Cream Knows Best - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Cream's P.O.V
I was so happy to walk home with the new information, a box of muffins, and just a happy mood! Nothing was going to get in my way of going home now. "Hey! You there!" I heard from behind. I looked back to see Eggman hovering above me in his weird machine. "Um, hello Mr. Eggman... did you need something?" I asked timidly. He does try to take me so I was wondering what he might be planning this time. "Seems like you're all alone this time rabbit! No heroes to save you this time huh?" he asked me. "I suppose you're right. But I'm supposed to go home right now so I'll be on my way!" I said trying to get away. "Oh no, you're not! I need you to come with me so that I can get that blasted blue hedgehog to come my way! I have a new machine to try and destroy him with!"
"That's really mean of you Mr. Eggman! Mr. Sonic didn't do anything to you!" I snapped at him. "Yes he did! He's been a thorn in my side since the day he existed!" Mr. Eggman shouted back. "Why?" I asked. "Because he bothers me!" "Why?" "Because he just does!" "Why?" "Because he breathes the air I breathe!" "Why?" "Are you going to keep asking the same question?"
I quickly nodded my head knowing I was succeeding in annoying him. "Ugh! I don't understand how those other rats can actually tolerate you! You can be so annoying sometimes!" he growled. "They just love me to death! Plus I'm an adorable six-year-old rabbit! While you're a... a... 80-year-old man?" I replied. I had forgotten how old he is... "What! You think I'm a wrinkly old man!" he shouted angrily. "Welllllll- you do look and act like one!" I replied. I heard him give a huge sigh.
"Very well! I suppose you do have a point young one..." he gruffed. "Are you lonely Mr. Eggman?" I asked, seeing a small grey cloud form over his head. "N-NO! I'm just uh- by myself a whole bunch! But that's okay! Some of us like having our own bachelors pad to ourselves!"
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, but his pain couldn't escape me. "Would you like to join me and Mr. Shadow for dinner?" I asked. "W-What? Dinner? With you and... Shadow?" he gasped. "I mean, he probably won't care. We don't have anything better to do and I've got to go over some of the notes with him anyway! Now come on! Unless you want to continue being a lonely, grumpy old man!" I teased and continued to skip home. "La La La!" As I walked home, I could hear Mr. Eggman's weird aircraft following me slowly to my house. Finally, we made it back and I turned around to see him parking his vehicle and awkwardly walked out.
"A-Are you sure about having me over?" he asked, almost trying to squeeze out of this invitation. "Yes! Now come on, we're having pasta for dinner tonight!" I replied and took him by the hand. Happily, I trotted inside and looked around the house to take off my shoes and get settled. "Mr. Shadow, I'm home!" I shouted. "Kitchen!" he shouted and I walked over there. I skipped over there and saw that he was putting things on platters, Cheese also helping to get dinner ready.
"Chew chew!" he said. "Don't worry! I'm sure you did good Cheese!" I reassured him. I helped them grab plates and stuff to take to the table and set it down. "Mr. Eggman, come on!" I shouted. "Hold up, what?" Mr. Shadow questioned. "Don't worry Mr. Shadow, he's not here to hurt us! I invited him to dinner!" I replied. I watched them both stare at each other intensely and Mr. Eggman just waved awkwardly. "Ugh, really Cream?" he sighed and slapped his forehead. "What! Look, you were a grumpy, old, lonely hedgehog, don't let Mr. Eggman be that way too!" I cried. "Fine."
I cheered and gave him a huge hug and we sat down for dinner. We served up food and dug in. I was more than happy to be here, but I noticed Mr. Shadow and Mr. Eggman were just staring at each other with some creepy look. "Um, so, how was your day guys? Cheese?" I asked trying to end the silence. "Chew chew!" he replied. "That's good to hear! I had a pleasant time with Amy and we baked muffins. You'll each have to try one soon! How about you Mr. Shadow? How was your day?" I asked taking another bite of bread. "It's been decent... until now." he replied and ate a fork full of spaghetti. "O-ok! That's good to hear! How about you Mr. Eggman? Have you been up to much?" I asked him. "No... not really. It's been modest enough but, lately, I've had my off days." he replied taking a sip of water. "That's sad to hear. Is there something that's bothering you?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "No, not really." he said. Both of them continued to stare at each other. I wasn't sure what exactly happened to the two, but I was going to make sure that the issue was solved. "Well, since you seem to be settled, I'll be going to my room to clean it up! You're welcome Mr. Shadow!" I told them and headed away from the table, Cheese not too far behind. "W-Wait Cream, it's okay! It can wait! J-Just don't go!" he protested. "Goodbye Mr. Shadow! Have a nice evening Mr. Eggman!" I said before going into the other room. Once we were in my room, we put a cup to the wall closest to the kitchen. "Alright, we've got to be quiet! I wonder what's going on!" I said to Cheese. "Chew choo!" he replied and now we just listened.
Shadow's P.O.V
Out of all our friends and rivals, she just had to bring him home. We just sat there in silence. "It's been a while..." he finally said. "Yeah... it has." he replied. "So... you're taking care of the rabbit?" "Yes... it was Vanilla's last wish..." "I see... she seems to be in good hands."
A few minutes ticked by and I was wondering how much longer we'd have to sit here.
"Are we going to keep hiding the obvious?" he asked me. I looked up and shrugged my shoulders. "I guess we don't have much of a choice." He nodded his head, and leaned back, putting one leg over the other. "I'll admit it, Shadow... If I had known you liked Sonic the way you did, you know I would've never hunted him down the way I did." he replied. "I know but... it's more than that! You almost got him killed!" I snapped. "Listen, you used to hate him just as much as I do so I don't understand why you're always defensive!" he snapped. "You don't know anything about true love! I caught feelings for him and I told you about it! I trusted you!" "And I told you it was a bad idea!" "UGH! You never understand me!" "Well, I guess we have something in common then!"
We growled before looking away from each other. "Before all this drama, I was more than happy working for you! But then of course you had to be extra! This is why I didn't stick around!" I growled to him. "Well, I didn't care! You always goofed up the mission in the end!" he snapped. "That's because you made me work with Rouge! Of course, it didn't work out! You never ask what I want! You never thought I could do anything on my own! You don't even know how to trust me because you're so full of yourself!"
"Of course I knew you could do it! You the strongest thing alive Shadow! The reason I always sent you with Rouge, was so that you always had someone to remind you why you're fighting for your life! I chose you both since you've always been a good brother and sister to each other! That's why!" he huffed, and began to get up. I guess I didn't see it through his eyes. "I didn't have anyone at my side growing up! I made sure that everyone close to me never felt that way! Nobody should have to feel alone in the world! But... that's just how life is sometimes." he added sadly, I watched him carefully walk to the door.
Something inside made me feel bad about... everything. After Maria and Gerald Robotnik were no longer a part of my life... I just didn't think I had anyone else.
Was I wrong?
"Come back here you dolt." I sighed, standing up from my chair. He turned around and carefully walked back towards me. "I'm... I'm sorry. I never take the time to look at everyone else's side. I just wasn't sure what to think of everything we'd been through. Besides your grandfather, I didn't have any other family. You're the closest thing I have to family. Maybe it's time I begin to realize that." I sighed.
Underneath that bushy mustache, I could see a soft smile form across his face. "I'd like that too." he sighed happily. We shook hands and smiled happily. "Come here old man." I smiled and brought him into a small hug. "Don't push it." he teased and hugged back.
I felt him pat my back and we let go of each other. "Feel free to come over again soon. Cream seems to be fine having you here. So... maybe I can tolerate you as well." I said to him. "I appreciate it Shadow... truly." he said. I watched him walk out the door and get into his vehicle and start it up. "I'll talk to you soon!" he shouted and whirled off into the distance.
I waved goodbye myself and just watched the machine fly away.
I felt myself smile, surprised I could still do it genuinely anymore. I decided to walk inside to check on Cream and Cheese to see how they were doing.
To my surprise, they were sitting on the couch, eating muffins from a box. "So, how'd it go?" she asked, her mouth stuffed with muffin. I chuckled at her and took a muffin out of the box to try it. "Mm. Not bad!" I told her. Something about her made her a miracle worker. I'm glad Vanilla made the right choice. "Alright, come on, I know you've got things you want to tell me," I said and put her on my shoulders. "You bet I do! It's a long story though, think you can handle it?" she teased. "Try me."
Hearing her giggle made me feel better as a whole. I never thought I'd have to take care of someone who was like a sister, or even a kid of mine. She seems wiser than all of us... like she knows what she's doing. "Okay, so I'll start from the beginning."