Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog.

She broke up with him again. He begged her again not to leave, but she left him on the ground to grovel. How could that damn squirrel not see how much he loved her? That he would do anything for her. This isn't love. I watched him as cried for his loss and, with ears lowered and the ultimate look depression, walked back home. Only later on did I learn he had drunk himself unconscious in the nearest bar. This isn't love. I watched as he was led into yet another bar the next night by his fan group and only I could see the sadness behind those bright emerald eyes. He would never be over that squirrel until he fell in love with someone who really loved him. This isn't love. I mean, who could love a mindless killing machine like me? This isn't love…

*Ombra d'amore*

The fast beat of the bass thumped and flashing lights brought the ebony hedgehog out of the flash back he was having. Sweaty and fast moving bodies zoom past him as they danced with their partners. Bright ruby eyes traveled around the dance floor of Club Rouge, recognizing everyone present.

The owner of the club, Rouge the bat, was dancing closely with her newly acquired boyfriend, Knuckles. Well, if you could consider it dancing with the way she was gridding ruthlessly against the poor flustered red echidna.

The three children under twenty one were currently raiding the candy and soda bar. Cream was the same besides the slight giggling attacks she was frequently having. Tails had more sense than his other companions and withheld from having too much to cause a sudden sugar high. Shadow's eyes narrow as he notices the last of the three, Charmy, actually jumping into the candy bowl. Who the hell would even let that bee be anywhere near a piece of candy had a death wish. So far the bee's two guardians hadn't noticed the Armageddon currently happening by the candy table. Espio was currently trying to get away from Amy who was trying to get him on stage to sing karaoke and Vector, as usual, was flirting with Cream's mom, Vanilla. The way the green crocodile was swaying back and forth was a telltale sign of being drunk and wouldn't be much help with the hyper active bee.

Blaze, much like himself, was seated at the bar watching the activity in the club. She held a completely filled cocktail in her grasp and narrowed her amber eyes as well at the activity at the candy bar. At this point Charmy had tipped over the punch bowl and was soaked head to toe in the red colored liquid. The lavender cat got up from her seat and strides over to the three kids.

The ebony hedgehog huffs at the motherly cat and takes a sip of his own alcoholic beverage. The whisky travels down the back of his throat and he shrugs at the burning sensation. The ebony hedgehog might not be able to feel the effects of alcohol but he still enjoyed the taste and feel of whisky running down his throat.

He sets the now empty glass on the bar and his ruby eyes lock onto a magenta and green hedgehogs across the room. The magenta hedgehog, Sonia, was happily chatting with her brother Manic. Both were sitting at a small red booth and it seemed like Sonia was talking about something the green hedgehog wasn't interested in since his head suddenly smacked against the table. The magenta hedgehog pauses for a second on her brother's antics and starts back up again; much to her brother's displeasure. Shadow had only met the two once before and they turned out to be Sonic's younger brother and sister. The ebony hedgehog had made a pact with himself to stay as far away from the magenta hedgehog as he could, since it seemed that she got closer and closer to him when she was in his presence.

Speaking of Sonic's siblings, where was the blue blur himself? Sonic was the only one he hadn't located yet… him and that damn ground squirrel. The black and red hedgehog finally found him, or well, both of them. In a darkened corner they both stood in lip lock and Shadow felt his heart clench at the scene. It seems that the squirrel decided to come back to him again, and Sonic, being the idiot he is, went back to her like nothing had happened again. The clenching feeling in his chest got even tighter as the squirrel started to grind on the cobalt hedgehog in tune with the beat of the music. A bright dazzling smile flashed on his face and was given to the brown squirrel. Shadow clenched his glass tightly, but stopped himself just in time not to crush the glass as a large crack formed. Sonic whispers something into his partner's ear and softly pushes her away. The cobalt hedgehog heads over to the bar where Shadow was sitting and the ebony hedgehog looks away as if he wasn't watching the entire scene between the two.

"Hey Shads! Great party huh?" Sonic's voice shouts over the loud music when he sees the lone black and red hedgehog sitting at the bar. The cobalt hedgehog sits at a seat next to the ebony hedgehog and orders a beer and margarita from the bartender. The bartender nods and leaves to get the two alcoholic drinks. Sonic then turns to the other male and asks, "What are you doing here all alone Shadow?"

Butterflies were fluttering in the older hedgehog's chest after Sonic had called him Shads and, despite being flustered, answered the cobalt's question. "None of your business hedgehog," or maybe not.

Sonic rolls his emerald eyes at the answer he had gotten and wrapped an arm around the other's shoulders in a side hug. "Oh come on Shadow I had to listen all week to Sonia's excitement on meeting you again! With how she's acting she has a major crush on you! Just go talk to her so I don't have to listen to her whining on not having the courage to talk to you! Please do this for me Shads."

The damn fluttering had started up again when Sonic had called him Shads but quickly disappeared when he remembered the cobalt hedgehog was trying to hook him up with his sister. A scowl formed on Shadow's tan muzzle and he roughly pushed the other off of him. "What? So I can end up like you and that squirrel?" Something flashed in the other's emerald eyes and Shadow completely ignored it and kept on going. "She breaks up with you for the stupidest things and you get back together a day later! What was it last time? Oh, yeah! She hated that you always run. That you would leave her and just run. She's chaining Sonic the Hedgehog down like a good little puppy and she doesn't care that it's eating you up inside and hurting you!"

"SHUT UP!" Pure fury blazed in Sonic's emeralds eyes and his whole body shook in anger. Gloved hands clenched up and it looked like a fight would happen right then and there. "YOU KNOW NOTHING OF LOVE!" Shadow was purely shocked, but didn't let it show on his emotionless face; he had never seen the hedgehog angry, let alone yell before. "YOU'RE JUST AN EMOTIONLESS KILLING MACHINE WHO CARES ABOUT NOTHING BUT HIMSELF! YOU LET THE ONLY PERSON WHO CARED ABOUT YOU DIE IN COLD BLOOD! SO DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE LIKE YOU KNOW IT!" The anger seemed to disappear and a sudden realization crossed across the cobalt hedgehog's face. "Shadow, I didn't mean it! You're right, but… I love her Shadow… I love her… Please, I'm sorry I didn't mean it! I'm just really frustrated right now with Sally and I took my anger out on you! I'm sorry!"

Shadow narrows his eyes and it felt like his heart was breaking into millions of pieces. However, like usual, he didn't let it show on his face. Completely ignoring the frantic words of the cobalt hedgehog, he gets out of his seat and walks to the door. He catches the one more apology from the cobalt male and a shout for him to come back, but he pushes open the entrance to the club and walks out into the cold November air.

The ebony hedgehog walks back to his apartment and the only indication of the deep sadness he was feeling was his slumped shoulders; the same ones that his crush was hugging before he exploded. Shadow didn't mean to explode and say those cruel things, they just… they just slipped out. The black and red male wasn't at all saddened by the words shouted at him in anger; no, it was the ones said after. The ones that Sonic had said when he was apologizing, I love her Shadow… I love her. Just thinking those three words Shadow felt pure agony.

Back at his apartment he opened his door and stumbled in. Flopping down on his mattress, he didn't even bother taking off his rocket shoes. He let the usual mask on his face fade away and tears formed in his eyes. He refused to let them come and buried his face into his pillow.

What I'm feeling… this isn't love. I'm a ruthless killing machine, I don't feel anything. I was created, not born; meaning I can't fall in love. I was never supposed to be put on this planet in the first place I don't have that special someone. The tears were gone from his eyes and he turned over and stared at his ceiling. The ebony hedgehog's ruby eyes followed the slow moving fan on his ceiling as it spun around on its axis. He closes his eyes and relaxes on his bed.

Shadow was about to drift off to sleep when a sudden banging was heard on his front door. A soft growl escapes his throat and he sits up. Who the hell is it now?

"Are you in there Shadow? Please open the door; I need to talk to you." The muffled voice of the one who was causing all of his trouble was at his door. The ebony hedgehog lies back on his bed and tries to ignore the blue hedgehog at his doorstep. "I know you're in there Shadow! Please open the door!" More banging follows and Shadow considered flinging a chaos spear through his walls. However, he decides against it as it would most likely get him kicked out of his apartment.

He sure is persistent… The cobalt hedgehog had been pounding at his door for over a half hour now and Shadow wondered why his neighbors hadn't come out and complained about the racket. He then remembered that the other family on his floor was gone for the weekend and he groaned as he realized that the pounding and shouting from the blue blur could go on forever. Sonic might be stubborn, but Shadow could be just as stubborn at times when he wanted to.

The black and red hedgehog turns on his stomach and grabs his other pillow. He smashes the soft object on the top of his head and tries to muffle the banging and shouting. Right now having enhanced hearing was something Shadow did not want as he noticed the pillow wasn't helping in anyway. In anger he throws it to the ground below his bed and puts his face back into the remaining pillow.

The noise from the front door suddenly stops and Shadow pushes his head back up to try to figure out why. He then heard another voice at his door and he growls again. "Why did you leave me at the club Sonic?" Came the pissed off voice of none other than Sally Acorn.

"I'm sorry Sal; I just needed to fix something up with Shadow…"

Shadow manages to catch the huff the girl makes at Sonic's response, "Why do you even care about that emo hedgehog?"

"Don't you dare talk about my friends like that Sally!" Was Sonic the Hedgehog really standing up to that squirrel?

The ebony hedgehog hears her huff again and says, "Well, if you really care about me you'll come back to the party right now with me."

The only thing that Shadow heard after that was the soft thumps of someone leaving. The ebony hedgehog sighs into his pillow as the noise was finally gone and figured that Sonic had left with the squirrel. Finally, some peace and quiet. Tears sprang back into his eyes and his heart clenched again as he realized that Sonic had indeed chosen that bitch squirrel over him. Wait… what? I don't care at all about him not choosing me! I don't love that faker! THIS ISN'T LOVE DAMNIT!

Hi everyone! Yes, this is the prequel to The Father's Day Gift! I had so many people ask me to do a story with Sonic and Shadow having their kid and raising them so I decided to finally write it. Sorry about the whole Sonally thing, it'll soon be gone. ^_^

So, continue? Yes or no? This will be a multiple chapter story for once… :)

Please Read and Review! I need your opinion on this!