A/N: OMG!! It's finally HERE!! Here's the much anticipated conclusion for Final Destination: Sonic Style!! I'm just thanking God that I'm finally done! XD

For once, there really nothing to warn you about. Isn't that a surprise? lol

Lyrics are property of Rob Thomas. No copyright infringement intended.

Well, except that... XD

Please enjoy and take a look at the Author's Note at the end for the location of a deleted scene!!

Chapter 12: A Second Chance

One month later…

“You survived a freakin’ tornado?!” Tails asked incredulously as he attempted to sneak over Shadow’s shoulder and snag a hot dog from the grill.

“Yeah, it was intense as hell! It felt like the whole world was falling down around us.” Shadow replied in a prideful tone, catching Tails’s aggressive movements on the corner of his eye and carefully watching. Just as Shadow had expected, Tails burned his hand on the dog as he tried to pull it from the grill. Tails yelped in surprise and jerked his hand back with no dog to show for his efforts.

“Wow Tails, that was stupid.” I remarked from poolside. It was just the three of us in the backyard of Tails’s place having a cookout. A hot westerly breeze did nothing but stir the thick summer air. This meant that everything was centered around the pool or in the house because there was no sense in attempting to do anything incredibly active while the heat was so oppressive.

“You would know.” Tails sneered back, receiving a warning glare from Shadow as a consequence.

“No actually, I wouldn’t. Why don’t you describe it to me?” I replied scathingly, flicking my sunglasses up so I could look Tails eye to eye. Tails mumbled something lividly and stomped across the yard to a small wooden table with three place settings. I watched carefully for any signs of malicious intent, but found none in the kitsune other than the occasional tightening of his fist. While Tails was trudging angrily around the yard, Shadow took the opportunity to close the black lid of the grill and allow the dogs to get a little more heat; although not before grappling with a single hotdog until he cut off two small pieces from the middle of it. Shadow took his four hotdog pieces in hand and strode off towards Tails. Carefully, Shadow extended the two larger end pieces to Tails as a peace offering. Shadow cocked his head curiously and analyzed Tails’s every movement critically. With a small glare, Tails reached out and practically ripped the meat from Shadow’s outstretched hand. As his fangs tore a piece off of one of the hotdogs, a smile replaced the glare and he closed his eyes in content. With little to no resistance, Tails returned to his normal self and went back to milling around the yard. I watched silently as Shadow trotted over to my lounge chair and knelt beside it with the remaining two pieces of the hotdog.

“Try it.” He ordered and pressed one of the pieces into my palm. Though my eyes were supposed to be on the hotdog in my hand, I couldn’t help but glance at the half-tuft of white fur and the scar tissue in the other half’s place.

“Thanks.” I muttered as I lifted the meat up to my mouth, catching whiffs of pure heaven with each inhale. I popped the meat in my mouth before I shoved it up my nose to permanently draw in the scent of a perfectly cooked hotdog. Shadow grinned brightly as I heaved a sigh of pure content.

“Good?” He tilted his head to one side and shifted his weight towards me.

“Absolutely.” I replied after a long moment of savoring the miniscule bite.

“But how good?” His grin twisted deviously and I knew he was plotting something.

“I… I don’t know.” I shrugged and swung my legs out to the side of the lounge chair, gently placing my feet on the wet concrete ground. The devilish smile grew even wider as he turned towards me.

“I think I know what’s better.” He said slowly, winking mischievously. Before I could realize what his intentions were, it was already too late. Shadow sprang at me, pushing just hard enough to send me careening off of the chair and towards the water. However, what he didn’t count on was my own determination. I managed to snag his wrist and yank him down with me as I fell. He didn’t resist much as I pulled him down. In fact, he laughed the whole way until we broke the surface of the once flat pool. I held my breath, but peered through the chlorine-wracked water. A black shape materialized against the blue and wrapped itself around me gently. I relaxed completely, putting all faith in the dark as my lungs began to shriek for oxygen. I felt only the slightest tug and then… I broke the surface once more, gasping for air but still breathing.

At least until his lips crushed to mine.

He was simply amazing. He could keep himself afloat, me up, and kiss me all at the same time.

I’ll be damned if Shadow isn’t the best multi-tasker ever.

My lips moved to his, answering his questions that, despite being mute, became more urgent with every action. Finally, Shadow had managed to maneuver us to the extremely shallow water of the stairs that led into the pool. Just as Shadow went up for a breath however, Tails cleared his throat in annoyance, shattering the mood.

“Shadow, the dogs are gonna burn if you leave them unattended for too long.” He suggested, nodding towards the grill.

“Oh… oh right.” Shadow stood slowly, pulling me to my feet as well. He meandered back to his station and began to work, while I remained with my feet submerged in the water. I sighed heavily, alerting Tails to my odd mood.

“You don’t know how lucky you are.” He murmured irritably before stomping off again.

“You may be right… but then again, you’re probably dead wrong.” I whispered as I stepped carefully out of the pool. Tails froze instantly, his fists balling up at his sides as he fought to control his anger. I rooted myself to the spot as well like a deer in the headlights. However, Tails quickly regained power and went about his business. It was only when he was a good 30 feet away before I moved again though.

Around ten minutes later, the three of us were seated around the small table and conversing like old times between bites of hotdog, potato salad, baked beans, and swigs of various soft drinks. Despite the familiarity of the situation, another memorable, but vile feeling was looming on the very edge of my mind, causing me to merely nod or shake my head as I concentrated on identifying this sensation.

Somewhere between “Pass the mustard, Tails.” And “Remember when we beat Eggman that time…”, I didn’t have to search anymore.

“You ready to go?” Shadow asked me anxiously; somehow still skinny after around 6 hotdogs had entered his stomach next to thirds on the luscious potato salad and the perfect baked beans. I only nodded back, glancing nervously from side to side.

“Leaving already?” Tails moaned, sliding a little more down his seat to the ground.

“Yeah, we’ve got to head to another check up. Those docs just won’t give up ‘til they’ve got all the money you’ve got.” Shadow exasperated, wrapping an arm around me.

“Let me drive you. I mean, if the docs are taking your money like that, the gas prices must be taking bigger chunks out.” Tails offered politely, extending one hand towards the hanger/garage that inhabited the left side of the house.

“You don’t have to do that, Tails!” Shadow exclaimed.

“I own you one though.” Tails murmured.

“Yeah, but you don’t have to pay us back immediately.” Shadow continued to protest. I glanced quickly at my watch.

“Crap, we’re so gonna be late.” I groaned as I showed Shadow the time.

“No prob! The Tornado’s probably faster than that new Viper anyway.” Tails waved my distress off.

Tornado…

“Amy! Where are you?!” Sonic cried out desperately. I could hear his footsteps above the rubble, searching endlessly for me.

My past was interfering with my future.

“Sonic!” I yelled weakly, choking on dust that had lodged firmly in my lungs.

“Amy?” Shadow’s voice probed as I closed my eyes and tried to block everything past and present out.

“This isn’t right! The weather reports called for light and variable winds and little to no cloud cover!” Tails yelped over the howling winds, each gust trying to rip us from our seats.

A dirty gloved hand reached down through a fissure in the debris and closed around my wrist while a scratched cerulean face popped up in the crack, almost blocking out all light, but not completely.

“PULL UP, TAILS!” Shadow screamed, pulling me into his chest protectively and pressing my face into him, covering my head with his arms.

“Negative! We’re gonna crash!”

“Amy! Are you okay?”

I staggered to my feet, only barely aware of the two pairs of eyes fixated on me.

“DAMN IT, TAILS!! DON’T GIVE UP!! PULL US OUT!!”

This is it…

“Hold on to your second chances, Ames. You won’t get another chance to mend the broken seams after this.”

Great, now Sonic’s talking to me.

“Hello, Amy? Earth to Amy!”

“Everybody get down…” Shadow snarled, not truly willing to say the words.

“Go Amy! Get out of here!” Sonic yelled after me, pushing my feet faster and faster, propelling me farther and farther away with each stride towards freedom.

“Amy!” Shadow was standing directly in front of me now, his image flashing between color and sepia. I clutched at my head despairingly, trying to orient myself as Shadow’s eyes flicked from ruby to crimson-gold to emerald.

I didn’t dare rip my eyes from Shadow’s chest, for I knew I would only see my doom.

“Are you okay, Amy?” Shadow tilted his head slightly, a worried expression on his face.

“Yeah…” I responded woozily. “For the moment…” I added in a whisper. Shadow’s ears twitched and his eyes widened, though Tails remained oblivious.

“What is it?” Shadow asked quickly in a low voice. I just gave him a strained look, for Tails’s brow pulled down in suspicion more and more as we remained standing. “I think we should be going.” Shadow turned back to Tails, all expression of concern gone.

“Already?” Tails asked, a disappointed look crossing his face.

“Err… yeah… I have a check up, if I remember correctly.” Shadow looked back to me and I made a face at him.

“Wouldn’t be the first time you forgot something.” Tails muttered as Shadow pivoted to leave. Shadow froze and I felt the atmosphere immediately tense as I moved closer to Shadow.

“What did you just say?” Shadow growled incredulously.

“It wouldn’t be the first time you forgot.” Tails repeated, editing a touch. Shadow leaned forward on the balls of his feet in anticipation of a brawl while Tails nervously edged towards the house.

“You wanna take that back?” Shadow’s fists tightened and his lips curled up over his teeth.

“Shadow, don’t go there.” I earnestly pushed for peace.

“The only thing I’m taking back is my offer to take you to the doctor’s.” Tails scowled, warranting a ‘shut-up; glare from me. Shadow smirked darkly.

“Guys! Quit it!” I insisted.

“Stay out of it, Amy!” Tails bellowed, receiving a demonic roar from Shadow.

“C’mon, Shadow. Let’s go home.” I urged gently, prodding his uninjured side softly. Shadow instantly calmed and turned his back to Tails. His eyes focused on me directly.

“You’re right. Let’s go.” He wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me along beside him to the brand new white Dodge Viper with two cobalt racing stripes.

“Good riddance!” Tails called after us. Shadow roughly slammed the door and pumped up the volume on the stereo. However when I got in, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he looked back to the house. I turned as well and watched as Tails retreated into the backyard. And still, Shadow didn’t pull away.

“What are you waiting for?” I exclaimed impatiently. He held one finger to my lips, but I shoved his arm to the side with a huff. Suddenly, a mushroom cloud of fire and smoke erupted from the behind the house. Shadow tore from the driveway as fast as he could, slamming his foot down on the accelerator.

“That.”

“Shouldn’t we see if he’s okay?” I asked as we hit the highway. He gave me a ‘you’re-actually-asking-me-that’ glare across the console. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” I turned my head away to gaze out into the green blur that made up the roadside.

“You know we’ll either get a funeral notice or a very pissed off letter.” Shadow smirked at me knowingly. I scowled at his crude belief, but he changed my mind with a single kiss.

Sure enough one week later, we received an incredibly angry note from Tails that, though led one to believe he didn’t ever want to see us again, invited us back for dinner next Friday… and a second chance at a broken friendship to frame our oddball love… Shadow wrote the response.

Tails,

What, are you stupid? Of course we’ll come back, despite the fact that you no longer possess a grill. However if you manage to make the microwave blow up, you’ll be on thin ice with us.

Your buds,

Shadow and Amy

So, it really wasn’t much of a surprise when Tails refused to use the microwave on Friday. Instead, he insisted on making Kraft Macaroni & Cheese on the stove, while Shadow rented Cloverfield on Pay-Per-View and I found myself inhabiting a very comfortable spot next to him as the world blew up, for once, not anywhere near us.

“Don't you wanna go for a ride
Just keep your hands inside
And make the most out of life
Now don't you take it for granted”

”Life is like a mean machine
It made a mess outta me
It left me caught between
Like an anchored dream I was stranded, I was stranded”

”And I'm steady but I'm starting to shake
And I don't know how much more I can take”

”This is it now
Everybody get down
This is all I can take
This is how a heart breaks
You take a hit now
you feel it break down
Make you stay wide awake
This is how a heart breaks”

-“This Is How A Heart Breaks” by Rob Thomas

The End... of Their Beginning.

--

A/N: WOOT!! Congrats, you've finished reading the story!! Well, not quite really... -devious smirk- I will be releasing a deleted scene from between chapters 11 and 12 under a different story called either Somewhere in the Stratosphere or By the Way, I Made It Through Today. The title is, as of now, undecided. It'll be worth the look though, trust me.

Don't ya think the song fits the fic? XD I liked the match, really. Check out my profile in a few days for a playlist to go along with this fic!

ThAnKs To AlL oF mY rEvIeWeRs!!: Project Shadow, Elys, RyuuseiRazgriz, ShadowFan100, SUPER SIX FOX, DarkShelby101, Zap the Hedgehog, Trigga Happy Saiyanayo, Memories2share, Naruto the Hedgehog, snowcakes, Rae Logan, Shadlay, Merc, No. 42, and soynicthebeanhog. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I wish I could give you all a big hug and a Mustang, but certain things (like distance and money XD) limit me XD. Anyways, THANKS SO MUCH!! I never expected this fic to reach 51 reviews and I never could have done it without ya'll!! I live and breath on reviews, so your support has been my lifeline! THANKS A TON!! Look for a complete list of reviewers in the deleted scene.

It has brought me so much joy to write this little fic and watch the readers' reactions change. Heh, the funny thing is... this is my first time writing Shadamy EVER! Isn't that strange? XD Well, I really enjoyed it and I hope you did too! I'm going to really miss Thanks to everyone who too the time to read this and God Bless! Until next time...

-When darkness falls, heroes will rise-

-Swift-