a/n: it's like that.

Weave

06. Resolutions

"Deep breaths."

A reminder to herself to stay calm. Today was the day that she would bring an end to it all. The sweet and peaceful time...wasn't going to be like that any longer. The tension was going to rise, even if it hadn't done so just yet.

Perhaps this was paranoia after all...

No. There was no time to turn back, not anymore. It had to be now.

The day was not excessively cold, but there was a bite to the wind that made Cream pull up her scarf and adjust the hood of her jacket. Fresh snow was whipped up as powder, floating in the air and across the streets. She stopped to stare in awe at the crystals suspended in the air, kissed by the sun and sparkling brightly before her eyes. If it weren't so windy, it would be a good day to admire the city on a sunny winter's day...

She decided to move on, towards her destination.

The same routine as always. Enter, take the elevator up, knock three times. The door opened as it always did, the home's occupant greeting her with a smile.

She wondered why she didn't see it differently, like she knew she should have. Or was supposed to. Or already did. It was all confusing. Today, it would all have to come tumbling down. A funny thing entered her head as she stepped inside and he took her jacket.

Bringing two people together and tearing two worlds apart.

Cream thought she would laugh if it weren't so morbid. Or close to home.

She took off her boots and set them near the door. Everything was normal. Supposed to be, until the promised time. She inhaled quietly and pulled up her courage.

"Is that...apple pie?"

"Yep," Sonic replied from the kitchen counter, cutting two slices. "I asked your mom for a recipe and she was pretty happy to give me a few. I just picked this one since it was a little cold out there, and pie's pretty good."

"It smells like she made it herself."

"Aw, you're killing me here. I'm pretty sure it's not that good," Sonic said with a chuckle.

"You have a habit of downplaying your abilities these days, you know."

"S'what everyone says. Weren't you guys on my back to be humble a few years ago?"

Cream sighed as she took her seat at the table. "There's a stark difference between self-depreciating humour and humility, Mister Sonic. Though I'm sure you know that. The former can come off as arrogant if you're not careful."

"Old habits die hard."

"They do, indeed." A cup of tea and slice of warm apple pie, with a generous helping of whipped cream, were delivered to Cream in the next moment.

"Taste test?" Sonic inquired.

"If you insist," she replied with a smile. With a delicate motion, the girl sliced apart the front edge of the pie and scooped up a bit of whipped cream before eating. She set down her fork and chewed for a moment before nodding with satisfaction.

"I can hardly tell the difference. And I mean it...it's wonderful. Thank you, Mister Sonic."

"Did my best."

"You always do." She looked at him across the table and remembered what she was there for. Getting swallowed up by this warmth, no matter how pleasant...it wouldn't do. This really couldn't go on. "There are things I need to say. They're important and very heavy. Might we stand up for this?"

"Yeah."

They both left their seats and stood across from each other, steam wafting up from their untouched tea. The sweet taste of apple pie lingered, and Cream took a moment to focus before raising her head to speak.

"There is a lot to say. But I don't want to drag this out forever with gestures and platitudes and the like," Cream began, "so I'll take this leap of faith and express myself as clearly as I can. I have always admired you. Your strength, your confidence, your warmth and caring nature. You have done things for myself and my Mama that I can't ever pay back, and I know you wouldn't let me do so. You do things simply because you can, and because they're right. You live by your word. It's why I love you so much. But there are words that have gone unspoken between us."

He nodded, acknowledging their silent conversations.

"These past years have brought on growth, and changes on the inside and out. I have someone that I love, but even so...there is a part of me that wants you physically. I know that, and have tried to deny it, but it's the truth. The only thing that after all this time makes any sense. I don't know, still don't know what it is that drove me to this point. I don't know if you could ever return my feelings, or if you ever should. I don't know what this will do to the relationships I have, with you, with Tails, with Amy, with everyone else. I don't even know what this will do to me when I leave this place. I simply know that even if these feelings, these passions are wrong, that these are my feelings. That they're a part of me, and no matter how dark a path they will take me down...they have to be acknowledged and accepted."

She paused and clasped her hands together.

"This is the truth. I know that we've been working to solve this problem, but...the only way now is to accept what's happening in this moment. No matter how unsavory it might be. My feelings are untoward, but...I need to explore them. And I want to know if you would be...willing to take me on that journey. If not, then...then I..."

Sonic folded his arms and took a moment to think. Cream stared at the floor, feeling energy bleed away from her slowly. She had done it. She had-

"What brought you to that conclusion?"

Her head snapped up. "I...pardon?"

"What makes you think all of that?"

"Haven't...you been following?" she asked.

"Sure I have. All the subliminal stuff, yeah? That doesn't tell me how you got from there to here."

There was a small spark of frustration, but she hid it and made an attempt to explain. "It's...the feeling. You don't understand?"

"Not really."

"You're sure?"

"Really. I'm not kiting you around, honest. I don't know your thought process. Explain it to me."

He seemed genuinely interested, and at that her irritation faded. "My apologies. It's as I said, a certain feeling. Lately, when I look at you, or even end up near you...there's a warmth that I feel. It's very pleasant and soothing. It feels the same as when I'm with Tails, only...how do I put it. It makes me feel small, in a good way. Like I'm just a girl, and that I don't have to worry about anything. It's love, but it's...a different feeling altogether. It pulls me to you." She closed her eyes. "Those feelings being the same, only with that sort of submissiveness...it isn't an experience I could understand at first, until I did. I was aggressive in the beginning because I wanted you to know where I was going, but as we went further...I became unsure."

"Hm. Makes sense."

"Now you understand, then..."

"Sorta. You know, a good friend of mine told me something the other day. She said that sometimes people are too smart for their own good. They throw themselves into problems and freak themselves out when the results don't pan out properly."

"Is there something you mean to say?"

"Yeah."

"Then, by all means," Cream said, opening her eyes to stare at Sonic.

"Well...you're way off base."

"Of course I am. And you'll explain why in a moment, I'm sure."

"Yep. You whipped yourself into a frenzy because you got the warm and fuzzies from two people close to you," Sonic explained casually. "With no reference point, you took a dive and concluded that having the same sort of feelings for a guy that's not your boyfriend means that you want to jump his bones."

"Whipped myself into a 'frenzy'?" Cream repeated, incredulous. "Is that what my feelings are to you? Hysteria? You think that just because I'm younger, just because I'm a child-!"

"I think that because your mom did everything she could to raise you on her own."

She paused in confusion. "Mama?" Cream turned her head to look at the still warm apple pie on the table, then back to Sonic. "Why would you...what does she have to do with this?"

"Those feelings you got for me, they're definitely love. And I'm more than flattered by that, really. I think I'm unworthy."

"Don't say foolish things like that. You are more than worthy of affection," she scolded.

"Heh. I knew you'd say that. But...those feelings you have? They're not bad, or wrong. They're not even a threat to what you and Tails have together."

She watched as that familiar grin appeared on his face.

"Turns out you've been looking for a dad this whole time."

"A...father? But...but how would you...I don't understand. Where did that come from?"

"Retrace your steps. Explain to me how you got to your results," he said.

"It's...it's simple. I started developing these feelings and I started thinking of you more, and even if I really liked Tails, it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense when you put everything side by side," she started, "and it doesn't make sense when you consider that I've been having these feelings for years. I don't really...it's just that I felt this way but it didn't...but...it never really overpowered those other feelings and I wasn't invaded by...those thoughts...I just though that since...that since I had those competing feelings but they weren't...and I...oh, I...I...oh goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh no no no no. Noooo..."

Cream retreated to her chair and covered her reddening face with her ears.

"No, that can't be true. I did this. I did all of this, I made it..."

"Cream?"

"You have to stay away. This is embarrassing. This is too embarrassing. I want to die right this instant," she whined.

"Cream-"

"Do you know what this is? It's formally called an Electra Complex. I can't believe this, I wanted to be...r-r-ravished by my father figure! Did Mama know? Please tell me you didn't...!"

"I didn't mention a word to her-"

"Oh, Chaos. I bet she already knows somehow. And Amy. Amy is going to invite me over for tea and then she'll grab the big knife and ohhhhh she knows already! She can sense it, she knows! She can feel the energy-!"

"Cream! Cream, honey. Listen," Sonic said as he put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen to me. Okay? Listen...R-E-L-A-X. Relax. You're gonna be fine. Repeat it."

"R...E...L-A...X. R...Relax. R-E-L-A-X. Relax."

"Relax."

"Relax," she repeated.

"Chill. Sub zero. Yeah?"

"Yes. Relaxing."

"Eat your pie and have some tea. Want me to get a new cup?" he asked.

"No, no. I'm fine. It's fine," she said, moving her ears back while still blushing. "I'll be fine. Thank you."

"You got it. Just...chill out and we can talk when we're ready."

She nodded, and there was relative quiet after that. The sounds of cutlery and moving cups rang out, a loud sip or two from Sonic as he went for his mug, and the movement of teaspoons as they delivered milk into warm tea.

"You really should share this with Mama," Cream said. "She would be amazed."

"I'll send you back with a slice for her. If it gets the seal of approval, I might think about starting a business," Sonic replied jokingly. "Seriously, though. Thanks."

"Of course. Anything for you."

"So, uh..."

"..."

"Did you really think about...you know."

"...I did. Infrequently, but those...thoughts were still there. Indecent ones, yes," she said with another blush. "Would you..."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Cream wasn't sure how to feel about that.

"I mean, you're not ugly or anythin', it's just that...you know. You're Cream." He shrugged. "You're always Cream."

"And Amy?"

"She's a little different. Same with Rouge, I guess. And Blaze...sorta. She's got different energy, slightly. They're all ladies. As patronizing is it might be," he said as he leaned back in his chair, "you'll always be Little Miss Cream to me. And nothing less."

She said nothing, only smiling and sipping her tea as she looked at him affectionately.

He sipped from his mug and sighed, feeling just as content as she was...and perhaps, pleasantly overwhelmed for once. A smirk still crossed his face.

"The wonders of aging, huh."