A couple of days later, Team Dark had made their way back home.

They had finished their mission earlier than they expected and they couldn't wait to get back home.

Rouge didn't tell Amy that they were going back this soon. She preferred to give the pink one a surprise at the Resistance.

They arrived a day ago at night, and Rouge decided to wait until the next day to visit her pink best friend. It was 6:00 p.m and she was hoping that she and Amy could go for dinner together.

She arrived at the Resistance building and clicked the code number in the keypad so they could let her in.

It was the same number since years ago and Amy had never chanced it.

Rouge walked through the corridors, she expected to see agents walking around but considering that it was a Saturday and few agents were remaining on the Resistance, she didn't give it too much thought.

She finally reached Amy's dorm and knocked on her door. A few seconds passed and the pink one opened the door, a surprising look on her face and Rouge was happy to have accomplished this mission as well.

"Suprise-"

But Amy had also surprised Rouge. She noticed that Amy had scratches and band-aids on her face and even bruises on her arms.

"What happened to you?!"

"Wait, is Shadow back too?" Amy asked immediately.

"Yes, but tell me, what happened-"

"Sorry Rouge, I need to get to him right now." Amy added, "Do you mind closing the Resistance for me? Is he in his apartment?"

"Yeah, I am guessing. But tell me, what-" Rouge never got to finish her sentences as Amy was already out of her door.

"Sorry Rouge! I'll tell you everything when I get back!"

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Amy would have taken DR if it wasn't because Maria had stolen it ... again. The next day she arrived back home from Tail's house, she had found that her bike wasn't there, and because of that, she went to Shadow's apartment. Ready to fight again if that's what it took to get her bike back. When she got to Shadow's apartment, she found that his door was open and nothing was there.

Shadow's luxury apartment was empty, nothing was left. She fought the urge of calling Shadow and telling him but the thought that he might mess up in his mission because of the news still hunted her mind.

So she decided to wait. She thought Rouge would tell her when Team Dark was planning to go back home. She was planning on telling him the bad news softly but instead, she was afraid now that Shadow had found it the hard way.

Shadow's apartment was on the other side of the city and with her running and bad transportation system, Amy made it to Shadow's apartment around 7:15 p.m.

The sun was already down and Amy breathed heavily as she finally spotted Shadow's apartment door open.

She felt she could break at any moment, but she couldn't. She had to be strong for Shadow.

She opened the door more and it made a small creaking sound.

Shadow was sitting in the middle of the empty living room. His fancy couch was no more, no TV, no lights, nothing. His apartment was completely empty. Amy wonders if Shadow knew by now that they had also stolen all of his bikes. Amy was glad that Shadow had taken his favorite bike with him, otherwise, Maria would have stolen it as well.

His entire apartment was empty but Shadow had filled the living room with vodka bottles.

He was seated in the middle of the empty living room, staring at the wall. He had noticed Amy's presence and normally he would be ashamed of the state she found him in. However, he didn't care at the moment.

"I heard that drinking alcohol makes you forget," Shadow said, still not looking at Amy in the eyes. "But no matter how much I drink, I can't seem to forget a thing."

Being the ultimate life form, Shadow's body could detoxify his body faster. Even if he wanted to get drunk, his body would take down the effect really fast.

Amy felt her heart stop the moment she heard his voice. It had no hint of being sad, nor disappointed, nor angry. It was monotone and without emotion, almost dead like.

She didn't respond, mostly because she didn't know what to say. She got close to him trying to make him look at her. She sat down next to Shadow but he moved away at the closeness. As if he didn't want to be touched, as if he was afraid of contact.

Amy fought the tears of desperation, anger raised within her body, she had a tight grip on her fists and with determination, she placed herself in front of the hedgehog.

"She is not worth it," Amy said as she placed her hands on his shoulder.

"She was the only one who could ever love me," Shadow said, his eyes showed no glow, the intense fire he had within them had now disappeared. "I guess, I am not worthy of being loved."

Amy let a single teardrop fall from her right eye. She raised her voice, letting her thoughts be heard.

"I love you. I love the way you show kindness to people who don't deserve it. I love the way you care for me even when you know I can take care of myself. I love how excited you get for the simplest of things. I love how you wrinkle your nose every time you get annoyed."

Amy took a big breath and added, "You are my friend and I love you, Shadow. You won't ever be able to understand how much you mean to me and others. If there was anyone in this world who is worthy of love ... It is you."

Shadow hadn't noticed but Amy had injuries all over her face and body. Her face had scratches that were barely closing, some bruises that were dominant mostly in her arms. Even so, Shadow found himself lost in the unique beauty Amy possed.

He was realizing too many things.

There was a warm feeling rising up to his body and it made it's way to his heart. Amy was so sincere and vulnerable at that moment that Shadow's heart felt relieved. No one has ever been this open to him, no one has ever made him feel as loved as Amy had.

He waited for Maria to say things like that to him. He waited in vain, but now Amy was here. Saying things that came out of her mouth naturally because she actually felt it.

Amy loved him and even though it was the friendly type ... it is still meant the world him.

For you to love and to be loved back, it was a blessing indeed.

"I love you too," Shadow felt his voice crack. "You are the only friend I can trust ... So, please promise me. Promise you won't leave me."

Amy hugged Shadow as if she was protecting a lost child. She grabbed his face with both of her hands and whispered, "I promise."

She placed her chin on top of Shadow's head giving him some sort of warm and Shadow placed his arms around her waist. They shared an intimate hug and after a few minutes, they separated.

"What happened to you?" Shadow said almost in a whisper.

Amy wasn't telling him, there was no way. "I fell off DR."

Shadow sighed once again, "Next time be more careful but I am glad you still have the bike."

Shadow noticed that Amy's face showed concern and asked, "You still have DR, right?"

Amy hesitated, she didn't know if lying to Shadow about the bike was a good idea. Mostly because he was eventually going to find out.

"She ... took it."

Shadow immediately stood up and headed towards the door.

"We need to find it," he said.

"Shadow, no, wait." Amy stopped him as she grabbed him by the arm. "It's not worth it."

"It is worth it, you gave me that bike. It's important to me-"

"I know it's important to you but please do this for me." Amy added, "Just let it go."

Shadow knew that there was more connotation to her words. She wasn't only asking him to let go of the bike, she was asking him of letting go of Maria, of his past.

If Shadow wanted to let go of Maria, then he needed to grasp onto the future and right now, Amy is on his future.

Amy is his future.

"Fine." Shadow added, "But you need to do something for me."

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Amy hesitated as she watched Shadow turn on his favorite back, BB. He was ready to go, he was only waiting on Amy to join him.

"Are you coming?" Shadow asked.

"Are you sure?" Amy's voice trembled a little, "You don't let anyone ride BB and-"

"I am sure."

Amy gulped as she walked towards Shadow. She made a little jump as she mounted the bike, she made a pause as she was reluctant to hold Shadow by his torso.

But due that it was necessary, she wrapped her arms around his firm torso, her chest touching his back.

She took a deep breath as she smelled Shadow's cologne. Maybe, after all, it really wasn't his cologne but his natural scent.

Shadow began to move when he felt Amy's firm grasp around him.

They rode the bike on an empty bridge that was above the ocean. Shadow always came here to clear out his mind and when he didn't want to be stopped from enjoying the ride.

Many things were going through his head and confidently he told Amy, "I don't want to go back there... to my apartment."

Amy knew that Shadow wouldn't be able to live with the memories. Just like before, he had left the home he had gotten with Maria and now he had to leave his apartment.

"I have nowhere to go," Shadow added. He meant it as of today. Shadow had the money to rent another apartment, but it was going to be a bit difficult to find a place that would let him stay on the first floor. Maybe, he could stay at a hotel for a couple of days-

"Live with me."

Shadow felt his heart skip a beat as he heard Amy whispered into his ear. Once again, that warm feeling he couldn't describe overtook him. He threw a small smile at the pink one, accepting her offer.

They stayed silent, they didn't need to say anything.

Shadow had never let anyone ride BB with him. It was something he wished he had done with Maria, but someone else was already leaving that dream with her.

Now, he had Amy, her delicate hands placed firmly around his torso. Her chest lightly pressed against his back and her head laid softly in his shoulders.

The relaxing crash of the waves against the bridge, Amy's intoxicating perfume filling his nostrils and the warmth she shared with him.

It was everything he could have wished for and more.

Amy noticed Shadow sniffing now and then, she knew that he was containing himself from letting tears come out of his eyes. Although they never did, the thought still ached her heart.

She hugged Shadow tightly and closed her eyes at the realization.

She didn't know exactly when it happened, she couldn't recall an exact moment where these feelings for Shadow began to overtake her.

Maybe it was gradual, she didn't feel this way for him immediately. However, he had constantly shown her sides of him that intrigued her.

Shadow could be cold, but he was kind. He may not show it, but he cares. He may be stubborn, but he listens. Amy found his little defects entertaining and adorable even. There was not a single sense in Shadow's persona that Amy didn't like.

When she was telling him that she loved him as a friend, she was lying.

She did love him.

But not as a friend.

Amy took one last look at Shadow, his eyes were concentrating on the road.

She began to wonder that if she looked at him long enough he would realize.

If she looked at him with loving eyes, will her feeling reach him?

Amy didn't know the answer to that and for now, she didn't need it.

Her most important question was already answered the moment she heard Shadow said 'I love you' to her.

And although he meant it platonically, for her ... it meant the entire world.

It was everything she wanted and more.

Amy closed her eyes one more time, enjoying the feeling of this realization.

She was in love with Shadow the Hedgehog.

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First, I want to thank at @lonelysadblob the artist for the artwork above for letting me use it for this story, thank you!

A/N: I guess what I am trying to say with this chapter is that platonic love/ Friendship love is just as important and valid as romantic love.

Now we are at the end of this arc and we are starting the final arc called 'Intimate Friends.' Amy has finally realized her feelings for Shadow but... What about Shadow? I guess we have to find out.

I want to thank everyone for reading this far and I hope this chapter was up to everyone's standards. It was sad but we ended in a beautiful note I believe.

Thank you.