"Yo, what's up with that black car?" Zell asked, perched on a stool behind the register. "That's like, the third time it's gone by in the last ten minutes. Think it's Almasy?"

"I wouldn't be surprised," Quistis replied, reaching around him to pull a planner out from a compartment beneath the counter. "We have outlasted his three-month prediction, after all."

"Man, what's his problem? We're just a little bakery. I'll bet they've got about five or six bakeries inside Hyperion."

"It's not about what we are, it's about who we attract."

"Huh?"

"I hate to admit it, but I think I understand where Seifer is coming from, at least in a business sense. Think of Hyperion as a closed ecosystem: it's a massive resort that relies on internal business to recoup the costs of operation, not to mention, pay the wages of its entire staff. Qake will never challenge it directly, in terms of capital. However, our recent uptick in popularity draws in curious tourists, more and more of them from the Hyperion. They stop in for a cupcake, wander the town for a bit, and discover that they can get many of the same products and services – and even some of better quality – for far less than what they are paying at Hyperion. Every gil spent in Dollet is a net loss for the resort, and, over time, it can add up."

"So? That's business."

"Indeed. And business can be ruthless." Quistis flipped to the October pages in the planner and began looking over penciled-in orders.

Zell chuckled mischievously. "Hey, how about we start advertising for the Hotel Dollet here? That'll really tick 'im off."

"I can't lie, that is very tempting. But Seifer might take it as a direct challenge, and I'm not sure Qake could survive whatever he might do in retaliation."

"Seifer's just a royal pain in the – hey, how you doin'? Welcome back to Qake!" Zell immediately shifted into customer-service mode at the sound of the bell on the door. While he chatted with a regular customer, Quistis jotted down a list of ingredients, decorations, and hours of labor needed to fill an order due the following weekend.

The exposure gained from Selphie's parties had translated into a significant increase in business for Qake. Quistis now had more regular customers than ever before, and most weekends, she had at least one special order to fulfill. For the first time since opening the bakery, Quistis had to work with customers to schedule orders based on availability of time, labor, and supplies. She'd even had to decline an order the week before on such grounds, but offered the customer a discount on a future order in compensation and appreciation.

In the midst of this, Selphie continued to host party after party, each of varying sizes and themes, and each featuring a creation from Qake. Quistis had hoped that Selphie's relatively tame birthday order would represent a shift toward more subdued requests, but this was far from the case. In fact, Selphie's requests seemed to be getting progressively more outlandish, from an octopus built from a large round cake and seventy-two cupcakes, to the massive Snow Lion she presented to a troop of Snowflake Scouts visiting from Trabia. When Qake had few orders, Quistis gladly took on such challenges, but now that business had picked up, Selphie's wild imagination was beginning to overtax Quistis' resources.

She'd hired a part-time employee, an older woman named Darla, whose sole duty it was to help decorate and transport the special requests. Quistis wouldn't mind having extra help around the bakery on a daily basis, as well, but, as healthy as her finances had become, she was still unsure whether she could afford another full-time salary and the associated costs of bringing another employee on-board.

As a business, Qake was teetering on a delicate edge, no longer struggling, but not yet successful. In an effort to at least maintain this position, Quistis was mindful of every gil spent, every order fulfilled, every small detail of her daily offerings. Financial health had not brought her the peace of mind she believed it would; rather, it made her nervous, fearful that she'd make a single wrong move and slide back into relative obscurity and debt. The kitchen, especially in her early-morning solitude, was no longer her haven from the rest of the world, but instead, a war room. She chose or discarded recipes based on which might be most profitable, she dreamt up advertising campaigns to reach an ever-wider audience, and she kept a watchful eye on the demographics listed in the Dollet Visitor Bureau's monthly report.

All of her work was paying off. Qake was doing well, better than it ever had.

So why did Quistis feel like she was drowning?

•o•o•o•o•o•o•

"Why is there no pumpkin?" Rinoa placed her hands on her hips and gave Quistis a level stare. Beside her, Selphie did the same. "Don't you know that pumpkin is the fall flavor? Everyone has something pumpkin-themed right now!"

"Which is exactly why I don't," Quistis said. "Like you said, you can find pumpkin anywhere, but few places carry pear cakes with chocolate drizzle, or brown-butter pecan cupcakes with maple buttercream." She smiled and pointed to the items in the display case.

"You just have to swim against the current, don't you?"

"It's second nature. I've been doing it my whole life, and I don't think I can live any other way. So, would you like anything from here today, or would you rather patronize a pumpkin-positive establishment for the season?"

Rinoa frowned. "Cranky, today, aren't we?" she muttered, but investigated the display case nonetheless, while Selphie perused the menu.

"Not cranky, just tired. We have two large orders due on Saturday, one in the morning, the other in the evening, and we've been working on the decorations for each. Emmy has been out sick for two days, so even with Darla's help, I'm still transitioning from decorating to baking to running the shop, and back again. I've been alternating duties with Zell, but it's exhausting."

"So," ventured Selphie, a finger on her chin, "I'm guessing this wouldn't be a good time to show you my new design, huh?"

"Probably not. But I can start taking the details of your order now." Quistis pulled out her planner. "When do you want it, and for how many?"

"This one will be for about 300 –"

"How do you know so many people?"

"I don't. Not personally, anyway. This event is gonna be an afterparty for members of the Chocobo Trust. I helped set up a local chapter, and we're having a conference at the Hotel Dollet next weekend! There'll be tons of other members, some really great speakers, and a whole mess of –"

"When would you like the order?"

"A week from Saturday."

Quistis looked at an order for a birthday cake for the same day and sighed. "It seems I'll need to see your design, after all."

"Great! I've got it with me." Selphie dug around her purse and pulled out a tiny square of paper. She unfolded it multiple times, until Quistis found herself staring at five large sheet cakes laid side-by-side, each one with its own decorative theme, all tied together by a continuous winding path traversed by several chocobos.

"Pretty neat, huh?" Selphie asked. "Each cake represents an area where wild chocobos live. See, there's the forests of Centra; southern Galbadia, near Winhill; Timber; Trabia; and a special place known as the Chocobo Sanctuary, deep in the Grandidi Forest of Esthar. I think the Chocobo Trust's gonna love it! Hey, maybe you can run a promotion for them, someday."

"One thing at a time, Selphie. This is a very labor-intensive design, and I've already got a special order to fulfill that afternoon. Would you consider alterations to your design?"

"Ehhh, I'd really like to keep it the way it is, if that's at all possible. This is for an organization that's very special to me. I'd like to show them as much love as I can."

"Okay. In that case, can I ask what time you need the cake delivered?"

"Oh, that's not until late! After the conference, there's a cocktail hour, and then dinner, followed by a keynote speaker. We won't get around to the afterparty until way later, like ten or eleven."

Quistis relaxed. The late delivery would allow her more time to finish Selphie's order after the other order had been finished. She nodded and wrote Selphie's name in the planner. "That will work out fine, then. Will you be hosting the party at your villa?"

"Nope. The ballroom at the hotel."

"Even better." Quistis looked up at the sound of rhythmic tapping, and saw Rinoa repeatedly pointing to her cupcake of choice.

"This Berry Spice cupcake looks really good," Rinoa said. "And the chocolate butterfly on top is adorable! Come on, Selphie, don't you want anything?"

Selphie slid her design across the counter, then skipped to the display case. Quistis boxed up Rinoa's cupcake, and cast an apprehensive glance at the rambling, colorful sketch.

•o•o•o•o•o•o•

Quistis closed out the register while Zell painted details on a row of half-timbered houses for the Winhill portion of Selphie's design. He frowned in concentration with each brushstroke, then sat back and admired his work with a little grin. Emmy and Darla returned from delivering the birthday cake, laughing and talking with one another.

"Your Moogle cake was a hit!" Darla told Quistis, washing her hands and preparing to work on Selphie's order. "The little boy was so excited to see it."

"Oh, and the pompom," Emmy piped up.

"Yes, the pompom! You should've seen the boy's face when he realized the main cake didn't have it –"

"And he just lit right up when we brought it out. He even wanted to put it on, himself!"

"We didn't let him, of course. But I think seeing that pompom go on was the highlight of the boy's afternoon."

Quistis smiled. "It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?"

"Oh, definitely! You must be so proud, being able to deliver such happiness."

"It's not just me. Each of us has a hand in every creation we deliver, so we all should share in the feeling." She cleaned up and joined Zell at the table. "And speaking of creations, we need to get this one finished. Let's go!"

Presented together, the cakes gave a fun and playful impression that extended to Quistis' employees, whom she could not dissuade from engaging in a bit of light chocobo jousting, using wooden skewers and being very careful to not damage the fondant birds. By seven o'clock, the cakes were finished and carefully put away, and the chocobos were boxed for transport. Emmy helped with the cleaning before saying goodnight, and the remaining members of Qake took the chance to rest before the final task of their day.

They put the finishing touches on the cakes in the kitchen of the Hotel Dollet, and, at a quarter past ten, Selphie traipsed in to greet them.

"Oh my gosh, Quisty, I am so sorry that I didn't meet you guys when you got here," she said. "It's just been so hectic out there, and so productive! We've raised so much money for the Chocobo Trust already, and learned so many new things! Did you know that they've been able to discover the chocobos' social hierarchy by tracking the tagged ones? Apparently, the females live together and raise the young while the males wander alone, and – super-double-sugar-cubes, that cake looks amazing!"

"Thank you," Quistis said, then glanced at Darla and laughed. "This is Selphie Tilmitt," she told her. "She's always like this."

"You must be Quisty's new employee. Pleased to meet you!" Selphie shook Darla's hand, then turned back to Quistis. "Anyway, the keynote speaker just finished up – Dr. Heatherton, you should meet him. He's an older guy, but a dandy one! – and they're having a short Q and A session right now. After that, we'll present the cakes. I'll keep an eye on things out there, and let you know when it's time. Thank you so much, Quisty! I know the Chocobo Trust will love the way these turned out, 'cause I sure do!"

A stillness descended in Selphie's wake. "You say she's always like this?" Darla said, still looking toward the door Selphie exited through.

"Yup," Zell replied. He leaned against a counter. "And you should see her when she's describing an order to Quistis. That lady's got a few screws loose."

"Well, maybe one or two," Quistis admitted. "But she is a genuinely nice person, if a bit hyperactive and naïve, and a loyal customer of Qake."

"You forgot rich."

"Yes, that too. Her orders are extravagant, but they've helped the bakery tremendously."

"And they keep getting more extravagant. Quistis, when are you gonna tell her to tone it down? We've got plenty of business now; you don't have to cater to her every whim."

Quistis inspected the fondant forest of Centra. "I know that, but I like to try, out of appreciation." Out of indebtedness. The thought flashed through her mind, the shameful kernel of truth at the core of her relationship with Selphie. She shook it away and continued examining the cake for any need of last-minute fixes.

"Fine. But what happens when you can't, anymore?"

"I'll deal with that when the time comes. For now, let's enjoy our successes."

The silence in the kitchen grew heavy, and was broken only when Selphie poked her head through the door and motioned for them to bring out the cake. Selphie had acquired a microphone, and as Quistis and her associates wheeled the cake out to a table where the hotel kitchen staff waited to cut and serve it, Selphie described it in detail, much as she had the cake at her debut. She introduced the Qake staff to a round of applause, and, with a hearty "Booyaka!", encouraged everyone to get a slice.

Zell and Darla returned to the kitchen, and, after one final look at the cake her bakery had worked so hard on, Quistis was about to do the same, when Selphie grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Where do you think you're going?" she whispered.

"Home," Quistis answered. "The hotel staff will take care of service."

"What? No, you can't! You're the star of this segment."

"I'm exhausted."

"Pssh. An excuse."

"Selphie, I've been up for more than twenty hours. I completed two orders today in addition to my normal menu, I ran the store as I would on a regular day, and I don't have any energy to spare."

"Aww, come on, just for a little while. It'll be a good promotion for your shop."

"I've left business cards on the table."

"That's not good enough! Everybody picks up business cards and then forgets about them. I could wallpaper a room with the ones I have whose names I don't recognize anymore." Selphie shook her head. "No, you're a local celebrity now. You've gotta connect with your potential clients – chat a little, press the flesh."

Quistis grabbed Selphie's wrist and removed it from her arm. "I'd wager that was all the flesh-pressing I need to do. Goodnight, Selph –"

"Excuse me, Ms. Tilmitt?" A man approached them and Selphie turned to face him. "You are the head of the Dollet chapter of the Chocobo Trust, correct?"

"That's right!" Selphie smiled, and grabbed Quistis' wrist again as she tried to slink away. Not wanting to cause a fuss in front of a stranger, Quistis relented.

"I'd like to commend you," the man went on, "and the rest of your chapter, for putting together this conference. It's very efficiently run and accessible, and the content you've curated perfectly demonstrates the spirit of the organization. Furthermore –" he held up a fondant chocobo "—you've included some very fun touches. That's a clever way to introduce the organization to the general public."

"Thank you very much, Dr. Heatherton," Selphie said, "but I didn't do it all alone. My fellow chapter members helped with reserving the spaces and booking the speakers, and that fun cake comes from a local bakery. And I've got the baker right here! Quistis Trepe, owner of Qake. Quistis, this is Dr. Heatherton, an acclaimed ornithologist and our keynote speaker!"

Dr. Heatherton turned toward Quistis and extended his hand. "How do you do?"

"Fine, thank you," Quistis replied, smiling and shaking his hand. Dr. Heatherton was not exactly "dandy;" quite the opposite, in fact, possessing a certain ruggedness that Quistis assumed came from working in the elements to gather data for his studies. "Selphie has told me about your work, and how much she admires it."

"Let me assure you, Ms. Trepe, that I don't do my work for admiration. I do it to learn more about this highly visible but persistently enigmatic species, and to educate others on the preservation of chocobos and the environments they call home."

"A noble pursuit. And I would love to learn more about it, Dr. Heatherton, but unfortunately, you will have to excuse me. My associates are waiting for me in the kitchen, and I have a few closing duties to attend to at the bakery. It was a pleasure to meet you." She nodded at him, then made her escape as he turned his attention back to Selphie.

"What took you so long?" Zell asked, already at the door.

"Selphie," she answered, pushing open the door and letting the cool autumn air stave off her tiredness for a while longer. "Thankfully, Dr. Heatherton had her attention, so I was able to slip away. It's a bit of a shame, though, because I really was curious to hear some facts about chocobos."

"I'm sure you'll get another chance. I doubt this is Selphie's last party for the Chocobo Trust." Zell gave a dry laugh. "Wonder what she'll want for the next one. It's scary to even think about it!"

"Whatever it is, we can handle it," Quistis said, but as exhaustion crept into her muscles, she began to doubt her own words.

Perhaps Zell was right. Maybe it was time to tell Selphie to tone down her requests. Quistis needed to work in the best interests of Qake, and of her own well-being. If she presented it in those terms, she was sure Selphie would understand.

Selphie would have to understand.