The wooden door of the small hut burst open, as two hedgehogs seemed to stumble inside of the building, trying to keep balance as the two clung to each other, kissing one another as deeply as possible.

The blue hedgehog reached out, fumbling to close the door before the hedgehog guided him over to the nearby bedroom, laying him down in the soft bed, continuing to kiss him deeply.

Eventually the black hedgehog had to pull back, to allow the blue hedgehog to breathe again. "Sonic..." he purred.

"Shadow..." he murmured back, leaning up to nuzzle the other's muzzle.

Shadow returned the motion. "I want to mate with you...again and again..." He leaned in to kiss at Sonic's neck.

Sonic sighed, giving a soft noise of enjoyment as Shadow kissed at his neck. "Then let's...nothing's stopping you..."

Shadow smiled softly to this statement, and leaned up to kiss his lips.

Sonic couldn't help but enjoy the attention he received. Shadow was practically a stranger to him, and yet it felt like the two of them had been together for years.
---

The passion burned, flared, and eventually died away again in the night, as the two spent the last few hours of the early morning in Sonic's bed. Neither of them wanted to sleep. Both were afraid the other would disappear from their arms if they woke...if they found it to be nothing but a dream.
Sonic did all he could to keep the two of them awake as they rested, the early morning sun beginning to peak through the gaps of the curtain that covered the window. "Shadow...?"

"Hmm?" Shadow murmured quietly and sleepily, somewhat caught between awake and drifting off.

"Do we do this a lot...?" Sonic asked.

Shadow woke up a bit more, sitting up a bit to look at Sonic, sadness in his eyes. "No...As much as we wish we could..."

Sonic shifted to look at Sonic better, looking concerned. "...why? What would stop us from doing so..?"

Shadow inhaled deeply and looked away, wrapping his arms around himself. "It's a complicated mater. One that I'm not sure if I can divulge to you, because the knowledge may affect the outcome...and it wouldn't make things better for us. It might just make them worse."

"Worse than being unable to be together like this, how?"

Shadow reached out and squeezed Sonic's hand. "Remember what I said...our relationship is key to saving each other...and the world. If our relationship is affected, then..."

Sonic sighed and nodded, looking down. He was still trying to wrap his head around the idea that his being in a relationship with someone could somehow save the two of them, and the world. How was that possible? "...when does this stuff start to happen...?"

Shadow sighed as he reached up to a locket that was around his neck, looking at it. "...soon. Very soon now..."

Sonic looked up at Shadow, seeing the sadness in his eyes. He reached up and caressed his cheek. "...what happens to me?"

Shadow looked back at Sonic, looking even more torn. "Sonic...I-"

Sonic reached up and laid a finger on his lips. "Shadow...whatever happens...it sounds too important to be stopped. You're hurting. I can see it in your eyes. You want to tell me."

Sonic leaned in and kissed at his neck for a moment, moving up the jaw line and then gently at the black ear tips. "You are not to blame for whatever happens to me."

Shadow turned to Sonic, before he gripped him tightly, taking the hedgehog by surprise. What more, he felt tears falling upon his shoulders, as Shadow shook with raw emotions. He murmured softly. "Sonic...a long time ago...I lost someone that was close to me. Someone I knew before I met you. I have been so scared to be close to anyone else since. You were the one to save me. And even now, when you don't know who I am...you already believe in me. I ask too much of you in such little time..."

Sonic was in shock, as he slowly held onto Shadow. This stranger that was meant to be his mate in the future...he was in a lot of pain. Pain because Shadow worried about him. He couldn't let Shadow down, not now, not like this. Whether fate meant for the two of them to be together or not, Sonic no longer cared. Shadow was here for him now, and he needed to be there for Shadow. Sonic kissed at Shadow's ear tip. "Shadow...?"

Shadow did his best to dry up his ears and look up at Sonic. "...hmm...?"

Sonic smiled softly and held Shadow's hand. "I think...after all this...as crazy as this sound after only being with you for 8 hours....I love you."

Shadow's face lit up with a bright blush at Sonic's words, and his heart began to soar. "Oh Sonic..."

Shadow gripped Sonic tightly. "...I love you too."

Sonic smiled and nuzzled Shadow softly, laying a hand on his chest and leaned him back. Shadow sighed. "So...it's morning and we haven't gotten any sleep yet."

Sonic sighed as he nodded in agreement, nuzzling into Shadow's side. "I don't want to sleep. If I sleep, what if you disappear? I don't want this to be a dream."

Shadow sighed as he reached over to pull Sonic more into his arms, having the hedgehog lay his head on his chest. "In a ways, I feel the same. I know it’s not a dream, but this part, having you in my arms...it is a dream to me. I never felt anything like it. I don't want to let go of you. If I do...I may never have this moment again...not...not for a long time."

Sonic nuzzled Shadow's chest, feeling the soft fur, and inhaled deeply. "So...this was the first time for both of us, even though you been with me longer."

Shadow chuckled a bit at this. "Y-yea...it's strange to see it that way-oh!"

Shadow was a bit startled as he felt Sonic's hands begin to roam his body. "Mmm...oh that feels good, Sonic..."

Sonic murmured softly. "I want to memorize every part of you...every feel...every scent..." he leaned in and kissed his lips deeply for just a moment.”Every taste..."

Shadow smiled softly at this and slowly began to do the same. "A good idea, my love. I never want to let go of this moment..."

"And I will never let go of this moment." Sonic murmured, kissing into Shadow's chest. "Nothing will make me forget this beautiful night."

Shadow reached down and stroked at Sonic's quills. "Never forget. I will always love you...no matter what."

"And I will love you, no matter what happens to me." Sonic promised.