How Do You Say 'I Love You'? (SonAmy one-shot)

How did a person say those three simple words?

This was something he'd wondered for so long. He could take on robots, alien beings, angry gods - yet for the life of him, he couldn't ever find the courage to say it. What was it about that simple phrase that made the words so hard to say? Was it the fear that he may get himself stuck in something he was sure he wasn't ready for? Was it the fear that - if he were to confess his feelings - she would become a target and he'd lose her forever? Or could it be that there was some innate fear of rejection hidden deep inside his heart?

Why should he fear rejection though? He'd been doing it to her for years. He pushed her away just to go on new adventures, pulled out of her lung-crushing hugs, and refused to go out with her time and again. She never seemed to let it bother her though, and if it did, she hid it well. She'd find him another day, try to catch him in another hug or try to get him to ask her out. So why should he fear it?

Maybe because, beneath that cocky, carefree exterior, Sonic the Hedgehog was truly afraid he'd lose her in some way.

He'd known Amy Rose since she was just eight years old. The first time he'd met the girl had been during his expedition to Never Lake to explore the fabled Little Planet that appeared above it only one month out of the year. She'd tracked him there through the use of her tarot cards. Something about her had just set something off inside him. Maybe it'd been the sheen of her sakura colored quills as they shone in the midday sun, or the way her jade eyes seemed to glow with the undying light of hope and happiness.

Whatever the cause had been, he'd felt something for her from that first day, and as much of a cocky, carefree Casanova as he seemed to be, deep down he was painfully shy. More than that, he was afraid to lose her, fearing that if he allowed himself to get close to the girl she'd become a target and he'd lose her forever, and there were times he almost had.

He'd nearly lost her when Metal Sonic had captured her. He'd been in the process of running from her when he'd heard the blood-curdling scream she'd released, and it caused something to be set off inside him; a powerful protective urge that - as a boy - he couldn't have even begun to fathom. Through the years there had been many more instances where he'd almost lost the pink rose. Each time the need to protect her burned a little stronger, and the flames of his feelings toward her did too. So many times he'd wanted to confess them to Amy, but each time the words became caught in his throat. Sonic would chicken out and run away - damning himself for not saying it, for being unable to say it because he wanted to keep her safe and that meant keeping her at arms' length.

Still, his unspoken feelings took a toll on his heart. Sonic yearned for her, plain and simple. He desperately wanted to hold her, wished with all his being he could, even just once, taste her sweet lips against his own. Her image had branded itself to every part of his conscious, and even sub-conscious, mind long ago. He could see her whenever he dreamed, every feature as clear as crystal; the rosy shoulder-length quills that framed her pixyish face, the cute little black nose that was situated right on the center of her perfectly peach muzzle, the red dress with matching boots and headband that amplified the rosy pink of her fur, the way her feet turned inward whenever she walked or ran which made her clumsy (one of the quirks Sonic absolutely loved about the girl), and her eyes.

Oh those eyes. He felt like he could lose himself in them. Whenever his met hers, he felt like he could do anything. The gave him that extra boost to take on the toughest foes, and gave him the biggest reason to return from any challenge he faced. He loved the way her eyes would light up whenever he returned safely from any adventures he went on where he couldn't, or wouldn't, bring her along. They made him feel loved.

"So why can't I say it?" he asked himself.

Vibrant yet perplexed emerald eyes stared up at a cloudless azure sky from where he lay atop a grassy hill. Another adventure chalked up on his list of wins, and he'd come back to the familiar place to think. She hadn't been able to come along this time because she'd been taking care of Cream, who'd been ill. The final fight had been a tough one, even with his Super form. Sonic wasn't afraid to admit that, even just to himself. There were instances where he'd almost been killed, and the one thought that'd run through his mind was that she'd never know his true feelings, never hear the words she'd been wishing to hear for more than half her life.

One gloved hand came up to wipe a few drops of sweat away from where they'd beaded on his forehead before rejoining its twin behind the cobalt male's head. A frown pulled down his features, frustration present in his eyes. He'd been lying there for what seemed like hours, just trying to figure out how he was going to tell her.

"Damn it," he cursed, finally getting to his feet and glaring at the sky, "Why is it so hard to say it?! It's just three little words. 'I love you'!" His face fell as he allowed himself to fall back into a slumped sitting position. "But...how am I supposed to say it to Amy's face?"

"You don't have to."

Sonic's heart jumped to his throat, beating a mile a second. He recognized that voice all-too-well, its sweet melody like a symphony to his ears. His face turned scarlet red as he leapt to his feet again before turning to face the girl that haunted both his waking moments and his dreams.

Amy stood there in all her glory, a young woman of just eighteen years old. She'd hardly changed at all in the last several years. She still wore the same style of outfit from when she was twelve, albeit a larger size, and it showed off every curve her body had developed. She still wore her quills shoulder-length to frame her face, and still stood with her toes pointed slightly inward like a child. And those eyes still left Sonic speechless, causing her to laugh her sweet laugh that sent chills up his spine.

Sonic finally swallowed the large lump in his throat, forcing his heart back into his chest where it slammed against his ribcage like a drum. He knew he was nervous, and couldn't hide it from her very well.

"H-How long've you been s-standin' there?" he asked, stumbling over his usually calm and confident words.

"Oh, just long enough to see you yelling at the sky," she teased, rocking back and forth on her feet.

Sonic swallowed again, his heart beating even faster. God was she so tantalizing, teasing him with her very presence.

"You meant it, didn't you?" she suddenly asked, "What you said."

He found himself approaching the girl, lifting her chin so her eyes would meet his. Amy's grew wide as she studied her hero's eyes with a guarded hope. Sonic had always been an enigma to her, but now the unspoken answer to her question swam in his eyes as plain as day with nothing but honesty behind it.

"Oh Sonic..." she whispered, a smile spreading across her delicate lips as tears of joy flowed from her eyes.

Nothing more was said as he moved his other hand to her backside to pull her in close. His first hand moved from her chin to cup the back of her head as she stood on her tip-toes to close any remaining air between them. Their lips met, and they shared their first kiss.

She was even sweeter than he first imagined. Her lips were like dew-moistened rose petals, her breath smelling of cherries as its warmth skated across his skin. She fit so perfectly against him it was as if she were tailor-made to be for him and him alone.

When their kiss finally broke, Amy stared up at him with half-veiled eyes, a tranquil smile on her face.

"Tell me again, how do you say it?" she asked in a whisper, just wanting to hear the words again.

A quiet chuckle escaped Sonic lips. "I love you, Amy Rose."