Sugar and Spice

chapter 1

Disclaimer: I own exactly zero (0) of Disney's Fairies franchise.

"Peppermint? Peppermint where are you?" Garnish called out shrilly as she buzzed through the kitchen.

"I'm here, Garnish! Just give me a moment-" Peppermint fluttered over from his baking corner balancing a mixing bowl in the crook of each elbow.

"Pep, what did I tell you about working with two bowls at once?" huffed the head kitchen fairy, her pristine apron and white water lily dress whipping in the air as she spun around.

"I know, I know. This one," he said, raising his right elbow slightly, "is actually Honeyglaze's, she flew out to the orchard because we ran out of apples."

"Again?"

"I guess the apple pie is just very popular this season." Peppermint shrugged and had to bob in the air for a moment as he re-balanced the two bowls.

"I think we all know she's just using this as an excuse to go see-"

"I'm back!"chirped Honeyglaze, bursting through the entrance, "and I brought more apples!"

"Well, good. Why don't you grab those bowls from Peppermint- After you put those apples down!- and Pep, I need to see you in the teahouse." With that Garnish regally floated out.

Honeyglaze lifted her bowl from Peppermint's right arm along with the basket of apples which she balanced on her hip. "Hi Pep."

"Hey, Hon." replied Peppermint with  a fond smile, following behind her with his own bowl  and setting it on the counter. "You can't be leaving so often to go spend time with Rosetta during work. Garnish has definitely caught on."

"I know... but I really like hanging out with her and, well, I'm thinking of asking her to go to the Autumn Revelry with me." Her fluffy baker's hat drooped precariously on the side of her curly blonde hair as she tilted her head.

"Really? Good for you!"

"Peppermint! I need you over here!"

"I have to go, but we're talking about this later!" said Pep, as he turned and zipped towards the tea room, smiling as he thought about Hon and Rosetta at the Autumn Revelry together. He has been in Pixie Hollow for longer than Honeyglaze has, and they certainly weren't friends immediately, seeing as she worked with much less structure than he did, but after some time they got along and Peppermint has known about Hon's crush on Rosetta for five seasons now. It was about time they got together.

"Peppermint, please, I expect better of you, be punctual." admonished Garnish.

He nodded, his face returning to neutral.

"Now as you know I sent Orion home sick so we are down our best server, but the Ministers of Summer and Autumn have decided to stop in today for tea and we don't have anyone to take their table. However, if I recall correctly, you've helped Orion with his tables a few times before, so I want you to take it today."

Peppermint blinked in surprise. "I...Of course, I'll help in anyway I can."

"Thank you, Pep, I can always count on you." She smiled and patted his arm as she left.

Peppermint moved towards the tables where fairies were chatting and eating, and then remembering himself, took off his baker's hat and threw it onto a coat hook. Then he pulled off the top half of his apron and flipped it over so it only hung from his waist, quickly adjusted his small ponytail, unrolled his sleeves, and straightened his red-leaf vest. Satisfied that he didn't look disgruntled he made his way over to the ministers' table.

As he approached he could here a bit of their conversation.

"Redleaf, dear, you need to take breaks more often, your fairies are very capable, you don't need to help them each individually!"

"Thank you for your concern, but I am not in need of rest, I am doing quite well."

"Oh, you're just as bad a Hyacinth! You're just better at hiding your worries behind that calm face of yours."

"Fly with you, Ministers." said Peppermint, "Sorry to interrupt, but I'm Peppermint, your server today."

The Minister of Autumn nodded and smiled in greeting while the Minister of Summer beamed up at him, "Hello there, aren't you just a lovely sunbeam? I don't believe I've seen you serving here before."

Pep's cheeks went a little rosy at that, no doubt highlighting his freckles in front of everyone. "Oh, I'm actually a baker, but I help out here every once in a while. Can I take your order?"

~*~

As Peppermint went back to the kitchen's with their order, Redleaf's eyes couldn't help but follow him. Their server had a defined pale face with a smattering of freckles and sharp green eyes, all framed by sweeping bangs of brown hair tied back. He had a serene voice which matched the tea room well. Surrounded by the home tree with a light breeze and rays of sun shining through, this place truly was calming. Lovely faces and the wonderful smell of baked goods only added to the peaceful ambiance. Maybe Sunflower was right, taking a break outside the autumn woods would help him do his job better.

"You're thinking that I was right,
aren't you?" sung Sunflower, eyeing him cheekily.

"Of course, you are always right, Sunflower." chuckled Redleaf.

"You know that's the truth!" she laughed.

As they waited they fell into comfortable conversation.

'Yes', thought Redleaf, 'this is rather nice.'

~*~

When Peppermint came back with two slices of apple pie, and a cup of black tea for Redleaf and a glass of sweet tea for Sunflower, he desperately hoped he didn't have obvious food stains on him because apparently waiting on the seasonal ministers' table does not excuse him from baking in between. Not that he minded, he just wanted to be presentable.

Butterflies seem to have taken up residence in his stomach, which was unusual for him, but normally he never has to see people's reaction to his baking, or to him, honestly. He didn't have very social tendencies, besides talking with Honeyglaze as they worked.

"Alright Ministers, I have your food here. Pie fresh out of the oven," he spoke as he gingerly unloaded his platter, "and... two teas. I hope everything is in order..."he felt like he was forgetting something..."Oh! And let me or another server know if you need anything else as I'll likely be working in the kitchen." After they'd thanked him, he turned on his heel, tucked the serving tray under his arm and made his way back to the kitchen as briskly as propriety allowed. He really wanted them to like the pie, but he really really didn't want to see that they disliked it, so it was better not to see anything at all.

"Ah, Peppermint, was it?" The baker fairy froze in his tracks and faced the table again. Suddenly he was fifty times more nervous when facing the Minister of Autumn's blank face.

"Yes, that's right." Pep fidgeted with the rim of the tray with his free hand.

"This pie is absolutely delicious," The Autumn Minister's brown eyes shown with warmth as he spoke and the Minister of Summer nodded vigorously in agreement, a wide smile brightening her features. "who baked it?"

Warmth blossomed in Peppermint's chest and his lips curled into a light smile, "I did, although Honeyglaze helped me prepare the apples. I'm glad to hear you enjoy it." He nodded by ways of a goodbye and returned to the kitchen.

a/n: hey, guys thanks for reading, I hope you're excited to go on this gay fairy adventure with me because I sure am!

Side note, I'm using "Fly with you" as a formal greeting for this fic, but I'm not sure it's ever used in that way canonically? I'm taking a lot of liberties in general when it comes to canon info on Pixie Hollow *shrug*