Author's note: Thank you so much IrishMaid! You pointed a typo out for me that I hadn't caught. Jenna is the main character in another story I'm writing called Reprogramming (Avengers). So thanks for pointing it out for me! Also thanks for comparing my work to Nicholas Sparks, I love his books. So being compared to him made my day! And credit for the song also goes to you!

The world is coming down on me and I can't find a reason to be loved
I never wanna leave you but I can't make you bleed if I'm alone
You put your arms around me
And I believe that it's easier for you to let me go...

-Arms, Christina Perri

It took all of Renee's effort to not get dragged to the cafe by the Spaniard after shift last night and again today. She had just gotten home and changed into jeans and a shirt, ready to get a few things from the grocer's. She was beginning to feel the affects from doing a night shift and a morning shift back to back, with little sleep. She yawned as she made her way to the kitchen, prepared to pour herself some coffee in her to-go mug. She was ready to make an early dinner and go to bed early as well, tomorrow was going to be another early day.

She poured some coffee into her blue to-go cup and screwed on the lid. With another yawn she shuffled through her house to the front door, debating on whether it was really worth going to the grocer's today...then again if she didn't go now, she wouldn't go until she was completely out of food. With a sigh, she placed her mug down for a moment and slipped on her pink rain boots and matching jacket. Grabbing her brown messenger bag, she slipped it over her head, next her keys and mug. "Let's go shopping!"

*~time skip~*

Renee found herself carrying two bags, one slightly smaller than the other one. She had crossed by a bakery on her way back from the grocer's and smelled the fresh breads, she couldn't resist. Now she a couple breads and was ready to toast some up to go with dinner. She smiled to herself, she would have a feast fit for a king...well queen in her case. She stopped momentarily as a few people crossed her path, coming out of a shop laughing. She glanced at them, then into where they just came from, nearly dropping her bags at the sight before her. She never realized how close Arthur's cafe was to home. Simplicity. It even sounded like the Englishman. It seemed like those had been the last of his customers, she debated for a moment before something compelled her to go in. She managed to maneuver the door open with her brown bags still in hand, the bell ringing upon her entrance.

"Welcome to Simplicity Cafe. What can I get you...", Arthur's voice trailed off when he saw a smiling pink blob before him. At least he would always be able to find her in a crowd.

"Hey", Renee smiled at him, yesterday's awkwardness gone.

"Hey...what are you doing here?" Arthur asked while eying the brown bags in her arms.

"Oh, I stopped by the grocer's to get some food since I'm almost out. This should help me last until my next day off, when I actually have time to do major grocery shopping. Anyways I saw you in here and thought I'd check out your cafe", she smiled. Her face was slowly becoming hot, she really didn't have a good reason for coming in here. In fact she didn't even know why she came in here, but she kept smiling at him anyways.

"Oh, I see. Well this is it, it isn't much. It's pretty simple, but people seem to like it", he smiled to himself as he looked around. Delicate wood chairs stood around matching tables, the wood smooth and soft looking. The walls a dark blue, hanging on them were black and white pictures and the clock that his mother had given him.

"Simplicity", she whispered to herself, then louder said, "This place is very like you. I can see why people like it, it's like an escape from the chaotic world outside." Her eyes becoming distant, her mind floating away slightly. What she would give to have a place like this, to escape to when the world was trying to beat her down. Then and now. How she would give to be like Arthur, to relish in the simple things. The ringing of her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked for a moment confused, before looking down at her bag, where the ringing was coming from. She shifted the bags in her arms, but didn't make to answer the phone.

"You're not going to answer that?" Arthur asked with an eyebrow raised. Her face remained blank as she stared at him.

"Nope, not planning on it", she shrugged her shoulders. Soon the ringing stopped, no doubt going to voice mail. She had a feeling about who it was, the man was to stubborn to give up. She had a feeling she was going to have to go on at least one date with him to make him quit. "Well, I ought to be heading back now, I have milk and whipping cream that belong in the fridge. And food that needs cooking. I'll see you later Arthur", Renee smiled at him and turned around to leave. She turned her back to the door so she could push it open, still leaving Arthur to puzzle on how she managed to get it open to get inside with her arms full.

"Renee!" he called out stopping her. He froze momentarily, what was he doing? "When's your next day off?" He felt like an idiot, like she would want to do anything with him, plus she was going to be busy with shopping. She wouldn't want to do anything with him after that. Heck even he wouldn't want to do anything with himself after that.

"Oh...Wednesday and Saturdays are my usual days off unless I switch with someone", Renee smiled at him. Her heart beating fast in her chest, hoping that he would ask her finally.

"Oh, okay", he said awkwardly before she nodded and left. Her heart sinking in her chest as Arthur silently cursed himself. "Stupid, stupid man. That was your chance...if you even had one to begin with", he mumbled to himself. He watched her walk off, until he could no longer see her. He sighed and began to busy himself with wiping off the tables that had been occupied not to long before.

He checked the clock on the wall, if someone didn't come in, in about another thirty minutes then he would close up an hour early. Right as he thought that, the bell rang, causing him to turn around to meet his customer. Perfectly slicked back blond hair and annoyed looking blue eyes. "Welcome to Simplicity Cafe, what can I get you?" the custom greeting slipped out comfortably as Arthur smiled.

The blond grunted in response while looking at the chalkboard menu for a moment, "A large black coffee, to go", the man spoke in a thick accent, while pinching the bridge of his nose. His phone suddenly began to go off causing him to groan, the blue eyes man handed over a couple of bills and dropped the change in a jar by the register before answering his phone.

"Hallo? Bruder?" his thick accent gruff. "Ja, ja, I will be on the plane heading to America tomorrow...Gilbert...ja. Ja", a sigh escaped the man's lips. Arthur raised his eyebrow while glancing up from the coffee he was making. It sounded like the man was speaking German? "Bruder, I will be there in a couple days! Now shut up and calm down", with that the blue eyed man hung up his phone.

"Family troubles?" Arthur asked while popping the lid on to the cup. The man groaned in response.

"More of my bruder than family. His girlfriend, Renee, left him a few months ago, he is a mess. I am going to try to get him to get his act together. Gilbert, dummkopf", the man mumbled to himself before taking his coffee with a nod and leaving.

Arthur was left there, wheels turning in his head. Gilbert. Gil... Gil equals Gilbert. Renee's talked about a Gil, could it be the same? No it was just coincidence, there were millions of other people with the same names, so there was bound to be more couples that had the names Renee and Gilbert. Right?

*~time skip~*

Renee had just gotten the dishes from dinner washed when her phone went off, causing her to groan. She had finally set a different ring tone for Toni so that she would know if it was him, and it was now going off. She knew she couldn't keep ignoring him, especially since she would be working with him again tomorrow. She dried her hands quickly and answered her phone. "Hello?" it took all her effort to not groan.

"Hey chika. I was wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner?" his voice was chirpy as always. She was mentally relieved when he asked for dinner, she had an honest to God excuse now.

"Actually I just got done eating, I fixed myself an early dinner. Sorry", Renee said softly, honestly she was glad to have a way out. She heard a sad "oh" on the other side of the line.

"Well...oh I could bring by desert and movie to your place then", she mentally groaned. Was there no way out of this? /she couldn't help but to let out a sigh.

"I don't know Toni, my house is a mess right now and I'm extremely tired. We both have the early shift tomorrow. How about we go out to eat after work tomorrow instead...after I have the chance to change", Renee was ready to hang up.

"Okay! It's a date then, see you tomorrow chika!" with that Toni hung, allowing Renee to let out a loud groan. She trudged into her living room and collapsed face first into the couch. She was physically and mentally drained at this point, she wanted to crawl in her bed, fall asleep and not wake up in the morning. She groaned into the pillow, sleep, she just needed sleep. Then she would be able to handle Toni tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow she would be going on a date. A date that would be with Toni and not Arthur, who she had been hoping would have asked her on their first date. A first date. It was the first date since Gilbert. Since Gilbert... Her high school sweet heart, the man she first fell in love with. The man she had been planning to spend the rest of her life with. The person she trusted and now was the main star in her nightmares. The tears started flowing without her permission. She didn't know if she could do this all of a sudden. She didn't think she was ready to move on. She was to broken, how could anyone love a broken woman?

The tears ran freely now, her shoulder shaking as she began to sob. She had been trying so hard not to cry, to not be weak, but now she felt the world shattering around her. Soon the world around her became black.

She woke up around 10, her body still tired and her eyes slightly irritated. She sat up and looked around for a moment, confused on why she was waking up on her couch. She stood up slowly and stretched, letting out a yawn. She went into her kitchen, finding her coffee pot still on and what looked like a cups worth of dark liquid in it. She turned the machine off as she pulled out a mug, and poured the dark liquid into the cup. She took a sip and grimaced, it had been on for a little to long, but she would drink it. She decided she would drink her coffee on her front steps, maybe the fresh air would be good for her.

She took a deep breath as she took a step out of the house. The air was cool and felt good on her skin. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath, then letting out a content sigh. A small smile crept up onto her face. "Well that's a sight for sore eyes", the voice caused her eyes to shoot open. Arthur was standing on his side, a cup in his hands and a smirk on his face.