Okay, I have to apologize for how late this is and how short it is, too. But I'm trying my best, and your reviews encourage me further. You guys are so sweet, and the praise is much needed. As i said earlier, this is my first Shadamy. Thank you all for the support.

Now, ON WITH THE STORY! AWAAAAAAAYYYYY! *Flies off into the sunset*

When you wake up after passing out, the best thing would be to look up and see the worried faces of the ones you love.

But I don't have that luck. Of course not. I'll get you one day, karma!

I got a face full of water for my wakeup call.

Shadow was holding the cup in his gloved hand, golden rings dangling. His face was emotionless as he looked down at me, crimson eyes bored.

Rouge looked horrified. "Shadow!" she hissed. "Don't treat her like that!"

Shadow blinked, and then turned around with his back to me. I felt the anger bubble to the surface and I jumped up, my jade eyes flashing. "Why did you do that?" I yelled.

He shrugged. "It was the fastest way to wake you up. I don't like wasting my time, and a man may not slap a woman. So what would have been your choice?" he said in that creepy calm voice that could give you nightmares.

"... But you ruined my dress," I complained.

"You haven't changed at all, Rose."

That stung.

I had tried so hard to change over the years. I did everything. Let my quills grow out, take yoga to calm myself down... I didn't even look at a picture of the hero I had admired for so long! What went wrong?

My muzzle turned pink and my eyes burned. "Maybe I didn't," I responded evenly. "But at least I'm not an ass like you."

I saw the corners of Shadow's lips twitch up. Rouge looked so confused by his gesture, but stepped back.

"I mean, you still act like you did after Black Doom," I shot at him.

Shadow froze for a moment, shoulders hunching. His glare made every hair on my body stand straight up. The anger that was evident only stood stronger as he spoke. "Don't you ever say that... thing's name to me ever again," he growled.

"Do you mean Black Doom, your fa-"

Rouge stepped between us. "How old are you two?" she barked. "Now, stop tormenting Shadow, Amy. That's reserved for his girlfriend," she said with a little smile.

"Hmm?" I wondered. "Who is she? Where is she? And why does she like Shadow? There isn't much too like," I spat out.

Shadow didn't seem too upset. He smiled and wound his arm around Rouge's waist, smirking at me smugly, as if to say, 'that's right, feel jealous, you little –

"Good luck, Rouge," I said with a composed voice. "You'll need it when you're stuck with him.

Despite what I said, I had to fight with the part of me that was disappointed and angry. Not really sure why I was feeling this, I tried to push it away. The picture of how perfect they looked together bothered me to no end, though.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You guys can't make me join GUN," I said, breaking the awkward silence. "You'll have to drag me there kicking and screaming."

A mischievous light appeared in Shadow's eyes as he stepped forward, arms crossed over as well. We were only inches apart when he leaned down and whispered, "Now that can be arranged."

I paled. "You wouldn't..." I was barely able to ghost out.

"But of course, for retaliation for you talking so rudely to me back there, girl," he grunted with a smirk.

"You talk like an old man, Shadow," I said, smoothing out my long red dress.

"Have you forgotten that I am over sixty years of age, Rose?" he asked. I blushed when he said Rose. Nobody ever called me that. Only Amy or Ames... occasionally the 'Pink Pest.'

Maybe it was the way he said it. With such care and gentleness that it seemed to make it a whole other name.

"I thought it was fifty," I recalled.

"That was eleven years ago, when I was 58," he sneered.

"Fifty eight?" I asked. "Fifty years you were asleep, so that means you were only eight... And now you're nineteen," I said, realization dawning on me. My smirk could rival that of the Grinch. "I'm older than you."

Shadow looked like he was somewhere between horrified, surprised, and embarrassed. He settled on anger. "I have the mind of he who has lived to see the entire world. I am immortal. I have only been awake, true, for only nineteen years. But my heart has not stopped beating for the past sixty nine years. My body has programmed to freeze at the age of twenty seven, and when I last saw you I was nineteen. I am thirty now. So, what would you like to say about me now, Rose?" he said triumphantly.

But he hadn't fazed me.

"… You're a grumpy old fart, you know that Shadow?"

He stood there, mouth doing that fish our of water thing. Rouge's melodic laughter filled the terrace.

"She got you, Shadow!" she giggled. Her long silvery hair shimmered as she nearly jumped up and down from seeing Shadow gaping at me, and me smiling smugly from that fact.

Shadow growled. "On second thought, Rouge, the girl is annoying. Can't we just leave her tied to a tree or something?" he pleaded.

"Why, Shadow, that is rude. We can't do that to our new operative!" she cried, obviously enjoying how this little scene was playing out.

I growled. "Why do I even have to do this?" I yelled. "I don't exactly remember signing up to be GUN's mascot!"

"Nobody asked you to, either," Shadow muttered.

Rouge elbowed him. "You listened to private GUN information," she pointed out. "GUN has all rights over you now."

I paled. I must not have looked very good, because Rouge made me sit down "So… what? I come in and do what? Do I have to leave my home?" I asked.

"For a while, yes."

My heart was in my throat. I refused to believe I was so stupid as to get myself stuck in this kind of situation.

"We should get back inside. We'll do the plan at midnight," Shadow sighed. He looked like his biggest dream was to just sink into a chair and sleep or something like that.

Rouge nodded, linking her arm through mine. "Come on, hon. This will be fun, I promise," she giggled. She dragged Me inside, but my eyes were glued on Shadow, whose crimson eyes were locked on what I knew was Tails' room.

Again, I'm locked in Sonic's clutches.

I feel deflated. I tried to get Shadow to talk with me, but every time he's dismissed me, leaving me with Sonic. I don't like hearing how he saved the world, but Emily sure does. She listens eagerly as he brags, and I try to think of a way to get closer to Shadow.

It didn't turn out as I wanted it to be, though.

When nobody was watching, Shadow sent Rouge off to distract Knuckles. He opened the door to the basement, which I knew was Tails' lab.

I followed him quickly and silently.

When he was well down the steps, I turned on the lights. "Just what do you think you're doing?" I demanded.

Shadow looked at me, rolled his eyes, and went back to his searching.

"Are you going to answer me?"

He shook his head.

I growled and marched up to him, ripping the item out of his hand. "What is this, anyway?" I grumbled.

"A chaos detector," he answered briskly. "But it's defective. It usually just found me."

No hard feelings if I slipped this into my purse.

"Why are you looking down here? And if you don't tell me, I'm bringing Piko-Piko out of retirement," I threatened.

He rolled his eyes and walked away from me.

I sputtered in rage. "Why you!" I growled. I marched right up to him.

"I see you have fallen for the Blue Boy again," he observed. I froze as the words tumbled out of his lips. He smiled deviously and hungrily at my horror. "Oh, you can fool the rest of the house, maybe even Sonic, but I know you all too well," he said. He stepped right in front of me, his chest touching mine. I didn't realize how tall he was.

"Did you ever think that you look and sound like a hedgehog version of Dracula?" I asked.

He bent down, his face so close I could feel his breath brushing my lips. He was taunting me. "Why, thank you for the compliment," he snickered. His face went blank for a moment, returning to that suspicious look. "But let us not be swayed but the matter at hand. I know you love him. There is no denying it."

I felt a blush creep up on my cheeks, but it was not from embarrassment, like Shadow thought it was.

It was anger.

I didn't love Sonic. Staring into burning crimson orbs, I realized just how much I missed Shadow. After the Black Arms incident, I had spent some time with the emo-hog. He was very kind to me.

What went wrong?

"You should listen to an engaged man. It'll help," he added.

I swore my heart stopped. "Engaged?" I whispered.

Shadow smirked. "Rouge and I are getting married in the spring. We're getting time off from GUN. Paid vacation," he said, satisfied.

I felt myself pale visibly. I was crushed, but I didn't understand why.

Shadow looked at me, shocked. "Oh, Chaos, Rose, I'm so sorry… I didn't think it was such a big deal with Sonic. I'm sorry," he apologized gently. "I was just kidding around."

What?

His gloved finger moved up my cheek, catching a tear. I stared at it in awe.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

Just those words, softly spoken through tan lips, making me determined not to stop here, like I did with Sonic. This battle wasn't over. I'm sure if I tell Knuckles about Rouge, he'll be devastated.

I have till spring. I know I can do this.

I need to get Shadow.

Talking about Shadow, he wrapped an arm around me. "After GUN is done with your forms, we'll go out somewhere. Just you and me. Promise," he murmured quietly. I look up at him and see that damn smile and I curse myself for falling for him. Again. (A/N: Awww, this SUCKS! He's soft fore her...)

I nodded, clutching my stomach as a humiliating grumble rumbles quite loudly, making Shadow chuckle. "Come with me."

Of course I followed him, taking his hand silently, walking cautiously behind him.

Shadow tried to open the door and growled. "Damn."

"What's wrong?" I sniffled curiously.

Shadow gave me a rather dry look. "The damn door is locked, and this room is Chaos repellant. I'll get barbequed trying to Chaos Control out of here," he muttered, kicking the door.

I took out my old hammer, admiring how it fit in the palm of my hand so easily. "Stand back," I warned.

And that's how I beat the living daylights out of the door.

Shadow was talking to Sonic –well, I should say getting infuriated with Sonic. Shadow was visibly steaming as Sonic droned on and on about his accomplishments. But Shadow tried to hide his discontent.

It hadn't worked out well.

"Hey, buddy, you have a terrible eye twitch. You should probably get that checked out," Sonic said dumbly.

I rolled my eyes. Eleven years had not touched the Hero of Mobius.

But they had for me.

I was sitting down in a large brown leather couch, talking it up with the irritable echidna.

"Aren't you gonna crack a smile for us?" asked Knuckles. "Hell, Amy, you used to smile so much it used to hurt my cheeks. What happened?"

"I grew up," I said honestly.

He frowned, amethyst eyes boring into me. I hesitantly took a sip of my water. "So, are you still dating that… uh, Julie-Du girl?" I asked.

"Julie-Su," he corrected. "And no, we broke up a few months ago. Chick doesn't like the Master Emerald. Doesn't like how I have to actually look after it."

I nodded. "That would pose a problem," I sighed.

Knuckles scowled. "I haven't found anyone I've liked for a while now."

"What about Rouge?"

That's what I like to call the 'Ice Breaker.'

He blushed. "Well, yeah, she's… Well, you know," he spluttered.

"Actually, I wouldn't know," I said with a smirk. "Please, do explain," I giggled, waving my hand as my curly hair bounced.

"Well, she's… hot?"

My shoulders dropped. "You know as well as I do there's more to her than that… at least to you there is," I said knowingly. When he didn't respond, I groaned, knowing that if I didn't give him this push, we would be getting nowhere. "She's pretty. You've never had so much fun fighting over the Master Emerald with somebody. She offers comfort. She's just as annoying as you are."

"Hey!" he shouted. I let out a true, genuine smile at the fact that I could twist anyone in this house around my finger. Hell, I could make Cream and Tails start World War III!

"I'm right." This was not a question, and his cheeks were nearly as red as his dreadlocks. "Admit it."

"You're just as annoying as you were eleven years ago, but now you act like him," he said, jabbing his thumb backwards to point at Shadow.

I blushed. "I guess he just rubbed off on me."

He frowned.

I felt sweat on my brow and I called Rouge over. Knuckles was practically drooling over her, and I had that nagging instinct to slap my palm into my face. But I kept quiet and waited for my cue.

"She's engaged," I interjected.

Knuckles nearly choked to death on his sandwich. "What?" he gasped. "Engaged? As in getting married?" He sounded shocked.

Rouge blushed, but looked more angry than upset. "Yes. What, did you think I wouldn't be able to find a man, is that it?" she said, poking his chest. "Because I had a whole damn line! Well, yeah, I'm getting married! I'm getting married to Shadow!" she declared.

"What a catch," Knuckles grumbled.

It was quiet and completely still for a moment. Then:

Rouge grabbed Knuckles by the ear, and shrieked into it: "GO DIE!" before storming off, Knuckles running after her after the shock had worn off. I smiled silently and stared after them. That's when Shadow decided to go with the plan, I guess.

In a flash, his strong, dark arms were around me, like chains. His crimson eyes bored holes through the crowd coming over to see what was wrong.

"I'd like to stay, but GUN has important business," he said, his hands clamping down on my wrists.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sonic demanded; his eyes on me.

"When we leave, we don't leave empty handed," Rouge said, walking in.

"Where's Knuckles?" I blurted out.

She scowled. "Tied up and dangling from the flagpole outside," she sneered. "And he thought that I could only glide. Ha!"

Shadow remained quiet through the ordeal, until he finally broke through the incessant chatter to remind the dolts- I mean Sonic and his friends – why they were bothering to show up in the first place. "We have come to take all chaos detecting devices and anything GUN deems vital to have," he said blandly, crimson orbs looking away from the group with a bored expression on his tan muzzle.

"So… why are you holding Amy?" Sonic asked, nervous emerald eyes locking with my jade.

"What's the fun of stealing without the damsel in distress?" Shadow asked with a cruel, small smile. I shivered as I looked at him. I remembered how his real smile used to look when he spent a few weeks hiding out at my old place. That was after the Black Doom incident.

But I knew what Shadow was doing. Twisting the truth – yes, he was stealing, and I was going with him even if I didn't want to. Unless I wanted GUN officers dragging me off by my ankles to their headquarters, I had to just go with it.

Shadow kept on talking. "If you want her, you'll have to find us," he said, stepping back again. I stumbled backwards with him, blushing as I tripped.

Sonic growled at Shadow's 'rough handling' and stepped forward to grab me back.

Now I understood. He was trying to lure the others out of the house while Rouge stole the needed items and roped up anyone who got in her way.

Shadow was prepared, though, for Sonic's advance. His lips barely moved from that wicked smile, but I was just able to make out the words:

"Chaos Control."

…

Roxie (author): I am SO sorry! I had to go to the hospital a few times this month, and the nurses aren't so keen on when they find their patient using her laptop when she's SUPPOSED to be sleeping…

Sonic: Why do I sound like a perv in this story?

Shadow" Let's just say you're showing your 'True Colors,' Sonic…

Amy: *giggles*

Sonic: Wha…? I'm blue and peach. What other colors are there, other than my stunning emerald eyes?

Amy: We wouldn't be able to tell, Sonic. Your swelled ego is blocking everything else~!

Roxie: Tell him, girl! *claps vigorously*

Shadow: …

Sonic: …? What?

Roxie: Again, I apologize for this suckish chapter. I'm also working on two other stories, and I'm about to attempt two more. *dies from exhaustion* Please bear with me. I know these excuses suck like this short chapter, but it's the best I've got.

Until next time! PEACE! ;)

PS- PLEASE DON'T SUE ME, RQRGJM9311! I'LL BE A GOOD GIRL, I PROMISE!