"Thank you very much, Mr. Prower," Cream The Rabbit thanks, after putting away the duster.
"Oh, it's been a pleasure, Cream," Tails The Fox returns the compliment as he puts the broom in a corner of the wall. "And just call me Tails."
"OK, Tails. You did a great job helping me clean my house. You would make a great family man," she smiles.
"Now you look like your mother talking," observes Tails, grinning.
After washing their hands, the two return to living room.
Cream announces:
"Well, I think we deserve an award after all this grueling work."
"The best award we can receive is for your mother to recognize our good work," says Tails.
"Perhaps. But we can go further. Sit there on the couch while I go to the kitchen."
"Okay."
After a minute, Cream returns with two fruit cocktails.
"Uhu, what a beauty," Tails praises, as he picks up his glass, decked with an orange peel.
"Apple, banana and lemon," Cream enumerates, sitting on the couch with her glass.
"Excellent. You did?"
"Yes. But the secret ingredient is Mom's."
"What ingredient?"
"Secret. And now let's have a toast."
"Sure."
"To Mom's new lifestyle. Long live Vanilla Punk!"
"LIVE!"
The two children bang their glasses.
Tails starts drinking.
Cream waits a bit.
After the first sip, Tails approves.
"AAAHHH!"
Suddenly, he collapses on the couch.
PLOFT!
Cream watches Tails with a slightly apprehensive look.
She pours the contents of her glass onto the floor.
Someone enters the room and celebrates:
"PERFECT!"
Cream protests:
"But did we need this?"
"Yeah. After all, you were who should take the initiative. You know he's too shy. And now come, I'll dress you."
"I just hope it works," Cream mumbles.
Tails is poked.
"Hey Tails, wake... Wake up..."
"Huh?"
With half-closed eyes, Tails watches silhouette of Cream...
...dressed in black?
Tails fully awakens.
There's Cream, in front of him, looking like she's just swallowed a spider.
Tails sits on the couch and gets a puzzled look.
"Cream? Why this black suit? And this yellow tie?"
"Did not you like it?"
"Oh yes, of course I liked, but..." He scratches his head.
"I know, I'm scared too. Here, this is for you."
"A lily?" Tails takes the flower from her hand. "SNIFF! It's very fragrant. Thank you sonic much."
"You're welcome," she reciprocates, unsmiling.
A Viennese waltz starts to play from who knows where.
"Song?"
"And then? Wanna Dance?" Cream opens her arms.
"Like you?" Tails hesitates for a moment, then gets up from the couch. "Oh yes! Will be an honor!"
"Let's go."
Cream and Tails start dancing, trying to keep up with the waltz.
"OUCH!" The little fox suddenly screams.
"Oh, did I step on your toes? Sorry, Tails."
10 seconds...
"AUCH!" The boy screams again.
"Oh sorry once again! This isn't going to work..."
"It will," Tails suggests. "It's just you..."
"Yes, yes, I already know." Cream takes off her black shoes and keeps her socks on.
"Well, I think it's only fair that I match you." Tails also removes his red sneakers, staying barefoot.
"Excellent." Cream smiles slightly and the two go back to dancing.
As they dance, Tails feels other details.
"Cream, you smell… like cream. Or rather: milk cream!"
"And you smell like machine oil, as usual."
"HE HE HE HE…" Tails giggles, but doesn't stop sniffing her friend's perfume.
"Cream... this moment... is so special... it's inspiring me... to... to..."
"Yes?"
"... to kiss-WOW!"
Tails slips his bare foot on the wet patch that Cream forgot to wipe off.
He almost falls sitting on the floor, but pulls Cream's tie so he doesn't fall.
Cream, frightened, stands upright despite all the fox's weight.
"Tails?!"
"Wow! Your tie is pretty tough, huh?"
RRIIP!
The tie rips and he falls to the ground!
BONC!
"OH!" Cream crouches to help her friend.
"Or rather: it was..."
"Are you okay, Tails?"
"Yes, I am." Tails gets back up. "But... Sorry about your tie..."
"Oh, no problem. I never needed that rag." Cream unties what's left of her tie and tosses it aside. "My mother invents each one..."
"Aaahhh. So you arranged all this with your mother?" Tails crosses his arms.
"Oops... I mean... Yes, it was."
"Just so I could fall in love with you?"
"Welll.."
"Come here baby." Unceremoniously, Tails grabs Cream's cheeks and kisses her for a long time!
And more: the two tails of the fox soon envelop the rabbit, in a warm embrace!
FLASH!
Tails and Cream turn their eyes to Vanilla The Punk Rabbit, who has just taken a photo of the kiss with her smartphone.
"GOTCHA!"
"Vanilla? But why all this?" Tails asks good-naturedly.
"First, because I like to play," explains Vanilla. "Second, because if it depended on your shyness, Cream would never be able to date you."
"Me, shy?" Tails watches Cream, who is totally stunned, not saying a word. "It seems that shy here is another person..."
Tails and Vanilla burst out laughing. Cream laughs, a little embarrassed.
And the waltz keeps playing...
THE END!