Hear her feelings

Shadow put his hands together as Rouge spoke to him, he could hear the audible breath that came from her lips from her sigh, as she said "Shadow, you've changed so much since we first met, you've gone from one of the most aggravating hedgehogs I have ever met, to someone I can depend upon," Shadow could swear he heard her heart beating out of her chest like a drum, she's nervous, the toughest woman he knew was nervous. Her breathing was heavy as Shadow started to worry that she was going to pass out from hyper ventilating. He went to say something as Rouge finally said "That, that moment I realized that you mean a lot to me, Shadow. You mean so much," she looked at him and looked down as she continued, "Especially now that you restored that memory and all those feelings are flooding back. I've never felt this way about anyone. Knuckles came close, but I see him more of a rival than anything, you though, I know you've been my best friend but, I..." she paused a bit as Rouge took a deeper breath her wings doing, what Shadow thought to be kind of cute, flutter to try and settle her nerves. "...over the years Shadow that we've worked together you've become the only one I let see me without my guard. I can relax around you, I know I'm safe with you. The only other being alive I trust that much is Omega" to which Shadow could nod to that since he felt the same way. That machine has become like a brother to him. "I guess what, I'm trying very hard to say is that I think I'm in love with you."

There it was, the bomb shell Shadow always suspected but, hearing it kind of floored him. Shadow looked at her for a moment as Rouge looked down as she started to something he NEVER thought she would do, she started to cry. Shadow asked "Rouge, what's wrong? What's going on?" concern for her outweighing the shock of the bombshell as Rouge shook her head "Rouge, come on, you know you can trust me, just say what you want to say."

Rouge said "Shadow, I know you don't feel the same," not looking at him, the poor girl's heart being destroyed by the expectations that she had to live up to. She whispered "I meant what I said, no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. I know your reasons, I understand them, but just saying something and then living a little girl's dream of this handsome black hedgehog that you put all your trust in saying 'I love you too' I hate myself. I know you don't want to hear.MMPH!" Rouge was cut off by Shadow giving her a kiss on the lips as Rouge wrapped her arms around his neck.

The kiss was held for a few seconds before it broke as Rouge looked at Shadow asking "Does this mean?" asked Rouge with tears in her eyes as Shadow gently moved him away with his finger. "Shadow..." Rouge held him again "My heart is racing...I can...I can hear your heart too."

Shadow looked at her as Rouge's eyes changed to sultry, and full of hunger and passion. Shadow knew that he wanted her too, but his mind was thinking that this was going to go to fast. They'll be together either way, but Shadow's mind was telling him that right here right now was not the time.