Amy thought she would never be in this position. She gulped in fear as she made her way inside G.U.N's headquarters. Her hands began to sweat, her lip softly tremble as she noticed how some agents looked at as she made her way.

She went inside and immediately, went to talk to the receptionist.

"Hello, I would like to speak to Shadow the Hedgehog," Amy said, she noticed that the receptionist looked her, up and down.

"Agent Shadow doesn't accept visits from anyone."

"Can you tell him that Amy Rose is looking for him, please?"

"I am sorry, but-"

"Amy! What brings you here sweetheart?"

Amy turned around as she recognized the familiar voice. Rouge was dazzling like always, she looked more professional today, however. Black pants, white shirt and black best. It was a simple look, but Rouge made everything look high fashion.

"Hey Rouge!" Amy smiled, "Do you think you can do me a favor?"

"Sure honey, what is it?"

"I need to give this to Shadow," Amy said as she showed Rouge a paper bag, "But the receptionist told me Shadow doesn't accept visits so-"

"Oh honey, next time just come inside to our office. You know very well that you are always welcome." Rouge directed a small stare at the receptionist, letting her know her intentions.

Amy nodded as she followed Rouge to the elevator. The elevator was made out of glass. The G.U.N. logo plastered around not just the elevator but everywhere. One couldn't argue whether it was pride or just egocentrism. She could see each floor of G.U.N., training floor, technology, and development, weaponry, vehicles, many in which Amy couldn't even name.

Everything.

She wanted to admit, that this was everything she wanted for the Resistance and she began to doubt herself.

Once again.

The elevator door opened and Rouge and Amy walked out, the new agents looked at them. Looking at Rouge, but mostly, looking at Amy.

New agents were placed in small cubicles while Team Dark and more experience agents had their own office. To go to their office, they had to walk through the cubicles first.

"Isn't that the girl who danced with agent Shadow on the new year's dance?"

"She is... What is she doing here?"

"She looks ... very ...plain."

Rouge didn't want to continue hearing it, but she didn't want to make a big fuss out of respect for Amy.

"Wasn't she the captain of the Resistance?"

"Oh, yes! Has she given up already? Is she looking for a job at G.U.N.?"

"As if! She is not talented enough to enter the academy and by the way she dresses ... I am sure she can't even pay it."

Rouge turned to look at Amy, her head was down, her bangs covered her face.

Rouge really wanted to do something, to at least tell the agents to stand up and tell her in the face. However, she knew Amy. The pink didn't like anyone else to fight her battles, let alone help her.

Amy wanted to defend herself ... but she couldn't do it when she knew that they were speaking the truth.

Rouge couldn't stand it, she was going to speak up, but someone came else came to do it for her.

"New agents! When you are done with your paperwork, run 15 laps around G.U.N!" Shadow showed up, coming out of Team Dark's office.

"What!?" Everyone exclaimed.

"Why?"

"It's unfair!"

"We weren't doing anything!"

Shadow looked at everyone, serious. "Make it 20 and if you keep complaining, I'll add 5 more."

Shadow walked towards Amy and Rouge.

Amy giggled a little to herself, she could hear the female agents swoon over Shadow as he made his way.

She was better than these people ... She was better than anyone who liked Shadow the Hedgehog in that way.

"What brings you here?"

"I haven't seen you in three days and well, I brought your jacket," Amy said as she showed the brown paper bag to Shadow, meaning that his jacket was inside of it.

"My G.U.N. jacket? I told you, you can have it," said Shadow.

"I don't want to wear a jacket that has your name on it."

"Oh, wow," this time Rouge interrupted, "Shadow, I didn't know you had a thing for pink hedgehogs."

"I don't. I just don't need that jacket." Shadow added, "Look at it as a charity."

Suddenly, Shadow felt the brown paper bag being thrown at his face. He held it with his hands, furious that Amy disrespected him in front of everyone.

But if in those terms came to place, he had also disrespected her and maybe even worse.

"I don't need your charity, you jerk!" Amy said as she turned around and went back to the elevator.

Shadow wanted to go after her. However, Rouge stopped him on his tracks.

"I think you have done enough," said Rouge as she went to look after Amy.

Shadow watched Rouge disappeared into the elevator, his hands tremble with anger. He just couldn't stop himself from hurting Amy. Even when he wanted to get close to her, he just ended pushing her away.

"Shadow, your presence is required at the vehicle parking," Omega said as he came out of his office, breaking Shadow's thought.

"I don't have the mind to deal with-"

"It's about your bike, DR."

.

Amy was done with Shadow. He was so confusing. He does nice things for her but then, he acts and says hurtful things.

She just wishes that she could understand Shadow.

However, she wasn't in the position to think clearly right now. It was becoming a habit already, they act all friendly but then he says something and ruins everything.

And Amy just didn't have the time to deal with a lot of that.

She had excited G.U.N's building. Trying to contain the tears, her thoughts were interrupted as Rouge stopped her midtrack.

"Hey," Rouge placed her left hand on Amy's right shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I am tired, Rouge... I am just really tired." Amy said.

"Look, I know Shadow can be complicated to deal with... but you have to understand... Shadow has been through a lot in his past relationship." Rouge added, "And him saying hurtful things is just a coping mechanism for him."

Amy looked down to the ground, and then at Rouge, "I just wish he could tell me..."

"Do you ... really want to know?"

Amy nodded, a bit ashamed, she wanted to wait for Shadow to tell her himself. But maybe, Rouge could bring her the conclusion she needed.

"Oh honey, Shadow-"

"WHERE IS MY BIKE?!" Shadow burst open G.U.N's main entrance door.

"Agent Shadow, please calm down-"

"HOW CAN I CALM DOWN WHEN SOMEONE STOLE MY BIKE!"

Shadow directed his anger at the rookie who was supposed to be in charge of taking care of G.U.N'S vehicles, clearly, he wasn't doing his job very well.

"What direction they went to?" Shadow said a bit more calm this time. Whoever took DR would pay for it, he was going to find his bike, no matter what.

"I- I don't know-"

Shadow sighed in frustration. He noticed Amy and Rouge once again and he walked immediately towards them, determination on his face.

"You are coming with me," Shadow said as he picked up Amy and put her on his shoulders.

Rouge let out a small giggle as she watched the two interact.

Amy was taken by surprise as the moment she knew, Shadow was already running; with her in his shoulders.

.

"I SAID PUT ME DOWN!"

Amy kicked, punched and screamed at Shadow. First, he talks bad to her and now he kidnaps her? Who does he think he is?

A stubborn, egocentric hedgehog, that's who he is!

"Wait, we are almost at the park! The person who stole the might be there and-"

"I DON'T CARE, JUST PUT ME DOWN!"

Shadow made it to the green part of the park. Trees covered the cement path and grass was next to it. He would have continued to keep running until he found the criminal, but with Amy moving on his shoulder it would have been impossible.

"I don't care about your stupid bike, I am going home!" Amy said as Shadow put her down.

"But I care!"

"You have a lot of bikes Shadow, just buy yourself another one." Amy walked away, angry enough at Shadow.

"I can't buy another one! It's the one you gave me, it's important to me-"

Shadow stopped himself. It was too soon to be this vulnerable with her.

Amy didn't care. She was confused. She really wanted to ask Shadow. She wanted to know, not because of gossip, because she would be able to understand him completely.

She just couldn't stay angry at him for long.

Because whatever it was that hurt Shadow so much ... shouldn't be talked about so lightly.

"You know ... I don't understand you." Amy said, "But I don't have to understand you to be your friend."

Amy sighed as she walked up to Shadow, "It will help if you opened up a little to me but... if you are not ready. Then it's fine."

"Just, please ... be considerate of me too ... You hurt my feelings sometimes." Amy gave Shadow a small smile, and a pat on his shoulder, teasing him. "Now, let's look for your bike-"

"I loved her and she cheated on me ... multiple times."

Shadow didn't know where that came from. A certain strength overcame him the moment Amy stood in front of him.

She was trying too hard to be close to him, to be a good friend ... and he just couldn't do anything but to try his best as well.

Amy was speechless, she looked down to the ground trying to formulate words.

"Do you ... Want to talk about it?"

"It's uncomfortable but ... I think it's ok ... As long as it's you listening."

Amy nodded, she grabbed Shadow by the hand and made him sit with her on a nearby bench.

He sighed heavily, his hands were in a strong grip, his sight was down even after all of this time. It still hurt him.

But Amy was ready to listen to his story.

.

"How you have seen the new agent?"

"Yes, she is super talented and cute!"

"I heard she graduated top of her class in G.U.N's academy."

Shadow kept hearing the same thing over and over again. A new agent. She was supposed the best one and even if Shadow didn't want to admit it, he was curious about who he was going to mentor next.

They were currently at G.U.N's main conference room, talking about the next big mission Team Dark was going to take part in.

The doors opened as the Commander came in, alongside a blonde, blue-eyed, female hedgehog.

"Good morning agents, before we start the meeting, I would like to introduce G.U.N's new agent." the Commander said.

"This is agent Maria."

.

Just like that, Shadow was captivated by the resemblance. A long time ago, he had said goodbye to his past. But now it seemed like his past was calling back to him. It was just a mere coincidence, but what a great one it was.

Maybe, it was time to move on. Really move on and start brand new.

Shadow decided to let his guard down a little around the new agent.

And he was happy to see that she wasn't indifferent to his actions.

He would do small things for her, like walking her home, send her flowers and give him his jacket when it was cold.

However, he would always ask back for it, even though his jacket would look better on her than on him.

Shadow didn't know anything about this, at letting people close to him in such an intimate manner.

He just gave without expecting anything back.

On their first date, everything went well.

The night ended with Shadow receiving his first kiss.

And he couldn't be happier.

Shadow really thought he had a chance... a chance to experience love.

"I can't believe Shadow and Maria are dating!"

"I know I am so jealous!"

"I feel kind bad tho ... Shadow doesn't know that Maria... well she-"

Shadow couldn't care less about what people would say about Maria.

He was happy with her, and that was the only thing that mattered.

A year passed, and Shadow was still leaving his best dream.

Now he was sharing a home with Maria. They lived together, eat together, go to work together and sleep together.

He felt like he was part of a family and that was all he ever wanted.

Maria was great as well. She would take care of him when he was wounded, make him his favorite food and she gave him her complete company.

And that was all Shadow asked for.

Shadow was completely sure that she was the one.

The one he wanted to share the rest of his days with.

But those thoughts began to vanish the day Shadow saw Maria with someone else.

"How could you? Maria in our own home?! In our own bed?!" Shadow was infuriated, disappointed and heartbroken.

"I am really sorry! I am! I just don't know what took over me!" Maria was on her knees, tears on her eyes. "Please, just give me another chance! I beg you! I won't disappoint you!"

Shadow just loved her too much. Just way too much.

He was scared to lose the best thing that ever happened to him.

And he forgave her.

Over and over again.

Shadow was betrayed many times.

But he forgave all of them. Each and every single one of them because he really thought he could change her.

That their love could withstand anything.

But it was slowly breaking Shado apart.

It broke him every time Maria would come late at night and smell like someone else.

It broke him, that she stopped caring. That she had no shame as guys would drop her off even when Shadow was home.

But even so, Shadow still tried his best. Maybe if he showed that no one could love her as he does, she would stop hurting him.

"You are giving me your bike? BB?", Maria said excitedly as she grabbed the keys.

"Yes, it's my most precious possession... so please take care of it," Shadow said as he smiled at her. Happy that she was happy.

"Thanks, babe, and don't worry only you and I will ride this."

Now that he thinks about it, Shadow had never taken a ride bike with Maria together. Maybe one of these days he will ask her if she wants to ride BB with him.

Just him and her. Him riding the bike, while Maria holds him tightly behind him.

But that never happened.

Instead, it was someone else living the dream he so much wanted to become true.

Shadow had just come back from a mission. He was really injured and stayed in the hospital for a couple of weeks.

He waited anxiously for Maria to come and visit him ... but she never did.

"Shadow ... I think it's time I tell you." Rouge and Omega were alongside him in his hospital bed.

They both were well aware of the circumstance that the hedgehog was. They tried many times talking him out of the relationship.

But he wouldn't listen.

"Maria left ... She left G.U.N. and she left your home ... she took everything." Rouge said as she held his hand. "I am sorry."

"What about BB...what about my bike?" Shadow asked.

"She also took your bike," Omega responded.

That moment, Shadow swore to never let anyone get close to him.

It was his fault... His fault for believing that he was worthy of love... of happiness.

He just didn't want to be hurt anymore.

He didn't want to.

.

.

.

"I found BB later on a motorcycle resale ... it was rusty and almost unrepairable," Shadow said as he finished his story, leaving some parts of the story for a later time.

Now, it all made sense to Amy. Shadow's actions, his manners, his words.

Amy felt anger that she couldn't do anything about it. The anger of the misjudgment that she thought of him.

Shadow was trying so hard for her and she was just giving him a hard time by not understanding him.

But she was going to change that.

She looked at Shadow and got close to him. She didn't think much and hugged him. Like last time, she thought he was going to push her away, but that didn't happen

And to her surprise, he hugged her back.

He let himself lose, took a deep breath before continuing. There was something about the pink one ... something he couldn't just describe yet that made his heart warm. An unknown feeling of calmness and safeness that came whenever he was with her.

"I think I still love her..." Shadow said, "And I hate myself every day for it."

Amy had two new goals. The first one, to try and help Shadow overcome his past trauma and the second one...

To beat the hell out of Maria if Amy ever sees her. She just couldn't understand how someone could hurt Shadow. Yes, he had his bad side, he was grumpy, stubborn and sometimes overwhelming gloomy. However, he never meant bad, in the inside he was just hurt. He was scared of intimacy and tragically the scars that he was wouldn't heal completely.

The sound of an upcoming motorcycle going towards them caught their attention. Shadow recognized the sound of his bike and stood up the minute he heard it. Wanting to beat to pulp whoever dares to touch his bike without permission.

Their eyes averted towards the one riding the bike as the person stopped right in front of the couple. Amy thought it was going to Shadow the first one to jump on but instead Amy found herself doing that.

"So you are the one who stole the bike!" Amy said as she walked towards the girl. "Give it back or I'll make you."

"Seems like you got a new girl." The blonde hedgehog said as she came down of DR. "Haven't seen you in a while, Shadow."

Amy turned around to look at the black hedgehog, his hands shook softly, as he walked back two steps.

For the first time, Amy saw the horror in Shadow's eyes.

"Do you know her?"

Shadow's heartbeat began to increase, his hands began to sweat and he tried to find the words that left his mouth.

"Yes..." He responded, "That's Maria."

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A/N:...... I got nothing to say.