Gwen was in her room, playing her guitar as she played the song called "Live and Learn" just like Maria played just to cherish the memory of Shadow as she still missed him so much that she couldn't stop thinking about him. Knuckles overhears the song and takes a peek just like before when they first met as kids. He sees Gwen playing her guitar, but she looks sad when she is playing and Knuckles wants to do something for his girlfriend as he walks to her and sits down on her bed.

"Gwen."

She stopped playing the song as she turned her head to see Knuckles and she jumped out in surprise.

"Babe? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was minding my own business until I overheard you playing a song." Knuckles explained. "It's beautiful. Just like when we were kids."

This made Gwen smile a little.

"Yeah... I remember. And that moment where we first met."

"Indeed." Knuckles agreed, before noticing Gwen frowning. "Is everything alright?"

"I..." Gwen tried to say something as she placed her guitar down, but Knuckles was curious about what she was trying to say. "Babe, do you know what it feels like to lose your loved ones and you feel like crying and you just need someone to comfort you?"

"Yes, I'm familiar," Knuckles said sadly, recalling his past about his loss for his tribe and his father.

Gwen hugged Knuckles in surprise as she started crying and Knuckles hugged her back as they comforted each other

"It's gonna be okay, Gwen." Knuckle consoled her.

"I don't know what to do or how I feel anymore." Gwen said, sobbing as she couldn't tell her boyfriend anything about Shadow.

Knuckles feels bad for Gwen as he wants to do something special to cheer her up and that's why he has an idea.

"Hey, how about we go out?" he offered.

Gwen stops crying and looks at him in surprise.

"What?"

"Like out. Like our second or third time date. Just you and me."

She was surprised that he was willing to take her out on a date.

"Really? But where would we go?"

"Well, I heard a place where people celebrate this carnivore festival in costumes in this Rio place."

"You mean, carnival festival?"

"Yeah, that. It's a perfect place to blend in at night. And maybe we could dance."

Gwen wipes the tears from her eyes and she turns from sadness to happiness as she kisses her boyfriend in agreement while Knuckles blushes from the kiss.

"I think it's an incredible idea, babe." Gwen said in delight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Knuckles and Gwen are getting dressed for Rio night as Knuckles is wearing his best shirt and hooded jacket while he waits for Gwen. Knuckles is looking at the mirror, fitting his looks and wearing the best to have his date with Gwen.

"Okay, echidna warrior, you're having the best date with the beautiful girl hedgehog warrior in Rio." Knuckles talked himself to his reflection to gain confidence.

"Okay, I'm ready!" Gwen declared as she was all dressed.

Gwen was wearing her new outfit of a short black dress with a red jacket, and black high heel boots, and she had long and straight hair.

Knuckles was drooling all over her as he kept staring at her as she was hot and he was struck in love. Gwen waves her hand over his face to see him still drooling until she kisses him to snap him out of the trance. 

"Knuckles? Babe? Are you ready?" Gwen asked.

"Uh, oh, yeah. Let's go." Knuckles answered.

They were about to go by using the ring portal to get to Rio, but Gwen had thought about what the family would say if they left without telling them.

"Hold on, Knux. We need to leave them a note in case they are wondering where we are." Gwen reminded.

She brings a paper and a pencil to write a note to leave behind just in case and she puts it on her bed.

"Okay. Now let's go to Rio for our date, babe," Gwen said excitedly.

Then off they go as they use the ring to make a portal to go to Rio de Janeiro.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as they arrived, they looked around the town for sightseeing and Gwen is feeling happy as Knuckles' plan is working. They found a good restaurant to eat and drink at called Clássico Beach Club Urca, where it had a good view of almost the entire island of Rio as they could see a beach and some buildings and mountains with beautiful lights all around.

After visiting that restaurant, Knuckles saw a club where people go dancing and having fun and which gives Knuckles an idea as he grabs Gwen's hand to surprise her.

"Knux, what is it?" Gwen questioned.

"Gwen, I saw this place that where people go out." Knuckles explained as he pointed to the club.

"You mean a club?" Gwen corrected.

"Yes, and would you like to dance with me?" Knuckles asked anxiously.

"Yes, I would love to." Gwen agreed.

They enter a club full of people dancing and thumping with music, and they sort of get crowded as Gwen gets excited about the life of the party.

"This is the coolest place I've ever seen especially in Rio de Janeiro!"

"I suppose it does," Knuckles said dreamily as he stared at the beauty of Gwen.

The music started with the people on the stage singing.

https://youtu.be/rqa1jXnSXmE

"Alright, everyone! Get ready to feel the love for all you couples out there!" the singer said before they started singing.

Party in Ipanema, baby!

I want to party
I want to samba
I want to party
I want to samba

Gwen was in awe of the music as Knuckles smiles.

I want to party
And live my life (live my life)
I want to party (party)
And fly

Imma fly, fly just like a bird
(But you are a bird! )
Oh yeah, you're right,
So let me fly just like a rocket, then (okay)
Fly so high where I need to come down for oxygen
Cause once we start it, baby, ain't no ain't no stoppin' then

Knuckles and Gwen tap their feet counts as dancing as they get the groove and their hearts beat to the music.

'Cause I just want to live my life, and party
All I want is to be free, and rock my body
Ain't nowhere around the world that I want to live my life
In Rio
'Cause in Rio
In Rio, I realize
I want to party (party)
I want to samba (party)
I want to party (party)
And fly

Knuckles looks nervous as he grabs Gwen's hand to catch her by surprise and they start dancing as Gwen is impressed by Knuckles' moves as he dips her around.

I'm that samba, samba
Master, master, master
Master, master

Who shouts out?
Imma get your blaster, blaster,
Blaster, blaster, blaster
You dance fast,
But I dance faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster

You're too slow
You need to catch up

You can dance, and dance, but I

As Gwen and Knuckles dance, the colors of red and pink from their bodies glow around them and people looked them amazed by the colors and their dance in awe.

I want to party (party)
I want to samba (party)
I want to party (party)
I want to samba (party)

I want to party (party)
And live my life (live my life)
I want to party (party)
And fly

Knuckles and Gwen keep dancing as they spin in hands and Knuckles tosses Gwen in the air as she levitates by her ruby powers.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

Gwen sings as she levitates and Knuckles is in a swoon and sighs lovely.

Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya

Hey

Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya
Laya

Gwen levitates down as Knuckles holds her hands and they stare their eyes for a moment and then they lean forward to kiss once again to feel the love.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey

After the song ended, the people applauded them as they bowed and then went to grab the drinks to hit a bar and have a chat.

"Thanks, babe. For cheering me up." Gwen thanked her boyfriend as she kissed him and he blushed.

"You are welcome." Knuckles said delightfully.

Time passed as the day got dark as it was nighttime already. Gwen and Knuckles left the club and they remembered they still want to go to the carnival festival.

Once they reach in time for the carnival, Gwen loves the festival as she watches those people in their costumes dance, and the floats of the parade. Gwen was amazed by the festival and she snuggled with Knuckles and he blushed like crazy.

"Knucks, this carnival festival is a blast and I've never been so happy!" Gwen said excitedl

As they continue to watch the festival and dance to the music that seemed to never end, Knuckles looks at Gwen as she feels happy already and he's proud of himself and Gwen. He wishes that their relationship never end as they're stronger than ever before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After their wonderful, unforgettable trip, Gwen and Knuckles made it back home as it was now nighttime and they decided to climb up the roof to gaze up at the stars.

"That was incredible. Thanks for taking me out." Gwen smiled.

"No problem. It's the least I could do. And I'm glad you had the fun as I have." Knuckles said.

Gwen becomes nervous as she thinks back about Shadow and her confession. She turns to Knuckles, knowing she needs to say something before it's too late.

"Knux... I... need to tell you something."

Knuckles turns to her.

"What is it?"

"The stars in the sky remind me of someone I know who used to say about these stars," Gwen said as she stared at the stars above them.

"Someone like who?" Knuckles asked curiously.

"If I tell you, I'll break your heart and you'll hate me too." Gwen said sadly as she shed a tear.

"If you want to tell me, then tell me what your heart tells you," Knuckles comforted her as he dried her tears.

As Gwen wants to confess about Shadow, she says a quote about stars and love just like Shadow's quote about stars to Maria.

Stars align in silent song

Love's light travels long
Eyes meet, skies apart
Binding beat of two hearts

Night's canvas, lovers' guide,
In constellations, secrets hide

Across the void, feelings dart,
Starlight bridges heart to heart

Knuckles was surprised by Gwen's quote as he knew that it meant the stars showing love.

"Wow, Gwen. That was amazing." Knuckles said awestruck then got curious. "But what does it mean to someone you knew?"

"It means that someone is... Shadow." Gwen revealed her secret.

Knuckles was shocked about Shadow and became mad for stealing his girl.

"What?! Shadow?! How could he steal your heart from me!" Knuckles said, angered but Gwen quickly reasoned with him.

"Knux, you must understand him. I saw him in my dream again and he understands that I can have both of you to love." Gwen said in a breaking tone. "And I understand if you also don't want to be with me for loving another..."

Gwen's confession is making her cry and Knuckles was in shock at such news but he frowns to see her crying. He takes her hand and cups her cheek to make her face him.

"Gwen, I will never stop loving you and I want to be with you. But if you really love the both us, then it's okay. If he agrees, then I agree, even if I don't like him a bit."

"R-Really?"

"Yes. Honestly, I respect Shadow from his power and strength. I can see why you love him. Even though he's gone."

"Actually, I believe he's alive."

"Really? How?"

"I have a feeling we will see him again one day."

"I see." he said before kissing her. "I love you, Gwen. You know that. I'll always be here for you."

"And I love you too." Gwen smiled, kissing him back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before they knew it, it was bedtime and they decided to lie down together on Gwen's bed. The two cuddled for a moment before falling asleep. As they sleep, Gwen begins to dream once again, but this time it's a normal dream. And it's a dream from La Ultima Pasion, Gwen woke up in the dream as she looked like Gabriella and she admitted that she loved the red dress.

https://youtu.be/YgSu8Rpbgck

"Whoa, I'm Gabriella?! And she has good taste in fashion." Gwen said to herself.

As she walked around, she found out that she was in Gabriella's house as she questioned what the dream was about this time. She saw the dark figure of someone she knew on one side, and as she got closer it revealed Knuckles she was surprised to see him in her dream and noticed he wearing a white suit shirt with white pants and shoes.

"Knuckles? What are you doing here in my dream?" Gwen asked.

"Who? Who are you in love with?" Knuckles demanded, looking hurt.

Gwen was confused about what he meant. Before she could explain, a closet came out of nowhere and the doors were slammed open to reveal...

"Sh-Shadow?!"

Shadow jumps out of the closet with a rose in his mouth, wearing a black suit shirt with black and red pants and shoes.

"My brother?!" Knuckles exclaimed in shock.

Shadow smirks, pulling the rose out of his mouth and holding it out to Gwen. She takes the rose from Shadow as she blushes

"Wow, Shadow, since when did you become gentlemen?" Gwen asked when Knuckles got in the way.

"Back off, Shadow! She's mine!"

"No, she's mine, brother." Shadow glared, pushing him.

"You always get in the way!"

"No, You always get in my way!"

Knuckles and Shadow keep fighting. Gwen needs to do something to stop the fight as she gets in between them and shouts.

"Guys, stop! It can't only belong to one! And I choose both of you!" Gwen shouted, shocking Knuckles and Shadow.

"What?! Why??!" they yelled in unison.

"Because since we met in either childhood or the dream, I can't pick just one. I love both of you for comfort, love, and care with your hearts." Gwen said confidently as the boys were surprised by her love for both. "Besides, I'm not like Gabriella. And you two shouldn't be acting like Juan and Pablo for fighting over the same woman like me and Gabriella. I would never have anyone fight over me for affection. That's just not right."

Knuckles and Shadow are feeling bad for Gwen as she would never want this way, as they look at her face frightened, feared, and hurt. So, the boys stopped fighting and walked up to her as they placed their hands on each shoulder, making her look up and Knuckles spoke first.

"Gwen, we're so sorry. We never meant to make you feel bad."

"And meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to us." Shadow added.

Gwen turned happy as she wiped her tears away and hugged them both and they hugged back as one big group hug for the love triangle. As they kept hugging, they didn't notice that the dream was vanishing until it was too late.

She woke up shocked from her dream and it also woke Knuckles up from Gwen's shock. And it got him worried about seeing Gwen sad for being frightened.

"Gwen, are you okay?" Knuckles asked quietly.

He placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort as she cried in tears and hugged him tightly as she told him about her dream.

"Knuckles...." she cried.

"Gwen, tell me what's wrong."

"I'm having another dream, Shadow was there and so are you."

As she explains, Knuckles gasped for Shadow and himself in her dream.

"And in my dream, you played Juan and Shadow played Pablo when you two are twin brothers just like from the show "La Ultimas Pasion" and you two are fighting over me and... I don't want to end that way."

As she finishes explaining, she gets embarrassed and sad at the same time. While Knuckles wasn't expecting himself as Juan as he remembers from the Spanish show "La Ultimas Pasion".

"Wow... That was an unpredictable dream, and I can't believe you felt that way between us."

Gwen is still crying but Knuckles lifts her chin to make her look up to him.

"Listen, I can see that you love me and you love Shadow too, and if you're happy to have us both, then I'm happy for you." Knuckles said, drying her tears.

"R...Really?" Gwen asked.

"Of course, and we will always love you no matter who or what." Knuckles said.

They smiled and hugged once again before going back to sleep.

"Good night, Gwen."

"Good night, Knuckles."

Knuckles falls back to sleep, but Gwen is still awake as she look out the window to see the sky of the stars.

"Good night, Shadow." Gwen whispered to herself.

She then fall back to sleep as they cuddle each other warmly in their sleep. The stars in the sky twinkle as the stars are connected to bring the image of Shadow the Hedgehog as it winks.