I Do, I Do

Chapter 1

The silken scarf wraps around my head, bunching up my tangle of pale pink hair in the back. I stumble blindly, farther and farther into the dusking night. Just then, a warm, strong arm wraps around my waist and begins to guide me. My boyfriend of six years, Sonic the Hedgehog, envelopes me in a loose embrace, making me smile. I feel him grin into the nape of my neck, sending shivers through my core.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, blinking into the whiteness of the make shift blindfold. I feel my lashes catch on the scarf.

"That's a secret." Sonic says matter-of-factly. I giggle. The scent of freshly cut grass tingles in my nose and the feel of dewdrops on my bare feet fill me with joy. I lean into Sonic's sweet touch and he inhales sharply. "Okay, secret time is done."

I laugh as Sonic's hands move to the back of my head and he buries his fingers into my messy bun, tugging gently on my hair with one hand and undoing the knot in the scarf with the other.

My gasp is excited. As he lets my hair loose from his skilled hands, I bite my lip and let the goose bumps on my scalp settle. But what really excites me is the glowing beauty that is Giggle Hill.

"You remembered." The two words are all I can muster as I feel tears spring to my eyes. I hold them back, but my eyes sting in retaliation.

"Of course I did. You never shut up about it." Sonic smirks playfully and I laugh happily. I am filled with emotion. This place—this sweet little hill I named Giggle at the age of four—was my mom's favorite place in the entire world.

It takes me a moment to realize that I've begun to cry.

"Stop crying, Amy." Sonic's green eyes are pleading as he looks into mine.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." I grin sheepishly. Sonic scoops me up in his arms, bridal style, and I begin to laugh and cry at the same time—a hysterical mixture. The sound of my emotional yet happy sobs fills the crisp air. I squeeze my eyes shut to let this lovely moment sink in.

"Amy, open your eyes." Sonic whispers softly as he plants a kiss on my nose. I scrunch my nose up and giggle. I peek at him through my lashes to meet his gaze. His shimmering green eyes are dancing with mischief, a trait I've come to love over the six years we've been together. Sonic flushes as I drink in his sheer magnificence. "What?"

"I love you." I grin.

Sonic looks completely embarrassed as he sets me gently on my feet. I wobble a little to catch my balance and he grips my wrist to help me find equilibrium. "I wrote something for you." He averts his eyes shyly. I look at him expectantly.

He turns me around so my back is facing him and I am met with the sweetest little picnic area. Spread out on the fresh cut grass is a checkered woven mat that could seat two and a little basket sits in the middle, brimming with fancy cheeses and crackers and a bottle of expensive white wine.

"Oh Sonic!" I exclaim, elated. He's being so sweet—it's very out of his character to be so romantic—and frankly I love it.

"Sit." He commands gently, taking my hand and leading me over to the picnic. Once we are seated comfortably on the mat, side by side, hand in hand, he inhales shakily.

"Amy, I love you. I have from the start—the first day we met, when you stole my heart… and crazy as it seems, you're in all my dreams. What I really want is for you stay with me. Forever and always, together we'll be. That's what I want, I know it, and there's tons of ways to show it. But I chose this way… so pick out a dress. All you have to do is say."

"Yes!" I cry out, completely in awe. "Yes, yes, yes!" I shout out repeatedly. I'm crying, smiling a ridiculous, face splitting grin. Sonic hugs me tightly and kisses my lips. I kiss back, tears streaming down my face, but I can't stop smiling. When we part, we're both panting and I see that Sonic is fighting tears.

"Baby, you've just made me the happiest man in the universe." He says. I can't break my gaze from his, but I swear that I feel a warm and reassuring presence brush through my hair. An image of my beautiful deceased mom passes, welcomed, into my mind. She's with me and as far off as she seemingly may be sometimes, I know that tonight, she's here and she's proud. Shivers coarse up and down my spine as I smile and look at Sonic the Hedgehog—the man I love profusely—my fiancé.