24-Hour Coffee Shop

Legolas, Fíli, and Kíli left Tauriel's house hours before. However, she cannot sleep. It is the curse of working a night shift, but wanting to socialize with people during the daylight hours. It wreaks havoc on her sleep schedule. If she does not maintain her schedule over the weekend, working on Monday is always hell. She finds herself nodding off every few minutes, hitting her head on the counter, and struggling to keep her eyelids open. Mondays when her sleep schedule has been altered drag by, each minute takes a year to pass and every hour is an eternity.

Right now, she is warm and everything is pleasantly fuzzy. Together the four of them finished off the Dorwinion wine and started on some of the stuff that Fíli and Kíli brought with them. She is sprawled in the large king-size that her uncle, Thranduil, had insisted on buying her when she insisted on getting her own place rather than moving back into his large home. Thranduil's large country home has more than enough room. Legolas still lives at home while he finishes up at university. That is where the problem lies. That is the reason why Tauriel insisted on using her pay – which sat mostly untouched for four years – to acquire this house. Legolas was around, which means that Fíli, Kíli, Strider, and the rest of his friends are always hanging around. Moreover, all of them can be quite loud. She wants a place where she can have peace and quiet. Her house is quiet. Her world is quiet when she is at home.

Tauriel adjusts one of the pillows and rolls over onto her stomach. She pulls her phone out to read over the texts that she and Bard had exchanged making plans for tomorrow.

- Bard, this is Tauriel. Now you have my number ;) – τ

Tauriel rolls her eyes when she sees the ridiculous message that Legolas had sent on her behalf.

- Should I take it that you are interested in a date then? How does tomorrow sound? – B.B.

- What would a date tomorrow entail? – τ

- My son, Bain, has the tournaments for his summer soccer league tomorrow. I'll be at the soccer pitches all day. Casual and no pressure. – B.B.

- I thought you said you had three children? – τ

- I do. Til and Sigrid will be with their grandparents. It's a long day and neither of them are all that fond of soccer yet. Plus my mother's been wanting to take them to the zoo for quite a while. – B.B.

- Sounds good to me. – τ

Bard's next message contained the name of the park and the time. Tauriel was greatly relieved that he had proposed nothing more demanding, such as a restaurant. Casual and relaxed indeed. That was an idea that she would enjoy. The only thing that makes her a little uncomfortable is the fact that there is no definitive head and that his son will be there. She does not feel ready to meet any of Bard's children when she is not even sure if she likes him at all. Tauriel has never spent much time with children and she is unsure of how to act with them. Honestly, she cannot recall the last time she even spoke to a child.

xxx

Tauriel takes one last look at herself in the hall mirror before she walks out the front door the next morning. She had pulled on a pair of cut off jean shorts and one of her Guard t-shirts. She straightens her shirt and looks once more. Her red hair is cropped short and she cannot do anything with it, it does what it wants. She has a ball cap in her bag in case it should become too unruly. She wiggles her toes in her flip-flops and adjusts the messenger bag that hangs from her shoulder.

"Maybe I should change," Tauriel says to her reflection. "Put on something nicer."

Tauriel frowns. It was a park, watching a children's soccer tournament. Besides, she is comfortable in this. Anything else will probably prove to be uncomfortable after a few hours sitting in the hot sun. Without a second thought on the subject, she walks out the door and down the street to the bus stop on the corner.

When she gets off the blue and orange bus at the park she almost turns around and gets back on to go back home to her quiet house. Children dressed in soccer kits, screaming, or both immediately surround Tauriel. Parents are shouting at their children, children are screaming at their parents and one another. Children are running back and forth, while most of their parents stand still, and a few chase after them. Teenagers sit separated from everyone else staring and judging, but at least they are silent. She must be the only person under fifty and over fifteen who is not there with a gaggle of children. Moreover, it makes her supremely uncomfortable.

"I might not have kid, but I'm here to watch one play. That makes this not weird, right?" Tauriel mumbles to herself.

She starts to work her way through the children, but she looks over the crowd trying to spy the soccer pitches or spot Bard's dark hair. However, there are so many children and parents, and fathers with dark hair that she turns around to walk back to the bus stop – or maybe to the one a few streets over where it is quieter. 'This is too weird.'

Tauriel stops in the middle of the sidewalk though – causing many of the parents who are in a rush to get their children somewhere to look at her askance – when it occurs to her that it would be really rude to leave without saying anything to Bard, especially seeing as that it is not his fault that she will be unable to find him. When she glances up, however, she catches sight of Bard's dark hair, pushed back with sunglasses, accompanied by a curly haired boy that she can only assume is his son, Bain, walking away from her.

The pair is too far away for her to shout and with the mad crush of mothers and children; she cannot run to catch up with them without bowling over several children who are no taller than her thighs. She settles for keep them in sight and following them as best she can. This, however, makes her feel even more out of place than she did before. To turn around now, however, would be for all of her uncomfortable feelings to have happened in vain.

Tauriel follows them until the crowd breaks apart and she is given the chance to catch up with Bard and his son.

"Got everything?" Bard asks Bain, handing his son a water bottle.

Bain nods his head, curls bouncing.

Bard turns after his son walks away to join a group of boys of similar size all wearing green soccer jerseys and shorts. His grim face breaks into smile that transforms his face, and his hazel eyes sparkle brightly in the sunlight. He wears a t-shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals. His snug fitting t-shirt reveals far more muscular definition than a button down and suit jacket ever did. "You made it," Bard says smiling, moving in to give her a hug.

Tauriel intercepts his attempted hug by putting her hand forward to shake his hand. Bard's smile falters a little bit, but he shakes her hand warmly instead. "Are the bleachers okay? I have camp chairs in my car if you'd prefer those." Bard gestures over his shoulder in the direction of the car park.

Tauriel stuffs her hands in to the pockets of her shorts. "The bleachers are fine with me."

Tauriel follows Bard up the bleachers where they take a seat among the growing crowd. Bard stretches and leans back against the bleacher bench behind them and tilts his head back.

"It's a nice day."

Tauriel looks at him. "You want to talk about the weather?"

Bard turns and looks at her through the corner of his eye. "No. Just figured that it would be a good place to start."

"In that case then," Tauriel smiles, "It's dry."

Bard squints at the sky. "It's been too dry. I have to water my garden every night."

"At least you water yours. I should water mine, but I don't. All the plants are dead and brown."

Bard makes a tsking sound and shakes his head. "Those poor plants."

"They'd probably be dead anyways. Last summer the neighborhood kids took to ripping up all of the plants. At least that's what my neighbors told me. I have tried not to invest to much energy into a garden that I knew would be devastated."

"Kids," Bard rolls his eyes.

"Is Bain your only son then? Didn't you say that you had three? Are they older or younger" Tauriel asks, changing the subject.

"Bain's my oldest, he's seven. Tilda – Til – and Sigrid, my daughters, are younger. They're five and four. Between the three of them they get me to do the most foolish things."

"Foolish?"

"Aye." Bard turns to face her with a smile on his face. "Foolish."

"How foolish?" Tauriel asks, rising to meet the bait.

Bard smiles and pauses dramatically scratching his chin. He is relishing in the opportunity to share stories about his children with people who have never heard them before. "Well, quite foolish. Are you sure you want to hear them?"

"Yes!" Tauriel says louder than she intended. After all, of this baiting she knows she will feel cheated if she does not get to hear this story about Bard's 'foolish' behavior.

"Well," Bard runs his hand through his hair. "This one happened this past spring. The snow was just beginning to melt. Even so, there was muddy puddles and small piles of dirty snow filling our back garden. However, Bain wanted to pull out the soccer ball and start kicking it around. Even the girls wanted to be outside for that. Personally, I think they were going a bit stir crazy being cooped up inside all of last winter. Bain kicked the ball over the garden wall. I asked him what we were going to do now. He said the only thing to do would be to climb over the wall and get it. I asked him who was going to do that. I said that he was a bit short for climbing the wall, was I going to have to toss him over the wall. He said I should do it. I said now. But, then he started chanting 'Climb! Climb! Climb!' and the girls joined in."

Bard shrugs, "I was left with the only option of climbing over the wall. So, I did. It was a bit difficult going over, but that ended all right. I sort of," Bard makes a rolling gesture with his hands, "Off the wall and landed on my side. I tossed the ball back. I heard them cheering. It went to my head. This time when I climbed back, I stood on the top of the wall. The three of them cheered more. I jumped down. This time I did not land so smoothly. I twisted my ankle and it hurt like a bastard. But they were cheering, so I didn't let myself fall, nor did I go to A&E until the next day when my ankle was three times it's normal size," he holds his hands apart to demonstrate the size. "I had to wear a brace for weeks. The sad thing is. I would do it again. Their cheers was more than worth the pain of a sprained ankle."

Tauriel is laughing. Not just from the story but from the faces and hand gestures that Bard makes as he is telling the story. "That was foolish," she giggles. "Kids do crazy things and get others to do crazy things as well."

"Time for a story from you."

"What?" Tauriel says franticly searching her memory for a suitable funny story.

"I told you an embarrassing but funny story. I should get one in return."

"But I don't have any kids," Tauriel protests.

"Doesn't matter," Bard says, brushing her concern away. "Any funny story will work. It can be one from when you were a kid."

Tauriel looks at him and then gazes out of the pitch where a game has started – neither team is wearing Bain's green jersey – and thinks. "I have one, I suppose."

Bard laces his fingers together behind his head. "Let's hear it then."

"I convinced my cousin to break his arm."

"Oooohh," Bard makes an impressed noise. "This sounds like it will be a good one."

"Necessary information. I lived with my uncle and grew up with my cousin Legolas, he's a bit like a brother. His friends have and had a propensity for being a bit . . . idiotic."

Bard smiles, and nods for her to continue.

"I think it was the summer that we were ten. Him and his mate, Fíli, were being pesky brats. They wouldn't let me read in peace."

"I know that behavior. Bain does it to his sisters quite often," Bard interrupts.

"It is very annoying," Tauriel says before continuing. "I wanted to be alone so I climbed up on to the roof of my uncle's house. There was a perfect nook for reading or hiding. It was easy enough to get to and it was under an outcrop of roof as well. I'd hidden up there many times before. It only involved climbing a drainpipe from the gutters. Fili's younger brother, however, must have seen me and ran to inform Legolas and Fili about where I was, because I hadn't even been up there ten minutes when they started shouting for me from the ground.

"Legolas demanded to know how I got up there. I told him and pointed at the drainpipe. I told him that there was no way that he would be able to climb it because he was clumsy and tripped over everything in the house. His father would end up putting him in ballet to correct that. Legolas didn't stick with the ballet, but he became a lot less clumsy. I probably stuck my tongue out at them as well. Anyways, he started to climb followed closely by Fili. The drainpipe wasn't meant to support that much weight and it pulled away from the wall the a metallic screech. Which my uncle heard and came running outside just in time to witness the aftermath. I was sitting on the edge of the roof dangling my feet over the edge. Kíli was crying, Fíli was brushing himself off and trying to assure Kíli that he was okay. Worst of all was Legolas' arm, which had an extra bend.

"He ended up having to call for an ambulance and a firetruck because he couldn't figure out how to get me down. Moreover, he couldn't take Legolas to A&E if I was still sitting on the roof. At the time I remember thinking that, it was all a bit silly.

"The three of them were dolts, not that they've changed a whole lot."

"To be honest," Bard admits with a smile. "I probably would have done the same thing if I had been provoked."

"Well, maybe you would have been a better climber than the pair of them," Tauriel teases. "Needless to say, I was safe in my hiding spot for the rest of that summer.

x

Once the last game finishes, Bain's team having won two games and lost one game. The rest of the tournament will take place tomorrow. Bilbo and Frodo Bain climbs the bleachers, leaning obscenely to the side to compensate for his large equipment bag. He comes to a stop in front of his father. Bain's sweaty hair is pushed back. He stands eye to eye with his father.

"Yes, Bain?"

"I want ice cream," Bain says firmly.

"Oh, really?"

Bain nods his head sprinkling sweat on Bard – who flinches away – before answering verbally, "We won. I deserve ice cream."

"Oh, deserve is it now?" Bard chuckles. He stands up and slings Bain, equipment bag and all, over his shoulder.

Bard turns to Tauriel and extends his hand, "Will you be joining us, my lady?"

Tauriel smiles in amusement at his words and takes his hand. Bard pulls her to his feet and closer to him than was strictly required. The pair lock eyes for a moment – Tauriel can feel herself staring to blush – before they are interrupted by Bain shouting, 'to the car!'

There is an ice cream place just around the corner. It is crowded with other members of Bain's team along with a handful of other teams. Bain is bouncing up and down trying to figure out what sort of ice cream treat he wants.

Bard ignores his son's bouncing and turns to Tauriel to ask, "Do you want anything?"

Tauriel smiles. "I'm still deciding. I can't remember the last time I had ice cream that wasn't out of a tub."

"Cones are the best. Do you ever scoop the ice cream out and put it on a cone?" Bain asks, staring up at her, a serious expression on his young face.

Tauriel bends over and stage whisper conspiratorially, "I usually just eat it straight out of a tub with a spoon."

Bain's eyes go wide. "Really?"

Tauriel winks.

"It must be so much fun to be a grown up!" Bain turns to his father. "Can I eat ice cream out of the tub?"

Bard rolls his eyes. "Maybe when you're a grown up. For now, I don't want all of your cooties in my ice cream."

Before the conversation could continue the teenaged girl working the window says that she's ready to take their order. Tauriel starts to pull out her wallet to pay for her ice cream when their ice creams are being passed out. Bard stops her hand, "I've got it."

"But," Tauriel starts to protest as Bard presses her chocolate and vanilla twist cone into her hands.

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I asked a woman on a date and she paid for her own food?" Bard raises his eyebrows, "Right, Bain?"

"A bad one!" Bain pipes in after licking chocolate ice cream from his lips.

"Exactly!" Bard agrees with a smile.

Bain points at Bard's cone, "You're losing some ice cream."

"Oh!" Bard starts and twists the cone so that he can catch the stream of strawberry ice cream laden with brightly colored sprinkles on his tongue.

Tauriel blushes as he lick up the ice cream. "Your ice cream looks like candy vomit," she says as dryly as possible.

Bain snorts as he giggles.

Bard, however, looks offended except for the crinkle at the corner of his eyes. "I don't insult your ice cream," he says seriously.

Tauriel smiles.

They sit quietly as they finish their ice cream. Bard pulls his keys out and spins them around his finger. "Do you need a ride home?"

"Actually, I'd like to walk home," Tauriel says with a small smile.

"Alright." Bard stands up and reaches for her hand to help her to her feet. This time when he pulls her in to a hug, she lets him. Her sense are filled with the smell of sunlight, light sweat, and pine trees. She brings her hands up to rest on his side. Bard squeezes her and then the hug is over.

"I'll see you Monday then," Bard says.

"Yeah, Monday," Tauriel agrees before turning and walking in the direction of her house.