"So what did you do with them?"

She lifted her chin as she spoke in concert with her hand. "I gave them out as freebies to anyone who signed up for the Gamers Club."

Angie raised an eyebrow from the register. "You got 144 people to sign up for discussions on video games by giving them flowers?"

She blinked several times before nodding. "Well… maybe we gave them to just anyone who passed by, but— we did get a few new members!"

A chuckle. "A few, huh."

"Well… maybe a couple. Give or take."

A laugh. "You mean Art intensified them into joining?"

She sighed. "Hahhh. Yeah, basically. Sadly." She finished decorating the latte and placed it on the counter before looking out the door. "I dunno how we're gonna get enough people to get the sponsorship for that comic con trip…"

Angie shrugged as she walked past her. "Maybe you need a new spokesperson?"

"Hah. Like who?"

The other barista narrowed her eyes and grinned. "Someone sexy."

Cosima brought both hands up. "Noooo. I am not cosplaying, Anj."

Contrary to popular (well, Angie's) belief, being named Cosima did not mean she was good at cosplaying. No matter how much she would love to kick ass as Lara Croft or exude Daenerys Targaryen for a day.

"Fine," her friend conceded before cocking her head. "Still can't believe you just gave away all those flowers some pretty french girl went out of her way to send you though."

She snorted. "Why would I keep something some random stranger gave? Besides, it's not like I'm going to see her again."

"Really. You don't want her to come back?"

"No."

Angie placed a hand on her hip. "Then why do you keep staring at the door?"

Cosima whipped her head in the other direction and furrowed her brows. "I'm not. I was just… thinking about my research paper."

"Right. A research paper on 'who is this mystery french woman who likes to visit my shop'."

She sent a glare down to the register. "I really don't want her to come back." She shook her head and began to pace behind the bar.

"Like who sends a bazillion flowers to someone they barely know? She's probably a complete psycho." Arms began to flail. "If she ever shows her face around here again, I'll be sure to tell her to bring her fancy—whatever—fuss elsewhere!"

The sound of heels clopping on wood and phrases of what seemed like french made her freeze. She took a deep breath and slowly looked towards her co-worker.

One lifted eyebrow on a shocked face with a half-opened smile was all it took for her to confirm it. Cosima glanced out and saw her.

Hazel eyes met hers in the morning glow. The edges of a grin on glossy red lips. Then gold locks glistening in the light as the visage whirled towards the couch seats.

She managed to close her hanging mouth as the man-nanny shot her a look, trailing behind his watch.

"You were saying, Niehaus?" Angie murmured next to her.

"What… the… fuck…?" she hushed behind the counter.

…

The settling seemed like an eternity. She forced herself to stop stealing glances at the window seats as she busied herself with washing random stirring spoons.

"What are you doing? Trying to find the perfect spoon?" Angie whispered, brushing past her. "Go talk to her!"

"Are you kidding me?" she hissed.

"You have to thank her at least!"
"For what? Making work hell?"
"For the flowers, you turd!"
"What? No!"

"Bonjour."

She knew that voice anywhere. Why do I know that voice anywhere? Fuck.

She composed herself as Angie scurried away. "Umm.." she swallowed, glaring at her friend's receding smirk. She faced her.

Paris Hilton was smiling. Pleasantly. At her.

"Good… morning." She managed a shaky smile. "What can I, uh… do. For you…?"

The red lips widened. "I'm glad to know to you're in a better mood today, Cosim-a."

I hate french accents, she tried to whimsy as the voice melted away whatever ice she had frosted together in the span of time washing spoons. She gazed at the window seat. Man-nanny was sitting on a couch, reading the paper.

"Well, I'm glad to know you can order for yourself today," she replied smugly.

The girl chuckled. "You're very cheeky. I like that."

"Mm," she nodded. "So… do you want anything?"

Hazel eyes fluttered. "Yes." They locked into hers. "I would like you to have coffee with me today."

She tilted her head and blinked. "Sorry, what…?"

"Two cafe au laits please. I will wait at my usual couch," the silky voice declared.

"Wait— is this for Frédéric?"

But the girl had already strutted towards the window.

"You haven't paid! Miss?" she blurted.

The girl had sat down at the table beside Frédéric's. An empty seat waited across from her. She pulled out a book.

Cosima looked up at the clock. 11:00AM. At least it wasn't 10 minutes before her shift ended. What luck.

Angie appeared beside her.

"Why don't you—"

"No," she quickly announced. "I am not giving in to this.. whatever she is."

"'Whatever she is'? That's the best Cosima Niehaus, biology honor student and future doctor, can come up with?" Angie retorted, both hands on hips now. "Do the right thing, Cos. Say thank you. Don't leave her there waiting. The customer is always right."

"Geez, did you eat Bean & Cream Roasters national anthem for breakfast? I can't leave the counter, I'm working!"

"You are! You have to get her to pay, right? And don't worry, I'll cover you. Besides, Jack isn't even here today. Go!"

She shook her head and sighed. "I hate you."

Angie handed over a tray of cafe au laits and grinned. "You'll thank me for this one day, maybe."

…

She looked down sullenly at the two cups of coffee on the tray. How did she know cafe au lait was my favorite? This is just… great.

The blonde hair was straightened a bit more today, flourishing into waves. It was pretty. Cosima cleared her throat. "Miss…?"

The girl looked up from her book and smirked. She carefully closed it. "Nice of you to join me, Cosim-a."

Cosima placed the cups on the table, keeping the tray in her hands. "I just came to tell you that you haven't paid yet. It'll be $6.47, with tax. And it's just Cosima."

The frenchwoman with the lovely hair stared at her thoughtfully before replying. "Well, 'Just Cosima', you're not living up to your name very well."

"No, it's— Cosima— what are you talking about?"

She placed her book on the table and continued. "After one receives a present, one should behave graciously to the giver. Even if the present was not to their liking."

Cosima's eyes widened, eyebrows arching like the rise of furies. "You…"

She drew a breath and took a quick scan of the shop before sliding onto the opposite couch and hunching forward.

"Look," she started, injecting her eyes into what sense the girl's pupils could accommodate. "I'm-at-work. I can't have… coffee… with you."

The blonde shifted her head and blinked gently, never breaking posture. "Then we'll reschedule until after your work."

"No—" she shook her head, flustered. "I have class after, and—" She blew a sigh, her hands pushing at the air in front of her in hopes that they could conjure winds that would send the girl away. "You can't—" She couldn't words. She was normally very eloquent. Maybe that was only for scientific endeavors.

"Quoi?" the girl offered, a tiny grin forming on her features.

She conceded a sigh and shot the frenchwoman an exasperated look. "You can't just walk in here and expect me to have coffee with you just because you sent me a truckload of pretty flowers!"

"So you agree, they were pretty, oui?"

"Eughh! NO."

"You know you're very pretty when you argue with me," the girl stated with a satisfied smile.

Cosima immediately felt a burn in her cheeks. Ohmygod, I can't be. But she was. She was blushing because the prettiest woman in the world was calling her pretty - and it made her infuriated.

Her eyes flew around the shop, catching Angie's. The other barista flashed a wide grin and gave her a thumbs up. Cosima threw a look of SOS, but palms waved over the counter, motioning for her to stay. Do the right thing. Say thank you. Even if she is distracting you from your work.

And added more mess to your already-messy dorm.

And forced her smile into your head instead of basic immunology.

She shook her head and ran fingers across the ridge of her brow. "Okay, Miss… look, I don't even know your name."

Frédéric twitched at the table beside them. The girl looked down. "My name."

"Yeah." A hand unraveled the bun, dreadlocks falling. If she was going to play along, she would do so with full feathers. It was her equivalent to rolling up her sleeves. "You know my name, it's only fair."

Hazel eyes met hers. "Delphine."

"Delphine," she repeated, nodding. "That's nice," she chirped. "So Delphine, what do you do? Are you a tourist? Exchange student?"

The frenchwoman with the nice name shifted slightly and kept her gaze, but remained silent.

Cosima whirled her wrist. "No, really, I'm interested, since you seem to be showing a specific interest in this shop." I'd like to know why you choose to continue to bother me like it was your mission in life.

"I'm a spy," she finally answered.

Cosima cackled, "You've gotta be kidding me. Are you forreal?"

Delphine simply smiled and picked up her cup. "Non."

Cosima shook her head and snorted. "Okay, you know, I don't have time for this. I just wanted to say thank you for the flowers, Delphine. It was a nice gesture - maybe a little, you know, forward - but nice, nonetheless. Now, if you would please pay for your coffee, I would like to finish the rest of my shift in peace," she rambled before standing. "Please."

The blonde sighed and opened her purse, procuring a $10 bill. She lifted it towards the barista. "Keep the change."

"What, no francs today?" Cosima blurted, before biting her lip at her own impertinence.

Delphine flashed another grin. "It has historical significance, it has the faces of two scientists. I thought you might like it, seeing as how you are a science student."

Cosima began to wonder if the girl really was a spy. "How did you know I studied science?"

She realized she had been too busy being annoyed to remember that the blonde was not only physically attractive, but had the loveliest voice as it spoke.

"I saw a biology textbook behind the counter. It had a sticker with your name."

She also realized why she couldn't be attracted to this girl even if she was the french mafia's daughter. Especially not if she was the french mafia's daughter. And to be honest, she thought of her as a bit crazy.

"Okay, well. Please don't ever… send me flowers, or any audacious display, again. A simple 'thank you' would've been enough."

The girl smiled, but this time without smugness or cheekiness. It caught Cosima off-guard. It was gentle. Then, "Thank you, Cosima. For sitting with me."

She fell silent and looked down at her hands. "No prob," she managed, before turning to leave.

"You're not going to take your coffee?" said a breathy voice.

She gulped the swell in her throat. In another life where she didn't have to be on time to things - to work, to class, finishing her studies, her research - maybe she would've said yes to having coffee. It wasn't every day that you find the most gorgeous woman in the world asking you to sit with her. Or leaving you cute messages on coffee cup holders. Or thinking to leave you something that she held significant. Or sending you flowers… Part of her reaction was because no one had ever sent her flowers before, so she didn't know what to do.

Cosima turned back to face her. And perhaps the girl just seemed a little crazy because maybe… she never knew how to just say 'thank you' either. I'd probably go a little crazy too if I had to be followed around everywhere by a man-nanny… or is it a 'manny'?, she thought.

She smiled. "No, thank you."

And she was off.

…

"Are you alright, Madame?"

"Please, Frédéric," she brightened, fixing her purse. "I'm fine."

He folded his newspaper. "She is a feisty one."

Delphine glanced towards the baristas cleaning the counter. The girl's dreadlocks were swept up once more into a bun. The glasses framed her face quite well. Delphine found them catching.

"I like her."

"Madame? Uh—Delphine?" he began to shift.

She faced him. "Yes?"

"Forgive me, but weren't we here to help you find yourself again?"

Her eyes flickered in the light as they gazed over the science student on her way out to class. Their faces met in the space where air converses with sunbeams; a strange and beautiful suspension.

She caught herself and regained composure.

"Yes," she replied. "And I found her."

He mulled his lip. Was this why she ran? "Forgive me once more…"

Her bearings glowed. "Stop with the formalities, Frédéric, go ahead. You are my only friend here."

"Well," he fumbled. A clearing of the throat. "Do you like… women?"

She contemplated the sky outside the windows.

"I like her," she quipped.

She stood deftly and smiled at the couches. "I think I'll start being a— how do they say.. a 'regular' around here."

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" he pondered.

"Absolument," she declared, starting towards the door, a brisk in her step.

Something energized her. She wasn't sure if it was sunbeams or quirky glasses or the promise of having coffee one day, but she wanted to be a regular. She had never been a regular at anything in her life.

She looked back to see her faithful friend taking a photo of the newspaper.

"Frédéric, what are you doing?"

He tucked away the phone and fixed his suit as he headed over.

"I might as well subscribe to the newspaper. Looks like I'll be needing something to keep me busy while I'm being a 'regular'."

...

A/N: Hello :) Just wanted to say thank you for the interest in this fic! I'd like to give a special shout out to my wonderful beta, Irma (cosimageekhaus on tumblr), as well as glynnbearboo, who has been fantastic in helping beta the first 2 chapters. Big thanks also to Sabinne (im-on-your-side-now) for encouraging this, and Shannon (shannoonie), whose love for baked goods inspired the baguettes. :)