Maria had been absolutely ecstatic. Her parents phoned in yesterday saying they would stop by on a visit. They even planned a party today, but she still had to go to school. She left in a hurry. Shadow noticed this change in her behavior, asking what her parents did when she left the room.
"Well, her father is president of a huge company, and her mother is a movie star. They both have pretty busy schedules." Chuck explained.
"They must not be home very much..." Tails said.
"We'll make sure to stay out of the way." Shadow confirmed.
Chuck nodded, apologizing since they had to stay hidden. He left the room to help set up for the party.
The time passed by and Shadow had dozed off, catching up on sleep he'd lost. Amy and Tails stared off until they heard laughter. The two looked outside to see Cream picking flowers.
"We need to get her inside." Amy said worried.
"Do we have to? She probably just misses her mom." Tails said. Shadow cracked an eye open.
"Of course she does. I just wish we could cheer her up." Amy responded.
Shadow looked at a wall and saw a poster showing a place full of flowers. He gave it a little thought before he walked up and grabbed the poster. "I'm heading out. Give her another few minutes before getting her inside." Shadow told them as they nodded.
.
The day seemed to inch along for Maria. But finally, the bell had rung for her final class to end. She slammed her locker shut as she dashed out the school, getting on her bike and riding as fast as she could home.
.
Shadow searched the mountainside, looking for the location on the poster. Rolling it back up, Shadow blast off into the mountains looking high and low until he found it. He smirked a little as he went down, snatching an entire bouquet. He turned before blowing away back to the house.
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"I'm home!" Maria yelled out as she walked into the door.
"How was school, Ms. Maria?" Tanaka asked.
"It was fine, thanks for asking." Maria responded with a smile, looking around. "Where's uh...Where's mom and dad?"
"Oh you're home!" Mrs. Thorndyke exclaimed, embracing her daughter.
"Hey mom." Maria said, hugging back. "Apparently, one of my teachers is a huge fan."
"Oh that reminds me, what are we going to wear!? I should've had the designers send something over." Mrs. Thorndyke said.
"I'm sure we'll find something in our closets." Maria laughed off.
"I pity dogs." The two heard, looking over at the stairs and seeing Chuck walk down the stairs in nice clothes, messing with his bow tie. "How do they stand it, this collar is KILLING me."
"Hey Grandpa, what's with the nice clothes?" Maria asked as she knew her grandfather HATED formal wear.
"Mr. Tanaka sid that I couldn't wear my lab coat to the party." Chuck wined. Maria giggled a little bit before asking if Shadow and the other know to stay hidden until everyone is gone. Chuck nodded but then noticed something...Cream and Cheese decorating. The two of them freaked out a little when they heard Mrs. Thorndyke headed their way. They blocked off the exit, waving their arms around.
"Is everything alright?" Ms. Thorndyke asked.
"Yep, everything is fine." Maria said nervously as she turned her mom around. "You know how time fly's when you're putting on make-up. Plus, you need to find the perfect dress and all. Let me and Grandpa worry about everything else?" Maria spoke about a million words a minute. Luckily, she convinced her mom to leave. Maria and Chuck sighed as they turned around. Maria went up to Cream, but the door started opening and Maria hid Cream and herself behind the couch as Ella walked by.
"Cream, what are you doing out here? You need to hide." Maria said in a half panic.
"But I wanted to help out with the party." Cream said a bit sad.
"Master Maria understands." The two heard and Maria went just a little pale. She looked up to see Mr. Tanaka. "It is very thoughtful for you to help us get ready Cream." He said.
"Mr. Tanaka, you KNOW?" Maria asked.
"I found out about them not long ago." Tanaka confirmed. He also promised to help keep everyone a secret for now. But when Maria looked down, Cream had wandered off again.
As Cream was walking around, she came across the kitchen with several things left half made.
"Maybe I could help with the food?" Cream wondered as she walked up and pressed a button on the blender, making it go haywire. She ran as fast as she could, a green slush flying everywhere. Maria went to check, worried for Cream and Cheese but only found Ella taking cover from the food she was making.
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Mrs. Thorndyke had just finished putting on her earrings to match her red dress. "This should do. At least for my entrance." she said out loud when suddenly the phone rang. "Hello? Yes, it's me." She responded to her casting agent. "What's that? The STARRING ROLE? I'll catch the next plane." She said excited, then restrained herself. "Actually, I'm having a party here with my daughter. I'm afraid I'll have to leave tomorrow morning." She said sternly, not noticing Cream and Cheese walking by. "Oh...we start on site tomorrow morning...I know, you can't put a million dollar production on hold for a party. I'll leave immediately." She said hanging up. "I'm sorry...Maria." She said quietly into her hands. Cream had a saddened look on her face as she walked away.
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Maria ran around the house hectically, searching for Cream when she thought that maybe she went back with Tails and Amy. As she left the door, Ella came into the room searching for Maria, but couldn't find her anywhere.
"Oh, the poor girl..." Ella thought. She left out the front to give the news to Mrs. Thorndyke.
"Please, tell Maria how sorry I am, as well to my brother Sam." Mrs. Thorndyke asked, Ella saying not to worry. "Call me if she needs anything." She said before getting in the car and leaving, a single tear heading down her cheek.
.
"Cream! Cheese!?" Maria asked as she opened the room everyone was supposed to be staying in, but only found Chuck, Tails, and Amy. Maria started to freak out just a bit before Chuck told everyone to split up and find them. Maria went back downstairs to see Ella with a worried expression.
"What's wrong Ella?" Maria asked.
"Ms. Maria, I'm sorry to say this-I tried to find you earlier but...You're mother had to leave to shoot for an important role." Ella said nervously.
"Wh-what!?" Maria asked a little heart broken and deflated.
"She wanted you to know how sorry she was an-" Ella was cut off.
"No, I get it Ella. Thanks for telling me." Maria said with a brave face, but everything sounded empty. "I better head up to my room to get ready." Maria said as she walked up the stairs, a tear falling down her face. When she got to her room, the door was shut with just a little more force than she anticipated, but she didn't care. She sat down on her bed and wiped away the tears that started to flow.
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Ella watched as the young girl left up the stairs, feeling sorry for her. Sure, she had this nice house, but what was it without her mother and father? Her father only stayed last night and left for business that morning, but her mother was supposed to stay. The whole party was Mrs. Thorndyke's plan after all. Then, she heard a crash outside. She looked to see Chuck and a broken pot.
"I don't know what you're up to, but you better be on your best behavior. Maria just found out her mother left, so watch it buster." Ella warned.
"I better go talk to her then." Chuck said as he climbed in the window, saying any entrance was good.
At that moment, Shadow just got back with all the flowers he'd gathered, pointing Cream towards the house they were hiding in.
"Oh wow. Shadow went out and gathered those just for me." Cream said walking into plain view of Ella as Chuck put his face in hand. Ella picked the young girl up. "You can have some flowers to if you want..." Cream said a little worried. That was when Maria came back down in a flowing dark blue dress...and saw Cream and Cheese in Ella's arms.
"E-Ella! I've been looking all over for that!" Maria said as she took Cream in her arms. Then her Uncle came in, asking where the party was. "Uncle Sam! you made it!" Maria exclaimed, happy to see her carefree Uncle.
"You know it! Now where's that sis of mine?" Sam asked. He always did enjoy teasing his little sister when given the chance, if only to have a bit of fun.
"She left for a movie shoot...apparently." Maria said disappointed.
"Oh...sorry to hear that. But hey! The party just arrived, amIright?" Sam said quickly to change the subject. He wasn't as blind as he let on.
"It's ok. Besides, I'm used to it by now, hehehe." Maria fake laughed, but Cream broke free.
"Your mom felt very badly when she had to leave. She even tried to find you before she left. You're lucky you could talk to her anytime on the phone, I can't do that!" Cream yelled before running off and everyone had a stunned look on their face.
"I've been practicing my ventriliquanism for weeks now. I must say, I'm not half bad." Tanaka said quickly before Amy and Tails burst through the other door to chase Cream down.
"I'm seeing more of them now." Ella nearly fainted, only for Chuck to grab her asking to dance. That's when Shadow came in.
"Enough." He said, everyone turning to see him. "The games over, it's time they knew about us." Shadow announced before catching eye contact with Sam. "Hmph, I see the slow poke made it."
"Slow poke!? Why you-" Sam yelled as he tried to tackles Shadow, but Shadow moved out of the way.
"Hmhmhmhmhm." Shadow chuckled to himself. He then proceeded to explain everything from the day he got to earth, muttering the bit with the pool. He also explained Robotnik and his battle with him.
"Well, that's a cool story." Sam said as he got up. "Hey Shadow, we'll have to race one day, but I gotta fly." Sam challenged before hopping in his car and speeding off. Everything had settled down and everyone introduced themselves. Cream had even helped Ella clean up after that whole blender incident. Shadow and Maria watched from around the corner.
"Now that Ella knows of us, it should make things a little more relaxed for everyone." Shadow said and Maria nodded before heading up to her room. Shadow followed her up, asking what was wrong.
"Well, it's just that Cream got so mad when I said I was used to my mom leaving. I didn't even think how she feels. I just hope she forgives me." Maria explained.
"I wouldn't worry to much." Shadow said as Maria looked at him surprised. "Cream couldn't find a way to hold a grudge even if she tried."
The two heard humming coming from outside the door and Cream walked in with a flower necklace and bracelet. She gave the necklace to Maria and the bracelet to Shadow. Shadow also quietly asked something and Cream nodded before leaving.
"You should feel lucky. Cream only does this for people she likes." Shadow explained.
"I didn't think you wore flower stuff." Maria asked.
"She's hard to say no to." Shadow said as he motioned for Maria to follow. She raised an eyebrow before following Shadow downstairs and into the main room.
"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled. Maria looked stunned to say the least.
"We set up for a party, and dang it we're going to have one!" Chuck announced. Maria laughed, an actual joyful laugh to. They weren't her parents, but they were family. And she had a good one.