Chapter 2
The sun rays shine down on dew covered leaves and blossoms in the early morning. Each drop its own gem of brilliance, undisturbed in the flourishing garden of the simple cottage. Its cream colored walls let the red window shutters stand out even while shadowed by the brown roof. The simple red door at the front creaks open. Out of the house steps a young rabbit girl with a wicker basket in her arms and little blue Chao sitting atop her head. She hums to herself, a small smile on her lips, as she makes her way into the garden of her home. Finding the perfect spot, she settles herself down amongst the flowers and with practice ease begins to pick long-stemmed flora to add to her basket. The Chao chitters happily alongside her companion, watching the little rabbit work.
"Cream!" calls the girl's mother. The older rabbit leaning out from the wide window of the kitchen gives her daughter a fond look. "Would you cut some roses for the table, dear? I'm afraid the others need to be replaced."
The young girl's ears lift in her childish excitement. Roses! Mother is letting her be the one to gather the roses!
"I don't mind, Mother!" she calls back.
Vanilla's laughter sounds like wind chimes to her daughter. "Just be careful, sweetheart."
"I will, Mother!"
The mother gives a fond huff and returns to her kettle on the stove, leaving the window open in case Cream has need of her. The grating whistle of steaming water is cut short as the pot is removed from the burner and Vanilla is careful as she steadily pours the liquid into four tea cups filled with her homemade ginger tea blend. The spicy sweet smell soon fills the house as she places the white cups on her kitchen table next to that morning's breakfast preparations.
One of Vanilla's ears twitches as she catches the quiet sound of a door opening then eased shut. She continues about her business as one of her house guests, a certain blue hedgehog, makes his way into the living room adjacent from the kitchen.
"Good morning, Sonic," she greets politely, turning from her work to offer the sock-clad hero a smile. "I hope you boys slept alright."
Sonic rubs at his nose as he gives the mother rabbit a grin. "Morning, Miss Vanilla," he returns. "We slept just fine. Tails really pushed himself yesterday so I thought I'd let him get some more sleep."
"You're a good brother, dear." Vanilla turns back to the table, setting honey and jam beside a basket of fresh rolls. "I sent Cream out this morning to fetch some flowers for the table, would you mind helping me set it?"
"Of course!"
Plates and silverware join the tea and food on the table spread. Butter and slices of fruits and berries, and a few carrots, were added as well.
A light breakfast for everyone to enjoy.
Vanilla stands at her stove top stirring a pot of oats as her daughter enters the house. Cream's little dress has a few grass blades sticking to it from where she had to kneel down to pick her prized flowers but no tears are seen in the fabric to suggest her having trouble with the prickly roses. The elder rabbit giggles at the state of the poor Chao at the little girl's side.
"Cream, dear, what on Mobius happened to little Cheese?"
Sonic, from his seat at the table, looks up from a small handheld device to his young friend and her companion only to give a chuckle at the sight.
Cheese's bow haphazardly hangs from her neck and half of the Chao's body is covered in yellow pollen. Despite her frazzled appearance, she confidently holds a large piece of honeycomb that's protectively wrapped in a leaf. She gives her best friend's mother a proud chirrup, presenting her prize.
"Oh good morning Mister Sonic!" Cream greets, the blue hero returning in kind through his laughter. Her attention is brought back as her mother clears her throat. "Cheese wanted to smell the roses, but I think she smelled too long, Mother. It made her sneeze and fly into a big beehive! But they talked it out and now they're friends, see?" She gestures towards Cheese's honeycomb.
"That's lovely, dear." Vanilla takes a moment to wipe her hands on her apron before kneeling down to her daughter. "How about picking out a nice jar for Cheese's treat, hm? We can't let that sit out and go to waste now, can we?"
The six year old nods. "Okay, Mother." She heads off to the store room of the cottage with her Chao friend in tow.
The mother watches on, waiting until her daughter is out of sight and knowing she'll take her time on choosing the perfect jar. Once satisfied she turns to her house guest with a concerned look. "Have you found anything out about the poor dear in the other room? I checked on her earlier but she doesn't look any closer to waking up than she did yesterday."
Sonic flicks an ear in frustration. "No. Nothing. I sent a message to Shadow and Rouge when I got up this morning, but it looks like they're on a mission right now." He waves the handheld communicator at Vanilla. "No answer. And with Eggman having disappeared again, it's not like we can interrogate him."
"Don't fret, dear. I'm sure something will come up." She sets a bowl of hot oatmeal in front of the speedster. "All it takes is a bit of patience."
A snort causes the hedgehog to jump in his seat. "That's his problem, Miss Vanilla. He doesn't have any." Behind the hero stands a yellow fox, two tails twitching behind him in amusement.
"Good morning, Tails. Would you like some breakfast?" the rabbit asks.
Tails makes his way over to the table with a nod, sitting down beside his brother. "Yes, please, Miss Vanilla. And good morning to you too."
Sonic eyes the kit a moment, taking in his disheveled appearance. "You good there, pal?"
"What do you mean?"
"You look like you took out the entire Egg Fleet in your sleep," the hedgehog teases.
The vulpine dodges his brother's hand aimed to ruffle his bangs, quickly running his own fingers through his fur to try and tame the fly-aways. Vanilla laughs at their antics as she places another bowl of oats on the table in front of Tails.
"Thank you, Miss Vanilla. And thank you again for helping us." The eight year old gives the motherly rabbit a toothy grin. He piles his oatmeal high with blueberries and strawberries and drizzles the mound in honey before digging in.
"It's no problem at all, dear. You and Sonic both know that I'm here to help if you ever need it."
Cream comes bounding in to the kitchen with Cheese and their chosen jar, offering it up to her mother to help put the honeycomb in. With the Chao's prize secured the four Mobians sit down to enjoy their meal, catching up through stories and amicable jokes.
In the second guest room, a red ear twitches.