May contain: Fluff. Shanks's adorableness.

"The usual order of coffee, Miss [Name]?" the girl in front of you asked with a worried expression. You smiled and nodded, combing back your hair gracefully.

Just as she finished making it, she handed it to you. "Shouldn't you be doing something special today?" she cooed in a teasing voice, "Like with him~?"

Him? You raised an eyebrow, looking around as if for someone. Your breath hitched when you again realized that someone special wasn't coming, and you'd just been caught up in the waitress's little wishful dreaming. "I don't have anyone special, if that's what your hinting at," you said listlessly, taking a sip of your coffee as to hide you face. It was still hot, and the liquid burned your tongue, but you still tried to hide it, anyway.

"Oh, you don't need anyone special, Hun, as long as you have the mistletoe," the green-haired girl spoke romantically. She sighed and clasped her shoulders, her yellow eyes wandering to romances she'd encountered before, men you'd never dream of even meeting."Oh, my, you should see my dream-guy... He's a looker, alright."

You still didn't get the point. The waitress, or, informally known as Monet, did indeed have a 'dream-guy.' Though, he wasn't really a dream-guy, he existed and was interested in her a lot. He was quite dense, and very listless, but, they still made a good match.

Christmas wasn't your favorite holiday, though, you doubted you had a favorite one anyway. All holidays were to you was an excuse to spend money on useless things. It was just an event for a guy to woo a girl, or vise-versa.

"I'm not kissing a stranger. It's unsanitary. They could carry some type of disease," you hissed.

The waitresses curled her green hair in a amorous way, drawing the attention of a couple men in the room. She was gorgeous, you had to give her that. But the petty love advice was beginning to dull her personality. Though, it wasn't like the men were interested in personalities, anyway.

"They could also carry a disease called love," she cooed.

"The worst disease you could mention," you muttered.

Love wasn't the type of thing you treasured, at least not any more. You never bothered to tell her, probably out of self pride, but you had expected to meet someone there. Someone, special, or so they called it. But, he didn't come, and that was fine with you. It wasn't like you cared, anyway. Or would remember. Christmas was also an excuse to drink.

"And I think I just caught it," she whispered. You raised an eyebrow at the response, but then gradually turned to the door.

Your breath hitched at the sight. A man wearing a black trench coat stalked inside, taking off his hat and shaking the snow off of it.

Boy, you wish he didn't take it off.

That was the man you were supposed to meet.

You quickly turned back to your bar and drowned your mouth in sips of coffee, trying to hide the red that was rising to your cheeks. You had lost all hope that he was actually going to turn up, and here he was. Late.

"Eh?" the blond girl looked down at you and smiled, more of a cute smirk. "Did he catch your eye too?" She gave you a kind of look that said, 'I can hook you up if you want.'

You removed your lips from your coffee and shook your head, scowling. "He promised you'd be on time.."

"Huh?" she asked.

Had you said that aloud?

"Nothing," you replied quickly. "It's nothing.."

"Okay," she chirped, looking back at the man. Your face cringed at her staring, as if you didn't want anyone else to look at him but you. "He keeps looking back here~"

You solemnly looked up. Her point was..? Your thoughts started to get more furious toward the girl, and you knew he had something to do with it.

"[Name]!!" she yelled, in a sort of recoiled tone. A loving blush coated her cheeks. "I think he's looking at me! We keep making eye-contact, and he even--"

"He's not looking at you!" you snapped. You then gasped and covered your mouth. "I.." Your eyes widened in horror.

Monet grinned evilly at your outburst. Oh no... The green-haired girl then untied her apron, and with a second wink, announced, "Everyone! Bar seats are now closed! Everyone sitting at this bar table please move to a table!"

You raised an eyebrow at the action. People sitting at the same bar as you began to shuffle to the back, laughing with the people they were sitting with.

You didn't know why she shut down the bar, but your stomach had a bad feeling. It was almost like she was trying to set you up with the man. You silently got up from your seat, trying to sneak back to a different table.

"[Name]!" you heard Shanks yell. A shudder erupted down your spine, and you wanted to cuss the man out across the room. You slowly turned around, but sighed when you realized he did have his usual hawk-eyed friend next to him. It would just be the two of you if you decided to accompany him.

You groaned miserably as you rose from your seat, cursing at the waitress. She sent you a third and hopefully final wink as you stepped over to the man, almost forgetting your coffee.

"I haven't seen you in a while, [Name]!" Shanks voice shouted, and you sipped your coffee. You then unrolled a small newspaper, blocking his view from you and tuning him out completely. "Oi! Oi - what's that for?"

Rolling your eyes you quietly sipped some of your coffee again.

Shanks finally sighed, "Look, I didn't mean to be late. Ben forgot to unload the food out of storage, so we had to focus on replacing the spoiled goods."

You simply hummed in response, turning a new page in the news. Though, you weren't actually reading. You ears were stressed to hear his voice--the voice you hadn't heard in a while. It was so cheerful.

"What can I do to make it up for you?" You couldn't see him, but from the other side his eyes were pleading and his tone regretful.

You decided to actually think and replied, "A large bottle of booze would be perfect right now." He smiled worriedly as his hands touched yours, placing the newspaper flat on the table. He wanted the two of you to be face-to-face.

He opened his mouth to reply immediately, but by his changed expression you tell he was thinking of saying something different. "..Wow.. You're harder to talk to than Hawk-eyes said you'd be," he muttered, catching your attention.

That's how the two of you met - Mihawk had introduced you. You'd been traveling with Mihawk for quite a while, and then finally came across his infamous rival. Shanks. He was interesting, you could give him that.

"I'm not hard to talk to, you're just not listening," you replied, taking a sip of coffee. Shanks' eyes caught yours and for a moment your stern attitude slipped--just like the grip on your coffee. His eyes, a nice bright emerald were perfect. The shiny color went right along with his bright personality.

You stared for a few seconds more, then regretting it as you huffed, pulling the newspaper up again in front of your face. But, this time, you pulled it up because of the crimson blush coating your face.

His eyes were beautiful.

When you thought your face was fine, you peeled the newspaper away, only to be met with a loud jingle.

"No," you muttered under your breath. The waitress grinned, jingling the bell with leaves in front of your faces once more. Shanks sent you a lopsided smile, eyes closed and clearly suggesting he was fine with the idea.

"Hey, (Name)~" she cooed, dancing around your table with a grin, though, the mistletoe remained placed over the two of your heads.

"Monet," you growled through clenched teeth, "This is not the time!" 

She simply smiled at Shanks, then tried to avoid your dangerously cold eyes. "How are you today, Mr?" she asked your 'friend'. You glanced to the two of them, you eyes slightly narrowing as he smiled softly.

"It's Shanks, and I'm fine." His grin rose as she smiled at him joyously.

You didn't realize you were trembling until the coffee in your hands slipped and crashed. Your eyes widened, then you looked to Shanks and Monet sheepishly. "Sorry.." you muttered, though you really were glad you managed to raise a distraction.

"We'll take care of it."

Squinting at the familiar voice, you looked up to see a tall, raven-haired man standing above you. You nodded and smiled, and with your arm jabbed the waitress in the side. She squealed at the contact, glaring at you until she noticed the familiar pirate in front of her.

"H-Hey," she said, straightening her posture immediately. "What are you--"

"What about the mistletoe--" Shanks said, but you shushed him. You had to see this. "Oi, (Name)!-" he yelled. You grumbled something and placed your finger on his lips to quiet him.

Though, as you were finally done quieting Shanks, the couple was gone. You cursed to yourself, then glared at the redhead. "Come on! I could've snagged that mistletoe while they were distracted! They totally would've--"

Speech was halted for you as two, pursed two kissed you passionately. Your eyes widened in awe, watching as Shanks ran his fingers through your hair passionately.

"Oi," he said, his lips parting from yours. "Close your eyes, that's creepy."

Your eyes were still frozen in shock. "You kissed..?" You felt your soft, warm lips as you stared at Shanks. His green eyes were stuck to yours. "Did you just..?"

His eyes narrowed in boredom. "Duh. I like you."

"Why you--" you hissed, though was again cut off as he tried to kiss you again. You grumbled something before kissing him back.

You were sure to close your eyes this time.

And, all the times after that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, I've been writing this for a while, but I finally finished! I WANT to make a part two, with Monet and that mysterious 'dream-guy' (I'll leave it to you as to who that may be ;) ..) bit due to laziness, probably won't. XD I really like how this turned out!!!

~simswimsbob