The Obligatory Meeting at the Coffee Shop

Today could not get any worse.

Cordelia sighed as she dragged her feet through the dim-lit alleyway, leaning her shoulder against the cold gray walls of the already closed shops.

Why? Whywhywhywhywhy…

She cursed herself as she tried, and failed, to still her legs that had started to feel like wet tofu since thirty minutes ago. Creeping slowly towards her apartment, she sighed again as the only three things she didn't want to remember from the event earlier played through her head again, and again, and again, like a broken record with no end in sight.

Sumia looked lovely in her white dress, while Chrom, looking sharp in jet black tux, just couldn't stop smiling at his blushing bride. And of course, the image of her stuffing her face with hard liquor at the after party. People said one could find a temporary happiness about halfway through the bottle, but apparently, that was a luxury she couldn't even get. The only thing she managed to get was severe headache and a hellish track back.

And as if on cue, all the liquid she consumed decided to come pounding from the pit of her belly.

Cordelia steeled her gut and clamped her mouth shut, pushing her hand on her lips. Her eyes hunted her surrounding when she realized she was alone in a dark alleyway. She could just go all out right then and there. She could, but she'd have to be literally lose her mind to do that. So she crawled her way through, eyes planted on the ground, praying to those that would listen she'd make it back in time.

She didn't know how much progress she had made, but after what felt like a ten-hour march, the area suddenly felt brighter.

"Are you okay, miss?"

She cramped her neck for a gaze at the voice coming from above.

A man was looking at her, eyebrows pushed together they would connect if he tried just a tad bit harder.

Cordelia leapt at him, clutching the piece of long wood he had in his hand, and stared him square in the eyes.

"T… toi-"

She failed to finish her word when the pressure from before came blazing through her throat and she pushed her palm back on her lips.

The man took a step back, pointed to the door behind him, and said, "to the left, right behind the-"

She rushed towards the entrance, hoping she did not pushed him to the ground.

She slammed the door and dove headfirst for the white throne in the cramped room and unloaded everything, along with all the resentment she had collected for the day.

Today could not get any worse.

"Big night?"

The man was standing behind the counter when she finally found the courage to come out. He had a dark green apron on him, a detail she failed to realized before, and was wiping a mug with a big smile on his face.

"If you don't mind leftovers, how about a cup of coffee and some cakes?"

She was about to refuse the offer, thank him for the save, and go away, hoping she'd never see him again, when her belly let out a loud rumble and burnt her cheeks crimson.

"I…"

His smile softened as he placed the mug gently on the counter before him. "On the house," he said.

Very reluctantly, with a face even redder than her hair, Cordelia made way to the seat in front of him as he poured some coffee for her. He placed the jug beside the mug and gave her another smile. "Help yourself out," he said as he made his way back to the broom he rested against the front door.

Cordelia stared at the still somewhat smoking mug and the piece of chocolate cake in front of her for a few moments, before she finally realized where she was.

Not in her bed at her home, crying herself out.

Not wanting to waste the man's good intention, she sighed and took a sip of the bitter, black liquid that managed to clear her head, much better than those alcohol earlier. She sighed again when she realized she should've drank coffee instead of those. She won't be sleeping either way that night, could've done it without the headache.

She took a bite of the cake as she looked at her surrounding. With the exception of the white walls, making it felt brighter than any coffee shops she had ever been, even with the relative darkness of the hour, it was as coffee shop as one could be, with two coffee makers at the back of the counter, a few paintings on the side, and a couch facing to the left side, where two big windows would stare back at the people sitting there. The were one small bookcases, a keyboard, and a mic at one corner of the room. She imagined this was a shop people would come and pretend to do some smart, intellectual things with their laptops and notebooks, like those writers she read so much in her romance novels. For some reason, they were always writers, or reporters, or journalists.

She took another bite of her chocolate cake, when the door to the back room, just behind the counter, popped open and a small girl, dragging a brown teddy bear wandered in, groggily scratching her closed eyes.

Not knowing what to do, or say, Cordelia gulped the piece in her mouth, turned herself towards the entrance, and waved for the man sweeping the front of the shop. She pointed at the girl, who was now leaning back and forth against the wall, clutching her bear loosely in front of her.

The man just smiled.

"What's wrong, Mo?" he said as he walked through the door.

The girl looked up, as if she could see him through her closed eyelids, and mumbled something about pot.

He chuckled, took the stuffed animal from her and placed it on the counter. Cradling the now sleeping girl in his arms, he then turned to Cordelia. "Sorry to ask, but can you watch the shop for a bit?"

Cordelia smiled and nodded as she held the bear in its place, trying to prevent it from falling off.

He muttered a thank you, and rushed towards the bathroom, gently tapping on the girl's back, trying to keep her awake.

She couldn't help but smile as she watched the two disappeared before her. The thought that today had finally come around, even just a moment's worth, calmed her mind enough for to enjoy the last bite of her cake.

The duo came out a few minutes later and went straight for the back room. They came out immediately after, took the bear on the counter, and went inside again. He stepped outside after a few more minutes, gently closed the door, and went behind the counter.

"Sorry about that," he said as he took the now empty plate and brought it to the sink.

"It's fine. How old is she?"

"Five, but she likes to remind me she's already five and a half though."

Cordelia just chuckled at the answer.

"So, what's the deal with you? If you don't mind me asking," the man brought another empty cup on the counter and poured some coffee inside it. He sat right in front of her, took a sip, brought his hands under his chin, and waited.

"I'm sorry, I don't think that's appropriate. We don't even know each other," she gave him a smile and mimicked his action, resting her left cheek on the counter.

"Robin. Earlier was Morgan."

Mo, huh?

"And with how we met today, I don't think you should tell people what is appropriate."

Touche.

Cordelia stared long at the rack behind the counter, and let out a deep sigh. "My best friend got married today…"

"Ah, one of those. Say no more-"

"I've been in love with the groom for years now…"

"O…kay. A little bit complicated. Could be wors-"

"I'm the planner and maid of honor."

And everything went silent after that. They stared at each other as the dead air lingered, waiting for the one to break first.

"Cheer up. There's more than one fish in the ocean." Robin chuckled as he gently tapped her shoulder.

Cordelia only managed a bitter smile at the unconvincing words. They spent the next half an hour finishing the pot of coffee just talking about unimportant stuffs, like the news and the weather. It was boring, pathetic even, to talk about the weather with a stranger she barely knew after she threw up a waterfall in his toilet. And other than the first time, Robin didn't seem to be interested in her personal life, which she was thankful for.

Robin gave her a box when she was leaving. Cordelia opened the package and frowned at the assortment of cakes inside. He was smiling when she looked at him next.

"Can I sue you if I got fat?"

"Sure. We can only pay with cakes though."

They shared a look at the silliness of the exchange and laughed. She thanked him, more for the save and company rather than the cakes, and made way for the door.

Cordelia took a long, deep breath at the front of the shop and forced herself to smile. She moved one step towards her home, but decided to wait beside the entrance instead.

About ten minutes later, the lights went off and the door sprung open. Robin came out of the shop, with Morgan rested firmly on his back. His right hand was supporting the sleeping girl, while his left struggled with a child's backpack and locking the door.

"Are you okay, sir?"

She smiled at him when Robin turned towards her. Without saying a word, Cordelia took the keys in his hand, locked the door, and slipped them inside the backpack.

They walked together about halfway to her home, until the road branched for his house and they had to say goodbye.

Cordelia stood there and watched as the backs of her new friends disappeared into the night. She was just glad the last thing she did that night wasn't drinking herself to death, throwing up beside the road and fell in the gutter somewhere. She mouthed her thank at the empty road and made her way home.

You didn't I'd just write a straight up they met, fell in love, and get married romance, did you?

Anyway, romance is never my forte. I can't promise you the cute, fluffy goodness you'll get with other writers, but I'll try my best.

And for those coming from my other story, let's address the elephant in the room while we're at it.

I know it's been a while since the last update of CoM. And unfortunately it will be quite some time before I can update again.

Trust me, it's not abandoned or anything. It was just too depressing to keep going right now. Hence the break with this one.

And also to tell you guys that I'm still alive.