Okay, so this is my second Markiplier fanfiction. For now i dont have a whole lot of review to give to you because to be honest i'm writing this one free-style and i have no idea where it's going to go. But its going to be funny and its going to be romantic and of course it's going to be awesome. So read, enjoy and tell me what you think when you are done.

*Charlie-Chan

~o~

There was nothing more frustrating than having to wake up in the morning. The blankets had taken me as their own and I didn't want to leave their warm embrace. But regardless I pull myself from the blanket warmth and into the bathroom. Slash cool water on my face, brush teeth, makeup, back into the bedroom. Uniform on and toast hanging from mouth, keys in hand and I'm off to open my shop.

Here in Tucson, Az., sun shining too bright, heat soaking into everything, I opened my little shop almost three years ago now. Tomorrow was my birthday and I had to make sure my sous chef was set for the day without. By all means I was not going to be here on the third birthday in a row spent in the chaos of my little kitchen or running around the dining room. Sherry was already in the kitchen cutting potatoes. Apron on, I join her. We run down plans for the day, greet the others coming in and joining prep work.

Morning shift went smooth, Sherry left with a notebook crammed with plans for the next two days and I stayed, just to make sure my other managers were going to be okay. Thankfully for me my birthday fell on a Friday. It was going to be a very drunken night tomorrow night and I was not going to be alive on Saturday. Lunch was a little crazy, but once 1 o'clock hit, the restaurant emptied and I hassled my staff for another hour of emptiness. Setting everyone on petty jobs to keep busy I checked the two tills.

Among the light music and the light chatter of staff, the bell over the door dang loud. The server goes to seat. Through the ones and fives a deep musical voice cuts off my counting.

"Do you server your chicken and dumplings for lunch?" I look up, unable to keep counting. Sitting at table seven was a man, thin rim glasses, scruffed dark brown hair. His dark eyes hopeful at the server.

She frowned at him a little bit, charmed by his look, "unfortunately not. We don't have anything prepared for it until three."

He looks at his watch, "its 2:30p, can I sit here and wait?"

I raised my eyebrow, counting completely forgotten. "But of course," she tells him, "how about something to drink? Maybe some potato-skins?"

"Tall glass of water, null on the skins," he gives a big smile and pulls out his phone.

I put the money back in the drawer and head to the kitchen, my chef was pulling the start of prep from the walk-in fridge. "Hey, I'll send back help with prep, can you make an order of chicken and dumplings?"

"Yeah sure," he sets everything to the side and starts working. With tills counted and reset to standard and deposit dropped into the safe, chef was rimming the chicken and dumplings. I figured I'd take it, it was done before three even hit.

The man was texting on his phone, fresh glass of water sitting in front of him. He was lax in his chair now, leaned back, legs stretched out under the table.

Upon seeing me and his order, he slides the phone away and sits back up. "You didn't have to go out of the way for me," he says politely, lightly smiling.

I give a big smile and place the bowl down and set silverware next to it. A little shuffle of my feet, trying to hold my business composure, I tell him, "to be honest, when I went and told my chef to go ahead and make it early, I didn't realize this but, I am more than happy to go out of the way for you, Markiplier."

His smile grew, "please I don't-"

I cut him off by putting my hand up, "like I said I didn't do it because I recognized you." Take a-back slightly by my bluntness, "sorry- that sounded-really rude. I'm going to walk away, beat myself up for a moment, and then I will try this again."

Mark laughs, "would you like to sit down?"

Never did I ever think that I would ever be so ridiculously nervous, but I held my tone and posture, "sure." I pull out the chair as smoothly as I could and placed myself lightly in the chair.

"Are you the manager?"

"No, I am the owner." Mark hadn't touched his dumplings and I gave a glance at it, "don't let them get cold before you try them, I think the dumplings are Chef Tim's specialty."

Mark looks down at his bowl almost as if he forgot he was here for lunch. "Right," splitting one in half he takes a bite. It was always my favorite to see someone's face melt and fill with the enigma of food. And oh, boy was Mark's face one of the picture-perfect experiences. "You didn't hear me say this, but I think I just fell in love with Chef Tim."

I laugh, "I will give complements to the chef."

He dips back in three more times before he looks back at me, "I'm sorry, I invited you to sit, and now you're watching me eat."

Quickly I throw in, "don't be. It's great to watch someone enjoy the food here. I will admit that Tim wasn't the only chef behind those. I must take credit for the stock that made the broth, and even after school and this shop, it always makes me feel awesome to see someone enjoy food." I pause for a moment, "it doesn't hurt that Markiplier is sitting in my little bo-dunk restaurant, enjoying chicken and dumplings." Another pause, I rub my arm, looking down sheepishly.

"Please, continue," he gives me a soft smile and looks back down to his dumplings.

I give a nervous chuckle, "I'm sure you hear it all the time, but thank-you for being awesome."

A big smile this time, cheek full of food. He swallows and smiles again, "believe it or not it never gets old. And I know you hear it all the time, but thank you for being awesome."

If it kept going this way I would be stupid and cry and be stupider, "formalities out of the way, we are awesome, yada-yada."

Mark chuckles, "you're right. None of that similar nonsense."

"How are you today?" as soon as it came out I wanted to take it back, it was so typical and bland.

"Good, for once a slow day it has been nice," he replies casually, raising his bowl two top off the broth from the bowl. "Even better with after this awesome chicken and dumplings. How much do I owe you for the lunch?"

I shake my head lightly, "please let this one be on me."

"No, no. None of that nonsense," he pulls out his wallet. "If you don't tell me I will leave an absurd amount on this table whether you personally take it or not."

With a smile and a fake sigh of defeat, "I'll go grab your ticket." I did print up his ticket properly. But I also grabbed two slices of apple pie and returned to the table. "You can pay full price for your lunch, but pie is on me."

With a cute pout and a sigh he smiles, "alright, alright. But only because you're eating a slice too." He pulls out a few bills and lays them on the ticket on the table and turns to his pie.

Mark and I sat at that table for hours being goofy together and chatting about nonsensical things. It wasn't until the dinner shift that time became relevant once more. The night manager had come out to the table spewing out problem after problem.

"…dishes didn't get done, and to top everything off we don't have any servers for the night."

A big sigh from me. At very least this was happening tonight and not tomorrow night. "Fine, fine. Try and call anyone who will take it."

"I already did, no one can take it."

I rub my temples, "fine," at least this was happening today and not tomorrow. "You take dish pit until Dave comes in, I'll serve, and find out if the new hostess knows how to handle cash."

"Got it," he takes off.

I turn to Mark, "I'm sorry about this-"

"Don't be, he cuts me off, sitting up in his chair. I understand, work calls too."

I sigh, "at least it happened today and not tomorrow. I swore to everyone that whoever didn't show up tomorrow was fired."

"What's tomorrow?" he asks racking his brain for something he might have missed.

"Oh, tomorrow is my birthday, and you better believe it's not going to be spent here."

His dark eyes light up, "let me take you to lunch tomorrow."

"Oh-I…um,"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-I mean if you have-"

"I'd like that," I cut him off before the wrong impression sets in. I haven't been on a date in three years. The restaurant has been keeping me so busy that I haven't cared to throw in a relationship.

Mark smiles again, it made me smile back. We looked at each other for a long moment.

"Chef Charlie?" my hostess had stepped up to the table.

My eyes move from Mark's to her, "Marie if I have to tell you again to pull you hair back-"

She quickly pulls her hair back, "sorry just walked in the door-Jack barged me the door. I just wanted to tell you that I spent two years at as a cashier at target, and I can help you however you need with the tab- oh, my god! You're Markiplier! I can't believe-"

"Thank you Marie," I cut her off firmly. She shuffles for a moment, embarrassed. "Please buss table three and make sure everyone gets seated quickly. It's going to be a rough night."

"Yes, chef," she turns and hurries off.

I sigh again, rub the bridge of my nose and look to the man across from me, "consider yourself lucky that you talk to a camera for a living."

Mark chuckles, he opens his mouth to say something and his phone goes off, he peers at it, "sorry, I have to take this-but I'll be right back to tell you goodnight." He heads for the front.

I head to the counter to grab a servers' apron and a pen and pad. I pop in back for a moment to check on the kitchen, and come out to instant busyness. Two tables had already been seated, one being lead to a table and three more parties at the door. With one more sigh I spring into action.

Mark came back about twenty minutes later. In the rush I tried to seat him, "how many?" I look up from the table chart at him, "oh, Mark! I'm so sorry, we just got so busy so quickly."

He dismissed me by holding up his hand, "let me help you."

I was flabbergasted, "n-no, I couldn't possibly-"

"Don't be foolish," he dismisses again. A couple walked by them and bade them good night. Marie came up behind them with a bussers tub. "Chef, the lady at table ten has a question about the soup I couldn't answer."

Another party walked in the door. Mark jumper right in the way, pulling the tub from Marie. "I'll buss, you get table ten and you seat these lovely ladies.

With a few blinks of befuddlement I give a soft smile, "you heard the man Marie." Marie blinks a few times too and turns to the four ladies at the door. I wanted to kiss his face all over for being so awesome right now. "Thank you Mark," he gives a mischievous looking grin and takes off to clear dirty dishes from tables. I head to table ten.

With the dinner rush handled and all but three tables empty, I step up to Mark bussing the final table. As he wiped the table I grabbed the dish tub. "You really are amazing Mark."

He turns to me, dropping the rag into the tub and pulling the tub away from me. He headed for the sinks and a stayed at his side. "It was actually kind of fun." I raise an eyebrow at him. "Okay, not fun, but that's okay. I can now claim 'King-of-Buss.'"

I laugh, "but of course you can. Or you can just go with 'King-of-Awesomeness.'"

"Awe, you made my ego blush," he laughs, setting the tub on the edge of the sink.

The night manager interrupts with a clearing of his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but Chef Tim says you've been here all day and that we need to kick you out. So go home."

I smile at him, placing my hands on my hips, "who are you to kick me out?"

"Go home Charlie!" Tim calls from the office.

I laugh, "aye, aye chef." I turn to my manager, "thank you Jack, don't call if anything happens. Have a good night."

Jack chuckles, "you got it chef. Happy birthday and what nots." He turns to Mark, "thanks for your help tonight Mark, I love your videos." They shake hands and he walks off.

Mark then turns to me, "walk you to your car?"

"Oh, no, I walk home. I'm only a couple blocks down."

"Then I'll walk you home."

"If you'd like."

"On one condition: another slice of pie."

I let out a loud laugh this time, "okay, but we are all out of pies tonight. However there is cheesecake at my place." I untie my apron, throw it behind the counter on the way out, bidding everyone goodnight.

~o~

Hope you loved it. i really like where this one is going right now, so tell me what you think (REVIEW) and 'i'll see you in the next (story)"