8'O O...M...G...

This is the LAST CHAPTER! I didn't even know that until I wrote it! Wah! I wish I would've had some warning! Stupid non-planning ahead-y brain! Grr, now I'm sad :( But I really like that ending and I'm hoping you guys will too. I just started writing it and 982 words later I realized it was the end...and a very short chapter. So I went back and added a first half, just to throw in a little extra Sonamy fluff before it came to a close. But yeah...wow. Another story ending. Never expected that to happen tonight...

Anyway, thanks so much for all the support and feedback I've gotten on this story; it really helps to encourage me to write and do the best I can for my loyal readers. I know this is the last chapter and I should've given you all some warning and all, and that some or most of you won't review because you're not getting your next update in return for it, but I'd still really appreciate hearing from you all one last time after this chapter.

I just want to tell you all thanks for reading my story and I'm so glad that you have stayed with me this far. I love you guys and you're all what makes this story worth writing. I'll miss you all so much, especially if this is my last story/last Sonamy story for either now or ever. I don't know what the future holds for me as far as writing, but I do know that I will never forget a single story that I write and I will never forget to appreciate all the people reading and enjoying those stories. So thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my final chapter. :')

xxx

"First off," Sonic started as we raced through the thinning trees towards the lights of the street ahead. "My house. Not that you can't pull off the whole hair thing, but if we get you to Sonia now it'll be much less of a pain to get out. That's what she said, anyway."

"So did everyone but my dad know I'd be sneaking out tonight?"

"Nah, your dad probably knew too."

I scoffed a little as he stopped back in front of the big house from earlier. The whole in the sidewalk was gone, thank goodness, and everything looked normal. Like nothing had ever happened here.

"I suppose you never really got the grand tour earlier. Want me to show you around first or after your salon appointment?"

"Now's good if you want to."

"Sure thing," Sonic said, setting me down on the top step and taking my hand to lead me inside. He put on an exaggerated accent as he began his pointing out the room. "Thiis is the grand foyer, where we spend most of our time at home. Straight back there is the kitchen, fully stocked and at your complete access as requested."

He continued his tour down the hall off the the right. His parents' room was at one end of the hallway with the bathroom across from it. Off to the left of the living room was a large staircase, which Sonic dragged me up two steps at a time.

"Why so eager?" I had to ask, since I just about tripped over every step he was practically jumping over.

"Because we don't wanna run into my parents. It wouldn't be bad, per se, but it'll slow down the operation. Plus, up here is the fun part of the house anyway."

"Ah, now I see." I nodded, pretending I understood what he was talking about.

"Anyway," he started, pulling me straight down a hall off to the right. "This is where our bedrooms are. Mine is that one, with the overhanging window thing. Sonia's is closest to the bathroom, since she likes to invade first every morning. Manic has the biggest room that you can't see the floor in. He's a hoarder," Sonic added on a side note.

"Am not!" Manic called through a closed door.

"I was whispering; how did you hear that?!"

"Uh, security system. Duh!"

"He's also a spy-in-training...in his mind anyway." I giggled as Manic came out rolling his eyes.

"Whatever, bro. You know, you're just lucky I don't go all geeky on your girlfriend here," Manic teased.

"Don't you have a computer to bug or something?"

"Why yes I do," Manic harrumphed sarcastically before hopping off back down the hall.

"You can just ignore him for the most part. Anyway, lemme show you that grand finale of the house. It doesn't have a name though. Just 'The Chill Crib', as dubbed by Manic." Sonic rolled his eyes at the name and I had to resist the urge to laugh.

He took me back down the hall and through a makeshift door, really just four rows of curtained entry ways, across from the stair case. Inside was pretty much the definition of a teenage hangout spot. There were two platformed mattresses against each other and acting as a large couch up against the back corner. A big round chair sat on the same back wall to the left of the entrance and was filled with bean bags, pillows, and blankets, none of which seemed to match.

There was a window on the wall across from us that had, by the looks of it, been painted, repainted, and graffiti-ed all over with dry erase markers countless times now. There were black curtains on it, pulled back to reveal slightly broken neon orange blinds. On the wall to our right, the front of the room, was a huge entertainment station, stocked to the brim with movies and video games of all genres. It had a flat screen TV, several different game consoles, and a few miscellaneous pictures or papers.

There was a desk to the side of the TV stacked with all manner of...well, junk, from the looks of it. Three laptops sat in a stack off to the side next a jumble of cords and chargers, none of which looked to be independent of the others. Basically, it was a perfect example of organized chaos, because the desk looked anything but neglected, despite its messy nature.

I found myself smiling at the overall...well, coolness of the room. I could only imagine how many hangouts or slumber parties had taken place right here. It was kind of neat to be a part of that, even if it was just reminiscing on the rooms past.

I stepped farther inside with Sonic and felt the carpet beneath my feet. It was soft and plushie, like more of a blanket than a floor. The floor was a dark blue, but looked faded and worn, giving it an even comfier vibe. The walls seemed less faded with their fresh light green, like a cucumber color, that made the whole room just a little more...clean feeling. Especially after they flicked on the lights and the room lit up to be even more visible, since up until that moment the only light had been from a few strings of lights on the far wall.

"Whoa," I smiled. The room was so modest and understated...but that just made it even greater!

"Hah, I know, right?"

"This is so cool! Is this like, the party room or whatever?"

"Pretty much. We all probably spend more time here than our rooms. One time we all camped out in here for a whole week during fall break. We left the room for virtually nothing...but then we were zombies the next week at school."

I laughed at that. "That's hilarious!"

"Amy! Sonic! It's about time you got here!" Sonia said, having appeared in the room from behind us. "Come on; let's get you fixed up and then we can chill, okay?" I nodded and followed her back down the hallway and to the bathroom.

Half an hour later, my hair had been soaked, brushed, soaked again, trimmed, washed, and dried. Finally back to its normal light pink, I pulled it into a high ponytail, a very short one at that, and thanked Sonia for her fashion aid.

"No problem. Oh, and you might wanna change clothes; those are wet and...well, awful. No offense though."

"None taken," I giggled. I hadn't even realized I was still in my ripped and bloody disguise clothes.

"Here, try these on. They're kind of old and worn out, but they should fit you fine," she said, taking me into her room, which was just as neat as I would've guessed, and pulling some sweats and a tank top from the back of a drawer.

"Okay, thanks."

The clothes fit alright, though Sonia was a little taller than me, so the pants came past my ankles a bit, and were really comfy. They had that nice, 'been worn a thousand times' feel to them, which I could really appreciate after such a long day.

After that, we both joined Sonic and Manic in the "Chill Crib", where they were playing video games while they waited for us. They finished their round and switched it over to a movie. Apparently, this was all planned in advance, since there was already popcorn, chips, soda and pizza...even though it was almost 4 am. No one complained, though. We all just enjoyed the action/thriller in comfort, having spread out the blankets and pillows and claimed our spots.

Xxx

I'm not sure when I fell asleep, but I do know that I only slept for about an hour, since it was still dark out when my long-blink-like nap came to an end. I had fallen asleep on Sonic's shoulder as we leaned against the wall, tucked all the way in one corner. Sonia was fast asleep on the round chair, curled up in a way that looked like it couldn't be comfortable, but she was snoozing just the same. Manic snored quietly while stretched between the couch bed and the floor, again, uncomfortable looking, but satisfied just the same.

Sonic was awake. His eyes were closed, but only lightly, and a soft smile spread across his lips. I could only tell he was awake because of the way his hand was moving slowly and gently, stroking and curling my hair around his fingers. I shifted slightly, trying to subtly let him know I was awake without forcing him back into consciousness if he was nearly asleep too.

"Morning already?" he whispered. His was soft and rough with sleep, the combined characteristics making it sound really sexy somehow.

"Guess so," I replied as his eyes opened to meet my gaze. "Too early to get up though."

"Not if we've still got things to do before you're sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest. You up for our last detour, or wanna save it?"

I didn't have to think for too long. "Let's go."

...

"Sonic," I started, trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness. "Where are we?"

I didn't even need to see to know he was smirking; I could hear it in his chuckle. "Guess."

Damn. He could never be straightforward, could he? That would make life too simple. I rolled my eyes. The truth is, though, I'm really thankful he hadn't told me what the place was. If he had, I wouldn't have known the significance of it; the ability of some memories to withstand acknowledgment even through death.

I followed him unknowingly into the seemingly insignificant building. It looked like a big brick school house that had been abandoned for quite some time from the outside, but, as I'd already figured out even by then, looks can be deceiving. I felt a chill wash over me as we stepped inside into an even darker place.

"Okay, I'm gonna turn the light on now," Sonic's voice said, echoing from the other side of the room. I'm not sure when he had left my side. "One...two...three" and with that, the entire room lit up so brightly I had to shield my eyes for a moment. The lights flickered at first but then turned to a steady drone of luminescence.

I blinked my eyes open and adjusted to the lighting of the room...and then adjusted my breathing to catch up with the involuntary missed breaths. Though the outside looked decrepit and unused, the inside was spotless and gorgeous! Not a smudge or speck of dust anywhere on the alabaster walls, nor scuff across the light caramel colored hardwood floors. In the back were two rooms, doors closed tightly, and a staircase up to a small platform, only big enough for one or two people when used correctly.

I could have closed my eyes after the first glance around the room and still told exactly how it looked. I could have know that the two rooms were sound booths and that the platform was equipped with just about the best quality microphone set you could find. I could've told you without looking that there were three rows of chairs facing towards us and how many were in each row, each with its own music stand, and that there were four long benches is two neat rows facing them.

I knew without looking that there were instrument cases of all shape and variety behind the chairs and against the back wall. There was a percussion section set up to the back right corner facing in to blend with the other sounds around it when they were played. And I walked without even seeing or noticing to the back left, where there sat the magnificent grand piano.

Flashes of my dream drifted in and out of my vision as I walked. The people, frozen in place with their instruments, the sounds that I couldn't hear but knew were still there, the glaring lights, the slick floor...and a younger version of my father standing right up at the front.

Before I even realized it, I was sitting at the piano bench, stretching my fingers in preparation for the upcoming melody. Sonic stood where my father had many years ago, the same expression on his face. Excitement, anticipation, inner sanctity, and...love. It was all right there. But then the next flash came to my mind.

No sound...

What if it didn't work? What if there wasn't a sound? How could I...what would I do if it was all so beautiful...but empty? A lost cause.

"Sometimes," Sonic's words shocked me out of my trance, "it's okay to do something that seems pointless. Being in the Freedom Fighters so long...I've learned that you don't always win. Sometimes you don't even stand a chance! But...if you just keep fighting, even though it's hopeless and all in vain, you might find something better. If you let go of the nothing..."

"The outcome will be worth it..." I finished, again feeling my blood run cold up from my toes to my head.

He gave a knowing smile and nodded. "Exactly."

And that was it. I took a slow, deep breath, readied my fingers above the keys, and played. And the sound was gorgeous.

Just a few notes at first; nothing special. Soon enough, though, those notes joined in with others, becoming a melody. My left hand slid away and started playing a harmonic accompaniment with it and soon enough...the nothing did disappear. And it become the beautiful lullaby I'd always wanted to have heard before. The one that I never had heard, much less played, but had know for longer than a life time.

Forever Yours

I don't know if I had said the words or was just hearing them, but they reverberated off the walls just like the room was built for them to. The words that had been locked away in my heart for some time now, where the only key to get them out was this song. My mother's song.

Tears fell unto the keys as I played, but I don't even remember crying them. Like the song and the words and the dream, they had come on their own. And now, like the understanding. The knowledge came and the pain all left. The confusion and frustration and fear had all gone and I was left feeling refreshed and renewed; nowhere left to look but forward. And it was a relief. I felt light and breezy, like I could dance to my own songs all night and never be dragged back down to the ground. Like I could fly away from the now so distant past and be free to live in the now. And go into the future.

That was the end. The only story left after that...I'm still waiting to find out.

...