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The sky was filled with clouds swollen with rain just about all morning. A strike of thunder rattled the sky and shook Amy’s cottage. The hedgehog sighed as she set the tray of croissants on the counter. There was a low buzz of voices from some show she popped on in the meanwhile, slightly beating out the sound of rumbling from outside. Her muzzle twitched in disappointment as she caught another glimpse outdoors from the window.
Amy carefully scooped her strawberry cream cheese filling into her piping bag and filled in the croissants with practiced ease. She wasn’t sure if it was even worth making the sandwiches today with the weather more than likely keeping them inside the entire time. She did have more dough for croissants though and it wouldn’t take long if they were able to get outside in the next few days.
She had been baking for the last few hours in preparation for her date with Blaze and made sure her home looked neat for the other’s extended stay. She thought the forecast would be clear or at least with enough clouds to feel perfect, she even got a message to go out in time for Blaze to come today while she thought it was going to be nice. How it managed to be this bad was absolutely beyond her. Another huff left her as she walked over to her couch and flopped dramatically, blowing away the quills that slightly blocked her vision. Though, it wouldn’t have mattered in the end as an arm covered her eyes while she thought. Her gaze fell upon the photos of the two of them that were sitting on the nearby coffee table. Amy’s favorite being of herself and Blaze in their matching holiday sweaters. Blaze’s face was bright and aflame with joy, a sharp smile donned her as Amy had held her cheeks while pressing a kiss to the Princess’s cheek as they both looked at the camera. The little holiday party that she had planned with Vanilla went off without a hitch, she even managed to get Team Dark to stop by for a while. What was more impressive to her was the fact that Shadow seemed way more cordial with Sonic than usual, especially after the gift exchange that she definitely didn’t rig a little for the pair. She would’ve investigated that sooner but she didn’t want to risk Shadow going back to his usual brooding or hearing Sonic wave off the interaction.
Blaze was staying for a while, a week or so for a small vacation, maybe they could do it tomorrow if it didn’t clear up before noon. She had a cute outfit picked out anyway and it was NOT going to waste. Her eyes watched as streaks of rain pattered against the windowpane. They were quick to slick down and collect past the edge she couldn’t see, she felt herself drift off to the pattering and the droning voices in the background.
The gears in her mind clicked as she sat up and rushed to the door. If she were a car, she could imagine quite the horrible squealing and tracks her tires would’ve made in an attempt to pick up the pace as she made it half of the way.
“Shoot!” She stopped, spun back around in her socked heels, and ran to her room to at least be decently dressed for the weather. Her girlfriend was absolutely going to get drenched the moment she stepped out of the portal. Maybe it was bound to be time to make an awning or something of the sort nearby, just for future visits.
It wasn't far from her cottage and technically Blaze could beat out most of the rain with her speed alone, but Amy refused to allow such a thing. At least then they could both be miserable in the weather together.
The smell of rain hit her the moment she hurried outside with her biggest umbrella. Her rain boots splashed some of the puddles as she jogged by, following the now muddy path to the bridge she always met Blaze at. The trees that lined the path didn’t give as much protection as she thought it would but pushed onward as the rain picked up. As she made her first few steps on the rugged stone bridge, a flash caught her by surprise.
“Eep!” She nearly tripped backwards, unsure if it was lightning or the portal but felt a hand grasp her wrist and pull her forward. The girl also heard the thud of something hitting the wet stones beneath them both. Amy then collided with something soft and made a slight crinkly sound, so she immediately held her umbrella high over her head. The hedgehog hoped that she didn’t bash them in the face with it.
“Wasn’t anticipating the rain or for you to be here quite immediately, my apologies Amy.” She heard Blaze’s voice slightly above the pouring skies.
“No, don’t worry,” the other sighed, “I thought it would’ve come after our date.” Amy pouted and looked up, seeing Blaze looking ever so slightly down at her with a warm grin. She briefly looked down to the bouquet that the other had in her other hand.
“I, ehm,” Blaze stood back a little to offer the flowers and let go of her wrist, “got you a gift. I thought I’d surprise you but obviously that was out the window immediately.” The Princess looked to the side in an attempt to seem more interested in the rain, her ears had slightly flattened down in response. She held a closed fist to her muzzle to block out whatever expression she made.
“I could just pretend I didn’t see it until we get back?” Amy giggled, a blush slowly rose to her cheeks as she watched her similarly bashful girlfriend quickly shake her head.
Blaze only pushed the flowers closer, her ears standing once more, “No, please, I insist.” Amy took them with her free hand and cradled them. Pink hydrangeas, red camellias, and lavenders wrapped in pink and white paper, “Let me hold that for you.” The hedgehog was glad that at least a few people were taking her ramblings and passion for flower language to heart. She had given Sonic those lessons several times over before when she was still head over heels for him, only to watch him absolutely botch it with Shadow years after she got over her crush on the blue blur. Amy was sure he’s gotten better at it cause she didn’t have to help Tails pull sticks and other bits of vegetation out of his brother’s quills from something like that again.
Amy loosened her grip on the umbrella as Blaze carefully plucked it from her and then picked up her travel bag. She kept her eyes on the floral arrangement for a while, admiring the sweet smells even if they were being slightly dampened by the rain. “Thank you, Blaze.”
She always enjoyed the little gestures that Blaze did for her. It was one of the few things that she hadn’t really expected in a relationship, for the ones in so many of the romance novels she loved had more grand and extravagant proclamations and shows of devotion. The simpler things in life made so much more sense, especially since Blaze liked to be more subtle in her affection. A light kiss to the back of her hand. The small of her back being held as they walked around the park or pinkies interlocked. A stray gift, a letter or some other physical item, in different places that she’d notice long after the Princess’s departure for the time being. Each time it made her heart swoon and she fell a little more for her partner.
Amy could only hope that everything that she was doing was good for Blaze in return. She wanted to ask each time whenever the chance came up, but it always felt like Blaze knew to some extent and readily eased her worries.
“We should hurry before it gets any worse.” Blaze interrupted Amy’s thoughts as her voice brought her back to the slowly growing torrent.
The hedgehog smiled and nodded, sticking close to Blaze’s side as they walked quickly to the safety of her cottage.
—
It could’ve been worse. The umbrella at some point inverted on itself and became quite useless in its goal to keep them dry. Her flowers were okay mainly for the fact that she shielded them with her body while the couple ran. Amy had been laughing the entire time and eventually got Blaze to laugh too at the circumstance.
They now were sitting on the sofa in the living room, dried and curled up together while in their pajamas. Freed of their soaked clothes and simply enjoying each other’s dearly missed company. The bouquet in the vase that sat in the center of the coffee table, proudly adding more color to the space.
“I was hoping it wouldn’t have been as bad when you were coming through,” Amy sighed, pressing her head into Blaze’s shoulder. Her mug kept her hands warm as they sat under the blanket she got out of the linen closet. She only really used it for when it was much colder outside and she didn’t want to leave the fireplace lit all night. It helped that Blaze was pretty much a natural furnace when she wanted to be, so Amy pressed herself as close as she could without making it impossible for the cat to move her arms.
“Well,” Blaze hummed, “at least it gave us a reason to try out that tea. It was certainly much better than I had imagined.” The TV hummed away in the background as it played whatever cheesy rom-com that came after she sprinted out the house.
“How about the stuffed croissants, were they good?” The hedgehog mumbled into her mug before glancing at her girlfriend. A hint of mirth and mischief drew her into the golden eyes of her partner.
“I don’t know,” Blaze teased as she eyed her before turning away in jest, “could use more sugar.”
“Wuh-” Amy immediately swiveled her head to look at the Princess, who had been covering her smile with a fist, incredulously, “Blaze, if I added any more it would’ve ruined the–”
Amy felt Blaze’s hand gently cup her cheek before she received a long and slow kiss, the rest of her protest dying off with the gesture. She could taste the sweetness of the strawberry cream cheese she made and the warming feeling of the tea and Blaze’s personal flame against her lips. The hedgehog set her mug aside as she melted into the kiss, the syrupy feeling settled in her bones. They pulled away after a little bit with Amy playfully pouting as she was slightly flustered.
“Thank you, it tastes much sweeter now.” Blaze laughed softly as a similar blush made its appearance on her face. Amy huffed playfully before essentially pouncing on her, leaving butterfly kisses everywhere she reasonably could, then gave Blaze a proper kiss.
Blaze’s purr rumbled through both of their bodies as Amy let up after a few more pecks, sitting on the cat’s lap with a smug grin. After a few moments of just looking at one another, Amy slid down to rest her head on Blaze’s chest to hear the purring clearer, “I love you.” She smiled as Blaze interlaced their hands together. The Princess leaned down just enough to press a kiss to the top of Amy’s head.
“I love you too.” Blaze murmured into the soft quills, wrapping her free arm around the hedgehog’s waist. They laid there with the TV’s volume now lowered and the sound of the storm still hammering away outside. Before Blaze knew it, Amy had drifted off to sleep. Her smile was warm as she carefully pulled up the blanket they shared before going to sleep herself.
The rest of the week would be the only time she didn’t have to worry too much about everything, so she might as well take every chance she could.