The Golden Lily Cafe

Reaper Wanna Cookie?

It was Saturday, the busiest day for the cafe.  Very few people knew about it, but the ones that did loved to come on the weekend.  The atmosphere of friendly people filled the air, as Jaune was setting up the displays of food, like sandwiches and soups, the line of people were being helped by Lily at the register. Sure, she is 7, but she wants to help her Papa. 

Lily: "Hi Mr Jones! Would you like your usual?"

Mr Jones, a stoic man with long dreadlocks tied neatly, is a buisness man in Vale.  He goes to inspect new properties to check values so his clients don't get ripped off when looking into real estate.

Mr Jones: "Why hello to you too, Lily, and yes, but I'll take an extra shot of espresso,  it's going to be a long day." He handed his debit card over as the girl rang him up.  She looked back to her dad.

Lily: "Papa, we need the house inspector special, extra bolts!"

Jaune nodded and prepared the man's coffee.

RJ came out with different baked goods, from cookies to pastries, the smell filled the air making some of the people in line hungry.  Some even drooling.

Jaune: "Hey, can you start on the bread bowls for the chowder, I wanna make sure we have them ready by lunch."

RJ: "Already on it, homie." He dumped the fresh cookies into the jars and went towards the back. His music is drowned out by the crowd of people in front. 

Lily stood at the register, watching over the crowd as it died down slowly, but surely.

A young girl appeared in front of her, well, younger than most customers.  She had short hair, wore a red cloak, and the tips of her hair were gradient of red.

Lily: "Hello, you're new here. Welcome to the Golden Lily. What can I get you?" The girl smiled at the customer.  Causing damage to the weak of heart due to her adorable demeanor.  

???: "Hi there, I heard that you guys sell cookies! My professor brought me some yesterday, and I was hoping to get some!"

Lily: "No problem, how many would you like? We have singles, six, or a dozen." She pointed to the boxes.

RJ came out with another batch, the smell hitting the girl at the counter.  You could see she was legit drooling.

???: "I'll take a dozen and a hot chocolate, please!" She oulled out her lien and waited for the total.

Lily: "Well, since you are a first-time customer, you get the 'First Timer discount'. So your total is going to be 9 Lien, please!" The girl handed her money over, and Lily looked back. "PAPA! WE NEED A LARGE HOT CHOCOLATE!" She turned back around. "Would you like some of our house made marshmallows and whipped cream in it?" The stars the girl obtained in her eyes were bright.

???: "Oh, yes!"

Lily: "Okay!" She turned back around. "ADD FLUFF AND TUFF!" She turned back to the customer. "Thank you for coming by, I'm Lily! The owner's daughter." She gave a gentle smile.

???: "It's nice to meet you, I'm Ru-"

Jaune: "Ruby?!" They both look back to see Jaune or Papa to Lily.  His eyes were wide in shock, and honestly, he had no idea what to do.

Ruby: "J-Jaune?!"  With that, the reaper bolted over the counter and gave her first friend a bone-crushing hug. "YOU'RE OKAY! WHY HAVEN'T YOU TRIED TO CONTACT ME!!!" The girl started crying almost.

Jaune let out a sigh.  Rubbing her back, he tried to soothe the girl.

Jaune: "Look, Crater Face, I know me leaving was sudden, but I couldn't do it anymore.  The names, the bullying. It was too much." He slowly got up and pulled Ruby up with himself. "It wasn't anything against you, but I couldn't do it anymore.  So I ended up opening this cafe."

Lily looked at the two and titled her head.  One question in particular came to mind.

Lily: "Papa, is she going to be my new Mama?"

Ruby went bright red, and Jaune just sighed.

Jaune: "Baby-girl, just because I talk to a lady doesn't mean they'll be your new mama."

Ruby: "T-That's right! If anything, I'll be your new aunt!" Suddenly, the gravity of the situation hit Ruby. "Wait, she just said, Papa."

Jaune's eyes went wide as he looked at Ruby, who gave a questioning look.

Jaune: "Now Ruby, before you assume any -"

Ruby: "Jaune, are you a womanizer with multiple hidden kids?!"

Some of the cafe goers laugh at the accusation.

Jaune: He let out a long sigh. "Hey, don't think so little of me.  I adopted her when I had just bought this place.  After a few months, I named the cafe after her to show her this is her home and that we were family."

Ruby started to tear up a little. She looked over to Lily and wrapped her in a hug.

Ruby: "I promise to be the best aunt ever!" Lily hugged her back. The idea of a bigger family always made her happy.

Jaune looked on and started on her hot chocolate.

Timeskip~

It was 6 p.m., which meant closing time. 

Ruby was playing with Lily and having a tea party while RJ and Jaune cleaned.

Jaune: "So Ruby. Is your team gonna wonder where you are? You've been here since about 2."

Ruby: "Maybe, but it's not like they can do anything about it.  The only people that know about this place are me and Obbleck." She toasted to Lily with their little tea cups. "I was actually going to ask. Do you, by chance, have any openings?"

Jaune looked over with a cocked eyebrow.  He did need the help. However, he wasn't sure if it would be a good idea.

Jaune: "Ruby, do you even have time for a part-time job?" He put his hands on his hips. "When could you work?"

Ruby: "Well. I am out of class at around 2, and you guys close at 8 on weekdays. So that's 5 hours I can work, and I can work all day on Saturdays!" She said with such determination that Jaune couldn't help but feel to give her a chance.

RJ: "I'd say let her homie. After all, we could use the hand on Friday and Saturday."

Jaune pondered and came to his decision.

Jaune: "Okay, Ruby. I will give you a chance.  But I need you to be here on time, and I need you to make sure no one from your team finds out. I just don't want more unnecessary attention from Beacon than I need to have. Granted, you will probably have to tell Ozpin and Glynda."

Ruby: "I promise, I will do the very best I can to make sure no one finds out!" She walks over and hugs Jaune. "Im just glad I have my beastie back in my life."

Jaune did a sigh, but not out of annoyance, rather relief. There were very few people at Beacon he still considered as a friend, but he worried the ones he didn't would come and find out.

Ruby: "Hehe, bestie promise." She hugged Jaune and left shortly after.

Jaune: "Well looks like we will be having some more hands on deck."

Lily: "Papa, when can I get a new mama?"

Jaune heard this as he drank his coffee and did a spit take, all while RJ laughed in the back ground.