 'ya! After all, can I blame you?" He indicated his perfection. "But it was nothing without T2 'n Sal!" Amy smiled. He seemed more like his old self.

"Pleaaase..." Sally's reply had a teasing cover to it, but for a moment, Amy swore it was pleading. Her smile almost vanished, but Sally's didn't. She chuckled, continued, "I'm leaving, Sonic. Come on, Tails. We're going to check refreshments. We'll talk later, Amy."

"Hope you have a good time with Sonic," Tails sincerely wished, but Amy couldn't help but note his emphasis on the name Sonic. He and Sally exchanged smiles (almost goofy) once again before walking off and leaving the hedgehog behind. They took one look back.

Sonic watched them, quiet for a moment. Amy smiled and took his hand. Her heart rushed, it was that moment all over again. This had to be all the signs--the consideration, the secrets! "This was sooo sweet of you, Sonic. Sooo romantic. I had no clue with the communicator and--"

"Yeah," he remarked, but his eyes weren't on her. They were on the pair that had just left. "But maybe I oughta help them, seeing I'm the 'host' of this shindig, huh? Catch up with 'ya later, 'k, uhh, birthday girl? I'll uhh, save you a dance."

The girl smiled and nodded. So this wasn't what she had expected, so there was still something deep down inside that was telling her to doubt. But she would never doubt because it all seemed so clear. Sonic loved her. He had done all of this for her, even enlisting the help of his ex, Sally and his best friend, Tails. She watched Sonic, tilted her head, once again caught in her dreams. She knew, and he would too. It was like at dinner. It was like when they were walking in the park. They still had time. She may be a year older, but the night was still young.