Amy sighed angrily as she sulked in hr room, resting her chin on her arms on the cushion she was hugging as she sat on her queen sized bed.
She was upset, and justly so.
After all, she’d just found out that she was to be married to somebody that she hadn’t even chose for herself.
AND her father hadn’t even warned her about it.
This type of thing should be illegal.
She huffed at her long bangs and frowned towards the window where she knew her mother and Shadow’s parents were.
About an hour ago after her mother began to feel sorry for her dad, she’d managed to tear her off her father and got the helping hands to bring him to bed.
After that she’d stomped off to sulk for a while.
She looked down at the pillow on her lap and sighed.
She knew she was being a bit childish, but….
She just wasn’t ready to get married.
Much less to someone she wasn’t madly deeply in love with.
She pushed herself off her bed and headed towards the window.
“Bleh!”
“Ah, you seem to have calmed down then.”
Amy spun around at the voice and her heart gave a spasm of surprise as she saw Shadow sanding at the open door of her bedroom.
‘I knew I should have locked the door’ She through to herself angrily.
Quite frankly Shadow was the last person she wanted to see right now; surprising seeing as only weeks ago he was the one person she WANTED to see.
But she was angry.
Fuming.
Steaming.
And she had nobody else to blame, so why not.
“What do YOU want!” She asked harshly and coolly folding her arm‘s over her chest, causing Shadow’s eyebrow to rise as he frowned.
As much as he understood Amy’s anger, he would NOT tolerate her taking it out on him.
He was in the same boat as SHE was, and with the pridefulness that all men have, he wouldn’t stand being pushed around by some emotional teenaged girl.
The feelings that had been buried the time he’d seen her last began to resurface.
No he didn’t hate her, but suddenly he didn’t like her quite as much as he had last time.
Maybe that was the blessing of time.
He snorted and decided to ignore her comment as he stepped in her room and looked around seemingly disinterested.
Her room was…decorative.
Among the stone walls hung long curtains of white and lavender, the carpet was white and her bed had different shades of purples and pinks coloring it.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and rolled his eyes at the glare he was receiving.
“Nice room” He muttered almost sarcastically, and Amy continued to frown.
“Yes, it is, now get out!
Shadow turned back to look her in the eye, and the retort ‘Make me’ almost broke out; but he was a bit too mature to stoop to her angry level.
“Ah, but what if I don’t want to?” he smirked arrogantly at her earning a deeper glare.
He would play with her a little since he was also in a sour mood.
Slowly he was stepping towards her; subtly so she wouldn’t get her guard up.
“Too bad! I want you out!”
Amy’s eyes widened as she realized he was only a foot away from her, and his tall figure put him at such a higher level. She’d been too busy being angry to realize, and now she was thoroughly annoyed that she was trapped between him and the wall behind her.
Silently and victoriously Shadow put his arm up to lean against the wall behind Amy as he saw the alarm in her eyes.
“Oh do you?”
His deep, husky voice sent shivers down her spine as she looked up into those red eyes and Amy could feel her pulse quicken.
Shadow’s sneer deepened as he saw something there behind her green shining eyes. he couldn’t exactly identify it , but at the same time he was familiar with it.
What was it?
His sneer deepened as she didn’t answer and he turned on his heel to plop back on her bed, his arms behind his head.
“Yes; your room is quite nice. I might just stay here.”
Amy’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
First he and his family came here forcing her into a marriage she didn’t want, and now her ‘fiancé’ was just roaming into her room acting like he owned the joint!
“Get off my bed!”
Shadow’s sneer still on his face he gave a long stretch, sprawling over it, infuriating Amy.
“I said get off you jerk!”
“Hmmm, nice and comfy~”
Amy was getting riled up; she was unhappy and irritated, and her future husband was only making things worse.
Shadow almost laughed; Amy was cute when she was angry.
“I SAID GET UP RIGHT NOW!”
Amy was beginning to lose it; she stretched out her claws threateningly and got ready to attack.
Shadow saw the movement, and with a dangerous mischievousness his eyes narrowed and he grinned evilly.
Just LET her attack him.
“Nope~”
“I SAID GET OFF!!”
Amy lunged at the black hedgehog angrily, unknowingly mimicking her actions form years ago, but this time Shadow was prepared.
His eyes narrowed and in a spilt second he’d sat up, in slow motion Amy was moving forward her arms outstretched, and her eyes widened as he grabbed her wrists and she fell over him, but not in the type of movement she wanted.
Shadow‘s heart stopped beating as he felt her against him; her supple hips and bosom pressing against him softly but maddeningly.
If he’d had time he might have groaned as this small simple contact caused something within himself to break down, sending a tremor to a certain area that is not normally mentioned in present company.
He looked up at her eyes and her shocked face and after long moment his brain began moving as he realized that maybe they had gone too far.
His eyes narrowed evilly and he turned, flipping her over and off of him onto her bed, and she landed on her back, her arms pinned on each side of her head as Shadow kneeled over her smirking.
His breathing was still labored and he was still feeling mischievous.
He lowered his head down to her face, scaring Amy with the affection-innuendo, and still smirking in triumph he whispered to her softly.
“Make me”
He sneered and released his grasps on her wrists as he pushed himself up.
He had half a mind to take her right her right now, as he looked down at her figure sprawled over her bed, her hair surrounding her face and her chest moving rapidly with her breathing.
But he restrained himself.
If there was one thing he prided himself over; it was self control after all.
He gave a small chuckle and walked towards the door, smirking evilly back at her as he paused at her doorframe and walked away.
Amy sat up blankly, leaning back on the palms of her hands and her face flushed violently as what just happened replayed in her mind.
….. Shadow was going to pay for that…..
~~~~~~
Shadow wore a bored expression as he stared out over the pond in the Rose’s backyard garden, sitting on the grass in the shade, enjoying the smell of the flowers that grew on it’s banks and moved elegantly in the wind.
He heaved a deep breath and somehow thought he might miss this garden;
It had already been a week since He’d arrived and during that week he’d found himself mesmerized by the garden; he blamed his instinctive attraction to nature.
There were flowers of every type;
Lilies, Orchids, Tulips, Cosmos, Columbine, petunias, Daffodils, Lavatera, and Roses of course. Not to mention to Water lilies that floated lazily on the water’s surface around the Cattails.
There was something magical about the Rose’s garden that made the flowers there rich with color; even the green was more beautiful that anywhere else.
It was beautiful, elegant,…. Enchanting.
Just like it’s owner.
Shadow glanced out the corner of his eye where Amy was quietly crouching at the water’s edge admiring the multi-colored Cosmos that bloomed there, and because she was facing away from him, he took this opportunity to stare at her unobserved.
Since the day he’d arrived Amy had calmed down considerably;
But not after a bit of revenge of course.
She still obviously felt something hostile towards him, but she was polite enough to try and hide it.
Sort of.
Feeling eyes on her back Amy glanced over to her fiancé and shot him a glare before turning back to her flowers, her face still stuck into a frown as Shadow smirked at her reaction.
It was amusing to watch her hate him so much.
Sure she had a certain innocent purity side of her that appealed to her; but she also had another side of her; She had a sparky fiery side to her as well.
She was always fighting against him, and somehow he found it entertaining; trying to beat her; trying to get the upper hand.
In her childishness, she was also rebellious; challenging.
And oh how he loved a good challenge.
Shadow smirked over at her and his eyelids lowered as he stood up and decided to bother her for a while.
He walked over and as he towered over the girl his smirked widened as he saw her back stiffen as she felt his shadow over her.
Amy looked up at him and glared and he sat down beside her in her full view.
“Hello, Buddy” He said mischievously and Amy’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m not your buddy. Now go away”
“Aww, I’m not your buddy anymore?”
“Nope”
Shadow leaned forward on his hands and knees as if interested in what she was holding in her hands, making a point to invade her personal space.
“What you doing?”
Amy glared at him and hugged her flowers closer to her.
“Nothing.”
“Yes you are; what is it”
“I’m not doing anything. And why are you bothering me? Shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave?”
Tomorrow, to Amy’s relief, Shadow and his family would be leaving for home; the wedding would be taking place in a couple of months giving their parents enough time to make the necessary arrangements.
If there was anything good coming out of this engagement that the couple could both agree on; it was that their mothers were definitely pleased and excited.
It must be thrilling being able to plan your child’s wedding with your best friend.
“Nope; I’m already packed.”
“Hmph!”
Shadow’s eyelids lowered fractionally as the wind changed direction and a whiff of Amy’s scent touched his nose, and he froze momentarily as he breathed it in;
It was unbearably, and unquestionably intoxicating…
Amy’s eyes widened as she saw the expression on Shadow’s face change, and again, as it had so many times with Shadow, time began to slow down.
It was nerve wreaking how with Shadow, everything could change suddenly in a split second.
And just as nerve wreaking were those stupid fluttery feelings too.
Their eyes met and it looked like Shadow was on the verge of speech when a voice behind them interrupted.
“Hi Amy!”
Shadow felt a wave of hatred and anger at the voice; it was that stupid friggin gardener.
In a flash Amy was by the green hedgehog’s side and slowly and fuming shadow uncurled himself to lay on his stomach on the grass, leaning his head on his palm, tapping his finger on the ground and glaring off ahead.
“Hi Max, how are you?”
Shadow gritted his teeth seething as he heard the cheerfulness in her voice at seeing her stupid gardener friend.
As unfair as it was; seeing as all he did was annoy her, he hated seeing her so close to other guys….
Especially when his own relationship with the girl was so insecure…
Slowly he stood up, keeping his face a neutral as possible despite the growing volcanoes of anger and hatred towards the green hedgehog who was talking so friendly to his fiancé.
He took a deep breath and ignored the two hedgehogs as he attempted to calm down.
He was being irrational.
He was trying to convince himself to be nice; he was just the gardener correct?
In his head he laughed nervously, and just as he began to calm down his eyes widened and something very bad clicked dangerously in his head.
He was touching her….
His hand was laying on her forearm nonchalantly
That green bastard actually had the audacity to touch his future wife in front of him….
One of his eyelids began to twitch hazardously, and he could feel raw, intense hatred coursing through his body, heating him from the inside.
‘Self control Shadow’ a tiny voice in his head told him, and he barely restrained from attacking his new enemy.
If looks could kill then max would be a sizzling heap of bloody flesh splattered on the ground in Shadow’s opinion.
Amy and Max were completely oblivious to the fuming hedgehog next to them; a position that was very dangerous for Max.
Shadow’s eye narrowed into slits as he saw the way the green hedgehog was looking at her. And his hand had not moved one inch!
He had to get her away from him, and quickly.
And as he glanced around the scene he was hit by a stroke of genius.
“Oh Amy, is that your parents I hear calling? Oh yes it is; lets go”
Max and Amy only had time to glance at Shadow before he’d grabbed her arm rather forcefully and sped off with Amy trying to keep pace.
Shadow’s anger was driving him on to a greater speed than he would usually settle for in such an environment; there were many twists and turns and obstacles as he ran, but he kept going, rage driving him to recklessness.
Everything around them was a blur of color to Amy as them sped deep into her garden, and Amy couldn’t tell exactly where they were; she rarely had time to delve so far into the maze of hedges and trees and bushes. Her eyes had to stay close or else they would begin to water, and Amy was momentarily afraid of crashing into something.
“Shadow! Slow down!” she shouted over the roar of wind.
Shadow’s ears picked up her voice muffled by the wind. He’d almost forgotten he’d had a passenger as his thoughts had gone on a rampage.
He pointed his eyes forward and focused on what was in front of him as he dug his skates into the ground and skidded to a halt; careful not to crash into anything and endanger either him of the girl behind him; not that that meant his anger had subsided in the least; it was almost the opposite.
For a moment they stood there; Amy panting to regain her breath and slow her heart speed down, and Shadow staring pointedly ahead glaring in the distance, unaware that he still was gripping her wrist; bad thoughts were running through his mind at speeds comparable to how fast he’d been running just now.
“Man! What the heck is wrong with you Shadow!” Amy exclaimed as he breathing became normal despite her trembling as she got over the fear she’d felt when they were running, but her eyes widened and her expression flashed into one concern as the black hedgehog in front of her looked over his shoulder back at her, his eyes narrowed as he glared at her.
It wasn’t the fact he was glaring; he did that all the time.
It was more of the way he did it.
Even when Shadow was pissed at her for what ever prank or trick she played on him, his face never looked like this…
He looked almost dangerous.
But not in a way that scared her;
It more or less made her very uncomfortable and worried.
“Um.. Shadow? Are you okay?”
Shadow’s eyelids receded in surprise and he forced his face to look neutral as he turned to look away from her and let go of the arm he was holding.
“It’s nothing”
Slowly he crossed his arms over his chest and he stared straight ahead as he walked forward along the pathway.
Amy shuffled her feet nervously before she followed him; her previous feelings evaporated.
As she caught up a little she played with her fingers nervously and snuck small glances at her fiancé…
His face was neutral, but she could feel the dark waves swirling around in the air around him, and his eyes still had that angry glow causing her to almost wince.
“Umm… are you sure?”
Shadow gave a curt nod and they stopped for a moment as they came to a fork in the road and Shadow contemplated which way they should go.
Amy continued to look up at him feeling awkward; she wanted him to talk to her, but she wasn’t sure if his patients would withstand if she continued to bother him about it.
“Well.. Umm… if you want to tell me… I’m always here you know…”
Shadow looked up to her anxious face feeling a bit shocked, and Amy couldn’t look him in the eye.
“Umm… cuz you know… we ARE going to get married after all;… I guess you should be able to tell me stuff like that… um.. If you wanted I mean…”
Amy shifted uncomfortably, and her fingers bumped together as she stole a nervous glance up at Shadow; her face flushed red with embarrassment and anxiety as she waited for his reaction.
After the moment it took for him to register what Amy said and her meaning, Shadow’s face broke out into a deep smirk and his rage instantly disappeared.
That was one of the most magical things about this endearing child standing in front of him; even some of the most simplest things she could say could completely destroy his train of thought and all the emotions that went with it.
His eyelids lowered and he chuckled lightly as he shook his head.
“Hmm~; So you acknowledge everything that is happening? Who would have thought”
Shadow folded his arms again and leaned forward slightly to look at Amy’s blushing face smugly.
Amy refused to meet his eyes as her face turned red and as her eyes moved down she caught the movement as Shadow winced as he touched a part of his arm and removed his hand from it.
Amy frowned at his arm and Shadow’s eyes widened as she suddenly came very close, and practically ripped his sleeve off his arm as she lifted it up his arm firmly holding it in place in as he tried to pull away.
“hold still already!” She chided him and as he reluctantly complied her own eyes widened as she felt something wet and winced as she found the wound that had reopened.
It was a deep gash right at his arm muscle, and she bit her lip as she realized just how painful it must be.
“That looks bad!”
Shadow could only stare wide eyed as she pulled the yellow ribbon from her hair, her long softly curled hair cascading down her back, and he felt his mouth go dry;
She really was beautiful…
Mesmerized he didn’t even resist as she forced him to sit down, and he forced himself to look away as his muzzle reddened from the contact, as her fingers brushed gently against his skin. Instead he started at her handiwork , noting how neatly she was tying the makeshift bandage around it.
Simply for this moment he slightly forgave the idiot who’d done the damage.
As he looked around he finally remembered why they were here in the first place;
That stupid green hedgehog.
His eyelids narrowed and staring pointedly of to the distance behind her he hesitated as he brought it up.
“So, your gardener friend… what do YOU make of him?”
Amy’s ears twitched up as she picked up his voice and kept her gaze to her work; she was almost finished.
“Ummm… ehhheh~ I actually forgot him; Oops. And there we go; all done!”
Amy looked up at him, feeling quite pleased with herself.
But Shadow kept his expression blank as they stood up.
“Thanks”
Amy nodded and they headed off again;
But Shadow was still distracted.
“You never answered my question.”
He stared and Amy looked up at him, confused and districted momentarily.
“Umm; What?”
“My question, Rose.”
His ears twitched in annoyance and he wondered if she was merely pulling his leg.
But Amy put her thumb to her mouth as she thought about it; but she didn’t have very long to think.
Max, to her, was simply a nice guy and a friend; and although she had been interested at first, in her present situation all of those thoughts dried up. As unwillingly as she was to get married; she would never be the type to cheat on her husband, no matter how horrible they would be.
But to say all of this would be embarrassing, and too long, so simply she shrugged.
“Max is pretty cool. Nice guy, and friendly.”
Shadow gave a grunt.
He wasn’t very easily convinced, but he would let the matter go for now… or at least leave it for further notice, because he was very suddenly distracted as Amy excitedly ran off to the right having noticed a rather large pond that she said she’d never seen before.
Already it was dark outside and as much as Shadow wanted to get inside, there was something enchanting in the scene as Amy proceeded to jump across the rocks in the center of the water.
“Come on Shadow! This is fun!”
He sighed and shook his head, taking a glance towards the castle in the distance. Before he relented and moved towards the pond content to watch over her as she had fun jumping from rock to rock.
He adored that sparkle in her eye as she came over grabbing his hands and pulling him along with her.
“We’re going to fall!”
“Nuh uh!”
“Yes we will”
“Not if you’re not too clumsy~”
She giggled happily as she hopped along and feeling rather foolish Shadow followed her; but with a lot less enthusiasm as she showed.
He had perfect balance, and he didn’t need all the extra movement and effort to stay on a measly rock, but Amy wasn’t focusing on balancing; she was too focused on having fun with her little game.
So Shadow shouldn’t have been very surprised when she finally did lose her balance, but he was.
She’d stepped on one of the smooth rocks the wrong way, and her unsteady foot slipped from under her as she’d completed her jump.
Shadow’s eyes widened as in slow motion, he watched her begin to fall back, her arms flailing as she tried to re-catch her balance.
He leaned forward, grabbing her wrist as he attempted to stop her from falling, just as she’d brought her arm back; pulling him forward accidentally.
With a loud splash they fell to the water below, Shadow’s arms rapping protectively around Amy’s waist.
For a moment they were sitting surrounded by shallow water staring at each other in surprise as they took in each other’s soaking wet faces;
Their water logged quills;
The seaweed on his nose;
The water lily in her hair;
And after that moment they broke out into amazing laughter unlike any they’d felt in a while.
It rang on and on until their sides began to hurt, slowly fading off into small chuckles until they finally regained their senses.
“Well that was fun.”
Amy grinned cheerfully up at her fiancé leaning over her on his palms and he smirked back at her.
“Agreed”
Amy giggled and held his cheek up, Shadow’s eyes widening, and softly pulled the bit of seaweed hanging from his needle-nose.
“I’m sorry Shadow; but I really can’t take you seriously with that on your face”
Shadow couldn’t fight the blush that took over his muzzle and Amy tilted her head curiously as she peered up at him.
“Hey, are you okay? Your face is red; do you have a fever”
Another moment slowed down.
Shadow looked on, mesmerized as his vision was filled by her happily smiling face;
The way her eyes danced and sparkled in the sunlight;
With her hair streaming down her back beautifully.
And that was the only way to describe her.
She was beautiful.
And so preoccupied with the sight, he was left completely unable to control himself.
His heart pounded painfully loud as his palms brushed up her arms, moved to her shoulders, and his thumbs landed gently on her cheeks as he held her face in his hands.
He took in the way her eyes widened and how her muzzle was getting darker to match his own, and he smirked as his lips stopped mere inches from her own, and their foreheads touching, his needle-nose connecting to her flat button nose.
His content grin turned guilty as Amy momentarily made a face that he saw as disappointed.
He stood up; helping her to her feet.
“Lets get doing”
Amy did her best to hide her disappointment and rekindled feelings of rejection as the couple walked to the Castle that grew ever closer
What did it take to make a guy like her already!?
They walked in silence as was usual, but Amy seemed just as distracted as she’d been before the two had even began their walk.
She continued to walk with her gave to the right looking towards something in the distance, even thought the only thing around them were the green hedges that grew around the garden high above their heads.
As they walked onto the pathway immediately surrounding the castle, right before the corner that would lead them to the front porch Shadow ran his fingers through his quills thoughtfully; Distinctly impressed at how fast they were drying, and he took this moment to look to his companion walking next to him.
He couldn’t see the emotions chasing each other around her heart, but he could see that her mind was not with them right now.
He sighed and stopped walking, letting Amy past,
But as she walked in front of him she gasped in surprise as her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled around;
Her back pressed against the outer wall of her castle;
Her mind went blank;
Shadow’s eyes softened;
He entwined their fingers;
Her arms were raised to the sides of her head; pressing against the cold stone behind her;
Her eyes went wide.
“S…Shadow?”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Shhh”
His voice floated over the air;
Their breaths clashed together;
Their noses touched,
And then….
Their lips…. Connected.
Softly.
Sweetly.
Gently.
Warmly.
They stayed like this for what felt like years;
Their eyes closed;
Their faces red;
Their hearts fluttering;
Their senses confused;
Their minds on another level.
And even days later, Amy could still feel the sensation of his lip on her’s.
