Chapter 7 – Mutual Admiration

"You look so pretty, Mama," Cream said, running around her mother's knees. She checked the ankle-length dress, smoothing out any wrinkles she found to the best of her ability. Cheese hovered in their space, flying high and low, chirping when he found anything out of place too.

"Thank you, dear. But I don't think you have to fuss over my outfit that much. I doubt there'll be any bids." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and held her hands to her chest, wringing her wrists. "Maybe this was a bad idea. Surely it'd be better to have someone else participate in the auction."

"Nonsense," Jewel said, flying into the backstage area and double-checking her notes against the items for the auction. "People know you. After the last auction," a dark cloud passed over her face, "it'd be nice to have a noncontroversial choice as the special guest."

"Meaning someone boring?" she asked with a wry grin.

Jewel quickly backpedaled. "No, not boring. More-"

"Warm," Cream suggested.

"Yes, exactly. Warm and approachable."

Vanilla continued to hold her hands tight and Cream read the worry all too well. Her mother feared she might not live up to anyone's expectations. After all, the people usually expected some celebrity, not a local home-maker.

Cream tugged on her mother's dress and held up her arms, silently asking to be picked up. Vanilla scooped her up and looked her daughter in the eyes. Holding the older woman's cheeks between her small hands, Cream smiled. "You'll do great, Mama. Everyone's going to love you. And remember, it's for a good cause."

Vanilla seemed to calm down and nodded. "I know, I know. You've reminded me of that every day."

"That's why you need to do it. I'm sure you'll bring in a million rings!"

She chuckled at the claim in that way she always did when she secretly thought Cream's ideas were far-fetched, but she didn't have the heart to tear it down. However, Cream fully believed it. Her mother was very pretty after all and an amazing cook. Very kind and gentle, with a soft-spoken voice perfect for reading her bedtime stories. Who wouldn't want to spend the day with her?

"Maybe," Vanilla said and touched her forehead to her daughter's. "Thank you."

Jewel politely coughed into her fist. "I'm sorry to break this up, but we do need to get ready. If you'll just come with me." She swept an arm toward the curtain, then craned her neck around the storage area. "Have either of you seen Espio? We hired him to help work security after the last incident."

Vanilla shook her head. Cream piped up. "I think I saw him in the lobby earlier. I'll go get him."

"Thank you," Jewel said and she disappeared through the curtain with Vanilla.

Cream waited until they were safely out of earshot, then ran for the lobby as fast as her little legs could carry her. She shared a conspiratorial look with Cheese, both of them excited for the auction to start.

"All I'm saying is that we could've spent the afternoon hanging up flyers. Get word about our business out there."

"We already have the word out. People know," Epsio said. "We've been hanging up flyers all week."

Vector sighed. Espio was as stubborn and immovable as a rock. Despite Vector's protests, he'd insisted they go out today and get away from the office. Even though there were possible clients they could be chasing down or advertising their agency more. They were down to their last hundred rings after all and the bills were coming due.

Then again, he had been driving the Chaotix hard the past week. Aside from flyers, they'd been passing out business cards, scouring online and in newspapers for any possible crimes to solve, and exhausting themselves trying to pick up odd jobs to earn a little cash here and there.

Still if he didn't know any better, he'd almost think Espio was up to something. It wasn't like him to ditch their duties and play hooky.

"Yeah, I'm bored," Charmy said, drawing out the last word in an annoying rasp and zipping around Vector, prodding and poking his snout at different angles. The crocodile lazily swatted at him and the kid settled on top of Vector's shoulders. "I wanna do something fun!"

"An auction is fun for you?" Vector eyed him and grabbed onto his legs instinctively, ensuring he didn't fall off.

"Yeah, maybe they'll have something cool, like a new game or something. Or maybe something you might like." He leaned over, flashing an upside-down cheshire grin at him and waggling his eyebrows.

"Yeah, like what?" Vector asked.

Epsio muttered something low. "Oh, maybe a new magnifying glass," the boy said quickly. "Or a detective's hat."

Vector rubbed his chin, imagining himself in a classy deerstalker cap. "I wouldn't mind a hat. Might look more professional in one." And a pipe to go with it, he thought. He could picture it now, greeting clients with a curt nod as he leaned over the mantle of a fireplace, looking contemplative about some deep mystery.

He almost missed the warning look Espio gave Charmy and the bee shrugging sheepishly. His detective's instinct tingled and again he couldn't help feeling that he was missing some secret between the pair. But for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what it was. Or why they insisted on an auction of all places. Espio would've preferred heading out into the wilderness to train and Charmy had had his eye on Twinkle Park for a long while.

So why the sudden change?

He spotted a pair of flouncing ears among the crowd filing into the auction hall and a small Chao trailing behind it. Within seconds, Cream appeared before them, smiling bright and big. "Hello, Mr. Espio. Mr. Vector. Charmy."

"Hey, Cream," Vector waved to her. "You came to the auction too?"

"Yes, I'm helping out. Which reminds me. Mr. Espio, Ms. Jewel needs you for security."

"Right." He inclined his head toward her in a short bow and tipped a finger to his fellow detectives. Then he slipped into the crowd and disappeared.

Cream urged Vector and Charmy onwards. "Let's find a good seat."

Cream could hardly contain her excitement. Each new auction piece seemed to take forever, dragging things out. She'd tried to count all the pieces earlier to keep track of them so she knew when her mother would appear, but there were too many. Each dusty old historical item or another expensive heirloom passed in and out of mind.

Eventually, after what felt like several long dreadful hours, Jewel spread her arms to the crowd. "And now, the last piece on offer, your much requested favorite, a day with a special guest."

Cream and Charmy exchanged looks, ready for their plan to culminate perfectly like they expected. They checked on Vector and found him sound asleep, his arms folded and head bowed, snoring softly. Charmy frowned and shuffled closer in his chair, delivering a swift kick to Vector's ankles.

"Yeow!" The crocodile nearly fell back in his chair and latched onto the table at the last possible moment. He pulled himself back, crashing chest first into the edge and rattling the chairs around him. A few other people glanced in their direction, concerned about the commotion.

"You little-!" Vector grabbed the back of Charmy's chair, flashing a disgruntled set of sharp teeth.

"Please welcome our lovely volunteer guest, Ms. Vanilla!"

Vector froze at Jewel's announcement and turned to the stage. Vanilla walked into the spotlight, hands folded across her skirt, and smiled sweetly at the audience. A warm, homey effect seemed to spread out from her, sweeping over the crowd. The same one that Cream was so familiar with, what made her feel safe and relaxed whenever she returned home. Her mother always emanated it, making people feel comfortable around her.

Slowly, Vector released the chair and leaned on the table, paying his undivided attention to Vanilla.

"Yes, a day with our guest here," Jewel continued. "Should we open the bidding at ten rings?"

"One hundred rings!" Vector immediately cried from the table in a loud, boisterous voice.

Cream leaned in close to Charmy, giving him a thumbs-up. However, the color drained from his face and he swallowed hard. "What's wrong?" she whispered.

"Uh, that was all the money we had left," he said. "Espio's not going to like that."

Off to the side of the stage, Espio wore a frown to rival Shadow's. He held one of his kunai in his fist, clutching it tight and relaxing his grip every so often, his hand shaking.

Fortunately, Vector's outburst and sudden high bid seemed to startle and scare off any other potential competitors. Once Jewel recovered, she pointed her gavel at Vector. "My, very well! Going once, twice," she banged the gavel and swept it at Vanilla, "sold! To the gentleman in the back!"

"At least we won," Cream said, patting Charmy on the shoulder.

"Yeah, there is that." However, he leaned on the table, hands pressed to either side of his head, and moaned softly. Espio kept giving them a perpetual glare, now flipping his sharp bladed weapon along his fingers.

Vector clapped his hands and sat down, pleased with himself and nudging Charmy. Then the gravity of what happened appeared to settle on him like a leaden weight and he copied his junior detective, elbows on the table and covering the sides of his face. "What did I just do?" he mumbled, growing pale. "I just spent the last of our money. What am I supposed to do? I can't take her anywhere nice. She deserves nice."

It wasn't quite how Cream expected things to work out. On stage, Vanilla was shaking Jewel's hand and talking privately to her. Cream nudged Charmy and jerked her head at Vector. "We can't let him panic."

"Right, right." He took a deep breath and kicked Vector again, catching him in the knee. Before Vector could scold him for it, Charmy grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, focus! Vanilla's coming this way."

Vector stumbled out of his chair and stood up straight, one arm behind his back and the other clumsily crossed over his chest like an attentive butler. Charmy grabbed Cream's hand and pulled her down. "C'mon. Under here."

They dove under the table and its cloth, and peered out from the edges. Cheese wiggled in behind them just as Vanilla approached the table and graced Vector with a smile. "Mr. Vector, I have you to thank for your generous donation?"

He rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I love charity." He acted as though he'd never had arms before, putting them behind his back, fists on his hips like a superhero, in front of him like Vanilla, leaning on the chair, going through the motions like he couldn't settle on one position. Charmy pressed his knuckles to his mouth, shaking his head.

"He's going to blow it," he whispered to Cream.

"I think he'll be fine." Or she sincerely hoped so.

When Vector finally chose keep his hands firmly at his sides, he asked, "So, what do we do now?"

"I'm not completely sure," she said with a nervous chuckle. She picked at her dress and laughed again. "I've never been part of one of these before."

"That's okay. I've never bid on anything before. I'm happy to go wherever you'd like to."

"How gracious of you. Shall we then?"

He offered her his arm. "Charmy, make sure you-Charmy?" Vector looked around, puzzled by their disappearance. Cream and Charmy grinned at one another, pleased with themselves. He hadn't noticed them at all. "Where'd he go?"

"You know how children are."

"Yeah, that's what worries me," he muttered.

"I believe I saw my daughter here too?"

"Yes." Espio approached the table. "You two go ahead. I'll find them and take care of them for now."

"Thank you," Vanilla said and accepted Vector's arm. They headed for the exit, following the rest of the crowd.

Once they were well out of sight, Espio knelt down beside the table and threw up the cloth, exposing the three hidden there. "You could've at least chosen someone else's table."

"Yeah, yeah," Charmy said, crawling out. Cream and Cheese followed him. "What do you give him? Fifty-fifty?"

"At best," Espio said.

"Do you really think that, Mr. Espio?" Cream asked. He offered only a short shrug. Cream watched her mother leave. She seemed happy, if a little hesitant. She remembered that Amy had described it as a glow you could see when people had a crush on one another.

Cream had first noticed it weeks ago, when Vector and Vanilla ran into one another in town. Since then, whenever they happened across each other at the Restoration headquarters or out and about, they always stumbled around each other. Like two puzzle pieces that clearly fit, but needed to be adjusted so that they clicked together properly.

Espio and Charmy saw it too, always noting how much brighter Vector seemed after meeting Vanilla. Which is why Cream was able to easily rope them into her idea with the auction in the first place.

However, their predicted odds worried her. "Maybe we should follow them?"

"I don't think that would be wise," Espio said, but Charmy cut him off.

"Yeah, let's tail them! Make sure he doesn't mess this up!" He took flight and zipped over the heads of the stragglers filing out.

Cream was right behind him, flapping her ears and taking to the air with Cheese. They ignored Espio, who called after each of them and chased them through the crowd.

Alright, alright. You can do this. You're just spending the day together, Vector told himself. Easy. Treat her like you would a client. He turned to Vanilla, caught one look of those large chocolate eyes, and his heart beat faster than before. Okay, that won't work. New plan! New plan!

As they crested a hill and headed into the city itself, Vanilla asked, "How's your agency going?"

"Great, good," he almost lost himself in those eyes again and stopped himself. "Honestly, a little slow. But I'm hoping things will pick up. What about you? Things going alright at home?"

"Yes, everything's fine," she said. "It's been a while since I've been out. I get so caught up at home and the village that I coop myself up without realizing it."

"I know the feeling."

They continued for few minutes, Vector searching for any ideas on where to take her or what to do. "So," he said in his most casual tone, "what do you like to do when you get out of the house?"

She cut her eyes at him and smirked. "I believe you won the auction, sir. So I'm obliged to spend the day doing what you want to do."

The answer frustrated and enamored him to her more. He snapped his fingers and pointed at her, "Well, I would like to spend the day doing what you want to do."

"I think we could be at this for a while."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Oh," she slowed as they neared an arts and crafts store. "Do you mind if we stop here? I need to pick up some thread to fix a hole Cream tore in one of her dresses."

"Not at all. Allow me." He held the door open for her and paused before entering after her. Out of the corner of his eye, he could've sworn he saw something. Like one or two people following him. But nobody on the streets or sidewalk stood out as suspicious.

Must be my imagination.

He followed her down the aisles as she browsed the different colored thread, running her finger along several spools. "I never can find the right color. Cream usually has a better eye for this than I do."

He stood beside her, checking as well. However, he moved a bit too quickly, brushing elbows with her, and immediately about-faced to the opposite shelf. "What, uh, what part ripped?"

"Around the hem," she said. She picked up one spool, held it to the light, then put it back. "I really need to memorize the color. It's always slipping my mind."

Vector crouched down in front of a few rows, running his eyes over it. Okay, the hem. The hem. It's an orangey color, right? Various shades of reds, oranges, and dark yellows stood before him, one color blending into the next. He blinked and shook his head. How on earth is anyone supposed to find what they're looking for?

But he was a detective. He was used to finding needles in haystacks. He simply needed to go through and examine the colors carefully, which he did one by one.

Several minutes later, he held two different shades next to one another, his vision starting to shake and blur from staring at the numerous tiny wrapped threads. One was labelled scarlet and the other tangerine. He imagined Cream's dress and glanced between them. Did either of them fit? Maybe the tangerine. Then again, the scarlet might be it under the right light. And still on the shelf, others stood out, like neon orange, orange red, tomato, and coral.

No wonder she can never find it, he thought. This wasn't a needle in a haystack. This was finding a particular grain of sand on the beach.

Vanilla frowned sadly at the end of the aisle. "I'm sorry this is taking so long."

"No problem," he said, quickly perking up with a grin.

"I'll check part of the next aisle and then we can leave."

Once she was out of sight, he put back the spools in his hand and quickly ran through the rest. "C'mon, c'mon, it has to be here." He couldn't let Vanilla down. He refused to.

One of the spools suddenly fell off of the shelf and clacked to the floor by his feet. In the next aisle, he heard the quick tap-tap-tap of feet scurrying away. Perhaps a kid messing around on the other side? He picked the spool up and checked the label on it. Vermillion. It looked close enough. Then again, so did a dozen other colors.

At that moment, Vanilla returned and sighed. "Nothing on my end. How did you fare? Oh, what's that?"

He held it up to her and she examined the spool. "This is it! Vermillion!" she said brightly. "I really need to write that down. How did you find it?"

"Oh, you know," he stood up and shrugged casually, "a little luck and some detective sleuthing. A true detective remembers everything in case they need it later, down to the color of a person's clothes." She seemed impressed and gave him a smile. He thanked whatever force dislodged that spool and hoped he could earn further sweet looks from her.

They quickly paid for the thread and left, heading further into town. "I apologize again. I'm sure it wasn't what you had in mind."

"No need to apologize," he said. "Like I told you earlier, I've been needing to get out of the office. I've been sitting behind the desk too long."

"Is that why you were at the auction?"

"Kind of. Espio and Charmy wanted to go and insisted I come with them. Especially Charmy. Can't say no to him." Mostly because he won't take that for an answer and drop it.

"I know the feeling. Cream's much the same way. I try to be strict with her, but it kills me whenever I have to tell her no. She gets so sad and I just about fall apart. I want to take her in my arms, give her a big hug, and give her whatever she wants. Thankfully, I don't have to do it often. She's so well-mannered."

"She is a sweet kid. Thinks the world of you, you know," he said. "You did an amazing job raising her."

Scarlet dusted her cheeks and she nodded. "Thank you. I believe you've done a good job raising Charmy too. He seems…" she searched for the right descriptor, although several came to Vector's mind. A loud ball of energy. A mini foghorn in the ears.

She settled on "Very rambunctious."

"Yeah, he can be."

"I envy your energy. I don't think I could keep up with him."

"Well, I can't take all the credit," he said. "Ever since he showed up at our door, Espio's been helping out. When one of us needs a break, we tag the other in. Honestly, I don't see how you manage it by yourself."

"It can be difficult," she admitted. "But I'd do it all over again for her."

The topic roused a question that had popped into his head a few times before. He pursed his lips, considering how best to ask it. "Speaking of, did you ever have help? From Cream's father, I mean?"

She shook her head. "He's not in the picture."

"I see." He waited for more, but she left it at that. Probably a sore subject and best avoided. All the same, it did have one bright spot. He wouldn't need to worry about any past love being rekindled.

They turned and walked down another city block, the conversation lapsing into small talk about the Restoration, where Vector thought he should advertise the agency, and Vanilla wanting to try out some new recipe. It was nice and he felt comfortable talking to her now that the initial jitters had passed.

Still, he needed to do something else for her, show her a good time. The nearby park was up ahead, but he wasn't sure if she would be interested. He felt a tap on his right shoulder and turned, looking around. No one was there. Just a restaurant across the street.

"Something caught your eye?" she asked and turned to where he was looking. "Oh, their food is divine. Have you ever been?"

He shook his head and his shoulders slumped. If only he hadn't spent all their money, he could've taken her there. He was sure Espio was waiting for him back at the office, a two-hour lecture ready and waiting about proper spending habits and being frugal.

He scratched his chin, contemplating what to do, and noticed a slip of paper sticking out of his glove. He tugged on the corner and his jaw nearly dropped at the fifty-ring note. When did that get in there? He hadn't squirreled away any money. Had he?

Best not to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Would you like to go?" he asked. "My treat."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly ask you to."

"It's okay. Found out I have some spare change on hand." Literally.

"Well, if you're sure." She hooked her arm around his and they headed for the restaurant.

It was a cozy little Italian restaurant. A young waiter happily brought them to a table by the large window spanning the front of the restaurant and lit a small candle between them. "I'll give you a few minutes to decide," he said, handing them each a menu. "Thank you for having your date night with us."

"Uh, we're not—" Vector started, but he was gone, flitting between tables and refilling other diners' glasses. He shared a look with Vanilla across from him and rolled his eyes. "Guess it does look like that."

"Yeah," she said, staring at him for a hair too long. Then she opened her menu and browsed it. They fell into silence except for commenting on what looked good and Vector asking what she recommended.

What had been with that look? He couldn't put it out of his mind. Was she turned off by the idea? Or, maybe, just maybe, did it intrigue her? He decided to wait and see if she showed any further interest. Right now, he was at the edge of a cliff and couldn't see past the sheer drop ahead of him.

The meal passed peacefully enough and Vanilla had been right. The food was tasty and he wouldn't mind coming back. As they set aside their plates and sipped their drinks, evening fell outside and the streetlamps flickered on one by one along the street.

"I must say this has been a wonderful day," she said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I was happy to have this, uh, well, this time with you."

She smirked. "You mean our date?" she asked teasingly.

She said it aloud. Inside, he was screaming and bouncing off the walls like Charmy on a sugar high. On the surface, he kept his calm except for the drink shivering in his hand. "Ah, yes, that."

"You know, I think that's what Cream wanted," she said, setting down her drink. "Did I tell you she pushed for me to be in the auction? No? She kept saying it would be for a good cause, to help the Restoration raise money."

"But you think she had an ulterior motive?"

"I know my daughter and she certainly had an ulterior motive. She's seen how the past auctions have been for Ms. Amy and the others. I think she was hoping I would find a suitor there too."

She wasn't the only one. "She does that sort of thing often?"

"Now and then. She thinks she's so slick about it." Vanilla laughed to herself, perhaps remembering some of her daughter's other antics to get her back in the dating game.

"Like I told you, she's a sweet kid. Makes sense she'd want you to be happy."

"I know. She's like that with everyone. Trying to light up everyone's day all the time." She finished off her drink and looked up at him, "I hadn't given much thought to any of it in the past. But lately…"

He leaned forward, holding his breath tight in his chest. "But lately?"

"Lately, right now I'm thinking, if you'd like to," she tucked her chin in her chest and averted her eyes to the window, "would you be interested in doing this again?"

"Yes!" he shouted immediately, drawing the concerned and irritated gaze of everyone else in the restaurant. He waved to them and mouthed a silent apology, then turned back to Vanilla, reaching out for her hand. "Yes, I'd like that."

She placed her delicate hand in his massive one and grinned. "So would I."

"What are they saying now?" Cream asked, lowering her magazine. She and Cheese scooted closer to Espio on the park bench, squinting at the window and trying to make out what Vector and her mother were doing.

"Looks like they're leaving," he said from behind the newspaper, then nodded. "Yeah. She's saying 'I should get back home' and he's agreeing with her."

"Finally!" Charmy whined, tearing his comic book off his face and clawing his cheeks. "I didn't think this would take forever! Can we go home now?"

"In a minute," he said.

Vector and Vanilla exited the restaurant, swinging their arms and twisting awkwardly once outside. They slowed down and faced one another. Cream's chest rose, hoping against hope this ended perfectly. "Are they saying anything?"

"No, not that I can tell. Oh?"

All three of them watched as Vector leaned forward, his large head shielding Vanilla's face from view. His hands lightly wrapped around her waist and she gripped his arms. They held the position for a long moment and Cream clapped her palms together.

"Are they doing what I think they are?"

"Seems like it."

"Ugh," Charmy said. "We're not going to have to put up with that now all the time, are we?"

The pair separated and Vanilla walked to the edge of the street to hail a taxi. Espio and Charmy exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"Bet you ten rings he does it," the bee said.

"In public? He wouldn't."

As Vanilla hailed a taxi, Vector planted his feet, rolled his hips from side to side, and pointed finger guns into the air. Then he shimmied along the sidewalk in a silly celebratory dance behind her back.

"Hah! Ten rings!" Charmy said, holding out his hand.

"I'll have to get you next time," Espio said. "I slipped the last of my money to Vector, remember?"

"But I thought Jewel paid you?"

"She did. That's what I gave him. At least try to keep up with what's going on for a change." He folded his arms across his chest. "Maybe Jewel has another job I can take."

A taxi slowed beside Vanilla and Vector stopped his dance immediately. The couple hopped in the backseat and once it sped off, Cream stood up from the bench. "I better get home before Mama worries about me. She'll want me to try on the dress after she fixes it too."

"We'll walk you back," Espio said, folding and tucking his newspaper underneath his arm. "Let's go, Charmy."

The short boy flew above their heads and buzzed around in front of them. "You think we can get something to eat too? I'm starving."

"No. Money," Espio reminded him.

"I'm sure we have some leftovers at home," Cream said and ran ahead. "C'mon. I'll race you there!"

"I'm game!" Charmy said and zipped after her. "Last one there is a rotten Eggman!" Espio shook his head, but dashed after them all the same.

Cream smiled bright at Cheese as they ran along the sidewalk. Her mother had looked so happy throughout the date and she wouldn't mind Vector joining their family. She couldn't wait to hear all about it "for the first time" straight from her mother. If she hurried, she might even catch the end of the date up close. That thought spurred her on, easily passing Charmy with a joyful laugh.