Disclaimer: I don't own these people.

Love And Waitressing

Sakura sat in her seat, staring into space long after Mortimer had shuffled back out of their seats with twin smirks on their faces.

She still remembered the triumphant, chin-up, thin-smiled look Meilin gave her when she dropped the bomb. Or what she'd thought was the bomb.

"Syaoran doesn't want marriage. There will never be a future with him, Sakura. Since you strike me as such a nice person," Sakura nearly snorted up her coffee, "I decided to give you a heads up before you start to... well, get serious.

"I think you've gotten the wrong idea. I'm only... how old are you? Are you ready for marriage, in your point of view?" Sakura didn't even know if she was meant to think straight at these kinds of times. Seemed like any rediculous answer she gave would just answer a rediculous question anyway.

"I'm only twenty-eight. Syaoran and I are - were, compatible in age. He's twenty-nine, as you probably know." Meilin grinned at her in a way that said she probably didn't."

"Well, you see Meilin. I'm only twenty-five, and I don't think I'm ready for marriage, unlike you. Thanks for telling me, though. I um... really appreciate it." as much as boogers in my coffee and gum on my shoes.

"Whatever. Oh, look at the time! Mortimer, darling, we really must go! I have a photoshoot at 11." she turned to tell Sakura, boasting in a tangible way. Anyone younger than her, even three years, was immediate competition.

As Mortimer and Meiling headed toward the door, Sakura couldn't prevent herself from shouting out, "I love your breasts, Meilin! Where did you get them?"

Meilin pivoted around at the door in a full blown rage, just as Mortimer ushered her out. He didn't want to create a scene just as the seeds of doubt had so successfully been planted, to his mind. Sakura would come back to him soon enough.

Sakura turned back around, chuckling. She'd never thought of marriage. She was too young. Did she want to get married? To Syaoran? No no, of course not. He didn't want marriage, anyway. He was a typical man, just as she'd pegged him at first glance. Charming as spit and afraid of commitment. And she still had lots of time before her mother came after her asking for grandbabies, anyway. She didn't want to get married. Sure she didn't.

Sakura let her head fall into her hands and groaned. She couldn't believe she was falling in love. With Syaoran.

Syaoran turned off his computer at noon. He'd gone without breakfast, and the last meal he had was bringing back delicious memories of Sakura. He was hungry, and it was becoming a familiar feeling that not all of it was for food.

He picked up his phone and dialed Sakura's number. After four rings he heard the beginnings of her voicemail message.

"Hi, this is Sakura Kinomoto. Obviously, you've caught me at a bad time. Give me your name and number and I'll get back to you - Tomoyo! That button's for - don't press the button! Don't press the damn button! Press it and I swear I'll - ". Syaoran was caught between amusement and annoyance. She was so adorable, but where the hell was she? He wanted to have lunch with her, damnit! He also wanted to hear her voice again. So, cursing himself every step of the way, he called her number again, and listened to the message, letting her voice wrap around him, calming him in his stress about Bob's death.

Two more guilty calls later, and he'd started for Antonello's.

Sakura had realised that the lunch hour was very busy for Antonello, and apparently, good old Jamie had come down with the flu that day. Antonello was hopelessly shorthanded. She's gotten out of her seat to offer it to another family of three who'd come by for a meal.

Seeing the other two waiters, Antonello's sons, Mario and Luigi, occupied with other customers, Sakura took one look at the baby boy gurgling happily in his mother's lap and snatched her napkin from the table, her pen she always kept in her pocket, and began to take orders.

When she slapped the napkin in front of Antonello at the counter seconds later, the aging Italian gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek and proceeded to fill the order up. Taking a pad from the counter, she went to the door and ushered new customers to empty seats, taking their orders efficiently as she went along. She began to enjoy herself, and the harmless flirting the twenty-year-old Mario kept sending her way.

She was smiling from the latest smack on the head Antonello had given his son, saying "Stop with the winking at Sakura, you fool, and get to work!", and had turned once more to the front door, coming face to face with Syaoran.

Syaoran glanced down at her. She was wearing shorts that made her legs go on till forever, and a classy black apron that was the uniform for the waiters and waitresses at Antonello's. There was flour in her hair, a pen balanced on her ear, and another healthy dusting of flour on her nose and cheeks. She looked wonderful.

In order to cover his reaction, Syaoran clapped an arm around her shoulders and held her possessively to his side. "So this is what you do in your spare time, eh? Waitress and flirt with people who are practically my brothers?" He grinned into her face, too happy at seeing her to think of anything else.

"Mario!" she huffed in the man's direction, and was replied with an innocent smile and a shrug. Then to Syaoran, "It would be nice if you were a little bit jealous, you know. This does no good for my self-esteem."

Syaoran shrugged himself, and, circling her waist, gave her a look that said, 'you asked for it' and swept her into a kiss.

He barely stopped himself before he moaned like a sissy. Her lips were as soft as he'd remembered, her tongue as soft and languid. As their mouths moved in an aching, almost desperate dance, she clung to him and relished the feel of his arms around her. This was what she imagined paradise would be, if there was such a thing. Fifteen hours were, apparently, too long to be without each other.

Almost panting, he slowly, inch by shuddering inch, released her from his death grip. Sakura became aware of a deathly silence around her. The patrons of the restaurant were all staring at them, open-mouthed. Then, one by one, people began to clap. 'Just like in the movies.', Sakura thought dizzily. Apparently, the customers who came to enjoy Antonello's food were all romantics. Antonello himself beamed like a proud father at them, soaking in the mad applause that went on until Syaoran ushered Sakura into an empty booth.

Sakura was mildly surprised that there was an empty booth, with all the crowds they'd had that afternoon. She wondered if Antonello would have booted people out bodily if they hadn't been a booth available. She and Syaoran sat staring at each other, smiling slightly, unable to look away.

"Um... how've you been?" Sakura couldn't stand the loaded silence and thought only of self-preservation. Surely love was dangerous, if it aroused such monumental feelings inside her.

"You mean since I saw you yesterday? Fine I guess." Syaoran replied, grinning, reminding her of their picnic on the Sunday that already seemed so far away, content to just look for a while.

Sakura scowled good-naturedly.

"Oh, before I forget, I need an accountant. Do you know any?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura couldn't believe her ears. "I'm an accountant, Syaoran! What do you need one for, anyway?"

"Funny how I never knew that. My head accountant... passed away last night, and I need someone to manage the accounts, and basically the entire accounting department." Syaoran could barely keep his excitement under control. Sakura... everyday... where he could see her, touch her. If she agreed to take the job...

Note: Two chapters in one day is my compensation to ya'll.