"Shadow...?"

Shadow looked up from the stack of papers as his wife stepped in, holding a brown sack. "My lunch, I'm guessing."

"Your favorite. I even got the bakery downtown to give me a discount on a raspberry scone." Rouge came over and started to rub his shoulders. "How're you doing?"

"I'm fine, Rouge."

"No you're not. You've been exhausting yourself with work and papers and everything else... You're not okay, Shadow."

Shadow sighed. "I never thought I'd miss his voice taunting me all the time..."

"You're not giving up, are you?"

"It's been three months, Rouge... I don't know what to think. Surely if he were still alive, he'd have come home by now. And we've still got no leads to follow."

"You were gone for months and came back."

"True...but only because the doctor rescued me to use for his own ends again..."

"Who is to say that he didn't wind up where he could find help?" Rouge gave him a peck on the cheek. "Have some faith in him..."

Shadow stood up, silent for a moment. "...One more month, how's that?"

Rouge smirked. "You're so stubborn... I don't suppose I can convince you to eat with me in the break room?"

"Perhaps..." He put an arm around her. "Thanks, Rouge."

"Anything for you, Shadow... Except kids."

"Oh, so we're going there again? I told you, Rouge. I probably can't have kids. I'm sure Gerald wouldn't want a bunch of mini super-soldiers running about."

"But you'd like kids someday, right?"

"...I don't know. Let's focus on lunch for now."

"Right. Lead on."

Shadow started out of the room, but Rouge's question still rung in the back of his mind... What did he want...?

___________________________________________________________________________________

Amy watched from the window as Cosmo appeared on the sidewalk and headed towards her driveway. She took a deep breath, trying to ease her trembling. This was it... No more hiding it from everyone.

She waited until Cosmo rang the doorbell before going to the door and opening it slightly. "Hey, Ames..."

"Hi..." Amy whispered. She hesitated, then finally opened the door completely, allowing the seedrian into her home.

"What's going on, Amy? Why have you been so...distant." Cosmo's voice trailed off as she looked at her friend, then she gave a sympathetic smile. "Oh Amy... It's okay."

Amy wiped tears from her cheeks. "I... I didn't want to tell anyone... I was afraid of what all of you would think...!"

Cosmo came over and hugged her friend. "It's alright, Amy... I understand. You don't have to hide from me... Is this a result of Eggman?"

Amy nodded. "I don't remember some of the time I was captured... I'm scared, Cosmo! What if it's some kind of hybrid or something...!?"

"Listen to me. Just breathe... Your friends are going to support you, alright? Just trust me..."

"I know... When you called, I...I realized that I couldn't just keep this to myself anymore... I needed to share with someone."

"Of course."

The two then turned as the phone rang, and Amy went to it, putting it on speaker. "Hello?"

Amy Rose...? A voice spoke, one she knew and missed desperately. ...It's me, Amy.

"Sonic...!?"

Yes! Y-Yes, I-I'm okay! L-Listen, I don't have much time before the signal cuts out on me, but I just wanted you to know I'm okay... And I'm coming home, Amy.

Amy nodded, crying despite a smile being on her face. "O-Okay Sonic...! I'll see you soon...right?"

Yes... Soon. I love you, Amy. I'll see you soo-

Amy broke into sobs as the call cut out and she lost his sweet voice, and Cosmo wrapped her arms around her. "He's okay...! He's coming home, Cosmo...!" she whimpered.

"I know, Amy...!" Cosmo started to cry as well. "I know...!"

The two sat there for a few moments, then Cosmo gasped. "We gotta tell Tails!"

Amy nodded, the two getting back up onto their feet. "R-Right... We gotta tell everyone."