Chapter One: Another Day, Another Shift
As Emma Swan pushed open the door to Granny's, she was surrounded by the comforting smell of fresh coffee, vanilla and cinnamon. The little cafe was already covered in Christmas decorations, despite it only being the beginning of November. Colourful lights hung across the ceiling, snow globes dotted the counter tops and fake snowflakes were stuck to the windows. It was a little tacky, but Emma loved Christmas and she couldn't help but smile to herself as she made her way behind the counter. A tall slim girl with a bright red streak in her dark hair and a bored expression was leaning against the counter. Only two of the tables were occupied, not suprising seeing as schools finished only 5 minutes ago.
'Hey Ruby, I see Granny has put the Christmas decorations up' said Emma, raising an eyebrow at a particularly large plastic Santa mounted on the wall.
Ruby jumped when she heard her friend's voice, and then rolled her eyes as Emma hung up her red leather jacket on the old coat stand.
'Ugh I know, I did try and remind her that it was only the 1st of November but apparently it's never too early for festivities!'
'I heard that Ruby!' Granny's sharp voice carried from the back kitchen.
Ruby made a face and Emma giggled. The owner of the cafe was Ruby's grandma and only living relative, but she was universally known as Granny. New visitors quickly learned that she didn't quite live up to the friendly moniker. The woman did not suffer fools gladly, frequently snapping at customers and staff alike, but she made the best coffee in Storybrooke. The cafe was thriving.
'3 minutes late today Emma' barked Granny, and the blonde glanced at her watch. Damnit, Granny was right. And she had left early and everything.
'Sorry Granny!' she cried apologetically, before turning to Ruby who handed her her red apron, 'Who else is working today?'
'Peter's on dishes today. I know, I know but he is an employee here, Granny does have to give him some shifts' said Ruby, pre-empting Emma's loud groans.
Peter was several years younger than them and spent his shifts hitting on them, complaining and generally doing a very poor job of washing up. Rolling her eyes before fixing a fake smile on her face, Emma made her way into the kitchen. Granny didn't even look up when the door swung open, she was engrossed in her work, carefully piping snowflakes onto a freshly baked batch of cupcakes.
'Hey Emma, looking smoking hot as always' said Peter, grinning widely as he eyed her up from the pot-wash area.
Emma completely ignored him, 'Hi Granny, anything in particular you want us to get done today?'
She was looking to get into her boss' good books after her rocky start to the shift.
'Actually, if we are quiet you can take all of the shelves out of the fridge and give them to Peter to wash. Then clean down the front and the insides, you did the cake stands yesterday didn't you? Oh and if you have time I've ordered in a few more flavours of tea and hot chocolate which you all can taste test for me' said Granny, eyes fixed on her work.
Score, taste testing. Knowing Granny had already forgotten she was there, Emma went back through the swing door out to the main counter.
'One large vanilla latte, one rocky road hot chocolate, one raspberry and blueberry tea and two chocolate chip cookies' said Ruby, who had just come back from taking the order of a new table, 'wanna do drinks or cake?'.
'I'll grab the cookies' said Emma, grabbing two plates, 'Apparently, we have some new flavours to taste for Granny. Oh and she wants us to clean the fridge'.
'My picks actually,' said Ruby, firing up the coffee machine, 'We've got raspberry hot choc and a red velvet hot chocolate, some cinnamon and blackberry tea. Oh and a spiced apple tea I picked out especially for Regina'.
'She'll thank you for that when she's back on, is it tomorrow?'
'Think so, I'm sure her and Leo are off on some big romantic date as we speak' grinned Ruby, sarcastically.
'Yeah right, she needs to dump that idiot already' said Emma, rolling her eyes, 'Right I will take these over'.
It was on her way back from serving the new table that he caught her attention.
'Hey Swan, I was wondering if you were working today'.
She stopped in her tracks and sighed loudly, before slowly turning to the corner booth. The boy slouched across the bench had jet black hair and a cocky smirk. He was sat alone, his bag on the table and one foot up on the seat next to him.
'Hook, you're in here so often you must have figured out my schedule by now' she said, raising an eyebrow, 'What can I get you?'.
'Oh come on, I'm in here so often you must know my order by now' he countered, leaning forward his smirk never faltering.
Emma did know, he came in almost everyday, always alone and he always ordered the same thing. But she was not going to give him the satisfaction of admitting that to him.
'Guess I've never noticed. So, what will it be?' she said, fishing her pen and pad out of her apron.
'I will have a flat white and a slice of chocolate cake please' said Killian, clearly not buying her story.
'Coming right up' she turned, not willing to stay and chat.
'I'll be waiting' he called after her.
'I see lover boy is still showing up for all of your shifts' teased Ruby, who had already plated up the slice of chocolate cake for him.
'Shut up Ruby' said Emma, rolling her eyes and starting on the flat white.
'Emma, the boy is here all the days you work, always makes sure you serve him and always comes in on his own. He literally could not be making it clearer that he is interested in you. And I know you like him back' said Ruby, leaning on the counter and glancing at Killian who was gazing out the window.
'Oh please, I do not like him…' started Emma but she was cut off by Ruby's scoff and knew she was fighting a losing battle. 'Look it would never work, he's not my type and I'm not even looking to date right now.'
'Come on Emma, you haven't been with anyone since Neal, and I think maybe it's time you put yourself out there'.
In fact, it had been 2 years since Emma had split up from her ex-boyfriend Neal. But even now she wasn't sure she was ready to put herself out there. It had been a messy split to say the least. She steeled herself and picked up Killian's tray.
As she made her way over, the little bell on the door chimed as new customers came in. Emma was grateful for the distraction it gave her. She quickly dropped the tray on the table without stopping to chat, as she greeted the new arrivals. It was a small group of teachers from Storybrooke Primary School that came in three times a week. Mr Scarlett, Mr Locksley, Miss French and Miss Maid. They had a regular order that Emma and Ruby both knew. Emma greeted them kindly and told them their order would be ready soon, but did they want to try any of the new cakes they had to offer. They politely declined and took their usual both in one corner. As Emma and Ruby were getting everything ready, the door swung open again and Emma smiled as her best friend walked through the door. Regina Mills and her cousin Henry made their way up to the counter, the little boy almost bouncing with excitement. Emma knew how much he loved his hot chocolate.
'Hey Regina, hi Henry, how was school today?' asked Emma, smiling down at the little boy.
'It was great, we learnt all about plants today' the boy grinned, perching himself on one of the bar stools.
'Woah that's so cool!' said Emma, 'what can I get you guys today?'.
'Regina? Can I please have a hot chocolate? Please please please' said Henry, turning his big puppy dog eyes on his cousin.
'You can, but a small one because your mother will kill me if I bring you home and you are bouncing off the walls okay?' said Regina, smiling.
'You came on a good day Regina, we've got new products to taste test, and Ruby ordered a spiced apple tea especially for you?' said Emma, 'I'll grab Ruby and we can do that now'.
'Hey Henry, Hi Regina, no hot date with Leo this afternoon then?' asked Ruby, smiling sweetly.
Regina gave her friend a death stare in response, and even Ruby's grin faltered a little under her piercing gaze.
Glancing round, Regina's eyes fell on Killian and she grinned. 'Lover boy showing up for every shift I see'.
'I've already had this abuse from Ruby today thanks' said Emma, not meeting her friend's eye as she got Henry's drink ready.
Before Regina could fire back a witty response, Henry suddenly jumped up from his chair.
'Hey that's Miss French' said Henry, dashing over to the corner booth before Emma and Regina could stop him.
'Hi Miss French, today's lesson was so cool I love learning about plants and nature' gushed Henry, before finally taking in the other teachers and looking puzzled, 'Mr Locksley, Mr Scarlett, Miss Maid, what are you all doing here?'.
By that point Regina had arrived at the table and she took hold of his arm gently, 'Come on Henry, I'm sure Miss French appreciates how much you enjoyed your lesson but your teachers are trying to enjoy a coffee just like we are right now. So why don't we leave them to it? I think Emma's finished making your hot chocolate'.
Henry was instantly distracted and bounced off towards Emma. Regina gave the teachers an apologetic look and mouthed 'sorry'. Miss French smiled good naturedly and shook her head, as if to tell Regina she didn't mind. Her eyes briefly met with the rest of the groups, and she couldn't help but notice that one of them had very bright blue eyes.
Henry was already tucking into his hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and cinnamon by the time she got back. Ruby and Emma had already plated up the new flavours so she helped them sample, she did have to admit she did love the new apple tea.
'So Henry, which teachers are sat over there?' asked Regina casually, glancing back at the table.
'Well Miss French is my teacher, Mr Scarlett teaches year 4, Miss Maid teaches year 6 and Mr Locksley teaches year 2'
'You really like Miss French don't you?' she smiled.
'Yeah she's really cool. I like all my teachers, although everyone says Miss Maid is really scary' said Henry, lowering his voice to a stage whisper.
'Yeah I get that vibe too kid' said Ruby.
'Do they come in a lot?' asked Regina, looking a bit surprised.
'Oh yeah all the time, have you never seen them before?'
'Guess they are never in during my shifts' said Regina, nonchalantly.
Emma could tell that something about the group had caught her friends attention, but didn't know what. But at that very moment, they were interrupted by Killian Jones making his way over to the counter.
'Hey Swan, I'm heading off but I just wanted to give you this. Call me sometime' he handed over the money for his coffee and cake, and a napkin with a phone number scribbled on it. Without even waiting for a response, he turned and walked straight out the door.
'The nerve of that damn boy is astounding' spat Emma, staring at the napkin in shock.
'Okay child present watch yourself Em' said Regina, suspecting her friend was about to say a few unsavoury things about her suitor, 'Alright Henry, you ready to go? It's nearly 5 your mother will want you home soon.'
'But I like it here with you guys' said Henry, pouting a little.
The girls giggled, and Regina used a napkin to wipe the chocolate moustache off of his face.
'I tell you what, I'll race you to the car and if you win I'll give you a free cupcake the next time you come in'.
Henry's eyes lit up and he hopped off the stool, putting one leg in front of the other in a racing start pose. Regina paid for Henry's drink, with her staff discount of course and then copied Henry's dramatic pose.
'You ready? 3, 2, 1, go' called Regina.
Henry shot off like a bullet, Regina hot on his heels but she was clearly going to let him win. The pair burst through the door and Emma smiled to herself.
'So, are you gonna call him?' said Ruby, glancing down at the phone number.
'What, no? Absolutely not' scoffed Emma, but she was not as sure as she sounded.