Chapter Text
Amy opened the flower shop doors when the sky had just started to lighten. In the street, some cars passed with a low purr, and the flickies started to chirp.
The wind bell that Knuckles had helped her to install rang when the breeze moved it. Amy smiled to herself at the sound, and soon after it was followed by the tin-tin sound made by the suncatchers that decorated the ceiling and the windows. Her mind meandered for a second to the small pile of photos that she had left the day before.
With a hum, Amy left the keys to the shop on the counter and grabbed a red apron that she tied around her waist. She glanced at her photo board, looking for a free space to hang the new photos. Over the years it had been filling up and now she had to resort to covering some pictures with others. She made a mental note to ask Knuckles to help her get a new one. From a pocket in her apron, she took a pair of thumbtacks and put up the photographs with a smile.
Finished with her work on the board, Amy left the box of tacks under the counter and grabbed a spray bottle, scissors, and her work gloves, and hung them on her apron. Then she took a bandana and tied it around her head to keep her quills, which had begun to grow, out of the way.
Still humming Amy began to look after her beloved plants. Among the flowers, she looked for those that were ready to harvest and placed them in a basket to take them to the front of the flower shop and put them in buckets where customers could choose some for bouquets. She particularly liked harvesting the gerberas for that purpose. She made sure to place the gazanias where the sun would hit them so that they would open their petals.
Then she turned to the houseplants, watering a few with the spray bottle and making sure to prune the leaves that were starting to turn brown. She cut a few sprigs of scented plants like rosemary and lavender and hung them upside down near a window to dry; however, she set a fresh bouquet of lavender aside, certain that in the day Shadow would appear to take it home.
She finally made her way to her joy and pride, walking out to the makeshift greenhouse in the back, where there were growing 3 rose bushes. Her favorite was the one that gave white roses. Putting on her gloves to not prick herself, she carefully removed the earth, looking for no bugs eating the roots. She also cut off the dry leaves. Finally, she collected some roses of other colors to put in a bucket. Before leaving, she took a single white rose to put in a glass bottle on the counter, looking at it for a moment with a wistful smile before continuing her work.
Amy was transplanting an orchid plant into a larger pot when she heard the doorbell ring.
– Coming! –She said raising her voice so that they could hear her. With a sigh, she lifted herself off the ground and did her best to brush the dirt off her skirt.
Amy walked back into the store while removing her gloves and taking in the visitor.
She couldn't make out his species very well, as he wore a ragged hood that covered him almost completely. He was tall, almost as tall as Knuckles, but his physique was noticeably leaner. From under the hood, she could make out a somewhat long nose, a tan muzzle, and a confident grin. He felt strangely familiar to Amy, but she couldn't quite place it with the morning light streaming through the windows and doing strange things with the color.
– Welcome! –Amy said with a kind smile– Is this the first time you visit us? Were you looking for something in particular?
The stranger looked around without saying anything as if trying to burn the flower shop into his memory. A strange smile formed on his face.
– What a nice place you have here. –he commented making a gesture with his gloved hand and pointing to the place.
- Thank you! I will soon celebrate 10 years with it, always worrying about maintaining it to the highest standard –she answered proudly as she clasped her hands behind her back– From petunias to palm trees, The Rose has everything for your vegetal needs.
Amy couldn't help but giggle at the stupidity of the catchphrase, but the stranger's laughter took her by surprise. He threw his head back in an attempt to catch air while laughing out loud, causing Amy to wonder how the hood didn't fall off. Again a sense of familiarity washed over her and made her stomach feel as if she had eaten hot soup. Amy tried to ignore the feeling, chalking it up to the May weather, which was leaving spring behind in preparation for summer.
–Er… were you looking for any flower or plant in particular? –Amy asked in an attempt to move the conversation forward.
The stranger looked at her with an amused smile, as if he was aware of a joke she didn't know. Amy bit her lip, thinking that maybe she had dirt on her face and that was why he was looking at her that way.
–No, no. I'm just here to drop off a package. –replied the stranger, pulling a box out of his cape without losing his amused smile.
As soon as he mentioned a package, Amy's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
If there was a package arriving at the shop, she knew immediately who it was from. Unable to contain a huge smile, Amy took the package in her hands and looked at it dreamily. With every year that passed, this was what she looked forward to the most at the end of the day. Many times she would stay late hoping that the postman had just been late.
Amy carefully removed the lid of the box. What was inside was a suncatcher with green stones. That in itself wouldn't have been strange, except that it was the only thing in the box. Puzzled, Amy moved the suncatcher a bit, seeing if there might be a card at the bottom. But there was nothing. Amy frowned.
– You look disappointed, –the stranger commented, holding back a chuckle. Amy immediately composed herself, trying to hold back the flush on her cheeks.
– Nope! Not at all. It's just... it's weird. –Amy tilted her head, still frowning– Whoever sent this... didn't say anything else? It doesn't have a note...
– What would be the point of writing a note? –asked the stranger, now chuckling.
-I don't understand…
It wasn't until he laughed out loud again and shook his head from side to side that the hood finally fell away, revealing royal blue quills. A color of quills that Amy knew all too well.
Immediately her soul fell to the ground and almost the box she had in his hands as well.
– S-Sonic?! –Amy gasped, setting the box on the nearest shelf.
- Hello! –Sonic exclaimed with a huge smile as he took Amy's hand and shook it excitedly– How have you been?!
Although for Sonic the exaggerated greeting had his characteristic usual speed, for Amy it meant a movement of the arm at a speed that she was not used to and that began to hurt her shoulder. However, Amy was beside herself with excitement. Sure, she'd seen Sonic in pictures, but having him there . So... happy . It made her throat close and thug at her heartstrings.
–Sonic... My... my shoulder,– Amy managed to say with a nervous laugh– I'd like to keep my arm.
Sonic stopped, pressing his lips together as if apologizing.
-There, there. –His eyes carefully observed her- Hey, Ames.
Amy's breath caught in her throat for a second. They really were the same emerald green eyes. Before Sonic could react, Amy jumped at him and threw her arms around his neck, nearly hanging on.
–Sonic! –Amy yelled excitedly, squeezing the hedgehog into her hug.
Sonic stumbled back, almost losing his balance. His eyes were wide with surprise. Once he stabilized, the smile returned to his face and he put his arms around Amy. Despite the years, it was something that felt so…familiar.
Amy felt like she was about to cry, but his breath on her neck made her relax.
They stayed like that for a while, at times Amy tried to touch Sonic's quills, but she stopped at the last moment.
The shop's phone began to ring, still at a low volume like Amy had left it the night before. Sonic opened his eyes back, fixing on the counter and reluctant to break the hug.
–I think you should answer… –he said almost in a whisper.
— I would, but… —she replied with a nervous giggle. Careful not to hurt him, Amy waved her legs, drawing attention to the fact that he was practically carrying her four inches off the ground— I don't think I can.
– Oh, sorry. –Sonic immediately put Amy down with a nervous laugh and scratched his neck.
– It's okay –she said, feeling her legs turn into jelly.
The moment was interrupted again by the phone.
–Uh... ahem. Would you like some tea? –Amy felt that this had come out as a squeak– I have some chamomile flowers that I put to dry the day before yesterday. They must be ready. You can wait in the back while I answer.
-Yeah, of course. –Sonic cleared his throat- I can help you with the suncatcher later.
-That sounds great. –Amy said with a huge smile.