Hi guys! So, I know I've been extremely inactive for a long while but I promise I am still here and these stories are going to get finished. I'm so sorry for how long I had you all waitin this time, though. A lot's been going on so I've had to take care of it before I started focusing my attention on my stories again. Thank you for being patient with me, guys. I really appreciate it.

So, on with the chapter. It's a short one but I've been looking forward to it for a while now so I hope you all enjoy.

I never knew how thin the line was between loving someone and being in love with them. In fact, I wasn't entirely sure that there was even a difference. I had loved lots of men before. I loved them enough to sneak out of my dorm in college to spend the night, loved them enough to care what was going on in their lives and to want to support them. It's easy, then, to say that I loved Sonic. I think I loved him from that first time we met in the cafe. When I fell in love with him, well, I can't be certain. I'm pretty sure, though, that it was around here.

The night hadn't been anything extraordinary. He came to visit me, made some coffee for himself (I'm telling you, he has a caffeine problem) and lounged around watching Downton Abbey with me in my sweat pants.

Yeah, I know. It's silly. I should have fallen in love with him for one of the more spectacular things he had done but it was totally reversed. His artistic perspective, his passion for life, his honesty, that was all merely why I loved him.

I fell in love with him for the fact that he couldn't function in the morning without coffee. I fell in love because he would roll toilet paper through the crack of the bathroom door when I ran out. I fell in love with the way he refused to sleep when the door wasn't open a crack, with the way he stocked one bathroom drawer with tampons for me, and yes, with the way he watched Downton Abbey and dropped a little comment in between episodes.

"I don't like them together."

"But they're the main couple!"

"I still don't like them. I think the whole show should just revolve around the sassy grandma."

I smiled, leaning in and pressing a kiss on his cheek.

"What was that for?" He chuckled, eyes dancing with that peaceful kind of joy that was uniquely his.

I shrugged, not really knowing why myself.

My heart thumped like a first kiss when his arm around me pulled us closer. He kissed my lips tenderly, slowly. I soaked in the feeling like an over eager child tasting forbidden fruit. I wanted him here, even if he was interupting the show. I loved him, even if he was confusing sometimes. I was in love with him and I couldn't pin one reason as to why. I just was.

I nuzzled into his chest as he purred. His eyes were to the ceiling and his fingers played gently in my quills. I felt his bare chest rise and fall as he filled his lungs for deep, contented sighs.

Sure, watching Netflix in your comfy clothes was great but still, nothing could beat this.

"Hey, Medusa?"

"Yes, troll?"

I heard him chuckle as he turned his gaze to me. I looked him in the eye. The multi-colored lights of the TV reflected in his eyes, creating a dazzling aura about them. I cuddled up closer to him, feeling his hand travel down from my hair and begin to trail up and down my exposed spine instead.

The rhythm of his heart picked up the slightest bit. I could hear and feel it thud against my ear. He was warm and calming, I felt like I could stay like this forever and not need anything besides it.

"Have I told you today that I love you?"

My eyes fluttered as I felt sleep come over me.

"No," I yawned before turning my face once more into his chest.

His breathing was like a lullaby and his heart beat was the rhythm. I felt like I child being rocked to sleep in his arms. It was perfect.

"Well, I do love you," he whispered, sensing that fatigue had caught up with me. He kissed the top of my head and sighed in my hair. "I just want you to know that."

"Hmm," I moaned into his fur. "That's nice to hear...I love you too...Bunny."

I could feel myself drifting off as gravity brought me back into myself. I was out like a light and with sleep came dreams, just as strange as before.

"Amy, Babe, miss me?"

"It's you!"

Maybe it was the dark empty space that clued me in. Or maybe it was the lusty glint in the eye of the man before me. Either way, I remembered this guy pretty quickly. He was that God awful dream from before. Don't tell me he was back.

"It is me! Hurray! Could this day get any better? I mean, Downton Abbey, falling in love and seeing me again all in one day, that's just great, isn't it?"

"I don't get why you're here," I mused, shaking my head in disbelief. "We got together. We're perfectly happy. What do I need you for?"

"I'm just here to work things out with you," he explained, smirking and taking a step closer. I didn't feel comfortable with this.

"Work what out?"

"Doubts," he answered with a shrug. "You see, you doubt yourself...a lot. With this guy though, well, if it's escaped your notice, he's different. This time I'm not going to let you fuck this up."

I scoffed, offended by his accusation. "How would I fuck it up?"

"You almost over thought your way out of this last time. This time, though, you're not thinking enough."

"Not thinking enough?" I raised an eyebrow at him. He was going from smooth and in control to a mildly frustrated, hopeless instructor. "What exactly should I be thinking of?"

He shook his head. "Can't help you there, Ames. But if you don't figure it out..."

His voice trailed off as he looked off into the distance, past me, past the darkness, into the kind of abyss the human mind can't imagine. I could feel whatever he was seeing swallow me up and I went numb. His ears pinned back, flattening against his head.

"If you don't find out..." His voice wavered now, entirely unsure of how he could go about this. "...Love alone can't keep someone alive."

Wait, what?

"You can't be seri-"

The sound of wood being ground as someone opened my drawers woke me. My eye flew open and my head turned towards the noise. Sonic was kneeling by my bedside table, shuffling through all the drawers within. He glanced over momentarily and offered a brief good morning before going back to his search.

"Is there..." I cleared my throat, surprised by how strained my voice sounded. The clearing turned into coughs and eventually I was having a miniature fit.

Sonic got up and leaned over me, eyes worried, hand coming up to my forehead where his thumb brushed sweat gingerly from my face.

"You've been coughing all night and have a bit of a fever," Sonic fretted over me. "You have to stay home."

"But-"

"No buts. I'll call in for you." Sonic cut me off sternly. His expression softened however when a single cough forced it's way through me. "I was looking for your medicine. Where do you keep it?"

I opened my mouth to speak but thought better of it as I caught a glimpse of the clock. Sonic was late.

"Don't worry about it," I assured him, sitting up and feeling only now how laboured my lungs were. I hate being sick. "You go to work. I'll take care of myself."

"You sure?" He asked.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Positive. Now go on. And don't worry, I'll call in for myself."

Sonic gave me a little smile, leaning in closer and butting his forehead to mine. I could see that he was tired. He had probably been kept up by me half the night. My poor guy. I'd have to make it up to him at some point.

"Bye, Doll," he said, moving away and towards my bedroom door. "Get well. Call if you need anything."

I nodded. "I will. Bye."

I watched the door close except for a little crack and heard him as he want down the stairs and out the door.

I sighed with relief. I suppose the fever explains my weird dream. But still...what if it was true. What if he really was hiding something important, something that could change everything?

Buzz buzz buzz.

My eyes darted over to my bedside table once more. On the top was Sonic's phone, touch screen up and caller identified. It was the hospital. I bit my lip. Should I? It could be important.

The buzzing became more urgent as I thought until finally I couldn't help myself. I lifted the cellphone to my ear and answered. I didn't even need to say anything. The woman on the other end jumped the gun.

"Mr. Hedgehog, we have some bad news. It's about the results from your last blood test..."

I am so mean. I don't know what it is with me and a cliff hangers but I just love them! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I would like very much to hear all your thoughts on it. Thank you. :) Bye!