At the Bar

Chapter 32 Pastry

About 11 am, regular day at the bar, the door opens, and a lovely african american woman enters, with a bright, beautiful smile and a sparkle in her eye. She carries a box with her, and heads up to the bar, where Killian and Regina are. "I'm looking for Graham," She says with a smile.

Regina stares at her, and the corner of her mouth goes up, "Aren't they all," Regina jokes. "Uhh," The woman tilts her head, "I'm his girlfriend," she adds. "Oh!" Regina gasps, staring at her, "Are you?" Killian asks, "Umm yes, you must be Regina, the owner," She holds out her hand, "Oh yes, yes," Regina pats the towel on Killian's shoulder to dry her hand and shakes her hand. "I'm Sabine," the woman smiles. 

Killian shakes her hand as well, "Well, Graham lied," he says. "What?" Sabine asks, "Oh he said you weren't brunette," Regina shakes her head. "Sabine?" Graham is overheard approaching from out back. "Hey," She smiles brightly at him. Ruby and Lacey, and Elliot pick up on what's going on, and come over. 

Graham is a little awkward, but pleasantly happy with Sabine's arrival. "I thought I would bring you and the group a fresh batch," she smiles and opens the box. "Oh yum, she brought us pastry," Elliot reaches over. "Graham? Want to properly introduce?" Ruby asks. "You must be Ruby," Sabine smiles. "You must be the girlfriend," Ruby smiles back. "And Hi, I'm Lacey, her wife," She smiles. "Hi, Graham has told me so much about you," Sabine said. 

Graham shifts awkwardly, "Wish we could say the same about you, these are from the Beignet place a few blocks away," Regina said. "Yes, it's mine, I own it," Sabine said. "You are the chef behind this? Mmm," Elliot says with his mouth full. Graham puts his arm around Sabine, and she smiles, "So you going to tell them about me?" She asks. Clearly a woman who can keep him on his toes, the group smiles watching this long awaited moment. 

"Ahh, I didn't want them to... invade, they're possessive," Graham said. "Who's possessive?" Regina defends. Killian smirks at her, "What? I am possessive of you, you're mine, but him, he's not, unless it affects his work," Regina said. 

"Oh that's right, I should get out of here, and let you guys get back to work," Sabine smiles. "No No, we're not busy, come sit," Regina tugs her to sit down, "See? Why were you so hesitant to bring me here?" Sabine asks, "I don't know, just they're annoying," Graham said, "I'm hurt," Elliot says. 

"They're lovely, I have a sense about people," Sabine smiles. "Ok, well I just, they're all newlyweds and I just didn't want to put unnecessary pressure," Graham said. "We've been together 4 months," Sabine reveals. "Really now?" Ruby asks. "Just eat your feelings," Lacey sighs, and helps herself to another pastry in the box. "Four months and he didn't tell us until very recently," Killian said. "Oh I figured," Sabine glares at him. 

The group watches, as they see Graham blush, but he looks to be in love, something they all haven't seen before. "I like her," Regina says. Sabine smiles proudly at Graham, "I should get back to my job," she pokes Graham playfully, he smiles, and Sabine starts to head out the door. 

Graham looks at the group a moment, but stops, and tugs Sabine, close to his chest, and puts his hands on her face, pushing a sensual kiss on her lips. She laughs, caught off guard, but meets him with a kiss, the group smiles at each other. "Well that's new," Regina said. 

Sabine waved sweetly as she walked out the door, and Graham smiled, turning around, knowing that all eyes were on him. "Shut up," he says. "Someone is in love," Elliot said. "Ok ok, you saw it there," Graham shrugs. "Aww," the women sigh. "Oh bloody hell, relax, you're all married," Killian said. "So, we still like a love story," Regina said. "And?" Killian winks at her, "And ours is my favorite," Regina smiles, "Good answer," Killian kisses her, "the parents are doing it again," Ruby and Lacey head off. 

"Who knew I was more your type than I thought," Elliot pats Graham, "Well you're taken, shut up," Graham laughs. "You had your chance," Elliot teases. The group resumes work, and it's clear that yet another one of them will be settling down soon enough. 

Regina overlooks the bar around 5 pm. There's a nice group in there, of customers. She watches Graham shoot a dart, his bar towel on his shoulder. Lacey take a shot on the pool table, sinking three balls. Her eyes go to Ruby, who does a hair toss, as she moves across the room with a tray full of drinks. Elliot hands Killian several bottles over the bar, and of course Regina's eyes pause.

She stares at Killian, as he swaggers around the bar, his sleeves rolled up, almost a grace about him as he pours drinks, and tops them off with limes. She thinks back of when this bar first opened, how much they bickered, and now they're years later, with a child, and the group is all settling down into family. 

Opening the bar years ago, Regina didn't expect half of this to happen. She didn't think her bar would last a year, let alone make a family from the entire staff. She definitely didn't expect to fall in love with the sassy rough exterior, playful Killian Jones. And she didn't even think she would be a mother. She didn't expect to be seeing her real father and mother as often as she was, and that they were helping to take care of her daughter. 

She smiles, and Killian realizes she's staring at him, he tips his head up, and grins at her from behind the bar, placing his hands on the counter. He stares back at her, knowing that she's in thought, she nods, and smiles back at him and heads back to join him behind the bar. 

"What you thinking?" he asks. "Just.." she pours two shots, "Things have really come together," she says. Handing one glass to Killian, he smiles, "Mm, what are we dying or something?" He jokes. "No, we've got a lot more time," she clinks his glass, and they take the shots.