Hello Everyone!

Okay, so that last comment thing I realized was very stupid. Please forget it.

However, I do want to still extend that offer (that is, to make a story on whatever subject about whatever within reason) to whoever comments for this chapter. I want to know what you guys like, so that I can maybe expand more.

Any who, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Sincerely,

Gate Keeper

Of Tea, Past and Present

Eggman's House

Vanilla slid out of bed, feeling the soft carpet underneath her feet.

She was nervous; it wasn't everyday that you were saved by someone who not even weeks ago you feared, nor for that matter did you meet them on the street conversing with your daughter in a very polite manner.

Or that you meet that same someone who just yesterday had been pronounced dead.

It had been quite a shock to hear the radios announcing it. They said that after the latest battle between the Doctor and Sonic his escape pod had crash landed him in the mountains to the north, about 10 miles from the nearest ranger stations with the pods door compromised. After following some tracks that had led nowhere, the Doctor was pronounced dead from the sheer impossibility of shelter from the wind, snow and cold near there.

Vanilla had been walking a fine line for years on how she felt about the Doctor. While she had been imprisoned, along with her daughter, aboard his ship years ago the man had not really done anything in particular to make her an enemy. They had been treated hospitably (considering the circumstance), with no undue harm to them for which Vanilla was grateful and somewhat confused about. From her friends she had gathered that Eggman was ruthless and maniacal with his schemes, eagerly waiting for Sonic to slip up and fail to create his wonderful robotopia again.

Her memories, however...

They had been at a table, both with a cup of herbal tea sitting in front of them. She hadn't even touched it when he said...

"I'm not sure if my mother would approve of me taking a lady hostage, Mrs. Rabbit." Eggman said, stirring some sugar into the tea.

"W-what do you mean?" She had said worriedly.

"I mean that she wouldn't be so glad to have you be so frightened when your'e here. 'It's not gentlemanly to be unkind to a lady' is what I'm thinking she would say."

"Then why do you still have us here if you think it's not right? Surely if would be easy if you could just-"

"Because there isn't a safe way to let you out just yet. If I let you out now, I'm sure that the pods would be blasted out of the sky sooner then I could drink this tea." as Eggman took a quick drink of his cup.

"Why would they be destroyed? If they knew we were on them then-"

"It wouldn't matter if I say that you were on them or even if you said it. Anything leaving this ship before I was pronounced defeated would be obliterated. Your friends Sonic and company might believe it, but the people won't. They don't trust me. They won't want to take a second chance with me taking them by surprise with anything." Eggman put down his cup and stared into the tea.

"No one trusts me anymore. Not them, not Sonic, and not yourself either Mrs. Rabbit."

He looked up at her, his glasses reflecting her scared appearance back at her.

"Or do you, perhaps, have some trust in me Mrs. Rabbit?"

She swallowed nervously before daring to straighten up and look into those azure mirrors.

"And what if I did?"

He had chuckled. "Then you would drink the tea and relax. I am going to leave to take care of some things, do not try and escape or I will have the robots force you into a cell."

He got up and drank his tea, collecting the cup and saucer before heading towards a metal door.

"Oh, and Mrs. Rabbit?" he said as he turned around once again to face her from the edge of the door, smiling a little at seeing the cup being put down from her mouth.

"I believe your trust has been gravely misplaced, I don't have faith even in myself anymore. Good day."

"Only one way to find out how this ends Vanilla, lets go find Eggman." With that the rabbit smoothed out her wrinkled dress and walked out of the room

She was amazed by the many decorations; the deep red carpeted hallway she was in was filled with a number of stands and decorations. Pictures and artwork were hung next to doctoral degrees, with some well made oak stands holding small pieces of jewelry and music boxes.

Walking farther down the hall, a majestic clock stood. It was a grandfather clock, with a case made of the darkest rosewood, and the face being that of polished silver with golden hands.

Vanilla walked closer, inspecting the beautiful craftsmanship. Around the face, rolling waves and pictures of planets were etched into the silver and the bright copper numbers were encircled with minute details of vines.

"It truly is a beautiful piece." a voice called. Vanilla jumped and turned towards the noise.

Eggman stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her. He was still in his dark suit from earlier, and smiled a little bit at the clock. "It was my grandfathers'. He got it from his grandfather, and left it to me when he went to work on the ARK project with Maria. You could say it's my grandfather's grandfather's grandfather clock, but that's a bit of a mouthful." he chuckled

"There are some beautiful pieces here, are they all from your family?" Vanilla asked timidly

"Yes, this house is actually a replica of my childhood home in Overland before I came here. It always brought me great comfort to be there, so I got the blueprints and the mementos as a parting gift after being accepted here in Mobotropolis."

"Family certainly seems to mean a lot to you, Doctor." Vanilla said as she followed Eggman down the stairs into a beautiful dining room

Eggman pulled out Vanillas' chair and walked to the other end

"Family means more when you have so few left to share it with. Now please Mrs. Rabbit, would you care for some tea?" Clink came by with two saucers and cups while Clank held a pitcher behind him.

Vanilla smiled as she took the saucer and cup. "I would love some." and took a sip.