Author's Note:

Oh hi! Long time no see! And I am SORRY FOR LEAVING YOU HANGING! I know most of you are wondering when I am going to ever continue with this. Well to give you a brief summary on what's happening with my life, I took an amazing work opportunity that became my career then... shit had hit the fan. Unemployed, I decided to really take advantage to get into a 'self-care ritual' where I am turning to things that make me happy and my heart soar. I miss being able to do this and let my creativity ensue. So that's that. I hope you all have the heart to forgive me and understand that life can get tough and shitty. And if you are in the same position as I am, I am letting you know that things will eventually fall into place.

Now with the story, I am going to mention that I am not going to rush this to finish. While I like how I developed the storyline here, I am not going to be impatient and end this in quick notion. If you have been following for a long time, I want to give you my biggest thanks for being the most patient and understanding hoomans on earth. You certainly have my heart, truthfully!

And on with the story!

Rouge's POV

Today is our final meeting before we embark the mission. It's been years Shadow and I have worked together since we first met – side by side and never leaving each other when the going gets tough. No matter how different we are, our knowledge and skills have always parallel to a tee. We are, I would say, a team who isn't afraid in getting our hands dirty, and we would never leave the job half done. Where ever we are, where we go or what we do, it was always us that prevailed through any challenging circumstances.

But observing him and Amy last night had completely changed my thoughts of him. Since the passing of Sonic the hedgehog, it felt like time had suddenly changed. His friends and the people in the city were completely devastated knowing that he died over an incident that was tragic and unexpected to our knowledge. Since then, Shadow had been acting strange from the incident and unfortunately, he still carries that burden with him. It never concerns me about how he feels about it because he is so difficult to read, but lately his inconsistency of behaviour had caught my attention. When I watched him with Amy, I wondered. Is he taking the golden opportunity to take Amy as his significant other? After the death of Sonic?

8:55am – meeting starts in 35. I'm sure if I just act normal and throw in a few questions here and there… he wouldn't speculate that I am nosing into his business. I finished putting on my lipstick and stretched my wings before I flew out.

9:20am - I arrived at headquarters and made my way to the meeting room. I have a hunch that the General may want to follow up regarding about spying on the two, and my gut still gives me this hefty suspicious feeling - somehow I can't seem to trust this discrete mission, not one bit. I turned on the lights in the meeting room and when I walked in, the door behind me had shut gently.

"Good morning." I flinched and immediately flew at the back of the room and engaged defensively. As I turned around and was about to deliver a kick, I noticed it was the General in front of me.

'What the fuck? How and when?' Was what had raced in my mind. There was no one in this room when I entered, which is really fucking strange to have the General sneak up behind me like that!

I cleared my throat and settled my composure, giving him the tone that I was quite annoyed. "You would've gotten a hell of a kick from me for sneaking up like that."

He chuckled and sat himself down, "That was close." He smirked. Still annoyed, I sat across where he was and gave him my unimpressed look. He cleared his throat and proceeded to make conversation.

"I want to touch base with you before Shadow arrives... about the mission that I have given you." He said. "What's your report?"

Of course, I expected this. Thoughts are running through my head and, my gut is telling me to lie and pretend that nothing happened. I may be an expert in spying; however, spying on Shadow with Amy to investigate a 'relationship' between the two is ridiculous. The General fiddles his fingers and waits anxiously on what I had to say. If I pretend and said that nothing happened, he'd know that I was bullshitting - I just have to alter the story just a tad bit.

"There was no activity made when observing the two, though I did see Amy walk alone in the early evening holding a batch of flowers with her. In the area she was walking in, it was relatively close to where he lives." I said confidently.

"I see." The General had responded. "Nothing happened at his place to confirm?" He clarified and looked as if he was speculating that I wasn't telling the truth. I didn't flinch, and as a spy, I fake it til I make it.

"Nothing happened." I pretended to look disappointed like him. "If something did, you would get the first call. Can I get my end of the bargain?" I smirked and acted with my usual sass.

"Well that's a shame." He sat back. "In the mean time, I am going to ask you to continue with the mission until you see any changes."

I was annoyed - I just want that damn rock. He pulled out the stone from his pocket and gleamed it's beauty in front of me. The light that shines through that beautiful stone captivates my heart so much. One day, it'll be mine.

"This will have the wait..." He said while showing off the stone in front of me. "Until then, I hope your next reporting will be exciting to look forward to."

The door opens and Shadow had finally arrived. It was 5 minutes after our meeting time, and the tardiness is definitely not improving. As he sat down, I noticed that he wasn't in good shape at all. His forehead was covered in sweat and his quills looked like they're all over the place. What has gotten into him? There doesn't seem to be any self-care that existed in his life.

"Sorry, slept passed my alarm." He said, as he makes himself comfortable and wiped sweat out from his forehead.

"Perhaps you can get to bed early and be on time in the future." The General jabbed, looking unimpressed with Shadow' s tardiness. He cleared his throat and got up to turn on the projector screen.

"All right, let's get this meeting started." The projector had shown a map location of where the ship had capsized. "At 7:00am, your dive team will meet here. To reiterate from our previous meeting, you two will stay on land and direct the dive team to investigate the capsized ship. While they do so, you two are going to ensure that there is no interference of the investigation. Should there be any interference in the way, I want you to take action immediately and do a prompt arrest of the intruder. This will help us gather intel if any intruder appears during the mission."

The General looked over the both of us and closed his report. "Any questions?"

I raised my hand. "What's Plan B if the both of us are not able to report back to you?"

"I have arranged one of our dive team members to report back to me if you two are unable to report, he goes by Bercouli. Be sure to familiarize with him before you send him off to dive with the team."

"Gotcha." I said. I looked over to Shadow and saw that his focus was the ground. It's concerning that his attention is not where the General is.

"Shadow? Are you keeping up?" I asked with the intent to know what is bugging his mind.

"Yeah, I'm keeping up." He said while rubbing his eyes.

"Do you have questions for the boss?" I asked once more.

"No, it sounds straight forward." He sat up and fixed his composure.

"Perfect." The General said, as he turned off the projector and handed the report to me. "And Shadow, can you meet me in the office for a chat?"

Shadow knew the General was going to warn him about his tardiness. Knowing Shadow since, he is never late for any mission. He's the type to get shit done, no matter what; therefore looking at him like like this just doesn't make any total sense.

He knew what it was for. "Sure."

"All right you two, meeting is adjourn. Good luck on the mission. Shadow, I will see you in a jiff." The General had left the meeting room.

Shadow got up and sighed. I know something's up, and if he tries to lie, I know I am not going to fall for it.

"Shadow." He turned around. "Um, are you okay?"

He looked at me with confusion. "Why do you ask?"

"Well.. you have been coming late to meetings and you're looking like you're always on a short circuit. Is something... bothering you?" I was curious to know what his response would be.

"Nothing is bother me." He brushed off my concern. "I just need some sleep." Does he really think I'll believe his lies? As he was walking away, I know I couldn't tolerate him lying to me.

"Shadow, I know there's something wrong, and I can sense it." I reached over to grab his right shoulder, but when I did, he grabbed my hand and stopped me. He looked at me with serious intent, and I felt darkness in his eyes that looked as if it was filled with anger and grief. This isn't the first time he had done this whenever I tried to reason with him, but looking at his eyes, I felt fear. His hand was clammy and cold, there was really no warmth to it. It reminds me at that time when he looked just like this when he was oppressive about the incident at the space ark.

"Nothing is wrong with me." Shadow said so coldly. "Worry about the mission, not me." He let go of my hand and walked away. I clenched my fists tightly, feeling upset by his response. Does he not fucking trust me? After all the years we have worked together that helped build our trust for each other, does he think I don't understand feelings?

'Fucking hell!' Was what I had screamed in my thoughts. If this is how he's going to start this fucking day, I am not interested in carrying this day forward with him at work. I walked over to the General's assistant and let her know that I will be taking off early from work.

"Everything okay?" The assistant ask. "Boy troubles again?"

"Worse." I said annoyingly.

As I saw him walk into the General's office, I went into our office and gathered my things. Before I left, I noticed a text message on his phone screen. I looked over to see what the message is, seeing that it's from Amy. I closed the office door and checked the message - somethings up, and I know it. If it's this woman ruining Shadow's well-being right now, I have every right to know.

"Hey, if you're not doing anything tonight, I'd like to go for a walk and have a good talk with you? ... maybe at that community garden you picked up the rosemary flowers you had brought the other day?... I hope you are doing well."

'So those flowers are from him.' I thought, but this doesn't answer any of my questions whether these two are exclusive. I looked up and saw that he got out of the General's office. I quickly chucked his phone on this desk and opened the office door. As I went out, he noticed me leave quickly, and I pretended to not notice him and scurried into the elevator.

"Rouge." My ears perked when I heard my name. I turned around and saw a difference of his composure. "Thanks... for earlier."

I looked at him, surprised to even hear that response coming from him. The elevator doors had shut in front of me, and all I could do was perk a bit of smile after he acknowledged my concerns for him. 'Always' is what I had thought.

I walked out of the building, and thought about that text message from Amy. Shadow would always have a soft spot for a friend he cares for. If she suggest meeting at the community garden where he had gotten flowers for her, I don't doubt he will say no to that. As I flew and made my way home, the overcast weather made a drastic change to rain. Annoyed by the change of weather, I quickly swooped to the ground and noticed a pub nearby. I might as well go in for a glass of wine at this time of day.

"Rouge! Long time no see." I walked in and was surprised to see Vector up at the bartending counter. "Need a drink?"

"Vector? You... bartend now?" I asked.

"Yea! Just recently. It pays the bills." He said while wiping a glass mug from the dishwasher.

"Or hoping he can meet a lovely lady like Vanilla." Charmy commented, as he swooped by and winked.

"Can it will ya!" Vector jabbed back, while Charmy chuckled and flew back to the pool table where Espio and Knuckles were playing.

'That annoying echidna is here too...' I thought when I noticed him back there. I sighed and hopped on a seat at the bartending counter. "What do you have for a glass of red?"

"Hmm.. Cabernet Sauvignon is all what we have at the moment." Vector scratched his head while looking.

"I'll have a glass of the Sauvignon, thanks." I said.

"You got it." Vector went and poured a generous amount. "Enjoy!"

'Christ' as I thought and saw how much he had poured, I think I'll have a bit of trouble flying home.

As I took some sips, the chameleon and the echidna walked up to the bar and from the sounds of it, they were arguing.

"You knocked the 8 ball, so for me, it's a win win." Knuckles pointed.

"You were over the line when you had the white ball at that last round, so I think it's safe to say that this was a tie." Espio crossed his arms and defended.

"It was not over the white line!" Knuckles was infuriated. "Charmy was watching us play, why don't we ask him?" Both looked at Charmy to verdict.

"U-Um, I got a bit distracted while you two were playing... so I'd say it's a tie." He laughed nervously, while both Espio and Knuckles looked pissed and quarrelled more. I took a big sip and stepped in between their petty argument.

"Look you two, I am here to enjoy my glass of wine, and you two are ruining my quiet time. Just buy each other drink and call it quits, will ya!" After all the huff and puff, I sat back at my seat and took another big sip of my wine. The two had stopped quarelling after and looked at each other with fire in their eyes.

"Forget it, I am not buying you a drink. I'm out." Espio walked away from the counter, making his way to exit the pub.

"You agreed to bet, and you're walking away?!" Knuckles retorted. Every time he gets angry, he will continue to retort and make stupid remarks, so that he feels like he wins the battle. As irritating as it is, it's what makes him so annoying even since the first time we met where we bickered over the master emerald.

"Shut up and get a drink, you're a-n-n-o-ying." I said, while taking a couple of sips of my wine.

"Hmph! Don't tell me what to do." He turned to Vector. "A pint of whatever you have on tap."

"Sure sure." Vector kept cool and served him his beer. Knuckles chugged his beer and asked for another. Vector sighed and gave him another.

"There's no reason for you to get so hot-headed, it's just a game of pool." I said, as I finished the last sips of my wine.

"You don't understand how bets work." He said.

"Oh I know how bets work." I turned to him. "Hey Vector, give me 3 pints on tap right now."

"3 pints?" Vector looked confused. "For... yourself to drink?"

"No silly, for this knucklehead here." I pointed. "And another glass of wine for me as well."

I slid the 3 pints to him and made my bet. "I bet you to chug all 3 pints of this beer. If I win this bet and you can't finish your beer, I get your stink of an emerald."

"Stink of an emerald? HA!" Knuckles turned to Vector. "Hey Vec, give this bat 3 glass of whatever the hell she was drinking."

He turned to look at me. "And if you lose this bet, you are not going to touch my Master emerald with your filthy hands and tell me that I am the best treasure hunter."

Vector looked rather confused on what was going on. "Ok, who's paying for all these drinks?

Both of us slapped our dollar bills on the counter. 3 glasses of wine? No big fucking deal. And he talks of my hands being filthy? I like getting my hands dirty. If it's any bet or mission, I never lose a cent of it. Ever.

Vector looked at us as if were crazy, being all competitive with our bets. Slowly, he took both our money and skid to other customers.

"You think I can't do this? This is a piece of cake!" He chugged his previous pint and went forward with the next.

"I'll make you regret that piece of cake. You watch me." I finished my second glass. Three more to go.

Knuckles chugged one successfully and the second. When he made it to the third, he paused halfway and took his time.

As I went on with my last glass of wine, my cheeks felt rosy and my eyes were starting to blur a bit. I took a moment to close my eyes and take a couple of deep breaths - another glass of wine won't outdo me today. I looked over to the echidna and noticed that he still has half a pint to go. His body was starting to sway and his eyes were starting to wander. I held my grip with my last glass of wine, but am noticing my body starting to sway.

'No, I am not going to lose here.' I pulled myself together and focused. 'I can fucking to do this'.

"I am not going to lose..." I turned to look at the echidna. "I will show you that I am the best treasure hunter!"

"Ok you two, I think your taking this too far-" Vector tries to step in.

"I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE!" Both of us yelled out loud. We took our last drink, chugged it with all our might and slammed our glasses on the counter. I held my stomach and felt the immense burn inside me after taking in that last glass of wine. I looked over to the echidna and noticed he had his forehead rested on the counter.

'I feel so sick.' I thought and tried to keep it together.

"I... win." Knuckles muffled.

I scoffed, trying not to stumble. "You're wrong... I won this bet."

Vector sighed. "I think it's time for you two to go home. It's almost 1:00pm, and you two had alot to drink today."

"No!" Knuckles stood up and swayed from side to side and pointed at me. "I won this bet. You... you lost!"

Annoyed, I stood up and defended. "I won! Admit your loss-" My body swayed when I got up, and I lost my footing. I fell towards him and the both of us had fallen to the ground. I lifted my head and everything is just a blur. Knuckles was also struggling to get up, and each time he had moved, he didn't have strength to hoist himself up. Being close on his body, I... felt warmth, which is different from what I had felt with Shadow earlier.

'Why... why does this warmth feel so reassuring.' I thought, as I haven't felt this kind of warmth in a long time. It's almost as if I don't... want to... let go.

I lifted my head and saw the echidna lifting his head to look at me. I looked straight into his eyes, and I felt light. When I saw Shadow's eyes earlier, it felt like darkness had consumed him - it didn't feel comfortable, and I was worried that something that had gotten him. Perhaps... Shadow seeks Amy to be his light? Tears weld in my eyes, I knew that something was wrong with Shadow. I have been so concerned how he's not trusting me as his work partner, and I didn't realize that Shadow needed light, warmth, comfort... he needed someone to tell him that everything is going to be okay.

'I'm such an idiot...' I'm such a fool for not be able to notice it right away, and that I shouldn't interfere if he seeks Amy to be the warmth he needs.

"Get..." Knuckles tried getting up. "Get off of me! Your weight is killing me!" He shouted.

"Weight?" I cracked my knuckles. "How about..." Knuckles notices me getting up, in fear of knowing what was going to happen next.

"... You feel the weight of my fist!" I threw a sucker punch at his face and sent him flying to the pool table that had gotten destroyed via fall.

Vector's jaw dropped. "... I am going to get fired."

I felt my stomach feeling so upset, I threw up after releasing so much energy from that sucker punch. I ran out of the pub and threw up again - this is embarrassing. After the second time throwing up, I felt weak to get up and move. I looked up to see that the sky was almost clearing the grey clouds. The rain had stopped and there was a moment of light peeking through the clouds. When I felt the sunlight, I immediately felt warmth. This feeling... I know that this is what Shadow really needs.

'Shadow... I know now. You don't need to hide it. If she is the light that will help you get out of your darkness, I'll be there to support you through it.'

"Always..." Softly, I closed my eyes, as I fell forward and passed out.

Amy's POV

"If I wasn't there, you wouldn't be here. And if you weren't here, well... it would make me one less of a hedgehog to be here in front of you right now."

I couldn't stop thinking that I evening, when I asked him why he would be there. Though it's not the answer I expected, my feelings for Shadow was starting to grow... and more each day when I think of about it. The more I bottled my feelings, my heart screams and tells me to let it out. Earlier, I sent him a text message and asked if we could have a good talk at the community garden. I checked my phone a few times, and didn't see a message from him. My heart winced every time I saw a blank screen on my phone. I know I am being impatient, and know that he has work during the day; however, I can't go forward not being able to counsel my feelings properly.

I looked over the rosemary flowers in front of me and wonder. 'Am I falling in love with him?'

I shook my head and placed my hand over my heart. I asked myself once more, 'Am I falling in love... with Shadow?'. I said it over and over until I grew tirelessly to say it. My heart winced each time I said it, as it feels my heart is telling me that I... do. More thoughts about it had raced all over my mind, and I feel that I don't have any control until I let everything out.

'No Amy, don't let oyur thoughts consume you.' My therapist would always remind me. I took a couple of deep breaths. Again and again. I took the rosemary flowers and held it close to my heart. My thoughts began to slow down and everything in my mind was starting to feel a lot more calmer. Deep breath. Inhale... exhale. Again and again. After doing so, my heart felt better. I held the rosemary flowers tighter and in my mind, it was clear.

"I'm in love with him." Tears streamed down my cheeks. I... love Shadow. No matter how many times I tried debating it, I came to my senses that my heart yearns for him. When I'm with him, I feel... warmth. I feel safe. I feel like I have worth. Everything goes away when I am with him.

I heard a buzz from my phone. I put the rosemary flowers down and saw on my screen was a text from Shadow.

"I'm on my way there." Shadow had said from his text. My heart raced and thumped like no tomorrow.

'Go and tell him' is what my heart was telling me. If there's anytime to do it, the time is now. I stood up, quickly left my place and ran out of my building.

I ran and ran... I don't want to stop, even with the weather being rainy, I know I'm not going to stop. Of all the things he did, he was there. I want to tell him before it's too late.

'I am in love with you.' No matter how many times my mind says it, my heart agrees and if my heart says so, I know that my feelings are true. I am coming close to the community garden, and saw him sitting with his umbrella. I ran until I made it... right in front of him - it's now or never.

I stopped and panted, catching my breath. Shadow turned around, looking a bit concerned for me. "Amy? Everything okay?"

Still panting, I finally caught my breath. "Shadow, I..." Come on Amy, say it. Shadow still looking at me, waits what I had to say.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. There's no turning around now. "I love you."

End of POV

"Shadow". Shadow was about to get ready to head out, until he turned around and heard the General called his name. The General approached him with a file on hand.

"I want you complete this before this goes to court." Shadow opened the files and saw that the report was Dr. Eggman.

"One of our investigators didn't get the chance to get intel from Dr. Eggman regarding about the incident that had happened with Sonic the hedgehog." The General said.

Shadow looked over the details of the report, and was receiving instant flashbacks on the day of the tragic accident. He felt a cold chill going down his spine each time he thought about it, and the night mares about a dead Sonic screaming of the illusion was still haunting him through his sleep.

"Could you complete this tonight and have this report on my desk before you leave on your mission tomorrow?" The General asked.

"Sure, I'll head down there after this." Shadow closed the file and made his way out.

"Oh and you dropped this." The General handed over his cell phone to him. "Don't go losing things now."

"... Thanks. I've been looking for this." Shadow checked his phone briefly and left.

The General watched Shadow head to elevator. The moment before the elevator doors closed, Shadow looked up to see the General watching him. He noticed the smirk on his face before the doors had closed. Somehow... it made Shadow feel uneasy. He opened the file again and looked over the report detail of Dr. Eggman.

Shadow knew Dr. Eggman wouldn't make such a hasty decision to shoot his rifle like that to the blue hedgehog, and for Sonic, who is unable to dodge that attack, doesn't make any sense to him that the battle between the both concluded just like that. He closed the file and sighed.

'He could have some answers that I am looking for.' The elevator doors prompt open and he saw Knuckles in front of him, drenched, panting for breath and reeked heavily of alcohol. Knuckles grabbed him by the chest and looked at Shadow.

"Where's the bat?" Knuckles asked in a serious tone.

"I don't know." Shadow pushed him aside. "She probably went home. You should too because you smell like a beer keg."

Knuckles grabbed Shadow again, and this time Shadow took his right arm and pinned him down to the ground. "You touch me again, you will never see life."

Knuckles screamed in pain. "Just hear me out! I just wanted to see if Rouge is here!"

"She is not here. I have already mentioned it a second ago." Shadow repeated and let the echidna go.

"I just saw her... passed out outside of the bar." Knuckles said. "I was going to go get her... for what she did to me at the bar and all of a sudden, this person or freak alien attacked me when I went out to see her outside."

"What?" Shadow was concerned. He took a good look at Knuckles and saw that his chest and ribcage was bruised.

"That alien... took Rouge and vanished with her!" Knuckles held his ribcage and collasped on the ground unconsciously.

'Alien? Taking Rouge? What the fuck is happening.' Shadow called security for Knuckles.

"I need you to call ambulance for this guy, he needs medical attention as soon as possible." The security guard nodded and called ambulance.

Shadow also looked through his phone and just noticed Amy's text message that he wasn't able to read earlier, and somehow, a text had responded to her saying that 'he was on his way' to go see her at the community garden. Shadow with utmost confusion began to worry that Amy could be the next target.

'Forget fucking Eggman, I need to get to Amy.' Ambulance came and were able to get Knuckles safely on the stretcher.

"I need you to take care of this." Shadow directed the security guard to handle Knuckles' situation.

Shadow sprinted out of the building and made his way to Amy. He took out his chaos emerald and used chaos control, hoping he would be there on time to get to her safely before she becomes the next target.

And that's chapter eight y'all!

I am hoping to build some more character development and wanted to build a bit of plot for something to look forward to. As always, review when you can and please be respectful about it! Until the next chapter!