The café was bustling and busy as usual. Ivy couldn't deny that her childhood dream had become a reality. Looking around as she got a moment to herself she saw her employees politely selling homemade treats to eager customers.

Ludwig was finishing a sale in apple strudel, the filling a secret recipe his grandfather, Alistair, had given him at a young age.

Feliciano was scooping out huge balls of tiramisu gelato on a freshly made waffle cone. The sweet scent drifted to ivy's nostrils and she took an appreciative whiff.

Finally, Antonio was filling his cinnamon-sugar coated churros with massive amounts of melted Spanish dark chocolate, a popular choice among their usual customers.

Coming back to reality, Ivy quickly wrapped a box of Red Velvet Cupcakes up with a pretty pink bow; a simple order for a birthday present.

"My favorite," Ivy thought, casually, putting the box under the counter so she could easily reach it once the customer came to pick it up. Seeing she wasn't needed at the front, she began walking to the back to make more cookies for the approaching night.

Meanwhile on the other side of the store, France was desperately looking at the list that Antonio had given him that morning. It read:

Likes:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting

The color pink

Anything that tastes sweet

Reading horror novels

Cheesy 90s movies

Shopping (but she won't admit it)

Dogs

Helping others (again, she won't admit it)

Dislikes:

Spicy food

Tardiness

Loud people

Rude people

Sleazy, flirtatious men

You (but hopefully, that will change)

Good Luck, Amigo!

Francis felt his eye twitching as he read the list over and over again.

"This doesn't help at all! She practically hates me!" he wailed in his head. He looked over at Antonio's station. The goofy Spaniard gave him a toothy grin while Francis just glared back.

He was going to really need to step it up, wasn't he?

He heard the door jingle and saw Matthew step in with a familiar face. The taller man was an albino with gleaming ruby eyes and mischievous smirk on his face at all hours; Gilbert, Ludwig's brother and his other friend.

Gilbert's eyes widened as he saw Francis and Antonio working. He stupidly tried to walk out the door but Matthew had a tight grip on his hand.

Just then, Ivy came bursting through the door of the kitchen.

"Matthew! You're finally here!" She had a huge smile on her face, Francis couldn't help but glare but he was also curious as to why Gilbert was there.

"Hey Vee," Matthew said quietly, but Ivy could tell he was extremely proud, "guess who I brought to meet you?"

Ivy stuck out her hand politely and firmly shook Gilbert's hand, "It's so nice to finally meet my sweet Matthew's boyfriend! I've heard so much about you from both him and Ludwig! Do you want anything? It's on the house!"

Francis felt his eyes pop out of his head; he turned and saw Antonio mimicking his every move.

Gilbert is Matthew's boyfriend? Gilbert? Lady's-man Gilbert? High School Sex King Gilbert? Gilbert who hooked up with the school nurse on her desk Gilbert?

While both Francis and Antonio were shell-shocked, Gilbert looked like he was going to faint. He hadn't told either of his friends yet, how were they going to react?

He panicked as he saw both his friends excuse themselves from their customers and walk over to him.

Antonio was the first to reach him and gave him a pat on the back to calm him down, "never knew, Gil. You should have said something earlier."

Francis got there and hearing the end of Antonio's little quip said, "Much sooner, then we could have gotten to know this little cutie right here."

He winked at Matthew who blushed a fire-engine red. Noticing Ivy's less than pleased reaction, he mentally slapped himself.

Just when he was about to speak up, the front door jingled a second time…