a/n: Don't say it. Don't. I know.

I hope you enjoy what I've got cooked up this time.

Weave

1. Much Ado

The time had changed. In this future, the campaigns against Eggman were protracted, fiercer, and fewer in number than ever. It was an era where, if only for a moment in this history of their conflict, the heroes took the work that they had accepted as seriously as possible.

Their evolution made the Doctor more and more cautious, and as a result his attempts on world domination started to dwindle.

Today was early in winter, where Christmas and New Year's had already passed through the collective consciousness. Eggman's fights with Sonic and the heroes of Earth were out of sight in these recent years, and therefore mostly out of mind. In a relative sense, it was an age of peace for those denizens of Station Square and the surrounding area. Snow was thick on the ground and plentiful. The wind whipped through snowdrifts and howled around tall buildings.

A transit terminal, its top covered by layers of white, served as the stop for the nearby express bus. A certain occupant stopped near the front and gave her warmest thanks to the driver before stepping off. Bundled in a warm white winter jacket with a fluffy hat and scarf - all made lovingly by her mother - she walked through the terminal and its linoleum flooring to the street. She ascertained where north was, long ears kept warm, and started her stroll up the road to her destination. The snow crunched beneath her boots; it was getting a bit colder.

She stopped in front of the apartment building and expected there to be a doorman of some kind, but there wasn't one to be found. It was of a lower scale than she expected, but she then remembered that he hadn't ever cared for things like this. It was a dramatic adjustment on his end living here in the first place, to be sure.

The lobby was neat and clear, and four elevators were immediately available, two on each side. She took the nearest one on her left and pressed 4. It was a short wait before the doors opened again, and she walked to her left, to the first door she saw. One, two, three polite yet firm knocks. The door opened.

"Ya made it! Glad to see you, Cream."

"Likewise," she replied with a smile.

Sonic smiled back and welcomed her in, a red scarf wrapped around his neck. Cream thought it made him look more heroic, somehow. She politely removed her gloves, then her hat and scarf. Sonic quietly took everything from her and put them on the hooks near the door, then took her jacket.

"I can handle the boots, it's fine."

"Yes'm. Gotcha."

Cream nodded her thanks and slipped her winter boots off before walking into the rest of the apartment. There wasn't any lack of space as she exited the short corridor and saw the living area. The kitchen was nearby, and Sonic waved her to the square table where hot tea was already waiting.

"I got those kinda fancy round bags from the market. Orange...pekoe? Is that right? I know it ain't that high class and all..."

"It's nothing to worry about. Mama and I have that sort all the time. It's good with breakfast."

"Yeah, ain't it? Amy's been on my butt to learn how to cook and make stuff lately, and I figured I'd oblige her. I mean, if only to shut her up for a second." Sonic poured into two mugs and slid one to Cream. He made sure she had the sugar and milk within reach.

"Has she been around much lately?" Cream asked.

"A little bit. Still blows up at me though."

"You did say something mean to her."

Sonic shrugged and sat down. He poured a bit of milk into his tea. "I told her she had a fat butt after she cleaned me out of four hundred bones for dinner. One of those high class joints, too. She ate like it was her last meal. And she has been getting a bit thick lately."

"Mister Sonic. That's a bit much."

"Sorry, but I gotta say it. And besides, I'm an old man now, I'm allowed to have a few more unfiltered opinions these days without anyone getting mad."

"You've hardly aged a day."

He grinned and cupped his chin. "You know just how to butter me up. I'd say the same to you but you're a growin' young lady, and that's nothing but a good thing."

"Thank you."

It had been long enough; Cream was indeed growing by the day. Her teenage years were upon her. Although timidly at first, she had expressed her feelings to Tails some time ago, and the two periodically went out together when he wasn't trying to get ahead of Eggman on some new weapon or device. Out of everyone, he had taken the last few years the most seriously, and had himself holed up for days and weeks at a time.

"Seen the man friend lately?" he asked casually.

"It's been a few days. He's not one to answer calls, as I'm sure you know."

"Yeah. Next level nerd stuff. S'why I decided to hole up here for the winter. He didn't want me to, but I don't wanna throw him off his game. He'll change the world once we take it to Eggman one last time...too much talent not to. Proud of him."

"He really is amazing in that way," Cream said as she sipped her tea.

"Biscuits?"

"No thank you. The tea will be enough."

"How is it?"

"Wonderful. I know there's not much work involved, but you did get it to a nice flavour."

"Ha, great! Seal of approval from Cream herself!"

She giggled a bit before taking another sip.

"So," Sonic started as he leaned back in his chair, "you usually wouldn't catch me in another part of the year, and Amy did relay the message so I stuck around. Said you really wanted to talk. Anything about? Problems?"

"I did want to talk. I..."

"Nothing to rush, yeah? And scout's honour, I won't blab about it to anyone else. Not even Amy there, though I think she knew as much since she hasn't busted in here already."

Cream set her cup down, tracing a finger along the edge of the plate it was sitting on. Small lines of steam wafted up from the tea inside, and her chocolate brown eyes moved to focus on her companion. He raised a brow in response, immediately noting the intensity, subtle as it was. There was a shine to those eyes of hers now.

Like she was searching for something.

"He can't know. Tails...really cannot know."

Sonic leaned forward, his arms on the table. He moved the plate with its cup aside and tried to discern the true nature of that look in her eyes. It was a startlingly clear reminder that she wasn't six any longer. It wasn't an angry look. It wasn't something of distress. He couldn't really figure it out and it...bothered him on a level he didn't know was possible.

"Gettin' serious," he said simply.

"It is, in a way."

It was a more measured tone from her now, something a bit beyond thirteen years old and the rabbit girl in front of him.

"These are strange feelings I'm having. I've been having them a lot lately. They've been...getting more intense. I haven't talked to anyone about it."

"Not even Amy?"

"Not even her."

"Might be too heavy for me to lift," Sonic said cautiously.

"It has to be you this time. I have this feeling that you'll be the one to understand. The one to truly help me."

He nodded. "Shoot, then."

She looked away before staring back at Sonic, hands in her lap. "There's someone I've been...becoming attached to. Someone who I've admired, who I've idolized for so long. He means a lot to me. He's simply...older. A man now."

"You're worried he might end up...well, takin' your heart and stuff?"

"He already has. I simply don't know what it is I truly want. What I would ask for if I spoke to him. It is...a slow, steady beat. My heart starts to jump and flutter near him. When I was a little girl...I knew him then, as well. I didn't have these feelings. Only as I grew older, found myself thinking of him more. I wondered why. I still wonder why."

"..."

"I can't stand to pain him. To have rumours started about him. But I...simply have to know what these feelings mean."

"Maybe talking to him would work it out?" Sonic asked.

"Perhaps. But...it's a hard subject to breach. Wouldn't you say?"

Sonic sighed and took a deep breath. "It would be, yeah. If this guy's a full grown man as you said...well, you're still practically a kid, you know. Even as mature as you are..."

"It sounds like something he would say. It's...soothing to hear," she said quietly. Cream smiled and her fingers pressed themselves into the fabric of her sweater. Sonic heard the clicking in his head and ignored it for the time being. Yes, he knew.

Her eyes met his again and she nodded before taking another sip of tea.

"I got no clue how to solve this right now, but...I'll give it a shot. Whatever it takes," Sonic answered.

"Thank you. I know we'll be able to make this work, together."

"Of course we will."

"Thank you for the tea, Mister Sonic. It was delicious."

"No worries...leaving already?"

"I should. It wouldn't do to stay out too late...or stir myself up anymore than needed."

He mentally stepped back as she looked at him, a smile coming to her lips. Cream put on her things and slipped into her boots, Sonic escorting her to the elevator and downstairs.

"Cream, you take care. And we'll set up another date like this whenever you want."

"Is next week fine?"

"Sure. I'll be around all winter. Just call in, and I'll make sure to stay put for the day."

"I understand. Thank you for this, Mister Sonic. I really appreciate it...more than I can express. Please take care of yourself."

"I will."

She smiled and let her eyes connect with his for a few extra moments before turning away.

As soon as she left, Sonic exhaled loudly and put a hand to his forehead.

"You gotta be kidding me...she's for real. What did I walk myself into?"

He groaned and shook his head.

"She really ain't a kid anymore, that's for darn sure. I gotta figure out what I can do. And I gotta do it before she does it for me. I mean, she doesn't really...she couldn't be thinking that...maybe she does. Ah..."

He jogged easily up to his apartment and unlocked the door, then shuffled off his sneakers and flopped onto the couch listlessly.

There was a lot of thinking to be done.