A/N: Heya this or these chapters of this particular story are just one shots (well some of them actually have chapters after them XD) that I have written and trying to develop some of them to a small series :D whoops sorry for boring you here's the first story told by one of the characters POV. I might change the writing style in the later chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own One piece.

Little Café

Chapter 1 – Intro.

Today is the day, the day we open. It's always been my dream to open a patisserie. The building itself is quite quaint which is a good thing because there's only two of us sharing the workload. She handles the waiting and cleaning up while I do the baking and the counter sometimes haha. The bell chime that hangs above the entrance, every time I hear it I'm filled with excitement, what kind of customer would come in but now is not the time I have to put the cakes and chocolates up for display, take out the newly baked pastry, wash the new plates and mugs ah some many things to do.

* chime * Aa someone came in who could it be. As I approached the the counter I yelled out "Sorry we're not open yet can you come back a little later please." but it wasn't a customer a tall woman with blue curly hair and a figure of a model. She wore a plain black t-shirt, jeans and heels. "Aa!" it was Paula.

"Your here early." she said with a small surprise expression.

"Hehehe of course it's our grand opening." I replied happily.

She smiled back then heads to the kitchen entrance and picks up an apron. Oh yes Paula is my partner... no,no not my partner hmm how do I say this. Paula and me go way back we've been best friends for a long time and we started this café/patisserie business together, whew hope that clears up the misunderstanding haha. I continued my chores in the kitchen and she preps up the coffee, sets the tables and flips the closed sign to open.

xxx

It was 10 already and the café has a fair number of people. Paula was kept busy with the orders while I gave her a hand and run the cash machine. 2 customers came in.

"Welcome." I blurted out with a smile.

A beautiful woman came in first, she was stylish if I say. She had a short orange hair and dressed casually, a tank top, jeans and open toed high heels. A male followed her, he was about the same age as her. His black hair was a bit scruffy as if he had taken his hat off recently. He wore a red vest ¾ length shorts and sandals... flip flop sandals. I guess they're a couple huh. I looked around the shop it seems that Paula is still busy so I decided to go to their table.

"Good morning. What would you like?" I asked.

The orange girl scanned the menu above the counter while her partner was pouting.

"Hmm we'll have 2 coffee for now." she replied.

As I went over to the counter I could hear them bickering but it wasn't loud enough to disturb the other customers but loud enough for me to hear though. I couldn't make out what the whole argument was but it seems that her boyfriend wanted to eat somewhere else, a buffet of some sort. I was preparing their coffee then.

"Ne." a voice called out, I got startled, I turned my head to see who it was. It was the orange haired girl.

"Did you make these your self?" she asked as she pointed at the chocolates.

"Yes." I replied as I finish their coffee. "Would you like to sample it?"

"Eh, really?" she said with such a cheerful expression. I took a few out and placed them on the counter along with the coffee.

"Waaai! They're great." she squealed. I a few from the middle shelf this time and asked her to sample it.

"Mmm...! These taste like orange." she exclaimed.

"Um what do you think?" I waited for her answer anxiously.

"Can I have a box of them."

"Eh you like my orange cream chocolates?"

"Yep orange are my favourite."

I smiled at her.

"I'm Nami." she introduced herself with a bright smile.

"Valentine, Ms Valentine but you can call me Val."

I'm happy that she liked new chocolate concoction. I prepared a box of them for her.

"Oh yes can I also have a slice of an orange tart." she added.

"Only 1?." I asked. "What about him?"

"Forget about him." she said looking at his direction with a frown.

She returned to her table, I followed her with the items. I watched both of them from my counter. And they were bickering again it seems that he was rushing her to finish. He turned away while he pouted deeper. Nami-san grinned. She then leaned over with a spoonful of the tart in her hand.

"Luffy~" she called softly.

As he turned, she shoved the tart into his mouth and then kissed his lips.

"So ~ how was it?" she asked teasingly with a grin on her face. Luffy-san blushed deep red, he then suddenly stands up and leaves.

"Ah! Wait Luffy." she called out. She then walks over to me and pays.

"Looks like I over did it." she said playfully. I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks Val-chan." she said as she waved. I went over to their table to clear up and I noticed that she had left her clutch bag, she must have forgotten it when she chased Luffy-san. I informed Paula that I'll be taking a short break. I went out and looked for them, luckily they were sitting on a bench not far from our shop. She seemed happy sitting beside him with her head on his shoulder. I called out to them and she waved back.

"Nami-san you forgot this."

"Ah! Thank you, thank you Val-chan."

"It's fine." I smiled "Well then I need to head back."

"Aa Val-chan next time can I bring my friends over."

"Of course." I bowed and made my way back.

xxx

Throughout the day there were different kinds of couples entered the café. There was a woman with a mature feel to her. She had brown eyes, shoulder length black hair and as tall as Paula. She was with a large man with a star tattoo in both of his arms and wore shades even indoors. He ordered cola while she ordered a latte. Every now and then she would peek over her book and watch him work on his blue prints then smile and returns to her book.

Another couple was younger than the previous but around the same age as Nami and Luffy-san. The guy had curly black hair and a long nose, he was accompanied by a blonde haired girl, she seemed so ladylike. Their conversation was quite a cheerful one, every time he told a joke she would laugh and he occasionally told stories though some of them were a bit exaggerated. Seeing couples all around I was feeling a bit jealous.

"What's with the sigh Val?" Paula asked

"Eh! Nothing, nothing." I replied with a nervous laugh

"C'mon don't slack off."

I cheered myself up and started working again.

It was nearly 2 when I saw a blonde haired man staring at the cakes on display. He looked up and I smiled at him and he looked stunned then suddenly he was acting kinda goofy and entered our shop.

"My fair lady may I ask what is your name?" I was taken aback with the man's sudden change.

"Um... I'm Valentine."

"Valentine oh what a charming name." his actions confused me even further 'Is he hitting on me?'.

Suddenly his phone rings, he picks it up and reverts into a normal human being.

"I need to go now Valentine-chan" he then left.

"What was that?" Paula asked

xxx

Few months later.

Nami and Luffy-san became regulars here and along with their friends and our business is doing rather well. Sometimes Nami-san and her friends would invite me & Paula to join them and it was quite fun spending time with them.

On a snowy day, the café was having a slow day. Only a few people were in and Paula took the day off as well so it was only me. Nami-san enters with a thick brown coat and a scarf.

"Hello Nami-san."

"Hi Val-chan."

"What can I get you?"

"Hot chocolate please."

Nami-san seemed down I wonder what's wrong.

"Here you are Nami-san."

"Thanks Val-chan."

"No problem."

"Ne, Val-chan can I ask you a favour?"

To be cont.