a/n: I can still go.

Weave

4. Considerations

"Just a moment."

Sonic nodded towards the door and waited. It wasn't as cold as they had predicted earlier, which was a nice thing. Sometimes it was alright when the weather guys got it wrong.

A small, unassuming home in the city. Immediately affordable, good access to everything needed, and in a fairly quiet neighbourhood. Vanilla hadn't ever considered city life, but Amy easily sold her on it. Some down payment assistance didn't hurt either, though of course it was flatly refused at first.

The plain, wooden door opened; the entrance to Cream and Vanilla's world. A warm, welcoming smile graced the mother's face, and she welcomed her guest in with a gentle pat on the back before closing the door. An apron with many pockets went over her long and horizontally striped dress, old fashioned and charming.

"It's so good to see you."

"Same here. I was thinkin' of poppin' in, but Amy's surprise visit helped push the date up."

"I'm glad it did."

Sonic removed his sneakers and went into the dining room, sniffing subtly at the air as he went.

"I made something for you, since I knew you were coming."

"Ya didn't have to."

"That goes without saying, but you know that I'm not that kind of woman."

"Heh. You're right." He seated himself at the table and she disappeared, back into the kitchen where she took up a ladle and stirred at the contents of her pot. A steady hand drew up generous helpings of chili, lovingly loaded up with slices of jumbo hot dogs. Vanilla took a spare hand towel and used it to hold the hot bowl, carrying it to Sonic along with a spoon. His eyes widened as she set the meal onto a table mat.

"Oi, Vanilla. This is too much, I was just comin' over to see you."

"Go ahead and eat, you know better."

"Aw, sheesh. Alright. Thanks so much."

"You're welcome, sweetie."

She floated back into the kitchen again, this time for the cup of tea she made earlier. Sonic nodded with satisfaction as he took a spoonful of chili and chewed on it.

"This is great. Thanks again, Vanilla."

"It's my pleasure. I'm glad you like it."

He took in another few spoonfuls before pausing. "I came by to see how you two were doing, after I had a chat with Amy. Gal's been something else these days, I'm loving it. On her way."

"Does that mean you're considering settling down?"

"Ha. She's outta my league by now," he said before taking in another spoon of chili. "Gonna be queen of the world soon. No use in courting an old hermit like me."

"Don't say things like that. You're handsome and she loves you like nobody else."

"C'mon. We both know she's due for better than this."

"Young man, you are not subpar." Vanilla gave him a firm look, and he relented.

"Alright, alright. I might be awesome, but I don't think it would be healthy."

"Please consider giving her a chance at least."

He sighed. "I'll think about it some. Honest."

"Good. That's all I want."

"Yes'm. Anyways, how's Cream been? I guess she's told you that we've been having weekly talks."

Vanilla sipped at her tea before answering. "She has. I wanted to thank you in person for keeping her company. She really does adore you, and I think she's come home a lot healthier each time. Cream can be precocious sometimes..."

"That's natural. She's a sharp kid, we should encourage that a little more."

"Tails did talk to me and apologize the other day, but there was no need. We all know how he is, Cream included. She still loves him."

"Yep. Nothing but good things to say about the little guy. I wish he hadn't holed himself up, but potential world peace sounds pretty exciting. His choice, I'm not gonna stop him unless he's been hurting. So far it looks like he's fine."

"I'm glad to hear that. Hm..." Vanilla held her tea in front of her for a moment, pausing in though. Sonic finished his bowl of chili in the meantime. "Did you want some more, Sonic?"

"Oh, uh...yeah. I'd like some more. Thanks Vanilla, that's really good stuff."

"I'm glad you enjoy it. Shall I give you the recipe later?"

"Nah, I'm alright. Besides, I don't think I could pull it off the way you do," he said with a chuckle.

"Well, Amy has been telling me that you've become quite the cook," she called back from the kitchen.

"That girl goes on sometimes, don't you worry. I'm nothin' special."

"I'm sure you're being entirely too modest this time, too." She set his refilled bowl in front of him. "Hm...yes, there was something I wanted to say. Something that came to mind just now."

"Yeah?"

"Something to do with you. Would it any trouble to listen a while?" she asked.

"After all we've been through, it's not even a question. Go ahead, Vanilla. I'm all ears."

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "As you might already know, I've lived as a single mother all of this time. Raising Cream has been a joy, but not without a few stumbles along the way on my end. Having both side of your parentage is something that really helps stabilize you in life. I have no intention of throwing myself a pity party, but...I always hoped I could have done better by Cream in that way."

Sonic nodded. "Growing up without a dad is tough. Especially as a guy. Tails went through it some, and as for me...my memories have always been a bit fuzzy. Bootstraps and all isn't a solution for any of us here. I'm one of a kind and all, not to brag about it."

"You've been a wonderful role model to Tails," she said. "He's grown in confidence each and every day, and he's also very principled. I don't think any of that would happen without you, Sonic."

"Heh." He rubbed at the back of his head. "Honestly? Dunno how I pulled it off myself, but I tried my hardest to be there. That's all it was, really."

"You've done an incredible job. You see? That's why you'd make a great father one day."

Sonic coughed a bit but kept down his chili as he swallowed. "Kids are...a little early in the game for me, Vanilla. Come on, don't make my heart give out so soon. At least let my quills get grey first."

"Stop it, you." She hit him gently with a cloth. "I didn't think you would get to joking about your age so quickly, but here you are. If you're going senile in your youth, then what does that say about me?"

"That you're timeless, obviously."

"Hmph. Nice try."

"Worth a shot." He swallowed another spoonful of chili while thinking.

It was then that something clicked in.

"You were talking about it being hard raising Cream without a dad and all, right?"

"Yes," Vanilla replied.

"Hm. And all the guys in our little in-group..."

"It's...hm. It's different with everyone else. I know that Cream looks up to you a lot, Sonic. She cares for you as much as you care for her, and perhaps she does see you as a father figure of sorts. Tails is still learning himself, and the other men around her...not to say there's anything wrong with them per se, but there's a certain distance between them and her."

He nodded as he continued to eat, still thinking, still turning the issue around in his head.

She trusts you, obviously. So what's behind it, then? What would make her so timid and afraid? Surely it has to be more than the scandal. Isn't she looking for something?

Amy's voice was guiding him. She knew something, or at least that 'her' did. But...could he make sense of it?

He looked over at Vanilla, who tilted her head slightly and gave him a warm smile. She really did feel like his mom a lot of the time, with the way she looked after him and everyone else. Warm and kind and understanding. If he had...

...

"Vanilla?"

"Yes, dear."

Sonic finished his chili and sighed. "Thanks. I mean, besides the great chili and all. You've reminded me of a whole lot. I do need to be more responsible, with my relationships and all. More than just Amy...I've kinda been running away from things for a while, and maybe I've lost sight of what was important in the end. I think it'd be great to try and fix that now."

"I see."

"'Sides, Cream would be helped out a lot by it too. I know that for sure now."

"Please don't be too hard on yourself, Sonic." Vanilla rose from her seat and went over to Sonic, leaning over so she could hug him tightly. "You're a wonderful adult. We all have room left to grow."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Thank you for looking after Cream. I really appreciate it...and I'm happy that she has a good man in her life to learn from."

After another bowl of chili, Vanilla sent Sonic off with a large plastic bowl filled with the leftovers. She insisted that she could part with the container and its contents, and Sonic decided not to protest. She smothered him with a hug and let him go on his way, waving like an old-fashioned mother would when sending her kids off to school.

"Heh. Adults, huh..."

He looked up to the sky, letting out a foggy breath in the cold winter air.

"Cream...I know what's eating at you for real now. Figured it all out. Now the hard part's pitching it to you."

That familiar grin spread onto his face.

"Typical of you brainiacs, eh? Thinking so far ahead you trip on the steps in front of you. Good thing my brain's a little slower than my feet! Ah, Vanilla would kill me if she heard that..."

He made to the front of his apartment before seeing a familiar form. A not-so-wintery fedora paired with a poncho and scarf.

"Oi...that you, Red?"

"Yeah. Tails told me you would be here," Knuckles said as he tilted his hat upwards. "Guess I had good timing."

"The best, even. Vanilla sent me home with chili. It's still hot, so let's get you some."

"Fine by me. Anyways, Eggman's been too quiet."

"Yeah, I'll say. Well, the boy genius is working on a few things for the endgame, as I'm sure you noticed..."

The two friends chatted as they made their way inside.