Sonic was still in the city even after Amy denied his proposal to go away with him. He visited Tails in the hospital from time to time and he was doing better. He still wonders what happened in the forest but since no one was hurt, he decided to not put too much thought into it.

It was 7:30 and he was starting to feel hungry already. He looked for that hot dog place Amy had shown him before but the vendor wasn't there anymore.

Disappointed, Sonic walked around the city enjoying the night view. He noticed how people whispered between themselves, young boys and girls as equals.

He stopped once in a while to take pictures and give high fives.

He didn't like doing it too much, he was a hero, not a celebrity.

But he didn't want to be mean either.

Sonic looked up to the sky as he kept walking a bit more and suddenly what seemed to be boring night might as well be very ... interesting.

A fancy restaurant, one of those in which you could eat at the terrace, caught his attention.

But it wasn't the restaurant itself that got piqued his interest. It was the fact that Shadow the Hedgehog was with a young catgirl, sharing a table.

Sonic just couldn't control himself and went inside the restaurant. He walked to the top and quietly sat down on a close table, covering his face with the menu so the couple wouldn't be able to notice his presence.

"I'll go wash my hands before we eat."

"Sure, go ahead."

Shadow watched Ellie disappeared into the girl's restroom, everything was going well. They order food and now they were just waiting for it to come.

Shadow looked around, thinking of what kind of conversation starters would interest his date.

Maybe work? Family? Friends? Interests?

Everything was going well ... but then Shadow noticed him.

Sonic the Hedgehog, right in front of his table, waving at him.

Shadow didn't even think it, he stood up and went to his table.

"What are you doing here?" Shadow said as he took a seat and gave a quick look at the ladies' restroom.

"I am here to help you on your date," Sonic said. "Don't worry, I don't charge."

If there was one thing Shadow didn't like, it was people interfering with his life, mostly Sonic, who had a talent of making angrier easily.

"I don't need you, just leave. You will distract me." Shadow said.

"Come on, you know you need my help." Sonic added, "How many dates have you had since the year started?"

"...One," Shadow said.

"This one doesn't count."

"I've had one, alright!" Shadow looked back at the restroom, Ellie wasn't out yet. He looked around, he needed to remind himself that he was out in the public, and out of respect for his date; he needed to keep calm.

"Really with who?"

"That doesn't concern you, now leave!"

"I've had 15 dates," Sonic said, "I can help you! Just do what I say!"

"No, leave-" Shadow stopped as he noticed Ellie coming out of the ladies' restroom. He left Sonic and went back to his table as if nothing had happened.

"Did I take long?" Ellie asked him trying to make a little bit of conversation.

"Actually, yes," said Shadow.

"Oh, sorry." Ellie wasn't expecting him to say that. She didn't know was that Shadow could be brutally honest.

She knew she was in for a ride the moment she heard her friends say that Shadow doesn't date. In G.U.N. Shadow the Hedgehog seemed not to care about such a thing. However, he would flash a small smirk to the ladies who were clearly into him. Showing, of course, that he wasn't indifferent towards them.

Maybe he liked the attention, but once again, Shadow wasn't the type to care for such things.

So why?

"So ..." Ellie said as she tried to change the conversation. "Do you um ... go out with friends?"

Shadow gave it a small thought. He didn't want to admit that he wasn't that social. He always had this 'high standard' at his workplace. He knew that very well. Male agents would admire him, the female agents admired him as well. Not only in success but in ... other ways too.

"Yes, I do." He said.

"Oh, what do you like to do with your friends?"

"Um ... eating hot dogs and go to arcades." Shadow replied.

"Oh, I didn't know Team Dark liked to go to arcades!" Ellie said excitedly.

"Well, I don't really go with them."

"Oh, you go with your other friends?"

Shadow was saved by the waiter as he came back with their food ready.

Shadow had asked for a burger, although he wasn't that hungry, he wanted to eat his favorite burger. Now that he thinks about, he should bring Amy here someday.

The waiter left and the couple thanked him. Ellie had asked for a salad and she took a bite of it, she kept asking Shadow questions.

Shadow was about to take a bite of his burger but stopped immediately as he felt Ellie's eyes on him.

"You are ... going to eat a burger?" Ellie asked and the sentence came out a bit judgemental. She didn't mean to, she was just very intrigued. "I mean, I wasn't expecting it ... I thought you would follow a strict diet."

Shadow put his burger down, he felt a bit embarrassed, "You are right ... I should probably not eat it."

Ellie felt bad, she didn't mean to make Shadow feel bad about eating. A few seconds passed and she decided to change topics to change the mood.

"So, you were telling me about your friends," Ellie added, "Do you have other friends besides Team Dark?"

"Yes, I do," Shadow said.

"Are they from G.U.N.?"

"No."

"Oh, then how do you met them?"

Shadow was getting tired of having to answer her questions. It's not like he didn't want to talk, he wanted to avoid the truth. That the 'friends' he was talking about was Amy.

"I used to work with her before I joined G.U.N." Replied Shadow.

This caught Ellie's interest, finally, she was learning a little bit more of Shadow's past. His hard shell was beginning to break.

"I heard, you used to work at The Resistance?"Ellie added, "Is that right?"

Shadow took a sip of his water before responding.

"Yes, I did. That's how I mean Amy Rose. She is...um a casual friend I spend some time with."

"Oh, and how is she?"

Finally, a topic Shadow was comfortable talking about. For some reason, it was easier for him to talk about other people than about himself.

"She is a great fighter, very skilled," Shadow added, "She is a great person as well. She likes to help people and she is a hard worker and she-"

Shadow stopped talking as he noticed Sonic making strange hand gestures. Sonic crossed his arms, forming an 'X'.

Shadow had forgotten an important rule of dating. Never talk about other girls in front of your date.

Sonic's plan in helping Shadow was about to crumble down when a waitress came to ask for his order.

"Can I take your order sir-" The waitress stopped herself as she noticed to who she was talking to. "Oh, Chaos ... you are Sonic the Hedgehog?"

That was all it took, suddenly everyone began to look at Sonic, whispering between themselves.

"I can't believe it! That is Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"He is in the city!"

"I want to take a picture with him!

And just like that Sonic was overwhelmed by people around him. Flashes and cellphones on him.

Ellie turned around to look at the scene, "What a coincidence, two heroes in the same place-"

"I can't believe it, is that Shadow the Hedgehog too?!"

That was Shadow's cue. They gotta go.

Shadow stood up from his seat as Ellie followed him. Shadow grabbed her hand and pulled him towards him, protecting her from the flashes. She was confused but she understood that he wasn't the type to deal with fame.

In a way, she also felt like a star, Like celebrities hiding their romance.

How romantic.

"Aren't we going to pay?" She asked as they walked towards the exit.

"I have a deal with the owner of the restaurant, there's no need," said Shadow.

"So, where are we going now?"

.

Shadow honestly didn't know where to take Ellie. He didn't know much about her and that was his mistake. She was the one who kept asking him questions, trying to get to know him but he didn't do the same.

He decided to take her to the arcade Amy took him. She seemed extremely excited and he was as well.

Shadow was having fun, he indeed was, but something just seemed off. Ellie wasn't as active. She was mostly watching Shadow play and he won her a teddy bear. But if Shadow was having fun and Ellie as well, then there was no problem.

Until he showed up again.

Sonic was behind a car game, signaling Shadow to go to him. He pointed to the boy's restroom as Shadow sighed and nodded at him.

"Ellie wait here... I am going to the restroom." Said Shadow.

Ellie nodded and Shadow left to see Sonic.

He entered the restroom and saw the blue bur immediately.

"How did you found us?" Shadow asked.

"It was obvious ... If you are Amy's friend, she definitely has taken you here." Sonic responded. He crossed his arms and placed his right foot on the wall, gaining some balance.

Shadow noticed that was a certain mood on jealousy that surrounded him but he didn't give too much thought on it.

"How do you know we are friends?"

"She told me no because of you,"

"What?"

Sonic rolled his eyes, annoyed that he has to explain

.

"So, what do you say Amy? A lifetime full of adventures... Would you come with me?"

"I am sorry... You know I would like to go with you, yes, but..." Amy looked outside the restaurant's window, for a short second, she thought she had seen him.

She turned around and looked at Sonic, "I really want to keep working on the Resistance and I would miss my friends. I also made a new friend and I feel like he needs my help the most right now."

Sonic looked at Amy in the eyes and smiled at the pink one.

"Is Shadow right?" He asked.

Amy nodded, "Yes. We haven't seen each other in a month but right now I want to help him the most."

.

"Anyways, we are not here for that." Sonic smiled as he teased Shadow. "It's your chance to get the girl. After you take her home, remember to kiss her!"

"Isn't that too soon?" Shadow asked.

"Of course not, believe me, I have a lot of experience in this field." Sonic gave s small pat on Shadow's shoulder as he moved passed him.

"Now, I'll leave. Good luck Shads!" With that Sonic left.

Sonic wasn't one to do things like this. It wasn't on his character and he knew that. However, he felt more relieved.

He didn't wish any bad to Shadow, on the contrary, he really wishes that this girl was good for him.

But Sonic couldn't help but feel threatened.

Threatened that maybe Amy was having unaware feelings for Shadow.

Feelings that were meant to be originally for him.

Sonic kept walking around the city, maybe, he should stay a couple of more days, just to make sure everything was going in the right direction.

Sonic tried to distract himself but he just couldn't stop thinking on Amy's face when she told him no.

He was scared that he was slowly losing her and there was no one to blame but himself.

Dating around and punishing her away.

Sonic knew he wasn't one to deserve her.

But he really wanted her.

.

Shadow and Ellie were already in front of her house. Right in front of her gate.

"Thank you for today, Shadow," Ellie said as she moved closer to him.

Shadow now had to do his part of the deal he made with Amy. He needed to ask Ellie on a second date. Don't misunderstand him, Ellie was a good girl and he hoped that maybe they could become acquaintances on the least for now,

"Would you like to go on another date?" Shadow asked the words came out of his mouth naturally.

Ellie smiled, she felt her cheeks get warm as she softly held Shadow's hand.

"I have a better idea."

Ellie kissed Shadow and this caught him by surprise. His eyes were wide open as he let the girl do his way with him. When she felt that he wasn't responding, she moved back.

"Damn it," Shadow said in a whispered but Ellie noticed it.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have-" she said, immediately regretting her actions.

"Amy told me not to kiss on the first date."

If there could be one word that could describe Ellie's face, it would be: perplexed.

Shadow the Hedgehog was completely dense.

"You know what, Shadow?" Ellie asked, this time sarcastically, "What if instead of asking me out on a date, why don't you go and ask Amy?"

"I went on a date with her before going on a date with you."

And after that, Ellie closed the gate on Shadow.

"Is that a yes on the second date?!"

.

Amy was already sound asleep when she received a call from Shadow.

She was super close to denying the call and keep on sleeping but since it was strange coming from Shadow, so she decided to answer.

"This better be good," Amy said, more asleep than awake.

"I just want to make this clear," Shadow added, "I don't like you ... romantically, I mean. Just because I think of you while I am with other people doesn't mean I like you. Just because I do nice things for you, and do the things you tell me to do, doesn't mean I like you."

"You call me in the middle of the night just to tell me that?" Amy said.

"Yes, that's it."

Beep.

Shadow heard Amy end the call, and he did the same.

"Sir, are you sure you want to buy my restaurant?" The owner of the MoMo cafe and previous boss of Amy, asked Shadow, "My apologies, I just don't see why someone who works at G.U.N. would like to buy a restaurant like mine."

"It's not for me, it's a gift for someone."

"Well, someone must be special."

"Yes, she is."

The owner teased Shadow a bit, "Your girlfriend, sir?"

Shadow sighed. He just wanted to get it over with already. He took out his black credit card, not wanting for the owner to ask any more questions, he responded,

"Yeah... something like that."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A/N: A slow chapter today, but I wanted to introduce Sonic as a character and also build-up for the next upcoming chapters.

Now things get spicy.