Seriously, there needs to be more stories with Beauregard—he's such an underdeveloped and sexy character. (Yes, I find a fictional cowboy rabbit hot—got a problem?) Oh, and everyone belongs to either SEGA or Archie.
One step into the war zone and suddenly it was as if Vanilla had become Mother Teresa, the Virgin Mary, or a Mobian Clara Barton.
No one dared to approach her, much less speak to her...almost as if none considered themselves worthy enough to be in her maternal presence.
Cream and Cheese experienced, more or less, the same behavior.
Honestly...? To say that this unprecedented treatment came as a shock to the lady rabbit and her escorts would have been a downright understatement.
The only exception had been a quiet, dutiful emerald-shelled armadillo with bionic arms. Her near-silence and deadpan expression had thrown Vanilla off for a second, but the older Mobian quickly adjusted to the armadillo's behavior. Being around Ozzie and even, at rare times, Shadow had given Vanilla ample experience with the "quiet ones."
The D.E.L soldiers still gave Antoine and Amy suspicious looks, though, especially in the handicapped coyote's case.
Regardless of the peculiar treatment, Vanilla had a mission to focus on. Together, she, Cream (with Cheese in her arms, of course), Amy, Antoine, and the legionized armadillo emerged from the crowded lobby and walked down barren hallways at a pace that, though fairly swift, almost drove the elder lapine bonkers. Every single step seemed like ten and every second felt like an hour.
'Oh, I never really did like suspense!' Vanilla griped in her mind before shaking her head to rid herself of such a negative thought.
Her daughter and her friends were quick to notice. "Mama, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Cream." Her child didn't look so convinced...as did the others; Vanilla couldn't blame them. 'No...That's not true. It's just...even after so long...that man bothered to think about us every day...when he knew very well how much pain remembering brought him. He loved Cream even before she opened her eyes...and still does. I only hope he can come to terms with himself and this whole 'south' business!'
The group stopped in front of a wooden door right before anyone could call the mother rabbit out on her fib. Matilda turned to group and gestured it to remain here before opening the door, walking past, and closing it. Probably to iron out some details with the Baron about this..."visit"...
Whatever the reason was, it gave Antoine the perfect opportunity to revive the conversation. "You have notheeng to fret, Miss Vanilla...ze man eez your husband. Believe me, the last theeng he would want would be to hurt you."
"Tony's right, Momma; Daddy told me once how sorry he is for being apart from you for so long." Cream's eyes went downward as her voice lost its optimism. "He also said you deserve better husband than him...that I deserved a better father, too."
Hearing the normally cheery girl sound so sad rung in the group's hearts like a breeze striking battered chimes.
Amy took a step towards her smaller friend, her sisterly instincts all but hidden. Her green eyes shone with clear sympathy. "Oh Cream..."
"Oh sweetie...," Vanilla tenderly smiled as she scooped her baby girl into her arms and cradled her against her chest. "No one—and I mean no one—could ever replace your father. Despite his faults, despite his mistakes, he has always been and will always be, without a doubt, the kindest, sweetest, and most strong-hearted man I have ever met."
Amy, Cheese, and Antoine wisely remained in silence, smiling at the scene of affection before them. Times like these were what made being a Freedom Fighter all worthwhile. Sadly, the moment couldn't last forever.
"Ahm..." the sound of someone clearing their throat from behind her caused Vanilla to spin around, Cream still in her arms.
Matilda had returned, though Vanilla had her suspicions as to how long the young armadillo had been standing there. Instead of instigating, preferring not to stir up any trouble for her husband (yet), Vanilla instead chose to give a simple question. "Yes, dear...?"
If the armadillo felt bashful about the address, she didn't show—as usual. "The Baron is ready for you, Miss Vanilla."
Well then...this was it. Nodding her head, Vanilla set her daughter down, Cream choosing to stand right beside Matilda, Cheese back in her arms, and steeled herself. 'Well, here I go. In the immortal words of Sonic: let's do it to it!' Vanilla marched right into the room without fear, like she was walking straight into Beau's arms.
Only when the door closed behind the mother rabbit did Matilda finally speak.
"That mother of yours is a bold woman." Cream hummed in curiosity and shifted her eyes to Matilda once she realized the armadillo was talking to her, even though the slightly older girl still had her eyes on the door. "Not many folks are that willing to approach the Baron face to face...especially under their own accord."
Even though Matilda only meant to make an observation, Cream still smiled, proud of her mother's bravery. 'Mommy always worries when I do missions with the Freedom Fighters, but deep down I think she wishes she could do the same. She says she always liked it better when the princess saved the knight instead of the other way around.'
Like now—everything felt like a real-life fairytale to Cream...only with a big, mean doctor, a really big desert, and lots and lots of robots...and a torn family about to be put back together for the happy ending it deserves...
When Cream looked back at the door, knowing her mother would do just fine, she failed to notice Matilda sparing her a glance, as well as something the shelled girl had not given anyone in a long time. For the first time in years, Matilda let her stoic expression melt into a smile. Cream's hopeful expression really got her thinking optimistically, something the young armadillo believed she'd never do again.
'Perhaps things will change for the better. I just hope that lady knows what she's getting into.'
For those of you who know Matilda's backstory, you'd understand the other reason why she's so happy at the end here. Let's just say Beau's not the only one who has lost family members.