A/N: This was supposed to come early. But better late than never.

Chapter 11

A cat's revenge

CREAM'S HOUSE

11:34PM

A week later, Tails and Cream continued on with their newly rekindled relationship. Every day, Tails would stop by the bakery when Cream was closing up and he would drive her home or take her someplace beautiful… and secluded. Occasionally, Cream would spend the night at Tails' house, sleeping in his arms after a pleasurable bout of lovemaking. But on this occasion, Cream decided to sneak back home.

Cream silently unlocked the door and tiptoed into the house. Closing the door and locking it with the same level of silence as before, the rabbit took off her shoes to avoid making clacking sounds. She was sure her mother was asleep so she did not want to wake her. The very act of coming home at near midnight warranted punishment enough. She did not want to add another transgression to the list.

As she quietly walked past the living room, she did not notice the figure casually sitting on the recliner.

"And where have you been, young lady?"

Cream froze at the sound of her mother's voice. She did not really think that she would still be up till this hour. Vanilla usually went to bed at ten. Slowly, she turned her head towards her mother. "Um… I was out… with… a friend." She mentally smacked herself. That was one of the lamest excuses ever.

Vanilla could also tell and she rolled her eyes. "Come on, Cream. Tell me the truth." She had on that no-nonsense tone that always showed that she meant business.

Cream sighed. "OK. I was at Tails' house."

The older rabbit seemed to relax but she moved closer to her daughter's face. "You know, ever since you returned from that trip, you've been spending a lot of time there." A knowing smirk played on her lips. "Are you sure nothing is going on?"

Cream broke into a light sweat. "Um… ah… yeah… nothing's happening."

Vanilla walked closer to her daughter; Cream did not move an inch. "Yeah. Sure. Nothing's happening." She tilted Cream's face to her level. "Then why is your lipstick all smudged?" She gave Cream's clothes a once over. "And why are your clothes all wrinkly? But most of all…" She inhaled slowly. "Why do I smell his cologne all over you?" They were all rhetorical questions.

Cream trembled so violently, she might have been on an electric chair. Eventually she blurted out. "OK! Tails and I are dating again!"

"There's more to it than that, Cream." Vanilla leaned closer to her ear. "You two are having sex, aren't you?" She had a triumphant smirk on her face when she saw her daughter's shocked beyond reason expression.

Cream slowly turned away, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mom."

Vanilla was surprised at her daughter's reaction. She moved in to hug her daughter."Cream, it's OK. I'm not mad at you." She slowly stroked her hair and gently rocked her. Just like what she used to do when Cream was a young girl.

After a few minutes, Cream calmed down. "You're not mad, Momma?" She sobbed.

Vanilla only shook her head. Then she asked. "Do you love him?"

Cream only nodded in response.

"And he loves you back?"

"Yes." The younger rabbit whispered.

"Then why should I be mad at love?" Vanilla beamed. "I had always hoped that you would one day find the right guy to make you happy. If Tails makes you feel that way, then who am I to complain?"

Cream brightened up immediately. "Oh, thank you, Mommy. Thank you for understanding." She moved in to hug her mother, who eagerly returned the hug.

After a long moment, Vanilla pulled away. "Now, to the shower with you, young lady. I can't stand that smell of cologne on you. It's just too… overwhelming."

DOWNTOWN MOBOTROPOLIS

12:22PM

"So, your mother found out, huh?" Tails asked. His reaction was not hostile but it wasn't warm either.

Cream nodded nervously. "Yeah. She noticed my smudged lipstick, disheveled clothes and your cologne's smell."

The fox just stared into space and then shrugged. "Oh, well, she was bound to find out sooner or later. Who else knows?"

Cream tried to remember. So far, she had told some of her closest friends; she left out the sex part, though. "Just Amy, Rouge and a few others. How about you?"

"Just Sonic, Knuckles, Sally, Shadow, Gareth… just to name a few."

Cream nodded. "What was their reaction?"

The fox shrugged. "Just the usual 'my man' and 'way to go, little bro'. Nothing too zealous."

They stopped at a café and ordered some drinks. As Cream sipped hers' she could notice Tails breathing heavily and repeatedly squeezing his cup.

"Is something wrong, Tails?" She asked, worried.

Tails took another deep breath. "Well, I've been meaning to ask you… and I hope it does not seem too sudden or inconvenient but… would you move in with me?"

Cream was shocked. "Move in with you? I… are you serious?"

Tails nodded and reached across the table and clasped Cream's hand in his own. "Yeah I am. It would be nice to have you closer to me."

The rabbit tried to hide her blush. "Wow… I'm… I mean… yes, Tails. Of course I'll move in with you."

Tails' face brightened up. "Great! So you just tell me whichever date you're free and we'll take care of that."

Cream giggled and leaned across the table. Tails did likewise and the two met in a short kiss.

The two lovebirds however, were unaware that they were being closely watched.

Sitting a few tables away, hiding behind a newspaper, was Clement, Cream's ex-boyfriend. He eyed the couple with a mixture of jealousy and rage. Seeing them so happy together made him sick to his stomach. Right now, he wanted to get revenge on Tails for the beating he had received and he wanted to give Cream his little "parting gift" he always his ex-girlfriends with. Right now, he had the perfect plan for revenge. He grinned to himself as he watched them leave the café.

Hold on to her as long as you like, fox he thought. Coz this will be the last time you will do so.

8:45PM

Tails was out for a nightly walk, feeling pretty darn satisfied. The entire day had gone so well with him. In a few days, Cream would be moving in with him. It could not get any better for him. Soon he was lost in his thoughts. Maybe in a few months, I'll get to propose to her. And then we'll get married and have kids. Wow. Me. A father. And Cream, a mother.

It was best he should not be thinking about that quite soon. Maybe he really was moving too fast. Then again, he didn't care. He was happy. Cream was happy.

The fox was so absorbed in his thoughts, he failed to notice a hooded figure approach him. By the time his senses were alert, it was already too late. He felt the excruciating pain of the knife as it found its mark in his lower right side.

He screamed in pain as he fell to his knees and clutched his side, the blood seeping through his fingers. He looked up to see the hooded figure crouch down and slowly remove his hood. Whom he saw made him bare his fangs in fury.

"Clement."

The cat had a shit eating grin on his face. "Surprised to see me again, Tails?" he brandished his knife. "You know, for a moment there, I thought you were gonna see this coming. I mean, hooded guy approaching you in a dark street in the middle of the night… its so cliché. Yet I still managed to gut you." He snickered like Muttley.

Miles struggled to get up. The blood was starting to pool on the pavement. "Is this… your revenge… for that beatdown… I gave you?"

Clement merely shook his head and tisked, like he was chiding a child. "No, no, no. This is just the tip of the iceberg. My real vengeance will soon come. But it won't be inflicted on you. But rather, that little girlfriend of yours."

Tails' eyes went wide. And it was not because of the pain. "Cream…"

"Ding, ding, ding! Correct!" Clement clapped his hands.

"You motherfucker." The fox growled.

Clement then lost all his joviality. He grabbed Tails by the neck and rose with him. "Listen here, you deformed, mutated piece of shit. Everything was fine between me and Cream until you showed up and our relationship started to collapse. It was all your fault! And as if that wasn't enough, you assault me in my own house! Then you steal Cream from me and take what was rightfully mine: her virginity!"

Hearing that almost made Tails laugh but he was in pain. "You never… loved her. You only saw her… as a snatchbox."

Clement brought Tails' face closer to his own. "Bullshit! Now, you're gonna get what's coming to you, fox."

Despite his injury, Tails still had some fight left in him. He brought his arm down on Clement's elbow, forcing the cat to release him. Tails then advanced on him Clement and headbutted him. The pain finally caught up to the fox and he staggered to his knees. The loss of blood was making him lightheaded.

Clement staggered back to his feet, a bit disoriented. "That calls for some retaliation, Tails." He advanced towards the bleeding fox who had just regained his footing. "Don't worry, Tails. I'm not gonna hurt you anymore..." To prove it, he put the knife in his pocket. But as soon as Tails could stand up straight, the cat pushed him, straight onto the road. Coincidentally, a car was heading straight for him.

Clement grinned. "…the car will."

Time seemed to slow down for Tails. The car came at him at a great speed. There was a loud thud as it connected with his midsection. His legs flew out from under him as the force of the impact sent him airborne. He landed on the windshield of another parked car, shattering the glass and staining it red. Then he slid off the hood and fell to the ground, motionless.

Clement slowly approached the body of Tails. He crouched low and whispered in his ear. "Make your peace, Tails. Your girlfriend might be joining you soon." He straightened up and approached the car that had hit Tails. The passenger door opened and the cat hopped in.

Scott eyed Tails' body in the rearview mirror. "What do you say I run over him a few more times, just to make sure?"

Clement shook his head. "No. he's dead, sure enough. Come on, let's go before the one of the neighbors pops out."

The hyena laughed his trademark laugh and hit the gas, the car's tires squeaking on the asphalt before it zoomed away.

A/N: I really enjoyed writing this. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please read and review.

J.W.H. 10