Sage and I were in the base this time instead of just me or just her. She kept trying to talk to me. I wasn't interested. Her singular goal was to better the agenda with her dear Father, a goal I didn't contradict but one that annoyed me either way. Because of the racing challenge, my Master came back to the base the same time she did, so we didn't work together until he left after abandoning me on that island. All I could think about was how to get out of here.



... Maybe I was acting too harsh towards Sage. She craved companionship like Belle did. She wanted a family and to have me and the little bots as brothers. But... she was my Master's favorite, clearly, and she wasn't lacking for attention. Similarly, she could control me anytime and she stole my authority. All grace that could've been given to me was given to her instead. I suddenly decided I was not being too harsh and I was justified in disliking her.



For what it was worth, she wasn't as annoying when we were alone. She either kept to herself with monitoring everything or she explored activities that brought her curiosity. Recently, she picked up knitting and made hats for Orbot and Cubot. She was intelligent but somewhat gullible. I had to take my chances.



'I will be gone for several days,' I told her. She was knitting a different hat while sitting at the new little throne chair in the main room.



Sage lifted her head to look at me, then right back down as she continued her project. "You have to go? What is the reason?"



'One of Sonic the Hedgehog's allies is moving suspiciously and I need to keep a close eye on them to confirm. They are leaving town, so I suspect they are up to something.'



"Oh my... Please report all that you can, Metal Sonic," she said, giving me a concerned glance. She focused on her knitting project again.



'I will, and my connection to the Eggnet will stay open.' I bowed my head and left. Huh, that was easy.



My first stop was at the old base to reinstall my voice processor. I recalled the note Amy left... she was so worried about me. I wished I could visit her more consistently, but at least we were about to spend a long time with each other.



Hm... I decided to visit the part of the base I left open for her. As I passed by the rooms and halls, I remembered that I was the only special machine that once lived here. The others didn't exist, not even Orbot and Cubot. Knowledge of this base made it all the more significant to me. It was a place away from everyone else, with or without the Eggman Empire insignia. When I was done reminiscing, I reached my Master's old bedroom.



... Some work had been done in here. The bedsheets were changed, a red comforter on top with a fluffy white blanket underneath. There were new pillows on both the bed and the couch, and there were additional pictures on the walls. I walked over to see one of them, realizing quickly it was one of the pictures Amy took of us. All the new pictures were of us.



... I... overheated. She mentioned wanting to put the photos up, but actually seeing them...



On top of the cabinet in front of the TV, Amy's doll was there. Cute... I picked it up to examine it. The doll had drama with the Sonic doll, according to her. I put it back down, then checked inside the cabinets. There were more movies than before and a few video games and board games. Amy really wanted this place to be nice to hang out in.



Out of impulse, I opened the closet door. None of my Master's things were in there... instead, Amy had a fluffy robe of her own and a few outfits. She acted like she lived here, and for some reason, that made me... happy. I hoped her times waiting for me here weren't in vain.



When I was done looking around, I tended to my garden. I gathered some seeds from outside Little Planet to test them out, but I wasn't confident they could be bred to make the flower in the code. The graphs I made of potential hybrids had some similar in appearance, so I was thinking it would take a change in the environment or something like that... That being said, none of these flowers were special or pretty enough to be given to Amy Rose. When their purpose was complete, I would replant them outside. My impulse would be to discard them, but...



I stopped thinking about the moral implications of destroying flowers I brought into the world and why it disturbed me, and instead focused on the imminent arrival of my beautiful Amy Rose. I left the old base and sat at the entrance to wait for her.



...!



A sizable, off-white car approached. Amy was in the driver's seat! I eagerly flew over to her as she stopped the car.



"Gooood morning!" she beamed as she rolled down the window. Unusual for her outside look, her quills were not straightened and instead wrapped behind a red ribbon. Her outfit was vibrant, cute as always... she looked like she was ready to go anywhere.



I kissed her instead of giving her a verbal reply. I was happy to see her.



She giggled, rubbing under my chin. "Ready to go on our adventure, cutie?"



"Yes," I replied immediately.



"Well..." She moved out of the driver's seat, then opened a door behind her. "Come on in!"



I entered; the car was huge, walkable, roomy. Kinda like an airship. There was a table and seating embedded into the car itself, along with a very small kitchen, a shower stall, a bed in the back, and usual car seats up front.



"I was surprised how cheap RVs are to rent out. This one can go offroad! She's been driving like a dream, and there's so much space!" Amy beamed, slapping the back of the driver's seat. "I also got everything we could possibly need. Okay, mostly for me."



She showed me around the space and was particularly excited to show me how she stocked and prepared everything. What she packed made me feel like we were going to be gone for a month rather than just a few days... but she was happy and I enjoyed listening to her. Supposedly, this RV's wheels could change and levitate the vehicle off the ground, but Amy preferred driving on the road to get a more, in her words, 'authentic' experience. She hopped into the driver's seat again, while I got into the passenger side. I loved how giddy she was.



"Is this vehicle really so much slower that it'll take over a day to get there?" I asked.



"Well, we're not cutting through the sky. Also, I want to take my time getting there so we can be together longer." She smiled at me, then began driving off.



"And it's slower."



She laughed. "And it's slower," she confirmed. "I won't trap you in the RV. If you want to fly around or take a break, you're free to."



I nodded at her. "I want to be here with you right now," I said.



So our journey began. Amy drove us out of the forest and onto a road, then set off towards Never Lake. She caught me up with everything she was up to the past few days, including her mission in acquiring the vehicle we were in. She could talk about anything and I would never get bored... I loved her voice, her energy. Her.



She didn't apologize for her talking like she did the first time she told me about her day. We had grown even more comfortable with each other. When I first confessed to her, I never expected we would one day be in a car to just... go somewhere, and for nothing other than to be with each other. In comparison, I felt foolish for stressing so much about her impermanent life.



... However, if I kept thinking about the impermanence, I would get stressed again. I tried to relax. Amy Rose brought me many positive feelings and I wanted to explore them more during our time together.



"Okay, there's something I think we really gotta get into," she started, her face a little serious.



"What?" I asked.



She let out a soft sigh. "First: I want you to know I am very glad you haven't gone after anyone around me when you're angry. You respect my boundaries, and that means a lot to me... But I want to talk about that anger in the first place."



I crossed my arms. "We already reached a compromise about the photos," I grumbled to her.



"I'm not talking about that, though, yeah, that's part of it. I'm talking about that intense glare I felt when Sonic took my arm back in the park. Or when he gave me a hug during the race and you stared him down." She smiled at me. "You know Sonic's my friend. I'm gonna let my friends touch me in a friend way."



"I don't know why you want him to spread his filth," I said.



"Platonic affection is a thing! I explained this to you," she huffed. "I wouldn't get upset if Belle hugged you."



"This is a poor comparison. For one, I've never had any romantic interest in Belle and never will. Two, you are also friends with her. Three, you were not created to surpass Belle, and-- four-- you did not witness her take everything from you multiple times over."



Amy cleared her throat. "You know what, that is my bad. I sometimes forget how much Sonic affects you, since I see your sweet side so much..." She sighed again. "Let me try to rephrase this. I mean... is it just Sonic that bothers you, or do you not want anyone to touch me?"



"... I don't want anyone to touch you," I huffed. "But especially not him."



"Why don't you want anyone to?" she asked. By the way she worded it, I think she wanted to break down my logic. I hated she wanted to do this, but I knew she was trying to help me... And she wanted to improve our relationship. I begrudgingly played along.



"I want to give you my affections instead..." I averted my eyes, staring out the window. "I want to be the one that makes you happy."



"Ahhh." I glanced back at her; she tapped the steering wheel with her index fingers. "Well... There are other things that must make you happy other than me, right?"



"Not really."



She rolled her eyes. "Come on. Like... Let's bring back Belle. You're friends with her, so that means you like her in some sense. She gives you some kind of fulfillment."



"I don't hate her."



Amy laughed. "I'm starting to learn that's code for 'friend'." She smiled more, glancing over to me, then back at the road. "She helped you out of the goodness of her heart, even with the chance of her suffering for it. You said you fell in love with me for something similar. You can't tell me that didn't affect you."



"It... It did," I admitted. "She is so good that it sickens me."



Amy was amused by my words. "But I bet you let her get away with things that you wouldn't with other people. Like... I bet she's allowed to be closer to you, or you might follow her plans and ideas because you find value in what she's saying."



"I suppose so."



"Well, that's how it is with my friends. We've had experiences that allow us to be closer together. I let them take my arm and hug me because I like them. Those experiences don't override or replace the ones I've had with you. They're entirely separate. They all have meaning to me."



I raised my hands in the air a little. "I don't understand why it matters that they do touch you. You can still be friendly without it."



"It's affection, Metal. I view it in a different way than when you take my hand or something like that," she explained.



"What's the difference?"



"Like...!" Her face reddened a little. "There are platonic and romantic ways of touching. I wouldn't be okay with any of my friends romantically touching me, but I'd be okay with you doing both. So, like, they can hold my arm, but I only want you to hold my hand-- as an adult! So, I'll let Cream hold my hand, and it's also a little different with my friends that are girls. Or guy friends I view in more of a family way. Actually, wait, there's a romantic way to hold hands and a normal way of holding hands. Wow, explaining this is complicated..."



I crossed my legs over the dashboard. "We have time. Explain."



Amy explained to me her boundaries relative to the many social norms, rules, etiquette she and other organic beings were used to. There were a lot of subtle differences and a lot of confusing ones... She explained more whenever I asked questions; eventually, more clicked for me, and I not only better understood her own rules, but also my own reasons for what I found comfort or discomfort in. I better knew why she was okay with some actions not okay with others. Similarly, I got away with much more because she loved me.



I only felt more firm in that I didn't want anyone other than Amy Rose to touch me with their face, regardless of platonic intent or battle tactics. Rouge the Bat climbed up the list of people I wanted to destroy the most. I asked her if there were platonic ways to kiss, because I didn't want her to be kissed in such a way either. She had a lengthy explanation for that one: cheek versus head versus mouth, the context, the participants, the atmosphere... She made kissing sound so much more complicated than I thought it was...



"This is ridiculous," I groaned. "How about: I'll kiss you however and whenever I find it fitting, you do the same, and I'll rip Sonic's face off if he so much as grazes any part of your person with his mouth."



"Man, I thought we were getting somewhere," she sighed.



"I get the point, Rosy. The gestures you explained from your friends are definitively platonic, so I will no longer perceive them as a threat. Your friend kissing you on the head is different from me doing it, because I love you more than they do, and also because you find me more alluring as your boyfriend."



"Oh...!" She grinned at me. "Close enough!"



I liked her smile... "I understand I am your favorite, and each passing day, I feel more confident about our connection. I honor our established boundaries and nuances because that strengthens our bond. I don't respect most people, though. I'm programmed to hate the way this world currently functions. I don't care about others like you do."



"I mean... It's all a little complicated, honestly; talking about what's 'normal' and exactly what rules should be respected is a huge conversation all on its own. Your programming is not so different from what a lot of people feel, even some friends of mine. Anger with the status quo is what causes change; it's what drives so many of us."



"Really?" I didn't expect her response.



"Oh yeah. I'm not asking you to suddenly start liking people, I mean, I dislike a lot of people too. But... intention matters, what you do with what upsets you. Every action has a consequence, positive or negative, so keep that in mind."



"I understand, and knowledge of consequences is why I haven't revealed myself around your other friends..." I put my hands on my head and growled to myself. "But I don't know how I can just 'turn off' the anger I feel when he's too close to you, even knowing he is not there to take you from me," I mumbled.



"It takes some time, I guess. It's a really good step that you acknowledge your own feelings; sometimes people don't even think they're doing anything. But, I mean... you shouldn't worry about me being kissed by someone else, especially not Sonic, anyway. A kiss on the cheek would be really weird coming from him and I would get upset considering my history with him. As for what we do share? He likes high-fives, pats on the back, shaking my shoulders, that kind of thing."



"I'll allow it..."



She smirked at me. "You'll allow it either way, because it's my decision on how I want my friends to interact with me, not yours. If you controlled how everyone can interact with me and what I'm allowed to do, I wouldn't be very happy. You know how that feels, right?"



Oh...



"I didn't... Think about it like that," I muttered. "I support your freedom, Rosy."



"I know you do," she said sweetly. "I support yours, too." She reached over with her hand open to take mine. Our seats were farther apart, so we couldn't exactly lean against each other. I reached over to hold her hand back. "I would never do or allow anything that would intentionally hurt your feelings, Metal. I want your romance, so if something does upset you, please tell me." She rubbed her thumb over the top of my hand. "And I'll do the same with you, too."



"I know," I said with a nod. "With the lines of platonic and romantic gestures established, however, I will assert my place as your boyfriend should any fool try to be romantic."



"Oh yeah?" She giggled. "How?"



"Violence towards the fools who dare approach you with amorous intent."



She laughed more. I did not know she found amusement in violence. This increased my attraction to her. "Aw, you wouldn't, like, kiss me in front of them or something?"



"I could do both..."



"As long as you don't go after my friends just being friendly, you know, I think we've made progress," she said with a grin.



"Hmph... If you allow Sonic to be 'friendly' with you, then it just means I have to be friendlier."



Amy giggled. "I don't mind that~"



I got out of my seat and walked to her side...



...



I squeezed myself beside her in the seat. She yelped, grappling the steering wheel with both of her hands and making sure to keep her feet on the car pedals.



"Metal!" she whined. "You'll make me wreck!"



"This seat is big enough for us both. It's crafted for larger species."



"Th-that's why I have the seat pulled up!" she exclaimed. I saw her face redden, but she did not scramble to get me out of the seat. I adjusted so I could hold her from behind without compromising her position. I rested my head against hers.



"I want affection," I said.



"Awh...! We'll take our first break in a little bit..."



I enjoyed her warmth and buried my face into her quills. "Whatever you prefer," I said. I was perfectly content holding her. It had been too long... I squeezed her to me a little more. All the talk of platonic and romantic affection made our distance in the vehicle far too apparent. I wouldn't have to leave her side for many days... Sage would handle the problems at the base instead. I was very happy...



"You're making such a cute sound," Amy teased.



"What? I'm not making any sounds," I said, lifting my head. I leaned forward a little to look at her.



"You are! You made a cute little machine noise. It sounded like purring."



"I can't make noises like that," I said quickly. Was I? I didn't notice. Impossible.



"Sure thing," she said, rubbing the side of my head. I watched as she pulled over and parked under a tree, a bit away from the road. She stopped, turning the RV off, then turned her head to smooch me.



She released my hold on her to turn around, then she let out a giggle as she straddled herself over me. She lovingly held the sides of my head with her hands... She gave me a much more intimate kiss. If I could breathe, I wouldn't be able to here. She was... stunning.



"I forgot to give you a kiss back when we said hi," she said to me.



"Th...That's... Okay," I replied a little slower than I intended.



"How's my Metal?" she softly asked.



"Happy..."



She kissed me again. "I'm happy, too... What do you want to do together?"



I held her to myself and slid out of the seat. I sought for a more comfortable place for us to sit together and have an intimate moment... or several. I moved us to the passenger seat and leaned the seat back. I didn't want to worry about the steering wheel. Amy grinned when I pressed against her instead and fully embraced her.



We enjoyed a small moment together. With enough of our excitement expressed and my desire for attention satisfied, Amy cuddled me as she watched out the window. I didn't turn to look until I heard the tapping of water hit the windshield.



"It's starting to pour... I wonder if there's rain on Little Planet?" she hummed in question.



"I'm not sure... It's never rained when I've been there."



"Interesting! I wonder how it looks covered in mist and dew. I bet it's beautiful."



I rested more against her. "... Will you be alright traveling in the rain?"



"Me? I'm more worried about you," she giggled, knocking on my chest. "You're the one who will draw lightning."



"I'll be perfectly fine." I shifted my head against her. "You do not need to be concerned, though I know that is your default state."



She rubbed one of my cheeks with hers. "My real default state is loving you to pieces!" She clung to me, unrelenting with her affections. I held her and received all of her love with complete pride. I was overjoyed to be loved to pieces.



We spent another moment together, then Amy wiggled out of the seat to grab something to eat from the fridge. I opened the door to the outside and listened to the rain... It was peaceful. I sat on the top step of the RV and took in the moment.



Amy sat beside me when she was done with her brief meal. She leaned against me and enjoyed the rainfall... I put my arm around her to keep her close to me.



"Hey, random question," she hummed. "Do you need to sleep?"



"No, I charge energy automatically... but I do like to rest to organize my data. That's similar to what organic beings do. When I have nothing to organize, I look at my files or I listen to what's around me." I thought for a moment. "I do have an offline mode, but I don't use it often."



"Ooh...! So... what are you gonna do when I go to sleep?" she asked.



I looked at her. "I'll be with you," I said. "If you want, anyway."



She kissed my cheek. "Yes...~ I feel weird not being in your hold," she said, rubbing her head against mine. I was glad she liked my hold, since she was soft and squishy and I was the opposite. I imagined I wasn't that comfortable, but she didn't seem to have any problems. In fact, I heard her tail patting the floor behind us while she sat so close to me...



"I find you comfortable as well," I replied. The longer we sat there together, the more aware I was of her physically. "... I also find you beautiful."



"Aw...!" She blushed, swaying herself a little and ultimately scooting closer to me. "You're the most handsome boyfriend ever!" she beamed, her tail patting even faster as she smooched at me.



I was suddenly thinking of appearances. "... Rosy, would you still find me handsome and cute if I got an upgrade?"



She giggled. "Of course I would. What kind of upgrade? Do you mean like Neo?"



"Maybe..."



"It's been a while since I've seen that design in person, but I remember it looking pretty cool. The blueprint we saw the last time we were at Little Planet definitely was," she mused. "I care more about you being happy with yourself, your own personal style."



My own personal style... But that meant nothing if we couldn't be close with one another. My Neo design was so... spiky... An aspect I found pleasing when I designed it, but now I couldn't help but think Amy would have difficulty cuddling me when I had more spikes. Should my Master follow through and upgrade me, maybe I could request small aesthetic changes...



"You look deep in thought. Are you considering a wardrobe change?" she asked with a smirk.



"I think I would be more free with you with an upgrade that let me travel in disguise... But my original Neo design was more to keep people away and have them witness my glory, not to hold or kiss anyone, so..." I tilted my head and focused on the rain outside.



"I'll find a way to love you, Metal. Don't you worry." She grinned at me. I held the side of her face with my free hand, admiring her... I gave her a longer kiss this time.



"I love you very much," I said. "... I love you the most."



"I love you too... More than I've ever loved." She kissed me back. Warm. "We better get going before Little Planet disappears," she giggled. "I could get really distracted with you!"



I almost wanted to distract her... but I wanted to go to Little Planet, too. We stood up and closed the door, then Amy settled in the driver's seat to start the car again. She intentionally left room for me to join her this time... so, naturally, I did.



I was fond of the rain. It reminded me of freeing days. I liked the gloom. But... with Amy Rose, even gloomy days felt bright. I didn't mind it at all. I drove instead while Amy took a break to eat lunch. She also wanted her turn cuddling me while I was at the wheel.



Occasionally, we saw other vehicles pass us by. There were sometimes wild animals grazing in nearby fields or hiding in trees. Since embracing my love for Amy Rose, my association with flowers became much more positive. I did not have the same rapport with wild animals... The ones on Little Planet predictably avoided me after I bullied them to make Sonic's time there worse. But, over time, they got used to me again. I wondered if they thought I was Sonic, or maybe they just stopped caring that I was around. Either way, I didn't go out of my way to bully them anymore. I preferred more fitting targets like the Hedgehog himself.



... Snoring. I heard snoring. Amy had completely fallen asleep against me. She was talking joyfully just half an hour prior and had full intent to take the wheel again, but the sound of driving must have soothed her enough. She had done a lot the past few days... maybe she was more tired than she implied.



I was happy she felt safe enough around me to sleep against me. I felt significant... I would keep her safe. It was my number one priority. My purpose was to be there for her.



The rain let up eventually, but the day was also escaping us. As the sky turned orange, I found a place to stop at. We were surrounded by trees different than the ones around the old base or where Big the Cat resided, far away from them both. I parked away from the road, and, checking to see if Amy was still sleeping, I turned the RV off.



... She was really out. I slowly scooped her into my hold, then took her to the back where the bed was. I just as gently lay her down, careful to not disturb her. She stretched herself out and turned away from me, snuggling into one of the pillows. I brought a blanket over her and let her rest.



She hadn't eaten a full meal for several hours, so I wanted to do something for her. I remembered how we cooked before, so I felt a little more confident in making her something edible, at least. I opened the fridge to see my options... Hm.



Cooking was a skill I needed to hone to impress Amy Rose further, but I wasn't far enough ahead that I was confident in giving her an excellent hot meal. So... I opted for making a sandwich. The best sandwich. Symmetrical, perfectly proportioned, and also cut in half for easier and more pleasant consumption. There would be no better sandwich to exist with the ingredients we had stocked. I added some potato chips to compliment the meal, but I didn't make those, so it wasn't nearly as impressive.



Unfortunately, to show off my creation, I would have to wake my Amy. In the time it took me to decide on a meal and make it, she rolled to the far end of the bed, pressed against the wall. She was curled up in a ball, all her spikes out... There was nothing more precious. I was suddenly unsure of waking her...



Her ears twitched when she heard my footsteps. I sat at the edge of the bed and caressed the back of her head. She unfurled and turned to look at me, eyes drowsy. I would overload if I wasn't careful...



"Hello, Rosy," I said.



She yawned. "Hi...~" She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up. "How long was I out?"



"A few hours." I offered her a plate of the perfect sandwich with the less perfect potato chips. "It is time for you to eat."



Her eyes brightened. "You made me food?" she asked, her voice higher. She gave me a kiss! I decided that second that I would make her food much more often. "Thank you!" she beamed, then took the plate from me. I stared at her and waited for her to try the food. She took a bite, then noticed my gaze. She giggled, covering her mouth. "What?" she asked, her voice muffled.



"... Do you like it?" I asked.



She nodded. "I love it. Hard to ruin a sandwich," she teased.



She was right, however, her phrasing disappointed me.



She giggled again. "It's the best sandwich because you made it just for me. That's so sweet of you!"



My sandwich was actually the best because of my craftsmanship, however, I accepted her gesture. "You're welcome," I said. I was happy she enjoyed something I made for her anyway. I let us have a comfortable moment of silence as she ate her food. "Are you feeling tired still? I can drive more if you want."



"Hmmm..." She glanced out a nearby window. "If we stop here for the night, we'll reach Little Planet in the morning. So... I think this is a good place to relax. You got us pretty far!"



I nodded. "... The journey has been relaxing. I am happy you wanted this to be what we did since I lost our race."



"Oh, man, I actually forgot we're driving because of that." She casually swayed her legs off the edge of the bed as she enjoyed her meal. "I don't think I really took the time to say this yet, but... You were so cool on the track! I loved watching you."



I lifted my head high. "You were impressive on the track as well, Rosy. You were also very pretty."



She rubbed the side of my head, smiling wide. "It's a wonder you're made of metal when you're this soft," she said. Her sentence was amusing. I leaned into her hand because I enjoyed her attention. She put her empty plate beside her and fully turned to me, her tail wagging. "Today's just the first part of our date... and the day isn't over yet! Let's play games that'll help us learn about each other more."



Before I could ask her what games would accomplish her request, she hopped off the bed and pulled out a huge suitcase from under it. She brought out another case from that suitcase, then opened it to reveal several games: card, board, I think maybe actual video games, too. She was... prepared.



For hours more, we played games with each other and filled the air with our chatter and laughter. The games were mostly a way for Amy Rose to learn more about me, since I knew so much from her letters already. She was getting frustrated at how much I knew to the point that I thought it was funny. I didn't actually find myself that interesting, but she was captivated by all she learned in regards to me, so I felt... nice.



When I actually thought about it, not many people actually wanted to know me without some sort of motive. The Hedgehog wanted to know me so he could turn me over to his ways. My Master and Sage wanted to know me to keep me in check. Everyone else wanted to know me so they could best me in battle. Amy Rose, because she was perfect, wanted to know me because she thought I was interesting. She reminded me I was a being capable of my own actions, even though everyone acted as if I wasn't. Every second that passed increased my already boundless love for her.



Before we retired for the night, we watched the stars from the top of the RV. The rain passed long ago and the sky above us was clear. We weren't near any town or city, so we could see trillions of stars and the colorful dusting of the galaxy beyond. It was beautiful.



"Metal?" Amy asked me. We lay opposite of each other, our heads nearly touching as we lay on our backs.



"Yes?"



"So far, what's your favorite thing we've done together? Out of everything, not just this trip."



Hmm. I thought for a while. "I'm not sure... It's hard to choose." I decided to do the trick she taught me and say the first thing that came to mind without thinking more: "I liked when you read my fortune."



"Aw...! Why that one?"



"You have a lot of knowledge and passion for reading cards. I enjoyed how focused you were, and how embarrassed you got when I got a fortune you interpreted as very pleasing." I crossed my arms behind my head. "That was also the day we talked about being in a relationship."



"Admittedly, I was still coming around to everything that day," she said with a wistful sigh. "Your fortune reading was around a month ago, but it still feels way longer. We've done so much already..."



"What's your favorite?" I asked.



She groaned aloud as she tried to think; she had trouble picking just one thing too, I assumed. "Taking pictures with you," she replied.



"Did you want to take them for a while?"



"Maybe...~" She sighed again. "You put up with all of my bullying into making you do cute stuff... And now I get to have some positive memories in physical form."



"You haven't bullied me," I said, amused.



"I think it's more that you hold your ground when you actually dislike something, so when you go along with it, I'm not worried you're suffering. You actually like doing cute stuff with me... So, I feel special."



She tapped my head, causing me to shift myself up and look at her. She handed me a small photo. It was the one of her kissing me and my eyes as static. I lay back down to look at it. The photo had a clear film over it to protect it from the elements.



"I'm always keeping this one on me, like I said before!"



Amy Rose was so... There were many words I could use. I settled on the word 'breathtaking'.



I offered her the photo again, and she politely took it back. She lay her hand near me, so I eventually held it. We continued watching the stars.



"Oh! A shooting star." She pointed to the sky with her free hand. As described, there was a small light streaking across the sky. "When you see a shooting star, you have to make a wish."



"A wish?"



"Yeah, wish for something you want to happen. But you can't tell me what it is, or else it won't come true."



What would I wish for? I watched the star shoot across the sky, then vanish completely. I wished to fully express my love to Amy Rose without worry and to give her a long, fulfilling life.



"Okay... I'm done!" she said, her voice excited but at a low volume.



"Did you also make a wish?" I asked.



"Mmhm!" She eventually let out a yawn. "On that note, though... I think it's bedtime for real, now. Today was so much fun."



"It was." I got up, then looked at her while she still lay totally flat. "You should get ready for bed, then."



She whined. "I would, but I can't move. I'm so weak, so tired...!" She lifted one of her arms and let it fall limp beside her. "If only I could be carried..."



I rolled my eyes. "You can just ask," I said, picking her up.



She giggled. "Oh, my hero!" she said, exaggerated. "Such a sweetheart..." She rubbed the side of my face. How interesting she regained the use of all her limbs. She kissed me at the front of my muzzle, then kissed my cheek, the side of my head... She was very happy, and I was too.



I jumped off the top of the RV and went back inside, putting Amy down. I closed the door behind us, then retired to the bed first to give her some privacy. After a few minutes, she tackled me from behind, then rolled herself over me, settling between me and the wall of the vehicle. She pulled a blanket over us both and just as eagerly cuddled me.



We softly spoke to one another, kissed, and continued to hold each other. She mentioned being so excited that she couldn't sleep, but she fell asleep a few minutes afterwards. I held her close to me.



I decided to rest as well, letting myself zone out by focusing on the present moment. The way she felt in my hold, the sound of her breathing. I could feel her heartbeat against my torso. Every time she adjusted in her sleep, she stayed close.



It was moments like this I felt just as precious.