Chapter 19 - 17

*Apologies for the very updates. I haven't had data to do anything reasonable lately*

*

Coco

We had already informed Mistress about her disappearance, but that was after I had used my bike to go on rounds with them going around in the car.

Not finding her.

Which has me thinking only two things.

One.

How far could she have possibly gone?

And two.

How fast was she?!

I had only taken Mel to his room for possibly ten minutes before rushing back to help Cream with Ber and asked for Nilla.

And realized she was gone.

We are all sitted in the lounge room, Mel curled up next to me as he keeps on sniffing and sobbing about the fact that we could not find her.

Cream sitting far away, quiet, as he mostly was, staring at the window.

And Ber.

He was staring at the ground, legs crossed, a solemn look on his face.

A part of me wanted to cheer them up, tell them that Mistress would bring Vanilla back, because for her to come here, to be with us, meant she was destined for us and us alone.

But I can not seem to even make a joke for the very first time in my life.

We hear the door open and everyone looks up as Mistress enters, Alex behind her.

Her suit is off, with her left in her shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbow.

Her ever perfect hair now has wisps of hair around her face and there is sweat around it too.

I speak first "Is Nilla....."

"We can't find her" She cuts in, her voice low "I did a perimeter check with Sergeant Thomas and still nothing. It's like she vanished"

"Just like a fairytale huh?" I joke but no one is laughing.

"Should I go make dinner Madam?" Alex asks.

"The fuck you making dinner for?" Ber suddenly snaps, speaking for the first time so far.

Mistress's eyes seemed to slit as she says to him "One more curse word from you and you wouldn't like what happens next Strawberry"

His full name....

He stares, shocked, as the whole situation sinks into his head while Cream says "We can't eat Mistress"

"Cream...."

"I'd vomit" Mel slowly whispers "I.... I don't feel so good"

There's silence again, and no one speaks for a while till Mistress says "Alex, you can make something light that they can all eat without stressing. Soup maybe? It's harder vomiting that . Thank you"

Alex nods, and walks away as she faces us now.

"What happened by the way?"  She asks "I got a call from the school. Yoh nearly punching someone's brains out, Coco breaking his bones and you Cream" She faces him "You did nothing to stop them"

"He hurt Vanilla" Cream replies "I would have killed him myself if I had a chance but she was hurt...."

"And Berry" She turns to him.

He looks up, tears in his eyes again.

"I want details" She says "Exactly how it happened. Exactly what you said and did to make her leave"

He shakes his head "I didn't mean...."

"Don't say you didn't mean it" She replies "You meant it. Every word of it. Did you say you wanted her gone? Did you say she didn't belong here? You meant it. You have wanted her gone since she was here and you don't think she belongs here because I didn't get her the way I did for you all. You know nothing about her as you all know each other, and let's not go to the fact that she seems to be like you. Like all of you...."

"Stop it" Ber says, tears falling from his eyes.

"She is alone, and she needs help, but you can't stomach it Ber. You want her gone now before you eventually hurt her more. You're scared that you'd hurt her and she'd hate you because you know what you are deep down Ber..."

Ber is holding his head, shaking hard "Stop it!"

But Mistress is walking to him, her voice still soft and small, still so powerful and sweet....

Like she was ready to tear him to pieces.

"So you meant it Berry"

"And so what?" He suddenly snaps, looking up as more tears pour out "I'm protecting her from me! No one deserves...."

"Protecting her and you is my job" She says as she reaches him and lays a hand on his head "It's ours"

He shakes, trying to move away "No.... No"

"We love you" She says "And so does she. She didn't leave because of you Ber. She left because she's scared just as you are... Scared of hurting you. Hurting anyone... And the fact she cares about you, about us, proves she loves us"

"Then why did she leave?" He asks, looking up....

I have never seen him so sad before...

I....

I raise my hands to my cheeks and see the water falling.

A small chuckle comes up my throat.

I'm crying....

For the first time.

Mel reaches out, brushing his thumb over my face, the tears in his face now dried as he rubs off mine.

I give him a small smile, holding his hand and kissing it, turning back to Ber who is now crying in Mistress arms, Cream hugging them.

Later, I'm sitted on my bed, in my room, Mel sleeping next to me as I try to read his book.

Never really did get around the fact I always believed Alice in wonderland was boring.

And how old was the make next to me again?

Twelve?

I hear the door open and Mistress walks in, still in her work shirt and trousers as she passes me a smile and slides into the bed, kissing my cheeks and kissing Mel's forehead who suddenly smiles while sleeping as she chuckles and faces me, grabbing me off the bed and into her laps "Well, guess who's be holding on so good"

I giggle "I can't be weak now though, but I cried a bit" Then I look up at her "Is that okay?"

She nods "Yes darling, it is. Kinda makes me suspect why you're still so giddy"

I pout "It was just one pill"

She sighs, brushing away hair from my face "We agreed no more drugs"

I chuckle "It's... She kissed me today"

"Vanilla?"

I nod, biting my lower lip "I... She was shaking, yunno, and then she just kisses me and I'm thinking.... Why did she do this? Why... Why can't I pull away?"

"She's not like all those other women Coco"

"I know" I whine "But I just wanted to.... Please her right there and then, you know? Just wanted to...." Then I look up at her "Can she... Join us?"

She looks surprised at the idea at first, but she smiles in the end "That's all her choice Coco"

"Do you want her to?" I ask.

She nods "Yes. I do"

"So we ask her when she's back, yeah?" I ask, blinking.

She laughs, pulling my nose "Of course, but we need to talk about that pill you took. I'd tell Ber about that"

My eyes widen "Mistress! He'd punish me!"

She smiles "That's the point" Then she kisses my forehead and takes me off her body, putting me on the bed "I love you Coco"

I smile at her "I love you too"

"And stop mentally making fun of Mel's book" She says.

I laugh "Okie"

Then she bends, kissing me slightly on the lips, pulling away and staring into my eyes "Cute"

I giggle.

Then she leaves the room.

I sigh, laying back on the bed and feel my mouth pouting.

So I won't wake anyone up tomorrow?

I want Nilla back.