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Sonic raised his hand to the heavy oak door, lowered it again, and tugged on his blue and white striped scarf. It flapped in the bitter wind and smacked him in the face, urging him to go inside. However, he needed to prepare himself. This was no easy feat.
Once he went in, he couldn’t leave. He was locked in for the long haul.
Besides, he was expected. In fact, intuition told him that his presence was already known. All it took was a simple knock. That’s all. The dull lights along the roof, waiting for evening so they could twinkle in the wintery darkness. A small figurine of jolly Old St. Nick carrying a sack of toys stood under a window, its porcelain eyes almost flicking over to him. A wreath on the front door, with all its bright red ribbon curled round and round. All of them looked expectantly at Sonic.
You have to do it, he told himself. No more waiting around. It’s time.
Checking his quills to ensure the envelope was still there, he took a last deep breath of cold air, raised his hand, and knocked.
He didn’t even get three knocks in before the door flew open like it was hit by a blast of wind. A hand stretched out from the darkness within, snatched the end of his scarf, and yanked him inside. Sonic yelped as the door slammed shut behind him.
“You made it!” Amy squealed, crushing him in a bone-shattering hug. He swore that every time, she seemed to get stronger than before.
“Yes, yes, I made it,” he said, flailing his hands and trying to wiggle his arms free.
“Oops, sorry,” she set him down and smoothed out his fur, then her white apron. Sonic smirked at the writing on the apron. In red and green, it read Christmas Wishes, with the Wishes crossed out and written below it was Kisses. Amy was flushed with a sheen like she had been baking up a storm in the kitchen.
“Sorry, sorry.” She waved an oven mitt around, pointing it at the door and around the house. “I was just so excited and I heard about the blizzard on the other side of town early this morning, so I thought you might be late getting here – or not at all – and so I’ve been busy decorating and making cookies.” She grabbed his arms, her eyes widening in horror. “I forgot about the cookies!” With that, she made a mad dash to the kitchen, leaping and easily clearing the living room couch on her way.
Sonic smiled to himself and hung up his scarf on a hook by the door. He was used to her energy by now and it never failed to cheer him. He quickly locked the door.
When he first met Amy, she was loud, clingy, and head over heels for him. Not much had changed over the years. Maybe she didn’t yell out declarations of love so much, but she was still the same Amy from back then, always ready to glue herself to his hip and bestow him with nonstop affection.
Not that anyone else knew that. To their friends and the rest of the world, Amy had mellowed out over the years. People said she “matured” when it came to her feelings and that she no longer chased after Sonic without rest like when she was young. Only Sonic knew the truth. Because he was responsible for her change in demeanor.
Years ago, after he had saved her once again from a particularly dangerous trap set by Eggman, they’d hashed out a private deal. Sonic would spend one day of every month with her. Whether on a thrilling adventure, visiting the city, an all-day nature walk, or simply staying in at her house, he had to provide her with time, attention, and at least friendly affection. In return, she would restrain her obsessive nature the rest of the time.
“Think about it. I get my fill of my beloved Sonic,” she told him, “and you don’t have to worry about me being in trouble then. Deal?”
It wasn’t the best deal, but he figured he could handle one day. So he agreed, already dreading being squeezed to death like someone trying to get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. “Deal.”
To Amy’s credit, he only had to put up with back-breaking hugs and nonstop cuddling a couple of hours on the first day. After that, Amy was simply happy to be beside him, enjoying their time together. And she did keep up her end of the bargain. Little by little, she backed off the rest of the month, treating him the same as she did any other friend. It didn’t dull the lovesick glint in her eyes, but it did put a lid on that pot so that it simmered instead of boiling over.
Although, he had made a mistake a few months later by missing a day due to losing track of time. A mistake that happened only once. Because that day, the pot didn’t just boil over. It exploded, propelling the lid through the roof and flooding the kitchen in steam. Amy came after him with all the fervor that Knuckles had when someone dared to steal the Master Emerald, swinging her hammer wildly and chasing him down without rest.
Of course, Sonic immediately made up for it the next day, placating Amy with an extra special day of attention, and told everyone he had missed a date he promised to her. Since then, he made sure to be on time in the following years.
Sonic looked around Amy’s house, appreciating the decorations she put up. The full-figured Christmas tree sat in the corner, commanding attention with its multi-colored glimmer as different sections of lights faded in and out at their own speeds. Various ornaments hung from it, including classic-colored balls, Santa and his reindeer, brightly wrapped presents and wreaths, snowmen in floppy old top hats, praying angel figurines, and some special ones Amy picked up over the years or received from friends. Including a little baby Chao Sonic gave her one year. Beneath the tree, a white tree skirt waited expectantly for presents to be put under it later in the month for Amy’s annual Christmas party.
Garland hung over the windows and doorways, a Christmas rug with a wintery scene of a mountain village was laid out in front of the couch, and a sprig of mistletoe dangled above the entrance to the kitchen. The latter no doubt waiting for Sonic to enter, enticed by the smell of gingerbread cookies. A few candles flickered in the dim living room, adding a wonderful cinnamon scent to the house.
He lingered just outside the kitchen and away from the mistletoe, rocking on the balls of his feet. He touched his quills, debating on giving her the envelope now or waiting. “Need any help?”
“No, I saved them. I’ll be right out. Go ahead and sit.”
He decided to save the envelope for later and took his seat on the couch. It was already prepared for their day together. A large fuzzy blanket, big enough for two people. Pillows on either side. A couple of metal lanterns on the coffee table before him, one lit up with a tiny scene of Santa’s sleigh flying over a house, the other of people ice skating on a frozen lake. All couples, Sonic noted. The television was already on, running a crackling fireplace video on a loop.
A stray wind howled outside and Sonic shivered to himself. All week, he had been thinking how nice it would be to stay inside for a change.
Not that he had necessarily been excited for their monthly dates – Better not say that word aloud, he thought. Amy would go ballistic. No, these appointments had been occupying his thoughts more often. Whenever he left, he found himself reflecting on the day spent with Amy. Whenever the next appointment was a few days away, he almost looked forward to it. Sometimes even a week ahead.
Amy sashayed out of the kitchen, having exchanged the apron for a thick, wooly red sweater and leggings. She set a tray of decorated cookies on the coffee table, shaped like Christmas trees, reindeer, and snowmen. She disappeared back to the kitchen and returned with two steaming mugs of hot cocoa and marshmallows. Then she sat on the couch, curling up close to Sonic.
“So, I picked out a movie for us,” she said, grabbing the TV remote on the coffee table and switching off the fireplace. “Then we can go through the scrapbook. I wanted to show you some pictures I added from Thanksgiving.”
She pulled up a movie called The Christmas Letter. The little thumbnail showed a generic attractive couple embracing one another and smiling while snow fell around them.
“Subtle as a sledgehammer like always,” he said, shaking his head.
“You of all people should know I can be subtle with a hammer, sledge or otherwise,” she said.
“Sure. You only ever give me a concussion instead of caving my head in.”
“Well, if you’re unhappy, I can always swing harder.” She stared at him gravely for a second, holding his gaze. Sonic broke first, laughing hard and she joined him. When they finally caught their breath, she started the movie. “Besides, it’s a Christmas movie. It fits.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Honestly, he didn’t mind. It wasn’t the first time she’d put on a romantic movie and he doubted it would be the last. It was her way of saying there was going to be kissing and public displays of affection in her house, one way or the other.
Besides, the movies were easy to follow. He could often zone in and out without worrying about missing anything. He suspected that was another reason Amy chose them. It gave her an opportunity to focus on cuddling with him, as she did now. She pulled the blanket higher and swaddled them in it, then wrapped her arm around him and laid her head on his chest. She handed him his cocoa and sipped hers. Nothing would move her from the couch short of a meteor.
For the next couple of hours, they watched the movie. It was about some girl mixing up a letter at the post office with a young girl’s letter to Santa. The little girl happened to have a handsome single father with all the personality of a dial tone.
Of course, Amy was swept up in it, sighing happily at every smile, flirty comment, and near-kiss by the actors. She stole glances at Sonic during these points or squeezed her arms a little bit tighter around him.
Sonic paid more attention to Amy than to the movie. Her small laugh at a funny scene. The way she smelled like a mixture of cookies from baking and pine from hanging the garlands, it was like she spritzed herself with a Christmas perfume. She felt warm against him, cozy, like she belonged there.
Sonic relaxed into the couch more than he liked. He told himself it was simply because it was nice and toasty in the house compared to outside. His rapid heartbeat said otherwise. It had been doing that a lot lately when he came to visit her and he ended up staring at her frequently. Wishing that he could stay. That he could…
Could what? he thought. Spend more time with her. Enjoy other days with her. It wasn’t the first time he had such thoughts. They went further in some cases, like now. Such as imagining that he turned to her, opened his mouth, and said—
“I liked it,” Amy said, facing him, and her expression fell. “Sonic? You okay?”
He startled, looked to the television, and realized the movie was over. “Yeah, I’m fine.” He snatched up another cookie and almost gagged when he took a bite. It was incredibly dry. Then he realized his mouth was dry. He must’ve been staring stupidly at her with his mouth open for so long.
Taking a long sip of cocoa, he nodded to the scrapbook. “So, about those pictures?”
“Oh, right.” She turned off the movie and put the fireplace back on. Immediately, the crackling glow cast them and the room in all sorts of reds and oranges, the fake fire pretending to stave off the chilling late afternoon wind.
Amy pulled the scrapbook onto their laps and flipped it open to the recent pages. Pressed orange and yellow leaves, sketches of pinecones and turkeys, and little notes from Amy adorned the pages in between pictures of Sonic, Amy, and their friends. Many were of the group gathered at her house for Thanksgiving in the living room and kitchen. A few were of them outside or in the city when Sonic, Amy, Tails, and Cream went shopping for ingredients.
“Now ain’t this just picturesque?” he said, pointing to one on the next page. Everyone sat at the table, with Amy in the middle setting down a delicious roasted turkey.
“It would be, if I didn’t know what happened after,” she said, tapping Sonic in the picture next to her. The Sonic in the photograph wore a cheeky grin and eyed Knuckles to his left, who appeared to be asking Amy a question.
“What? He was worried if there was enough stuffing. I simply assured him we’ll have plenty leftover to refill his head.”
“And he nearly clobbered you.”
“I wouldn’t say nearly. He was too slow.” She gave him a withering look. “Hey, I also got you and the turkey out of the way.”
“Yes, I suppose I don’t mind being held by you.” She turned the page, showing the picture Cream had quickly snapped. In the corner, Knuckles had tripped and fallen under the long table. In the center, Amy had a death-grip on the turkey plate and Sonic held her around the waist, having pulled her away from the commotion. He threw his head back in laughter while Tails held one end of the table, steadying it.
When they finished admiring the Thanksgiving section, they flipped backwards to the Halloween part, enjoying the costumes everyone wore. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tails fall over that much,” Sonic said, pointing at a picture of Tails wrapped up like a mummy. “He swore off anything like that again.”
“Knuckles wasn’t any better,” Amy said. “He was tripping over himself after he saw Rouge’s witch costume.”
“Oh yeah.” He remembered at one point, Rouge had come up behind Knuckles and whispered low in his ear. He’d immediately crushed the drink in his hand, spraying himself with punch, and walked stiffly away to get some air.
When Sonic asked Rouge what she said, she winked. “Just something between me and Red. Nothing to worry about.”
In his opinion, Amy had the best costume, dressing as a mysterious fortune-teller in a sheer midnight blue robe dotted with sparkling stars, a long flowing dress, and a face veil over her mouth that made her appear very alluring. In fact, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her all that night. Or the pictures of her now.
Sonic turned the pages back further before he got swept up in his thoughts. Amy pointed out more pictures from the year that she had recently added. “I found them in a box upstairs. A lot of old photos of everyone.” So mixed in with the summer pictures from this year were some of the group when they were younger, even going as far back to when they were children.
As he looked through the pages with her, noting all the designs, souvenirs, and comments she added to them, he realized how long Amy had been part of his life. Although they had gone through her scrapbook plenty of times, something was different about it today. As if nearing the end of the year and seeing the older pictures opened his eyes to it.
“I like this one,” she said. Her finger rested over a candid picture of Sonic leaning against a tree, his hands behind his head, and gazing off at the rising sun. “It just feels so much like you.”
“I see.” His voice sounded shaky and the blanket was far too hot now. He debated opening the door and letting some of the cold air in to cool him down. However, his chest felt stone-heavy, weighing him down, yet rushing fast at the same time.
He needed to say something, to do something. Scanning the photos, he found one of Amy and him holding up victory fingers to the camera. “I like this one. In fact, mind trading?”
Sonic dug around in his quills and produced the envelope, handing it to Amy. She opened it and her eyes widened at the picture inside. “Where did you find this?”
He grinned at her reaction. “At Tails’. I must’ve left it there by accident. Lucky I brought it today, huh?”
The picture was a few years old. In it, Sonic and Amy were decorating a Christmas tree at Vanilla’s house. Since she was too short to reach one of the higher branches, Sonic held her up to reach it. Instead of picking her up by her hips, he carried her on one strong arm, letting her sit on his shoulder while steadying her with his other hand.
If the Amy in the picture were to turn toward him, they would appear very close to one another. Intimate, as though a guy was picking up his girlfriend in a burst of holiday spirit before bestowing her with a kiss.
Which was why Vanilla took the picture in the first place and gave it to Sonic afterward with a gleam in her eye. Sonic found it impossible to look at the picture without his face heating up.
Amy had no such trouble and immediately snatched the older picture out of the scrapbook. She dropped it in Sonic’s lap, excitedly turned to her blank winter section, and placed her new prize on one of the pages.
She lingered on the page for a long while, tracing it with her finger, before flipping back to their previous position. Laying her head on his shoulder, Amy continued going through the scrapbook, smiling at her work.
“You know, I like the parties and the decorations and everything else about the holidays,” she said. “But I think these types of days are my favorite.”
“Curled up in front of the fire?”
“With you, yes. It’s so relaxing and cozy. And I get you all to myself for a little while.” He raised an amused eyebrow and she added. “Yeah, yeah. I’m not expecting anything else. It’s just,” her voice dropped and the crackling fire nearly drowned her out, “you’re important to me. I cherish every second I get to spend with you.”
Her sincerity hit him hard and he pulled her closer to him. She sniffed a little too hard and he pretended not to notice for her sake. After a moment, she turned to the next page and continued commenting on the photos.
He sank into the couch, half listening to her, half replaying her words. She cherished every second spent with him.
On the surface, one might not see any difference between his time spent with Amy and other friends. Like her, he cherished everyone he knew, which is why he always made time for them. So Amy and he hung out together, went on adventures sometimes. Big deal. He did that with his other friends. He even did that with Amy the other days throughout the month in between.
But these days had a certain air to them. There was a major difference between hanging around Tails’ place on a lazy weekend with nothing to do and one where he did the same with Amy. Perhaps it was that she was attracted to him. And he was…
What?
What was he? Anxious. In a good way, or so he thought. In only how Amy’s gentle presence could make him feel. He anticipated these days like a kid excitedly counting down the days until Christmas.
In the light of the flickering fireplace, which encircled the two hedgehogs, everything else disappeared into long shadows. Everything else pushed to the background so that Sonic saw their position in sharp relief. So that Amy was positively glowing brighter than ever before.
Like a flipped switch, it became crystal clear to him. The heaviness in his chest, that anxious thrill from their time together. It was so obvious. Or maybe, he’d known on some level and hadn’t been prepared to examine it. Yet in the close comfort of the fireplace and twinkling Christmas lights, there was no hiding from the obvious. Not when it was right there in the open in front of him.
Amy shifted next to him, closing the scrapbook and snuggling closer. Silence settled over the room and he could hear his heart pounding loudly in his ears. This was it. Amy was about to send him off as usual. With a “Thank you for coming over. This was fun.” The equivalent of releasing a frenzied pet who’s been waiting to go outside all day.
He didn’t want to leave though. Not without doing one thing first.
Without thinking, he brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. Amy raised her head, smiling sweetly. She nearly paralyzed him with her beauty. He couldn’t back down though. Not now. He wasn’t one for second guessing or hesitation. He’d always been more of a go-with-the-moment, jump in headfirst type of hedgehog.
Which is exactly what he did. He took a deep breath, leaned in, and kissed her deeply, matching the atmosphere between them. Soft, warm, and full of emotion he no longer wanted to dodge.
Amy gasped and tried to say his name. Before she could get beyond a “So—” she melted into the kiss, her hand resting on his chest. As he expected, she wasn’t going to lose an opportunity and ruin it by asking questions. Not right now when her crush decided to kiss her.
To his surprise, she didn’t explode into a hyper ball of passion and smooching like he expected. All she did was keep her lips firmly locked to his for the longest time. He figured it was for his benefit, as she didn’t want to overwhelm him. Still, she did explore the taste of his mouth and he did hers, which tasted like sweet gingerbread and that incomparable flavor of Amy herself. Only one description fit it.
Absolutely perfect.
He brushed her cheek and pulled back, looking into her eyes. They were shimmering and beautiful in the firelight. He wanted to say so much to her, but didn’t know where to start. This was new territory for him. “I think these days are my favorite too,” he finally said.
She picked up on what he meant. “I know,” she said quietly. “I’ve known for a while, but I was willing to wait for you to catch up to me.” She giggled suddenly. “The fastest thing alive and yet he was so slow catching up to me this time.”
He smirked and dove for her cheek, peppering her with ticklish kisses. “Slow, huh?” She shrieked and squirmed before they settled down and curled back under the blanket.
Outside, a gentle snow began to fall. Neither hedgehog seemed bothered by it, as the room felt so much warmer now. Sonic held Amy against his chest, eyes drifting to the Christmas tree and admiring the changing colors. “We should do this more often.”
“Once a week?”
“Or even more than that,” he said.
She grinned and nuzzled into him. “And every Christmas we could do this again.”
“Yeah.” Looking outside, he decided maybe he didn’t need to leave tonight. Maybe they could just stay here like this.
She sighed and kissed his jawline. “That might be my new favorite Christmas tradition.”
As she closed her eyes, he stroked her head and smiled to himself. “Mine too.”