When Slushie got back home, she was greeted by a pair of gleaming eyes in the dark. Briar hadn't forgotten the obvious reaction Slushie had had over such a small little touch, and was already in shipping mode. She peeked at Slushie from behind the kitchen counter as she scoured the fridge for some leftovers to have. Her mischievous giggles drew Slushie's attention, but Briar wasn't going to tell her she knew. Oh no, she was going to relish in her awkward suffering, you know, like friends do.

''Ah, right! Isn't tomorrow the day I'm supposed to come and help at the daycare?'' Slushie asked and it finally brought Briar out of her hiding place.

''Yeah, the yard clean up!'' She bounced up from behind the counter. ''The kids love the gardener so they're really excited, even for the preparations.''

''Nice, Flower boy has fans'', Slushie replied with a smile, using her very clever nickname for the local gardener, who did most of the gardening in the area and was well known and liked. He was a regular face around the daycare as well, so it wasn't a surprise that the kids liked him.

The day's big job was to prepare the daycare for the following day's sports event. The place had to be in tip top shape, so every pair of hands was needed. As the girls were on their way to work, they ran into Cream who was heading the same way.

''Good morning! I caught a glimpse of you and decided to wait so we could walk together'', she greeted the slightly older girls and walked towards them. ''Hi miss Slushie, it's been a while! How are things at the café?''

''Nothing new, really. I think Sonic finally brought the guys back to work today. Here?''

''The kids are wild as always. They can't wait for tomorrow's competitions.''

''Ah, that's fun'', Slushie chuckled and the three girls resumed their walk to work. As soon as they were within the daycare's borders, Briar switched into teacher mode and clapped her hands together.

''Okay, so! The kids will be here in a bit so let's get ready!''

''You really do sound like a teacher, huh'', quipped Slushie with a smirk.

''Shush, teacher's speaking'', Briar replied, in good humor but not paying much attention, too busy planning.

Cream went to gather some of the decorations the kids had prepared during the week, and Briar and Slushie went to greet the arriving parents and their wild little bundles of joy. Briar was happy to get to work with her little cousin Sally and her friends, while Slushie pulled a sneaky trick and challenged a team of three tiny hooligans into a race to the tool shed. A race is almost always a good way to get kids from place to place. Counting seconds, too. The little dum-dums.

The voice of the trio, Bean, was immediately into it and bolted towards the shed. The other two, Nack and Bark, were trying their best but couldn't keep up with Bean, so Slushie snatched them up and ran after him with a chorus of giggles in her arms. Bean did reach the shed first, but at least all three had fun. Slushie couldn't resist the urge to play with her words, and called Bean 'a quick little bean' and patted his head. The other two got pats as well, of course.

The ruckus outside the shed drew the attention of the aforementioned 'Flower boy', Silver, who was inside and called out to ask who it was. He might have expected someone else, but was nice as always. After getting his things, he held the door open and got to work. Slushie gathered the needed equipment and the gang went to do their tasks. The three boys, mainly Bean, made collecting litter a competition, so they barely realized they were doing actual work.

As Silver was looking for Briar to get more information about what needed to be done, Charmy noticed him.

''Silver, wait up!'' he yelled from a distance and zoomed closer, ''I'm here, what are we doing?''

''Hello, Charmy. I think Briar has something in mind for us'', Silver greeted his usual partner in not-crime.

The two soon found the chipmunk in command, were given some tasks to do, and, with a few groans from Charmy, started getting the area ready for the following day. Charmy could fly, so he made sure the hedges were clean-cut and Silver took care of the weeds and flowerbeds in general. Cream helped the kids set up decorations, Slushie got the competition spots ready and Briar made sure everything was moving along nicely, fixing what needed to be fixed.

After some hard work in the midday sun, Briar called the gang for a snack break. All three girls happened to like baking, so everyone could enjoy some fresh cookies and other baked goods. The kids enjoyed the treats a bit too much, and the always mischievous Bean had an idea. He tiptoed behind Silver, snatched his cookie right as he was bringing it up to his mouth, and ran back to the other two boys, laughing along the way. Silver took this as an opportunity to both teach Bean a lesson and tease him a bit.

''Oh noooooooo, my cookie'', he whined sarcastically, hoping to draw Bean's attention, which he did.

''I guess I have to get another one'', he planted the trap and glanced towards Bean who immediately turned around and started to sneak closer towards him. Snickering confidently, he was about to reach for a second cookie, but Silver launched his trap and caught him.

''You little...'' he started, looking at Bean menacingly before wrapping his hands around his torso, ''THIEF!'' he yelled and tossed him in the air. After a few seconds his confusion was taken over by laughter as Silver kept tossing him up, hanging him upside down and spinning him around.

''No more stealing, got it?'' Silver asked him and got an honest ''yeah, yeah'' in return.

Though Silver himself didn't notice, his dad-like antics caused some adoring giggles and swooning midst the girls.

''Isn't he adorable?'' Briar asked dreamily, holding her face in her hands.

''He seems to be very good with children.''

''I mean, just look at that smile!''

''I guess it is kind of charming.''

''Kind of?! Very!''

Briar and Cream continued their more or less platonic fangirling over Silver as Slushie grinned at them. She might not be as keen of a shipper as her best friend was, but she was very intrigued by her reaction. Grown up guys being truly sweet and playful was always nice to see, but there was nothing normal or platonic about Briar's face in that moment. Slushie and Briar were going to be both best friends and greatest enemies, since both were now equipped with some sweet, sweet teasing material.

Soon everyone calmed down enough to continue snacking. Then, a certain missing bee bumbled into view from behind a corner.

''WHAT?! You started without me?!'' he yelled, clearly offended.

''Sorry, I assumed you had heard me but wanted to finish something first'', Briar apologized.

''I didn't hear anything! I was behind the furthest hedge!''

''Don't worry, there's still some left! I made these with my mom, they're so good!'' Cream said, patting a free spot next to her on the picnic blanket.

''AH, SWEE-, I-i mean, yeah, sure, thanks'', were the very honest words that came out of Charmy's mouth. ''You gotta be louder next time.''

Some time later Charmy and Silver were doing flower pot arrangements, chatting about whatever it is guys chat about. Nonchalantly, Charmy mentioned something he saw a bit earlier.

''You know, the girls were talking about you.''

''O-oh. What did they say?'' Silver was surprised, but very curious.

''I dunno, didn't hear. Just saw them gawking at you, all googly-eyed.''

''Okay then'', Silver replied, doubtful, and whispered something under his breath. ''Not that it matters.''

Charmy reacted with a questioning sound, but Silver turned it down. ''Nothing, I'll go get more flowers'', he said, got up, and walked away.

''...riiight. What's up with him?'' thought Charmy, and watched Silver's retreating form for a while, but soon shrugged and moved to face the flowers again. A bit further, Silver was trying to keep himself in line.

''Don't get excited. Remember last time. It's most likely platonic again. Just do your job'', he told himself. So many feelings, so little confidence. Poor guy.

The sun wasn't far from setting when everything was finally finished. Briar thanked everyone for their help and suggested coming in the next day to see the place in action. Almost everyone was willing to come - after Briar promised free snacks - but Slushie had made other plans.

''I promised to help at Maria's, remember? I don't think you'll still be here when we're done'', she said apologetically, ''Honey's on a business trip so they asked for another pair of hands, and I actually got the day off.''

''Ah, right, I forgot. I'll tell you if anything interesting happens'', Briar replied and suddenly Slushie was struck with the annoying thought that she would miss any potential development of her new OTP since Silver was going to be present. Whatever, she was going to find out about it soon, anyway. Briar didn't keep her crushes or relationships secret for long. Slushie, on the other hand, wanted to talk about hers, but required absolute secrecy before she could confine in anyone. Feelings are scary, man. Especially as an adult.

Just like Slushie expected, she got some adorable gushing from Briar when they got back home - someone definitely had a crush. Silver's end was a completely different can of worms, though. Just like Maria's. But let's leave that adventure for next time.