It was a gray, rainy morning when a man walked the streets with his dog. Everything was still calm before the hustle and bustle of rush hour traffic started. The gray-haired man actually enjoyed this silence very much. If only it weren't for this annoying constant rain!

Karl turned into the street and stepped in front of a small coffee shop that was located in the middle of other shops and apartments.

"MIRANDA'S COFFEESHOP" could be seen in a chic italic font above it. He took his key and unlocked the front door to enter with the dog.

The interior was decorated in green and brown tones. A little on the cozy rustic side but different metal accents made it look modern.

"Sturm sit!" He ordered the dog after it padded in. He really didn't need the dog to shake himself out and pour rainwater all over the place.

The mastiff also flopped with his buttocks down to the floor and looked at his master invitingly. Karl locked the door again behind him. He didn't need early customers who think that just because the door is open he would serve them. He had only made the mistake once.

A whimper tore him from his thoughts. "Yes wait." He murmured to the impatient dog. He quickly went to the back where he took off his jacket and hat. Took some old towels and came back to the dog to rub him dry and clean his paws.

The big dog shook himself in the end anyway, but at least it wasn't as bad as if he had been soaking wet.

Karl threw the towels back into the back room in the basket with dirty laundry and got a soft dog pillow from the room which he always left there for the mastiff. He placed it in the visitor room next to the counter where it would not be in the way.

Sturm also immediately set off to go to these and let himself fall on them. "Lazy sock" complained of its owner, which only made the dog smile like a typical dog where the tongue dangled to the side.

Karl then went back to the back to put on his dark green work apron. Came back to the front and turned on the music system first.

"Bach? ... seriously, Alcina ?!" He grumbled as a classic song 'Air' started right away. He quickly switched the playlists to more modern rock. "Better."

That was the good thing about this café. Due to the neutral room, there was a lot open to tastes. Or rather, each of the four siblings could have their own influence on their shift.

Now with musical assistance, he went through the morning routine of a barista. Clean coffee machines, refill beans, make your own coffee (simply black), prepare and display with Moreau's prepared baking pieces. Drink coffee, clean the guest room, keep drinking coffee.

He was very fond of the morning shift. When everything slowly woke up.

After he was done with the preparations he took his sandwich which he had got from the bakery down the street.

A quick look at the clock (5:30 a.m.) and he was satisfied that he still had more than enough time.

He filled Sturm's bowl with some dry food and sat down at the table with his second coffee to have breakfast himself. Half an hour before the store opens. More than enough time. A knock tore him out, however, and he looked at the door where a young, wanna-be strong guy was standing who probably wanted to get in.

Karl just looked at him deadpanned, however. Couldn't he read?

The youth made as if to want to go in. "We're closed jerk! Come back later!" He moaned.

The boy snorted angrily but luckily withdrew.

Karl turned back to his food. He only had to be friendly to the guests in 15 minutes.

The rest of the morning went rather calmly after the store opened.

Here and there a worker who was looking for his daily coffee-fix but was not looking for anything significantly stressful. It was always like that on rainy days.

Around noon he sat down again in the corner where there was a small table next to Sturm's place. The dog was soundly asleep and was enjoying the quiet morning. Karl took out his cellphone to watch a little a Netflix series. What should you be doing great when just no customers came? Rainy days were sometimes boring and somehow you had to pass the time. There was only 'SO' much that could be cleaned. An hour before the end of the shift, however, the phone rang. He let it ring two ... three times. "Fuck! Whenever it gets exciting." He said calmly and paused the video. He went to the annoying ringing and picked up the phone.

"Miranda's coffee shop, Heisenberg on the line, hello?" He spoke the established routine. "Karl it's me." The soft voice of Donna came to his ears right away. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked calmly. If he was already standing he could also take a smoking break too. Without further ado, he took his cigarettes and lighter and went out the back door. He left this open to hear whether a customer might come in after all. At least it just took a break with the tap in the sky, so it dosn't rain anymore.

He put the phone between his shoulder and his ear to light one of the glow sticks. Drew in the smoke deeply.

"So far, yes. But I won't make it to the shift on time. Can you wait a little longer? An hour ... at most two. This storm! Here a huge tree fell right in my driveway and is blocking the entire street." She explained desperately.

Karl smoked quietly while listening to her. "No, I don't mind." He calmed her down. "Hehe gets away with living in the ass in the world." He teased her.

"It's my dream house ok?! And yes, I'm fine! Thanks for asking," she argued.

"yeah yeah," he looked a little at the gray sky. "You know what? It's best to turn around and take care of your house and everything first. I'll take over your shift."

"Really? Isn't that too much?" She asked worried. "Everything's fine. Nobody's here anyway and the day is calm. I'll handle that."

"Are you sure?" She raked again.

"It makes no difference to me whether I sit around at home or here. Besides, I can make good use of the overtime." He protested and took another drag on the cigarette.

"You are the best Karl! I owe you." She said calmly.

In the shop he could hear the little doorbell ringing.

"I have to hang up. A soul actually dared to come into the store." "Yes alright. Thanks again. Call me if something should happen." They ended the call. He drew one last time on the cigarette before throwing it on the ground and put it out with his boot. "Coming!" He called in and soon went into the sales room.

"Look Daddy! A dog!" A little girl's voice called out in delight. Sturm looked up at her and wagged his tail, but made no move to get up.

Karl came behind the counter. "Hello!" He greeted the father and child.

The little one was wearing a pink rain cape with matching rain boots. She excitedly pulled on her father's jacket. "Yes, Rose. I saw the dog." He said calmly to the girl.

"His name is Sturm. You are welcome to pet him if you want." Said the gray-haired one to the little one, who immediately began to light up her eyes. But as good as she was apparently she first looked up at her father. "May I dad? Please! Can I?" She begged him.

"Don't worry. He loves children and they can literally do anything with him." Karl reassured the worried-looking father. He understood the concern. A mastiff was a big dog with a big drooling mouth.

"Yes, well." The young man then calmly allowed. "But be careful." He still warned her. The girl was happy and went to the big dog. "Hello!" She greeted him and held out a hand. Sturm took this as an invitation and put his big paw in his little hand. Rose squealed with delight and then began to stroke him.

Karl and his counterpart looked at the spectacle with a smile.

"So ..." Karl started then. "What would you like to order?"

"Oh .. um. A coffee latte for me and a hot chocolate for the little one. "He started before looking at the counter with the delicacies. It all looked pretty good. "Rosie, do you want a muffin?" He then asked his daughter who was now busy holding the dog's floppy ears up and flopping them down again and again. "Rosie." He called her again to get her attention. She looked up. When he asked her again, she nodded curtly and then took care of the fur monster again.

Karl waited patiently. He was very fond of children and the little one was pretty cute. "Then a chocolate and a blueberry muffin." The blonde finished his order. "Sure thing," said Karl. Was happy when his counterpart ordered it to be eaten here. "Have a seat, I'll bring it to you then." Karl said and started preparing the drinks. Even if he didn't always bother to do so, he even conjured up small pictures in the drinks, quite worthy of a barista.

He put them on a tray and two small plates with the desserts. Calmly brought this to his customers. "Here, there you go." He put everything down and looked at the young man. He seemed tired and exhausted with life. "Rosie" he said to the girl who had meanwhile climbed onto the pillow and was hugging Sturm with full body effort. He wagged his tail wildly and was visibly happy about so much attention. "Leave the dog alone and come and eat something first." His father asked. Rose pouted a little at first, but then came up to her father and sat down at the table. "Oh wow!" She said enthusiastically when she looked into her cup and found a small foamy cat. "Daddy look!" She exclaimed excitedly, which made the father smile. "Great yes?" He asked and she nodded. "But eat something first, okay?" But she was quite distracted, then looked up at Karl. "How did you do that?!" she asked curiously. "That's a secret," said Karl and winked at her. "But maybe if you are nice and eat everything up, I'll show you."

She nodded eagerly and went to pick the chocolate muffin apart so that she could eat it better.

The young father looked up at him gratefully.

"Do you have something against it if I sit down with you?" Asked Karl. After all, the two were the first reasonable company he had today. The blonde pointed to the vacant chair that was still at the table. Karl took his cup from the other table and sat down with them. "So ... what are two of you doing out here on such a disgusting rainy day?" He asked.

"I just picked the little girl from her mother." "Oh .. Doesn't sound really enthusiastic." "It's just ... a little difficult between us." Why did he just confide in such a total stranger? Ethan didn't know himself. Maybe it was the man's charisma? His good looks? Or the way he dealt with Rose?

He shook his head briefly to get it free again.

"I'm sorry to hear" the barista said calmly.

Rose had devoured the muffin and was now drinking some of the hot chocolate. She looked at the strange man who was probably the most interesting thing in her little life. After all, he had a dog! Soon, the tattoos that he wore on his arms began to interested her. "Why do you have gears there?" She asked bluntly.

It looked like his skin was torn open in different places and underneath were metal plates and gears of different sizes and gray and copper colors. "It's just like that little lady. Because I'm a metal man. "

Her eyes widened and she continued to look at him. "Is that why you have gray hair? You don't look like a grandpa yet. "" Rose! "Ethan tried to reprimand. But Karl just laughed. "Yes, exactly because of that." He said and looked at the blonde. "Ah.. It's fine. I like her! A lot more people should be open like that! "He said with a laugh.

Ethan blushed a little and tried to cover up that he was drinking his coffee.

When the two finished their meal, Rose went back to Sturm to shower them a little more with love.

"I think Sturm will mourn her when she leaves. You have a wonderful girl there. "

Ethan looked at her. "Thank you." He said calmly and took another sip. "The coffee is really great." He then praised the barista. "Own roast!" Reports Karl proud. "really? In the little shop? "Ethan asked in surprise. Karl nodded again. "Yes, down in the basement," he said calmly. "You rarely get that in most coffee shops, there is only this pre-packaged crap that everyone can get themselves in the shop."

Karl was happy to have found a real coffee lover. At least they still appreciated the work! "The muffins, or rather the sweets in general, in the display are also baked ourself!" "Really?! You baked everything yourself? "" Me? oh no! "Said Karl laughing. "I'm only good at making coffee and warming things up! My brother and my sisters usually take care of this stuff. I only bake the stuff finesh if necessary and then only with strict instructions that are wrote down. "He explained calmly.

"So, It's a family business?" Ethan asked with interest. Karl took a sip of his own drink and nodded. "Then one of your sisters is Miranda?"

"Oh no! No ... that was our mother. She founded the shop and at some point left it to us. "He murmured.

Ethan finished his coffee and understood. "Well Mr. ..." he looked at the apron where Karl's last name was embroidered in noble writing. "Mr. Heisenberg ... Thank you very much for the coffee and the delicious muffin."

"Oh, just call me Karl." He said the gray-haired one and then got up with Ethan.

"Ethan." The blonde introduced himself and held out his hand.

Karl grabbed it immediately and shook it briefly. It was like a spark jumped between them.

Ethan came to the counter with Karl to pay. "I also have to thank you for taking some of my boredom here." Ethan smiled pleasantly. "Come on Rosie, let the dog rest now, we have to go."

Rosie said goodbye to the dog with a big hug and then went to her papa.

"But you haven't even shown me how you do that with the cat!" Protested the little one.

"Next time, little lady, yes?"

She looked at her father like, 'Are we coming back here soon? …Soon?!'

Ethan nodded. "I am sure. "

He then took Rose's hand, she waved her free hand to Karl, who returned the gesture. So the two went home.

Karl looked after him. The guy was really cute. And the little one is just as sweet. Too bad. Maybe he should have given him his number. After all, things didn't seem to go as well as they sounded with his girlfriend? wife?

He shook his head. And looked at Sturm. "What are you looking at? The little one has rummaged through you more than enough? "

Sturm barked briefly and then made himself comfortable on the pillow again.

Karl put the dishes away and thought about this Ethan for a long time.

Karl had the next few days off before he came to the late shift. Moreau was in the shop when Karl entered with Sturm.

As usual, he took out Sturm's pillow where the old dog placed himself on it.

"Hey Sal. What's new?" He then asked while he was getting ready for duty in the next room.

"Hello Karl." This answered. He served a customer to the end and then stepped over to him to better speak to the bigger one. "Not really, just a normal day." He said calmly while he then swapped places with Karl.

Salvatore then took out ingredients to bake new cakes and other goodies.

"Oh there was a young father here with his daughter. Hehe. The little one was heartbroken when she saw that Sturm was not here with us." He said with a giggle.

Karl could guess who it was about and smiled. "Oh dear. I can guess who it is about." He then cleared his throat and seemed a little undecided. "Hey Sal ... the ... father .. maybe said when he wanted to come back?"

He would love to see Ethan again.

This caused a stir in the older man from his work. "Why? ... no, I don't think so," he answered and looked into the disappointed face of his younger brother.

The dark-haired one cleaned his hands and approached him. "do you like him?" He then asked openly.

Salvatore had no problem with his brother being into his own gender. Neither does Donna. Alcina wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it at first, but over the years she had accepted it. Miranda his so-called mother, however, was a completely different caliber.

She had very old beliefs about this and after finding out that he was looking after the boys rather than the girls, his childhood was one and only torture. He mainly tried to suppress this.

"Well. Yes." He avoided Salvator's eyes by turning around and making himself a coffee on the machine. "What do you mean to like? We only met once until now. We talked a little and ... yes ... were on the same wavelength. His daughter was sweet as sugar. And he looked good." He muttered to himself.

Salvatore laughed softly. "Maybe you can have him coffee on the house when he comes back." He gave him the advice before he went back to the back to continue baking.

"you say so simply..." He murmured further into the cup and took a sip. "If he comes back." Nothing terribly exciting happened about the rest of them.

Salvatore finished preparing the food and then left him.

It wasn't long before the end of the day and Karl decided to tidy up a bit and to clean the devices that he would probably no longer need.

A young, blond man came walking past the window. After he noticed who was in the shop, he smiled and stepped inside. He had had a terrible day. Maybe a cup of coffee and, above all, the friendly barista would cheer him up?

When the doorbell rang Karl didn't look up. "We'll close in a moment." He announced and really didn't feel like looking at the coffee machine that had just been cleaned.

"Oh that's a shame. I'll go thern-" the blonde began and was about to go out. Luck really wasn't on his side today.

"Ethan wait!" Karl got to know who it was now. "Come in." He asked.

"But I thought you were about to close?" "In another quarter of an hour." The gray-haired one explained. "Just didn't want to use the machines for anyone after I cleaned them up." He explained and grinned.

"Understandable. I don't want to be to blame for that or do more work for you." Ethan started. " Oh no." Karl said calmly. Then looked at the younger one and studied him. "Not even the little girl with you today?" "No ... she is with her mother for the week." He sighed heavily. "I ... I'm sorry. I'll be back at another time."

That was his chance! He couldn't just let him go like that. "Hey wait ... we can ... have a coffee at my home if you want. I don't live far away." If he had a hopeful look at it, he wouldn't admit it. Ethan seemed to be thinking. Should he? He hardly knew the guy. But what did he really have to lose? So he consented. "Why not?" He meant.

Karl instructed him to sit down while he quickly closed the shop. Put the money from the cash register in the safe in the office and made a tour of whether everything was correct. He had never been through the evening routine so quickly. "Come on Sturm!" He called to the dog who got up from Ethan's side and followed his master.

Karl locked up and then went off with Ethan.

Karl was right. He lived just 3 streets away in a small apartment. Completely sufficient for him.

"I'll warn you right away. It's pretty chaotic in there," he said.

"Hey .. I have a little kid. There's nothing I haven't seen before," Ethan joked. They arrived at the top and Karl unlocked. Sturm immediately ran in and headed for the kitchen. Waiting for his food there.

It was messy yeah. But still bearable for a single man apartment. Lots of metal pieces of paper and tools were spread out on the tables. "Welcome to my humble home!" Said the gray-haired man with an inviting gesture. Threw some clothes off the couch and onto an armchair. "Make yourself at home." Then he went into the kitchen and made them both a coffee.

Ethan looked around. Once tidied up, he could imagine the apartment here really chic. But who did he want to judge? At home it was also a battlefield. On a table to the side he saw smaller metal frames and figures.

"A little hobby of mine." Said Karl when he came back in with two cups. "That's crazy, I have two left hands," he said with a laugh and took the cup with thanks.

Ethan sit down on the couch with Karl. They talked for a long time about all sorts of things.

At some point they came up with the subject of his wife, or rather, soon-to-be ex-wife.

" Oh well. We've been together since high school. Quite clichéd if you will. It went well. We were happy but for a couple of years it's just such an incredible void between us. I don't know how to describe it. It's like we've drifted apart. 4 years ago we decided to try it with a child. I love rose. I love her with all my heart! But ... trying to fix a broken marriage with a child ... "The blonde sighed and looked away.

Karl listened attentively. He felt sorry for Ethan and just wanted to help him so much.

"I never wanted to drag my little daughter into such a marital stress. But when I found out that she had a relationship with my colleagues, I couldn't keep it up. I've filed for divorce and I'm trying to get custody somehow. "Ethan finished calmly.

"Man. You've got yourself a lot of shit. "Karl grumbled, who then got up and went to a closet in the living room. "That screams for something stronger than coffee," he explained to himself and took out a bottle of good rum and two glasses.

Ethan accepted the drink. "Thank you." He toasted him and took a sip. Immediately it burned down his entire throat and Ethan shuddered. "How much is that stuff ?!" Karl shrugged his shoulders and looked at the label. "70%" he replied simply and poured more.

"I don't know if I should drink more of this devil's stuff." Protested the younger one but tried not to move the glass away.

"Come on. To a good new start. In a pinch you can stay here if you get too drunk. Or I'll call you a taxi! "

So Ethan decided to leave his problems behind for at least one night and actually drank the entire bottle with Karl.

Karl kept his promise and after a few hours called a taxi which would bring his drinking partner home. "I hope you still know where you live."

"Of course I know!" Grumbled a rather drunk young man. Karl laughed and then helped the poor drunk man into the car.

Prepaid the driver and gave him a good tip in case Ethan decided to throw up in the car.

He looked after the taxi which had disappeared in the early hours of the morning and hoped that Ethan would make it home safely.

Without further ado, he decided to go for his morning walk with Sturm when he was still awake and then went to bed to sleep off his intoxication until the late shift in the coffee shop would start again.