Just an extra bit of epilogue for "Cold as Ice" that starts with Kai's POV as he walks Cream home and then shifts to Amy's at Vanilla's house to explore some of thoughts on everything.

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The night was peaceful, the sky was clear, and even the cold wind was pleasant like swimming in cool water after a stressful day. Kai walked in and out of the soft glow of the streetlights with Cream holding his hand.

 

It was all over and now the only thing left was to get her home safe and take peace in the fact the monster Melessa had saved her from would never so much as attempt to take another innocent life.

 

“Thanks for walking me home, Mr. Kai,” Cream spoke up.

 

“It’s no trouble,” Kai smiled, “I promised your mother I would get you home safe and that’s what I Intend to do.”

 

“I bet she’s worried about me,” Cream said.

 

“Of course, and worried about Miles and Melissa as well. She was upset when she found out you were both in trouble and Melissa had decided to save you herself,” Kai said.

 

“It was really brave of her to come after us.”

 

“That is something I always admired her for, the way she fights to protect the people she loves.” Kai looked up at the stars and put his free hand in his coat pocket as he walked.

 

“I wonder if she’ll help Sonic and Tails fight Eggman now, since she doesn’t have to hide her gift from all of us anymore,” Cream asked.

 

“It’s possible, I know I’ve heard her say many times she wishes she could be out there with Miles putting a stop to his plans,” Kai said.

 

“I hope she does, Eggman is the one that sent that bully after us,” Cream said, frustration starting to creep into her voice.

 

“How do you know that?” Kai asked.

 

“I heard him calling Eggman and talking about Aunt Mel,” Cream said, “I didn’t know why he was so angry with her until she told me about the little boy she saved from him.”

 

“Maxwell was fortunate Melesa found him in time,” Kai looked down at Cream and noticed her nervous expression, “but then again, I don’t how much I believe in random chance and I like to believe she was meant to save him.”

 

“I’m glad he was okay,” Cream asked, “but I still don’t understand.”

 

“What, Cream?” Kai asked.

 

“Why that man wanted to hurt people like that, why someone like you two with such a wonderful gift would use it to hurt people instead of helping them and making friends with them like you and Aunt Mel do,” Cream looked down as she walked.

 

“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Kai sighed, “Even after almost 250 years, I still do not understand why so many people wish to hurt others for such petty reasons.”

 

“It makes the world a scary place, “ Cream frowned for a moment before smiling at Kai, “but it makes it less scary knowing there’s people like you and Aunt Mel to protect us from the bad people.”

 

“I’m glad you trust me enough to let me protect you,” Kai said.

 

“I kind of always did, but I wasn’t sure. You always seemed really strong, but not in a way that made you scary,” Cream said, “Liked you’d never use it to bully anyone.”

 

“We had a certain code of honor in my tribe,” Kai chuckled softly, “It was taught to all of us as we trained to defend our families and homes.”

 

“What’s that?” Cream asked.

 

“Without compassion, strength is nothing. For it is the destiny of the strong to protect the weak, and love is the strongest emotion that can guide us in defending them,” Kai said.

 

“That sounds like the sort of rule a brave knight might live by,” Cream smiled.

 

“Melessa alway said the same thing,” Kai shook head, stopping when he felt the piece of cloth in his pocket.

 

“Something wrong?” Cream asked.

 

“Not at all, I just remembered I have something of yours,” Kai pulled the ribbon from his pocket and smiled as Cream’s eyes lit up.

 

“You got my ribbon back?” She asked excitedly.

 

“Of course,” Kai crouched down, “I know it’s a bit late because you’ll likely be in your bedclothes soon, but you would you like me to put it on for you?”

 

“Sure,’ Cream said

 

Kai smiled and carefully began tying the ribbon around her collar. Once he was finished he carefully smoothed both the collar and ribbon, “There,” he smiled.

 

“Thank you,” Cream happily threw her arms around him.

 

Without a second thought he hugged her back and found himself pondering how right this all felt. Could he someday work up the courage to trying be a part of her and Vanilla's family? To someday be a husband to her mother and a father-figure to her?

 

“You are welcome,” Kai chuckled.

 

The two separated and Kai watched as a curious expression formed on Cream’s face.

 

“What did happen with Maxwell, the little boy Aunt Mel saved?” Cream asked.

 

“He was an orphan and Melesa sort of adopted him and drug him along with us on our travels,” Kai smiled and ruffled the fur on Cream’s head., “Time passed and he eventually grew older and had a family of his own.”

 

“That sounds nice,” Cream said, “I’m glad everything worked out.”

 

“Would you like to know a secret that we haven’t told anyone else yet?” Kai asked.

 

“Is it something bad?” Cream asked with a slightly worried expression.

 

“Not at all, it’s a fun secret,” Kai said.

 

“Then okay, and I promise not to tell anyone,” Cream nodded.

 

“Do you know what a descendant is? Like how someone is descended from their grandparents?” Kai asked.

 

“Yes, and people like our grandparents are called our ancestors,” Cream added.

 

“Did you know you’ve meant Maxwell’s descendant?” Kai asked.

 

“Really?” Cream asked curiously, “who?”

 

“What if I told you Maxwell was a chameleon? Who do we know like that?” Kai grinned.

 

“You mean Mr Espio?” Cream’s eyes lit up

 

Kai nodded and chuckled as he heard her start to giggle.

 

“I wonder if he’ll find out somehow, since he’s a detective and his family might’ve told stories about her,” Cream said.

 

“Even if he does not, I’m sure she will tell him eventually because family is important to her, and think she see’s him as family.” Kai said.

 

“I promise I’ll keep it a secret until then,” Cream smiled.

 

“Okay,” Kai playfully ruffled the fur on her head, “now how about we get you home?”

 

“It’ll be nice to see my mother again,” Cream smiled and took his hand.

 

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“I’m sure everything will be fine and Melinda will bring them back safe,” Amy placed a hand on Vanilla’s shoulder

 

Amy had gone to Vanilla’s house the minute she got the call that the search was over, and the two had been waiting for nearly two hours for someone to come through the door, or at least some kind of sign that everyone was safe.

 

It has been grueling being on the sidelines while the youngest and most vulnerable members of their team we’re being held hostage by some immortal maniac, but she was doing her best to reassure Vanilla that everything would be alright.

 

“I can’t pretend I know much about her past, but I don’t know how she can face someone like that,” Vanilla dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and looked down at the clearly upset Chao she cradled in one arm.

 

“Have a little faith, I mean she’s tough enough that Sonic said she was there mocking the robot that attacked the DoT, “ Amy placed a hand on her shoulder, “I mean, you know yourself she came back from the dead and that has to count for something.”

 

“She almost gave me a heart-attack,” Vanilla chuckled

 

“I think she almost gave as all one,” Amy smiled, “Even Tails, and ironically it was because he was working so hard to try and stop US from panicking too much.”

 

“He looked so relieved standing there while Cream was hugging hold on to her for dear life and we knew it would be fine.”

 

The two were interrupted by footsteps outside and Amy froze in anticipation as she watched the doorknob turn and the door slowly open.

 

“Mama!” Cream cried happily as she ran in and jumped into her mother’s arms.

 

Amy breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she saw her and Kai not far behind, still standing in the doorway with a smile on his face.

 

“I guess that means everything is okay?” Amy glanced over at Vanilla holding on to Cream for dear life and Cheese now resting in Cream’s arms before looking back up at Kai.

 

“Yes, Miles left with Sonic and Melissa is tending to something before she goes home. She made sure that monster won’t claim anymore innocent lives.” Kai said.

 

“After Aunt Mel saved us, Tails took me to the church where Mr Kai lives and he protected us,” Cream spoke up.

 

“Thank you, both of you,” Vanilla smiled at Kai, tears in her eyes.

 

“I’m just happy I could help them both get home safely,” Kai said.

 

“Yeah, good to know everything will be okay now,” Amy said, fidgeting around as Cream slid over to hug her.

 

“Come in, dear,” Vanilla smiled warmly, “You know you’re always welcome, especially after this.”

 

“I cannot stay long,” Kai stepped into the middle of the room, “I think I know where Melissa is and I wish to check on her.”

 

Vanilla stood up and walked over to Kai, wrapping her arms around him and he slowly returned the hug. Amy giggled as she noticed him starting to blush, quietly wondering to herself if they’d ever wind up together.

 

“Thank you again, dear.” Vanilla said.

 

“It was really no trouble,” Kai replied

 

Suddenly Amy’s attention was pulled away from the scene by Cream yawning and starting to slump over against her.

 

“Hey Cream, if it’s okay with your mom how about I tuck you in tonight?” Amy asked, looking up at Vanilla and getting a nod yes.

 

“Okay,” Cream yawned as Amy helped her down off the couch.

 

The young girl yawned again as Amy guided her towards her mother and Kai where she stopped and smiled up at the wolf. Cheese now happily floating behind them.

 

“Goodnight, Mr. Kai,” Cream held up her arms and smiled as Kai leaned down to hug her.

 

“Goodnight, try to get some rest now that everything is safe, okay?” Kai said as he wrapped his arms around her.

 

A smile crept across Amy’s face and she teared up as she thought about how much the three in front of her looked like a family. Would he ever at least try to tell Vanilla how he felt about her? He’d make a wonderful husband to her and father to Cream.

 

The two eventually separated and Cream turned to stand on her tip-toes and wrap her arms around her mom’s waste.

 

“Goodnight, mama,” she said with a yawn before letting go and re-joining Amy,

 

“Goodnight Dear,” Vanilla turned to Amy, “Since it’s so late why don’t you get one of the extra sleeping bags out of the closet and stay in Cream’s room?”

 

“Thanks, Vanilla,” Amy let out a yawn of her own, “goodnight”

 

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The small bedroom was quiet save for the sound of Cream’s light breathing as she slept, and Amy stared up the ceiling with thoughts of the last few days running wild in her head after what must have been a couple hours of restless attempts to sleep. Thoughts of immortality, immortals themselves, and the ramifications of such beings existing. The things people like Melinda must have seen, done, and the history they’ve been a part of.

 

More solemnly, she wondered how alienated and alone someone so old must feel sometimes and how hard it must be for someone so loving and nurturing to not being able to conceive children of her own. She had Tails of course, and Amy could tell they loved each other just as much, if not more than any other mother and son.

 

“That doesn’t make him any less of my son,” Amy smiled as the words echoed in her head

 

 

 

She also had all of them, Sonic, Amy herself, Vanilla, Cream, and even Knuckles despite his stubborn nature. It also occurred to Amy that despite everything tv, books, and movies about things like vampires would have her believe about ancient beings she was anything but cold and distant from mortals. She seemed to love everyone unconditionally and was caught somewhere between pain and rage when she found out Cream and Tails were in danger.

 

“I promise I won’t ever leave you,” the words she spoke to Cream, but they grew bittersweet as another thought entered Amy’s head, “but someday we’ll all have to leave her, she’ll outlive all of us.”

 

The thought was sobering and threatened to bring tears to her eyes. What must it be like to know that you’ll have to watch even your own son grow old and die, and how many countless times had she watched it happen to those she loved? Had she had other adopted children? Was she ever married to a mortal in all those years and watched it happen to a husband? It had to hurt, and hurt bad.

 

She must be unbelievably strong and have so much willpower to keep going and not lock herself away from the world. To keep letting herself love in so many ways.

 

Amy was stirred form thoughts by the sound of quiet chirping coming from her cell phone, signalling a text message. She quickly picked up and saw Melinda’s name on her home screen, her finger quickly clicked it and flicked across the screen to the view the picture message.

 

“Everything is okay,” it said, the image still loading.

 

A smile crept across her face as it finally popped up to show Melinda at home on the couch. Her arm was around Tails, who was curled up under her coat and snuggled up her, sleeping peacefully. Despite the fact she had obviously been crying not long ago, a sincere smile was now on Melinda’s face.

 

“Cream is also okay,” Amy quickly typed.

 

As she hit send she heard Cream moving around and softly crying. She quickly climbed to her feet and made her way up to the bed where the young girl was hugging her teddy bear and sobbing.

 

“Cream, what’s wrong?” she asked, putting an arm around Cream.

 

“I had a bad dream,” Cream sobbed as she leaned against Amy.

 

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Amy asked softly.

 

“I dreamed about what happened when Aunt Mel came to save us, I had my eyes closed but I could still him hurting her, I heard her trying to tell us goodbye and then I woke up,” Cream sniffed.

 

“What happened in there?” Amy wondered, “It’s okay, Cream. Everyone is home safe now.”

 

“I know, I got to see her before we all left the church but it’s still scary,” Cream whined.

 

Amy remembered she was still holding her phone and clicked on the picture to make it fill the screen.

 

“See this picture she sent me? Everything is fine.” Amy held the phone where she could see it.

 

“She looks like she’s been crying,” Cream said.

 

“Yes, but she’s smiling now and look at how comfortable Tails is,” Amy said, “Everyone went through a lot and maybe she just had to let it all out. I think everyone does that sometimes.”

 

“They do look happy, especially Tails snuggled up next to her,” Cream smiled.

 

“Think you’ll be okay, now?” Amy laid her phone on the nightstand and put her other arm around Cream.

 

“I think so,” Cream wigged an arm loose and hugged her back, “Thanks for showing me that cute picture.”

 

“No problem, I’m glad it made you feel better,” Amy let go and grabbed the top of Cream’s blanket, “now try and get some sleep.

 

“Goodnight, Amy,” Cream yawned as she laid down and let Amy cover her up.

 

“Goodnight,” Amy said quietly, a smile spreading across her face as she reached for her phone and looked at the picture, “I think I’ll save this one.”